Riley Edgewood's Blog
July 22, 2015
TRUTH & TEMPTATION is here! PLUS a giveaway!
Truth & Temptation is OUT, y'all! I'm so freaking excited, I could dance.
This book.
This book was the hardest thing I've written to date.
This book owns my heart.
**********
She's a liar. He knows the truth.
Teagan Walker gets around. Ask anyone—hell, ask her. She'll own it with a smile. But beneath that smile is a girl whose parents didn't want her. Whose grandparents raised her without affection. Whose struggle with a burning anger threatens to consume her, though she'd rather punch someone in the face than talk about it. With a new job looming, she's determined to work her way into a better life. When she meets the sexiest guy she's ever seen, she decides to kick it off with a bang. And she makes her move.
But he's got moves of his own, and before the night is out, he strips her of way more than she means to reveal—without removing of a single piece of clothing. That comes, too, of course. He's gotten under her skin like nobody before him, and what's the harm in one night with a sexy stranger? Exposed or not, she never has to see him again.
Except she does.
On Monday morning, they come face-to-face. He's the son of her new CEO—and he threatens to bring her entire world crashing down, making her face every lie she's ever told.
Buy it now!! <3
(Amazon | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo)
**********
I've got a celebratory giveaway running for the next month. Lots of ways to participate. Fun things to win! Enter below and feel free to spread the word! (Hell, it'll get you extra entries!) xo
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This book.
This book was the hardest thing I've written to date.
This book owns my heart.
**********
She's a liar. He knows the truth. Teagan Walker gets around. Ask anyone—hell, ask her. She'll own it with a smile. But beneath that smile is a girl whose parents didn't want her. Whose grandparents raised her without affection. Whose struggle with a burning anger threatens to consume her, though she'd rather punch someone in the face than talk about it. With a new job looming, she's determined to work her way into a better life. When she meets the sexiest guy she's ever seen, she decides to kick it off with a bang. And she makes her move.
But he's got moves of his own, and before the night is out, he strips her of way more than she means to reveal—without removing of a single piece of clothing. That comes, too, of course. He's gotten under her skin like nobody before him, and what's the harm in one night with a sexy stranger? Exposed or not, she never has to see him again.
Except she does.
On Monday morning, they come face-to-face. He's the son of her new CEO—and he threatens to bring her entire world crashing down, making her face every lie she's ever told.
Buy it now!! <3
(Amazon | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo)
**********
I've got a celebratory giveaway running for the next month. Lots of ways to participate. Fun things to win! Enter below and feel free to spread the word! (Hell, it'll get you extra entries!) xo
a Rafflecopter giveaway
July 13, 2015
Did you know...?
1. Truth & Temptation comes out in TEN DAYS??? And you can preorder it at Amazon, iBooks, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo??
2. If you preorder it, I'll mail you a signed bookmark?! AND you can enter my preorder giveaway to win a $50 Amazon gift card (and other swag)?
3. You can sign up to help me promote the release on 7/23 through Good Choice Reading??
June 29, 2015
Ready. Set. Write! 2015 {Update 3}
Here we gooooo:
1. How I did on last week's goals:
Get up at 5:30 every weekday to work for a couple hours before the peanut wakes up.
Um, nope. Elodie tried AGAIN to get me up. But, again, I sucked. Here's a sample of what our text messages looked like all week:
Elodie's fucking awesome. I'm the worst texter-backer in the history of the world. (Also hop hop hop is a thing my daughter says/does.)
Continue researching for--and add 1k to--RS.
Not a single word in the WIP this week--but I am cutting myself slack because I added 4-5k in my final revision, which took up all of my spare time.
Marketing setup for Truth & Temptation.
Yes! Made lots of headway here. Set up a few things, like my preorder giveaway, and started a numbered outline of what I have left to do. OH, and I revealed the cover! Isn't she pretty??
Revise Truth & Temptation and send it to my final round of betas.
DONE. And I have notes back from all but one. I'll finish the final revision this week and then it's off to copy edits! (Side note: my betas are the fucking best ever. I'd seriously be lost without them.)
Take my daughter someplace fun!
We went to a toy store we'd never been to before--and it was awesome! Plus, more fun in the backyard with water-type toys :) Then my niece spent the night on Saturday night, so they had a ton of fun playing together!
2. My goals for this week:
A. Get up at 5:30 M-W to work for a couple hours before the peanut wakes up.
B. Continue researching for--and add 1k to--RS.
C. Send Truth & Temptation to my copy editor.
D. Take my daughter someplace fun!
E. GET A TAN. (We've got a shit ton of fun things coming up, including a beach trip! Unfortunately it's to the Outer Banks where there've been, like, SIX shark attacks in the last two weeks. So much for tossing my daughter in the waves.)
F. Keep up with my shakeology goals & working out.
G. Beta read if needed.
3. A favorite line from my story: This is from a new scene added to Truth & Temptation. My heroine's about to face the disapproval of her company's CEO—who also happens to be the father of the guy she's falling in love with.
I start to slide a finger beneath the high neck of my dress—because it's suddenly itching, and I need a bit more room to breathe—but I stop myself because, no. Fuck that. It's rare that I'm grateful for how much practice I have being a bitch, but in this moment, I've never been happier to have the spine I created.
4. Biggest challenge I faced this week:
I had a lot of revision to do. A lot. So my sole focus was on Truth & Temptation instead of my romantic suspense. I miss the RS—and the next two weeks are going to make it hard to focus on it as well. Sigh.
