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Update: February 6, 2010


Francoise


The third character portrait, Francoise, was just finished and we couldn't be happier!



Update: February 4, 2010

Claire

Claire, the second in our series of character portraits, is finished.  She's shown here transforming into her dragon self.  The images will be available in our new freebie section to debut next week.  Or you can get them, along with a lot of the artist's other work, at her Etsy shop.    


Update: January 20, 2010


We've just been informed that Death's Mistress is #25 on the New York Times' bestseller list for January 31, 2010.  You go, Dory!


Update: January 18, 2010



The first of our promised series of free short stories will be available on the web page on March 31.  Hope you enjoy!

For anyone wondering, Ida Larson is the very talented artist doing the covers for the shorts. Her web page is here. Stop by if you get a chance and check out her gorgeous images.


Update: January 15, 2010

We're happy to report that Death's Mistress made it to #135 on the USA Today bestseller's list, and to #15 on the Publisher's Weekly list.  Thank you to all who have supported Dory's series!  


Update: January 13, 2010

Great news!  We just found out that Death's Mistress is #14 on the New York Times mass market bestseller's list for January 24, 2010!  This is the first time a Dory book has hit the top fifteen, so we're all celebrating around here.  Also, our anthology Inked made the extended list at # 34.  A big thank you to everyone who made this possible, and we really hope you are enjoying the books.  


Update: January 5, 2010

I have an announcement to make, but when they saw what it was the minions refused to post it. They're off cowering in fear somewhere, leaving me no choice but to do it myself. Damn minions.  

Anyway, it feels strange to write 2010, doesn't it?  That's a sci-fi sounding date right there. But 2010 it is and since I have been promising an update on the Cassie series for months now, I thought I should make some sort of statement. So for the record, this is what's going on.  

I do have a contract for Cassie Palmer #5 and Dory Basarab #3.  I am working on the Cassie right now and expect to be finished shortly. However, because Death's Mistress had to be pushed back three months (due to my health problems at the time), my editor has decided to delay the publication of Cassie #5.  She's chosen the summer of 2011, I suppose to make absolutely sure that there's no difficulty meeting the deadline this time.  

I am trying to get the date adjusted, but i
f it does remain fixed, I will do what I can to alleviate any withdrawal symptoms anyone may feel by putting some short stories with different character's POVs on the web site.  Yes, they'll be free.  Yes, this is a bribe not to lynch me. No, they won't be deleted scenes or crap like that, because most of my deleted stuff was deleted for a reason.  They'll be the same quality I write for publication (whatever you may think that is) I'll just be "publishing" them here.  

So in the next couple of months, look for a short from John Pritkin's POV, then a few months later one from Mircea and later on another from Francoise.  There may be more after that, depending on what my schedule allows, but those are the ones I have in mind right now.  I hope you'll enjoy and, please, don't kill me.  Remember, ghostly fingers don't type too well.  



Update: December 31, 2009


The Inked contest has ended and the winner's names have been posted on the contest page.  Congrats to all,  and happy 2010!


Update: November 20, 2009


In really cool news, we're happy to report that BOTH Death's Mistress, the second Dory Basarab book, and Inked, our anthology with lovely ladies Marjorie M. Liu, Yasmine Galenorn and Eileen Wilks, received 4 1/2 stars from Romantic Times magazine! That's actually a bigger deal than it probably sounds: we're sure that Romantic Times has given out five star reviews before, but we've never actually seen one of the elusive creatures. Ever. So this is about as good as it gets.  Here's hoping that everyone out there enjoys them as much!

Also, for anyone who didn't catch it, the second sample chapter of Death's Mistress was posted on schedule.  But the link is at the bottom of chapter one, and judging by the emails we've been getting, it may not have been too obvious.  But it's there--we swear.  Please don't hurt us.



Update:
August 8, 2009

A sample chapter of Death's Mistress is up on the Books page.  Another will be posted next month.  Enjoy!

Also, we're happy to report that Touch the Dark will be translated into Turkish.  The rights have recently been acquired by Pegasus Yayincilik TIC and the translation will be published in 2010.  




Update:
July 13, 2009


The cover art for Inked is just in and we love it!  


Inked

The first chapter of our novella, "Skin Deep", can now be read on the Books page.  Enjoy!

In other news, Curse the Dawn will soon appear in German and Mandarin, and Touch the Dark has been licensed for translation into Hungarian!  

Also, we've been asked by readers for a place to ask questions and just hang out and chat about the books.  In a few days, therefore, you'll notice a new forum link on the navigation bar.  Stop in and say hi.  




