New Book and a Giveaway!

No, no, not mine. I'm here today to promote The Rose Master, by Valentine Cano. I know, I'm slacking with my own writing. This is what happens when you move and start a job and have to live without internet for a week, but can't seem to find the time to sit down and write during that time. I'm working on it, promise.

But back to The Rose Master! This fabulous book hits stores today, so while you're waiting for something from me, go and check it out! And scroll down to enter for a chance to win lots of prizes!

The day Anne Tinning turns seventeen, birds fall from the sky. But that's hardly the most upsetting news. She's being dismissed from the home she's served at since she was a child, and shipped off to become the newly hired parlor maid for a place she's never heard of. And when she sees the run-down, isolated house, she instantly knows why:

There's something wrong with Rosewood Manor.

Staffed with only three other servants, all gripped by icy silence and inexplicable bruises, and inhabited by a young master who is as cold as the place itself, the house is shrouded in neglect and thick with fear. Her questions are met with hushed whispers, and she soon finds herself alone in the empty halls, left to tidy and clean rooms no one visits.

As the feeling of being watched grows, she begins to realize there is something else in the house with them--some creature that stalks the frozen halls and claws at her door. A creature that seems intent on harming her.

When a fire leaves Anne trapped in the manor with its Master, she finally demands to know why. But as she forces the truth about what haunts the grounds from Lord Grey, she learns secrets she isn't prepared for. The creature is very real, and she's the only one who can help him stop it.

Now, Anne must either risk her life for the young man she's grown to admire, or abandon her post while she still can.
REUTS - Goodreads

Valentina Cano is a student of classical singing who spends whatever free time she has either reading or writing. She also watches over a veritable army of pets, including her five, very spoiled, snakes. Her works have appeared in numerous publications and her poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Web. She lives in Miami, Florida.
Website – Twitter – Facebook - Goodreads

And don't forget to check out her blog to see where she's hopping around on the blog tour, starting today!



Now, enter for a chance to win some awesome prizes!
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Cruising Along

Well, I think I got the climax of Hidden Souls re-written. I think. This is my third or fourth time working on it, so we'll see if it stands the test of time. Now I just have to link up to where I edited the rough draft with the climax and I'll be all set. My manuscript, including the bad ending, was sitting at 52K words, which makes me think that I should probably add in a subplot or two. But we'll see how it looks when I've tidied up the ending and added in some descriptions in other places.

Still debating whether or not to pursue publication, so I guess that would make a difference one way or the other.

I also found a place for Zach. I definitely think he'll be making a reappearance in Reclaimed Souls, but I tweaked him a bit and added him back in to Hidden Souls. So I can still have fun with him!

I got my schedule for the next year (July-June), and it turns out I have an easy July, and a moderately easy August, so maybe I'll join in Camp NaNo this year. At least for the word sprints and motivation to help me get parts of this book written. Or maybe to write Reclaimed Souls (possibly from scratch. We'll see).

As a thanks for sticking with me, I give you a very short teaser from the ending to Hidden Souls.

~*~

Sophia took a few slow, deep breaths and slowly pushed herself into a seated position. The ropes no longer bound her to the ground and she shakily rose to her feet, struggling to see anything in the room around her. "Hello?" She called out, tentatively moving her foot forward.

~*~

Sadly, any more than that and I'd give away some major plot points. Maybe next week, I'll give you another outtake. Or some background. Or something. I should probably get back to writing before I promise anything else :)

Sophia's Dating Profile

NaNo posted a great writing prompt to their Facebook page this morning, so I thought I'd take advantage of it.

The prompt: Give us a bit of your favorite character's online dating profile.

Username: AreGhostsReal

A/S/L: 19/F/Somewhere between the living and the dead

Self-Summary: Just a girl trying to figure things out. If you have already managed that, please, clue me in.

What I'm doing with my life: Attending college, solving crimes, trying to figure out what happens after death. You know, the usual.

I'm really good at: Procrastinating. But also very good at getting things done on a deadline. It's a gift.

First things people usually notice about me: I seem to talk to myself a lot. Except I'm not really talking to myself. I'm talking to this guy who keeps haunting me. You try getting rid of a ghost who doesn't know how to move on.

Favorites: I'm a sucker for Shakespeare. Also accents. A British or French accent will really make me swoon. Combine the two and I'm in heaven. David Tennant in Hamlet? Oh yeah.

Six Things I Could Never Do Without: Sleep. Food. Quiet time in the library. Honesty. Sarcasm. Chats with Nana.

I spend a lot of time thinking about: Death and crossing over. What makes some people move on and others not?

On a typical Friday night, I am: Exploring old warehouses.

Most private thing I'm willing to admit: I'm pretty sure I once caused a car accident.

Just a Story

Today's prompt came from Twitter: "But it's only a story."

"The dragon roared and reared its ugly head. The prince jumped from the stone wall, stumbling on the rocky ground, just as the dragon's tail whipped against the tower behind him." Susan pointed out the crumbling tower on the page.

"Is the prince going to live, mommy?" Michael asked, looking up from the picture book.

"I don't know. What do you think?" Susan asked, holding the pages firmly between her fingers.

"The prince always wins. He's going to kill the stupid dragon and save the princess," Michael responded, nodding firmly.

Susan smiled and turned the page. "The prince's horse whinnied as he ran towards it, shying away as the dragon approached. Without pausing, the prince leapt onto his horse and galloped off, putting some distance between them and the dragon."

"Ugh, you're reading this story... again?" Melody asked from the door.

Susan looked up from the book. "It is your brother's favorite."

Melody pursed her lips. "But it's only a story. He knows it by heart now, and yet he keeps asking those same questions every time you read it."

Susan smiled and ruffled Michael's hair. "The story isn't about the beginning or ending. It's about the journey you take. And Michael has the imagination to fill in the blanks, to feel what the prince is feeling as he faces the dragon. Or to feel how angry the dragon is that the prince disturbed his sleep."

Michael nodded sagely as he pulled the book from Susan's grasp and began to turn the pages.

Melody rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Mom." She waved her hand and walked away, her nose pointed toward the ceiling.

Susan glanced at Michael and smiled. "She'll understand one day," she muttered as she brushed her finger over the page. The dragon's scales shimmered for a moment, and the page shook, as if the dragon was rumbling in appreciation of the touch.