If you can't stand the heat......

Ok, I'm convinced I could never live someplace like the southwest. Not that I was contemplating a move anytime soon! We've experienced some all-time high temperatures here in the northwest the last couple of weeks, and I'm so happy our "normal" weather has returned!

I suppose growing up and living my entire life in the northwest has conditioned my body to be less capable of handling those hot, hot temperatures. One plus though, I got TONS done on my next "TO DIE" book, I couldn't wait to visit Grizzly Falls and the snowfall!

I hope where ever you are, you're keeping cool and enjoying the tail end of summer!

AFRAID TO DIE

Just in time for the hot summer sun, AFRAID TO DIE is about to hit book shelves (real and virtual) and it's sure to send a chill down your spine! It'll be out in less than a week, and is of course, available for pre-order now.

Detectives Pescoli and Alvarez are back and on the trail of a new serial killer. Interested? Read an excerpt here. These are two of my favorite characters, and I really had a blast writing this book. I also love to get back to Grizzly Falls, it feels a lot like home. I guess that's probably because I've (loosely) based it on the small town I grew up in.

AFRAID TO DIE is the fourth installment of the "To Die" Series and this one focuses on Selena Alvarez and the secrets of her past. The other books, in order are, LEFT TO DIE, CHOSEN TO DIE, BORN TO DIE and now AFRAID TO DIE. Next year (and already approved) will be READY TO DIE. I think these gals are here to stay!

All About the Books

I thought I would take some time to try and answer a few questions I get frequently: "What is the order of *insert series here*?" Or "Which books are in a series?" Or "How many books are in this series?"

First off, let me say that while there is an order to the books, they didn't start out as series. When I first got to know Bentz and Montoya, I never thought they would hang around this long! Seriously, I can't shake those guys! Really though, the New Orleans series, and Bentz and Montoya, specifically, is one of my favorites. All that rich history, the spice of the town, it just lends itself to excitement, suspense, and a steamy romance, or two.

But, let me get back to what I was saying before, there is an order, but it's not crucial that they been read in a specific order. Sure, you'll have a little more background on the detectives and the other characters that show up in consecutive books. But it's not like you'll be lost if you read SHIVER before you read HOT BLOODED.

For those of you who are interested though, you can head to lisajackson.com and find all the answers. You can find out what books are in which series, how many books there are, and the order in which they were written. While you're there, get to know some of the characters a little better in the character galleries. Or take a walk through the streets of Grizzly Falls, MT.

And always stay connected on Facebook, I try to answer questions on there too!

Here today, gone tomorrow

That's exactly what happened with the snow in our area. One minute it's snowing, schools are closed, kids are out building snowmen, I'm looking for Jackie O-No's PUGGS and peacoat (No, she doesn't really have either, I can't bring myself to actually purchase boots or a coat for a dog, but she does have a sweatshirt!)...... And then it's G.O.N.E.

Really, it happens that fast. But maybe that's why I love the winters here. We get the beauty and coziness the snow brings, but only a glimpse, because then it's gone and we're back to rain. rain. rain. I'd rather drive in the rain than the snow though.

On the other hand, now that the holidays are over and I'm really getting into AFRAID TO DIE, snow for a few days wouldn't be so bad. Like I said, here in the Pacific Northwest, we only see snow once a year and usually only one or two inches so it kinda freaks everyone out. It's like, "what is this stuff and how do we get around in it?" It gives me a good excuse to lock myself in the house, keep the coffee on all day and write, write, write. And with AFRAID TO DIE set in the often snowed-in little town of Grizzly Falls, it's all the more inspiring!

Coming Up in the New Year

I thought you might want a glimpse of what I’ve got planned for early 2012.  It’s a busy year and I’m writing like mad—what could be better?  Cold winter days, a cup of hot coffee, Jackie O-No snoring nearby as I write another new story—sounds like heaven, yes?  Currently I’m wrapping up AFRAID TO DIE, the fourth in the “TO DIE” series featuring Detectives Selena  Alvarez and Regan Pescoli and set in Grizzly Falls, Montana.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.

I wanted to tell you about my next release!  In February, DARK EMERALD will be re-released with a brand new cover.  It’s gorgeous and at that time it will also be available as an e-book!!!  I’ll be promoting the book along with DARK RUBY, it’s prequel, and DARK SAPPHIRE, it’s sequel, both already available as e-books.  It’s a fun trilogy filled with spells, witchcraft, adventure and hot romance all set in 13^th century Wales.  This trilogy was a lot of fun to write and I hope you like it! 

Now . . . currently Jackie’s sawing logs, so where’s that cooling cup of Joe?

Black (and white) Friday

At least, for me. If you follow me on Facebook, you saw that I was working on revisions for YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW over the holiday weekend. And I've gotta say, even though revisions aren't usually all that fun, I think they're way more fun than being pepper sprayed! After I heard about that I vowed to NEVER to go out on Black Friday. Some deals just aren't worth it.....

July 2012

But with the revisions for YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW wrapped up and back in my editor's hands, I can get back to hangin' with Pescoli and Alvarez. Those two keep me on my toes, with Pescoli and her trouble with her two kids (we won't even start with her ex and his new wife......). And then there's Alvarez and all the skeletons in her closet, yikes!! Seriously, though, these are two of my all-time faves, and I love writing about them.

June 2012

AFRAID TO DIE is out next June, and while that seems a ways off now, I know it'll be here sooner than I think! And of course with everything that goes along with the holidays, a little shopping, a little celebrating, I won't get as much done as I've planned. Which makes me think.......hmmmmm......resolutions.........

Business AND Pleasure??

While I was in London vacationing and visiting my publisher, it was suggested that I do a few book videos for the Australian and New Zealand editions of some of my upcoming books.  Sounded good to me.  Why not?  Well, because I wasn’t prepared.  Scratch that.  Make it—I REALLY was not prepared.

But I was in.

Of course I wanted to look a little different in each video, but my choices for mixing it up weren’t so hot.  I collected a few of the nicer clothes I’d brought, then mixed and matched them with some of my agent’s outfits, and “winged it.”  No script, no inspiration, no questions—just “Tell the readers/viewers something unique about the book.”

Gulp.  Four different books.  All that I’d written months and years earlier.  Sure.  OOOO—kaaaay.

I wracked my brain and here’s the video, the one we came up with for BORN TO DIE. Please note that I’m wearing my agent’s jacket and her necklace.  (They’re nice . . . maybe I should have accidentally put them into my suitcase!) 

And just so you know--(as if you couldn’t guess!) there were no makeup artists, or hair stylists, or scripts or anything but someone from the publicity department and a hand held camera—the kind I use to take pictures of my dogs!

Talk about flying by the seat of my pants! (Or my agent’s, in this case!)

Note to self for the next trip:  Don’t forget the hairspray!

At the Movies

Since BORN TO DIE is out this week, I thought you might want to see the book trailers for BORN TO DIE and WICKED LIES . . . so grab a handful of popcorn, or 3 Sour Patch Kids, or a couple of Milk Duds and get ready for some serious action . . . all in less than five minutes!