To accompany my sexy new website, I've also redone my blog! Be sure to change your links so you can find me at: http://www.delilahdevlin.com/blog/

I've had my head down the past couple of months writing like there's no tomorrow. Finished book three in the Dark Realm series, now I've moved on and am deep into a cowboy trilogy that's going really well. Guess I missed my men in Stetsons!

Then I open up the email and discover that INTO THE DARKNESS won the 2007 Reviewer's Choice Award from eCata's Single Title review site! Just in time to help settle my nerves about the upcoming release of book two--SEDUCED BY DARKNESS.

All's well in my world today. Huge thanks to the ladies at SingleTitles.com!  ~DD

I didn't do anything particularly exciting to usher in the New Year. I'm a little superstitious. I believe you should start the New Year the way you intend to complete it--so I was hard at work adjusting plans, setting page count goals, and choosing projects to fill in the few bare spots I found on calendar until well past midnight!

I know, that's such a nerd thing to do, but I didn't want to start with a hangover and lose a whole day of work when I have a ton of things on my plate. First up, I have a sexy Western to finish for Kensington, a proposal I'm working on with friends, and a Quickie for Ellora's Cave. I like working several things at the same time--keeps me from being bored, but the priority is the K-book this month!

Wish me luck and bear with my whines while I plow ahead!

But you don't care about my unsexy New Year doings or the books I have to write--you want to know who won the contest!

The winner of the contest is Caitlin Hoy! Congrats and send me an email so I can arrange delivery of your prizes! Congratulations!

~DD

I've been spending the day with my Ellora's Caves friends--had a great live chat where the conversation flew so fast my eyes were strained and my fingers cramping!

Just a reminder to anyone who's new to my site, I am offering a free serialized story to my newsletter readers. It's the seventh book in the My Immortal Knight series. You can sign up to receive my monthly newsletter which is chock-full of excerpts, interviews with other authors, a monthly contest, and of course the latest installment of the story. This is the gorgeous cover:

In December, I gave away an entire story. If you'd like to take a look at the newsletter, here's the link, but remember if you want to get it on a monthly basis, you need to sign up for it here: Delilah's newsletter

So, what you've really been hanging around for is the contest, right? You know you have to work for it!

1) Visit my amazon.com blog and check out the video clip from an interview I did in July. What book was the reporter reading, and what was his nickname?

2) From my blog, what two books did I finish writing in December? And who are the publishers?

3) Who did I interview in my December newsletter?

Send the answers to me PRIVATELY at delilahdevlin@hughes.net, but be sure to post a note here to say hello as well!!

What will I offer for a prize pack? Hmmm...let's see...how about your choice of one of my print books that you can find on Amazon.com, a download of your choice from any of my EC books, and a mailer with bookmarks, cover flats, and magnets?

I'll close this contest at 6 PM CST on December 31st!

~DD

I'm playing today with folks at Ellora's Cave. If you'd like to join us, here's the email addy to join the loop: Ellora's Cave Loop

We'll be running several scavenger hunts for prizes, posting sexy excerpts and conducting at least one live chat (probably around 11:00 CST).

Hope to see you there! ~DD

I'm on the home stretch...the last few pages of the latest Dark Realm story. I'm sitting at 83,000 words and hoping I can figure out how to wrap it all up in the next 2,000!

The holiday passed me by in a haze. I think I enjoyed it, but my head has been in my book, every waking hour spent in front of my monitor, revising, tweaking, adding those vital last pages. I always have a sinking feeling I've forgotten a thread along the way. I begged friends to read it. I even have my mom looking it over, although she admits she hits the scroll button when she finds the sex scenes!

Wish me luck! But here goes...

~DD

Sin's Gate...Complete! Darkness Rising...30 pages to go!

