Happy 2012

So, here we are in a New Year. I discovered a new TV show, thanks to my son - Hell on Wheels. It's a little raw for my taste, and they've said a few things and had a few scenes that made me cringe, but I love the show for several reasons - number one among them is Anson Mount. I've never heard of him before and never seen him in anything, as far as I know. But he is amazing, as is the rest of the cast.



He is my favorite kind of hero - tortured, rugged, tough on the outside, but with that little redeeming bit of goodness inside. I can't wait for season two.

Mandy

Sandy's Angel - Just in time for Christmas

A woman doesn't find a near-naked man lying on the road every night, and especially not one who looks as good as this one. With a bump on his head and unable to remember much, he definitely needs her help.

Sandy already has her own problems – a failing ranch, hands leaving, and a note about to be called in by the bank. But she can't leave the poor man injured and unclothed.

Will taking him home prove to be a bad decision on her part? Or could he be her answer to a prayer?

Sandy's Angel is a short, short story, but the price is right - only 99 cents. You can download it at Smashwords or Amazon.

Hope all is well in your corner of the world.

DWTS

So, Maks and Hope were eliminated. No surprise there!!!! I know this sounds like sour-grapes, but they got a bum rap from the judges practically every week. It was obvious who the judges liked and who they didn't.

So, now that Maks and Hope are gone, so am I. If Maks returns next year, so will I.

Maks, you'll always be #1 with me!



Thanks to all my friends and readers who voted for Maks and Hope. Maybe next year!!!!!

New Cover Copy

It's always exciting to receive the back cover copy for an upcoming book. My editor emailed me the copy for my September 2012 book yesterday. Amazing, how far in advance they do these things!

Naturally, they hope the blurb will entice readers. So, does this work for you?

A VAMPIRE IN CHAINS
Held captive in a basement prison, wrapped in silver chains, the vampire Gideon is too weak to fight the monster who enslaves him. For years, she’s tapped his precious blood like a fountain of youth—sustaining him with human females she captures for his pleasure. But with the latest victim she brings him, he senses something intriguingly different. Something dangerous, yet oh so tempting.

Kay Alissano is no ordinary woman. Every full moon, she must answer the call of the wild—unleashing the wolf within. As daughter of the Shadow Pack’s Alpha, Kay is extremely powerful—and when she’s offered up to Gideon, she doesn’t surrender easily. In wolf form, she might be able unchain Gideon’s heart and set them both free—if only he can resist the urge to consume her, body and soul, before the next full moon…

“Ashley is a master storyteller.”
—Romantic Times

“A classic vampire tale of sensual, spine-tingling suspense.”
—Christine Feehan on Desire After Dark

Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com

I really like this story. It has everything - vampires, werewolves,and witches, both good and evil! You can read an excerpt on my web site at www.amandaashley.net

Mandy

Good News

So, can you imagine my excitement when I learned that BOUND BY NIGHT is in the running for Romantic Times Best Book of the Year in the Paranormal/Urban Fantasy category? I'm also thrilled to be one of the authors nominated for a Career Achievement Award. Considering the other authors in this category, I think my chances are slim to none, but it's nice to be nominated. Quite an honor, in fact.



In the rant department, am I the only one who thinks the CW is running way too many commercials during THE VAMPIRE DIARIES? According to my calculations, they have 18 minutes of commercials in a 60 minute show. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure they didn't have this many commercials in the first season. They have so many breaks now, it's hard to keep track of what's happening. If I didn't love seeing Damon so much, I'd skip the show altogether and just wait for the DVD!!!!

Maybe a letter writing campaign is in order?

Mandy

Tidbits

So, I had a nice surprise a few days ago. I entered a contest last year and forgot all about it. But on the 21st of this month, I was notified that EVERLASTING KISS won 1st place in the Ancient City Romance Authors Heart of Excellence contest. I was understandably delighted. My thanks to everyone at the ACRA who made this possible.

I received a proof for the cover of my June 2012 book, His Dark Embrace. Happy to say, I'm happy with it.



And happy with the book, too.

I'm pleased to report that BOUND BY NIGHT and BOUND BY BLOOD both made the USA Today Bestseller list. Always a good thing.

Hard to believe Halloween is just around the corner. Can Christmas be far behind?

Mandy

If you can't say something nice..........

Okay, I've read a couple of unflattering reviews of my book, BOUND BY NIGHT, and since I've been told I shouldn't respond to such things, I'm venting here!

The main problem seems to be with my heroine because she isn’t aggressive, and because my vampire seems historical instead of contemporary because he lives in a rundown castle without electricity, etc. Also, the reviewers find it unbelievable that the vampires can keep people to feed on with no one knowing about it in this day and age.

