Author: Maya

Shades of Gray ARCs

I have a few ARCs of Shades of Gray to give away. Anyone interested? :)

I’ll run this contest for the rest of the week and draw a winner hopefully around Sundayish. I know next week is Thanksgiving but I hope to get addresses from the winners and get them in the mail right after Thanksgiving so you guys will get them a whole month ahead of the release date!

So if you want to be entered, a few things you need to know. I’ll draw winners as I said Sundayish. Which may mean Monday. But at any rate, you will need to check back to see if you won and you will need to get me your address no later than Friday of next week. ARCs will be mailed out the following Monday. I won’t hunt you down, so if you don’t provide me the mailing info, I’ll award the ARC to someone else.

To enter, just post a comment below and tell me what 2013 books you’re looking forward to ! (Yes I’m compiling a shopping list haha)

Good luck to everyone!

xoxo

Maya

Exciting new! (and some changes)

Hey gang! I have some updates for you (finally) I have agreed to do a new trilogy for Berkley, who publishes my Sweet Series and the KGI series, and they’ll be publishing very quickly (so no long wait!) and they’ll be releasing them close together.

For those of you familiar with my Sweet Series, these new books will be very much that same flavor with a mix of my Harlequin Desires as well. I’ve jokingly said that if you take the heroine from Tycoon’s Rebel Bride and put her with Damon from Sweet Persuasion you have a good idea of the first book heh.

The Breathless trilogy will debut in Feb 2013 with the first book RUSH, followed by FEVER in April 2013 and BURN in August 2013.

This isn’t a new endeavor for me, rather I’ll be giving you what you’ve come to expect from me as an author. Emotional, sexy, erotic stories very much in line with the Sweet Series and all of my titles :)

Now, there WILL be two schedule changes to accomodate these books. I don’t want you to worry. There will be NO changes to my KGI series and their release dates nor will there be any changes to the Scottish historicals and their release dates. The ONLY two changes that will occur is that Theirs to Keep, the first book in the Tangled Hearts trilogy, will be delayed. I didn’t think it would be fair to my readers to begin the Tangled Hearts trilogy and then pause to publish this new trilogy and make you wait a year for the next book in the Tangled Hearts trilogy. So for now, that first book will be delayed.

Also, Colters’ Gift, which was originally scheduled for April 2013, will be delayed to fall 2013.

Theirs to Keep and Colters’ Gift are already written and turned in so they’ll both be published as soon as there is a logical place in my publishing schedule. I don’t want to overburden readers with a ton of Maya Banks books all at once.

I hope you’ll be as excited for the Breathless trilogy as I am and of course I’ll keep you posted on back cover copy, covers, and any other information as I soon as I receive it.

I just want to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you for being so awesome to me. I’m going to do my absolute best to bring you the best books I can make them and I hope you’ll enjoy RUSH, FEVER and BURN! <3 <3 <3

Some author love and other book blather

Some author love for you guys and yeah, I’m going to get a little wordy ;)

I’m often asked for recommendations. A lot of times I’m asked because a reader will have read the Sweet Series (I’m going to use this as an example but it applies to all my books) But we’ll go with the Sweet Series for purposes of this conversation heh.

Anyway, I’ll have a reader who read my Sweet Series and really enjoyed it and then they’ll ask me for who I think they should read next. Or specifically they’ll ask for “similar” books as the Sweet Series (or KGI or my Scottish Historicals) etc.

This is a really HARD question to answer! It’s not that I have ANY shortage of awesome authors to recommend. I mean I can give you that all day long. But it’s tailoring a particular author to a specific genre or theme request that’s hard and there’s a lot of pressure involved because I don’t want to disappoint a reader nor do I want to MISLEAD them by telling them to read author X and then have that reader think that it was NOTHING like the Sweet Series or KGI or whatever.

So what I’ve often done is simply recommend other authors that I personally enjoy and can vouch for (based on my personal likes) that write in the same GENRE and usually that means the broader spectrum. I’ll give a recommendation for other erotic romance authors who may or may not write anything like my Sweet Series. I don’t actually personally know of an author who I’d say wrote something very similar to the Sweet Series because as authors we all put our own spin on things. This is actually a question that is usually better answered by other readers.

When I’m asked about erotic romance authors, the names that always come up for me are Jaci Burton, Lorelei James, Sylvia Day, Vivian Arend, Lauren Dane and I’ve also really enjoyed books by Cherise Sinclair (forgive any mispellings on these names. I’m working off memory because I’m too lazy to actually look them up lol) Lainey Reese (though I’ve only read one of hers. I want to crack a whip to make her write faster!) Cara McKenna (I’ve really enjoyed a lot of her books. They’re edgy and dark and scrumptious)

But there are also a lot of really terrific contemporary authors I enjoy as well like Shannon Stacey, Bella Andre, Maisey Yates, Janet Chapman, Sarah Morgan, Shelly Laurenston (OMG LOVE HER!!!)

And really one of my favorite contemporary romances EVER was Janet Chapman’s The Seduction of His Wife. I never get tired of rereading that book. I love every single word.

