Cover Reveal: Wild Card Undercover

It is my great pleasure to be able to share the details of my incredible CP Kari Lemor's first release. I've been fortunate enough to read the drafts of this book and know that it's just the start of an incredible series. If you're a fan of romance with a hint of suspense, be sure to jump in with the series. Pre-orders are available now and the book will be out in March 2017. Congrats Kari!!!

WILD CARD UNDERCOVER

#1 in the Love on the Line series

By Kari Lemor

Published by Kensington Lyrical Underground – March 2017

 All that glitters in Miami is not gold…

Lured in by a bad ex-boyfriend and the moonlight of Miami, Meg O’Hara is trapped in a nightmare situation, waiting tables for a crime boss and fearing for her life. When undercover FBI agent Christopher Shaunessy offers her a way out, she seizes it. Getting the goods on Salazar Moreno might not be easy, but she’ll do anything to be freed from her servitude and Moreno’s sexual advances, even if it means moving in with the charismatic agent.
 
Chris Shaunessy pretends to be Meg’s lover in order to keep her safe, but he steels his heart against further involvement. Passion has no place in the sordid world of organized crime. And yet, the closer they get to cracking the case, the stronger his feelings for the spirited waitress shine. It’s a dangerous game he’s playing, and taking Meg in his arms for real could prove a fatal misstep . . .

Excerpt

Chapter 1

“Does that man never have a day off?” Margaret Kathleen O’Hara grumbled, grabbing her tote bag and sarong to move surreptitiously along the chairs by the pool. If the hotel manager saw her here again she’d be toast. He’d more than toss her out. Threats to call the police had been thrown at her for months now. Although in her case, that might be a better deal.

With her eyes trained on his location and the Miami sun beating down on her exposed skin, Meg backed along the water’s edge attempting to leave the area before he spotted her. She needed to shower the chlorine out of her tangled hair and change for work soon. He looked in her direction and she rushed behind the closest object. It was six-foot-plus of blond-haired gorgeousness. The man’s eyes were glued to something on the upper deck. Her boss was sitting there with one of his expensive bimbos. Did Blondie like that type? Maybe he wouldn’t notice her little game of Hide and Seek.              

She leaned around him, ducking back when she saw the Pool Nazi still present. Getting caught was not an option. She already owed more than she could ever repay.

“Are you okay?” Forest green eyes stared down at her, puzzled. Would he buy that she was simply looking for shade? He was big enough to provide it.

With strong hands, he reached for her shoulders and Meg reflexively batted them away. She got enough of people groping her at work. Scorching curses froze before erupting from her mouth as the hotel manager moved, staring in their direction. Her mind kicked into overdrive, scrambling for a way to hide in plain sight.

“Sorry,” she squeaked. Grabbing the man’s head, she planted her mouth solidly on his. Short, thick strands of hair tickled her fingers. Firm lips yielded no resistance to the increased pressure of her mouth. Better make this look good.

An electric current skittered over her skin causing her heart to race. Maybe too good? Slowly he pulled her closer with his muscular arms. Her eyes flew open and she broke the connection. His hair-covered chest was too close for comfort. And much too tempting. Distance, she needed distance.

Her eyes darted around, seeing no signs of the manager. A sigh escaped. Time to make her exit as well.

“Sorry,” she mumbled again, looking up. Big mistake. The stranger’s curious eyes captivated her. They were soft and tender and filled with something she could…trust? If she still had any of that left in her. His hands were gentle as they held her. A tiny smile played about the full lips she’d brazenly kissed. She couldn’t believe she’d done it. Her mother would be appalled. But it had worked.

The chlorine scent from the pool faded into the background as sweat and suntan lotion wafted off the man’s damp skin. Her stomach did cartwheels followed by a few back flips. Dangerous.

“Let me go,” she hissed as reality returned. She gave a swift shove at his well-defined pectorals, rushing to get past, to escape from this distraction and the possibility of being caught. Her head whipped around at the sound of a splash and water droplets from behind. Gorgeous was just breaking the surface of the pool. Had she pushed him that hard?

