The Story Behind the Book: Happy birthday, TTNY!

Hard to believe TTNY is a toddler now. Wow. Happy book birthday, Moira and Kiernan!

When I wrote this book three years ago, it was partially on a whim, and partially because I was searching for something to provide a small glimpse of hope. I'd been a little while out of that terrible relationship I mentioned a few weeks ago and struggling to find my bearings. No matter what I did, I couldn't make that relationship work, mostly because he wasn't willing. But I could write about people who could and were.

Until this point, I'd thought myself solely a SFF writer, no romance thank you very much. But recent heartbreak has a way of changing your mind on a lot of things, and honestly, how will I learn anything if I don't write? And how will I grow if I don't challenge myself? After all, everything I'd believed about love and forever was shattered.

So I started writing. Being me, I geared toward vampires because of course I did. I was the kid reading Anne Rice in high school, eating up everything about vampire mythology that I could, fascinated by these intensely beautiful, dangerous creatures. It was a natural go-to. But what about the story? The characters?

After a little soul searching (and a bit more wine) I started brainstorming and came up with Kiernan, a man who is disgustingly honorable and kind and loving and basically what I needed at the time. Moira was pretty simple. A hermit who spends all her time working? That was me before my relationship ended. And like me, Moira is blessed with a wonderful best friend who is there to care for her when no one else can or will.

I found a great deal of healing through the two of them. Kiernan's love and devotion to Moira has lasted from her childhood and continues to last through her self doubt and fear. And Moira finds her spirit and gets to choose the path she wants to take--to be with Kiernan--even if he's not 100% on board at first. It gave me the hope that one of these days, I'd be able to find someone to accept the flaws and the fears and the anxiety that I deal with and love me with the fullness I need.

These two will always have a lasting place in my heart. I hope you'll at least give them a place in your e-reader ;)

Vampire Kiernan Shaw has never forgotten the night twenty years ago when he’d been forced to stand by while another vampire killed a six-year-old girl’s parents in front of her. He’s spent the better part of the last two decades watching over her, protecting her and hoping for an opportunity to make amends one day.

Ever since surviving the vampire attack that killed her parents, Moira Curran has dealt with the resulting nightmares and abandonment issues the only way she could—by throwing herself into her biochemistry career, preferring a life of a hermit in her lab to facing the reality of her lonely life.

Madame Eve brings them back together for one fateful night. An immediate bond of sizzling chemistry and respect forms, but can it heal her fears and his guilt?

Available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance Ebooks

They say it's my birthday! Well, soon....

So, the countdown to my 30th birthday is ON. T-minus 4 months from today! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I have 4 books available. Coincience? Maybe. But that isn't the point.

THE POINT is that I have 4 books and 4 months til I hit the big 3-0.

How's about a giveaway?

Every month starting today, I'm going to be giving away 3 prizes:
1st Prize - Copy of a book & $15 Amazon GC
2nd Prize - $10 Amazon GC
3rd Prize - $5 Amazon GC

Wanna get in on this? Entry form is below.

Entry-Form

We have winners!!!

Yes, Captain Picard, we have winners!

Congratulations to:

Christina G

Eva Lefoy

Donna

Tina Kelso

Lori Ha

You will be receiving your copies soon! Thank you for participating!

It's HERE!

Today, This Time Next Year OFFICIALLY hits virtual shelves. In celebration, I wanted to share an EXCLUSIVE excerpt from the story. Also, read to the end for your shot to win a free copy!

Enjoy :-D

“Are you certain you want this?”
“It’s what we signed up for, right?” she asked with a weak chuckle.
“No. It isn’t. We don’t have to.”
Moira sat up and reached for his hand. “I’m sick of being afraid.” She pulled him to the bed with her. “Aren’t you?”
Kiernan stretched out next to her, allowing her to appreciate the full length of him. She tangled her hand in his curly brown hair, forcing a guttural purr from him. “I am. I’ve spent all this time fearing you and your hatred of me.”
“Me?”
Rolling onto his side, he faced her, his hand on her hip again, flirting with the waistband of her slacks. She groaned when his fingertips brushed the sensitive part of her stomach, and she ached for him to move lower.
“Yes, you.” He shifted closer until no space remained between them and every hard part of him pressed into every soft part of her. “The idea of meeting you again terrified me. It still terrifies me.”
“I’m scared, too. I should be running right now.”
“Then why aren’t you?” The red rim around his eyes returned.
Blood tears? “Kiernan?”
“You shouldn’t be here, so why are you?”
“Because we need the same thing.”
“Which is?”
Moira stroked his jawline with her fingertips and enjoyed his shivers beneath her touch, how she made the beautiful, strong creature putty in her hands. Did he seek more than forgiveness?
“Closure,” she said. “We need closure.”

About This Time Next Year (now with official blurb!)

