Mind Games Italian cover!

It is so fun to see Mind Games translated into Italian! And here is the cover. It's a very different visual interpretation of the book, but I think it captures the whole psyche-out and psychological aspect of the series.

I even have my first review in Italian! Thank you, Italian reader!! It's three stars, so a mixed bag. I can tell that this reviewer goes for the same themes my English language reviewers go for: romance content, first person present narration, originality, genre, Midcity, Packard. I can't really read it beyond that and I'm perfectly happy about that as I'm not a massive review reader.

In other news, my elaborate password encryption and storage system...omg when I call it that, it doesn't at all come off as the wacky homespun thing it truly is, but anyway, it is beginning to defeat even me. This Justine on the cover of the Italian Mind Games, doesn't she look smart and tech-savvy? She would laugh at my system. She would never forget the password to blogger!

Little CJ: "That's right, suckers, I'm in USA TODAY"

Look! It's a special message from Little CJ, my childhood portrait of me at age 5, painted by an elderly aunt. Um...yay!!
~ Carolyn Crane 

Little CJ

Hello, people! Today I became famous in a national newspaper. I knew one day I would be famous, and that the name of Little CJ would be on everybody's lips.  Though I had to endure a lot for it.

I had to write many posts on this tedious blog. And also, Mr. Crane's wrongful accusations that my eyes follow him around the room, which prevented me from taking my rightful place in the Crane household living room or the bedroom. I mean, not even the bedroom? And thank you Carolyn for your tepid defense. Quite a consolation prize, hanging in your chaotic office. THANKS.

And for all the many years I hung in Carolyn Crane's office, I had to endure all her moaning and complaining, and her narcissistically checking Amazon ratings all the time, and her crowing too, for when her books climb up the Amazon charts to break 100,000.

Now I've been pictured in USA TODAY HEA blog. I have arrived. You can skip all the stuff in the interview where Carolyn talks about herself and her inane books. The point is, I, Little CJ, am now nationally famous.

I am currently open to offers of:

1. A reality TV series
2. To hang in the living room of somebody better than Carolyn Crane. (cough ParisHilton callme cough). 
3. Offers for a tell-all book about Carolyn Crane where you will learn what of her slovenly ways bug me most, what authors she is jealous of, top five habits of pathetic writers as exemplified by Carolyn Crane, and if she really watches cartoon porn. 
4. Product endorsements. 

Thank you. Oh, the article is here. 

Confessions of an UF writer doing Romantic suspense: guesting at UTC

Good Monday to you, friends!!

I'm over at Under the Covers book blog posting about something new and freaky in my writing life...research!

And I reveal my shocking findings...about research!

I'm also giving away copies of my new release. Wheee!! Come say hi! 

Against the Dark: release weekend!!

Against the Dark, the first book in my new romantic suspense series, is here! 

This series follows the Association, an undercover organization of badass agents who use their expertise in nerdy things like logistics and linguistics (as well as plenty of muscle and firepower) to fight international crime. And they get tangled up with strong, smart heroines. Every book in the series stands alone.

Against the Dark (Book #1 of the Associates) 62k words, $2.99

ebook: Kindle | Nook | Kobo | ARE | Smashwords | Sony

print: Books #1 &  #2 will appear in print together this summer

---

SHE’S AN EX-SAFECRACKER FORCED INTO ONE LAST HEIST

Angel Ramirez left the safecracking game five years ago, and she’s worked hard to make amends and build an honest life. But when a beloved aunt is kidnapped, she must reunite with her girl gang to acquire the unique ransom: Walter Borgola’s prized diamonds. It’s a simple job that turns into a nightmare, thanks to a surprisingly clever—and searingly sexy—security guard named Cole Hawkins.

HE’S AN UNDERCOVER AGENT WITH BIG PLANS FOR HIS GORGEOUS THIEF

Cole is one of the Association’s most brilliant agents, under deep cover investigating a ruthless killer. He’s also running out of time: hundreds will die if he doesn’t stop the plan Borgola’s set into motion. Catching Angel is the break he needed–he promises not to turn her in if she poses as his lover and uses her unique talents to unlock the sociopath’s dungeon vaults.

