SPIRAL Teaser 2!

Nessa is determined to stay focused  and avoid any emotional involvement ...

 

“How was it?” Lisa asks.

My hands fall away from my face. “What?"

She looks at me sternly over the top of her glasses. “Your date.”

“I don’t know if I’d call it that. It was just dinner. And … I probably won’t do it again.” I don’t want people to think I’m more focused on my social life than my work. And I don’t want to like Aron any more than I already do.

 

Lisa’s eyes narrow as she watches my expression. “Fine. It was just dinner,” she says slowly, “and you probably won’t do it again. But tell me about it. Was he a jerk? Did he—”

 

“It was amazing,” I blurt. “I haven’t enjoyed myself that much in a long time.”

 

“You poor thing. It sounds awful.”

 

“It might have been the first conversation I’ve ever had with a guy that didn’t contain more awkward pauses than words.”

 

“It must have been torture,” she says, her lips twitching. “I can see why you wouldn’t want to do that more than once. I imagine he’s a terrible kisser as well."

 

I can’t hide my smile as I think about Aron. “Don’t even get me started on that.”

Add it to Goodreads here.

I'll post another teaser on Monday, and once again, here's a link to the sign up for the "Always do the thing that scares you" blogfest. It's easy to participate (all you have to do is post about a time you intentionally did something that scared you in order to get over the fear or because you knew it was good for you), and there's a giveaway!

SPIRAL Teaser #1!

Over the next two weeks, I'll be posting teasers from Spiral, which comes out July 9th. The summary is here.

Nessa and Aron's first meeting happens during a rough first day on the hospital unit where she's working ...

I take a stumbling step back, and the heel of my pump lands squarely on … someone’s toe. “Ow,” says a deep male voice.

I spin around. Lab coat over a striped button-down. Splattered with coffee. “Omigod,” I mumble, reaching out like an idiot to wipe brown droplets from the center of my victim’s chest, vaguely registering firm muscles beneath the fabric … and the fact that I am smearing hot coffee over them and (once again!) making things worse. “So sorry.” I lift my gaze to his face.

Whoa.

I’ve stomped on the most gorgeous guy I’ve ever seen up close. And made him spill his coffee. And wiped it on his neatly pressed shirt. He’s a few inches north of six feet tall, lean and broad-shouldered, with dark blond hair and seriously green eyes. A small, crescent shaped scar just above his angular jawline somehow only makes him hotter.

He’s gazing down at me like he’s expecting an explanation.

“Uh,” I say, grasping frantically for words and coming up empty. Because: his mouth. I can’t stop staring at it. “Sorry. You’re very … stealthy.”

On Wednesday, July 10th, I'll be hosting the "Always do the thing that scares you" blogfest to celebrate Spiral's release. To participate, all you have to do is post about a time when you intentionally did something that scared you, either to get over the fear or because you knew it would be good for you. Details and sign up are here, including info about the giveaway! Grab the badge and prepare to tell us how you confronted your fears!

 

ADDICTED TO NEW ADULT

Grab the banner for this discussion, going on today through 7/16/13!

I am really excited to be participating in the Addicted to New Adult event, and to get things started, here's the giveaway, hosted by New Leaf Literary! There are some fabulous books in there, including Cora Carmack's books, Addicted to You by Colina Brennan, which releases TOMORROW, and my very own Spiral.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The freedom of "before."

In just over two weeks, on July 9th, my first novel, SPIRAL, will be available for download! Part of me is eagerly counting the days. Part of me is terrified. And part of me is just sort of … enjoying this time. I’ve done the writing, revising, editing, and polishing. I commissioned the cover and am thrilled with it. I have a fantastic team supporting me. I’ve set things in motion and now they’re rolling. But nothing’s happening *quite* yet.

Now all I have is possibility.

In my more anxious moments, I’d call it “uncertainty.” There’s no real way to know if people will want to read this book. I put my heart into it. I love these characters and feel for them. But who knows how others will receive it? If I let myself (and sometimes I do), I’d be hand-wringing. OMG, what if they hate it? What if they don’t even notice it’s there?!?

When I’m feeling more optimistic, though, I don’t dwell on the negative parts of the unknown. Instead, I focus on that possibility. This book is like Silver Linings Playbook meets Grey’s Anatomy! It could find its readers, maybe some fans, maybe people who want to read my next book and my next.

There’s a freedom in these last few days before publication, in all the blank space of the future, and I can fill that vacuum with all my hopes and dreams. There’s no pressure right now. No one’s paying attention. No one’s waiting for this book to come out except for me (and the friends and colleagues who are rooting for it). No one has any expectations because I’m brand new to this scene. No one hates my writing or loves it. Clean slate. It’ll never be that way again, not really, not after July 9th.

So, while I’m blisteringly excited about sharing SPIRAL with readers, I am also taking time to enjoy the “before.”