Wednesday, December 3, 2014

IWSG: December

I had this post written and somehow forgot it was Wednesday until right now! In my defense, it's been a busy day. One kid with a Christmas concert, and a sick kid too. :( Anyway, onto the post!


Hello bloggers! I've missed you! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Christmas will be here before we know it and I've been busy shopping and wrapping presents. :) I love this holiday. I love getting gifts for people.

Today is the first Wednesday of the month, and that means it's Insecure Writer's Support Day! If you aren't familiar with the IWSG, go check it out here. It's an amazing group created by Alex J. Cavanaugh where writers band together once a month to support and encourage each other. So big, big thanks to Alex and his awesome co-hosts, Heather Gardner, T. Drecker from Kidbits, Eva E. Solar at Lilicasplace, and Patsy Collins! 


I am currently working away at revisions on my YA WIP. When I open up the document I get all motivated and work away at it. The problem is getting me to open it. And I don't think the issue is a lack of motivation. It's a fear of it still not being good enough, even after I polish up.

Don't get me wrong, I love the story. I love the characters. But it's been awhile since I queried something, and the thought of getting back to that scares me. It's daunting. It's depressing. It's filled with highs and lows.

But it has to be done, right? And I know it'll be fine. I've lived through rejections before, and I've heard yes before too. So why I'm freaking out this time more than others, I don't know. Maybe it's just the part of the roller coaster I'm in at the moment. I know we all go through our own highs and lows.

So, I'll keep revising, keep forcing myself to open up my WIP, and keep working away. It's the only way to move forward, and I'm not ready to stand still.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

We Have a Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered the Halloween give away!











a Rafflecopter giveaway




Congratulations, Jessica!


Halloween is right around the corner! This is a big holiday at my house.
My husband and my oldest daughter LOVE all things scary.
Plus, of course, costumes and candy!
My kids this year will be a witch, a ninja, Elsa, and a puppy. :)

Also, to celebrate the holiday, FLESH EATING ZOMBIES AND EVIL EX-GIRLFRIENDS
is on sale for 99 cents!


So how about you? Do you love Halloween? Are you wearing a costume this year?
Do you have an Elsa in your house? Lol.
What's your favorite costume you've ever worn?



Sunday, October 19, 2014

Halloween Give Away!!

Halloween is right around the corner! This is a big deal at my house. It's my husband's and my oldest daughter's favorite holiday. And why not? Full of spooky decorations, freaky movies, scary books, and awesome costumes. It's a great time of year.



If you are in need of some spooky reads Halloween, you are in the right place. Jen McConnel, Nicole Zoltack, T.A. Brock, Crystal Collier, Cortney Pearson, Meradeth Houston, and I have banned together to give you some awesome creepy reads.




One lucky winner will receive a signed paperback of my YA horror,
 
 
and an ebook of
 
BLACK HELLEBORE by Nicole Zoltack,
 
FATAL and BRUTAL by T.A. Brock,
 
MOONLESS by Crystal Collier,
 
AN ABSENCE OF LIGHT by Meradeth Houston,
 
DAUGHTER OF CHAOS by Jen McConnel,
 
and PHOBIC by Cortney Pearson.






Plus two of these awesome blood-splatter lollipops from Vintage Confections.







Cool, right?


So good luck, and Happy Halloween!


Oh! And one last thing! FLESH EATING ZOMBIES AND EVIL EX-GIRLFRIENDS
is on sale for 99 cents through Halloween!
 
 




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Cover Reveal: Nobody Knows

I'm very happy to take part in the cover reveal of Nobody Knows, by Kyra Lennon. I've been reading Kyra's posts on Facebook about this book for awhile and have been so excited for it to come out! (Which it does on November 3rd, by the way. So a bit more waiting, but at least now we can check out the awesome cover!)

22839584
 
It's not easy being friends with rising rock stars - especially when you're the glue that holds them together.

Razes Hell has taken off in the charts, and Ellie can't believe her childhood friends, Drew and Jason Brooks, are on TV and drawing crowds after years spent playing in dodgy bars. From obscurity to overnight success, Ellie soon realises life in the public eye isn’t all it’s cracked up to be as dark secrets become headline news and old conflicts are re-ignited. When a fake feud meant to boost the band’s popularity threatens to rip the boys apart for real, Ellie finds herself torn – a position which only gets more uncomfortable when her loyalty to Jason collides with her blossoming relationship with Drew.

Nobody knows how deep their issues run; nobody but Ellie. With friendship, a music career and a new love on the line, can Ellie keep their tangled pasts from ruining their futures?
 
You can find Nobody Knows on Goodreads.
And it will be released on November 3rd!
 
You can find Kyra Lennon (who's awesome, by the way) on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

IWSG

It's Insecure Writer's Support Group day! Yay! But it's not a normal, writing is really hard and everything sucks, IWSG day. Today we are trying to share advice and encouragement for the IWSG anthology.

