Contests

GAME OF LOVE Cover Reveal!!!

/ Marie Meyer / Leave a comment

Game of Love

by Ara Grigorian

 

I thrilled to host the cover reveal for Game of Love, a new sports romance from Ara Grigorian! I’m so excited to read this book! Check out all the fun details about this sexy romance and enter his fantastic giveaway!!

Yeah, you heard that right, you get to see the brand new cover for Game of Love AND a Giveaway!!! Keep reading for more details!

 

Title: Game of Love

Author: Ara Grigorian

Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance

Release Day: May 4TH

GOL Cover

 Isn’t this cover gorgeous?! I love it!

About Game of Love:

Game of Love is set in the high-stakes world of professional tennis where fortune and fame can be decided by a single point. Gemma Lennon has spent nearly all of her 21 years focused on one thing: Winning a Grand Slam.

After a disastrous and very public scandal and subsequent loss at the Australian Open, Gemma is now laser-focused on winning the French Open. Nothing and no one will derail her shot at winning – until a heated chance encounter with brilliant and sexy Andre Reyes threatens to throw her off her game.

Breaking her own rules, Gemma begins a whirlwind romance with Andre who shows her that love and a life off the court might be the real prize. With him, she learns to trust and love… at precisely the worst time in her career. The pressure from her home country, fans, and even the Prime Minister to be the first British woman to win in nearly four decades weighs heavily.

As Wimbledon begins, fabricated and sensationalized news about them spreads, fueling the paparazzi, and hurting her performance. Now, she must reconsider everything, because in the high-stakes game of love, anyone can be the enemy within… even lovers and even friends. In the Game of Love, winner takes all.

Preorder Game of Love Here

Exclusive Excerpt:
GOL teaser 2
“We are made strong by the difficulties we face, not by those we evade.”

~Author Unknown

Gemma’s security flanked her, their grip tight on her arms. Bedric, her coach, rushed ahead, slamming open the hotel’s glass doors to the roar of the French paparazzi―a cacophony of questions, comments, and insults.

Gemma moderated her breathing, prepared for another three-second spurt of chaos.

Three…

“―What happened in your hotel room?”

They knew. Dozens of cameras from all directions chirped and flashed. She kept her eyes trained on her goal: the awaiting car.

Two…

“―Mademoiselle! Gemma! One smile.”

The paparazzi bore in from her right. Only a few more steps. A knee rammed into her thigh. That one would leave a mark. A bruise that the papers would dissect and analyze gratuitously.

One…

“―Why were you hiding for four months? Were you going to quit tennis?”

Don’t react. Say nothing. Bedric forced the car door open, giving Gemma the opening she needed to squeeze in. He followed.

Zero.

The door slammed behind them, and the sounds of commotion lowered to a gentle hush. Black tinted windows offered a veil of privacy. Bodies, camera lenses, and faces smashed against the glass. Only inches separated her from the paparazzi. There had been a time when she used to move to the center of the car, creating as much separation as possible. But now she knew better. Distance was a mere illusion of safety.

The locks engaged, and the car accelerated away.

She didn’t like surprises―particularly on game day―but in this case, her security lead’s demand to move her to another hotel had been spot- on. It was one thing for the paparazzi to gather outside. It was quite another when one found his way into her hotel suite… while she slept. The French paparazzi were setting a new standard.

“This is not good,” Bedric said in stoic English.

She eyed her superstitious coach, who was always concerned with deviations from routine. But the concern etched on his face wasn’t about superstition. He didn’t want a repeat performance of the Australian Open months earlier.

“You have not rested,” he continued, “and you have yet to get breakfast.”

“We’ll be fine. We are fine,” she said, nearly believing it herself. “As for breakfast, we’ll grab something at the new hotel.”

The car swerved as the driver made a temporary effort to lose their tail. Memories of another car chase months earlier inched its way into her throat.

“There will be people. You don’t need more distractions.”

“More distractions?” She had woken to the sound of an intruder in her suite, and now she was rushing from one hotel to another on the morning of her quarterfinal match. How much worse could it get? “We’ll be discreet. Run in, eat, and we’ll be off.”

The car’s tires screeched as the driver took another quick turn. It was happening again. Another chase just before a critical match. Only this time, the driver wasn’t drunk.

From her bag, Gemma removed a tennis ball and twirled it in her hand. One point at a time. She focused on the soft texture. Familiar. Calming. Poking out from inside her bag, the newspaper article from the day before mocked her. Inch-tall letters above her picture: The Great Hype―Five Years and Still Waiting. She squeezed the tennis ball over and over again until her fingers went numb.

She dropped the ball back inside the bag, then closed her eyes, hoping to salvage some sleep. She crossed her arms and tried to control her shivering. No, she wasn’t cold. She just wanted five minutes alone with the bastard who had violated her space. Gemma almost wished the coward hadn’t bolted when she charged him, tennis racquet in hand.

 

About Ara Grigorian:

34019c_ecb294aa4a244d158202952d64580733.jpg_srz_p_165_150_75_22_0.50_1.20_0Armenian by heritage, born in Iran, lived in Barcelona, and escaped New York until he found his home in Los Angeles, Ara’s first eleven years were both busy and confusing. The fruit salad of languages would slow down his genetically encoded need to tell stories. Until then, an alter ego would be required…

He received an engineering degree from California State University Northridge and earned his MBA from the University of Southern California. Today, he is a technology executive in the entertainment industry. True to the Hollywood life, Ara wrote for a children’s television pilot that could have made him rich (but didn’t) and nearly sold a video game to a major publisher (who closed shop days later).

