Romantic Times Book Lover’s Convention

Anne Rice Going to RT Convention in Chicago!!!!!!

My Literary Heroine – Anne Rice – at RT Convention 2012

OMG Anne Rice will be in Chicago!I'm a little slow, but I just found out that my literary heroine – Anne Rice – is going to be at the RT Convention in Chicago. She'll be at the Saturday, April 16th Book Fair from 11am – 2pm at the Hyatt Rosemont Hotel in Chicago, just adjacent to O'Hare Int'l Airport. If you're an Anne Rice fan and you're in the area, you don't want to miss this!

I swear…when I read this in the RT Book Reviews newsletter, I stopped breathing for 3 seconds and sat there at my computer with my mouth hanging open. Then I cried tears of joy and called my friend Genella de Grey to screech like a bahn sidhe (pronounced ban-shee). I'm relieved I didn't almost pee myself…like I almost did when I received a personal response from Anne Rice after I announced the release of my debut novel MIDNIGHT CONQUEST…which she inspired and to whom I have dedicated. Anyone who missed that…I'll be more than happy to recap for you…

Personal E-mail from Anne Rice

From: Anne Rice
Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2011 10:13 AM
To: Arial Burnz
Subject: Re: Thank You for Your Inspiration – Publishing After 20 Years!

This is so moving. You are kind to share this with me, and I'm extremely happy for you that your book is being published.  I wish you every blessing with this adventure.  I'm convinced that the writer's buy xanax online america life is worth the struggle, the patience, the courage.  Take care, and thank you again for these very kind words.

Anne.

On Fri, May 13, 2011 at 11:03 PM, Arial Burnz <arial@arialburnz.com> wrote:

Dear Mrs. Rice,

*VIRTUAL HUG*

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know how much of an inspiration you’ve been to me through the years. I started writing back in my high school days (1983) – vampire poetry inspired by your Vampire Chronicles. In 1992, I started my novel MIDNIGHT CONQUEST and as of June 1, I will finally have it published. (Whew, that was a long road!) It’s the first in a six-book series that will follow my main character, Broderick MacDougal, through the centuries on his quest for revenge and finding his true love, Davina.

My book is being dedicated to you and here is my dedication page:

A Thank You to Sting
For “Moon Over Bourbon Street”
He fed me the intro
To Anne Rice’s treat
She’s planted the seed
To all that I’ve written
If it wasn’t for her
I’d have never been bitten

The eBook will be out by June 1, the trade paperback by June 10.  😉

Thank you again for your inspiration! My heart’s wishes and best to you and yours.

God’s speed to you,

Arial Burnz

I have to remember to bring my camera and I told my mom to bring hers, too. I just hope I don't faint in front of her…or pee on myself. 😉

That's my two pence…

Arial 😉

Update on MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE – Book 2 of BBB Vampire Chronicles

I've had a few of my readers begging me for Book 2 of my Bonded By Blood Vampire Chronicles, so I thought I would post an update on where I am with it.

I'm so sorry! I should have listened toAmanda Hocking and NOT put a release date on future projects until the book was near completion. I stated at the end of Book 1 that Book 2 would be done in October order ativan online 2011. My day job (editing) picked up and I just have not had the time to write.

I did put a lot of effort into the novel in December and was about three-quarters of the way done with the first draft…and then the holidays hit and then Star Wars: The Old Republic came out and I also got sick (see previous spew about that). Read more…

May Give-Away!

EDIT: I've added something new to the contest – for everyone person who enters the contest, I'll donate 50 cents* to the needy pet organization Petsmart uses for charity. Money will be donated at my next trip to Petsmart.

This is my first month of give-aways and I thought it might be neat to pick from the List of Commemorative Months I found on Wikipedia and use that as the themes for my monthly give-aways. The list is HUGE, so I have a lot to choose from. However, I also need to match this list with the goodies I received from the Romantic Times Book Lover's Convention. As a side note, some of the commemorative themes were really off the wall or things I just could not support. Such as…
–National Egg Month. :
–National Salad Month
–National Do Not Eat Cheese Before Noon Month…I kid you not and there is NOOOO way I could support that!

Some I could get behind 100% and there are a little too many to mention (and most of them are great causes), but here are some I thought deserved honorable mentions…

–National Chocolate Custard Month
–National Clean Energy Month
–Uranus Awareness Month (I had some erotic romances I could have used for this…but I'll save that one. Seriously, it might be a good idea to bring awareness to this planet as it may end up in the realm of Pluto if we're not careful…but I didn't have any books of space adventures to give away.)
–National Zombie Awareness Month – No, darn it, I didn't have any zombie books to give away!

