Seeing is believing.

I went to the Outer Banks last weekend, the primary setting for the sequel to Moonlit. I'd written about two thirds of the first draft, but I was having a hard time crafting a really big moment in Tanzy's journey. I couldn't picture it the way I needed to. I needed to see it for myself.

The wind. Oh my gosh, the wind. It howled off the Atlantic every minute of the first two days we were there. It sang in the morning. Screamed in the afternoon, and would not go quietly into that good night once the sun went down. Then, on Sunday, we walked out to the car, and the air was quiet. Still. The silence had its own note, the sensation of relief something I can't even describe. But I will definitely learn how to, and I know right where it belongs in the second leg of Tanzy's odyssey.

We visited the wild horse sanctuary, an ATV community that speckles the northernmost region of the outer banks. Houses peek out from rolls of sand and twisted groves of scrub oak trees. Wild ponies roam at will, seeking shelter from that banshee wind under carports and grazing on the brittle shoots of winter grass that grow in patches. The three hour trip was incredible, and our guide a living encyclopedia on the area. If you ever come here and are interested in seeing the wild ponies, I highly recommend the Wild Horse Adventures company. Make sure to ask for Dave.

The next day, we meditated on the banks of the Lost Colony, listening to the whispers in the shallow water that broke around what was left of an old dock. The weathered wood was not from the historic Lost Colony, but something newer man had made, and nature disputed. That's what struck me most about this narrow stretch of sand: nature is still queen here. And everybody knows it.

Something else stuck with me too: the history is alive and well on this island. Not through facts and research as much as tales and myths, handed down and acted out to preserve the soul of what once was. Details are lost, fates uncertain. But that's not important here.

I finished the first draft in the passenger side seat of my car as a friend drove us home. This trip not only shaped the ending, but helped me see what was important about this sequel: what the soul of this adventure needed to be. Pieces are shifting, an arc that wasn't formerly present coming readily to the surface. A timeline of events is now becoming more than the sum of its parts. I can't wait to show it to you.

For now, though, there's something I want to share with you first. Moonlit, the debut installment of this series, will be released on April 16th. We've bumped up the release date so that Tanzy can hit the ground running at the Interscholastic Equestrian Association's National Championships in New York that weekend. But I want some of you to see it even earlier... I am looking for readers who might be interested in getting their hands on an ARC of Moonlit for review purposes. If you're interested, feel free to comment here, or email me at: jadiejoneswrites (at) gmail (dot) com.

Thunderous Blog Tour - My Turn!!

When author J.M. Schroder put out the call for participants in the Thunderous Blog Tour, I jumped at the chance to learn a little more about her book, Thunderstorm. The dangerously dark cover and even darker premise intrigued me right away. This is going to the top of my to-be-read list!

Check out the awesome cover and learn a little bit about the first book in the Daughters of Eden series.

Summary: What you thought about the BIBLE ....is about to CHANGE. What if you found out you were the granddaughter of the first woman, no not Eve, but Lilith? After 150 years Dika Edens, the oldest of 4 girls each destined to live forever, finds out that very thing and that she must break the curse that was put in place when Eve sinned.  But first she must find her Aunt and Grandmother.

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Recommended Age Group: 18 years and above
Length: 295 Pages
Publisher: Schroder & Associates
Average Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

 

 

 

Learn more about Thunderstorm (Schroder & Associates, 2012)

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Thunderstorm-Daughters-of-Eden-ebook/dp/B00APRACCE/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356754765&sr=1-3&keywords=J.+M.+Schroder

 

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thunderstorm-j-m-schroder/1113982004?ean=2940016093888

All Romance Books: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thunderstorm-1026879-139.html

 

Novelnook: https://www.novelnook.com/genre-menu/fantasy-books/Thunderstorm.htm

 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/daughtersofeden

 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16295790-thunderstorm

 

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/254642

 

 

Learn more about the author: J.M. Schroder

 

Jennie Schroder lives with her husband and three amazing and energetic children in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She studies Court Reporting at Sumner College in Portland, Oregon. Her love of writing took off in her junior high school years in Mrs. Eckert’s Creative Writing Class. Now she is sharing the stories in her head with everyone because there are way too many to keep to herself. If not writing, seeking out readers, interacting and thanking her amazing supporters, or daydreaming about her next story or being a very exhausted mother to 2 young boys and a teenage daughter, Jennie loves most to be playing with her family – indoors and out and reading.



Cover, summary, and release date reveal for my debut novel!

When the managing editor emailed me the cover (and surprise title) of my book, she asked me if I was sitting down. I thought maybe she liked to add a little flare of theatrics for first time authors. So I grinned at her enthusiasm, and opened the attachment right where I stood. I was coaching at a big horse show, but I couldn't help myself. I'd been waiting months to see what my cover would look like, and the idea of waiting a few more hours seemed impossible.