“Oops.” No time for apologies. He looked like the forgiving type. She had to blow this joint before the Pool Nazi came back. Grabbing her fallen sarong, she ran across the deck to hustle inside the luxury hotel.

“Damn.”

The manager stood sentry near the front door. A crowd appeared at her back making that way impossible. The stairwell to the left would have to do. She’d go up a few floors then down to the side entrance. She wrapped her sarong around her as she carried out her plan to avoid being seen…and caught.

Meg should stop coming here to use the pool: this proved it. Sneaking in was adding to her already hellish life but swimming always helped work out the stress and the pool here was more accessible than any other on the strip. Pretending she had money to stay in a place like this, rubbing elbows with all the beautiful people, yeah, that got her through too. She’d learned the best times to come and not be seen. Well, for the most part. It was well worth the risk to get away from her dump of a room and its enchanting neighborhood. She’d leave this all behind her soon. She kept telling herself that. Had to believe it for her own sanity.

Footsteps behind her pushed those thoughts away. Her bare feet padded silently along the lushly carpeted hallway. Heart racing, she ducked into the ice machine alcove, her sigh echoing in the silence. She glanced down. Her bag? She must have dropped it as she rushed off. How had she not realized? It couldn’t have been the threat of being arrested. Or the crooked smile of the handsome stranger she’d kissed. The one with the kind eyes and gentle hands. No, she couldn’t allow herself to be led astray by a pretty face. Not again.

She continued down the hall, her trip cut short when someone grabbed her by the arm and spun her around.

* * * *

Links to all pre-order retailers can be accessed on the Kensington site

http://www.ekensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/34406

For more information on Kari Lemor or her Love on the Line series from Kensington Lyrical Underground, follow her on social media:

http://www.karilemor.com/

http://www.facebook.com/Karilemorauthor/

http://twitter.com/karilemor

http://www.pinterest.com/karilemor/

From the ashes

It's been a hard past few months. Burnout on multiple fronts left me reeling and I'm only just starting to pull myself back together. Fortunately, the love and care of many incredible people has helped get me on my feet and put my head back where it needs to be ... my stories.

Yeah, if you thought I was going to say my other job, you'd be a smidge incorrect. But I'm finally accepting that it's okay to feel that way; it won't make me perform any worse to understand that I'm working toward a bigger goal.

Speaking of which ... [insert poor segue to shameless self-promo here]

First is coming out on January 15th!!! [unleash kazoo fanfare here]

This duology was a bit like Jekyll and Hyde. Dally and Cat's story came together easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy while Jake and Maya's ... did not.

Regardless, it's out in the world with ARC reviewers and I'm mostly thrilled that this strange little story is meeting with some kind comments and constructive criticism.

To celebrate my return to the land of the living writers, I've put together some of my favorite moments from the story into these little pics to share with all of you.

Thank you all for your support, even though I'm horrible at updating this blog, and know that I'm still getting those stories down.

Guest Author: Stefanie London

I was fortunate to meet Stefanie through the Harlequin forums and was not at all surprised when she landed a contract with the Harlequin KISS line. This lady knows how to write! Her debut novel Only the Brave Try Ballet is fantastic and I'm pleased as punch that she was able to stop by and share a bit about what being a writer means to her.

I've always wanted to be a writer. It sounds so cliche, but it's true! I took as many English subjects in high school as were available, and I crammed a for English Lit subjects into my Bachelor of Business. I claim this was a move to protect my sanity from the accounting and economic subjects that were part of the core curriculum.

Writing a book is no easy task. It takes hours and hours of work, it eats into your social life and it keeps you awake into the wee hours of the morning. But writers have this drive that surpasses the need to keep a clean house or the need to get adequate sleep. 

