DAKOTA CASSIDY | Living Accidenally Ever After

Hey, all! Thanks so much to Fresh Fiction for inviting me to chat a bit about my series!

My series, four books deep and going on five, is based on women who are accidentally bitten and or turned by a shapeshifter. Werewolves, vampires, demons, woo-hoo!

It’s a real paranormal-palooza with yes, I admit, some pretty cagey humor in the mix.

My most recent release, titled Accidentally Demonic, centers on Casey Schwartz-the sister of the heroine in my last book, and she’s in deep paranormal doo-doo.

Once mild-mannered, quiet and rather easygoing, Casey’s now hot-tempered, cranky and well, "whispers" hormonal as a result of some demon blood accidentally spilled on her via a hunky vampire named Clayton Gunnersson one night in a bar.

Casey’s world and job as a personal assistant to twins of the Paris Hilton variety is turned upside down when she lands in jail for threatening to sacrifice a police officer’s ahem, internal organs.

And things only get worse from there, though Casey has help from her now paranormal sister and her sister’s two paranormal friends, Nina the vampire and Marty the werewolf. They get what she’s going through, they’ve been there-they know how to help.

Unfortunately, they don’t know how to keep Casey from falling wildly in love with the vampire who accidentally turned her-or how to protect Casey from wanting a man she can never have.

Because, you know, he’s already sorta mated and this mate isn’t hip to the idea of giving her man up-ever.

Thus, another accidental tale begins, a tale with a humorous, slang-filled, in your face slant to it.

In all the one-liners and skimming some serious boundaries jokes, my hope is the adventures I’ve created portray the bond of friendship between women, as wacky and convoluted as the circumstances surrounding them may be. Er, or as wacky and convoluted as the women themselves can be. And yes, in the midst of all the mayhem, there’s a romance, hot and fun, forbidden (eek!), and filled with the revelations and hurdles only two people falling in love can experience.

I so hope you’ll join Marty, Nina, Wanda and now Casey in yet another accidental story of friendship, love, and happily ever after!

~Dakota Cassidy ?

Find Dakota at the following links.
Twitter:
Website
Facebook:



To comment on Living Accidentally Ever After please click here.

Spotlight on Dakota Cassidy

Hey, all! Thanks so much to Fresh Fiction for inviting me to chat a bit about my series!

My series, four books deep and going on five, is based on women who are accidentally bitten and or turned by a shapeshifter. Werewolves, vampires, demons, woo-hoo!

It’s a real paranormal-palooza with yes, I admit, some pretty cagey humor in the mix.

My most recent release, titled ACCIDENTALLY DEMONIC, centers on Casey Schwartz—the sister of the heroine in my last book, and she’s in deep paranormal doo-doo.

Once mild-mannered, quiet and rather easygoing, Casey’s now hot-tempered, cranky and well, *whispers* hormonal as a result of some demon blood accidentally spilled on her via a hunky vampire named Clayton Gunnersson one night in a bar.

Casey’s world and job as a personal assistant to twins of the Paris Hilton variety is turned upside down when she lands in jail for threatening to sacrifice a police officer’s ahem, internal organs.

And things only get worse from there, though Casey has help from her now paranormal sister and her sister’s two paranormal friends, Nina the vampire and Marty the werewolf. They get what she’s going through, they’ve been there—they know how to help.

Unfortunately, they don’t know how to keep Casey from falling wildly in love with the vampire who accidentally turned her—or how to protect Casey from wanting a man she can never have.

Because, you know, he’s already sorta mated and this mate isn’t hip to the idea of giving her man up—ever.

Thus, another accidental tale begins, a tale of with a humorous, slang-filled, in your face slant to it.

In all the one-liners and skimming some serious boundaries jokes, my hope is the adventures I’ve created portray the bond of friendship between women, as wacky and convoluted as the circumstances surrounding them may be. Er, or as wacky and convoluted as the women themselves can be. And yes, in the midst of all the mayhem, there’s a romance, hot and fun, forbidden (eek!), and filled with the revelations and hurdles only two people falling in love can experience.

I so hope you’ll join Marty, Nina, Wanda and now Casey in yet another accidental story of friendship, love, and happily ever after!

