Weekend Writing Warriors: He knows. Not good... RUNNING FROM SHADOWS #8Sunday #RT2013 #Signing

Thank you for stopping by. I'm excited to participate with such a fantastic group of writers! Check out other warriors here!

Today I'm sharing from my (unpublished) young adult paranormal romance Running From Shadows, currently being read by a lovely agent!! Squee!! 

Follow Greta Shore (a 17-year-old, black-haired wiccan beauty) and Paxton "Pax" Craig (an 18-year-old, blond-haired college student with a dark secret) as they discover the fate of their forbidden love.

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(Read last week's post) Set-up... Pax has told Greta that he's a unicorn. A unicorn!!! So, of course, Greta is all: sure, yeah, whatever... Prove it! Pax is stubborn, so he says he won't shift into his full monoceros form, but he shows her his horn. Has she had enough proof? Erm, yeah. She needs to find her words. Change the subject. Not think about his horn...

Cover Art by Danielle Fine

Hadn’t he mentioned slayers…witches? “So you know I’m a witch?”

He nodded and laughed, “Yeah.”

I could almost hear another duh in his voice. “All right, smarty, how did you know?” Without thinking, I playfully punched at his shoulder. But I missed because he saw it coming, grabbed my wrist and spun me around. One hand held my wrist and pressed my own arm against my chest, while his other arm wrapped firmly around my waist and crushed me to his body. 
 
Tune in next week for more Greta and Pax!!

Thanks again for stopping by! Your support and feedback is greatly appreciated!

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Because being a warrior is hard work, here's a vid from the Running From Shadows playlist to reward all you sexy, sweaty peeps ;)
 
Every Time We Touch by Cascada
So, erm, not exactly sure what the library really has to do with this vid...you'll see :P
(Track #9)

 
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Extra! Extra!

*I may be a little slow responding to 8Sunday posts cos I'll be at the RT Booklovers Convention all this week!! Leaving today! And my first official book signing--out in public--will be at the EXPO on Thursday, May 2 from 4-6PM. Stop by and see me! :D

*Self-publishing? Need an editor and cover artist? Check out my uber-talented editor, Danielle Fine, she's wonderful to work with and does exceptional work! Click here for more info! 

*Check out the USA Today recommended book trailer for Witch Way to Turn!! here

Midweek Mayhem: All The Things She Said...to a dragon ;) #amblogging #PlayListVid

 Working it out…

• (NEW) I've been nominated for a Sunshine Award! here Thank you to Liza O'Connor for nominating me! Prepare yourselves, cos soon you'll learn even more random stuff about me :P
• (Check it out!) Awesome interview with my lovely friend and editor Danielle Fine! (She may've been kidnapped by a Spartan. Just sayin'.) here
• (NEW) The countdown is on for the RT Booklovers Convention! Come see me! I'll be signing Witch Way to Turn on Thursday at the EXPO! here I fly out to Kansas City, MO in ELEVEN days!!! OMG, can't believe it! Excited and nervous...it's my first RT! Sooo, erm, poppin' that cherry soon! You're welcome for that mental image :P

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The Becoming Playlist!

Wanted to share some of the songs that inspired me as I wrote Becoming...the first is the theme song for the novel.

All The Things She Said by t.A.T.u (this is from like THE 90s, but it was the very first song that popped into my mind when Zoe and Taylor started telling me their story).

 

Hearing voices…

Cover art by Danielle Fine

• My dark and gritty new adult urban fantasy with cursed dragon shifters, titled Becoming, is currently with my amazing editor!!! So excited to make this story sparkle and then pitch it at RT and RWA soon! Agents, you're gonna want this story...like super bad! Just sayin' ;D
• Check out my stunning cover inspiration (right side above this paragraph) designed by the talented Danielle Fine!!! 
• (Read fave sentences from chapter 4 here) Today I'm gonna share just a few sentences from chapter 5 that my editor loved :D The sentences don't have anything to do with each other.

♥ (Aiden's POV) Now, his mortality clung to him like chains, weighing him down. Soon he would collapse.

♥ (Aiden's POV) He scrubbed his hand over his face, feeling the stubble. He’d been so busy ruining his career, he hadn’t had a chance to shave.

♥ (Zoe's POV about Aiden) ...hazel eyes so swirled with green a girl could get dizzy staring into them.

♥ (Zoe's POV talking to Aiden) She rolled her eyes and returned the smile. Her shoulders relaxed and she didn’t feel quite so bad about the question. “Do organ donors come to the morgue?” Okay, so that sounded stupid. Like it was some kind of hangout and dead bodies just showed up.

“All the time. I make them pay a cover charge, though. Otherwise, it’s way too crowded.”

