Summer Shenanigans

This summer has been very busy for me, and it's about to get busier.

I'm leaving for the RWA conference this Wednesday, and I'm proud to say I'll be signing at the epic "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing event at the Anaheim Convention Center. It's free and open to the public, so if you live in the area come stop by and get some great books signed by some great authors. There's like 400 authors signing! Can you say nervous? (I'm beyond nervous.)

As soon as I get back from RWA, I'll be moving into a new home. Yay! (Don't even get me started on all the "stuff" that goes along with moving.)

I also have not one, but TWO sequels to write. And a short story. All while keeping up with emails and tweets and Facebook messages. Oh, and all those other tedious tasks that go along with living a semi-normal life.

So, my blog will be very quiet for the next month or two. I'm sure most of you understand and wrestle with the same stress, pressure, and responsibilities, so I won't ramble anymore. I need to get back to writing. These books don't write themselves.

Have a wonderful summer!

COVERS BY ALEXANDRA

My good friend, Alexandra, just launched her new cover design website. Go check it out and look at all the cool/pretty/awesome covers she created. She has pre-made covers available or she can do a custom design for you.If you need a book cover, she's your girl. Her prices are more than reasonable and she's easy to work with. I know because she was the cover artist for Grasping at Eternity. Here's a fun post about she created my cover.

She will also be doing the covers for the rest of The Kindrily series, and I can't wait to share them because they look amazing in my mind, and Alexandra knows how to make my vision a reality.

She has already been contracted to do a cover for a well-known publisher, so I know it's a sign of many more to come. I suggest hiring her before she becomes huge and famous.

If you have a second, please "like" her Facebook page.
And be sure to check out her website!

INDIEpendence Fest--and giveaway!

Happy INDIEpendence week!

This INDIEpendence day, I'd part of a pay-it-forward blog fest to celebrate indie authors (self-published and small-press) as a whole by holding up examples of outstanding indie works. By highlighting and bringing greater awareness to quality indie books, people find great books to read, indie authors get support, and we continue to change hearts and minds about the gems that can be found among self-published and small-press novels.

One of my favorite and most recent finds is INHALE by Kendall Grey.

I am in LOVE with the Just Breathe series. Like, so in love that I doodle "I ♥ Gavin" on napkins, scrap paper, my bedroom walls, and I'm considering getting a tattoo. (Okay, not really, but OMG Gavin is beyond swoonworthy.)

Now, I must warn you that this is NOT a young adult book. This is most definitely a read for those 18 years and older due to lots of F-bombs and sexual content. The steamy sex scenes fog up the windows in my house when I read. And I'm not even a fan of bad language, but if the language is authentic to the stories and the characters then I'm fine with it. And I am more than fine with any and everything about this series.

Here's a summary of book 1, INHALE:

Strangers in reality, inseparable in dreams…

After years of suffocating under her boss’s scrutiny, whale biologist Zoe Morgan finally lands a job as director of a tagging project in Hervey Bay, Australia. Success Down Under all but guarantees her the promotion of a lifetime, and Zoe won’t let anything—or anyone—stand in her way. Not the whale voices she suddenly hears in her head, not the ex who won’t take no for an answer, and especially not the gorgeous figment of her imagination who keeps saving her from the fiery hell of her dreams.

Gavin Cassidy hasn’t been called to help a human Wyldling in over a year, which is fine by him. Still blaming himself for the death of his partner, he keeps the guilt at bay by indulging in every excess his rock star persona affords. That is, until he’s summoned to protect Zoe from hungry Fyre Elementals and learns his new charge is the key to restoring order in the dying Dreaming. He never expects to fall for the feisty Dr. Morgan…nor does he realize he may have to sacrifice the woman he loves to save an entire country.

What piqued your interest? Australia? Whales? Rock star? Elementals? The Dreaming?
ALL OF THE ABOVE? Because it should. This series is blowing my mind. Book 2, EXHALE, is also available and I love that book too. Book 3, JUST BREATHE, will be available soon, and I can't wait.

I'm a total fangirl of Kendall Grey, and nope, I didn't know her before stumbled upon her books. She was kind enough to accept my invitation to be my choice for the INDIEpendence event, AND she was awesome by offering not one but TWO giveaways for this event.

Kendall is offering a signed paperback ARC of INHALE to one lucky winner. Another lucky winner will receive eBooks of INHALE and EXHALE.

So, do you want to read INHALE? Because you TOTALLY should.

All you have to do to enter is be a follower of my blog, comment below with your email address, and tell me why you want to read INHALE. (You must be 18 years or older to enter.) All qualifying entries will be put into a pool and two random winners will be chosen this weekend. You have until Thursday, July5th at 11:59pm to enter. Open internationally.

Want to stalk Kendall? She is a HOOT to follow, so I highly recommend you become a fan of hers too. Check her out at any and all of the following places:

Just Breathe Novels

Facebook

Despicable Tweets
Goodreads

Sign up for Kendall's newsletter

Want to check out the rest of the INDIEpendence day picks? Go to the Indelibles blog and checkout the list of participants with links to their post.

UPDATE: Winners of the giveaway were Roxy Kade and Cherie Reich. Congratulations, ladies! Thanks so much to everyone who entered.