Getting to know you in the New Year – #Hello2016 Hop
We’re ringing in the New Year with lots of giveaways! And by sharing some fun and wacky facts about ourselves. There’s a new giveaway at each stop so be sure to visit them all!
At the Stars Release Day!
Credits: Cover photo by Michael Stokes Photography – Cover design by Babski Creative Studios – Cover model, Adam Von Rothfelder
(congrats to our cover reveal giveaway winners, Deb and Nina!)
At the Stars is out today! I spent two years writing this book, and while every book I’ve written has been special, I poured my heart and soul into it like I never have any other story. I truly hope you all enjoy.
Some books come easy and some books come hard. Jake and Cassie’s story took years of stops and starts to get onto the page. Today is a HUGE day for me, just to see At the Stars out in the light of day. I hope all of you love it, I really do. Honestly, I’m grateful simply to see At the Stars finished and out in the world.
I want to say an extra big thank you to those who pre-ordered the book. New adult isn’t something you’ve seen from me before, and you took a huge risk. I extend to you the biggest, squishiest virtual hug ever. To everyone who checked out At the Stars and everyone who plans to, huge hugs to you, too. I hope Jake and Cassie’s story makes you laugh, cry, and feel warm, fuzzy things.
Get it here: [button type=”tiny” url=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25165039-at-the-stars” target=”_blank”]Add to Goodreads TBR[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSAmazon” target=”_blank”] Amazon Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/lrV5HL” target=”_blank”] Apple Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/WgEIft” target=”_blank”] Kobo Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/9QoPY6″ target=”_blank”] B&N Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSARe” target=”_blank”] ARe [/button][button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSGoogle” target=”_blank”] Google Play[/button]
About At the Stars:
A GIRL TRYING TO LEAVE HER PAST BEHIND
I was a normal teenager who loved music and dancing, until the day I was attacked in my favorite record store. A few years later when my mom succumbed to depression and took her own life, I couldn’t stay in my hometown with all the memories and the curious stares. I decided to get in my car and just go – except my car decided it was done going outside a tiny place called Evergreen Grove. That’s where I found Jake. Or I guess Jake found me.
A GUY WHO CAN’T LET HIS GO
For the last eight years, all I can think about is the day I ended another man’s life. Then I manage to save Cassie’s, and I feel like maybe I’ve got some kind of second chance. To do what I couldn’t before, or maybe even for something bigger. Something like love. If only I could feel like I deserve her…
Excerpt – Jake’s POV – All rights reserved:
All at once she bites her lip and I see her going for the drinks, but I slap my hand over hers. “You shouldn’t be walking home late. It’s dangerous.”
She gives me a look like she’s being patient with me. “It was good enough to get here. I’ll have AJ with me. We’ll be fine.”
She gestures toward the patio door where her buddy is probably waiting for her to return with the drinks. Dante chooses that moment to come inside, and I don’t like how he’s looking at her. Too much like he had a good dinner, and she could be dessert.
The icing on the cake comes when AJ calls through the open door. “Hey birthday girl, you bringing us drinks or what?”
Stupid fucker.
Dante grins at Cassie, veering her way like a homing missile. “Birthday girl, eh?”
She smiles slightly, trying to take the drinks again. “What do I owe you?”
My hand tightens over hers. “On the house.” I lean close, so nobody else can hear me over the din of music and chatter in the bar. “If you let me give you and AJ a ride back tonight.”
I can’t even believe it when she starts to pull away. “I can pay for the drinks.”
I’m still gripping her hand and feeling a surprising unwillingness to let the subject drop. “You’re not walking home in the dark on a night when everybody’s out getting stupid, with nobody but your skinny sidekick for protection.”
She presses her lips together, giving me what I figure is supposed to be a death stare for a few seconds before she caves. “Fine. My feet hurt anyway,” she says with a slight smile.
Cassie turns to go back to her table with her friend, and I turn to deal with Dante. My chest is tight and my heart is skipping around. I don’t take time to wonder why getting what I wanted has me more weirded-out than I was before.
Get it here: [button type=”tiny” url=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25165039-at-the-stars” target=”_blank”]Add to Goodreads TBR[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSAmazon” target=”_blank”] Amazon Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/lrV5HL” target=”_blank”] Apple Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/WgEIft” target=”_blank”] Kobo Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/9QoPY6″ target=”_blank”] B&N Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSARe” target=”_blank”] ARe [/button][button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSGoogle” target=”_blank”] Google Play[/button]
EXTRAS: Want to share At the Stars with the interwebs? Feel free to download one of these teaser graphics to post to your favorite social media page:
Look at this handsome devil!
Cassie and Jake’s Playlist:
- Mother Love Bone – Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns
- Matt Nathanson – Come on Get Higher
- Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud
- Death Cab for Cutie – Underneath the Sycamore
- Greenday – Waiting
- Sugarland – Run (ft. Matt Nathanson)
- Howie Day – End of Our Days
Happy reading, everybody!! <3
Get it here: [button type=”tiny” url=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25165039-at-the-stars” target=”_blank”]Add to Goodreads TBR[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSAmazon” target=”_blank”] Amazon Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/lrV5HL” target=”_blank”] Apple Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/WgEIft” target=”_blank”] Kobo Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/9QoPY6″ target=”_blank”] B&N Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSARe” target=”_blank”] ARe [/button][button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSGoogle” target=”_blank”] Google Play[/button]
Cover Reveal + Giveaway: At the Stars
Cover photography by Michael Stokes – Cover design by Babski Creative Studios – Cover model, Adam Von Rothfelder
I started writing At the Stars years ago, and had to put it aside – partly because of other deadlines and family obligations, and partly because the story was a little too much for me at the time. I saw the image I absolutely needed to use for the hero, Jake, on Michael Stokes’s facebook page last March, and that finally pushed me to finish the story. I’m so happy and proud to finally have it done!
