Today marks the release of my second novel, UNDER THE ROSE.* The book picks up where my first novel, Secret Society Girl, left off, and chronicles the further adventures of Amy Haskel and her class of initiates in Rose & Grave.
(But, if you read this blog at all, you probably already knew that.)
Publisher’s Weekly calls it “impossible to put down” and Booklist warns that readers will “get swept up in the sexy story in no time.”
One early reader said it was fabulously witty, another “devoured it” and can’t wait for Book 3, and yet another called it a “terrific summer read.”
My future sister-in-law says it’s better than the first one, my friend’s little brother says it’s surprisingly steamy, and a librarian I met at ALA last weekend said it has one of the best sex scenes she’s ever read.
And if that’s not a sales pitch, I don’t know what is.
UNDER THE ROSE introduces new challenges to Amy and her compatriots, including a devious website run by a paranoid conspiracy theorist, called secretsofthediggers.com. Click on the above link to learn more, and read the book to see what happens!
In honor of the book’s release, my friend Carrie is giving away a copy of both Secret Society Girl and Under the Rose on her blog, and then Carrie and Erica are giving away a few more on the blog of the Manuscript Mavens. (If you are posting about Under the Rose this week, let me know and I’ll link to it here.)
Are you still reading, or have you already taken off for the nearest bookstore? What are you waiting for? Conspiracy theories, hot sex, Hamlet lectures, and Halloween. This book has it all, I’m telling you… except for the stuff I’m writing into Book Three.
But that, my friends, is the subject of another blog post. Right now, it’s all Under the Rose, all the time around here. It’s a veritable UTR marathon.
And okay, fine. Twist my arm. A giveaway. A signed copy of Under the Rose to the commenter whose Secret Society Girl series-related haiku or limerick amuses Sailor Boy the most.
Enter as many times as you like.
______________
* Here be release-day giddiness. Move aside for the shameless self-promo train.
June 26th, 2007 at 12:04 am
Yay! This book is fabtastic! Your blog readers are in for a treat. Happy Giddy Release Day, D!!!
P.S.
Bwa, I didn’t know there really was a secretsofthediggers.com–cracked me up to click that link! =)
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June 26th, 2007 at 12:53 am
*checks Amazon.com*
*kicks her still pending order*
and I’m sorry, but I HAVE to laugh at the idea of a sex scene recommendation from a librarian. and I have several as friends! they really are the best to recommend…. *laugh*
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June 26th, 2007 at 6:37 am
What? No haikus yet?
Well that is just plain silly!
‘Cause Haikus are fun!
I need UTR
So that I can read it in
The airport next week.
But that’s not funny
Need to amuse Sailor Boy
So I’ll keep thinking.
Today as I sit
In a boring training class
I’ll think of Haikus.
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June 26th, 2007 at 6:55 am
YYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And this book *is* even better than the first book — and the first book rocked too!!! So people go out and get your copy pronto if you haven’t already.
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June 26th, 2007 at 7:14 am
Oooo… Rhiannon’s going to be all over the haiku train today!
YAY FOR RELEASE DAY! I’m wearing my Rose & Grave pin and am spritzed head to toe in my pomegranate martini body splash!
This book ROCKS and should be picked up immediately!
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June 26th, 2007 at 7:49 am
Congrats on the release, Diana!
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June 26th, 2007 at 7:52 am
YAY, Diana!! Woo hoo! I blogged about your release and here’s to fantastic sales!
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June 26th, 2007 at 7:56 am
Hey…I said it was better than the first one, as well. :::EEEG:::
GREAT book! Everyone go get it…today! This week!
Does this mean Amazon will ship my copy today?
V. excited for you! Enjoy the day.
= )
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June 26th, 2007 at 8:12 am
I have read said sex scene. Believe me, it’s hot. And I should know, being of the Blaze persuasion myself.
Awesome book, Diana! I just got a note from the woman who won the copy of Secret Society Girl from me last week. It’s just arrived!
Off to the bookstore to get my copy and a few for gifts…
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June 26th, 2007 at 8:19 am
Squeee!!!!
I’m SO excited to finally be able to read this book! And my daughter will be thrilled since she’s been bugging me incessantly about it since she read SSG.
Off to order today. I should get two, then she can have her own copy.
Congrats Diana!
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June 26th, 2007 at 8:19 am
Amazon notified me my copy shipped yesterday, so I should have it by Wednesday. Looking forward to it.
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June 26th, 2007 at 8:25 am
Since I already left a pre-release-day squee on Saturday’s post, I guess I’ve have to do a reprise for the day itself. Squeeeeeee!!!!