Update
: June 11, 2009

We've just found out that Touch the Dark will soon be available in Italian!  The rights have been sold to Fanucci Editore and the translation will appear on the shelves within the next two years.  That makes seven languages for Cassie: English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin and now Italian!

Also, our novella for the Inked anthology due out next year has been finished and approved.  It's called "Skin Deep" and came in at a whopping 40,000 words!  It follows the adventures of Lia, the half-werewolf war mage from our previous short stories "Rogue Elements" (in the Wolfesbane and Mistletoe anthology published last October) and "Vegas Odds" (in the Strange Brew anthology coming out July 7).  The first chapter of "Skin Deep" will be posted to the Books page in July, so watch this space!



Update
: April 15, 2009

We're thrilled (and extremely surprised) to announce that Curse the Dawn debuted at #7 on the April 26, 2009 New York Times Bestseller list!  It also hit #110 on the USAToday  list! All we can say is a huge thank you to everyone who helped to make this possible. We couldn't have done it without the fans who believe in this series and love the characters as much as we do.  Thank you so very much!

On a related note, the Cassandra Palmer series is being published in France by Bragelonne Editions.  Touch the Dark should appear in 2010, with the others following shortly thereafter.  



Update
: April 12, 2009

We've been asked if there are plans for a fifth Cassandra Palmer novel.  The answer is yes, and it will probably be out in the spring or summer of 2010.  As soon as a definite date is set, we'll be sure to post it here.  Don't forget to look for "Vegas Odds", our short story in the Strange Brew anthology this summer, and the second Dory book, Death's Mistress, on January 5, 2010!

Also, a big thank you to everyone who bought Curse the Dawn!  It took ten long months to complete, and was easily the most labor intensive book we've ever done.  It's also our favorite and it's wonderful to finally have it on the shelves.  We just hope you have as much fun with it as we did!



Update
: March 26, 2009


Great news!  Touch the Dark and Claimed by Shadow are going to be brought out in Portuguese by Edicoes Gailivro in Portugal.  The tentative publishing date is 2010.    


Update
: January 28, 2009

Curse the Dawn has a trailer!  Visit the Books link above to get a preview of the most exciting Cassie Palmer yet!  



Update: January 26, 2009

We've just learned that Midnight's Daughter, the first Dory Basarab novel, has been picked up for publication in German by Piper Verlag!  On that same note, the sequel, Death's Mistress, has a cover!  Well, a preliminary one, anyway.  We love it--what do you think?





Update: December 7, 2008

Several people were kind enough to email us the news that Midnight's Daughter has been nominated for a Romantic Times' Reader's Choice Award!  A sincere thank you goes out to whomever nominated the book.  And while winning is unlikely considering the talent we're up against (the entire list is below) as they say at the Academy Awards, it's an honor just to be nominated.  You like us!  You really, really, like us!

Reader's Choice for Best Urban Fantasy Novel in 2008:

MAGIC BURNS
Ilona Andrews, Ace (Apr.)

BITE THE BULLET
L.A. Banks, St. Martin’s (Oct.)

MIDNIGHT’S DAUGHTER
Karen Chance, Onyx (Oct.)

PURE BLOOD
Caitlin Kittredge, St. Martin’s (Sep.)

THE IRON HUNT
Marjorie M. Liu, Ace (Jul.)

STORM BORN
Richelle Mead, Zebra (Aug.)

MAGIC TO THE BONE
Devon Monk, Roc (Nov.)


Update:
November 21, 2008


Great news--We just learned that Embrace the Night and Midnight's Daughter will be brought out in Spanish by La Factoria de Ideas, the same publisher who licensed the rights to Touch the Dark and Claimed by Shadow.


Update:
November 6, 2008

"The Day of the Dead" short story is now available online for free!  Go to the Books page, or just click here.  


Update:
October 31, 2008

The first two chapters of the fourth Cassandra Palmer novel, Curse the Dawn, are up on the Books page.  Enjoy!


Update:
October 30, 2008

We just received some very good news!  It looks like there will be a sequel to Midnight's Daughter, called Death's Mistress.  It should appear around this time next year.  More on this when we have a definite date.  What a great Halloween present!


Update:
October 25, 2008

Thanks to everyone who made Midnight's Daughter a New York Times extended list (#26) and a USA Today (#117) bestseller!  

Also, congrats to Amy Honan for winning our Halloween photo contest, to Julie Anderson for winning our review contest and to the mysterious PamK for winning our promo contest! All winners have been notified by email.  Please get back to us with your snail mail addresses so we can send you your prizes.  And have a wonderful Halloween!


