The Next Big Thing

Hey, everyone!

I was tagged in "The Next Big Thing" by author Rebecca Bloomer. This is an interview/blog chain.
She interviews me and 4 other authors she thinks might write the next big thing. Then each of us interviews our top 5 author picks, and on it goes!

So...here are the questions:

1) What is the working title of your next book?

Flirting Under a Full Moon (book 1 in a new series called Flirting with Fangs)

2) Where did the idea come from for the book?

 

It's a spin-off of the Strange Neighbors series.

3) What genre does your book fall under?

 

Light paranormal romance

4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

 

Werewolf Nick would be played by Chris Hemsworth (Thor)

Brandee would be played by Emma Stone or Lindsey Lohan if she can behave herself. (Must have long, red hair)

5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

 

When a waitress falls for a werewolf and she knows nothing about the paranormal, how will he explain his impulsive bite that marks her as his mate for life? Oops.

6) Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

 

My agent Nicole Resciniti (The Seymour Agency) sold the series rights to Sourcebooks (Publisher.) The books will be available as mass market paperbacks and in all eformats. Book 1 will release in April 2013.  

7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

 

First draft? About 4 months. I take another two months to have it critiqued, beta read, revised and polished before I turn it in to my editor. I won't send a book out into the world that I'm not proud of.

8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

 

Uh...if I could think of other books like this, I wouldn't have written it. I want to be as original as possible.

9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?

 

I had such a blast writing the original series (Strange Neighbors) and was sad to say goodbye to my characters. So I decided to tell Nick's story. He's the 'bad boy' identical twin of Konrad in The Werewolf Upstairs. I was able to bring back several characters for cameos in the new series and it was fun to see them again.

10) What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?

 

The Strange Neighbors series was very successful. Publisher's Weekly said, "Chase brings plenty of laughs with steamy sex scenes." A Hollywood producer contacted me and was interested in a possible option. I referred her to my agent at the time, but nothing has come of it (yet.)

My 5 nominations for The Next Big Thing are: Mia Marlowe, Delilah Devlin, Meg Maguire/Cara McKenna, Eve Langlais, and Dalton Diaz

I need to ask my five choices if they're willing to participate. If one drops out, I'll add another name, so check back and see who'll be in the hot seat next week!   

 

December News

Seasons Greetings, everyone,

I have no news, but that's a good thing. I wanted a less stressful holiday season, so all I'm here to do it wish you Happy Holidays! May you stay warm and joyful...and find time to curl up with a good book!

November news

HI everyone,

The October Annie-versary booksigning has been moved to November 17th. Annie's Book Stop owner Merry is celebrating 25 years! She's gearing up for the party, and there may be 3 authors besides myself attending. We're all writing for Sourcebooks, so our books are long and cheap. Well worth your time and money. Speaking of time, the hours will be 1 to 3 p.m.

Annie's Book Stop

362 South Main St.

Sharon, MA 02067
781-784-4306
Now hear this! What used to be Kindlegraph is now known as Authorgraph. I can sign your ebook no matter what device you read on. Just click on the icon to the right of this page.

In other news: I have a street team, and an assistant. If you'd like to belong to Ashlyn Chase's Champions, please contact Jenni Dinh at djen.assistant@gmail.com
I'm trying to welcome at least 1 fan in every state to talk up my books and pass out promos. We have more than half the states, but she can tell you for sure if your state still needs to be represented.

My facebook fan page just went over 1,000 fans. Woo Hoooo! Big thanks go to my street team for making that happen. I have a contest for every 250 likes there, so if you want to help me get to 1,250 fans, please spread the word! https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAshlynChase

Have a wonderful November!

 

October events

I'll be going to the NJRW conference soon!
For anyone interested, there's a public book signing with dozens of great authors Sat 10/13
4 to 5:30

Where: The Woodbridge Hilton, 120 Wood Ave., Iselin, NJ 08830
I missed the deadline to sign up for it! *Head desk* But they're letting me sign anyway.
I may have to bring my own books if Barnes and Noble can't get them in time, but I will be there and I will sign the 2nd and 3rd books in the Strange Neighbors trilogy. (I signed book 1 last year.) If I have to bring my own books, I'll add Vampire Vintage to the pile!


Later in the month (date and time TBD) I'll be signing at the Annie's Book Stop in Sharon, MA.
Merry is celebrating her 10th Annie-versary! My heroine in Strange Neighbors is named Merry...for the own of this book store! Stay tuned for more details.

Sept news is really light!

I've been working away on the new series and that's about all there is to tell this month. No book signings, blog tours, chats, nothin'. But maybe that's a good thing. It gives me a chance to talk about book 1 in the series. I just finished final line edits!

