Maybe this is a goodbye. Maybe it's a nervous breakdown. Maybe it's global warming.

Sitting here drinking a blue gatorade and listening to All American Rejects.
I hate that I lack the ability to feel more positive about my writing journey, I hate that I feel down once a month about all the things that I am doing wrong. I don't know, it's defeating to do stuff and feel like it doesn't get you anywhere.
Do I want something big to happen? Am I just doing this for fun? What do I want? *shakes head* I don't know and that's what is making me crazy.
I know I enjoy writing, but now I feel like the enjoyment gets sucked out of it when I doubt myself.
I doubt myself for stupid reasons and for valid ones.
It makes me crazy. A little sad and a bit agitated.
And now I am sitting here forcing myself to imagine what life would be like if I just stopped writing altogether....
*sigh* Maybe this is the sign that the fun has been sucked out of it. If I can't even figure out why I feel that way or what to do about it maybe I need to step away.

Is it real?-- Book boyfriends

So, recently I have been thinking about books, and about what makes me want to read them. I admit I am a huge book snob. I can only read a book if it has one of three things.

1. A bizarre, shocking, romantic or quick paced story line.
2. A steamy relationship with a ton of dysfunction.
3. Not a ton of details and humor.

And then I ask myself what do these three things have in common? And that's when I come up with the idea that it is the characters.

So now, I say, do we believe in book boyfriends? Is there someone in a story that just makes you swoon? I think we all have this. I read Becca Fitzpatrick's work and just loved Patch. I found myself smiling like a little schoolgirl, totally smitten.

I think the problem with book boyfriends, we as the reader develop a violent connection and we have these emotions that explode at the drop of a dime. We get extra sensitive about the circumstances in the stories, we feel, we cry, we freakin love them.

I think that is the fun of reading any book. You want to read about this creation and enjoy them so much that your world is shattered if any harm comes to them. You want to feel for them, even if they are the smutty bad boy or the arrogant jock, slobberin werewolf, snobby vampire, you get my drift.

I love writing books and hearing about my characters in a review. I love creating a character so stunning that somebody develops a fictitious crush on them. I love the joy of reading a good book.

Sunday Funday Director's note's: Perfectly Hopeless

I stumbled upon a cool blog idea. Letting the reader into my ideas behind chapters or the stories I write. So enjoy this little peek into the world of Maven from Perfectly Hopeless.

Maven is a young girl, heading back to her family's summer home after her very public breakup with her boyfriend, Jake Summit. Like anyone in life she is hurt, still dealing with her old wounds and debating whether or not it's the right thing to be doing.

When I wrote the beginning of Perfectly Hopeless, I imagined Maven, I could feel the dread in her stomach as she got close to her summer home. How vulnerable she felt. 

I wanted to give the reader a quick hello when it came to her family, I like to introduce main characters early on most times that I write.

In Perfectly Hopeless I saw Maven as a sweet, young girl with that simple naive way about her. She knows life isn't perfect, but she wishes it was. She's not much different than any of us in life. Though she may come off a bit prudish and innocent she can handle a lot when she has to.

And what's in store for her ends up being so beautiful, an experience like none she ever had before when she meets Henri. 

I'm not sure, nor have I asked how Henri and Maven come across to readers. But as for me, I wanted the connection to be innocent, simple and sweet. I wanted to take all the complication and paranormal out of most books that I write and just write a story about love.

I was touched emotionally while watching a youtube video, and this is what sparked the idea further for my book. I feel I found that video at the right time, because it took my story idea and painted it beautifully. I won't say what video it is because I feel it gives away the story.

But I will share with you the celebs I had in my mind for the two main characters in my story. If you get a chance to read it, let me know if you feel the same about them.

             

              Maven                                                                                       Henri

Summer time

This would be her summer. She swore it. The summer life would go from devastating to incredible. Maven stared out of the window as her parents gossiped in the front seat about Claudia, their too confident neighbor with more money than the entire town.

She closed her eyes dropping her head back against the leather seat, her golden blonde hair cascading around her shoulders. Maven,  a young woman full of hope. She never went to bed without reflecting on all she wished would happen for her.

Portwood , the setting of their summer home. Every home carefully nestled between giant willow trees. A small town right outside the lake. Maven’s family went every year during the summer. A home full of memories for all of them, a place you sat back and smiled about when you thought about all the good times you experienced. It would always be magical.

