New Novel...finally!

WATERCOLOR HEARTS, book one 

of the upcoming

Watercolor Love series

Coming July 25th 

Well...it's finally time again--a new novel from my crazy brain. After the events of this last year, I can't tell you how much this moment means--just to be able to release a book again. 

So...here we have a new Romance-Suspense trilogy. Granted, it's definitely a little different from The Merworld Water Wars, but there are a few quirky characters, crazy twists, and maybe even an unexpected turn or two. 

WATERCOLOR HEARTS

Money, supremacy, exclusivity, and owning the finest of everything define the upper echelon of New York City’s elite. Yet within the lavish lifestyle of New York’s wealthy and ruthless lives a mysterious group with a twisted past and dangerous future—a group one woman is determined to join for a single, all-consuming purpose: finding and exacting revenge on her parents’ killers.

Since witnessing her father’s murder, Maggie Harred has traveled a rough road in her quest to right the past, her anger and pain fueling every step, every decision. With a little guidance, she sets her sights on the one person who would be the means to her ends. Thus, upon receiving an invitation to compete for a position with the enigmatic Manx, world-renowned cat burglar and procurer of the rarest forms of art for the world’s obscenely rich, Maggie will stop at nothing to win.

Maggie has learned to work and fight for what she wants and to expect danger and intense moral ambiguity in the process. Very little surprises her anymore. There is, however, one thing she never expected to find: love. Witty, handsome, and intensely sexy, this man slowly begins to shatter her armor, an outcome that terrifies her more than anything, particularly when her past and present collide in an utterly shocking way, threatening the one person who brought her fading heart back to life.

Cover Reveal for BACKRUSH, The Final Wave

A long time in the making, the cover of BACKRUSH is very special to me. From the sheer beauty of Marina, the sea, and the sky to the hidden fin and aged, battle-worn typography, I could not have asked for more to close the series. I hope you love it as much as I do. 

From the Mer-Nor Gang, here is the blurb for their final adventure: 

One Final, Crazy Wave

The stakes have never been greater for the Mer-Nor Gang, and for Marina Valentine, a single decision could destroy the Merworld or cost her the life of her soul mate.

With time running dangerously low, Marina and her friends must find a way to defeat Riparian, save Troy, dethrone King and Queen Zale…and take down Zale’s mysterious, powerful ally—an ally whose identity will not only stun the Siren Savior, but will expose one enormous secret she never saw coming.

With twists and turns abound, only friendship, hope, and love will give Marina and her friends a fighting chance against the vicious King and Queen Zale. It will take every ounce of faith and trust to forge ahead, for not everything—or everyone—is what it seems.

There is only one certainty for the Mer-Nor Gang as they prepare to go head-to-head with King Zarius Zale:  the final wave brings the biggest surprises yet.

Coming this December.

Stay tuned for teasers and release details...

There's A Wave Coming...

In one week, the Mer-Nor Gang and I will reveal the cover and blurb for the Final Wave of the Merworld Water Wars series. 

After over a decade with my family of characters and living in their world, it's almost surreal that the last chapter in this series is complete. The characters and I have had some rather intense reactions: Polly's eyes went black, Meikle stirred the contents of her bag, Airi rocked back and forth on the edge of the couch, Jex flexed his wings, Ophelia went into cleaning mode, Camille baked, and Marina and I gagged. Good times. 

DOWNDRIFT, Wave Four Arrives August 13th

Here it is! Wave Four is picking up speed and is scheduled to make landfall on August 13th*!

DOWNDRIFT:

Marina Valentine is one future time-traveling trip away from putting the final trident in King Zale’s reign. The future, however, has a dire message for the Savior: She is one decision away from costing everyone everything.

                                      

Marina doesn’t want the burden of some unknown decision, nor does she want to learn of yet another sneaky trick by King Zale. All she wants to do is focus on her trip with Troy to retrieve the last soul stealing stone—a trip that will not only take them to wondrous, mysterious places, but will bring them closer than she ever dreamed possible.

Unfortunately for Marina Valentine, burdens and Zale tricks are part of the job description.

Only this time, the burden has never been heavier and the trick has never been more destructive. 

*Please note that it can take 12+ hours for a book to appear LIVE on Amazon once it is published, and on occasion there are delays. Because weather and power outages are always a concern this time of year, I may publish early in an effort to avoid any weather-related delays.

**And I apologize for the big gaps between paragraphs. No clue why that happens, but it does now and again. I finally gave up trying to figure out how to fix it--beyond my brain's capability.

There's a Wave Coming!