Here's a bit more than a blurb to whet your appetite:

Book 1 in Flirting with Fangs Trilogy: Flirting Under a Full Moon

Cocktail waitress Brandee Hanson has just been dumped via a text message. Dejected, she sits down with psychic Sadie who offers to cheer her up with a free tarot card reading. Sadie gets a premonition that Brandee’s true love is about to walk into her life. Brandee watches the door and in walks “One Night Nick.” A handsome playboy. Just what she doesn’t need.  

Nick Wolfensen is a werewolf and a paranormal private detective. He and Brandee have been attracted to each other and flirting for some time. Brandee is put off my Nick’s reputation. He’s called “One Night Nick,” for a reason. What people don’t know is that he’s avoiding emotional involvement so he’ll be free when he meets his true mate.  

His latest case is time sensitive, so he consults the psychic who practices out of a booth in his favorite bar. He’s been hired to find a kidnapping victim who has her own paranormal ability, although she’s unaware of it. The pre-teen is a fire-starter. Her power will erupt during the first solar eclipse after she reaches puberty—in other words, in nine days. Sadie narrows down the location of the girl to the theater district. 

Cocktail waitress Brandee overhears enough to know that Nick is talking about her little cousin Katie who’s gone missing. Who else has white hair at the age of twelve? She wants to help, but he sees her as only getting in the way. Brandee’s passion is photography, and when she’s on her own time she can go wherever she wants, right? How can he tell her not to practice her techniques for taking night photos on her evenings off? So, she shadows him.

When Nick shifts into a wolf to use his powerful sense of smell, Brandee can’t believe her eyes. She tries to convince herself it’s just a trick of the light, but she doesn’t really believe that. Her camera will tell her the truth, so she snaps a few pictures.

That's it for now, folks! Stay tuned for more teasers over the coming months. I hope to have a video trailer made for this soon.
 

My new cover!

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x185/ashlyn__photo/FlirtingFullMoon082212A.jpg
To see larger size, click on link above. 

Pics from Hannah Howell's tea party for New England writers

Calista and Gail

Annette and Ruth

Paula and Calista again (Can't make out who's in back)

Corky in foreground

Stephanie and ? (Sorry my picture taking abilities are so bad some people don't even show up!)

Corky, Leanne and Pat in foreground

Jeanne, Carolyn, and Blanche

Poor Hannah cleaning up after everybody!
It was a wonderful party, and I cannot thank our hostess enough for having this get together for us! Thank you, Hannah Howell! http://hannahhowell.com/
Check out the yummy cover of her August new release--Highland Hunger.

August news

Not much happening on the writing front this month...

August 4th is the New England Romance Writers' annual tea party, and I plan to attend, pinky extended.

8/11 is my blog day at http://naughtyauthorchicks.blogspot.com

8/19 is my family reunion -- don't know why I posted that since it doesn't involve writing, but it's something I look forward to every year.

8/25 is my other bimonthly blog day at Naughty Author Chicks (see above for URL)

8/29 is my blog at the http://casablancaauthors.blogspot.com 

Hope to see you somewhere this month!

July news from Ashlyn Chase

I'm going to be better about posting to this blog. At least monthly! I swear. You have my permission to scold me if I forget. 

7/11 An important article my agent and I wrote called How to Beta Read a Manuscript will be posted at romconinc.com in their erotica blog section. I haven't seen an article about this opportunity for readers before (although there may be some.) We are sharing this on a site dedicated to romance readers, hoping it will read as many as possible. I'd appreciate a tweet about it if you're so inclined.


7/18 I'll be signing with 50 other New England authors of different genres at the Danversport Yacht Club in Danvers, MA. Ask me for complimentary tickets! I'll be happy to send them or meet you at the door with them. Times 4 to 9 p.m.


7/27 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ashlynsnewbestfriends/ will be having our monthly chat called Favorite Author Friday with the fabulous Cindy Spenser Pape. Join the email loop to participate. I give a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card and the author usually gives away a book of their choosing.

Spring in the city

Signs of spring bring to mind beautiful meadows with wildflowers, baby wildlife, and kids able to shed their coats and kick a ball outside again. And now that I live in NH, that's the spring I know.

But back when I lived in Boston and Spring arrived, even with warmer weather the awakening seemed less evident--maybe because the city never really experienced the quiet sleep of winter.

It takes until late May or June, but eventually the city blooms. The public gardens are a joy to walk again. The swan boats come out of storage. But the major change is with people. All winter, people hurried with heads down to get where they needed to go. Spring encourages a slower step. A smile. Maybe even a nod or hello.

