I'm Free

A few days ago I mentioned on FB that I had an announcement to make.

So here it is!

 I have decided that from now on--FOREVER--all of my books will be free.

Elemental? To Love or Die in a Steamy-Reamy World?

Yup, free (as soon as I figure out some kinks at Amazon).

And every book I write from now on will also be free.

You're probably thinking I've lost my mind right now. Hey, maybe. Or maybe I never had it! ;)

The truth is I just like to write and I LOVE to reach readers. And I don't really care about making money. I'm already super blessed. I have an amazing family, I'm doing something I love, and I get to meet new people while doing it.

I already spent enough years obsessing way too much about what "success" really was. I obsessed over my sales, wondering how I could tweak my plots, add more romance, more of this, more of that, anything to get more sales. And it depressed the hell out of me.

So I'm done with that.

I'm just going to write the best books I know how, and give them away for free. I just want to reach the people who will love my books.

I did all the other stuff.

I landed a deal with a publishing company, I made some money, went to NYC, did signings at book stores, landed more deals with more publishing companies (Yeah, I forgot to tell you that one. I sold the French translation rights for Elemental and Fae to a publishing company in Quebec. I meant to make a big announcement about that, so here it is! And obviously, the french version won't be free. I don't think they'd go for that :) ).

I wanted to get all that stuff done some time in my life. So I've done it and now all I want is to get my books read. That's all I care about.

So they're free. The ones I'm currently working on or about to publish will be offered in parts on Wattpad. And then when they're ready, I'll also upload them onto Amazon and Smashwords.

Come follow me on Wattpad and enjoy! I've already posted the first five chapters of Almost Night! Read them! Comment! Share with your friends! I'll be posting five chapters every week. Elemental and To Love or Die in a Steamy-Reamy world will be posted by this weekend. So if you've never read them, give 'em a go! :) And let me know what you think.

I hope you guys enjoy! And thank you so much for sticking with me all these years. You guys are the best part of writing. If it weren't for you, I'd just be talking to myself. :) Not that I'd ever do that...

Yeah... :P

A New Day

I'm pretty excited. I am.

A letter came in the mail right after Friday's blog post from my editor over at SHP. My rights have officially released to me. It's one of those wonderful, terrifying things, and I'm so grateful that I still have a fantastic relationship with them.

'Cuz here's the thing: I was terrified they'd hate me forever. I mean, they had every right even though all my reasons were solely based on my own shortcomings. They had a right. But they don't, and that's how awesome they are over at SHP. It's really a family. And I HIGHLY recommend all you querying writers out there submit to them. They work hard for their authors, and there's real love over there.

But today's Monday for me. Literally and figuratively. It's the first day of my brand new career. I'm starting over.

No more plans for delightful surprises. You're getting it all. No more anxiously anticipating your glee once you find out Elemental is really about space fairies/elementals who can teleport with their wings. And that Ella's worrying more about not killing everyone than she is about a boy. I mean, there's a boy, but she's got priorities.

And Lilly in Almost Night may be a unicorn, but don't expect a sweet tale. She's got scars on her wrists for a reason.

I'd like to write a really sweet tale some day, but that day has not yet come. To Love or Die in a Steamy-reamy World comes closest. Kind of. Maybe. It's dark humor with a Victorian bent. So if you think that might qualify as sweet, there you go.

I guess I'm just not ready for writing sweet yet. I know I come across that way on the internet (and believe me, I do love my exclamation marks and emoticons), but my books are my darker side. I'm like Darth Vader or #10. Yeah...let's go with that. Let's pretend I'm cool. ;)

*waves jedi hand*

This how cool I am

Okay, maybe not...

but when I'm alone and the kids are napping, I *might* pretend to be Darth Vader.

Have a great Monday, everyone!

I'm Back! And I Have Stories of BEA to Share!!

Goooooood morning, everyone!!

You may have noticed that I was pretty much MIA last week. Well, that's because I was in NYC! It was so awesome I can't even begin to properly describe it. Let me give you a hint:

1. Free books
2. Book bloggers
3. Free books
4. Famous authors
5. Good friends
6. Free books

This is just a tiny sample of all the books I got. I couldn't carry everything home with me, so three boxes were shipped and are on their way to me now!

Do you see those titles?? Keeper of the Lost Cities (review being posted today on Goodreads), by Shannon Messenger! The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater! The Spindlers, by Lauren Oliver! Black City, by Elizabeth Richards! ALL the pretties! It's still very overwhelming. 

You may also notice I have two of some of those books up there. That's because I plan on doing a giveaway in the next coming weeks.

So let me share a tale of BEA. I have many, but this is the one I'll be sharing today.

As you may recall, I told you all a few weeks ago that I was going to be signing copies of Elemental at BEA. Well, my publisher called a few days before to tell me that they'd be bringing two whole cases (i.e. seventy books) for the event. I started to panic.

I mean, seventy books is a lot. Sure, a lot of people go to BEA, but there are dozens of signings going on at the same time and who was I to be chosen over some of the huge names that were also going to be there?

