White Hot Romance from Linda Mercury

Woohoo!

2012-03-05T10:38:00.000-08:00

Me on the Pont Neuf in 2010

I made it! I got the manuscript for Dracula's Desires in to my editor, Martin Biro at Kensington.

I am taking a few days off, then I get to dive into brainstorming for Book Three in addition to doing the revisions my editor will want me to do for Dracula's Desires.

Try, try again.

2012-02-26T11:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a low output day - only 5 pages out of my goal of 12. That said, I did some very good work on moving things around and making the flow better.

Today is day five of my ten day marathon. Let's see where it goes today.

Booyah!

2012-02-25T09:43:00.002-08:00

Yesterday was a power day - I not only made up the four pages from Thursday, I managed to get ahead a page. That's *17* pages in ONE day!

Day Two

2012-02-24T09:41:00.000-08:00

Missed my goal of 12 pages, but I got 8 on the computer and 2 1/2 handwritten. I'm calling that good, since one page of handwritten translates to 1 1/2 pages typed.

Had an attack of fear last night, but this morning I have my strategy all mapped out. Just gotta keep moving.

Go, go, go!

2012-02-22T19:15:00.000-08:00

I have to write 120 pages before March 2nd. My goal is 12 pages a day.

And I have reached my goal for today! Woohoo!

I'm going to keep a running total here on my blog so I can track my progress. :)

The trick to this kind of long haul is to take several breaks for yoga, meditation, hot baths, and Elvis' 1968 Comeback special.

Wow.

2012-02-13T11:55:00.001-08:00

It's amazing how many ways I can misspell 'vampire'. :)

Go, go, go!

2012-02-12T20:01:00.001-08:00

Work, work, work. Managed to edit ten chapters in less than a week. Go me!

Technical difficulties.

2012-02-08T09:08:00.000-08:00

Right now, my pre-order links aren't working. Kensington (my publisher) is making some adjustments and you will be able to pre-order again soon!

Watch this space for more updates. :)

In the meantime, here is some Viennese coffee and Sacher Torte to keep you entertained.

Dracula's Secret is now available for pre-order!

2012-01-24T14:32:00.000-08:00

OH MY GOD! Look at this!

Dracula's Secret is now available for pre-order!

Nook:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/draculas-secret-linda-mercury/1108361642?ean=9781420129755&itm=1&usri=linda+mercury

Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Draculas-Secret-ebook/dp/B0070XF028/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1327443099&sr=8-6

Yet another trip to the Chinese Garden.

2012-01-22T19:03:00.000-08:00

I love going to the Garden of Awakening Orchids in downtown Portland. It is the perfect place to gather my thoughts, look at the dizzying array of plants and buildings, and then drink tea and eat moon cakes at the Tao of Tea, also known as the Tower of Cosmic Reflections.

I like to go there when my brain has been reduced to a blithering ball of mush. I then take quick snapshots on my cell phone to jolt my creative side to see things from a different angle. Last week, I visited the second floor of the tea house for the first time.

*Above left - I really loved my cranberry-orange tea and tarot root moon cake. They were the perfect accompaniments for contemplation on a rainy day.

*Above right - the Garden was putting up decorations for the Chinese New Year.

*Left- It's hard to see, but I really loved this little dragon's, "Oh, hai!" face. It was adorable.

The rest of my pictures turned out fuzzy, but that was ok. I wasn't taking them for any other reason than to re-fill my word well. :)

OH. MY. GOD!

2012-01-17T11:33:00.000-08:00

This is my gorgeous cover art for Dracula's Secret! I love how sexy and mysterious my heroine looks, and how strong and determined my hero is. YUM yum yum!

In additional news, Dracula's Secret will be available for pre-order within the week. It will have a mid-July release.

And to top it off, here is my back cover blurb.

In a new world where paranormals and humans share an uneasy coexistence, the most dangerous and sensual legend of the night lives once more—and one of the greatest secrets of all time is about to come out….

SHE HUNGERS FOR HIS LIGHT

She calls herself Valerie Tate. One of the few vampires left on earth, as beautiful as she is powerful, Valerie has resisted her craving for human blood for years, just as she once hid her true gender. But the night she lays eyes on the most enticing man she’s ever seen, it’s game over. He radiates goodness and light—and searing sexual energy. Valerie must have him. Taste him. Consume him. For he is temptation—and he is her destiny…

HE BURNS FOR HER DARKNESS

Lance Soleil is a rugged war veteran who runs a homeless shelter in Portland. At first gaze, he knows what Valerie is—and wants her even more. But when he welcomes a pack of werewolves into his shelter, he attracts the attention of Valerie’s oldest rival—her bloodthirsty brother, Radu, who hopes to become the first vampire President of the United States. Valerie knows Radu has a hidden agenda, and with Lance’s help she is determined to stop his unholy rise to power. But first, she must risk their growing love by fully revealing herself—as the one and only Dracula…

Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com

My author picture

2011-12-31T13:28:00.000-08:00


Photo by Michael Baxter

This is the picture that we chose for my author photo! I think it is arty, moody, and makes me look like someone who would write vampire novels.

The best Christmas present ever.

2011-12-26T21:11:00.000-08:00

Last night, The Charming Man and myself went over to our dear friends' house (I'll think of a kicky name for them soon) for our holiday meal. I brought my laptop and spiral-bound notebooks with me since I wasn't interested in watching the basketball game.

As I sat in a quiet corner, brainstorming on my notepaper, another friend up to me. She is an avid reader of sexy paranormal romances and had been curious about Dracula's Secret since she met me.

She asked if she could read my manuscript early.

