Sneak Peek from ALMOST NIGHT

I can't believe it's been two weeks since the last time I blogged! I have been so crazy busy lately with getting books ready for this summer. I hope you'll all forgive me. *crosses fingers*

Today, I have a little treat (at least, I hope you think so). From YA Contemporary Fantasy about a 14 year old albino girl who's really a unicorn:

                Health class alternated with gym every other day, so today was beyond horrible because not only did I have to see Bucked-Tooth Bucky again, I couldn't even kick his ass playing ball. The room was only half-filled when I stepped through the door. Two-seated desks formed three rows and each desk had a little note card in front of each seat.

                I picked up the card on the table closest to the door and saw the name, Justin Adams. The one next to his was Chris Avery.

                Assigned seats. Great.

                My seat was in the middle row, directly behind the teacher's desk. I didn't even bother to see who'd be doomed to sit next to me. Obviously their day was about to get a whole lot worse.

                When Bucky strolled through the doorway, I suddenly realized I did care who'd be sitting next to me. I absolutely cared. I tried to think back to the name the coach had called out during roll call yesterday, but I couldn't remember a thing. It would really be my luck if his last name started with a "G."

                Bucky started walking my way and I knew--just knew--with that sinking in the pit of my stomach feeling that his name was on the card next to mine. I closed my eyes and held my breath. Heat swam through my brain. I wished with every molecule in my body that he'd just walk on by; go somewhere else.

                I felt him brush past me and I exhaled the breath I'd been holding in. The seat at the desk behind me scraped across the floor. Still close, but at least he wasn't going to be my partner for the entire school year.

                Just then, someone pulled out the seat next to me and sat down in a huff. I peered out the corner of my eye and saw fire red hair.

                "Thank goodness for people who can't read," the girl in the seat said.

                I felt her staring at me, like what she'd just said she'd actually said to me and was now waiting for an answer. I dug through my brain and pulled out the most intelligent thing I could muster. "Uh...yeah."

                She laughed and crumpled the note card into a ball. "Everyone's right. You are quiet."

                I cringed. Yup, everyone was right about everything about me.

                "Well, that's okay," she said. "I used to be quiet too. Now I just don't give a damn."

                I did the unthinkable then. I turned my head and looked at her. I'd been right about her hair. It was fire red, but only the tips. The rest was bright orange all the way from her roots, darkening all the way to red at the ends. It was so--different. And I liked it.

                I liked it a lot.

                She smiled and shook her head at me, her brown eyes widened in... Appreciation? Awe?  "Oh man, you're eyes are so awesome. 

I hope you enjoyed! Check out ALMOST NIGHT on Goodreads.

An ALMOST NIGHT Sneak Peek!

Hey, everyone!

In preparation for ALMOST NIGHT's August release, I'll be regularly posting some sneak peeks, audio bits, character pics, and all sorts of other cool stuff.

I hope you enjoy!

This one's from Lilly's POV:

                "Mom's sun-stained submarine gray Tempo pulled up to the curb at the front of Bethlehem High. Kids milled around the sprawling manicured lawn. They all looked pretty excited to be there--chatting in groups and laughing. I recognized quite a few of them from my middle school, but I knew there would be plenty of kids who had yet to experience the shock of my face. Of course, the town wasn't that big. A very small city, really. If I'd ever actually gone out in public, this moment might not have seemed so much like torture.

                I pulled out my hot pink barrette and fluffed my hair around my face to hide my eyes.  But then as the wisps of snow white hair fell in my peripheral vision, I decided to pull all the strands back again.  There was no way to limit the shock.

                I groaned and opened the passenger door to step out. Might as well just get it over with."

To find out more about my YA Contemporary Fantasy, check it out here.

I is For Interview with Dmitry Sholokhov!!

Hi, Everyone!!!

It's the third week and I'm doing a twisted version of the A to Z Challenge--vowel style!!--and I have an AMAZING chance to share something soooo cool with you.

A great friend and favorite author of mine, Kendra Saunders, got a chance to meet her muse a while ago and when she asked if she could interview him on a podcast, he said yes!!

The most amazing, wonderfully talented Dmitry Sholokhov!! Aka a Project Runway winner and super awesome designer (obviously. i mean he won, right??)

Here are all the details:

Novelist and interviewer Kendra L. Saunders hijacks Matt Connarton's show once again, this time for an interview with extra special guest Dmitry Sholokhov. Dmitry, winner of Season 10 of Project Runway, talks about his gorgeous Lord & Taylor collection, styling tips for his fans, the best advice he’s received, koala bears, Indiana Jones and whether or not he really does wear that sparkly sequin gown around his house.

The arts are an exciting but crazy business and supporting your favorite artist can be as simple as sharing information about him/her on your blog or through social media, posting their information or sending them an encouraging tweet. Make sure to listen in to this insightful interview with a genuinely talented, gentlemanly and funny artist!

Kendra L. Saunders is the author of urban fantasy Inanimate Objects, short story collection Overlapping Visions and the upcoming dark comedy Death and Mr. Right (Spence City, 10/13), and writes regularly for NerdCaliber. She's one cat allergy away from a stereotypical writer. Find her at www.kendralsaunders.com or on twitter @kendrybird where she loves to answer writing questions, talk about music and fashion and share insider tips about the publishing industry.

Now listen to the interview!!

I am So Sorry

I am so sorry, everyone.

This is the first year where I just COULDN'T get a post written everyday.

Things are going on right now that are kind of stressing me out and I couldn't keep up with responding to all your wonderful comments (which were all very much appreciated!).

I'm afraid I'm going to have to go back to my original schedule and post only once a week. But because I signed up for the A to Z Challenge, I want to still be a part of it in a way. So instead of one letter everyday, I'll be finishing up the month vowel style (one vowel for each week remaining week).

Because this is the third week, I'll be doing the third vowel on Friday.

I

I is for Indie Life

A few weeks ago, I signed up for Indie Life and today is my first post! Yay!

I get to now inspire you or just talk about my experiences.

So my experiences so far have been pretty amazing and pretty daunting. After publishing my debut novel through Spencer Hill Press last year, I grown more confident in my career and in myself.

Last December, I published my first self-published work, "To Love or Die in a Steamy-Reamy World" and this summer, I'll be self-publishing another work, ALMOST NIGHT.

I can't say I knew exactly what I was doing (or even now know exactly), but I'm learning and I'm loving it. I used to see self-publishing as a step down and now I see as the beautiful opportunity that it is.

If you're self-publishing soon, I say good for you! You will absolutely love it! 

If you are MUCH farther along in the journey than I am, you are amazing! I am so grateful for all the people who've paved the way these past few years and giving self-publishing the wonderful reputation it deserves.

I is for Instant Queue

Welcome back!!

Sorry about yesterday's late post. Yesterday was a bad day. Let's just leave it at that.

So here is another one of my great loves!!

Okay, so it's not letting me get any images (sigh), but my other great love is...

Netflix Instant Queue

It has made me so happy over the last year or so. It has given me access to BBC movies and tv shows like Sense and Sensibility and Doctor Who (because I don't pay for tv--rabbit ears, baby!). It has saved me money by not having to go out and buy a million movies.

And it has provided hours of quiet when I just needed a little "me" moment away from the kids. 

Yup, that's right. Sometimes situations demand you make the tv the babysitter while you take a bubble bath and cool down from a bad day.

Am I ashamed? Not one bit.

So, thank you, Netflix Instant Queue. I love you. I love you so much.

By the way, come back later (noonish eastern standard time) for an Indie Life post! And yes, I realize I could have used I for Indie Life right now, but I really needed to spread my love for Netflix. I'll be using "I" again later. :)

H is for "How You Doin'?"

Back today with another love...

Yup. I watched Friends growing up. I loved it and Joey was my favorite. I'm not ashamed to admit I also had a Central Perk t-shirt.

Did you watch this show? Which character was your favorite?