February 26, 13 @ 4:26 pm
Today is the release day for WICKED KISS, the sequel to last year’s DARK KISS!! I have the first two chapters available here on my site if you want to check ‘em out. This book is a roller coaster of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, action, danger, mystery…and plenty of kissing. 
I hope readers enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Which is A LOT!
What is Wicked Kiss about?
It’s about demons and angels, and family and friendship, trust, love, and hope, and trusting your heart vs. trusting your head. It’s about what really matters to you, even if you don’t realize what matters to you until it’s threatened.
Plot-wise, Wicked Kiss continues the story of Samantha Day, a teenage girl whose soul was stolen in a dark kiss, turning her into a soul-stealing “gray,” and the small team of angels and demons sent to earth to stop creatures like her from destroying the universal balance. Sam’s main goal is to get her soul back and be normal again, but nothing is ever that easy…especially not when you’re falling in love with someone whose duty it is to save the world from creatures just like you.
Who is your favorite character?
I do really love writing from Samantha’s POV since she’s strong and smart and funny. And I love Bishop, the main angel who’s in charge even though he’s dealing with a multitude of difficulties. But I know Kraven is a reader favorite and this is very likely because he’s just so much fun to write – a snarky jerk of a demon who has some serious pain he’s dealing with down deep that is rising – very quickly – to the surface. Kind of like a sarcastic volcano.
What was your favorite part about writing Wicked Kiss?
My favorite part was a couple key relationships, beyond the expected “romantic” relationship between Bishop and Sam (which I loved since it’s so much more complex in book two than it was in book one). I loved writing about Bishop and Kraven’s many problems and how the two choose to deal with their difficult history. And I loved writing about Sam’s developing friendship (?) with Jordan, her high school nemesis.
Is there a love triangle in the book?
I do enjoy a good love triangle. And if that dynamic is essential to a plot, then I’m all for it. On the surface, there may seem to be a love triangle in Wicked Kiss…but it’s definitely NOT a traditional one. In my opinion, a traditional love triangle (boy-girl-boy) will have the girl torn between her romantic feelings for two very different boys. She doesn’t know who she really loves the most. It’s not really like that in Wicked Kiss, but Bishop and Kraven’s past definitely play a large part into the trio’s dynamic.
Will readers find out more about Bishop and Kraven’s mysterious past hinted at in book one?
Oh, yes. WAY, WAYYYY more.
Instalove – are you for it or against it?
One of the things I noticed that Dark Kiss was criticized for – or, really, that any YA that features love at first sight seems to be criticized for – is “instalove.” (A term I wasn’t even familiar with until DK came out! LOL). Frankly, I love books with love at first sight, provided that it feels right and natural for the characters. In Dark Kiss, Sam and Bishop are drawn together from their first meeting, attracted to each other in ways they don’t entirely know how to process, but can’t ignore. However, this attraction was VITAL to the plot and it wasn’t just caused by thinking the other person was “super hot.” In fact, this instant attraction is looked at very critically in book two by the characters and it opens up the dialogue of what is real love? Is what we’re feeling real? How do we know the difference between actual love and artificial supernaturally-induced attraction?
Will there be another book in the series?
At this moment, there are no more Nightwatchers books under contract. The series currently consists of Dark Kiss and Wicked Kiss only, no more, no less. Due to this, I took extra steps and extra time to ensure that book two does NOT end on a cliffhanger and that readers will be totally satisfied. That said, if Wicked Kiss sells well, there may be the chance for another book. So, if you enjoy the books, please help spread the word! Word of mouth is THE BEST advertising!
And a couple questions from my Facebook page….
Will Kraven admit that he has feelings for Sam?
Kraven is a complicated character and therefore his feelings are complicated, and definitely not black and white “I like you,” or “I hate you.” Yeah, vague answer, I know!! Read the book for more about Kraven’s feelings – he has a lot of them! 
Will Samantha overcome the hunger she feels for Bishop?
Well, that would be a spoiler for sure! All I can say is that pretty much all questions readers might have after Dark Kiss are answered in Wicked Kiss!
: : : : : CONTEST : : : : :
I want to give away TWO signed sets of the Nightwatchers series – Dark Kiss and Wicked Kiss. Please comment below to enter (International entries are welcome) and answer this question:
What celebrity or book character would you want to give you a Wicked Kiss?
Winners will be chosen at random on Sunday, March 3rd at 9:00pm EST and notified by email. They will have one week to reply with their mailing address to claim their prize.
