Sunday, September 23, 2012

Orange County Children's Book Festival 9/30 #OCCBF

Hello!

Next Sunday, I will have a booth at the Orange County Children's Book Festival. I will be in the Teen Corner by the YA/Teen stage, at Booth #33.

The Festival is at Orange Coast College at 2701 Fairview, Costa Mesa, CA, from 9:30am until 4:30pm.

If you are going to be in the area, please stop by and check it out, I would love to meet you!

You can go here to watch a video about last years event.

You can also check out the website and Facebook page for OCCBF.

It looks like a wonderful event for readers and writers. Bring the family, or just come to browse. Hope to see you there!


Sunday, September 16, 2012

#SampleSunday Nissa: a contemporary fairy tale

Happy Sunday!

I have included two excerpts of Nissa: a contemporary fairy tale so far, but since I am editing it now, I thought it would be fun to include another one.

You can find the first excerpt here, and the second one here.

I hope you enjoy my first foray into Contemporary Fantasy YA. Please remember it is still in the editing stage, and as always, let me know what you think!

Nissa wants to be the best Fairy Godmother possible; little does she know her first solo project will lead her to the human who will make her question her path and change her fate.


I woke to the sound of a throat clearing next to me. It took me a moment to remember where I was, especially when Titus’s grey hair and scowling face came in to view.
“You could not possible have messed up your first case, you were ready and the case they gave you to start with was a simple one.”
I threw myself into his arms, catching him off guard and causing him to lurch forward in order to keep us both upright.
“Oh, I’ve missed you, Titus.”
“It isn’t that I messed up the case; things are going well with Vicky. There is another reason why I seeked your council.”
“You are only supposed to contact me if there is a problem with your project, Nissa, why else have you come?”
“It’s about her brother.”
“What is wrong with him? Has he been injured or is he interfering with your project?”
“No, Titus, it’s nothing like that. It’s so much worse.” I was so worked up that I had to let it all spill out, “I have had all of the signs that he is my mate. My mate, Titus. It cannot be real, he is human. But I felt the drum of my heart, the tingling of my hand, and my eyes turned pink. And, I act like an idiot around him. I forget to speak and touch him without thinking, it’s embarrassing. I love him and I think he loves me. I don’t know what to do. There is no way to tell him that we are meant. He has no idea what I am. And there is certainly no way I could ask The Fates to bless our union, but it is impossible. I don’t know what to do, Titus.”
Titus touched his hand briefly to my chin, looking deep into my eyes, as if searching for something.
“What you speak of is possible, Nissa, but it comes with a great sacrifice. If The Fates determine that you are meant to be with a human, you will have to forsake everything you know and love and permanently be human. You can never return to life as a fairy. You would lose your Godmother status and would have to find someone in your family to take your place.”
He dropped his hand from my chin and ran it over his face, then looked back into my eyes.
“If they determine you are not meant, you can never see him again. You would not be able to try and find him when you were on missions, he would be lost to you forever.”
The tears welled up in my eyes and began to spill over. I didn’t know which result would be worse, but if it were possible, I had to try.
“Have you ever heard of The Fates determining that a fairy and a human were meant?” I asked, hopeful and fearful at the same time.
“No.” He replied softly.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

#SampleSunday WIP: I Choose You #NewAdult

Happy Sunday! I have featured excerpts from Make it Last during the last couple Sample Sundays. Make it Last is book one in a New Adult Trilogy that I am working on. It will feature three couples, and each of the books will tell their story. I am currently writing book two, I Choose You. I thought I would post a snippet from that one this week. Please realize, this is still a first draft.

Enjoy, and as always, let me know what you think!

When she heard Roni’s bawdy laugh, she opened the door with a smile, and was faced with a faded grey t-shirt stretched across the sexiest chest she had ever seen. Without looking up, she knew the owner of that chest. She had been crushing on him ever since her first day in this small town.

She felt the familiar tug in her belly, as she allowed herself a moment to draw her gaze slowly up his chest, over his broad shoulders, and into his striking face.

Kent was the most gorgeous man she’d ever met in person, and no matter how many times she saw him, she always got butterflies when he was near.

He grinned broadly down at her.

“Hey, Nic,” Kent was the only man who had ever called her that, and she felt her heart trip every time he did.

She tried to speak, but no sound came out. She tried to clear her throat inconspicuously. “Um, Hi.”

“Kent, could you please move your butt? This box is heavy.” Roni’s voice said from behind him.

Nicole moved a few steps back and out of the way so he could come inside, allowing Roni access through the door.

She chided herself for acting so weird every time she was around Kent. She thought he was so hot, and out of her league. She knew that he could get any girl that he wanted, and she was nothing like the girls he usually went for.

“Let me take that,” Kent said to his sister, easily lifting the box from her hands and taking it to the room that Nicole indicated was Roni’s.

“Hi, Roomie,” Roni squealed, jumping and doing a little spin around the room.

Nicole couldn’t help but smile at her excitement, then watched, confused, when Roni’s demeanor changed at the voice in the hall.

“Hello… I’m looking for the apartment housing the hottest ladies in town,” Rich yelled out as his face came into view.

Roni rolled her eyes and turned to walk into her room.

Nicole barely had a moment to register Roni’s behavior, before she was enveloped by Rich’s strong arms.

“Hey, Baby Doll,” Rich said with a smile. “Kent told me that his sister was moving in today, so I thought you guys might need some help from a big, strong, hot, man.”