And for paranormal, now granted I don’t read a LOT of paranormal. Far less than I do contemporary (but more than I read historical lol) I love Christine Feehan, Larissa Ione and Kresley Cole. Kresley Cole is a relatively new “find” for me. I didn’t come to her IAD series until she was WELL into it but omg I love those books. They are my crack.

My Kindle is FILLED with hundreds and hundreds of books I haven’t even read yet. Book buying is a compulsion :) It makes me HAPPY to buy books even knowing I can’t get to them right away and I’m always hopeful that with each new book purchase that I’ll find an author I fall in love with and can glom an entire backlist.

And of course I have my “comfort” reads on my Kindle and those I turn to far more often than a book I haven’t read, which may sound silly, but there are times when I NEED a book that I KNOW I’m going to love and so rather than risk a brand new author or brand new book, I fall back on something I’ve read and loved many times. There’s NOTHING more satisfying than losing yourself in the pages of a “happy sigh” book :))

So there’s my book dish for the day as well as some shout outs of some authors I love. I may not be able to give a recommendation for books that are very similar to mine, but I NEVER have a problem giving a recommendation for an author I’ve loved and adored their books.

What about you? Have any that I didn’t mention? I’m always all ears for new books/authors and I love going to Amazon with a list of books to buy *g*

xoxo

Maya

KGI News :)

I posted on my Facebook page that I had some exciting news for you all, and that I’d be telling you this week. Well, I don’t have it ALL ready yet, so this will be a two part “news” fest and I won’t torture you any longer with the KGI announcements :) So definitely stay tuned for “more” likely coming next week.

But without further ado, I’ll tell you whose books are coming up after Shades of Gray (P.J. and Cole’s story) I’ll first say, however, that Shades of Gray is without a doubt my favorite KGI book to date. I love the characters SO much and I’ve always adored P.J.’s character. I put her through the ringer in her book, but she really comes out on top. (Was there any doubt?) lol

I can’t wait for January so that y’all can read Shades of Gray and let me know if you love the book as much as I do!

Now, some of this is hard to explain because y’all haven’t READ Shades of Gray yet, so a lot of what I’m talking about is kind of lost UNTIL you guys get to read *g* But obviously the book is focused sharply on Steele’s team, of which P.J. and Cole are a part of. So you see a LOT of Steele and you get more insight into his character. However, you also see a LOT of Donovan in this book because he plays a major role. Moreso than even the other Kellys. Of course you’ll see all of them (ha! like I could write a KGI book without the Kellys!) But once you read Shades of Gray, you’ll understand why it’s organic for Steele’s book to be next.

So yep, that’s the announcement. KGI #7, which will release in July 2013 will feature Steele as the lead character. I can’t wait to tear into his story. I’m keeping mum (for now) on his heroine until I get further into the book and things unfold.

But for all you DONOVAN fans? I’m also announcing that his book will be KGI #8, which will release January 2014. So no more waiting. I promise I haven’t purposely tried to string you along and torture you by “withholding” Donovan. I just have to absolutely wait until the right moment to tell his story and it has to be organic to the series.

I’m REALLY excited for these next two books. Steele and Donovan have long been two of my favorite guys in the series and I’ve known since the very start that these two stories have to be special and that the build up has to be “just right”

While I do have the other stories in the series planned (for characters like Joe, Swanny etc) I can’t say with any authority whose book will be after Donovan’s because I have to wait and see how his and Steele’s stories unfold and then follow the logical path in the growth of the KGI organization and the teams. I want it to make sense not only to me, but to you the readers whom I’m SO grateful to for making this series a success.

An author can write the best book in the world, but it’s the READERS who make a book or series a success. Without you, this series would have never gotten off the ground and I would be unable to continue writing in a world I love and about a family and cast of characters I adore.

Be on the lookout for some new faces in Shades of Gray and some changes to KGI. Nothing drastic. I promise! But it sets the stage for more books to come and it’s my hope that you’ll continue to be along for the wonderful ride that this series has been.

I so deeply appreciate each and every reader who has bought and read the KGI series and for all the wonderful emails and messages expressing your love for this series. I cannot even begin to tell you how much it means to me to have such wonderful support. I’m so lucky to have you all and I hope we have many more years together to dish about books and characters!

So that’s the KGI news and be watching for more announcements coming soon! :)

xoxo and much love

Maya

Coming your way this October!

Well before we get to October, I’d be remiss in not reminding you that Softly at Sunrise releases TOMORROW (Tuesday, Aug 21) in digital format. For you print readers, don’t despair. It will be made available as bonus content in the back of Shades of Gray which releases in Jan 2013. And since I continue to get many questions about WHY Softly at Sunrise is not already available for preorder any other place than Amazon, here is a good spot to let you know that absolutely, Softly at Sunrise WILL BE AVAILABLE at places like Barnes and Noble, Ibooks, Sony etc. It just won’t be UNTIL release day, some time Tuesday morning. I wish I be more specific but I’m completely at their mercy as to when the link goes live, but you can be certain that I’ll be posting links as soon as I find them!

