Welcome! Please note this site deals with adult themes.
This blog is the often amusing, sometimes dangerous den of two British writers of contemporary and paranormal romance, and urban fantasy. Most of our stories are based in the UK and our heroes and heroines are passionate Brits - yes, passionate Brits exist! Come on in out of the cold, pull up a chair and see for yourself...

Thursday 28 June 2012

Emotional Authors

A few hours ago, I verbally spewed my irateness all over my pages on Facebook (something about one of my print books not appearing correctly on a retail site, and I was tired and suffering from hayfever, and going deaf because of my three-year-old's timely tantrum, etc, etc).

Wet Scary Eye With Runny MascaraI have since hidden the spillage from my timeline :D  But it got me thinking... over the past few months I've seen a lot of authors get emotional about different things and relaying it across their social networks, and for some reason, it kind of seems acceptable. As long as it's personal and not about attacking another person or whatever, then it seems like it's actually okay. Is that something to do with the art-orientated career? Writers are, more often than not, emotional creatures - we pour it into our books and characters, and occasionally it seeps out and gets poured into our social lives / networks too.

If I were friends with an artist / painter on Facebook, I don't think I'd bat an eyelid if they got all angsty over something - angst feeds an artist's creativity. I sort of expect it. It's part of the passion that burns within them.

So, does being able to see an author's emotions about certain things add to the appeal of the author, or does it totally put you off ever wanting to read their books?

And this doesn't mean that I'm suddenly going to spew all of my emotions all of the time if your answer is yes, because I'm naturally inclined towards privacy most of the time, and I can't just change that ;)

But it got me wondering, that's all...

Dianna x

Monday 25 June 2012

Werewolf Jokes

I've gone and caught my mothers cold. Sigh. I could have really done without feeling this crap at the moment, but what can I do? Apart from drink lots of liquid, suck on god-awful throat sweets, and take it easy.

Anyway, I'm in the middle of finishing up interview and promo blog posts for next Mondays release, Cranberry Blood (Book 1 in The Blood Series.) *Squeaks* I'm seriously super excited about this release! ^_^ So, since I shall be doing some serious heavy blogging for the next fortnight, I thought I would just do something fun today.

Werewolf Jokes! Cheesy and they all remind me of the idiotic type of jokes that my mother tells, but hey, you gotta love a bit of cheese on your Monday, right?

Q. Why was the werewolf arrested in the butchers shop?
A. He was chop-lifting.

Q. How do you stop a werewolf from howling in the back of the car?
A. Put him in the front.

Q. What happened to the wolf that fell into the washing machine?
A. It became a wash and werewolf.

Q. What did the werewolf write on his Christmas cards?
A. Best vicious of the season.

Q. What do you get if you cross a hairdresser with a werewolf?
A. A monster with an all-over perm.

Q. Why do werewolves do well at school?
A. Because every time they're asked a question, they come up with a snappy answer.

Q. Where does a werewolf sit in the theatre?
A. Anywhere he wants to!

Q. What's furry and seldom rings?
A. An unlisted werewolf.

Q. What do you call a werewolf with no legs?
A. Anything you want, he can't chase you.

Q. What does it mean if there is a werewolf in your fridge in the morning?
A You had some party last night.

Q. Did you hear about the comedian who entertained at a werewolves' party?
A. He had them howling in the aisles.

Q. Why shouldn't you grab a werewolf by the tail?
A. It might be the werewolf's tail, but it could be the end of you.

Q. How do you stop a werewolf from attacking you?
A. Throw a stick and shout fetch!

Patient: "Doctor! Doctor! I think I'm a werewolf."
Doctor: "Shut up and comb your face."

And lastly, the joke that reminds me of my mother, mainly because she says it every now and again . . .

I used to be a werewolf, but I'm all right nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow!!!!

I hope you've had a lovely Monday! :-D

Thursday 21 June 2012

The Demon Bride: my own personal Hell.