Update:
October 14, 2008

The trailer for Midnight's Daughter is now up on the Books page.  Enjoy!


Update
: September 29, 2008

Ever want to read an anthology story but didn't really want to buy the entire book? Yeah, us, too.  So we were intrigued by Penguin's newest thing, e-Specials.  They've decided to offer certain novellas and short stories as individual purchases.  One of these is our novella "Buying Trouble", originally published in the On the Prowl anthology last year.  It is a nice companion piece to Midnight's Daughter and, at $2.99, it won't break the bank.  If you're interested and have an e-reader (Mobi /KindleSony, Adobe, Palm, or MSReader) you can take advantage of the new e-edition.  It will be available on 10/14 through Sony, Amazon, Mobi, or at www.penguin.com.  

We have a very limited supply of Midnight's Daughter magnets free to anyone who wants one.  Just send us your snail mail address.  But don't wait too long; we expect to run out soon. 



Update
: September 24, 2008

We just learned that the Cassandra Palmer series will be published in Chinese!  King-In Publishing in Taiwan will be bringing it out within the next 18 months.  Now, if only we could read the translation!  


Update:
August 26, 2008

New cover art just in!  Curse the Dawn has a cover, and we couldn't be happier.  
Like the book, it's tough, gritty and a little bit quirky.  




Update:
May 31, 2008

A new contest for summer has been added to the contest page.  Have fun, and have a great summer!


Update:
May 22, 2008

We are happy to report that the fourth Cassandra Palmer book will be entitled Curse the Dawn.  A tentative publication date of April 2009 has been set.  


Update:
May 21, 2008

Lots of news this month:

Embrace the Night stayed on the NYT and USA Today bestseller lists for three weeks! Thanks again to all who made that possible.

Tantor Media will be offering the first three Cassandra Palmer books on audio!  We're very excited about this, since it is the first time any of our work has been recorded.  We don't have a release date yet, but will let you know as soon as we do.  

Claimed by Shadow has
sold to La Factoria de Ideas S. L. and will shortly be translated into Spanish.  Likewise, the Dorina Basarab novels have been picked up for publication in the UK, Australia and New Zealand by Penguin UK.  

The review contest recently ended.  A big thank you to all who took the time to write a review of ETN.  It's sometimes difficult to put into words just what worked/didn't work for you about a novel, and we really appreciate those of you who made the attempt.  A random drawing was held of all entrants and we have a winner: Alina D., please contact us with your snail mail address and your preferred prize (ipod Nano or iTunes gift card). And if the former, please specify color.  


Update
: April 9, 2008

We're very pleased (and even more surprised) to announce that Embrace the Night is #6 on the New York Times bestseller list for April 20, 2008!  You know what, let's bold that: Embrace the Night is #6!!!  Huge thank yous to everyone who helped make this possible.  We love the series and we're so happy and grateful that you do, too. No cute little comments this time, just honestly--thanks so very, very much.


Update:
April 5, 2008

We've had a lot of people ask, so thought we'd mention that, yes, there is another Cassie Palmer novel in the works.  The tentaive publication date is April 2009.  More information will be posted here as soon as we get things a bit more nailed down.  And a big thank you to everyone who made Embrace the Night, the third Cassie Palmer novel, a USA Today bestseller for week ending March 30!


Update:
April 3, 2008

Hey, Herself is guest blogging over at Penguin this week to celebrate the publication of Embrace the Night.  Some of the content will be familiar to regular readers here, but a good bit is new stuff, too. Check it out if you get a chance!


Update:
March 20, 2008

A new newsletter just went out containing the names of our recent contest winners. If you didn't receive one, check out the online version above and see if you won!


Update:
 March 2, 2008

A new, live-action version of the Embrace the Night trailer is up on the books page, or you can watch it here.  


Update:
February 28, 2008

More new cover art: in this case, the U.K. version of Embrace the Night, which is scheduled for an April 3 release.  For anyone who would prefer to purchase the British version, you can do so here.  




Update:
February 15, 2008

New cover art just in!  We're thrilled with the cover for Midnight's Daughter, the first Dorina Basarab novel, which will hit the stands in October 2008.  We think the gritty, urban feel of it really represents the tone of the story.  Check it out!

Midnight's Daughter

We also recently received the cover for Wolfesbane and Mistletoe, the Christmas anthology that includes our story "Rogue Elements."  As usual with Charlaine Harris's covers, it has a quirky, funky feel we really like.  Check it out below.  A description of our story has also been added to the Books page.

