Hello, Dolly!

Dolls.

They can be cute and cuddle playmates for children. They can also be evil creatures intent on eating your soul. They can be beautiful pieces of art. They can also be the stuff of nightmares.

But for the Dollmaker in BLOOD SECRETS, they are… special…

Chances are good that you’ve encountered dolls somewhere in your lifetime. Either you’ve enjoyed their company or you’ve run screaming in terror. I would be the latter if the doll in question is a clown. I used to think clowns were great. Then I saw Poltergeist. Nuh uh. No, thank you. And then, because I just can’t leave well enough alone, I read Stephen King’s IT…and saw the movie adaptation. Pennywise…Tim Curry… Yeah, that ended my relationship with clowns and clown dolls. Nope. Not interested. Beat it, Bozo.

So now I want to hear your best — and it can either be happy or creepy or somewhere in between — doll-centric memory or story. It doesn’t have to be long, just a few lines. Whatever you’re comfortable telling.

Here are the rules:

1. Leave your stories in the comments section of the Dollmaker Contest post on my website.

2. Contest will run until midnight (CT) July 11, 2011. Winner will be announced July 12, 2011.

3. One entry per person.

4. THREE winners chosen at random will receive signed copies of BLOOD SECRETS.

5. Contest is open to international readers.

There you have it, folks. Have fun.

New Contest -- Cover Art Posters

I have a new contest starting today on my website. The prize is two signed posters of the covers for both BLOOD LAW and BLOOD SECRETS. Read official rules for how to enter at www.JeannieHolmes.com.

All entries MUST be made via the website to be valid.

Good luck and enjoy!

Mobicon 14 Schedule

I'm off to Mobicon 14 this weekend. I have three major workshops/panels on my schedule -- and they're all my brain-children -- and two "meet and greet"s. For two workshops, I'm flying solo and the third brings in two other authors. Should be fun! Also, I'll have a few copies of BLOOD LAW to give away and free BLOOD SECRETS swag!

Here's the complete schedule for those who are in the area and may be interested in attending:

MOBICON 14
Location: Ashbury Suites & Inns
Mobile, AL
Dates: May 20-22

Schedule for Jeannie Holmes:

Friday

12:30-1:30 -- The Art of Dialogue: Speech is fluid and filled with loops, whirls, stops, and starts. Filling your characters' dialogue with the same can instantly kill their likeability. This interactive workshop uses improvisation and audience participation to demonstrate techniques for refining your characters' speech.

2:30-3:30 -- Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies--Oh, My!: The supernatural has branched out of the fantasy and horror genres to invade mysteries, romances, and thrillers. Why be limited to the traditional views? Learn to think outside of the paranormal box to fine new creatures and ways to thrill your readers.

7:30-8:30 -- Meet the Guests

Saturday

2:30-3:30 -- Undying Love OR Eternal Struggle? Writing Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy: Is it a romance with fantasy elements or a fantasy with romantic elements? Learn to spot the difference between paranormal romance and urban fantasy and the basics for writing both. (Moderator: Jeannie Holmes Panelists: Candace Sams, Violet Reid)

Sunday

10:00-11:00 -- Sunday Morning Hangover with All Surviving Guests

That's my complete schedule for the weekend. I'll be hanging out and chatting around the con. Feel free to find me and strike up a conversation. I won't bite....or will I?

Blog Talk Radio Interview

Thanks to John Rakestraw for making my first ever Blog Talk Radio interview absolutely awesome and a lot of fun. If you missed the live broadcast, check out the recording here:

John Rakestraw on Blog Talk Radio — Interview with author Jeannie Holmes

BLOOD SECRETS release date changed!

Get ready to update your calendars… The release date for BLOOD SECRETS has been pushed back from June 28 to July 5.

Why? Several reasons but most notably is to allow for placement in the Barnes & Noble towers. Better placement = better visibility for this awesome cover = easier for you, the reader, to find it in the mad rush that will come from the anticipation of having to wait one more week!

Yes, this will affect some of the events I have planned. I’m working with the various parties to resolve the issues, and hope to have updates for you soon.

Thanks!