But something was amiss until his wife read him the riot act. “Will you stop talking about wanting to be a writer and just do it?” So with her support (and mandate), and their two boys serving as his muse, he wrote stories.

Fascinated by the human species, Ara writes about choices, relationships, and second chances. Always a sucker for a hopeful ending, he writes contemporary romance stories. He is an alumnus of both the Santa Barbara Writers Conference and Southern California Writers’ Conference (where he also serves as a workshop leader). Ara is an active member of the Romance Writers of America and its Los Angeles chapter.

Ara is represented by Stacey Donaghy.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

 

Enter Ara’s Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

MISSING PIECES Media Blitz Day!

/ Marie Meyer / 2 Comments

MISSING PIECES

MP Final Cover

Have you read MISSING PIECES yet? If you haven’t, you’re MISSING OUT!

 

MISSING PIECES

by Meredith Tate

Add to Goodreads Buy from Amazon 


Your family is the most important part of your life. Your families are the people you love, and love is what separates us from scoundrels and criminals. It maintains order. Your parents, your sibling, and your Partner, are the ones you love. There should never, ever, be anyone else who comes close to that bond. You have only one best friend, and that is the person you’ll be marrying someday. We must learn to differentiate the relationships in our lives: the people we love, and the ones we don’t. It’s inappropriate, it’s foolish, and it’s forbidden to think otherwise.

Trace Bailey’s mouth is her worst enemy – somehow it always gets her in trouble. Luckily, she has a partner in crime – her best friend and neighbor since age seven, Piren Allston. He can’t get enough of her crazy sense of humor, and she loves that he’s always up for another adventure.They can’t be friends, though, not in their world. Trace and Piren were Assigned to other people at the age of six, and they’re supposed to marry their Partners when they turn twenty-four. Failure to comply leads to Banishment, a fate worse than death.Worse still is the growing realization that their bond is stronger than just friendship.In a world without freedom, there are still choices to be made. Following their hearts means losing their family, but following the law means losing each other.Forever.
I committed a felony on my thirteenth birthday.
My parents don’t know. In fact, nobody does. If anyone learns, I’m screwed — a “fate worse than death,” they call it.
I didn’t murder anyone; what I did was far worse. The crime was quick, it was careless, and it happened entirely inside my head. A wandering mind is a dangerous place.
I was at the library studying for a history exam when it happened. A girl sat down beside me and pulled out her books, spilling highlighters and pens all over the table. I’ve known the girl a long time; she’s been my best friend since childhood. She flashed her familiar smile, and an unexpected urge shot through me: I wanted to kiss her.
The forbidden thought flashed through my brain and vanished in seconds, but the intensity lingered behind, as if a magnetic force ripped through my whole body. My eyes grew wide. The pencil slid from my hand and landed on the table.
“What?” she asked.
I gaped at her.
She poked my arm. “Out with it.”
My mouth opened, but no words came out. I shook my head, backing my chair away from the table. Heart thudding like a bass drum in my chest, I bolted from the library.
Lying in bed that night, my mind raced, struggling to recall the exact wording of the Law I just broke. They made us memorize it in fifth grade, but only pieces clung to me: Only desire your Assigned Partner. Only kiss your Assigned Partner. Attraction to the Unassigned is forbidden, punishable by Banishment.
Tracy Bailey is not my Assigned Partner; she’s not even supposed to be my friend.
I hardly slept that night, but woke the next day relieved that my secret was safe. That’s the good thing about thoughts; they only get you in trouble if you share them.
My Partner is a girl named Lara Goodren. I met her at the Assigning Ceremony eight years ago, when I was six.
“I love you, Lara Goodren,” I said to her, when prompted by the Master of Ceremonies.
“I love you, Piren Allston,” she replied.
The audience erupted, clapping and hooting their approval. Mom and Dad snapped a million pictures as I wobbled on the stage, staring at the ground.
Then back to our seats, and on to the next couple. The whole exchange was awkward as hell, but I did it anyway, as expected and without question.
That was the first time I said “I love you” when I didn’t mean it. It wouldn’t be the last.

Want to win a copy of MISSING PIECES?

Meredith has been kind enough to offer a digital edition of MISSING PIECES to one of my blog followers! To enter, click on the Rafflecopter link below:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9412255c1/?

A proud New Hampshire native, Meredith Tate lives in St. Louis with her husband. She loves reading and writing in all genres, but has a soft spot for dark young adult and new adult speculative fiction. Meredith has a master’s degree in social work from the University of New Hampshire. She is a contributor to the St. Louis Writer’s Guild’s “Write Pack Radio Show” every Sunday afternoon. When she’s not writing, Meredith enjoys traveling, playing the piano, befriending wild geese, and spending time with family and friends. Much like her characters, she’s always up for another adventure.

BREATHE by Kelley Harvey

/ Marie Meyer / Leave a comment

I’m super excited to announce that my good friend and talented author, Kelley Harvey, is celebrating a BOOK BIRTHDAY today! Kelley’s debut novel, BREATHE, is out!!!