Before we continue, big, big thank yous to Alex J. Cavanaugh and his awesome cohosts My awesome co-hosts today are Kristin Smith, Elsie, Suzanne Furness, and Fundy Blue!





I thought about this and seriously wondered whether or not I would have anything of value to add. I know there have already been a lot of posts about writing, and I'm sure they're better than anything I could have come up with.

So I'm going to do something else. I don't know that it will fit into the anthology, but I'm doing it anyway. I'm going to talk about the after part. The baby blues. The fears, doubts, and holy-crap-I-sucks that come after you've already gotten through the writing, the revising, the querying, the accepting, more revising, and finally seeing your baby out there in the world.

People are going to love your book. Honestly. People have already loved it, that's why you've gotten this far. Even if you're self pubbing you know people have loved it to get this far. And more people will love it. Because it's good. (Don't forget that part, it's important.)

People will not like your book. I'm sorry, but it's just a sad fact of life. Not everyone will love your book. Just as you don't love every book out there in the world. And not just the ones that aren't your genre, your thing. We've all started books we thought we'd love, books our friends loved, and not liked them. That is a good thing to remember when you see those not loving reviews.

The best thing, of course, is to not see them. Stay away from all reviews as if they are the plague. But lets face it. That won't happen. Because then you might miss a good review. And we love the good reviews. So we peek, even though we know we shouldn't.

So when the bad reviews happen here is a to do list to help you get through them.

1. Yell at your screen. Explain to that reader why they are dumb. And wrong. And have no taste. Because clearly they have no taste. Remember, this step is to be done verbally or in your head. It is not, I repeat NOT to be typed up in a place where the reviewer or any reader can see it.

2. Eat something yummy. Chocolate is great, but if you aren't a chocolate person then go to your go-to food. Chips, French fries, banana cream pie. Whatever. Eat something yummy and feel free to pout.

3. Go to Goodreads. (yes really, you didn't read that wrong) go to one of your favorite books. One you love and you can't imagine anyone in their right mind not loving. Now go to its one star reviews. (Because it will have them.) Read them and feel free to go back to step one. See, even your beloved book, this amazing book, has people who don't love it. (Dumb people.)

4. Read some of your good reviews. Remind yourself that there are people who love your book. (Because it's awesome, and you are a wonderful writer.)

5. Remind yourself that YOU love your book. And you are the only person who really matters.

6. Keep writing. Because you love it and you're good at it.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Home is Where You Are release day!!

 
It's release day for Home is Where You Are by Tessa Marie! (aka Theresa Paolo)
 
I was lucky enough to beta read this one and let me tell you, it's wonderful!
 
 
Home is Where You Are
 
Anna’s life reads like a check list.
Straight A’s (Check)
Editor of the school paper (Check)
Volunteering time at the local soup kitchen (Check)
Ivy League (So close she can taste it)
Falling in love with a homeless boy (Not on the list)

Dean has a plan too. Survive. After being subjected to his foster father’s violent attacks, Dean made the hard choice to leave. Now he lives on the streets doing everything he can to get by, refusing to let people help him. But when he meets Anna, he realizes not everyone is out to hurt him.

Slowly, Anna and Dean let each other in, blending their two worlds into one. But when a series of events brings Dean’s world into perspective, he pushes Anna away. Not willing to accept the line that divides them, Anna sets out to bring Dean back to her. Her determination and faith in their future puts her on the tracks of danger, and he is the only one who can save her.
 
 
 
 
It's on sale for 99 cents right now on Amazon,
and you can add it to your TBR list on Goodreads.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Sunflowers for Tina

Słoneczna jak słonecznik #zielona #herbata z pomarańczą zachwyci Was bogactwem smaku! Sprawdź na http://www.big-active.pl/zielona-z-pomarancza
 
It fills my heart to see the love spreading through the blogging community today.
 
Goodbye, Tina.
 
You touched many people and you will be missed.
 
 

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

IWSG: Making Goals

It's Insecure Writers Support Group day! Thank you to the amazing Alex Cavanaugh and his wonderful co-hosts, Laura at My Baffling Brain, Mark Koopmans, Shah Wharton, and Sheena-Kay Graham!

If you aren't familiar with the IWSG you should go check it out. It's a wonderful, wonderful group full of amazingly supportive writers.







My insecurity this month is setting goals. I'm very behind in my writing, summer was so crazy busy with four kids. But I'm hoping to catch up now that my older two started school yesterday. But I'm worried that having slowed down, I won't be able to catch back up.

So I'm trying to push myself, give myself a goal and make myself stick to it. I want to finish my YA ms by October first. I should be able to do this. This should be an attainable goal. I just need to make it happen.

write - for my little writer. $18
 
Easy peasy, right? ;-)
 
 

So how about you? What are your insecurities this month?

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

The Real Thing Release Day!!!