Paperback edition,
released 31st Oct, 2012
I am potentially about 15,000 words away from finishing The Demon Bride. OR... I'm 25,000 words away, because it could be stretched into an 80,000 word novel. We'll see... but it's all taking off and I'm scared as hell. Can it live up to the first two books? It's darker, it's deeper, it's ... so much more complicated, and definitely more abstract. And although the romance aspect of the trilogy (boy meets girl and overcomes obstacles to be together) ends with this book, not everything will be wrapped up in a nice little bow, because we will be entering the sexy world of urban fantasy in the spin-off novel The Last Angel, and this novel will continue to take these characters forward... the ones left standing, anyway...

So I'm left with having to wrap up enough, to keep readers who don't want to continue to The Last Angel happy, but to keep those that do, on the edge of their seats.

I am mad. I must be. This book is driving me into certified lunacy.

It's gotten to the stage where I'm promoting The Demon Bride and the Omnibus Edition (well, I have to start now to get people interested), and I'm quaking in my boots, terrified that I can't do the series justice.

Anyway... deep breaths... why don't you come join me? There's enough room in Hell for everyone...

Sporting the eBook cover, released 31st August, 2012

Monday 18 June 2012

The lull before the storm

I am happiest when I am busy. Well, perhaps the word isn't happy, but I like being busy even if I have my stressful moments.

The first five months of 2012 seemed to have rolled by. I mean, seriously, it's going to be Christmas again in six months. As crazy as it sounds I measure my years by Christmas, and damn, it's going to be here in no time.

Any way, in a lot of ways the first five months of this year have been slow, but in a good way. The slight lull has given me a chance to look at ideas I've had and I've managed to pad them out a little more so there are actual stories there. I have managed to work a little on a new series - which I've had to put on the back-burner at the moment - and figure out the world etc. which I'm happy about. I've also managed to write a novella for one anthology and a short story for another. The novella was accepted, which I'm excited about - news when I have it. But sadly the short story was rejected, but I'm actually cool with that, because I felt that there was more to the story then the world limit would allow. Plus, I felt my story was a little too twisted for this particular anthology. So, silver lining to every cloud.

So, even though, during those 5 months I didn't feel overly busy, looking at all that I realise I was, but now the storm clouds are rolling in and I am having to look at my very loose writing schedule and tighten it up.

As you know my dark sensual paranormal romance, Cranberry Blood, is being released on July 2nd. The edits are done on that and I am eagerly awaiting my cover while I write blog posts and interview for the two weeks worth of promo I'm organising.

I found out the other day off my lovely editor that my sweet contemporary romance, Stepping Stones, is actually being released on August 6th with Noble Romance. So eek, I'm going through the manuscript to this shorter novel at the moment. As soon as my two hectic weeks of Promo are over for Cranberry, I have to start again and organise some promo for Stepping Stones. *pulls hair out* I actually enjoy promo, though, so I'm cool with that.

During all that madness, I am hoping to extend the short story I mentioned above, which should hopefully only take me a couple of days. *Fingers crossed* Then I plan to start the next book in The Blood Series, which is currently untitled, followed by Book 2 in The Overseers Series: The Keeper.

*Takes a deep breath then exhales*

Needles to say I am going to be very busy and I am super excited about it. I know, I'm somewhat crazy. :-D But I refuse to believe I'm the only one who loves to be run off her feet. Do you prefer to be busy?

I'm going to leave you with the blurb for my upcoming August 6th release, Stepping Stones, which is the first sweet romance I have written. I don't know if it will be the last. I don't like to say never when it comes to genres, so we shall have to wait and see.

~ * ~

Stepping Stones Blurb:


There's nothing like a wedding to bring the family together....

And if it wasn't her baby sister’s wedding, Margaret West wouldn't be returning home at all.

Why else would she go back after six years knowing full well that she has people to face, and explanations to give?

If her parents interrogation isn't bad enough, the fact that she has to be civil to her foster brother, Adrian, is. Best friends since childhood, they haven't spoken since he went to America... The day before Margaret was supposed to be getting married.

And to make matters worse, her ex-fiancĂ©, William, is the Reverend who will be conducting her sister’s wedding ceremony!

