Website: www.jordandane.com MySpace Blog: http://myspace.com
Transcription
Website: www.jordandane.com MySpace Blog: http://myspace.com
Website: www.jordandane.com MySpace Blog: http://myspace.com/jordandanebooks CrimesSpace Blog: http://crimespace.ning.com/profile.JordanDane Award-winning Romantic Thriller Author – Avon HarperCollins Jordan Dane - Bio After Jordan Dane sold her first 3-books in auction to Avon/HarperCollins in June 2006, her debut title – No One Heard Her Scream – held more significance. Everyone heard her scream! And that went double for the next 3-book thriller series she sold to Avon in May 2007 before she had any books on the shelves. Pursuing publication since 2003, Jordan received awards in 33 writing competitions, including her 2005 RWA Golden Heart entry. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Kiss of Death, and the International Thriller Writers. Jordan and her husband share their residence with an intelligent canine and two cats of highborn lineage. Ripped from the headlines, Jordan’s gritty suspense plots weave a tapestry of vivid settings, intrigue, and dark humor. She loves challenging a reader’s moral barometer with the borderline ethics of her characters and their flawed personalities--dark, angst-ridden antiheroes pitted against unforgettable villains. Take a front row seat to suspense with Avon and Jordan Dane’s back-to-back releases in April through June 2008-No One Heard Her Scream, No One Left to Tell, & No One Lives Forever. A thrilling ride of mystery and suspense—all in the first degree! www.jordandane.com Praise for Jordan Dane "Jordan Dane has crafted a debut novel with thrills and chills that blend beautifully with human pathos and emotions. A wonderful new author who sets you up on a roller-coaster, rising, falling, twisting--she's not to be missed!" —Heather Graham, New York Times Bestselling Author of THE LAST NOEL "Jordan Dane's debut romantic suspense sizzles with an effective blend of hot romance and cold suspense. Intense and satisfying." —Allison Brennan, New York Times Bestselling Author of FEAR NO EVIL "No One Heard Her Scream has it all. High stakes romance, riveting gritty suspense and engaging characters. Jordan Dane is a fabulous new voice." —Cindy Gerard, New York Times Bestselling Author of INTO THE DARK "Thrills and chills from the very first page to the last-Jordan Dane will make you think twice before you ever walk alone in the dark again." —Robin Burcell-Award-winning Author of FACE OF A KILLER "Jordan Dane is a brand-new star on the horizon of women's fiction. Her style is gritty-her writing sharp and concise. Her first novel, No One Heard Her Scream, is a roller-coaster ride of nail-biting suspense and heart-stopping emotion. I couldn't put the book down and didn't want it to be over." —Sharon Sala, New York Times Bestselling Author of THE SURVIVORS "Strap yourselves in, folks! Mega-talented author Jordan Dane will wring your emotions dry as she takes you on a wild ride in this taut, riveting tale of murder, intrigue and redemption. An incredible piece of work from a new author-I've already got my order in for her next." —Merline Lovelace, USA Today Bestselling Author CLOSER ENCOUNTERS "High suspense and hot sex...all in the first degree." —Maggie Price, Award-winning Suspense Author of THE RANSOM "No One Heard Her Scream has everything I love in a romantic thriller— breathtaking action, nail-biting suspense and sizzling tension between the hero and heroine. From the very first page, Jordan Dane proves she's a talent worth watching." —Amanda Stevens - Award-winning Suspense Author of THE DOLLMAKER Reviews Publishers Weekly, 12/10/2007 No One Heard Her Scream Jordan Dane. Avon, $6.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-06-125278-5 In a dynamite debut from Dane, San Antonio Det. Rebecca Montgomery fears the worst when her little sister, Danielle, is abducted during summer break on the Texas Gulf’s South Padre Island. Five months later, the discovery of a crime scene saturated with Dani’s blood indicates she’s been murdered. As more college co-eds go missing, Becca wants to stay on the case, but the department hands her a puzzler involving a young woman’s remains found within a wall of the torched Imperial Theater. They belong to Isabel Marquez, who’s been missing for almost seven years. Becca finds a surprising ally, and mutual attraction, in Diego Galvan, who works for slimy Hunter Cavanaugh, former owner of the Imperial and a prime suspect. Dane’s smooth style, believable characters and intense pacing will remind readers of Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner and Tami Hoag. While Dane’s debut is being marketed as romantic suspense, it crosses over into plain thriller country: the tight plotting and the male characters are exceptional, bad guys and good. (Apr.) “No One Heard Her Scream is a fantastic story from debut author Jordan Dane. The book