5 Days Left to BREATHE!

Excitement builds as the release of BREATHE,

Episode 1 of The Devastation Series, nears.

Advance read copies of BREATHE went out on December 26th. Early readers' comments are coming in. I'm just thrilled with what they say about their love for Lexa and Gabe, and their story.

I really hope you'll love it as much as they do. Since you have to wait until January 2 to get your very own copy, how about I give you a little excerpt to tide you over? Then you can enter the $25 Amazon.com Gift Card Rafflecopter Giveaway.

The first three chapters can be found on the tabs across the top of this page. This is a special little sneak peak of chapter ten.

BREATHE

Episode 1 of The Devastation Series

Sneak peek of Chapter Ten

LEXA

A knock on the bedroom door wakes me. I snuggle further under the blanket, trying to ignore it. Loud banging comes in response to my lack of answer. I grumble. “Go away. Sleeping.”

“You decent?” Gabe says.

“Go away.”

The door opens and I pull my pillow from under my head, lobbing it at him.

Bull’s eye.

He tosses my pillow back onto the bed. “Get up, Frecks. It’s seven o’clock.”

I flip to my stomach, arm trailing off the bed. My fingers pet the carpet while I pretend I don’t hear him.

“Up and at ‘em.” If persistence is a virtue, Gabe has a dump-truck load full of it.

“It’s summer. I’m supposed to get to sleep in.”

The bed shakes. I crack an eyelid. He’s stands at the end of the bed, his foot pumping the corner of the mattress.

“You’re such a PIMA.” Pain. In. My. Ass. I’ve called him this a thousand times. It doesn’t faze him now anymore than any of the other times.

“Mom’s got breakfast ready.”

“Breakfast schmeckfast,” I grumble as I feel along the floor. It’s here somewhere. My hand closes around my flip-flop. Aha, got it.

I jump up, standing on the bed, and attack Gabe. I try to swat him, laughing like a mad woman.

His false outrage rings out as he fends me off. “What the hell? Who’s the PIMA now?”

We’ve wrestled just like this since we were little kids. He gives up trying to block me and throws me over his shoulder like he’s hefting a feed sack. I squeal like a piglet and he lets out a roar of evil laughter. He smacks my behind, just hard enough to sting through my thin sleep shorts.

“Stop, stop.” I aim my flip-flop at his butt.

Suddenly, I’m on my back, bouncing onto the bed. Gabe flops on top of me, laughing. “Ha! See? You just thought you were gonna do something, didn’t you?”

His weight presses me into the mattress. A woodsy scent mingles with his minty toothpaste and envelopes me. I wiggle to free myself, but he’s too heavy. Wide awake now, I try harder to push him off, my hands against his bare shoulders.

He doesn’t budge. I quit struggling, and he stills too.

Except for my pulse pounding in my ears, it’s dead quiet.

Under the ink-black fringe of his lashes, his eyes burn into mine. His smile fades. My stomach somersaults and takes a swing on the uneven bars. I’ve never seen the expression he’s wearing. My lips suddenly go dry, so I lick them. Gabe eyebrows pull together. Is he staring at my lips?

He takes a quick breath, his eyes catching mine. Then he turns his head a bit, looking at me sideways. 

His eyes narrow a fraction, but they won’t let go of mine. Turning back to me, his nose is almost touching mine.

Letting the air seep from his lungs, his gaze roams my face. The moment stretches like silly putty into eternity. My lower belly contracts and my blood thrums through me, every pulse point throbbing.

What’s he looking for? I bite my bottom lip as my hands come to rest on his sides. His muscles are as solid as his chest. His smooth skin heats my fingertips. I swallow hard, trying not to smooth my hands around him. My palms itch to go to the lower center of his back, to that hollow right above his waistband.

The following quote is from further into the book.

When you're all done ogling Gabe's abs, you can scroll down and enter the Rafflecopter drawing for that $25 Amazon.com Gift Card. Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BREATHE RELEASE GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY

Well, here we are folks... the countdown is ON.

BREATHE, Episode 1 of The Devastation Series releases in LESS than a week. January 2nd is coming up fast. BREATHE is a Science-Fiction Romance, though you really could strip away ALL the sci-fi and you'd still have a great romance. It's got everything you want, hot guys, sassy girls, and steamy scenes.