~Dakota Cassidy :-)

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DakotaCassidy

Website: www.dakotacassidy.com

Facebook: Facebook

Sara Reyes | Author + Books + Video = Excitement?

I always tell people -- find something to do that connects with your passion in life and you'll be successful! And the rule has proved itself over and over again. My passion is books and reading. My talent, if it can labeled, is remembering what I've read and making connections. I connect readers with books. If I know someone likes a certain type of book: say historical with lots of sexual tension but with emotion, I'll say try Mary Balogh or Mary Jo Putney or Loretta Chase. Because those authors will make you weep, laugh and sigh. If someone likes gritty urban fantasy I point them to Kim Harrison or Kelley Armstrong because you'll find a fast paced action packed adventure in a world that is familiar and yet, not. Well, you get my drift. I'm fortunate as I read fast and I've read steadily for a loooong time!

Fun Books You Should Get!

But I've also been able to meet authors, and authors are wonderful people, especially after you get them to open up about their work. Then you can see the passion in their eyes and the emotion in their voice as they tell me about the twists and turns of their plots but usually and most importantly about the characters. It's a fascinating conversation and I never get bored listening.

This has been a week for authors and their passions. Last Saturday we had a signing with three funny and talented ladies -- Dakota Cassidy, Michele Bardsley and Candace Havens. Now, one-on-one they are all entertaining but you put them in the same room and they light up the place! They played off each other and engaged the audience in their back stories, their characters and the varied worlds they create. In the end we all spent more money than anticipated, but that's the fun of meeting authors.

But wait, we're not done ... read the rest and see how YOU can win some prizes this weekend!

Sara Reyes | Readers 'n 'ritas...WHAT Did YOU Miss?

The inaugural Readers 'n ' ritas was a blast. Readers came from all over Texas and Oklahoma and it wasn't just for the Texas / OU game although their fans were in abundance as well! Authors came from as far as NYC. It's amazing what a gathering of like minds can do!

Cover Creation Checking out cover theories.
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

From the first panels we knew it was a hit -- I mean seriously, when women gather around the speakers table at 9am on a gorgeous Saturday morning and eagerly start discussing book covers along with examples of how a committee designed the cover for ECSTASY or enjoy a bit of show-and-tell with cat litter and dryer sheets you know it's at least to first base, maybe even second! And by the time the third workshop was over, we were all friends...the kind that talk to each other and even feel comfortable enough to disagree! The best kind of friends.

And learning about new authors and books is never a bad thing, even if you have to start early in the morning! Isn't that why they have hot coffee ready?

The Rowdy Table: Jodi Thomas and Dianna Love
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

After a morning of learning about taking care of your books (and removing stubborn stains, how to be a reviewer, the process between the most important element of a book -- the cover and melding friendships, it was time for lunch! Of course we had the "nice" tables and then there was the "rowdies!" With Jodi Thomas and Dianna Love as leaders, that table was the noisiest one during the lunch! I'm not sure why but could it be the charm of the ladies? They also seemed to have tons of fun!

Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love and Candy Havens
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

Following lunch we had more workshops and even a little pampering at the Arbonne Pampering Zone. Getting to test out rubs, lotions and aromatherapy even while indulging in a relaxing foot bath! All gratis. It was heavenly!! And then there was the anticipation of the book trade. If you've never gone to a book trade you're missing out on SO much good stuff and hidden treasures. It's one of the fun things we do each month at our tea meetings: you bring in books you're ready to give to a good home and you find treasures in return. And best of all, there were other readers who could give you the scoop on new authors and books to try! From the look of bags and bags of books that went off to new found readers, a fun time was had by all.

Come on Dakota, we're waiting
The regulars are from left: Rosemary Clement-Moore, Dianna Love, Lauren Willig, Candy Havens in front, Jaye Wells, Michele Bardsley and then the stubborn Dakota Cassidy. I'd say it was the margaritas, but I know Dakota!! 
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

But then it was time for a little margarita therapy and snacks. I mean, seriously, after a day of meeting new friends, learning new books and techniques a girl needed some chips. salsa and MARGARITAS! Eventually everyone made it to our section of the lobby where delectables awaited and margarita pitchers were replenished. It was time to chat, sip and laugh!Then it was time for dinner and an evening of comparing notes, the drawing of the raffle baskets and the results of the silent auctions. No one went home empty-handed. After dinner we all made it back to the lobby to talk until it was time to collapse!

