8/30 My UtopYA - unofficial official tips and a blog hop

I was asked by my awesome, beautiful, & talented friend Carlyle Labuschagne (THIS gorgeous girl!)

to participate in some sage advice-giving posts all about how to survive--and thrive!--at the awesome place that is UtopyA con! UtopYA's basically my favorite book place to be in the entire world so I was definitely excited to help out with this fun hop. And, because typed words are not enough to convey the excitement, I did a video.

You're welcome.

Adam Kunz!!!!! Best advice ever.

(UtopYA 2013)

And if you haven't checked out any of the other hoppers, you should read the posts below along with any others they can lead you to. Here's a list of some other #UtopYA shenanigans!

Aug 6 Delphina Reads Too Much, Official UtopYA blogger
Aug 8 Amy Evans, author of Clicks
Aug 28 Chelsea Fine author of amazing stuff like the Archers of Avalon series and The Best Kind of Broken (which gave me the best kind of cry)

And you should DEFINITELY make it a priority to get your pretty ass to UtopYA next year. You won't regret going but you WILL regret not going. I'm just saying.

And, because UtopYA is ALWAYS about free books, here you go...

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Seven 11 blog hop: Whisper teaser!

Every month, on the 11th of the month, I post a teaser from one of my upcoming releases/wip's or whatever strikes me that I think you should read. Some other fantastic authors participate by also posting teasers of their stuff, so you can read some never-before-seen-words by some of the best authors around. The other rockstars you can check out this month are:

Amanda Aksel

Steph Nuss

Bethany Lopez

Shawn McGuire

Alicia Sheehy

SM Boyce

Kayla Smith

Heather Brewer

Justine Winter

AND ENTER TO WIN COOL STUFF, Yo!

Steph Nuss' signed paperback copy of her new book on Goodreads

SM Boyce is giving away a Stacey Marie Brown swag bag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And now, here are my seven lines from Whisper, a New Adult Paranormal Romance coming on Wed!

(ch 25)

...modesty when he looked at me that way. His gaze consumed me even before he’d touched me. My eyes flickered over the angles and cut of his body.

“So are you,” I said, breathless from meaning it.

Without a word, he shifted sideways and pulled his pants off. There was nothing left underneath them. The firelight flickered over his exposed body, turning his tanned skin different shades of glowing yellow and orange. My breath caught at the sheer beauty of my warrior. Of the love I held for him, centuries-old. Of the thought of our bodies pressed together.

***

What do you think?

Fireworks: an excerpt from the NEW Whisper!

It's Fun Friday with the YA Society of Storytellers! And this week, for the 4th of July celebration, our topic is FIREWORKS! Which means, we are posting explosive excerpts from one of our books. 

You can read other fiery excerpts from YA storytellers, Laura Elliot here and Christy Sloat here.

I chose a WIP to share, a scene from Whisper, which I am busy getting ready for its re-release as a New Adult coming in August!!

It's getting a new cover and new, exclusive content and I CAN'T WAIT to share it with you!!

Here's a sneak peek, FIREWORKS-style, of what's coming ...

“I can’t move forward without you.”

The words were out before I could stop them.

I hadn’t meant to sound so desperate, but it was too late to take it back. Tears threatened. I blinked, trying to stop them before they started. Despite my best attempt, a burning tear traced its way down my cheek.

Dylan took a step toward me. His fingers brushed my hand and curled around to squeeze my palm. I twisted my fingers so they interlocked with his and squeezed back.

The corner of his mouth curved up in a half-smile. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His hand lingered there, near my cheek, so light he barely touched me.

If there was ever a moment so sweet, so brimming with life that I knew I’d never forget it, this was it. Our breath hung on the air. There was a collective pause that seemed to include not only the house but the entire universe. As if every existing thing hung in the balance under the weight of our joined gaze. Even the tear I’d shed was frozen to my face, unmoving while it waited.

Finally, as if in slow motion, Dylan leaned in and very gently brushed his lips over mine. Tentative at first, and then firmer. Confident. A question being asked and answered all at once.

In answer to the relief, the sweetness, the joy that reverberated into my bones, another tear escaped and slid down my cheek. Dylan reached up and caught it with his thumb and wiped it away, all without breaking the connection of our lips. His thumb trailed down my cheek, his fingers brushing across my shoulders and arms before circling my waist and pulling me in.

Our mouths moved together in a tandem dance that left me breathless and aching.

All I could think about was this moment, his kiss. And how I’d never imagined it would be possible to feel this alive for anything again.

It was a sweet mixing of grief and joy, and it felt amazing and exhilarating and exactly right. A small noise escaped my throat, landing somewhere in his mouth.

Dylan shuddered against me. Then his lips stilled and his arms fell away. He wrenched himself back and stared at me, mouth frozen halfway open.

“What’s wrong?”

****

More coming in August!

Whisper giveaway and UtopYA shoutouts

HOLY ...