5. Something I love about my WIP
I can't remember, it's been so long since I've looked at it, ha. But at least I love Truth & Temptation more than ever after these rounds of revision. The story was a hard one for me to write, because my heroine's head is not an easy one to be in, but I think I've done her justice—and the notes I've received from betas have been so, so helpful to push it as far as possible.
1. How I did on last week's goals:
Get up at 5:30 every weekday to work for a couple hours before the peanut wakes up.
Um, nope. Elodie tried AGAIN to get me up. But, again, I sucked. Here's a sample of what our text messages looked like all week:
Elodie's fucking awesome. I'm the worst texter-backer in the history of the world. (Also hop hop hop is a thing my daughter says/does.)
Continue researching for--and add 1k to--RS.
Not a single word in the WIP this week--but I am cutting myself slack because I added 4-5k in my final revision, which took up all of my spare time.
Marketing setup for Truth & Temptation.
Yes! Made lots of headway here. Set up a few things, like my preorder giveaway, and started a numbered outline of what I have left to do. OH, and I revealed the cover! Isn't she pretty??
Revise Truth & Temptation and send it to my final round of betas.
DONE. And I have notes back from all but one. I'll finish the final revision this week and then it's off to copy edits! (Side note: my betas are the fucking best ever. I'd seriously be lost without them.)
Take my daughter someplace fun!
We went to a toy store we'd never been to before--and it was awesome! Plus, more fun in the backyard with water-type toys :) Then my niece spent the night on Saturday night, so they had a ton of fun playing together!
2. My goals for this week:
A. Get up at 5:30 M-W to work for a couple hours before the peanut wakes up.
B. Continue researching for--and add 1k to--RS.
C. Send Truth & Temptation to my copy editor.
D. Take my daughter someplace fun!
E. GET A TAN. (We've got a shit ton of fun things coming up, including a beach trip! Unfortunately it's to the Outer Banks where there've been, like, SIX shark attacks in the last two weeks. So much for tossing my daughter in the waves.)
F. Keep up with my shakeology goals & working out.
G. Beta read if needed.
3. A favorite line from my story: This is from a new scene added to Truth & Temptation. My heroine's about to face the disapproval of her company's CEO—who also happens to be the father of the guy she's falling in love with.
I start to slide a finger beneath the high neck of my dress—because it's suddenly itching, and I need a bit more room to breathe—but I stop myself because, no. Fuck that. It's rare that I'm grateful for how much practice I have being a bitch, but in this moment, I've never been happier to have the spine I created.
4. Biggest challenge I faced this week:
I had a lot of revision to do. A lot. So my sole focus was on Truth & Temptation instead of my romantic suspense. I miss the RS—and the next two weeks are going to make it hard to focus on it as well. Sigh.
5. Something I love about my WIP
I can't remember, it's been so long since I've looked at it, ha. But at least I love Truth & Temptation more than ever after these rounds of revision. The story was a hard one for me to write, because my heroine's head is not an easy one to be in, but I think I've done her justice—and the notes I've received from betas have been so, so helpful to push it as far as possible.
Ready. Set. Write! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at with our writing projects—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing. ~RSW hosts,
Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, & Elodie Nowodazki
June 22, 2015
Ready. Set. Write! 2015 {Week 2}
It's officially summer, yay! Time for update numero dos.
1. How I did on last week's goals:
Get up at 5:30 every weekday to work for a couple hours before the peanut wakes up.
Um, nope. Elodie tried to get me up, she really did. But... I sucked.
Continue researching for--and add 3-5k to--RS.
FAIL WHALE. I wrote a whopping 398 words the entire week. #wompwomp
Marketing setup for Truth & Temptation.
Okay, well, this was actually a win. (Phew.) My newsletter will go out today, giving subscribers a sneak peek of the cover--and my official cover reveal is tomorrow. I've got a pre-order giveaway set up, and I've arranged for release week advertisements (a few anyway, more needed).
Finish betaing for Elodie!
Done and done! And SO good. No surprise there, though.
Take my daughter someplace fun!
Kind of cheating again, but she got to spend Friday and much of Saturday with her (three-days-older) cousin--and my sister/BIL. They took her to the pool, so you know she had a blast! Hubs was out of town most of the week, and I left Friday for a bachelorette weekend, so it's awesome having family close by to help out.
2. My goals for this week:
Get up at 5:30 every weekday to work for a couple hours before the peanut wakes up.
Continue researching for--and add 1k to--RS.
Revise Truth & Temptation and send it to my second round of betas! (omg I'm running out of time!)
Take my daughter someplace fun!
3. A favorite line from my story: Um, sorry for all the f-bombs. (Well, not really...)
"This. This is why I ended it with Noah," she said, her green eyes bright, hot. "This is what I want. Not you, don't worry, pretty Vaughn," she amended, a slip of a smile twisting across her lips. "But, God. Find me a man who takes what he wants the way you do and I'll be a happy fucking woman." She paused, then laughed. "Pun unintended—but true."
"Noah?" Jealousy was a disgusting quality, one Vaughn had never possessed until that very moment. The though of another man doing the things to Lulu that his body was begging him to do? "I kiss you and your first thought is of your fucking ex?"
4. Biggest challenge I faced this week:
Yeah. Hubs was gone all week, which meant parenting responsibilities added up. Plus I had to pack for my trip. And then I spent the weekend looking at some pretty things.
Like this:
And, especially, this:
So time was a factor. So was my inability to get up early. And all the work I had to do for T&T. This week I've got way smaller goals for the WIP, because I have so much revising to do for T&T first...
