Today's teaser features a certain creepy mind-reader. Those of you who've read the first book know who I'm talking about! The return of McFinney (yuck!)
Release - The Crow Series Book Three:
“Who is the woman with the gray hat?” I said slowly, watching for any shift in his expression, anything that might give me some insight into who the mystery woman could be. He simply shook his head, “That’s all you get.” “Eustace, you are one of the most infuriating pieces of shit I have ever known.” He sucked in a sharp breath in mock disdain, “Stop calling me that! I told you before, no one but my mother calls me Eustace.” I rolled my eyes at him. He objects to me using his first name but not to me calling him a piece of shit? I wanted to laugh suddenly, to release my anger and frustration in one giant outburst. “I’m not calling you Finn. It just sounds weird.” “My friends always call me Finn.” “I’m not your friend.” “Fair enough, but you’re not my mother either.”
In other news, if you didn't read my post over the weekend, Release is now scheduled for publication on February 6th! *Does her funky, happy dance* YAY! I'm so excited, and nervous, and I think I just hyperventilated a little bit.
If you haven't caught up on the first two books in the series, now is the time!
After the long wait, it's finally here! The cover for the third book in The Crow Series - Release!
Release:
Time is moving too slow for Denora. After months of waiting, she’s made no progress on her brothers’ curse, her mother’s journal keeps slipping through her grasp and she hasn’t heard a word from Silas. But with the Clandestine celebration of the Vernal Equinox looming on the horizon, both friends and enemies return, along with Denora’s hope for a cure. With each step forward, the secrets of her family’s past are coming into the light. Loved ones show their true faces and betrayal comes from someone she least expects. Denora’s misplaced trust could cost her everything she holds dear.
Mature Young Adult Fiction. Recommended age 16+
I'm currently on track to publishing this little bad boy on February 6th on Amazon. The paperback will likely come a week or two later, depending on how long it takes to get the formatting and back cover completed. I will definitely let you all know when it's ready and available for those of you who prefer physical books.
Other than that, I hope you're all as excited as I am for the new book! Let me know what you think of the cover and blurb. I'll be counting the days until the final release of... well, Release! LOL
This week I've decided to post the revised version of the scene from Release that I posted last year on Valentine's Day, with Silas and Denora in the subway car. It has certainly changed since last year - hopefully for the better!
It also happens to be one of my favorite scenes in the entire book and it was incredibly difficult to edit because I wanted to get it just right. (It took me an entire week to get through one scene! SMH)
Without further ado...
Release - The Crow Series Book Three:
His expression changed from melancholy to seductive - as if he’d been asleep inside and now suddenly was awake. His pupils widened over my face, devouring the sight of me like a hungry animal about to pounce. Damn, he’s so ridiculously hot. A wicked grin formed over his lips as if my thoughts were written all over my face. My heart was racing with anticipation, the daring glint in his eye making promises my body eagerly responded to. Silas’ grip on my sweater tightened, pressing me urgently into his chest, and my mind clouded with lust. His intoxicating scent swirled around me, the warmth of his body against mine making me dizzy. I wasn’t used to Silas being so blatant with his physical desires - I was usually the one who pushed things too far, and he was usually the paragon of restraint. I slowly exhaled, my mind reeling as the car filled with light from the station. We settled to a stop, and I forced myself to look away from the fire burning in his eyes, focusing on the passengers passing in and out of the train doors. I was still keenly aware of the warmth radiating up from his body below me, my cheeks flushing hot as I felt his eyes caress my profile. It was so hard to resist the temptation to just allow myself to be swept away by his passionate need for me. I wanted him - but this wasn’t the time or place. A man with an over-sized suitcase stepped into the train-car beside us, wheeling his burden behind him. He panned his exhausted gaze up and down the empty rows of blue plastic seating, his eyes widening as he reached Silas and I in our intimate position. One threatening look from Silas and the man quickened his steps down the length of the car, passing into the next one as the train slowly headed back