By Dame Kaz
So a lot of the published Dames have been talking about what it’s like to have deadlines – the different kinds of deadlines there are and how to deal with them (or not!) – but what about the Dames who don’t have deadlines? At least, not the external kind set by an editor…
As a newly-agented author, I’m already learning that deadlines exist even for us newbies. For a start there are revision notes from your agent – your manuscript needs to be at its best before it goes out on submission to editors. Then there’s that proposal you happened to mention in passing, to which your agent responds, “Sounds cool, send me more!” And you have to scuttle around headless-chicken-style wondering how soon you can send it. So you set a deadline, ensuring you have to get something down in writing.
Of course, there are other deadlines. If you’re serious about having a career as an author, I think it’s important to have some kind of online presence. I’m not talking about a bells-and-whistles website – a blog will do just fine until you at least have an agent, if not a publishing contract. I have a Livejournal blog and am currently in the process of fixing up my basic website. It’s surprising the number of times agents and editors will Google an author they’re considering, so it makes sense for them to have something current and halfway professional to find. I update my blog almost daily, but as long as you put something up once a week in the early days, you should be fine. The main benefit of blogging, for me though, has been the sense of support and community I’ve found among fellow writers. I’m based in the UK but write in a genre (YA urban fantasy) that is much bigger in the US, so for me it’s important to find like-minded souls who have at least some of the same goals.
Other deadlines for pre-published authors could involve critiques for fellow writers. I resisted this whole process at first, but not only is it invaluable to receive feedback on your own writing – especially in the early days – it’s also good practice to beta-read for others. And by providing a solid idea of when they can expect your feedback not only do you hone your own craft, but you also get used to the idea of working to an external deadline.
So what do we do while we’re waiting for feedback from beta-readers, agents and editors? We set our own ‘internal’ deadlines. For example, in my situation I have my first YA manuscript on submission to editors – this process is entirely out of my hands and in the capable grasp of Agent Dame. Just hearing that something is out of my control starts a whole cycle of palpitations and palm-sweating (me? a control freak? *g*), but there is nothing I can do at this stage. I wrote the best book I possibly could; I revised it and revised it and revised it some more; and then my agent wrestled it from my rigid fingers gently took it from me and sent it out into the Big Wide Publishing World. 
What’s a writer to do in this situation? Why, the one thing we can do… we write. We write something new or we write an outline for a sequel, we revise a completed manuscript or we research cool ideas… but whatever we do, we write. And always be alert for opportunities that will help you to grow as a writer – if I hadn’t been awake to such chances, I wouldn’t have my first professional publication coming up later this year in THE ETERNAL KISS (an anthology of YA vampire stories due for publication September 2009).
Over the holiday period my ‘writing well’ ran pretty dry, but the New Year brings a new start and fresh energy. In February I’ll be revising another manuscript to get it submission-ready, and then I return to a new world I’ve been creating. A non-writer friend said to me just the other day, “No writing is ever wasted,” and I believe he was right. No writing is ever wasted, and it’s important that we set our own writing deadlines – whatever stage we’re at in the often unpredictable world of publishing – and do our best to stick to them. Good luck with yours for 2009!
I don’t have a book of my own to use as a contest prize (yet!), so to celebrate the launch of the Deadline Dames I’m giving away the last book I read and loved: an ARC of Melissa Marr‘s FRAGILE ETERNITY – her third tale of Faerie, which won’t be released in the US until April 2009. To be in with a chance of winning, just recommend a book you’ve read so far in 2009. (I love book recs.) Comments must be made on this entry by midnight Pacific Standard Time Friday, January 30th. Winners will be announced on Saturday January 31st, 3:00 pm Pacific Standard Time. I’ll ship overseas, so don’t let that stop you.
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Tags: Contests, Karen Mahoney
Oh, great first post my lovely. You handled your first Dames post amazingly and no you are definitely not a control freak. *grin* I think that even subconsciously we get deadlines going on. In the 21st century if you don’t have a schedule of deadlines going, you are toast.
The book I read this January that is worth recommending is “Seaborn”. I was quite hyped to finish it. It has underwater battles, necromancers and you see things you never would have though. Quite radical and cool.
another great dames post!
i love recommending books and its great to get other peoples view on that book…cause iam like really loved that book because…and the person ive recommended it to is are you crazy!!its great because…
well my recommend is-MARIA LIMA-blood bargin and matters of the blood
i was hooked by page 2 with the first book then i got to chapter 3 and went on amazon and got the 2nd!!
let me know what you think
becca
uk
xxx
Hey Karen. I am not going to be greedy, I have already been lucky enough to have won a competition in honour of your awesomeness.
