This is that moment when an author realizes there is no going back. What happens now is out of my hands. My baby will soon be set free in the world and while I will do all I can to nurture it and spread the word, how it’s received by readers is utterly beyond my control and that is terrifying. There’s no reeling it in. No do over. No pretending it didn’t happen. If this novel flounders, flops and dies, I can only mourn and move on. And moving on isn’t as easy as it sounds. I mean, what press will want me after a failed release? What reader would pick me up again? Oh. Boy. These are the thoughts I can’t entertain. Or I will be battier than I already am. Instead, I shall hope, have faith and believe in this story. 

So, I’ve brought you with me this far, guys. From that life changing day a few years back when I first typed “how to write a book” in my search engine, to my first story in an anthology and every baby step since then. I’m putting it out there for you. Here it is. My journey from the slush to print. What do you think?

Available in September from Merit Press & F+W Media.

The post Deceived Cover Reveal: Another New Step in the Journey appeared first on Musings from the Slush Pile.

So far, I’m thinking one book in each of two baskets, then theming the other contents around the books. For my sweet romance, Written on Her Heart, I’m thinking about adding a journal and maybe tea and a mug <– is that lame? I am so terrible at this!

For the YA, I am stunned stupid. I have NO IDEA what to put in there at all. Like. At. All.

Gah!

This is probably a good time to thank all of you amazing people who contribute books to raffles every year. You are wonderful. I adore you. Please help. LOL

The post What Do Readers Want in a Raffle Basket? My Drama. appeared first on Musings from the Slush Pile.

The family behind us couldn’t get over the fire eaters and male dancers made of abs and glistening with something shiny. The men periodically murmured things like, “I need to get back to the gym” and “Sure, when you’re twenty-five it’s easy to look like that.” The women wondered how a fire eater gets insurance. “What must THAT cost?” they pondered. “Can you imagine his life insurance rates? What’s your profession? Fire eating. Well, that’s gonna cost ya.”

I sat sipping frozen punch from a giant coconut carved into a monkey face. My worst nightmare. You know I imagined no less than a dozen times that the monkey head came to life and bit my fingers off into bloody stumps. You should’ve seen the strange way I held the drink for that reason. My fear of monkeys only gets worse every day.

So, I’m not sure what all happened at the luau, but I have a slew of new story and character ideas. Crowds entertain me so very very much. Writers never know where inspiration will hit, I guess. And don’t get me started on what I learned about the Magic Bullet blender doo-dad my father in law made icees for the kids with. #deathmaker

The post Fire Eating for Conversation Starters appeared first on Musings from the Slush Pile.

My favorite Fantasy Authors – Jadie Jones

J.R. Tolkien: I grew up on the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. Talk about the master of world building. His words paint such a vibrant, thorough picture. When I was young, his characters felt so real that I was sure they lived in the woods behind my house. In fact, his world felt tangible to me – a place I could get to and call home if only I knew the way.

C.S. Lewis: I was an oddball kid and then an awkward teenager with a serious set of braces, frizzy hair I had yet to figure out, and bad skin. I was certain I belonged somewhere else – that I’d become something shiny and whole. So the idea of stepping through a door – or wardrobe – and into a whole new world was very appealing to me. I didn’t realize how much this stuck with me until one of my editors said that Moonlit was like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe meets The Hunger Games. It’s actually a very fitting description.

C.J. Redwine : her debut novel, Defiance, leans more towards Dystopian, but there’s definitely a fantastic element at play. Defiance was one of my favorite books of 2012. I devoured it in two days’ time. Her writing style is what I like most, and she switches back and forth between two point-of-views in a way that is easy and organic.

Peter S. Beagle: The opening of “The Last Unicorn” might be my favorite first paragraph of all time: “The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone. She was very old, though she did not know it, and she was no longer the careless color of sea foam, but rather the color of snow falling on a moonlit night But her eyes were still clear and unwearied, and she still moved like a shadow on the sea.” Immediately, I am transported, and I believe. I think that’s what a fantasy author has to do for me: make me believe in the fantastical creature or world that they create.