 

It’s finally release day! I’m super excited share all these great links so you can grab your copy of BREATHE while it’s at the low introductory price of only $.99. Don’t keep this awesome news to yourself! If you know someone who likes a good romance, please share.

Here’s where you can find BREATHE:

AMAZON

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

iTunes… Well, dang it. I’m so sorry. To my great disappointment BREATHE isn’t available on iTunes, just yet. It will be in the next few days, I hope. However, you can find all formats at Smashwords, if you just can’t wait (and I wouldn’t blame you). I’ll post the link to it on iTunes as soon as I have it.

Now, you can’t buy it at Goodreads, but you CAN add it to your lists, review it, share it with others, and all kinds of other fun stuff. Go HERE to find BREATHE on Goodreads.

After you read BREATHE, please consider leaving a review at your favorite eBook retailer. Or, leave it at ALL the major retailers. Reviews are gold to authors, so I will forever be thankful. Also, if you enjoy it, I would greatly appreciate you sharing with your friends and followers. This baby can’t get off the ground without readers. (HA! Did you see what I did right there? *wink*)

If you’re interested in checking out my author pages (you are welcome to follow, like, or whatever they let you do at each site *cheesy grin*) here are the links:

Like Kelley on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/KelleyHarveyWrites

FRIEND Kelley on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/KelleyHarveyAuthor

Follow Kelley on Twitter: @KHarveyWrites

Find Kelley’s  Amazon Author Page

Find Kelley’s Author page on Smashwords

Find Kelley’s Author page on Goodreads

 

Sign up for Kelley’s  email list to get all the news about The Devastation Series and all the releases coming soon.
  • Sign up for the Read 2 Review Program (free book in exchange for HONEST review on release day). I have a limited number of slots now available for Episode 2.
  • Next up: BREAK Episode 2 of The Devastation Series February 2015
 


DON’T FORGET TO GET IN ON THE $25 AMAZON.COM Gift Card Rafflecopter Giveaway! 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

(If you’ve ALREADY done some of these things, it’s fine, just mark that you did them and you can still enter)

 

A MURDER OF MAGPIES Blog Tour!!!

/ Marie Meyer / 2 Comments

A-Murder-of-Magpies-Banner

A MURDER OF MAGPIES

By Sarah Bromley

 

I’m delighted to be a stop on Sarah Bromley’s A MURDER OF MAGPIES Blog Tour! If you haven’t read A MURDER OF MAGPIES, you need to…NOW! A MURDER OF MAGPIES is available for purchase at the links provided here: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | IndieBound

Review-

A MURDER OF MAGPIES is a story unlike any I’ve ever read. It reads with a quiet urgency, only adding to the mystery surrounding the Silver Twins, Vayda and Jonah. It’s the perfect story to read on a cold, wintery day. Let the snow fall outside, curl up under the covers, and allow yourself to be whisked away to a world where secrets are buried beneath dozens of feet of snow and ice. And let’s not forget about the sweet romance between Vayda and Ward that keeps the cold at bay.

After the mysterious death of their mother, Vayda and Jonah’s father, Emory, moves the family from Georgia to Black Orchard, Wisconsin, so they can start over. But, it soon becomes apparent to Vayda that the move wasn’t to initiate a fresh start, but to run from the evils surrounding their past.

Just as Vayda has gotten close to Ward Ravenscroft, the boy who lives nearby, she finds that her father may be planning yet another move. But this time, she doesn’t want to run. In Ward, Vayda’s found someone who calms the never ending barrage of cold and noise inside her. Someone she trusts.

But the shadows of the past are lurking in the snow covered forests of Black Orchard and the Silver family’s secrets aren’t safe…anywhere they hide. And the residents of Black Orchard may not be safe from the Silver Twins and their unique abilities. In order to have a future, Vayda and Jonah must confront their past.

If you’re a fan of Gothic paranormal tales, AMURDER OF MAGPIES should be at the top of your TBR list! It’s a phenomenal story.

 

An Interview with MAGPIES author, Sarah Bromley-

I not only had the opportunity to read and review A MURDER OF MAGPIES, but I also had the privilege of interviewing Sarah Bromley! Here’s what she had to say:

What was your inspiration for A MURDER OF MAGPIES?

A MURDER OF MAGPIES first came as Vayda screaming in the night. I knew the house was on fire, and I knew her family was persecuted. My mother’s side of the family has Romani heritage, so I incorporated some of the folklore as well as persecution of people of that culture in the story. My family is superstitious and also has a very strong line of intuition among the women, so all those things came together in this book.

Vayda and Jonah’s family connection is so strong. Something writers often hear, “write what you know”; I liked how you were able to take elements of your own heritage and weave them into Vayda and Jonah’s story. That only adds to MAGPIES depth and helps to create a closeness among your characters and readers. 

Speaking of writing, what is the hardest part of the writing process for you?

I absolutely hate first drafts. They’re messy and don’t get done nearly fast enough for my liking because I spend far too much time trying to make them right, so I have to remind myself “Draft first, revise later.”

I am with you on this! I HATE first drafts!! I am constantly reminding myself of the same thing. I always tell myself, “Write the worst story you can, right now. It will get better!”

To help make writing that first draft (or any other draft for that matter) easier, do you have a writing ritual? Things that must be done before your muse will come out and play?

