In This Issue:

BREAKING NEWS
Recent Reviews for "Desert Dreams"
Publisher Relief Fund Coalition
October Issue of The Pen Is Mightier
This Month's Spotlight Site
This Month's Colleague in the Spotlight
Contests
Shameless Promotion
Odds and Ends


Hey, you're still here? Boy, you guys are stalwart…and have I mentioned brave? Hey, I made a promise at the beginning to never bombard your mail-boxes and clutter up expensive bandwidth with my ramblings and if nothing else, I always try to keep my promises (yeah, yeah, I hear ya, excuses, excuses).

A lot has happened since my last newsletter and I hope this finds you and yours all well and safe.

So without further ado, let's begin again:

BREAKING NEWS!

Well, can you hear my heartbeat pounding from over there? Because if you can't you should. COUNTDOWN time, and the days (nine to be exact) are ticking away to the release of my suspenseful paranormal djinni romance "Desert Dreams". If you haven't marked your calendars yet…then what are you waiting for?

Recent Reviews:
A keeper! – Very highly recommended
Speaking of "Desert Dreams" (and no, this next one is not from my mom either, but it did give me a satisfying Sally Fields warm-fuzzy, you-like-me-you-really-really-like-me moment when I devoured this excerpt from WordWeaving (http://www.wordweaving.com):
"Author Gracie McKeever creates a fantastic romance in DESERT DREAMS. While external conflict helps keep the tension tight, it's the struggle between the woman and the genie-man that keeps the reading hot. A tight plot, perfectly revealed motivation, and a crafty blend of gritty realism with the impossible make this awesome escapist fiction. Indeed, sparkling dialogue as well as a multicultural blend of family and friends reveal McKeever's trademark gift. This author once again creates a memorable combination of multicultural and paranormal elements that make the journey toward love a fascinating tale. DESERT DREAMS is very highly recommended." Cindy Penn, Editor, WordWeaving.com, 11/01
Visit http://wordweaving.com/reviewnov06_01.html to check out the entire review!

Award-Winning St. Martin's author, one of my favorite paranormal romance writers and whose talent I greatly admire, agreed to give "Desert Dreams" a whirl for an author quote, and here's what she had to say: "Pull up a chair and get to know Therese and her family. McKeever makes you feel like you're one of the gang. Desert Dreams is a wonderful mix of romance, paranormal, and suspense that will have you clamoring for more of McKeever's unique stories. Don't miss it!" Tina Wainscott, author of Unforgivable

"Desert Dreams" is also a 2002 Nominee in the Independent e-Book Awards
(http://www.e-book-awards.com/indie-intro.shtml). Keep your fingers crossed for me, and if you notice a rather ecstatic and grinning UFA (Unidentified Flying Author) floating by outside your windows, it's only me.

"Desert Dreams" will be available November 12, 2001 from NovelBooks, Inc. (http://www.novelbooksinc.com). Tell a friend…and start your Christmas shopping early!

Publisher's Relief Fund Coalition (http://www.novelbooksinc.com/coalition/index.html):
And speaking of NBI books and the spirit of giving…In light of the horrific events of 9-11, NovelBooks, Inc. opened its doors for sales on September 17, 2001. From the Publisher/CEO, Penny Hussey: "This is two weeks ahead of our opening schedule, in the hopes that by doing this, we can generate monies toward the relief fund immediately. Between September 17 and December 31, 2001, the funds will be collected and distributed to the American Red Cross for police and fire/rescue personnel lost as a result of their valor… NBI will donate 50% of net profits of sales from our site to the victims and their families through Dec. 31, 2001."

Ad: Meet the authors that make Awe-Struck tick, read the interviews, the articles, the inspirational stories behind the books, and find out what Awe-Struck Awe-thors are up to. But most of all, sign up for the Awe-Struck Flash, Official Newsletter of Awe-Struck E-Books http://www.awe-struck.net, and get Awed!

The Pen Is Mightier:
Latest issue is up! http://members.aol.com/RitrsPulse/Pen.html
My review of the YA romance "After Shocks", a Byte^Me Book from Awe-Struck E-Books Teen Novel Line is live on the site. Check it out under COLUMNS. But don't stop here. There are other book reviews, movie reviews, short stories, novel excerpts, poetry and much more from the other talented authors and staff members at The Pen!

This Month's Spotlight Site
To keep up on the latest from your favorite authors—interviews, reviews, new releases and cool giveaways—visit Lisa's at Book Review Café (http://www.bookreviewcafe.com). And don't forget to check out the cool Book Review Café gear—hats, tees, mugs and much more!

