ConCarolinas Schedule

As you probably know, I have severally cut back my traveling and appearance schedules this year.  While the decision was necessary, I have missed having the opportunity to chat with many of you.  The good news is, I will get to chat and hang out this weekend at ConCarolinas. Below is my schedule for the weekend. I hope to see you there!

Fri 04:00 pm	Writer's Reception	Lakeshore Ballroom I & II - Main Programming
Fri 09:00 pm	Writing the Other	Harris - Programming 9
Sat 04:00 pm	The Villain as Protagonist	Harris - Programming 9
Sat 10:00 pm	Bloodsucking Fiends	Olmstead - Programming 8
Sat 11:30 pm	Making Monsters Scary Again	Olmstead - Programming 8

Where Did the Author Go?

Before I start this post, let me say that you guys are absolutely wonderful. I love meeting you at cons and signings, and even though I'm ridiculously (to the point of embarrassment) behind on my email, I love hearing from you. The fact that people want to read stories that initially exist only in my head still amazes me. You are all awesome and I cherish each and every one of my readers.

So then why have I been so quiet recently? The blog has been barren, twitter and facebook have been neglected, and my website is in woeful need of an update.

Well, the answer is rather complicated and very personal.

Writing is something I love to do, but it is also my job. I've always tried to maintain a clear line between my job and my private life, and to ensure that whatever is going on in my personal life doesn't interfere with my job. That's what professionals do, right? There are deadlines to meet and events to attend and business to be conducted.

 Recently preventing the events in my life from impacting my job has become increasingly difficult. And in the last year or so, it has become impossible. I don't want to go into details--my private pain and struggles are not something I want splashed on the internet--but I felt I owed you, the readers wondering why the heck the next book isn't out yet, some sort of explanation.

At this time, there is very little I can say besides to apologize and promise that I am working as hard as I possibly can to get the books to you. I don't know exactly when that will be, and I don't even want to guess. But rest assured, there WILL be more books in both the Haven and Alex Craft series. I have lots of ideas and plans for the characters (and for several other series that are on the back burner as well) so there is definitely more to come.

All of that said, I've been advised that for my own well being and in the interest of catching up (and hopefully getting back ahead of my deadlines), to make some changes this year. Namely, to take a step back on my appearance schedule in 2013 so that I can focus my energy on healing and writing.

At the moment, I have no tour planned, and the only convention I have on my agenda is ConCarolinas in NC on May 31-June 2nd. (Dragon*Con is still up in the air, I've been invited, but I have yet to accept.) I'll try to post on the blog once in a awhile, just to let you guys know I'm alive or if situations change and I add events. I intend to update the website (or hire someone to do it for me) and I will slowly be sifting through my mail (but it will take me a while to reply to all  of you.)

If all goes well, I hope to return to the convention circuit again in 2014 with brand new books in both series for you.

Thank you for your understanding and patience in what has been (and currently continues to be) a very difficult time for me.
*hugs*

NY Comic Con Schedule

I can't believe NY Comic Con is only days away. I realized that I haven't posted my schedule for the convention yet, so I should probably do that, huh? I hope to see you there!


Friday, October 12th:

1:30 -2:30 PM, 1A14

PANEL: PASSION, POWER, AND PARANORMALS!
Description: Authors discuss the inclusion of romantic elements in their action-packed novels. If dating the undead wasn’t tricky enough, these protagonists must also battle the forces of evil while trying to keep their sanity and the world safe from destruction. Moderator Jocelyn Davies (Author of A Beautiful Dark and A Fractured Light; Editor at Razorbill/Penguin Young Readers)will have the authors divulging the steamy details behind creating their characters and their tricky love affairs.

