Ghost Sex!

This is just, um, too me to ignore, you guys. For anyone who loved The Larrinator, apparently he wasn't the only horny ghost on the block.

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A Dubious Honor

On this week's list of things that amuse me more than they should: The Ghost Shrink was picked for a Top Ten List! Top Ten Worst Romance Novel Covers by "the Gloss"! (Not really sure what the gloss is - fashion magazine?)

Now, for those of you who are getting indignant on behalf of my awesome-sauce cover artist, fear not, the scribe of this particular top ten list does not appear to have a problem with fair Natalie. It's the title she objects to - and yes, let's be objective now, the title is ridiculous. But, um, it's kinda supposed to be. Cuz, um, it's a comedy and filled with silliness so shouldn't the title represent that? Aaaaaanyway, this is what Hannah Rose (what a pretty name!) had to say (with my comments in response):

Are you secretly addicted to romance novels?

Nope. Not secretly. Openly. Proudly. Waving my freak flag high.

If you are, you have to admit some of them can have pretty hilarious titles and covers (in addition to the actual stories).

Oh my gosh, hilarious? Thank you! I love it when readers tell me I made them laugh!

If you don’t read romance novels but love to make fun of them anyway, read on to see our picks for the top 10 worst romance novel covers of all time.

Huh. I can't really get behind making fun of something that lots of other people enjoy just because it's an easy target. Especially when you make no effort to see if your prejudice is warranted by, you know, reading one of them.

You’ll realize that the novel you’ve been working on forever has to get published, if a novel such as The Ghost Shrink, The Accidental Gigolo, and The Poltergeist Accountant can get published.

Well, sadly, she hasn't read it, because no one in their right mind would call TGSTAG&TPA a novel. It's a novella if you're feeling generous and a short story if not. But the good news is, I'm giving hope to aspiring writers everywhere! If I can get published with that dreck, so can you! That's a message I can get behind. You too can get published. Chase your dream! All you have to do is find an editor with a sense of humor and appreciation for the ridiculous and you're golden.

Honestly, I was hoping for more bite from my first Top Ten Worst list. This one was worth a giggle, but it didn't even sting. How'm I supposed to justify a good mope now? And here I had my lil heart set on a melodramatic laying on the floor and moaning in Italian pity-party.

Oh well. Next time.

Last Chance for Free Shrinkage!

Last chance to download a free copy of The Ghost Shrink, the Accidental Gigolo & the Poltergeist Accountant, ladies and gents! Tell your friends and enemies!

Click here for the Amazon download & Click here for the B&N Nook download.

The clock is ticking. Act now! This offer won't last! (<-- You really need to picture this whole spiel yelled at top volume while one of those freaky waving-arm balloon guys has a conniption in the background. Do those waving arm balloon dudes freak anyone else out or is that just me?)

Free the Larrinator!

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Mmmm... Sugary Reviewy Goodness

It's been a good week to be a Karmic Consultant, ladies and gents. The Ghost Shrink, the Accidental Gigolo & the Poltergeist Accountant was picked as a reviewer's choice for 2009 on the Literary Nymphs Hot List! Can you believe it? The little story that could. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over.

And as if that wasn't a big enough slice of awesome, it also scored a shiny, pretty four angel review from Fallen Angels Reviews. Here's a bit of what they had to say: "One horny medium, a bunch of ghosts who think they have the most, a sexy PI with an agenda, and a lot of sexual tension! Lucy and Jake's dance around their attraction is one of the funniest things I've read in a long time. "

And then... to top it all off, the icing on this already delicious review-cake, ParaNormal Romance Reviews had this to say about the second Karmic caper: "The Ghost Exterminator... entertains until the very end. It is funny, sexy and all over a good read for a long afternoon on the couch. I know you'll enjoy the play of words and bodies as much as I did!"

All of this is just getting me that much more excited for the April release of the next Karmic Consultant adventure, The Sexorcist. Demons! Wedding cakes! Mischief! Insanely-hot exorcists! And a heroine who gives new meaning to "having a change of heart". I'm psyched. You psyched?