All want an answer from her, and they aren't taking no as one of them. Why did she run in the first place? Why has she been so angry with, Adrian? Why didn't she marry, William?

Margaret isn't even sure she knows the real reasons any more.

Coming August 6th 2012 from Noble Romance Publishing.

Thursday 14 June 2012

My new series, Project Veil

This is a bit of a lazy post, but I just realised that I've mentioned nothing on this blog at all about my shenanigans last week with my cover reveal for my new, upcoming series for next year. It's very exciting! I'm 25% of the way through writing it, although it's taken a back seat while I get The Demon Bride finished.

Anyway... here's the blurb, and cover for book one, plus a mini (very mini) excerpt - enjoy :)

~*~

The following excerpt is © copyright to Dianna Hardy, 2012. All rights reserved.

The angel leaned in closer, never breaking her gaze. “And what of your future?” he whispered, softly. “Who do you love completely in your future?”

The question startled her, despite the fact that she didn’t fully understand his reasoning behind it.

“They're my family,” she continued, irritated that she felt she had to justify her actions to this man. “They're my blood.”

His head bowed down towards hers. She was almost flush against his chest, his neck just centimetres away from her cheek. His scent took her by surprise. It was an intoxicating blend of coconuts and palm trees on a hot summer's day, with a hint of sand and sea. In fact, if she closed her eyes, she was sure she could hear the sea.

When he spoke, it was directly into her ear. “There are far greater things in your future than those that come bound by blood. Remember that.”

~*~

Published by Satin Smoke Press
eBook released 28th June, 2013
Paperback released 30th September, 2013
Jennifer Darwin has lost everything: her husband, her daughter, her entire life. A victim of the secret and illegal medical experiment, Project Veil, she has awoken from a coma, five hundred years into an unprecedented future.

Vampires and angels fight for dominion over the Earth, and over the humans that used to rule it. Mankind are fighting to survive.


Jenny just wants to go home, but finds herself caught up in a prophecy that leads her to the beautiful and dangerous Singeon, who harbours a world of dark secrets, and the stoic, otherworldly Arden who is seemlessly able to instil strength, peace and comfort into her grieving heart.

Torn with guilt over her burgeoning feelings for the two men who now eclipse her life, she struggles to maintain both her freedom and independence in the face of a fate she has no control over. But in this new world, trust is scarce, light does not always mean love, and the dark can hold the secrets of salvation.

To make matters worse, the effects of Project Veil still linger in Jenny's bloodstream. She's transforming into something ... non-human. And it seems as if her past is not as dead as she thought.


You can keep up to date with this project, either on my own website, or over at the series blog site, ProjectVeil.co.uk

Tuesday 12 June 2012

The edits are done!

My post is a little late today, because I was finishing off my edits for my upcoming release, Cranberry Blood (Book 1 in The Blood Series).

So, I promise late posts aren't becoming a naughty habit of mine.

Edits are frustrating. I'm sure most writers will agree with that? There is something horrid about having to rip anything from lines to entire scenes from a book that you worked so hard on. But, in saying that I understand why it must be done and naturally, edits are extremely important.

I don't know about anyone else, but I go through the habit of second guessing . . . everything. "Why did I write this? Does it make sense? Is it funny or do I have a rubbish sense of humour?" Second guessing is horrid. Not to mention it can cause paranoia, but I guess with each book an author writes they do indeed grow and improves and their voice changes slightly. So comparing projects happens. I wish it wouldn't lol but I guess we're a fussy lot.

I got my edits for CB last Wednesday and I have spent the last six days editing the manuscript. I have a little ritual. I edit everything my editor points out and then I go back to the beginning and edit it for myself. Adding, smoothing or extending parts. Blows my mind a little, but I get it done.

