exhumed

Best Worst Vacation Week Ever

(This turned out a little longish, chickadees, and covers a handful of things--it's both a personal and professional update. Thanks for reading.)

Well, my first week of vacation totally sucked.Read more

Zara Lain Is Back: EXHUMED Releases

Well, it's finally here.

This book has been in my head since I FIRST wrote BLOODLINES, circa 2005/2006. It's the twentieth novel I've finished, it's probably one of the ones I'm most proud of. And it can now be yours to purchase in print and a variety of ebook formats.

Buy links (will be updated as links are live...I have no idea when that might be, sorry):

- Mundania
- Kindle US
- Kindle UK
- ARe/Omnilit
- Nook (incidentally, the first three in the series are going up on Nook right now too--you'll find Bloodlines so far)

Print will be up soon at various resellers (about a week or so). Purchasing ebooks through Mundania, as always, gives you a bonus short story. (Also, if you missed Nate's shorts Thrall and Sunrise they're still up here: http://www.facebook.com/SkylaDawnCameron--I'll be taking them down tonight, unless I'm drunk, and then maybe in the morning.)

A couple of friends read it early and want to tell you about the book--Melissa does, as does Histrel. And friend JA Saare says, "This ain't your momma's urban fantasy. The Demons of Oblivion series takes the genre to a whole new level. Hearts are broken, lines are crossed, and no one walks away unscathed. Skyla Dawn Cameron shocks, rocks, and leaves a reader eager for more."

After you read EXHUMED, you may have...questions. In particular about another side of the story. Unfortunately, these questions won't be answered in OBLIVION. While I feel EXHUMED has the *right* ending, there are some loose ends I hadn't planned to tie up until it was appropriate later in future books.

Why do I bring this up? Well, it's my release day, so what the hell--I'll say what I want to. If you follow my blog/Twitter, you probably already know this, BUT...

The series ain't doing well.

By "not well" I mean "persistent vegetative state". I've had a post announcing the cancellation drafted since early April, I just haven't posted it yet. 'Cause I don't wanna. Part of me wants to cancel it and put it to rest so I can move on; part of me wants to keep fighting. This leaves me on the fence.

But I am telling this to readers now because I don't want anyone blindsided.

The books may not continue past #5; this may very well be the last Zara-narrated book. At this point, I don't think I can afford to keep writing them.

As awkward as it is, it's my release day, so what the hell: I'm asking for help.

If you've already purchased the books and you want to do more, I can tell you that word of mouth is what gets things going. Tell a friend. Consider posting reviews on major sellers like Amazon (also: apparently adding tags on Amazon and making lists is helpful). Blog about the books. Request the books at your local library. Sacrifice virgins to Satan in exchange for higher sales rankings.

If you already do these things (you know who you are, as do I--I pay attention to these things), I thank you. You've already made a huge difference and I appreciate it.

There's no real magic key to these kinds of things--if there was, everyone would be a bestseller. But the more people who talk about something, the more likely it is others will check it out. Readers are the ones with the power--books can't be a success without you.

Incidentally, there's also a post up at the ELEW by me yesterday that relates to the writing of EXHUMED, called "Fear Itself" and you can clickity click and read right here.

Now, if you excuse me, I have to hang out with a friend who insisted no one would hate this book and get really drunk in case we decide to come trolling for reader reactions today...

Nate's Story "Thrall"

I think most readers now know I include short stories set in the 'verse in the ebooks exclusively sold at Mundania, along with the paperback copies (it was too much to have two paperbacks) sold everywhere. I've tried to very much make them "extras" and not necessary to read, and just a little something extra to encourage sales where I make the most money (look, I gots to do what I gots to do). I genuinely appreciate ANY purchase made, however, no matter where books are sold.

The thing is, the two Nate shorts "Thrall" and "Sunrise" both beautifully set up Exhumed.

"Thrall" was actually the first place a major plot point in Exhumed came to me. It's a side thing in that short story but sort of opened my eyes and made me realize there was more coming than I initially realized.

So I really want you guys to read it.

