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Remember Felix The Cat?


Well, now you get to meet Obo.

Felix, he's not.


I'm not going to try to kid myself that you all came to see me for this launch party. After all the blog tours I've done, I know that readers really want to see the characters and learn the story, and one of the biggest scene-stealers I've ever written is Obo the cat. That's with a small "c," but that's only because he hasn't thought to capitalize it yet. But I'm sure that's coming at some point.

Obo is a seemingly stray cat in Seattle, who stops by Murphy's Antiques to chat up Eden, a genie who's been sentenced to 3000 years in her bottle. He also hangs out at Matt Ewing's house for hand-outs. That's Obo, always cutting corners and looking for the easy way out. He's also only looking out for himself.

I really had to corral him in this story; for Obo, it's all about him. And while he's enjoyable, it's only in small doses. Like your children, you don't have a favorite, but you might like one a little more than the others for a certain reason at a certain time; that's Obo. He was a blast to get to know, but really really wanted the story to be all about him. Luckily for me, Obo has some backstory of which he was unaware, and it just killed him that I knew it when he didn't. It got him to behave... most of the time.

Here's a time when he didn't. Eden has just been expelled from her bottle in the middle of a storm, hit her head, and landed, unconscious, face-down in Matt's lap on the sidewalk. Matt, a modern day knight-in-shining-armor around damsels in distress, brings her to his home to help her recover. He's gone into the other room to get her some dry clothes and Obo makes his second appearance of the day to Eden, who is now worried about her baby dragon, Humphrey. This scene is pure and classic Obo.

***

“You’re an awful actress, you know.”

Eden opened one eye. “Obo? Where’s Matt? And what are you doing here?”

The cat shook himself, water droplets spraying everywhere. “I’m doing the same thing you are, babe. Warming up. And Matt’s in the other room. The bedroom.” He did a wink-wink nudge-nudge toward some area behind the sofa.

She blew out a breath. Like she needed to be thinking like that now.

OK, not that she hadn’t already gone there, but follow him into the bedroom? She wasn’t that desperate.

Or… maybe she was.

Eden shook her head. She had more pressing matters to worry about first. “What happened? How did I get here?”

“I’m not quite sure of the what, but the how was this. Mr. Murphy, for whatever reason mortals come up with for their stupidities, tossed your bottle in the trash with a bunch of other stuff. The garbage truck came along, the jaws came down, and the next thing we all know, you’re face-down in Matt’s lap.” The cat smirked. “Talk about a wasted opportunity.”

She waved her hand. The opportunity—wasted or not—was gone, and she was free. Tossed aside like yesterday’s trash, but free. “What happened to my bottle?”

The cat raised an eyebrow. “More importantly, what happened to Humphrey?”

“Humphrey? Oh my stars, what happened to Humphrey?”

“Nothing, thanks to me. The lizard did make it out of your bottle, but I managed to take a flying leap out of the tree and grab his tail before he followed the butterfly into Matt’s line of sight. I gotta tell you, those claws of his might be tiny, but they’re sharp.” Obo rubbed his nose.

“Where is he now, Obo?”

Obo rolled his eyes. “I’m fine, thanks for asking. I could use some disinfectant, but I should live. Not sure about rabies, though. Has the little fire-breather had his shots?”

“Obo…”

Obo sighed. “He’s investigating the inside of one of Matt’s socks. Should take the little buzzard a long time to find his way out of that one.”

“Where is he, Obo? This weather isn’t good for dragonlets. They can’t regulate their own temperatures yet.”

“Yeah, that’s what has me worried the most. Not the fact that you’re out of your bottle—which is missing, by the way—or that Matt is gonna need some kind of explanation, or that Mr. Murphy was getting rid of you in the first place. Do you realize you could have spent the rest of your sentence mired in dump muck?”

(c) Judi Fennell, 2011


***

The book is already in stores and it downloaded to my Kindle app on January 1, so head on out to your local bookstore for your own magic carpet ride! One commenter will win a signed copy (please leave your email address with your comment) - and wait until you see the cover; Sourcebooks' Art Department came up with the awesome idea of putting real genie Glimmer on the cover. Okay, so it's just glitter, but it makes the cover sparkle. Many many thanks, AGAIN, to Anne Cain for her incredibly wonderful artwork and for bringing the story to life.


What The Publisher Says About I Dream of Genies

He needs to change his luck,

and fast!


Matt Ewing would gladly hunt down a fortune in lucky pennies if he thought it would help save his business. But for all his hoping, Matt’s clueless when his long awaited lucky charm falls in his lap in the form of a beguiling genie. He just can’t believe that this beautiful woman could be the answer to his prayers…

Shes been bottled up

for far too long!