This summer is going by fast!!!! It makes me sad. I love summer like a fat kid and cake. I really need to move south because I hate the cold. I like looking out a window at a snowy scene but I don't like standing in it as a rule. <--- already off track. Nobody cares about snow in July.

So I went to UtopYA in Nashville a couple of weeks ago. *Sigh* It's really been over for that long. I had sooooo much fun and met sooooo many fun people. Authors and readers and bloggers, most of which I've been chit-chatting with online for at least a year now. So it was one of those #EpicLifeMoments like every 5 minutes all week long.

I roomed with Angeline Kace (author of Descended By Blood), Chelsea Fine (author of the Anew, Awry, and Sophie & Carter), and KC Neal (author of Pyxis). This hashtag -----> #Epic could be used to sum it up. We had a blast.

That's me on the left, next to KC. Then Ang, then Chelsea. (Thanks, Michael, for taking such a great pic!)

One of the highlights was a panel I was on called StoryFrenzy where we created a story completely through Improv and audience/card prompts. Amanda Havard, Chelsea Fine, Brina Courtney, and the rest were HILARIOUS! We didn't get to finish our story, though, about a Were-Liger named Xavier and his ex-military girlfriend so if you want to read the story or see how it ends, stay tuned on Twitter for this ---> #Ligerbane. We will continue the story, 144 characters at a time. 

And a huge "LOVE YOU!" to everyone I met: Tiffany King & fam, Adam & Carol Kunz, Quinn Loftis, Michelle Leighton, Raine Thomas, Supagurl Heather, everyone at Art Circle Library, Amy Bartol, Janet Wallace, Amanda Havard, KP Simmons, the cast of Auror's Tale, Myra McEntire, Brina Courtney, Morgan Wylie, Abbi Glines, Jamie Anderson, Delphina & Rachel, Ella James, Alli (Magnet 4 Books) <---- love all of you!!! I know I'm forgetting peeps. And whoever you are, don't be mad. It doesn't mean I don't love you, too. I just can't think straight because UtopYA gives me a brain buzz just thinking about it.

And because I want to spread my excitement around, I have a giveaway. I'm putting together some fun stuff for Whisper coming up in a few weeks and as a teaser I am offering some of Whisper's jewelry up for grabs!   

And if you've already read Whisper, the button here ------>
may interest you. It's Dylan ;) Feel free to copy it and splash it all over your blog or website. He won't mind.

As for the contest, you can enter via the rafflecopter below. Contest is international! 

**There is also a special giveaway going on EXCLUSIVELY for my street team which is open to bloggers. Click the link here to request to join. https://www.facebook.com/groups/300938726647500/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Out of the ashes...

I believe that if I should die, and you were to walk near my grave,
from the very depths of the earth, I would hear your footsteps.
-Benito Perez Galdos


As most of you know, (and if you don't you can read about it here) I gave birth to a baby boy in December who, unbeknownst to us throughout the pregnancy, had a heart problem. He was born very sick and died five days later at the UVA Children's Hospital in Charlottesville, VA. Those five days have understandably impacted me in a way that I cannot describe, as has the grief that follows that sort of loss. 


What that means for my personal life is that I take it one day at a time, one breath at a time, and I spend a lot of time remembering while simultaneously trying to forget - at least to the point where I can get through. 

What that means for my writing is that I wasn't able to jump into my next scheduled project (book 3 in my Dirty Blood series). Instead, I started something new. At first, it was simply journaling. A way to pour out the emotion that was way too big to remain contained inside me. But then it evolved, as most stories do, and it became something more. It became Whisper. The character herself is reflective of me but also, of everyone who has lost someone dear to them. She is the voice of our collective grief. She is you. 

Whisper's story is one of loss, but also one of acceptance and new life found. There are paranormal elements and love, which makes it a Paranormal Romance. But its different than most. Its no doubt bigger and heavier than what you're reading now. That's the point. My hope is that you will connect with it, in some way. That you will be encouraged by it. That you will see the hope in it, for Whisper, and maybe even for yourself. 

I wouldn't have made the decision to publish Whisper without all of the support and encouragement I've received from readers and bloggers and friends. I sincerely hope my journey will be of some help or leave a lasting mark somewhere, with someone who needs it. I have to believe that my story has meaning and a purpose. That something amazing will come out of the ashes. 

* * *

Now, on to the goodies -- because there must always be goodies. The tour I've put together, to launch Whisper, is titled "Fact or Fiction". The reason is that so much of Whisper came out of my own life, that I thought it would be fun to share which is which. Braine at Talking Supe made up the fabuloso button for us. Feel free to grab it! 

The tour schedule is listed below, with each blogger featuring a different post that explains which topics featured in Whisper are "Fact" and which are "Fiction". For example:

Cherokee background: Fiction - I am not Native American, though that would be awesome, because then I would have a year-round tan and look good in leather skirts. (I mean that in a seriously impressed and not racist kind of way). Actually, I am Dutch and German.My dad's family is from Holland, MI. And there is a town in Germany called Dannenberg, which is my maiden name. 

