MY COVER REVEAL FOR DANGEROUS DEPTHS

Ready to see the cover of DANGEROUS DEPTHS? Here it is...

Isn't it fintastic? 

It was created by the same fabulous designer who created the TANGLED TIDES cover, Melissa Williams.

Book 2 of The Sea Monster Memoirs will be releasing a little bit earlier than originally announced. The new release date is November 20th, 2013. Only a couple months away!

Some of you may have read my post about Rhemalda Publishing going out of business, and while I'm very sad about losing them as the publishers of my sea creature books, the series will continue. However, I'll be making some minor changes to TANGLED TIDES and releasing the "second edition" this winter, so that means the Rhemalda first edition will be a collector's item. (You'll probably never sell it for much on Ebay, but at least it will have sentimental value.)

To celebrate the beautiful DANGEROUS DEPTHS cover, I'm giving a way a signed paperback of the first edition. The winner will also receive an ebook of DANGEROUS DEPTHS the day it releases. 

Enter here: 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Some readers were surprised to hear there's a sequel to TANGLED TIDES. Some believed I wrapped up the story nice and neatly, so what could book 2 be about? Well, things didn't end as happily as Yara and Treygan thought. Check it out:

Hell hath no fury like a selkie separated from his true love.

The gate to the sea creature realm is finally open. Rownan assumes the worst is behind him when he returns home after years of waiting to be reunited with his wife, Vienna. Only to find out that Vienna didn’t wait for him. She traveled to the evil realm of Harte years ago, hoping the legend of another gateway to Earth’s realm was real, but she was never heard from again. Rownan claimed he’d go through hell to be with Vienna, and now he must prove it.

Yara wanted to bask in the glow of her happily ever after in the magical realm of Rathe. She planned to explore Medusa and Poseidon’s world and dive deeper into her relationship with Treygan, but as the new leader of Rathe, her powers are needed to save more than one member of her own kind. Treygan vowed to always be Yara’s guardian, but long ago he also swore to go any lengths to protect his brother Rownan. Now, he must fulfill his promise to both of them.

Rownan, Yara, and Treygan are about to put their lives and souls at risk by traveling to the most dangerous realm of the worlds. Love should conquer all, but no one has ever conquered Harte. 

Add DANGEROUS DEPTHS on Goodreads

Huge thank you to Melissa Williams on her magical and fabulous work. 

And many thanks to all the readers and supporters of my books. 

My gratitude is deeper than the oceans.

GOOD BYES AREN'T EASY

"Good bye may seem forever. Farewell is like the end, but in my heart is the memory and there you will always be." ~Walt Disney

Rhemalda Publishing gave me my start in this wild and amazing world of books. They loved and believed in my story, Tangled Tides, when no other agent or publisher did. They even looked past its hideous original title, A Motley Mermaid. *hangs head in shame*

I still remember being at the RWA conference in NYC and receiving the call from Emmaline at Rhemalda. She said they loved my mermaid story and wanted to discuss whether we'd be a good fit for each other. Turns out we were a great fit.

They were a new publisher. I was a debut author. We took a chance on each other. And I'm so grateful that we did. I have had a wonderful ride with Rhemalda. Yes, there was a bump or two here and there, but that's the way the publishing business works. (If there are no bumps along the way, you're not working hard enough.)

As some of you know, I chose to self-publish my Kindrily series. What you might not know is that I respected Rhemalda so much that I discussed my plans with them beforehand. I explained I wasn't self-publishing my other series because I was unhappy with them--I was very happy with them. I simply wanted Grasping at Eternity published yesterday, instead of waiting a year or more for the traditional publishing process. (Patience has never been my strongest virtue.) I basically asked Rhemalda for their blessing. Being the wonderful people they are, they wholeheartedly gave their approval and support. And have continued to do so ever since.

