Snippet from Finding Home

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Island House came out earlier this week, and I've been having a blast visiting blogs talking about it. Right now you can enter to win a free copy on Andrew Q. Gordon's blog.

Be sure to check out the posts if missed my release party over on the Dreamspinner Press blog. I shared snippets from the book and the inspiration behind some of my favorite parts of the novel. Don't fret if you missed the giveaways--there will be more chances to win goodies like the metal anchor bookmarks and the ceramic oil warmers from the prize packages on Twitter throughout the month.

I'm hard at work on the second book in the Dropping Anchor series, Finding Home. Here's a sneak peek at some of the dialogue from  today's writing session:

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Letting Clare choose where they ate would mean something vegetarian, or worse, vegan.

“Can we stop for something on the way? You know she's not going to let us eat anywhere with actual food,” Ian pleaded.

“The last time I did that she smelled the french fries the second she got in the car. I ended up on a three-day juice cleanse,” Niall said with a shudder that told Ian he wasn't exaggerating.

“I did a juice cleanse once,” he offered.

“A two-day bender where all you did was drink pineapple juice with rum is not a juice cleanse,” Niall retorted.

“Lost six pounds,” Ian continued, ignoring the interruption.

“Probably more from dehydration from all the sex than because of the juice,” Niall deadpanned.

Ian considered it, then nodded. College spring break weeks were a guaranteed good time on Tortola. “Possibly.”

--Finding Home, due out summer 2014

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On the topic of beverages, apparently you can get Butterbeer at Starbucks! It's pretty chilly here in Indianapolis today, so maybe I'll treat myself to a magical hot drink this afternoon.

Release day!

It's been three years in the making, but release day is here for Island House! Even better, it's debuting with a 4.5 star review under its belt, courtesy of Nikyta at Sid Love.

It's especially awesome because Island House was my NaNoWriMo novel in 2010, and in a nice parallel, its spin-off Finding Home is my NaNo project this year. It's been a challenge to stay on top of the daily word counts while prepping my blog tour for Island House and getting ready for all the awesome release day festivities I have planned, but it's well worth a little lost sleep.

I'll be over on the Dreamspinner Press blog all day today doling out snippets of Island House, insights into my favorite parts of the book, and most importantly, prizes!  That's right, I'll be giving things away all day long to readers who come to my virtual release party at Dreamspinner. Head on over at 9 a.m. EST to enter the first giveaway, a chance to win a free ebook of Island House.

If you can't come play with us today, don't worry. I'll be giving away Island House goodies all month long on Twitter, so you'll get another chance at swag. You can also catch up with me on my blog tour. Last week I talked about where I got inspiration for Island House's setting on Kim Fielding's blog, and today I'm be sharing a steamy prequel scene on Charley Descoteaux's blog in celebration of her Kink Month. Tomorrow catch my Q&A on Andrew Gordon's blog (and check out Island House and other great new releases in his Monday new release round-up today!)

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Island House

Available from Dreamspinner Press

Unable to move on after the death of his lover, British expat Niall Ahern clings to Nolan's dream of living in the Caribbean by moving to Tortola. Once there, he finds that not even the beauty of the island can fill the hole in his heart. Broke and spent in nearly every way imaginable, Niall wants out of the lonely, miserable, guilt-ridden life he's carved out for himself.

When Ethan Bettencourt, a wealthy tech guru, shows up in British Virgin Islands looking to purchase a second home, he gives Niall hope that he can move on. Both men fall hard and fast, but Niall finds piloting his yacht in the midst of a hurricane is nothing compared to weathering life's simple misunderstandings. As their troubles come between them, Niall is left to wonder if he and Ethan are over before they've begun.

November's here!

The Barnacle playing in the leaves this
afternoon after preschool.

 

It's finally November! I feel like I've been waiting forever for the calendar to tick over to a new month.

October is usually the month I look forward to most. My two favorite people were born in October (The Barnacle and The Bub), plus my own birthday is in there between theirs. It also contains my favorite holiday--I'm a Halloween enthusiast who loves carving pumpkins and putting together costumes.

This year though, November wins favorite month. Island House comes out in 10 days, and I'm more excited about the release of my first novel than I am about Halloween and Christmas rolled together. You can preorder it on Dreamspinner's site now (ebook or paperback). The first 20 readers who order the paperback will get a signed copy! I'm also gearing up to start a short blog tour promoting the book, which is a nerve-wracking but exhilarating new experience for me. I have some giveaways planned for those, so keep an eye out.

November also marks my fourth NaNoWriMo, which is especially awesome because Island House was my first NaNo manuscript. Seeing it published three years later is nothing short of amazing. It was hard struggling through that first NaNo November, especially since 50,000 words was an incredibly daunting goal for me. I made it that year (and the next two years as well!) and I'm hopeful for this year's endeavor as well.

I started NaNo strong today with 2,500 words of a Finding Home, an Island House spin-off novel that follows one of the side characters from the book, Ian Mackay. It's the second of the three-part Dropping Anchor series. All three books are about men who are adrift and find stability in a partner who shows them what real love and loyalty look like.

In Island House, we meet Ian as Niall's friend, a roguish playboy who you can't help but like despite his glibness. This month I'll be getting to know him a lot better as I write about him coming to the realization that one night stands and carefree island life aren't satisfying for him anymore. Adjusting to actually acting like an adult is a big leap for fun-loving Ian, but he has great friends who help him navigate the pitfalls of real relationships and steady jobs. It's going to be a rollercoaster of a month getting Ian to grow up, but in the spirit of NaNo, I'm up for it!