Wolfesbane and Mistletoe


Update
: January 22, 2008

It always happens: we put out a newsletter and then we get more news.  The Cassie Palmer series has been picked up for publication in German by Piper Verlag!  No news about publication dates yet, but we'll keep you informed.  Glückliches neues Jahr!


Update:
January 19, 2008

The short story "Rogue Elements" has been accepted for the Toni L. P. Kelner/Charlaine Harris anthology Wolfsbane and Mistletoe, to be published in October 2008.  Other authors participating include Donna Andrews, Keri Arthur, Patricia Briggs, Dana Cameron, Alan Gordon, Simon Green, Toni Kelner, J.A. Konrath, Nancy Pickard, Kat Richardson, Dana Stabenow, Rob Thurman and Carrie Vaughn.  The anthology is all about werewolves and Christmas (what a combo!) and should be fun.  

Another short story, "The Day of the Dead" featuring Tomas, will be published in the Mammoth Vampire Anthology by UK publishers Constable and Robinson in July 2008. 
Keri Arthur, Jenna Black, Alysson James, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Vicki Pettersson, Lilith Saintcrow and Shiloh Walker are also on board for that one.  


Update: January 14, 2008

We've just received word that the Cassie Palmer series has been picked up by Penguin UK to be published in Great Britain and Australia/New Zealand.  W00t!  To celebrate, a graphic novel (aka comic book) version of the first chapter of Embrace the Night has been posted to the books page, or you can see it here.


Update:
December 19, 2007

In the spirit of the season, Dante's has decided to do a little gift-giving ourselves. Our exclusive tarot deck, based on the ancient Greek myths and legends, is being put online for you to enjoy. Just check in at Clairvoyant Corner each Saturday for one or two new cards, complete with explanations of the images.  This week's offering is the first five cards of the major arcana.  Happy holidays!


Update:
December 7, 2007

What's that you say?  You wish we'd get off our lazy butts and do a book trailer?  Well, all right then.  See it on the Books link above, under Embrace the Night.
  


Update
: November 12, 2007

We're pleased to announce that the Spanish language rights to Touch the Dark have been sold to La Factoria de Ideas S. L.  That's right.  We're corrupting the world, one language at a time.    


Update:
October 26, 2007

Scary, isn't he?  

Littlest Gargoyle

Although he has nothing on the old man.



From our motley crew to yours, a very spooky Halloween.

Motley Crew


Update: October 21, 2007

Embrace the Night bookmarks have arrived!  Send us an e-mail if you want one, and please remember to include the snail mail address to which you'd like it mailed.  If you've sent us a request in the last couple of months for promo materials and haven't received them, drop us another line.  Our staff is great with the mayhem, but not so much with the filing.  


Update:
September 20, 2007

Two sample chapters from the third Cassie Palmer book, Embrace the Night, have
been added to our new and improved Books page.  Check them out when you get a
chance--we're really excited about this one!  A corresponding new contest is up on the Mailing List page.  


Update:
August 8, 2007

On the Prowl is out and our contest winners have been announced!  Please check the Mailing List page to see if your name is among the lucky few.  If not, don't despair: a new contest is on the way!  Check back in September for a chance to win signed copies of Embrace the Night, the third Cassandra Palmer adventure. 


Update:
May 16, 2007

The third installment of the Cassie Palmer series has a name and a new, earlier release date!  Embrace the Night will be published in April, 2008.  An excerpt will be posted here this summer.  Watch this space!


Update:
April 21, 2007

We're regularly asked who does the amazing cover art for our books.  It's the fabulous Larry Rostant.  You can visit him and see other examples of his work here.


Update
: April 20, 2007

Well.  We hope you're all proud of yourselves.  Ever since Claimed by Shadow somehow landed on the New York Times extended list (#33) and the USA Today bestseller list (#111) the Author has been even more impossible to live with than usual.  And believe us, that's saying a lot.  We've informed her that the whole thing was undoubtedly a typo, but it hasn't produced any obvious deflation in the head to body ratio.  The only good thing is that, at the rate things are going, she soon won't be able to fit through the door of her office, giving us some much needed rest.  Until then, we know who to blame. 


Update:
April 11, 2007


How to be a literate bad ass:




One of our Delinquents sent us this and we simply had to post it.   Thanks for sharing, Shannon!


Update:
April 8, 2007

The sequel to Claimed by Shadow now has a release date!  Cassie's next advanture will be available in May 2008.  Another book in the same universe, Midnight's Daughter, will also be out in October 2008.  A big thank you to all our readers for helping to make this series possible!

