Eternal Embrace Update!

First, allow me to apologize. I'm sorry! It took an onslaught of e-mails before I realized that I'd posted an EE update on my Facebook page, and in the comments of my last post on the website, but not an actual update here. So here goes...

Eternal Embrace will release at the end of March 2012. Most likely the last week of March, but I don't have the actual day yet. I decided to make a change to the story line, and that's what I've been working on for the last few months. I've also been working on the final edit of Eternal Desires, which will still release in May 2012 as planned. :) And just an FYI, Odin's book, Eternal Embers, is still very much a sure thing for October 2012.

I know I've been really quiet, but I assure you - I'm still working hard on the books. I've had a bunch of personal and family upheaval as of late, but it's all good news and I'm just trying to balance everything. However, I'm still really behind on my e-mail...so if you've sent me something since mid-January - please bear with me. I'm getting hundreds of e-mails a week now, and it's hard to make time to answer everything while I'm working against a deadline. Once I get everything for EE finalized...I swear I'll get better with answering e-mails. I just need a little more time!! :)

Have a good one!

Happy Holidays, with a little Odin!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Holiday! I'll be back after New Years with more info on the books, but rest assured you'll have EE in your hands within the next few months!! I hope you all get everything you want for Christmas this year, and that the New Year brings you nothing but happiness! :)

And here's the final art for Odin's character portrait! :) You can click on the image to see it larger.

Eternal Embrace Update

I’ve rewritten this post about 5 times now because I’m not exactly sure how I want to break this news. Of course, I’m sure part of the problem is that I don’t really want to break this news…mainly because unless I don’t already like someone – I’m not the biggest fan of disappointing anyone. And, well…I happen to adore my readers, and I’m fairly certain no matter how much I explain why this news is good for me…it will still leave some of you disappointed. So let me apologize now for any inconvenience or disappointment you might experience because of this post. I’m sorry. I really, really am. No one I know gets more freaked out by change than I do, and this is definitely one of those moments where I’m freaked out enough for all of us.

So what do I need to tell you? Eternal Embrace will not release on Halloween as anticipated. The reasoning is slightly involved, but here’s the press release that went out Monday (9/26/11) that got the ball rolling:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Trident Launches E-Book Services for Authors

Clients to Receive Unprecedented Ability to Manage Content

NEW YORK, NY – September 26, 2011 – Trident Media Group, one of the world's leading literary agencies, today announced that it is launching a new e-book initiative, Trident E-Book Operations. This division will create, manage and implement innovative e-book strategies for its authors, including the distribution of a variety of e-books directly to a large number of e-tailers in North America and internationally. Authors will have more flexibility than ever before, as well as new potential domestic and foreign revenue streams.

Robert Gottlieb, Chairman of Trident, said "Trident has been a leader in innovative approaches in the representation of its authors, including in the international markets with its "hot list", at the international book fairs and in new audio licensing. We will continue to manage all facets of our clients' businesses by the extension of our services into the ever-changing e-book publishing business around the world. Trident Media Group will devise strategies to maximize value for its authors in the new and complex e-book publishing field. Trident will not become a publisher, but will instead continue in its new e-book operations to have itself aligned with its clients whose interests we serve as an agent and manager."

Trident's clients will be provided with a comprehensive suite of services – ranging from digital conversion, digital jacket design, to marketing and social media consultation – from some of the most highly sought after professionals in the industry, and have advantageous relationships in all areas applicable to e-books, including copy-editing, marketing and cover design. Trident and its authors will have the ability to quickly change their ebook programs in anticipation of the rapidly evolving worldwide e-book marketplace.

Trident Media Group's E-Book Operations will include out-of-print, backlist, new frontlist and original titles, special short-form nonfiction and fiction works by its prize-winning authors, enhanced e-books and new formats as the market develops, print-on-demand options, and new business relationships with traditional and non-traditional publishers. Trident will strategize with its authors regarding digital pricing, foreign sales and translations. Trident will also continue to handle sales reporting and royalty payments for all available digital editions. E-Book Operations services will become part of Trident's general commission structure for all of the agency's services.