sizzles with romance and the suspense had me on the edge of my seat. From the first page to last, I couldn't put it down, it was an engaging story with wonderful characters and it's definitely one of the best books I've ever had the pleasure of reading! I very much look forward to her next book.” —TOP PICK - Five Hearts “Lifetime Keeper” Wendy at Night Owl Romance “Author Jordan Dane has set a very strong foundation for the "NO ONE" trilogy. Whether you are a fan of Romantic Suspense or Crime Scene Thrillers you will not be disappointed. I have never read this author before now, but I will definitely be keeping my eye on her. If Jordan Dane's writing stays this good, I see wonderful things in her future. Excellent!” FIVE STARS - Detra Fitch – Huntress Book Reviews 12/28/07 “Jordan Dane is a talented new author who will make her mark with her debut novel, No One Heard Her Scream. This was a riveting read that grabbed me immediately from the first page. I was emotionally invested with the characters - not only the hero and heroine, who were heroic in every sense of the word, but also the missing and dead girls, who needed justice. I anticipate a phenomenal career for this new author.” ~Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com "And NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM (April 08) by Jordan Dane is another great debut coming out, this one the first of a back-to-back trilogy from Avon. It's dark, intensely suspenseful and very sexy. Read it in the daytime and have a tall glass of ice water handy." Allison Brennan - Romancing the Blog on Favorite Debut Novels - December 12, 2007 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/12/favorite-debut-novels/#comment-22445 No One Heard Her Scream Avon HarperCollins ISBN 978-0-0612-5278-5 April 2008 “Intense and satisfying." —Allison Brennan, NYT Bestseller “Jordan Dane is a fabulous new voice." —Cindy Gerard, NYT Bestseller “I couldn't put the book down and didn't want it to be over." —Sharon Sala, NYT Bestseller “Thrills and chills that blend beautifully with human pathos and emotions.” —Heather Graham, NYT Bestseller Burdened by Grief, She Hunts a Killer They never found her sister’s body, but Detective Rebecca Montgomery knows her murderer is still out there. In the five months since Danielle went missing, there have been two more brutal abductions. A savage menace stalks the women of San Antonio and therelentless detective will do anything to find him. And a Seductive Stranger Shadows Her Every Move But her latest case—the discovery of a young woman’s remains inside the wall of a burned-down theater—plunges Rebecca from her grief into a brand-new nightmare. She soon meets handsome, mysterious Diego Galvan at the crime scene and his shadowy connections will lead to her first break in both cases. But when Rebecca submits to his considerable powers of seduction, she will leave herself vulnerable to a merciless killer . . . and when he attacks, no one will hear her scream. No One Left to Tell Avon HarperCollins ISBN 978-0-0612-5375-1 May 2008 “A fabulous new voice." —Cindy Gerard, NYT Bestseller “A brand-new star on the horizon of women's fiction.” —Sharon Sala, NYT Bestseller “A talent worth watching." —Amanda Stevens - Award-winning Author “I've already got my order in for her next." —Merline Lovelace, USA Today Bestseller A Dark Message The body of a brutally slain man is found on the holy grounds of a chapel, and a cryptic message pinned to his chest unravels the lives of people touched by a dark secret. Detective Raven MacKenzie and her partner uncover the dead man’s connection to a powerful woman crime boss, leading them to her mysterious head of security, Christian Delacorte, who soon becomes the prime suspect. Triggers his Nightmares Yet when Raven sifts through Christian’s past, she discovers the man is plagued by deeply rooted nightmares –and a shadowy childhood tragedy linking him to the case. Convinced his past holds the key to finding the real killer, she defies her partner, following her gut instincts and trusting her undeniable bond with Christian. And Arouses a Killer But Raven shares her own date with destiny when she crosses paths with a heartless killer. And when he unleashes his rage, there will be no one left to tell. No One Lives Forever Avon HarperCollins ISBN 978-0-0612-5376-8 June 2008 “Hot romance and cold suspense. Intense and satisfying." —Allison Brennan, NYT Bestseller “Jordan Dane will make you think twice before you ever walk alone in the dark again." —Robin Burcell-Award-winning Author "High suspense and hot sex...all in the first degree." —Maggie Price, Award-winning Author Nothing is What It Seems Born to a childhood pitted by violence, Christian Delacorte is desperate for peace when he embarks on a new life with the woman he loves, Detective Raven MacKenzie. But soon, his old life comes calling—in the tempting form of a mysterious woman assassin. When