How To Enter

Snap a photo of yourself holding the mass market version of ASK FOR IT. (sorry, but the trade version doesn’t qualify for this contest!) and send it to the email address listed on the contest page. Please include your name and mailing address in your email to expedite the mailing of prizes.

Have fun with the pics and feel free to be creative!! (but please, no photos too racy for a general audience.)

Bonus Entry:
Put the “Picture You with AFI” contest graphic on your blog/MySpace/site/etc. and receive an additional contest entry. Simply include the link to the webpage where you’re displaying the graphic in your entry email.

Image link
(copy and paste the code below)

<a href="http://www.sylviaday.com/contest/" target="_blank">
<img src="http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/wp-content/AFI_contest.gif" width="140" height="225" border="0" /></a>

The Rules

For contest prizes, dates, and the fine print, check the contest page!

Good luck!

THE DARKEST NIGHT
by Gena Showalter

His powers – Inhuman

His passion — Beyond immortal . . .

All her life, Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past. To end the nightmare, she has come to Budapest seeking help from men rumored to have supernatural abilities, not knowing she’ll be swept into the arms of Maddox, their most dangerous member — a man cursed to die every night, only to awaken the next morning knowing he has to die again.

Neither can resist the instant hunger than calms their torments . . . and ignites an irresistible passion. But every heated touch and burning kiss will edge them closer to destruction — and a soul-shattering test of love . . .

Though they carry an eternal curse, the Lords of the Underworld are irresistibly seductive — and unimaginably powerful . . . Don’t miss this incredible new paranormal series from Gena Showalter!

Read a three chapter excerpt here!

ABOUT GENA SHOWALTER
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Gena Showalter has been praised for her “sizzling page-turners” and “utterly spellbinding stories.” The author of more than seventeen novels and anthologies, Showalter is celebrated in a wide variety of genres for her breathtaking romances featuring dark, seductive heroes and strong, appealing heroines. Readers can’t get enough of her trademark wit and singular imagination, whether she’s writing paranormal stories about vampires, nymphs and superheroes, white-hot contemporary romance or alien huntress books. Her newest series, Lords of the Underworld, promises to be her sexiest and most addictive yet. Don’t miss this intoxicating blend of dangerous passion, demons and other supernatural forces, and immortal men who are hotter than hell!

REVIEWS

“A fascinating premise, a sexy hero and non-stop action, The Darkest Night is Showalter at her finest, and a fabulous start to an imaginative new series.”
– Karen Marie Moning, New York Times best selling author

“One of the premier authors of paranormal romance.”
–New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole

You can buy your copy at: Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Website: www.genashowalter.com | www.lordsoftheunderworld.net

Thanks to the fabulous Shayla Black for the first recorded sighting of a Sylvia Day title in a Wal*Mart (for $4.97 no less…)

I’m still thinking about a “Find AFI” contest, so stay tuned. I have lots of books and goodies to give away (including Marked coffee mugs!)

…when I’m working hard on a book? *g* I don’t blog much.

The Romantic Times convention was fabulous. I came home blissfully unaware of any drama. For me, the trip was lots of meals with my editors and lots of late nights with close friends. Authors I always enjoy — Shayla Black (one of my dearest friends and perennial roommate), the Allure Authors (like sisters to me — Sasha White, Vivi Anna, Myla Jackson, Delilah Devlin), Rhyannon Byrd (a doll!), Beth Williamson (I never get much chance to just sit down with her and chat, but I love her. She’s just wonderful.), Patrice Michelle (beautiful and sweet), Lora Leigh (we first met when she invited me to RAW last year and I love her. I always laugh when we’re together), Shiloh Walker (Shi is one of my After Midnight sisters and we finally got a chance to hang out a bit on this trip), Jennifer Martin (we rushed by each other a few times, but in the past we’ve hung out and I really, really like her. She’s so warm, with an always-ready smile), Tawny Taylor (love her! Beautiful and uber talented in so many ways), Lauren Dane (love her bunches, too!), Sahara Kelly (she’s just wonderful. Perfectly elegant and wickedly naughty at the same time), many of my Brava Author sisters… Oh there’s more, but it’s early in the morning and I’m still working on the first cup of coffee.

The Safari Happy Hour was a HUGE success, and we plan to do it again next year with a tropical theme. If you couldn’t make it to RT this year, I hope to see you next year! I’m slowly adding photos of the event here: Safari Pics. Check back to see new pics as time allows!

I should also have some books to giveaway shortly. I’m just waiting to see if the boxes I left with the security officer at the hotel were actually shipped to me. If not, then I have nada. If so, then I have books and goodies.

The baby dove and hummingbirds flew the coop while I was gone. I miss them.

I found out PASSION FOR THE GAME is a finalist for the National Readers’ Choice Award for Best Historical!

The mass market version of ASK FOR IT was in the goody room at RT. That was the first time I’d seen the finished book and let me tell you… It’s GORGEOUS! I can’t wait until it hits shelves in a few days. I think I may have a “Find AFI” contest, since it’ll be everywhere this time around–WalMart, Target, bookstores, etc. We’ll see! For now, it’s back to writing for me. I hope things are going great for you.

On Saturday, my daughter went into the backyard to play and came running back in to tell us there was a dead bird outside. I told her to let daddy take care of it. So she went back outside. A minute later, my son came in to say that along with the dead bird on the ground, there was a live one. A little brown baby bird. I went outside to investigate along with hubby. Sure enough, there were two baby doves on the ground — one dead, one very much alive.

Saturday morning we had really, really rough winds in the valley. My daughter accompanied me to the post office and the heavy doors kept blowing open and scattering papers all over the PO lobby. It was crazy. We guessed the strong wind must have tossed the baby doves from their nest.

We waited a few hours for the momma dove to come and see to her remaining baby, but when it started getting dark, we started to worry. Hubby caved into the familial pressure and went to the store for a heating pad, baby bird gruel, and feeing syringe. We fed the baby and called it a night.

(It’s a cell phone picture, so forgive the quality.)

Today–after feeding the baby again–I spotted the momma dove outside. I was so excited! I put the shoebox out on the patio table and retreated into the house. From the kitchen windows, we watched as the momma dove eventually worked her way–very cautiously–over to her baby. When they reunited, it was awesome! Both of them seemed so happy to find each other again. Mom started feeding baby right away and nested in the shoebox with it. Daddy dove came back about 20 mins. after momma, and he spent the rest of the day on guard. At any given moment you could find him marching a perimeter around the table, or settled a few feet away watching the shoebox very closely.

However, as the sun started to set, the parents took shelter in the tree and left baby on the table. Since we have a ton of neighborhood cats (who used to love to chase our chicken) we couldn’t leave the baby outside overnight. So it’s back in the house again. Our parrot isn’t the slightest bit interested in the visitor, but our toy poodle gets jealous and whines if the kids hover over the box too much.

We also found a hummingbird nest in our backyard pepper tree today. It’s the size of a silver dollar and it holds two tiny baby hummingbirds. They’re so itty bitty. Still, despite how tiny they are, I can’t believe they fit in that teeny nest. I also can’t believe they didn’t get tossed in the wind like the poor doves.

So it’s definitely spring here!

I’m buried, so I’ll do a giveaway.

If there’s a book from my backlist that you’d like, let me know in the comments. I will once again round up my children to pick some winners.

Anything fun/great/interesting happening with you?

OMG… I can’t believe I forgot to mention this play!! I went to see it with my dear friends and Allure sisters Delilah Devlin and Myla Jackson, and wow… did I have a GREAT time!! My cheeks hurt when I left from smiling and laughing so much. It was phenomenal. All of it. Every song and actor, every set and costume. I can’t recommend it enough. David Hyde Pierce was in his element. And take good friends with you! You’ll have a blast.

If you have a chance to see it, GO!! It was a highlight of my trip.