Chairman of Trident Media Group, Robert Gottlieb, will oversee the E-Book Operations department with CEO Dan Strone, Executive VP John Silbersack, and business advisor Lew Korman. Trident has also appointed Lyuba DiFalco and Nicole Robson to the new positions of Co-Directors, EBook Operations.

About Trident Media Group:

Trident Media Group (TMG) is a prominent literary agency located in New York City. TMG represents over 700 bestselling and emerging authors in a range of genres of fiction and nonfiction, many of whom have appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List and have won major awards and prizes, including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the P.E.N. Faulkner Award, the P.E.N. Hemingway Award, The Booker Prize, and the L.A. Times Book Award among others. TMG is one of the world’s leading, largest and most diversified literary agencies. For six consecutive years, TMG has ranked number one for sales according to publishersmarketplace.com in North America. TMG is the only US agency to be in the top 10 in both UK fiction and UK non-fiction.

I got a personal e-mail from my agent, Robert Gottlieb, shortly before the press release went out on Monday morning. I had heard rumblings for the last couple of months about a possible new program coming from Trident, but I didn’t know any specifics until Monday. At first, I was excited. For me, this would be an awesome opportunity to spend more time writing and less time being a “publisher” – which is something I’ve been frustrated with recently. Then, after an hour or so…I got a little pissed. This info would have been really helpful say…mid-August…when I announced the official release date for Eternal Embrace. Because if I’d had this info then, I would have never set a release date for EE. But then I realized I can’t really blame Robert or Trident for not saying anything specific until all the deals were done, because I probably would’ve been more angry had I made plans to put EE into a program like this, then all of a sudden heard word that it was cancelled and I was back to doing everything myself. ;) And now…now I’m just scared and excited and worried and nervous and freaking out because I feel like every time I think I have things under control, something totally unexpected happens and makes me feel like I’m starting all over again.

I’ve talked my options to death with Chad (my hubby) and my Mom. And my decision to postpone the release of Eternal Embrace so I can take advantage of Trident’s new program is based on a simple concept…I don’t want to miss out. If I end my contract with Robert and strike out totally on my own again, I don’t want to look back in 6 months and see how well Trident’s program is doing, and then think to myself…wow…I could’ve been a part of that. Of course, if I take EE through this program and things don’t go as well as they have with ES and EH, then I can walk away knowing I gave it a shot and am better on my own. But there’s only one way to find out how things are going to go, and I’d rather err on the side of probability at this point. It’s more likely that Trident’s new program will be a success than not, especially considering the rapid pace at which the publishing industry is changing.

I’ll hopefully be having a conversation next week with Robert where we can hammer out all of the details and get Eternal Embrace added to Trident’s release schedule. And, as always, as soon as I have more info about a release date you’ll all be the first to know. I can’t imagine the date will be pushed back too much, a few months at most – but I don’t want to promise anything until I know for sure. I’m hoping that when I talk to Robert he’ll be able to give me some kind of rough estimate on how long the new process will take from finished manuscript to release date. That way, I can do everything in my power to avoid ever having to move a release date again.

In the interim, I’m going add When Worlds Collide back into my writing schedule, so I can keep that story going for everyone while we wait. Again, I’m really sorry about all this. I’m just trying to do what I think is best for my career, my family, the books, and for you guys. Just the notion of having more time to write because Trident is handling the business side of things makes me really, really happy. It also makes my goal of releasing 5 books a year instead of 2, that much more reachable. :)

If you have any questions, feel free to comment or drop me an e-mail.

Have a good one!

The big announcement!

The bad news…  

The first novella in Vouclade & Kasey’s 3 part story, Ascension: The Revelation, will not be releasing on August 31st as originally planned. 

The good news…

Vouclade & Kasey’s story – still named, Ascension: The Revelation, will be releasing as a full-length novel in January 2012. Their story will also serve as the first book in the new Ascension Series. ;)

Why change the release date? Because after I made the announcement a few weeks ago that the novellas would only release as e-books – I got a wave of e-mails from print readers who were very, VERY unhappy that they’d have to wait until August of 2012 to get the story in print. And because I loathe the prospect of alienating any reader based on their favored reading format – I decided to split the difference and release the story as a full-length book in January 2012. I figure this should work for everyone, since now no one has to wait until next August for the last novella to release in order to read the whole story.