5. Something I love about my WIP
That I still love it this week, too. And my long driving time up to Jersey and back gave me lots of space to think about things to add--and for future books in the series :)
1. How I did on last week's goals:
Get up at 5:30 every weekday to work for a couple hours before the peanut wakes up.
Um, nope. Elodie tried to get me up, she really did. But... I sucked.
Continue researching for--and add 3-5k to--RS.
FAIL WHALE. I wrote a whopping 398 words the entire week. #wompwomp
Marketing setup for Truth & Temptation.
Okay, well, this was actually a win. (Phew.) My newsletter will go out today, giving subscribers a sneak peek of the cover--and my official cover reveal is tomorrow. I've got a pre-order giveaway set up, and I've arranged for release week advertisements (a few anyway, more needed).
Finish betaing for Elodie!
Done and done! And SO good. No surprise there, though.
Take my daughter someplace fun!
Kind of cheating again, but she got to spend Friday and much of Saturday with her (three-days-older) cousin--and my sister/BIL. They took her to the pool, so you know she had a blast! Hubs was out of town most of the week, and I left Friday for a bachelorette weekend, so it's awesome having family close by to help out.
2. My goals for this week:
Get up at 5:30 every weekday to work for a couple hours before the peanut wakes up.
Continue researching for--and add 1k to--RS.
Revise Truth & Temptation and send it to my second round of betas! (omg I'm running out of time!)
Take my daughter someplace fun!
3. A favorite line from my story: Um, sorry for all the f-bombs. (Well, not really...)
"This. This is why I ended it with Noah," she said, her green eyes bright, hot. "This is what I want. Not you, don't worry, pretty Vaughn," she amended, a slip of a smile twisting across her lips. "But, God. Find me a man who takes what he wants the way you do and I'll be a happy fucking woman." She paused, then laughed. "Pun unintended—but true."
"Noah?" Jealousy was a disgusting quality, one Vaughn had never possessed until that very moment. The though of another man doing the things to Lulu that his body was begging him to do? "I kiss you and your first thought is of your fucking ex?"
4. Biggest challenge I faced this week:
Yeah. Hubs was gone all week, which meant parenting responsibilities added up. Plus I had to pack for my trip. And then I spent the weekend looking at some pretty things.
Like this:
And, especially, this:
So time was a factor. So was my inability to get up early. And all the work I had to do for T&T. This week I've got way smaller goals for the WIP, because I have so much revising to do for T&T first...
5. Something I love about my WIP
That I still love it this week, too. And my long driving time up to Jersey and back gave me lots of space to think about things to add--and for future books in the series :)
Ready. Set. Write! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at with our writing projects—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing. ~RSW hosts,
Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, & Elodie Nowodazki
June 15, 2015
Ready. Set. Write! 2015 {Week 1}
Hey lovers. Just gonna dive right in here:
1. How I did on last week's goals:
Get up at 5:30 every weekday to work for a couple hours before the peanut wakes up.
Um, I think I did this most days? I can't remember. I need to be better at keeping track of this--and I can say for certain Elodie texting me in the am was SUPER helpful.
Continue researching for--and add 5-10k to--RS.
I did a *lot* of research, but came just shy of 5000 new words. Sigh. I'd hoped my goal was aiming low. Especially as this week will be low again because I'll be out of town this weekend...
Beta for Elodie!
I started reading this novella--and it is good, y'all. Like be jealous I'm reading it before you good. :)
Take my daughter someplace fun!
Went to a winery which was fun for both of us, hehe. Also, we set up some fun water toys in our back yard and she had a freaking blast. Maybe it's cheating because it's not going someplace new, but I'm counting it anyway because it's so fun for her.
2. My goals for this week:
Get up at 5:30 every weekday to work for a couple hours before the peanut wakes up.
Continue researching for--and add 3-5k to--RS.
More marketing setup for Truth & Temptation.
Finish betaing for Elodie!
Take my daughter someplace fun!
3. A favorite line from my story: A moment my heroine and her hero run into each other at the grocery store and, of course, get into it. Because they hate each other. Well, she loves him, but she pretends she hates him because it's easier to deal with what he feels for her...
"You have no idea what I think," he said.
"Yeah? So you don't think I'm a lying, manipulative bitch who almost ruined your life?"
"Okay. You have some idea of what I think." His eyes flashed. Humor? Irritation? She couldn't be sure her hope for the former wasn't disguising the latter.
4. Biggest challenge I faced this week:
Ugh. This story ripped through me at first and now I'm hitting a wall. Walls are very common for me when I'm working through the middle of a book, but I'm still very much in the beginning, and it's really frustrating me. Even my "favorite" lines above from my WIP? I don't love them. I just kinda Russian roulette-ed it and skimmed for the least sucky lines from the past week. #pitypartyforone
I focused a lot on launch things for Truth & Temptation, so I'm hoping my divided focus had something to do with the stall on my WIP, but...idk.
5. Something I love about my WIP
The good news is I *do* still love my WIP. I just have to funnel that love into ability to move forward. The thing I REALLY love right now is how much fun third POV is to write. I've written first for years and years, so I was nervous about switching. But this? This makes me never, ever want to go back to first...
1. How I did on last week's goals:
Get up at 5:30 every weekday to work for a couple hours before the peanut wakes up.
Um, I think I did this most days? I can't remember. I need to be better at keeping track of this--and I can say for certain Elodie texting me in the am was SUPER helpful.
Continue researching for--and add 5-10k to--RS.
I did a *lot* of research, but came just shy of 5000 new words. Sigh. I'd hoped my goal was aiming low. Especially as this week will be low again because I'll be out of town this weekend...
Beta for Elodie!