At the Stars is different than anything I’ve written before – it’s more emotional, the characters are younger, and laden with a whole ton of emotional baggage. It’s angsty, but it was a story that had been eating at me forever and when a story does that you have to get it out.
About At the Stars:
A GIRL TRYING TO LEAVE HER PAST BEHIND
I was a normal teenager who loved music and dancing, until the day I was attacked in my favorite record store. A few years later when my mom succumbed to depression and took her own life, I couldn’t stay in my hometown with all the memories and the curious stares. I decided to get in my car and just go – except my car decided it was done going outside a tiny place called Evergreen Grove. That’s where I found Jake. Or I guess Jake found me.
A GUY WHO CAN’T LET HIS GO
For the last eight years, all I can think about is the day I ended another man’s life. Then I manage to save Cassie’s, and I feel like maybe I’ve got some kind of second chance. To do what I couldn’t before, or maybe even for something bigger. Something like love. If only I could feel like I deserve her…
Pre-order Now!
[button type=”tiny” url=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25165039-at-the-stars” target=”_blank”]Add to Goodreads TBR[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/vFu9mc” target=”_blank”] Amazon Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/lrV5HL” target=”_blank”] Apple Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/WgEIft” target=”_blank”] Kobo Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/9QoPY6″ target=”_blank”] B&N Order[/button]
Excerpt (Cassie’s point of view):
“You can’t live off muffins and granola bars. You need a sandwich. Hell, so do I. We both need a break from this shit.” He grabs the box of muffins and rolls his massive shoulders, while my surprise keeps me rooted and watching him walk away. He turns at the door, still looking irritated. “You coming?”
I look toward the back. “Delia?”
“Be on time tomorrow,” she calls. “It’s multigrain day.”
Jake only smiles a little and pushes open the door, waiting. His arms and chest move under his button-up work shirt, pulling me forward in spite of my confusion.
God, I think this is the first guy I’ve honestly liked the way I used to hear my friends talk about at school. The giggles and the fake drooling and face fanning followed by ridiculous comments like “He’s so pretty” or “I’d totally do him in a phone booth.”
I mean, how stupid is that? When was the last time anybody even saw a phone booth?
Here, now, following Jake and his brisk stride across the street to his truck, it finally all makes sense: AJ’s right. I like him. I like the way he keeps trying to help without treating me like I’m fragile. I like the way he looks at me, like I’m a woman he finds attractive, not a wounded animal he has to pity. I like that he feels easy to talk to, even when he’s all growly.
I don’t feel scared or tentative around him. And in spite of his dire warnings, I’d like to hang around him more.
I want to spend time with him so much I’m following him even though I don’t have a clue where we’re going, and even though I’m still a little annoyed by his sandwich comment. I half suspect if we passed a phone booth right now, I might give the thing a moment’s pause.
Then, out of nowhere the tears come. Only for a second, because now isn’t the time to get emotional. It never is, so I shove them down.
He’d never get it, what liking him this way means, even if I tried to explain. He’s already given me one serious friend-zone lecture.
I sniff and blot my eyes on the edge of my T-shirt. Thankfully, he’s too busy unlocking his truck to notice.
Anyway, I like him enough that maybe the friend-zone is okay.
[button type=”tiny” url=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25165039-at-the-stars” target=”_blank”]Add to Goodreads TBR[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/vFu9mc” target=”_blank”] Amazon Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/lrV5HL” target=”_blank”] Apple Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/WgEIft” target=”_blank”] Kobo Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/9QoPY6″ target=”_blank”] B&N Order[/button]
GIVEAWAY!! To celebrate the upcoming release of At the Stars, I’ll be choosing two winners (or the giveaway doohickie will) to win either a $25 Amazon gift card or a signed paperback copy of At the Stars.
Happy reading!
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Random Nostalgia
So I was reading a post on someone else’s blog this morning, about an idea that was born at a Cracker Barrel. Since I haven’t eaten at one of those in years, it occurred to me that a) a story idea I’m currently playing with also came (in part) from an encounter I once had a Cracker Barrel and b) before that, the last time I’d eaten at one was after camping with friends – we got rained out, and when we woke up the next morning we decided warm biscuits beat wet cereal or trying to make a fire.
I’l admit, I’m kind of a wussy when it comes to camping. My idea of “roughing it” is staying in a hotel that lacks wi-fi or valet parking. I tried to paddle a canoe in girl scout camp and wound up going backwards. I’m simply not outdoors inclined unless it’s to read a book in the sun.
I went camping that rainy weekend–it’s been maybe a decade or so now–because my friends wanted to go and I loved my friends. I’m one of those people with only child syndrome, so I tend to be super loyal to my buddies because I didn’t have a big, tight-knit family. Oh, yeah, and there was a boy involved (isn’t there always?). Disappointingly, none of those folks are in my life now, but the memory made me realize how nostalgic I’ve been feeling lately about my college years. Maybe it’s the fact that I –gak- just passed my mid-thirties. *grabs the hair dye*
Maybe it’s the fact that I’m about to release the last book in my beloved Chronicles of Yavn trilogy that’s got me reflecting on all the angst of my twenties and earlier (horrors), but I’m doing the thing I never thought I’d do and noodling around with some younger characters, with very dark problems that have nothing to do with vampires. Will anything come out of it? We’ll see I suppose. I kinda hope so, because the hero? He looks an awful lot like this guy. 😉
More to come, I’m sure.
Adam von Rothfelder – Photo by Michael Stokes
Stay awesome,