She laughed. Maybe he wasn’t such an ass after all. He at least got her sense of humor.

♥ (Taylor's POV) And, at least for a few minutes, she would be close enough to the fire to burn away the chill.

Dragon update... Round one of the first 150 pages of Becoming edits are back with my fabulous editor! Currently a little over 6k words into the Becoming prequel (all from Taylor's POV)! It's going to be a novelette at about 7k words. 

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Cover art by Danielle Fine

Waiting game...

• On week #7 of waiting to hear back from a lovely agent who is reading Running From Shadows.
• Partial requests from two agents for Becoming! Squee!!! On week #2 with one awesome agent, and week #3 with the other awesome agent!! *fingers and toes crossed* 

Reading...

• Currently I am beta-reading for a fantastic friend and writer... Katheryn! Hooray for grim reapers!!
  
• Finished reading Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter! 5 Star review coming!! Refreshing take on zombies! Highly recommend.
• Looking for book recommendations and reviews for your 2013 TBR List? Check out The Perks of Being a Book Nerd! 

Bonus material... 

*Writers, looking for a talented editor? I highly recommend Danielle Fine. She's edited three manuscripts of mine and has taught me so much! I'm a stronger writer because of her guidance. Also, she designed my beautiful inspiration cover art for Becoming and Running From Shadows! Annnnd she created the book trailer for Witch Way to Turn! 
*For more information on Dani's editing services, cover design, book trailer creation and website design stop by her site >>>> here!

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Random Alert! Alert. Alert. Alert...

Can anyone guess what fruit this??? Seriously, help! I can't remember :P All I remember is that I couldn't eat it cos it looked like an eyeball. That is all.

So, erm...this is one of the first pix I took when I got a smartphone three years ago :P Random Karen Factoid...I like to take pix of myself lookin' all serious cos they make me laugh when I go back and look at them. Ohh AND this was my very first Twitter profile pic.

This is the entryway when you walk in the front door of my house. I love the pic on the wall that spells BYNUM with different random objects. My BFF got that for me a few Christmases ago. And I have a series obsession with lights/lamps...so, erm, yeah :P

Hi, so, what the crap, Mom?? Gimme the dayum treat!! :P

Weekend Writing Warriors: Wanna touch it? RUNNING FROM SHADOWS #8Sunday #PlayListVid

Thank you for stopping by. I'm excited to participate with such a fantastic group of writers! Check out other warriors here!

Today I'm sharing from my (unpublished) young adult paranormal romance Running From Shadows, currently being read by a lovely agent!! Squee!! 

Follow Greta Shore (a 17-year-old, black-haired wiccan beauty) and Paxton "Pax" Craig (an 18-year-old, blond-haired college student with a dark secret) as they discover the fate of their forbidden love.

 ****

(Read last week's post) Set-up... Pax has told Greta that he's a unicorn. A unicorn!!! So, of course, Greta is all: sure, yeah, whatever... Prove it! Pax is stubborn, so he says he won't shift into his full monoceros form, but he shows her his horn and... Whoa.

Cover Art by Danielle Fine

“I know you want to touch it, but try to control yourself.” A teasing grin spread across his face. His blue eyes lit up as he watched me. And there was a golden horn in the middle of his forehead. Flawless. Powerful. The perfect weapon.

“Uh…Holy. Crap.”

Tune in next week for more Greta and Pax!! And maybe touching ;)

Thanks again for stopping by! Your support and feedback is greatly appreciated!

****
Because being a warrior is hard work, here's a vid from the Running From Shadows playlist to reward all you sexy, sweaty peeps ;)
 
Dog Days Are Over by Florence + The Machine
(Track #5)

 
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Extra! Extra!

*Would you like to see some pics of Greta and Pax? Check them out here! Gotta love Pinterest!! Ooo, stalk me there too, please...uh, here! ;) 

*Self-publishing? Need an editor and cover artist? Check out my uber-talented editor, Danielle Fine, she's wonderful to work with and does exceptional work! Click here for more info! 

*Check out the USA Today recommended book trailer for Witch Way to Turn!! here

Midweek Mayhem: I'm Signing at the RT Booklovers Convention, WIP update AND Random Pix! #CoverLove #Giveaway

Working it out…

• I'm attending the RT Booklovers Convention at the end of April and I'll be doing MY FIRST public book signing...so check who will also be signing! Omigosh, I'm stoked and already starstruck by the authors attending! YA Alley, baby! Check the lineup here :D Ahhhhh!

