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!

Show the Love...Win Books -- WINNERS

The winners for the "Show the Love...Win Books" have been randomly selected from across this blog, LiveJournal, Facebook, and Goodreads. Aaaaaaannd....here they are (along with where the winning response was/is posted). Ta-da!

1st Prize: WINNER = Emily (Wayward Muses)
BLOOD LAW by Jeannie Holmes (signed)
HOT ROCKS by Nora Roberts
GHOST SHADOW by Heather Graham
KILLING ME SOFTLY by Maggie Shayne
THE PERFECT POISON by Amanda Quick


2nd Prize: WINNER = Miki (Facebook)
ENEMY LOVER by Karin Harlow
WICKED BECOMES YOU by Meredith Duran
BIG JACK by J. D. Robb


3rd Prize: WINNER = Michala (Facebook)
DANGEROUS DESIRES by Dee Davis
THE PERFECT POISON by Amanda Quick
SUGAR CREEK by Toni Blake


4th Prize: WINNER = Nancy (Goodreads)
CRAZY FOR LOVE by Victoria Dahl
RUNNING HOT by Jayne Ann Krentz
I LOVE THIS BAR by Carolyn Brown

Each winner has been privately notified. Congratulations to them all! Thanks to everyone for entering my contest!!

Show The Love...Win Books

Yes, the rumors are true and I'm plotting the next installment of the Alexandra Sabian series. While planning and scheming murder, mayhem, destruction, and general fun stuff like that, I'm also thinking of the next step in Alex's relationship with Varik. I can't say much since y'all haven't read BLOOD SECRETS yet (which I'm dying for y'all to read!! Anticipation is NOT my friend...) and I don't want to give spoilers.

But...I've been thinking a lot about love and relationships lately, and with Valentine's Day fast approaching, it's hard not to notice all the cutesy hearts and bears. As "they" say, "Love is in the air." So I'm going to show my love for readers and hold a contest!

SHOW THE LOVE...WIN BOOKS CONTEST

To enter: Post your favorite literary love duo (can be from classic literature or contemporary genre fiction) and why you're drawn to their relationship in the comments section. For example: Romeo and Juliet -- I'm drawn to them because they're the embodiment of forbidden and tragic love. OR Cat and Bones -- I love 'em because they're just freakin' HAWT! (You get the idea.)

Dates: Contest begins Friday, January 28 and end Monday, February 7. Winners will be announced Tuesday, February 8.

Entries: Only 1 (ONE) entry per person. Contest IS open to international participants.

Prizes: Four (4) lucky winners will be chosen at random and receive the following--

• 1st Prize...
  BLOOD LAW by Jeannie Holmes (signed)
  HOT ROCKS by Nora Roberts
  GHOST SHADOW by Heather Graham
  KILLING ME SOFTLY by Maggie Shayne
  THE PERFECT POISON by Amanda Quick



• 2nd Prize:
  ENEMY LOVER by Karin Harlow
  WICKED BECOMES YOU by Meredith Duran
  BIG JACK by J. D. Robb



• 3rd Prize:
  DANGEROUS DESIRES by Dee Davis
  THE PERFECT POISON by Amanda Quick (Yes, I have two copies of this book.)
  SUGAR CREEK by Toni Blake



• 4th Prize:
  CRAZY FOR LOVE by Victoria Dahl
  RUNNING HOT by Jayne Ann Krentz
  I LOVE THIS BAR by Carolyn Brown

All books are new and unread. Genres range from contemporary to regency romance to paranormal to urban fantasy.

Yes, there's only one copy of BLOOD LAW up for grabs, but don't worry. I'll have more contests in the future, especially as we get closer to June and BLOOD SECRETS.

The contest is now open so show me the love!!

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Whatever Contest Winners!!!