It's release day for The Real Thing by Cassie Mae! Woo hoo!

I seriously loved this book. It's hilarious! Plus, in typical Cassie Mae fashion, it's also touching and romantic and basically all kinds of good things. :)

And now. . .

Time to party!

The Real Thing releases today (whoop whoop!) and Cassie's giving away a swag pack full of goodies.

The Real Thing postcards
A froggy loofah
Oh the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
The Real Thing Samsung Galaxy S3 Phone Case
A Cassie Mae pen
A collection of select Cassie Mae/Becca Ann signed books

Rafflecopter right below the excerpt and book details :)

*********************************************************************************

“All right, all right,” he says, smiling and holding his palm up to stop me. Tomato juice is dripping from the top of his head down his cheeks, getting caught in the smile lines by his mouth. I can feel it running down my face, too, and I should be gagging, but I’m not.

I open my mouth to tell him how cute he looks even with juice all over him, but a light ploof! hits the center of the tub between our bodies, and I stare down at my froggy loofah, now covered in red.

“Oh no!” I frown, plucking the sponge up by the froggy’s arm, then looking up to the shower caddy over Eric’s head. Our splash war must’ve knocked my poor froggy right off his little perch. “My loofah.”

“That’s what it’s called!” Eric slaps the top of his knee, getting more juice on both of us. “I’ve been staring at that thing since you moved in, trying to remember what the hell people call it.”

A small bubble of laughter escapes through my slight frown. “Why?”

“That thing is creepy.”

I gasp. “It is not. It’s cute.” My lip pokes out as I look at the juice soaking into the blue frog’s face. “And now it’s ruined.”

He takes the loofah from my fingers, an adorable pinched look on his face.

“I don’t know how you can wash yourself with this,” he says, pulling at the leg poking from the big green sponge part.

“It’s soft on my sensitive lady parts.” I laugh as his face goes red again. I expect him to drop the loofah back in my hand—or throw it at me—but he doesn’t. He keeps pulling at it as if it’s the weirdest, yet most fascinating thing in the world.

“Is it really ruined?” he asks, tone suddenly nowhere near his usual playfulness. He actually looks worried about my sponge.

“It’s like a buck, Eric.” I adjust in the tub again as the juice creeps into nooks and crannies of my body I had no idea existed till now. “I can get another one tomorrow. Maybe an even creepier one just for you.”

I try to wink, but I’ve never been good at that. He sort of laughs, but his eyes go back to the froggy. He runs his thumb over the eyeballs, wiping the juice from it. I thought I knew Eric pretty well. But as I watch him stare at my loofah, head slightly cocked to the side, I realize I have no clue what he’s thinking. And that’s totally okay. The anticipation of finding out is better.

“Only a dollar?” His eyes lift to mine.

“Or two. Depending on where you go.”

His lips purse and he nods, then plunges the sponge into the juice. Before I can smack him for that, he pulls it from the bath and wrings it out over my head. My jaw drops to my knees.

“Oh, you are so dead.”

*********************************************************************************


Buy Me!
In this electrifying novel from Cassie Mae, two close friends surprise themselves by shifting from platonic love to sexual attraction.
Eric Matua has one friend—his best friend and childhood sweetheart, who needs a place to stay for the summer. Mia Johnson has thousands of friends—who live in her computer. Along with her email chats and Facebook notifications, Mia also devours romance novels, spending countless hours with fictional characters, dreaming of her own Romeo to sweep her off her feet. When she starts receiving supersweet messages from a stranger who thinks she’s someone else, Mia begins to believe that real love is possible outside her virtual world.

When the two friends become roommates, Mia finds herself falling harder than she ever thought she could. But Eric keeps his desires locked away, unsure of himself and his ability to give his best friend what she deserves in a boyfriend. As her advances are continually spurned, Mia splits her time between Eric and her computer. But she soon realizes she’s about to lose the only real thing she’s ever had.
Advance praise for The Real Thing
“Cassie Mae is awesome! The perfect balance between laugh-out-loud funny and achingly poignant, The Real Thing is the ultimate escapist read. I didn’t want it to end!”—Lauren Layne, author of Isn’t She Lovely
“Watching two best friends figure out how to fall in love makes The Real Thing a summer read of swoon-worthy perfection.”—Jolene Perry, author of The Summer I Found You
“Cassie Mae’s The Real Thing made me want to close out every social media app and electronic device I have, but I couldn’t manage to stop reading!”—Rebecca Yarros, author of Full Measures

About the Author


Cassie Mae (who dawns the name Becca Ann on occasion) is the author of a few hundred... okay, maybe not that many... books. Some of which became popular for their quirky titles, characters, and stories. She likes writing about nerds, geeks, the awkward, the fluffy, the short, the shy, the loud, the fun.
Since publishing her bestselling debut, Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend, she has published and sold books to Random House, Swoon Romance, and Spencer Hill Press. She has a favorite of all her book babies, but no, she won't tell you what it is. (Mainly because it changes depending on the day.)
Along with writing, Cassie likes to binge watch Teen Wolf and The Big Bang Theory. She can quote Harry Potter lines quick as a whip. And she likes kissing her hubby, but only if his facial hair is trimmed. She also likes cheesecake to a very obsessive degree.
You can stalk, talk, or send pictures of Dylan O'Brien to her on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cassiemaeauthor


****************Giveaway!******************




Friday, August 15, 2014

Zombies are Coming!