Here are five signs that you've got a writer's mind:

1. You constantly think 'what if'...' and follow the thread of thought until a scenario builds in your mind

2. You lay awake at night thinking about imaginary things

3. You listen in to conversations on the train/in the office kitchen/at cafes and make up histories for the people talking

4. You hear voices (and they don't tell you to kill people...or maybe they do?)

5. You get invested in characters (whether they're from TV, movies, books etc) and you wonder about them past the conclusion of the series/show/book. 

If you've always wanted to write, if you've wondered why you imagine strange things, if you love telling stories then put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. You never know where it might take you.

Only The Brave Try Ballet:

Step up, Grant Farley…not your typical ballet student!

Football pro Grant Farley is nursing an injury and needs to get back into shape—fast. Ballet wouldn’t be his first or even his last choice, but he’s desperate. Enter tantalizingly prim teacher Jasmine Bell—one disapproving arch of her eyebrow and Grant knows he’ll enjoy getting her tutu in a flutter!

But it’s not only Grant’s flexibility that Jasmine’s pushing to the limit! He knows she feels the heat between them, so why won’t she give in to it? Time to convince Jasmine that if she’s brave enough to dance en pointe she can certainly handle a fling with him!

Purchase from: Amazon (US | UK | CA | Aus), Harlequin Mills & Boon (US | UK | Aus)

Excerpt:

‘Once more from the top.’

As the music started he followed her lead, bending with his feet in first position. The teacher in her couldn’t ignore the fault of his technique, as he bent his hips moved out of alignment and his feet rolled inwards. She instinctively reached out to correct the error but retracted her hand when her brain kicked into gear.

‘I don’t bite.’

His wolfish grin seemed at odds with the promise of safety, but Jasmine wasn’t going to let some arrogant joker mess with her head. Shewas the teacher; she was the one in charge here.

‘You need to keep your hips steady.’ She stepped forward and placed a hand on each hip. His muscles were tight and flame-hot beneath her palms. He bent down into plié once more and she guided him, ignoring the frisson of electricity that shot through her.

‘Make sure your core is pulled in. It will increase balance and stop you rocking forward.’

‘Like this?’ He grabbed her hand and placed her palm against his stomach. She could feel the ripple of each muscle through his T-shirt. His sports tights moulded every curve of his muscle, every bulge…

Jasmine gulped, her blood pounding as though she’d run a marathon. Get it together.

‘Yes, like that.’ She withdrew her hand, the heat of him still burning her fingertips.

She was going to strangle Elise, her soon to be former best friend, for roping her into this disaster waiting to happen. She was going to—

‘Earth to Bun-Head.’ Grant waved a hand in front of her face, chuckling when she returned her focus to him. ‘I don’t see how this is helping my hamstring. Shouldn’t we be stretching or something? We need to speed up this flexibility thing. I’ve got an important game coming up.’

He shook his leg and rubbed at the muscle.

‘Flexibility is a slow process. You can’t turn up to one ballet lesson and expect to be a contortionist. It takes time.’

‘I’d settle for being injury-free,’ he replied. ‘But if you want to show me how you can put your ankles behind your head then be my guest.’

‘This is not Cirque du Soleil.’ Jasmine bit each word out through gritted teeth.

Stefanie London

Sparkling, contemporary romances with a pinch of spice

ONLY THE BRAVE TRY BALLET (Harlequin KISS) - now available

| Website | Twitter | Good Reads | Facebook |

Guest Author: JM Bray

I am a lucky gal. Why? you ask. Well, despite his crazy busy schedule celebrating the release of Mending the Shroud (the second in the Shroud trilogy), author JM Bray dropped in with me to chat about his books, his writing process, and the 1980s. 

Let the interview begin!

You've mentioned in the past that your inspiration sometimes comes from dreams. How often does this happen?