So to get this thing off the ground (pun intended - you'll see what I mean when you read the book), I'm giving away a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card through a Rafflecopter drawing. All you need to do is hop on the copter and do a few, or all, of the easy entry-earners to get into the drawing. Then let all your friends know about it, so they have a chance to win too.

I'll keep posting about this drawing all week, but would really LOVE to have it posted on some other blogs to make it available to even more people. So, if you have a blog, or know someone who has a blog, get in touch with me through this blog post's comments section. I'll get the press kit out ASAP. Easy. And FUN!





BREATHE releases on January 2, 2015 at most major eBook retailers. So please, check out the cover (above) and the blurb (below). Make sure you don't miss out by sign up on my email list to get news and reminders (check out the right sidebar, just under the blue bird, there's a sign-up form). It's simple, and I DON'T share your info, nor will I fill your inbox with tons of emails. Just enough to keep you posted on what's happening with releases, contests, opportunities to win great stuff, and so forth.

BREATHE, Episode 1 of The Devastation Series, Book Blurb:

The summer after graduation, Lexa falls for Gabe, but can she trust her new love with the secret of a lifetime?

Secrets rule Lexa's life. After her move to Texas for college, she develops feelings for her life-long friend. But Gabe’s gone emotionally bi-polar, ice cold one minute, volcanic the next, and Lexa’s not even sure he is her friend any more. As she struggles to regain control over her shaken world, Lexa wakes one morning with wings. Panic sets in and she keeps her discovery to herself. Everyone has secrets, but revealing hers could land her on a lab table, and that’s not where she wants to spend freshman year.

When Gabe learns he’s an alien-hybrid, it changes everything. Now, he's rethinking his entire existence. After he lays a mind-melting kiss on her, Lexa wants to ditch their platonic status, but Gabe’s certain a move like that will ruin their relationship. However, resisting her is almost impossible. Can he figure out how to keep his secret and his best friend?

They think it can't get worse.

They're wrong.

BREATHE is the introduction episode to The Devastation Series, it is not a stand-alone novel, but don’t worry, the release of BREAK, Episode 2 of The Devastation Series, will follow within just a few weeks of BREATHE’s release.

Want to find me on Social Media?

Like me on Facebook:

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Find my Author Page on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10848928.Kelley_Harvey

Find BREATHE, Episode 1 of The Devastation Series, on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23900451-breathe?ac=1

Now, go get into that drawing!
(If you've ALREADY done some of these things,
it's fine, just mark that you did them and you can still enter)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ten Alternative Titles for BREATHE, Episode 1 of The Devastation Series

A Little FUN Before Release!

I’ve been tagged by the amazing and talented Marie Meyer, author of the NA Contemporary Romance, Across the Distance, coming to an e-reader near you May 2015, to share some wild and crazy alternative titles for my Sci-Fi Romance, BREATHE, Episode 1 of The Devastation Series. It releases January 2, 2015, and will be available wherever eBooks are sold.

Check out Marie’s fun alternative titles for Across the Distance. Marie also tagged Annie Rains, author of Forever Yours, so you can add to your laughs by checking out her Ten Alternative Titles as well.

I’m tagging two of my favorite authors and friends, the incomparable Lana Grayson, author of the freaking awesome book Warlord, NA MC Romance, and the fabulous Lizzy Charles, author of two of my favorite YA books, Effortless With You and Perfectly Messy (Effortless With You Book 2). I have known them both for years and can attest to their writing prowess. They are wonderful authors and you MUST read their books, or you are cheating yourself out of some great reads!

The Rules of the Game: “Scroll through your manuscript and stop on a random place. Whatever you land on becomes one of the ten terrible titles.”

Here are the silly, random, and completely ridiculous alt titles for BREATHE, Episode 1 of The Devastation Series.

1. Trapped in a Bad Joke

2. Take Somebody Out at Thirty Feet, Blindfolded

3. Jell-O Without a Mold

4. De-nied!

5. Hoist My Freak Flag

6. The Sun Bursts

7. Stretching Like a Lazy Cat

8. Toddlers Fighting Over a Tonka-toy

9. Damned Aliens

10. Someone’s Lab Rat

Wow... now that really makes it sound interesting, doesn't it? ;) I can't wait for you to read BREATHE and see where all those titles fit into the story.