I started reading this novella--and it is good, y'all. Like be jealous I'm reading it before you good. :)
Take my daughter someplace fun!
Went to a winery which was fun for both of us, hehe. Also, we set up some fun water toys in our back yard and she had a freaking blast. Maybe it's cheating because it's not going someplace new, but I'm counting it anyway because it's so fun for her.
2. My goals for this week:
Get up at 5:30 every weekday to work for a couple hours before the peanut wakes up.
Continue researching for--and add 3-5k to--RS.
More marketing setup for Truth & Temptation.
Finish betaing for Elodie!
Take my daughter someplace fun!
3. A favorite line from my story: A moment my heroine and her hero run into each other at the grocery store and, of course, get into it. Because they hate each other. Well, she loves him, but she pretends she hates him because it's easier to deal with what he feels for her...
"You have no idea what I think," he said.
"Yeah? So you don't think I'm a lying, manipulative bitch who almost ruined your life?"
"Okay. You have some idea of what I think." His eyes flashed. Humor? Irritation? She couldn't be sure her hope for the former wasn't disguising the latter.
4. Biggest challenge I faced this week:
Ugh. This story ripped through me at first and now I'm hitting a wall. Walls are very common for me when I'm working through the middle of a book, but I'm still very much in the beginning, and it's really frustrating me. Even my "favorite" lines above from my WIP? I don't love them. I just kinda Russian roulette-ed it and skimmed for the least sucky lines from the past week. #pitypartyforone
I focused a lot on launch things for Truth & Temptation, so I'm hoping my divided focus had something to do with the stall on my WIP, but...idk.
5. Something I love about my WIP
The good news is I *do* still love my WIP. I just have to funnel that love into ability to move forward. The thing I REALLY love right now is how much fun third POV is to write. I've written first for years and years, so I was nervous about switching. But this? This makes me never, ever want to go back to first...
Ready. Set. Write! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at with our writing projects—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing. ~RSW hosts,
Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, & Elodie Nowodazki
June 8, 2015
Ready. Set. Write! 2015 {Goal Setting}
Ready. Set. Write! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at with our writing projects—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing. ~RSW hosts,
Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, & Elodie Nowodazki
Y'all. THIS IS MY FAVORITE THING FOR SUMMER WRITING. If you're a writer--at any place in your career--you should join us. (It's never too late to jump in.) If you're a reader, stop by on Mondays to keep me accountable with my projects, and find some other fun writers while you're here.
Wanna know all the deets? Check out any one of the hosts' posts (lol rhyme) about it! (And Jaime's post has a selection of graphics to browse!) But today is a day to set goals, so let's get down to mine:
Summer Goals:
1. Revise & publish TRUTH & TEMPTATION, the third novel in my Summer Love standalone series.
2. Finish drafting my romantic suspense (RS) novel. Decide on a title. Revise the book. Send to CPs. Start getting query-ready. (Yep, I think I'm going to attempt going a traditional route with this one... Maybe.)
3. Begin drafting Summer Love #4
3. Attend--and have a fucking awesome time at--RWA National Conference in July (Also: Try my absolute hardest not to stalk Nora Roberts and have a complete breakdown if I get to meet her. Aka the reason I will *always* write romance.)
4. Beta for my CPs as needed.
5. Take my daughter someplace fun at least once a week.
6. Get--and keep--a tan. (Starting in July)
This Week's Goals:
1. Get up at 5:30 every weekday to work for a couple hours before the peanut wakes up.
2. Continue researching for--and add 5-10k to--RS.
3. Beta for Elodie!
4. Take my daughter someplace fun!
Okay, that's it. Lots lined up for the summer and I'm excited for every bit of it! What are YOUR summer goals?
xo Riley
May 5, 2015
Currently... (#1) + #teasertuesday
Taking a page out of Katy Upperman's book (blog?) and throwing out a Currently post today! Basically, currently posts are a snapshot of your current life statuses. I used to see these all the time in my (long past) days as a lifestyle blogger. I love that they're popping up in the writing community now, too!
AND as it's Teaser Tuesday, scroll down for an excerpt of my current draft!
LovingI just started using Freedom and holy shit the difference it's made in my writing productivity is phenomenal. For those who aren't already in the know, it's an app that let's you block yourself from distracting websites (hello twitter/facebook/pinterest/etsy/amazon/etc...) for a block of time (you choose the length). And I had no idea how often I "stared off into space" by browsing those other sites during writing time.
ReadingLots of beta reading up in here these days. A creepy AF ms by Elodie, a mindf&$k of a thriller by Cristin, and Shannon's next Keeper book. Be jealous. It's okay. I would be too. I also started Bone Gap by Laura Ruby--and it's good so far. Very intriguing. I really only get time for personal reading in the last few minutes every night before my sleeping pill kicks in, so I'm going slow with this one, but really liking it.
WatchingNot a whole lot, too busy trying to finish this draft. Game of Thrones is a must most weeks (still need to watch the most recent though). And Big Bang Theory. And Nashville (which rose to one of my absolute favorites over the past couple years). Otherwise, meh. I have so much tivoed to catch up on. I might take a week off when I get this story to my betas just to watch TV, ha.
Listening ToPandora. While I draft. I have a station I created while writing Surf & Surrender, and it's turning out to be my ultimate writing station for Teagan's story, too. (It's a combination of Maroon 5, The Civil Wars, Carrie Underwood, Hozier, Taylor Swift, & 30STM, to name a few.)
Thinking AboutFinishing this damn draft. Teagan's story... I love it. I love her. But it's the hardest thing I've written to date. Because Teagan has it rough. Internally and externally. And she's tough. Especially externally. And understanding her has forced me to cut into my own veins of depression to bleed out some of these words and this both scares and thrills me.
