Tori Carrington aka Lori & Tony Karayianni profile picture

Tori Carrington aka Lori & Tony Karayianni

....the funny side of Tori Carrington...

About Me

www.ToriCarrington.net * www.Sofiemetro.com

Best-selling, multi-award-winning authors of more than 40 published titles with over three million copies in print worldwide
Proud Recipients of Romantic Times Career Achievement Award
and Reviewers International Organization's Award of Excellence

October Greetings!
Can you feel it? That stiff northerly wind blowing cold air our way? Can you see it? The shortening days, the changing of the leaves, the lengthening of shadows? It's exactly that type of creepy atmosphere we tapped into for the fourth Sofie Metropolis, PI novel WORKING STIFF . Admit it. This time of year you find yourself looking over your shoulder when you cross that dark parking lot to your car, keys biting into your damp palm, afraid of all things paranormal. What was that sound? Vampire bat wings flapping? Or just the nearby flag slapping against the pole?
Ah, yes. A season tailor made for staying inside, away from all things dark, and cracking open a book. You know, one that will allow you to explore the scary scenery described above from the safety of your sofa, a blanket tucked around your legs, the windows closed against that howling wind. At least until the little ghosts and goblins emerge from those shadows and ring your doorbell, holding out their plastic jack-o'-lanterns and threatening tricks if you don't give them treats.
This Halloween, for the first time in years, we won't be home to pass out bag upon bag of Snickers and boxes of sour Skittles. Instead we'll be in Oakmont, Pennsylvania helping our dear friends Mary Alice and Richard celebrate the 18th birthday of Mystery Lovers Bookshop . What do you think the odds are that I'll convince Tony to dress like a sexy Greek vampire? If you said zero to nil, you're target on. lol I don't think I've ever met someone so afraid of imaginary monsters. Hmm, perhaps one way to cure him of his fear is to actually write a vampire book...
With that thought in mind, let us give you a little more info on the fourth title in our SOFIE METROPOLIS series:
WORKING STIFF
AVAILABLE NOW!

Yes! That's right, Sofie IV aka WORKING STIFF is now available in both hardcover and on audio. We're so excited we could scream. No, wait. We'll save that for the day we see the book on store shelves. "Doesn't it get old?" you ask. Never! Every new book brings a fresh reason to celebrate. Months of brainstorming, writing, revising, sweating the details, falling in love with our characters and then saying goodbye to them (in Sofie's case, for now), make each of our novels special and something to celebrate.

Here's the blurb: The week before Halloween, a body disappears from Sofie's Aunt's funeral home. It might be a holiday prank, but Sofie's barely begun to investigate when she's handed a truly hot case: prove the innocence of Little Johnny Laughton who's on trial for murder! And what happens when sexy Aussie bounty hunter Jake Porter finally takes her up on her many offers?

Reviews are beginning to come in. Take a gander at these two:

"In Carrington's entertaining fourth Sofie Metropolis novel (after 2007's Foul Play), the Queens Greek-American PI is on the hunt [again]... [R]romance, humor and appealing characters will keep readers happily turning the pages." Publishers Weekly
"The fourth Sofie Metropolis private investigative tale is as always an entertaining chick noir as the heroine works her Queens' caseload including the personal hunks in her life. This is a fun urban mystery series." Harriet Klausner
Click here for an excerpt.
ORDER NOW
from Amazon.com
B&N , Borders ,
Tor-Forge , or BAMM .
On Audio from
Books on Tape .
Also available through Mystery Guild and Rhapsody Book Club !
Visit www.sofiemetro.com for more
info on the title and the series.