As you can probably tell from the date of my last post, I've had my head down, typing my fingers to nubs. On the 7th, I sat stuck in the middle of DR and wondering where the heck the story was leading me. I've since figured it out and am trying to close all the plot threads on the pressure cooker, high-speed ending before I type "The End"--which I never really do, BTW.

My stories never really end, if you haven't already figured that out. I think it's because I don't see the characters as fictional people, and I think of them from time to time like you would friends and wonder how they're doing and what new adventures they've found.

Nutty, I know. My daughter will drop by on her way to the prison for cup of tea or coffee and chide me for "wandering" off. She says I get this glazed look in my eyes and tune her out. She swears I need to see a doctor--that I have to be schizophrenic. I tell her, if I am, don't give me any meds. I need my other world calling to me--especially when I have 30 more pages to go!

There's plenty of sex in the latest book. Couldn't keep the characters out of bed, off the couch, off the counter or the floor. And everyone got some. My other world is a very horny place.

~DD

That's what I'm doing.

I opened the latest package I'd ordered online tonight and set out my new treasures around my office. An electric kettle, a singlecup teapot and saucer that sit on top of each other for convenient storage, and a selection of teas. Yesterday, I unpacked the new desk chair pad, footstool and desktop mat.

Today I thought the only thing I need now is a small refrigerator to keep chilled water, sodas and juice. I could hole up down here for weeks and never see daylight. Someone could bring me my meals as I work. I only have to walk fifteen feet to the bed or the bathroom.

Then it hit me. I'm deliberately isolating myself. I'm making my workspace my home, which wouldn't be such an unhealthy thing if I didn't already spend over twelve hours a day here.

The three-year-old is going to stay with daddy for a month and I won't have anyone tugging on my hand to come watch Dora or push her on the swing. My daughter just graduated from the academy today and received her badge, so the next few weeks she'll be busy starting this new, exciting life that won't include me. I think I've been preparing for being alone and being depressed.

Which isn't good, because when I'm feeling down I don't write, and I've already been fighting to try to keep to a schedule.

I mentioned to a friend today that I don't love what I'm writing right now. That I wonder if I've lost it. She said she'd heard the exact same words from every other writer she has close ties with. It's the time of year. It's nice to know I'm not the only one suffering whiny writer-self-esteem issues and that maybe the shorter days and cooler weather are part of the cause.

Perhaps what I should be investing in right now are some metaphysical books to look for explanations and ways to heal myself, along with lists of affirmations. So, if you know of any that might help--please send them my way! ~DD

My friend Sasha has a new book out. Sasha's a very interesting person--kinda free-spirited, a little crazy, and totally lovely, inside and out. Read her and you'll see a slice of her great heart.

“SEXY DEVIL by Sasha White is a sexy, tantalizing anthology that include a bonus story titled Mountain Retreat that features the story of Mac Goodman who appears in The Devil Inside.
This book flows along smoothly from one story to another with well written characters that are easy to like with their charismatic ways. The touch of paranormal adds a little more intrigue that goes perfectly with the sizzling hot love scenes that will give you visions of your own!”
— Recommended Read From Fallen Angel Reviews

Read an Excerpt

Order at: Chapters.ca Amazon.com Barnes&Noble

Surrender to Sasha White’s sensual world, where red-hot passions simmer—and desires are unleashed with sinfully wicked pleasure…

So last weekend, my friend Kimberly Kaye Terry introduced me to a new friend of hers, Allison Hobbs, who happens to write for Zane. Allison told us of a last minute opportunity to submit a short story for the upcoming Purple Panties anthology that Zane will release (through Simon & Schuster) in May 2008.

We worked it like a sweatshop last Saturday and Sunday, slamming our pages, critiquing the hell out of each other, until we thought we had solid stories. We shipped them on Monday.

TODAY, we all got an email from Zane herself, telling us our stories had been accepted and to shoot her the contracts quickly because the book was going to galleys this week. All I could do was think, "Holy Crap! We did it!"

Here's the cover which is already up on S&S's website!