Contests and giveaways…

• (NEW - Help!) I've entered Running From Shadows into Cupid's Literary Connection Blind Speed Dating Contest! My query and first 250 words are up for grabs ;) Hope you'll stop by (here) and comment, I gotta make sure my query is super shiny before I continue to submit. Muah! 
• (NEW) Entered Witch Way to Turn into the 2013 HOLT Medallion Contest! Click here for more info.
• (Poll closes on 20 January) Sizzling PR nominated Witch Way to Turn for BEST young adult book of THE YEAR!! AND Only Scandal WIll Do by Jenna Jaxon for BEST historical of 2012...please vote here!
• (Now until 19 January) I'm participating in a MEGA giveaway with two wonderful friends -- author Katherine Skye and editor Danielle Fine! The prizes: Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle cover, $50 Amazon giftcard, Tote bag and a critique of your query letter, synopsis AND first three chapters of your manuscript!!! Enter here!

Hearing voices…

Cover art by Danielle Fine

• It. Is. Finished!!!! I wrote THE END on my dark and gritty work-in-progress (a new adult urban fantasy with cursed dragon shifters and is unlike anything I've ever written)!!! Ended up being a little over 68k words...for now ;) Currently I'm doing a read through and lemme just say... I FREAKING LOVE IT!!! Not that I'm in the slightest bit partial :P
• Check out my stunning cover inspiration (right side above this paragraph) designed by the talented Danielle Fine!!! 
• Read snippets of each character here and see pictures of them by clicking on their names :) Ohhh, and see what my plan is for the future of Becoming!

Cover art by Danielle Fine

Waiting game...

• On week #32 of waiting to hear back from a lovely agent who is reading Running From Shadows.*continues to keep fingers and toes crossed*

Reading...

• Currently I am beta-reading for two fantastic friends and writers... Katheryn and Jenna Jaxon!

• Looking for book recommendations and reviews for your 2013 TBR List? Check out The Perks of Being a Book Nerd!

Bonus material... 
*Tune back in for SSS on Sunday for more steamy goodness with Pax and Greta from Running From Shadows!

*Watch the awesome USA Today recommended Witch Way to Turn book trailer here!! And Like it for me! Muah!

*Let me know you've Liked my Facebook Author Page and I'll gladly Like you back! :) Click here!

*Beautiful cover art for Becoming and Running From Shadows and Witch Way to Turn book trailer by my awesome editor, Danielle Fine... Check her website for more cover art, editing and book trailer services.

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Random Alert! Alert. Alert. Alert...

So my amazing virtual assistant (Florence Price) found this cool website (here) that does custom CDs, and she turned my Witch Way to Turn playlist into an album! I'm stoked!! This will make a perfect giveaway!

Okay, let's discuss random... I really wanna know the answer to this, so leave a comment or tweet me cos I'm curious! Please and thank you :) This is my favorite peanut butter cracker. How many bites does it take you to eat one of these crackers? I need to know if I'm normal or not :P (Oh, I'll go first. I can eat one of these crackers in one to two bites.)

Rusty pup was annoyed that I was taking his picture while he was trying to sleep. Yes, I torture him. Hey, if I don't, who will? ;)

EXTRA bit of random:

As you know, I went to see a pre-screening of Warm Bodies last Thursday! It was FANTASTIC, and I definitely recommend you see it...but the book is still my first love! So if you haven't read the book...go here (Amazon US) or here (Amazon UK) or here (Barnes & Noble) and buy it. Seriously, you won't be disappointed! Isaac Marion's writing is beautiful and his sense of humor is EPIC. (Stalk him here...I do!)

Six Sentence Sunday: Running From Shadows... Such a Tease! #SSS #YAPNR #Wicca

Hooray for Six Sentence Sunday!

(Breena needs you!) I have a bit of shameless self-promotion to do... Indulge me, won't you? Witch Way to Turn is a finalist in The Sizzling Read of the YEAR contest!!! Uh, Super Squee!!!! ;D I'd so so so so so love it if you'd vote for me. Hugs and smooches!!! teehee Okay, enough love fest, Go Vote here! Poll closes December 31!

Thank you for stopping by. I'm excited to participate with such a fantastic group of writers!

Today I'm sharing from my (unpublished) young adult paranormal romance Running From Shadows, currently being read by a lovely agent and an editor!! Squee!!

Follow Greta Shore (a 17-year-old, black-haired wiccan beauty) and Paxton "Pax" Craig (an 18-year-old, blond-haired college student with a dark secret) as they discover the fate of their forbidden love.

 ****

(Last week) Set-up... Greta's shadow is frozen, and her calm is beginning to waiver. Okay, okay, she's on the verge of a freak out!

Cover Art by Danielle Fine

“Because that shadow isn’t yours. The demon replaced yours with one of its own.”

My heart started racing and my knees locked...Great.