I started hoping and praying that I'd get through half of my books and not be there twiddling my thumbs for too long.

When the first day of BEA came, I really started to sweat. All my nightmares were being played out before me. HUGE lines were forming for really huge names while slightly lesser known authors were sitting at their booths pleading with their eyes for people to come and take their books. I did tend to go to these folks. I felt for them! I knew I would be one of them the very next day!

I couldn't sleep Tuesday night. At all. My stomach had twisted into this horrible, nauseous knot and I just KNEW I was going to humiliate myself and disappoint my publishing company.

Luckily, I had an author breakfast to go to on Wednesday morning to take up some of the time before my signing at 10:00. Because my signing was going on at pretty much the same time as one of my all time favorite authors', Becca Fitzpatrick (who would be signing copies of Finale--according to the BEA website), I'd begged my husband and fellow SHP author Dan Cohen to stand in line for me.

The breakfast ended a little early at 9:22, so I decided to go to her line and chat with my husband and Dan until they were done getting my book or 10:00 rolled around (whichever came first). I checked out the front of the line first because that's where they should have been (due to the fact they had yellow exhibitor badges and could get in before everyone else).

They weren't at the front of the line.

So I started walking towards the end of the line. And it was a long, long line.

I still didn't see them.

At this point, I was getting a little upset. We'd discussed this! They knew they had to get there early in order to get a copy and I was NOT about to wait until this fall to read a book I'd been dying for for years now and could get at BEA.

While checking out the line, I ran into another SHP author, Kimberly Miller. She claimed she saw the two slackers at the SHP booth.

o.o I thought they'd lost their minds.

It was 9:40. I still had 20 minutes before my signing so I figured I had plenty of time to go there before anyone showed up for my signing and demand they get in the Becca Fitzpatrick line before it was too late.

I turned the corner to the SHP booth and saw something that looked similar to this:

That couldn't be for me! I thought to myself. There's NO WAY that is for me.

But it was (I know, still very shocked over here). And then I was humiliated for an entirely different reason.

I'd showed up twenty minutes too early. How unfashionable of me!

Well, it turned out Becca Fitzpatrick was NOT signing Finale (despite what they'd advertised), so that was the reason my husband and Dan were not in the line. I immediately forgave them and apologized for thinking they'd lost their darn minds.

But now I had a new problem.

I had twenty minutes before my signing and people were there, waiting. I couldn't just walk off and mill around until 10:00 like my original plan. And I couldn't just stand there making them wait when there were other books to be gotten.

So I started a little early.

There's me!! And for some reason, people actually wanted to get their picture taken with me. The lady to the right of me (left in this picture) had just posed with me.

There's another view of the line! This was before we had to move it because it was getting in the way of another signing that was just about to start. You can see the guy in the next booth looking over.

There's me and Kendra Saunders (the marketing guru at SHP)!!! Kate Kaynak and SHP editor Vikki Ciaffone are in the background.

There's me, Dan Cohen, and Kendra Saunders right after my signing! And like most pictures involving me, I was just in the middle of saying something when they snapped the pic.

The whole experience was awesome!! All seventy books were gone! The thirty some odd copies they'd brought to just hand out were also gone!! The display copy had to be taken off the shelf and given away (story for that one on Wednesday)!! And STILL people were coming!

It was soooooo amazing. I am so happy! I did NOT disappoint my publishing company! And I am soooo ready to do this again.

Keep checking back for more BEA stories! They are all VERY good. And at the end, I'll be doing a giveaway!

Happy Monday, everyone!!

Z is For Zippedy-do-da!

Today's the last day of the A to Z Challenge, but more importantly, it's...

THE DAY BEFORE THE RELEASE OF MY DEBUT BOOK!!!!!

and I kinda feel like this:

And I have big goals. BIG goals. 

I want to get on the Amazon Top 100 list. Oh yes I do!! And I have big plans. BIG plans. :)

Tomorrow, I'll be having a HUGE giveaway where I'll be giving away 5 signed copies of Elemental (stop back tomorrow for details).

AND! 

I'll be partying over at Mind Reader via live chat tomorrow at 5:00 pm (EST). You should definitely show up! I'll be bringing presents! There might even be balloons and confetti. :)

AND! 

Elemental is now available for your Kindle or Nook!!!

Please stop by Amazon and B&N and buy it. I swear you'll want to and it's super cheap! 

Don't have a Kindle or Nook? That's okay! It's available as a paperback too!!

Stop back tomorrow for the BIG giveaway!! You will NOT want to miss it. 

And please spread the word through your blog or tweeting/sharing through facebook. I'd really REALLY appreciate it. I might even dance for you. 

Oh, who am I kidding?? 

I'll definitely dance for you*!! 

*Seriously. I'll have the hubs videotape me dancing and I will totally post it on here. You will laugh. I promise.

