My New Obsession

This blog post sees you 24 hours late - sorry :s

I became immersed last night, in my new obsession: creating a video trailer for The Last Dragon.

I love doing them, but really, I do become obsessed. I did when I created the one for The Witching Pen series too (which you can see below) - I was at it non-stop for 12 hours. This one's going to take me a hell of a lot longer though. I want a blockbuster-type trailer for a blockbuster-type novel... Admittedly, I doubt I'll achieve it on my little home video maker, but I'll give it a damn good try :)

I've learnt some interesting things too, while I cultivate this: I've learn how to change hair colour on my design programme, I've learnt how to make fairy wings (my version of), I've learnt that there are no good photos of old women on stock photo sites, and I've learnt where the Snickers bars are hidden in my home :D

So if you don't hear from me for a while, it's because I am nurturing my obsessive side - see you at the other end ;)

This weeks "to do" list

I’m currently dead on my feet. I honestly have no idea how I have managed to get out of bed this last week, let alone get on with things. I worked overtime at work last week, and on top of that it was my cousins 18^th so there were lots of festivities which I did partake in.

Needless to say nothing productive in the writing sense happened for me last week. In fact I found myself growling at the lack of hours there are in a day. Have you ever noticed that the day is never long enough when you desperately need it to be? And then on the odd occasion when you want the day to roll by . . . it drags. Very unfair.

So, I have a too do list for this week. Well, in all honesty I have one every week.

1. Clean the house – I usually do it on Sundays, but I literally couldn’t move.
2. Do the two little jobs I promised I would do for my mother
3. Start one of the two short stories that popped in to my head, and if I can finish it by the end of the week that would be awesome, because I could then . . .
4. Start the second of the short stories that popped in to my head. – I will share details on this little project once I have at least written a thousand words.
5. And start reading one of the books I promised I would review.

Short, and very straight forward list and one that really shouldn’t be a problem to get through in the next six days. Just cross your fingers nothing goes wrong or decides to land on me.

On another note, I announced and revealed the two covers and details on two interlocking books I plan to sel-pub. Too see the smexy covers and for details on “The Generation-Breed Series,” click here.

The Collector was “Bitten by Paranormal Romances SeptemberShe-Wolf Pack Read." I got some very honest and lovely reviews which I was very happy with. If you hop on over and leave a comment you could be in with a chance of winning your very own copy of “The Collector: Book 1 in The Overseers Series.”

And lastly, I was over at Lacey Wolfe’s blog the other day sharing excerpts from both “She-Wolf” (The Blood Series Prequel) and “Cranberry Blood” (Book 1). So, if you haven’t read the books, or would be interested in doing so, pop on over for a sneak peak and see if either tickle your taste buds. ;-)

The thing about creativity is...

That there are NO RULES.

I'm doing what I thought I would never be able to do: write three stories at once. Usually I can only write one at a time. I'm a linear writer - I like to be focused (even obsessed) with one thing at a time. But my mind seems to be everywhere at the moment, and I have various plots from various stories seeping out of my brain, so I've taken a deep breath and just started to write whatever comes to mind, whenever.

I'm nervous about it. Usually, for me, this is a sign of "start it, but will never finish it", but I'm confident that that will not be the case this time, as writing has become... well, it's become my life really.

So I have broken what I thought was a rule for me. I am currently writing Awakening (Project Veil), Releasing The Wolf, and The Last Dragon.

All at once.

(Mentally calculates how much I'm going to have to spend on coffee over the next year....)

Oh, heads up: The Witching Pen Novellas Omnibus Edition will be out in digital form tomorrow on Amazon and Smashwords, for about $0.20 less than if you bought all three books all individually. So if you haven't read any of these yet, your chance is coming up!

Dianna xxx

Cover Reveal: Charged & Tainted (Generation Breed)

I have my cover for "Charged" and I have to say I love it as much as the pre-made cover I purchased in March for it's partner, "Tainted." Just look how smexy they are. Elaine Lee did an amazing job!

These two books are the first in a new series, which I have dubbed "Generation Breed."

"Charged" and "Tainted" are two interlocking stories 

(Meaning they are two sides to one big story, both featuring a different hero and heroine. If that makes any sense?)

The idea for these particular books came about due to a anthology submission call for superhero novellas.

Having spent every weekend of my childhood and early teenage years at my fathers with my younger brother, I had to watch what I guess a lot of females would class as "guys" tv. I grew up watching the spiderman, X-men, and fantastic 4 cartoons. My father took us to see every Batman movie that came out at the cinema etc. I used to watch "The New Adventures of Superman" every weekend with them both; it was are weekly programme.

Needless to say I grew up to respect and love comic book figures. I remember wanting to be "Black Cat" and "Bat Girl" at one point. I was completely - and still am - very much in love with Rogue and Gambit from X-men, they are my all time fave superhero couple and they both helped shape my vigilante superheroine.