I did however want to tell you that I read a few great books this year but I wanted to recommended Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta (who was announced the Winner of the Printz Award today for Jellicoe Road.) It’s a departure for her as it’s a fantasy novel but the characterisation is fantastic.
Great post – I am currently running entirely off my own steam, which means I’m having to rely solely on my own deadlines. I’m currently aiming to finish my first draft of the WIP before the end of February, ready to start editing in conjunction with the beginning of NaNoEdMo. I’m in the UK too, and I know exactly what you mean about being able to reach out across the water to find people who actually know, for example, what paranormal and futuristic romances are… *sigh*
As for a recommendation, I have two. The best non-fiction book from this year is definitely The Writer’s Tale by Russell T Davies – something which brings two things very close to my heart together as Doctor Who and writing collide! As for fiction, Samantha Graves’ Sight Unseen was fantastic.
I am currently reading For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper and it is a fun read so far.
Margay
http://margayleahjustice.com
Brilliant first post m’dear. Setting yourself up at this stage with deadlines is probably one of the best things you can do if you think about it. You’re putting in place some great habbits for the future. Thanks for reminding me.
(No need to add me to the contest.)
The only book I’ve read so far in 2009 is At Grave’s End, but it was fabulous. My TBR pile is huge, but I’ve been holding off on it as a carrot to finish the book I’m working on. When it’s done I’ll probably spend a week doing nothing but ready.
Awesome blog, litte friend! It’s the deadlines that matter, for sure. And the every bit of writing matters too. I try and sneak in as much as I can on my own WIP when I have a few minutes to spare at Real Life work.
I am not entering to win (although…Melissa Marr) but I am entering to say that I’ve picked up a copy of Harry, A History by Melissa Anelli which has had me in floods of tears. It is the history of Harry Potter and JKR’s writing of the novels, the publishing behind it, the story of it. It is wonderfully written and a very good read – take it from me, I am not a big HP fan but I appreciate the amazing fandom him and his mates have generated.
Then, another book I’m excited about is The Thirteen Treasures by Michelle Harrison – which has been nominated for the Waterstones Children’s Prize.
I’ll go now, after taking over the comments section.
Liz xx
Fab, first post, Karen
My favourite book so far of 2009 is Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand. I love all her books and found it great to revisit her world, my only complaint is I read it too fast! LOL!
Good luck with those deadlines! *slinks off to battle with her own deadlines*
Hi Adele, you can totally be entered. Why not?
And thanks very much for the rec. I’ve heard of Jellicoe Road, but not this one – sounds great!
Great post, Karen! I’m not all that great at setting (or sticking to) deadlines, but this inspires me to try.
I’m behind the rest of the world in reading WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, which I just finished last weekend. It’s a wonderful story, well-told.
Wow! Who knew you knew so much new stuff? I’m impressed. That was actually informative.
Srsly ™, nice post. I can commiserate/celebrate with you as we’re very close in our publishing journey.
I recommend Paper Towns by John Green. That Son of a… I mean, fine gentlemen wrote an AWESOME story. Again.
*facepalm* Sorry, forgot to add my rec. It’s kinda redundant to recommend any for you because you’ve read all the books I’ve read so far this year!
Magic to the Bone we all know is made of awesome, that X-men novel by Marjorie M. Liu I read for a lark was surprisingly good, Marked by PC and Kristen Cast had some good ideas in it, the Twilight Saga is my new guilty pleasure, and I’ve just started Wicked Lovely which you’ve obviously read too. Lol. You always seem to get there first!
I just read Justin Gustainis’ Evil Ways. This is a terrific story. Everyone should read it
What a great first post.
A book I’ve read in 2009? Ack! The year just started…okay, I’m reading Lisa Shearin’s MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND right now and I’m loving it. Does that count?
Being one of the Dames, I can’t enter the drawing for Melissa Marr’s book, but I can still do a Homer Simpson drool over the idea of getting an ARC of it.
I’ve got a great big pile of books calling out my name, but until I turn in my book due Feb 1, I can’t allow myself to read them. However, I did sneak in a read of Rob Thurman’s NIGHTLIFE, and now I have a whole new series to be addicted to. Awesome book!
It’s been a busy first month if the year for me, so my pool of books to choose from to recommend isn’t that large. Out of what I’ve read so far, I would pick the anthology Witch High as my fav. Like with all short story collections, some of the stories shine brighter than others, but as a whole it is a strong collection and a fun read about witches in high school.
Great first post, btw. Love this new blog! You Dames are awesome.