(Query: can fanboys squee, or only fangirls? Erica, Diana, somebody, help!)
Love the “secretsofthediggers” site – someone has been busy! (But check the first paragraph of the Origins page – one sentence doesn’t read quite right, methinks.)
If I can capture a picture of UTR in the wilds of Greenwich Avenue today, I will post it on my blog.
Mss. found in an empty gin bottle:
There once was a young lass named “Boo”,
Who used to hang out with her crew
Of Diggers and other friends,
Including Barbarians,
The latter of whom asked, “Boo who?”
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June 26th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Yay Diana! Yay Under the Rose! I too thought this book rocked and was better than the first (though the first was great too)!
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June 26th, 2007 at 8:48 am
Bill: OMG!!!! I love you! You kill me.
I *guess* fanboys can squee. I mean, it’s a free country and all. You’re the first fanboy I *know* of who squees, but I’m sure that doesn’t mean anything consequential… It’s definitely a squee-worthy book!
*waves at Rhi, JB, MG, JEL & Carrie*
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June 26th, 2007 at 8:57 am
I’m sure that doesn’t mean anything consequential…
Uh, oh – now I’m starting to worry…
*Bill goes off to see if his analyst is available today*
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June 26th, 2007 at 9:23 am
I’m totally supposed to be working right now, but I thought I’d join in on the fun (despite having never written a limerick in my life).
Happy release day, Diana!
Amy’s a writer–it’s true
She thought Quill & Ink was her due
She’s scared of the pool
Puck makes her drool
And now she’s a digger named Boo
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June 26th, 2007 at 9:30 am
I am not very good at Haiku so here is my try at a Limerick.
Today Under the Rose is on the shelf,
So go buy some for a friend and yourself.
Hurry up, don’t delay,
Keep your curiosity at bay.
A Librarian has commented on the vivid sex scene,
I hear if is full of passion and steam.
Amy Haskel continues her misadventures with friends in toe
As they try to figure out the Digger’s foe.
It is said that Peterfreund has done it again
Will this creativity ever end?
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June 26th, 2007 at 9:38 am
So, I started laughing thinking of another limerick, so I figured I’d post it and get it out of my head.
However, one small issue, I’m not at home and, hence, don’t have my book and I can’t remember if the computer whiz’s name is Jenny or not.
Oh well, I’m going to post and if it’s wrong, I’ll correct it later.
Also, this is mildly spoiler-y I guess. *shrug*
Jenny’s a queer little lass
Very religious–she’s always at mass
She hacks CPUs
And got the tattoo
Do you think it’s inscribed on her *ss?
Okay. Seriously, I’m working now.
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June 26th, 2007 at 9:46 am
I forgot to do some poetry! Herewith:
There once was a girl named Diana
Who instead of playing piana
Cranked out some prose
Called Under The Rose
So go buy it as fast as you can! (Uh)
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June 26th, 2007 at 9:48 am
Congrats on your latest release!!! Can’t wait to read it!
Emily
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June 26th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Thank you, Erica. Yes, there really is a Secretsofthediggers.com. Scary, huh?
Leah, I don’t know WHY your order is still pending! How disappointing!
Rhiannon, thank you fo getting the ball rolling. I can’t promise when SB will be able to take a look — sometime this evening, I figure.
Thank you, Kelly! I’m so excited!
Annie, I’m so intrigued by your body spray! Thanks for wearing the pin. I’ll have to get mine on, today.
thanks, Bonnie.
Thank you, Jessica. I’ll have to link.
Sorry, Marley! Did I miss linking to you?
Julie, you’re so sweet. A compliment from you on a sex scene is precious indeed! And you’re a much better mailer than I am. I’m about a month and a half behind on mailing out giveaways (sorry).
Awww, Jaci, thanks! I hope you and your daughter love it!
Thanks for ordering, Caro! I guess Amazon likes you better than Leah (sorry, Leah).
Bill, I think fans of any gender can squee. Also, I take no responsibility for the writings of some lunatic conspiracy theorist. Considering his likely mental state, I’m surprised you haven’t found more strangeness. Fun poem!
Carrie and Erica, thanks for the recommendation (and the giveaways).
Val, I love it! Also, you’re right — her name is Jenny. She comes back in UTR. And that poem CRACKS ME UP. Speculation on the location of Jenny’s tattoo runs rampant in this book.
Dragonfly, I’m not sure if that’s a limerick, but let’s not split hairs. It’s adorable!
Oh, Erica! LOL
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June 26th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Woo hoo! Congrats Diana!! May your sales EXPLODE!!