-Jeannie

Blog Talk Radio Interview

Mark your calendars again! Join me as I conduct my FIRST blog talk radio interview with John Rakestraw. The interview will take place Saturday, April 23, at 10:30 AM (Pacific). We'll be discussing Blood Law, Blood Secrets, books, and who knows what else.

To access the interview, tune in here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/johnrakestraw the morning of April 23. I believe the interviews are recorded. If you aren't able to listen to it live, you should be able to check it out later.

So if you've never heard my Southern drawl, this is your chance. :)

Blood Secrets book trailer

The highly anticipated BLOOD SECRETS book trailer is LIVE!

WHEN ALEXANDRA SABIAN SINKS HER TEETH INTO AN INVESTIGATION, SHE DOESN’T LET GO.

Alex allowed a case involving murdered vamps to get personal and is suspended from the Federal Bureau of Preternatural Investigation. Now she’s facing an official inquiry but has a chance to redeem herself. The catch: She must once again work with Varik Baudelaire, her former mentor and ex-fiancé, as he spearheads a search for a missing college student. But Varik has been keeping secrets from Alex, and his mysterious past is on a collision course with his present.

When Alex and Varik discover a carefully handcrafted doll at a crime scene, neither of them can see how close the danger really is or that a killer known as the Dollmaker has made Alex the object of his horrific desire. Now the only way out of the Dollmaker’s lair is through the twilight realm of the Shadowlands, where all secrets—for better or worse—will be revealed.

Blood Secrets Tour

March 8 -- Updated schedule!!! Official BLOOD SECRETS countdown widget now available. Be sure to snag it.

The clock is steadily counting down the days until the release of BLOOD SECRETS. I've already started pulling together the signing, convention, and blog tours.

Here are the confirmed dates and places I have cobbled together so far:

March 25-27 -- MidSouthCon
Memphis, TN

May 20-22 -- MOBICON 14
Mobile, AL

June 18 -- YzhaBella's BookShelf
Interview and Giveaway

June 20 -- What Book is That? (NEW)
Guest blog and Giveaway

June 21 -- The Qwillery
Interview

June 22 -- All Things Urban Fantasy (NEW)
Guest blog and Giveaway

June 27 -- a GREAT read
Interview and Giveaway

June 29 -- Bitten By Books
Virtual Launch and Giveaway

June 29 -- Urban Fantasy Investigations
Guest blog

June 30 -- Books Make Me Happy (NEW)
Guest blog and Giveaway

July 2 -- Signing at Page & Palette
Fairhope, AL
2:00-4:00 PM

July 6-9 -- Thrillerfest
New York, NY

July 10 -- Killer Characters (NEW)
Guest blog in Alex's point of view

July 16 -- Signing at Murder by the Book
Houston, TX
4:30 PM

July 23 -- Signing at Books-a-Million (NEW)
Palm Coast, FL
2:00 PM

June is officially Book Blog Tour Month! If you have a book blog and would like to add BLOOD SECRETS (and/or BLOOD LAW) to your summer review roster or request an interview/blog event, contact me and I'll add you to the list. If requesting a review copy, I will need your name, shipping info, and a link to your blog. Dates are filling quickly.

More dates and locations are in the works and I'll update the list as soon as I have them confirmed.

2010 Urban Fantasy Cover Awards -- BLOOD LAW

On the heels of revealing the awesome cover for BLOOD SECRETS, I'm proud to announce that BLOOD LAW has been nominated for "Best Debut Cover" in the 2010 Urban Fantasy Cover Awards sponsored by All Things Urban Fantasy. Squeeeeeee!!!

Click the graphic below to see the official awards announcement and to cast your vote. Thanks in advance to all who vote for BLOOD LAW, and a special thanks to Craig White -- my amazing cover artist -- and Jae Song -- my equally talented cover designer -- for their tremendous work and role in making BLOOD LAW a reality.

Behold! Official BLOOD SECRETS Cover Released!

I've been bouncing off the walls to show this to everyone, and now I can. So without further delay, behold the official cover for BLOOD SECRETS, Book 2 in the Alexandra Sabian series:

Back cover blurb:

WHEN ALEXANDRA SABIAN SINKS HER TEETH INTO AN INVESTIGATION, SHE DOESN’T LET GO.

