Tag: YA

(it’s today)

Leave a comment

Friday? Well, yeah, but not just that.

Rob’s birthday? Yeah, that too, but it’s not what I’m talking about.

The 229th day of the year? Dude, stop asking stupid questions. We all know what day it is. Let’s say it together, shall we?

IT’S RELEASE DAY MOTHERFUCKERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

By say, I meant scream, because that’s what I did. There’s no other (correct) way to announce your book release other than screaming it with definite use of profanity. Which is what I did, so, bravo to me. But YES to the few of you who know about the Better Than This series, book 2 releases today and picks up right where book 1 left off. That’s all I’m going to say. Go get it and read so we can dish and squee and obsess over all the things. 😊

Better Than Now can be found here.

With the talent show behind them, Autumn and Alex can finally begin their relationship. It took a school assignment, but they’ve managed to move beyond their awkward past to become one of the most popular—and gossiped-about—couples in school. Dating was supposed to be the easy part, but now that they’ve been plunged into the spotlight, Autumn isn’t sure she can keep up.

Things at home aren’t any better. Being grounded already sucks, but when her mom outright refuses the idea of Alex, things only get worse. It isn’t until a family secret is exposed that Autumn understands the depth of her mom’s disapproval, and the role it plays in her future with Alex.

With all the attention at school and her lack of support at home, Autumn fears for her relationship. She knows that for everything to work out, something drastic will have to change, and when it does, she’s faced with a choice that determines the rest of her life.

Goosebumps, guys. Goosebumps.

P.S. Happy birthday, Rob!

(Slight Melancholy) Squee!

1 Comment

I’ve done shit for advertising BTN.

I know, because I don’t have a single pre-order, which is cool, except that it isn’t because it kind of sucks seeing absolutely zero interest after the first one released in May. Maybe I should be drinking while I write this.

*looks over shoulder*

Nevermind. Kitchen’s too far away and I’m comfortable. But no, the zero lack of sales isn’t what kept me from posting on Wednesday. It’s because 1.) it snuck up on me like always and 2.) I wasn’t really sure what to write about and oh, 3.) WE’RE WATCHING TWO EXTRA DOGS AND THEY WON’T STOP BARKING/WHINING. Well, one of them won’t. And when she does, she’s usually ripping something into shreds which means I must watch her AT ALL TIMES. That, or fall victim to the bark/whine orchestra that makes my eyes want to pop. So, we’ll just recap and say I wasn’t in much of a “writing mood” these past few days.

I’m still totally thrilled about BTN’s release next week (yep! Next week, folks! I mean, how did three months fly? #amiright?) but I’ve been a bit…melancholy over the whole thing. Not just the lack of sales *cough zero sales cough* but the pressure of everything, and how much I don’t know and everything is so much of a long shot that sometimes the whole thing feels…unattainable. It’s a terrible way to think but we all have these days.

Anywho, I know I’m going crazy and posting late on a Thursday, but I couldn’t let all of you three reading this not know that I was okay. I am, thank you for wondering. As always, I’m flattered. Better Than Now releases next Friday, August 17th (Rob’s birthday) and yeah, I’m excited about it. I also should do some kind of advertising but the good stuff costs money and like we’ve talked about on numerous occasions, releasing three books three months apart maybe wasn’t the best idea. Again, lesson learned.

But still, I’m super excited for the next chapter of Autumn and Alex’s relationship to be out there! (slight melancholy) squee!

How have you been? Anything exciting/fun happening in your neck of the woods?

It’s Today. TODAY.

1 Comment

Okay.

So, obviously this is a super important day, and not just because it’s Friday (although that’s the real reason—let’s be honest) but because of other awesome things that are happening in the world. Maybe not in Hawaii or the middle east, but I hear there’s this really big event going on across the pond and—dare I say it—Deadpool 2 is releasing. Today. To-motherfucking-day. If you weren’t excited about the royal wedding, you have to be geared up for DP. If neither of those interest you, I *suppose* you can go ahead and lose your shit over THE RELEASE OF BETTER THAN THIS.

