Lori Devoti, paranormal romance and urban fantasy author

Juno Books, best-known for “contemporary fantasy novels that emphasize strong female protagonists in richly imagined contexts,” will become an imprint of Pocket Books, starting with Lori Devoti’s AMAZON INK in June 2009. They plan to co-publish one title a month together.

Juno started in publishing in fall 2006. Editor Paula Guran will work together with Pocket’s Jennifer Heddle on the line. Pocket publisher Louise Burke says, “We’ve seen great growth in this category, are delighted to now have a dedicated line, and look forward to helping to cultivate a wider audience for Juno’s terrific roster of authors.”

Guran adds that “both Juno and fantasy readers in general will gain immensely by sales and marketing reach of Pocket Books and Simon & Schuster, while still getting the best of our editorial sensibility.”

Okay, it isn’t fancy, but I think it is clear. I put together this map of my version of Yggdrasill. I say mine, because Gunngar for example is totally my invention.

I also updated the Unbound world glossary and list of key characters.

A few months ago I asked a couple of multi-pubbed authors–authors who have been writing for around twenty years–when they felt “real”. They kind of looked at me like “Uh, one of those. Someone get the net.” That was my first clue that admitting you don’t feel real is probably not the best idea–but here I am again, talking about it.

I have five books in print, four more under contract, two short stories ready to be released and a novella. Kind of wild. I also just found out my next full-length Nocturne is scheduled for April. Which means two of those books (Dark Crusade, the Nocturne and Amazon Ink, urban fantasy) will be out in the spring. By this time the novella and both shorts will also be out and about. Even wilder.

So, does this make me real?

Being a writer is a weird thing. I tell people that is what I do, and they usually assume I don’t really have anything published, then when I say I have five books out they look at me like I’m from Mars. It makes me strangely uncomfortable, like I am impersonating someone. Very, very weird.

But there you have it, by spring I will be able to say I have seven books published–eight if you count my Holiday with a Vampire novella. Will I feel real then? Hmmm…maybe after ten.

Oh, and I got the Holdiay with a Vampire cover. I’m in it with Merline Lovelace. She is real.

I REALLY need to post my recent reviews on my web site. I have gotten so bad about that. Anyway, I got a new review today for Wild Hunt. It’s by Kim Swiderski for Writer’s Unlimited.
Here’s a snip…

“I found Ms. Devoti’s vision of the Wild Hunt spellbinding. Her interpretation of hellhounds and Valkyrie is a delectable pleasure to read. She brought their emotions, their differences, their virulent tendencies to life for me. Heart thumping action and hot carnal sex scenes blended together to make an exhilarating reading experience. I encourage you to read Wild Hunt with an ice cold drink next to you. You may need it to cool down.”

First, Dark Crusade is DONE! First draft, but still–done! It is going to be my longest Nocturne–still in the guideline limits, but a little longer than the others. Not counting prologues and epilogues that is. Those were added at my editor’s suggestion so they were never counted in my original numbers.

Now, I have to decide whose book to write next. Dark Crusade is a garm book, and it took on a bit of a dark fairy tale theme. It might be fun to stick with that theme. It also has a witch in it who, although I don’t spell it out in book, is Lusse’s sister. I plan on there being three of them and considered doing books with all of them. Then there are the characters that always show up in books who could have their own stories. In Dark Crusade it is a dragon. I haven’t done a dragon yet, but this one is a tad angry and he wants a witch’s heart to satisfy his need for revenge. He really should get the chance for that….

Speaking of dragons, a friend of mine, Meagan Hatfield, just sold to Nocturne. Her series is going to be about…yes…dragons. No details on run date yet–but watch for it.

What else? Time for me to write a short story for the Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance. I think I’m going to do something with a gargoyle. A short story is a great way to play with something new, and for some reason gargoyles have been calling me.

Also on the short story front, I may have one coming out soon with Mundania Press. Funny story. I wrote this story WAY back before I sold my first book. It was actually my first “sale.” I put sale in quotes because the sale was to Arabella the short-lived romantic short story magazine. When the magazine folded I got my rights back. A couple of years after that I decided to send it off to Mundania, just because and they contracted with me to do an e-version. But then it got lost somewhere. So, I contacted them again recently just to see what was happening (they were very nice and prompt in their reply) and it looks like they will be putting it out.