Me and my sea creatures planned on swimming along with Rhemalda for the long haul. The Sea Monster Memoirs series was their baby as much as it was mine, and I planned to submit every sea peep book to them and only them. Dangerous Depths, the sequel to Tangled Tides, was accepted and scheduled for release on December 1, 2013.

Cover design started. I've been working on edits and revisions. And then...

And then, an email arrived. A phone call occurred. A couple tears were shed (at least on my part). Wine and too much chocolate was consumed. Rhemalda is closing their doors for business.

I'm breaking up with someone(s) I love, and I don't want to break up. Worse, those someones are going through a challenging time personally with family health concerns.*sad sigh*

The publishing business is difficult nowadays. The big 6 has become the big 5. Small presses are going out of business left and right. Why? Because the system is broken. I could write a whole blog post about how messed up the book return system is and how publishers lose money left and right. How impossible it is to make a profit based on more than a dozen constantly changing factors. But plenty of people have posted about that stuff.

I'm here to tell you that I'm sad to be losing Rhemalda as the publisher of my sea creature stories. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I wish I had won Powerball so I could give them a million dollars and tell them to keep doing what they love--publishing books--and not worry about profits.

But I have never won Powerball, so like all the Rhemalda authors, I have to say goodbye. This scene from Fox and The Hound pretty much reflects how I feel. I'm Todd. Rhemalda is Widow Tweed.

Yes, I'm going to be fine. Yes, I've been set free. But we had so many great memories together. What happens now?

Thankfully, and respectfully, as always, Rhemalda is doing all they can to look out for their authors. They are NOT filing bankruptcy, so all rights will revert back to authors without being held up by legal proceedings. Royalties will still be paid. They are answering any and all questions by phone, Skype, or email, and doing everything possible to guide authors to the best next step for them and their career.

In today's world of increasingly popular "every man for himself" business practices, Rhemalda is demonstrating a lot of class, dignity, and love for what they do, even as they have to close their doors. That's respectable and admirable. I'm honored to have been part of such a stand-up organization, and associated with such talented and kind-hearted people.

I consider myself lucky. I have fond memories. I have a beautiful debut novel that I'm proud of. I learned so much about this business from Rhemalda and my experiences with them. And, the best part, I've met some amazing people along the way. Rhemalda the publishing company is dissolving, but the people are not. Those people will remain in my heart forever.

Now, what's this news mean for my books? Dangerous Depths is still on track to release this winter. Possibly mid-November instead of the original Dec 1st date. Tangled Tides (the first edition) is still available and will continue to be until I release the "second edition" under my Starry Sky Publishing name. To those who have a copy of the Rhemalda version, hang onto them. They will soon be a collector's item. ;)

Dangerous Depths has the same fabulous cover designer who created the Tangled Tides cover, and the same incredible editor. Rhemalda made sure they left me and my sequel in good hands. Again, I'm grateful to them for that and everything else they've done for me.

I would have loved for Rhemalda to thrive and continue publishing my books (and so many others) forever, but as Big Mama from Fox and The Hound says:

"Darlin, forever is a long, long time, and time has a way of changing things."

She's right. We authors have to roll with the changes of this ever-morphing book business. I'm rolling with this big change with a heavy but hopeful heart.

To my beloved readers, I hope you'll keep rolling along with me.
And to Rhemalda, thank you. For everything and then some. I will never forget where I came from.

GONE WILD debut NA novel by an AWESOME author

My dear friend and writing partner is releasing her debut NA novel today!

*throws confetti*

*pops champagne*

GONE WILD is a sexy romantic, bit of a thriller, fabulous new adult story that makes you experience all the emotions. I laughed, I swooned, I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room at one point, I bit my nails, I smiled again, and so on. It's the sort of story I lovvvvvvvvvvvvvve.

Go buy it! Not only will you get a great read, you'll be supporting a super duper person pursue her dream. And let me tell you, this chick has more than earned having one of her books debut into the world. I have loved every manuscript she has written and I'm so so proud of her.

Here's all the fun stuff....