I just finished reading a bound galley Angels’Blood, the first book in Nalini Singh’s new Guild Hunter series, and I absolutely loved it. Highly recommended.
Another great Dames post. I am so glad I found this site. In 2009 I have started reading the Alphabet Series by Sue Grafton and they are great mystery novels. I also just finished The Accidental It Girl by Libby Street and I love it. Happy Reading!
You’ve done really well in this first post!
It’s nice to see both sides of the coin: the published and soon-to-be published. We get a better understanding of the whole process like this. So thanks.
I haven’t read many books so far, since it’s only January but of those I did read I would have to recommend The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I think not only it’s Gaiman at his best but it’s also one hell of a YA fantasy book.
In December I read the frist four books in the House of Night series by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast:
Marked
Betrayed
Chosen
Untamed
I LOVE this series
Oops, okay for 2009 I’ve read these books:
Red Handed & Blacklisted by Gena Showalter
Glass Houses (Book One in the Morganville Vampires series) by Rachel Caine
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
They all rocked!!!
Jim C. Hines’s The Stepsister Scheme is a twist on some favorite fairy tales and very much fun. Think fantasy Charlie’s Angels, kinda.
I’m in the middle of Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora, which I’m also enjoying, trad fantasy meets Ocean’s Eleven.
I’m noticing a trend here.
I’ve been very lucky so far this year and have read some really good books. The one that stands out is Megan Hart’s STRANGER. Wonderful, amazing – just loved it!
Terrific post, Karen! And huzzah for THE ETERNAL KISS! And man, I so hear you about having no control once something is on submission. Sigh…
Great post, Kaz! I’m currently reading Road Trip of the Living Dead by Mark Henry. It’s hilarious.
Excellent post and congratulations on your first publication!
I’ve been on a book reading binge since the new year. My favorites so far have been: Veil of Midnight by Lara Adrian, At Grave’s End by Jeaniene Frost, and Richelle Mead’s Succubus series.
Great first post, Karen!
I’m going to have to recommend one of your fellow Dame’s new release: Pride by Rachel Vincent.
Great post! I think my favorite read of 2009 is At Grave’s End by Jeaniene Frost, Unquiet Dreams by Mark del franco comes a close second though.
At the moment I’m reading A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix and it is really good so far.
Books are like LAYS. You cant recommend just one. *g* I’d recommend: SERVANT: THE AWAKENING by L.L. Foster, WATCHERS IN THE NIGHT by Jenna Black, The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy – and Why They Matter by Marc Bekoff, any book by Richard Laymon (the Beast House series is good) and THE ASSOCIATION by Bentley Little.
I’m reading a lot of paranormal and horror these days.
Another great post! My list is too large at the moment
“Keep writing” is the most valuable piece of advice I’ve ever given or gotten. And really, that’s what this whole thing boils down to, right?
The Heretic’s Daughter is historical fiction, but it’s a great read. I would have suggested a paranormal, but I haven’t read any yet in 2009, although it’s one of my favorite genres.
Kaaarrreeeeeennnn, I want that FE ARC! XD
I read an amazing book in preparation for my reviews on the weekend. It’s DAUGHTER OF THE FLAME by Zoe Marriott. Great internal struggle for a fantasy piece, and her world-building for a Middle-Eastern-inspired, non-Eurocentric world really worked for the story.
Great post!
And a Fragile Eternity Arc?? Rockin price!!!
My favorite book so far in 2009 was
Wake by Lisa McMann. I really enjoyed this one!!
Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells. It’s an urban fantasy that will be released next month, I think. Enjoyed the blend of mystery, humor, & drama.
I love Melissa Marr’s books! I can’t wait for this one.
This month I have read more than a few books that I would recommend to others, including one of my favorite ones, ‘Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband’ by Melissa Mayhue. Great story, witty, charming, and sexy, and it’s set in Scotland, so what’s not to love, right?!
I just finished Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers. It’s an incredible YA novel. The voice is so spot on and intense that I literally couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended.
I love all kinds of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, as long as it has something out of the ordinary, I’m in.
I know it’s not very original, but I’ve just finished reading the Twilight Saga (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn) by Stephenie Meyer. She’s a great writer and the books are fresh and thoughtful…very well written.
Now I’m moving on to Keri Arthur’s Destiny Kills and I’m super excited about it!
Well I haven’t had much time to read lately- exam time- but the last book I read was Jeaniene Frost’s At Grave’s End. Absolutely loved it! Usually when I read a series, the first book is my favourite, and the others just don’t have that same “I love it” factor. But that doesn’t happen with her books. Romance and action and personality!