BREATHE's Release

If you follow my post here or on Facebook, or even Twitter, by now, you know I'm releasing my first book, BREATHE, Episode 1 of The Devastation Series, in January 2015. January 2nd, actually.

I plan to run a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card Giveaway starting December 27th until 12 AM January 5th. I'm looking for bloggers who'd like to offer their readers a chance to get in on the giveaway by posting a book release blog post for BREATHE on or near release day, January 2, 2015. If you are interested, please contact me, and I will get you a press release package.

Also, prior to release, I'm offering 15 R2Rs, Read 2 Review, of BREATHE. This is a great way to get a free Advance Read Copy of BREATHE in exchange for an HONEST* review posted on Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble... iBooks too, if you please, on release day, January 2, 2015. The review only has to be five lines, and can be copy and pasted to each of the venues.

I have an email list if you are interested in keeping up with what's going on with BREATHE's release, signing up for an R2R, getting in on the Amazon.com Gift Card Giveaway, or following my writing journey. I promise not to fill your inbox with daily emails, nor do I share your information. Click here to sign up. Don't worry though, if you miss getting a R2R spot, I will release BREATHE at only $.99 for at least the first few days. So still sign up on the mailing list, get the reminder of release, and go ahead and buy it while it's such a deal.

*By honest review, I seriously mean honest. As much as I hope to get a load of five star ratings, I am a non-smoker by nature...you know, "You don't blow it up mine, and I won't blow it up yours."

BREATHE, Episode 1 of The Devastation Series

Many of you already know, back in July, I finally landed my dream agent, Terrie Wolf (@AKA_Terrie on Twitter, go follow her, she's a very positive voice). She's terrific, I mean, seriously TERRIFIC. I JUST LOVE HER. She's currently shopping my New Adult Contemporary Romance, SECRETS I KEEP. It's just a matter of time before I get to write a post similar to this one about that title--at least I hope. I have faith in Terrie, she'll find it a wonderful home.

But SECRETS I KEEP, as much as I LOVE it, isn't why I'm posting today.

Today is a BIG BIG BIG day, in the words of Effie Trinket. I have made the decision, with the blessing of my awesome agent, to self-publish my New Adult Science Fiction Romance, BREATHE, Episode 1 of The Devastation Series.

This is the book that started it all. It's had many titles, but for a while now it's been Devastation. I'm an emotional writer, and it just felt right. For short, my critique partners and I call it "D." Well, DEVASTATION is long to write every time I want to refer to it, so D makes it quicker. However, for titling a book, and being able to read it in thumbnail size, it is really LONG, and I'm not really sure a book with the title D on the front would get much traction, so I've renamed it BREATHE. It is the opening episode of this series with several titles to follow.

This book has had many readers, most of them not writers, and just about everyone who has read it has said, it's THE ONE. The book that will put me on the map. BOY I HOPE SO, because I'm getting  ready to jump in with both feet, my arms, legs and everything else you can jump in with. I'll finally see how the masses like it.

I'm as nervous as a fly at a frog convention. However, I'm equally excited. I mean, people will actually get to read it. MY BOOK! They'll get to go to Amazon, Barnes & Noble's website, iTunes, all those places, and download MY BOOK. I hope they will take a few moments to leave a review, so I will know how they like it. Good golly, I pray they connect with Lexa and fall in love with Gabe as much as I have.

I haven't written my acknowledgements page just yet, but I have so many people to thank for helping me with this book. Now I can also thank many for shoring me up and giving me the courage to put it out there into this big cruel world. Each of you encouragers know who you are. Not to worry, you'll be on that acknowledgments page.

If you have NO idea what The Devastation Series is or BREATHE, please take a look at the tabs above. There's one for BREATHE, and in the future there will be one for each of the episodes in the series. It will give you an idea of what's to come. I will post the first couple of chapters in the next day or two, so keep an eye out.