Cranberry Blood is around the 96K mark - yeah, it's a beast of a book and roughly 26K longer than She-Wolf - and I have to say it was nice familiarizing myself with the story. This book is kinda special to me because it was the first story I came up with. The version that will be published is the second version I wrote, but I'm excited and nervous and everything in between about it being published. Mostly excited though lol

So, I think it is safe to say that after six days of editing I am going to chill out tomorrow, before I jump in to working on my next little project. :-P

I shall leave you with the blurb for Cranberry Blood (Book 1 in The Blood Series) which will be released on July 2nd from Noble Romance Publishing.

*Squeak* :-P

Cranberry Blood Blurb:

Killing Vampires? Easy. Tracking someone? Simple. Helping, and protecting a Vampire slayer... Bloody hard work!

Thirteen years ago, Brendan Daniels made a deal with a psychic. In exchange for information on the whereabouts of a Rogue Werewolf, he promised to help and protect Sofia's granddaughter. Unfortunately, he had no idea what he was getting himself, or his Pack, into.

Nothing about Heather is simple, from her weird dietary needs to her life’s mission. The girl can handle herself, but the promise to protect her soon becomes a need, and one that he can't fully understand.


Vampire Slayer. Born Infected. Blood addict... but not by choice.

Heather Ryan is the most recent slayer in a long family line. Like all before her, she has spent her life searching for her ancestor, Marko Pavel, the Vampire her family has sworn to kill. If that isn't complicated enough, Heather is also a born "Infected", and to keep her from becoming insane or giving in to her darker side, she is on a very strict diet.

Grandmother Sofia has passed, so now it is up to Heather to take the family legacy into her own hands, all alone: or at least, it would have been, if her Grandmother hadn't sent a Werewolf to help her.

What is the irritating Brendan supposed to help Heather with? Sofia never told either one of them. But it doesn't take long for Heather and Brendan to find out that the Vampires have big plans, and that the fiends have waited a long time for them both.

The Blood Series Facebook Page - For updates, background information, character profiles and more.

Thursday 7 June 2012

Closing Time...

I am feeling slightly schizophrenic.

I'm preparing a cover and blurb reveal tomorrow for my new series for 2013, Project Veil. And at the same time, I'm writing The Demon Bride and bringing The Witching Pen Novellas to a close. Even though I like to work on two different projects at a time, I'm actually finding it a little hard this time around, and I think it's because The Demon Bride is kind of intense - being inside those characters are ... well ... consuming. So working on two different projects has me feeling a little loopy!

It's also the first ever series that I've ever brought to a close (although there will be a spin-off novel). And there's a learning curve right there. It's HARD closing a series! No wonder J R Ward is on book 11 of the BDB. Seriously, sometimes, you just can't say goodbye!

This is me in a nutshell at the moment: I'm between a rock and a hard place. The rock is Project Veil, and the hard place is The Witching Pen Novellas. (Or it could be the other way around, I'm not sure...) I'm ending one phase and beginning another. It's uncomfortable. My safe zone is definitely being stretched!

Anyway, tomorrow at 8pm GMT, I shall be unveiling Project Veil. Join me :) It's a public event on Facebook - just click Join: http://www.facebook.com/events/241325909314521/

The Demon Bride
(paperback cover)
And you can keep up to date with my progress of The Demon Bride here: http://www.diannahardy.com/the-demon-bride.html When I finish that book, I'm gonna have a Witching Pen street party! (Hell, yeah, that would be awesome!)








...every new beginning comes with
some other beginning's end.






Tuesday 5 June 2012

Peek at my WIP

So damn, I basically forgot to post. Many apologies I've had a crazy type of day.

I thought I'd keep it straight forward and give you an except to my back-burner project. Why is it a back-burner project? It's the first book in a new series. *Hangs head* I seem incapable of writing stand-alone books. I already have two series (The Blood Series & The Overseers Series) and I have just contracted a YA trilogy (Black Water) so as you can imagine it would probably be a great idea for me to at least wrap one series up before I begin another.

But, in saying that I love the world. I love the characters. I love the story. I just have to work on it a bit at a time when I have the time, but I think my readers might like it. Naturally, I would love to know what you think.

Just so you know the excerpt is coming from a rough, unedited version. So it is what it is and could possibly change. And on that note, please enjoy chapter one of my WIP.

