Whiteout

Not just another vampire and ghost series

I cringe a bit when people label my books as just another ____ (insert paranormal character here) series.

Even though, at face value, these people are correct.

Yes, there are vampires in my books. And, yes, a few ghosts as well.

But to call this series just another YA ghost/vampire trilogy isn't telling the full story.

These books, and I'm boasting now, tell a larger story.

They tell a story about a young woman who risks so much to protect the land.

To protect animals.

To protect those things in life that so many of us take for granted.

The vampires. The ghosts. They have their roles to play. But it is Kat who is the hero of this series. it is Kat who inspires me every time I fire up my old creaky laptop.

What about book three you may be asking?

It's almost ready for the publisher...

Shakespeare in the Park

A view of Lithia Park -- yes, that Lithia -- in Ashland.

Fire

It is fire season here in Southern Oregon and the air is smoky and it stings the eyes.

Though I do love the way it smells. It's a dangerous odor, wild and destructive. It reminds me of how close we live to wildness. These forests, I can't imagine living anywhere else, but forests do burn. Forests must burn.

Fire destroys. Fire create.

Fire is a major element of The Ghost Runner.

Andrea's Amazing Reviews and Me

A great review of The Ghost Runner from, who else, but Andrea!

And a brief Q&A with you know who...

Books, Books, Questions, Answers

I was happy to be interviewed by the Books Books & More Books blogging team.

If you're a regular on this blog, then you probably know the answers to many of the questions.

But, if not, dive right in...

Environmentalist Meets Ghosts and Vampires

This pretty much sums up the great review of my most recent book The Ghost Runner.

And if you want to learn more about me -- at least as much as I will allow -- check out the Q&A.

These violent delights have violent ends

Yes, I'm a little excited about this movie -- another adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.

I did notice Julian Fellowes has taken quite a few liberties with the text. And initial feedback isn't exactly promising. So maybe I'll hate the movie too.

Regardless, I'm sure I'll be there on opening night.

For those of you who've read my books, you know my affinity for Shakespeare.

Hamlet inspired Out of Breath.

Measure for Measure  inspired The Ghost Runner.

And Romeo and Juliet has inspired book three, which, I know, I know, is still as of yet untitled.

Maybe if I watched fewer movies I'd get more writing in.

PS: I do love the actress Hailee Steinfeld. I could see her playing Kat.

Welcome to Forks

This is the main strip of Forks, Washington.

The real Forks, not the one imagined in Twilight.

But now one benefiting from the surge in tourism. Note the "Dazzled by Twilight" storefront sign -- a mecca for young fans (and older folks like myself) from around the world.

Truth be told, Forks may be a tad rundown and depressing -- as most logging towns tends to be -- but I enjoy the region. That is, the parts of it that haven't been logged.

I took issue with Twilight -- with the idea that the Cullens are vegetarian (they aren't anything close). But I can't deny that these books inspired me to create vampires as I believe they can be.

Happy Earth Day

Last chance to enter to the Ashland Creek Press giveaway.

Celebrate Earth Day and get a free eco-fiction sampler

Earth Day is about a week away and Ashland Creek Press is offering an eco-sampler and book giveaway.

Here are the rules:

Simply email Ashland Creek Press at editors [at] ashlandcreekpress [dot] com, on or before April 22, using the subject line EARTH DAY, and you'll receive a copy of our Eco-Fiction Sampler, which features excerpts of six works of environmental fiction.

You'll also be entered to win a copy of one of these six eco-fiction titles -- we're giving away one environmentally friendly e-book and one paperback (printed on paper from Sustainable Forestry Initiative certified sourcing), so please mention your preference in your email.

When you enter the giveaway, you'll be added to our mailing list, from which you can unsubscribe at any time (and your info will never be shared).

For more about Ashland Creek Press, click here. For more about our environmental literature, click here.

Happy Earth Day!

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep

 The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
 But I have promises to keep,
 And miles to go before I sleep,
 And miles to go before I sleep.

- Robert Frost, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Got questions?

My publisher forwards me emails from reviewers and bloggers and I realized today that you -- that is, you the many millions of fine readers who happen upon this blog every day -- might also want to get in touch.

As a recluse I'm rather difficult to reach.  But if you use this form my publisher will forward along your email.

So if you have any questions, fire away...

I'm huge in Canada

My book is now available (virtually) north of the border.

Of course, it looks like I could use a few stars there...

The road ahead

I don't know, you know?

I don't know what readers want to read.

I don't know how to save the planet.

I don't know what I'm going to write after I finish book three.

All I do know is...

I know what I want to read.

I know what I'm doing to save the planet.

Now I just have to figure out what to write after I finish book three.

You know?

And now for some good reviews!

Wouldn't you know it.

Right after I publish a rather snarky post about bad reviews my publisher ups and points me to two very good reviews:

"I loved The Ghost Runner as much as I loved the first book, Out of Breath," reads this 5-star review of The Ghost Runner."
-- Bookingly Yours

The Lithia Trilogy, which blends adventure and the paranormal with environmental awareness and Shakespeare, offers an exciting new series in young adult fiction.
-- Books, Books & More Books

Thanks to everyone who loved books one and two. It inspires me to finish book three!

Bad reviews suck

I try.

I try not to look at them.

The reviews.

And for the most part I've succeeded in avoiding the reviews.

But the Internet is the devil's playground. One minute you're doing some innocent research on Wikipedia and the next minute you're reading a particularly painful review of your book.

And I get upset. I stomp around. I curse the reviewer's name and wonder why she or he didn't "get it."

But then I cool down and remind myself that books are like people.

Some people you like and some you don't.

As a writer, I want my book to be liked, though I know not everyone will "get it."

And that's fine. Many people don't "get" me.

But bad reviews still suck.

Fortunately, some people do "get" me. Like this reviewer.

Okay, no more reading reviews! Time to starting writing again.

PS: If you've read either Out of Breath or The Ghost Runner -- and liked it -- please consider writing a review. We authors may say publicly that reviews don't matter -- but they do.