Call Me Lucky

You wouldn't know it to look at me, but I'm a little superstitious. I try not to walk under ladders, and if I spill salt, I always throw the spilt remains over my left shoulder--just in case.

Why take the chance, right?

But I have publishing superstitions too. I don't like to make major announcements until I have the SIGNED contract from the publisher in my grubby little hands.

Guess what I got in the mail the other day?

Celebrate with me! This fall, (November, if Angela James is right) my science fiction romance will release under the Carina Press banner.

Can I get a WOOT-WOOT from you guys?

There is a long and complicated story behind the story which I'm sure you'll hear bits and pieces along the way. But I am very proud and pleased to have signed with Carina Press for my novel, TRUE BELIEVERS.

It is science fiction, action-adventure, and a love story all rolled into one. Along the way, I probably managed to aggravate the Catholic Church, the US government, and every code monkey who ever debugged a computer. Poke me with a fork and call me done. LOL.

This is a novel that almost wasn't, and I'm grateful to Angela James to have given me the chance to tell this story.

I don't want to spoil the surprise of the official blurb, so I'll leave you with the blurb I used to pitch this story.

Mix one cynical immortal and one true believer and throw them into the biggest alien-hunt the world has never known.

Rachel Cruz is a Nephilim masquerading as an archeologist and she's stuck with an alien who believes she can lead him to his ancestral gods.

Black Ops wants to find these gods too. They want them dead.

Who reads SF? I need a fan club!

Comments

Ted Cross saidā€¦
Congratulations! I'm not one for romances, so I am not sure what a sci-fi/romance would be like. If it's too heavy on the romance angle I probably wouldn't like it, but I know romance has the largest audience, so you are probably doing the right thing.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Thanks, Ted.

Ref: romance
I'd call it a most complicated relationship. Definitely not your normal fare.
Dru saidā€¦
Woot! Woot!

Congratulations Maria!!

Are you going to celebrate your new contract?

Again, WTG!!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Thanks, Dru.

Ref: celebrate
Maybe when it comes out. Right now I'm deep in edits.

I need a margarita, stat. LOL.
Mike Keyton saidā€¦
I'm really pleased for you. About time this baby found a home :)
Linda Leszczuk saidā€¦
Here's a WOOT WOOT and a WOO HOO and an old fashioned YIPPEE! Congratulations. I like a sci fi romance mix so I'm looking forward to reading it.
Sue Guiney saidā€¦
Huge congrats! How exciting!
Andrea Coulter saidā€¦
yay congrats that is fantastic! go have that margarita :)
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Mike:

You won't believe how this story has grown. I'm willing to bet it's not the one you remember.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Linda:

Thank you! I held nothing back on this one. :grin:
Anonymous saidā€¦
Congrats, Maria!! I can't say enough good things about Carina Press. They've been a dream to work with. :-)
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
@Sue
@Lynn

Thank you! Thank you!

Sue, it is exciting. Carina is a big deal.

Lynn--you know I think I will have that margarita. Even if it is the middle of the week.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Liz:

Carina has been awesome! It's been a great experience so far.

--although I have to admit, I am uber nervous about the cover.

What will it be?
Sherri saidā€¦
Congrats!

Of course, I'll read anything you write Maria :)

I've heard good things about Carina.

*Snoopy dancing*
Congratulations, Maria! Looking forward to reading it!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Sherri: You are so sweet. Thank you!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Sandra: Thanks, Sandra. This was my first baby, back from the OWW days.
Kait Nolan saidā€¦
Congratulations Maria! That's fantastic!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Thanks, Kait. I'll be stopping by your blog later to catch up.

(There are a LOT of blogs I've missed lately due to edits.) I should be caught up by the weekend.
Vincent Kale saidā€¦
Congratulations!

I love to see more SF creeping into the picture. Consider your novel on my booklist!
James Garcia Jr saidā€¦
Congratulations, Maria! We need to bottle what you are feeling right now. One would be labeled "Excitement" and the other "Relief". I had those feelings, too. Signed contract last fall, edits arrived Christmas Eve morning, and official release this past February. I get more this fall when my e-book transforms into a paperback.
Once again, congrats. I will be looking out for the details, and for when the book tour swings through California!!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Thank you, Vincent! And thanks for stopping by.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Jimmy:

Ref: Relief

That's it! That's what I was feeling!
No wonder I wanted that margarita.
Marian Perera saidā€¦
That's wonderful, Maria! Not just a new contract, but with Carina. Consider yourself toasted (as in a glass raised to your success, not as in what happens to bread).

I also dropped by to let you know that I received a package all the way from Texas yesterday and wore my new T-shirt when I went shopping, because it fitted. :)
Wendy Ramer, Author saidā€¦
So many congrats to you! I don't read SF, but I'll read yours, just because you're you. (I'm like that.)
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Marian:

It fits? Fantastic!! I was so worried.