Please consider signing up on my email list (check the right sidebar, there's a short email form). I PROMISE not to spam you with a gagillion emails all  the time. I will just let you know information about my writing, contests, giveaways, advance read copies up for grabs, meet and greet opportunities, and, of course, release dates.

For now, let me leave you with my cover. Please comment below and tell me how you like it.

Yeah, that's Gabe... he's every bit as HOT in the book as he is on the cover. *le sigh*

Writing Process Blog Tour

My writing process... hmmm, now there's a question. Actually, there are four! I was invited by the lovely BA Wilson to join in on this fun blog-hop to learn more about the writing process from lots and lots of authors. Go check out her writing process on her blog at http://bawilsonwrites.blogspot.com/ .

1) What am I working on?

Well, that's the gagillion dollar question these days. I have multiple books started and about three more brewing in the back of my mind. As far as actual writing projects, the two works I tend to go back in the forth the most are the sequel to my first novel, a romantic light sci-fi, DEVASTATION, titled DESPERATION, and a follow-up for SECRETS I KEEP. The follow-up, to be titled LIES I TELL, will be a stand alone, though it will be part of a series of books with similar feel and style. Mostly though I'm working on trying to get my current book SECRETS I KEEP, a NA Contemporary Romance with dark elements and family drama, represented by an awesome agent, and hopefully published sometime in the next year or two.

2) How does my work differ from others of it's genre?

Okay, I've thought how I can put this, but have decided it's already been explained as well as it can be, by my now close friend, Jennifer Hawkins (who at the time of writing her blog post about SECRETS I KEEP, she and I had only just become acquaintances, and were just really starting our friendship)... so I think it's best said on her blog post, "The New Adult Genre: I'm a believer again."

3) Why do I write what I do?

Well, I started out writing my first novel for my, then 15 year old daughter. My latest novel, SECRETS I KEEP, I wrote for me. Whether it sells or ever sees the light of day glancing off other shiny titles on a bookstore shelf, it's mine. A story close to my heart that had to be written no matter if it's what agents or editors are looking for. This was a must write. I just hope, it becomes a MUST READ on many of your lists, eventually.

4) How does my writing process work?

That depends on the day, the hour, and what's going on around me. In an ideal world, I am in a comfy place, music playing in the background, usually something that reflects the feel and tone I want the story to have, and I have peace and uninterrupted quiet to get lots of words down before I have to get up for a leg stretching break. However, since I don't often live in that ideal world, it usually works more like, music playing, while I'm trying to snatch moments between work, laundry, kid interruptions, dog pottie break needs, household and life-stuff that seems to be out to get me and my precious writing time. So basically, I'll write anywhere I can find a moment and be able to turn on my laptop.

Next week (June 23rd), go check out these three

amazing authors to see how their process works. 

Jennifer Hawkins is a mom, wife, nurse, and author of adult & young adult fiction. Her short story, "Preach What You Practice," received an honorable mention in the 2014 Writer's Weekly Short Story Competition. She lives with her husband of nine years, two adorable sons, and a Great Dane who thinks she's a lap dog. Though she'll always be a South Carolina girl at heart, Jennifer now resides under the sprawling Texas sky--where there's plenty of sweet tea and sunshine, thank heavens.

Visit her blog at  jhawks-nest.blogspot.com

In a previous life, Kristin Kisska Mehigan was a finance geek, complete with MBA and Wall Street pedigree. Now surfing her renaissance wave, she’s a self-proclaimed fictionista. Her contemporary suspense novel, PURPLE SHADOWS, is set at UVA, her alma mater. When she’s not working on her next book (a quest set in Prague), she can usually be found tweeting @KKMHOO or blogging weekly about life and writerly things on her “Leave it to Kris…”, her Tumblr page.
It can be found at  http://krismehigan.tumblr.com/

Charlotte is the beautiful blonde.

Charlotte Levine-Gruber is a third generation Texan who spends at least part of every day with her nose in a book. She worked in a variety of professions; exercising race horses, apparel buyer in Manhattan, and registered nurse before returning to school later for an MBA. She spent many years working in corporate bankruptcy liquidations and brings this body of knowledge to her novels. UNFINISHED BUSINESS is her debut book and she's currently working on the next, WORK IN PROGRESS.