It's cover reveal day for FLESH EATING ZOMBIES AND EVIL EX-GIRLFRIENDS!
 
I'm so excited to share it with all of you! It's creepy and dark and just right for the book.
 
So without further ado, here it is!
 
 
 
 
Erwin is in hell--- Locked in his high school with his ex-girlfriend, her new pain-in-the-ass boyfriend, and a handful of others while zombies claw at the doors trying to fight their way in.

The bright light in the dark is Sylvia, whose strength helps hold Erwin together
when everything is falling apart.

When they realize the school is no longer safe,
Erwin is determined to keep the group together and get them all to safety.
But he can’t save everyone.
 
 
 
 
Release day is September 17th.
Don't forget to add it to your Goodreads list!

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

IWSG: Not Enough Time!

It's the first Wednesday of the month?! How the crap did that happen? This summer is going far too quickly!

If you aren't familiar with the Insecure Writers Support Group, and you're a writer, then you should go check it out right now! It's pretty much the best thing ever. A time for writers to tell other writers about their insecurities, (and we all have them in spades!) and get loving feedback from people who get us.

The IWSG was created by the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh, writing ninja and friend to writers everywhere. His awesome co-hosts for today are Sarah Foster, Joylene Nowell Butler, Lily Eva, and Rhonda Albom!




So, what's bugging me lately? Oh geez, what isn't? There's no time to finish anything. I'm falling behind in all my goals. And I'll never be a successful writer. :-P

It's been a very busy summer. Our local theater group, (which I'm on the board for) is putting on Legally Blonde the Musical. It's been very fun, but a lot of work! I'm doing costumes for the show, and performing a couple small parts.

 
 

 
That's me driving the golf cart as Elle's drunken mother.
 
 
I also leave for Canadian Nationals the day after the show ends. I can't bring my computer, because my husband will use it to watch the classes I'm in on the live feed, but I do plan to bring a notebook and will hopefully get some writing done.
 
I'm also bringing a couple books I've been wanting to read, so that's fun too. :)
 
Here's hoping that once all this is done I can get back on track with my writing and eventually finish the YA ms I'm working on, (which I love!)
 
How about you guys? How is summer treating you? Are you finding time to write?


 

Friday, July 25, 2014

Cover Reveal Sign Up

I'm getting so excited to publish my YA zombie book, FLESH EATING ZOMBIES AND EVIL EX-GIRLFRIENDS! I have an awesome, creepy cover, which I will be revealing August 15th!

 
Erwin is in hell--- Locked in his high school with his ex-girlfriend, her new pain-in-the-ass boyfriend, and a handful of others while zombies claw at the doors trying to fight their way in.

The bright light in the dark is Sylvia, whose strength helps hold Erwin together
when everything is falling apart.

When they realize the school is no longer safe, Erwin is determined to keep the group together and get them all to safety. But he can’t save everyone.
 
 

If you are interested in helping out with the reveal, I would really, really appreciate it! You can sign up here.

You can also add FLESH EATING ZOMBIES AND EVIL EX-GIRLFRIENDS to your TBR list on Goodreads!

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

IWSG: Brain Freeze


It's Insecure Writers Support Group day! Yay! A day for writers to pour out their insecurities to other writers, the only people who know how their feeling and can really help.

Thank you to Alex J. Cavanaugh for creating the IWSG, and for just generally being awesome. A better person this writing community could not find.

Also, big thanks to Alex's cohosts this month, Krista McLaughlin, Kim Van Sickler, Heather Gardner, and Hart Johnson!





Here's the problem, I know I should be writing but I'm not. I'm grumpy when I don't write, and happy when I do. I know this. And yet. . . Some days I just can't seem to motivate myself to get started. There are kids running around me all day being loud and needing stuff, you know, like lunch. And come evening I'm exhausted and just want to hang out with my husband and watch Law and Order.

So. . . how do I regain my focus? My drive? Actually, sometimes driving helps. I can't listen to music while I write, but listening to music in the car often times gets my creative juices flowing. In the car my characters start having conversations in my head. Don't know why, but it's true.

The other thing that helps is just freaking doing it. Just forcing my "butt in chair." Rereading the last scene I wrote and then writing what happens next. Usually the transition is awful, I don't know what I want to say so it all comes out crap. But then something happens and the characters take over and things start to come more easily. (And going back and fixing the crappy parts is what revisions are for, right?)