S is For Sneak Peek

A little note for everyone stopping by for the A to Z challenge:

First off, hi! Welcome! Look around, have fun. My posts will be short this month, but they'll be following a theme: Books and Authors. I'll be showcasing some of my favorites within those categories. But I'll also be having some special posts regarding the release of my debut novel, Elemental, from time to time.   

Click this link for a sneak peek at Elemental!!

Sad News and Happy News

The sad news is my two-year-old had been in the hospital since Thursday because he had a broken leg and I was right there with him.  Unfortunately, I haven't been around at all because (obviously) there have been some other pretty serious things going on.  If you've got some super amazing stuff going on on your blog, PLEASE let me know and I'll get to it (otherwise, I'll miss it because I just don't have time to search through my list of blogs I follow).  But, of course, I don't want to miss anything, so I need you to share the news with me!!  :)

Other sad news is I haven't had a chance to mail out the posters and take care of the pre-orders yet.  Hopefully, I'll get a chance to do that early next week.

The contest to come up with an Elemental-related getup for Pi-Con is ongoing.  If you have an awesome idea for what I should wear (remember, Elemental-related), leave a comment and I'll pick my favorite.  There are prizes!  I can't exactly remember what they are right now and I only have a few more seconds to finish this post, but I promise you they are AMAZING!!!  You want to submit an idea *waves jedi hand*

Now, on to happy news:

I've been interviewed at Ya-Aholic!!!  The wonderfully sweet Haley was kind enough to actually want to ask me questions and post my answers (which are pretty witty, if I do say so myself :) )!!!  Go check it out!!!  Show some love to one of the most awesome YA reviewers out there!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Do the Blog Jog!! *do-do do do-do-do*

*done to the tune of Do the Hussle*

So, Welcome to Blog Jog Day!! Please enjoy my site then click over to Jennifer L. Armentrout to see what the next blog has to offer! Lost in the links? You can always go to the main Blog Jog Day Blog and find a new link to jog from.

Thanks for stopping by!

Just because Ella can burn someone to the ground with her mind doesn't mean she should...

but she wants to.

For ten years--ever since she was a small child--Ella has been held prisoner. Now that she has escaped, she needs answers. Who is she? Why was she taken? And who is the boy with the beautiful green eyes who haunts her memories?

Is Ella the prophesied Destructor... or will she be the one who's destroyed?



There it is. My lovely. And today I have some amazing stuff planned for all of you! Like holy-cow-this-place-is-hosting-a-contest kind of amazing.

And I also have a never before seen snippet from my debut novel, Elemental (coming out May 1, 2012 through Spencer Hill Press)

Snippet first, and then I'll get to the prizes three (yes, I said THREE) of you could win!

Enjoy!

I couldn’t register the pain at first. Though their claws dug and ripped through my skin, sending warm blood to run down my arms and legs, my mind moved too slowly. Someone’s screams echoed in my ears and I was surprised to realize they were mine. Then the pain rolled through me like waves, and I screamed louder until the Shakai digging at my face choked off my shrieks. Hooked pincers slid in my mouth and tore at my tongue as they fought to get down my throat.

As I swiped my hands at the bugs, ripping one off only to find five more to take its place, my body started to warm and tingle. At first, I thought maybe I was passing out, but the tingling turned into a sharp burning. Pain scorched through my veins, charring me from the inside out. I couldn’t even feel the Shakai ripping me apart anymore.

I clenched my teeth against it, willing my body to ignore the throbbing. It would not be ignored. The pain seeped into my head and I screamed, ready for it to explode. My eyes bulged, pushed from beneath by the sheer force of the agony. Too exhausted to fight anymore, I gave in and let the pain have me, praying for death.

The moment I let go of my control, the pain vanished, replaced by hunger. For what, I didn’t know yet. All I did know was that every cell of my body ached to devour.

And now for the prizes!

All you have to do is follow this blog and leave a comment for your chance to win a signed poster (it looks just like the cover) and a pre-order of Elemental!! I will draw three winners on Wednesday, the 10th.

Good luck! And have fun visiting all the other participating blogs!!

The Nerds of Connecticut Are So Charming This Time of Year

Especially when this semi-old nerd from New York comes to visit. :)

Pi-Con is just a few more weeks away and I'm going to be there!  I'll even be reading Ch. 1 from ELEMENTAL during the Rapid Fire Reading! (yes, you know you want to be there to hear it)

But I have a problem.  I kind of want to dress up in something ELEMENTAL related. 

SO! I NEED YOUR HELP!!

Based on the cover and the back of the book blurb (all of which is located somewhere on this blog), what do you think I should wear?

I'll accept crazy suggestions, not-so-crazy suggestions, out-of-this-world suggestions!  You name it!  And I'll consider it!

I'll take my favorite suggestion and send the winner ten (yes, TEN!) signed bookmarks!!! And then! And then! I'll get my picture taken in the getup and send it to the winner, too!  Yes, I know.  Everyone wants a picture of me. ;)

Oh yeah, and if you're in the Enfield, Connecticut area, you MUST come and visit me (this isn't a stipulation to be a part of the contest, but I would love to meet all of you in person :) ).

