Wednesday, January 29, 2014

First Reads & Writer's Conferences

Hi Everyone!

Have had my first mini-read of the first few chapters of Severing Sapphire and have to say the reaction was more positive than I expected. So positive that I, being a somewhat neurotic writer, chose not to believe it and immediately preformed an interrogation in a shady room, with a lone chair, and a single bright bulb dangling over my reader's/detainee's head.

I finally had to give up and let him go. Not because I believed him, but because I realized my DVR was full and I couldn't risk Being Human getting deleted. So, my detainee got lucky...this time.

With that, I'd like to officially announce that I will be attending the 2014 Las Vegas Writers Conference. Late April, I'll be on a panel along side of my lovely agent, Elizabeth Kracht. I'll hopefully be able to answer any questions that come my way.

For anyone in the nearby area (or not, depending on how far you're willing to travel) there's still plenty of time to register to attend.

Click to Attend the 2014 Las Vegas Writers Conference





Xoxo,
Mia

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Order of the Sapphire Series

To accidentally read a book in a series out of order is one of my worst pet peeves.
As a reader and a writer, I absolutely hate spoilers and want to spare anyone out there who feels the same way by putting the Sapphire series in its proper order.

The Sapphire Dubois Series


STALKING SAPPHIRE - BOOK 1
Published






Click to Purchase







SILENCING SAPPHIRE - BOOK 2
Published






Click to Purchase







SENTENCING SAPPHIRE  - BOOK 3
Published





Click to Purchase








Wednesday, January 15, 2014

SEVERING SAPPHIRE: 3rd book in the Sapphire Series

Hi Everyone!

After receiving tons of questions and requests about the next book in the Sapphire Series, I feel the need to clarify a few things:

Yes! There is a third book in the works and I'm typing away as we speak! Its VERY tentative title is SEVERING SAPPHIRE.
Yes! It is the continuation of  SILENCING SAPPHIRE and will be published by the best publishing house in world (possibly universe) Diversion Books.
No! It was never my intention to end the whole series with Silencing Sapphire's cliffhanger. Though often a bit grouchy in the morning, I'm not quite that mean.


That said, THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who has written to me! Your sweet words about the first two books and your hunger for the third book warms my heart and astonishes me.
It is safe to say I no longer feel this series is mine, but to yours. Thank you!

Xoxo,
Mia

Monday, January 6, 2014

Silencing Sapphire AUDIO BOOK

Hi Everyone!

To all you out there who have ears, I'm happy to announce that SILENCING SAPPHIRE's Audio Book is OUT!

It's narrated by the one, the only, Elizabeth Morton, who has done as fabulous of a job with the sequel as she did with Stalking Sapphire. Few people own the talent of bringing characters and worlds to life with their voice and Ms. Morton is definitely one of them.

SILENCING SAPPHIRE's Audio Book is available on Amazon.


                                                      Click To Sample & Purchase



Xoxo,
Mia

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

A Swedish Christmas: not for amateurs

Happy 2014 Everyone!

After a long Christmas Vaca in Sweden, I'm back in the States...physically, at least. With the 9 hour time difference, 48 hours of no sleep, and 3 never ending 'I'd-rather-kill-myself-than-sit-here' plane rides, it's safe to say I'm massively jet lagged. I've experienced some difficulties communicating like a normal human being and frequently find myself saying things, like: "And then I went on the airplane and flew...you know, in the sky." Or, "There's something yellow in the middle of my egg."

While the Americans' looks of: you-should-be-medicated, aren't pleasant and the memory of the airplane ride, where I got fondled by a Ukrainian woman who seemed to have a sleep version of Alien Hand Syndrome, was slightly traumatizing, the trip was worth it.

I got to spend two weeks with my family who I love, but don't get to see very often and I completely dove back into the culture I grew up with.

I joined my mother and sister in the traditional Swedish holiday baking of "Lussekatter". I read the traditional text and lit the fourth Advent candle (something my sister and I have never done, but somehow decided we've always done). I dutifully watched Donald Duck a 3 p.m. (the equivalent of the Americans' A Charles Brown Christmas tradition) and pretended not to be bored.
Though the time away from my home land has made me love and appreciate the Swedish traditions more than ever, it's evident that there is a new, more Americanized side to me now.

As I've mentioned in a previous post, one of the major Do's at the Swedish Christmas table is schnapps, and a lot of it. Each adult gets a shot glass by their plate and once the dinner starts, that shot glass is never empty. No matter how many times you down the schnapps, someone will refill the glass before it touches the table again. Should you at anytime not take your schnapps, OR grimace at the burning bitter aftertaste, you are to be laughed at and friendishly ridiculed by your company. This Swedish tradition is NOT for amateurs, and this...is where I faltered.

As an 18 year-old (the Swedish legal drinking age) I had no problem with this tradition. I'd take every schnapps and hide my grimace no matter how badly my throat burned. But after seven years in America--where I've focused more on writing than drinking--I've become soft. I've grown accustomed to not being plastered on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

When it was time for the first schnapps, I could not bare to down it. I couldn't even bare to down half. I took a sip, yes, a sip of the shot...and grimaced.
This was, of course, noted and the laughs and jokes about my unpatriotic wussiness filled the room.
After repeating my sacrilegious sip at the second schnapps, and receiving even more ridicule, it dawned on me: my American years hadn't only made me sensitive to alcohol, but also made me a bit of a rebel. When someone later called for the third schnapps, I forgoed the shot glass completely and grabbed my girly wine glass instead. I raised it, higher than I've raised any schnapps, and joined the cheer with pride.



With my Christmas vacation behind me, and the third Sapphire book in front of me (yay!), I was happy to come home and lay my jet-lagged eyes on this big box. Though I'm fairly certain it wasn't from Santa, but actually Diversion Books, it felt like it.




Here are some of the links for both Stalking Sapphire & Silencing Sapphire in print:

Barnes & Noble

Stalking Sapphire

Silencing Sapphire
 
Amazon.com

Stalking Sapphire

Silencing Sapphire


Xoxo,
Mia