Thanks to all who entered my holiday contest! I won't bore you with long speeches or other irrelevant yakkity-yak. You're here to know who won. Therefore, I present The Winners (chosen at random):

5th prize - Signed copy of BLOOD LAW: Victoria & "The Little Drummer Boy"

4th prize - Signed copy of BLOOD LAW: Alexa & "Last Christmas"

3rd prize - Signed copy of BLOOD LAW: Stacy Maynard & "All I Want for Christmas is You" (Livejournal entry)

2nd prize - Signed copy of BLOOD LAW: Heather Wigen & "Where Are You Christmas"

1st prize - $15 Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble Gift Card + signed BLOOD LAW: Rhianna & "Blue Christmas"

Grand Prize - $25 Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble Gift Card + signed BLOOD LAW: dianeb & "The 12 Days of Cryptmas"

Winners: You have until December 22 to email your shipping info to contest AT jkholmes DOT com! Grand Prize and 1st prize winners must include a valid email address along with their choice of Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble gift card. Gift cards will be sent electronically.

Congratulations to all the winners and thanks again to everyone for entering the contest! I hope everyone has a happy and healthy holiday season!

~Jeannie

Ho ho ho! Merry Whatever....

It's that time of year again.

Time to trim the tree....and watch the cats knock it over.

Time to wrap the gifts....and watch the cats shred the paper.

Time to visit with friends and family....and watch the cats jump in Aunt Brunhilde's lap, turning her allergies up to 11.

Yes, it's the Great Hanukkah-Christmas-Yule-Kwanzaa-Fest! To celebrate, I'm offering the following prizes to five (5) random and lucky winners. Here are the prizes and rules: (Did you really think there wouldn't be rules?)

Prizes:

Grand Prize: $25 Amazon.com OR Barnes & Noble Gift Card PLUS signed copy of BLOOD LAW

1st Prize: $15 Amazon.com OR Barnes & Nobile Gift Card PLUS signed copy of BLOOD LAW

2nd, 3rd, 4th Prizes: Signed copy of BLOOD LAW

Rules:

1. To enter contest, leave a comment citing your favorite holiday song -- whether it be "Jingle Bells" or "Silent Night" or "Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer."

2. Contest is open to international participants. Note regarding shipping of signed copies of BLOOD LAW: Item may arrive after December 24-25, especially if shipped outside of the US.

3. Gift Cards will be sent electronically. Please DO NOT include your email address along with your entry. I will announce the winners here and provide instructions for contacting me to claim your prize.

4. Gift Card winners must choose either Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. (No, you can't have both.)

5. Contest begins December 8 and ends December 16. Winners will be announced December 17.

Happy Merry Hanukkah-Christmas-Yule-Kwanzaa-Fest!

"Things That Go Bump in the Night" Contest Winner!

Thanks to all you participated in my "Things That Go Bump in the Night" Contest! I hope everyone had a horrifying...uh, Happy Halloween!

The winner of a signed copy of BLOOD LAW (chosen at random) is... Wulfie!! Yay! *throws confetti* Congratulations!!!

Official Business Stuff: Wulfie, you have one week to email your shipping info to contest AT jkholmes DOT com. If I haven't received your information by November 8, 2010, I will choose an alternate winner.

'Tis The Season for Nocturnal Bumping and Such

It's that time of year again! Here in the US, the days are shorter, the nights are longer...and darker...perfect for us primarily nocturnal beings. I love all things autumn -- carnivals, festivals, candied apples, cooler weather, but most of all, I love Halloween. It's my favorite holiday and I look forward to it with all the excitement of a kid awaiting a visit from Santa Claus.

Why do I love Halloween so much? Well, for one, the television is running a nearly constant variety of "documentary" and "hidden history" shows on vampires, werewolves, witches, ghosts, and anything else they can think up. I love these types of shows. Blame my dad. Of course, his interests in show of this nature were geared more toward science, politics, and world history. Nevertheless, he influenced me and even though my interests are decidedly darker he did teach me to not stop with only information given through one source. But that really doesn't explain why I love Halloween.