I need coffee. I like quiet or a file I have of howling winds. I also tend to light a lot of candles, especially the ones with the wood wick to create that crackle and hiss sound. Ambiance seems to be important to me.

Yes! Coffee!! We are kindred spirits! However, I haven’t tried lighting candles or the howling winds. I must give them a try! Especially the wood wick candles, those sound awesome! 🙂 

As you sit down to write that dreaded first draft, are you more of a pantser or plotter?

I’m what my critique partner Shawntelle calls a “plotster.” I write fifty pages where I’m getting to know the character’s voice and story. After those fifty pages, I can sit back and look at the threads and figure out where the rest of the story will go.

Interesting! I love to know how other authors get from A to Z. Myself, I am a tried and true pantser. I do not work well within the confines of an outline. Kudos to you, a mixture of both! And if I might add, you have an awesome CP! I love Shawntelle’s books!

Now that MAGPIES has gone through several drafts and is finally published, you’ve really gotten to know the story and its characters, do you have a favorite line, passage, or chapter from A MURDER OF MAGPIES?

Hmm. It’s tough to choose, but I do love Ward’s reaction to finding out what Vayda is because who in their right mind wouldn’t freak out at such a thing.

I know, right? He handled that news a lot better than most boyfriends would have. I also liked that Vayda didn’t push him. She let him get used to her “specialness” in his own way and own time. Vayda is a really amazing character. I enjoyed being inside her head. Thanks for sharing Vayda and Ward with us! 

So, on the topic of characters… Of all your characters, which one do you most closely relate to?

There are different parts of me in both Ward and Vayda. I lost my parents young, which each of them misses at least one parent from their life. Ward is the artistic side of me that dives into projects without giving a care for how I’ll get it done, I’ll just do it because of impulse. Vayda is the opposite side of me that will carefully weigh out everything, especially in family matters. They’re good at nudging each other.

For me, adding a little of myself to my characters always breathes more life into the story. I can say that the same is true for MAGPIES. Even the smallest personality traits gives the story a heartbeat. 

Now that MAGPIES is out, what are you working on now? 

Well, of course, I have the sequel to A MURDER OF MAGPIES that I am working on, and I am also taking some time to write a YA horror story that is very near and dear to my heart.

I cannot wait for the sequel to A MURDER OF MAGPIES!! And a YA horror too, so excited!! 

Besides writing, do you have any other passions/hobbies?

I am very passionate about animals, especially dogs and horses. I have rescued two of my three dogs in the last two years (the other is a fourteen-year-old pug), and I volunteer at a stable for disabled riders. Therapeutic riding does so much good for our riders, and being around them and the horses is wonderful for my soul. I also spend a lot of time reading, working in the garden where I have a bird garden with native plants, cooking, playing guitar, and working in a variety of art mediums—everything from furniture restoration to cross-stitching to painting.

You are a very busy, talented woman! Wow! You’re amazing! 

How can someone follow in your path of awesome? What advice can you offer aspiring writers?

You must be able to trust your gut. That goes for everything—taking and employing constructive criticisms of your work, who you choose as your agent if you have multiple offers. You need to do research into the genre you are writing and where you see it on the shelf. Know who represents those books. Research any small presses you may want to work it, and always, always be persistent. Very, very few of the seemingly overnight successes actually happened fast—most were years in the making.

So true! Sound advice, fellow writers. Take it to heart. 

Throughout A MURDER OF MAGPIES, Vayda is in the kitchen whipping up something wonderful. As I read, my stomach rumbled its appreciation for the story! You really need to consider a MURDER OF MAGPIES recipe book–From Vayda’s Kitchen to Your Table! Out of curiosity, what is your favorite dessert? 

I am a sucker for a chocolate-peanut butter pie any day of the week.

Um, yeah. I’m going to need that recipe! That sounds heavenly! As did all of Vayda’s culinary creations! I’m serious about that MAGPIES recipe book! I wanted Vayda to invite me over for dinner! 

Sarah, thanks so much for stopping by! I loved having the opportunity to interview you! 

Thank you for having me!

 

 If you’re looking for more of Sarah’s stops during the A MURDER OF MAGPIES Blog Tour, the tour schedule can be found here:

http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/tour-schedule-a-murder-of-magpies-by-sarah-bromley-presented-by-month9books/

 Add A MURDER OF MAGPIES to your Goodreads list. If you’ve read MAGPIES, leave a review!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17787411-a-murder-of-magpies?from_search=true

 

 For a chance to win a digital copy of A MURDER OF MAGPIES click on the Rafflecopter link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c08c9e8e250/

  • Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of A Murder of Magpies by Sarah Bromley (INT)
  • Winner will be drawn on November 28, 2014

 

A-Murder-of-Magpies-Cover

ABOUT A MURDER OF MAGPIES

Title: A Murder of Magpies

Publication date: October 28, 2014

Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.

Author: Sarah Bromley

Winter in Black Orchard, Wisconsin, is long and dark, and sixteen-year-old Vayda Silver prays the snow will keep the truth and secrecy of the last two years buried. Hiding from the past with her father and twin brother, Vayda knows the rules: never return to the town of her mother’s murder, and never work a Mind Game where someone might see.

No one can know the toll emotions take on Vayda, how emotion becomes energy in her hands, or how she can’t control the destruction she causes. But it’s not long before her powers can no longer be contained. The truth is dangerously close to being exposed, placing Vayda and her family at risk.