Now get to thinking!! You've got a week to come up with something amazing and leave it in the comments.  I'm counting on you! :)

Free Stuff!

Lately it's been like Christmas at my house!  Practically each day has brought me something new and wonderful to my door.

I've gotten books!  And books!  And more books!

I also got some of this stuff:

But most recently, I've gotten bookmarks!  Elemental bookmarks!  And they are GORGEOUS!!

And because you guys are awesome (and I've been feeling really bad about being so absent lately--I swear it's for a good cause--> revisions), I'm giving these bookmarks away for free!  Just send me an email (emilywhite_1112(at)yahoo(dot)com) with your address and I'll get one out to you!  I'll even include a super special note from yours truly!  And!  I'll send more than one if you promise to hand them out to friends, coworkers, your local library, whatever you can think of!

Believe me when I tell you again that they are G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!  Everyone is going to want one!  :D

Announcement!!!

You may remember my rather exciting news from last week!!  But just in case you don't remember, or you didn't see the post, or you didn't just click on the link, let me do a recap:

A publishing company offered to publish ELEMENTAL!

And today I'm going to tell you that I accepted the offer!!!  I am so excited to be working with Spencer Hill Press!!

It feels like it all happened so very fast.  One minute I'm answering interview questions for my blog tour and the next, I'm clicking on an email that contains an offer of publication.  Honestly, I was a little flustered.  I didn't know what to do!  I was already so deep into self-publishing, both mentally and physically, that a part of me just couldn't bear to step away from that.  Plus, along with the offer came a very clear warning that my book wouldn't come out for another year or so. 

So I had to ask myself, did I want to be published now without all the wonderful perks that come with working with a publishing company (professional editing, more options for review sites, being a part of a team, etc.)?  Or did I want to take advantage of all the wonderful perks, but put off the publication date?

I called my mom.  And then I called Vic. 

My mom basically accused me of being a pompous idiot for even considering not accepting the offer (okay, it wasn't really that mean, but I like to tease my mom :) ).

But let's be perfectly clear here before anyone accuses me of the same thing:  I was always leaning heavily toward accepting the offer.  Kate Kaynak, the one who sent me the offer, had already been extremely supportive and helpful since I announced I was self-publishing.  I knew that not only COULD I work with her, I'd love, love, LOVE it.  The only thing keeping me from shouting my acceptance the moment the offer was made was this little bug in the back of my mind that was really addicted to the idea of self-publishing.  I kept going online and seeing all this overwhelming support.  The amount of people putting my book in their "to read" folder on goodreads was climbing steadily.  And even ELEMENTAL's facebook fan page was seeing a steady growth of fans.

But in the end, it was Vic who convinced me to ignore the bug and take advantage of this great opportunity.

So after a very nice phone conversation with Kate, and another day or two to think about it, I woke up one morning with something Vic had said in my head and my mind perfectly made up; I wanted to accept the offer.  So I replied to Kate and everything pushed forward.

I am soooo happy with the decision I made and I can't wait to start working with Spencer Hill Press to make ELEMENTAL the absolute best it can be.

 ---------------------------------------------------------------

I interviewed Kate Ellison on Monday!  Check it out and leave a comment for your chance to win a copy of The Curse Girl!

Amazing News!

Yesterday I announced the winners of the ARC giveaway!  Yay!  But what you don't know is that I had to tell those winners that they might not get an ARC right now.  I didn't go into details with them then for certain reasons, but after getting permission, I can give a few more details away today.

A publishing company has recently offered to publish ELEMENTAL.

Exciting, right?  

Absolutely!

I've been taking a few days to really make my decision, and I'll admit I haven't quite made up my mind yet.  Obviously, this is a huge decision to make.  It's flattering!  And amazing!  And so many other good and awesome things!  But it's still a big decision, especially when I've had my mind centered on self-publishing for so long now.

I just wanted to give all you, dear readers, a heads-up on what is going on.  Anyone who has offered to have me on their blog for the blog tour should expect an email some time today.  Obviously, if I accept the offer the blog tour will be cancelled and the publication date of June 21, 2011 no longer valid.  My mind is really scrambled right now with all the things I've had to consider, so yeah.  Yay!  Options are nice!  :)  But also very, very hard.  

Wish me luck as I decide what to do!  :)

ARC Giveaway Winners!

It's been over a month since this giveaway started and you, dear readers, have been so supportive and patient!  Thank you so much to everyone who has asked me to come on their blog for my blog tour.  I wish I could give ARCs to all of you, but sadly, I can't.  :(

So!  The five winners are...

Joss!

Lindsay Scott!

Jaleh!

Jen Daiker!

Lisa Potts!

Congratulations to all of you!  Look for an email from me some time today.  And thanks again to everyone for being so supportive!

ARCs are Almost Ready

Well, the ebook versions.

You may have noticed I've been a bit sporadic in my postings and comments this month.  Well, there's a reason. For the past couple months, I've been working and working and working on my ebook.  There was a LOT of trial and error going on.  I've always been very open about how illiterate I am when it comes to anything computer related, so building an ebook was quite an undertaking.  But I've learned a lot and it's almost done!!!