FOUL PLAY AVAILABLE
NOW IN PAPERBACK!
A coincidence that even as pro baseball teams everywhere race toward the pennant that FOUL PLAY is available in paperback? We think not! The third title in our SOFIE METROPOLIS series, celebrates all sports dreamers as it becomes available for the first time in paperback! (We're getting numerous reports that readers can't find copies in stores. If this happens to you, make sure you ask the store to order more!)
Here's the blurb: The wife of Reni Venezuela, a pitching phenom just signed by Sofie's beloved New York Mets, arrives on Sofie's doorstep in a gigantic bright yellow Hummer and declares that something is wrong with her husband. Can Sofie find out what even as things heat up with yummy Greek baker Dino and Aussie bounty hunter Jake Porter?
In case you missed the hardcover edition last year, here are a few reviews for FOUL PLAY :

"Smart, sassy Sofie knocks the ball out of Shea Stadium in this colorful concoction." Publishers Weekly

"If you like Stephanie Plum, you've got to meet Sofie Metropolis - she's a keeper!" Merry, Annie's Book Stop, Sharon, MA
"While retaining all the humor and off-kilter exploits that have made this series such a delight, Carrington's latest shows Sofie's growing confidence in her instincts and abilities. This writing duo excels at delivering both giggles and gasps, and they have another winner." Romantic Times

Click here for an excerpt.
Order from Amazon.com ,
B&N and Tor-Forge .
Order in Hardcover from
Amazon.com .
In Audio from Blackstone .
Also available through Mystery Guild and Rhapsody Book Club !
Visit www.sofiemetro.com for more
info on the title and the series.


HOT STUFF!

Now, on to all things hot and sizzling! Namely, our latest Harlequin Blaze miniseres INDECENT PROPOSALS . Last February ourExtreme Blaze SHAMELESS , (which is still available from on-line and used bookstores) was the first of three stories guaranteed to make you crave a cigarette! These have to be the hottest books we've ever written. If SHAMELESS didn't convince you, the next two in the series hit bookstores soon...


Coming
November 2008
Reckless
Book 2 of 3 in our Indecent Propoals miniseries

It's all fun and games until you sleep with your boyfriend's best friend...
Heidi Joblowski has her life perfectly on track. Education: check. Career: check. Marriage: soon-to-be-checked. Has she missed anything? Yes, actually: Kyle Trapper. Tall, blue-eyed, blonde hottie. Check, check, check! The problem? She's just about to marry Kyle's best friend, Jesse. But that doesn't stop her and Kyle from indulging in some incredibly perfect sex...
Getting shameless was only the beginning...


Pre-Order from Amazon.com , B&N ,
Borders or BAMM .


Coming
December 2008
Restless
aka Gauge's Book
Book 3 of 3 in our Indecent Propoals miniseries

Being nice is overrated!

Straitlaced Lizzie Gilbred has had it with being a good girl. This Christmas, she's going to be naughty--very, very naughty. And lucky for her, she knows just the guy to help her...
Patrick Gauge, a footloose musician with a body to die for, is exactly the type of man Lizzie's got on her holiday wish list. What better way to take the plunge into the official world of "bad girl-dom" than jumping right into his bed!

Santa's going to be very good to this bad boy...
Pre-Order from
Amazon.com
or B&N .