**faints**

**gets up to dramatically faint again**

**sits up enough to reach for wine**

This arbitrary date I’ve selected is here and now I can chuck this thing into the interwebs and let you guys have your turn. These characters have been playing in my head for over a year and now—FINALLY NOW—they won’t just belong to me anymore. They’ll be yours too. MUAHAHAHA. Or, anyone who wants them because I actually did it. I published Better Than This which I never planned to do in the first place. Hell, I’d never planned to let anyone read it because I was writing it for me and I enjoyed it so much that I couldn’t stop. And here we are, all this time later. We (my characters and I) didn’t give up on each other and we (you amazing supporters and I) are talking about this book that started off as nothing more than a silly scene and what-if moment.

Wow, the power of not giving up.

Anyway, enjoy your day. Try to sneak a peak at the wedding and definitely go see Deadpool 2. And if you get a chance, pick up your copy of Better Than This right here. I hope you fall in love like I did (that’s my aim at least) 😊

Alright, guys. It’s almost the weekend.

Time to party. 😉

EDIT: I just realized that the wedding is on Saturday – not today – but I don’t feel like re-writing this so, whatever. Cheers!

This is Me Doing Things

6 Comments

You know how sometimes you read your stuff and you’re like, God, this is so stupid?

*Smacks head against keyboard*

*gets drink from kitchen*

*puts drink back because hangovers are evil*

*stares at the computer*

*questions life choices*

*eats Oreos*

*watches HGTV*

I’m at this part of the cycle when I can either go forward or stop. Stopping doesn’t seem to do anyone any good so I might as well keep going even though I’m pretty sure the whole thing is crap. I know it isn’t, but parts of it are and I’m focused on them.  Also: this is my first contemporary YA romance which means the structure is extremely different than the sci-fi/fantasy I’ve written. Those have tons of action while this piece moves at a slower pace and now I’m questioning it’s boring-level. There are no monsters, evil dictators, spies, or wild centuries-long secrets that come to fruition. It’s just (mostly) two people in a strange situation that find love.

Which is like, every YA story minus the love-triangle and the exciting dystopian/paranormal background. I’m not even sure why I wrote it. I didn’t intend to. I was actually starting to write this really awesome fantasy thing (and will probably still) but I kept switching documents to write this other thing and somehow I’ve got it fully fleshed. I don’t think I was even planning to show it to anybody. But it’s two years later and now I am and I’m at that shit-yourself-stage because it’s so unlike what I’ve written and I’m terrified that it’s stupid/boring/lame/just like everything else out there.

But I’m going to do it, guys. I’m going to look for some BETAs  soon and just do it. I could totally not, leave it on the computer and be done with the thing, but where’s the fun in that? As terrifying as this part is in the process, I’ll feel like a real tool if I did all the work up until this point to just stop now.  Carpe Diem, right? Life is made for us to do things.

So I’m doing things.

Engines Ahead?

6 Comments

I’m writing this (YA) contemporary romance and it’s proving harder than I thought. I think it’s because I can’t rely on major action-packed events to build the romance like I did with my series. I have to depend on smaller exchanges and a lot of conversation and I keep thinking a lot of conversation is bad thing. But how else do characters get to know one another? They talk.

Right?

In times like these, I deflect to the classics. My classics. Eleanor & Park and The Sea of Tranquility, obviously. Love stories that I love, love, love! Love stories that I pocket for rare occasions: the how-to’s of good romance. Not harlequin. Not BSMD. I’m not into punishment or alphas or how tattooed of a bad boy asshole he is. Yuck. It’s not real. I like real. I like genuine.

E&P is real. TSOT is real.

I believe their stories, probably because they’re written with authenticity. That’s what I’m trying to do with Autumn and Alex. I’m trying to be really real with it but I feel like I’m just jumping from scene to scene with them chit chatting around the central ark. I don’t know. I guess I’m not used to writing a straight romance without aliens and monsters and threats getting in the way. So why the switch? I have no idea. The heart wants what it wants and I guess this is it for now.

Anyone else try a new genre having a wee bit of trouble? Or extra doubt?