Running With Quills: STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN--2010!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN--2010!

Hello, my flowers:

The Court of Angels series starts being released on March 1 with OUT OF BODY the first book in the first trilogy.

Am I excited? I really am--and jumpy and anxious to write more books about these paranormal families and the extraordinary foes they face in New Orleans' French Quarter.

Before I get carried away by all that, I've got some thanks to give. As I look back over 2009 I am thankful for my family, my faith, my friends and a world filled with opportunities even if it often seems we have never been in more challenging times.

And I am so grateful for the business of books, the writing and the reading, the hours and hours of entertainment, blood, sweat and tears--and how worthwhile the whole process seems to me. All my life I've turned to books, not to escape, really, but because I wanted to enter stories that kept me looking for a few more minutes of reading.

Some of those books I want to mention:

Susan Anderson Carla Neggars Jayne Ann Krentz Elizabeth Lowell Lori Foster

Back to The Court of Angels. There are lots of activities in the works to celebrate the release of these books with their paranormal heroes and heroines, quirky families, unexpected "developments" and other-worldy types we love to hate.

Within the next day or two we'll start a contest on Facebook for an uncorrected, copyedited manuscript of OUT OF BODY. There is only one so yes, that makes it unique, as an object and as an interesting look at part of the process of taking a book from idea to print. We will also be giving away a couple of COURT OF ANGELS mugs

I'm told that someone you've met in my Bayou Books has a plan to "help" us get the most enjoyment possible out of the books but since she seems to be hiding from me I will reserve judgement on how much "help" she will be.

I wish the very best for all of you as we move into 2010,

Stella

Q: If you could have a paranormal talent, what would you like it to be?

27 Comments:

Lou said...: Stella - I can hardly wait, paranormal set in New Orleans - can't get any better.

As for a paranormal talent?? The only one I can think of that I've read about in other novels is to be a healer. I think that being able to heal others would be a very special ability.; 7:51 PM
Kate Douglas said...: Stella, I cannot WAIT for this series! I read a teaser somewhere that left me wanting the book NOW, so March can't get here soon enough.

As far as a paranormal talent? Either flying like a bird, or shifting into an animal form, with all the senses of a wild creature. That would just be very cool!; 8:22 PM
Beth said...: I'd love to be able to shapeshift into a dragon. Powerful, warm, and you could fly.; 9:52 PM
Mary said...: I cannot wait to read more of your books. They are absolutely great!

Paranormal power.....hmm, I would have to say, the power to make people do as I say. That power would ahve come in handy in high school. "No Mrs. Holt you do not want to give me a D-, you want to give me an A+" lol; 12:04 AM
Carla Neggers said...: Great post, Stella. We're just back from a few days visiting family in Tennessee, so I'm catching up with the Quills! I can't wait to start your new series. This is so exciting.

As easy as my flights were this week, wow, would I love to be able to fly myself around the world! LOL.

Happy New Year, everyone.

Carla; 7:24 AM
susan andersen said...: Stella, what a great pic with your little dog!! Looking forward to Court of Angels.
I'm with Carla--I'd love to be able to teleport. What a time saver that would be.; 7:32 AM
Jayne Ann Krentz said...: Stella, congratulations on the fabulous (starred!!!) PW review of OUT OF BODY. To quote: "strikes the perfect balance of action, sassy dialogue, and steamy love scenes: never excessive, just enough to leave readers wanting more."

Great launch for the series! Readers are going to love it.

--Jayne; 8:25 AM
Anonymous said...: Happy new year, Stella!

I am so excited about the new series. For me, reading has always been a gateway to other worlds, peoples, even ideas. As a long term addict-uh, reader- I can easily slip loose the constraints of disbelief and enter the world of shapeshifters (Kate), vampires (Lara Adrian), smart/funny women (Susie), Non-government Agencies (Ann), etc.
Your books capture my imagination on a visceral level, probably because make the characters so personal and the places so familiar, then you confound it all with the uncertainty of the danger within the "familiar". It's difficult to decribe, and that's as close as I can come to explaining how your writing captivates me.

I don't wish for paranormal powers, because I believe we already have them. I wish for us to be able to access them from within ourselves.

