Hi everyone! I just wanted to do a quick post to update y'all on the latest and answer some of the questions I've been getting a lot lately. I know this has probably been the longest since I've released anything new and a lot of you are wondering WHY Abel is taking so long. Well let me tell you Abel's story is probably one of the ones that came to me the fastest of ANY I've ever written. So why does if feel like it's taking so long? There is very good reason. I have made announcements about signing a book deal with Simon & Schuster/Atria but haven't been too vocal about it because I know how *ahem* inpatient some of you can be. ;) And not a whole lot will be happening with this until NEXT year. While I'm very excited about this and feel extremely blessed it threw my schedule off. I originally planned to have Abel out by May sometime but I now had another book I was contractually obligated to write first. So between the time I released Hector. I've now written TWO full length novels. The one for S&S/Atria that I had a deadline for and then Abel.
As you can see on the little progress report widgets over on the top right hand corner of my blog I have two finished novels. So where are they? Well the one for S&S/A is a longer process. So that one is not scheduled to be released until Spring of 2014 I know! This is why I haven't talked too much about it. But I promise you it's not for lack of excitement. I just still can't give you too much info on it but I can say it is a brand new book unrelated to anything I have out now. So a brand spanking new set characters you've never met have been born and in an all new setting. AND I can also tell you the betas and my editor over at S&S/A who've read it are VERY excited. I'M very excited. As soon as I'm able to release more info like the title and maybe even a blurb or snippet I will. I promise!
As for Abel. Well it's a process. I'm still in the beta reading/rewrites stage. Just because the beginning middle, all twists and ending have been written doesn't mean it's done. I still have to tighten everything up and then get it edited and formatted. But I will keep you updated. I know it feels like it's been a long wait but think about this. I released Hector in the beginning of February. It's June and I've since written 2 full length novels. Neither of which I'd consider short. Both are over 90k words Abel's closer to 100k. So that's actually VERY fast. Still I appreciate your patience for hanging in there with me. I'm actually DYING to hear what you guys think of Abel. While I can't give a release date yet I can safely say it will be out before the end of this summer!
The good news is now that I have time to wait between waiting on the betas, editors, formatters and my publisher, guess what I get to do? Start writing another one! So what's next? I've already written the prologue for Breaking Brandon the second in my Fate series and got to write scenes you may've heard from but didn't get to experience in the The Moreno Brothers series. For those of you who don't remember who Brandon is, he's from Sweet Sofie. For those of you haven't read that one yet or those that need a refresher here's a little taste from Sofie's story of who's head you'll be in in Breaking Brandon.
The very next day, Brandon was out
there in his running shorts and a tank top. Sofia could tell he’d already been
running, because his shirt was dampened with perspiration.
He ran up to her as soon as he saw her. “Hey.”
“Hey.” The first thing she noticed was a tattoo
on his upper arm, but she didn’t say anything. Something about it being on his
big, muscular, sweaty arm made looking at it feel wrong.
Sofia still couldn’t get over how different he
looked. He seemed so improved, and she was happy for him. Everyone thought he’d
end up in jail, and here he was, clean-cut and looking healthier than ever.
“How long you been out here?”
“About an hour.”
“Really?” she said. “Wow, how much longer are
you gonna be? I usually only do about an hour total.”
“Yeah, well, I’m a Marine, honey.” He wiped the
sweat from his face with his big shoulder. “An hour ain’t shit. Pardon my
French.”
Sofia smirked. “Yeah, but you’re practically
walking.”
Brandon’s eyebrows shot up. “Is that a
challenge?”
Sofia smiled and took off sprinting.
If that scene doesn't jog any memories maybe this one does?
Sofia brought her hand up and flattened against
his chest. Though she didn’t push him away like she should, at least she had
something in between them. Brandon’s hot minty breath was on her mouth, and she could
almost taste him.
“I think your brothers’ plan to make you so
forbidden may’ve backfired on them.” His arm slipped around her waist. “I saw
the way all those boys looked at you in high school. Saw it, because I was
looking at you the same way. Every one of us had a hard-on for you, Sof.”
He spoke right in her mouth, her heart pounding
in her chest. “Tell me to stop and I will, Sofia. Otherwise,” he licked his
lip, “I’m gonna have to kiss you.”
What else is new? Well ALL my books are now either available on audiobooks or will be soon. You can purchase them via Audibles Amazon & Ambling Books if you don't see some of them that just means they're still working on getting them out but they'll all be on audio very soon. =)
Upcoming appearances? In the past month I've had the pleasure of meeting some of my wonderful readers in Kansas City, San Francisco, New York and this weekend I'll be at Book Bash in Orlando, Florida. And then when I get back home I'll be in Pomona California at the Summer Lovin indie book signing/party. I don't have anything scheduled after that but things are always popping up. I promise I will keep you updated.
I have a big 3 year anniversary celebration coming up in September. Lots of giveaways and bonuses and maybe even a few more exciting announcements. I feel like I'm leaving something out! Oh yeah. What would a post of mine be without a teaser.
Here's a VERY early sneak peek of the very first para's of Breaking Brandon.
Then
The demanding
knock on the door should’ve been Brandon's first clue that something was wrong. He stood from where he’d been sitting staring at his ailing sleeping
father and walked out of the room closing the door behind him. It couldn’t be
his mom she had a key and she always came in through the garage door anyway.
Glancing out the
door window Brandon was surprised to see who it was. He opened the door and
smiled. “Hey Sal.” He started to unlatch the screen door. “Damn, how long has
it been, man?”
Sal pulled the
door open roughly. “This isn’t a social visit, Billings.”