For everyone who got a book at ARe, Mobi, Kindle, etc: From now until Exhumed's release on July 10, you can read "Thrall"--a 5K word short story from Nate's perspective--exclusive over at my fan page (well, and still in the Mundania ebooks). http://www.facebook.com/SkylaDawnCameron/app_190322544333196

Also, if you missed "Sunrise" (in Lineage), it'll be posted there July 1-10 exclusively (unless, of course, "Thrall" gets posted anywhere online, in which case I will probably never post anything again, so yeah, don't do that).

Enjoy!

Zara! Nate! Teasers! Release Date! Short Stories! Everything You Need To Know About EXHUMED

Look, a post that's not pet-related!

Zara's next book, Exhumed, is coming to you July 10 in paperback & ebook formats (HTML, PDF, EPUB, MOBI, PRC).

Zara Lain, narcissistic vampire and assassin, cleaned up after a crazy warlock tried to build a vampire army, made some cash when the North American covens were left in shambles, got away when framed for the murder of a Demon Hunter, and dealt with some idiots who tried to jumpstart Armageddon. None of that could prepare her, however, for the moment when her lover of the undead persuasion awakens...

And promptly tries to kill her.

She’s raised a handful of orphaned baby vampires during the past six years and she knows the score: if they don’t get sane again, they have to be staked. And even if she can fix her would-be boyfriend, he’s not the only formerly deceased one in town who wants to kill her. Old enemies are back to put a cramp in her love life, ruin a good pair of heels, and just maybe end the world.

An apocalypse is nigh...and it gets a lot worse than having nothing to wear to the occasion.

Yay!

Coupla notes:Read more

The "When's That Book Coming...?" Update: Spring 2012 Edition

It's been three months. Time for another State of the Union!

* Exhumed - Second draft complete. Should be in edits next month (I want to run through it one more time first). Looking at a July 10 release so I can avoid a Mercury retrograde. Shut up.

* Amends - On hold. If I'm able to take a working vacation soon, I'll churn out a few more chapters so they're scheduled and ready. It was burning me out and like three people were reading it anyway, so it got backburnered (*waves to the three people*).

* Oblivion - Planning stages still. I'm going to try to write it early fall, hoping for a January release.

* Solace, Broken, Viral, etc...? - Uh...next question please.

* Children of the Apocalypse - Backburnered. Still on my radar. I need that working vacation.

* In Darkness Waits - I realized what was tripping me up with it. It's on hold while I sort it out.

* Ashes - Still poking around with it for fun.

* Godless (Dessa 5) - Baking in my brain. Characters are talking to me--probably cause they know half of them won't make it out alive.

* Haunted - Nowhere near having time to work on rewrites yet.

* River/Wolfe omnibus - Still on hold. *sigh* It'll get on Kindle eventually.

* For-Pay-Writing-That's-Killing-My-Soul - Two projects down, four to go over the next few months.

* Solomon's Seal - In progress and SO MUCH FUN OMG.

I don't like talking about stuff I might jinx. But screw it. I'm happy so far.

I was writing an unpublished blog post the other day (still in draft mode) and sort of scared myself. If Oblivion is the last in the series I publish, that means as of January...I won't have ANYTHING new scheduled to come out--no new Skyla Dawn Cameron books.

*is askeerd*

I haven't been in that place for years now. Even when I delayed stuff by years, at least I knew it would come eventually. I have tons of other finished stuff, but nothing I want to shop around for various reasons. So...square one, baby.

Enter Solomon's Seal.

I'm having a blast.

Want a random teaser? Read below, under the cut. Not giving any context, as I think it speaks for itself.

Read more

An EXHUMED Excerpt for Valentine's Day

It's a time for love and romance! Except I suck with those things.

And so, I present to you: Zara naked with an assault rifle, Nate in a towel, and a demon attacking them.

It's available at my FB page, which you have to "like" to see the excerpt. This is temporary so check it out soon 'cause it'll be coming down on Thursday and not seen again until July.

The "When's That Book Coming...?" Update: Winter 2012 Edition

How about an updated book state of the union? Plenty has changed in three months.

* Exhumed: Complete. Awaiting a second draft from me in the spring. I have to do some schedule shuffling so there's a strong chance this release will be summer now.

* Amends: This'll be hit when I'm done with my writer burn out. I finished two books back to back in Nov/Dec and really needed a break from writing. I will update my blog when we're back on track (hopefully within a few weeks).