Again, we can blame my dad. My enthusiasm overshadows his but he still liked the holiday because it was one of the few days of the year when he sort of cut loose and let his hair down. Not that my dad had that much hair. He wasn't a huge fan of the costumes and the trick or treating -- although he did enjoy sharing "The Loot" my siblings and I brought home -- but he did enjoy having a bit of storytelling fun.

The key to understanding my dad's interest in Halloween is understanding that he was a master storyteller. No, he never wrote anything down, but he could captivate you with his tall tales to the point you would wonder if he was telling the truth. In fact, that's what made him so great. He always slipped in kernels of the truth in every story, and one of his favorite genres was the ghost story.

I grew up listening to tales of phantom lights, ladies in white, spirit hounds, and shadows seen from the corners of your eyes. I loved them all. Mom hated them, but only because she knew the nightmares where coming and she'd be the one rushing to my side in the wee hours of the morning because some spectre was attacking me. (Turns out it was just the cat looking to snuggle but when it's 2AM and your seven years old, the family pet is a ferocious devil-possessed panther coming to rip off your face. It was an honest case of mistaken identification anyone could make.)

Since it's the nearly time for all the goblins, ghouls, and ghosts to run amok (Amok! Amok! Amok!) again, let's have a little fun of our own with a contest. I think I shall dub this one the "Things That Go Bump in the Night" Contest. Keep reading for more information...

Things That Go Bump in the Night Contest

Prize: One (1) autographed copy of BLOOD LAW

To Enter: Post EITHER your favorite ghost story -- whether it's a real encounter or an urban legend -- OR your favorite childhood memory of Halloween.

The Rules:

1. One (1) entry per person. This means you post once with either a ghost story or a Halloween memory. Multiple entries will be disqualified.

2. Contest is open to international participants.

3. One (1) entry will be selected at random and declared the winner.

4. Winner will be announced HERE on November 1, 2010.

5. Please DO NOT post your email address along with your entry.

6. Please keep entries to a PG-13 rating. Graphic entries will be deleted.

New Contest: Facebook

I'm running a new contest on Facebook. There is no time limit on it and is open to international readers.

Here's the deal: If I hit 200 "likes" on the Facebook "Fan Page," two (2) lucky random readers will win SIGNED copies of BLOOD LAW.

That's it. No trivia. No jumping through hoops. Nice and simple.

Click here to view my "Fan Page" -- don't forget to "like" it -- and you could win!

Ever have the feeling....

...someone's talking about you? I have, and this time, it's true! :)

No less that three blog/review sites are chatting about Blood Law this week (August 15-21). Book Faery and Blog with Bite are also hosting giveaways. Be sure to check them, and Bitten By Books, out for some great discussions!

Book Faery: Battle of the Sexies -- Day 14, Blood Law

Blog with Bite: August Adult Title

Bitten By Books: Weekly Book Chat

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!

BLOOD LAW Virtual Launch Party

Mark your calendars!



I'm having a Virtual Launch Party for BLOOD LAW, July 7-8, hosted by BittenbyBooks.com!! (Click the banner to RSVP.)


Come chat with me. Learn more about the vampires in BLOOD LAW. Enter to win THREE Amazon.com gift cards. (Contest is open to international readers!)

It'll be fun! You're not going to want to miss this!!

Pre-Release Party Pics Contest

Yes, the official release date for BLOOD LAW is July 6, 2010. However, as often happens, some eager beavers throw out a few teasers here and there in the form of pre-release date sales. With this in mind, I've devised a new contest:

The Pre-Release Party Pics Contest

If you're one of the lucky few who happen to find BLOOD LAW sitting on the shelf in your fave bookstore BEFORE July 5, snap a pic and send it to contest [at] jkholmes [dot] com, along with where you found it. Don't forget to include your name!

FIRST FIVE SUBMISSIONS WILL RECEIVE A LIMITED EDITION CRIMSON SWAN SHOT GLASS!