The Fourth 'Wave' in The Merworld Water Wars series is about to hit the shore! The Mer-Nor gang is back for another crazy, intense adventure!

Stop on by the blog, Twitter, & FB next week for the release date, to see the cover, and read the blurb! 

Cover Reveal: RIFTED, Wave 3 in The Merworld Water Wars series!

It's finally here! The cover reveal for Wave 3!!! I've been SO anxious to share it with you!!! Okay, here we go! I hope you like it as much as I do! <3 Notice Marina has her glowing gel shield power activated and ready to throw!

Someone wicked walks among them.

Heartbreak usually requires time to heal. For Marina Valentine, however, time has other plans: like sticking her with a shiny, stubborn accessory, sending her on a surprising date with someone other than Troy Tombolo, and introducing her lips to kisses that could save or destroy everything and everyone.

Marina and the rest of the Mer-Nor gang must find a way to push through the grief caused by The Dealer, for their next mission will take them on a dangerous, scandal-filled journey that may very well be the most significant to date: hunt down the evidence they need to prove once and for all that the tyrannical King Zale breached the water pact.

But with the shocking identity of The Dealer and overwhelming guilt weighing heavily on her, Marina struggles with frightening emotional urges and begins to question whether she is truly strong enough to succeed as the all-important Siren Savior.

Marina is in more danger than ever before—even inside the familiar study with her trusted friends—because unbeknownst to her, someone has been lurking about, waiting for the chance to undo everything the Mer-Nor gang has achieved…and with the Siren Savior’s doubt growing, that person’s chance has finally arrived.

Coming May 27th, 2014.

OVERFALLS, The Merworld Water Wars Book Two Cover!

 I didn’t think it was possible to love a book cover as much as I love the one for FINNED…then I saw the one for my second baby, OVERFALLS. 

*THUD* 

Yeah, that would be me falling off the chair. I’m so completely and totally IN LOVE with this cover! Not only does it speak to a VERY important part of the story, but the way the clouds circle Marina…it’s like she’s in the eye of a particularly nasty storm (which, well…yeah, I’ll shut up now). 

Sigh. I want to hug it.

 

So, without further ado…please meet OVERFALLS, the second wave in The Merworld Water Wars series: 

Cover Art: Claudia McKinney at Phatpuppy Art ~<3~ Typography: Ashley, The Bookish Brunette

Two secret wishes. Only one will be granted. Let the Mer-Nor Games begin.

Unlike most high school seniors, Marina Valentine isn’t sweating college (she’s outlawed from even applying), the prom (she has her dream date…possibly), or graduation (though surviving to rock the ill-fitting gown is iffy). No, she’s a little preoccupied with succeeding as a walking myth post-graduation. So, when Marina awakens as the one and only Siren Savior, she thinks the tide is about to turn on the merbitch’s mer-psycho family. Unfortunately, she has issues with her flighty Savior powers, and the timing couldn’t be worse. For with the arrival of a feared foe, comes the promise of a disastrous year…and that’s an understatement.

For years, mythological beings have awaited the fulfillment of a mysterious prophecy involving Merpeople, Normals, an epic clash, and a wish that could forever change one group’s destiny. But the real trouble begins when an assassin known as The Dealer starts sending her cryptic messages written on potentially lethal playing cards.

The Dealer makes one thing very clear: someone Marina loves will die. Now, she must find The Dealer before he (or she) finds his victim. But with everyone either a suspect or a target, how will Marina be able to uncover the truth before time runs out?

Not even the Siren Savior in all her power can prepare for the devastating answers.

Roping the Roundup, Part Two: Cover Reveal, Reviews, & Upcoming Character Interviews

It seems when I remember to post things on FB or Twitter, I forget to add them here and vice versa. *shakes head*

Roundup: 

*Cover Reveal: Ooooh, it's here! It's here! It's time! The cover for my second baby is all ready! I'll be doing a thorough post and summary on here tomorrow. If you'd like to see it sooner, please stop by The Zombie Queen herself: 

The Bookish Brunette-The Merworld Water Wars Book Two  Cover Reveal! 

* Reviews: FINNED has received a couple of truly AMAZING editorial reviews from Ashley at The Bookish Brunette and PaulHarrison of A Role Model. I reverted back to my seven-year-old self when I read them, and Mom and I actually jumped up and down and cried (did I really just admit to that?).