See you all next year...November 13th to 15th...for a whole weekend of readers and authors!

Sara Reyes
Readers 'n 'ritas
http://readers-n-ritas.org
Check out our Readers 'n 'ritas fun!

Jim Dale to Noir Fiction -- Busy Busy Weekend of authors, books and FANS!!!

Jim Dale re-creating his HP readings
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

From Friday night with two, yes, TWO signings to Saturday's PORTUS 2008 festivities, to a single signing on Sunday, this has been a FULL, crowded and EVENTFUL weekend in Dallas! I mean, it's not like the price of gas is cutting into our books budget! Uh huh, so I'm cutting out food...and being on the WW, it's hard, especially with all the good healthy and in season fruits and veggies. It just means less stops at the Cheesecake Factory next to the Lincoln Park Barnes and Noble! (SORRY, Ellen!!)

Rhys Bowen at Lincoln Park BN
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

First up our double hitter night: Rhys Bowen, author of the Lady Georgie mystery series set in England in the 1930s. Poor Georgie! She's been told by the Queen she's to put up the latest German princess they're trying to marry off in England and you can't say no to the Queen! So penniless Lady Georgie manages to round up a "butler" (her grandfather) and a "cook" (grandfather's lady friend) to set up a real house for a short stay. But all is not working as planned when the Princess shows up with a chaperone, a maid AND a mouth full of "American" English! A ROYAL PAIN is fun and the 1930s UK is great to visit! (Think Lord Peter Whimsey period!)

Vamps and Werewolves in Plano
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

Then we rushed to Plano to catch the book launch of ACCIDENTALLY DEAD by Dakota Cassidy and a visit to Texas by Michele Bardsley of the mom is a vampire fame! These two authors are hoot by themselves, so think of them together!!! And they have coffee, tea and luscious - not-on-weight-watchers treats as a reward! Gotta love signings like that! NO?

(I still miss Cheesecake Factory)

The line for autographs by Jim Dale
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

And Saturday I got to go all "fangirl" which is apparently very different from "fanboys" but since I married a trekkie guy it didn't seem too much different..Just the majority of these fans (HP variety) are my kids' ages! WHEEE!!! But the big draw for me was the FAMOUS Jim Dale!!!! I feel I should be shouting that! I put down $75 to go and see him at 8am on a Saturday morning. I am SO not a morning person any more! Especially if I'm up to 2am working the night before. Age, etc. But for Jim Dale, well, I not only went but also got three friends to go too! AND we ALL LOVE LOVES LOVED Jim Dale. HE was so good! And to see him do the "voices" we've listened to in all the HP books, well, just amazing! AND HE IS SO NICE. This part can NOT be emphasized enough! See him if you get the chance. And if not, just hang out listen to the CDs!

Also saw a Wrockumentary about Wizard Rock Bands. Did I mention I was old? Well, the documentary was well done, but the music isn't to my old tastes. And the scenes about the last HP book release party, well, I was very nostalgic! Then Gwen played some other Wrock (Wizard Rock) on the way home and it was very very good. The documentary starts with the very first musicians growing up with HP, now there are over 500 groups so chances are you can find some for your music tastes as well!

Two tables, two authors, one hour!
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

Sunday was an afternoon signing with mystery/noir authors Anthony Neil Smith and Victor Gischler. They were in the middle of a "Texas Book Tour" and enjoying a Sunday afternoon in Dallas!

Gwen will be reporting her PORTUS 2008 activities soon. If we don't see, we'll be sure to HOUND her! She's got stories to tell!

So much for our weekend... books and all ... and I found time to read THE DRAGON EARL. It's not out until September but it's very very good! And a different kind of historical romance but sexy which I really really love and needed after all that HP pandemonium *evil grin*

Take care and read...books!!!