into the tunnels. “That wasn’t very nice.” I said, a small grin tugging at my lips. Silas shrugged, his hands gentle over the rough canvas of my jeans where my legs still folded over his. “You blame me for wanting to be alone with you for a little longer?” I sighed, leaning back to peer into his face. There was something different about him, but I still couldn’t put my finger on it. He went from emotionless to consumed with passion on the drop of a dime. Perhaps being stuck with Leena for so long had bottled him up inside - or maybe it was just the knowledge of how little time we had left before he had to go back to her. His hands slid over the curve of my thighs, tucking up under my knees. All thoughts evaporated into the air between us and all I could see was the desperation in his eyes as he leaned his lips into mine. I closed my eyes, giving in to the adamant pressure of his mouth. The silver and plastic world around me shifted. Nothing existed but the warmth of his skin and the sweetness of his lips as he rose to his feet, lifting me easily with his hands secure beneath my thighs. My fingers twined in his hair, pulling myself hard into his body as the train rocked to a stop, the lights flickering overhead. “We are experiencing delays ahead of us. The train will be moving shortly. Thank you for your patience.” Silas pressed me up against the train doors. His fingers dug urgently into the back of my legs as his kisses dropped over the curve of my chin, trailing down my throat towards the dip in my collarbone. Each touch of his lips sent hot waves of pleasure through me - my mind lost in delirious desire. I rolled my head back into the glass panes, my hair like a black and white web over my shoulders as his lips warmed the exposed skin of my throat. A resonating growl vibrated through the fabric of my shirt from deep within Silas’ chest. The sound was primal, dangerous and raw. It sent a shiver of excitement through my body and I had to push myself away before it devoured me completely. “We need to stop.” I breathed it out before I changed my mind, wrapping my hands around his fingers to ease his grip on my thighs. His hands slid away, allowing me to drop my boots back down onto the sticky train floor. The way his eyes fixed to mine, smoldering with unspoken need, threatened to pull me back under. “Silas—” The train shuddered back into motion before I could finish, its sudden movement knocking him into me, pinning me firmly against the sliding doors. All the air rushed from my lungs as I felt his lips crash into mine. Everything was spinning - the flickering fluorescent lights, the rumble of the train as it sped down the tunnel. I was lost in the surge of his burning kisses, my body responding to each touch and caress with equal ferocity. Deep inside, my brain was trying desperately to tear me out of my lustful daze, reminding me we’d be pulling into the next station soon. “We need to stop.” I whispered into his mouth. He growled playfully in response, pulling me closer. I bit down hard on my lip, forcing myself to heed my own words, “Silas, I’m serious.” “I’m just not ready to let you go.” He murmured, blinking slowly, “I feel like I get little tastes of you and it’s never enough.” His chest heaved, and he leaned forward, pressing our foreheads together and closing his eyes. “Being with you makes me feel more alive than I’ve felt in a very long time. I don’t want to go back…” He took several slow breaths, his body relaxing before he opened his eyes. I wanted to kiss him again. The urge was so strong I had to look away to keep myself from throwing my arms around his neck and smothering his gorgeous face with my lips again. “I should get off at the next stop and walk the rest of the way.” He said, slowly prying his hands away from my body with a pained expression. He took a determined step back, putting an arms distance between us before lifting his gaze to meet mine. Heavy-lidded green eyes peered at me regretfully from under his eyebrows as the train-car slowed, filling with light as we pulled into the station. The doors opened and Silas took one more step back, a stubborn set to his jaw. Before I could say a word he disappeared like a blur into the commotion of bodies on the platform. I sat back down in the seat beside the window, staring in a daze at the people on the other side. The car around me bustled to life with bodies and noise, the rush-hour crowd filling every open inch of space until the platform was clear. The doors slid closed just as a set of brilliant green eyes caught my attention from the now empty train station. His lips spread into a slow smile as he mouthed the words, “Smile, Beautiful. I’ll see you soon.” I clung to the fading vision of his face as the train pulled away.