3:15–4:15 PM AUTOGRAPHING: PASSION, POWER, PARANORMALS

Saturday, October 13th: 
2:45--3:45 PM, 1A01
PANEL: GENRE-BENDERS: Out-of-the-box Science-Fiction and Fantasy Novels that blur the lines of fantasy, SF, horror, romance, steampunk, you name it! 
Join authors in a discussion about stories that can’t be bound by the constraints of any genre.  Whether mixing elements of romance with horror, or fantasy with thrillers, these authors show that a good tale can be spun from multiple traditions.
Autographing session for panel 4:45PM – 5:45PM

Dragon*Con Schedule

Dragon*Con is just a few days away and I'm getting everything packed and ready. Here is where I'll be during the con:

• Title: Frightening Folklore
  Description: look at the ways folklore is used in dark fantasy fiction
  Time: Fri 5:30 pm Location: Embassy C - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
  
• Title: Reading: Kalayna Price
  Time: Sat 01:00 pm Location: Marietta - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
  
• Title: You Are What You Fight
  Description: How heroes identify (or not) with their monstrous foes
  Time: Sat 7:00 pm Location: Embassy C - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
  
• Title: Creating Memorable Characters
  Description: Never to early to start developing the best characters possible. What's the secret? Learn from the pros.
  Time: Sun 11:30 am Location: Embassy D-F - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
  
• Title: Bell Bridge Spotlight
  Description: Focus on Bell Bridge Books
  Time: Sun 2:30 pm Location: Embassy D-F - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
  
•  Title: The Perfect Blend: Genre Mixing in Urban Fantasy
  Description: Urban fantasy has been romantic, mysterious, magical. What makes the perfect blend?
  Time: Mon 11:30 am Location: Fairlie - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

 I have a booth in the exhibitors hall again this year (Booth 100) and you can find me there periodically throughout the weekend. In particular, I'm scheduled to be there at the following times:

Friday: 1pm – 4pm

Saturday: 10am -12pm

             2pm – 4pm

Sunday: 9:30 am -11:30am

Monday: 1pm -4pm

 I look forward to seeing you there!

Answering your Questions

Hey everyone. First off, let me apologize for being terribly behind on emails and for not responding to tweets/facebook messages/comments recently. I have been dealing with some unavoidable issues and have been unavailable. Hopefully I will be able to catch up in the next few weeks.

First off though, I thought I'd answer some of the most common questions I've been receiving.

The Alex Craft novels:
-Yes, there will be more Alex novels! The fourth novel has a tentative title of Grave Visions and will be released next year. A total of six books are currently under contract.
-An Alex Craft short story will be released in the Kicking It anthology next year. Currently I'm leaning toward a story focused on Briar Darque.

The Haven Novels:
-Third Blood release date: I will let you know as soon as I have a date. I wasn't happy with the writing so it got pushed back while I fix it.

Upcoming Appearances:
-Dragon*Con: I'll be in Atlanta next weekend for Dragon*con. In the next post I'll list my panel schedule.
-New York Comic Con: I'll be in New York October 11th-14th for Comic Con.
-Signing in Athens, GA. I'll be in Athens in late October (exact date to come) for a signing with several other awesome writers.

Okay, I think those are the main questions I've been receiving (based on a quick glance--I'm sorry I haven't had the time or opportunity to read most.) I'll post my Dragon schedule in the next blog.

Third Blood Cover

Things have been busy here lately, so I apologize for the lack of posts, but today I'm very happy to reveal the cover for THIRD BLOOD! I really love this cover--it fits the story wonderfully.

So what do you think?

Oh, and don't forget--Tonight I'll be in Rockhill with Faith Hunter and D B Jackson at the Booknack. I hope to see you there!

Online Live Release Party chat winners

Hey everyone. I just wrapped up the Live Release party on Google Air. Thank you everyone who attended and major thanks to everyone who asked questions and saved me from talking to myself for an hour. I apologize for the sound quality--I should have tested things out more but 8pm crept up on me. I announced winners to the FMT contests as well as prize winners during the release. If you are one of them, please write me at CONTESTS (AT) KALAYNA (DOT) COM.

In case you missed the announcement, those winners were:
Release party winners: Heather and Derek
Blood and Bullets winner: Molly
Hard Day's Knight winner: Sophie
Eli Monpress omnibus winner: Elizabeth.

Congrats all winners and thank you again everyone who attended the release!