Happy Saturday, reader-friend.

Merry Christmas to Me!

I'm back! I have returned to the frozen north, tanned (for me), rested (though still on the wrong time zone), and ready for the Christmas juggernaut. (Any excuse to use the word juggernaut.)

My Christmas Presents from the Unvierse:
1. Emails - 250+ (Ye Gods)

2. Author Copies - Due to Murphy's Law of Shipping, they arrived the morning after I got on a plane for parts southern, but now they are here! They are pretty! I have held my book in my hot (cold, actually, it's Alaska, doncha know) little hands! Woot!

3. Reviews! I got home to not one but two five star reviews! Many thanks to the goddesses at Fallen Angel Reviews who liked The Ghost Exterminator and Bitten by Books who gave The Ghost Shrink, the Accidental Gigolo & the Poltergeist Accountant five tombstones.


Now that I've basked in the glow of presents two and three, it's time to buckle down and address present number one. Wish me luck.

Hey Lookee, It's that Other Novella! Remember That One?

Good morning, world! I got a review today. For The Ghost Shrink, the Accidental Gigolo & the Poltergeist Accountant. Remember that story? Dude, does it feel to anyone else that it released forever ago? Five months. That's positively ages! Time flies, boys and girls. Anyway, new review at Joyfully Reviewed! CHECK IT OUT.

The reviewer wanted a more sexified cover, but (okay, I'm not sure if I'm allowed to spill this, so if I get in trouble it was you guys who made me say it and I am innocent, innocent!) there was another, super gorgeous, uber-sexy cover that was considered at one point and nixed because it was totally wrong for the feel of the book. It's a comedy, y'all. And I think capturing the feel is key. I love my covers. Natalie Winters is a goddess - as I believe I may have stated once or twice in the past.

The reviewer also thought my heroine should be medicated, which had me snorting and saying, "Yeah, possibly." I guess I'm hard to offend this morning. Especially when they also said I had "laugh-out-loud humor." That is easily my favorite thing for a person to say about that book. You can get away with a lot if you tell me I made you laugh embarrassingly in public.

Are you a Junkie?

Dottie of Romance Junkies reviewed The Ghost Shrink, the Accidental Gigolo & the Poltergeist Accountant and gave it four and a half blue ribbons! Wahoo!

"This tale of ghostly mayhem is a joy to read. Filled with humor, romance, steamy hot sensuality, an imaginative plot, interesting characters and frisky ghosts, this story is a winner."

Awwww. I'm blushing. Thank you, Dottie & RJ!

Read the FULL REVIEW HERE!

Wow. Just wow.

I just got another insanely kickass review: 5 Stars from Ecataromance! "A laugh out loud roller coaster ride." Woohoo! Check it out!

I have two questions:

1) When does bragging about your reviews become annoying? I've already passed that point, haven't I? You're collecting rotten tomatoes to chuck at me, aren't you?

2) Who is feeding the reviewers the happy pills before they read my book and can I have a little of whatever they are smoking? Not to question their superlative judgement in any way, but I'm starting to wonder if my publisher is passing out hits of laughing gas with the reviewer copies. Or am I really this lucky?

Interesting side note about this particular review: At one point the reviewer referred to me as Ms. Tyler. Psychic! How did she know about my deep and abiding passion for Aerosmith? Oh, Steven. *sigh* I want your love. Let's break the walls between us. Don't make it tough. I've put away my pride. Enough's enough. I've suffered and I've seen the light. Bay-ee-yay-ee-bay, you're my aaaaangel. Come and save me tonight...

Hurray!

The Ghost Shrink, the Accidental Gigolo & the Poltergeist Accountant was selected as a Reviewer's Top Pick for February at ParaNormal Romance Reviews! How much does that rock?

And in other news, I have not yet managed to kill the Paperwhite bulbs on my desk. They are growing and flowering, if you'll believe it. My black thumb has not yet managed to send them to the terrifying flower hell which is the usual destination for all plants unlucky enough to live (and die) within a five foot radius of me. Woohoo! A good day, all the way around.