Moonlit by Jadie Jones:

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 to 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? Is she really Tanzy? Or someone new? Was she ever Tanzy? And how will she choose between the many realities she’s coming to know?

About the Author:

Jadie Jones has been dreaming about being an author since she wrote her first book in the seventh grade – in a black and white composition tablet, of course. But life happens…jobs, husband, baby. Jadie has that magical time known as naptime to thank for Moonlit. Because, when all was quiet in the house (with the exception of the washer humming in the background) Jadie could hear Tanzy, who she thought she had long ago relegated to past dreams, calling to her. And one day Jadie pulled out a pen and answered. The result was Moonlit.

Find Jadie online:                                                  

Jadie Jones’ blog:

www.jadiejones.blogspot.com

Twitter: @JadieJones1

www.twitter.com/jadiejones1

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/jadiejones5

The post Writer Wednesday Welcomes: Jadie Jones appeared first on Musings from the Slush Pile.

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk’s home life, they’d send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom’s freedom and her own happiness. That’s how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn’t want her and going to a school that doesn’t understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn’t get her, but does….

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can’t tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn’t be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won’t let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all….

My Review:

I should start by saying I read Pushing the Limits out of sheer curiosity. The cover art was everywhere I went online for weeks. The blurb didn’t catch me, but after seeing the cover 9 trillion times I gave in and downloaded it. I loved it. Like really loved it. I bought copies for my kids’ babysitters and started following Katie on twitter. The book seemed to stand alone, so when I heard there was a sequel, I started looking for news on it periodicly.  The cover is so hot. I shared it on twitter. Then, I found the ARC available through NetGalley and nearly wet my pants when I was approved to read it. I literally squueeeed.

I devoured this book. I loved it even more than the first one. Right? Who does that? Katie did it. She drew me in to a character I didn’t think twice about in Pushing the Limits. Beth is my new favorite character ever. Like ever. She’s a hot mess. Awful. And Katie slowly peels away the layers until the reader sees how raw she is, what life’s done to her, what her heart goes through – continually. I was broken on her behalf. I groaned when she made poor choices after having good ones available because I “got” that bad choices were what she understood. The “safe” was the frightening unknown to her. OMG. Just. Wow.

Beth’s relationship with Isaiah was turbulent, but strong. It was hard to see his heart broken because he is essentially as lost as she was when the story began. We knew he loved her in Pushing the Limits. I hope Katie is telling his story next because I want so much to see him find something real.

For someone as adrift as Beth, Katie delivered the perfect hero. (I don’t mean her uncle here, though again, OMG she nailed it with him. He was amazing. Perfect. Loved). Katie introduces Ryan, the most steadfast teen I’ve ever read. He’s confident, even when he’s not. He takes chances, stands his ground and leads. He is precisely perfect for Beth. He anchors her and we can see her closed off heart unfurling as she dares to dream of something more than she has before.

The banter is fresh and fun. The romance is hawt. The story is real. I love this. I plan to buy copies for my home and the YA readers in my life. This is a must read book for anyone who loves an amazing story. Thank you Katie. Again.

The post Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry appeared first on Musings from the Slush Pile.

My debut cozy mystery arrives in early October. I’ve come through a ton of firsts for this book already. I’ve learned the exact release date is October 7th. I’ve worked through my editorial (read as Revision) letter. I’ve done edits and am awaiting copy edits. Last week I got my first peek at the back cover copy. Things are moving right along. It’s happening. I say it, but my brain is still all hipster cool, like whatever. Until things like today happen and my face is on the blog wall with other Carina mystery authors. Then I get all stupid happy.

I can’t wait to share the back cover copy with you and to soon get a peek at my cover. In fact, that’s kind of what I blogged about over at Not Your Usual Suspects. You all know how hooked I am on Pinterest. I use it for inspiration while I write these days. When the cover art folks emailed looking for help with nailing the cover, I did my best to answer and then I directed them HERE. To my Murder by the Seaside Inspiration Board.

