March 19, 2012

NEWS! I finally have some! Yay!

It’s true, I finally finished another manuscript. Alex Aaro’s book is now in production. ONE WRONG MOVE, with a September 25 release date, cover soon to follow. I have two more books planned for this series, and I’m licking my chops to get at them, I really am. But back to Aaro’s book. Here’s a blurb:

SECRETS NEVER DIE

Alex Aaro has spent most of his life on the run from his Ukrainian mafia family. But when he learns that crazy Aunt Tonya, the only relative who ever gave a damn about him, is dying, he risks returning home to say goodbye. He’s prepared for anything except the call from his friend, Bruno Ranieri, that sends him on a wild and dangerous ride with a mysterious woman who holds a deadly secret and a white hot passion that binds them together.

Social worker Nina Christie has no idea how much trouble she’s in when her Aunt Helga shows up unexpectedly, emaciated and bleeding, and injects Nina with an unknown drug. Now a ruthless crime syndicate will stop at nothing to make Nina disappear, and only Alex Aaro, that inscrutable six-foot-four rock hard slab of lean muscle, stands between her and certain death. Now Nina and Alex are in a race against time, death, and their desire for one another…

A couple of juicy excerpts are featured, for your enjoyment. This book is a bit of a departure for me, in that I took the paranormal elements that I flirted with in FADE TO MIDNIGHT, and went a good bit further with them. I had a total blast doing that. I also discovered a lot more about Miles. He came to the fore in this story, and I’m intrigued by him.

But Aaro, oh God. He was, hands down, the most reluctant hero I have ever had to deal with. His attitude problems could only be described as catastrophic. But I love it when the tough ones fall. I enjoyed getting inside his head, although it was not always a comfortable place to be. And Nina, the heroine, had to grow and transform in order to survive. I was happy with what she became. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

Other news: The mass market version of TASTING FEAR, my trio of linked suspense novellas, is coming out on April 1, 2012, and Romantic Times Magazine is going to do an Author Spotlight to mark the occasion! I’m so tickled by the gorgeous cover, check it out. Sensual lady with unlaced taffeta evening gown, wow. It almost looks like a historical! The awesome party dress does not reflect any particular scene in the book, but it damn well should. I don’t think my trio of D’Onofrio sisters ever got a chance to dress up properly. The novellas, although long for novellas, were still too short to include a plot element like a big formal party. They were always too busy with the mortal combat, to say nothing of all the hanky panky. But those brave and forthright women deserved a moment to get dolled up in a smokin’ hot dress and blow the hero’s mind. I always crave that Cinderella moment, and most of my books have one. Just not this one. Whatever was I thinking?

So, let’s just say the cover is one of the D’Onofrio women (take your pick) in an intimate moment with her yummy guy after the huge Gala museum party for the exhibition of the fabulous art piece they . . . wait! Spoiler! Some of you may not have read the book. Never mind. Sorry. Forget I said anything.

Other news. I am finally moving towards being more, well, I would not go so far as to say social media savvy (hah!) I often get baffled, and throw mini-tantrums and storm away from the computer to soothe myself with chocolate and highly caffeinated beverages. But I am taking some little mincing baby steps. I have a Shannon McKenna Facebook Fan Page where I can chat with readers (stop by!) and I have a sign-up button for my mailing list both on the home page of my site and on my Facebook page. So sign up, and I’ll keep you posted! Soon I’ll be putting together a contest, and that will be fun. I also am planning a total website redesign, to make the site mobile friendly, including a blog I can update myself easily (I hope, she said, coughing behind her hand.) So I will have a forum to blather on. It sounds like fun.

I now, at last, have included a “READING ORDER” section that readers have been requesting for years, on the top of the book page. My apologies for the long wait.

I have a twitter account, but have not yet built up the nerve to tweet! I need an accomplished tweeter to come to my house and do a tweet tutorial. I think it’s the super short format that inhibits me. You all know how I like for things to be very, very loooonnnnggg. But I’ll get there, I’ll get there.

Lastly, I have recently committed to a group blog with a bunch of excellent writers who all favor special forces heroes, link to follow as soon as I have one. I’m really looking forward to being part of that. It’s lonely here in my cave. I don’t get out much. It’s going to be fun, to be more hooked up with readers and writers both! I will be announcing all these changes as they happen, so stay tuned.

Thanks so much for reading this page! I appreciate the interest, and I wish you a wonderful day, wherever you are.

Best,

Shannon McKenna