 

Buy on Amazon 

Buy on Barnes & Noble

And YAY for contests! Win an ebook and/or an Amazon gift card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal! -- THE ONLY ONE by Magan Vernon

***The companion novel to The Only Exception. This is NOT a sequel, but takes place two weeks after Monica and Trey's debate and is Melanie's story.***

Honor student, manager at the campus coffee shop, owner of an impressive sweater collection – Melanie Wilder has it all together. Then John “John Boy” Walden strolls into her life wearing nothing more than an impish grin and all-too-revealing loin cloth.

Soon, make-out sessions replace homework, lust triumphs over work. And to further crumble her perfect world, an unexpected phone call threatens to take away everything she’s worked for.

Now, as Melanie struggles to pick up the pieces, she realizes that John may be the only one to put her life back together…unless he shatters it first.

And the full wrap

You can add it to your GoodReads NOW. But I'm guessing you need more convincing? Okay, how about a teaser of the first chapter?

I looked around the basement, sipping whatever concoction some guy poured out of a cooler. He called it a ‘magic potion’ and I hoped that didn’t mean he rufied it. I don’t know how Monica talked me into this.

A horde of girls clad in nothing more than lingerie pushed past me as if I were nothing more than another one of the paddles on the paneled wall. I tried to steer away from them, but then I came face to chest with a set of abs and felt all of the magic potion cascade down my cardigan.

I gasped once the cold liquid soaked through both layers and hit my skin.

“Too bad, that was such a nice sweater…” a deep voice said.

I looked up, all the way past the chiseled six pack to cool blue eyes. “Maybe you should just take it off up in my room and I can help you dry off.” He leaned in, his full lips right on my ear. “Or make you wetter.”

My breath caught in my throat, rendering me speechless. Luckily my best friend Monica jumped between us, pushing the guy back so I got a full view of him and realized he was only wearing a loincloth and a large smile.

"Down John Boy." She scowled at him and then turned to me, almost knocking her beret off. "What the hell happened to you?"

"I-I-I spilled my drink."

Monica's eyes narrowed as she looked down at the red liquid soaking through my gray sweater. She whipped her head around to the loincloth clad guy. "Was this your fault? Are you trying to get my friend naked?"

He held up his hands, a cockeyed grin on his face. "Purely an accident, Lib."

Ah, now I knew where I’d seen him before. He had come into the coffee shop we worked at a few times. I don’t think he even glanced in my direction more than to hand me his student ID to pay, but was always calling Monica ‘Lib.’ I’m guessing because she was an extreme liberal.

Monica's boyfriend, the governor's son Trey Chapman, pushed through the crowd. When I usually saw him he was polished in dress pants and a dress shirt, but his Halloween costume was nothing more than a pair of American flag boxers, a dress shirt, and some gray hairspray. He looked ridiculous. I still don't know how Monica talked him into the Clinton and Lewinsky couples costumes.

"Hey, I’ve been looking for you." He slipped his arm around Monica's waist. "What's going on here?"

"Your big brother here spilled a drink on Melanie to try and get her naked."

"Hey!" John Boy yelled.

"It wasn't his fault," I piped in. "It’s crowded here and he ran into me. It’s fine."

"Fine?" Monica raised her eyebrows. "That Hermione costume you've been wearing since middle school is covered in ever clear and Kool aid. That’s not fine."

"I haven't worn this since middle school!" Okay, truth was, it was my go-to costume. I bought it for the first movie's midnight showing and wore it for every movie opening and Halloween since.

"Whatever." Monica turned her head to Trey and tugged on his shirt. "You can just wear Trey's shirt."

About The Author

Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. When not writing she spends her time fighting over fake boyfriends via social media. You can find her online at www.maganvernon.com. 

INDIE-CREDIBLE Sign up NOW

Dear Beloved Bloggers,
Have you signed up for the Indie-Credible event yet? Time is running out!

