Destiny Bound

So, I know this is a blog for my first novel, but since my third novel is complete, I couldn't resist looking for a cover photo for it because I plan to publish it after my sequel Return to Darkness. And by the way, things are progressing slowly but surely with the sequel. I'm more than halfway through. I have the beginning, ending, and some bits in the middle. It's a matter of connecting them together now. Easier said than done.

So, here's a preview of the cover for Destiny Bound. It still has the istock logo on it because I haven't bought it yet. I wanted to be sure that it would work out. But what do you think? I love it. I love the font too. The font name is hysterical-bleeding cowboys. Not sure that's what a bleeding cowboy would look like, but it's great nonetheless.

New Ideas

Well, I'm officially taking a break from Return to Darkness. I got so frustrated with some of the comments on how I should start it, how slow it was, etc. It made me feel like I have to completely write a new first chapter and make chapter 1 now chapter 2. The somewhat good news is that it's already more than halfway written. Though, I'll have to go through the whole editing process before it can be released.

Since I'm taking a break from it, I've been working on a new story. During the Story a Day challenge in May, I started a new story with werewolves and witches. No vamps this time. I wrote two chapters, though I only labeled them as part 1 and part 2 because I only thought it would be a short story. But, when I got frustrated with Return, I thought, "Hey, maybe I should work on that story. It might be fun." Well, I just picked up where I left off, and I've been writing non-stop for days. Okay, I've stopped to see my family every so often. But... I have 204 pages written. So, it seems as if there is another published book in my future. It's weird because during book 1, I figured that was all I would ever write. Then I got to what is now the ending of that book, and thought, "This story isn't over yet. I guess I'll have to finish it in a sequel." But again, I thought that was it. But it was weird. I was in the car one day and the first line of this new story popped into my head. I thought I better write it down when I got home, and then I had a few ideas for it.

The main characters are Nick, a werewolf, and Sofia, a witch. They're sworn enemies, but when Nick transfers to Mason High halfway through Senior year, something strange pulls them to each other. Hopefully, you'll want to find out what that is and why it's happening.

Okay, I can't resist. Here's a little taste of what's coming:

“You’re sure it’s his?” I wanted to be sure, otherwise this was a complete waste of time.

“Yeah, Sof. It’s his,” he said, taking Nat’s hand in his. Even though they weren’t linked to me, they could share their combined power with me to add to the strength of the spell.

I lit the candle and placed it on the floor in front of me. I took one of the three pieces of cord lying on the floor and tied it around the base of the candle. Then I chanted,

                        By three and nine your power I bind.

                        By Moon and Sun my will be done.

I took the next piece of cord and tied it around the middle of the candle, and continued my chant.

                        Sky and Sea, keep harm from Nico,

                        Cord go ‘round, power be bound.

I tied the third cord around the candle’s base, and said,

                        Light revealed,

                        Now be sealed.

I blew out the candle, and spoke the final line of the spell,

                        So mote it be.

So what do you think? And for all of you waiting for Return, I promise to start working on it again soon.

Cheers

Return to Darkness

Drum roll please... Here it is. The cover for book 2. This does not mean that I am in any way close to being finished with the book, but at least it has a cover. I'm hoping to have the book ready to release by next Spring 2013. Well, back to work.

Return to Darkness-Prologue

SPOILER ALERT--
Well, here it is, the much anticipated prologue to book two. If you haven't read book one yet, then you probably shouldn't read any further. For those of you who have read book one, I hope you're excited after reading this. My intention is to suck you in like I did with the first book. Let me know what you think.

Prologue Preview

So here it is. You know you've all been waiting for it. Pacing back and forth staring at your computer day after day since you first discovered my blog. This is just a teeny bit of the Prologue, but hopefully enough to make you extremely annoyed that I didn't post more. And enough to make you want to actually read the book.
*****

So, there I was—on the edge of the cliff.

Staring down into the eternal abyss below me. Gazing out at the vastness of the Atlantic.

I was mesmerized by the dark and violent waves slamming with full force into the rocks below. I had never realized how beautiful the dark ocean was. Far off, it was so peaceful, yet below me, raging against the rocks, it was so angry. I stood there wondering whether the rocks would get me first, or if the waves would take me down past their anger to where the darkness becomes peaceful again. Maybe it would be both. Maybe I would break a little when I hit the rocks, then the waves would take over from there.

It didn’t matter.

Nothing mattered anymore. Whether or not the sun came up, or I never saw another starry night. Not with this emptiness inside of me... I already felt nothing. As soon as I took a step forward, it would all be gone. One step. I didn’t need to jump or take a huge leap. Just one small step, and the loneliness would be gone. The crying—sobbing every day for the past two weeks until the tears had all dried up—would be gone.