I said sure, but not the whole thing. So I handed over my laptop and let her read while I worked.

Here are her direct quotes:

"This book has surprised me in every chapter! You get used to things being a particular way in these novels, and you haven't done any of them!" (said with a great big grin on her face)

"I could read this all night!"
and
"This is some of the best stuff I've ever read."

Now imagine me running around screaming in joy like a madwoman. It was something like this:

EeeieieieeeewowohwowohwowieeeyeesssssWOW!
              \c O(
               \ _/
            ___/(  /(
           /--/ \\//
       __ )/ /\/ \/
      `-.\  //\\
         \\//  \\
          \/    \\
                 \\
                   '--`

(edited to add: In my joy, I forgot to credit the origin of the ASCII art:

This is Boy Running from Men in ASCII Men by Joan Stark)

Overheard at the Mercury-Charming Household.

2011-12-23T13:11:00.000-08:00

Me, staring at my laptop, freaking out, "Do you really think I can do this?"

The Charming Man, wandering around the house, looking for his slippers, "Of course you can. Madness and despair are the inevitable consequences of attempting to do anything hard. They are also temporary states. Also, my slippers were on top of the ottoman. I must frequently walk there."

Yes, madness abounds here. I am grateful to have a crazy wise man to share it with.

How to start the day right.

2011-12-22T12:30:00.000-08:00

I recommend listening to Elvis Presley while eating a bagel covered with sunflower seed butter and bananas. And for that Pacific Northwest flavor, add a nice hot mug of Insomnia Coffee Chai.

Then you will rock out all day long!

Overheard at the Mercury-Charming Household.

2011-12-21T17:42:00.000-08:00

"Any meal where I get to use a rubber mallet is a very good meal."

Making progress!

2011-12-21T13:56:00.000-08:00

I just sent my teaser chapter for Book Two (still untitled) off to my editor!

How about a pretty picture to celebrate?

Soon, I will celebrate by doing this myself, and not just by looking at a picture!

Where the hell have I been?

2011-12-15T11:37:00.000-08:00

I've announced in other places that Kensington Publishing extended a three-book contract (with options to consider the series). I am going to be the flagship author of their new e-book line and I am stoked!

(insert running around like a happy chicken here)

I'm keeping mum on a lot of details right now - I'll be able to post more once the contracts have been signed and all the marketing has started.

As of lately, I've finished the editorial revisions to Dracula's Secret, I've gotten the back cover copy for both Dracula's Secret and Book Two (untitled at the moment). Again, I'll post them once we get closer to publication - after all, things change and I don't want to get things out too early before everything is set in stone.

Mostly, I've been writing Book Two. I'm getting a good grasp on my antagonists and I've got the plot hammered out much better. It's due in February, so it's going a lightning speed. That can be exhausting, so I'm taking lots of naps and making sure I get out and about for intellectual stimulation.

I can share that Dracula's Secret will be released on June 12th, 2012, and that Book Two will be released July 12th, 2012.

So get your reading eyes ready! I'll be able to share lots more soon. :)

There really is such a thing as fresh air!

2011-12-08T18:13:00.000-08:00

I've been head down over my keyboard dealing with my Supa Seekret projects, but I had to get out and see the sky yesterday. So I went to the Chinese Garden in Portland and took a bunch of pictures with my iPhone.

Things I love

2011-11-21T10:52:00.000-08:00

Our luxurious hand-made silk Turkish rug. Everyday I look at it and every time it makes me smile.

It's easy to forget how we need both break and roses. This over the top luxury good always brings great joy.

Visiting my Muses

2011-11-16T19:53:00.000-08:00

During October, I was privileged to work with my two favorite Muses, Kim Sakkara and Michael Baxter.

Kim designed and created a gorgeous custom dance belt for a new caftan I had found in a consignment shop. May I show you the genius that is her vision?

In action!

In addition, I got to spend a weekend collaborating with Michael, exploring myth and beauty.

My time in Kim's magic studio and in front of Michael's camera forced me to dig inside to pull out my very best words. Non-verbal art makes writing stronger, wiser, and more profound.

I thank my Muses.

Things I love.

2011-11-15T12:41:00.000-08:00

I love the Mona Lisa. The mystical background, her soft skin, and her long neck have always brought me a sense of wonder.

It's one of those pieces of 'great' art that actually do live up to their hype.

Things I love

2011-11-10T10:11:00.000-08:00

The Moroccan-style lamp that hangs by my desk makes me smile every time I see it. It was a gift from a former co-worker and reminds me of the good times at my former job.

What makes you smile every time?

Don't you want something pretty?

2011-11-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

Helios' Travels

I have a new Etsy store!

Come on over and check out my one of a kind, hand painted fans over at the Linda Mercury Store!

Sweet, tasty love

2011-10-28T14:56:00.000-07:00

As I daydream about my Weapons Dealer Woman, I wonder what kind of man would love her. Of course, her clients would attempt to seduce her - after all, wouldn't you expect your lover to give you an incredible discount on your order for a gross of Super Seekrit High Powered Killing Thing?

But that's not love - it certainly can be funny, and perhaps fun, but I don't think she'd enjoy getting laid, not paid.

True love comes when someone sees your essence - the person you have the potential to be if you had enough courage. What would he see in this woman who had already sold her soul for revenge? What would she see in him?

I think he's going to be pretty compromised himself. Perhaps he'd be on the opposite side of the law - sort of. Perhaps he'd be her competitor.

And couldn't you just see these two violent and dangerous people meeting in the local coffeehouse and getting to know each other over a couple of decaffeinated lattes?

Coffee dates amongst the corrupt and wealthy! Now there's a situation for my angry girl.