Find Charlotte at http://charlottelevinegruber.tumblr.com

RELEASE DAY Weekend: IF I BREAK by Portia Moore

RELEASE DAY!

Well, okay, RELEASE WEEKEND :)

*fires confetti cannons* 

Portia Moore's IF I BREAK, a New Adult Contemporary Romance released on Friday, June 6.

Don't miss being one of the first of your friend's own it, read it, love it (and don't forget to help an author out and leave a review.)

What happens when happily ever after is the hard part...

Lauren Brooks wants to do three things: Escape the small town she grew up in, get accepted to her dream school in Chicago, and graduate without drowning in debt. Now she’s working her ass off to do just that.

With a full course load and a waitressing job at one of the hottest night clubs in Chicago, she does not have time for distractions;namely ones who only want to get into her pants. She’s been burned before.

Only a fool goes for a second round.. With just two semesters left until graduation, everything’s on track.

Until she meets Cal. Enter distraction.

At six-foot-two, with ebony hair, deep grey eyes, and a smile that could only hide an agenda, she knows he’s trouble. And for the first time in her life, a little trouble might be just what she needs.

No. What she wants.

It isn't like she’d ever marry the guy.

Until she does.

What she thinks will be her happily ever after, is only the beginning.

Cal has a secret. One that makes loving him come with a price, and being his wife cost more than she bargained for.

Here are a couple of short teasers from Portia to whet your appetite.

Where to buy IF I BREAK:

Amazon

Goodreads

Where to find Portia:

Goodreads

Facebook 

IF I BREAK by Portia Moore

I am pleased to be in on my friend Portia Moore's release festivities of IF I BREAK, her New Adult Contemporary Romance. In addition to that I've talked her into giving us a sneak peak into her writing process and life in general. AUTHOR INTERVIEW=BONUS! For even more awesomeness to add to this one post, Portia is giving away some sweet prizes...check the end of the post for the Rafflecopter widget.

Look at this fabulous cover!

What happens when happily ever after is the hard part...

Lauren Brooks wants to do three things: Escape the small town she grew

up in, get accepted to her dream school in Chicago, and graduate

without drowning in debt. Now she’s working her ass off to do just that.

With a full course load and a waitressing job at one of the hottest

night clubs in Chicago, she does not have time for distractions;namely

ones who only want to get into her pants. She’s been burned before.

Only a fool goes for a second round.. With just two semesters left

until graduation, everything’s on track.

Until she meets Cal. Enter distraction.

At six-foot-two, with ebony hair, deep grey eyes, and a smile that

could only hide an agenda, she knows he’s trouble. And for the first

time in her life, a little trouble might be just what she needs.

No. What she wants.

It isn't like she’d ever marry the guy.

Until she does.

What she thinks will be her happily ever after, is only the beginning.

Cal has a secret. One that makes loving him come with a price, and being his wife cost more than she bargained for.

IF I BREAK RELEASES JUNE 6, 2014!

Now, let's get to know Portia a bit, shall we?

KH: Is there music or television on while you write?

PM: I tend to play music before writing to set the mood and turn it off once I actually start.

KH: Outside of your own, what's your favorite book?

PM: At the moment Hopeless by Colleen Hoover.

KH: As an author, are you a planner (outline) or a pantser (by the seat of)?

PM: I usually am a panster but once I get to a certain point where I have a feel for the characters I'll write out main plot points I want to hit.

KH: Would your MC want hang out with you and vice versa?

PM: No, because I'd probably have pretty inappropriate thoughts about her husband whenever I saw him. That's not good!

KH: Phobias? Do your phobias ever work their way into your writing? 

PM: BUGS! All aside from spiders because they kill other bugs. Maybe a spider will one day.

KH: Which authors inspired you as a young adult?

PM: JK Rowling and Omar Tyree.

KH: Do you believe in love at first sight? Why or why not?

PM: No. I'm a strong believer in lust at first sight lol. Lust can be powerful enough to get you to stick around for love.

KH: What is one characteristic about yourself that you love?

PM: I really don't harp on negative things. I'm pretty forgiving and not one to hold grudges. It makes family fights a lot easier to get over.

KH: Where is your favorite place to write?

PM: In my back yard when the weather allows.