But with one completed project comes about a dozen more new ones.  I think you'll like these new ones, though.  I've already told you that some swag has arrived at my door, but I'm working on getting more!  Bookmarks!  Magnets!!  And so much more!!!  And they'll all be free.  Some of the bigger items will be given away during the blog tour, but as soon as the others are available, I'll let you guys know!

Now, because the ARCs are almost done, I'm hankering to give some away.  I've already got a contest going on where you can win one of five available ARCs, but if you have a book review blog, send me an email (emilywhite_1112 (at) yahoo (dot) com) and I'll get an ARC to you as soon as I can.  And if you, dear readers, know any reviewers, please send them my way.

ALSO!!!!

I've noticed more and more people talking about self-publishing lately.  If you need any help whatsoever getting started or building an ebook, feel free to email me!!  I love helping any way I can.  Or if you just haven't decided yet, but you're really thinking about it, go ahead and email me if you need someone to weigh the pros and cons.

Hopefully next week I can get back into my regular blogging schedule (MWF) with some real posts!

ELEMENTAL Snippet

You guys, I am soooo excited about posting this sneak peek!  I've been waiting and waiting and waiting until it was closer to the publication date!  So here it is: Ch. 1 of my soon-to-be-published YA Space Opera!  Enjoy!

Chapter One:

Escape From Hell

            I wondered what a blue sky looked like.  Okay sure, I remembered it was blue, but considering I’d long ago forgotten what blue was, that didn’t help me much.  You see, I lived in a world of nothing but darkness and stale, sour air.  A place where not only could I forget simple things like colors, but I couldn’t even remember the details of my own hand.

            Or how I got in that cell, or why.

            I knew breathing hurt because the air was so dry it sucked the moisture straight out of my lungs, and that I could go one hundred and seven atmosphere cycles—about four days—without food before passing out.

            Most times, though, I chose not to dwell on my circumstances, as long as I could help it.  Sho’ful, the prison ship that floated around space, carrying untold numbers of souls and sucking the life out of each and every one of them, failed to torment me in one place alone—my dreams.  And that’s because I didn’t have them.  Ever.

            So I closed my eyes again and hovered in that empty world between sleeping and waking.  The world where I could ignore the silence and pretend it felt right, the world where darkness released me rather than tortured me.  Alone because I wanted to be and not because it had been forced on me.

            A sleep like a drug to the soul.

“Get up.”  A voice in the darkness ripped me from the edge of slumber and pierced my ears with its sudden harshness.  I gasped, clawing at my ears as the itch of newness burned at the base of my jaw.  “Open the door and leave.”

The voice seeped away like a dream, or a memory of a dream. 

And I burst out laughing for a precious split second before I clamped my mouth shut.

No one left Sho’ful, and only fools thought so.  No light at the end of this tunnel.  I lay there, refusing to get up.  The voice had been nothing but my imagination.  It could be nothing more than that.

A creaking sound broke the silence.  And then something large, cold and hard pushed against me, sliding me across the rusted floor.  When I stopped moving, I grabbed hold of the thing that had pushed me and ran my fingers along its exterior.  Parts of it were rough and chipping away and all of it was ice cold.

I lay there running the probability that what I held in my hands was the open door over and over in my mind.  Impossible.  Yet…maybe.  Something had pushed me.  It could have been the door.

I reached my arms up and grasped the thing I was growing fairly certain was indeed the door, and pulled myself up.  I moved my feet to find some purchase on the floor.  They slid along its smooth surface, throbbing with pain.  I groaned in frustration.

With my teeth clenched, I laid my feet flat against the floor and forced my shaking legs to lift me.  I leaned my weight against the door and let out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding in.  Sweat poured from every pore. 

It was time to walk out of there and leave Sho’ful, so I clenched my right leg and prepared for my first step out of my cell.  

And froze. 

The hounds.

            The guards’ precious little pets kept watch over the halls to instill terror in the prisoners and dare us to come out.  A chill ran up my spine as I thought about all the times I’d pressed myself against the back corner of my cell, as far away from a hound that had come sniffing at my door as I could get.  With perfect clarity, I could still recall the sound of his claws scraping against metal, sharp enough to gouge the hard exterior. 

No one in their right mind would leave their cell, even if they could.  That didn’t stop the guards from dragging inmates out once in a while to feed to the beasts.

            I shuddered.  They’d done that to the man in the cell next to mine just a few feeding sessions ago.  I could still hear his screams, the sound of his flesh being ripped from bone, and the crunch of the hounds’ teeth gnawing him apart.

            No. 

I shook my head in part to get the memory out and part in answer to my stupid plan.  I couldn’t go out there.  My heart hammered against my chest in warning.  The smartest, the safest thing to do would be to close the door and go on living my life the way I’d been living it for the past ten or so years.  A beating heart, safe inside my chest and drowning in depressive nothingness trumped a beating heart spilling my blood on the floor to be lapped up by those monsters. 