I was standing when I opened it. I don't know how it happened, but while I took in the spectacular, thrilling image of my cover, I somehow backed a good fifteen feet to the nearest set of bleachers and plopped down on it, horse show vanishing into thin air. My cover. MY cover. Beautiful and spectacular and like nothing I could've imagined. And the title "Moonlit" - perfect and intriguing. I've been cherishing them since Saturday, basking in the glow of the homestretch. And now, I'm ready to send them into the world. You're the reason I did this anyhow :)

First, the release date.... April 23rd, 2013. (Suddenly April feels very, very close.)
Title, once again, because I love it... Moonlit

And, the cover. It might be the most gorgeous cover I've ever seen on a book. I know I'm partial, but the cover artists at WiDo publishing did a fantastic job. What do you think?

Gorgeous, right?? So what's this cover all about, anyway? Here's the summary:

 

Eighteen-year-old Tanzy Hightower knows horses, has grown up with them on Wildwood Farm. She also knows not to venture beyond the trees that line the pasture. Things happen out there that can’t be explained. Or undone. Worse, no one but she and the horses can see what lurks in the shadows of the woods.

When a moonlit ride turns into a terrifying chase, Tanzy is left to question everything, from the freak accident that killed her father to the very blood in her veins. Broken and confused, she turns to Lucas, a scarred, beautiful stranger, and Vanessa, a charming new friend who has everything Tanzy doesn’t.

But why do they seem to know more about her than she knows herself?

I am so excited to share this story with all of you. Thank you so much for being a part of this journey. I'm honored to have an amazing network of writers who want to support this book of mine, and are participating in a cover reveal blog tour. I will provide a full schedule of tour dates as soon as they are finalized. The tour will run through the month of February. A follow-up tour with interviews and giveaways will begin April 1st.

Release day celebration and author interview with Aviva Orr

First and foremost, I want to extend a *huge* congratulations, good luck, and SQUEE!! to my fellow WiDo Publishing author, Aviva Orr, on today's release of her novel, "The Mist on Bronte Moor." (Side note, Aviva might be one of the coolest names I have ever heard. But I digress...)

The concept of Aviva's book is also sublimely original. Here's the blurb (provided by www.widopublishing.com:) When fifteen-year-old Heather Jane Bell is diagnosed with alopecia and her hair starts falling out in clumps, she wants nothing more than to escape her home in London and disappear off the face of the earth. Heather gets her wish when her concerned parents send her to stay with a great-aunt in West Yorkshire. But shortly after she arrives, Heather becomes lost on the moors and is swept through the mist back to the year 1833. There she encounters fifteen-year-old Emily Bronte and is given refuge in the Bronte Parsonage. Unaware of her host family’s genius and future fame, Heather struggles to cope with alopecia amongst strangers in a world foreign to her. While Heather finds comfort and strength in her growing friendship with Emily and in the embrace of the close-knit Bronte family, her emotions are stretched to the limit when she falls for Emily’s brilliant but troubled brother, Branwell. Will Heather find her way back to the comforts and conveniences of the twenty-first century? Or will destiny keep her in the harsh world of nineteenth-century Haworth?

The cover: (LOVE. I see something new every time I look at it.)

I had to know how Aviva came up with this enchanting idea, so it was the first question I asked her when she agreed to an interview.

How did you come up with the idea for The Mist on Brontë Moor?
I visited the Brontë Parsonage Museum several years ago and came up with the idea shortly afterwards. It’s not hard to imagine the Brontës at home in the parsonage when visiting Haworth, as I’m sure many tourists have done. After my visit, I started reading biographies about the Brontës, and the more I read, the more interested I became in their lives. The idea grew from there.

What made you decide to give Heather alopecia?

My niece suffers from alopecia. Her hair started falling out at age fifteen—the same age as Heather. I had never heard of alopecia before my niece developed it, but I quickly became aware of how much distress it can cause a person, especially a teenager.

Heather’s alopecia also gave me the opportunity to relay some important messages. I have a teenage daughter, and I am constantly surprised at how heavily teens are influenced by their peers, ranging from what they wear to how they feel about themselves. Heather is extra vulnerable because of her condition. At the beginning of the novel, Heather is tormented by her peers and focuses heavily on her alopecia. When she goes back in time, she is gradually able to relax because the Brontë family is non-judgmental. Branwell is somewhat curious about her hair, but he finds her beautiful regardless. Basically, I’m illustrating that if you accept others as they are without fixating on their differences, they will, in turn, be more accepting of themselves.

Did your characters have any surprises in store for you as the writer?