How about you? Do you ever get in writing funks? What do you do to get out of it?

PS. I want to apologize for having turned Captcha back on. I know it's a pain, but I've been getting a ridiculous amount of spam. Mainly for things pertaining to a piece of anatomy I don't even have. So I'm going to turn it back on for awhile. Sorry for the inconvenience. :(

Friday, June 27, 2014

Lucky Seven

Thank you to Linda Budzinski for tagging me in this! If you don't know Linda, you should. You can find her on her blog or on Facebook.

Here's how it works: I have to turn to page 7 or 77 of my current work in progress, count down to the 7th line, and print the next 7 lines. Then I get to tag more writers. Sound like fun? I think so! :)

This is from page 7 of my YA contemporary WiP, GIRL IN TROUBLE.


Since I’m a new patient they want to know all about my medical history, and apparently the medical history of my entire bloodline. If my great-great Grandmother’s sister had a persistent hangnail, they want to know about it.

Once that’s all finished the nurse checks my blood pressure, temp and weight. Then Mom and I sit in a cold little room and wait for the doctor.
 
“Are you nervous?” she asks, putting her hand on mine. I take a deep breath and shake my head. It’s a lie of epic proportions.


So now onto the tagging! I'm going to tag Leigh Covington, Suzi Retzlaff, Lizzy Charles, Jessica Salyer, Jenny S. Morris, Monica Ropal, Susan Crispell, and Meradeth Houston.


Oh, and PS. I was over at the YA Nightstand's blog yesterday talking about fairy tales! Come say hello! :)

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Happy Book Birthday to Annalisa!


For no reason whatsoever, Annalisa thought it would be fun to answer some of the questions that Jackie magazine asked the stars of the day (this example is from 1984 – and the victim was Johnny Marr from The Smiths). She will be answering one question on each of the random blogs taking part!

Question: If you were going to have something named after you, what would you suggest?

Annalisa's answer: A chocolate bar!

And my answer:

Oh! That's a good answer!
I'll say a cereal, one with marshmallows.

Congratulations on the release, Annalisa! I can't wait to read it!


Our Beautiful Child is available right now!  

“The Boathouse collects misfits. Strange solitary creatures that yearn for contact with the outside world, but not too much. They sit, glass in hand, either staring at the table in front of them, or at some distant point on the horizon.” 

… so says the narrator of Our Beautiful Child. And he’s been around long enough to know.

People end up in this town almost by accident. Ella is running away from her nightmares, Sally is running away from the memories of previous boyfriends and Rona is running away from university. Each of them seek sanctuary in the 18th century pub, The Boathouse; but in fact, that’s where their troubles begin.

Ella finds love, a moment too late; Rona discovers a beautiful ability which needs refining before she gets hurt; and Sally meets the captivating Murray, who threatens to ruin everything.

Three women. Three stories. One pub.




Thursday, June 5, 2014

Guest Post: Theresa Paolo, and a Giveaway!

I'm excited to welcome the amazing Theresa Paolo to my blog today! Her newest book, (Once) Again comes out June 17th! I've read it, (I'm lucky like that) and I can tell you it is great!

I'm going to pass things along to Theresa, who's sharing her playlist!


First off a big thank you to Rachel for having me on your blog today!

I don't always listen to music while I write, but for some reason I couldn't listen to it enough when writing (Once) Again. I was constantly plopping headphones in my ears and losing myself in Josh's world. So many songs made me think of Josh and Kat as if I was hearing their soundtrack when I was drafting their story. Today I'm going to share those with you.



Nice choices, Theresa!




(Once) Again (Again, #2)
 
 
Josh will have to reconcile his past… In order to make Kat his future. After surviving a real-life nightmare, Josh Wagner is sent home from his dream college on crutches.
Bedridden and tormented by flashbacks, he’s just seen his world shattered and his baseball scholarship go up in smoke. Josh’s family hires a health aide to help take care of him, but when he opens the door, the last person he expects to see is his biggest regret…
Katherine Singleton is the only girl Josh has ever loved. Now, even though she’s only taking care of him because it’s her job, Josh is determined to win her back. But Kat had to move on after their breakup two years ago, and despite her feelings for Josh, a lot has happened since he left…
When Kat’s past comes back to haunt her, Josh decides it’s his turn to take care of her. But protecting her—and redeeming himself—will put Josh in the line of fire again. Will he survive this time?
 
You can add (Once) Again to your TBR list on Goodreads,
and Pre-order it on Amazon!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

IWSG


Happy Insecure Writers Support Group, everyone! It's the first Wednesday of the month, and you know what that means. (And if you don't, go HERE to find out more and sign up!)

Big thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh and his wonderful co-hosts this month, C. Lee McKenzie, Tracy Jo, Melanie Schulz, and LG Keltner!

Everyone month we get together to share our woes and insecurities, and to give each other encouragement.