Spending 2,000 years in a bottle would make any woman go a little stir crazy. So when Matt releases Eden from her luxurious captivity, she’s thrilled to repay him by giving him the magical boost he needs…


But for all her good intentions, Eden’s magical prowess is a little rusty and her magical mistakes become more than embarrassing. And though Eden knows falling in love will end her magic and immortality, she can’t help but be drawn to the one man who wants her just for herself…



What Reviewers Say About I Dream of Genies

"Cute as a pink Persian kitten, this scamper of a romance... will keep the reader enraptured."

Publishers' Weekly

"Fennell’s sexy contemporary romp... pure fun."

- Lynne Welch, Booklist, 12/1/10


"Ripe with one liners, unpredictable predicaments, Genie on the run, poor sap as a hero that just can't seem to keep his flag from flying at full mast and a array or quirky hilarious characters. This goes from giggle mode to all out laughter in less time than it takes to snap your fingers."

YankeeRomanceReviewers


"This story is absolutely delightful, complete with incredible sex on a flying blanket amid the stars. Eden's magic gone awry, along with her butterflies and baby dragon, will keep readers amused and completely enthralled in the cutest story ever. This is such a stunning creation."

Fresh Fiction

"A light and breezy read for all... The author uses humor with misfire wishes and talking cats to amuse the reader to the very last page. Well done Judi Fennell!"

Night Owl Reviews


"I Dream of Genies is a dream come true!"

Cheryl's Book Nook


"A fun, quirky story."

Michelle's Book Blog


"A fun twist on a genie book... a delight to read."

Broken Teepee


What Authors Say About I Dream of Genies

"Filled with laughs, action, and an absolutely magical romance, this book is one for the keeper shelf."

-Kate Douglas, bestselling author of Wolf Tales and The DemonSlayers


"You will want to believe in magic!"

-NYT bestselling author Kerrelyn Sparks

"Fun and flirty. Judi Fennell will make you believe in genies, dragons, and the magic of happily ever after."

-Jennifer Estep

author of the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series

For another excerpt, check out my website: www.JudiFennell.com


and I'm at Borders TrueRomance today as well. Stop by and see my video interview.


Comments

  1. I'm so excited to read this!! I love the humor in your books. You're the best!

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  2. Beautiful cover, Judi! Love genies (I Dream of Geni was so fun to watch when I was growing up) and can't wait to get the book!

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  3. OK, so when to Obo and Humphrey get to blog with us? It's THEY book too, and I don't think I've seen any blogging dragons yet, or kitties, much less all black kitties with such compelling eyes.... Congrats, Judi--and Obo, and Humphrey!

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  4. I can't wait to start reading your new trilogy. BTW, I absolutely agree, Judi, Obo is quite a character. I love the dialogue between Eden and Obo and can't wait to read it.

    I used to love watching I Dream of Jeannie and wished I could cross my arms in front of me, blink and have whatever I wanted to happen, happen. But, then again I wanted to be able to wiggle my nose like Samantha on Bewitched, too.

    I tried both ideas on my kids when they were little, but alas, it didn't work, but they turned out to be wonderful adults, so I guess I can't complain.

    Enjoy your blog tour!

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  5. Good morning!

    Oregon Kimm - you must have the same twisted sense of humor I (and my editor) do! Hope you enjoy it!

    Terry - ah, the Sourcebooks covers... They do do them well, don't they ;)

    Grace - Humphrey's still just a baby, but I have it on good authority that Obo is doing a post along my blog tour. I can't offer him too much, or he tends to get grabby and want it all. Everything in moderation, which is not a tenet he subscribes to.

    Hey, C.H. - I'm STILL trying to twitch my nose the way Samantha did it. Sadly, I have yet to be successful!

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  6. Ohhhh, I've got to have this book!(As soon as I meet my deadline on the latest cowboy book, I'm off to the bookstore) Obo has stolen my heart! I loved Bewitched (buy my sister a season every year for her birthday) and I Dream of Genie! But this spikes my interest even more! And the cover .... anything that glitters gets my attention right fast.

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  7. Obo looks just like my Osiris! Congrats on the new release. Looks like a blast.

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  8. I would love to be entered! I am collecting Judi's mermaid series as well. Can't wait to get started.

    robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com

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  9. Did we all try to blink our eyes or wiggle our noses to get something to happen? I did. Why was life so charmed for those TV folks when we had to do everything the hard way? Of course, Jeannie and Samantha did get into way more trouble than I did, and they were adults. Guess the hard way might have been the better way after all.

    Another great series, Judi. I'm looking forward to reading them all.