Update:
February 20, 2007

A big thank you to everyone who voted in the Pearl Awards!  The Author received runner up in the Best New Author category,  something which has her off celebrating and gives us a little peace and quiet.  We're using the time to peruse Roc's new home on the web, where they have very cool interviews with Jim Butcher and Patricia Briggs.   Click here to check it out.

Update:
February 18, 2007

To read two sample chapters from our upcoming novel, Midnight's Daughter, click here


Update:
February 9, 2007

The Pearl Award finalists have been announced and, amazingly, the Author has been nominated.  We know, we had to read the announcement three times ourselves before we could believe it.  But at least it explains the recent large withdrawals from Dante's slush fund.  For anyone interested in seeing the entire list of, we're certain, far more deserving authors, please click here


Update:
December 1, 2006


To read a sample chapter from our novella, "Buying Trouble," click here. 


Update:
November  3, 2006

The anthology featuring our novella, "Buying Trouble", now has a title.  On the Prowl will be released from Berkley in August, 2007.   Trust us, it's hot!

On the Prowl


Update:
  October 31, 2006

Our favorite holiday is here again, and in celebration we offer a small gift in the form of the first two chapters of Claimed by Shadow.  Just click on the Books link above and enjoy!


Update:
  September 29, 2006


The cover art for Claimed by Shadow is here at last!  We've been biting our talons to the quick in anticipation, but it was definitely worth the wait!  It is shown on the Books link above.


Update:
  July 31, 2006

Very cool news just in: we're going to have a novella called "Buying Trouble" in a collection including the wonderful Patricia Briggs.  It'll be out in August, 2007, and we'll report on the title and cover art as soon as they're available.  It's going to be one terrific read.


Update:
June 6, 2006

Considering the date, we know that many of you are out partying like it's the Apocalypse, but we have an announcement to make anyway: Touch the Dark is finally out!  To celebrate, we have a new contest (which will go online June 7, assuming we're all still here) after the Author recovers from the hangover she is certain to have tomorrow. 

Dante's first newsletter recently came out with the winners of our last contest (for really bad supernatural jokes).  Wow, did we hit the jackpot there!  If you would like to receive a copy delivered to your mailbox on the few occasions per year we actually get around to writing one, sign up on the Mailing List page.  Thank you, you may now resume revelry.



Update:
  May 10, 2006:

The debut of Touch the Dark is less than a month away!  Five more reviews have been posted to the Books page with more to come soon. 

We are pleased to announce that the sequel, Claimed by Shadow, has been finished and approved by Roc.  Cover art will posted here as soon as it becomes available.

The article "Why Some
Vampires Rock and Others Just . . . Suck" has been uploaded to the Advice page.

For anyone who has yet to enter our contest, remember that the three winners will be announced on June 6, so get your names in now!


Update:
January 31, 2006:

Chapter two of Touch the Dark  is now up on the books page!  In addition, some new reviews from web sites with exquisite taste and discerning judgment have been added.

As may have been obvious, we've recently discovered that, although perfect in almost every other way, gargoyles don't code particularly well.  As a result, Clairvoyant Corner is somewhat behind schedule.  We assure the multitudes waiting anxiously for Cassie's predictions that they will be up, just as soon as we can manage it.  Watch this space for updates!

Update:
December 31, 2005:

We're proud to announce that two new sections are open under the Author link. The first is Advice for New Authors, which will be an ongoing list of useful links, tips and resources.  For the moment, it contains a list of almost 2,000 independent bookstores throughout the U.S. and tips on how to do promotional mailings.  More info will be added as soon as we can decipher Herself's handwriting.  The second is Pimp Our Book, where readers can find bookmarks made by our own gnarled little hands to print out and graphics to link to Dante's.  We believe in quid pro quo pimpage: link to us and send us an e-mail about it, and we'll link to you.

Clairvoyant Corner will be up in January as promised.  Check back in a few weeks for your personal tarot reading from Cassie--if you dare!

Update:
December 5, 2005:

Dante's gift shop is now officially open for business. All sorts of merchandise is available, featuring some of our more attractive staff members who were good enough to pose for the camera. Please see the emporium link for more information.

Clairvoyant Corner will shortly be open for the mystically inclined. By January, you'll be able to get a free on-line Tarot reading from Dante's own Cassandra. Be aware, however, that we have noticed a disturbing trend in Cassie's readings, which are rarely of the "don't worry, be happy" variety. This is not an activity for the faint of heart. You have been warned.