My series for Sourcebooks is set in Boston. The upcoming spin-off series is still in Boston only a few blocks away on Beacon Hill. Today I want to share with you a walk I took last Spring. It was early June, and I can't think of a better time to visit.



My favorite seaon is spring and my favorite color combination is pink and green. It never occured to me before taking this walk, but those are the colors that finally come together when life blooms in the city.



This is where I used to live. The flowers here are a little sad, but what do you expect of students living in a dorm? If they're not tromping on them, you're happy.



Even Abigail Adams seems to be enjoying the beautiful flowers along Commonwealth Avenue.



Book one in the new Flirting with Fangs series begins in early spring, and book two takes place in later spring and summer. I hope you can see why these are the seasons and this is the city that inspire me.

Big book signing 4/28

Loads of New England romance writers will be signing our books at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem MA on Sat. 4/28. Here are the deets:

Annual Book Fair for Literacy
Saturday, April 28
Hawthorne Inn
Salem, Massachusetts

General Public allowed in at 4:30
Authors from the world of Romance, Historical, Contemporary,
Paranormal, and Suspense
PARTICIPATING AUTHORS

Jessica Andersen

Gina Ardito

Judith Arnold

Caitlin Avery

Julia Rachel Barrett

Annette Blair

Linda Bleser

PatrickBurns

Jamie Cat Callan

Ruth Cardello

Susan Carlisle

Char Chaffin

L. E.Chambelain

Ashlyn Chase

Elizabeth Cheryl

Gail Cleare

Karenna Colcraft

Roland Comtois

Maxie Cooper

Crescent Moon Press

Marie Force

Karen Frisch

Pepper Goodrich

Marley Gibson

Diane M. Haynes

Michael Hauge

Kristan Higgins

Shirley Ann Howard

Hannah Howell

Christina James

Coralie Jensen

Arline Kay

Marne Ann Kirk

Meg Maguire

Mari Mancusi

Mia Marlow

Lara Nance

Cathryn Parry

Judi Phillips

Nina Pierce

Jo Ramsey

Teresa Roberts

Carol Smilgin

Amber Skyze

Barbara Wallace

Penny Watson

Samantha Wayland

Jennifer Wells

Back from RT convention

Despite my best efforts (almost got on the wrong plane) I'm home from the big, honkin' Romantic Times convention in Chicago.

I had an awesome time. Missed the late night stuff, but caught a few workshops. (I must be getting old...a few years ago it was the other way around!) One workshop I attended had Charlaine Harris on the panel and the subject was writing kick-ass heroines.

I had dinner with my Ellora's Cave publisher, Raelene Gorlinsky. Saw the IL home of my publisher Sourcebooks. They rented party busses and took us all out to Naperville. I was filmed for something there...not sure what will become of that little video, but I hope it gets lost in the back of a closet. I kept forgetting to look at the camera and kept looking over at my editor. Since it was supposed to be a message for my fans...Oops.

The food was bad and expensive, so I ate salads in the bar. My roomie was great (Cheryl Brooks.)

The best part was meeting the fans. I met a 'fan-girl' in the elevator. Her friend grabbed her elbow and shook it saying, "There she is. That's the author you were looking for!" Naturally, I turned around to see what author must be standing behind me. Surprised and tickled pink when there was no one there.

I sat next to Loretta Chase at the big book signing and was shocked to sell almost as much as she did. (Whaaaa?) In fact, I almost sold out of Strange Neighbors. I only had 2 left. I thought about buying them myself to make it a clean sweep, but decided that would be cheating.

But seriously, every time a reader said how much they loved my series and asked if there would be more soon...I grew another inch. I'm about ten feet tall now.
At least I feel like it.

With all the things in this business that can discourage a writer, the readers are what saves it. If any of you have thought about writing to tell an author you loved her book, but decided she's probably "too busy" to be bothered...you might just want to go ahead and send that email. Yeah, some of the biggies might have someone else reading their email for them, but us little guys will smile for the rest of the day.

Hugs,
Ash

I was tagged in a game of Lucky 7

And because 7 is my lucky number, I absolutely must play...despite packing for my trip to Chicago tomorrow! It’s called the Lucky 7 game because the tagged author has to post a segment from one of her books. It must be from p. 77, starting at line 7 and going on for the next 7.



This is from Strange Neighbors:

Sly shrugged. "Nope. It was a woman with a knit cap pulled over her hair. She may have been a private detective trying to catch a cheating spouse or jealous ex-girlfriend stalker or something. She had a camera. Well, have a nice night." As soon as he had jogged down the outside steps, he seemed to disappear into the darkness.