 “I wonder if Jake is going to be there,” Nick, her older brother said. Doing his best to tease Maven from her spot in the family car, Nick knew Maven prayed for the opposite. After their messy breakup she didn’t ever want to lay eyes on him again. Jake was a jerk. And the entire family knew it.

“I don’t know and I don’t care.” After the tears she cried over a guy like Jake she meant what she said. And now the family’s annual vacation was sounding less exciting and more torturous to her. She shrank down in her seat as the Portwood welcome sign whizzed by the window.

Mom shot her a sympathetic smile.

“Everyone who is anyone is at Portwood for Summer vaca,” Maggie her younger sister said, tearing off her sunglasses to gain better view of all the younger guys as they carried beach towels and coolers on their way to the lake.

“I don’t think the Maves considers Jake Summit anyone anymore,” Nick smirked. He leaned forward, clamping down on Maven’s shoulder. “If he gives you any trouble you just let me know. I’ll rough him up for you.”

Their mother shot a concerned look in both of their directions. She knew just how Nick’s temper could get sometimes. It wasn’t funny. “Nicky, you remember what we said.”

Nick sighed, letting out the loudest grumble he could muster. “I know, I know. No more money for college if I lay a finger on Summit. That’s what family is for though, Mom.” He ran a hand through his shaggy brown mop of hair giving Maven a secret smirk.

Maven unfastened her seat belt, staring up at the family summer home. A modern two story brick home with white shutters and a huge wraparound porch, lush green grass with the perfect amount of shade and sun.

She refused to let Jake Summit ruin her summer.

Buy Perfectly Hopeless on Amazon

Finally Friday: Back story of Ink

Many people ask, Why did you decide to write Ink? How did you come up with the idea? Where did the characters come from.

Well here is my chance to shine a little light on that.

First of all, I love music. I had been stuck on a certain song.  I don't know, it fit. It was totally the theme song for my book.

I wanted to create a bad boy, I scoured the web for a bad boy name and that was how Slade was born.

I had an addiction to listening to Avenged Sevenfold at the time as well, and M. Shadows made the perfect Slade to emulate for my book. He could sing, he had tattoos and that lip piercing that drives the world wild in Cherry, it just worked.

Of course with every paranormal romance you need that innocent girl, and that is how Hope was born.
She has come a long way. She might not be my favorite character most days, but she keeps me interested enough to have written three books now about her.
Every story I write there will always be a sarcastic jerk or two. Along with some nut job that just makes you scratch your head and wonder what the hell is going on?
I didn't plan on witches, or magic or anything like that to be involved it just happened, but it developed into something wonderful.
Might I add it was my first time writing steamier sex scenes, I have to admit its kind of fun, and I am still learning how to perfect them.

I am not sure how long the Ink series will last, it's like any other thing I write, when it ends it ends. But I don't think it will anytime soon.

Buy Ink on Amazon

Tuesday Teaser

The book is almost finished. And because of this I am giving all of you a wonderful teaser for this Tuesday's teaser. Try saying that three times fast.

Ink 3 is going to be a wild ride for all you Ink fans. I can't wait for all of you to read what chaos Hope has to deal with this time. I have enjoyed writing this book, and I can not wait until it's for sale for all the fans.

“But, Dad, what if this isn’t a fad?” I couldn’t believe he was so quick to brush it all under the rug.

“This is real life, Hope,” Dad said. “Witches don’t exist. Girls don’t fall in love with vampires. Everything is going to be fine.”

“If she really knows magic she needs to do a spell to adjust that shitty attitude she has all of a sudden,” Nona said. “I may not be a witch, but I will knock her right off that broomstick if she keeps this up.”

“Everything is falling apart.” I pulled at my hair in misery. “My life is just disintegrating right in front of me and I don’t know what to do about it.”

“Look tinkerbell, this isn’t the place for you.” The guy said. “So why don’t you and gidget get the hell out of here.”

Karsen stepped back appalled. “Tinkerbell?” She balled her fist as if she was actually thinking about hitting him. 

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win the Ink bundle or Black moon!