Now, on to what’s coming up in October! I’ll be releasing the first book in the Tangled Hearts Trilogy, Theirs to Keep, October 16th. And again, just like with Softly at Sunrise, there is already a preorder link from Amazon. All the other retailers will have the buy link up on release day.

Here’s a peek at the blurb and cover!

Edited to add: As of right now, Theirs to Keep WILL NOT be offered in paperback. Not to say it won’t ever, but at present time, it will only be releasing in digital format in October.

When Cade Winslow and Merrick Sullivan find Elle hiding in the cabinet of a gun store, they know they can’t just walk away from the fragile woman with no memory of who she is or who tried to kill her. Merrick is training for the title shot in the heavyweight division as a mixed martial artist and can’t afford distractions, but neither can he turn his back on the woman who tugs at his heartstrings.

Elle feels safe with her two protectors, and the longer she spends with them, the more she realizes that she has no desire to remember her past. Not when it could compromise her future with Cade and Merrick.

Cade has his own set of concerns when it comes to Elle, and it quickly becomes clear to the two men that for the first time in their friendship, a woman is coming between them. But what if they just kept her there? Between them. Where she belongs.

RWA Literacy signing

So it’s that time of year again when I post my gentle reminder about the RWA Literacy signing where I encourage readers (and other authors!) to make a point to go by the tables of authors who may not have long lines. Maybe this is their very first signing. Maybe it’s their debut book. Maybe it’s their tenth and they’re still just as nervous as that very first time they had a book out.

Whatever the case may be, you have the power to make the event that much brighter by simply picking out a few authors you may not know and make it a point to swing by. Even if you don’t buy their book, take a bookmark. Ask them about their book. Or just say hi.

Trust me when I say, that the author will remember you for that kindness and the fact that you went the extra mile to make the signing a little more special for them. And hey, you just might end up finding an awesome new author to read!

This year I’m sending my Girlie around to a few author’s tables for me since I’ll be signing, so if you see a gorgeous 12 year old sweetheart with as shy smile and big, beautiful brown eyes, that’s my baby :)

Softly at Sunrise in print

I have some news regarding Softly at Sunrise and its availability in print. I’ve gotten many emails asking if the novella would be available in print. Ordinarily, no. Because this is a novella that I am publishing on my own, it would only be available digitally. And I DO have some projects coming in the next few months that will only be available in digital format. It’s the reality of self publishing.

HOWEVER and I want everyone to know well in advance, that Softly at Sunrise is going to be printed in the back of Shades of Gray, which releases in January. Readers will have the choice of purchasing the novella in digital format at a much earlier date, August 21, or if they prefer a print format, they can wait for Shades of Gray to release in January. I’ve agreed to let my publisher print the novella so that followers of the KGI series will have access to the story in print. But neither did I want to make readers wait for the digital version until January so this is the best solution to try and accommodate as many readers as possible.

Colters’ Promise permanent price reduction!

I wanted to share with you guys that as of TOMORROW, the price of Colters’ Promise will permanently lower to 3.99. I specifically asked about the foreign markets because so many of you were unable to partake of the sale price in Canada, Australia and the U.K. and I’ve been assured that this permanent price reduction will be applied everywhere.

It may take a bit for the price reduction to filter down all the channels and retailers, so if you don’t see the price go down immediately, please be patient and keep checking back. My publisher has assured me that they are making this a priority and have asked that the price drop go into effect ASAP with a target date of tomorrow. (Thursday, July 12)

I’m doing a fist pump and I’m so excited that this has worked out in the readers’ favor. A special thank you to everyone who helped spread the word about the special sale price and for helping send them message that more appropriate pricing for books is important!

I’m also inquiring about the availability of Colters’ Promise through All Romance Ebooks. Many of you have either posted or emailed to ask and I’ve emailed my editor. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear something.

Colters’ Promise special sale!

Hey gang, I wanted to tell you all that Colters’ Promise will be going on sale starting TOMORROW and the sale will last through Sunday July 8th. The price will drop to 2.99 and if you only knew how long I’ve been waiting for this to happen!

I’m very happy, that at least for a short period of time, my publisher has agreed to lower the price. It’s something I’ve really fought for since before the book released. I’m just thrilled that you guys will have a window of time to get the book at a much lower price, so be sure to take advantage of the sale while it lasts.

Sometimes it pays to be persistent lol ♥ ♥ ♥

I’ll be posting reminders on twitter and Facebook as well as my blog and website but wanted to give y’all a heads up in advance.

I’m off to the World Series tomorrow and I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Try to stay cool :)

Love,

Maya

ARC winners!

ok gang, as suspected, I didn’t get back home until late last night from Girlie’s softball tournament. They did awesome and came in third!

Without further ado, here are the winners!

Allison, comment #127

Rebecca Skeens, comment #10

Congratulations ladies! If you’ll email me ASAP with your mailing address, I’ll get those ARCs in the mail to you this week. I’m off to the World Series next week so I’ll be out of pocket for a while.