Hope you enjoyed this week's teaser. I'll be posting more next Tuesday, so stay tuned!
Someone mentioned to me that I seemed to have missed my yearly round-up that I usually do after New Years. To be blunt, I was avoiding it. Looking back on 2015 does nothing but make me feel negative. It started strong, with Shift being recently published at the end of 2014, and I eagerly got to work writing most of the third Crow book, as well as a large chunk of two other books I have in the works, all in the first two months.
Then things went south.
Directly after my birthday I was hit with severe depression and writing stopped cold, with only a handful of chapters left to write for Release. I took a short break, worked on another project, and when I was ready to finish the next book in the Crow Series, things blew up in my face.
I got very ill.
I'm not going to go into too much detail, because those sorts of things are personal, but re-recuperating has not been easy and took several months. I'm still not 100%, but after taking care of myself, since not doing so was a large part of why I got sick, I'm finally ready to get back to doing what I love.
Writing and editing are a lot of hard work. It's both mentally and physically exhausting at times. Add to that the fact that I have two kids under the age of five and I really have my hands full.
But I've learned my lesson. Take care of yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you.
If I'm ill, I can't take care of my loved ones who need me, and I can't do the things that bring me joy and fulfillment. When I look back at 2015 I feel like I lost a year. I had so many plans that never came to fruition.
So this year, I'm taking it slower - not working myself to the point of falling apart. I hope, if I'm diligent and patient, I'll get done the things I want to do without neglecting myself in the process.
I pushed myself too hard, trying to get more done than I could handle, and ended up doing nothing in the end. Every time I think about the last year this song plays in my head (and it's starting to get annoying!!!!)
Okay, now it's stuck in my head again. But yeah, I feel like I lost a whole year - it just slipped by - but it taught me many hard lessons. Basically, at this point, the books will be written as I can write them, edited as I can edit them and published when they're ready. I need to work at a pace I can handle, without sacrificing myself in the process. It's the best that I can do, and I'd like to continue doing it for as long as I can - which means not stressing out if I have to push back a release date or postpone a book for a month because I need time to rest or time with my family. I hope you as readers can understand and forgive me for the long wait. It boggles my mind sometimes, as I'm editing Release, to know that I originally wrote this book almost exactly a year ago and I'm just now getting it finished. I feel bad, even though I know it couldn't be helped.
All I can promise is that I WILL keep writing and I WILL get these books out to you as long as you care to continue reading them.
Sorry for posting so late today. I had a hard time deciding what teaser to post, so I decided to start with the beginning. The second round of edits are crawling along much slower than I'd like - but they are moving along. I was hoping I'd have it ready by the end of January, but it looks like it'll be closer to early February. Still, after waiting a year, another week isn't going to kill me (I hope! lol)
On with the teaser!