The one I chose for this month is NATIONAL PET MONTH! I had two books I thought fitting for this month that I wasn't sure I'd be able to use for any other month… Continue reading →

Qualities of a Good Critique Partner

I've heard a lot of comments by many in the publishing industry that the occupation of a writer is a lonely one. You sit at the computer (typewriter or yellow legal pad, for you nostalgic types), alone with your thoughts and the voices you hear, crafting your tales. Though that part of the process may be a solitary experience, there's a bigger picture. I've been writing for many years and along the journey, there are many people a writer needs to further their career along: beta readers, critique partners, editors, publishers, cheering section, readers and more. The journey to getting published is rarely done without others and they all have their place and importance. Since I recently found my critique partner, that's the one I'll focus on today. (Click on the links above if you're interested in learning more about the other people that contribute to a writer's journey.) Continue reading →

10 Ways a Writer Can Take Advantage of Today’s Technology

I LOVE technology! It's made my life so much easier as a writer…among other things. I remember the days of writing my novels on yellow, lined legal pads or typewriter (yes, I know, I'm dating myself) and then came the awesome personal computer: My first being a Tandy 1000. Sure, it was DOS based and monochrome, but HOLY COW, no more white-out or retyping a page!

Then the development of the Internet and WHAM! the world of writing exploded in so many ways. The best part about the Internet, as far as I'm concerned with writing, is E-MAIL SUBMISSIONS!! The days of packaging up that 250+ page manuscript are over! YAY! The latest technologies of tablets and eBook readers just makes my head spin when I think of all the possibilities! Apple announced it's two newest features for the iPad, and it inspired me to write this blog entry to chat about ten things writers can do to take advantage of today's technology to either write or promote their writing. E-mail, computers, and the Internet in general are givens, so I've thrown out some options that incorporate those. Here they are (in no particular order): Continue reading →

Writing Updates

Eternal Conquest - by Arial BurnzEternal Conquest – Revisions Finished

Taking a break from the horrible situation happening in Egypt and from my Twitter and Facebook pages, I'm happy to say that my major revisions for ETERNAL CONQUEST are finished! These were the revisions I needed to make AFTER I was offered the contract from The Wild Rose Press in their Black Rose line. I met my deadline and had the changes into my editor before the end of December 2010. However, my editor had an unfortunate accident with her computer, and though she thankfully recovered, she is a little behind schedule. Which means she won't be able to get to ETERNAL CONQUEST until the end of this month. That's okay! I have lots of other books to write! Continue reading →

Book Review – “Siren’s Song” by Trish Albright

Again, I am blessed to have such amazingly talented friends!!! I met Trish Albright about 2 years ago at an RWA meeting and purchased her first book, and over the last couple of years, we only met on one or two other occasions. I had the pleasure of spending a lot more time with her at the recent RT convention and she is just a joy to be around…truly a kindred spirit.

Having a little more time on my hands recently, I was able to DEVOUR her romantic adventure, “Siren's Song” and could not put the book down! Wow! What a page-turner! No exaggeration here, it was a fabulous adventure! Continue reading →

RT Convention Update: “Pants-ing” vs. Plotting…The Debate

Continuing my blogs on my experience at the Romantic Times Book Lover's Convention 2009 (in Orlando, FL), it was my greatest pleasure to speak with so many writers about the craft and the process in which people craft their own stories. I LOVE to hear all the ways that people come up with their story ideas and what brings them to that last page where they type our favorite words….THE END.

Continue reading →

New Cover for MIDNIGHT CONQUEST

I realize the publisher will be the one to design the cover, but I'm a visual kinda gal and I like to SEE things happening! So, I've designed a new cover for my first book – MIDNIGHT CONQUEST. Why? Well, though I like what I did before, it doesn't fluconazole buy online uk LOOK like a paranormal romance. While at the RT convention, I saw the covers that immediately drew me to them because they LOOKED like a paranormal romance novel. So, I don't think there will be any mistaking this for anything BUT a paranormal romance… Continue reading →

Broderick MacDougal – IN COLOR!

Robert Quill - Artist for Hire

I had the pleasure of meeting a profound artist at the Romantic Times Book Lover's Convention by the name of Robert Quill. Charming, witty, talented and downright hilarious, Robert was a joy to meet and converse with. I loved hearing his voice – a kind of cross between rogue and tv announcer.

Continue reading →