Back in 2013 I reviewed Black Dog Blues by Rhys Ford, and I absolutely loved it. Loved it to the point that it made my personal best books list for 2013 and I fudged a bit and put it on my Library Journal Best E-Original Romances list for 2013, even though Black Dog Blues is explicitly NOT a romance. She’s now re-releasing it and I’m so happy; I hope that this new release with Dreamspinner will help even more readers find this terrific book. Meanwhile; please enjoy this guest post by Rhys.
A few years ago, I wrote an urban fantasy called Black Dog Blues. When the book simmered and boiled in my brain, there were a few things I wanted to have in this book: An elf who was unapologetically bisexual and raised human, blood, gore, guns and monsters. I’d released it into the wilds of self-pubbing—mostly because there wasn’t a place for him then—and Kai did pretty well.
Then, one day at a yarn store, Elizabeth North of Dreamspinner Press fame, started talking about a new venture they were trying out—DSP Publications, DSP’s boutique genre imprint. Long story short, Elizabeth asked if I’d submit Black Dog Blues, I did and now, here we are—with Kai making his way into the mainstream.
Repackaged and gone over again for red squiggles, Black Dog Blues is getting a re-release on February 3rd and I can’t be more excited. The story is the same but Anne Cain rocked me a new cover, more in line with the urban fantasy feel of that genre and I’ve had a chance to kick a few of the tires I wanted to kick in editing. The biggest thing about this re-release is that Kai is going out there again and I can put his sequel firmly into my queue.
So to celebrate Black Dog Blues’ re-release, I’m holding a 12 stop blog tour where YOU can win a dragon. Well, a stuffed dragon. Who’s kind of goofy. And much less terrifying than the one Kai ran into. Leave a comment or use the widget the blog’s provided and enter to win one of these plush dragons! International welcome. Dragons for all. Mostly because man, they’re HUGE and take up a lot of space in the guest room.
As an added bonus, be sure to collect ALL of the Black Dog Blues trading cards and return to my blog rhysford.com at the end of the tour for a special giveaway. You’ll need the cards to enter. Winner will be chosen randomly from entrants with the correct answers.
These fine collectibles showcase some of the many creatures and inhabitants of Kai Gracen’s world. Just like life, there are no true good or evil creatures. It’s just that some of them are more wicked and deadlier than others.
If you’ve already read Black Dog Blues, thank you. REALLY. Thank you. You rock and you’ve made Black Dog Blues a success and got it notice. I cannot say thank you enough. No need to re-buy the book but if you’d left a review on Amazon—and have the time—repost it onto the new listing. Unlike Goodreads, re-release reviews don’t carry over. *grins*
If you haven’t read Black Dog Blues, ah—Kai really is my special precious, growly kitten. I adore writing him. I adore writing his world and man, there’s so many places to go with his story. I’m really looking forward to digging in.
Thank you again for letting my snarling elf have a space on your ebook reader. You all rock. Thank you.
About Black Dog Blues
Ever since being part of the pot in a high-stakes poker game, elfin outcast Kai Gracen figures he used up his good karma when Dempsey, a human Stalker, won the hand and took him in. Following the violent merge of Earth and Underhill, the human and elfin races are left with a messy, monster-ridden world, and Stalkers are the only cavalry willing to ride to someone’s rescue when something shadowy appears.It’s a hard life but one Kai likes—filled with bounty, a few friends, and most importantly, no other elfin around to remind him of his past. And killing monsters is easy. Especially since he’s one himself.
But when a sidhe lord named Ryder arrives in San Diego, Kai is conscripted to do a job for Ryder’s fledgling Dawn Court. It’s supposed to be a simple run up the coast during dragon-mating season to retrieve a pregnant human woman seeking sanctuary. Easy, quick, and best of all, profitable. But Kai ends up in the middle of a deadly bloodline feud he has no hope of escaping.
No one ever got rich being a Stalker. But then few of them got old either and it doesn’t look like Kai will be the exception.
Purchase Black Dog Blues at DSP Publications
Black Dog Blues is also available on Amazon and other fine eTailers.
