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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

This Week: In Diana's Head

What's been shakin this summer...

Well, honestly, not me, and not as much as I'd like. LOL I've been doing a few things with the family (frightening, I know), getting ready to revamp my main site (again! hahah) and in general trying to write as much as I can with the boy home for summer. So far, in truth, I haven't done all that badly. I've even been playing Star Wars: Battlefront with him. Of course, I have no game coordination, so the bottom line is I suck and he kills me like a Thanksgiving turkey all the time, but it's fun and he's been having a blast spending time with mom.

Recently, I was asked to write a story I'd never considered for an antho. Not a big deal, but the story line is one that I probably wouldn't have come up with on my own. It's out of the norm. It's not even paranormal! I know! Shocking! But it's made me think, how often do we challenge ourselves to go outside of the box? And not just with something like writing.

Are you one of those people who try new physical adventures? Skydiving? (I don't get the concept of jumping out of a perfectly sound plane, but that's me. LOL!) What about traveling somewhere you've never been? A new shopping center really doesn't count, folks. Nice try. *g*

I'd like to think I'm an out of the box kind of person, not deterred by challenges. I love to travel, love to see new places, meet new people. I'm not adventurous enough for the really physical sports, like speed walking (Joking!) Like wall climbing, really, but I'd like to think given the opportunity, I'd try something different, or facsimile there of.

What do you think? Are you willing to take a chance to go out of the box? What are some of the things you've discovered by accident, dare or challenge? I'd love to hear from you.

Monday, June 28, 2010

2011 Bookie Awards? There's only one way to vote!


Want yet another reason to attend AAD 2010 this year? How about helping to usher in a new romance award? That’s right this year’s attendees will be the sole nominators of the Bookie Awards!

The Bookie Awards is a by readers award, nominated and voted by READERS, the ones that really matter! The Bookie Awards will be given at Authors After Dark 2011 in a fantastic ceremony Friday afternoon.

Winners will receive a fantastic award, a specially designed and made bracelet with a sterling silver book charm on it, as well as a certificate.

Readers at the event this year will be nominating books from 2010 in categories such as Best Vampire novel, Best Werewolf novel, Best historical Novel, Best M/M Novel, Best Erotic Romance, several categories of best short stories, Best debut author, best series in a number of categories, Best Hero, Best heroine, Best couple and many others!

At AAD this year we will be giving out ballots, and then in October we will be announcing the nominees as chosen by YOU the reader (well if your at the con that is) and November we will be opening voting for the readers to pick the crème of the crop.

Interested in helping us make award ceremony history? Well you gotta attend the event this year! Registration is still open at http://aadromanceunlimited.com Yep, just another reason why you WANT to come to the con this year!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Want reasons to go to Authors After Dark? Then read on....

Authors After Dark is the premier FOR READERS BY AUTHORS event. Why? Why does it differ from other cons out there? Well heres a helpful list of WHY:

~AAD is the cheapest con out there that FEEDS YOU 5 MEALS. For the $140 registration, you get 5 meals(2 lunch, 2 dinner and 1 breakfast). NO other con is doing it for that price

~ AAD is the only con that offers a full vegetarian option for all meals. not just a veggie plate, you will have choices like veggie wraps, salads, pasta dishes...

~ AAD is the ONLY romance con that is doing a GLBT track and have GLBT publishers sponsoring and supporting. Readers will be treated to some of the best GLBT authors out there on panels, and doing parties, and over 200 GLBT books are being given away from MLR press! Other publishers involved include Dreamspinner Press, Phaze and Loose id.

~AAD is giving away over 2400 free books to attendees! Books from such amazing publishers as Kensington Books, Ballantine, Dorchester, Phaze, Tease Publishing, Changeling Press, Ink Spotters and MLR Press!

~AAD has some special book giveaways as well, opportunities you wont find anywhere else! Authors like Joey W Hill, Rosemary Laurey, Jacquelyn Frank, Susan Sizemore and tons of others! Attendees can expect Special signed books, tshirt's and ARC's galore!

~AAD is doing a fantastic charity basket raffle with over 50 baskets! Attendees can win such amazing baskets as Kate Douglas' back list, a fabulous book basket from Gena Showalter or Maggie Shayne, ARC's and special goodies from Cynthia Eden, a much coveted goodie basket from Joey W. Hill and many more! And this year you can enter to win a NOOK, itouch and maybe even an IPAD!!!!

~AAD is the ONLY romance con that treats Bloggers like royalty! Bloggers (like the booksellers at RT) will have their own welcome event Thursday night, including each receiving a special bag of books (ARC's, single signed books and special premium promo items) and some amazing opportunities to interview authors! The Blogger party will be populated by Authors, industry and staff, so you will be guests of honor!