The Mist on Brontë Moor started as a mid-grade book, so all the characters were initially much younger. I loved watching them mature into young adults. It really helped with the character development because I got to know them so well. Branwell was a mischievous kid and he played some nasty tricks on his sisters and Heather, so I was pleased by how his charm and sensitivity shone through as a young man, despite all his troubled moments. As for Heather, she handled her problems much better as a teen. She turned out to be quite strong, and I am delighted with that. 

I love your cover. Are there any little plot secrets in the design?

The cover sets the tone for the novel. I wanted the graveyard and a lot of mist with the parsonage in the background.  The subplot also comes into play, so the cover reflects much of what the novel has to offer.

When you think of your book, is there one line that stands out to you?

The last line in the book is my favorite; it is derived from a line in one of Emily’s poems, which is quoted at the beginning of the last chapter. Of course, I can’t quote the line here or it will give away too much! 

How will you celebrate on the day of your release?

There will be an international giveaway on Goodreads, starting January 8, to celebrate the release of the book’s print edition. The winner will receive a signed paperback copy of The Mist on Brontë Moor. 

What's next for you?

I’m working on another young-adult novel. This one is contemporary with a literary theme as well. 

Thank you so much for your time, Aviva. And I hope you have an incredible release day. I have to admit that I've been stalking this book of yours online. A couple of days ago, a review for The Mist on Bronte Moor hit Goodreads, and prompted me to click over to Wido Publishing's website and pre-order a print copy of the book immediately. Click here to see the review that made me jump to action.

I am eagerly awaiting my pre-ordered copy of The Mist on Bronte Moor, and will read and review it as soon as possible!

Cover Reveal and Author Interview: Deadly Kisses by Kerri Cuevas

I am *super* excited to be a part of the cover reveal blog tour for my fellow WiDo author, Kerri Cuevas. Kerri and I have recently started beta-reading for each other's sequels. Having scored a sneak-peek of the sequel, I am dying to read the first installment, "Deadly Kisses," which will be released March 5th, 2013 (squee!!)

The situation: Aiden Grant is seventeen, has a killer kiss and a boss who used to be President, back in the old days. You see, Aiden is a grim reaper and his kiss welcomes the newly dead. But Aiden’s pleasant grim reaper lifestyle is in jeopardy. And it’s not only because Honest Abe keeps throwing out history lessons with reaping assignments, just to confuse him. It’s because Aiden’s next assignment is to reap the soul of Bee, the only girl he has ever loved. When Aiden’s kiss of death fails, intertwining their souls, Bee is still very much alive and they are both in trouble. The ancients want Bee, who has special powers of her own, and they’ll do anything to get her. Some rules are meant to be broken, even if that means Aiden must bargain with his own soul to save Bee. Who knew the afterlife could get so complicated?

And, of course, the cover! I am in love with the color choice for the background. This book will definitely jump off the shelf. I also really like the font they used for the title and the color/font they used for the author name. All around a very well-done cover. I can't decide if it makes me feel warm and welcomed, or too close to a flame...

Kerri was kind enough to drop by for a few questions about "Deadly Kisses." Thank you so much for coming, Kerri!

Where did you come up with the idea for "Deadly Kisses?" I love reading and writing paranormal romances, and I wanted to write something different than vampires, werewolves, or fairies. The idea to write about a Grim Reaper came along while preparing for Halloween, which is a major holiday in my house. I ended up writing, Deadly Kisses, the next month as my NaNoWriMo project.

Tell us a little about your main character. What/who inspired your main character? Nothing in particular inspired my main character. They just have a way of inventing themselves, and bugging me until I tell their story. Shortly after I knew I wanted to write about a Grim Reaper, a boy named Aiden popped into my head. He had curly blonde hair, played the guitar, and hated history class. He’s a tortured soul.

What do you think makes this story stand out? I really wanted to go to extremes with my characters and the difficult decisions they had to make, and what bigger decision to make to be a Grim Reaper and take the life of someone you love.

 

Put it to music: think of one of your favorite scenes in the book and tell us what song would play in that moment. Oooo, I love this question, Jadie! My main character, Aiden, plays a guitar, so yeah, just love music! Aiden has Sunday, Bloody Sunday as his phone ringtone. The song was originally done by U2, but Paramore did a retake on it. I also use music to set a theme. The book was inspired by the song If I die Young by The Band Perry. Ok, but your question was a scene. So in the first chapter Aiden sends a soul that he reaps to Heaven, and I imagine as that soul is leaving him, Boulevard of Broken Dreams is playing by Green Day.

 

A picture is worth a thousand words: any little secrets you want to reveal about your cover? It was really fun, picking the excerpts that the cover artist could use to feel the tone of the book. I hope everyone likes the cover as much as I do. It was really hard determining if a male or female should be on the cover because the story is told in Aiden’s point of view. In the end I thought a girl should be on the cover because although the story is told by Aiden, it is about Beatrice.