Dannenberg City Hall, Germany

This gives an idea of what I'll reveal on the tour. There are giveaways at each stop, so be sure to check them all and enter! 

A Diary of A Book Addict - 4/19

AwesomeSauce Book Club - 4/20

What's Your Story Book Reviews - 4/21

Cambria Hebert, Author of Masquerade - 4/22

A Book Vacation - 4/23 - SIGNED PB giveaway! 

The Bookish Babes - 4/24

Nightly Reading & Taking It One Book At A Time - 4/25

Magnet 4 Books - 4/26

Talking Supe - 4/27

SupaGurl Books - 4/28

Seeing Night Reviews - 4/29

The Rest Is Still Unwritten - 4/30

Bookerella Reviews - 5/1

Also, happening on Accendo's site is a hop sponsored by I am a Reader, Not a Writer, where we are giving away a paperback copy of The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa, avail on April 24th. Be sure to get in on that! 

Some Announcements... and also, butter knives are dangerous

This post is all about letting you know. "Because the more you know.... the better." <--- That would be a cheesy line from a local TV station we had growing up. It was their signature whatever.

Anyway.

First, you need to know that I have a new book coming soon. Whisper will be out April 19th -ISH. Here's the cover, done by Char Adlesberger (genius!) on the right-hand side bar. --------->

What do you think? Gorgeous, right? She does good work. Okay so it will be out for Kindle and Nook for $2.99. I'm not sure how much the paperback will be. Hopefully around $11 like the others. I'll see what I can do. And if you click the cover picture on the right side of the blog, you can add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads.

Whisper is special to me because it came about as a much-needed journalling project after Tyler died. I think that is an entire blog post in itself that I will have to do another time. but there is ALOT of my emotional "Stuff" in there so the MC is a version of myself in a way. My sister is beta reading for me and she called and was like "whaaa? There's a lot of hints of us and our own childhood in this thing." Yeah, I know. Go with it.

And its a little different from my other titles thus far. There's reincarnation and possibly an immortal or two, and death is faced and conquered. As in my real life.

Oh and a hot Indian boy ;) #requiredingredient

I am looking forward to hearing what you all think of it.

Also, on the list of announcements, Across the Galaxy is FREE through Saturday for Kindle. Here's the linky:
ATG FREE  It's currently like #4 in Sci-Fi Adventure, with Bob Mayer's Atlantis and other uber-amazing stuff. Nice list to be on.

I've always been against the idea of offering my work for free because I know my work has value. Books take a long time to write. And its hard, its work, its frustrating and amazing and makes you want to gouge your eyes out one minute and weep at your own genius the next. THAT should not be free, in my opinion.

But I've been pretty overwhelmed of late. With all the love and support from readers and the lovely mail I get encouraging me about Tyler. And I wanted to give something back. So, this is my thank you for your support. If you've already read it, pass the link on to a friend who hasn't. But this is for you guys. Thanks. I love ya.

Also, Decended by Blood by Angelina Kace - a fellow Accendo Press author of mine - is FREE this weekend as well. its got the hottest vamp you've ever seen. Mirko. He's on my sidebar. You can look but you cannot touch. He's mine. I will cut you with a butterknife. (incidentally, that's something i ALWAYS say and then "Lo and behold" guess what I did to my OWN HAND yesterday? Embarrassing, totally.) So be sure to get that for Kindle while freedom rings. Linky here.


And lastly, and possibly most important, and definitely most interesting:

My friend/sensei/mentor/drinking buddy/lunch date/role model/husband's golf partner (I could go on but you get the idea) Warren Murphy, author of the The Destroyer series, Grandmaster, and my favorite book EVER, The Forever King, has just released a new book (he's come out of retirement AND hiding for this.)

It's called Savage Song and its a novella (25k words) and its AMAZING!!!

As a rule I do not usually review or recommend books, especially from the platform of my blog. but this. THIS. . . this is an exception of epic proportions. Here's the cover and synopsis:

She is the world's greatest entertainer;  in a few brief years, she has changed show business forever and tens of millions of people follow her every move.  Now it looks like someone is trying to end her career for good. She's not the kind to roll over and play dead for anybody.

Enter Remo Williams, the Destroyer, and Chiun, the Master of Sinanju and the world's greatest assassin...who has a warm spot in his heart for the singing star.  Killers, stand back.  You're messing with the wrong girl and you ain't seen nothing yet.

Available for your Kindle 3/23/12

Her name is Madam Googoo! sound familiar? haha. It's great! There's humor and a badass assasin and rock stars and guessing the intended identities of each "name changed to protect the innocent" was a lot of fun. So be sure to check it out. You'll be hooked! 

Also- there is a contest going on at their blog. They are giving away a Kindle Fire, so be sure to enter. Linky here.