~ * ~

Charged


Chapter One

Boston Water Front
Gallery
November 2125

At the sound of a distinct buzz echoing throughout the entire building; I sighed and lifted my foot from the pedal of my pottery table.

The rain was beating against my windows, and the gray clouds seemed to have swallowed the entire sky. A crystal warning that a storm was already brewing. A warning that I wouldn't be going to the market today after all and that I was going to get a headache. Great.

Again my room filled with the buzz of the doorbell.

I quickly wiped my hands on a ragged towel and stood up, making my way across the upper studio to the stairway. I took my time walking down the staircase, only rushing when I heard the doorbell for the third time, as well as a heavy thud against the gallery door.

Retrieving the keys from my pocket, I unlocked the ground stairwell door, stepping through to the gallery. The room was cold, more so than usual due to the bad weather, but since I was closed on Sundays, heating the room seemed pointless.

Pulling the door shut behind me, I walked over to the window situation near the entrance. Peaking through the beige blinds, I saw the familiar form of Detective Green standing outside the main door. I sighed. Just the man I wanted to see on my day off, not.

The collar of his black coat guarded his neck from the falling rain; the stiff material framing the grim expression on his face as he got up close to the stained glass, trying hard to see inside.

With a muffled curse, I backed away from the window, and dipped my hand inside my apron pocket. I retrieved, and pulled on my thick pair of gray rubber gloves, before switching on the lights to the gallery. The faint pop of the circuit sounded, and the ground floor quickly flooded with soft white light.

The annoying buzz of the doorbell echoed throughout the long hall, for the fourth time.

"Open up Delaney, this is important." Detective Green stated, with yet another heavy knock on wood.

Everything was important to him, but then he was a cop after all; they really had no examples for comparison.

Walking over to the inner doors I quickly unlocked them, and pulled one open for him. "It's Sunday. I'm closed."

"I'm not here to browse." He answered, and walked past me. His focus completely fixed on scanning the shop floor.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, taking a deep breath as a headache started to prick at my temples. "Somehow I doubt this is a social call."

Another minute passed before he finally turned and faced me. His grey eyes locked on to me as if he had found the culprit he was searching the gallery for. His narrow lips were pulled down at the corners, a sure fire indication he was in his usual chipper mood. His ink black hair was soaked due to the vast downfall of rain; stray strands were stuck to his square forehead, allowing droplets of water to crawl down his flushed cheeks.

"It isn't." He reached inside his coat and pulled out a large, brown envelope.

"You know, I should probably be offended at the fact you never come and see me for a simple talk, Marcus." Watching that I didn't step on the small puddles of water he had walked in; I shut the door and slid the bolt into place.

"I don't think we would have much to talk about, Delaney."

That much was obvious.

Walking straight past him, I headed toward my office. "Since you have brought me a present I should ask if you received the one I left at the station for you this morning."

"Yes." A slight expected pause. "Thank you." 

Friday 1 June 2012

Me? Forgetful?

So, I woke up this morning and realised it was Friday, because I got loads of Follow Friday tweets coming through on my Blackberry via Twitter.

Up until that moment, I thought today was Thursday, and that yesterday was Wednesday, hence my lack of post. The reason? My daughter didn't go to playschool yesterday because she was constipated, and it  totally threw me for a loop. It changed the days of the week in my head.

I am so so sorry, everyone and Elizabeth, that this is my lame reason for not blogging yesterday. Imagine my shock when I realised today was, in fact, Friday!

So, I hurried straight onto the laptop after breakfast and belted this out without thinking about it. And I have no ready-made post, so let's go with this instead.

What's the most ridiculous thing you've done recently by accident?

The above is mine. But I'll let you into another. When I was about 4 months pregnant, I was cooking a roast lunch (I know, God help me when I'm in the kitchen anyway), and I put the roast pork in the oven. Then later I realised that I hadn't put the roast pork in the oven at all, just the empty baking tray. Sigh.

Maybe it's a good thing I don't get out so much nowadays. The world would be in jeopardy!

Dianna x