Why start a new series? Because I’ve had so many Paladin based story ideas lately that don’t fit into the Eternal Series…that I felt the Paladin’s needed their own place. As most of you know, the Eternal Series focuses primarily on the vampires, and more specifically the diabolical chess match between Stefan & Orion. Unfortunately, the chess board storyline will only allow for so much sway…and sometimes I just can’t mold a new story idea involving other non-vampire supernaturals to suit it. So the Paladins now have their very own place…and I’m very, very excited about it. :)

Okay, now for a little more good news…

Along with the Ascension series, I wanted to tell you about the Fallen Series and the Primal Series, both of which will have debut novels in 2012. The Primal Series will focus on the weres and other shapeshifters of the Darkness Within world, whereas the Fallen Series will deal with Harbingers, ghosts, and “others” of the world.

So what does all of this mean for you? 5 books a year instead of 2! :)

The Eternal Series will have 2 releases every year, one on May 1st and one on October 31st. The Ascension, Fallen, and Primal series will all have 1 release a year, with dates to be determined. And, although each of the series are set in the Darkness Within world, and will still be called Darkness Within Novels, each line will stand completely alone. That way, if you love the vamps but aren’t nearly as interested in the Paladins – you can read whichever line(s) you like and not miss anything. :)

Oh, and Oktober’s story, Eternal Embrace (book #3), will still be releasing on October 31, 2011 as planned. With Eternal Desires (book #4) to follow on May 1, 2012, and Odin’s story, Eternal Embers (book #5), to follow on October 31, 2012. :)

There will be more details to follow, especially as book covers and titles are finalized. Again, I’m sorry for any disappointment over the moving of Vouclade’s story…but splitting the difference was the best option I had in an attempt to give everyone a little of what they wanted – including me. :)

If you have comments or questions, feel free to ask. I’ll do my best to answer them! :)

Have a good one!

Eternal Embrace Final Cover

So after listening to everyone who wasn't quite sold on Okotber's face, including my husband ;) - here is the final cover for Eternal Embrace...

Click on the cover to see a larger version.

We toned down the menacing quality to his features. Made his nose smaller. Fixed his cheeks and lightened the shadows. Made his eyes less slanted. Made his head a little smaller. And, of course, we brought his ears a little closer to his skull. Hopefully he looks a little more attractive now, and less elf-like - which was the main concern I heard from all of you. ;) Feel free to tell me what you think. :)

Thanks and have a good one!

Whatcha Think?

I know I've been quiet for awhile now, but rest assured I have been working my ass off getting everything ready for the release of Ascension: The Revelation - which has been officially scheduled for August 31, 2011, and for the release of Eternal Embrace (A Darkness Within, #3), which has been officially scheduled for October 31, 2011. Things are going really well, just ridiculously busy at the same time...especially since the Heathen starts school again on August 24th. ;)

I also wanted to pass along that Ascension: The Revelation will only release as an e-book since it's a novella...not a full novel. Granted, most novellas currently on the market tend to run around 20,000 words in length, and each of the Ascension novellas are closer to 50,000 - but I'm still calling them novellas. ;) The second novella in the trilogy, Ascension: The Reckoning, will also release exclusively in e-book format. But the third and final novella, Ascension: The Rapture, will release in e-book and print format. The print version will contain all 3 novellas in one book.

And finally, I wanted to share with you the mock-up for the cover of Eternal Embrace. I'd love to hear your thoughts about the design if you'd be willing to share. And don't worry, you can tell me if you don't like it...I have my big girl pants on today. ;)

Click on the cover to see a larger version!

Have a good one!! :)

Turn on your radio - internet version...

So...I have an internet radio interview today over at ParaYourNormal...and I'm freaking out a little. ;) Okay, a lot! I've never been on any kind of radio before. The show starts at 3:30 PST which is 6:30 EST...and YOU can call in and talk to me. The call in number is 619-639-4626. So if you have some free time today, feel free to call me. ;)

Here's the link to the website where you can listen:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/parayournormal/2011/06/08/interview-with-jennifer-turner-author-of-eternal-hearts

Ahhhhhhhh! ;)