Thank you for the toast, Marian. Bread would have been fine too. I like bread. LOL.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Wendy: You are a sweetheart. I could hug you!
Unknown saidā€¦
Congratulations Maria!!! Damn woman, I'm impressed. Your first book is published by Samhain and the second went to Carina?!!! 3 WOOTS for you. As soon as my reviews are done & mailed, I'm breakin' out the e-reader & diving in to Touch of Fire. Can hardly wait for the release of True Believers!
Jackie saidā€¦
WOOT WOOT and YAHOO and CONGRATULATIONS Lady, wonderful news!!!
Maria, up until reading the blurb I was fine. Read it and had chills go up and down my arms, sweetie you have got a winner there! When it releases is it going to be e-book only or print as well. Man hoping for print too because hate reading books on my Mac computer but like your gal Wendy will do it just because it is you! Plus I love Sci-Fi and a romantic Sci-Fi would be some kind of hotness!

jackie :-)
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Catie: I'm slow, but I'm steady. LOL.

Thank you for being so supportive!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Jackie: I think Carina is only doing ebooks first, though my guess is it's just a jumping off point for them.

Woman, you need to get an e-reader. You are way too avid a reader to stick with paper.

Thank you for popping over, Jackie. You always make me feel good.
Jackie saidā€¦
E-Reader maybe someday, maybe not. I can walk away from a book from a dead tree pretty easy but my computer is addictive so think an e-reader would be worse! Plus just like a Hardback Book think would not like holding it above my head to read....

Re: Feel good when I pop over, I hope so because that is kind of the point of being a "cheerleader" and I do love to cheer you on because hard work deserves rewarding!

jackie ^_^
Lydia Kang saidā€¦
Wow! that is amazing news! You definitely deserve a WOOT-WOOT!

Hooray!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
You're a sweetheart, Jackie!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Thanks, Lydia! I feel all warm and gooey right now.

All I need is chocolate and I'll be set. :)
Marguerite Butler saidā€¦
What awesome news, Maria! Congrats!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Thanks, Marguerite. And welcome back!

I better see some blog posts about your camping trip. I miss camping.
Marianne Arkins saidā€¦
Blogger hates me. Yesterday I couldn't comment, today it keeps hiding the word verifications from me.

Anyway .....


WOOT!!

And, I don't think Carina will ever be print -- Harlequin doesn't need another print line. Just saying.

I'll also say this: so far pretty much all the Carina books I've read have been outstanding, so yours must be stellar. *G*

I'm more a fantasy reader than Sci-Fi, but I my have to make an exception.

Congrats again!!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Thanks, Marianne!

Ref: And, I don't think Carina will ever be print...

Never say never. There's a lot of speculation on that.

Ref: SF or fantasy
That will be a topic of discussion for the future for sure.
Sarah Ahiers saidā€¦
wOOt! Go You! Congrats!

And i read Sci-Fi, yes i do.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Ref: And i read Sci-Fi, yes i do.

Sara, I think you already have the makings of a cheerleader. How do you look in boots and pom poms?

Wait--don't answer that. This is a family blog. LOL!
Stacy saidā€¦
Yay Maria! That's fabulous!

*holds up luke-warm cup of coffee in a heart-felt toast to you*

I will look forward to reading it!
Tia Nevitt saidā€¦
Wow; 42 comments ahead of me, so it looks like you already have the fan club! Congratulations!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Stacy: Thank you!!

Tia: Nah, I just owe them money. :grin:
Anonymous saidā€¦
As you well know, luck had NOTHING to do with it!!! Well done, M, and I'll be having a drink in celebration tonight. (Forget that I have a drink every night and let's just go with the flow here.)

WELL DONE! H-U-G-E CONGRATS! I wanna see the cover already!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Kaz:

Ref: cover

I'm as nervous as a cat.

Not YOUR cats. I still have good bathroom manners. :)
Angela Brown saidā€¦
Maria,
I am so very happy and pleased as punch for you!! This is awesome. You can get a WOOT! WOOT!, a "Party over here" and an OMG!!

Congratulations! You've earned it
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
What are you drinking, Angela?

I'll have some of that. LOL.

Thank you, sweetie!
Angelina Rain saidā€¦
Congratulations! I wish you the best of luck with publishing this new book. :)
Anonymous saidā€¦
I now occasionally stalk you via this blog....but I guess its good because, #1 YAY!!!!!!!!!!! How exciting, you are a super writer!!! and #2 YAY you have an egg-laying chicken. I wish we could have a chicken....Chili could use a friend, and I could use an egg.
-Becky
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Thank you, Lia!

It should do well once I find all those SF readers currently in hiding.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Is Chili stalking me too?

I think my chickens are bigger than that dog.

Welcome, Becky. Stalk at your leisure. Just remember what happens on this blog doesn't get back to the family. LOL!

Tell your mom, I'll be calling tonight.
Mary Curry saidā€¦
Maria,
I don't know how I missed this. MEGA-congratulations. I love love love that Carina is giving so many stories a break.

Great pitch blurb too!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
MaryC: How did I miss your comment?

Thank you for stopping by!!
Heather Massey saidā€¦
Congratulations!!!

Can't wait to read it.