AnticipatingMy daughter turns two this weekend and it's hard to talk/write about this without drowning in bittersweet nostalgia. The dichotomy of wanting time to slow the fuck down while also being so excited to see who she becomes is a hard thing to swallow. We went all out for her first birthday party, so this year we're sticking just to family and a low-key picnic at a local lake. We'll be celebrating my niece, too, as she was born three days before my daughter, which is nuts--and so cool. :)
WishingThis draft was done. Thankfully, I revise a lot while I write, so the end of my first draft is more like the end of my fifth draft, if that makes any sense. But I can't wait to get this baby into the hands of my betas, because I'm so close to the story, I'm having trouble seeing my way through some of it.
Making Me HappyPaper crafting! My planner is so much fun--and if you follow me on IG, you'll see the layouts I make. They started kinda awful, tbh, ha, but every week I have more and more fun with it. I recently got a laminating machine--and I'm really considering opening a paper craft etsy shop, starting with laminated planner inserts... And, okay, plenty of people roll their eyes at the whole planner craze thing--and I get that, I do. But don't knock it till ya try it. Having a creative outlet outside of writing has been extremely beneficial for my writing.
So. Tell me what you're up to these days!
Teaser Tuesday!
Tuesdays are for teasers :) Perfect time to share a #teaser from my draft of TRUTH & TEMPTATION. Here's an excerpt I shared last week with my Facebook group, Riley & Crew. They get to see everything first--feel free to come join in!
Here's a scene where Alec (Teagan's guy) just confessed a secret to her, and it makes her reevaluate everything she's afraid to feel for him.
"Yep." He shrugs. "The thing is, kitten, you've got claws and they're hooked under my skin in the most painfully delicious way. And I want the chance to know you. I want the chance to see where this could go. So no, this isn't serious yet, but it came down to telling you or losing you and…well, you see which one I picked."
He didn't want to lose me.
He picked me. This is a total first. I'm not sure how to respond—but my body feels like it's made of air. Or cotton candy. Or something else sweet and light and…totally foreign. "But I've been such a bitch."
"Yep."
"And you haven't deserved at least half of it."
"Nope."
"And you still want—"
"Everything."
xo Riley
AND as it's Teaser Tuesday, scroll down for an excerpt of my current draft!
LovingI just started using Freedom and holy shit the difference it's made in my writing productivity is phenomenal. For those who aren't already in the know, it's an app that let's you block yourself from distracting websites (hello twitter/facebook/pinterest/etsy/amazon/etc...) for a block of time (you choose the length). And I had no idea how often I "stared off into space" by browsing those other sites during writing time.
ReadingLots of beta reading up in here these days. A creepy AF ms by Elodie, a mindf&$k of a thriller by Cristin, and Shannon's next Keeper book. Be jealous. It's okay. I would be too. I also started Bone Gap by Laura Ruby--and it's good so far. Very intriguing. I really only get time for personal reading in the last few minutes every night before my sleeping pill kicks in, so I'm going slow with this one, but really liking it.
WatchingNot a whole lot, too busy trying to finish this draft. Game of Thrones is a must most weeks (still need to watch the most recent though). And Big Bang Theory. And Nashville (which rose to one of my absolute favorites over the past couple years). Otherwise, meh. I have so much tivoed to catch up on. I might take a week off when I get this story to my betas just to watch TV, ha.
Listening ToPandora. While I draft. I have a station I created while writing Surf & Surrender, and it's turning out to be my ultimate writing station for Teagan's story, too. (It's a combination of Maroon 5, The Civil Wars, Carrie Underwood, Hozier, Taylor Swift, & 30STM, to name a few.)
Thinking AboutFinishing this damn draft. Teagan's story... I love it. I love her. But it's the hardest thing I've written to date. Because Teagan has it rough. Internally and externally. And she's tough. Especially externally. And understanding her has forced me to cut into my own veins of depression to bleed out some of these words and this both scares and thrills me.
AnticipatingMy daughter turns two this weekend and it's hard to talk/write about this without drowning in bittersweet nostalgia. The dichotomy of wanting time to slow the fuck down while also being so excited to see who she becomes is a hard thing to swallow. We went all out for her first birthday party, so this year we're sticking just to family and a low-key picnic at a local lake. We'll be celebrating my niece, too, as she was born three days before my daughter, which is nuts--and so cool. :)
WishingThis draft was done. Thankfully, I revise a lot while I write, so the end of my first draft is more like the end of my fifth draft, if that makes any sense. But I can't wait to get this baby into the hands of my betas, because I'm so close to the story, I'm having trouble seeing my way through some of it.
Making Me HappyPaper crafting! My planner is so much fun--and if you follow me on IG, you'll see the layouts I make. They started kinda awful, tbh, ha, but every week I have more and more fun with it. I recently got a laminating machine--and I'm really considering opening a paper craft etsy shop, starting with laminated planner inserts... And, okay, plenty of people roll their eyes at the whole planner craze thing--and I get that, I do. But don't knock it till ya try it. Having a creative outlet outside of writing has been extremely beneficial for my writing.
So. Tell me what you're up to these days!
Teaser Tuesday!
Tuesdays are for teasers :) Perfect time to share a #teaser from my draft of TRUTH & TEMPTATION. Here's an excerpt I shared last week with my Facebook group, Riley & Crew. They get to see everything first--feel free to come join in!
Here's a scene where Alec (Teagan's guy) just confessed a secret to her, and it makes her reevaluate everything she's afraid to feel for him.