KH: Why did you decide to write the genre that you do?

PM: Initially I didn't really decide to. I wrote the story I wanted to tell and it happened to fall into the New Adult Genre. I'm 26 but I still feel like I'm just getting a hang of adult hood and it's still very new to me.

KH: What advice would you give aspiring authors?

PM: Write the book you want to read. That way if no one else wants to you'll have at least one fan:).

Where to buy IF I BREAK:

Amazon

Where to find Portia:

 go check her out!

Goodreads

Facebook 

Now for the fun stuff... GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Life's Seasons

It’s storm season.

Some of us living in the large swath of the US dubbed 'Tornado Alley' dread this time of year. Others look forward to it. They love a good storm and hope to see some real 'action' from one if the many super-cell storms which will likely crop up before the season has run its course. There are even a few folks who will actively 'chase' these storms in hopes of getting video footage or collecting data from tornadoes that may drop out of the ominous clouds. Terror carried on the wind.

 

When I was a pre-teen, my family and I watched in horrified awe as a funnel cloud came toward our

home. We lay in the bar-ditch at the bottom of the hill atop which our house sat. Rain pelted us, stinging our skin and running into our eyes. My parents covered my sister and me with their bodies to protect us from the hale dashed to the ground from the sickly green sky. We got a blessing that day. Our home was spared.

This morning the radio announcer forecast storms for this afternoon, some possibly severe. I have a tendency to walk the floors when a bad storm hits, and I have to remind myself not to worry this is just a season. It’s the storm season. It will pass. When it does, we'll be dunked into a different season.

Each season possesses its hardship and its beauty. Storms can be frightening yet fascinating. Lightning, though deadly, is mesmerizing to watch.

It occurs to me life is much like this; full of seasons. Some pass more quickly than others. Certain seasons are foreseen and welcomed. Others come out of the dark clouds on the horizon, taking us by the scruff of our necks, picking us up from our safe surroundings to toss us about on raging winds. 

No matter the season, I must always keep in mind that it will pass. The good seasons should be soaked up and enjoyed to the fullest extent possible. During the less-than-stellar times, I must grit my teeth, pray hard, and push through the storm, knowing every moment brings me ever closer to the end of that season, nearer to the sunshine once again.

How do you handle your storm seasons? 

#DFWCON: Totally Worth the Hangover

Most of us want Sundays to last forever, so we never have to get up and face another Monday. This week was the same as always for me, though the reason I wanted my weekend to go on and on is a little different.

I attended the DFW Writers' Conference over the weekend. There are so many things I learned and so much I want to pass on I will have to do it over several blogposts...but for now, I'll give you the highlights of my weekend. Over the next few weeks, I'll take a little more serious look at what it was really like.

I drove to Hurst, Texas, the day before the conference.

Can you tell? I was a little excited.

Met some VIPs first thing.

Me on the elevator, right after I met Laura Zats, the agent at the top of my pitch list.

On my return trip to the ground floor, I shared the elevator with Annie Nybo, Simon and Schuster editor. 

Then I met up with my new friend Charlotte Levine-Gruber. We'd only ever met online.

I'm on the left, and of course, the beautiful Charlotte is next to me.

 At dinner Friday evening, prior to conference, I met some lovely authors. As we ate, we caught a glimpse of some agents and editors at a table nearby. Try as I might, it was hard not to look at them. I tried acting cool...yeah, um... I'm not so good at that. Though I did avoid winking at them, as hard as that was.

Then there was the Pre-conference Mixer organized by the brilliant Sarah Bale.

Mingling with other authors always gets me happy and excited.

Got to bed late.

Got up early so I could fix my hair.

Wanted to look like this:

Most likely looked like:

Made it to the conference center.

Opening remarks were great.

Then I had to prepare myself for  my 10 AM pitch session with Laura Zats.

Thank goodness, Laura was wonderful and put me at ease right away.

She even ended up asking for the first 50 pages of SECRETS I KEEP.

So yeah, I was all:

I went to a few classes.

Really enjoyed Pitching by the Numbers led by the fabulous Jessica Sinsheimer.

Of course, being me, I stuck my foot in it and wanted to 

Not to worry, after class I caught her and apologized. She was quite gracious. 