Great question. Not as often as I’d like, and usually a ton come at the wrong time. Most often the dream ideas come when I’ve let a story idea stew for a while, and the pressure of it wanting out builds. Unfortunately, that usually happens while I’m working on another piece. I’ve finished the first draft of Shrouded (book three) and am editing a first pass so I can send it to critique partners. To stay focused, I don’t let myself write another story. Of course that’s exactly when the new novel starts waking me up with ideas via dreams. I’ll have about 4-5 day where it happens repeatedly, then nothing for a couple of weeks. It’s sort of an all or nothing kind of thing


Speaking of all or nothing, you've been working on the novels from the Shroud trilogy with great diligence. Since it's set in a different time period and features fantastical elements, did you have to do any research? 

Gobs! 

What kind? 

Whew...that could go a lot of ways. Here’s a few examples:

• Astronomical: I needed to know how often Jupiter aligned with the Pleiades constellation and was visible on moonless nights. That’s 11.8 years by the way.
• Location: If someone were going to commit suicide from the Coronado Bridge in San Diego, what would they see? 
• Spiritual/Personal: How does someone in a same sex relationship, who also is a Christian, align their beliefs with the God of the Bible? I took a swing at a possibility, then interviewed a gay friend and let him read it. He loved the scene.

[Interviewer's Random Note: If you ever need to gather information about South California, you now know the expert. Seriously, this man knows a ton and has connections...]

Okay, so you've earned your research badge...But you're not off the hook yet! In your books you're having to balance a number of characters, from strong heroes to kick-ass heroines. Since you've had to work with both, do you find the male or female perspective easier to write? 

Male.


Why's that?

As a guy, it fits the ‘write what you know” mantra. But I’ve run into interesting situations with this, because I write what I and other male friends would actually say or how we might react. However, readers are used to reading male perspectives written by females and what they believe men are thinking...the two are not necessarily the same. At times I’ve had to adjust the “actual” male perspective to meet the readers “expected” male perspective.

I’d give examples, but the idea is to attract readers, not piss them off. Right?


Right. And, those of you reading this, please note his willingness to compromise, a most valuable trait. 

Okay, JM, it's time for the hard questions now! If you could steal one author superpower from a famous writer, who would you steal from and what power would it be?

The ability to pound out large amounts of quality words each day. My very best day writing, I hit 4k words, but usually it’s around 1K. To have the kinetic power of Steven King and write a seven hundred page manuscript in six months...Oh yeah.


Favorite 80s movie quote...go!

Only one? There are so many good ones. Since I’m limited we have to go with the classic: “Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya! You killed my father! Prepare to die!”


If you had an archnemesis, what would he or she be like?

I’d love to say the Kurgan, from the movie the Highlander. Best villain ever! How can you not love a guy who rattles off lines like he does? Notice how self-controlled I am, not listing them. But actually, since I try to get along with everyone, my archenemies would probably be more like Sean Connery’s character, Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez, a friend who I knew I’d eventually have to defeat.


Ouch! And while facing that enemy, what kind of battles would you two have? 

Sword fights that lasted for half an hour, so we’d have to take a break, have a drink and a laugh or two, then go back at it.


Of course, you would win said battle. Excellent job answering in that speed round!

Before we finish up here, let me pick your brain one last time. With book 2 of 3 complete and that final third story going through revisions and edits, have you thought about the projects that are sitting in your To Be Written pile?

Two are currently waking me up. One is a time travel story, that involves the post office Dead Letter Department, a woman motorcycle racer in 1930, the election of FDR, Randolf Hearst plus a lot more.

The second is about a guy who’s been alive for the past two thousand years, but isn’t a vampire. It starts in the first century near Jerusalem and includes chases on camel-back, sea battles, shipwrecks and sibyls.

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by and chat, JM!

If you have any other questions for JM Bray, feel free to ask here, or stop by his Twitter (@jmbraybooks) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/JMBray.books) account.

Moon Dance

Every author I know has scenes that they eventually cut from the story for one reason or another. When I finished Red Moon and began work on Blood Moon, one of the scenes I left behind also happened to be one of my favorites: Flynn and Evie's wedding.

