stephaniedraven.com

Seeing My First Book In Print

Stephanie Draven — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:03:39 +0000

I thought I was prepared for it. After all, I’d had work published in magazines before. I’d had months to get familiar with my Harlequin book cover. Goodness, it’s been more than a year since I finished the story and sent it in. I’ve had plenty of time to adjust to the idea that I’m [...]

Virtual Launch Party for Poisoned Kisses

Stephanie Draven — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:42:39 +0000

Join the Celebration from August 22 – October 1st To celebrate the release of Poisoned Kisses, my first full-length installment of Harlequin Nocturne’s Mythica series, I’ve arranged for a number of prizes and activities. I hope you’ll take part, spread the word, do good deeds, and have lots of fun in the process. The Free Goodies Charms: Peridot [...]

Military Lives, Real Love Stories: Interview with Gail Chianese

Stephanie Draven — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:42:22 +0000

I met Gail while standing in line for a banquet at the Romance Writers of America Convention in Orlando, FL. Now I'm excited to introduce her to all of you in this latest installment of my long-running series on military spouses and their true life love stories.

Q: How did you meet your husband? I was a single mom working two jobs - daytime as a travel agent and at night as a cocktail waitress. He started coming in with his buddies and would always be in my section. He used to tell me he loved me when I handed him his rum & coke - little did I know he was serious.

Poisoned Kisses First Chapter

Stephanie Draven — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:00:11 +0000

Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate just an writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or click on the banner above.

Chapter One Kyra was dressed to kill. Literally. Just beneath her short red skirt and only inches above her high-heeled boots, a small but deadly hunting knife was strapped to her thigh. A gun might have been more useful, but Kyra preferred the weapons of an older, less complicated time. A knock came at the nightclub’s bathroom door—probably another gaggle of drunken Italian socialites—but Kyra wouldn’t be rushed. She stared at her reflection in the mirror to steel her courage. She might not be able to do much to thwart Daddy and his bloodthirsty minions, but she could do this one heroic thing for humanity. This was her destiny. She’d been born for this. But the mirror reflected a distorted image. It was cracked, as if the thumping club music burst through the wall from the other side. Still, she could see that her plunging pearlescent halter top complemented neither her black tresses nor her ghostly pallor. No matter. Kyra never let mortals see her true form, anyway. Tonight, her prey would see her as she wished him to see her: with blue eyes and cropped platinum hair; after all, she’d studied Marco Kaisaris long enough to know his type. And she was ready. Hydras like Marco were dangerous, but surely not to someone like her. She just had to kill him. Like Theseus and Perseus of old, she had a monster to slay. With that thought, Kyra gave the bathroom door a shove and it swung open like a gate to the underworld. She stepped into the nightclub’s press of bodies and people made way for her, as if they sensed her power. As the dance beat drummed at her pulse points, she brushed against the crowd, and it excited her because she had a nymph’s nature; she found the vitality of humans to be infectious and distracting. This was, of course, one of the many dangers of getting too close to mortals...

Win a Copy of Poisoned Kisses

Stephanie Draven — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:44:27 +0000

Goodreads Book Giveaway Poisoned Kisses by Stephanie Draven Giveaway ends September 15, 2010. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

My Controversial Theory on Author Newsletters

Stephanie Draven — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:01:30 +0000

The experts say that you should push out content as often as possible to maintain a relationship with your readers. Now, I’m no expert on marketing, but I’d rather maintain a good relationship with my readers. I know how I behave when some company starts spamming my inbox every day. I tune it it out. Or [...]

Episodic Structure

Stephanie Draven — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:54:05 +0000

The Ruby Slippered Sisterhood has invited me to discuss episodic structure, and how to avoid it when writing romance novels. Come check it out!

What Kind of Nymph Are You?