* Oblivion: This is the fifth book, after Exhumed. I don't need it done summer/fall but it's tickling my brain. I think it just needs to percolate awhile longer and it'll be ready to start. Currently I'm jotting notes down on my murder board and I almost have a first draft of the jacket copy written.

* Solace: I'm plotting this one as well (it's the sixth). I likely won't start it until the end of the year, but then sometimes I surprise myself.

* In Darkness Waits: I'm going through that thing again where I'm struggling with the voice and wonder if it's supposed to be in first person. The book won't tell me. None of you have read it, though, so you don't much care but I still want the first draft of this done by March.

* Godless (Dess bd 5): It's still baking in my head.

* Ashes: It's likely a trunk novel so I pull it out and play now and then.

* CotA 3: I'm re-reading everything written so far and I'm hoping before I dive back into another book, I'll get my feet wet finishing up this one. Fear not! It's on my radar, at least.

* Haunted: I have to edit the other novellas coming out before I can get to my rewrites on this.

* River/Wolfe omnibus on Kindle: Delayed as I haven't the time to proofread with extra work stuff. *pushes to bottom of to-do list.*

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I think that's it. I need to write a post about other stuff and I'm trying but I keep thinking I sound bitchy so haven't saved it. For now: bitching at me that the series isn't The Zara and Nate Show? Yeah, that's not going to change. They're not the main characters of the series--they never will be--nor can I write books that are carbon copies of Bloodlines. If you feel you have to suffer the other books for moments of them, you're probably going to be really disappointed. Baking cupcakes might be a better idea than reading stuff you'll hate. Or write fanfic. Fanfic about cupcakes. Or something.

Please send me fanfic about cupcakes. Yeah, I think that was my point.

Dear Readers: Exhumed Is Done

Last night I finished a very-rough-in-a-lot-of-places draft of Exhumed. This is the fourth book of the series and the first of the novels to go back to Zara as narrator.

I can't talk a whole lot about it except that a) it was very difficult to write and not just because b) it has lot of sex compared to what I normally write, c) it delivers (I hope) on things set up in the first three books, and d) though I knew the end point, it still surprised me.

I am very, very excited about this book and I hope it's everything Zara (and Nate) fans want it to be. Of course I can't give much away, but you'll find the first chapter in Lineage (and depending on if you get the ebook from Mundania or the paperback, you'll also get a short story that relates to it too), and next year I'll have some exclusive excerpts on my Facebook page that only those who "like" the page will be able to see.

But I *can* give some of my favourite lines...

Could this possibly be any more awkward? Nah, if I said that last part aloud, the God of Awkward Ex-Lover Moments would leap up and do a jig on the coffee table.

"Maybe give me some kind of warning before you attempt to kill me if I’m sleeping. Like, put some dramatic battle music on my iPod. I think there’s an Epic Fight playlist—"

"Okay, Edward, the rapey alpha male thing is getting a little old.”

It was like some weird, triple date. Except my companion was batshit crazy and not in the "let’s sing songs by Air Supply during karaoke" kind of way.

“Whatever, dumbass. It’ll send you to hell immediately. Do not pass GO, do not collect two hundred dollars—just hell where your tender Christian flesh will burn and be molested by Satan."

"There’s a vampire, a quarter-demon, ex Venatores Daemonum member, and a psychic. Now that I have a warlock, I have a complete set to sell on eBay."

"I’m not some vampire scum: I am Zara-Motherfucking-Lain. I wear designer heels, I take what I want, I visit hell upon anyone who disagrees, and you *will* show me respect."

Happy Holidays to you and yours! Don't forget the Holiday Sale where you (yes, all the yous, including the douchebag you hitting my site today looking for illegal downloads) can get DRM free ebooks in all formats, no geographical restrictions, for 25% off.

Me, I'm going to a movie with my mum tonight, as we used to on Christmas Eve when I was a kid. Tomorrow I'm having her over for a brunch and then we'll have dinner with my aunt's family and grandpa. Have a great day!

I Don't Even Know What I'm Writing Anymore

I've hit the climax for the book and it's just taken a sharp left turn and I haven't a bloody clue what I'm doing anymore. Zara revealed her endgame and it slapped me upside the head, Nate is just refusing to behave the way I want him too, and I am still not sure how I'm going to get to the epilogue without everyone dying horribly.