Fortunately, Blood Moon's release and Escape Publishing's incredible support has granted me an opportunity for this short to see the light of day. If you pre-order Blood Moon during the month of July, I will be sending you an exclusive PDF copy of the short story Moon Dance (The Sinclair Pack #1.5). Just direct message me through my Facebook page or my website, including your order confirmation number and the email you'd like the story mailed to, and I will add you to the list. PDFs will be sent out July 25th; if you pre-order after that date, I will send you the PDF when I receive your information.

I can't wait to share this story with you and have you experience that special moment in Flynn and Evie's lives.

Blood Moon can be preordered at the following sites:

iTunes

Amazon (Kindle)

Amazon.co.uk (Kindle)

Amazon.com.au (Kindle)

Kobo (read on Desktop, eReaders, Tablets, Kobo, Android and iPhone)

Release Day Celebration: Mending the Shroud

The second in the fresh, exciting romantic fantasy Shroud trilogy takes up where Tearing the Shroud leaves off – with the lives, the loves, and the mythical world beyond our own. 

After accepting bodily possession and saving the world, Vincent thought his life would get easier. He thought wrong.

The Shroud may not have torn wide open, but it did tear a little, and the retribution for the failure is coming hard, fast, and directly at Vincent and the people he loves.

His only hope is to once again accept possession from Coleman and do battle with the deformed, terrifying Kafla. But this time, he's not alone. Jule, the woman he loves and hopes to marry, is possessed as well, and together the four of them become a formidable team.

Together they hope to stave off the invasion and take the fight to the Realm, but only a supreme sacrifice can mend the Shroud and save both their lives and their worlds.

Mending the Shroud Links

Goodreads - Amazon - AmazonAU - iBooks - B&N (coming soon!)

About the Author

J.M. Bray lives in Southern California with his college sweetheart and their two dogs. After a lifetime together, they are happier than the moment they met. When not writing or working his "day job", he loves to cook, play the guitar, and travel with his wife. Every chance he gets, he races an old Porsche named "Tuffy" at tracks in the southwest.


Connect with JM
Twitter: @jmbraybooks
Email: jmbray@jmbray.com
Website: www.jmbray.com
Blog: http://blog.jmbray.com
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/JMBray.books
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jmbraybooks/

Cover Reveal: Blood Moon

It's finally here. Final edits and proofreadings are done, the blurb is official, and the cover of Blood Moon made me cry when I got it.

This story was one of the hardest I've ever written. Several times I nearly gave up (props to my husband for telling me to sit my butt in the chair and finish it). But seeing the cover made all that pain worth it.

The sequel to the critically acclaimed Red Moon, about a playboy werewolf, his shy roommate, the ties that bind, and a battle for true love.

Dana Patterson never regretted the simplicity of her life in Alaska until she moved in with playboy Connor Sinclair. On the surface, Connor is the darkly seductive owner of Vegas’s hottest new casino. But in private, she gets to see a vulnerable side that no one else knows about—and the combination makes him a temptation she isn’t willing to resist any longer.

After Connor openly sides with his brother Flynn in the battle against their unstable lycanthrope father, protecting family and friends becomes a necessity. Having Dana move in with him was the chivalrous decision; sharing his bed with her was not. Dana may think Connor’s everything she’s ever wanted, but his scars run deep, and he can’t bear the thought of hurting her.

But war changes everything – and exposes dark secrets. As Rupert’s true plans come to light, Connor must decide whether he is truly the monster his father created, or the man Dana knows is hidden within the beast.

Available August 1st from Escape Publishing

Mending the Shroud Cover Reveal!

The exciting sequel to Tearing the Shroud is coming July 1, 2014 and here's the cover! Once again Escape Publishing did an amazing job on the artwork and tying the two books together visually. JM is hard at work on the third book, so keep a lookout for it.

When you’ve learned to take possession in stride, love should be easy. Right? It might be if your life and the lives of people you loved weren’t threatened by an invasion of monsters.

Vincent thought saving the world once was a challenge, he didn’t figure on retribution putting a price on his head. It means college takes a back seat again as he’s possessed by Coleman to fight a new battle with the Kafla. But this time he’s not alone, Jule, the woman he loves is also is possessed.