Release - The Crow Series Book Three:
I lifted my hand to my forehead and squinted my eyes, trying to shade my face from the bright morning sun. “You gonna play too, D?” Soda called, bouncing the small blue rubber ball on the concrete with the flat of his palm. Conner stood beside him in the handball court, his white t-shirt already damp with sweat. They both stared at me expectantly and I shook my head, watching them from the park bench on the other side of the chain-linked fence that separated the court from the rest of the park. “It’s more fun just to watch you two jump around in there.” I said, shrugging as I leaned back into the wooden slatted seat. Conner’s mouth twisted up into a wicked smirk and he winked suggestively at me before reaching out his hand to try and snatch the ball from Soda mid-bounce. I rolled my eyes, laughing as they resumed their positions on either side of the court. Soda bounced the handball once - twice - then batted it hard with the palm of his hand, sending it flying towards the middle of the concrete wall. It connected with a loud pop before bouncing back. Conner quickly darted to the left, his hand smacking it hard, sending it spinning back towards the wall. I watched them through squinted eyes from the bench, the sunlight almost blinding with its intensity. The winter chill had passed, leading without much notice into the sweet warmth of springtime. I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with the pleasant scent of freshly cut grass. The park trees were dappled with small bright green buds, preparing the sky for the impending explosion of lush leaves and flowers. I should have been happy for the change of season - the gray and white world of winter always left me feeling despondent and lonely, especially around the holidays. Now all it seemed to remind me of was how much time had passed and how little I had accomplished of late. It had been just one delay after another. Waiting for the nettles to grow - waiting for Silas to return - waiting for Eva Applegru to figure out why the revealing solution she’d made for my mother’s journal wasn’t working anymore… “D, check this out!” Soda’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I grinned as I watched him attempt to hit the ball from over his shoulder. It rolled off the tips of his fingers, careening in the opposite direction and hitting the chain-linked fence with a reverberating shake of metal. Julian squawked angrily down at the boys in the handball court, quickly taking to the air and then landing on the back of the bench beside me. His dark eyes glared at Soda and Conner in annoyance. I blinked hard, peering into the tree branches overhead for signs of my other two brothers. I had been so lost in my head, I hadn’t even noticed Julian watching us from the top of the fence. All the waiting was driving me crazy. I felt fidgety and restless. I needed to do something - but other than gradually collecting the items for my brothers’ cure, I was at an impasse. Special, rare nettles were required for the last part of the antidote and Silas’ tree-cursed cousin Maeve had said it would take until spring to grow the quantity that I needed. Just one more infuriating delay. I took another deep breath of the crisp, fragrant air. It was finally time, but I needed Silas’ help to retrieve them from Maeve, and Silas hadn’t been seen in months. That thought alone sent a pain shooting straight through my chest. Conner’s Irish accent caught my ear, “I don’t think she’s paying you any attention, buddy.” He laughed, bending down to fetch the wayward rubber ball as it rolled away.
This week's teaser was a long one - but it's the first few pages of Chapter One. I hope you enjoyed this little snippet and are as excited as I am to finally get the next part of the story!
Well, I've been promising you guys some sneak peeks at the third Crow book, so I've decided from now until the book is released I'll start doing some Teaser Tuesdays. I'll be announcing the publication date soon and hope to also have the cover finished so we can do a cover reveal in the next few weeks. The major edits are finally complete (about time, right?) so now it's just a matter of putting the finishing touches on Release and getting it into your eager hands.
On with the teaser!
Release - The Crow Series Book Three:
“Zombie-root?” I finally said. “That’s pretty lame. I don’t remember you trying to gnaw my face off on the way over here.”
“Where do you think the original notion of a zombie came from? The root was used as a form of enslavement - the powder, once ingested, makes the person emotionally numb, easy to control and they don’t remember a thing. If used continuously, it is highly addictive and it can even have those same effects after death - basically creating a mindless, co-operative shambling husk for you to control.”
“No brain-eating then?”
“Only if he’s told to do so.”
I'm going to stop here and emphasis that this is NOT a zombie book. The root mentioned just happens to be a dangerous drug that Denora encounters over the course of the story.
Hope you enjoyed this little snippet. I'll be posting more next week so stay tuned!
First, I'd like to wish you all a very Happy New Year! I apologize for being gone so long. Unfortunately, 2015 did not go the way I wanted. For the past several months I've been plagued by health issues that pretty much stifled my desire to work and made writing and editing near impossible.
But it's a new year and I have big hopes for 2016. So, without further ado, here's what's going on:
I'm back to finishing the edits on the third book in The Crow Series. The new cover is almost complete and I'll be unveiling it here in the next few weeks. As long as I don't take a turn for the worse, I'll be setting a release date for the end of January. I know I've made you all wait a ridiculously long time for the next installment of the series and I aim to rectify that A.S.A.P. I appreciate your patience and I truly hope Release will have been worth the wait.
Thanks for taking the time to read.
Wishing you all the best in the new year to come!