Alex let a case of murdered vamps get personal and is suspended from the Federal Bureau of Preternatural Investigation. Now she’s facing an official inquiry but has a chance to redeem herself. The catch: she must once again work with Varik Baudelaire, her former mentor and ex-fiancé, as he spearheads a search for a missing college student. But Varik has been keeping secrets from Alex and his mysterious past is on a collision course with his present.

When Alex and Varik discover a carefully handcrafted doll at a crime scene, neither of them can see how close the danger really is or that a killer known as the Dollmaker has made Alex the object of his horrific desire. Now the only way out of the Dollmaker’s lair is through the twilight realm of the Shadowlands, where all secrets—for better or worse—will be revealed.

BLOOD SECRETS is slated for release on June 28, 2011, and is available for pre-order through Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and don't forget your local indie bookstores!

Live Chat -- November 18, 2010

Have you read BLOOD LAW? Dying to know what happens in BLOOD SECRETS? Have a question about Varik's past...or Alex's future? Here's your chance to ask the only person who truly knows.... Me!

Mark your calendars, peeps! I'll be having a live chat at the Jeannie Holmes Fan Forum on Thursday, November 18 at 8:30/7:30 PM (ET/CT). The chat is sponsored by the JHeeps Minions and is open to the public.

To access the chat, go to the Jeannie Holmes Fan Forum and click the "Jeannie Holmes Fan Forum Live Chat" link directly below the (annoying) banner ad. Type in a user name and join the fun.

Hope to see you there!

Shiny New Stuff!

I have some shiny new stuff to announce:

First, BLOOD SECRETS, Book 2 in the Alexandra Sabian series, is once again with my wonderful editor. Yes, the revisions are done! Yay! It's slated for release in summer 2011. As soon as I have a confirmed release date, I'll let everyone know.

While I'm on the subjectof BLOOD SECRETS, be sure to check out the listing on Goodreads...which now includes the following description:

WHEN ALEXANDRA SABIAN SINKS HER TEETH INTO AN INVESTIGATION, SHE DOESN’T LET GO.

Alex let a case of murdered vamps get personal and is suspended from the Federal Bureau of Preternatural Investigation. Now she’s facing an official inquiry but has a chance to redeem herself. The catch: she must once again work with Varik Baudelaire, her former mentor and ex-fiancé, as he spearheads a search for a missing college student. But Varik has been keeping secrets from Alex and his mysterious past is on a collision course with his present.

When Alex and Varik discover a carefully handcrafted doll at a crime scene, neither of them can see how close the danger really is or that a killer known as the Dollmaker has made Alex the object of his horrific desire. Now the only way out of the Dollmaker’s lair is through the twilight realm of the Shadowlands, where all secrets—for better or worse—will be revealed.

Yes, Alex and Varik are back and in trouble...a lot of trouble. I'm really excited about BLOOD SECRETS and hope this give y'all a little glimpse of what's to come so you can be excited too.

My second big announcement has just been confirmed. I'll actually have two releases next year! BLOOD SECRETS in the summer and a short story in THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF GHOST ROMANCE in the fall! The anthology will be released in the UK in September and the US in October. It's my first major foray into the world of anthologies, and I'm very excited and honored to have been invited to be a part of it. How could I not be with a cover like this?

I'll keep everyone updated on release dates and such as I can. Thanks to all my readers who have made BLOOD LAW a success and who have contacted me to let me know how much they enjoy the book. I hope I can continue to entertain you for many years to come.

- Jeannie

Blood Secrets Playlists

I'm releasing the playlists for Blood Secrets (Alexandra Sabian #2). These are the artists/albums/songs I've listened to while writing and revising. Yes, my Muse can be found in music so this is should you an indication of the "feel" for the next book. ;)

Lists are formatted as Artist - Album - Song (If no song appears, assume I listened to entire album.)