A Deadly Seductress Comes Calling Jasmine Lee barges into his Chicago flat, determined to collect an old marker from Christian. He owes her—big time—and she needs his help freeing her kidnapped lover and employer, Nicholas Charboneau—a powerful mogul linked to Chicago’s underworld and the money man behind a secluded South American genetics facility. Christian doesn’t trust her—or her motives—but Jasmine entices him to leave Raven behind, when she reveals his shocking connection to Charboneau. And A Lethal Race Against Time Begins Christian has seven days to attempt an impossible rescue of the father he never knew. And when Brazil proves to be fertile ground for corruption and a woman assassin with ulterior motives makes a lousy ally, Christian is alone to face the stark reality that no one lives forever . . .. . . and he might be the next to die. No One Heard Her Scream - Q & A Q - How did you get started with your debut novel—No One Heard Her Scream? A - I sacrificed a body part for this novel—literally. How many authors can say that...or would want to admit it? With the complexity of a dual plot in this project, I spent time pondering the two story arcs and considered how I might blend them. Thanks in no small measure to my plot partner and husband John, I formulated an overall plan and knew I was prepared to write. So while I was home recuperating from major surgery—taking leave from my day job—I finally wrote the novel in six weeks. I write the types of books I like to read and I believe in the cross genre story. It makes sense in today's competitive publishing marketplace to create a novel with crossover appeal. I'm a fairly eclectic reader, but I gravitate toward mystery, suspense and thriller genres. And the emotional depth of romance also influences me. So my book has threads of these elements and a dose of my humor. Then I had to set this story in San Antonio Texas, my hometown growing up. As an author, you become more of an observer and a listener. And after listening to others' thoughts on the city, I was swayed into seeing my hometown with fresh eyes. As further inspiration, a friend once revealed what it was like to experience the murder of her sister. For her, the horrific experience defined the rest of your life. Her words always stuck with me. So with SCREAM, I depicted a woman detective who carries an emotional hardship that hinders her job performance and touches the way she looks at the world. And the Natalee Holloway investigation in Aruba shaped the story. I watched the drama played out in the media and witnessed the parents' pain through this ongoing nightmare. I had also visited Aruba during the 1980s and knew something of the layout and terrain. And in my book research, I found many Internet sites that theorize a human trafficking angle to this very compelling case. Human trafficking and the trauma of such an ordeal became a facet to the plot. Q - The book has two parallel cases—a current day suspense plot involving human trafficking and an old murder mystery of bones buried in a wall. How difficult was it to blend the two story lines? A - The bones buried in the wall served as the mystery element to this story. And I'm a fan of forensics and police procedurals, so the murder of Isabel Marquez (the bones) satisfied my interests. SCREAM starts with the abduction of Detective Becca Montgomery's younger sister Dani on a summer field trip with high school friends and chaperones—the initial suspense driver. And since my detective becomes barred from her sister's case months later, she is forced to take another investigation involving the skeletal remains buried in the wall of an old burned down historical theatre. The first part of the book builds the foundation for the mystery with the bones. And because my detective's emotional wounds impair her judgement, she taints her own case with faulty suppositions. Becca sees a connection between the two cases, for right or for wrong, and comes under the scrutiny of the men behind the human trafficking ring. The second half of the book ramps up the suspense. No One Heard Her Scream – Q&A (continued) Q - What themes do you like to write about? A - I'm a fan of anti-heroes and the depiction of characters that aren't clearly black and white, good or bad. I like to bend a reader's traditional sense of morality by creating primary and/or secondary characters not easily defined by their pliable ethics. I also showcase characters in varying degrees of redemption. Some deserve sympathy or forgiveness while others may be a total waste of skin. And good men handicapped by their own personality flaws intrigue me. A fine line separates them from the villains in my books. In SCREAM, ambition and ego plague my FBI agent, Mike Draper. As in life, not everything is black or white. I like my stories and my characters to reflect the gray in between. Q - What research did you do for this novel? A - I have a