Pandering for Votes

I would never make it as a politician; I feel all self-conscious and weird whenever I have to ask someone to vote for me for any reason. So today, I am not asking for your vote. I'm just doing a little PSA to let you know that there are a couple opportunities for you to vote for The Ghost Shrink, the Accidental Gigolo & the Poltergeist Accountant out there, and I leave it entirely up to you whether you choose to pursue those opportunities.

Opportunity #1: The Ghost Shrink is up for Book of the Week at Long and Short Reviews! All this weekend you can vote for your fav book (based on the LASR reviews) and the winner will be featured next week! Vote here (if you want).

Opportunity #2: The Ghost Shrink is up for Best Cover for January & February at Book Cover Lovers! I think the voting runs until the 15th on this one. Vote here (if you feel like it).

And speaking of voting, what do you think of all these reality shows where "America Decides" like American Idol, Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance? Are they gimmicky popularity contests that have nothing to do with talent? Or is the decision of the masses the truest measure of success? I have to say that I, personally, am bugged by the trend in our culture in which popularity is more valued than quality. Where do you stand?

5 Books!

Long and Short Reviews reveiwed my book and they liked it! They really liked it! 5 Books! Woohoo!

I continued to be utterly blown away by the reception The Ghost Shrink is getting. Everyone has been so positive so far, and I am thrilled to pieces, but I have to admit I'm kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop. I'm fairly certain there has never been a book in the history of man that was universally liked, so I'm holding my breath and waiting for the reviewer's equivalent of a body slam. I have a feeling it's coming.

Not that I'm pessimistic, or that I want people not to like my book. It's more a case of wanting to make sure my big fat head doesn't get overinflated. Writing is a tricky game. A balancing act between confidence & uncertainty. We need to love our words beyond all reason, but I think one of the worst things that can happen to a writer is to start believing your own hype. If you think you're a rockstar, then you stop striving and the striving is what makes great books.

I'm overanalyzing this, aren't I? It's just a review, Vivi! And a positive one at that! Enjoy it!

And I do. Thank you, Long & Short Reviews!

So here's the question: Do you ever buy a book based on a good review? Is there a particular reviewer you tend to agree with/take recommendations from?

Witches Anonymous by Misty Evans

Now available! Witches Anonymous by Misty Evans is here! And is that or is that not one sexy mama of a cover?

Can a bad witch go good in thirteen steps? Not if Lucifer has his way with her!

Amy Atwood is a witch. Not the harm-none kind…the Satan-worshipping, devil-made-me-do-it kind. But after catching Lucifer in a particularly wicked hex act with her goodie-two-shoes Wiccan sister, Amy does what every self-respecting witch would do. She pops a Dove chocolate in her mouth, ends her affair with the devil, and swears an oath never to use magic again.

She wants to be normal. Human. Even if it means no more fun—and she’s looking for a nice, normal guy to complement her new lifestyle. And ice-cream-loving firefighter Adam Foster looks like perfect hero material.

Lucifer, however, isn’t about to be nice about letting her go. Stalked by Satan, manipulated by the angel Gabriel—and surprised by Adam’s true identity—Amy finds herself up to her black hat in trouble of Biblical proportions…

Want a taste? Click here for an excerpt!
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Gigolo Question: If you were a witch, what spell would you most want to cast and on whom? Would you use your powers for good or for evil?
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New Ghost Shrink Buzz!!! Ciar Cullen recommends The Ghost Shrink!

Knock Me Over with a Feather

Oh my stars and garters! Mrs. Giggles, a reviewer known for her forthright opinions and not pulling her punches, gave The Ghost Shrink, the Accidental Gigolo & the Poltergeist Accountant a rating of 90! It's a keeper! She called it "a hilarious caper"!!! Check out the full review.

