Breaking down the Last Rite cover, and the musical inspiration behind the book.

So, yay! I had a blast reading all your cover comments on Twitter and all my blogger friends' blogs yesterday! For those of you who may have been under a rock, here's the Last Rite cover!

So, Frannie. She looks like she's getting ready to kick some butt, doesn't she? Because she is. What's that in her hand, you ask. Hmm... Guess you'll just have to read and find out. *insert evil laugh* And, what does it mean that Gabe and Luc look ready to rip each other's heads off? Well...it means that Gabe and Luc are ready to rip each other's heads off. There's tension, and some not so nice words, and actual punches thrown. But the cover alludes not only to the friction between Luc and Gabe, but the overarching struggle between good and evil. This is where it all comes to a head. This is where the final battle takes place.

I know that's a little sketchy, but you know I really want you to buy the book when it comes out in May, so that's all I can tell you without spoiling. But I can throw you a few bones that will give you a definite flavor for the novel. First, if you've read Personal Demons and Original Sin, you know all of my Personal Demons novels open with a Dante quote from Purgatorio, the middle section of his Divine Comedy. Here's the quote from Last Rite:

Here, one must leave behind all hesitation; here, every cowardice must meet its death.

Dante Alighieri, Purgatorio

And if you've been hanging out here for a while you also know that music is a huge influence on my writing. Each novel has an overarching musical theme. Here's the song that shaped Last Rite:


That is Disturbed: one of my obsession bands. Go buy this song!

If you're dying to get your hands on a galley, remember there are nine chances to win one up on these blogs:
Mundie Moms
The Naughty Book Kitties
Bookalicio.us
Books Over Boys
Call Me Crazy
Book Chic Club
A Good Addiction
Harmony's Radiant Reads
Bloggers [Heart] Books

And, my contest is not only for a Last Rite galley, but signed copies of Personal Demons and Original Sin, plus an iPod shuffle loaded with the song above and all the rest of the playlist for the trilogy! Enter all of them for your best chance, because this is it. There will only be one or two more galley giveaways before May.

Good luck!