"Yep." He shrugs. "The thing is, kitten, you've got claws and they're hooked under my skin in the most painfully delicious way. And I want the chance to know you. I want the chance to see where this could go. So no, this isn't serious yet, but it came down to telling you or losing you and…well, you see which one I picked."
He didn't want to lose me.
He picked me. This is a total first. I'm not sure how to respond—but my body feels like it's made of air. Or cotton candy. Or something else sweet and light and…totally foreign. "But I've been such a bitch."
"Yep."
"And you haven't deserved at least half of it."
"Nope."
"And you still want—"
"Everything."
xo Riley
April 23, 2015
New Adult Scavenger Hunt
Welcome to New Adult Scavenger Hunt!
At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team!
But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the New Adult Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are TWO contests with multiple authors and giveaways--and they're going on simultaneously! You can enter one or all! I am a part of the TEAM BLUE–but there is also a red team for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!
***THE SCAVENGER HUNT***
Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed my lucky book number. Collect the lucky book numbers of all the authors on Team Blue, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by April 26th, at noon Eastern Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
LET THE HUNT BEGIN!
***MEET KATIE YOUNG, AUTHOR OF THE OTHER LAMB***
Katie Young is a writer and occasional zombie movie ‘supporting artiste’. She also works in kids’ TV but wishes she were a rock star. She has had various short stories published by Ether Books, many of which were written for performance at the Are You Sitting Comfortably? events run by White Rabbit, and has had work featured in anthologies from Collaboration of the Dead Press, Angelic Knight Press, Indigo Mosaic, Song Stories Press, Static Movement and Fox Spirit Books. Her story, Atelic, was shortlisted for the 2010 Writers' & Artists' Year Book short fiction prize. Katie also writes TV and film reviews for The Cult Den. Her first novel, The Other Lamb (Curiosity Quills Press, 2014) is out now, and she is currently writing a new book about twins, lightning, and dancing bears. She lives in South East London in a wonky and seldom-dusted little house with her partner and too many books. She is not a natural redhead.
Website
***THE OTHER LAMB***
Incarcerated on Earth as punishment for breeding with humans, the Watchers found a way to escape. Zach is living proof of that…even though someone has cut out his heart.
When Zach turns eighteen he develops an insatiable thirst for blood, but he tries to bury his fears and go on enjoying his birthday. His best friend Kim has scored them tickets to the hottest gig in town. But a charged encounter with his idol, the enigmatic rock star known as Grigory, leads to a revelation that shatters everything Zach thinks he knows about himself and the world, and places everyone dear to him in grave danger.
Zach is a Naphil, the forbidden offspring of a mortal woman and a Watcher. When those who seek to destroy him snatch Kim, Zach is forced to embark on a journey of discovery spanning continents and ages. With the help of a mysterious stranger named Sam, Zach must unearth the truth about his parentage, find Kim, and discover who has stolen his heart…before he triggers the apocalypse.
AMAZON
***EXCLUSIVE CONTENT***
(This is a little stand-alone scene following the highly dubious exploits of Grigory, the rock-star Watcher from The Other Lamb, and it is set just before the book starts.)
Grigory placed the diaphragm of the electronic stethoscope on the boy’s skinny chest, and the kid flinched at the touch of cold metal. Grigory put the earpieces in and listened.
Lub-dub-lub-dub-lub-dub-lub-dub-lubdublubdublubdub
He checked the audio output and hit record on his laptop, watching the screen as blocks of green light appeared and jumped in time with the frantic beat.
“Did you know, my lamb, that, broadly speaking, the tempo of music spans the full range of the human pulse?”
He paused until the boy shook his head.
“The beat of the piece mirrors a heart experiencing the emotion that the song evokes. A lullaby, soft and smooth, mimics your sleeping body as you lie warm in bed, waiting for Morpheus to pay you a visit. A salsa sways your arms, shuffles your feet, and swings your hips. It gets your blood up. How wonderful to be a living metronome. To measure your joy and pain, your comfort and fear in heartbeats. Take your friend over there.” Grigory turned and nodded towards the girl draped on the chaise longue, her eyes rolled back in her head. “The cocktail of substances she’s imbibed tonight have numbed her to the point of catatonia, and induced a state known as bradycardia. She’s down to forty beats per minute. Slow and grave like the opening strains of The Moonlight Sonata.”
The girl groaned softly and Grigory turned his attention back to the boy. He picked up the small dagger which sat on the table next to them, and held it, glinting, in front of the kid’s face. Cold steel reflected the lights from the computer which danced and blinked red as they sped up and peaked. Grigory ran the tip of the blade lightly down the side of the boy’s face until it snagged the fabric of the gag.
“But your heart is fluttering and tripping along at the same speed as the third movement of The Tempest.”
Grigory placed the tip of the knife against his own forearm and scored a deep red line along the length of it. He held it up in front of the boy’s face and watched his eyes grow impossibly wide as the parted skin healed over instantly.
The lights on the laptop screen stuttered, stopped for a couple of seconds, and then leapt into life again.
“Bravo!” Grigory cried, clapping his hands together. “Palpitations will add a delightfully unexpected syncopation to the finished piece.”
The boy whimpered, and a tear slid down his cheek.
“Wait!” Grigory put down the knife and picked up a directional microphone, which he pointed at the boy’s face. “Do that again!”
Behind him, the girl moaned, her head slipping off the side of the couch and lolling about on her neck like a tulip with a broken stem.