Good luck – and happy reading!!
October 31, 12 @ 1:30 pm
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
Ten years ago I signed up for the Writer’s Digest Novel Writing correspondence course because I needed guidance on writing a novel with a chance of being published (and to bump me out of my longtime procrastination when it came to pursuing this particular dream). The first assignment was to come up with an idea for a book I wanted to write. I decided I wanted to write about a newly sired, trouble-magnet of a vampire who found herself in a heap of danger in every direction she turned. I sent off this kernel of an idea to my instructor October 26, 2002 and this book eventually became my first published novel, Bitten & Smitten, published January 2006.
This is my roundabout way of saying that this week I’m celebrating the tenth birthday of the creation of my favorite and most challenging character, Sarah Dearly. She’s a character I’m still writing about to this day since she just won’t shut up. I LOVE writing about Sarah, even when she’s making questionable choices that get her into deep trouble or choosing paths that don’t always correspond with what I have in my outlines. And, originally, even when she insisted on falling for the OTHER guy rather than the one I had planned for her (in my original notes, she ended up with Quinn, and the sexy, yet grumpy and dour Thierry was killed at the end of Bitten & Smitten!)
I am well aware that Sarah is a fictional character that I CREATED, but she is one that I SWEAR seems to have a personality all her own. And I’m totally okay with that.
***CONTEST***
I want to celebrate this milestone by giving away a full signed set of the original Immortality Bites series (the UK versions of Bitten & Smitten, Fanged & Fabulous, Lady & the Vamp (that Sarah wasn’t in, but if I had to write it again, she would be!), Stakes & Stilettos, and Tall, Dark & Fangsome) and the first book in my new paranormal Immortality Bites Mysteries series (Blood Bath & Beyond).
And I want to give it to someone who knows the books and Sarah herself. I know you’re out there!
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW SARAH DEARLY?
1. What was the name of the vampire who sired Sarah on her original blind date from hell?
2. How old is Sarah?
3. What’s Sarah’s best female friend’s name (first and last)?
4. Who did Sarah move in with after her apartment went kaboom?
5. What is Thierry’s non-blood, non-alcoholic drink of choice?
6. Which designer suits does Thierry always wear and what color are they?
7. During which historical disaster was Thierry sired?
8. What is Sarah’s favorite blood type and why is it her favorite?
9. What is the name of the vampire council?
10. What happens to a vampire’s body if they’re killed after existing for 100 years or more?
11. BONUS: For those who really know their Immortality Bites and Rowenverse trivia: What was my original title for Bitten & Smitten?
Please send your answers and mailing address to michelle@michellerowen.com — if more than one entry has all questions right, I will choose a winner at random. If no one gets all the questions right, I will choose the winner at random between all entrants. Winner will be notified by email.
Contest closes Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 9:00 p.m. EST. International entries are welcome!
Thank you so much for reading my books — the Sarah ones and the others. Without your support and enthusiasm I wouldn’t be lucky enough to do what I do.
Happy reading and good luck!!
Michelle xoxo
August 07, 12 @ 4:17 pm
*** Thank you for all the comments!! The winners of the signed copies of BB&B are stephanie L and Amy Medeiros — both of whom have been contacted by email to claim their prize. Congratulations! ***
Today is the fangtastic day that BLOOD BATH & BEYOND — the very first Immortality Bites Mystery — is released into bookstores and onto e-readers everywhere!
Any questions?
Hey Michelle Rowen, what’s the book about?
Thank you for asking!
Blood Bath & Beyond
(An Immortality Bites Mystery #1)
Sarah Dearly is adjusting to life as a fledgling vampire, satisfying her cravings at vampire-friendly blood banks. But when her fiancé Thierry takes a job with the Ring—the secret council in charge of keeping vampires in line—Sarah’s about to get more than a taste of danger…
Being engaged to a centuries-old master vampire can be challenging—especially when he takes a job with the Ring. Thierry’s in for fifty years of nonstop travel and deadly risk. It’s enough to make any woman reconsider the wedding…any woman except Sarah, that is!
Traveling with him to Las Vegas for his first assignment, they encounter a child beauty pageant contestant from hell, as well as a vampire serial killer leaving victims drained of blood, potentially exposing the existence of vampires to the whole world. But when Thierry’s truly ancient history comes back to haunt him, and he’s accused of a crime he didn’t commit, it’s up to Sarah to clear his name before their immortal lives come to an end.
