Updates & Announcements!

I have a couple of announcements and then some quick updates regarding Soul Enslaved and Ricochet. First, due to some unforeseen circumstances, I must regrettably cancel my appearance at the signing in San Francisco.  I’m incredibly disappointed as I’d hoped to meet some of you, as well as some of the amazing authors and of course, Nadine—the very gracious host for this event.

Second, for those who may have missed it earlier in the week, I announced on my FB page that I will be pushing the release of Soul Enslaved back a couple of weeks as I work through some changes that have affected the entire storyline.

The original release date was scheduled for November 6th and given the length of this book, simply wouldn’t allow enough time to address the pieces of the story affected by this minor change.

So when is the release date for Soul Enslaved?

I’m looking at Friday, December 5^th.  I'll post again soon, confirming the date.

My apologies for having to prolong the wait, but I cannot publish something that I’m not completely satisfied with.  These edits have strengthened the story and I have to say, my goal for each book is to write a better story than the last—Soul Enslaved is, by far, my favorite in the series.

I mentioned in an earlier post, that there will NOT be a blog tour for the release of Soul Enslaved.  With the holidays coming up and the number of projects I currently have going, I’d like to channel my energy into the writing.

HOWEVER.

I am doing a book blast on release day and could use your help spreading the word!  Not just bloggers – readers too!  For a VERY limited time, Soul Enslaved is going to be 99 cents.  A percent of sales will be donated to two organizations that help kids stay off the streets.

To join in on the blast, just click on the link below, fill out the form and I’ll contact you two days before the book’s release!

SOUL ENSLAVED BOOK BLAST SIGN UP

Additionally, there WILL be a rafflecopter with some awesome prizes that I’ll be giving away, including a limited edition print, signed by sexy cover model, Daniel Sobieray!

Soul Enslaved is with the editor right now, and I'll be handing this baby off to some beta readers very soon--like, next week, soon.

With Soul Enslaved written and out of my hands, I'll be shifting gears and working to get Ricochet out to readers as quickly as I can!  I've gotten a number of emails asking who that gorgeous face is on the cover.  That chiseled perfection belongs to British model, Chris Williamson.

Go add the book to your Goodreads shelf!

COVER REVEAL FOR RICOCHET!!

You know when you've got something incredibly exciting to share and you can't yet, so you kinda go a little crazy in the time you're forced to wait? I was there.  For the entire SUMMER that I had to sit on this reveal.

While writing The Fallen back in January, I was hit by a dark and gritty story, set in Detroit, but not part of the Sons of Wrath world.  I knew this one would be a contemporary romance from it's very beginnings and I kept it on the backburner, unsure of whether or not I wanted to jump into a whole new genre.  To me, it felt like starting over.

Then sometime in May, I was casually perusing Specular's portfolio on Facebook and my eyes immediately zeroed in on one helluva striking image.  The face fit the character for this story so freaking perfectly, I was mesmerized.  I decided I HAD to have him on the cover.  Long story short, I contacted the photographer and that was all it took - the MC in this story refuses to be ignored and the book is practically writing itself, now that I've got my muse.

Before I show this baby off, I have to thank the very talented Chris Davis (photographer) and the insanely gorgeous model.  Holy hella hotness!  He's a British model too, so you KNOW there's a sexy accent to go with dem looks.

I imagine something like this:

Also huge thanks to my brother Ryan (who happened to hog all of the design talent in the family), for taking the time to design the cover.  As one of the founders of a thriving business, he always has a lot on his plate, but never hesitates the many times I approach him with, "So I have this idea ..."  ❤

Thanks so so much to all the contemporary bloggers (I've never had so many bloggers participate in sharing the cover!) who are helping out with this reveal, and to the readers and bloggers (particularly my street team) who helped connect me to them.  Love yas!! ❤

Okay, I know, I know.  You didn't come here to read a story.

So without further delay, here is your first glimpse at Ricochet's cover and blurb! Add it to your Goodreads shelf and be sure to enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win an ARC before it releases!

Screen-licking is encouraged ...

RICOCHET

By Keri Lake

Adult Contemporary Romance - Standalone

Expected Release Date: Spring 2015

Image credit: Specular

BLURB:

The only sure way to destroy a man is to take what he cannot live without.

Three years ago, I had everything.

A beautiful wife.

A son.

A reason for living.

Until a ruthless task force, assembled under Mayor Michael Culling, with a brutal strategy to make the streets of Detroit ‘safe’, ripped away everything I loved in a deadly hunt called The Culling.

They tried to kill me, too. I wish they had. Now I'm cursed by the memories of that night, and the words I whispered to my dying wife.

A promise—to avenge the wrong and set it right.

I’m no longer Nick Ryder. I’m a masked vigilante. Faceless. Loveless. Fearless. A man with nothing left to lose—one who's seen the dark and violent truth behind the city’s flawless veneer.

Michael Culling doesn’t know who I am. Or what I want. All he knows is that I’ve kidnapped his beautiful wife.

An eye for an eye—isn’t that how the saying goes? And Aubree Culling is the perfect pawn to destroy him.

If she doesn’t destroy me first.

************

Add it to your GOODREADS SHELF!

To be notified when the book goes live, join my VIP EMAIL LIST!!