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  10. Can't wait to read it. Your talent shines in everything you write. I know it's hard work but if you don't have talent you don't. You have it in mega amounts.
    Kate Welsh

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  11. Congratulations on the launch, Judi! I can't wait to read it. Maybe we should get Obo and Tripod together for a play date, that would be a hoot!

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  12. This sounds great, Judi! I love Obo and I loved the excerpt. I can't wait to read the story.

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  13. Just went over to Border's True Romance and commented, and I remembered a funny story. When my son was little, about 18 months old, he LOVED I Dream of Jeanie. I don't care where he was in the house, when he heard that music he came rushing into the room. He usually had on socks and our floors were hardwood, so sometimes he was skidding around the corners. It was the funniest thing. I get such a happy feeling just thinking about it. I can still picture it. I would sometimes hide and watch him. The moment the recognition hit, he'd drop whatever he was doing, face intense, and barrel for the living room. It was just so cute.

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  14. Carolyn - I soooo know about meeting deadlines before having fun. Hopefully, it'll be soon!


    Caridad - Don't tell that to Obo. He already has enough of a god complex.

    Robin K - Hope you enjoy the (magic carpet) ride of this series!

    ReadWriteAndEdit - Of course we all did - and it was the mortals who caused the trouble for Sam and Jeannie in the first place. ;)

    Kate - Right back at ya, lady!

    Robin - I don't know about Obo and Tripod. I'd feel really sorry for Tripod once Obo got done with him.

    Anita - Obo is so feeling the love. And if he were here, he'd make that out to be something extremely perverted.

    Love that story about your son. My ringtone is actually the theme from I Dream of Jeannie. ;)

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  15. Judi, as a cat owner, I can totally understand why Obo expects to be in the spotlight. Nice job in creating this menagerie of different new characters.

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  16. Hi Judi! Lved what you said about cat soon using an upper case C - soooooooo true about cats, lol! (Or so I hear from our "Cat" named Cooper. :)

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  17. Congrats, Judi!

    Hm, maybe they'd like to come play with Fluff, Puff and Horace. :}

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  18. Judi,
    I have not read any of your books yet. However this one captured my attention. Good luck with your new book. We need to set up a new live chat on Gather for you. I will be beginning live chats again in a few weeks.

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  19. James - Thanks for stopping by!

    Catherine - Obo is a law unto himself. But he so hates having to abide by Bastet's laws!

    Linda - he might actually give them a run for their money.

    Connie - That's great - I'm up for it!

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  20. Delightful as usual! So excited and proud for you, Judi!

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  21. Congrats on the release! Saw the book at Borders on Sunday!

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  22. I have been looking forward to this release! Obo the cat sounds like a really fun character. The perfect book to liven up a dreary January day.

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  23. Great excerpt! Congrats on the release. You know this one is on my TBR list, right at the top too. Can't wait to see the sparkly cover! Can I say I too, tried twitching my nose, or crossing my arms, it just never worked.

    I can tell I'm going to love Obo and Humphrey... I'm a dragon lover from way back and having two kittehs of my own I can't imagine living with kittehs to entertain me.

    Just call me the knitting granny. ;o)

    aries18 at charter dot net

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  24. Hi Judi. I absolutely adored your mermaid series and I can't wait to read these books! I can see why Obo is one of your favorites. The cover is spectacular. I wish you all the best.

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  25. Hah! I second the request for an Obo blog!

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  26. Congrats, Judi! Can't wait to see what kind of trouble Obo, Humphrey, Eden and Matt get into.

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  27. Ya know, I don't remember a Felix The Cat. A piece of pop culture I missed? Unfathomable! Will have to get to know your Obo twice as much to make up for it. :-)

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  28. Looks like fun, Judi! Congrats on the new release!
    And yes, I remember Felix the Cat...

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  29. Carla - you're making me blush and smile at the same time! Right back at ya!

    Shana - thanks for that. My Borders had a bunch in a box somewhere but they were so busy over the weekend, they couldn't get them on the shelf. I have to go back and sign them.

    Amanda - I might be biased, but I heartily agree. ;)

    Wanda, the knitting granny - having gotten a sneak preview of GKB, I hope you'll enjoy this one as much!

    Sara - full on kudos to the SB Art department and cover artist Anne Cain. She's brought my world to life!

    Other Lisa - Shhh! Don't let Obo hear you. There will be no living with him!

    Olivia - lots and lots. ;)

    Jill - check out http://www.felixthecat.com/

    Cheryl - thanks!

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  30. As a huge fan of I Dream of Genie, I'm really looking forward to I DREAM OF GENIES!

    Congrats on your new release!

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  31. Very humorous. I think I see a trend with your wisecracking sidekicks, Judi. IDOG sounds like another delightful diversion.

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  32. Congrats on the release of your new series, Judi! What fabulous reviews!

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