Together they hope to stave off the invasion and take the fight to the Realm, where only a supreme sacrifice can Mend the Shroud and save their worlds.

About the Author

J.M. Bray lives in Southern California with his college sweetheart and their two dogs. After a lifetime together, they are happier than the moment they met. 
When not writing or working his "day job", he loves to cook, play the guitar, and travel with his wife. Every chance he gets, he races an old Porsche named "Tuffy" at tracks in the southwest.

 Buy book one, Tearing the Shroud 

Twitter: @jmbraybooks

Email: jmbray@jmbray.com

Website: www.jmbray.com

Blog: http://blog.jmbray.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/JMBray.books

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jmbraybooks/

Now landing...Lace & Lead

Lace & Lead is available today and I'm so excited to share this story with you! I know I've talked about the way this story came together in earlier posts on this blog, but I'm still shocked that this story is now in print. So if you're waiting for Connor's story to come out, try this little story for a change of pace. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Breathtaking action, startling originality and polished story-telling combine in this futuristic Sci-Fi novella about a rough mercenary, a pampered daughter, and the lies they both believe. 

Blue-blood Emmaline Gregson survived one of the most brutal mining accidents ever recorded in the Republic, but she's never been in a firefight. So when unknown assailants circle the family estate, the only man she can rely on is Peirce Taggart. A former Lawman turned mercenary, Peirce has a simple job: protect Emmaline until her father can collect her and sell her to sex trafficker Richard Stone to pay off his debts. But when Arthur Gregson tries to cheat his way out of the contract, Emmaline seizes the opportunity to hire Peirce for herself, regardless of how crude, dangerous, or appealing he may be. Given the chance for redemption, he promises to help her escape both her father and Stone. But Peirce soon realises that hiding her in his apartment until the storm has passed may be more dangerous than looking down the barrel of a gun...

Purchase Links:

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lace-lead-novella/id712018036?mt=11

Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Lace-Lead-novella-ebook/dp/B00FB3MWN4

Amazon.co.uk (Kindle): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lace-Lead-novella-ebook/dp/B00FB3MWN4

Kobo (read on Desktop, eReaders, Tablets, Kobo, Android and iPhone): http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/lace-lead-novella

Barnes & Noble (Nook): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lace-lead-ma-grant/1117036865

ebooks.com: http://www.ebooks.com/1438039/lace-lead-novella/grant-m-a/

JB Hi-Fi Now Books: https://books.jbhifi.com.au/Book/356663

Release Day

Red Moon is available at these retailers:

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/red-moon/id667240283?mt=11

Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Red-Moon-ebook/dp/B00DNMRWR6/

Amazon.co.uk (Kindle): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Moon-ebook/dp/B00DNMRWR6/

Barnes & Noble (Nook): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-moon-ma-grant/1115951451?ean=9780857990655

ebooks.com: http://www.ebooks.com/1224591/red-moon/grant-m-a/

Kobo (read on Desktop, eReaders, Tablets, Kobo, Android and iPhone): http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Red-Moon/book-TQB1RS4S9kqVLDFP_f3J3w/page1.html?s=N0r_aJMp00yxV2OHNAKWhg&r=1

JB Hi-Fi Now Books: https://books.jbhifi.com.au/Book/307021

Booktopia.com.au: http://www.booktopia.com.au/ebooks/red-moon-m-a-grant/prod9780857990655.html;jsessionid=FC38CE7530041C21B30500226C11F270

Collins Booksellers: http://collinsbooks.com.au/book/Red-Moon/9780857990655

My deepest thanks

In each book, authors get the chance to put in acknowledgements and dedications. And I'm not going to lie, since Red Moon was my first book, I was so overwhelmed by the prospect of those two necessities that I deliberately underwrote them. I never imagined I'd ever have to write them in the first place.

But now that the book is released, I feel like it's even more important to thank those who have helped me on my journey.