Ad: There's always a sale or a special going on at Awe-Struck, so if you haven't visited recently, check it out! ALL of Awe-Struck's titles released in 1999 will be discounted to just $3.00 per download through December 2001! ALL of the titles released in 2000 will be discounted to $3.25 through December 2001 as well! What deals for holiday shopping! The ever-popular Pik-a-Paks is still available and makes great holiday gifts, too. Affordable books and great reading; what else could you possibly need? Visit http://www.awe-struck.net

This Month's Colleague in the Spotlight:
Where would my books be without this very talented and gifted artist? Or more importantly where what would my covers be without Ms. Rickey R. Mallory! Not only is this woman a talented and prolific cross-genre romance author, but she's one kick-butt graphic artist who has done all but one of my covers (the very evocative "Desert Dreams" cover was done by another talented lady, Ari Overton…boy I'm lucky!).
To take at peek at Rickey's latest cover for another of my upcoming paranormal releases (hint, hint…plug!) "Flames Past", check out: http://hometown.aol.com/gwiz10/myhomepage/favorite.html
Visit Rickey's Webpage at http://www.mallorykane.com for information on the author's current and new releases, contests and more of her knockout covers!

Correction: the URL for last month's Colleague in the Spotlight was incorrect (why didn't someone SAY something? Ah-ha! Now I know you're not really reading your newsletter the way you're suppose to. For shame, for shame). But since I certainly wouldn't want those of you who are interested to miss out on this very talented author's works here is the correct URL for Steve Lazarowitz SF and Fantasy Homepage http://www.sff.net/people/nagennif

Look at that, you get two spotlight authors this month for the price of one. What more could a reader ask for?

Contests
Finalists for NovelBooks, Inc. 1st annual "Novel Romance" Short Story contest have been posted (http://novelbooksinc.com/contest/finalists_1st.html). Winners will be announced December 1st.
NovelBooks, Inc. will be sponsoring another contest starting May 1, 2002. Don't forget to tell all your writer friends and check out the site then to enter!

Karen Boml was the winner of my September contest, sponsored by Road To Romance at http://www.roadtoromance.dhs.org. Mrs. Boml was the lucky recipient of a full-color laminated place mat (approximately 8 ½ X 12) of the original cover art for "New Life Incognita"

I'm planning to run another contest at RTR during the month of December and will be offering three prizes at that time: First Prize will be a "Desert Dreams" sweatshirt; Second Prize will be a "Desert Dreams" cotton canvas tote; and Third Prize will be a signed Trade Paperback edition of "Desert Dreams"!

But don't wait until December to check out the site. Sue is sponsoring some author dynamite giveaways from some of your favorite authors at RTR—every month! Surf on over, check out the site and ENTER to win! Oh, and don't forget to tell a friend!

In the meantime (We're going to try this again—sheesh, an author can't even GIVE a book away these days ), for all you werewolf and Sue Krinard fans who would like to enter my November giveaway, up for grabs is an almost-mint condition PB of "Prince of Wolves". To enter, just send a blank e-mail to g_mac10@yahoo.com with "Prince of Wolves Contest" in the subject line. Contest runs until the end of November 2001. Winner will be drawn at random and prize will be sent some time in December 2001. One entry per email address and per person. Winners will be notified by email. I reserve the right to publish winners names on my site(s) and in the email newsletter. Tell a friend about the contest and if they sign up for my AD Newsletter by November 30, 2001, they'll automatically be entered in the POW contest!

Another Shameless Promotion
Visit NovelBooks, Inc. Cyber Shops at http://www.cafepress.com/nbi where you'll find your favorite NBI cover (yes, Virginia, even Desert Dreams!) on a slew of different products—from tees and totes, to mousepads and mugs. You can also choose to purchase official NBI gear perfect for showing off to your friends or wearing out and about. Keep an eye out for new products and specials. And if you're not lucky enough to win one of the "Desert Dreams" prizes up for grabs in my December contest, well then you might have to break down and BUY the gear. Did I mention, affordable gifts, just in time for Christmas?

Odds and Ends
If you haven't yet stopped by Gracie's Gallery http://hometown.aol.com/gwiz10/myhomepage/index.html please do check it out. Learn more about my books and me. Peruse the links of interest for writers and readers. Pore through the available articles, poems, short stories, novelettes and free book excerpts, and…Happy Reading!

Thanks for being a part of this experience (and experiment), and allowing me to periodically invade your mailboxes. Please feel free to share this newsletter with a friend and encourage them to stop My Den and sign up! It's free, it's easy and until next time…it's done!


Gracie
http://www.paintedrock.com/authors/mckeever/mckeever/htm