“A bloody hysterical paranormal mystery!” –New York Times Bestselling Author Victoria Laurie
4-1/2 star TOP PICK! “Rowen jumps from paranormal romance to paranormal mystery without skipping a beat…Here’s hoping Sarah will have many more adventures in her new series.” —RT BookReviews
5 star TOP PICK! (Rowen makes) the transition from paranormal romance to paranormal mystery with ease. Her writing is sharp, witty and does not disappoint. The ending will delight both old and new fans, and leave you thirsting for the next installment. —Night Owl Reviews
Wait a minute, Michelle… I’m confused. Isn’t Sarah a character from your Immortality Bites paranormal romance series?
Why, yes she is! Sarah Dearly was the star of my original five-book series (although she was only actually in four of ‘em). This is her NEW series, which does continue her adventures, but needs NO knowledge of the previous books for new readers to catch on. Plus she’s in a brand new genre — cozy paranormal mystery — and with a fabulous new publisher — Penguin’s Obsidian mystery imprint, home of such awesome authors as Victoria Laurie, Juliet Blackwell, and Heather Blake, to name but a few! I like to think of this new series as urban fantasy with lots of mystery and romance!
Um, I’m still confused. She ended up with Thierry in Tall, Dark & Fangsome. Will she be getting a new love interest in this new series? Because that’s not cool.
Nope. As shown above in the book blurb, there is no new love interest. Sarah and Thierry are definitely together and it’s great fun for me as a writer to get to explore their relationship beyond the “happily ever after.” These two vampires are the proof that opposites definitely attract, so I am anticipating some very exciting times ahead for them as a couple!
Will there be more books in the series after this?
Yup! I’ve recently sent BLED & BREAKFAST (An Immortality Bites Mystery #2) to my editor and it is scheduled for release June 2013. The first chapter can be found at the back of BB&B!
There wouldn’t happen to be anywhere I can go to read the first two chapters of BB&B, is there?
Yes, indeedy! The first two chapters can be found here!
It’s weird. It’s like you know what I’m going to ask before I ask it. How about this: in BLOOD BATH & BEYOND…is there murder and mayhem and danger around every corner?
Uh-huh. Big time!
Is it also hilarious and delightful?
Well, I certainly would like to think so!
Are you doing a Release Day Contest?
Yes, I am!
*******RELEASE DAY CONTEST********
Please leave a comment at the bottom of this post (and if you’re seeing this on a mirror site, please visit www.michellerowen.com/blog to enter!) and tell me what your favorite vampire novel and/or mystery novel of all time is. I will choose two winners at random who will both receive a signed copy of BLOOD BATH & BEYOND. This contest is open Internationally, so comment away! Contest closes Sunday, August 12th Monday, August 13th at 9:00pm Midnight EST and I will contact the winners via email to claim their prizes. Good luck and happy reading!
Check out these other spots you can find Sarah and win yourself a signed copy of Blood Bath & Beyond this week:
Tote Bags ‘n’ Blogs
Rocco’s interview with Sarah Dearly
A big thanks goes out to my awesome readers — many who have contacted me over the last few years wondering if there would be more Sarah Dearly books. I can finally say — yes there are!
I hope new readers and those who’ve been with me for a while both LOVE Blood Bath & Beyond! Please let me know what you think via email, Twitter or Facebook!
Happy Reading!
Michelle
June 20, 12 @ 3:12 pm
Thank you to everyone who commented! My randomly selected winners are Shanna L. and Emily and they’ve been contacted by email to claim their prizes. I also have three signed ARCs up on Goodreads right now if you want to enter to win — that draw closes at the end of the month. Thanks again!
My first review for BLOOD BATH & BEYOND (An Immortality Bites Mystery #1) has come in — and it’s a great one! RT BookReviews has given it Top Pick status, which makes me very happy! It’s my first Top Pick and I love that it’s for this book in particular. BB&B was a labor of love for me. It’s a book that wasn’t originally on my radar to write, but it had to be written. Sarah insisted! Now she returns August 7th in new genre that, I think, fits her perfectly. And I loved writing every page of this book.
Here’s what RT has to say…
4-1/2 star TOP PICK – Sarah Dearly and her vampire fiancé are back and in a new genre! Rowen jumps from paranormal romance to paranormal mystery without skipping a beat. In the beginning of the book, Rowen removes all of Sarah’s friends. You won’t miss them; Sarah is so lovable that you won’t notice. A child vamp and her caretaker also add a very fun layer to an already strong story. Here’s hoping Sarah will have many more adventures in her new series.