But as pretend passions turn real, Cole regrets drawing Angel into his deadly game…and danger is closer than either of them could ever imagine.

---

I didn't round up any author blurbs for this one. But I so loved something that one of my critique partners, Jeffe, said on the version she read:

"... I think it’s the best thing you’ve written since Dis. It might be better than Dis." 
-Author Jeffe Kennedy, on critique copy

This made me so happy, especially coming from the woman who once told me to completely dump an entire 50% of a book. (It was an Annika Martin book, and, yes, it was good advice that I followed.)

Anyway, it's out! *wipes fevered brow*

My mom is in town for the weekend, so I'm barely going to be around. We are going to see the movie Quartet today and bang around Minneapolis together. I will also be stuffing my face like a pig and trying to relax.

I hope everybody has such a lovely weekend. Special thanks to my early readers who won the ARCs  in my contest! And also, thanks to everybody else who has been so supportive.

XXOO
Carolyn

Diary of my website disappearance

My website completely self-destructed over the weekend. It’s partly the fault of my host, or at least, a phone support guy there who cleared out the wrong subdomain, but partly my fault for not having a decent backup. So, if you are looking for info on my stuff, it's coming. Slowly. Because I have been busy going through stages!!  

Stages on Saturday

Tearful disbelief 

I become tearful on the phone with the host support when I learn the site is gone. Just...gone. And their backup they made is of the blank site. And I have a release out this week! (AGAINST THE DARK out on the 19th; info here).

Anger and freakout! 

Chocolate consumption begins early that day.

 Gratitude for my twitter friends

You guys, it was so nice to go on there and for people to be all kindness and feeling sorry for me.

Acceptance. 

I accepted the site was gone late Saturday. And there was a small thought in the corner of my mind that my site sucked anyway.  The old site was cool and all, but it was 90% geared toward ‘let’s have fun!’ and 10% geared toward…oh yeah, I have these books.

Did you ever see my old site? The front page was just my header and than a whole bunch of pictures. it was very artistic! Like:

This deer picture, above, took you to the news page. I  had a caption something like "I have something to tell you." Please note the fangs, which I lovingly photoshopped onto this deer last year. Not the best use of a writer's time, I'll admit.

This square was "where is gumby?" and if you clicked on it, it would take you to a page that told you

how to spot the gumby on the Head Rush cover. Click here for instructions if you're curious.

This is fun, but probably not really an effective way of suggesting that I am a writer of steamy and suspenseful fiction. AKA not the best branding. 

Users would click here to get to my facebook page.

So, really, I could use a new site. What is kind of amusing is that I actually am in advertising, so you'd think I'd know better about things like, oh, marketing and websites, but I'm in the part where somebody tells me to think of ideas or write this or that, and I obey. Nobody in their right mind would rely on me for an overall branding vision. And I think the above examples demonstrate why that might be. 

Silver lining:

Husband suggests we order pizza for dinner. Yay!!

Sunday

Eerie calm 
I begin to redo site. Things are not going well, as I am not tech savvy, but I still feel calm. As in, not upset. I check the calendar and confirm that, indeed, I am nowhere near PMS zone. Probably for the best.

Shock at what I have lost
Every now and then I have to write things on my new site, and I'll remember a perfected version of it on my old site, but no, it is gone. Everything must be rewritten, except what exists in some form on this blog. Oh, thank heavens I was too lazy to convert my blogger blog to wordpress. Kiss kiss, blogger, even though I complain bitterly about you sometimes!!! 

Art project zone-out

I worked way too long on my new header on Sunday. I think it still needs something else, like an explosion and crosshairs, maybe. Jeffe Kennedy suggested the crosshairs be placed over the man’s heart. Oh, cruel and evil Jeffe!!