I was officially afraid of my own shadow. What was next...checking under my bed before I went to sleep at night? “Will it hurt me?”

Well, will it? Tune in next week for more Greta and Pax to find out!! ;)

Thanks again for stopping by! Your support and feedback is greatly appreciated! Get a sneak peek for more awesome authors at SSS.

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Extra! Extra!

*Would you like to see some pics of Greta and Pax? Check them out here! Gotta love Pinterest!! Ooo, stalk me there too, please...uh, here! ;) 

*Check out my published young/new adult romance Witch Way to Turn! Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Lyrical Press. Would love for you to add it to your to-be-read list here! Watch the amazing book trailer here!

*(NEW) Witch Way to Turn is only a $1.25 for a limited time! Grab your eBook copy here!

*If you'd like more information on having a custom book cover designed for your next publication or WIP inspiration, check Danielle Fine's website!

Midweek Mayhem, WIP Snippet, Reading and Random Picture Goodness! #TBBB #CoverDesign #Amazon #NewPride

Working it out…   

•  Witch Way To Turn is featured on The Book's Blurb Blog! Stop by and one lucky commenter will receive a $25 Amazon giftcard!! Click here! Hurry, ends Saturday!
• Witch Way To Turn is up for Sizzling Read of the Year! THE YEAR!! Squee!! Breena and I need your help...vote here! Hugs and smooches!! ;)
• (NEW) Check out this awesome interview with my talented editor and lovely friend, Danielle Fine! (here) She's giving away a FREE custom book cover! Part of Avery Olive's 15 Days of Christmas Giveaways!
• (NEW) Author spotlight... Learn some quick facts about Me! ;D Click here! 

Hearing voices…

• Currently working on my dark and gritty work-in-progress (a new adult urban fantasy with cursed dragon shifters and is unlike anything I've ever written)! Am a little over 52k!!
• Read last week's snippet here :)   
• This is an unedited teaser for you (one of the two heroine's POV--Zoe Moore, the raven-haired beauty with a gazillion neuroses). This snippet is right after she sees her love interest with someone else...

Something overheated inside of Zoe. Her world of color dulled. The already cloudy day dimmed even more until everything was gray and white. This time the skin on the back of her hands didn’t just flicker to what might possibly be scales… They were scales. Black and rigid.

The wheel slipped from her grip as fingers melded together and turned into talons on each claw, ripping through the leather of the steering wheel. Shit! She slammed on the brake and braced for the impact of the car behind her. What else could she do? Take some damage in the back or collide smack into on-coming traffic.

No jolt forward, just an ungodly loud horn and the screech of tires. She opened her eyes just as the driver of a Toyota Camry threw the bird at her.

Her breath came quick and hard. Puffs of smoke billowed out. Her body quivered and burned. She had to cool down.

Somehow she had to make this go away. This… She stared with gray and white horror at her…her claws. And what the hell was wrong with her vision? This couldn’t be happening. How was it even possible?

The air-conditioning was already on; she never turned it off. Shoving the hideous scaly things in front of the vents, she waited. Tried to hold her breath. Stop the smoke puffs from escaping. No use. They pushed out of her nose. Hell. She’d have smudges everywhere.

Are you losing your mind? Who gives a flying freak about smoke? Your hands are claws and you can’t see color!

Waiting game…

Cover Art by Danielle Fine

• On week #28 of waiting to hear back from a lovely agent who is reading Running From Shadows.*continues to keep fingers and toes crossed and keeps querying*
• On week #20 of waiting to hear back from the editor I pitched to at the RWA conference in July. *also continues to keep all possible body parts crossed*

Reading...

• Currently I am beta-reading for an awesome friend and writer... Katheryn!

• 50% into New Pride by Laura Diamond!! A young adult short story with werecats! 

Bonus material...
*Tune back in for SSS on Sunday for more steamy goodness with Pax and Greta from Running From Shadows!

*Watch the awesome Witch Way to Turn book trailer here!!

*Let me know you've Liked my Facebook Author Page and I'll gladly Like you back! :) Click here!

*Beautiful cover art for Running From Shadows and Witch Way to Turn book trailer by the awesome Danielle Fine... Check her website for more cover art, editing and book trailer services.

Random Alert! Alert. Alert. Alert...

Unicorn sighting!!! (At my local drugstore...of all places!)

Me posing with my awesome new scarf, belt and necklace from my BFF! We exchanged Christmas gifts early :)

Since the hubs and I were out of town, we didn't get a real tree this year. But I totally love this one! Ahhh! Just realized I forgot to put the Christmas cards on the mantel. Oh well, that can wait...cos right now I'm curled up with Rusty pup working on this blog post ;)

The hubs holding Rusty pup. They are so freakin' adorable!!! <3