The legendary Donald Maass did a class called Beyond Setting. He left the attendees in an awed daze.

I got to know some really neat people, too.

Margaret Bale, agent with Inklings Lit., is just fantastic.

She made me feel so comfortable--and is so cool, I want to be "real life" friends. I didn't even pitch my book to her. (The ONLY reason I didn't pitch Margaret is because her colleague at Inklings currently has my FULL. Querying two agents at the same firm, at the same time, is frowned upon.)

Wish I'd thought to get a photo of us together.

'cuz, you know, she's nice enough, she'd probably have done that.

Alas, I did not.

The Gong Show Saturday evening was fun to watch, yet painful as well. 

I was so glad my query wasn't chosen. It was sort of like watching this:

Immediately following the Gong Show there was a mixer of sorts.  The agents and editors were available to whoever could make it through the throngs of other authors to meet them. Though I will talk to just about anyone, I am NOT good at pushing my way in. So I stood on the sidelines, feeling like a weird stalker, waiting for my chance. 

I pretty much hung out at the fringe of the party, looking silly and probably uncomfortable.
I did get to talk with Jessica Sinsheimer, who proved as gracious as she'd behaved earlier in the day when I stuck my foot in it. Although, I didn't pitch Jessica because she has the FULL for my first book.

Margaret Bail also chatted with me, so I didn't feel so alone. Thank you, Margaret. I also had a chance to visit with Sarah Negovetich, who is quite funny. She doesn't rep NA, so, nope, didn't pitch my MS to her either.

Basically, the mixer was a  bust for me getting any requests for SECRETS I KEEP, but it was still fun and I am glad I went.

Sunday arrived.

I was determined to do my best to get at least ONE MORE request.

I started the day by taking another class led by Donald Maass. It was all about adding micro-tension to your book to keep the reader turning the pages. By the end of the class I was running out to the Barnes and Noble table to purchase Don's book, The Fire in Fiction.

The line was long and by the time I got to the register I felt like:

I had to get back to the room and get him to sign it before he left and I missed my chance.

I made it.

I had a 10 AM consultation with Amanda Rutter, editor with Strange Chemistry (Angry Robots). She was wonderful and helpful and gave me some great advice on where she saw the YA market heading in the near future. Thank you, Amanda, you are DA BOM!

Then there was lunch. The food was good, but dessert was even better,

all the cakes.

I was all:

The powers-that-be very nicely tried to help those of us still waiting to pitch agents and editors. They set up the lunch tables by genre. Then they encouraged said agents and editors to get around the room to chat with all of the authors. I had yet to speak with Candace Havens of Entangled Publishing. She'd said, at the opening of the conference, she was looking for NA. So I seriously wanted to chat with her, even if only for a few seconds. I waited until she got close enough.

Trying to contain my excitement to chat with Candace.

Then, at the first opportunity, I tried to get her attention.

She was just really lovely. She came over, sat down with me, and told me to tell her about my book.

She asked questions. She smiled. She was interested.

I got all nervous and tried not to do this:

But I held it together. I was calm. Then she asked for my FULL manuscript.

Inside I was all:

But I did manage to wait until she walked away before doing this:

 The guy sitting next to me, one Joshua Carpenter, who I'd literally just met minutes before, was very cool and, upon seeing my excitement, gave me a high five. 

After that I was pretty much like:

 

I attended one more amazing class, on creating unforgettable characters, led by Don Maass. Can you tell who was the star of the conference in my book?

It was almost over.

We all assembled one last time. They thanked the staff, the speakers, and the volunteers. They gave away some door prizes.

Donald Maass gave the closing remarks, bringing a good part of the room to tears with his uplifting stories and encouragement. When he finished speaking the crowd went a little wild.

I came home and did this:

Today I am exhausted. My brain is tired and my feet are killing me.

I seriously feel a bit like I have a hangover... but it was totally worth it. Every second. 

Thank you, DFW Writers for putting on such a magnificent conference and making my weekend spectacular. If you are anywhere within traveling distance, this conference is more than worth your time and money to attend. There will be another next year... you really should come on out.

Did you attend this year?

What were your favorite moments of the conference or the weekend in general?

Tell us about it in the comments.

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