The Trouble with Sequels . . .

If you take a quick look at my last post , you'll see the WAY COOL cover of my upcoming MG book, WereWhat? Let me just tell you that writing that book was the most fun I've ever had writing. I mean, look at that cover? How could that be anything but FUN?

And now I'm writing the sequel. Yikes! There is a whole new set of rules, a new set of required skills . . . things I never even imagined when I decided to make this a 2-book odyssey. Every word I type, I wonder whether I'm being true to the characters in this point in their journey, whether I'm including too little or too much back information (to help remind readers where the former story left off), whether the tone stays consistent, whether the stakes are being "upped" or . . .

See what I mean?

The challenge at this point is to silence that inner editor long enough for me to get the story down, then allow myself to go back to edit it.

Anyone have an inner-editor-squasher?

What works for you?

The Big Reveal!

Those of you who follow me on Facebook may have noticed that I was very excited yesterday. (For those of you who don't, well, just take my word for it now.)

Anyway, here's why!

The wonderful Glendon Haddix (who is a GENIUS!) from Streetlight Graphics has completed the cover for my upper mid-grade book, launching this summer: Year of the WereCurse: WereWhat?

And it's absolutely FABULOUS! (Okay, don't take my word for it -- take a look for yourself!)

It's fabulous, right? Tell me it's fabulous!

Okay, so what do you really think?

Book of the Day -- Demon Day, by Penelope Fletcher

Today's Kindle INDIEpendence Book of the Day is Demon Day, by Penelope Fletcher. Here's the blurb:

Rae is falling into darkness. Grieving the death of her friend at the hand of dark magics, she is full of hate and vengeance. Tracking Devlin and his followers across demon territory, she is forced to turn to the local shifter pack for help. Tricked into rescuing the Pack Alpha’s daughters from the Temple, she learns there really is no place more dangerous than home. Breandan the fairy is done being patient. He wants Rae to stand by his side and refuses any claim they are not destined to be. Unsure, Rae denies him the right to have her, but will the urges of her nature and the strength of their bond allow her to walk away? Then there is Tomas, the alluring vampire who needs her help. But what exactly does he expect of her, and is the cost of helping him worth turning her back on life itself? Courted by the dark, and in love with the light, Rae must choose her path, or face the burden of Rupturing the world once more.

It's available on Amazon for just $2.99!

Book of the Day -- Monster Mashup

Here's a great book to curl up with in front of the fire (whether a fireplace or a campfire). Today's Book of the Day is Monster Mashup, by MJA Ware.

Here's the blurb:

Now with twelve short stories.

Monsters, magic, goblins, zombies, and more. Be prepared to sleep with the lights on. This collection of short stories will have you looking over your shoulder, avoiding mirrors, and jumping at the slightest sound.

From fiendish creatures hiding in your bathroom mirror, to Halloween pranks gone deadly wrong. Each story will scare, delight, and surprise.

No gore or cursing here, just good ol' spine-chilling fun!

Infinite Reflections – When Jessie's sister gets trapped in a haunted mirror, he must figure out how to destroy the creature within. Though, Mom might like it if he gets his sister out first.

Bloody Marcy – Mixing a game of Bloody Mary with a practical joke proves to be a deadly combination.

Monster in the Mirror - Nate, his little sister, and best buddy Dan, stumble upon a hidden room during a sleep-over. What they find inside is anything but friendly.

Death Trap – Mike takes a bet to go inside a haunted house, but will he live long enough to collect?

Steven, Space Stowaway – Steven sneaks onboard a spaceship bound for Mars. Just one problem: the Captain has a particularly unpleasant way of dealing with stowaways.

The Price of Friendship – How much is a best friend worth? Joey finds out the hard way.

Hobgoblin Horror – Jake only volunteered at the retirement home because Shelby works there. So, it's no wonder he's doesn't hear Mr. Fitches' warnings about a local homicidal hobgoblin—too bad for him.

Rolling Leprechauns for Change – Leprechauns can have a nasty sense of humor—especially, when they're getting even.

Hide-n-Go-Coffin – Playing hide-and-seek in a cemetery is disrespectful. When it happens to be cursed, the results can be deadly, or maybe even worse.

Grandpa's Suits – A game of spin-the-bottle with the school pervert isn't a bright idea. Fortunately for Zoey, she's not quite alone.

Brother's Keeper – Zack would be wise to spend less time looking for his missing sled and more time worrying about what's lurking outside. And he's not the only one who'll suffer for his single-mindedness.

Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb When Life gives you lemons, kill zombies. In this special short story that inspired the upcoming novel, Nate and Misty's town is overrun by the undead and they'll need a little luck to squeeze their way out of this sticky mess.

These stories are not recommended for kids under 8.

You can get Monster Mashup from Amazon, B&N or Smashwords for just  $1.79.

Book of the Day -- Summoning!

Okay, okay, so those of you reading my blog are probably somewhat familiar with this cover, but here it is, anyway:

And just in case you've missed it, here's the blurb, too:

Summoning is based on a “true” Irish witch story in which an evil vicar sells not only his soul but also that of his young servant girl, Meredith, to the devil. After learning the dark craft herself, Meredith finds herself trapped in the demon's shadow when she is accused of witchcraft. It is up to her to find the light and save herself – and those she loves – from the deal.

You can find Summoning on Amazon, B&N and Smashwords for just $2.99!

(But then, you knew that.) ;-)

Book of the Day -- Through the Eyes of a Geek

Today's Book of the Day is Through the Eyes of a Geek, by Kat Brookes. Here's the blurb:

Sixteen-year-old Ryan Matthews had always been the ‘cool’ kid in school, but being ‘cool’ doesn’t get him a free pass into Heaven. Marty, Heaven’s gatekeeper, refuses to let him in until Ryan returns to Earth and makes a difference in someone’s life. Sounds easy enough. That is, until he learns that ‘someone’ is Zachary Adams, his old classmate and the world’s biggest geek.

Convincing Zachary that he’s his angel isn’t an easy task. Especially since Ryan hadn’t exactly been nice to him when they were in school together. But Ryan is determined to see this assignment through, especially when he begins to see life through the eyes of a geek.

To make up for the way he’d treated Zachary, Ryan is not only going to teach him how to fit in. He’s going to help him win the heart of Kristen Williams, a girl Ryan used to be close friends with, the same girl Zachary has a thing for.

Will Ryan finally get those white wings he’s been working toward? Or will he end up on the wrong side of those Pearly Gates a hopelessly fallen angel?

You can get Through the Eyes of a Geek from Amazon, B&N and Smashwords for just $2.99!

Book of the Day -- Wayward

Today's book of the day is Wayward, by Ashley Girardi. Here's the blurb:

Born without magic, seventeen-year-old Helena “Hex” Wayward is an embarrassment to her power-hungry relatives.

As the weakest member of the world’s most deadly magical family, Hex learns early how to avoid confrontation. There’s no defending herself against an errant curse or the pit-demon that her cousins like to summon during family reunions.

When the dark magic inside of her -- magic that she never dreamt even existed -- erupts in a violent display, it kills a member of a rival family.

Now, Hex's family hopes to use her magic for their own sinister purposes and their enemies just want her dead. Abandoning her magic will leave Hex defenseless but she's seen how quickly power corrupts even the best intentions.

She has to make a choice:

Save her life or save her soul.

You can buy Wayward at Amazon, B&N or Smashwords for just 99 cents!