You see, Hubsy? All the time I spend on Pinterest IS handy….sometimes LOL. <— Bunny trail thoughts….

Anyway If you’ve got another click in you today, come see my debut blog post at Not Your Usual Suspects and be super surprised when you see it’s not actually about writing or mysteries. See you there!

The post Not Your Usual Suspects appeared first on Musings from the Slush Pile.

I met an author from my hometown and told many about my local writer’s guild. My lovely new friend, Maria V. Ciletti, sat beside me and we had fun people watching. She writes romance and lives in Niles. I met an author who remembered something I said on an Ohioana author panel last May. THAT felt good. Panels matter. People remember you. Who knew! Also….super glad I didn’t say something super stupid, or at least am thankful she forgot that part. I met an author who works with PBS on various shows. We talked about how strongly I feel on the topic of girl power.

I spoke with a number of highly interesting people, but really, what else is expected at a book fair? Readers and writers are the face of diversity, both in the physical and intrinsic senses. There were books there I’m dying to read like Guido Love. I laughed my head off at that. And Eat Your Way Across Ohio….yeah, that sounds right up this girl’s alley. For sure. I had the chance to thank Kathy again for all the work she does on this event each year and donate a copy of my March release to the library as well as tell them a bit about my YA suspense coming in September. Next year I’ll be in the children’s section!

Speaking of the children’s section….There was guy who sat in the empty author chair beside me about half way through the event. He had a bit of a grump face (really super) and he told me, while shaking his head, “The entrance to the children’s area smells like marijuana.” I suppressed the first thing that came to mind: Excuse me. I need to get to the children’s section. Later, I wondered if perhaps he should take a trip back there. He asked if I read crime fiction because he wanted to bounce an idea off me. I told him, I write cozy mysteries and he scoffed. I smiled. When I finally asked him what his book was about — since he’d yet to produce a book for his table beside me. He said: “No. I’m not one of you people. I just sat here for a minute.” To this I nodded, then tweeted and am still kind of cracking up. I wish I’d have gotten his name. He was a little like Grumpy Cat in a blazer.

I said all this to say…writers/authors, get involved. These things are great resources for writers and authors. They connect you with readers, local media, other authors you may be able to joint promo with at local events, book retailers, you name it. If you are bookish, make a point in finding others like you. You won’t regret it.

The post Ohio Author Day at Hudson Library & Historical Center appeared first on Musings from the Slush Pile.

1. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don’t get involved.

4. Keep your head down.

5. Don’t fall in love.

Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival–and that of her adoptive father–depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans, to hide in plain sight from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening–and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules.

I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion. Huge THANK YOU to both. The Rules was amazing. I have to admit it, I’m a sucker for a good alien on Earth story. It dates back to my Clark Kent obsession and that hunk from Smallville, what can I say? I’ve even tried my hand at writing a story like this. To say I’m a fan is such a disgraceful understatement of my love. I will move on.

So, I got on the treadmill and opened the Kindle file. I’m always looking for some way to help pass the time on there. An hour later, the program ended and I was confused. Had I started jogging yet? Was the treadmill broken? The hour had flown by. Zip! Gone. And I found a way to keep my motivation for exercise!  I was only 15% in and I needed more. Everyday last week I rushed through my responsibilities so I could get to the treadmill and this BOOK. I was swept away in the espionage of it all. Ariane is so lovable in an awkward way, semi-earthly way. She tries so hard and is so intrinsically good, despite everything, it was impossible not to root for her, even when she got a little rough *cough* ***avoids spoilers*

Next.I adored the budding romance between Ariane and Zane. I love that Spade skipped the overdone plot line of starting a romance off as a joke/bet etc and they fall in love for real then girl finds the truth and is heart broken….nope. None of that with this author. This was a straight forward, what-you-get kind of story and I loved the hero all the more for it. Go Zane! These two were meant for each other and they fought for what they believed in. Which made me so very happy! The Rules was entertaining, heart tugging and sometimes a nail biter. I highly recommend this read to YA readers and alien lovers, conspiracy theorists, government distrusters and Area 51 believers. It was great. I am only sorry to say I have no more motivation to get on the treadmill now….unless I read it again!