Sarah has had issues being engaged to a centuries-old master vampire before, but never anything like this. Thierry has agreed to take a job with the Ring, a secret council that keeps vampires in line. This job requires a commitment of 50 years of travel and danger. Sarah goes along on his first job, which is in Vegas. That sounds a lot more fun than it turns out to be, when Thierry’s life is threatened and he is framed for murder. Sarah must clear his name before the love of her life is staked and their chance of an immortal life together vanishes. (OBSIDIAN, Aug., 336 pp., $7.99)
I want to give away two signed ARCs (advance reading copies) of BB&B to a couple of randomly selected commenters. So please leave a comment! (if you’re reading this on a mirrored site, please visit the original post.) This contest is open internationally and will close on Sunday, June 24th at 9:00pm EST. Winners will be contacted via email. Good luck!
April 01, 12 @ 12:49 am
Thank you to everyone who entered! The winners were #85 Alina D., #15 Heather M, and #27 Rachel T, and they have been contacted by email.
Since I’ve passed 3000 “likes” on the Michelle Rowen Books Facebook page, I wanted to have a contest to celebrate this!
THREE randomly selected commenters get to pick TWO signed books from the following list of my books. **Leave a comment to this post which lists your two choices.** International entries are welcome.
I’ll pick the winners at random on Friday, April 6th at 9:00 p.m. EST and notify them by email that they’ve won.
The BOOKS………
The Demon in Me
Something Wicked
That Old Black Magic
Nightshade
Primal (anthology)
Bloodlust
Demon Princess: Reign or Shine
Demon Princess: Reign Check
Demon Princess: Reign Fall
Bitten & Smitten (UK Edition)
Fanged & Fabulous (UK Edition)
Lady & the Vamp (UK Edition)
Stakes & Stilettos (UK Edition)
Tall, Dark & Fangsome (UK Edition)
Angel with Attitude
Hot Spell
Touch and Go
Inevitable
Once Upon a Valentine (anthology)
Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide
December 22, 11 @ 3:19 pm
The official guide to the #1 international bestselling Vampire Academy series
Sink your teeth into the perfect holiday gift and must-have collector’s item for every fan of Richelle Mead’s totally addicting Vampire Academy series.
Discover the history of St. Vladimir’s Academy, explore the dark psychology behind Rose and Lissa’s spirit bond, and find out even more illicit secrets about Moroi society. This ultimate guide will feature everything readers want and need to go even deeper into the world of Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, Spirit Bound, and Last Sacrifice . . . every heartache, every betrayal, every sacrifice, and so much more!
It’s the official release day for VAMPIRE ACADEMY: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE! Hooray!! I was thrilled to get the chance to be a part of this fun project, especially since I was (and am) such a fan of Richelle Mead’s series.
Here’s a few FAQs I get about this project….
Who is your favorite VA character?
Too many to mention all of them, but Adrian is a stand-out character for me. He was gorgeous, he had charm, and he was incredibly sarcastic. The perfect man!
Which character would you most like to be bitten by?
Without a doubt: Dimitri. *offers neck*
What power would you want if you were a Moroi?
Spirit, if it didn’t have the side effects. Otherwise, I’d like fire. It seems to be the most kickass power by far.
Does writing the Guide mean you get to meet Dimitri and Adrian?
I wish! But, alas, no.
I’d love to give away a signed (by me) copy of the Ultimate Guide to a commenter! Tell me who your favorite VA character is and why you love them so much! I’ll pick a winner at random tomorrow night, December 23rd, 2011 at 9:00 p.m. EST. International entries welcome!
December 13, 11 @ 10:53 pm
The randomly selected winner (thanks to www.random.org) is Emily and she’s been contacted by email to claim her prize. Congrats! And thanks so much to everyone who entered!
It’s the one week birthday of THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC‘s release. Thank you to everyone who has bought the book and contacted me or tweeted or Facebooked about how much they loved the finale of Darrak and Eden’s tale!
I haven’t had much time for promo since I’m deadlining it like crazy before the holidays, but I wanted to put up a fun new contest. This is for all three books in the Living in Eden trilogy, 1) The Demon in Me, 2) Something Wicked, and 3) That Old Black Magic. A signed set from yours truly! That’s Darrak times three for your bookshelf! How attractively devilish!