To rebut - My heroine was raised by a strict uncle in a small town in Romania that is a little backward. She has scant knowledge of men or of life outside her home in a small village. Her parents are dead. Her aunt is dead. Her cousin is missing. She has little freedom to come and go because of her uncle.

My hero is a very old vampire, and he lives in an old, old castle that has not been modernized. Medieval castles didn’t come with electricity, modern indoor plumbing, forced air heat or air conditioning, etc. He has not added those things because he doesn’t live there all the time, and because he has no need for electricity, or heat, etc.

The people that the vampires keep to feed on have been born and raised inside the fortress where they live. They have no concept of life outside the fortress – no radio, no tv, no newspapers. They are treated well and educated, but they are not free. They are not allowed outside. They are kept by vampires who are hundreds of years old and cling to their old way of life.

I don’t write kick-ass heroines. I find them totally unbelievable. I don’t write heroines who sleep around. My people don’t swear often, they never use the “F” word.

I realize there are reviewers who don’t like heroines if they don't swear and kick ass and take names, nor do they care for heroines who happen to be virgins, but I have many, many loyal readers who like my heroines and my books, and they are the audience I wrote for.

Mandy

Vampire Diaries Rant

Well, you all know I love the Vampire Diaries, but I have a terrible feeling it's going to go the way of Supernatural, and before long, I won't be watching it....It seems to be getting increasingly gory. And showing decapitated heads - I don't know, is that really necessary? I know they did it last year, too, and I wasn't crazy about it then. I'm also not a big fan of women parading around in their underwear. I think it's demeaning and just a ploy to get guys to watch a chick flick.

I used to love Supernatural, but then, they went way over the top as far as I'm concerned. Of course, maybe they want to appeal to the 18-40 guy crowd. I know it no longer appeals to me, Dean or no Dean. All that angel stuff just seemed a little blasphemous to me, and the blood and gore....sorry, I don't think that's entertaining.

I don't know why producers and directors can't leave well enough alone, but they always feel like they have to top whatever came before.

A good case in point is Pirates of the Caribbean. The first one was great! The next two were, in my opinion, awful. The last one was a little better. Less special effects, less story threads, more character-driven. Now that they seem to be back on track, I hope they make another one.

While we're at it, am I the only one who thinks the new TV season stinks? I mean, out of all the shows on TV and cable, I only watch a few -

The Middle
Warehouse 13
Hawaii Five-O
The Vampire Diaries
Dancing with the Stars (until Maks goes - then Mandy goes)

I still miss -

Moonlight
Invasion
Surface
V
The Gates (I think that's the name of the show)

Okay, I feel better now! Just had to get it off my chest.

Good news

So, I'm thrilled to tell you that BOUND BY NIGHT was #33 on the New York Times list and #128 on the USA Today bestseller list. Considering the lists cover all books, not just romances, that ain't bad. I'm hoping BOUND BY BLOOD will do as well.

My anthology, TALES OF WESTERN ROMANCE, is now available in both print and eBook
on CreateSpace and Amazon. It contains 5 of my short stories, previously only available as eBooks. Never let it be said I don't listen to my fans - many of who (whom?) asked why they weren't available in print.

I was in our local Dollar Tree, looking for a gift bag, when I saw the book, The View from the Bridge - Memories of Star Trek and a Life in Hollywood. Since I'm a big Star Trek fan, and since I love behind-the-scenes stuff, and since the book was only a dollar, I bougt a copy. I'm glad I did. I love reading about how the 2nd Star Trek movie got made and insights into the stars and the writer/director, etc.

I'm happy to say our weather has cooled off a little the last few days. I am so ready for Fall.

Hope all is well in your corner of the world.

Mandy

Sheesh!

Can you believe it's September already? Hard to believe I'll be Christmas shopping soon! Assuming there are still stores to shop in, with the economy in the toilet.

On a happier note, my short story, Jessie's Girl, originally published in an anthology titled Paradise, is now available as an eBook. I went through it and updated it a little, since it was written quite a while ago. I love the new cover.



Counting the days until Breaking Dawn.

Mandy

New Books

For my readers who asked me to please put my eBooks in print, never let it be said I don't listen.



My historical, IN THE SHADOW OF THE HILLS, is now available in print.

Four of my short stories - Catch the Lightning, Capture the Lightning, Passion's Promise, and Reckless Destiny - are being published in a print anthology titled
TALES OF WESTERN ROMANCE, which will be available soon. Reckless Destiny, 5th and final book in my Reckless series, will soon be available as an eBook.



Hard to believe summer is coming to an end and the kids will be in school next week. Can Christmas be far behind?