small resource library of forensics books, among other materials. To date, my favorite crime science books are the ones recommended by an online instructor I had in 2005, Robert Genna, Director of the Suffolk Crime Laboratory in New York. The books: Crime Science— Methods of Forensics Detection by Joe Nickell and John F. Fischer and Introduction to Forensic Sciences (Second Edition), edited by William G. Eckert. For police procedure in the state of Texas, I consulted an author who was a former Houston Homicide Detective. Even with his deadlines, he responded to my questions with patience and a gracious southern charm. I also researched police interrogation techniques. It's not as simple as asking—Did you do it? Detectives must be highly skilled students of human behavior. The best interrogators read body language and other signs, remaining especially attuned to their own natural instincts at uncovering the truth. The interrogation process fascinates me. Because of my detective's emotional frailty, I had to show a woman caught between good judgement and her undeniable bias when it came to anything that reminds Becca of her dead sister Dani. Her professional objectivity is hard to maintain during the interview process. To understand how a police detective questions a person of interest or a potential witness, I had to thoroughly think through the interrogation scenes and add layers of complexity. Becca's emotional handicap interferes with her police training and slants her impartiality. Once she realizes her flawed logic, she goes over everything again, seeing her case with a new set of eyes. Her humanity and vulnerability come through most in these scenes. I also read through countless Internet articles on human trafficking and personal testimonials from victims of this heinous crime. These were hard to comprehend and many too graphic to explore in this novel, but I wanted to draw attention to the difficulty in prosecuting this crime. It typically encompasses several jurisdictions and can cross international borders. And the victims in these atrocities are the young, weak and powerless. And finally, on a lighter note, I interviewed my parents on San Antonio. They have lived in this beautiful city for most of their lives and my father played a role in developing the downtown Riverwalk. He sent me a large box of reference materials on the city and its history. I read through them like an enthralled child, seeing my hometown for the first time. For Excerpts and Articles on the Writing Process: Visit Jordan’s at www.jordandane.com for excerpts and a look inside the book, furnished exclusively by Avon. Jordan also provides several articles geared for authors at various stages of their writing careers from HOW TO craft articles slanted for the beginning author to promotional advice for the established author wanting to make more of a promo budget. These articles are updated periodically and can be found at JD’s FOR WRITERS page on her website or MySpace blog. Jordan also has her unique FIRST SALE story posted for those wanting the real insider scoop. Contests: Jordan holds periodic contests giving away cool free stuff and offering exclusives to her mailing list members. Join JD’s mailing list on her webpage. Promotional Items: Promotional items such as excerpt booklets, bookmarks, signed books or bookplates may be obtained through Jordan’s publicist–Two Sisters Promotions, LLP– www.twosisterrspromotions.com. Appearances: See the APPEARANCES page on Jordan’s website for her current events’ schedule. Interviews: Want to learn more about Jordan and the shadowy world that keeps her up nights? Check out these interviews: “Read About It” TV show with host/producer BJ Williams – JD to discuss her debut book No One Heard Her Scream. Show to air in Feb 2008 with follow up interviews to be scheduled in spring 2008. On September 13, 2007, host Jacqueline Sue interviewed JD on Internet Voices Radio. http://www.internetvoicesradio.com/Arch-JacqSue.htm With October being Domestic Violence Awareness month, Jackie Sue featured JD as an author whose work moves toward the elimination of violence against women. Highlighting her strong female characters, Jordan talked about her first 3-book series with Avon in 2008 and her book research on topics such as online predators (the new 'hunting' ground) and human trafficking (the modern day slave trade). On August 1, 2007, Host Lillian Caldwell interviewed JD on Internet Voices Radio about JD’s upcoming 2008 Avon book releases. http://www.internetvoicesradio.com/Arch-LillianCauldwell.htm Jordan's First Author Interview in newspaper print—Feb 20, 2007: Edmond Sun Newspaper http://www.edmondsun.com/features/local_story_051213201.html?keyword=secondarystory Book Trailers: Jordan has several book trailer videos linked to her website, blogs, and on YouTube. Best Access to view these videos is at JD’s MySpace blog. Audio Rights Sold – Can You Hear