Never Let You Go by Michele G. Miller Release Day Blitz

Title: Never Let You Go, Prophecy of Tyalbrook series, book two

Genre: YA Fantasy Romance

Author: Michele G Miller

Publisher: Enchanted Ink Press (Self Published)

Release Date: Janury 30, 2014

Available on: Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Blurb

Two souls desperate to discover the truth about the past and determined to save their future…

SKYE
The usual warmth I felt deep in my soul when Xander was near me was beginning to dull. Yet I still remembered the warning: “Be careful, my Princess…you will lose all you love before you can win what you want.”

XANDER
I could feel it; she hadn’t been here. Two days of hell, riding as fast as we could and only taking small breaks, and yet she had outrun us. How?

A PRINCESS set on regaining her Kingdom and protecting those she loves…
A GUARDIAN who will stop at nothing to find the woman who stole his heart…
An EVIL FORCE who will destroy everything they know in order to have power over all…

The journey continues in Never Let You Go, book two in The Prophecy of Tyalbrook Series.

Add to Goodreads

 Excerpt

Nickoli’s arms were laden with weapons when he came back into view. He stepped in, uninvited, and opened his arms; allowing each deadly piece to drop to the ground with an ear-splitting clang. I jumped back as the items ricocheted across the floor, and a club rolled to a stop by my feet.

Nickoli bent over and picked up a sword. He approached me, a menacing look on his face, and a flash of terror tore through me. The temptation to scream was strong, however I knew it wouldn’t do me any good. If his intention was to kill me, the deed would be long done before my cries for help would be answered. If they were ever answered. I kept my focus on the sharp tip of the sword as he advanced on me.

“If you choose not to trust me, you will have to protect yourself.”

He raised the sword, gripped the hilt in his fist, and hurled it into the floor at my feet. The tip embedded into the wood with a thud. I yelped in surprise and jumped back. With an angry glare, he turned to storm out of the room; leaving the pile of weapons scattered about the floor.

“I don’t know how to fight with a sword,” I called out, my voice void of the angry bluster it carried earlier.

He didn’t stop, but instead replied over his shoulder as his long strides carried him out the door. “Then Princess, you best learn how.”

The slam of his door signaled the end to our conversation.

Never Let You Fall, book one

Only $0.99 available on 

Amazon (E-book & paperback)

Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Michele is the author of the Coming of Age Fantasy Series The Prophecy of Tyalbrook - Never Let You Fall, book one (May 2013) and Never Let You Go, book two (Jan 2014) as well as the New Adult Romantic Suspense, Last Call (Oct 2013). She is currently working on the third book in The Prophecy of Tyalbrook Series, a Last Call novel and a YA Realistic Fiction that has her super excited!

Having grown up in both the cold, quiet town of Topsham, Maine and the steamy, southern hospitality of Mobile, Alabama, Michele is something of a enigma.  She is an avid Yankees fan, loves New England, being outdoors and misses snow.  However she thinks southern boys are hotter, Alabama football is the only REAL football out there and sweet tea is the best thing this side of heaven and her children’s laughter! 

Her family, an amazing husband and three awesome kids, have planted their roots in the middle of Michele’s two childhood homes in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Email: authormichelegmiller@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMicheleGMiller

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chelemybelles

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/chelemybelles/

Website: http://michelegmiller.blogspot.com/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Michele-G-Miller/e/B00CLRE0B0/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/michele-g-miller

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6975382.Michele_G_Miller

Butt Problems: ROW80 Update

Why is it so much easier to evaluate and improve others' work?

First, it's always easier to see mistakes when you are unfamiliar with the work--when you don't approach it with preconceived ideas (or full knowledge of what it is supposed to say).

I re-read my manuscript several times before sending it to betas, yet I missed...

"he made her toys curl"

Although toys is an interesting concept, I corrected it to toes.

Then, in addition to my all that just problems (see my post here), I have a but problem. It's better than a butt problem, but it's still a problem.

Speaking of butt problems. I recently read a novel where the following happened...

"I love you, but..."
"No butts..."

I agree, no butts in a relationship, but I don't think that's where the author intended this conversation to go (especially since it wasn't erotica).

Oooh, another typo I saw recently (another LOL moment)...

He pushed back her loch of hair.