 

How will you celebrate the release of "Deadly Kisses?" Jump up and down, screaming with party hats on…oh um, yeah I’m hoping to have a launch party at my favorite bookstore. I guess I should start planning that, and everyone is invited!

 

Thanks so much for having me here today, Jadie.

 

 

Links:

 

Secure your copy early with the pre-release special: www.widopublishing.com/deadly-kisses-by-kerri-cuevas/

Find it on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/17156824-deadly-kisses-by-kerri-cuevas

 

Learn more about Kerri Cuevas: www.kerricuevas.blogspot.com

 

 

Turning the key

Now that we have a child, packing for any kind of overnight trip requires checklists upon checklists: what it will take to keep her happy in the car, to help her sleep in a new place, to increase the odds that she'll eat, a separate bag of games and toys to keep her busy in the car, dvds, snacks, clothing for various climates, diapers, wipes, Kiku the monkey, pacifiers, little spoons for little hands, a bag of basic medical stuff ... you get the picture. And then we have to pack for us. It's quite a production.

The hardest part of leaving for a trip with a toddler is that moment when my hand is suspended next to the ignition, ready to start the car. Are we really ready? To we have everything we need? Is the phone charged? The tank full? Did you check her diaper? Are all of the pieces in place? Can we safely commit to leaving our home and venturing to wherever it is we're going? Because there comes a point in the drive when you can't turn back - and there are some things that can't be bought along the way in the event they're left behind.

This was my life two days ago as we prepared ourselves for the +300 mile trip to my inlaws' house, where we're spending the holidays. I literally taped the last to-do list on the back door so I wouldn't leave anything behind in the blurry-eyed state of our 0-dark-30 departure. I had that moment, toddler crying in the car-seat, husband popping the top of a rockstar energy drink and loading a Dora DVD into the laptop, where my hand would not budge towards the ignition. I'm leaving something. All the pieces are not in place. They can't be in place. We're forgetting something. I just know it. And then it hit me: I'm doing the same thing with my sequel.

Tanzy and her sidekicks have been inching towards the climax of the sequel for weeks. It's a big moment for all of them, and nothing will be the same once the dust settles. It's a scary moment for me as a writer, echoing the same kinds of questions in my head: are we ready? Am I forgetting something? Are all of the pieces in place. Are we SURE we're ready for this? Because there comes a point when you can't turn back... and there are some things that can't hop on the train once it's in motion.

Yes, it's a draft, of course it can be changed. Likely, it WILL change 100 times between now and the final draft. But this first draft blazes the trail. Even if I rewrite the whole story from the ground up, this first pass will color any new versions that come after it. Its smoke will linger in the proverbial air. Drafting the climax will force me to commit to how I see this whole thing shaking out. And it's making me seek and destroy any loopholes and inconsistencies in the plot preceding this epic moment.

But the time has come. The lists are checked off. The car is packed. The tank is full. Take a deep breath. Turn the key. Here we go...

p.s. Part of our traditions include setting goals for 2013, so be on the look out for that post in early January, and start thinking about your own. No matter how old I get, the new year always reminds me of a blank sheet of paper. So very, very inspirational. Have a fantastic holiday season!

The wrong way

The high school riding team I coach competed in another show this weekend. Before the competition starts, we do what's called a "course walk." Coaches lead their riders around the jumping arena, describing the best path from one jump to the next. Where to stay straight, where to hug the rail, when to move up, when to wait, etc. In short, it helps them see the big picture, and to have a game plan once they get in there.

I had two of my girls with me on one particular course walk. From the middle of the ring, they concluded that they were interested in taking a more "direct" route from jump five to jump six. The path they wanted involved making a sharper turn, but they believed it would give them a straighter path to jump number six. I disagreed, but I kept my mouth shut, and instead told them to walk it and see what they thought. It only took them half the distance to the jump to realize that the direct path wasn't straight at all, and would set them up for a really awkward turn on the other side to get to jump number seven.

I could tell that they were disappointed that they'd even suggested the route, but I told them I was glad they did, and glad that we decided to see what would happen should they have taken the direct approach. I wanted them to see for themselves why the route wouldn't work. If I simply told them no, they always would've wondered how that path would've ridden. Now they had a better feel for the whole ring. More importantly, they didn't just know which path to take, they also understood why.

As I explained this to them, it hit me how this same principal can apply to my main character and the course she's walking. It's made me brave enough to send her down paths I know will lead to a dead end, because I learn more about her each time she makes a decision, even if I disagree with her. Especially if I disagree with her. When we explore these alternate routes together, more pieces of the big picture and plot line fall into place. Even better: I understand what aspects of the plot are most important and why.

p.s. A huge congratulations to my team - we won high point champion team of the day, and qualified five riders for Region championships.