Melissa Marr is one of my favorite writers that I discovered last year. However, my recommendation is not fiction. Hope that doesn’t hurt!
I recently finished Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder. Although geared toward screenwriters, it has advice that most any writer could follow. And it was a fun read.
I’m so ready to meet some of my deadlines, just so I can say I’ve accomplished something. I have for days to finish this round of edits and get the ms back to my editor.
Best book I’ve read this year? I’d have to say Heather Graham’s The Death Dealer – now out in paperback. Got ghosts? Oh yeah! Though Julie Leto’s The Phantom’s Touch was a close second.
Nice post. It’s always good to get the soon to be contracted author’s perspective on things. And it makes for an easy follow up post once you get all your new deadlines
Since I know you’ve already read the Kim Harrison, I’ll have to second the recommendation for Jim C Hines’s The Stepsister Scheme.
As far as recommendations, you already know what I’ve read this year
Books to recommend. The list is lengthy already!
Deader Still by Anton Strout
White Witch Black Curse by Kim Harrison
Pride by Rachel Vincent
I could keep going. really! I can’t wait for your book to come out!
Just finished At Graves End!! By Jeaniene Frost. I love this series so much. Awesome character and it always keeps me guessing.
I also read Graceling by Kristen Cashorn, so so good. She’s also coming out with two more books based before and after this one takes place. Loved it.
Great post! And what a fantastic prize! (Dame Rinda, who is now wondering how she can sneak in here to win that book!!)
Well, so far I have read quite a few books this year. I generally adverage 1 book a day, but my own DEADLINES! AAAHHH! Have gotten in the way and I’ve only ready about 15. That said….I recomend 3 different books that are all in the same series. The 4th book comes out in April 2009.
Touch the Dark ~ Karen Chance
Claimed by Shadow ~ Karen Chance
Embrace the Night ~ Karen Chance
If you haven’t read them yet, I hope you enjoy them, if you have already read them then I hope you enjoyed them.
By the way, it was a great post!
Great post! Thanks!
I’ll also recommend Megan Hart’s Stranger. It’s a fabulous book (as are all of her novels), and Hart consistently delivers with strong heroines and powerful story lines.
That was a fantastic first post. Let’s see books I’ve read in 2009. I devour them all so quickly and enjoy them to the nth degree, it’s hard to pick just one. Each book I read drags me into its world and I get absolutely lost to it. But anyway that’s getting off topic, a book that I read this month, since we are not that far into 2009, that I highly recommend is Pride by Rachel Vincent. It’s the third in her Werecats series. The other two are
Prey (1st) and Rogue (2nd)
Although if you prefer vampires, Jeaniene Frost has her new series that is fantabulous!! Her lastest release is An Early Grave book 3 in the Night Huntress Series the first two are
Halfway to the Grave (1st) and One foot in the Grave (2nd)
Of course that’s only the simple version, vampires, werecats, I read many more books in the supernatural world. Let me know your prefernce for supernatural creatures and I can list a book like that too!
I just found Rachel Vincents’s Pride at Barnes and Noble yesterday and I’m getting ready to start reading.
Oh scratch that third title from Jeaniene Frost. I goofed and listed the 4th title which isn’t released yet. The actual thrid title for Jeaniene’s book is At Grave’s End.
Sorry for the confusion!
What a fantastic first post! This is a great and broad look at an aspiring author’s life – or, rather, what an aspiring author’s life _who is serious about getting into the biz_ should look like (imho).
You rock! I can’t wait to read all your future contributions!
I’ve recently read and enjoyed JR Ward’s Dark Lover. (hee hee)
Great post!!
I very much enjoyed reading it Karen.
I haven’t had much time to read so far this month. The only book I can recommend that I read this month is Breaking Dawn which I absolutely loved!!!!
Now, of course, you would have to start with and read the first three books in the series. Those books are Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse.
Another series that is awesome is the Black Dager Brotherhood books by JR Ward!! There are quite a few books in this series so far and it’s worth reading! They’re about vamps…oh yeah…big, strong, sexy vampires!!!
It starts with Dark Lover then there’s Lover Eternal, Lover Awakened, Lover Revealed, Lover Unbound, Lover Enshrined, and due out in April is Lover Avenged. There is The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider’s Guide that came out last October which is a tell all about the Brotherhood plus it has a short story in it.
I really loved this post, especially the part about rigid fingers!
I wish someone had impressed on me when I was starting out how important it is to set your own deadlines while waiting for responses. It can be REALLY HARD to do this, and to keep faith. Personally I think the ability to keep moving on regardless separates the dames from the non-dames, as it were. So, well done for forging ahead!