So, naturally when I saw this submission call I thought "yeah, I want to write and submit something for that." Unfortunately I was unable to. Last year was bad for personal reasons and I didn't get an awful lot written, and because of that I missed the submission deadline.

Nevertheless I continued planning this world, and the story. I can't say it was easy, because it wasn't. I kept throwing ideas away. I wasn't happy with what I was coming up with, or stuff didn't feel right, or didn't fit with the parts and ideas I liked.

Finally by the end of 2011 I had a story, which I soon discovered would be in two parts. I began writing both of these interlocking sides of this story at the beginning of the year, then I hit a block. So, I had to push it to one side - as you do - and then I ended up becoming somewhat distracted by another two ideas, which I wrote. And then they were followed by edits, promotion etc.

Needless to say that I am turning my attention back to this world and these two stories. I hope very much to have them finished before the end of the year so that I can have them ready for publication in 2013. *Fingers crossed* I'm actually planning to self-publish this series, which I'm excited about it. A little nervous, but excited. I'm not a hundred percent sure what anyone will think of these stories, and this world in general. It's got a grunge type of feel to it; dystopian futuristic. I was going for a gotham city/metropolis type feel. Hopefully I have achieved it.

So, I guess the big and most important question is; what the heck is the Generation Breed Series?

Well, you have a city with high crime rate, crooked cops, and vigilantes taking the law in to their own hands because of all of it. Very hero like.

After the most obvious story ingredients we then have to imagine a scientific version of a shapeshifter, but without the actual shifting. Think traits, and features, and senses, because first and foremost this is a world where genetically altered human beings exist. Not only do they exist, but they are segregated despite the fact they live as part of society. They are known as Gene-Breeds; human with animal alterations.

If you're a Gene-Breed you are screwed. You can't get work, unless it is through pro-gene-breed organisations. People fear you, and that is only because you grandparent, or great-grandparent made the idiotic choice of letting some nut job doctor try his new miracle cure out on them.

Life is hard. You've been tagged. You have a life expectancy on your head so people will know when your sanity will start to deteriorate so you can be put down like the animal you are. You either blend in to society and hope for a quite life, or you join a pack and go all out; embrace what you are and revel in the fear that your kind creates.

That is the basics of what the Generation Breed Series is; two types of people living along side each other. People fighting for justice and equality in a fearful and screwed up world, while the rest are out to slit each others throats.

I have to say I do like this world. I like the characters, and I like the possibilities. I expect "Charged" to fall around 40,000 words, and for "Tainted" to be around 30,000, but I have a tendency to go over my set word-count. I guess we shall just have to see what happens.  I just have to get my butt in gear, because I desperately want to finish these first two stories and see what y'all all think.

Wish me luck! :-P

No longer an in-betweener.

Oh YES!

This is what I'm working on now.

I'm finally out of that in-between stage where you've finished one book and you can't start another.

There are still a couple of "loose ends" to tie up with The Witching Pen Novellas and The Demon Bride, but I'm there :)

It's a goooooood feeling!

The first book of the Project Veil duo is likely to be between 60,000 and 70,000 words.

The second one may be a little longer.

This will be a dark urban fantasy ... with hot and sexy thrown in.

In other news:

Happy Anniversary is doing well this month;

The Demon Bride is doing well this month;

The Witching Pen is doing well this month...

The Sands Of Time, not so much (you guys do know that's the second book, right? If you skip it, you skip a whole lot of plot ;))

Which leads me onto a question:

Can you read a series out of order?

I know some people that can; I sure as hell cannot.

Have a great weekend, folks :)

Custom made jewellery

This week I am taking part in the "Bitten by Paranormal Romance & Gabrielle Bisset" blog hop! The hop runs from September 13th - 16th and I'm going to be giving away two different sets of swag including one of these very beautiful, custom made "Blood Series" necklaces.

The tag says "I run with Werewolves."
Don't you just love it??

(Both of these pictures were taken by Ashlyn and were sent to me so I could, naturally, see her beautiful work. I'm posting these pictures because the only camera I have is on my mobile and the silly thing really wont do these beautiful pieces any justice. Plus, they are currently in the mail, and I desperately wanted to show these beauties off.)

The wonderful Ashlyn Chase made both of these necklaces for me after I gave her an essay in regards to The Blood Series. I really wanted to have series themed jewellery. The problem was that naturally there are a lot of hit paranormal series out there at the moment, and all of them have jewellery made.

I desperately wanted something different from all that merchandise, and Ashlyn has done a really fab job in achieving that. Thank you so much, Ashlyn! :-D

Technically, these are the only two necklaces made at the moment. I decided I wanted to purchase some every now and again for competitions, but I have to say I am totally in love with them and actually want some for myself. Ha. For now I plan to buy a couple - or so - a year and give them away in big competitions.

I love the black moon, and blood drops. So yum!

