Thursday, September 13, 2012

JK Coi and Broken Promises

So I'm really excited today. My buddy Stacy's writing career has taken off like a steroid-charged stallion this year, and part of her success is earmarked for being the 'newbie' to make the hot list of a steampunk anthology last Christmas, along with a line of hot, established writers... so Stacy says to me recently... you know my antho-sister is having a book release... would you consider hosting her? And I was like... WELL DUH! It puts me like... in the big time, as bloggers hosting writers go, right?

Besides, JK posts pics of her dog in steampunk gear on facebook which is HOT (as hot as the guy on her cover, who I would totally fall for--looks like my brand of mischief). So Stacy hooked us up and now I am like a squeeing fangirl! (You will be, too--even you guys. Just wait)... so without further ado, I proudly introduce JK Coi!

*****

When Hart agreed to host me today I started scrambling for an insightful idea because her blog is so fantastic and she’s a great friend of my antho-sister, Stacy Gail. I wanted to make a good impression, ya know?

Could I think of something witty? Ha…no. I think we need PG Forte here for that. She’s another of my antho-sisters, and VERY witty.

Could I blog about some altruistic cause? Well, probably, but…no. Jenny Schwartz would be a much better person to do that. My third antho-sister, she is the sweetest thing, and knows exactly how to tug at the heartstrings and get you excited for something worthwhile.

Could I tell you a funny story about myself? Dudes *shaking head* My whole LIFE is a funny story. But not the funny haha kind. More like the funny OMG THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN TO REAL PEOPLE….So funny it’s sad. You’d cry. Then where would we all be? Crying into tissues instead of reading this blog. But Stacy is funny as hell, and a whirlwind cheerleader for other authors.

In fact, I should have asked them to write this blog for me. But geez, I already owe all three of them so much. When I call them my “antho-sisters” (which is a term Stacy actually came up with) I really do see them as sisters. Last year when we heard that we would all be included in a holiday anthology together with our steampunk stories, called A Clockwork Christmas, I wasn’t expecting much. Maybe a few group promotional events and that would be that. But we banded together right from the start, even creating a Facebook page that is still very active (and will have lots of great contests in the next few months). And now we are each other’s most enthusiastic promoters.

I have one MASSIVE regret about Broken Promises, the book that follows the story I wrote for the anthology. When my editor asked me if I was going to write acknowledgements, I KNEW at the time that I was going to miss someone (I even said in the acknowledgements that I hate them because I always miss someone). I thanked my family, and my editor, and my critique partners.

But I didn’t thank my antho-sisters, and this made me cry when I realized what I’d done.

Of course, it was too late to go back and make the change, so I’m going to post my message to them here:

A special thank you to my antho-sisters, Stacy, Jenny and PG. You have been the best Christmas gift I’ve ever received, and I’m grateful to Carina Press and Angela James for bringing us together. I love you all, and I never want to let you down. When the four of us all meet together in person someday soon, there will be many hugs and tears and then lots of girlish squeeing. I CAN’T WAIT!!”

So, maybe we are all crying into our tissues instead of reading this blog, after all. At least I am. But it means a lot to me to be able to show these three fabulous women that I appreciate them.
Thank you for the opportunity to do that, Hart!

JK Coi

J.K. Coi is a multi-published, award winning author of contemporary and paranormal romance and urban fantasy. She makes her home in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and son and a feisty black cat who is the uncontested head of the household. While she spends her days immersed in the litigious world of insurance law, she is very happy to spend her nights writing dark and sexy characters who leap off the page and into readers’ hearts. (www.jkcoi.com)

She also writes Dark Fantasy for young adults as Chloe Jacobs (www.chloejacobs.com)

BROKEN PROMISES (Book 2, Seasons of Invention series), available now!

Former ballerina Callie Carlisle is determined to rebuild her life with her new mechanical limbs. She's just learned to accept the enhancements that saved her from certain death when she experiences uncontrollable twinges and flashes of light that obscure her vision. Terrified of literally falling apart, she resists telling her husband. Jasper's already vowed to keep her out of harm, and she doesn't want to worry him further.

When the War Office's General Black arrives with an urgent mission—rescue the doctor who created Callie's enhancements—she has no choice but to accept. A rogue agent and former patient of the scientist believes the biomechanical modifications he received are killing him, and he's out for revenge.

Callie must reach the doctor before it's too late. But with an overprotective Jasper at her side, and her alarming symptoms getting more frequent, will she be able to hold herself together long enough to save the doctor...and herself?


Tart note:  And so you don't think I'm kidding about the dog pics...

Shamelessly stolen from A Clockwork Christmas's Facebook page. This is Blue.
Say, JK--Ontario?  That's my neck of the woods! (and by neck I mean fatty part where the thumb comes in--right near the wrist, actually... in the mitten of Michigan)--we could probably leverage to get Stacy up to visit--Stacy is one of my sisters, too, so that really makes us related.

Thank you so much for visiting!!!


19 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That is one seriously steampunked dog!
JK, I think you fit in really well on Hart's blog today. Even if you just made everyone cry.

J.K. Coi said...

Thanks, Alex!! You know now I'm going to be a regular here! :)

J.K. Coi said...

Oh, I love the idea of having more sisters, Hart! And I'm going to be doing some travelling down your way in the next few months...

Stacy Gail said...