Rules:

1. All entries must be received BEFORE 11:59 pm (Central time zone) on July 5, 2010.

2. Only one submission per person.

3. Contest is open to international readers.

4. Contest will close after five (5) winning photos are received.

5. All photos will become part of an online BLOOD LAW photo gallery, so please, do not send any photos you wouldn't want your grandmother to see.

6. Advance Reader Copies/Edition (ARCs/AREs) are EXCLUDED from this contest.

Have fun and thanks to all!

May-June Contest Winner is......

Congratulations, Jacqueline C. -- you are the winner of the BLOOD LAW May-June MegaHuge Prize Pack!

*throws confetti* Yay!!!! *blows vuvuzela* Huzzah!!!! *releases fireworks* Woohoo!!!!

Many many many many many thanks to all who entered my contests!! BLOOD LAW will be releasing in just a couple of weeks. I hope everyone enjoys the book!!! I'll be a nervous wreck...sobbing in the corner...blubbering about "my preciousssss".....

May-June Contest is now CLOSED

The May-June Contest is now CLOSED to submissions!

Thanks to all who entered. I'll be selecting a winner through random drawing on June 23, 2010. Check back in a few hours to find out who won the fabulous BLOOD LAW prize pack!!

May-June BLOOD LAW Contest

"May-June! Bring me that book!"

"What book?"

"That one about the vampire."

"Which vampire?"

"You know -- that one with fangs."

"Could you be a little more specific?"

"Never mind! I'll get it myself!"

The time has finally arrived -- the FINAL BLOOD LAW ARC CONTEST is here!

Up for grabs: ONE (1) Advance Reader Copy of BLOOD LAW, featuring the highly collectable original cover. This is the LAST advance copy I have (other than my own personal copy) so if you don't enter, you will miss your chance to read BLOOD LAW before it hits the shelves.

Because this is the FINAL contest I'll be holding before BLOOD LAW is released, I'm going to include a few extra goodies. Winner will receive the following:

1 BLOOD LAW advance reader copy (ARC), autographed
2 BLOOD LAW bookmarks, autographed
1 BLOOD LAW cover flat, autographed
2 "Suck on This" shot glasses from Crimson Swan, the vampire bar featured in BLOOD LAW
2 ink pens -- one from Crimson Swan vampire bar and one for BLOOD LAW
6 pack of Vlad's Tears, "The World's Finest Synthetic Blood -- The Choice of Vampires Since 1984" (Actually it's candy, but it's still cool.)

To receive these wonderful items, you must perform the following actions:

Leave a comment on the Wayward Muses and Shiny Objects blog.

That's it -- just leave a comment. No strings attached. Post a comment. Doesn't get any simpler.

Naturally, there are a few rules:

1. Contest begins May 24, 2010 and ends MIDNIGHT June 22, 2010. All answers must be received BEFORE the deadline.

2. Leave a comment on the Wayward Muses and Shiny Objects blog. While the contest posting is cross-listed on several sites, only entries on the Wayward Muses blog will be considered valid for this contest.

3. You may enter only ONCE -- that's one (1) time -- in order to keep it fair.

4. Contest is open to international participants.

5. Winner will be determined by a random draw.

Good luck and have fun!

Author Scavenger Hunt Twitter Contest

Author Scavenger Hunt Twitter Contest

I'll be attending the RT BookLovers Convention in Columbus, OH this year. (Yay!) I'll be running a special contest the week of the convention, the Author Scavenger Hunt Twitter Contest. It's part scavenger hunt and part social media interaction. Here's how to play:

1. Follow me, JeannieHolmes, on Twitter.

2. Every day I will announce the start of "The Hunt" and post clues regarding my location along with a special code word and time limit for finding me.

3. The first person to find me and say the code word wins a Super Special Sekret Prize.

4. Contest is open to RT attendees only.

5. You must follow me on Twitter to find the clues.

6. Times and locations will be random. Multiple "Hunts" during a single day are possible.

7. Opening day of "The Hunt" will be April 28, 2010 and closing day will be May 2, 2010.

Winner of April Fool's ARC Contest is....