Caverns of Blood gets the timely nod this month! It is the end all site for all things Halloween. Go and see if you don't agree by clicking here .
September's Pic of the Month was actually a poll for you to decide which yummy Australian actor best represents Sofie's Man-of-Mystery Jake Porter, Hugh Jackman or Russell Crowe. No surprise, Hugh won by a wide margin! So here is another pic of him for all of us to drool over. Mmm...
Thanks for voting!
October's Pic...
Fellow MVRWA chaptermates came out to support us at our B&N signing! Here's Jennie, Jim Duncan, Rita Shake, Tracy Madison (her rockin' 1st book A Taste of Magic is out in March!) and Connie Phillips.
Click here to check out our full Blog/Photo Album .
METRO REPORT
BOOKS ON TAPE
We just received the fantastic news that WORKING STIFF has been picked up by Books on Tape for the audio version, its release to coincide with the book's hardcover debut in September. We can't wait to hear their version of our girl Sofie! Warm thanks to Trident Media Group' s Alanna Ramirez for putting the deal together.
A GREEK IN GERMANY
That's right, our girl Sofie Metropolis is available in German, retitled Wer küsst schon einen Griechen ! Just check out the cover for the second title Liebe auf Griechisch , which is available now. Click here for more info on both releases.
The German Love Letter Magazine has included a piece on us and what our girl Sofie Metropolis would eat for Valentine's Day. (Given her recent experiences with men, we included items with lots of garlic and pork...only she probably should have listened to the male Greeks in her family who insist that both actually stimulate the sex drive!) Click here to check out more info on the mag. Our thanks to Kris Alice Hohls for her warm generosity.
LAST STOP, DITMARS
We've contributed a novella to Queens Noir, a collection of crime stories set in the gritty NY Borrough, including mysteries by Jimmy Breslin, Denis Hamill and Malachy McCourt. Here's what Publishers Weekly has to say: "The husband-and-wife team writing as Tori Carrington (Sofie Metropolis) weighs in with a gritty whodunit set in a Greek diner in 'Last Stop, Ditmars...' [T]here's plenty to enjoy here for Akashic completists and anyone who's ever cheered (or jeered) the Mets."
The anthology is available now from Akashic Books , and features Sofie's uncle Spyros Metropolis, and is set before she signs on at his agency. Our thanks to author Robert Knightly , and Bonnie and Joe of Manhattan's Black Orchid Mystery Bookstore for leading us to this exciting project, and for our TDA editor Melissa Ann Singer for encouraging us to take it on. Order your copy now by clicking here .
OCTOBER DRAWING
WORKING STIFF is available now in hardcover and on audio! Since the book is set during Halloween...well, what else could we give away but some decadent candy? In this case, we're offering up Godiva's Tricks and Treats Halloween Gift Set which includes a bag of 10 pc. gift box filled with an assortment of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate, featuring velvety ganaches, creamy caramels, luscious pralines, and delicious fruits and nuts. Also included is Godiva's embroidered goody bag filled with foil-wrapped solid milk chocolate medallions. All our Friends need do is post to qualify. Or you can also enter by clicking here to send us an email. We'll contact the winner for additional info on November 1st. Good luck and Happy Halloween!
Order WORKING STIFF Now
from Amazon.com
B&N , Borders ,
Tor-Forge , or BAMM .
On Audio from
Books on Tape .
Order FOUL PLAY in paperback
from Amazon.com , B&N and Tor-Forge today.

APPEARANCES

Friday-Sunday, Thursday, October 2, 2008
Paperback Outlet
29170 Hoover Road
Warren, MI
4-6:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 18th, 2008
Portage Lakes Branch Akron
Summit County Public Library
Talk and signing beginning at 2:00 p.m.
GUEST BLOG
Mon-Fri, October 27-31th, 2008
eHarlequin.com Q&A
Topic is "How to Build Sexual Tension"
Friday, October 31st, 2008
Mystery Lovers Bookshop's
Halloween Birthday Bash
Oakmont, PA
6:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 9th, 2008
Monroe County Library's
Writers on the River
Ellis Reference and Information Center
3700 South Custer Road
Monroe, MI 48161-9716
Phone: (734) 241-5277
noon - 3:00 p.m.
Keep posted for more appearances!

For even more info on us and our titles, make sure you visit our websites at www.toricarrington.net and www.sofiemetro.com . Here's wishing you a sweet, safe and book-filled October!
Very truly yours,

Having a hard time locating some of our older titles? Check out Marvelous Merry of Annie's Book Stop , Magnificent Mary Alice at Mystery Lovers Bookshop , or email Outstanding Annie McGee at Paperback Outlet at [email protected] !