With my luck," Jason muttered, "it's the paparazzi."

I'll include the blurb since it might make more sense that way.

He's looking for peace, quiet, and a little romance...
There's never a dull moment when hunky all-star pitcher and shapeshifter Jason Falco invests in an old Boston brownstone apartment building full of supernatural creatures. But when Merry MacKenzie moves into the first floor apartment, the playboy pitcher decides he might be done playing the field...

A girl just wants to have fun...
Sexy Jason seems like the perfect fling, but newly intependent nurse Merry's not sure she's ready to trust him with her heart...especially when the tabloids start trumpeting his playboy lifestyle.

Then pandemonium breaks loose and Merry and Jason will never get together without a little help from the vampire who lives in the basement and the werewolf from upstairs.

Now...I'm to tag 7 more awesome authors and ask you to check their blogs for the next 7 excerpts. Even if they don't play, their blogs are worth checking out!

Desiree Holt, Toni LoTempio, Delilah Devlin, Sam Cheever, Maggie Nash, Annette Blair, Hannah Howell

Get in on Brenda Novak's auction and save a child!

Shared with permission:
Once again we cannot thank you enough for your support of Brenda Novak's Online Auction for Diabetes Research. With $1.3 million already raised, we're aiming to break all previous records and make 2012 the best year yet and bring us that much closer to a cure.

If you haven't yet had a chance to donate to this year's event, it's not too late! We're always on the lookout for gift baskets, e-readers loaded with books, sets of autographed books, critiques, gift cards, special services...the sky is the limit! The auction will be advertised in Writer's Digest, Publisher's Weekly, RT Book Review Magazine, The Sacramento Bee (local newspaper), The Romance Writers Report, the May 6th issue of Woman's World and many other print and online venues. Get your books and web site in front of over 20,000 unique visitors. Last year we had 500,000 page hits!

How do you donate? Simply email Anna at tinkabela776@gmail.com and she'll get you taken care of.

For those who have already been in touch, we have banners and links to the auction available at www.brendanovakforthecure.org. Simply click on "auction downloads" on the left menu bar and you'll find a selection to choose from. If you'd like the link to your specific item and can't find it by using the search box at the top of the auction home page, just ask Anna--she'll send it to you in no time.

Want to keep up with all auction related news? Make sure you register for the event. There's a link right on the front page of Brenda's website (www.brendanovak.com).

We'd also appreciate any postings on Facebook or Twitter letting people know about the wonderful items and opportunities up for bid beginning May 1st.

We'll be posting on Facebook and Twitter, too, as the weeks progress, highlighting various donations. You can find us at: https://www.facebook.com/BrendaNovakDiabetesAuction and @bnovakauction respectively. We'd love for you to join our Twitter Street Team and RT any auction related postings.

Finally, we are offering a beautiful charm bracelet designed by a friend of Brenda's specifically to raise money for research. This sterling silver bracelet (measuring 7", larger sizes available upon request) are only $89. All profits go to diabetes research. Visit www.brendanovakforthecure.org to order your bracelet today!

Hope to have you on board for 2012. Here's to making a difference.

Thank you,
Brenda

On the radio tonight

I'm on the radio tonight along with a few other romance authors! Valentine's Day special episode at Literary New England http://www.litnewengland.com/​index.html, Radio Show that airs live on Mondays from 8-9:30 pm.

Don't forget to check my advice column, Ask Ash!

My old advice column was missed, so I brought it back. No problem is too personal and as you've probably heard before, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. Go ahead. Ask Ash anything. I'll try to give my entertaining spin on your answer.

Here's today's question and answer:
http://ashlyn-chase.blogspot.com/2012/02/fellow-authors-friends-or-foes.html

Yesterday's winner

I participated in the TRS new release party yesterday in order to celebrate the release of Immortally Yours. I promised a copy of Strange Neighbors to one winner. That winner was, Jodi K. Congrats, Jodi.

New Release at www.jasminejade.com

Immortally Yours was released today! Head on over to Ellora's Cave to check it out!

Imortally Yours

Lizette has spent three hundred years on earth, but this is her first time in a therapist’s office. Lonely and aimless, she feels that life has lost its meaning…and she’s come to Colin for advice on ending it. If only he weren’t so maddeningly, distractingly attractive, she’d be able to get on with things.

The moment Lizette steps into his office, Colin knows he has to help her. He also knows he has to have her—in every position possible.

As they spend time together, the heat between them rises and clothes come off, revealing Colin to be not only a phenomenal lover, but a picture-perfect nude muse for Lizette’s erotic photographs, as well. But in trying to give Lizette’s life meaning, they might have ruined Colin’s.