RICOCHET PLAYLIST:

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sharing The Love ❤

If you're not from Michigan, then you probably don't know how f**king C.O.L.D. it can get here.  I mean, eyes-watering-then-turning-your-eyelashes-to-icicles cold.  Look at this, taken just last week:

Frigid.  And when the wind blows?  Like little daggers of misery beating against your bones.  On days when it dips below freezing with a wind chill somewhere in the negatives, my first thought is, how the hell do the homeless survive in this shit?

As you know, the Sons of Wrath series is set in Detroit.  Not just by random selection.  I was born in Detroit and raised on the outskirts.

I'm currently running a limited time promotion for Soul Avenged and will be donating a percent sales to:

Covenant House of Michigan - This is an organization that provides shelter and education to runaway and at-risk youth in Detroit (ages 13-22).

How can you help?

For every book purchased during this promotion, a percentage of sales will be made in the name of Keri Lake's Caring Readers.

Help me get the word out and support a good cause.

For those who share and like this status on my FB page, I'll be randomly giving away a limited edition print, signed by cover model Julian Christian and moi, of course.

Thank you sharing the love ❤

Grab a copy of Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1) here:

Amazon (Kindle) |  Amazon (Print)  |  Barnes & Noble (Nook)

 Grab a copy of Soul Resurrected (Sons of Wrath, #2) here:

Amazon (Kindle) |  Amazon (Print)  |  Barnes & Noble (Nook)

My First Vlog

UPDATE:  VLOG POSTED ON JEAN BOOKNERD SITE.  CLICK HERE AND ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF SOUL AVENGED!

Okay I'm going to keep this post short this week.  Just wanted to take a moment to share a first experience for me:  vlogging.  I know for many, it's not a big deal--sitting in front of a camera with no one around and chatting is just a natural thing for some people.  For me though, it's absolutely frightening.

But I'm all about facing fears, so here goes ...

This is a vlog that I was asked to prepare and discuss the characters of Soul Avenged, but since there was a bit of a mix-up, I'm just gonna give you a sneak peek.  I can now cross vlogging off the list ...

Next up on that list of to-dos?  Jumping out of an airplane.

Urban Exploration: Packard Plant

When I began writing Soul Avenged, I wasn’t quite sure where to set this cast of characters.  For a long time, I’d wanted to write about Detroit.  But let’s face it, Detroit isn’t a romantic town boasting a brighter shade of overcast, surrounded by lush greenery with half naked Native Americans and their bulging chests running around, fighting a coven of sparkly vampires—er, unless one of the homeless guys managed to score a good, strong liquor.  It’s a multiple personality disorder without meds:  culture, art, decay, pride, history, scandal, rebirth.  Not to mention it’s ranked in the top ten most dangerous cities in the U.S.

It’s also where I was born though.

I grew up going to concerts with my parents in Hart Plaza, musicals at the Fox Theater, the Auto Show at Cobo, boating on the Detroit River, St. Andrews Hall with friends, my beloved Detroit Science Center and those small hole-in-the-wall (literally) restaurants in the heart of the city that you'd never think to set foot inside.  In high school, I participated in a research internship at the Mott Medical Center on the campus of Wayne State--my very first experience working in a real lab.  And so began my love for science...  My prom was held at the Atheneum in Greek town and I had dinner with my date on the top floor, The Summit, of the RenCen.  Up until I left for college, I lived in the same house about two or so blocks from the 8 mile (no, I've never met Eminem).

So why wouldn’t I set this dark urban fantasy in a location that's been an integral part of my life?

The opening scene of Soul Avenged takes place in the Packard Plant.  I’ve always been somewhat fascinated by the ruins of Detroit, particularly when I’ve had the opportunity to stumble across pictures taken decades ago while the city was booming with business.  So odd to see fancy storefronts in a time long since passed transformed into boarded up broken glass, sprayed with graffiti.

My sister Lisa and her man, Glenn, are both photographers.  So when I was scouring inspiration to write this scene, I really didn’t have to go far.  Lisa, Glenn and their fellow photographer friends have done some urban exploration in the city’s most shattered landmarks.  I asked her to give her perspective—to write how she sees what some might call an unsalvageable wreck--through the eyes of an artist.

There are those who come to Detroit from all over the world to photograph these buildings as if they're walking through cemeteries, mourning the dead.  My sister is one who, like me, has lived here all her life.  She sees beyond the exterior, into the soul of what once was and what could someday be again.

 The Soul Within

One of my favorite places to shoot is The Packard Plant, East Side Detroit.  The hustle and bustle of the city can be heard from outside the walls, while inside, an eerie silence lingers amidst the ruins and debris.  It’s a modern day ghost town.  With 3.5 million square feet sprawled across thirty-five acres, the Packard Plant is the largest abandoned factory in the world.

It is surreal, to say the least.

I’m fascinated by it’s destruction.  Twisted metal swings from the ceiling like a contemporary sculpture.  The cracks and crumbles of deteriorating concrete seem to draw a picture. And the infinite angles to shoot beckon a return trip.

Perhaps you’re thinking … what’s so intriguing about that?

If you’ve ever looked into a grandmother’s eyes and witnessed the beauty of her soul—how her past paints a masterpiece of what once was—the same can be said for urban decay.  As I walk around, I see the plant as a hub of production and prosperity; the assembly of thousands of cars, and workers sitting in the cafeteria eating their lunches.   Like the scene from Titanic that morphs a rotting ship at the bottom of the sea into a breathtaking vessel ready for a voyage.   A story reads in my head with the passing of each corridor.  I see the soul of the building through the decay … and to me, it’s beautiful.  -Lisa

“Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph. “– Matt Hardy