I’ve been getting a lot of fan letters and new FB likes lately with UNDER THE COVERS about to be released in May, TWISTED in June, and FORGOTTEN SINS in July…and I LOVE it!  There are a few things I didn’t know before becoming an author that I wish I’d known…and here they are:

1)       Authors with NY Publishers have no say in the price point of the books. None-zippo-zilch.  I have no clue how much my book is priced at until I either see it in a store or check online retailers.  🙂

2)      Those of us with traditional publishers don’t create our own covers.  I see the cover after it’s pretty much ready to go.  Having said that…I’ve LOVED my covers!  The graphic arts departments at Kensington, Entangled, and Grand Central seriously rock.

3)      We have no say in whether a book gets printed or not.  Or whether it’s available in e-book or not.  These type of things are never guaranteed in a contract.  Of course we want them in both e-book and print.  Always.  So far, I’ve been fortunate.

4)      We know not to read reviews…yet we do.  And yeah, sometimes we take them personally…and wish year-long yeast infections on the reviewer.  Yeah, I’m talking to you—mean reviewer.  And…we can tell if it’s a personal issue and not something to do with the book…even if somebody tries to mask it.

5)      When someone gives us a poor rating on Amazon or GoodReads because the price of the book is too high…we think she’s a moron.  (See number one above.)

6)      Once we get several reviews…we realize that the EXACT same thing one reviewer just loved is the reason another reviewer didn’t like the book.  This is a great thing…because then we realize we can’t please all the people, and we should just go write the next book…and stop reading reviews.  🙂

7)      We’re taken aback and overwhelmed by the kindness of readers and how they’re willing to go out of their way to help promote our books.  (Yes, FB street team… I mean you.)  It’s very humbling, and I hope I express how much this means to me and how much I appreciate all of my readers.

8)      Reading fan mail is the best part of many days.  Thanks for sending fan mail!

9)      There’s no magical muse.  Honest.  We just have to sit down and write when we’d rather be doing laundry sometimes.  This actually is a job.

10)   We feel an incredibly strong loyalty to our readers and really, really, really don’t want to let you down.  Ever. 

So, at the beginning of the year, I sat down and typed myself a letter of things I wanted to have happen in 2012.  Here’s the letter with my comments on whether I made that goal or not:

Dear Me:

It’s January 2^nd.  Sure, you probably should’ve written this yesterday on the first of the year, but hey, who’s counting.  What’s one day?  Here’s what is going to happen in 2012:

1)       You’re going to finish Dark Protectors book 4 and turn it in to your editor on February 1^st.  She’s gonna love it.  And yes, considering you only have 63,000 words of a first draft written, you’re going to be stressed out for the next month. 

I did finish CONSUMED and get it in on time – no problem.  Consumed is Katie and Jordan’s story, and is now available in both print and e-book form.

2)      You’re going to finish book 5 and send it to your editor on May 1^st.  Yes, you’re going to be stressed out about it because you have work, family, and stuff to do.  You’re also going to Las Vegas in February, New Orleans in the beginning of March, and Maui the end of March, so time…isn’t your friend.

I did finish PROVOKED and get it in on time…while also having a blast in Vegas, Nolo, and Maui.  Good times were had by all.

3)      Switching to Kensington’s new E-book line for books 4 and 5 will be a huge career move…one you don’t regret.  I SO hope.

Well…PROVOKED hit the USA TODAY Bestseller’s list…so I’m thinking it was a good move.

4)      Your agent will sell the soldier story to another publisher, and all of a sudden, you’ll have two series going.

The soldier story (FORGOTTEN SINS) sold to Grand Central Publishing at auction in a four book deal.  I also sold a three book trilogy to Entangled for their Brazen line.  So now I have three series going.  Yes, I’m crazy.

5)      Your Facebook likes will double.  You have 600 fans now—you’ll have 1200 by the end of 2012.

It looks like as of today we have 5,114 fans.  Yay!

6)      You’re going to lose 25 pounds.  Yes, you heard me.  25.

Boy, did I fail on this one.  I did lose 10 pounds…nowhere near the 25 I wanted to lose.  2013 is my year, baby.

7)      You’re going to write an entirely new book/series beginning.  On something.

Yep – did this a few times over.  Can’t wait to see where these books go.

8)      You’re going to contract with Kensington again, because the e-book line has been so awesome, for the rest of the Dark Protector series.  Right now you think that will be 2 novellas and 2 novels to finish the series.  But, you’re open to altering this plan a little.  At the most, it will be 4 novels.

We signed the deal for 2 novellas and 2 novels.  Twisted (novella one) has been turned in.  Shadowed, Tamed, and Janie’s book are the remaining four stories in this contract.

9)      Your editor, Megan Records, will have a healthy baby boy in June.  You’ll send a very nice baby package her way…within two weeks of her having the baby. 

Megan had a very healthy boy named Max.  YAY!  I did send a gift, but I think it may have been in September.

10)  Christmas cards – this year you’re going to send them.  You haven’t for two years because you’ve been so busy writing—this year family and friends are receiving cute cards with pictures of your kids in them.  Maybe you should have somebody take a family picture in Maui.  Sure, you won’t have lost all 25 pounds yet, but I’m sure you’ve lost some by March. 

Failed on this one, too…and I hadn’t lost an ounce by March.  Next year, I’m so sending Christmas cards!

Very sincerely yours,

You

So, now I’m off to write myself a letter about what I hope to see happen in 2013.  Wish me luck!  Please have a very safe and wonderful New Years…and I’ll see you in 2013.  Rebecca

I’m thrilled to announce that PROVOKED releases today.  This is Book 5 in the Dark Protector series, and it features Kane Kayrs, the dominant, scientific brother as the hero.  The heroine is Amber Freebird, a fun, spirited, vegan who likes to go her own way.  The two clash…yet somehow work together with humor and spice.  I hope you enjoy!