Thirsty Thursday: Drunk Uncle editon

It's Thursday, the day I do some unedited rants about whatever I like. I hope someone is familiar with the above image. It's drunk uncle and he is great at his drunken rants. So here goes, once a week I will rant, emptying out my mind and soul about whatever I feel like. So enjoy!

Why is writing so easy to sit and daydream about, but when I sit down to actually do it I feel like I'm doing rocket science? How come it all sounds so good in my mind, but when its there on paper I am just confused on what it was I was even trying to say most times?

Names are so hard to come up with, I pick and choose my character's name's like I am naming my real children. Sometimes I just hate my character and no matter what I do I can never be nice to them. That leads to another thing, someone always has to die. If not die in my book someone has to go through hell and back several hundred times.

Why are people so into Vampires? This includes me. I swore I'd never fall for the trend, but its so deliciously evil that I can't take my eyes off of shows like Vampire Diaries and True Blood. 

Some days I sit and try to fathom a world where we didn't love the forbidden so much. And than I come to the realization that it would suck.

Why are some books loved so much and some so little? Why do I find myself pining over a really good read like its going out of style? Am I crazy?

Why do I strive to make people cry when I write?

Is it okay to dream about your book characters as if they were real? Because I did that just a few nights ago and it was so strange yet cool.

Is there even a point to my blog? I wonder who I am really reaching all the time. But even if I didn't reach anyone I would still write it, because I am forever that angst riddled teen that loves curling up and bleeding her emotions all over the pages.

Why does sadness make me feel happy when I write? Is it the reality that feels good? Or is it the rebellion that takes over?

That's all of my mindless rants for now. I have my baby sleeping in my lap and a book to write. Oh! Don't forget to enter the giveaway, I love seeing more and more entries and I love giving away free stuff for all you awesome people!

If you have any rants of your own you would like to share I would love to read them! Have a good night!

Ink Bundle Giveaway!!!!!

Want to read the Ink series? Haven't read the first? Enter the giveaway to get all three in the series! Tell your friends, tell the world, anyone who enjoys a good paranormal romance. Have fun!

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Sunday Sample

I have decided to designate Sunday for excerpts from the books that I am working on. So if your curious about what I am writing here is a sneak peek. Enjoy and always feel free to let me know what you think here on the blog, twitter, Facebook or my new website.

The project I am currently working on is a story about a girl sent to rehab. She is going through a lot and has lost her best friend. Without giving away a bunch I will share that she is the cause of her best friends death. The book is an adult romance. And so far I am really liking where it is going. I hope everyone else does as well.

So here you go:

She stood in front of him her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know why the thought of touching him was making her so tense, but it was.

“I can’t promise anything. And you can’t sue me,” she said, staring at his dark head of hair. The kind of hair that belonged to someone famous, the kind of hair you slipped your fingers through and tugged here and there.

She dropped her spray bottle.

“Somebody’s clumsy today,” Hart said a big grin on his face. His dark eyebrows rose in amusement, he kept his eyes on her as she tried to convince herself to touch him.

“I’m fine. Let’s get this over with.” She came a bit closer, he smelled amazing. And the way he was staring at her with those eyes, those brilliant eyes of blue, rimmed with dark lashes.

She ran her fingers through the front of his hair, brushing it back on his head. “What do you want?”

Hart was silent.

Elle tilted her head to the side. “Hello?”

“Sorry.” He blinked. “Do whatever you want to me. I’m sure you’ll make me look great.”

Elle bit her lip, spraying him with the spray bottle. She started to work, combing and cutting. Trying to remember everything that she had learned in hopes she didn't butcher him.

“Got any plans tonight?” Hart asked, he stayed still, letting her try her best. 

“I plan on going home and eating some of my mom’s famous spaghetti and meatballs and then probably going to bed,” she told him. She spun the chair.

“Sounds like a blast,” he said. “You’re never going to give in are you?”

“Probably not.” She looked over his hair, taking him by the chin to turn him the way she needed to get a better look. The scruff on his chin tickled her finger tips, his teeth grazed his bottom lip drawing her eyes to his mouth. He had an amazing set of lips.

“For once just be honest. Am I just not the kind of person you want to be associated with? Is it the rehab thing?” he asked.

Elle shook her head quickly. “No. Hart, it has nothing to do with that, it’s just me. I can’t hang out with you. It’s not a good idea.”