Vampire Kiernan Shaw has never forgotten the night twenty years ago when he’d been forced to stand by while another vampire killed a six-year-old girl’s parents in front of her. He’s spent the better part of the last two decades watching over her, protecting her and hoping for an opportunity to make amends one day.

Ever since surviving the vampire attack that killed her parents, Moira Curran has dealt with the resulting nightmares and abandonment issues the only way she could—by throwing herself into her biochemistry career, preferring a life of a hermit in her lab to facing the reality of her lonely life.

Madame Eve brings them back together for one fateful night. An immediate bond of sizzling chemistry and respect forms, but can it heal her fears and his guilt?

Buy links:

Decadent Publishing

Entry-Form

This Time Next Year Blog Hop!

So guess what, guys? This Time Next Year is available. On Amazon. TODAY. For the next two days, it will be an Amazon exclusive, and then it will head on over to various other ebook vendors on Friday. To celebrate, I've planned a pretty awesome blog tour, complete with your chance to win one of five free copies (unless you can't wait that long ;) ). 

Check back here for tour updates, and stop back on Friday for an exclusive excerpt from This Time Next Year!

Today, I'm over at fellow Decadent Publishing author Ava Doran's blog talking about why I love me some vampires. Take a peek at the post and get a head start on the giveaway!

This Time Next Year - COVER REVEAL!

YOU GUYS. YOU GUYS YOU GUYS YOU GUYS.

I got the most beauteous thing in the world in my email last week. Well, most beauteous for me anyway. MY COVER. *Dies*

*Revives*

Okay I'm good. I was so happy with the cover that I just couldn't wait to show it off. I have nothing official to go with it, but I'm posting my unofficial blurb and excerpt anyway. Cuz I'm a rebel.

All right, enough rambling. Here's the official, beautiful, amazing cover for my first-ever solo release, This Time Next Year.

Ever since surviving the vampire attack that killed her parents, Moira Curran has dealt with the resulting nightmares and abandonment issues the only way she could—by throwing herself into her education and then her biochemistry career, preferring a life of hermitude in her lab.

Kiernan Shaw has never forgotten the night twenty years ago when his maker killed a six-year-old girl’s parents in front of her. He’s spent the better part of the last two decades searching for her in order to make amends.

Madame Eve has brought the two together. When they finally meet, will Moira be able to give Kiernan what he needs? Will Kiernan put her fears to rest? Or will old fears and guilt keep them apart?

Excerpt:

For a moment, he thought back to Madame Eve’s email. If she trusts you, she will tell you her name. He understood the power of names, and so did Madame Eve. Something insignificant to a mortal meant everything to a vampire, in whose world names were both salvation and control. Remind a vampire of his humanity, or steal it away by forcing him to do something horrific, like watching a little girl’s parents be eviscerated right in front of her.

“Kiernan Shaw.” Swallowing hard, he found his way back onto the coffee table. “And yours?”

Would she tell him her name? Would she allow him that kind of power?

She took a deep breath, as though considering the same questions. “Moira Curran.”

He rolled the name on his tongue and loved the way it felt. “Beautiful.” He reached to stroke her cheek, but she flinched. “Moira, I won't hurt you. I could never hurt you.”

“I'm sorry,” she muttered. “Old habits, I guess.”

He nodded, unable to speak at first. The cloying scent of her fear, like overripe peaches, almost strangled him. “Why did you ask me to stay?”

“I don't know.”

Neither did he, but he wouldn't leave until she asked him to.

“I don’t want to be alone, Kiernan. Isn’t that pathetic?”

He warmed at the sound of his name on her lips. His mouth watered at the thought of kissing her, exploring her, making his name come out of that gorgeous mouth again and again. He tamped down his desire. Nothing good would happen if he moved too fast. “Not in the slightest.” Willem had all but guaranteed him a life alone. Like he approached a scared animal, he moved next to her on the couch. She uncoiled, but didn't relax. “Talk, Moira. Please.” The silence hurt his ears as much as any scream.

She shook her head. “It's too hard.” Tears spilled but she didn't move to wipe them away.

Time to be bold, I guess. He brushed a hand against her cheek again. Instead of flinching, she eased into his touch. “I want to ease your hurt,” he said. “Will you let me?”

*Squees* A huge thank-you to Tibbs Design for this mind-blowingly perfect cover. An ENORMOUS thank you to Decadent Publishing for taking a chance on me and my story. A MASSIVE thank you to Laura Diamond, Nicole Zoltack, Jackie Felger, Cate Masters, Anni Lute, Becky Regalado, Kathleen Gallagher, Dylan Coates, Hannah Farrell, and my lovely Janne and Haley of the USS Caryl (I love you hetero lifemate and wife!) for sharing in this amazing day with me by spreading the word.

And a GIGANTOR thank you to YOU. Yes, you. Thank you for stopping by and reading to the end. Thank you for sharing in one of the most important days in my life so far. 

I don't have a release date yet, but as soon as I do, I'll be posting it. So keep checking back here or on my Facebook page for the announcement. Thank you!