Until someone quiets the chaos inside her.

Unwanted. That’s all Ward Ravenscroft has ever been. To cope, he numbs the pain of rejection by denying himself emotions of any kind. Yet Vayda stirs something in him. He can’t explain the hold she has on him–inspiring him with both hope and fear. He claims not to scare easily, except he doesn’t know what her powers can do. Yet.

Just as Vadya and Ward draw closer, she finds the past isn’t so easily buried. And when it follows the Silvers to Black Orchard, it has murder in mind.

 

Sarah Bromley   ABOUT SARAH BROMLEY:

Sarah Bromley lives near St. Louis with her husband, three children, and two dogs. She likes the quiet hours of morning when she can drink coffee in peace, stare into the woods behind her house, and wonder what monsters live there. When she’s not writing or wrangling small children, she can be found volunteering at a stable for disabled riders.

Connect with the Author:  Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

Month-9-Books      ChapterxChapter

OUT OF LINE Series Blog Tour and Giveaway!!

/ Marie Meyer / Leave a comment

OUT OF LINE Series Blog Tour & Giveaway

OOL_Set_BlogTour

I am thrilled to be one of the stops on Jen McLaughlin’s OUT OF LINE Series Blog Tour!!! I’m a huge fan of this series and it’s an honor to help Jen promote her fabulous stories! 

Yesterday, Jen’s OUT OF LINE Series Box Set was released and during release week only, you can get a signed ebook edition of the OUT OF LINE Box Set for only $2.99!! 

OOL_BoxSale

Buy Links 
Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1rlAx18

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/WcNsbf

Read on to learn more about the OUT OF LINE Series, with a special excerpt from book three, OUT OF MIND! 

BOOK BLURB: 

All three OUT OF LINE books in one volume.

PLUS two bonus scenes AND the original ending to OUT OF TIME!

 

OUT OF LINE

I always follow orders. My job, my life, depends on it. I thought this job would be easy, all the rules were made crystal clear, but when I met Carrie Wallington, everything got muddy. She’s a rule I know I shouldn’t break, but damn if I don’t inch closer to the breaking point each time I see her. I’m ready to step out of line. And even worse? I’m living a lie. They say the truth will set you free, but in my case…

The truth will cost me everything.

 

OUT OF TIME

Being Carrie’s bodyguard was one thing. Being her boyfriend is another. Every day she’s mine is a day the sun shines in my life. Yet our time together is running out. Her father will never think a tattooed Marine will be good enough, so I’ll do whatever it takes to be worthy of her love. But the road will take me away from the girl who makes me feel alive–the girl I can’t live without.

Time only gets us so far…

 

OUT OF MIND

All I wanted was to be worthy of Carrie. One mission, just one, and I’d be able to give her the future she deserved. Then everything went wrong, leaving me tainted and broken. Carrie wants me to be who I was, but all that’s left is what they made of me. I’m no good for her. No good for anyone like this. I have to figure out how to move forward. Alone.

Sometimes love isn’t enough…

 

Buy Links for individual books:

OUT OF LINE (Book #1)

Amazon – http://amzn.to/17HLrFu

B&N – http://bit.ly/17hfkvi

 

OUT OF TIME (Book #2)

Amazon – http://amzn.to/1daxXYL

B&N –   http://bit.ly/1g7hPas

 

OUT OF MIND (Book #3)

Amazon – http://amzn.to/1pUPjhY

B&N –  http://bit.ly/1mSkmpP

 

OUT OF MIND EXCERPT

EXCERPT ONE:

“Don’t let me die…Please don’t let me die…”

Explosions boomed in my ears, shooting me upright into a sitting position in bed, gasping for air and crying out into the empty bedroom. Gunshots still echoed in my head, along with the gurgling of Dotter’s blood as it poured out of his body until there was nothing left. I looked down at my hands, half expecting to find them bloody. They weren’t.

But metaphorically? That was a whole other fucking story.

Trembling, I rose to my feet, my broken arm casted and hanging uselessly in a sling. My body was coated in a light sheen of sweat, and even my sheets were dampened and dark. Blinking at the sunlight that crept through the closed curtains, I tried to remind myself where I was. I wasn’t fighting for my life. Wasn’t watching people die. I was safe.

As safe as I was going to be, anyway.

Pushing the curtains back, I squinted outside. After spending a couple of weeks in a hospital in Germany, followed by another couple of weeks in a hospital in D.C., it was nice to be in a home. But instead of the sandy beaches and hot weather of California, I saw a foot of snow reflecting the sun, blinding me. And we were supposed to get even more tomorrow night. Fucking ridiculous. I studied the position of the sun in the winter sky. Damn, what time was it now? Last thing I remembered, I took a few pills and zonked out. It had been…morning? Maybe? Now, judging from the sunlight streaming through clouds, it was mid-afternoon.

I’d missed a whole day.

Sure. I could act shocked about this, but that happened more often than not lately. I slept away the day, high on painkillers and drunk from whiskey. When I woke up, I swore I wouldn’t touch another drink. I’d last an hour or two.

Then I’d do it all over again.

I ran my hand over my shaved head, wincing at how rough it felt. I’d been back in the good old USA for a couple of days now. I still felt like I was trapped in the fucking desert. Instead, I was in the winter wonderland from hell. Carrie’s parents’ house.