Minutes passed slowly as I struggled to make up my mind.  This glimmer, this phantom hope that warmed my chest was the first in living memory.  I couldn’t just disregard it and lock it away to die like everything else in my life.

The cold truth of what I needed to do hit me then.  I’d been dying long enough. 

That’s when I took my first step.

Several hours and a few bone-bruising falls later, I’d crept through six levels and at least twenty corridors.  My efforts had not been rewarded.  I was no closer to getting out of this hell than when I’d taken my first step.  I started to think I was an idiot for listening to a voice in my head.  No, I knew I was an idiot.

            I pressed the heels of my palms against my eyes and smacked my head against the wall.  Things weren’t going so great.  I needed to get out.  The weight of the black nothingness crashed in around me, suffocating me.  I needed to get out.  I needed to get out!        

Breathe, Ella.  Breathe. 

I couldn’t breathe.  What had I done?  An interstellar ship didn’t have a way off.  Why did I ever think it did? 

I took a deep breath and let it wash through me.  My heartbeat slowed until I could barely feel it at all.  The cold metal soothed my forehead.  I just needed to stand there for a moment with my head pressed against the wall and my arms dangling at my sides.  Things would work out.  I’d be all right.  Too bad telling myself that over and over didn’t actually help.

I turned my back against the wall and slid down to the floor, resting my head against my knees.  Every cell in my body wanted to break down and cry.  If I hadn’t been so terrified of making the littlest noise, I would have.  I’d never felt so lost in my life.  The hope I’d felt earlier had all but disappeared.  If the hounds didn’t find me, the guards would, and they’d feed me to the hounds anyway.  I was such a fool for leaving my cell.  A tear burned its way down my cheek.  I clamped my hands over my eyes to stop the rest from gushing out.

Okay, I needed to think through this.  I lifted my head from my knees and wiped my tear-soaked hands onto the ragged shreds of my muslin prison uniform.  I needed to make a plan, if only to keep my mind busy.

If I kept finding the stairs and followed them down, I’d get to the bottom.  What then?  Would there be a door to outside?  Is that how space ships worked?  Of course, even if that was how space ships worked, outside was nothing but vacuum space.  I groaned.  My plan sucked.

I rubbed the blood back into my legs and pulled myself up.  A sucky plan beat no plan any day.

One, two, three.  One, two, three.  Step, step, step.  Step, step, step.  After my first initial steps, I found it easier to work in patterns and small groupings to keep track of distances.  So far, I’d gone about thirty-eight sets of step, step, steps and most corridors were forty-three sets long before I hit the stairwell.

Step, step, holy crap! 

My face collided with the floor in a sickening crunch.  I clutched my head and moaned.  Sho’ful shook and groaned as my body slammed into one wall and then the other.  I tried to grab onto something to keep from rolling around and lose my place in the hallway.  The smooth walls offered no handhold.

This had never happened before.  Something was definitely different.  During my whole ten years on the ship, it had been nothing but a smooth ride.  Now, Sho’ful was shaking to pieces.  The grinding and booming ripped through my skull and reverberated through my whole body.

Then the floor fell away from me.  Or rather, we dropped so suddenly my body went airborne for a few seconds before crashing back down.  Blood pooled in my mouth.

Oh no, not blood.  Anything but blood.  Please.  I whipped my head around and strained my ears for any noise other than the rattling metal and booming gears.  Though I didn’t have any way to know for sure, I suspected the hounds could pick up the smell of blood really well.

My pounding heart probably didn’t helping anything either.  Even above all the mind-numbing noise, I could hear it racing away in my ears. I tried to breathe deeply to calm myself down.

The ship leveled out and settled.  We had landed, somehow I knew.  Unfortunately, now that all the shaking had stopped, my heartbeat thundered in the heavy silence.

            I swallowed, waiting and listening.  A leaky pipe drip, drip, dripped off somewhere in the distance.  Even farther out, I heard the muffled voices of guards.  In the vast and empty hallway where I sat, it was silent.  I didn’t move.  Something felt off—like it was too silent.

            I strained my ears, forcing myself to hear more.  Silence and the drip, drip, drip of the leaky pipe.  Drip…drip…drip…

            I pulled a breath down to my toes and moved to my knees to stand up.  That’s when I heard it: a puff of exhaled breath.  Blood chilled in my veins.

            There wasn’t much I could do—I was just as blind in the dark corridor as I had always been—but now a hound stood somewhere close behind me.  I rose to my feet, agonizingly cautious in my slow but steady movements.  If the hound was blind too, then silence would be key.

            I prayed the hound was blind too.

            I straightened with my hands on the wall.  Something scraped against the metal floor—a claw.  I took one step forward.  A muffled noise like bristling fur filled the silence.  I bit back my terror.

            Way, way off in the distant end of the hall, something caught my eye, which was odd because I hadn’t used my eyes in a very long time.  I welcomed the strange sense.  I needed all the help I could get.  The thing that caught my eye wasn’t all that special, and yet to me, it meant everything.  The end of the hall glowed with a weak light that threatened to be snuffed any moment it was so pale.  But it was light. 

