i've been tagged! bloghop--my writing process

The lovely Heather Rebel has tagged me as part of a bloghop, and, as part of my 2014 Resolution To Write More, I'm happy to join in!


What am I working on?

 At the moment, I'm focusing most of my writing time (little bit, though there may be) on one particular wip, BOXED. It's ya and fun and romantic (at least, I think so) and I'm having a blast getting to know the characters. I'm a bit nervous in this new genre, but that's what creativity is all about, right? Reaching out to see what you might like.



How does my work differ from others in its genre?

Uh, because I'm writing it, duh! Lol
I don't think this work will stand out too much from the genre, other than maybe for the fact that even though the MC is gay, that fact is in no way the focus of the story. It's about love and loss and moving on when you think you don't deserve it. 



Why do I write what I write?

Well, typically I love writing paranormal, but my current WIP (the one I'm focusing on, anyway) is a contemporary. Which is a huge departure for me--and scary as Hades! But, as I said, I'm loving it. I can only hope I do the story justice in the end.



How does my writing process work?

Oh man, this one is a toughie. A year or so ago, I could easily answer this by saying I would sit down at my computer every night and churn out words. Because I did (I was on a deadline, so that helped). But now, with work and going back to school (yeah, I felt I had three extra minutes of free time, so I filled that right up!), my "process" consists of fitting in writing time whenever possible. I've also been known to pull out my nifty little digital recorder on occasion (mainly when making my hour commute to and from school) and get some ideas/scenes down that way. Hey, whatever works, I say!


And now, time to pass the torch.


Mandie Baxter

Book lover. YA writer. Music junkie. If I don't have a book on hand or a song in my head something is wrong. Proceed with caution.

Mandie is one of my crit partners and an awesome friend. And I love hearing about her work, so this fits perfectly!


Jess Leake

Wife, mom of 3, author of ARCANA (Nov 4th/Talos Press), my debut historical fantasy. Rep'd by@secretagentbri of Writers House#TeamTalos #TeamWritersHouse

Jess is another CP and friend, and an amazing writer (her debut novel comes out this November!).

Enjoy, ladies! 

I'm Back! Plus, Ready? Set. Write! 2014: Week 1

Okay, so in case you might not have noticed, it's been... a while since I've posted. Like, more than six months. *buries head in shameful sand*

But, as always, I haven't abandoned the ol' blog. Nope. I'm here, and I'm back with a vengeance! One of my resolutions for 2014 was to re-focus on my writing. It's been sitting on the back burner for a few months now, so it's high time I pulled it to the front eye and gave it some heat, no? 

And what better way to do that than to join Ready? Set. Write! 

What is Ready? Set. Write! exactly? Well, it's a summer writing intensive that provides an opportunity for us writers to cheer each other on wherever we’re at in our writing—planning, drafting, or revising. This year, the RSW hosts are Alison Miller, Katy Upperman, Erin Funk and Jaime Morrow. Be sure to visit any of these wonderful ladies' sites to get all the deets, and to sign up if you wanna join in the fun!

I'll be posting weekly updates on where I sit with my writing, along with my goals, inspirations, challenges, fave lines from my WIP, and so on. So be sure to check in every Monday to help keep me on my toes!

Happy Release Day to Lani Woodland and Melonie Piper!

You're invited to the online Pieces of Jade launch party! You can be entered to win swag, books and more! Come hang out and chat with authors Lani Woodland and Melonie Piper.

Here is the pertinent information:

Monday, December 30th 2013

Time: 5-8 (PST) 

Place: Facebook's Pieces of Jade Launch Party Event Page. Click here to join the fun! 

Pieces of Jade

by Lani Woodland and Melonie Piper

Sentenced to death by the man she loves . . .

Jade has no control over her future. She is the Emmía, the girl whose magical blood keeps her kingdom’s cursed soil fertile and ensures the survival of her people. But her destiny is ruined when pirates take her magical medallion, the loss of which is treasonous, and the prince she loves is honor-bound to sentence her to death.


Forced to flee to the pirate she hates . . .

Jade escapes from prison, but her sister is captured and will die in her place unless Jade returns with the medallion still on the pirates’ ship. In disguise, she joins the pirate crew where she finds herself drawn to the first officer, William, and his claims of the crown’s hidden brutality in the kingdom. But when Jade learns the fate of every Emmía before her, she is finally forced to choose her own destiny: die a martyr or live a rebel.


Sound like something you'd like to read? If so, you can purchase Pieces of Jade for the Nook by clicking here or for the Kindle by clicking here.

Top Ten Tuesday: 2014 Releases!

I'm super excited to join in the Top Ten Tuesday weekly feature meme created by the fabulous The Broke and the Bookish! It looks to be a fun time on Tuesdays now!

This week: 

TOP TEN 2014 RELEASES
I'M DYING TO
READ

click on titles to go to goodreads pages

1.  THE IRON TRIAL by Cassandra Clare

2.  AFTER THE END by Amy Plum

3.  THE MURDER COMPLEX by Lindsay Cummings

4.  PANIC by Lauren Oliver

5.  WHITE SPACE by Ilsa J. Bick

6.  ISLA & THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Stephanie Perkins

7.  SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY by Julie Murphy

8.  DON'T LOOK BACK by Jennifer L. Armentrout

9.  BIGGEST FLIRTS by Jennifer Echols

10. THE YOUNG WORLD by Chris Weitz

Cover Reveal: DIRTY LONDON by Kelley York!

I'm so excited to be part of the cover reveal for the superbly talented Kelley York's latest novel, DIRTY LONDON! And since I'm not one to make you wait...

Here it is!

All London Noble wanted out of her senior year of high school was anonymity. The complete opposite of Jasmine, her emotionally unstable baby sister, London has worked hard to stay out of the spotlight.

Then she discovers that Wade, one of the most popular guys in school, is gay like her and their new-found closeness based around their shared secret has half the student body convinced they're hooking up...and a lot of girls aren't happy about it. Rumors are flying about "Dirty London" and her inability to keep her clothes on, and London is pretty sure she's developing a crush on the only girl who sees through it all.

If she could admit why stealing boyfriends is the last thing on her mind—not to mention find out what's going on with Jasmine and her rapidly disappearing psych medications—her life would be a much brighter place. But if her and Wade's truth gets out, and if she doesn't find a way to help her sister, London faces losing a lot more than her obscurity.
Lovely, isn't it? And that blurb rocks!

 And, having read all of Kelley's previous works, I already know I'm gonna get lost in the pages of this one, too!

Be sure to check out DIRTY LONDON on Goodreads here!

About the author:

website | twitter | facebook | goodreads

About the Author

Kelley York was born in central California, where she still resides with her lovely wife, step-daughter, and cats, while fantasizing about moving to England or Ireland. She has a fascination with bells and animals, is a lover of video games, and likes to pretend she’s a decent photographer. Her life goal is to find a real unicorn. Or to at least write about them.

Kelley is a sucker for dark fiction. She loves writing twisted characters, tragic happenings, and bittersweet endings that leave you wondering and crying. Character development takes center stage in her books because the bounds of a person's character and the workings of their mind are limitless.