I’m too un-caffeinated for any sort of haiku, but maybe later after the brain is working.
However, my validation letters were interesting: cdogpoky
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June 26th, 2007 at 10:29 am
Ordered!
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June 26th, 2007 at 10:32 am
WhooHoo Diana. I’ll be buying mine this afternoon when I get off work. Or rather I’ll be buying two since I plan on giving one away on Friday at my blog.
I’m so excited for you. One question though…will there be anymore Rose and Grave pins in the near future???
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June 26th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Bill, I think fans of any gender can squee.
*Whew!* Gender identity crisis averted. Good thing, since the analyst was AWOL.
Erica, darn you to heck!! Here I’ve been patting myself on the back for my sure-to-win limerick, and then you had to run circles around everyone else with one hand tied behind your back. ‘Taint fair!
Report from Greenwich Avenue: UTR is in a class by itself – front and center on an otherwise empty bookshelf in the New Releases section. I thought about spreading the copies out across the whole shelf to make more of a visual statement, but realized I’d probably be breaking some bookstore-workers’ union regulation or other. Anyhow, a picture is safely in the camera and will appear on my blog in a few days.
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June 26th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Just to join in on the fun (though would like Sailor Boy to respectfully disregard this as an entry for the free book):
Have you heard of Diana’s new book?
Get to a bookstore and have thee a look!
Wittiness galore
And sex even more
What could be a better dang hook?
Amy will team up with Poe
To uncover the Diggers’ sly foe
They go to New York
And there they uncork
The bottle of mysteries, fo’ sho!
There is snark and poems enmasse
This book, you really can’t pass
So go check out Boo
Who’s beginning to rue
The day Diggers’ did dare tap a lass!
Go now and buy Under The Rose
How it ends, nobody knows
Actually I do
But I won’t give a clue
But you’ll love it right down to your toes!
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June 26th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
*clears throat*
There once was a man named Bill Clark
Who wrote poetry just for a lark
A fanboy was he
Who so loved to squee
Miss Erica could not help but snark
=)
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June 26th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Miss Erica thought she was clever -
The snarkiest, funniest ever -
I used to agree,
But then, as you see,
She put me right under the weather!
‘Tis doubtful I’ll ever recover;
My lit’ry profession is over -
I thought I could write
But Miss Erica’s right:
I’ll just have to find me another.
*Bill quits the field, leaving Diana and Erica in charge of the literary future of America*
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June 26th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
I only send out prizes quickly because I do it through Amazon!
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June 26th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Bwa ha haaa, Bill!!
*clasps hands to chest and falls over*
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June 26th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Tell me your secrets
A heart that can be broken
Lies Under the Rose
And on a more frivolous note:
There once was a Digger named Boo
Whose heart was divided in two,
She was certain that Puck
Would be good for a *uck,
But could she want Brandon anew?
Congrats on release day, Diana — Awsome book!
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June 26th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Hope you have a great release and sell many many books!
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June 26th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Ooh, it’s out on e-book? It’s coming on vacation with me
f
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June 26th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Huge congrats, Diana! Can’t wait to read it.
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June 26th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
What the Bloody F–?
Where is the love for Haikus?
Poo on limericks.
ok so maybe
I am a little jealous
Of Limerick peeps
‘Cause the only one
of those that I know for sure
Is ’bout Nantucket.
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June 27th, 2007 at 1:29 am
Bought it, read it, loved it! Can’t wait for the rites of spring break. And any chance you’ll be doing a signing in CT anytime soon?
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June 27th, 2007 at 7:27 am
Went to B&N during lunch and bought my copy. Have been reading it ever since. Can’t put it down, damn you!
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June 27th, 2007 at 8:13 am
Phyllis, I was wondering if someone would take the Puck rhyme.
Also, I think Sailor Boy should write a haiku or a limerick as well.
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June 27th, 2007 at 8:40 am
LOL, Val, I couldn’t resist. I mean, a limerick and a character named Puck! It was just too easy . . .
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June 27th, 2007 at 9:03 am
Congrats, Diana!
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June 27th, 2007 at 9:51 am
An Eli student
Tapped to be in Rose & Grave
Amy digs for truth
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June 27th, 2007 at 10:13 am
Guys, I’m really loving these. I’m so glad SB is picking and not me!!!
Vicki, make sure you check the envelope coming to you in the mail very carefully.
Jennifer, it is out on ebook. Just got to the random house website and search for Under the Rose and the ebook should pop up.
Val, I think SB SHOULD have to write one.
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