Helllllooooooo! How was everyone’s November? Mine was cahrayzay. So crazy I couldn’t even spell it the correct way. Between writing and release promo and proposals and, oh yeah, Thanksgiving, I’m basically a zombie. I don’t feel at all caught up, and it’s only going to get worse. You know why? Christmas is 23 days away. 

You’re welcome.

Before you flit off to take advantage of the Cyber Monday sales to knock some of those Christmas things off your list, pull up a chair! Get comfy. Maybe grab a coffee (or hot chocolate, if you prefer). Let’s chat.

For the first part of November, I was banging away on the follow-up to Caged in Winter. I got 25k words into it before I had to break away and focus on a different project for a bit. One I, unfortunately, can’t tell you about yet, but I hope to be able to very soon! So what’s that mean? That means I failed NaNo. *sad violins playing* But you know what else? I wrote 50k words in November–they just weren’t all one project. So, to this I say: I WIN! 

For anyone out there who attempted NaNo, whether you “won” or didn’t, congratulations! You committed to writing and (hopefully) wrote at least a word. Stick with it. Just because you didn’t complete doesn’t mean to toss it away. I’m not scrapping that 25k I wrote. I’m diving right back in. But I’ll be smart about it and do it in January when I don’t have the weight of the entire world bearing down on my shoulders. For those of you who did NaNo and completed it? YAY YOU! Congratulations! Stick with it to finish, or polish that sucker up in edits.

For the rest of November, I was a writing machine, but in different avenues. I wrote several thousand words on a new project, then I wrote a bunch of guest blog posts and had some fun with some author Q&As for the blog tour happening RIGHT NOW! Yep, ’tis the time for blog tours because you know what? SEASON OF SECOND CHANCES (as well as ALL I’M ASKING FOR) comes out on Thursday! If you’re interested in following the tour, getting insight into my crazy mind or reading some excerpts, Closed the Cover, our tour coordinators, have a page listing all the stops! I also have a few extra stops along the way that I’ll be tweeting about.

Let’s get to the fun stuff! Since this week is super exciting for me, I wanted to make this giveaway super exciting for you! Instead of one book, I’m giving away five–that’s right, FIVE!–to one lucky winner. Unfortunately, because I haven’t found that money tree yet, this is not open to international readers. But stay tuned! I’ll have something for you later…

In this giveaway pack, we have The Best Man by Kristan Higgins, Fatal Justice by Marie Force, Things I Can’t Forget by Miranda Kenneally, Relic by Heather Terrell, and Covet by Tracy Garvis-Graves.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

That’s it for this week. I hope to be back next week with another giveaway. That is, if I haven’t lost my head between now and then.

 

I can’t believe how late it is! Your Monday is almost over, and hopefully it didn’t suck too bad. Mine was a complete cluster, one thing after another after another that needed tending and I’m just now–just now–sitting down for the first time today.

So what’s new in Brighton Land? This week I’ve been working on getting promo stuff ready for my upcoming release of SEASON OF SECOND CHANCES. I suppose I should start teasing you all with snippets of my favorite Hot Single Dad. Alas, it’s late and I’m so tired, I’d probably post something that made zero sense. So, sooooooon, my pretties.

When I’m not in prepping-for-promo-madness, I’ve also been working on the revisions for my new adult contemporary. Everything is polished and shiny-pretty and I sent that off to my agent yesterday. Now I get to throw together a single paragraph pitch for book 2 in that series, which I plan to write during NaNo this year.

Whoa. That was a lot of pressure in that one tiny paragraph.

But enough about me! Let’s talk about books! Last week’s winner, Traci, gets a copy of THE MARRIAGE MERGER, so her Monday certainly doesn’t suck. Now, who wants to win a copy of THESE BROKEN STARS?

It’s a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

—

A timeless love story, THESE BROKEN STARS sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.

See you next week!

It’s heeeeeeeeere! Earlier than expected, but the Corporate Affairs Anthology from Xcite Books is now available for purchase here!