The post Review: The Rules (Project Paper Doll) by Stacey Kade appeared first on Musings from the Slush Pile.

She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do—or see—that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all of the Suits’ rules—and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.

But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters—survival.

Review:

I received this as a digital ARC from NetGalley. I admit, I had ulterior motives for choosing this title, or requesting it. I am a hopeless YA addict, but I also write YA and guess what? I have a release coming this fall from Merit Press titled Deceived. I wrote Deceived four years ago and revised it numerous times before meeting the brilliant and beautiful, Jackie Mitchard, who against the odds connected with my revised-revision-reworked-work. I say all this to tell you,my story Deceived is about a young woman in *similar*. So, being fully aware of the whole writer-mind phenomenon, I panicked! Oh no! Her book comes 5 months before mine! I’m going to look like a hack! *insert total freak out here*.  Turns out the similarity I picked up on in the blurb is the only thing they have in common. Mental crisis averted. New crisis ensued: Her book is amazing! OMG I totally suck!

But I’m so glad I read this book!

I fell in love with Elston’s writing style in the opening paragraph. I loved her portayal of a teen in the worst situation ever. Like EVER. She explored raw emotion and touchy subjects with grace, humor and beautiful words. I drifted into her well developed world and floated there for hours on end. I’ve never been to the locations in this book, but I felt immersed. Like I could see everything she described, smell the seafood and salty night air — until my RL called me back and I realized the sun went down while I was at Pearl’s enjoying pizza. Elston’s story is intense every page of the way. She kept me guessing until the end. And since I mentioned the end…I have major questions about that too! I won’t give her away, but I seriously hope there’s a sequel or some other materials coming that will explain a thing that now keeps me up at night wondering. Do you hear me Ashely? I neeeeed to know! *whispers* Call me. *stage wink*

The family dynamic was brutally complicated and heart-wrenchingly real. The high school was argh as high school’s always are. Friendships were tested.  And the romance was completely wonderful. I think I fell in love with this boy a little myself. I won’t rehash the story because the blurb does a wonderful job and I fear I’d give something away. All you need to know, YA lovers, is this needs to be on your TBR list ASAP. It’s fabulous. Wrapped in fun. Iced with WTH!? I may never stop checking my rear view mirror. I’m just saying. Thank you Ashley Elston for an amazing escape, Netgalley and Hyperion for this amazing sneak peek!

The post Review: The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston appeared first on Musings from the Slush Pile.

It’s fun for me to reread this today. My writing style has changed quite a bit in the last couple years. My voice hasn’t. I’ve always written in the hopes of making a reader smile. I handle that a little differently today, but the goal is the same. Thanks to this novel, I went on to rewrite another YA of mine 700 times and finally place it with Merit Press for release in October 2013. And because I loved Chloe so dearly, and the island is in my blood, I wrote a series of cozy mysteries with an adult heroine living in Chincoteague as well. Carina Press picked it up!

So, you see, this book, Reinventing Chloe, was the launching pad, the catalyst for other amazing things in my writer life, and she will forever be special to me.

I love the cover. Once again TMP has nailed the sass. Love it. How about a blurb?

Reinventing Chloe by Julie Anne Lindsey

When Chloe’s completely tragic life strands her in an East Coast nightmare, the smart, sassy Texas cheerleader sets her sights on solving a local murder. Sure, her new home has no Internet, her iPhone doesn’t get a signal and there’s no mall to be found, but Chloe’s navigating a new school, new job and a confusing new romance. Her life’s officially tragic and she’s freezing her peep toe pumps off.  She needs the distraction.

When her killer curiosity lands her in the cross hairs of a suspected murderer, things go from no fun to downright deadly. He’s determined to get Chloe off his case, but someone should’ve told him Chloe’s bully proof.

The post Reinventing Chloe — Cover Reveal! and Evolution of a Writer appeared first on Musings from the Slush Pile.