Fun Stuff and a Thought About Love

This week, I’m diving into planning fun events leading up to the release of my book, Descendant. The first in a long string of fun things, Giselle at Xpresso Reads is coordinating my cover reveal for March 4^th. Anyone can sign up, and there is no limit to how many people can participate. If you’re interested, you can sign up here.

I’m also working on bookmarks, posters, and other fun swag. What does this mean? Uh, prizes. Contests. Chances to win. And maybe, possibly teasers. Exclusive stuff. Not announcing any other dates yet, but working on it, so stay tuned.

*takes a moment to jump up and down squealing*

Please forgive my excitement. It’s just that I thought this day might never come, and it’s ALMOST HERE! And I intend to celebrate in a very big way. I hope you will all join me.

On a different subject, last weekend, a very dear friend of mine came to visit me in Texas. She knows I’ve been feeling a little homesick for my Utah people, and so she did what only the best of friends would do. She bought a last minute plane ticket, and came to hang out for a couple way-too-short days.

And even though I shed a few tears when she left, her visit was so good for me. Because no matter where we live or what we spend our time doing, everyone needs to feel loved sometimes. Not just by our spouses or children (although, that’s also really important), but by other people who matter to us. We all need to be reminded that, regardless of how it sometimes feels, we are not alone.    

So, with that thought in mind, what have you done recently to show someone special that you love them?

Smokin Hot Date

**Oh, and don't forget to pop over to Star Crossed and check out my review of Dearly Departed, by Tristi Pinkston. Such a fun book!  

Last weekend, I had a hot date with a younger man. Seventeen-years-old, just about six-feet tall, spiky brown hair, light blue eyes, plays the guitar, and also an amazing artist. Total babe.

Well, okay. He’s totally my babe. As in, my son.

Here’s how the date came to be: he came home from school one day and says, “Mom, guess what?”

Me *going through the mail and somewhat distracted*: “Hm?”

Him: “You know how you really wanted to see Phantom of the Opera at the school, but it’s sold out?”

Me *looking up*: “Yeah.”

Him *holding up two tickets*: “Look what I got?”

Me: *eyebrows raised* “How’d you get those?”

Him: “I have my ways. I know you really wanted to see it, so I’m going to take you. Wanna go with me?”

Me *heart melts cuz my son is so thoughtful*: “Um, YEAH!”

So he took the evening off work and we went to see a sold-out showing of Phantom of the Opera at the local high school. (BTW, the cast was Am.Az.Ing. Those kids can SING!) And then we got ice cream at Sonic, because that’s the only way to end a great date with such a studly man.

Proof positive that some teenagers still enjoy spending time with their parents. And also, that they can be conscious of our needs and desires and make them a priority, even if the occasions are rare.

My son only has the rest of this school year, and then one more before he graduates. I can only hope I’ll have more moments like that before he does.

Have you witnessed a teenager going out of his or her way to do something thoughtful for his or her parents lately? I’d love to hear about it.

**Oh, and don't forget to pop over to Star Crossed and check out my review of Dearly Departed, by Tristi Pinkston. Such a fun book!

Blogfest: Love at First Sight...or Not So Much.

Okay, I admit I'm not big on blog fests of this sort. I'm not all that comfortable posting portions of my works-in-progress online. Especially ones I'm currently querying.However, in honor of Valentines Day, and because I've had a couple requests for this particular scene, I'm going to make an exception. 

The following excerpt is from a finished manuscript, currently titled GIFTED. The characters, Kye and Abby, are on a bus, on a trip with a large group of kids from school.They don't know each other well, but are extremely comfortable with each other--a phenomenon which is explained later in the story. (Sorry, kids. You only get 450 words!)Abby has fallen asleep on Kye.

My dreams are riddled with Kye and Eric fighting, Kye and me kissing, more kissing, and various other activities that make my heart race and my blood run hot. The strangest part is that it all feels more like distant memories than dreams. I have mixed senses of peace and dread, happiness, and deep, profound sorrow. Then an awful laugh breaks through, rough and mean. Frightening.


When I jerk awake, Kye rubs my arm and smoothes my hair. “Shhh. Just a dream.”


Heat creeps up my cheeks as I lift my head to meet his gaze. Something in his eyes makes me long to stay right here, wrapped in his arms and staring into the endless pools of blue, for the rest of forever.


I tear my eyes away, feeling silly, and glance at his watch. After only an hour, my crush has developed into something far more dangerous. The full moon bounces above the mountains like a glowing eye, a bright ball in the darkening sky, gilding the edges of the distant cliffs. Kye traces circles up and down my arm, and my chest tightens when his hand slides under my chin and tips it up.


Our eyes meet again, and a spark of recognition passes between us, something undeniably strong, and just as unexplainable, and I can’t look away. Can’t break the spell. Conversations buzz around us, but we float in our own little bubble, focused and unmoving for eons of time. His hand moves down my arm until his fingers lace with mine.


He shifts, pulls me closer. His heart beats a quick, irregular thrum under my free hand. “I can feel your heart,” I whisper.


He breathes deep. “Did you feel it skip a beat just now?”


“Your heart didn’t skip.” I try to smile, lighten the mood. Something is happening and I don’t understand what, exactly. “It sped up, but it didn’t skip.”


His expression is serious. “It practically stopped. So did yours, I felt it.” He closes the distance between our faces, and his lips touch mine, soft, experimental. 

This time our hearts stutter together. Kye smiles against my lips, because he knows I felt it too. He takes a breath and leans in again, this time harder, more demanding. We melt together like chocolate and caramel. My mind screams for me to stop, that it’s too soon for this. I don’t know him, not really. But my heart has a different idea, and so do my lips.


When we break apart, I’m trembling. Time feels quick, racing. I have a surge of panic that makes me keep my eyes on him, like I only have so much time to drink him in before he leaves me forever. The idea becomes unbearable, and I catch myself clutching his arms around me.


“You okay?” His voice is breathless.


“Okay?” I shake my head. I’ve completely lost my mind.

To read more entries from the Love at First Sight...Or Not So Much blogfest, check out the full list here.


Have a fab Valentines Day!