A knock sounded on the door, and I dropped the curtain. I glanced down at myself. I had on a muscle tank and a pair of black basketball shorts. Decent enough, I supposed. “Come in.”

The door cracked, and the red hair I’d recognize anywhere appeared before the face I needed so damn much did. “You’re up?”

“Yeah.” I tugged on my tank and crossed the room. “You can come in.”

Carrie entered, shutting the door behind her. She hesitated, looking torn. Her blue eyes were sober and crystal clear, while I was a fucking drunken wreck. I’d been snapping at her lately. Pushing her away. I hated myself for it, yet I couldn’t seem to fucking stop.

“Did you sleep good? I thought I heard you cry out.”

I fingered the puckered wound on my head. It was still sensitive to the touch and ugly as fuck. Not as ugly as the rest of my scars. Inside and out. “I had another nightmare. Same old thing.”

She approached me slowly. “Anything I can do to help?”

“Yeah.” I met her eyes. “You can come hug me.”

She gave me a smile. “Anytime.”

Within seconds, she was in my arms. Well, my arm. I glowered down at my broken arm, knowing it was as marked up as my head. You just couldn’t see it right now. I closed my arm around her, burying my face in her neck. “Fuck. I missed you.”

She tilted her face up to mine. “I missed you, too.”

 

And now for the giveaway!!

How would you like to win a $25.00 gift card?

Click on the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/726d25187/

 

Jen McLaughlin  About Jen

Jen McLaughlin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy New Adult books. Under her pen name Diane Alberts, she is a multi-published, bestselling author of Contemporary Romance with Entangled Publishing. Her first release as Jen McLaughlin, Out of Line, released September 6 2013, and hit the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal lists. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and a cat. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

 

Website: http://dianealberts.com/

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianeAlberts6

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6921962.Jen_McLaughlin

 

Jen’s OUT OF LINE Series Blog Tour continues on these other great blogs:

Wednesday, July 16th I Dare You To Read http://idareyou2read.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, July 16th In Between The Pages http://pagesbetween.blogspot.com
Thursday, July 17th LuLo Fangirl http://www.lulofangirl.com
Thursday, July 17th Short and Sassy Book Blurbs http://shortandsassybookblurbs.blogspot.com/
Thursday, July 17th kimberlyfaye reads http://kimberlyfayereads.comb
Friday, July 18th Books, books, and more books http://deerereadergirl.wordpress.com
Friday, July 18th Crawling Over The Pages http://couchpotatoism.blogspot.com/
Friday, July 18th Short and Sassy Book Blurbs http://shortandsassybookblurbs.blogspot.com/
Friday, July 18th SnoopyDoo’s Book Reviews http://myreads.booklikes.com/
Saturday, July 19th Kats Read katsread.blogspot.com
Saturday, July 19th Adventures in Writing http://thhernandez.com
Saturday, July 19th Avid Reader Musings http://www.avidreadermusings.com
Saturday, July 19th guilty indulgence review site http://guiltyindulgencebookclub.blogspot.com
Sunday, July 20th Romance Obsessed Book Blog http://romanceobsessedbookblog.blogspot.com
Sunday, July 20th RhiReading http://www.rhireading.com
Sunday, July 20th Breathless Ink http://www.breathlessink.com
Sunday, July 20th The Wonderings of One Person http://thewonderingsofoneperson.wordpress.com
Monday, July 21st I Read Indie http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com/
Monday, July 21st Tissues and Tomes Book Blog www.tissueandtomes.com
Monday, July 21st Broadway Girl Book Reviews http://broadwaygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com
Tuesday, July 22nd Romance Bytes https://www.facebook.com/romancebytes
Tuesday, July 22nd Living in a Bookworld http://livinginabookworld.blogspot.gr
Tuesday, July 22nd Born To Read http://borntoread-bookblog.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, July 22nd What I’m Reading http://sillymelody.blogspot.com
Wednesday, July 23rd RhiReading http://www.rhireading.com
Wednesday, July 23rd WOrkS of FiCTioN<3 bkwrm29.wordpress.com
Thursday, July 24th My Favorite Things http://heffroberts.blogspot.com
Thursday, July 24th Heather Young-Nichols heatheryoungnichols.com
Thursday, July 24th Reading Is My Superpower http://readingsuperpower.blogspot.com/
Thursday, July 24th Sexy Bibliophiles http://sexybibliophiles.blogspot.com
Friday, July 25th Sexy Book Reviews By Shelly & April http://sexybookreviewsbyshelly.blogspot.com
Friday, July 25th grownupfangirl http://www.grownupfangirl.com
Friday, July 25th The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club http://theunofficialaddictionbookfanclub.blogspot.com
Friday, July 25th Read-Love-Blog www.Read-Love-Blog.com

 

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Writers for Hope Auction

/ Marie Meyer / Leave a comment

writers for hope

I am honored to be a part of an auction benefiting the RAINN Organization. For today only, thirty-plus writers have donated various author services, such as: query critiques, first page critiques, first chapter critiques, full manuscript critiques, or combination critique packages.