It's not the most amazing header, but hey, it's not a deer with fangs, right? 

Monday

I only had a little bit of free time to work on the site today, and I made it way, way worse. My navigation has purple in it and it WON’T GET OFF. The terms are all wrong, too, but I can fix that. I can't fix the purple!!! I’m writing this as I wait for somebody to help me in the support forums. It is really way past my bedtime. Uh. 

Above, my impressive site nav scheme. Doesn't the purple look attractive?
It's like the spot that wouldn't come out in that Dr. Seuss book.
I am going to have nightmares about that purple tonight. 

Okay! The phases of my site! Okay, I am giving up on the support forums and going to bed. Well, check back - maybe I'll have more exciting phases tomorrow!!

EDITED to add: Thank  you Stumbling over Chaos Chris & Carolyn Jewel for alerting me to the existence of CACHES!!! I have my text back. Omg, I am so happy. Thank you!! 

My mad and fabulous ARC drawing!!

Every time I think about Against the Dark, I just feel so happy. I can’t wait for people to read my new romantic suspense series! I’ve set a release date: April 19th. And I’m also doing something kind of wild (for me) and holding a drawing to give out 30 free ebooks ten days early, on the 9th.

Thirty!! And one could be yours!

All you have to do to get one is enter your name in my ARC drawing. (ARC=Advanced Review Copy) and agree to slap up a review of it by April 25th on Amazon and one other place of your choice (B&N, Kobo, Goodreads, your blog, anywhere! Okay, okay. . . maybe not the bathroom wall at Arby’s).

Your review can be anything from two silly sentences to a whole write-up and everything from one-star to five stars works. Just make it your honest opinion.  

AND, if you follow through on your mission, you’ll get the next book in the series, tentatively titled Lethal Liaisons, for free. (When it’s ready, which will likely be summer). Just as a thank you. No review strings attached.

So, that’s two ebooks you get for free. Because I roll like Ronco! 

Here is the link to sign up for the drawing: [UPDATE: Contest is closed.] 

I will be choosing 30 random names on Tuesday, April 9th. 

Against the Dark is the first in my new romantic suspense series, the Associates. It's steamy and action-packed and you can read all about it on my website here. ..or in the post below this one.

Good Luck! 

The Associates: cover and blurb reveal!

Look! It's my new cover and blurb for the first book in The Associates, my new romantic suspense series.

This is the kind of series I’ve been dying to write. I’m so excited about it! 

The Associates revolves around the Association, a powerful undercover organization of badass agents who use their expertise in nerdy things like logistics and linguistics as well as muscle and firepower to fight some seriously evil people. And they get tangled up with strong, smart heroines. Every book in the series stands alone. 

le blurb:

SHE’S AN EX-SAFECRACKER FORCED INTO ONE LAST HEIST

Angel Ramirez left the safecracking game five years ago, and she’s worked hard to make amends and build an honest life. But when a beloved aunt is kidnapped, she must reunite with her girl gang to acquire the unique ransom: Walter Borgola’s prized diamonds. It’s a simple job that turns into a nightmare, thanks to a surprisingly clever—and searingly sexy—security guard named Cole Hawkins.

HE’S AN UNDERCOVER AGENT WITH BIG PLANS FOR HIS GORGEOUS THIEF

Cole is one of the Association’s most brilliant agents, under deep cover investigating a ruthless killer. He’s also running out of time: hundreds will die if he doesn’t stop the plan Borgola’s set into motion. Catching Angel is the break he needed--he promises not to turn her in if she poses as his lover and uses her unique talents to unlock the sociopath’s dungeon vaults.

But as pretend passions turn real, Cole regrets drawing Angel into his deadly game…and danger is closer than either of them could ever imagine.

***

The cover is by the fabulous Su at Earthly Charms. Book 1 is due out this spring. Book 2 is due out in summer. It will be out in ebook in all the usual vendors. I'm not sure how I'll do print yet. The books in this series come in at around 50K-60K words each, so I may double up stories to make print more economical for people.

