Eppie Winner

I had so many things going on this past weekend that I totally forgot that March 8 was the official awards ceremony for the Eppies, so of course, I putz around the house on Monday oblivious to all the mail that's in my inbox. When I finally open my outlook express, one set of words caught my attention above all else; You Won the Eppie!!! I blinked and started looking at the other subject listings and another caught my eye; Standing Ovasion. I started to laugh, I started to cry and then I started to scream!!! OMG. Me?

I was floored to say the least. A Noble Sacrifice was a great book. I loved it from start to finish, but to have others think so as well? Now that is the greatest honor a writer can receive. So while I humbly take a bow, I would also ask that all of you take one also. Readers are the most important people to writers. Without you to laugh and cry with us, our world would be pretty lonely.

So, thank you crit partners, thank you Champagne, thank you EPIC, thank you judges, but most of all, thank you readers. Whoop!!!

2008 Eppie Finalist!!!!!

Last Friday, I opened an e-mail that said, "Congratulations, Ciara!" A friend had seen my name on the list posted by the Eppie commitee. With hammering heart, I went in search of this list. Of course, Epic didn't have it on their site yet, so I went in search of pasts posts. With the flood of e-mail that comes my way, I put EpicBiz loop on digest. The first time I scrolled through, I didn't see it. My heart fell. But - I searched again, going much slower this time, and there it was. Whoop!

I'm both thrilled and honored to have finaled. I saw the list of authors in my category and there was some very talented people listed. So, now what? I don't know. I'm seriously thinking of attending Epicon now, but I'm going to have to do some serious saving to be able to afford it. LOL. A Noble Sacrifice is a sci-fi futuristic with paranormal elements. For those that haven't read it, you can find the first chapter on my website.

Epiphany

Yep, gotta love epiphanies, especially at my age. LOL. So - my debut book was Celestial Dragon, a sci-fi futuristic romance. It wasn't the first book I'd written though. Prior to writing this one, I'd written two and half historical westerns, one and a half time travels and started a fantasy. You might call them my learning books.

Sarah's Brass Token was my first completed romance since writing the "under-the-bed" book over twenty years ago. When I started the project, I realized I had three major stories happening in one, so I separated those plots to create three separate tales. In essence, I wrote SBT, Julia's Golden Eagle and Eliza's Copper Penny simultaneously, though I only wrote half of ECP before starting work on Celestial Dragon. While I queried CD, I finished ECP and started two more projects. Once I landed a contract for CD, I immediately queried my new editor about the three historical westerns, thus landing me three more contracts.

From the time I was accepted, to the launch of CD, I had a year and a half to start promoting the book and writing a sequel. I thoroughly enjoyed creating A Noble Sacrifice, but since it's launch in April '07, I haven't had time to work on any more paranormal, sci-fi type stories and I miss the creative freedom of that genre. I'm currently working on Once Jilted, another historical western and though this manuscript has been a blast, I'm feeling the constraints of historical accuracy and verbiage. I'm ready to write another sci-fi.


My epiphany? I've decided that Once Jilted will be my last historical western for a time. As soon as I finish, and I'm close, I plan to devote my energies to paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi related genres. I made this epiphany when writing an article about science fiction for a new magazine that will come out in March. (more on this later - grin)

Booksignings make me nervous

"Read?" I'm staring at the e-mail with a belly full of jitterbugs. "How will I read a whole chapter out loud without sounding really foolish?" Okay, I can do this. No worries. I'll just pick a short scene and not a whole chapter. I'll be selling Celestial Dragon, btw.

Anyone else get all jittery before booksignings? Well, I guess I kinda have cause. My first two booksignings occured bookless. I'll liken that experience to showing up for your wedding nude. I had a nice turn out too. Eveyone was very understanding. I took names and promised to contact them when the books did come in.

Once I got over the fact Iwas having a booksigning with no books, I relaxed and enjoyed the afternoon. This weekend, I get to experience a signing with books! Wow. That's kinda exciting. What a novel idea. LOL. But alas, I may scare off my readers if I have to read aloud. Off to practice, that's for sure.

So - for those of you that just happen to be in the vicinity of Austin, Texas, I'll be at the Borders at 9500 South IH 35. I'll be there with about 8 other authors. Too fun! Come see us between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM. I would sure love to see my friends there.

A Noble Sacrifice is now Available!

So far, you can buy your copy through Coffeetime Romance Bookstore or MobiPocket. Fictionwise should have it loaded to the their site sometime this week. Way cool!

To help celebrate, I've got a contest running on the Champagne Toast Loop. Just come chat and from April 1 - April 14, I'll draw a number from all of the posts and the winner will receive a free download of ANS. And - you don't even have to talk to me. Just chat with whomever happens to be around. Here's how to join if you aren't already a member;
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/achampagnetoast/join

And mark your calendar for April 10. The coffeetime chatroom will host a birthday party for Champagne Books at 9:00 EST (I think that's the right time).

Blurb:

Can a stranger from a distant planet breach Yalfar’s strict laws to save a nation from doom and rescue one lone woman from the errors of her way?

Fen Tared Charst has betrayed his brother, and his people. To right the wrongs he’s done, he suffers the horrors of the zeel pits only to find himself a captive of the Temi tribe. In Yalfar, he discovers that leading the Temi princess and her warriors from their dying world is the key to his redemption. But losing his heart to Princess Joyella will be the key to saving his soul.

Princess Joyella Denue has broken a sacred law and for that, she is exiled from Yalfar. To regain her honor, she agrees to lead a convoy topside to escape the collapsing city, but she can’t make the journey alone. She needs Tared, but can she overlook her convictions to accept a man not of her tribe?

http://www.ciaragold.com/
Available now, A Noble Sacrifice
Available now in print, Best selling Celestial Dragon
Available now, CAPA nominated Sarah's Brass Token