She was with Pauly and in a bad place in her life. She wasn't the girl to be anyone’s friend. She had a hard time being friends with the ones in her life already.

He wasn't saying anything. And now she felt even worse.

“Alright, I’ll be honest. I’m not doing okay. I've never been okay and all I want to do is make it through without another emotional breakdown. I can’t add anything to my life because I’m afraid it will crumble. And the idea of going back to that place I was in scares the shit out of me,” she said.

She dropped her scissors and comb on her station. “Anyways, I think you’re good to go.”

Hart took the mirror she was offering, but didn't look in it. “Looks great.”

“You didn't even look,” she said.

“I don’t care about my hair.”

She rolled her eyes undoing the collar of the cape. “Don’t do that, don’t worry about me. You did the same thing a long time ago.”

“Someone needs to worry about you. One time, just come hang out with me. And after that I’ll leave you alone,” he said. “If I make your life worse than it already is I’ll never bother you again.”

“Why are you so insistent on doing this?” She shook her head. “I’m a mess; you know this better than anyone.”

“So am I,” he insisted. “One time, come be a mess with me.”

“Fine,” she tossed the cape on her station. “One time. You’ll see how much of a mess I am and you’ll quickly go running for the hills.”

She hoped she didn't regret the choice she made. Because making choices was the hardest thing anymore.

Have a great Sunday!!

Celebrate Ink 2 release with me!

Want more Slade?

In honor of Ink 2 coming out this month, I will be giving away some Ink-related swag along with a free copy of Ink 2 to one lucky winner! If you haven't read the first and enjoy a good paranormal romance, check it out on Amazon.

Thanks everyone for the support! I wanted to do something fun for the release of Ink 2, so I have some cool swag that reminds me of Ink, along with a paperback copy of my favorite book. I can't wait to find out who gets to enjoy it!



I will be posting pictures of the swag soon! 


Happy reading!!

Holly Hood

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My news

Hello again. It has been some time since I updated. I have been busy following the zombies..(not really, but have you seen that on the news?! *shudders*)

Today I have some news I want to share. We recently found out that I am expecting, this will be our fourth child. I found out on my husband's birthday (what a gift) and I am very happy. Its a bit new still, it has been a while since I have been pregnant. My youngest is turning six this month.

I think I always knew I wanted a fourth child. I knew deep down that I did and I think that is why we held off on stopping our chances, because once you tie your tubes or get a vasectomy you pretty much are done.

So that's my news, I am having another baby and I couldn't be happier.

What do I hope for you might be asking... I would like to have another boy, but I will take whatever God gives me. I think in my mind I see a boy so the idea of a girl isn't even factoring in lol I have always enjoyed pregnancy, mine were great experiences. This one has already proven a little tougher with my moods. But now those are under control and I am feel like myself again and I couldn't be happier.

What about writing??!?!?

On the book writing front, that has came to a screeching halt since beginning of April. But I hope to get back into gear. I re-released Gypsies, and I think its better than it was before the rewrite. I hope everyone enjoys it.

I plan on finishing Ink 2 up this summer. I read some chapter the other day and I was excited about it. I can't wait to release it to all the Ink fans in August. I wonder how everyone will feel about Ink 2. I myself think its going to be great.

And to end this I will leave everyone with a sneak peek into Ink 2, enjoy! :  

Summer had begun. I came to a stop in front of the beach house. Glad to be home and done with school for the summer. A lot had changed in a year. I enrolled in Ashwilder’s big sister school, Asu. I had Nona to thank for that. If not for her I would have never afforded such a place. College proved hard, but I loved every second of it. Although I had to admit I loved being home even better.

Dad hurried down the porch steps. “There’s my girl. Welcome home, Hope.” He wrapped his arms around me tightly, not letting me get a breath in. I kissed his cheek before I had to pry his arms off of me.

“Missed you guys too, where are Elliot and Easton?” I searched the beach, the house, anywhere they could possibly be. I knew the answer before Dad even said it.

“Well you know how teenage boys are when they discover girls,” Dad told me. He took my duffel bag. “I barely see anyone anymore. It’s nice that your back.”