Stephanie Draven — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:59:35 +0000

Nymphs are my favorite paranormal creature. They embody what the ancient Greeks hoped and feared women might be like if unfettered by the normal rules of society. Primal. Powerful. Capricious. Captivating. In my Mythica series for HQN Nocturne, two of my heroines are nymphs, so I had the bright idea to make up a ‘Which Kind [...]

Excerpt Monday: Poisoned Kisses

Stephanie Draven — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:22:24 +0000

I Can Haz Bookmarks?

Stephanie Draven — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:28:37 +0000

In lieu of ranting about printers and all the artistic things that I’m not good at, I will just show you my bookmarks. They have a lot of black on them and the colors don’t show up quite right, but hopefully you get the idea. Being an ignorant novice at all this, I ordered 500 of [...]

Cover for Poisoned Kisses

Stephanie Draven — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:54:02 +0000

OMG, look! This will be my very first print book. My very first series too–look at my awesome little Mythica decal. Her hair color is off, but everything else about this cover is perfection! Where did they find that freaky ancient looking dagger on her thigh? Woo, I’m so delighted. Also, this model looks just an [...]

A New Roman Historical…from a friend!

Stephanie Draven — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 04:25:57 +0000

Yeah, yeah. I write dark modern paranormal romance for HQN Nocturne. But my alter-ego writes historical fiction and I’m a fan of all things Roman. I like the idea of a Vestal Virgin with a forbidden love. To that end, it’s my pleasure to welcome my Maryland Romance Writer chapter mate, Kate Poole as a [...]

What Kind of Paranormal Creature Do You Love?

Stephanie Draven — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 02:05:18 +0000

Stephanie Draven’s Summer Diva Give-Away

Stephanie Draven — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:22:47 +0000

Summer is here and it’s the season I like to get all glammed up. Weddings, dinner dates, cruise vacations…okay, a writer can dream. Mostly, I’m tapping away at the keyboard. But for my readers, it’s time to get in touch with your inner diva. I usually give away books and gift certificates during my contests, but [...]

Inez Kelley’s New Book & My Endorsement

Stephanie Draven — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:13:06 +0000

Inez Kelley is one of my favorite fellow authors, and I’m very excited about her fantasy romance series because I see too few historical fantasies for my taste. This is the second installment of a series, and I’m pleased to announce: SALOME AT SUNRISE by releases today from Carina Press! It’s not nice to piss off [...]

Excerpt Monday: The Threshing Floor

Stephanie Draven — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:00:50 +0000

Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate–just a writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt [...]

Bosnian Serbs convicted of Srebrenica genocide | Law | The Guardian

Stephanie Draven — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:02:51 +0000

My first novella in Harlequin’s MYTHICA series was MIDNIGHT MEDUSA, a short and dark romance touching on the war in Bosnia–a war that I remember from my youth, but which young people today probably know nothing about. Justice is a long time in coming, but it’s still coming and in honor of my heroine, Renata, I [...]

She likes me! Review for Midnight Medusa

Stephanie Draven — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:31:30 +0000

Okay, Jeannie Lin is an up and coming star. And she liked my novella. I am tickled! She said: This short story was a fresh and creative integration of Greek mythology with very current themes. The story doesn’t shy away from the pain of war and its psychological effects, nor does it gloss it over with [...]

Check out Ciar Cullen’s New Book!

Stephanie Draven — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:44:34 +0000

Available now at Amazon!. Emily Fenwick, former NYPD, is now reluctant defender of 1890 New York. Unfortunately for Emily, who hates “the creepy stuff,” she ignored her inner voice, went to a carnival in Central Park, and entered a Victorian tent in hopes a psychic would have some encouraging news about her woefully boring love life. [...]

Steph Draven’s Beach Reading Give-Away

Stephanie Draven — Mon, 31 May 2010 21:21:08 +0000

Hopefully a beautiful summer awaits us! So, to kick it off, I’m going to have a summer give-away! On July 1st, I’ll choose a lucky winner who can, in turn, choose either a $20 gift certificate to either Fictionwise or Amazon.com or (if you live in the US) a box of books, brand new, most of [...]