~AAD is the only con that offers FREE ALCOHOL (Wine and mixed drinks) for the entire weekend! Also, AAD is the only Romance con that has a Con suite where attendees can visit all weekend, get snacks, goodies and enjoy author sponsored events!

~AAD's night parties are second to NONE! Our friday event has games and speed authoring, sure to give you the face time you want with the authors you love, special door prizes and a room full of fortune tellers, our fantastic Mystical Maven's event! And Saturday? A Masquerade party with a costume theme of Literary characters! And you could with an amazingly fab prize for winning the costume contest, so stay tuned for that.

That not enough reasons? Well how about out attending authors! they include: Jacquelyn Frank, Silvia Day, Susan Sizemore, Joey W Hill, Jennifer Armintrout, Judi Fennell, Rosemary Laurey, Bianca D'Arc, Leanna Renee Hieber, Caridad Pineiro, and some of the stars of the GLBT world Carol Lynne, Laura Baumbach, Kris Norris, Leigh Ellwood and many others!

Check out out website: http://aadromanceunlimited.com and get registered today! You know you do not wanna miss this amazing con! We will see you there!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

A new installment

It's only taken.... Oh... Um.... two years. LOL But...

The next installment of the Shadowed Souls series will be releasing later this month. I'm thrilled to see new blood (No pun intended) invigorating the storyline of my brooding vampires. Yay!

HIS REDEEMER'S KISS

Seeking redemption from his inner demons, peace comes from the least likely of sources. 


After existing for three hundred years, Joaquin Ramirez has fought the last nightly battle for his sanity. Rather than relinquish his tenuous hold on humanity, to not become the soulless monster that lives within him, he has decided suicide is a more honorable death. Until an unknown voice whispers from the darkness to literally shout at him—'coward'.

Lily Jaspers is an enigma to Joaquin. A woman who has been abused, her internal pain shrouds her telepathic words. Yet she is living with, protected by, the very creatures Joaquin has no trust in—the Brethren. Maniacal and cruel, the Brethren are the vampire society as it is known, and feared, by humans. They are soulless beings who were once men of honor, like Joaquin. The one he faces who protects Lily is, in fact, the most adept and strongest he's ever met. The whole situation intensifies when the home where he found the holder of the enchanting voice is attacked by a human force that leaves no doubt none were expected to survive.

Fleeing under the cover of night sets a path for both Joaquin and Lily that neither will be able to escape as danger from her past, alongside the secret of his reality, threaten not only them, but the freedom Lily and her friends have fought so hard to achieve. A freedom that can be destroyed in the blink of an eye.

 
For more information about this series, visit my website: www.dianacastilleja.com





Diana Castilleja

Diana Castilleja || Diana DeRicci

Stop Copyright Infringement!
Do not download illegal copies of books.
This is theft right out of the pockets of authors.

Unbound Trust || Coming Soon!

Crowning A Warrior King || Print
Aiza Clan Shifter Combo 1&2 || Print
The Eternal Kiss || Print
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Join me today!

Today I'm sharing the showcase spotlight with Stella Price on the Coffee Time Forums. Join us at the forums for fun and excerpts through the day, part of the CTR June Jubilee!

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/board/index.php



Diana Castilleja

Diana Castilleja || Diana DeRicci

Stop Copyright Infringement!
Do not download illegal copies of books.
This is theft right out of the pockets of authors.

Unbound Trust || Coming Soon!

Crowning A Warrior King || Print
Aiza Clan Shifter Combo 1&2 || Print
The Eternal Kiss || Print
FacebookTwitterBloggerMySpaceBlogger

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

This Week: In Diana's Head

diana's head.jpg I know I missed a couple weeks. Well, here I am, if not mentally, at least physically. Been a long couple of weeks getting to the end of the school year. Three days left. Teachers out there, I know, are dancing in the street. And they should.

Me? Can't. My writing drops to nil during the summer with the boy home.

Yesterday, we went to see the IronMan2 movie. Holy Cannoli Batman! That is one awesome flick. And there's a little something at the very end, but you have to wait 'til the end of the credits. Trust me. The special effects and computer stuff is just mind boggling.

Think about it. Star Trek literally paved the way for minds to create and invent the sliding acces door, cell phones, and any number of other everyday items that we use now. What will movies like IronMan do for our technology innovation? We already use lasers in several capacities. What about interactive computers? A fully automated house, keyed by voice?

Granted, it wasn't hard to watch Robert Downey, Jr. act all badass and stuff. He's quite charismatic, and plays the narcisstic playboy almost like a second skin. (Fiction imitates real life, I guess. ;) ) Trust me. Worth the money to go see on the big screen. Though I'm sure we'll be getting it on disc too.

Until next week.