Here’s to a wonderful 2009!
You have persuaded me to come over from your blog and after this post I will wander back and see what’s up here.
It’s been a crazy year but so far the best book I have read s The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. A fast read, interesting, not quite as “deep” as I had expected. I’m mired in other things but next up is The Graveyard Book- it’s on my TBR and after seeing that it has won the Newbury I am skipping it to the top.
Awesome post, Dame Kaz
It’s really interesting to hear about deadlines and how they apply to everyone from the seasoned vets to the newbies.
(And duh, don’t enter me in the contest! I’ve got my own [i]Fragile Eternity[/i]
)
I recently read Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy. It’s about a woman who finds herself in the hospital after a car accident and she has amnesia. This was a first for be by Ted Dekker, very suspenseful thriller with many twists and turns.
Most recently I read and really enjoyed T.A. Pratt’s Poison Sleep. It’s book two in the Marla Mason series, and was really entertaining and different!
Great blog Kaz!:D
I’ve read lots of great books lately, one of my favorites was Falling by Cameron Dane. It’s a m/m story with a paranormal twist that really worked for me.
I just finished At Graves End by Jeaniene Frost love this series and this one was awesome.
I’m really enjoying this blog. It is fun for me to read authors’ thoughts on writing.
I loved the two of Marr’s books that I’ve read and I bet the third is great.
My reading for the year has gotten off to a slow start but I enjoyed Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips and I’ve just started People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. It looks like a really good one.
I’m trying really hard to establish deadlines, it is definitely not my strongest ability, but I am serious about becoming a published author so I continue to work at it.
My only read so far this year was Laurell K. Hamilton’s “Swallowing Darkness”. I enjoyed how the story helped developed the main character, and I look forward to the next in the series.
YAY for the blog.
As for reading, my current recommendation would be Mean Streets which is a compilation of four UF novellas, a Harry Dresden story included!!!
Jana
I loved Neil Gaiman’s Graveyard Book, and would recommend it to anyone. It turns out, I was right to think it was great, because it just won the Newberry.
I read a few books worth recommending so far this month.
Lois McMaster Bujold’s Curse of Chalion is an awesome fantasy story, paralleling history. It had adventure, intrigue, and a touch of romance.
Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock has the most realistic tomboy voice I have ever heard. This is a YA story, and is amazing.
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen deals with a tough subject matter, but is very well-done. It became my favorite of the books by her I’ve read.
I appreciate each authors efforts to help others write. No one person has all the answers to how to write. Some sit down & do it. Just put it on the page. Others outline. Others plot on Post-Its. If you have published a book there is no wrong way. I wish I had not waited so long to try. But, hey, I’m not dead yet. Reading Christine Feehans book Wild Rain. Bought as many of her books as I could find and start with the oldest in the set.
Thanks so much!
I just read The Stepsister Scheme. Great post.
I just finished the 7th book in Simon R. Green’s Nightside series. Pretty entertaining book.
That is a good question! I love book pimpage..
Awesome book PRIDE ** but you already knew that**
I really loved City of Bones and City of Ashes..
Waiting sooooo not patiently for City of Glass by Cassandra Clare. YA
I am reading Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side right now.. Stacey Jay, She has written under a different 2 names (I don’t know what) before. This her first book under this name.
So far it pretty good. also YA
well I have rambled on enough
One book that I read this year that I really enjoyed was Eternal Seduction by Jennifer Turner. Information about he book can be found at: http://www.darknesswithinnovels.com/books.html
I enjoyed it so much that I even blogged a review of it at: http://willows-inner-thoughts.blogspot.com/2009/01/willows-book-review-eternal-seduction.html
I highly recommend Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series. I’ve just finished reading Bloodfever and it was fantastic. About to start the third in the series, FaeFever.
Her Highlander series is also a great read.
I read Testimony by Anita Shreve. It was interesting, but her style of writing is different. She jumps around a lot and doesn’t have a lot of dialogue, which turns some readers off. The story pulled me in though. It’s about a sex scandal at a private school.
Deidre
I’ve only read a small handful of books this year so far (I’m sooo slacking in my reading) but In the Blood by Adrian Phoenix was great. :^)
I would rec,
Succubus Blues-Richelle Mead
Undone-Brooke Taylor
I love undone, and after it was rec. on one of Rachel Vincents blogs, I finally got my hands on it!!
Lovely post! I’d recommend Maggie Steifvater’s LAMENT for the wonderful romantic banter between its characters, though I know you’ve already read it. Oh, and outside of the YA genre, I just finished INVISIBLE MONSTERS by Chuck Palahniuk and was blown away by his voice and imagination. A seriously weird book, sometimes disturbing, but really well written.