Bless us all,
Lynne Thomas; 9:05 AM
Kathleen O said...: I cannot wait for this books to arrive on the bookshelf...
As for a pararnormal power I would like to be able to have the power to move things, like the wind or rain or the power to heal.. I think that would be the greatest power to have.; 9:12 AM
Stella said...: Lou: Your choice of a talent is very telling. Have you ever thought that wanting to heal is a positive power?

Stella; 12:57 PM
Stella said...: Kate: So you'd like to shift into a fascinating animal form and feel what the creature feels--what a surprise:):)

Stella; 12:58 PM
Stella said...: Beth:

A dragon, hmm? And one that flies. I hope you would be a benevolent dragon, maybe a bit Puff-like:)

Stella; 1:00 PM
Stella said...: Mary: That's great! "Why, Mrs. Holt, how wonderful that you're writing an A on that paper..."

Stella; 1:01 PM
Stella said...: Carla: Thank you for the kind words and I'm glad you're safely at home again.

I think flying appeals to a lot of us. Imagine not having to deal with planes...

Stella; 1:02 PM
Stella said...: Hi Susan: I'm creating a mental picture of a dark cloud composed of flying writers. How do we feel about that?

Stella; 1:04 PM
Stella said...: Jayne:

Thank you very much. I admit I'm shallow enough to be delighted with the starred PW review and all those lovely comments. I think what matters most is getting some feedback that tells the writer he or she accomplished their aim.

Stella; 1:06 PM
Stella said...: Lynne: Bless us all, indeed, and thank you.

Last night I watched the first episode of the second series of Cranford on PBS. I'm, yes, addicted to drama. There is a scene where Dame Judy Dench rolls a yarn-wrapped ball under the bed to a little child sitting on the floor opposite. Dame Judy's line is something about making sure there's nothing "untoward" under the bed. It was sweet, funny, and of course brilliant. It also reminded me of the power old fears.

Stella; 1:13 PM
Stella said...: Kathleen: I like the ideas you have about powers. They shoot right to the heart of the importance of using whatever strengths we have for good.

I expected you to mention summoning up a pen when you need one, or dinner, or perhaps the power to make the toothbrush do its job while you read:)

Stella; 1:17 PM
Rebecca Ringler said...: Hi Stella - I love coming to this blog site. I found this site because I am a Carla Neggers fan & I have read most of her books. Now that I have been coming to Quills, I want to read books by all of you this year. I was also privileged enough to win Lori's giveaway pkg for the Readers & Authors Get Together in June, speaking of which Lori just announced on her bookjunkys email loop that her dad passed away unexpectedly early this AM & she is going off mail to get herself together. My paranormal ability would definitely be seeing into the future these "bad" things that are going to happen & do something to make a difference today to prevent that death or bad accident, etc.; 1:23 PM
Anonymous said...: All the best, Ms Stella.

Paranormal for myself?

Well maybe the ability to influence the weather. Move a cloud over there. Bring on a little shower down there. Nothing drastic, just benevolent things where needed.

Louis; 3:35 PM
susan andersen said...: Stella, I don't think it's shallow at all to be pleased to have your hard work and (in my case) bleeding ears given a little tip of the hat. Congrats!! PW is pretty stingy with starred reviews. It says something that they awarded you one. ~S; 7:01 PM
Lou said...: Stella - Yes, I do consider healing a positive power. After a childhood full of angst, I have managed to embrace positive thinking.

Helping others can also have a bit of a selfish side in that it makes one feel good. But mostly I don't like to see people (or animals) suffer.; 11:54 AM
Stella said...: Lou: I think we share at least a bit of the same skin:)

Stella; 3:11 PM
Stella said...: Susan: Thank you very much. I do need to be pulled up short on the humble pie front, at least sometimes. I was brought up with the notion that "it just isn't nice" to have positive feelings about yourself.

Stella; 3:13 PM
Stella said...: Louis: I think that would be the perfect gift for you. Think of the good you could do, not just for yourself but for your neighbors.

Stella; 3:15 PM
Stella said...: Rebecca: I'm very glad you're here with us. And more than glad that you let us know about Lori because I hadn't heard this news.

All the best,

Stella; 3:17 PM
elizabeth said...: Love the cover, and have put the release date on my calendar. (Now, all I have to do is bug folks so I can get it on Kindle.)

I'm a dragon in some alternate universe. I'm sure of it. ;-); 3:55 PM

Previous Posts

Sunday, January 10, 2010

STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN--2010!

27 Comments: