I was hit with news this week that flipped my email marketing upside-down. A new law is going into affect on May 25. There are new rules for email marketing and that includes newsletters. Authors are in a tizzy. Readers are frustrated. I've already head from a few that are already sick of getting ''opt in' or 'consent' letters through their email stating they have to sign up again or lose the newsletter. A lot of them are throwing up their hands in surrender. They have decided to go without the newsletters. I don't blame them. 

The law itself is complicated with so many rules. I get it that we have to fix it so people signing up, but we have to make sure our old subscribers are compliant with the law. Ridiculous. I tried to fix it, but it got so complicated. I spent hours on the internet reading about the new rules and trying to fix my list. Didn't happen. Waste of time.

So I am dumping my old list and starting over. I am asking subscribers to sign up again. Those that really love my books will, and I guess those are the only people I want on my list anyway. 

If you are one of those frustrated with the influx of newsletters asking you to subscribe again, just remember this. We, the authors, did not make this law. It is also a hassle to us. Maybe even more so since we have to learn the law, fix our list, and make new newsletter sign up forms. Thank you for patience.

Yes, I know this book has been a long time in coming. For some reason it's been difficult to write. Might be because I've been sick off and on for months now. I got the flu twice. That makes writing hard. It makes doing anything hard. But I feel great now, and I've been working on the book every day. 

Want a sneak peek?

Join my Facebook group, Team Blake, and you will find a link to the first chapter. Also, I ask the group for their opinions on stuff like: What should I name this character? Which opening for this book do you like the best? Do you prefer happy endings or ones that are bittersweet? If you want to be heard, join us HERE.

I will be giving them the first look at the new cover soon.

Join us. We'd love to have you.

Have you ever checked the reviews on Amazon for your favorite book? I did. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare has over four thousand reviews. The book has sold over a  million copies. Twilight has double that, and we've all heard of this series, even people who aren't interested in reading it. The first book only has about eight thousand reviews. That's ridiculous. It should at least have twenty thousand. But people don't want to leave reviews. Why? I have no idea. As a writer I have tried a variety of things to get reviews for my books. The most important thing I did was to add a reminder in the back matter of my book asking for reviews. I put a polite note in there and even added the link so all a reader has to do is click on it. Still, I only have a smattering of reviews. You may be thinking, so what? Why are reviews important?

1. Reviews can improve my book's placement so others will see it. If your book is not on the first few pages, it won't be seen. Readers typically only scan the first few pages when they are searching for a book.

2. Reviews can help get a book on lists like Hot New Releases.

3. People won't buy books if they don't have reviews. 

4. A review can convince a reader to either get the book or pass on it.

5. Reviews can let the other know what the readers like or didn't like about their book. That helps with future writing projects.

There are other reasons, but these are the top ones. If you love a book or even just really like it, please consider leaving a review for that author. More reviews mean I can spend more time writing and less time marketing. Plus, I love to hear what people think of my books. Writing is such a solitary job. It's nice to get feedback.

I got the flu the day before Christmas, and I was sick for weeks. Family members also got it, but they were over it in one week. Somehow I think I caught it multiple times. Every time I started to feel better my symptoms returned. Needless to say, being sick has not helped with writing. I couldn't even stand to think about my work-in-progress while I was feeling ill.

Good news: I am currently working on two books simultaneously. I have no idea which will be finished and released first. Kind of exciting.

4-Ever Cursed is the second in my Vampires Rule spin-off. 

Cursed by a Grimm is the first in a new fairy-tale like series. 

Check in once in a while, and I will keep you updated.

This book will be free if you are a part of the KU program.

Want it? Find it here:

I am looking for bloggers to do my cover reveal. If you own a blog (or if you would be willing to share on Facebook) please fill in this short form. Thank you. SIGN UP

Yes, I have a new book on the way.

This is where it gets complicated. This novel is the first in a new series, BUT it is also the sixth book in the Rule Series. You can read it without reading the other series, or you can read the other series and then read this one. Or you can read this one and then go back to read Vampires Rule and the other Rule books to get the backstory. 

Have I confused you?

The thing is, 4-Ever Hunted reunites us with some of our favorite characters from the Rule Series, but it also gives us new characters. The NEW main character for this series is Trick, a wise-cracking young vampire hunter. His friends and his family are also pulled into the story. 

Then we have Cowboy, Summer, and a few other returning regulars from the other books.

You see, Cowboy wants to find a fourth for their vampire group. He wants to turn someone, and Summer thinks she has found the perfect boy. Trick reminds her of Jack. Too bad he's a hunter who would rather die than join them. But they've got other things to worry about like a Shadow Faerie on their trail. 

Shadow Faeries are powerful assassins from the Faerie Realm. They never stop until the job is done, and this ones job is to kill Cowboy and Summer... and Trick.

Bay-Lee's Mock Battle:

“What is this?” she asked. “Where are we?”
“We constructed a magical maze,” Van said. “You are standing at the center of our creation, and there is a solitary exit at the end. Soon, the wolves will be released into the maze at different points. It’s possible you could find the way out without battling more than one or two, but take care you don’t find yourself caught between them.”
Desperate to stall, she asked, “Can you set Keisha up with a Mock Battle soon? She thinks she’s getting rusty.”
“Keisha is a banshee. They don’t get rusty. She just wants to kill something, but she’ll have to wait. There are others that need Battles more than she does.”
He disappeared, leaving her alone in the maze, and she stood frozen for several seconds while he used the Spirit Realm to leave the maze. Any moment now the werewolves would be released. Then what? How was she going to survive this?
Bay-Lee pulled out the poisoned comb Keisha had loaned her. She also had her favorite dagger hidden in an ankle sheath beneath her pant leg. If she hurried and chose her path wisely, maybe she wouldn’t have to face any of the wolves.
She took a quick walk around the half-finished room. There were three small openings leading to hallways that looked the same. Three options. If she chose wrong, it could mean death.
 Pressure built. Her heart thundered in her chest, and the longer she paced the more she felt like she needed to pee. If she didn’t make a decision soon, the werewolves would all find her at once. They’d rip her to shreds, and her father wouldn’t lift a finger to save her.
She stopped in the middle, and her gaze moved from opening to opening. Bouncing on the balls of her feet, she silently screamed at herself to pick one. Just pick one!
Without thinking, she ran through the nearest opening and plunged down the long hallway. She took the first detour she found. Another hallway. Next, she chose to use the last opening.
Dead end.
She retraced her steps in a sprint.
A growl floated to her on the wind. Or was it her imagination?
Panic set in, and she realized she was running in circles. If she didn’t stop to create a plan, she’d continue to repeat the maddening process.
She took out her dagger and carved an X into the wall. Every time she entered a new area she did the same thing. The sight of the X near an opening warned her to continue on to the next. Better than bread crumbs. At last she felt like she was getting somewhere.
In the distance she heard several giant paws pounding the ground, and her heart skipped a beat. The werewolves were inside the maze. They were closing in on her.
She ran faster.
A huge, hairy beast appeared at the end of the hallway she was using.
Bay-Lee slid to an abrupt stop. She pulled out the poisoned comb and temporarily sheathed her dagger. A single weapon was all she needed at the moment.
The werewolf stamped a foot like a bull preparing to charge. At least it was alone. She could run the other way, but she was almost positive the thing was blocking her escape route. If the only way out was through the monster, she would go through the monster.
Besides, she didn’t want to get caught between two of them.
She held up the poisoned comb and ran straight at the werewolf.
 The thing seemed surprised. Ears cocked, it tilted its head to the left and stared at her. At the last second before she reached the werewolf, it solidified its stance. Back arched, mouth snarling, it got ready to pounce.
It leaped at her.
She hit the ground as if sliding into home plate with bases loaded. The wolf sailed over her, while she went under it. In her mind it happened in slow motion. She lifted the comb and pricked the monster’s furry stomach.
By the time the werewolf landed, it was stone cold dead.
Hands on knees, she tried to catch her breath and wondered how much poison was in the comb. Could it be used more than once? She should have asked Keisha. It wouldn’t be good to find out the hard way that the comb needed to be recharged or reloaded or something.
Since she didn’t know if the comb was immediately reusable, she traded it for her dagger. Time to return to business mode and find her way out of the maze.
It didn’t take long before she found new hallways without an X on the walls.
An occasional growl reached her ears.
Hands in pockets, she kept moving. She ran until her legs began to ache, and a painful stitch stabbed her in the side just below the ribs. If she stopped now, she’d be dead for sure.
Her run slowed to a fast-walk. The growls seemed to be getting closer. She pushed herself to keep going. If it wasn’t for the X’s she’d carved into each new wall, she would think she was running in circles.
She rubbed her side, momentarily easing the pain as she continued on.
The wolves drew closer. Any second, they would be snapping at her heels. Then what?