“Wait your turn, darling,” Grigory said. “Now this,” he told the boy, “is a little self-indulgent, I’ll admit, but I’m curious to know how many different ways you will say my name before the night is through. I’m going to remove this gag, and I promise you’ll whisper it, sigh it, moan it, scream it. When we’re through, we’ll have created something beautiful. And you will be immortal, beloved. How does that sound?”
***
Grigory took a sip of bourbon, leaned back in the plush leather armchair and closed his eyes as the song began to play. There was the girl’s sigh, the sound of blood pumping lazily around her veins. The little snuffle and swallow she did with a narcotic-thick tongue which sounded like a piglet suckling. Adorable in a way. Unbearably intimate. And there was the violin, like a baby’s cry, wrenched from ancient wood and catgut, soaring over the dull throb of the boy’s heart. The pitch of the Amati’s wail rose as the heartbeat sped up, building and building until Grigory’s fingers and toes curled with anticipation, and finally the tension was shattered by the boy’s cracked voice shouting the singer’s name. It was a virtuoso performance by any standards, nuanced and coloured with a thousand conflicting sensations and emotions. Grigory had really put the poor kid through the mill. A spine-tingling moment of viscous silence, then a guitar lick overlaid with grunts, snarls, sobs – both Grigory’s and those of his human instruments. The melody, when it began, was punctuated with the hiccupping, kick drum sound of the boy’s terrified heart.
Grigory was still enchanted by the novelty of being able to hear his own voice recorded and played back, to be enjoyed time and time again. For countless ages, his performances had been ephemeral, fleeting things, lingering only in the memories of those he’d moved to tears or raptures with his preternatural vocals. Grigory had seen the proof of his otherworldly skill reflected in the weeping eyes of millions, a talent forged in the angelic realm for a single purpose falling upon ears which were never meant to hear it. A sacred gift turned utterly profane. His influence was still audible in the works of great composers, in the trills of countless flutes, the galloping of nimble fingers across ivory keys. It was in their anguished love letters to mysterious muses, and their suicide notes.
But now Grigory could crystallise his songs. He could edit and loop and tweak until he had the essence of the thing, trapped forever on media as intangible as he had once been before he was a thing of flesh. Gone were the hissing gramophones, the record players, the cassette tapes. Now music was electronic, portable, and stored in vast quantities on devices no bigger than his thumb. How far the world had come since the time when Grigory sat by a fire in the desert and taught a girl with eyes as black as his own to play a sad, simple tune on pipe made of animal bone.
The song played on. Grigory wouldn’t share his latest creation with the rest of the band. This was just for him. He listened as his own voice echoed around the room, the brush of his lips against the microphone audible over the knocking of the boy’s heart and the girl’s gentle murmuring. Their terror and pleasure would have faded by now, their experience with their idol dwindled to a vague recollection of a fevered dream. They wouldn’t tell. They never did. Whether it was confusion, shame or fear which held their tongues, Grigory wasn’t sure, but they always came back. The singer had no doubt he’d see those two in the front row at one of his shows again in the future, just like all the others.
The song finished and Grigory drained his glass. He trailed his fingers over his chest, tracing around the place where his own heart used to reside, then he hit repeat. <<<>>>
Okay, so... Let's be real. THE OTHER LAMB sounds damn awesome. I was hooked from the moment I found out Zach's best friend scored tickets to a sweet gig. Because that's exactly how one of my own books starts--but, whoa, Katie's book goes in such a different direction! It went on my TBR the moment I heard about it. Hell, it's on my freaking kindle right now, to be honest. I can't wait to read this, though something tells me I maybe need to read it with the lights on... Because that bonus content, ummmmm, freaked me right out.
Add this puppy to your TBR, okay? And don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me, Katie Young, and more!
To enter, you need to know that my lucky book number is 9.
Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on Team Blue and you’ll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize!
***CONTINUE THE HUNT***
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author, who just happens to be the one and only Katie Young!
GOOD LUCK!!
February 6, 2015
Just say Yes!
Want to celebrate the upcoming release of
Surf & Surrender
?
Want to celebrate the upcoming release of More than Comics ?
Want to hang out with a bunch of awesome authors?
Want to win a KINDLE? Or 5 signed books?
Well, read on, my friend. Because you can do all of those things.
Elizabeth Briggs and I are co-hosting a Facebook party for readers on February 23--because we both have books coming out that day!
RSVP HERE!
Plus, a ton of awesome authors will be stopping by to party with you, too! Check out this awesome group:
You know you want to come. There'll be games and giveaways and general silliness all around.
And as an extra party favor, we're giving away a kindle!! You get lots of entries for coming to our party--but you don't have to wait until then to get started. Check out all the ways to enter in the rafflecopter form below.
And, again, here's the link to our party: https://www.facebook.com/events/899373923426891/
Good luck! <3
a Rafflecopter giveaway
ContestHeat.com
Want to celebrate the upcoming release of More than Comics ?
Want to hang out with a bunch of awesome authors?
Want to win a KINDLE? Or 5 signed books?
Well, read on, my friend. Because you can do all of those things.
Elizabeth Briggs and I are co-hosting a Facebook party for readers on February 23--because we both have books coming out that day!
RSVP HERE!
Plus, a ton of awesome authors will be stopping by to party with you, too! Check out this awesome group:
You know you want to come. There'll be games and giveaways and general silliness all around.
And as an extra party favor, we're giving away a kindle!! You get lots of entries for coming to our party--but you don't have to wait until then to get started. Check out all the ways to enter in the rafflecopter form below.
And, again, here's the link to our party: https://www.facebook.com/events/899373923426891/
Good luck! <3
a Rafflecopter giveaway
ContestHeat.com
January 9, 2015
My Next Book's Title & a Few Optional Terrible Titles
Also:THIS IS YOUR OFFICIAL INVITE!
