I don’t normally do cover reveals.

It’s not that I have anything against them. It’s just not the direction I usually take.

But this cover reveal is special. It belongs to YA author Nikki Jefford.

Nikki and I briefly worked at Anchorage Daily News together years ago. It didn’t take long for her to realize that journalism wasn’t for her, and she exited, fast. I foolishly lingered (and am still lingering, but that’s another story).

Since then we’ve kept in touch. I followed her vegan blog years ago and when she took that down and began to seriously write, I followed her current blog, Nikki Jefford.

This past summer I worked for her family at their Alaska store warehouse and loved it (I enjoyed stocking tee-shirts and touristy coffee mugs more than I enjoy pounding out stories on deadline on topics I only pretend to give a damn about, imagine that).

So, here goes: My very first ever cover real and I’ve made myself wait to look, too, so that this would be my first time (I’m blushing as I type, can you tell? I’m about to lose my cover-reveal virginity).

Wow, it’s beautiful, no? And it’s fitting, too, since the book takes place in Alaska and we just got hit with a foot of snow. My front yard looks like this cover (I wish I looked as good in a tighty black dress as the cover model).

What I admire so much about Nikki is her perseverance and impeccable work ethic. She hired a professional photographer to shoot the cover plus professional models. She also uses designer, proofreaders, editors, etc., so that her book packages are as slick, well-edited and flawless as anything you might find from a major publishing house.

Stakehouse is part of the Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter series. Publication date is Jan. 14, 2014. Genre: New adult, paranormal an urban fantasy.