Kelly Johnson, fellow writer and Writers for Hope organizer, has tirelessly put together an amazing auction. If you would like to peruse the items up for bid, click on the link here: http://countlesslives.blogspot.com/2014/04/auction-items.html

To help raise money for the RAINN Organization, I have offered a query and first chapter critique. If you would like to bid on my donation, click on the link here: http://countlesslives.blogspot.com/2014/04/item-26-query-and-first-chapter-critique.html

The Writers for Hope Auction is only live for today, so get bidding!! There are some fabulous prizes and all the proceeds go to an amazing cause!

 

Related Links:

RAINN Organization

Kelly Johnson

Pitch Wars Wrap-Up

/ Marie Meyer / 3 Comments

The top 10 things I learned from Pitch Wars:

10. Twitter friends are great. Twitter is a great place to meet like-minded people. I’ve met so many awesome writers through Pitch Wars and Twitter and I wish them all the luck in the world.

9. Refresh…refresh…refresh… ad nauseam! Sometimes, the refresh button isn’t your friend. Not only was Pitch Wars an intensive writing boot camp, it also provided a lesson on patience. From waiting to find out if my manuscript was chosen for Pitch Wars, to waiting for agents to leave a comment on my entry, to waiting to hear back from the queries I sent out, I could develop an OCD of refreshing my Twitter/Brenda Drake’s Blog/email. But, a better idea would be to use my time wisely. I’m going to get started on my next manuscript while I wait. After all, patience is a virtue. Thank you, Pitch Wars, for making me more virtuous!

8. Save the melodrama for your mama (but, then again, she may not even want to hear it)! Keep things real.

7. Alliteration Affection- Or was it more of an infection? I learned that alliteration doesn’t always work, and more often than not, I wasn’t even aware I was alliterating. Under Lioness’s careful scrutiny, I was made aware of my affinity for alliteration. Now, I’m hyper sensitive to this device and find myself cringing when I come across alliterated words. My thesaurus is my new best friend!

6. You’re not alone! Even though writing is a very solitary endeavor, Pitch Wars turned that notion on its head. With my mentor and my teammates, I knew I had people behind me, cheering me on the whole way through. The talented ladies of The Pride are Sarah L. Blair and Anna Rains.

5. Follow your instincts. Over the course of my Pitch Wars revision journey, I learned to listen to my characters and follow my instincts as a writer. It’s still a developing skill, and I will only continue to get better with time!

4. Constructive criticism is your friend. Personally, I LOVE constructive criticism! I thrive on it. It lights my writing fire! Pitch Wars was a godsend for me. I’ve always wanted someone to pick apart my story—tell me what works, but better yet…tell me what NEEDS work! I WANT to improve my storytelling craft, so I’m not scared when someone tells me a scene or a character isn’t working. Bring on the constructive criticism, I want to learn and improve!

3. Slice ‘n dice, then reattach!  I am not afraid to take my story apart and put it back together again, if that’s what it takes to make it shine. One of my characters didn’t make it through Pitch Wars. After my mentor advised me to cut him out, I willingly complied, leaving my manuscript with gaping holes that needed to be filled. I could have let that intimidate me, but it didn’t. I knew my story would be better in the long run. I listened, cut him out, reduced my word count by approximately 12,000 words, and have a far superior story as a result!

2. Listen to the professionals. All the amazing mentors of Pitch Wars 2013 are publishing professionals. They have found success in the industry, and they know what they’re talking about. I went into Pitch Wars with this mentality. I wanted to learn from my mentor, heed her advice, and with her guidance, revise my story to greatness. I am so grateful for all the help Lady Lioness gave to me, and I will continue to use her advice to grow as a writer. Along those same lines, listen to the agents. It still confounds me that aspiring authors don’t follow an agent’s specific querying guidelines. For the love of all that is holy, LISTEN TO THEM!! Professionals only want to work with those who are professionals as well.

1. Hard work=accomplished dreams. Writing is difficult. But, I know that being a full time author is what I want to be. Late nights, writer’s block, frustrating scenes/characters, endings that aren’t working, the whole novel-writing process is daunting and hard. But, it is something I truly love, and I’m willing to listen to the professionals, listen to my characters, and put in the time and effort that’s needed to produce a compelling story. One day, my hard will pay off, and I will see my stories on a bookstore shelf.

I want to thank Brenda Drake for her hard work and dedication to Pitch Wars. She’s beyond amazing. A big thank you goes out to all the mentors who so generously gave their time to helping aspiring authors realize their dreams. I especially want to thank my mentor, Lady Lioness! She’s wonderful and there aren’t enough “thank yous” in the world I could offer to express my gratitude. Thank you to all the agents who participated in Pitch Wars, and I hope you find some awesome stories (and writers) to represent.

Good luck to the Pitch Wars Class of 2013, may you all find the agent of your dreams! I can’t wait to see your books on the shelves! It’s an honor to be categorized with such an uber talented bunch of up-and-coming authors!!

My Pitch Wars Mentee Bio: I Think We’d Make a Great Team!

/ Marie Meyer / 6 Comments

My Pitch Wars apps are sent. My prayers are said and all of my digits are crossed. Now, all that’s left to do is wait. And pray some more!

But, thanks to the fabulous Dannie Morin and brilliant Christopher Keelty, I can now put some of that waiting to good use and join in on the PitchWars Mentee Contender Bio Blog Hop.

So without further ado, here is my Pitch Wars Mentee Bio…drum roll please….