Correction: Stiefvater, not Steifvater.
The most recent fantasy that I read and loved is Richelle Mead’s Succubus on Top. It’s addictive, like all fantasy books should be
I am LOVING Dame Devon’s Magic to the Bone but haven’t finished it yet (it’s so good I have to read it slow) and recommending it seems mighty redundant. hehe
But I got my hands on an advance copy of The Kingmaking by Helen Hollick, a great tale about King Arthur. It won’t be out until March but in spite of my favoritism toward the PNR & UF genre it was an enjoyable step outside that. Lots of sword fighting and intrigue.
Hmmmm…. I don’t have fav books per say but I will tell you what I’ve read this year:
- Twilight saga
- Marked saga by PC & Kristin Cast
- Jaz Parks Series by Jennifer Rardin
and finally Mellisa Marr’s Wicked lovely and ink exchange
Oh and I also have Rachel’s Pride on order at waterstones.
And i read all of these on the bus to and from college (2 hours each way)
I am LOVING all these comments – thanks so much for the wonderful recommendations. Please keep them coming! I’ve almost filled a page in my notebook with the list…
A book I’ve read so far this year that I really liked is Scream For Me by Karen Rose. It’s a great book, especially if you like suspense.
Hi Karen! Great first post.
Well, I’ve been having great luck with the books I’ve been reading so far in ’09. I’m going to recommend DEAD TO ME by Anton Strout. I’m also reading STRAY by Rachel Vincent at the moment, which is great!
Have a great day.
The best book I’ve read so far this year — in fact, I just got it in the mail today and devoured it in a few hours — is Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand, by Carrie Vaughn. As usual, this latest entry in the Kitty series is full of taut, clean writing, excellent plotting, wonderful characterization, and great description. I recommend it totally.
Thanks for the great post.
I recommend Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine. This is a great series.
Good luck with your writing, Im definitely going to be on the lookout for your upcoming release.
I recommend Lonely Werewolf Girl by Martin Millar. The author is this cute old man with a wicked sense of humor. Two funny things about him is that he’s a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan (and it shows in his work) and he suffers from agoraphobia.
Good luck with your deadlines. I’m putting your name on my list of wish list authors.
I look books and reading, just ask my husband
The latest series I have started is The Southern Vampires series by Charlaine Harris. I have read through book 1 and 2 in about 4 days and have started book 3. The books are action packed and full of excitement.
I read Stray and Rogue by Rachel Vincent at the begining of the new year and can’t wait for Pride to come out.
Melissa de la Cruz’s 3rd book of the Blue Bloods series, Revelations is waiting for me to begin it. I have to finish the Southern Vampires series first so Revelation will have to wait just a little longer.
This is great to read book recs in one place from people that love the same types of books as you do!!!
I really liked First Shot by Zoe Sharp. Charlie is not your typical here–she’s an ex-soldier who thinks she’s probably a little too sanguine about killing. I wasn’t expecting to like it quite so much. (I wish I were better at describing what I liked about this but alas, not one of the writers.)
I love Melissa Marr. Just saying.
Typical hero. Nice spelling, Collette. (I need my own editor.)
Without going into gory detail about the books I’ve read so far this year, I thoroughly enjoyed Anton Strout’s “Dead To Me”.
It’s a great indicator of a rollicking good read when fellow passengers look at you askance on the train home, as if you’ve just escaped from the mad house, simply because you cannot stop sniggering and laughing out loud over the book you’ve got clutched in one sweaty hand while desperately clinging to a handrail with the other. Potential falling-over-and-landing-in-someone’s-lap jostling from the clunky means of public transport is ignored. Suddenly, it’s not blazingly hot and blindingly bright. All Summer inconveniences are forgotten while giggling over the adventures of the hero. And you’re only on the first chapter.
Good luck with your first publication!
I loved At Graves End by Jeaniene Frost can’t wait for the next Cat and Bones adventure, and Lora Leigh’s Only Pleasure wonderful books! I also can’t wait to get my hands on Pride due to the nasty weather it was delayed hopefully ups will be at my door tomorrow =)
Ok I can’t post all the books I’ve read this year already because I would really really embarrass myself badly. However out of those I would recommend these:
Jenna Black’s Devils Due (I have read all of hers but that one stuck)
Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series (just finished the 3rd Shadow Kissed ahh heartbreak)
Kelley Armstrong’s Living with the Dead (was cool to read from several character’s perspectives)
Hi! Thanks for the post! It’s got me thinking about some of the great books that I’ve read in the last while. If we’re only counting the books from this year, then I would have to say, “Night Life” and Hunter’s Prayer” by Lilith Saintcrow. I’m really looking forward to the third one.