This event is inspired and modeled after the fantastic Authors Are Rockstars Tour. They got to be so big, that they couldn’t include everyone that wanted to participate, so rockstar bloggers, Shirley and Laura, decided to help out and Indie-Credible Authors was born!

Sign up to host an indie author and help spread the love of books and reading. You can request one of the authors on the list below (I'm on there!) but you might not end up with your first choice so be prepared to maybe get to know a new author. Your post can be an interview, review, vlog, or whatever. The point is to have fun with it. 

Go sign up! You know you want to! All the cool kids are doing it! ;)

You can read more about the event and sign up on Laura or Shirley's blogs...

http://littlereadridinghood.com/indie-credible-tour/

or

http://creativedeeds.wordpress.com/indie-credible-authors-tour/

I'm Rich

As many authors will tell you, it's tough to make a decent income writing--especially in your first few years. Yes, there are some exceptions, but I fall into the majority category and I'm okay with that because I LOVE what I do. For me it's about the journey not the destination.

Money matters aside, as an author, I am rich beyond my wildest dreams. Seriously. Because I have readers (some who I've grown to consider friends) who are absolutely priceless.

Last week, I was in one of those woe is me moods. I had no "great" scenes in my head, I was so behind on emails, interview questions, mailing out books, laundry, and everything else on my To Do list, and my book sales came to a screeching halt. I downward spiraled into one of those "maybe I'm not good enough to ever really make a career out of this" black holes of self-pity and doubt.

I wanted lots and lots of chocolate.

And then I received a package in the mail, so I opened it.
And I cried. Happy tears.
Because a reader, Jennifer Greef, had sent me this...

Jennifer Greeff and I "met" (virtually) when she reviewed Grasping at Eternity on the Once Upon a Twilight blog. Her review was full of so much love for my story that I asked if I could use a few lines for a blurb in the paperback version. The rest is history.
Now, Jennifer is always one of the first to contact me and say, "Your new book is coming out soon. What can I do to help promote it?" And, through all of our emails, ,tweets, and FB messages, she has become a treasured friend. To receive such a beautiful and thoughtful gift from such a kind and beautiful person--and respected reviewer--was worth more to me than all the money in the world.

There is nothing as rewarding as having readers/fans/friends take the time, and go out of their way, to show love and appreciation for the stories I have poured my heart and soul into. It's an indescribable feeling--indescribable even for a writer.

Then, because the universe has a way of really wanting to make itself clear, another amazing reader, Jennifer Madero, tweeted me with artwork she had created.

 

Jennifer and I "met" recently when her friend, Marianne, suggested she read Grasping at Eternity. Jennifer posted a fantastic review complete with hysterical GIFs and we hit it off from there. Jennifer and Marianne run the entertaining book blog, Boricuan Bookworms and again, I was so touched and honored that my stories had inspired something so beautiful from someone so amazing and talented.

My woes and self-doubt temporarily disappeared that day.
I had "made it."
Not because I had made a best seller list, or cashed a big paycheck, but because I received gifts that proved my writing had touched people. That makes me rich.

I have many moments that make me thankful for having the best "job" in the world. Every tweet, FB like or message, every review (yes, sometimes even the negative constructive ones), every heartfelt email I receive (especially those filled with OMGs, hearts, and lots of explanation points) and every "fan" I meet in real life, I'm reminded of how rich I am.

Sure, I'm no famous or legendary author. J.K. Rowling has her own land at Universal Studios, Stephenie Meyer and E.L. James were both declared two of Time magazine's Most Influential People, and Stephen King will always be The King. I can only dream of ever reaching the first wrung on their infinitely tall ladders of success, but...I'm still rich. I've got drawings, gifts, and cards decorating my work space as proof.

And I have my readers to thank for that.
My heart runneth over. As always, thank you times infinity. 

***For those wondering who made the amazing bracelet and how to buy/design your own, visit Nadine at Oh Whimsical Me. She does beautiful work!***