I LOVE YOU, JK!!!! *blubbers* It was the luckiest stroke of luck to be in Carina Press's steampunk holiday antho with you, PG and Jenny. Better yet, now you know someone who's incredibly important to me, my sister-in-crime and brain-twin, Hart Johnson! This is better than a harmonic convergence. Or a mouthgasm. Or something. But I digress.

BROKEN PROMISES, the 2nd book in your SEASONS OF INVENTION steampunk series packs an emotional punch along with lots of fast-paced action, as always. If people like a book they can "watch" unfold in their mind's eye as they read, I can't encourage them enough to try this novella out. I can't wait to see what happens next in this world you've created, so write faster, okay? :D

Happy release week, my antho sister. <3 And to my Watery Tart sister, you are the fab (and naked :D) hostess with the mostest! Group hug!(<--See how I didn't write "hog" this time around? Woo. Go me. :P)

J.K. Coi said...

Hey darlin'!!!

You're the best, and thank you soooo much for all the support you give me.

I'm chewing my fingernails off waiting for your new holiday story!!

Hart Johnson said...

Alex-she DID fit right in here, didn't she? FABULOUS!

JK-Excellent! Give a shout if you're near Ann Arbor!

Stacy-YAY digression! And YAY for some book feedback!



Tina said...

Hi. What's steampunk? I thought I'd heard all the genres, but I'm obviously mistaken. Though I have a total girly crush on you - I've been on bedrest FOREVER (ok, only 6 weeks, just FEELS like forever) and you just made me GIGGLE. Go you! I can't remember the last time I giggled. Cried? 5 minutes ago. Sigh. Antho-sisters oughta be copyrighted. Isn't it great to have good friends, even when you havent' met? I totally believe blogger buddies are real friends. The picture of the dog, and the description gives me SOME idea of steampunk...but I'd love just a sentence or two so I can tell others. Thanks!
Tina @ Life is Good

PG Forte said...

Since I'm so late to the party, let me start out by being helpful. ;) Steampunk is Victorian sci-fi. Think Jules Verne or HG Wells...or the third Back to the Future movie. If you imagine a world where the inventions of Nikola Tesla and Charles Babbage had become commonplace, you have Steampunk.

Next, let me get in on that group hug! JK--you sweetie! Thank you for that beautiful dedication! You definitely made me tear up with that one--see? I think Stacy's wearing off on me. ;)

As usual, I'm following after Stacy on all my comments (Hmm...Angela James must have known that would be the case when she arranged the antho like that). And, as usual, I want to steal her answer...I mean, she stole mine! Yeah, that's what I meant.

Really, everyone, read this awesome, awesome book. And if you haven't read the first one, go and do that too!

Hart Johnson said...

HA! PG-thank you for that much-more-coherent than I would have given answer!!!

Ellie Garratt said...

Wow. Got to love the dog!

Do you know I've never read any steampunk? I think I need to. Awesome post.

J.K. Coi said...

Tina, bedrest for 6 weeks???? And you haven't killed anyone yet??? GO, YOU! You're much stronger than me!

PG - that was such a great answer, thank you! I would add that steampunk in literature is linked to a much greater "movement" that would need much more space and time to talk about, but the great thing is that it is also often bundled with other "punks" - like diesel punk, cyber punk, etc. ALL GOOD STUFF!!

J.K. Coi said...

Ellie - start with this book called A Clockwork Christmas!!!

Jan Morrison said...

Love this! And love the dog although Hoagy didn't. He sneered. Really.
By the way if you're going to get JK to your neck of the woods (elbow of the lake) then you'll have to get her to come DOWN to you. Everyone knows North is up even if the world is round. Right?

Jenny Schwartz said...

I'm late to the party - again! You can't blame me. Australia is a long way to travel, and this time I was sniffing and flat out bawling as I tried to steer the dirigible.

Seriously, JK, that post made me tear up.

Thanks, Hart, for such a wonderful warm welcome. I think "the Sisters" have just expanded to include all of you! :)

Tina, take care of yourself.

Hart Johnson said...

HA! New sister! I WIN! I'm so glad ALL of you stopped in today! I feel honored!

And Jan, YES, North is up... So is Canada. Even if it is really east of here.

JK-Stacy, our friend Rissa and I came up with a full SLOUGH of punks... ending of course in the infamous punk punk. *cough* but we hit cave punk, iron punk, ice punk.,... we might have gotten carried away a bit...

J.K. Coi said...

So yeah, I have edits due like...asap, and I get distracted really easily...SQUIRREL...so I had to turn off the net for the evening and get some work done.

BUT I love you all! This has been a fantastic day, and a wicked blog!

J.K. Coi said...

Jan, is Hoagy your dog? My Blue loves other dogs. Hoagy would warm up to her, I'm sure of it!

Jenny, hugs! I was telling hubby just today that we can go to Australia any time, I'm sure I'll have a place to stay *grin*...

J.K. Coi said...

And Hart! *smooches* Thank you again for being a fantastic host! I hope to visit often, and see you on Twitter (and maybe even in person some day soon!!)

Jenny Schwartz said...

JK - tell your hubby to book the tickets for August :)

Y'all are VERY welcome to come join me at the Romance Writers of Australia conference in Fremantle - the setting of my steampunk stories AND my hometown. It will be my first ever writers' conference, and though I'll be insanely nervous, I can't wait to catch up with other authors, readers and even eek! editors. Think sitting at a cafe on the beach watching the sun set over the Indian Ocean...

http://www.romanceaustralia.com/freo/