Me Now? GREAT NEWS! Blackstone Audio has secured the unabridged retail and library audio rights (including digital audio) for author Jordan Dane's No One Heard Her Scream (Avon release April 2008) and No One Left to Tell (Avon release May 2008) for the U.S. and Canada. Foreign Rights Sold: Avon HarperCollins has sold foreign rights to Blanvalet, a prestigious European division of Random House located in Germany. JD’s first 3-book romantic thriller series will be translated into German, her first international sale with hopefully more such sales to follow. Book Club News GREAT NEWS! Bertelsmann Direct North America has bought Jordan Dane's 3-book debut series—NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM, NO ONE LEFT TO TELL, and NO ONE LIVES FOREVER—as featured alternates in the Doubleday, Mystery Guild and the Rhapsody Book Clubs. Every year, they evaluate over twenty thousand manuscripts from publishers and selects two thousand or so for use in their various clubs. Jordan's books will be printed in hardcover for exclusive distribution to club members. And her debut series will be promoted in a club magazine containing book reviews, exclusive features, and special promotions. These clubs offer a vast selection of the latest in best selling novels that include mysteries, thrillers, suspense, romance and other genres. Workshops: Jordan has given a number of workshops and spoken on several conference panels. Below is a list of topics Jordan has participated in or presented, but she is also willing to tailor something to fit a specific need. Please contact her publicist at Two Sisters Promotions with specifics. Hooks & Cliffhangers—Start with a BANG, leave ‘em wanting more! •Making a Splash Online – Surfing the Internet •Crime Doesn’t Pay Enough or Does it? •Thriller Bad Boys and Dirty Girls •I'm Published. Now What? No more suspense for local author National publisher picks up writer’s three novels - Alice Collinsworth - The Edmond Sun Published: February 20, 2007 09:32 pm EDMOND — Sometimes authors use their real-life experiences to create their fiction world. That’s not the case with Edmond writer Cindy Marolt — pen name Jordan Dane — who recently sold three mystery-suspense novels to publishing powerhouse Avon/Harper Collins. Marolt works in the oil and gas industry as a commodities trader. That may not be quite as intriguing as the stealthy, suspenseful romantic world of her fictional characters. “I was working in a very logical, left-brain place and I needed this creative side to get out,” Marolt said. Although she had experimented with various types of writing since childhood, it was the television show “Witchblade,” airing in 2001-02, that began her serious foray into the literary world. Marolt began writing “fan fiction” for the show, composing online stories involving the actual characters. Eventually she made a trip to Toronto to meet the cast members and other fans, who warmly supported her work. “I was hooked,” she said. “I was like, ‘I gotta keep doing this.’” When “Witchblade” was canceled, Marolt began writing original fiction. She moved to Oklahoma from her native Texas in the late 1990s and looked for area writers to serve as models and mentors. That search led her to the Oklahoma City Romance Writers of America group. After networking with other authors, entering numerous contests and winning 33 national awards, Marolt was becoming a familiar name. Oklahoma author Sharon Sala read the manuscript of her first novel, “No One Heard Her Scream” as a prize for winning one of the competitions. “She loved it,” Marolt said. Sala, whose pen name is Dinah McCall, hooked Marolt up with literary agent Meredith Bernstein. Now Marolt’s first novel, plus two others — “No One Left to Tell” and “No One Lives Forever” — have been auctioned to Avon/Harper Collins. The books are scheduled for release in 2008. Marolt’s books are each set in different locations: “No One Heard Her Scream” takes place in Marolt’s hometown of San Antonio, Texas. “No One Left to Tell” is set in Chicago, and Brazil is the backdrop for “No One Lives Forever.” “I had the money to spend because I had a really good career,” she said. With time, funding and a supportive husband, she was able to attend conferences and develop relationships within the industry. She also took online classes on negotiating contracts and joined several writers’ groups. “It’s over-the-top unreal that this would happen to me,” she said. “It’s was a fluke — like an actor getting discovered at the local Wal-Mart.” Anyone can do the same thing, she said. “Everybody, absolutely everybody, has a story to tell,” she said. For those who want to write, but are daunted by the prospect of completing an entire manuscript, Marolt cites motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, who advises “wannabe” authors to simply write one page a day. “One page a day. That’s all. Anybody can do that,” she said.