            The furry, bristling sound moved closer.  I could imagine the hound’s maw spread wide to reveal rows of razor sharp teeth.  My mind moved ridiculously slow while my body screamed at me to run.  My muscles actually prickled with the need while my brain refused to give the order.  And so I was trapped there waiting for the reality of the situation to settle in, my spastic body having already figured everything out light years ago.

            It’s too far away, I kept telling myself.  Even if there is something around the corner, you’ll never make it.  But my body had enough, and I ran.

            The hound’s reaction was immediate.  The air rushed past me as he made his first lunge.  I cringed, waiting for the blow.  It didn’t come.  I heard the increasing staccato of his claws on the floor as his feet padded toward me.  He’d been farther away than I’d thought.

            Not far enough, though.

            Hot, musky breath blew across my head, whipping my thick and crinkly hair into my face.  I spit the strands out of my mouth and ran harder.  A razor sharp fang cut through my shoulder, snagging my shirt.  I stumbled back and screamed.  The hound’s breath moistened my cheeks, and so did my tears.

            I twisted away and the sleeve ripped away from my shirt just as the hound’s jaws shut with an audible snap.  Foamy slobber hit my arm and neck.

            I don’t know what I was thinking—maybe I wasn’t—but my fist swung out and collided with the hound’s jaw, somehow making him stumble back.  I took advantage of the opportunity and ran for the end of the hall and the glowing light.

            The light, which I had at first thought a miracle, burned my eyes.  Each lunge I took brought me closer to its warm promises, but my ill-used sense of sight protested.  Actually, it flat out said no.  My eyes and nose burned, tears and snot pouring down my face.  To make matters worse, the hound had recovered and started chasing me again, and gaining.  The light didn’t seem to phase him at all.

            A room opened up at the end of the hall.  I could tell because the light suddenly brightened in the corner of my left eye.  I turned, slipping on the floor, but kept my balance.  I felt the hound’s moist jaws hover just inches from my head.  His claws scraped against the floor.

            Hot, sticky warmth oozed from somewhere in the room.  The cold, ship air battled valiantly with it, but lost.  Somehow, I knew I wanted to go toward the warmth, just like I knew I needed to go toward the light.  The light and the warmth were connected and they were the lifesavers I’d been looking for.  I just had to get closer to them.  Whatever the light was it was good and protective.  It was life.  I knew that, I just didn’t know how I knew that. 

            Something like a memory flitted across my mind and for a second I imagined sunshine breezes and wispy grass, and lying next to a boy.  A boy with green eyes.

            Then three things happened: I heard the hound’s wet chops open wide and felt his steamy breath closing the distance.  A claw grazed my back, slicing my shirt and skin open.  And I fell through a hole, screaming all the way down.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So there it is!!  Don't forget to check out ELEMENTAL's fan page and goodreads page!  

C is for Cover Reveal!

We're now on day 3 of the A to Z Challenge.  Don't forget to check out the over 1200 other participants!!

You know, I was thinking of prolonging the reveal a bit by putting on other pictures and dragging the post out, but I changed my mind.  

So here it is!  The cover for ELEMENTAL!

Isn't it absolutely gorgeous???  I am seriously swooning over this.  I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've opened my email just to look at it.  My preciousssssss...

And you know what?  This is the point where I must MUST tell you about the absolute genius behind this cover.  I've been wanting to brag about her for soooooo long, but I waited.  But I must wait no longer!

There are actually two people I must thank for this cover before I get carried away, and the first is the awesome photographer at Glimpses of You Photography.  She is the genius behind the photo of the model (who is my very own niece, by the way).  

And the second person is someone most of you know.  I'm actually giddy with anticipation at telling you about her because without her, I wouldn't have a cover (well, at least not one as amazing as this).  

Victoria Caswell!!!  (aka aspiring_x)  

Those of you who follow her already know she's a very artistic person, but I don't think you've even begun to imagine how talented and wonderful she is.  She took that beautiful image of my niece and my abstract thoughts on what I thought I wanted (which seriously changed all the time) and came up with something I never would have imagined.  And that cover isn't even the end of all she's done for me.  Currently, she's working on designing my Mamood battleships for me and other images for my book trailer (coming soon).

Vic is awesome.  Period.  

Now, if that cover piques your interest (because don't we all judge books by their covers (though you can read the back-of-the-book blurb if you visit my ELEMENTAL trilogy page up top)), I now have a little giveaway for you.

From now until the release date, I'm hoping to get around the blogosphere in a Blog Tour.  If you agree to have me on your blog some time, I'll enter you in a contest for an ARC of ELEMENTAL.  I'll be giving five ARCs away.  For those of you who have already contacted me about having me on your blog, don't worry, I've already put your names in for the giveaway.  

I'll be drawing the names for ARCs on May 15th.  So you have a bit of time to enter.  :)  Just let me know in the comments if you're interested and I'll shoot you an email!  