My 6-step process of back cover blurb writing

My scientific process of back cover blurb writing. 

Step 1: Write it. 

Step 2: Tear down and rewrite. 

Step 3: Change tiny things in ways that nobody in their right mind would ever notice. 

Step 4: Ask myself if 5 versions ago was actually better. 

Step 5: Time for chocolate fortification!

Step 6: Repeat 2-5.

But I’m excited for this one to be done—it’s the blurb for AGAINST THE DARK, the first in my new sexy suspense spy series (Because I can't get enough of spies these days!).  

I'm thinking Thursday. I just got the cover and I want to put them both out together. So excited! 

Devil's Luck gets a bonus epilogue, my horror at this email, and my continuing dorkathon

Devil's Luck is one of my very favorite stories I ever wrote, but a few months ago I got the burning idea it desperately needed an epilogue. Readers need to be able to learn what happened to the Simon and Fawna down the road. How could they go on not knowing? It really started bugging me. Haunting me. Nettling me. So I added one!

There are no internal changes to the story - only the bonus epilogue is new. And a new cover.

You can read the bonus epilogue for free on my website here.

Noooo!

I was horrified to come back from my vacation visiting Mom to find that Amazon sent out a notice to all past buyers of Devil's Luck that there are "significant editorial changes." It makes it sound like the story itself has changed, or there were problems or something, or I totally rewrote it.

Like I'm this freak! Noooooo!

There is only a bonus epilogue added to the end. That is all that has changed of the story - an epilogue tacked on. I called it 'the new epilogue edition' so people would know it's a new edition. It has a new cover. But you don't have to reread it - the core story is the same. There is merely a new epilogue, which is also available free on my site.  

I thought it would be cool for Amazon readers to easily get the whole thing, but I wish the letter had not been so cryptic and sort of ominous.

If you bought Devil's Luck elsewhere

If you purchased Devil's Luck somewhere besides Amazon and want an intact version, email me at carolyn (@) authorcarolyncrane.com with your ereader type, and I'll send you the full file with the epilogue. If you got it in my newsletter, I'll have a newsletter option for this. Or, if you just want to see what happened after the story ended without going through the rigamarole of getting a new edition....

Epilogue available for free here. 
Book itself available here: Amazon | BN | ARE | Smashwords

My dorkiness never ends 

Yes, apparently this is the week of my looking like a total dork. I give you exhibit B, the sunscreen I picked out to use on the beach in Florida during a quick visit to my mom. Yes, it is a stick of sunscreen a bit larger than a chapstick. Think Bonne Bell. 

Imagine if you will, pasty Minnesotans Mr. and Mrs. Crane, not rubbing sunscreen onto each other like normal people, or spraying it on, but rather drawing it on. Painstakingly slowly. With a small stick. And you can't just put it on and rub it around, the entire body must have it drawn on. Think Michelangelo painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. And afterwards, anyplace we didn't cover got burned. I was the worse sunscreen drawer, judging from the red lines on Mr. Crane's back. 

However, I liked this stick sunscreen because it's zinc and chemical-free, which is key to me. I think it would be good for small applications - I'll likely use it for running.  

It was actually so funny though. We would just be putting it on each other down on the beach and laughing.

****Edited to add:  I later learned that in fact, this stick IS designed for small areas and there is a chemical-free zinc lotion for...er...beach laying. lol. So next time, I think we will be going for the lotion. But now it's my favorite memento from our trip, sitting up on the bookshelf next to Gumby! 

Book stuff

While in Florida, I read Beguiling the Beauty by Sherry Thomas, which was awesome, and also, some books on forensic linguistics, research for the second book in my new romantic suspense series that features hot, super smart agents. 

I will have a cover and blurb for my first one, Dangerous Designs, soon. I haven't set a release date yet because I don't want to set one and change it. A likely release is this spring. Contrary to how I may appear, what with the freak Amazon email and the stick of sunscreen, I am really trying to be less of a freak!!