One of these necklaces will be up for grabs in this weeks blog hop, and the other I am saving for the Halloween blog hop I am involved in next month.

I do hope you will join me - and all the other authors participating in the hop - this Thursday to Sunday. I'm going to be talking about the heroes from all three of my paranormal books, and sharing excerpts from each book as well as giving away some goodies. Plus, there are a lot of awesome prizes to be won from each of the blogs. So, definitely worth a look. :-D

Ashlyn's Etsy Shop - http://www.etsy.com/shop/AshlynsImagination?ref=top_trail - She really does some beautiful pieces and at fab prices.

Dreaming the book...

I swear to God, that I thought I had posted something on here last night. And I've done this before: dreamt something, and thought it was real, only to discover it never happened. It's a wonder I'm still sane :s

And this led to me remembering the dreams I used to have (I have them less nowadays owing to a toddler that rarely sleeps through the night) when I would write entire books or scripts in my head. The whole thing. And on the brink of 'awake', I remember everything - it's all imprinted in my mind: the plot, some exact lines ... so crystal clear...

And then I wake up and it GONE.

I've done this with languages too. In some of my past dreams I've been writing / talking / reading in fluent French, and when I wake up, I can't remember a single word!

I really, really think it's a past life thing. I'm sure I used to be French in a few past lives. We use so little of our brains; it makes you wonder what it would be like to have total clarity; total memory of all that came before for us. Wow...

Have you had dreams like above?

Lastly, I'm re-releasing one of those erotic short stories I took down a while back, Happy Anniversary (not a paranormal). It's been through the tiniest bit of editing, and it's due to be up online in a few hours. All info here: http://www.diannahardy.com/happy-anniversary.html

Blurb

Claudia's been working too many nights, too hard. One drunken evening, she promises to make it up to her husband, Martin, on their anniversary – by doing anything he asks of her.

Martin is not only going to make sure she keeps her word, but is determined to remind her exactly what she's been missing these past few months.

Publisher's Notes:
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Length: short story (approx. 5000 words)
First published in April, 2011, under the pseudonym Elysa Summers - this is an updated re-release.

A Note From The Author:
For those of you that have come to this book via my current paranormal romance and urban fantasy titles, please note that this is quite different. It is not plot-heavy like my current work – it is literally what it says on the packaging: an erotic short story about a marriage rekindled (with the emphasis being on the erotic). Happy reading!

Look out for it :)

Waitin' on some groovy things!

Has anyone ever noticed that we seem to go through phases of waiting? Well, yeah, kinda happens when you're a writer ;-p

Sneaky side project has taken more of a shape in my mind, and I pretty much know where I'm going with it, which makes me very happy. But I've had to put writing it on hold the last two weeks since I've had guests staying and like many writers I find it hard to concentrate when there are people in the house. Needless to say although it's nice to see old friends and family, I can't wait to have the house to myself once more.

So, apart from waiting to get peace and quite back in my house . . . I also have a couple of other things I'm looking forward to.

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts I have a book cover ordered, and should be getting the mock-up next week. I'm freakin' excited about seeing what the amazing Elaina Lee has created for my story "Charged." 

I purchased one of her pre-made covers early this year and it is beautiful. I saw it and knew that I had to have it for "Tainted," which is the WIP that accompanies "Charged." I have wanted to show it off for months now, but I didn't want to do so until I bought this next cover. So, when I have them both I will be showing them off.

Anyone who is interested in covers for any of their projects should definitely give Elaina's pre-made covers a look. They seriously are gorgeous. http://www.forthemusedesign.com/pre-made-covers.html

I recently purchased some swag for the "Bitten by Paranormal Romance & Gabrielle Bisset" September Giveaway Blog Hop, which I am participating in between the 13th - 16th. - http://www.bittenbyparanormalromance.com/2012/06/18-and-over-giveaway-blogger-hop.html

The swag all turned out really well, but I'm particularly excited about the custom made Blood Series jewellery I had designed.

The awesome Ashlyn Chase designed two beautiful necklaces, which I personally LOVE! I desperately wanted some series themed jewellery and Ashlyn has done an amazing job. They're dark with lots of crimson. They have a nice touch of Werewolf, but a little hint of Vampire, and I plan to purchase some every now and again for big competitions. So, another two items that I really can't wait to share with y'all!

Ashlyn does some beautiful pieces of jewellery and at reasonable prices, which she sells at her online store - http://www.etsy.com/shop/AshlynsImagination?ref=top_trail 

Other that that, I'm waiting for a publishing date and book cover for my sweet contemporary romance, "Stepping Stones." I'm waiting for edits and a release date for my upcoming dark paranormal f/f erotica, "On The Rocks." And I'm waiting to hear back about my submission, "Creak," which is an erotic thriller.

Phew. Busy. Busy. But I am very excited to receive/hear about all of the above. So hopefully I can share something real groovy with you this time next week. :-)