---------------------------------------------------------

Okay, what can we say about ourselves that doesn't sound too terribly immodest? We've been married twenty-five years. We're writers. And we're living our dream with over forty published titles with Harlequin Blaze, Temptation, Silhouette Special Edition, and our comedic mystery series with Tor-Forge, Sofie Metropolis, PI.
We've been honored with several awards, from Romantic Times' Career Achievement Award, to Reviewers International Organization's Award of Excellence, and have been nominated for a National Readers' Choice Award.
Tony hails from a tiny village in Greece, was raised in Athens, and I (Lori) was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, where we both currently live. We have two great adult sons, Tony and Tim. And we consistently ignore the Do Not Feed the Animals sign, as our neighborhood stray cats, countless species of birds, and even raccoons and possums know all too well, along with our exasperated neighbors of the human variety, albeit for different reasons.

Find out more about us at our webpages http://www.toricarrington.net and http://www.sofiemetro.com.

Represented by Robert Gottlieb of Trident Media Group.

Are you a fellow reader? A fellow writer? A fellow human being fascinated by life's many mysteries? A foodie interested in swapping recipes? We look forward to talking to you!




My Interests

Travel inspires many of our novels. And being that Tony's from Greece, we travel back as often as we can and ultimately would like to divide our time between our two homes. We also traveled the US in The Baklava Express to promote the launch of our hardcover Sofie Metropolis, PI series and would love to repeat the experience. Go to http://www.sofiemetro.com to check out more information.

I'd like to meet:

Both like-minded people we can kick back with, and those who will challenge our take on the world.

Music:

Depends on what we're doing. If I'm (Lori) cruisin' in Lucille, my candy apple red, drop top Mustang, then classic rock (Heart and Joplin and anything bluesy are favs) is on tap. If we're in Elvis, Tony's white Excursion, you're likely to hear Greek artists Christodoulopoulos or Mazo. If it's night and I've got my feet up and the keyboard on my lap (like now), Norah Jones, Dinah Washington, Nina Simone or Greek artists Eleftheria Arvanataki or Dimitris Mitropanos or Haris Alexiou are in the CD player. Tony has his computer rigged so when he livestreams Greek radio stations (Derti and Antenna top his list), they play throughout the house. But James Brown and Led Zeppelin are his picks when he's playing his drums in the basement. Oh and George Clinton with Parliament has been known to make his way into our cruisin' selections. Oh, and you can't live this close to Detroit without loving Motown and R&B... (Refer to the playlist in the righthand column.)

Movies:

Gad. Have you got a week? Anything by Tom Hanks is a guaranteed good time. Nia Vardalos' My Big, Fat Greek Wedding has been played so many times we really should think about replacing the DVD. Zombie movies are among my current favs. Twenty-eight Days Later. Resident Evil, Dawn of the Dead, The Undead (hilarious Aussie flick), and Shaun of the Dead get a big thumbs up. The Rings Trilogy rocks, The Matrix, anything with Jason Statham, Vin Diesel or Russell Crowe. Oh, and Tony hates vampires...so they're also a fav of mine...

Television:

Tony's a newshound. If he's not watching CNN or FoxNews, then he's catching the Greek news on one of our ten zillion satellite stations. Some of my favorite shows are As Time Goes By, Medium and Grey's Anatomy as well as the guilty pleasure Dancing with the Stars and Survivor when I can find the time, which unfortunately isn't all that often. Recent favs include Tony Bourdain's No Reservations (the only travel show with a parental advisory) and Cash Cab (Ben Bailey's a hoot!).

Books:

Surely you jest? We'd need ten MySpace pages to list 'em all. But you can check out our Friends to see but a select few favorites...
Browse through our titles...


April 2008
SOFIE METROPOLIS #3
In Paperback Now
Order from:
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
Tor-Forge
Order in Hardcover
from Amazon.com .
In Audio from Blackstone .
February 2008
Shameless
Book I of 3 in our
Indecent Propoals
miniseries
Order from:
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
January 2008
Queens Noir Short
Story Collection
Our short story features Sofie's
uncle Spyros
Akashic Books
Order from:
Akashic Books
Amazon.com
Book Two Starring
Sofie Metropolis
Order from:
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
Mystery Lovers Bookshop
Also available on audio from
BlackstoneAudio.com and audible.com .
Book One Starring
Sofie Metropolis
Order from:
Greek America e-Store !
Barnes &Noble
Amazon
Download at audible.com

Check out our full
Book List-->

Click here for a printable version.