I've been trying to stay positive lately, focus on the sharing encouragement part, but it's not always easy. We all go through times of not feeling good enough, of feeling like we'll never be good enough. (That's why we have the group, right?) And I've been in that place a lot lately.

I don't think my goals are too huge, I'm not aiming to be an international best-seller or anything like that. I want to get an agent. I want to hold a book of mine in my hands. And some day I'd love to find a book of mine in an actual bookstore. But right now those goals seem too far out of reach. *sigh*

I'm trying to just not think about it. That's my plan. To write, write, rewrite, and not worry about the goals. To focus on the work, which I enjoy, of course, or I wouldn't be doing it. I'm trying to get wrapped up in my characters and their stories, and let all the rest of it fade away.

And most of the time it works. :)

Brightly Colored Art Print - Picasso Quote- Inspiration exists but it has to find you working via Etsy 
What works for you? How do you keep away the doubts?

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Decisions, Decisions, and an Announcement

So this last weekend I made a tough decision. Many of you have probably heard me talk about my YA zombie book at some point in the past. It's one I wrote for my husband, and may have given up on a long time ago if not for him.
 
This last month I received two offers on it, from two small publishers. After a LOT of thinking, I decided to turn them both down and self publish it. I've been thinking about self pubbing it for a long time, in fact I've already made a cover for it, and I decided this weekend that it's the right path for this book.
 
It's a bit scary, but at least I've done it once before now, so I know what to expect. And I have amazing critique partners who are willing to support me. (Seriously, I love you girls so much!)
 
 
So, on September 17th, I will be releasing
FLESH EATING ZOMBIES AND EVIL EX-GIRLFRIENDS.

 
Wish me luck! :)

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Cover Reveal: Our Beautiful Child

I am very happy to be helping Annalisa Crawford with her cover reveal today!
One, because cover reveals are so much fun.
And two, because Annalisa is an amazing writer. Her writing is eerie, beautiful, and truly unique.
Plus, she's a pretty great person on top of all that!
 
So, without further ado, here it is!
 

Release date: 10th June 2014         Publisher: Battered Suitcase Press

“The Boathouse collects misfits. Strange solitary creatures that yearn for contact with the outside world, but not too much. They sit, glass in hand, either staring at the table in front of them, or at some distant point on the horizon.”

… so says the narrator of Our Beautiful Child. And he’s been around long enough to know.

People end up in this town almost by accident. Ella is running away from her nightmares, Sally is running away from the memories of previous boyfriends and Rona is running away from university. Each of them seek sanctuary in the 18th century pub, The Boathouse; but in fact, that’s where their troubles begin.

Ella finds love, a moment too late; Rona discovers a beautiful ability which needs refining before she gets hurt; and Sally meets the captivating Murray, who threatens to ruin everything.

Three women. Three stories. One pub.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I live in Cornwall UK, with a good supply of beaches and moorland right on my doorstep to keep me inspired. I live with my husband, two sons, a dog and a cat.
Despite my location, I neither surf nor sail, and have never had any inclination to try. I much prefer walking along a deserted beach and listening to the waves crashing over rocks. For this reason, I really love the beach in the winter!


Links:

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Two Releases Today! :)

Today is release day for DON'T FALL!!! I'm so excited! (And nervous. Just ignore the nail-biting and paper-bag breathing. Okay? Thanks.)

 
In this contemporary retelling of Rapunzel, seventeen-year-old Anya leads a secluded life in a house on the edge of town with her adopted mother. She doesn't go to public school, doesn't even have a best friend. But Anya doesn't seem to mind. She has her books, her photography, and her daydreams and would do anything to please her mom.

Until one day at the library, the only place Anya is allowed to go alone, she takes a picture of a beautiful boy. Before long she's lying to her mom, and sneaking out to meet Zander. But Zander wants more than a secret romance. If Anya wants to be with the boy of her dreams, she's going to have to risk her relationship with the only other person she's ever cared about.
 
Little secret, Don't Fall actually ended up releasing a week early, and this happened:
 
 
I may have freaked out a little. :)
 


Rapunzel was always one of my favorite fairy tales, (from way before Tangled) and I really loved writing a contemporary retelling of it. I love Anya and Zander so much, and I hope others love them too! :)

Today is also the release of PERFECTLY MESSY by Lizzy Charles! It's super awesome that we get to share a release day and has been a lot of fun! We're even having a joint FB party tonight! We'll have lots of teasers, give-aways, and pics of desserts. :) You can join us HERE.

Perfectly Messy (Effortless With You #2)
 
Popularity isn't everything it's cracked up to be. Justin Marshall knows this better than most. For the captain of the basketball team, small business owner, and son of Minnesota's next governor, life can get pretty overwhelming. But Justin can handle anything as long as he has Lucy, the girl who fell for the man he’s trying to be.