It is a weird story for me now. It is a historical–which I never wrote novel-length–and set in southern Missouri–my first two books were too. It plays with some old hill superstitions that I thought were quite fun. So, anyway, watch for it. I’ll let you know when I get word that it is out.

I KNOW my word count thing says I’m still over 6,000 words shy of my goal for Amazon Ink, but I am DONE. I was originally shooting for 90,000 words but the acceptable range (I think/hope) is 85 to 95. I am just a little over 1,000 short of 85 on my first draft.

I know how I write and I know another 1,000 plus words will come out in revisions. There is a distinct possibility an entire scene will appear–which would put me nicely over the 85. So, as I said, I am DONE!

Yay! Funny how good you feel when you finish even though I enjoyed writing this book (for the most part). There was a section where things got dicey, but I pushed through and got to the last act where a lot of lovely action ensued. I love the action. Love writing it. I think if I could write a book of nothing but fight scenes I would oh so happy. And really good conflict filled dialogue. I love that too.

So, now I will pay bills (something I don’t love) and tomorrow I will set to work revising either this or the Bite that is due July 1. Maybe a bit of both….

So close…or relatively so. I can see the end…just isn’t quite there yet. I’m also unfortunately at that place where you (the writer) are pretty convinced the entire thing is a load of horse manure. But, hey, that’s what revisions are for! Yay, revisions…ugh.

Acutally, I usually enjoy revisions, until I don’t.

Anyway, I’m almost done AND I have a new run date for this book (urban fantasy, Amazon Ink)–March ’09 instead of May or June. So, it’s a darn good thing I’m almost done.

After this I have my Bite to revise, a paranormal romance short to write, my next Nocturne to finish, and I’d like to work in a proposal or two…all by mid-September.

I really should be writing…

Take a picture of you with your copy of the Wild Hunt (or at least the cover), and post it anywhere on the web. Then email me the link, and you will be entered to win either the Nocturne or Zebra Debut Prize Package. (Can mix and match books to get books new to you–total books to win 8, plus 1 Hellhound Lover Tote Bag.) Suggested places to post your pic…Blogs, MySpace, Flickr, Facebook, etc.. By entering permission is given for me to also post the picture on my web site and/or blog. Contest ends Saturday, July 12th. Picture must remain up until that time, for me to validate.

Nocturne Prize Package Books included: Blood Calls (autographed) and Death Calls by Caridad Pineiro, Blood Secrets by Vivi Anna, Raintree Sanctuary (autographed) by Beverly Barton, Guardian’s Keep and Unbound (both autographed) by Lori Devoti, Damned (autographed) by Lisa Childs, and Raintree Inferno by Linda Howard.

Zebra Debut Prize Package Books included (all autographed): Love is All Around and Love is All You Need by Lori Devoti, Master of Desire by Jessica Trapp, Always Mine by Sophia Johnson, The Knight Before Christmas by Jackie Ivie, The Naked Marquis by Sally MacKenzie, What a Gentleman Wants by Caroline Linden, and Charming Jo by Laura Drewry.

One week until release day! Can you believe it? I’m really not prepared. I didn’t even send the book to hardly any reviewers this time. I did, however, send it to Amelia Richard at CataRomance and her review is up. Here’s the key bit…

With imagination and cleverness, Lori Devoti gives readers what they crave in a paranormal story. The premise of her Unbound series is completely unique, and the featured characters are very individualistic in every aspect of their nature. Ms. Devoti gives her characters distinctive personalities and the thoughts of each being are vividly shown, particularly the differences between those with the same heritage. With the vast number of different beings in this story, the author’s gift for creativity shines through when the way they think and react is expressed. The plot of WILD HUNT is masterfully carried out as each second brings forth a new revelation, many of them surprising and unforeseen. There was not a moment when I was not held ensnared by the happenings in the story, as each one became more significant in what would ultimately come to pass in the lives of Venge and Geysa. This couple, with their differences in not only genetic makeup but also their goals, is powerfully portrayed with intense passions and strong wills. When their temperaments clash, the scenes are filled with genuine emotions and inner conflicts. Ms. Devoti gives these two a myriad of dilemmas to overcome, and Venge and Geysa prove their true natures time and again. WILD HUNT is a mesmerizing love story, one where potent feelings and danger constantly collide.

You can read the full review here…Oh, and she gave it 5 stars. :)

Now through May 11th, eHarlequin is having a Mother’s Day Special. You can get anything at eHarlequin, including Wild Hunt, for 10% off. Use coupon code EHQNMOM.