A is for AWESOME

As in: how could this contest get any more awesome?

It can't.

Just like Captain Kirk, it's pretty much achieved perfection. :)

For all my lovely followers and guests just popping in, here's a recap:

ELEMENTAL, my YA Space Opera, is going to be published this summer! 

WOOHOO!!!

So to kick off the celebrations (if you haven't already figured it out), I'm having a contest!  I want to get the word out about my book to as many people as possible, but to do that I need your help!  

See that lovely group of pictures over there?  You know which one I'm talking about.  It's got all the pretty faces.  Well, those 128 faces are some of the most awesome followers out there.  In fact, they've spoiled me.  Spoiled me so much, in fact, that I know this whole blogging experience would be even better with more happy little faces joining them.

If you help me get up to 250 followers by the end of the month, one winner will get...

and

and

AND!

a $50 gift card to B&N or Amazon

BUT!

If you help me get to 300 followers by the end of the month, I'll give the winner AN EXTRA $25, AND I'll draw a second place winner who will get a $25 gift card.

Here's how the point system will work:

+1 for commenting

+2 for becoming a new follower

+1 for posting about the contest on your blog

+1 for tweeting the contest

+1 for posting on facebook

+1 for every person you bring over (person must give you credit in the comments)

Please provide links to the posts and tweets.  And PLEASE compile all the points you should get in your comment.  

Oh, and as an extra incentive to becoming a follower today...

This is just the first of three major contests I'll be holding.  The next one is going to be on Monday (it just might have to do with a certain cover reveal ;) ).  And the third is going to blow. your. mind.  You DON'T want to miss them.

Good luck!  :)

EDIT: If there's a book in that list that you already own, I may be convinced to change it to something else you don't own and really, really want.  


And by "may," I mean yes, I definitely can be convinced. :)

  

March Madness

And no, I'm not talking about basketball.

More like I'm going to go mad if I add one more thing to my to-do list.

I really did think I'd be able to keep up with my regular blogging schedule while preparing for the impending launch of ELEMENTAL this summer, but I was wrong.  There are way too many initial details to take care of right now that are impeding on my blogging time.

SO!

I'm going to take March off and come back in April for the A to Z Challenge!  And when I do come back, the awesomeness will begin!

Be prepared.  :)

The Unlucky Second Guy

Can you imagine being the band to come after Pink Floyd at a concert?  It's an awesome opportunity, but come on!  This is Pink Floyd we're talking about here.  How do you follow that?!

Well, that's kind of how I feel about today's post.  How can I possibly follow the EPIC POST OF EPIC EPICNESS?

I'll tell you how.

With clowns!!!!

Hehehe.  It's good I can laugh at my own jokes. :)

But seriously, I didn't want to just have the EPIC POST OF EPIC EPICNESS and then go back to business as usual.  I wanted to take the time to really share with you guys how I came to my decision and just how utterly excited about it I am!

And so to do that, I'm going to answer some questions no one really asked, but I'm sure you were thinking anyway! :)

Why publish independently?  Why not go the traditional route?

I thought for years I did want to go the traditional route.  It was all I really ever knew.  And the little I did know about self-publishing was bad--scam publishing companies, bad product, etc.

Well, over the last year or so, I'd been doing some research, figuring out what authors do when their books come out.  You know, what works and what doesn't.  I've listened to agents, writers, readers, editors, subconsciously gathering information about breaking out with your debut novel.  

And a few weeks ago, I had an epiphany of sorts.  I realized I really could do this on my own.  And then I realized I WANTED to.  Not just, "ho hum, well, if this doesn't work out, I'll upload my novel into Amazon and then I'll be published."  (which is such a bad idea, I can't even go into it now because it needs its own post--which I will do)

No.

I am THRILLED about the business aspect of this!  I love getting to decide all the little details.  Never before has the world of publishing been so available to writers!  In practically every other industry, you make a product and you sell it.  And if you want to be successful, you better make it the best darn product you can.  And now, we as writers can do that!  

We can do what we want!  And no, I'm not speaking ill of traditional publishing in any way shape or form.  I love it, in fact!  Publishing companies have done wondrous things for thousands upon thousands of writers and without them, I doubt we'd have some of the gems that grace our bookshelves today.  I love that both options are viable now and that they can both learn from each other and help each other to grow into the next generation of publishing.

How are you going to handle it all?

Oh my goodness, there is a LOT to do.  A. Lot.  In fact, I am doing everything I can to make sure ELEMENTAL will be as polished and professional as any book that comes out this year.  

But I have a team of people who are helping me get ready for the big day, so I'm not doing it alone.

What kind of fun stuff are you going to do to make us super excited?

Cover reveal!  Contests!  ARC giveaways!  Blog tour!  You name it, and I'm doing it!  In fact, if you have any really unique ideas you'd like to see me try, tell me about it and I'll probably do it! :)

Now, I'm opening it up to you, dear readers.  Do you have any questions I didn't already answer?  Ask them!  Please!