But for Justin and Lucy, finding time together proves challenging. Stolen kisses and whispered promises just aren't enough. That is, until scandalous photos of the couple are leaked to a press intent on creating a juicy scandal during Justin's dad's gubernatorial campaign. And when Lucy becomes fair play for the tabloids and gossip pages, Justin does the only thing he can to protect her: he breaks her heart.

For Lucy, junior year is everything she hoped it would be: new friends, second chances, and a boyfriend she can’t stop kissing. That is, until the boy she’s pretty sure she loves chooses the life his family wants for him, over her.

Now it’s up to Lucy to teach him what it really means to have everything. Because for Justin, being who everyone needs him to be just might cost him the one person he can’t live without.
 
Sounds good, doesn't it? I loved Effortless With You and I can't wait to read Perfectly Messy!
Happy Book Birthday Lizzy!
 
Don't Fall on AmazonGoodreads.
Perfectly Messy on AmazonGoodreads.
(Barnes and Noble coming soon!)

Friday, May 23, 2014

Custom Covers

One of my favorite things, other than reading and writing, is photography.
More recently this has led to a love of cover design. So I've decided to share this passion of mine.
I will now be offering custom covers. This means you would get to approve the models for your shoot, we'd discuss ideas for the shoot together,
and you'd have several custom images to choose from. 
 
Most of the models I've worked with, or plan to work with, are young adults, so those are the type of covers I'd love to shoot. (Although there is one premade for sale that is definitely not YA.)
If you have an NA or adult project, just talk to me and we'll see if I can
accomplish the look you're going for.
 
I've added some premades here for people to look over and get an idea of what I can do.
I also shot the cover for these books, although I did not design these covers: 


Secret Catch
 
 
Here are a few of the other options Jessica and Cassie got when they booked this shoot with me:


 
All of these images now belong to them, to use for teasers or whatever they choose.
They will not be available to other customers.
 
And one of my premades, just for fun. :)
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, May 9, 2014

Cover Reveal – Curse of the Granville Fortune by Kelly Hashway and Giveaway

I am super excited to be participating in Kelly Hashway's cover reveal for Curse of the Granville Fortune! For one, the cover is totally awesome! Two, the book sounds awesome, three, Kelly is pretty awesome. :)

So, without delay, here it is:


 

Curse of the Granville Fortune by Kelly Hashway

presented by Month9Books!
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Granville fortune

Find the fortune, break the curse!

The hunt is on for an ancient treasure tied to nine-year-old J.B.'s family history. He's been having visions that make him sweaty, lightheaded, and certain he’s turning into some kind of freak—or worse, going insane. But things are worse than he imagined. The visions stem from a family curse. An ancient ancestor was accused of stealing the massive Granville fortune, and now J.B.’s entire family will suffer.

To break the curse, J.B. must find and return the Granville’s stolen property. But he's not the only one searching for the treasure. As he sets out on his journey through a dark and foreboding forest, he'll battle his worst fears and fight terrifying creatures along the way. And when he meets two others who share the missing pieces of his visions and suffer from the same curse, the three soon realize they need to work together to break the curse before it's too late.

Chapter-by-Chapter-header---About-the-Author
Kelly Hashway

Reading is a thing of magic. It has allowed me to enter into worlds I never would have known. I’ve cried, laughed, and been scared right alongside my favorite characters. And my hope is that one day kids will do the same for my characters. I want kids to see that reading is one of the greatest gifts. Luckily, my daughter already agrees with me!

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Chapter-by-Chapter-header---Giveaway
Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!
(Winners will receive their book on release day)

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

IWSG: Staying Positive

It’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group day! Big, big thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh and his cohosts, Mark Koopmans, Joylene Nowell Butler, Elsie, and Lisa Buie-Collard! There are a lot of blogs on this list now, and it's so wonderful that you're willing to go around and make sure they all get comments. :)

If you aren't familiar with IWSG, go check it out by clicking the link above. It's a wonderful group of super supportive writers. This group has helped me countless times. If you're new to writing, or not, you will find help and support within this group.


My first novel comes out, so there's that to feel insecure about! I'm trying really hard, though, to not freak out. What will be, will be, and all that. I'm sure in a couple weeks I'll be singing a different tune. Lol. The freak out will come, but I'm so far I've held it at bay.

All together things have actually been looking pretty good lately. So I'm going to focus on the positive and try not to feel insecure this month.


Here are a couple fun writing quotes to hopefully brighten your day. :)
 
10 Shareable, Funny Writing Quotes
 
All the time. cdfinny  http://media-cache1.pinterest.com/upload/250512797992408130_9Qw7rBtz_f.jpg
 
Have a good day everyone!!

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Band Geek Birthday!

 
 
 
How to Seduce a Band Geek releases today!! Congratulations to Cassie Mae!
This is perhaps my favorite book of Cassie's to date. I LOVE Sierra,
and so much about this book is just fabulous!
If you like funny, sweet, emotional YA
you want to check this one out!
 
