Birthday Giveaway!

Happy Thursday, gang!

My birthday is right around the corner (Monday, to be exact).



I'm feeling generous in my older age, so I'm sharing a gift with all of you! :)



You guys have from now until 11:59 pm (Eastern time) Monday night to post a comment on this blog post. One lucky reader will be chosen at random and will win a FREE copy of The Ballerina!



So...leave a comment, and make sure that I have a way to get in touch with you in case you happen to be the lucky one! ;)


Good luck and happy reading! :)

The Cast of Loving Her

Happy Thursday, fellow readers!

Today, I am visiting an old favorite.

In the past, you've heard me talk about Storycasting.com I LOVE this website! It is SO much fun to put a cast of actors to the characters in books.

Since I'm redoing all the Loving Her stories, let's re-cast them!

Here are my picks.

Liz

Jessica Chastain


Jen

Rose Byrne



Linda

Katherine Moennig



Donna

Deborah Stewart




Maria

Jenny Gago



Katie

Carey Mulligan


Stephania

Penelope Cruz


Brynn

Evangeline Lilly




What are yours?

Why Loving Her is like nothing you've ever read before

Good Thursday morning! As the weekend approaches, you might be looking for a good book to enjoy.


Wouldn't you know it, I have just the thing!



Why don't you read The Ballerina, the first book in my Loving Her series?




What makes this series so special?



Like my other books, these stories are character driven. You will meet people that you will love and people that you will hate. You will experience their emotions. You will be right their with them. You will experience what they experience.




Another interesting tidbit is how each of these stories can stand on its own, and yet they are all intertwined. You will see events from various perspectives, you will also experience new various and separate events. You will see how these women experience triumphs and tragedies together. As well, you will see how they impact each other's lives, each in their own way.




Lastly, what makes this unlike any other series is that you can start with any story at any point, and you wouldn't miss anything. Unlike linear series with a specific starting point and end point, these stories all create a giant patchwork together. If you were to start with book two (due for release next month) and later back track to book one, you will see that you didn't miss any pieces of the puzzle. Instead, you see the pieces in a bigger and brighter manner.



Open yourself up this weekend. Begin your new journey with these amazing women and unique stories. This is like nothing you've ever read before. You will love these characters and these stories. The Ballerina will be the best literary escape you've ever taken...until the other Loving Her books come out! ;)



Happy reading!

Get to Know Liz!

All of the women in Loving Her are near and dear to my heart. I love each and every one of them. They are all so unique and lovable in their own way.

I thought it would be good to re-introduce all of them as their books come out.

The series starts with Liz, so let's start with her.






A southern, redheaded, pickup driving lesbian ballerina? You bet! Meet Liz: a southern belle with flair. Vivacious, eclectic and graceful, she is unique to say the least. The first in the series of Loving Her stories, Liz’s story is the kind that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book.




A five-foot-ten redhead southern belle, Liz is unlike anyone you have ever met.




One of the things I love about Liz is her happiness. She is someone who is full of gratitude, love and joy. She doesn't hold grudges, nor does she hold onto past pains.




Liz is exuberant. She's bright and full of energy. She lights up a room without even trying. She is beautiful both inside and out.





I had a lot of fun writing her story simply because of her personality. She's fun and free.




There's also a lot of depth to Liz.



She's a farm girl,





a ballerina,





a bit of a gearhead,




a heavy metal fan.





She loves life and really tries to take in as many things as she can so she can live life to the fullest.




She also loves to the fullest. An adopted child, she greatly appreciates her parents. She loves her friends and family and appreciates all of them. She has a strong sense of family, dedication and loyalty.




There is so much to Liz and her story! Come get to know her even better. Click here to purchase your copy of The Ballerina today! :)





Happy reading!

Page 69 Trial...Well, sort of.

It's Thursday again, fellow bibliophiles! ;)



Since last week was the release of my newest work; the first in the Loving Her series: The Ballerina, I thought it would be neat to give y'all a teaser.


As you know, I typically do the Page 69 trial with my novels. Therein lies the problem. You see, these are novellas. And the Ballerina does not have 69 pages.


What is a girl to do?


I tried double spacing it. Page 69 falls in the middle of two different sections.


ARGH!!!!!


So, I just went with what I believe to be a pretty good teaser.


Hope y'all enjoy! ;)





“Wow,” Jen whispered as she admired the pointe shoes Liz had just worn in the performance. The pink satin held a secret. They appeared soft and delicate, but the toe of the shoe was hard and square. The elastic seemed to constrict, rather than expand. These shoes were unlike anything Jen had ever seen before.
She knocked on the toe of the shoe. “It’s hard.” She said in sheer amazement.
“Yeah,” Liz replied. “Those are made by a Russian company. I prefer the Russian shoes because they’re harder than then the French of Italian shoes. They use more paste and material to make a harder box and shank. They’re sturdier for me, they feel more secure. And, I don’t know… I just like how they feel.”
“You like how they feel?!”
“Comparatively speaking!” Liz chuckled.
“These seem…painful.”
“They are. It’s really hard when you first start. Your feet bleed and stuff. You eventually build up to it, sort of. I mean, it still hurts a bit, but you just deal with it. It’s never like walking on a cloud, though. It’s not what it looks like.”
“It did look so effortless watching you up there.”
“Yeah, it’s not. It’s pain and discomfort. But you just smile and keep on going.”
“Wow! You know, you hear about how high heels are bad for your feet. These must be murder!”
“They’re not the best.”
“What do your feet look like?” Jen asked curiously.
Liz, sitting with her feet tucked underneath her legs, started to look uncomfortable. “Oh, well…they’re not pretty.”
“No? What do the shoes do to you?”
“They just wreak havoc on your feet. That’s all.”
“Can I see?”
“They’re not pretty,” Liz repeated.
“I’d like to see.”
Liz took in a deep breath. Slowly, she uncurled. With trepidation, she gradually slid her feet forward.
Liz’s long, lean, infinite legs stretched before her. Jen studied her feet. Boney and bruised, they were anything but attractive. The bottoms of her feet were layered sheets of callouses. Her toes appeared misshapen, flat and squished together. Even her toenails were discolored and appeared unhealthy. On her feet, Liz’s normally fair skin was red, cracked and peeling. Blood blisters and wounds of all sorts were sprinkled all over the tops of her feet. Indeed, there was nothing pretty or dainty about them. “See, they’re ugly.” She said, and she quickly hid them again.
“Wow. I am so sorry.” Jen said softly.
“You have nothing to be sorry about.” Liz looked down at the bed, keeping her gaze away from Jen.
“But…I just don’t get why.”
“Why I would knowingly do this to myself?” Liz’s twang echoed through the dark room.
“Well, yeah.”
“Because it’s what I love. I just feel like I was born to dance. It’s a small sacrifice to pay for pursuing your dream. I just wish I wasn’t so ugly.”
“You?! Are you kidding?! You’re beautiful!”
“But my feet…”
“They are beautiful in their own way. The fact that they are the way they are because of you pursuing your dream and your passion makes them beautiful,” Jen said. “Come here,” she rose off the bed.
She took Liz by the hand and led her to the full length mirror hanging on the wall of the hotel room. “Look at you.” Jen gently led Liz in front of her. “You have the most amazing, beautiful red hair. Your eyes are the most unusual but simply gorgeous shade of green I have ever seen. You are tall and lean. Your body is pure muscle.” Jen wrapped her arms around Liz’s waist. “Your legs are long and slender. And your feet are just perfect.” She softly kissed the nape of Liz’s neck. “Just perfect,” she whispered again.