I’ll ship internationally for this so anyone can enter — just leave a comment here on the blog and answer this question: What gift, book, wish are you hoping to receive this holiday season?
I’ll choose a comment at random on Friday, December 16, 2011, and the winner will be contacted via email to claim their prize.
Good luck and happy reading!
Michelle xoxo
October 19, 11 @ 1:51 pm
*** Thank you so much to all the commenters. I enjoyed your comments very much! I have chosen at random my three winners and they are: comment #26 – Mo, #38 – Andrea H., and #52 – Vivien! Congrats to the winners who have all been contacted by email! ***
Okay, it’s simple…. I have three more signed That Old Black Magic advance reading copies up for grabs. I want to help celebrate Urban Fantasy Month (another great contest on Jaye Well’s blog here). TOBM isn’t really UF, it’s paranormal romance, but I think it’s close enough!
All you gotta do is leave a comment and say something nice and positive — about anything; the weather, a kitten, a favorite book. It’s been a crazy week. I could use some happy-happy-joy-joy!
Contest is open internationally and I will randomly choose 3 winners on Friday, October 21st, 2011 at 9:00 pm EST. Winners will be contacted by email to claim their prizes.
Good luck!
September 19, 11 @ 2:54 pm
I have three advance reading copies of THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC up for grabs! This is the final book in my Living in Eden trilogy — it officially comes out December 6th. I’m very happy with this book and I hope readers enjoy Darrak and Eden’s further adventures as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Want to get your hands on an ARC? Of course you do!!
Instead of doing a random giveaway this time, I wanted to do something more fun — more creative. Basically I want you to entertain me! (It’s been a slow month.)
To enter, please send me an email about which of MY characters (any character, any book) you’d like to go out on a date with — and why. What would you do? Where would you go? How would he/she act? Make it earnest or tongue-in-cheek, short or long (not too long — anywhere from a paragraph to a page, or so), serious or funny, platonic or romantic — and keep it clean, please. My three favorite entries will be posted on my blog next Monday for everyone to enjoy and the winning entrants will each win an ARC of THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC. International entries are more than welcome! Please copy and paste your entry in the body of your email since I won’t open attachments.
Send your entry (or entries) to michelle@michellerowen.com by Friday, September 23rd at 10:00pm EST. I will choose the winners, post them here on my blog (first name, last initial only for privacy) and notify the winners by email by Sunday, September 25th 10:00pm EST.
Have fun with it! I look forward to reading your entries!
Michelle xoxo
September 03, 11 @ 1:09 am
***I didn’t forget to pick a winner last night! Really!! *blinks* Um, okay, I forgot. But I have now remembered — random.org has selected comment #31: “whateverfor” as my winner and she has been contacted by email to claim her prize. Congratulations! Thank you to everyone who entered and don’t worry, I’ll have more giveaways coming up soon!***
Just lucky enough to hit 4000 followers on Twitter. About to hit 5000 awesome friends on Facebook (which is the official cap of friends you can have — I love you Facebook, but boo!). Got around 2500 “likes” on my Facebook book page. I think that’s worth celebrating! Instead of doing a random giveaway on any of those social networks, I did want to make sure this prize goes to someone who will appreciate it, so I thought I’d bring the party over here.
All you have to do is comment to this blog post (at original blog: www.michellerowen.com/blog, not a mirror) to be in the draw for a complete signed backlist of books by yours truly.
Included titles:
Bitten & Smitten
Fanged & Fabulous
Lady & the Vamp
Stakes & Stilettos
Tall, Dark & Fangsome
Countdown
Angel with Attitude
Hot Spell
Touch and Go
Inevitable
The Demon in Me
Something Wicked
Nightshade
Primal (Anthology)
Bloodlust
Demon Princess: Reign or Shine
Demon Princess: Reign Check
Whew! I’ve been busy!
It’s interesting to look at my backlist — there’s a little bit of everything there, from sweet to sexy to very sexy, light to dark, funny to…less funny. But they’re all paranormals or fantasy. I have seven more on the way to being published (eight if you include the not-a-novel Vamp Academy guide), and hopefully many more after that, so my bookshelf is going to be very full!
The contest is open internationally, so comment away! And thank you so much for following, liking, or friending me! I’ll choose a winner on Friday, September 9th at 9:00pm EST. Good luck!
P.S. If I get over a hundred comments, I will add a second prize. Not all my books, but a nice handful of them.