The moment quickly went from sweet to confusing and overwhelming with the thought of him pushing back this massive sea of hair. Ew!

But I digress...

I spent the day yesterday copying all of my thoughts and my betas' thoughts onto my printed manuscript. Looking at all the computer pages and comments was becoming way too difficult. 

Then, I went back and added plots points to further develop, character thoughts and reactions to enhance, and emotional elements to strengthen. Finally, I looked at tension and foreshadowing for book three (and the 2.5 novella). All of these notes are now on one manuscript. 

In a weird way, it was freeing. Sure, I see the work ahead of me. But, I feel confident the next draft is going to be MUCH better. I'm loving this story more and more. 

So humor me... what's the funniest typo you've ever read in a book? The butt one tops mine!

As far as my A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) update... still editing. That is all. Peace out!

Falling Into Editing: ROW80

I fell like Alice in Wonderland. I'm 

F
    A
          L
              L
                  I
                     N
                         G

into the never-ending editing hole.

I love editing, to see a work gradually take a better shape--breathing life into the words I worked so hard on in the first place. And I have some amazing input from my betas and editor. 

But, I still feel like I'm falling... struggling to grab hold of the perfect words and best fixes. I know a book is never perfect, but I want to give it everything I have. When I finally hit publish, I want to know it's the best version.

No more complaining, I'm heading back to my manuscript. Wish me luck!

What's your best trick for effective editing? Is it all about staring it down and not resting until it takes shape? Or, do you attack chunks at a time and then take a much-needed breather?

On Mondays, I post my A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) updates. But editing is my only update. It's my very existence right now. But I did read the first three chapters of a book I'm really excited about, thanks to Shauna Kelley. That was a nice break!

Wishing everyone an amazing week!

14 Things You Are Dying To Know... I Hope

I was tagged by the awesome Jo Michaels to participate in this crazy game where I share 14 facts about me and tag 14 people to do the same.

Although I’m normally a rule follower, I’m going to do something absolutely spontaneous and crazy and NOT tag anyone. But if you are in a soul-baring mood, please go rogue and share.

1. I am the oldest of three girls, and I have three girls. They are my world.

One of my favorite pics of my three sweeties!

2. I met my husband my freshman year (third day of college). Been together ever since.

3. I don’t watch Downton Abby, nor do I have any interest in doing so. I love historical fiction, but I want my TV to be mind-numbing escapism.

4. I correct people’s grammar mistakes in my head. I correct my daughters’ grammar mistakes out loud. Now they say things like “Jackie and I’s favorite movie is” just to make me crazy. And irregardless makes my skin crawl. *shudders*

Squeakers

5. I thought when I had girls I would avoid icky pets. *sigh* See the attached picture of Squeakers and Cookie, our pet rats.

Cookie

6. I hate coffee—so much so that the smell of it makes me sick to my stomach.

7. I can’t dance, but I love to. My favorite stress reliever is to crank up some tunes in the kitchen and dance with my girls. Rock on!

8. I love sports. College basketball is my favorite (huge University of Kentucky fan—it’s my alma mater) followed closely by professional football. We are pulling for the Broncos in the Super Bowl. CO has a special place in my heart.

9. I am my own worst critic but always a cheerleader for my friends and family.

10. My middle daughter is named after my father and his favorite president: Reagan Dallas.

11. I’ve had a crush on Hugh Jackman since Kate & Leopold. (BTW: What the hell happened to Meg Ryan? Have you seen her lately. Such a shame.)

12. Harry Connick, Jr. is my latest crush (not displacing Hugh, though). Thank you, American Idol.

13. Sugar is my kryptonite. I wish veggies were.

14. I can’t wait to go to UtopYa. I might just geek-out to meet some of my fellow authors! The only thing that would make me more excited… a special guest appearance by Hugh Jackman.

So I don't feel alone, please share something about yourself in the comments. Please!

Note: The problem with #4 and #9 combined is that I read and re-read posts (and manuscripts) ad nauseam trying to avoid mistakes. It's exhausting!

Attempted Murder Gone Awry: ROW80

In Chasing Shadows, the sequel to last year's Chasing Memories, I introduced a new character. This character's main purpose was to enhance the story and then die in dramatic fashion. 