Tour Information
|
Jan 28 |
|
|
Jan 29 |
|
|
Jan 30 |
|
|
Jan 31 |
|
|
Feb 1 |
|
|
Feb 2 |
|
|
Feb 3 |
|
|
Feb 3 |
|
|
Feb 4 |
|
|
Feb 5 |
About Rhys Ford
Rhys Ford was born and raised in Hawai’i then wandered off to see the world. After chewing through a pile of books, a lot of odd food, and a stray boyfriend or two, Rhys eventually landed in San Diego, which is a very nice place but seriously needs more rain.Rhys admits to sharing the house with three cats of varying degrees of black fur and a ginger cairn terrorist. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep a 1979 Pontiac Firebird, a Toshiba laptop, and an overworked red coffee maker.
Rhys can be found at:
Her blog: www.rhysford.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhys.ford.author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhys_Ford
And at the Starbucks down the street. No really, they’re 24/7. And a drive-thru. It’s like heaven.
Her books can be purchased, folded and first chapters read at Dreamspinner Press.
This is fun. I’ve never done this before, but I’m such a huge fan of Rhys Ford, and I love the dragon! I also love the book, so I’m going to get it for my new kindle and read it again.
Loving the tour. The card today is awesome.
Waxapplelover (at) gmail (dot) com
I love the trading cards they are so funnny and ridiculous at the same time!
Loving this very different blog tour. The cards are becoming quite addictive, funny and just a little bit gross. Lol.
Haha Baba-Yagi awesome can’t wait to see what’s next.
This is the best tour 🙂 Loving these cards – you are so creative!
Such a fun tour! These cards are great!
Six-feet chickens! What’s next?
This is a fabulous tour. Thanks!
Six foot chickens?!? Yikes! Thanks for the card!
6 foot chicken?! Shudder!
Baba-yagi eggs are a delicacy? Hmmm.
This is the first time I’ve followed your whole tour. Interesting! And the cards are really neat … 🙂
This is the first time I’ve followed your whole tour. Interesting …. And the trading cards are a hoot! 🙂
83% through my re-read and I almost decided against coming online to finish it. So looking forward to when the follow up book comes out 😀
This is the first time I’ve followed your whole tour. Interesting! And the cards … they’re great!
Love the cards. thanks.
Can’t wait to read!
Hmmm okay no pissing off the big chickens! They can keep their eggs
Would be cool if we can buy a deck of the cards as well – and add stats so we can play trumps!
Oh – bibliophiloscifi(at)gmail(dot)com
Loving this tour
Loving the cards, but shouldn’t the chicken be Russian or at least rushin’ 🙂
Wow! A 6 foot chicken! Thanks for the cards. 🙂
I love these cards. They are so creative!
I guess this is a comment entry? Regardless, I’m really excited for a dragon. And an excuse to reread Black Dog Blues. And the idea that there are more forthcoming.
Love Rhys Ford!
This one looks kind of cute….the serrated beaks a little scary, though.
Cute card 🙂
I’m really enjoying this blog tour! The cards are great – I’m saving them all!
This tour is so different! I love it!
Six foot chickens? Scary! Enjoying the tour.
juliesmall2016(at)gmail(dot)com
What a great card. It is fun to see them all.
6 foot tall chicken……eep!
You know, you just want to laugh at the 6 foot chicken. Might not be the wise thing to do, though. My kids have a few of those pillow pets around the house. They’re great for getting comfy on the floor in front of the TV on movie night. Of course, a dragon would make me kind of badass, and it would go with the rather extensive collection of dragons I have scattered all around the place. I have a lifelong obsession with dragons.
Best of luck with the re-release, and thanks for the cards!
Okaaay, a single baba-yagi can feed up to 4 people, but it is toxic… do you feel lucky?
Wasn’t there a giant chicken on animaniacs?
Great tour ~ great cards ~ what a hoot! I’m having a great time ~ sure hope everyone else is … 🙂
Baba yagi may be my favorite card so far!
This blog tour has made the world Rhys created seem so real, so thank you for a chance to win one of those dragons 🙂
Do you know that in Japanese mythology they have a giant fire breathing chicken called the Basabasa or Basan, so the Baba-Yagi might have some cousins to also be scared about here!