So the book I'm supposing to be writing Diamond Dirt is pushed to the back burner. There is another story that is taking over. Two characters are begging for their story to be told. Here is a brief summary. Be on the lookout in the coming months for more sneak peeks and a publishing date.
Beau and Amelia are facing a difficult time in their lives. Can their love for each other shine through the darkness?
That feeling when you type the first words of a new book:amazing! #amwriting #book8 #cantwaittodivedeeper
Falling for Cody is edited and formatted! Two steps closer to publishing. Here is a small scene to celebrate.
"I really need you to start today, Lee. I'm running behind, and I can't have my mother on my case," April prayed as she closed her eyes and turned the car key.
Seconds later, the engine turned over as the car started.
"Oh thank you," she gushed. "I promise; I'll get your oil changed soon."
#fallingforcody #2017
So I'm reviewing my outline for my new book and I had to share one tiny hint of a scene with you. Facebook has its moments and this was something I found funny when I read it. This scene has been with me for so long. In fact, it was the first thing scene I had for this book.
So here is the tiny hint of a scene. There is a spider in bathroom killed with gliter body spray.
I can't wait to write that scene and the rest of the book.
I finished my first round of edits for Falling for Cody. I've also sent it to my beta readers! A little closer to publishing my 7th book. I hope everyone got their copy of Slay the Demon and my other books. The sale will last the rest of this week.
“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” -Dr. Seuss!
It's Dr. Seuss' birthday, celebrate it by reading a book.
Slay the Demon is Live on all platforms! Don't forget to download your copy today. As for me, it's edit mode time. If you want to get a glimpse of Falling for Cody, the Prologue is at the end of Slay the Demon.
Don't forget to leave a review once you've finished Slay the Demon.
So I'm only minutes away from my deadline to complete Falling for Cody. These words are always fun to type. Edit mode now, but I do love these characters.
Also in just a few minutes, Slay the Demon goes live! There is a sneak peek of Falling for Cody at the end.
Don't forget to leave a review once you finish reading Matt and Kimberly's story.
#fallingforcody #deadline #slaythedemon #2017
Random facts about Slay the Demon
*I was inspired to write this story after reading and article on The Rebels Project. They are a support/therapy group created by some of the survivors of the Columbine High School shooting.
*Matthew and Kimberly are the oldest main couple I've written, 35 and 30 respectively. Maggie is 7.
*Maggie's personality is based off my nieces. They are 9 and 8.
*Kimberly was named after my favorite TV show as a kid. Matthew's last name Oliver was taken from the same show.
*The school shootings are loosely based on real events. The reactions of the emergency personal are based on real actions especially the police formation.
*Kimberly is probably my favorite character to date. She is strong, but broken. I loved exploring her thoughts and actions. Her brokenness was painful, but her beauty shined in her compassion.
*Matthew was tougher to pin down. He is complicated and scarred from his past. He just wants his little girl to get better.
*The darker tone was influenced by my time as a Correctional Officer. Working around so many men who have committed different crimes helped shaped all my characters.
*The cover was once again the creation of Christina Malone. I let her do her thing and it's always better than I imagine.
*The building was an elementary school close to my house and my little model is the daughter of one of my friends. Thank you once again Brittany and Baylie.
*This is my 6th book and it does have a companion book Falling for Cody, which is almost complete.
*The conversation Kimberly has in the cemetery was recorded on my phone because I was driving and didn't want to forget any part of it.
*The quote, Wear your Valor as well as you do your lace came to me while at work last summer. There was a book about Confederate women called Lace and Valor.
*It took a little over 2 months to write the book.
*This book had me out of my comfort zone most of the time, but I love the finished product and can't wait to share it with you.
After you read Slay the Demon, don't forget to leave a review on whatever platform you bought it from or Goodreads.
Since there are only a few days until Slay the Demon is out, I decided to put all my books on sale. It may take a while to reflect the price changes, but all five of my books are on sale for $0.99. This sale won't last long, so grab them while you can.
While I'm working on Chapter 10 of Falling for Cody, I decided to share a scene from Slay the Demon. Happy Friday!
Breathing harder, Kimberly pushed herself in the last mile. Since today was her late day, she laced up her tennis shoes and headed out. She was pushing herself to run ten miles today instead of her normal five.
Nightmares kept her awake for most of the night. Running was one of the few activities that took her mind off those images that wouldn’t leave her alone.
Thirteen years was a long time for nightmares, but at least she didn’t freak out over the least bit of noise anymore. There was a time when she couldn’t leave her house for fear of someone pulling out a gun and shooting her. Thankfully, she was now able to live a semi-normal life in her hometown.
Briar Wall was a small town in West Tennessee. There were a few businesses in town along with several places to eat, but it was still smaller than nearby cities. There was no major highway, let alone interstate within a thirty-minute drive. The town was surrounded by farmland, but it was perfect for her. Everyone knew everyone and everyone knew everyone’s business for the most part. There were still secrets as with any town. One of those lingering secrets was why Dallas felt the need to bring the gun to school. She knew what he told her, but what she didn’t know was the decision made him bring the gun on March 14. Was the date significant? On the other hand, was Dallas’ decision an impulse? Did he plan anything or did he grab the gun on his way out the door?
It was only in the darkest hours that she couldn’t shake the image of Dallas busting into the classroom with his gun and pulling the trigger. Her feet pounded the pavement until she reached her ten-mile marker. Once she reached the marker, she slowed to a brisk walk. Ten minutes later, she unlocked her front door and stepped inside. Toeing off her shoes, she turned the TV on, before tugging her shirt up and over her head. She then used her shirt to wipe off the sweat from her face, neck, and chest.
“It’s too early to say, but we have reports the shooter killed the security guard before starting his rampage of terror.”
Kim paused and stared at the TV. The images were a trip to the past. The red banner at the bottom made her heart stop. An active shooter in a local school. The phrase had the power to bring her to her knees. She didn’t even feel the pain of her knees hitting the wood floor in her living room. She broke out in a cold sweat as she watched the footage of the police setting up a perimeter.
The female reporter was listing all the school shootings in the past two decades. She was comparing them to this latest one. Every school shooting was listed, including her own. There was one marked difference between all of those and this one. It was an elementary school involved this time.
She’d been seventeen at the time of her school shooting. It had been life changing at seventeen. She couldn’t imagine being a child experiencing those horrors. Why would someone pick an elementary school?
They were babies.
In fact, why would someone pick a school at all? It didn’t make any sense. If you were angry or bullied by someone, deal with that person, not an entire school of innocent children.
#slaythedemon #publishingsoon #march1 #2017
Edits are done on Slay the Demon!!! I have also formatted it for all platforms. I can't wait to release this one. I should have it up for pre-order soon.
Make your calendars for March 1!
I sent Slay the Demon to the editor yesterday! I also formatted my MS for paperback and actually did the page numbers correctly. Several steps closer to pushing publish!!
While I'm waiting for it to come back from the editor, I am working on my next book. I'm already in Chapter 6 of Falling for Cody.
As it stands, both books will be on the longer side, but I'm sure it's not a problem. Remember, you don't have to read them together, but you will enjoy both stories better if you do.