Only she had other ideas.

Source

I killed her three different times while writing the book, and each time I edited her back in.

Why?

I've asked myself the same thing. And the answer is something that had never happened to me before in my writing journey... she simply demanded it. 

Now, she's going to figure prominently in Chasing Forgiveness (a novella). 

Writers: Has something like this ever happened to you? Has a character ever demanded more story or to live?

Readers: Have you ever read a book where a character died and you wished you could bring him/her back to life?

*****

Wednesdays are A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) check-ins. My editing progress is slow for now since we still have two Chinese exchange students living with us. But, I'm plugging away. 

Speaking of ROW80... I met the lovely Juliana Haygert through this amazing writing community. Recently, I read the first two books and novella of her Everlast series. Loved them. Team Micah! 

Today, I am featuring the latest in the series, Cup of Life (a novella), on Mom in Love with Fiction. Please stop by and check it out here. There's also a great giveaway. 

Congrats, Juliana!

Giving Life to Words: ROW80 Update

My oldest daughter often says I forced her into the life or word-nerdery because she will occasionally use the word catawampus (one of my personal favorites). Or because she knows when to use I or me. Her favorite pastime is to bring me a word in a book she's reading and try and stump me regarding its meaning.

I would love to take a course in etymology, because I am truly fascinated by words (although when I told my daughter this desire, she wanted to know why I'd want to study bugs).

All that being said, words aren't everything... even for us storytellers.

A lesson in this... my family and I are hosting two students from China for five days. They have very limited English. I have struggled at times to communicate with them, resorting to typing in Google Translate and showing them the screen.

But my girls have found creative ways to communicate. When they wanted to play games with their new friends, they pulled out dominoes and an old princess matching game. This after spending almost an hour outside with chalk. They took the language barrier out of the equation and everyone was laughing in no time. Then we went to the park and played basketball. So much fun. Amazing how happiness trumps the need for understanding. We had a wonderful weekend of bonding and very few words were said by anyone.

I think this is why a story that moves us doesn't need to be complicated or scholarly. It just needs to find a way to make us smile... or laugh or cry. Anybody can string words together; a true storyteller gives them life.

(Although I still really want to take a course in etymology!)

*****

Mondays are my A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) check-in days. Since I'm the mom to five girls for a couple more days, it will be slow-going here. However, I have set a deadline to finish editing Chasing Shadows--next Friday, 1/31. Still hoping for a February release. *woot*

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Tragic Desires by AM Hargrove Cover Reveal & Giveaway Plus ROW80 Update

Cover by Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations 
Photo by Scott Hoover Photography 
Cover Model Emmanuel Delcour

About Tragic Desires

My name is Gemini Sheridan. At least that’s what I thought it was for 23 years. Then one day a slight adjustment on the wheel of my mountain bike set into motion a series of catastrophic events that changed my life forever. Now I’m running from the headaches that threaten to destroy me… from the assassins that threaten to kill me… from the truth that exposes who I really am… and from the man that wants to save me. Because he now owns my heart and I fear him above all others.

My name is Drexel Wolfe and I’m a private investigator. Nothing ever stands in the way of what I want because when I see something I just take it. All of that changed the night my life collided with Gemini Sheridan’s and now everything is one hot damn mess. And the worst part of it all is that I’m trying to save her ass and I don’t know why the hell I’m even bothering. Well, that’s not exactly true. Fact is, I can’t stop thinking about her. She’s crawled into every thought I own, asleep or awake. I have serious plans for her that include making her mine. What she doesn’t know is that when I play, I play for keeps. Nothing and no one will get in my way or stop me… not even Gemini Sheridan herself.

Add it on GoodReads.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Connect with AM Hargrove
Blog: http://amhargrove.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Amhargrove1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMHargroveAuthor
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5338829.A_M_Hargrove
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/amhargrove1/

Not a bad way to celebrate hump-day. *swoon*

And Wednesdays are A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) check-in days.

Yesterday, I finally finished editing my website. Now, it's live! Please go check out www.tiabach.com and let me know what you think.

Edits and beta thoughts are pouring in, so my head will be swimming in Chasing Shadows. Good thing I'm enjoying this manuscript. 

Enjoy the rest of your week! And don't forget to enter the giveaway above.