Coming soon to a bookstore near you! Or a bookstore on the Internet — I’m really not that picky. But NOT to an illegal download near you! Those should be far, FAR away from you!

26 more days until Iron Night is published! Exciting, right?

Want something even more exciting? I just got the okay to tell you the title for Book 3 – Tainted Blood. (pretty cool, right? I offer no hints at the current time about the contents of the book, lest I give away anything about Iron Night. okay, fine, you wore me down. ONE hint: there will be Star Wars references. this will make sense once you’ve read Iron Night) The team over at Roc is working on the cover right now. I haven’t seen anything yet, but I’ve gotten to be involved in some of the conversations about possibilities, and they even asked if I had any ideas.

A slight bummer – it doesn’t look like we’re going to get to see Suzume on the cover with Fort. The reasoning is actually really interesting, and was a neat insight into the industry of marketing a book. A cover that had Fort and Suze on it together would suggest to readers that the book was a paranormal romance. Now I’m not saying anything about where Fort and Suze are going (you’ll have to read Iron Night to find out more! mwah ha!), but that’s not my genre.

What I was really hoping for, of course, was to have Suze on the cover in her fox form. Because let’s face it – foxes make everything better. Unfortunately, it was pointed out to me that foxes are kind of tiny. In the setup they’re thinking of, the only way to really see Suze would be if Fort was holding her – which would suggest to readers that this was some kind of sexy veterinarian book. Which… is also not exactly what I’m going for. (let’s face it, Fort would *never* make the kind of money a veterinarian makes, or have that kind of job security)

So no foxy cover. *sigh*

However, I do have you, my dozen faithful readers! (and probably some very nice spammers, and a few bots) And if there’s one thing the Internet is missing, it’s sufficient pictures of foxes! (the Internet *is* however, full up on cat pictures)

Moi?

Time for a contest! Make your best fanart picture of Suzume (human or fox!) and email me a picture of it! Just to let you know, there’s already some stiff competition, since my 7-year-old nephew has been tasked with drawing a picture of Suze attacking Luca. (and in full disclosure – my nephew is an extremely average artist for his age)

The contest will run from now until January 1st. All photos will be posted on this website. The winner and two runner-ups will be mailed galley copies of Iron Night.

That’s right, *this* galley copy. Or possibly the one under it. I’m sorry, I really can’t tell them apart.

Don’t think you’re much of an artist? That’s okay, neither is my nephew. (sorry, Caleb – but I do enjoy your stick-figures) Extra points will be given for effort, and do not underestimate the possibility that I will have three or fewer entries! You could win just by entering! (wait, should I be underselling the contest this much?)

So draw Suzume for me! (just to head up potential awkwardness – draw a *family friendly* Suzume for me!) You can have a galley copy of Iron Night in your hands before the official publication day on January 7th! (see how smoothly I stuck that in? oh, yeah, I’m totally getting the hang of this publicity thing. wait, I’m not supposed to type that? darn it!)

Not being on the cover would bother baby fox more if she wasn’t so busy yawning and looking adorable.