CONGRATS TO THE WINNERS!  Molly won from this blog – I’ve sent your book to you.  🙂

Hello everyone!  I’m taking part in two blog hops this weekend – how fun is that?  There’s nothing I like more than an Alpha male–well, except an Alpha male with a dark, brooding past.  Wounded heroes are the best! 

Provoked releases on November 1st and is up for a pre-order sale right now.  So I thought I’d show you a glimpse into Kane Kayrs, a dominant, brilliant, Alpha.  Here’s a quick blurb:

Kane grabbed the brandy glasses. Handing Amber one, he retook his seat in the chair. “Drink.”

“Stop being bossy.”

“Sorry.” Slowly, he took a sip, gaze watchful over the rim.

She drank a healthy gulp. How was she supposed to act normal with a sexy vampire studying her? “Stop staring.”

“No.” He licked a drop from his lip.

She fought a groan. The brandy warmed down her throat to her abdomen. Wind whistled outside, lending an intimacy to the fire-lit area inside. Her eyes half-closed in reaction. Tingles set up in her knees—most likely from the mind war she’d just fought. But the confusion came from her reaction to the vampire. “You shouldn’t have kissed me last night.”

“I know,” he agreed softly.

“Why did you?”

“You’re beautiful, sexy, and I want you.”  His voice was calm and self-assured.

No game-playing with that man.

She fought to keep her face calm. He said want in present tense. Her body reacted instantly. “That’s surprising. I figured you’d go for some robotic scientist type.”

“Apparently not.”

As people, they couldn’t be more different. He was overeducated. She . . . not so much. “I’m a pacifist.”

He gestured for her to finish her drink. “Let’s talk about that.”

She downed the rest of the brandy, a delicious heat sliding through her body. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

He tipped back his head and drank his brandy, the movement both masculine and sexy. Setting the sifter on the side table, he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “I’ve been thinking.”

“That’s a new one.” She snorted.

Vampires had sexy grins. Who knew?

Kane’s grin widened. “So, I have a solution for our dilemma. You’re a pacifist who shouldn’t fight. I am a closet empath who needs to find my brother.”

The guy probably didn’t confess that fact to many people. She smiled, more warmth coming from his trust than from the alcohol. “What’s a closet empath?”

“Somebody who has fought for years to squash down the ability to read emotions from other people.” He sighed, stretching his neck. “Though, I can also attack with feelings sometimes. The ability can distract an enemy at the right moment, although I’d rather just use my brain.”

“There’s nothing wrong with feeling things, Kane.”

He shrugged. “Not the point.”

“What is the point?” Besides that fact that she was in an intimate setting alone for an entire night with the sexiest man she’d ever met in real life.

“The point is that there is a very simple answer to our dilemma.” His eyes darkened and his strong jaw set. “Mate me.”

So, here are the links if you’d like to pre-order Provoked and be one of the first to download it:

Also, here are the links to get back on the blog hops – make sure you hit the one you’ve been on!  (Feel free to hop on board the other one when you’re finished.  There are tons of great prizes in both.  They’re both scheduled to actually start the 19th)  Speaking of prices, in addition to the ones being given from me on the hops, I’m also giving away signed copies of Fated, Claimed, and Hunted to ONE randomly chosen commenter from my blog here.  So drop me a comment.  Do you have any plans for halloween?

Hi all!  Welcome to the very exciting Love’s a Beach Blog Hop.  I’m in the midst of copy edits for Provoked, which is Kane’s story that will be released on November 1st.  For a short time, it looks like the book is at a hugely discounted price…and since I’m never in the loop about these things, I truly don’t know how long my publisher will keep it there.  So, how about a quick glimpse at a scene in Provoked?  And I’m giving away a signed copy of my back list to a commenter on my blog here, as well as a copy on the main page of the blog hop.  Here’s the excerpt:

Kane peered down at her. “Amber?”

“Yes?”

“If you’re going to attack with whatever’s in your right hand, could you hurry it up? We need to get going.”

She started, her gaze slashing up to him. “How did you know?”

He shrugged. “What kind of a knife do you have?”

Her cheeks pinkened, and she drew her hand forward. “I have a pen.”

A blue ballpoint pen. He blinked twice, his gaze on the harmless tool.

Maybe it was the ridiculousness of the pen. Maybe it was the woman’s courage in planning to use it on him. Or maybe it was the sheepish half-smile she gave.

Either way, his heart rolled over.

Warmth flushed through him, so hot, so fast, his ears rang. His mind blanked. For the first time in centuries, his brain shut off. The woman was crazy. Stepping in, he grasped her chin, tilting her head back.

Her eyes widened, and then her gaze lowered to his lips. A soft sound of surprise emerged with her breath.

He dove in, allowing the animal within to awaken. For the first time in three centuries, there was no thought. All instinct ruled as his mouth took hers…no finesse, no calculation, just pure, raw need. He shoved her against the truck, his other hand clutching her hip as he went deeper.

Honeysuckle exploded along his taste buds as his tongue swept inside her mouth. Not gentle, not persuasive, just taking. Claiming.

And it wasn’t enough. Not even close to enough.

Pressing into her, body to body, heat to heat, something clicked. Beyond his brain, beyond his body…somewhere deeper.

Finally, he found home.

To purchase Provoked:

So, did you have a nice summer?  Was it summer where you live?  Any fun plans for fall?  To jump back on the hop, click on the picture below: