Saturday, November 23, 2013

The "hidden" message in Shattered Ties.

When I first announced Shattered Ties, I said that I hoped everyone found the "hidden" meaning in it. I use the term hidden loosely because it's pretty obvious for the most part.

I think everyone knows what I was talking about if you've read the book. When I wrote Shattered Ties, I wanted to not only write a love story, but send a message to my readers as well.

In the world we live in today, it is SO easy to feel like you're not good enough. There is always someone out there who is "better" than you. Or at least, it feels like it.

That's just not true. I'm sorry, but it's not. I'm sure there are several people out there giving me a weird look as they read this, but I stand firm on my belief that we are all equal. It doesn't matter how much money you have, where you live, how big your home is, what kind of car you drive, what your family is like, what language you speak, what color your skin is, or what kind of education/job you have.

We are all equal. No one should EVER feel ashamed of who they are or what they have. People tend to look at your material belongings and judge you. I hate that. I. HATE. THAT.

I've grown up my entire life knowing the rumors about West Virginia. I've heard it all - we have no teeth, we don't wear shoes, we live in the mountains, we all carry around banjos while wearing overalls and chewing on a piece of hay. (I tried hay when I was little. Let me just say - I have no idea what cows like about it. Ewwww.)

It used to make me angry, but now I laugh. It's comical when people meet me for the first time and I tell them I'm from WV. (And by the way, West Virginia is a state. It's not part of Virginia.)


 We are all created the same. If you take get anything out of Shattered Ties, I hope it's this - Regardless of your circumstances, you should be proud of who you are.

I love every single one of you reading this. So, hold your head up high and tell the world to take their assumptions and shove them right up their... you know.

YOU are worth so much. Never let anyone tell you different.

Release Dates!

ANNOUNCEMENT TIME!


You have all been very patient with me regarding Torn #3's release date.
So... Today I'm going to announce not only Torn #3, but Shattered Ties #2 as well.
Torn #3's title is TAINTED. The release date is January 25th, 2014, exactly one year to the day from when I originally released Torn.
Tainted is a little bit shorter than Torn and Twisted, but not small enough to be a novella. It is broken down into two parts. Part one focuses on the six months in Twisted when Drake and Chloe were apart. (Drake's POV)
Part Two focuses on what happened next. ;)
Part Three is a surprise. :P
Tainted cover reveal is December 14th. I can't wait for you all to see it. :)
_______________________________________________
Now, for Shattered Ties #2. I know those of you who have finished Shattered Ties are patiently waiting for the rest of Jesse and Emma's story.  You don't have to wait long, I promise.
The title of ST#2 is Twisted Ties.
The release date is March 1st, 2014.
It starts off right where the epilogue left you in Shattered Ties. I think once you read this one, you will understand why I stopped where I did with Shattered Ties.

So, to sum it up-

Tainted - Releases January 25th, 2014.
Twisted Ties - March 1st, 2014.

<3 you all!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Signed Copies!

I am NOW taking orders for signed copies of Torn and/or Shattered Ties.
 If you would like to order (pricing is listed on the link) click the link below!
 Cutoff is Dec. 1 so that I can get these out in time for Christmas.

Order Here!

Friday, November 15, 2013

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Oh Facebook. You're so silly.

Some of you might have noticed that you're not seeing your favorite pages in your newsfeed on Facebook.

You're not the only one.

It seems that Facebook is getting worse when it comes to holding back posts. But it seems that they have no problem sharing your post.... if you pay for them to "promote" it.

Don't believe me? Look at this:



I have almost 10,000 followers on Facebook, yet less than 1,000 see my posts.

See where I'm going with this?

ANYWAY -

Since Facebook seems to hate us all, I want to invite you to join my mailing list. I PROMISE that I will not spam you to death. I only send out important updates to those who sign up. 

If you want to join, click here:

Join my mailing list

Monday, November 11, 2013

Shattered Ties Purchase Links!

Here are the links for where you can find Shattered Ties!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Shattered Ties Release Giveaway!!!!

Be sure to enter BOTH Rafflecopters if you live in the US!!!

International Rafflecopter on the top US only Rafflecopter on the bottom!!!

Good Luck!!!



a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, November 10, 2013

It's almost time!


Okay, we're down to two days until Shattered Ties is released! I can't wait!

I decided to self publish this book like I did originally with Torn and Twisted. Why am I telling you this? Because self publishing with a release date can be a bit tricky.

I will publish using Kobo, iBooks, Nook, Smashwords, AND Amazon. Each platform takes a different amount of time to go live. I know A LOT of authors have had issues with a few of these taking a crazy amount of time to go live.

I WILL HIT PUBLISH TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

Shattered Ties might go live in an hour. It might take two days. I don't know. And that sucks. But there is nothing I can do.

As soon as I have the links, I will post them. I promise. I've been waiting MONTHS to give you guys this book.

Now.... one other thing. I JUST found out that Trapt is playing less than 30 minutes from where I live tomorrow night. You guys know that I'm a freak when it comes to music. So, naturally, I'm going. (VIP tickets for $20??? I'd be an idiot not to!) If the book is not live by the time I leave, I'll have Amber watching for me. I know some of you read at warp speed, so if you message me and I don't respond, I'm either in a mosh pit or sleeping. LOL I'll reply as soon as I get a chance.

I love you all and I can't wait to hear what you think of Shattered Ties!

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Shattered Ties Prologue

We are only THREE days away from the release of Shattered Ties. I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday that I was hitting publish on first Torn, and then Twisted. I have trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that it's been almost a year (1-25-13) since I released my first book. My life has changed drastically since then.

I'm a small town girl that is living her dream. I couldn't have done it without you guys. You rock my world on a daily basis. I just want you all to know how much you mean to me. I love talking with you online and meeting everyone at signings.

Just a note - Shattered Ties is not part of The Torn Series. It is book one of two of a brand new series. I know you all love Drake, but I really think you'll like Jesse too.

And while this is a romance novel, I hope that you pick up on the underlying message I was trying to get out. It's obvious once you start reading.

Love you all! <3






Prologue


     Every child puts his or her parents up on a pedestal. Parents could do no
wrong, and their opinions were your opinions as well.

      At the tender age of six, I felt the same way. My mother, the famous
supermodel, Andria Bellokavich, was my idol. I wanted to wear her clothes,
make my hair look the same as hers, and share her opinions with the world.

     “I can’t believe they let that kind of riffraff in this park,” my mother said as
she wrinkled her nose in distaste.

     I followed her gaze to see a boy around my age and his mother playing by
the sandbox. “What’s wrong with them, Mommy?”

     “They’re low-class white trash, and I don’t see why they feel the need to
invade our park.”


      I stared at the boy. I saw nothing low-class about him, but what did I
know? My mommy knew everything, and if she said they were icky, then they
must be.
     “Can we make them go away?” I asked, eager to please my mommy.
      “I wish, but unfortunately, this is a public park, so there’s nothing I can
do. I will say this—we will not be coming back here anytime soon.”

I loved this park, and it made me sad that we couldn’t come back. I
instantly hated the boy and his mother for taking away my favorite place in
the world.

      “Can I go play on the slides?” I asked, not wanting to waste a minute of
my time here since it would be my last.

     “Of course, honey, but don’t go anywhere near them.” She sniffed as she
pulled out her BlackBerry and started punching buttons.
I hated that thing. Mommy was always on it, and she never paid attention
to me when she was. Daddy had one, too, but he always put it down if I
wanted his attention. I didn’t mind Daddy’s so much.

     “Thank you, Mommy!” I said as I leaped off the bench we were sitting on
and ran for the slides.

      I looked back once to see if Mommy was watching, so I could show her
just how fast I could climb up the slide, but of course, she wasn’t looking. She
still had that stupid thing glued to her hand.

      I sighed in defeat and slowly climbed the ladder. I was so proud of myself
when I made it to the top. Not every six-year-old could climb this high
without being afraid, but I could. I’d been doing it forever or at least since I
was five and Mommy had started to let me run around the park on my own.
She always told me that I was a big girl now and that I could take care of
myself while she worked.

      I sat down and pushed myself down the slide, giggling when I got to the
bottom as I felt the static in my pigtails. I loved the slide. It was my favorite
part of the park—after the sandbox, of course. I glanced over at the sandbox
to see that the boy and his mommy had moved on to the swings.

     Now’s my chance! I jumped off the slide and ran as fast as I could to the
sandbox. Once I made it there, I sat on the edge, so I wouldn’t make Mommy
mad by getting sand all over my dress. I picked up the bucket and started
filling it with sand to make my very own fairy princess castle. One day, when I
was all grown-up like Mommy, I would find a prince who would build me my
very own castle.

     “Whatcha making?” an unfamiliar voice asked.
      I looked up to see the boy from earlier standing above me. I wasn’t
supposed to talk to him, but how could I not when he’d asked me a question?

     “Making my princess castle,” I replied, hoping he would lose interest
after the princess part and leave me alone. If Mommy saw us talking, she
would be so mad at me.

     “Can I help?” he asked as he sat down right in the middle of the sandbox.
      I looked around, expecting his mommy to yell at him for getting his
clothes dirty, but she was just watching us and smiling as she sat on one of
the slides.

     “I can do it on my own,” I replied shortly, hoping that he would take the
hint and leave me alone.

     “Don’t you want to play with me?” he asked, sounding hurt.
     “I’m not supposed to play with you. My mommy said so.”
     “Why not?”
     “Because you don’t belong here, and you’re trash.”
     His eyes widened at my words, and he frowned. “I am not trash!”
     “Well, my mommy says you are, and she’s always right. She says you
shouldn’t even be allowed to play here.”

     “Well, your mommy is wrong. My mommy says that we are welcome
here, just like everyone else.”

      I shrugged. “I don’t care what your mommy says. My mommy is right,
and you shouldn’t be here. Go away.”

      Before he could respond, I heard my mommy calling my name.
      “Emma Bellokavich Preston! Come here!”
      I glared at the boy as I stood. “Now see what you’ve done? I’m in trouble
all because of you!” I turned and ran back to my mommy. I felt a twinge of
fear as I saw the angry sneer on her face.

     “What did I tell you? I do not want you around people like that!”
     I hung my head, ashamed that I’d disobeyed her. “I’m sorry, Mommy. I
told him to go away, but he wouldn’t listen.”

     “I don’t want to hear it! If you can’t listen to me, then you don’t need to
be here. Come on, we’re going home.”

      I sighed as I followed her out to the parking lot where her brand-new
Mercedes was parked.

     All I wanted was a princess castle.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Shattered Ties Release Day Giveaway!

If you would like to donate to my Shattered Ties release day giveaway, please fill out the form below!


Click HERE! :)

Win an eBook of Shattered Ties!

In celebration of the rerelease of Twisted and the release of my brand new book, Shattered Ties, I decided to do a giveaway. All you have to do to enter is tell me your favorite line from Twisted.


Just click HERE to enter!!!


xoxo