Here are a couple of snippets from each (**SQUEAL**). The links to the full reviews can be found in the above paragraph (done especially for you, Mom; now you can just click the link, since I know how much you hate to type in web addresses ;) ) 

 "Two words: Freaking Awesome...FINNED is a fun, sharp-witted tale of Merpeople, Normals, first love, some heart-pounding action and a centuries old war that everyone is still fighting. And MerRacing?? Oh. My. God. BEST THING EVER!!! Seriously- one of the coolest freaking scenes I've ever read in my life..." -The Bookish Brunette

"...FINNED is fun and witty. It's so packed full of charm that it is simply irresistible. The book is fun from start to finish. It's entertaining in a way that very few indie books are, and for that its more than worthy of recommendation." -Paul Harrison, ARoleModel

* Mandy's Top Ten: I also recently answered Mandy’s Top Ten on her blog, I read Indie.  Her questions, like her blog, were an absolute blast! The giveaway is over now (and stupid me didn't remember to post about it here--just FB and twitter. Hey, at least I got 2 out of 3). If you’d like to read her awesomeness and my silliness, as well as an excerpt from FINNED, pop on over by clicking this link: 

Top Ten with silly me! 

* Character Interviews: Well, the Merpeople have finally secured interviews with the local Normals (i.e. Non-merfolk, but powerful nonetheless…albeit extremely quirky). Please join chief reporter from the top selling merfolk publication, Sandierays, Clarissa Smoggrove as she attempts to dig up dirt on the resident outcasts of Saxet Shores, Texas (operative word being ‘attempts’).

Let’s just say these interviews could get very, very messy.

First up on Ms. Smoggrove’s radar is Meikle Martinez, a powerful witch with a dark, somewhat unemotional demeanor. Well-known for her mysterious obsession with her purple sequined bag (rumored to hold some unknown power), Meikle is a self-proclaimed non-hugger, prefers black to all colors, & shows unwavering loyalty to her friends.

Coming soon! :)

NOTE: I'm so sorry for all the big spaces. It doesn't look that way in the edit/create post page. I have no idea how to fix it. :/

FINNED Now Available!!!

Oh. Holy. Mother. Of. Poseidon.

FINNED is now available on Kindle for people to read!!! And the paperback will be on its way soon!!!

Oh, Lord, I hope readers will have fun and laugh and smile and...well...just all those things!  

There are literally no words to describe how it feels seeing my book sitting there for people to read. Reckon I'm not the only author--nor will I be the last--to be completely overwhelmed and on the brink of emotional overload (and, admittedly, a little more than a little teary eyed).

My mom always said that hugging me goodbye on my first day of school was one of the toughest, yet most rewarding days of her life. Today, I fully get that range of emotions. My characters are my ink-and-paper babies--I love them SO much that part of me didn't want to let them go out in the world...even though they have been as eager as a mob of honey badgers to get on out there.

So, I'm going to go stare at my book on Amazon...and maybe shed some tears that, for the record, will be strictly sinus related (off the record, it's waterworks central).

If you'd like to GET FINNED--head on over to Amazon for The Merworld Water Wars Series, FINNED.

My Book Cover & Summary for FINNED!!!

Even as I type this, it feels surreal. I'm elated to share my book cover and summary for FINNED!!! First, and foremost, I'd like to send a BIG thank you and HUG to both The Bookish Brunette and Claudia McKinney for making this dream a reality. Words literally cannot express how much I adore them, not just for their gorgeous work, but for their endless patience with a dorky worrywart, who has a massive inner idiot (uh, yeah, that would be me...really am trying to worry less...the dork part is here to stay, I'm afraid...as is the inner idiot).

So, here it is!!!!!

Cover Art: Claudia McKinney at Phatpuppy Art; Typography: Ashley, The Bookish Brunette

Sixteen-year-old Marina Valentine is a rule-stretcher in an uptight Texas seaside town. She’s hormonally challenged, curious to a fault, hates fish, and has a dating resume that makes the queen look like a slut. It’s not that guys don’t ask her out. They do. She just has an unfortunate reaction to dating—uncontrollable gags. It’s not exactly a turn on.

One by one, her oddball friends start disappearing—much to the joy of the snobby high school royals—and Marina fears she is a walking bull’s eye. Inquiries into their disappearances lead to startling, gag-worthy discoveries. Toss in an increasingly inconvenient attraction to one of the royals—who holds the key to solving the mystery…in his fin—and it’s an anti-fish girl’s worst nightmare come true. Soon, Marina finds herself at the center of a looming underwater war that’s really going to play games with her love life.

As time closes in—and the Merpeople officially come out of the ocean—Marina must choose between the lives of her friends, the future of an underwater utopia, and the life of her first love. There’s just one problem. Where does a love-shy, fish-phobic, non-mergirl even begin…especially when her enemy may be the one person she trusted above everyone else?

Coming Fall 2012!