Godsmack - Godsmack
Godsmack - The Other Side
Godsmack - IV - Voodoo Too; One Rainy Day
Godsmack - Good Times, Bad Times (Greatest Hits)
Godsmack - The Oracle
Sully Erna (Godsmack) - Sinner's Prayer (single)
Marilyn Manson - Lest We Forget
Marilyn Manson - Eat Me, Drink Me
Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine
Nine Inch Nails - Downward Spiral - Closer
Christina Aguilera - Back to Basics - Hurt
Christina Aguilera - Stripped - Fighter; Beautiful
Meatloaf - Bat out of Hell - Heaven Can Wait
Meatloaf - Bat out of Hell II - I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)
Dixie Chicks - Taking the Long Way - Not Ready to Make Nice; Silent House
Alice Cooper - Trash - Poison
H.I.M. - Dark Light
H.I.M. - Razorblade Romance
Guns 'n Roses - Appetite for Destruction
Guns 'n Roses - Use Your Illusion I - November Rain
Guns 'n Roses - Use Your Illusion II - Don't Cry
Faster Pussycat - Wake Me When It's Over - House of Pain; Slip of the Tongue
Kamelot - The Black Halo - March of Mephisto
Walela - Walela - Wash Your Spirit Clean
Robert Mirabel - Tribal Fires - Witch Hunt
Nightwish - Dark Passion Play - Cadence of Her Last Breath; Whoever Brings the Night; 7 Days to the Wolves
Seether - Disclaimer II
Seether - Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces
Seether - Karma and Effect
Rob Zombie - Educated Horses
Rob Zombie - Hellbilly Deluxe
Rob Zombie - Past, Present, & Future
Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears (single)
Evanescene - Fallen - Bring Me to Life; Taking Over Me; My Immortal
Skid Row - Skid Row - I Remember You; 18 And Life
Megan Slankard - Freaky Little Story - Mockingbird
Halestorm - Halestorm
Sweeney Todd Motion Picture Soundtrack
k.d. lang - Hallelujah (single); Recollections - Constant Craving
Shinedown - Leave a Whisper - 45; Fly from the Inside
Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight
Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park - New Divide (single)
Three Days Grace - One-X - Pain; Animal I Have Become; Get Out Alive; Let It Die
Aerosmith - Big Ones - The Other Side; Rag Doll; Janie's Got a Gun; Livin' on the Edge
Nickelback - All the Right Reasons - Animals; Side of a Bullet
Nickelback - Dark Horse - Something in Your Mouth; Shakin' Hands; If Today Was Your Last Day
AC/DC - Back in Black - Hells Bells; Back in Black; You Shook Me All Night Long
AC/DC - Highway to Hell - Highway to Hell; If You Want Blood (You've Got It)
AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap; Big Balls
Disturbed - Believe - Prayer; Intoxication; Bound; Devour
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
Dangerous Toys - Dangerous Toys - Scared
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Fit to be Tied - Bad Reputation
Papa Roach - Getting Away with Murder
Papa Roach - Infest - Last Resort; Blood Brothers
Korn - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 - Did My Time; Make Me Bad; Got The Life; Freak on a Leash
Motley Crue - Red, White, & Crue
Drowning Pool - Sinner - Bodies

Whew! That's a lot of music. Considering it takes months (if not a full year) to complete a book from the rough draft to the final editor supervised revision, it's understandable. Got to have something to keep the mind and Muse stimulated while cranking out the pages.

I hope you find a few things on this list you enjoy. I'm always on the look out for new music, so if you have a fave that isn't on here, let me know. It may just find its way into the next list. ;)

Back to School

Yes, it's that time of year when parents rejoice and children grumble -- Back to School time! The public schools here in Mobile are open for business, and the neighborhood kids are blissfully silent, which has allowed me to work on the revisions for Blood Secrets.

It's also put me in a generous mood. Therefore, I'm running a little contest for all you wonderful parents who now find yourselves with a little free time on your hands. Why not fill both with a book? Especially a signed book.

Here's the deal:

1. Sign up for my free newsletter, The Enforcer Files. Don't worry -- I don't spam people. I only send it when I have big news to announce...like contests or signings.

2. I'll select a random winner who will receive a signed copy of Blood Law.

3. Already signed up for my newsletter? No worries. Current subscribers are eligible for this contest.

4. Contest is open to domestic and international readers.

5. Contest ends 12:00AM (midnight) CST on August 20, 2010. Winner will be announced August 21.

Now, go forth and rejoice in your new freedom!