By day, I spend my time teaching fourth graders the wonders of science, social studies, math, and the joy of the written word. Usually, any writing assignment I give in class is met with a chorus of cacophonous groaning. Music to a teacher’s ears! But, after two or three drafts (I won’t tell them how many times I revised my manuscripts—it’s best not to scare them) each of my students are lining up to share their story! Awesomesauce!

At the end of the day, I love spending time with my family! I’m married to a wonderful man who is really awesome at grammar! He puts up with my endless questions about commas and I love him for it! I’m a comma killer, so all grammar help is appreciated! And last, but certainly not least, my two precious daughters. They are the reason I write. One day, I hope writing will give me the flexibility to stay home with my girls. I also hope to teach them that hard work and perseverance pay off in the end, and if you want something bad enough, don’t give up.

That’s my philosophy on writing. I’m going to keep writing and revising until I get it right. I LOVE constructive criticism. I LOVE to collaborate. I LOVE it when someone tells me my commas are in the wrong place. But, in the end, I just LOVE to write. I want to tell a story that someone will LOVE to read (and I would LOVE some help with that)!

And just a side note…My birthday is January 24th. I can think of no better gift than to have a sparkling manuscript ready for the agent round in January!!

So, there you have it, me in a nutshell. I teach. I mother. I write. I pray and give God all the glory!

And here’s my #PitchWars #PitchTune…the song that inspired my entire manuscript and it’s intended sequel: 1000 Times by the uber talented Sara Bareilles!

And here’s a picture of Jillian and Griffin (my main characters)…

20131205-205420.jpg

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NaNoWriMo Whato?

/ Marie Meyer / 15 Comments

Yeah, you heard me right. NaNoWriMo! What is NaNoWriMo you ask? Well, it stands for National Novel Writing Month. Every November, writers from all over the world vow to neglect reality for thirty days and live with the imaginary characters in their heads. From November 1st to November 30th a writer must complete the daily challenge of writing 1,667 words to reach the finish line with a 50,000 word novel by the end of the month! If you’re interested in participating in NaNoWriMo 2013, here’s the link to get started: www.nanowrimo.org. It’s not too late to start!

This is the first November I have taken up the challenge! I began writing my NaNoWriMo novel last night (November 1st) and I plan to work hard until the very last day (November 30th). Some days the words will flow onto the page like a torrential downpour and other days I may feel like I’ve walked miles in Death Valley with not a drop of water to spare. But, I’m dedicated to writing the novel in my head. My main character is already real to me and I owe it to him to write my 1,667 words each day. He wants to tell his story and I’m the vessel to do that! Griffin, I’m ready. Talk to me, baby!

Once upon a time I was a cheerleader and I’m still one at heart. I love to offer encouragement and cheer people on to victory! Go! Start your Nano, now! Write your story! It needs to be told! I believe in you! Even if you don’t end November with 50,000 words, you’ve already done more than someone who didn’t even try!

What are you still doing here? Go! Write! Wait a minute…what am I still doing here? I’ve got a novel to write too! Griffin’s waiting for me and those 1,667 words aren’t going to write themselves!

See you in the NaNoWriMo forums! Good luck and happy Nano-ing!

Related Articles:

NaNoWriMo: Day 2 (http://bookgeeking.wordpress.com/)

Want to Write a Novel? (http://tracyconstantine.wordpress.com/)

My NaNoWriMo (http://racheldangerw.wordpress.com/)

Words, Words, and More Words! (http://jinrightjm.wordpress.com/2013/11/03/words-words-and-more-words/)

NaNoWriMo 2013- But Where to find the… (http://zanemckenzie.com)

National Novel Writing Month- Day 3: The Time of Day (http://inkhammer.wordpress.com/)

NaNo 2013 Day 2 (http://sidequestpublications.wordpress.com)

Bloggin’ Recap: October 27th to November 2nd (http://swimlindsey.wordpress.com

 

It’s All in the Voice CONTEST

/ Marie Meyer / 18 Comments

Special thanks to Heather Webb for putting this blog hop together! Be sure to visit her blog for a list of all the blog hoppers that are participating in this contest: http://www.heatherwebb.net/blog

Below is my entry into “It’s All in the Voice” contest. My manuscript is titled, RUNWAY. It is a NA contemporary romance.

I stretched the tape across the last box of my belongings and took in the barren room. I was sure my sister was excited to have her guest bedroom returned to its sterile floral motif. It was no secret that my mere existence severely clashed with Jennifer’s lifestyle in general. She tolerated me at best, and I could tell by her demeanor this last week that she was ecstatic for my return to school. In all honesty, I couldn’t wait until I could afford a place of my own. I hated living with Jennifer, my two bratty nephews, and my sleaze ball brother-in-law.

I sighed and picked up the heavy box of books and balanced it on my hip. Outside, Griffin’s Harley rumbled in the driveway. I was glad he was here; he could carry the last box down to my car. I dropped it in the hallway and went to get the door.

Unable to withhold my excitement at his arrival, I threw open the front door and flung myself into his arms. “Hey, Jillibean!” he said, catching me.

“I’m so glad you’re here!”

“I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to spend 18 and a half hours in the car with you.”

I hugged him tightly. I would be so lost without him.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“Not yet. I have one more box inside. Could you get it for me? It’s kind of heavy.”

“I’m on it.”