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn, was really really amazing!
And I read Paper Towns by John Green that was pretty good.
If your into graphic novels The Good Neighbors by Holly Black was an awesome fey story.
Everyone needs to buy Jamie Ford’s THE HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET.
Oh, one I’ve read? Moh, Rachel Vincent’s PRIDE. But I stand by my assertion that you should buy Jaime Ford’s book.
I just read an urban fantasy novel that came out a while ago, Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews. It’s now one of my absolute favourites. I love the mix of new and old in the setting, characters, plot, and all the little details that make a great story. Amazing characters.
Great post, Dame Kaz. Melissa Marr Arc! Awesome! I’m reading The Devouring by Simon Holt and I love it.
Although I didn’t read this book in 2009 I did read it’s sequel. I recommend Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. It’s an amazing book full of adventure and a little bit of romance. And it also features a butt-kicking heroine.
I’m just finishing Stardust. I’ve started it a hundred times and never finished it, but this year I’m going to do it. Gaiman just won the Newbery too! WOOT! Anyhoo… can’t recommend it highly enough, for the 12 people out there who haven’t already read it. I think it is surpassing The Mists of Avalon as my favorite book evah!
I rec ANYONE BUT YOU by Jennifer Crusie. Hilarious! I also just finished DEAD UNTIL DARK by Harris, but I’m probably the last person in the world to read that, LOL.
I love YA urban fantasy–can’t wait to read yours!
What great advice. Thank you. I just read Blood Confession by Alisa Libby which is based on the life of Erzebet Bathory, a 17th century hungarian countess who bathed in the blood of young women to keep herself young. It’s not for the faint of heart, but an amazing read.
Today, I finished Havemercy by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett.
It was a wonderful speculative fiction novel with magic-fueled metal dragons. A great story!
I just finished reading the first three books in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs and loved it! Now I’m awaiting her next book Bone Crossed along with a ton of other new releases next month!
I just read Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta because it was so highly recommended by my cousin and I LOVED it.
I love love loved “Perfect Chemistry” by Simone Elkeles. It was a new age take on Romeo and Juliet, which is one of my all time favorite stories. If you haven’t read it yet, you definitely should.
I’ve recently finished Richelle Mead’s Succubus series which was fantastic. Oh, and I’m definitely looking forward to reading White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison!!! As Well as Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs.
I recently read Keri Arthur’s Destiny Kills and I loved it.
The last (good) book that I read was the Goose Girl by Shannon Hale — I liked it a lot better than some of the other fairy-tale retellings I read (most of which fell into the same patterns, again, and again, and again…). The writing was actually very good, I’ll have to read Book of a Thousand Days next. =]
Lovely post and giveaway! I’ll second that recommendation of PERFECT CHEMISTRY and mention that so far this year I’ve also enjoyed NEED by Carrie Jones.
[...] ALERT -Karen Mahoney is giving away a copy of Melissa Marr’s third Fae novel, Fragile Eternity, as part of her debut over at [...]
I read and loved Pride by Rachel Vincent. It is the 3rd book in her Werecat series. I would rate it not quite as good as her first book but better than the seocnd book.
I really liked Denise Rossetti’s The Flame and the Shadow. While I don’t think it is her best book yet, it’s quite good, and the cover is beautiful!
I really enjoyed Dawnkeepers by Jessica Andersen. Her mythology (Mayan calendar, 2012) and characters are very interesting. I also have read the 1st 2 Marr books and am looking forward to the 3rd.
I’m looking forward to reading your anthology piece when it does come out.
I’m a bit late to the party, but I recently read Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. It is, in a word, brilliant. Wonderful characterisation, great plot, awesome twist – fun times. I would recommend it to anyone. Also, read it before they inevitably ruin it with the proposed movie adaptation – it would take a supremely talented filmmaker and scriptwriter to capture the nuances!
I have read a few books so far this year but my fav so far is: Mark Del Franco’s Unfallen Dead.
I love Connor Grey and his world. NOW the dead is walking around boston – too cool.
Note – i am limiting my pick to only books i have read this year (2009).
Enjoyed reading your post! I just got done reading High Seas Stowaway by Amanda McCabe. Great book!
Some excellent advice, Kaz, as well as good self-discipline. Go, you!
As for recs, I’m way behind but I loved Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones.
And a Melissa Marr ARC…OMG!!!