I followed on his heels up the steps. Noticing the new paintjob, Dad had a lot of time on his hands now. I wasn’t there to keep him busy and help him out anymore. It took a couple months to accept that I couldn’t be superman. That he had to learn to survive without me, but I did, and looking at him now I knew that everything worked out just fine.

Dad touched my hair. “New hairdo?” He smirked.

I ran a hand through my longer style. “It’s trendy. All the girls on campus do chic.”

Dad nodded, totally out of the loop and not caring in the least, as long as I was happy he was. “So what are the plans?”

I opened the refrigerator, scrunching my nose at the lack of food. “Getting you some groceries.” Dad shook his head, refusing to give in and admit he would be lost without me. When he disappeared into the living room I raised a single finger at my palm, concentrating hard.

“What’s that?” Dad asked, returning with a pile of mail. He handed it over.

“Pudding cup,” I said, shaking the chocolate pudding at him. He gave me an odd expression.

“That’s odd. I didn’t even know we had pudding.” He opened the refrigerator taking another look inside. I smirked.

Win a copy of Heart of Gypsies!

Heart of Gypsies

Sometimes hate can take you places...

Aunt Wanda hated her sister Joy Ann so much she stole her daughter.

It’s been twelve years since Kendall was kidnapped. Growing up on the run from the law is never easy. And Kendall is doing what she can to survive.

A pawn in a sick game of hatred, Kendall is forced to live a life of crime. It’s all she knows and all she has most days.

On one of their stops, Kendall is reunited with Mason, the boy from her hometown with the same set of circumstances that follow Kendall around like a dark cloud. They have a lot in common. They have the same hopes and dreams.

The problem is, getting where they need to be is going to be the hardest part of both of their lives, but  their friendship sees them through one challenge after another.

Kendall wants to be a normal girl. One that falls in love with someone that cares about her, but sometimes falling in love is difficult when you’re busy running for your life.

Tell me what fictional Character you love to hate!

Heart of Gypsies is back. And is going to be re-released! Win yourself a copy!

For your chance to win a copy of Heart of Gypsies, all you have to do is enter your email address and answer into the rafflecopter..

 Winners will be announced on Monday April 30th, 2012.

This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL, as the copies of his book are in ebook/mobi format and will be given to the winners via email.

Now, leave a comment with your e-mail address and have a wonderful weekend!
And continue to SUPPORT indie authors!

We all should marry a vampire.

Why are we drawn to the dark side? Why do we love books so much?

How many of us in real life would want our boyfriend slipping through our window in the middle of the night like Edward Cullen? How many of us wish we were Bella Swan or Elena Gilbert?

How many girls would really like to know that their boyfriend is running around feasting on the blood of humans? Or that they would prefer to rip us limb to limb then love us.

Why is Eric Northman such a hot commodity in True Blood that he makes you want to lose all sense of reality and throw caution to the wind?

Being a writer of paranormal romance and young adult books I get it. I also read both genre 99% of the time.

I am afraid of the unknown in my real life, but to read about it, well, it’s almost soothing and exciting.

There’s Edward Cullen, Damon Salvatore, Bill Compton, and those are just the angry brooding vampires. But be it through reading the stories or watching the TV shows and movies you can’t help falling in love.

I mean admit it; would we even care if they were sweet and nice and doing all the right things? No.

With so much going on in the lives of woman my age it’s easy to lose yourself in a good story about the paranormal. About vampires or fallen angels and for me it’s because it’s my internal vacation from so many things in the world that just suck some times.

Reading a story where I can run away from all my worries and have a thrill, grow a crush and when I close the book or shut off my kindle everything in my own world is still intact and right where I left it, that is comforting.

Maybe some of us don’t think we will ever have anything exciting to talk about or live through. Some of us might even be too afraid to admit we want that. Whatever the reason may be we deserve to have enjoyment on the day to day.

Fictional characters are that cupcake we can’t eat because we are watching our calories. They are that wild night on the town where we danced until our feet blistered—only we never did because secretly we are too shy to do so. They say and speak the words we only wished we were brave enough to speak ourselves.

It might be fiction, but there is a lot about reading a good book with a dark character that speaks the truth.

In books unlike real life the kid that gets bullied could be the coolest kid out there. You see that people know how to be kind to one another; you see that people know how to have fun; you see that not everything is as bad as we think in books.

What could be better than that?