Congratulations to Frank B. of Mobile, AL!!

You're the winner of a signed, collectible advance reader copy of BLOOD LAW. I'll send it out tomorrrow morning.

Thanks to all who entered. Be sure to check back after May 1 for a new ARC contest. You won't want to miss it -- it'll be the LAST contest before BLOOD LAW is released June 22!!

------------

Answers to the April Fool's ARC Contest:

Which of the following vampire "rules" does not appear in the original European legends?

A) Vampires sleep in coffins. (TRUE. It was believed vampires must return to their coffins/crypts for "sleep" or "rest.")

B) Use poppy seeds to distract a vampire since they must count all seeds before continuing their pursuit. (TRUE. Villiagers believed by scattering poppy seeds on the ground before a charging vampire, the vampire must count ever seed before continuing their pursuit.)

C) Vampires feed on blood. (TRUE. Before more advanced understanding of decompostion, when the coffin/crypt of a "resting/sleeping" suspected vampire was opened, the natural processes decomposition would often result in dark fluid -- thought to be blood -- seeping from the suspected vampire's mouth. This led to the belief that the corpse was rising from the grave to feed on blood.)

D) Garlic will ward against vampires. (TRUE. Garlic, with its pungent aroma, was thought to be an effective ward against vampires.........and nosy neighbors.)

E) A wooden stake through the heart will prevent a vampire from rising from the grave. (TRUE. It was thought that by driving a wooden stake through a suspected vampire's heart, it would pin him/her to the ground beneath, and prevent the corpse from rising.)

F) Sunlight will harm/kill a vampire. (FALSE. Vampires were capable of walking about during the daylight, although it was believed their powers were dimished. The proper belief that sunlight can harm or kill a vampire began in 1922 after the F. W. Murnau's film NOSFERATU showed Count Orlok fading away with the rising of the sun. This had no basis in legend or myth but was instead a special effect created for the film and a convenient plot device used to dispatch a cornered Count Orlok.)

G) Crosses are effective protection against vampire attacks. (TRUE. It was believed that crosses, as well as other religious symbols, could protect one from vampire attacks.)

April Fool's ARC Contest

April's Fool ARC Contest (No, this isn't a joke!)

Vampires have invaded modern pop culture like locusts in a wheat field. Nearly every film, television show, or book follows the "European model" for the vampire, as set down by Bram Stoker in his novel DRACULA, and plays on the "rules" that these night stalkers must follow. However, there is one fundamental "rule" that isn't based in the myths and legends of Europe.

This month's contest is a multiple choice question. Rules for the April's Fool ARC Contest:

1. Contest begins April 4, 2010 and ends MIDNIGHT April 17, 2010. All answers must be received BEFORE the deadline.

2. E-mail your answers to contest AT jkholmes DOT com. PLEASE DO NOT POST THEM HERE. Feel free to leave comments but answers must be received by e-mail to be valid.

3. You may enter only ONCE -- that's one (1) time -- in order to keep it fair.

4. Contest is open to international participants.

5. Winner will be determined by random drawing from CORRECT entries and announced here on April 18, 2010. Winner will receive a signed, collectable (featuring the original cover art!) ARC of BLOOD LAW!

Now, here is your multiple choice question:

Which of the following vampire "rules" does not appear in the original European legends?

A) Vampires sleep in coffins.
B) Use poppy seeds to distract a vampire since they must count all seeds before continuing their pursuit.
C) Vampires feed on blood.
D) Garlic will ward against vampires.
E) A wooden stake through the heart will prevent a vampire from rising from the grave.
F) Sunlight will harm/kill a vampire.
G) Crosses are effective protection against vampire attacks.

Good luck!

Winner of mARCh Contest...

The winner of an autographed BLOOD LAW cover flat & ARC is...

"Slayerkitty"!!!!!!

Congratulations! You have until midnight Saturday, March 27, 2010 to email your info to me at jkholmes AT jkholmes DOT com. :-)