I'm hosting an hour-long Facebook party tonight at 9est on Kylie's Fiction Addiction!! Click here to join in
*********
And now, onto our regularly scheduled post...
First up today, the Terrible Titles blog hop. I'm rather late participating in this, but drafting turns me into a madwoman and I didn't have time back when the blog hop was going around. So. I'm doing it now instead!
The lovely Katy Upperman (whom I get to MEET IRL in less than a month and I might be dying a little bit from all the excitement over it) introduced me to this blog hop where you scroll through your current manuscript and stop at random places. Whatever words/phrase the cursor lands on becomes one of eight terrible titles.
I had my February release open at the moment of writing this post, so it's the one I used to play with. And, in case you're wondering, the REAL title (and blurb!) is at the end of this post.
1. Spiral of Disappointment2. Might Not Be Enough3. When I Find Quinn4. Through So Much5. Against the Wall6. Between Us Now7. Actually, Definitely8. The Sun is Blinding Across the Water
Yeah, I kinda like a couple of those, tbh. I think Between Us Now and Actually, Definitely are my faves. ALTHOUGH. Against the Wall is taken from a pretty...hot scene. In fact, when my cursor landed there, I couldn't help but reread it all over again. And maybe another time, too.
God, I can't wait to share this book.
Which does have a real title, btw!
Staying in theme with the title of the first book, Rock & Release (which is now available as a complete novel containing all three serial acts) the next one is...
☆☆☆
(I don't know why I'm doing this buildup, it's not as though I've kept it a secret. But I am.)
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Surf & Surrender Coming February 23, 2015
She wants to forget he ever existed. He'd never give up her memory.
Quinn Westwood is completely over Sawyer Carson. He broke her heart years ago and disappeared from her life without a word. So yeah. She's over him. Never even thinks of him. In fact, she's spending her college summer break surfing and lifeguarding in the Outer Banks, while nursing a bruised heart from a different relationship gone wrong. She doesn't have room in her mind or heart for Sawyer—until she runs into him at a beach bonfire and the sparks that fly between them are way hotter than the flames heating the sand.
Sawyer never got over Quinn. The only thing stronger than what he feels for her is the secret keeping them apart, but sharing it would destroy more than just his life—it'd ruin hers, as well. Still, he can't seem to keep away from her, can't seem to keep his hands off of her soft, tempting skin. Especially since she has even less self-control when it comes to reigniting the physical side of what made them perfect together.
But secrets have a way of slipping out, and when Sawyer's is revealed it threatens to shatter everyone involved. He'll have to face walking away a second time, and Quinn will have to decide if fighting for him is worth it when the fallout could affect more than just her heart, but also those of the people she loves most.
The cover will be revealed next week by Bedroom Bookworms!
xo
I'm hosting an hour-long Facebook party tonight at 9est on Kylie's Fiction Addiction!! Click here to join in
*********
And now, onto our regularly scheduled post...
First up today, the Terrible Titles blog hop. I'm rather late participating in this, but drafting turns me into a madwoman and I didn't have time back when the blog hop was going around. So. I'm doing it now instead!
The lovely Katy Upperman (whom I get to MEET IRL in less than a month and I might be dying a little bit from all the excitement over it) introduced me to this blog hop where you scroll through your current manuscript and stop at random places. Whatever words/phrase the cursor lands on becomes one of eight terrible titles.
I had my February release open at the moment of writing this post, so it's the one I used to play with. And, in case you're wondering, the REAL title (and blurb!) is at the end of this post.
1. Spiral of Disappointment2. Might Not Be Enough3. When I Find Quinn4. Through So Much5. Against the Wall6. Between Us Now7. Actually, Definitely8. The Sun is Blinding Across the Water
Yeah, I kinda like a couple of those, tbh. I think Between Us Now and Actually, Definitely are my faves. ALTHOUGH. Against the Wall is taken from a pretty...hot scene. In fact, when my cursor landed there, I couldn't help but reread it all over again. And maybe another time, too.
God, I can't wait to share this book.
Which does have a real title, btw!
Staying in theme with the title of the first book, Rock & Release (which is now available as a complete novel containing all three serial acts) the next one is...
☆☆☆
(I don't know why I'm doing this buildup, it's not as though I've kept it a secret. But I am.)
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Surf & Surrender Coming February 23, 2015
She wants to forget he ever existed. He'd never give up her memory.
Quinn Westwood is completely over Sawyer Carson. He broke her heart years ago and disappeared from her life without a word. So yeah. She's over him. Never even thinks of him. In fact, she's spending her college summer break surfing and lifeguarding in the Outer Banks, while nursing a bruised heart from a different relationship gone wrong. She doesn't have room in her mind or heart for Sawyer—until she runs into him at a beach bonfire and the sparks that fly between them are way hotter than the flames heating the sand.
Sawyer never got over Quinn. The only thing stronger than what he feels for her is the secret keeping them apart, but sharing it would destroy more than just his life—it'd ruin hers, as well. Still, he can't seem to keep away from her, can't seem to keep his hands off of her soft, tempting skin. Especially since she has even less self-control when it comes to reigniting the physical side of what made them perfect together.
But secrets have a way of slipping out, and when Sawyer's is revealed it threatens to shatter everyone involved. He'll have to face walking away a second time, and Quinn will have to decide if fighting for him is worth it when the fallout could affect more than just her heart, but also those of the people she loves most.
The cover will be revealed next week by Bedroom Bookworms!
xo