 

And a short sampling, to give you a little taste…

Have I mentioned Gavin is a dirty talker? No? Huh.

The anthology is also available through Amazon, as well as on Xcite’s site.

This whole thing is so surreal, and, to be honest, I feel a little like I’m still floating on cloud nine. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go post to every possible media outlet that I have and then flail privately in my bedroom. 

You’re probably wondering what in the hell I’ve been doing that’s kept me from making even a peep on the blog for over a month, amirite? (Or, more probable, is that you didn’t even notice. Stick with me.)

To be honest, it’s been a frenzy of activity. Even if we were to exclude things like a family wedding where we drove a total of 26 hours in 5 days (did I mention that we did that with two kids in tow?), or the whole back to school extravaganza (and my baby starting pre-school…wah), there were half a dozen other events that have kept me busier than normal.

In August, I attended a three-week online editing workshop led by Angela James called Before You Hit Send. For any writers out there who are unsure about their editing skills, and even the ones that feel like they have a solid grasp on editing, I’d encourage you to take this course. While a lot of it was simply overview for me (punctuation, dialogue tags, etc), Angela touched on many things that I’d never even thought to work through when doing a final edit on my MS before submission (garbage words, overuse of adverbs, etc). For the low cost of the workshop, I definitely felt I got my money’s worth.

Now on to the exciting news. *rubs hands together* I signed my first contract in August with Xcite Books for a short piece I wrote for their Corporate Affairs anthology. Word on the street (aka: their website) says this will be out October 12th for purchase. Besides the fact that this will be my first published work (!!!), I’m also thrilled because I’m going to be book sisters with Jeanette Grey, one of my very closest friends, not to mention my very own personal cheerleader, who’s also got a piece in the CA anthology. I’ll post more details on that as soon as they become available!

Finally, the big news (insert flashing lights and obnoxious sound effects). The stuff I’ve been babbling on and on about (albeit vaguely) for months now. When they told me the publishing world was a whole lot of hurry up and wait, they weren’t kidding.

Months after receiving the call (which I’ve since found out is the little something extra only this publisher does), I finally signed and returned my contract. So, you know what that means? It means I can spill the beans! My first novella, Plus One, will be published Spring 2013 with Carina Press, Harlequin’s digital-first imprint. Forget being bowled over by the fact that a publisher actually wanted my writing, but when it’s also the publisher of authors that I read and love (Kaily Hart & Shannon Stacey to name a couple)? There might have been flailing.

And maybe a little screaming.

And also some tears.

As I mentioned before, Jeanette has been my personal cheerleader since I decided to dip my toe in the world of original fiction. Everything that has happened with Plus One is because she was friend enough to push me when I needed pushing. She was the sole reason I submitted to Carina in the first place. I wasn’t going to–hadn’t even fathomed submitting to them. I thought they were too big for my britches. To put it plainly: I thought I wasn’t good enough. And I told her that. And then she proceeded to tell me to get my head out of my ass* and submit my MS to them. So, I figured go big or go home. Balls to the wall, and all that. And, yay, it paid off!

This week, I also returned the art fact sheet where I tell them my ideas on how I’d like the cover to look (sexy, fun, flirty & lighthearted). I also got to go on a hunt for pictures that evoked the feel of the book. I cannot wait to see what they come up with. And, of course, I can’t wait until I can share it with all of you.

Oh. And I also finished a full length novel. (!!!) Which, as it turns out, will actually be part of a series. Companion novels, not continuation, so don’t worry–no major cliffies. My characters kind of threw me for a loop, and it turns out these three sisters each have a unique and interesting story to tell.

So, that’s it. I’m also working on a few shorts, and I will keep you updated on their statuses.

Thanks for coming on this journey with me, frands. Group hug? *gathers you all close*

*I’m paraphrasing ever so slightly, but I swear it was very near to that, only much nicer because she’s as sweet as pie