Heroes:

Now this is an easy one. Our sons, Tony Jr and Tim, Tony's late parents Evagellos and Kostoula Karayiannis, and my late father Carl J. Schlachter, Sr. We're blessed to know and have known all five, as well as the everyday heroes and heroines with whom we cross paths daily.

My Blog

Win Halloween Godiva Chocolate! Our October Drawing...

www.toricarrington.net * www.sofiemetro.com * www.myspace.com/toricarrington Mid-month greetings!Just wanted to send you an update on a couple of booksignings we've scheduled in Massillion and Fairvie...
Posted by Tori Carrington aka Lori & Tony Karayianni on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:13:00 PST

Which Aussie Hottie is Jake Porter? Vote Now!

www.toricarrington.net * www.sofiemetro.com * www.myspace.com/toricarringtonAussie Smackdown: Hugh v. RussellWho is Jake Porter? Readers of our Sofie Metropolis series are more than a little familiar ...
Posted by Tori Carrington aka Lori & Tony Karayianni on Tue, 09 Sep 2008 06:30:00 PST

WORKING STIFF in stores now!

WORKING STIFF IN STORES NOW!  September  Greetings!Autumn is one of our favorite times of year. There's nothing quite like snuggling up with that stadium blanket, something warm to drin...
Posted by Tori Carrington aka Lori & Tony Karayianni on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:36:00 PST

July Drawing for a Spa Basket!

Happy July!Click here for a special e-card. FOUL PLAY is now available in paperback! To celebrate, this month we're giving away a drawing fav, a Spa Basket complete with Slippers to one lucky reader. ...
Posted by Tori Carrington aka Lori & Tony Karayianni on Sat, 05 Jul 2008 06:51:00 PST

2008 Readers & Writers Get-Together

Ah, yes. There are few things more satisfying than catching up with old friends and making new ones, and we were privileged to do both in Cincinnati this past weekend at Lori Foster's Readers & Wr...
Posted by Tori Carrington aka Lori & Tony Karayianni on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:26:00 PST

Sofies Sizzling Summer Greek Souvlaki Recipe

Sizzling Summer Greek RecipeSofie's Souvlaki with TzatzikiIf you're familiar with our girl Sofie, then you know that one of her favorite foods is souvlaki, the Greek equivalent to the American hamburg...
Posted by Tori Carrington aka Lori & Tony Karayianni on Fri, 23 May 2008 07:46:00 PST

February Greetings - How hot is too hot?

February Greetings!So Punxsutawney Phil saw his blasted shadow. Sigh. I suppose when all is said and done, it doesn’t really matter because here in NW Ohio we’re stuck with another six wee...
Posted by Tori Carrington aka Lori & Tony Karayianni on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:33:00 PST

January Greetings!

Don't know about you, but we are so ready for 2008. This past year was a little...I guess strange about covers it. While experiencing a growth spurt or two is normal (no, we're not talking of the phy...
Posted by Tori Carrington aka Lori & Tony Karayianni on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:11:00 PST

Writing Tips

Writing Tips Ask an editor, any editor, what they're looking for and they'll invariably tell you "a good book." And when all is said and done, that's what we're all really looking for, isn't it? We wa...
Posted by Tori Carrington aka Lori & Tony Karayianni on Sat, 15 Dec 2007 06:06:00 PST

A Real McCoy - A Day in the Life

Bonus Feature: The Writing Life 6:00 a.m.Wake up five minutes before the alarm goes off to the smell of Tony making coffee downstairs. I join him on the back deck where big, steaming cuppas and glasse...
Posted by Tori Carrington aka Lori & Tony Karayianni on Sat, 15 Dec 2007 06:03:00 PST