And Carolina Wolf and Paramatch.com both got ratings of 86! Also, those of you with an eye on the My Bookstore and More Top 10 will know that both Carolina Wolf and Paramatch.com are staying strong on the list. Way to go, Tickle My Fantasy stories!
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The Gigolo Question of the day is about etiquette. I need a Miss Manners Guide to Publishing. So I got this great review, and I want to thank her for reading my book: will that be seen as sucking up or just a geniune thanks? Keep it short and avoid gushing? Or gush my lil heart out so she'll know how tickled I am that she liked it? What about with submissions? An editor acknowledges the receipt of my manuscript. Am I rude if I do not thank them or is it better not to inundate people with emails that have no information other than "gee, thanks!"? Err on the side of being the pesky uber-thanker or is discretion the better part of valor? I feel like I should have been learning this stuff when I was taught which fork to use. Editors and reviewers are people, too, but I'm betting they already get gazillions of emails. Would one more break the camel's back? What would you prefer?

FREE READ: Love Potion #9

Got the post-Valentine's Day blues? Just click on over to the Samhellion for some Valentine's Free Reads including my new paranormal short: Love Potion Number Nine!

It'll take a helluva love potion to make Lara - Valentine Scrooge, practicing witch and potion expert - fall head over heels. Luckily, bar-owner Connor mixes a mean Cupid cocktail.

The first ever Karmic Consultants story!
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I've been fussed at by a bunch of people for getting that song ("He broke my little bottle of...") stuck in their heads, so today's Gigolo Question is musical: What do you think is the most romantic song ever?

My picks (I couldn't narrow it down to just one) are: I'll Be Your Lover Too by Van Morrison, At Last by Etta James, Turn Me On by Norah Jones and These Arms of Mine by Otis Redding.
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New Ghost Shrink Buzz!! --> --> I don't know who Gramma is, but I love her for liking my book! Woohoo!

Gearing up for February

February is going to be a crazy month, people. We're talking New Releases, Contests, Free-Reads and More! In fact, there's so much going on, I wanted to give a little preview of coming events here on the blog.

• January 31st - Misty Evans Free Read - The Devil & Venus De Milo available at the Samhellion Website


• February 1st - Tickle My Fantasy Month Kicks Off! (Right in time for Superbowl Sunday) All through TMF Month, in conjunction with the February 17th release of The Ghost Shrink, the Accidental Gigolo, & the Poltergeist Accountant, I will be running the Gigolo Contest here on the blog! All you have to do to enter is comment on the blog during the month of February. Every time you comment you will be entered in the drawing (no more than one entry per person per day, though feel free to comment more than that if you're inspired) to win the Gigolo Kit, filled with incense, massage oils, and various other (naughtier) gigolo accoutrement.


• February 3rd - RELEASE DAY for Carolina Wolf by Sela Carsen!


• February 10th - RELEASE DAY for Paramatch.com by MK Mancos!
  
• February 15th - My Valentine's themed FREE READ Love Potion Number Nine becomes available at the Samhellion Website.


• February 17th - RELEASE DAY for The Ghost Shrink, the Accidental Gigolo & the Poltergeist Accountant!!!


• February 19th - I'll be interviewed over at D. Renee Bagby's Blog.


• February 24th - RELEASE DAY for Witches Anonymous by Misty Evans!
• Also February 24th - RELEASE DAY for Kaye Chambers' On the Prowl in Print!
• Also February 24th - The Ghost Shrink will be featured at Ciar Cullen's blog & the TMF quartet will be answering the question What's it like to write paranormal comedy? over at JK Coi's blog.

With a Little Help from my Friends

I got my first review for The Ghost Shrink, the Accidental Gigolo & the Poltergeist Accountant!!! Woohoo!

Now, for full disclosure's sake, the reviewer is a good friend of mine who had already told me that she liked my little story, but now she's saying it publicly. For all the world to see! Wahooo!

If you're interested in what the fabulous Ms. Kaye Chambers (Tiger by the Tail) has to say about Lucy, Jake, and my cast of lovelorn ghosts, check out today's Beyond the Veil blog.

You can also drop by Kaye's website, where she has been marvelous enough to do a guest blog-style feature for me this month.

I am giddy, ladies and gents. Giddy.

When there is more Ghost Shrink news, I will post it here, saving the links over there --> --> --> under "Ghost Shrink Buzz." Stay tuned!