How to Seduce a Band Geek (How To, #2)
 
 
Sierra Livingston’s got it bad for her sister’s best friend, Levi Mason—the boy who carries his drumsticks in his pocket, marches with the school’s band, and taps his feet to whatever beat runs through his head. Sierra racks her brain for ways to impress the sexy drummer, but the short skirts and bursting cleavage don’t seem to cut it.

When Sierra gets paired with Levi’s sister, Brea, for a mentorship program, they strike a deal. In exchange for Sierra keeping her mouth shut about Brea ditching the program, Brea lets Sierra dig for more info on Levi to help get the guy of her dreams.

But when Sierra discovers Levi no longer plays the drums, his family has moved into a trailer, and he’s traded in his Range Rover for a baby blue moped, Sierra’s not sure if she can go through with violating his privacy. She’ll have to find the courage to ask him straight out—if he’s willing to let her in—and explore other ways to seduce the school’s band geek.
 
 
You can find it on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Friday, May 2, 2014

Winners!

We have winners! Thank you to everyone who entered my give away! Everyone who liked my FB pages, and who read Over the Ocean! You guys are awesome and I love you!

I will be in touch with Lenore, who wins the mini-suitcase, necklace, and $10 gc, and Emily, who wins a $5 gc.





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Bella's Point Cover Reveal!

Today I'm helping Elizabeth Seckman with her latest cover reveal. Elizabeth is one of my favorite blogging buddies, and I was more than happy to have her here! She is bright, funny, and always supportive. Just a downright wonderful lady.
 
And her latest cover is absolutely gorgeous!
 
 
 
Did you know? In the story, Bella cares for a young Cherokee boy. The Cherokee lived in the western portion of North Carolina. They often adopted white man's ways in order to live peacefully. This didn't completely work. When gold was found, the Cherokee was sent marching on the "Trail of Tears" from the East coast to reservations in the west.

 

Isabella Troy Stanley is a divorced, slave freeing pariah surviving in the shattered post Civil War south the only way a fallen debutante knows how. 
She heads to a Yankee prison and buys herself a husband. 

Jack Byron is the former Troy plantation stable boy and object of young Bella's affection. He rejected her then, and he's still not sold on the idea of marrying her now.  
 
 It’s complicated.

 Though to Bella, it’s simple: make Jack love her, marry her, and live happily ever after. The plan seems to work...at least until her secret is revealed.


 
Elizabeth is a wife, a mom, and a writer. She has four wonderful boys, one dusty house, and three published books to her credit. Feel free to check them out and buy them HERE! Erm, the books, not the kids or the house...though all things in life are negotiable ;)

You can find her here - Blog // Facebook // Twitter

Cover art by Sprinkles on Top Studios.



 

Friday, April 18, 2014

Cover Reveal: FINDING HER WAY BACK

Today I'm helping out with Heather van Fleet's cover reveal for FINDING HER WAY BACK. Heather is kind of super awesome. :) I first met her via twitter, and she is so friendly and supportive! (Link to her Twitter profile is below. Go find her!) And now, the book!

FINDING HER WAY BACK

By Heather van Fleet

 

Releasing October 7, 2014

A New Adult Contemporary Romance

Meet Callie. She’s eighteen, quirky, and fears commitments. She also has a love/hate relationship with her tennis shoes.

Nine months of college, done and gone, and all Callie has to show for it is her freshman thirty. But alas, no worries, life has other crap plans for her now. Plans that include a set of nuptials from hell for her older, she–devil sister Anna. Struggling to rid her chubby–sexy vibe, Callie is put on a strict Anna regimen of ‘do this do that’ while attempting to avoid the unavoidable. The unavoidable being Ky Hampton: her once skinny–skater–boy turned sex–god, ex best friend from across the street.

Kylan feels as though he is a waste. A mechanic, country music singer with not a lyrics to his name. A boy with a proverbial skateboard still strung around his neck from high school. He’s lost, and he’d be the first to admit it. But the moment he spots Calla Lily––with a cemented penis in hand––the more he realizes that she’s exactly the muse he’s been missing.

But when the going gets tough, and the secrets of her past grow thicker, Callie has to figure out if her tennis shoes will be her escape this time around in life, or her demise instead.


 
Doesn't it sound good? And I'm totally digging the cover. :) Don't forget to add it to our TBR list on Goodreads!!
 
About the Author
 
Midwestern native Heather Van Fleet lives in a small town on the Iowa/Illinois border. She’s a wife to her hubby--and high school sweet heart--Chris, as well as a mom to her three little girls, Kelsey, Emma and Bella. When she’s not obsessing over her fictional book characters, cooking dinner, or running around chasing her crazy kiddos, you can usually find her with her head stuck in her Kindle, sucking down White Chocolate Mochas like they're water. 


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