To Angie and The Book Seller - Angie first introduced me to romances, a la One For the Money by Janet Evanovich. When I wrote a (woefully inadequate) first novel for my senior project in high school, Angie read it, supported me, and gave me courage that maybe someday I'd be a real writer. The Book Seller is an independent bookstore in Grass Valley, California, and they are still alive and kicking in this era of ebooks. I adore this store, their staff, and try to support them whenever I can, even from Alaska. Their website and Facebook pages can show you their support of literature far better than I ever could.

To Robyn Rychards - I owe this woman big-time. Robyn (also an Escape Artist) urged me to submit Red Moon to Escape after my first official rejection. She's been a voice of wisdom and humor on the Harlequin online community boards, and her gentle refusal to let me off the hook is a large part of the reason I'm here today.

To the Harlequin online community members - I know I thanked them in my acknowledgements, but they deserve another shout-out. I joined this community during last year's SYTYCW, terrified at that first step. I have learned so much from these women (and some of our men who pop in from time to time!) about crafting novels, supporting each other in good and bad times, and expanding my horizons to a variety of different romance genres. I am convinced that someday I will see all their names in print.

To Miguel Tejada-Flores - He was my screenwriting professor in college. He forced me to learn how to write dialogue. He helped me break down my screenplays to critical moments of body language and dialogue. From him, I learned that description isn't everything, a huge problem I'd had writing novels in the past. He had crazy long discussions with me about all sorts of random shit. And he taught me how to use the word fuck. And I'm fucking grateful that that barrier was crossed.

To my other college professors - College was a huge rebirth for me. I was far from home, obsessed with obtaining the same perfect grades I had in high school (after all, if you don't do it right the first time, why do it at all?), and I didn't really fit in with many of the other college kids because I was focused on my goals. Oh, and I didn't party. My professors became my lifeline. They pushed me past my comfort zone, exposed me to new information, new authors, new writing styles, new beliefs. They never pulled punches with me. They treated me as an adult, and I reveled in that. Coach Smith took my love of football seriously. Professor Snyder discussed religion and spirituality with me, a topic that always seems to weave its way into my writing. Professor Kernberger helped me love English literature and introduced me to Marie, a beautiful soul who yearned for the immortality the arts can provide. Professor Runciman helped me love poetry again. Professor Seidman taught me to never be ashamed of who I am. I cannot thank them enough for their influences.

To my teachers - For pushing me. For letting me read books under my desk in class. For never once telling me that I couldn't be whatever I wanted. Even if that meant you read stories that were 25 pages, handwritten, single spaced, instead of the 1 you requested.

To my family - I will never be able to express my thanks to them enough. They've always given me unconditional love. They always will. Life has few constants, but they're one of mine. God has blessed me more than I will ever deserve.

To the Escape Publishing staff - These people are awesome. Kate, Julia, Lilia, Adam, Robert, and everyone else who I haven't met yet but probably will because of my inane questions and random freak-outs have made the journey to publication easier than I ever dreamed it would be. There was no stress during this journey, just excitement. When I say that I'm celebrating my release day, I genuinely mean that, and they're the reason why.

To any readers (past, present, or future) - Thank you for your kindness and support. It's terrifying to put a little piece of your soul out there, but knowing that there are gentle hands waiting to catch it makes the prospect a little less terrifying.

To God - I am blessed, I am blessed, and I pray for humility. Matthew 16:26 - For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?


I'm sure I'm forgetting people who deserve to be on this list. I hope they'll forgive me until I remember and thank them too.

The swag is here!

Well, here's the official bookmark design!

Red Moon Release Day Giveaway!

To celebrate Red Moon's release, jump into this giveaway, which will run from July 25th until August 2nd. There's some swag available, so don't hesitate!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Swag, oh official swag

It's real now. I just made bookmarks for my release.

I now have SWAG.

Like a pirate. Or a gangster. Or hipster. Or whatever has swag these days...

Rack Cards by Vistaprint