It's utterly terrifying.

Exhumed is either going to be amazingly awesome or a big, hot, unfixable mess. (Note: I am not fishing for compliments or reassurances. Irrational worry is part of my process and I plan for it with every book.)

Brilliance or suckage, but nothing in between. I'm determined nothing about this is going to be meh or blah or "just okay"--either it'll totally suck or totally rock.

Hopefully I'll know which during the second draft.

And while this has always been my end of book theme...

...my "I'm depressed so I'm going to watch Disney videos to make me more depressed, apparently" kick lately made this squeeze in.

See? Yeah, I don't even. Oh HAI bipolar book!

I probably won't blog for a few days while I'm off and being moody. May you and yours have a wonderful holiday. I'd like to have Exhumed done this week so I can start January by finishing IDW (finally), so I'll drop by and mention it's finally DONE and OMG I HATE IT and RELIEF and BLAH BLAH.

Books & Stuff & Things

First, I blogged yesterday at the ELEW. http://www.evilwriters.com/blog/december-makingwords It's a rant and may hurt feelings. I am okay with this.

Next: news. On the upcoming page, it says there's something in January. And to not get excited. Well, the "something" will be...River and Wolfe finally on Kindle.

The books came out years ago--River when Amazon was selling Mobipocket ebooks, which they then pulled so they could start doing Kindle. Still, at least it was on B&N as a Nook Book. And despite people bitching to the contrary (really? seriously? um, GOOGLE??), Wolfe has always been available in various ebook formats on Mundania's site, Fictionwise, ARe, etc. But neither are in the actual Kindle store.

What we're going to do is a duology omnibus. Both books in one, combined for a lower price point than buying them separately. It's an experiment, to be sure, and we'll see how it goes. I'll also be including an author's note, perhaps talking about where the will-never-be-written third book would've gone.

And this is important because there is a high likelihood that, at the end of 2012, the books may go out of print.

I realize some of you like them. I appreciate your kind words about them, truly (when not posted on a piracy board). And perhaps if I had more time and the inclination, I'd revisit revamping them (as I did Bloodlines) but...I really feel done with the world/stories and don't want to rewrite them. I have so many more stories I want to tell instead.

This plan isn't set in stone, of course--I may change my mind. But when you're nearly thirty years old and have grown a lot as a writer, it's kind of hard to have a book you wrote almost a decade ago out there. By the end of 2012, I'll have four novels and a novella out there for purchase, hoping that'll make up for the lost income from retiring River Wolfe.

It's all hypothetical at this point, but if you're wanting either book, next year will probably be the time to get them. The omnibus release date is to be determined--I have to go over both files, actually proofing Wolfe (*whines*) again, and get all that stuff sorted out.

Now. More stuff and things.

- Lineage is out for edits. It is also out as an ARC with someone as a Christmas present. *whistles innocently* *awaits teasing* I think the first chapter of Exhumed may also be included in the book's release.

- I should probably plan promo-y things for Lineage's release (February 21). So far I have a guest post to write for Feb 20 and that's it. If you would like to host me on your blog for an interview/guest post + giveaway or whatever during that time, I'd be ever so grateful. If you're a book blogger and would like to review any of the books in the series, give me a shout. Priority given to those who can review ebooks (PDF, PRC, EPUB, MOBI) but I can usually finagle a few print copies. Email me if interested--messaging at social networking sites isn't usually a good way to track me down. Read more about them if interested.

- Exhumed is coming along. I have about 30K words left to write.

- Amends is has been on hold with trying to write three books for NaNo and now coming off of the burn out from that. Time willing, I want to devote a week during the holidays to just write serial stuff for January and beyond. I'll probably have to unplug to get it done.

- I may start posting the odd book review on the blog. Note: I will not be A Book Reviewer. They will be reviews of books I enjoyed as I have to work in this industry and will not bitch about my peers, so no bad reviews. They will be sporadic as I haven't time to read outside of work much. They will likely be by friends of mine because I choose to spend my time and money on those I know. I will be genuine, of course. It's also my way of trying to give back to the community, and I will endeavor to post the reviews on GR and maybe Amazon.