Dakota Knight and SOLA Updates

Hello my blog friends!

Okay, just to let you know...I missed my deadline and I'm trying to get my manuscript completed. I'll keep this short!

First, I want to thank all of you for supporting and voting for me for a Black Web Award. The nomination was a surprise and an honor. The winners were announced on November 17th. I extend my congratulations to Black Roots Seeker.com, winner of the Black Web Award for Best Personal Website by an Individual.

SOLA is now available! You can get it online at www.bn.com, www.walmart.com, and www.booksamillion.com. I also learned it's available at some Borders and Waldenbooks stores.

If you want to take a test drive, make sure to borrow it from your local library. Many of the nation's top library systems, such as Detroit, Dallas, and Los Angeles, have ordered copies and copies are available at the Detroit Public Library. If you live in Detroit, you can check on the available copies at:

http://www.detroit.lib.mi.us/

Please note: You will have to look under Dakata Knight

Thanks again for your support and you'll hear more from me soon! (Miss you much Bernita and Kell!!! You too, Members of the NINE)

I've Got SOLA Bookmark! Get yours today!

Hey everyone! I've been crazy busy, but I did receive bookmarks for SOLA from my publisher today! Yeah! If you want a bookmark or two, send your name and address to dakotaknightwrites @ hotmail.com and I'll make sure to send them out. You'll hear from me next on November 1st, 27 days before SOLA hits the stands. See you then!!!!

It was the best of times...

Blurb from RAWSISTAZ

"Sola is a well-developed novel with a different flavor (than the average book)...the tension and suspense will keep you turning pages until you reach the end."

- Alice Holman of RAWSISTAZ.com


It was the worst of times...

The most difficult parts of making changes are the hard decisions that you know you have to make...despite the consequences. Unfortunately, I will have to postpone my entire Hair Raiser Tour until late 2007. Believe me, I don't want to (especially as a debut author having spent the better part of four months planning and scheduling), but it's necessary...for now. I encourage everyone to please support the stores that agreed to have me at their facilities. The names and addresses of the stores are located on my website, www.dakotaknight.com. Click on the Hair Raiser tour link by the Dreamers Book Trailer.

Are you prepared for your Second Wound?

The question posed in the title is actually a line from a Dean Koontz novel, Velocity, I think. For me, it’s one of those lines that has stuck with me long after I read the novel. In the book, the second wound pertains to some ghastly deed a killer plans for the protagonist of the story. For me, the Second Wound is something almost as chilling and is as sure for authors as is death and taxes are for humanity - rejection...

Read the rest of this post at Blogging in Black!

www.blogginginblack.com

I'd love to read your comments!

Have you Checked out Blogging in Black?

Hello Everyone!

The first week of Blogging in Black was excellent. Steven Barnes wrote about how to tackle writer's block, agent Sha-Shana Crichton answered ten questions about her agency, Paula Chase-Hyman talked about her journey as a YA author, and Christian fiction author Shelia Lipsey posed the question - who are YOU writing for? Monica Jackson capped off the week with an excellent blog about authors who blog.

Week two promises to bring more excellent voices to the mix. Here's the line-up:

Sunday, October 8, 2006: Vincent Alexandria writes about his journey from self-published to published.

Monday, October 9, 2006: Bestselling author Shelia Goss gives us the low down on romance.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006: Belinda Williams from All Things Literary offers her commentary.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006: Dee S. White tells writers how nonfiction can be "creative."

Thursday, October 12, 2006: Author Sylvia Hubbard offers her commentary.

Friday, October 13, 2006: Read commentary from guest columnist Tee C. Royal, agent and founder of RAW Sistaz.

Saturday, October 14, 2006: Author Wendy Coakley-Thompson caps off the week!

Week three promises to be just as exciting with commentary from Alvin C. Romer, Maranda Moses from Black Ink, Lynn Emery, The Promo Maven, Angela Henry, Gwyneth Bolton, and Carla J. Curtis.

Check out Blogging in Black at www.blogginginblack.com.

Dakata Strikes Back and other International News

Hey All! This will be short but I wanted to share...

Imagine my surprise when I learned that SOLA received a mention in the October 2006 issue of Romantic Times. (Thank you, RT!!!). It's short, on page 140, but I'm so loving it, even if I have to contend with "Ms. Dakata Knight." Dakata has shown up in a couple of places, although it really doesn't bother me that much. I'm confident that the people who want to read the book will end up with it. But Ms. Dakata, she's even going International!

I found SOLA by Dakata Knight on this international website (I don't know the language so...):

http://www.kriso.ee/cgi-bin/shop/510000001389730.html?id=t3WDXGuP

Now, Dakota Knight also appears on a European website too. I'm thinking this is a German website:

http://www.buch.de/buch/13981/030_sola.html

Anyway, let me get back to my manuscripts. Remember to check out Blogging in Black beginning October 1, 2006.

www.blogginginblack.com

Sweatin' Bullets and Don't Try This At Home...Okay, Maybe you can

Okay, I just received word that RAW Sistaz, one of the most well-known and respected review groups for black literature, is putting the final edits on SOLA's first official review. I asked for a hint, but I don't think I'm going to get one. I'm kind of nervous. I'm trying to put on a confident face, but I'm sweatin' mad bullets right now!

Things you can do with Red Bull - Make mad attempt to change a 62,000-word YA manuscript with four different characters in 1st person POV into a manuscript written in 3rd person POV in 48 hours while at the same time, trying to complete a 80,000-word manuscript with an October deadline! Whew!

Kell, I'll definitely write "getting into character" soon!

Bernita's back! YEAH!!!!!