Some books that I have really enjoyed this year are Jeaniene Frost’s At Grave’s End, Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine, and Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. All really great books.
Wow, what a great prize!
Hi there! I’m so happy I’ve discovered this blog! I love urban fantasy, and most of the authors here I’ve either read or put on my TBR list! Anyway, one book I’ve read and enjoyed in 2009 was Nancy Werlin’s Impossible. It’s based upon the old ballad “Scarborough Fair,” and is sort of a YA romantic fantasy.
My younger brother actually recommended this series to me The Immortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare. I read City of Ashes earlier this month and really enjoyed it.
I just finished the first two of Nora Roberts ‘Star’ series – now I have to find the third book in the series!
It’s a good thing I’ve started tracking what I’m reading in Mark Henry’s yahoo group (the glamazombies–seriously, check us out). I’m notorious at forgetting what novels I’ve read. Of what I’ve finished this month (which includes a Richelle Mead Succubus novel and Mark del Franco’s series starter Unshapely Things), for you, I’d recommend Revealers, by Amanda Marrone. It’s a YA about a group of witches dedicated to purging the world of demons, werewolves, vampires, and sundry other supernatural baddies. But, of course, things aren’t as simple as they seem, and as the girls all turn eighteen and get let in on the big reveal, Jules, the youngest by a few weeks, who will be the last to learn the truth, has to decide whether to trust the coven’s inner circle, or her friends.
I finished The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C. Hines last week and LOVED it. If you like kick butt female characters then it is the book for you. It takes fairy tale princess stories and turns them on their heads. I look forward to the next in the series.
I am a huge Nora Roberts fan and I just came across Chesapeake Bay which is the conclusion to the Quinn brothers books. I LOVED it.
Congratulations! I can only imagine the thrill of having that first book published.
The best books I have read this year are:
Blind Alley by Iris Johansen
Divided In Death by J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts)
I’ve just read the first four Codex Alera books by Jim Butcher. The fifth is on its way this very moment. Love them!
My recommendation is the book that’s haunting my mind right, the one I just finished. A Witch’s Beauty by Joey W. Hill. An erotic paranormal romance between a descendant of the sea witch from The Little Mermaid story & an angel (who killed himself when he was a human at age 14, he’s 30 now) that made me want to slow down my page flipping so I wouldn’t have to leave Mina & David so soon. Occasionally I had to put the book down just to sit back, sigh, and absorb everything that was going on inside the words.
I love Mina’s character. She’s scarred inside and out, totally abrasive and prickly as a cactus but David won’t let her push him away. There’s wonderful stuff in the book about the darkness inside her and learning how to balance that so it doesn’t overtake her completely. Not removing the darkness but balancing the dark and light.
This is a sequel to A Mermaid’s Kiss and while I liked that book okay I wasn’t able to really connect with the main characters in it. It was the few scenes with Mina & David (including their first meeting) that really hooked me and had me rushing to order A Witch’s Beauty as soon as it was over. I’m so glad I did, it’s a new favorite and I want to go re-read all my favorite parts right now.
So far this year I’ve re-read Stray and Rogue by Rachel Vincent (though I’m sure you’ve already read those).
But at the end of last year I read The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks and I loved it. Night Life by Caitlin Kittredge is great. So is Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews. Also, I’m picking up Men of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong tonight. I have yet to read it but it sounds very promising.
I love giving out book recommendations. Lol.
So far this year I’ve read… Hmm. Karen Chance’s Claimed by Shadow and Embrace the Dark; Ilona Andrews’ Magic Bites and Magic Burns, Kelley Armstrong’s Exit Strategy; Lilith Saintcrow’s Working for the Devil; and Carrie Vaungh’s Kitty and the Midnight Hour.
Not bad a start, eh?
Out of these, Exit Strategy stood out for many reasons, amongst which the fact that it is not UF, but a thriller. Nadia Stafford is a hitwoman, used to be a cop. I loved her character, so well defined, trying to get used to the fact that for once, she can’t do the job on her own but has to work with other hitmen.
Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, well-known, but great.
I work in a Borders and I recommend Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith to anyone looking for a good YA read. I can’t wait for her next one. I’m also interested in seeing where Robin Wasserman takes her Skinned series next. While I might have a few problems with the pacing in parts, the future society she’s created is terribly compelling.
I was lucky enough to read a ARC of Cynthia Eden’s new book – Immortal Danger. I’d loved it. The heroine and hero are so kick-ass and perfect for each other. Everyone should go pick it up when it comes out in April 2009.
I just finished reading Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland. I highly recommend it.