TEASER TUESDAY: BROKEN but sassy

Emma's heart might be broken in the beginning, her soul may have been gouged by loss, but it didn't affect her whit or her sharp tongue when a snappy comeback is in order...

Unedited excerpt from BROKEN releasing in January from Strange Chemistry:

Catching sight of Bree, all in blues and pinks, I hustle to cross the street. Brakes squeal, and Josh Mason lays on the horn when his crappy Z-28 nearly sideswipes me. He shoves his head out the window and yells something less than nice about me being in my “proper spot on the curb.” Breaths are sucked in up and down the block, and all eyes turn toward me. With a half-smirk, I rail him with a comeback about his car and his orifices. Slinging insults is better than wasting my coffee on his windshield.

MANIC MONDAY

Holy crap! Our son's graduation, our anniversary, three grad parties, and our daughter's birthday all since the last week of May. *whew* I've never made that many trifles in my life O_O
In the midst of the life craziness, we finally settled on my net book for Strange Chemistry. I'm not at liberty to say what it is yet, but that picture up there does have some elements of the concept behind it...
I know, I know... Teaser.
Yes... Yes I am.

THE 7 TAG

Thanks to author Jenny Phillips, a Facebook friend, I've been tagged by the 7 tag, again. As  reminder, here's the rules:

Go to page 7 or 77 in your current manuscript
Go to line 7
Post on your blog or Facebook page the next 7 lines, or sentences, as they are – no cheating
Tag 7 other authors to do the same

 And here's my bit, from my YA dytopian:

“Have to be,” I pant, wishing for water to slake the thirst burning my throat. “Lived a life on the run.”

Moonlight slides over his dark blond hair when he stands and scopes the empty business. Glass shards stand like crystal teeth in the open maw of the blown-out window. A heap of metal and wood squats beneath a sign in the back corner claiming Jukebox. Near the side wall runs a long wooden counter, lined in front by pitted brass barstools. Ironically, that side wall is pristine, lined with cut-crystal goblets and dusty alcohol bottles.

I leave Aaron at the window, watching the area for sings of our pursuers.

Y'all already know that I refuse to tag anyone, so scamper off and play, darlings!

TEASER TUESDAY: BROKEN, first sighting

 Who wants a never before seen sneak peek at my modern retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein? You?? Awesome! Then read on my lovelies, read on...

(unedited excerpt from BROKEN releasing January 8th, 2013)

 “Hellooo?” Bree’s face is suddenly inches from mine. Her ice blue eyeshadow glinting in the sunlight. “Earth to Emma.”

“Sorry,” I mutter, and sip my coffee, “Guess I was spacing out.”

“Guess? There’s no guess about it.”

“Okay, okay.” I drop to my knees, coffee cup raised, other hand wrapped around it like I’m praying. From this position, I’m suddenly aware how short her skirt is and what an awkward position I put myself in. “Forgive me, oh Bree, for I have sinned!”

“Ha!” she snorts, cheeks blushing scarlet when she hooks her hand in my elbow and hoists me to my feet. “Get up before the new guy sees you down there and gets the wrong impression.”

“New guy?” A shard of the reflection I’d seen earlier stabs in the dark behind my eyes.

“Yeah.” She wraps her hand in mine and drags me toward the wheelchair ramp leading to the side door. Once in the fractured shade of the maple tree, she points along the sidewalk, halfway down the gym complex. “Mr. You Don’t See Me with his hood up.” She leans around me, does a little wiggle meant to hike her skirt higher hands-free. “And I wanna see what he’s hiding under there.”

I follow where she’s pointing. Coming toward us walks the 3-D version of the reflection I’d seen. His entire look seems crafted to draw, and shun attention. His clothes are definitely designer, but with the hood up and shoulders hunched he appears to not want the attention the girls at Shelley High are going to give him. His head tips up just enough to catch a glint of his eyes. The world narrows, everything falls away, cleaved from existence the moment he meets my eyes.

Then his gaze falls. Life crashes back in with the force of a million vicious whispers.

Rumors whisk in front of him, brittle as fall leaves, darker than crows in a murder.

BLURBS FOR BROKEN

I have been blessed with treasured author friends reading and blurbing BROKEN for me. J.A. Souders, a fellow Oasis for ya blogger. Justina Ireland, fellow YALITCHAT member. And Elana Johnson, all-around fabulous author and activist in the writing community.

“Darkly romantic, Broken is an intense, beautiful, and intricate story of love that knows no bounds. Even death can’t stop it.”
– J.A. Souders, author of RENEGADE, Fall 2012 from Tor Teen

“Brilliantly dark, creepy and atmospheric, Broken is a love story that will hold you captivated until the stunning conclusion.”
– Justina Ireland, author of Vengeance Bound

“BROKEN contains all the mystery and romance I love in a YA novel. A delicious and haunting read.”
– Elana Johnson, author of Possession

Then, this morning, I woke up to a beauty of a blurb in my inbox from Trinity Faegen. TRINITY FAEGEN, y'all! You might know her The Mephisto Covenant series with Egmont... Gorgeous covers, gorgeous writing, too!

"Hauntingly beautiful, achingly romantic, and edge-of-your-seat scary, Broken will keep you up way past your bedtime. I loved this book!" 
~ Trinity Faegen, author of The Mephisto Covenant series

Aren't they beautiful? *wipes eyes* I want to print them out and snuggle them. 

MINUTE MONDAY: WIP teaser

How's about a teensy teaser of my Work-In-Progress??

Liz's mouth hangs open in a little 'o' of shock. Her eyes are wide, deep blue pools of panic. Everything about her expression shouts imminent shut down and I can't do this alone.
"Liz," I say, and tug on her hand.
No response, except breath hitching in her throat.
"Liz, come on." I run my fingertips up her cheek and into her hair. She meets my gaze, fear leaking off her in waves. "I need you to think."
A minute shake of her head, her hand flutters to her throat, her glance darts from riveted metal to the floor beneath us.
I can't stand to see her like this. She's been so vibrant, so alive--to see her retreating somewhere I can't follow hurts in places I shouldn't feel pain yet. I feel like I'm fighting for breath, too. Desperate to get my girl back, I crush my lips to hers, kiss her hard and breathe for us both.

Flashback Friday

Remember this one? *wistful sigh* I do...

DRENCHED
Fringe meets True Blood, but with Weres taking a leading role.


Anything-but-typical teen Avery Frost experiences body-torquing pain with every full moon. Her geneticist father insists it's all in her mind, and keeps her locked away at home when the moon is full. Avery knows he's hiding something, from her and from himself.


It's been four years since the Nightbreeds outted themselves, creating an uneasy 'separate but equal' society. Avery fears her agony is an indication she's the next one who'll shift and be hauled off and locked away at the all-werewolf Fulsom Alternative Academy. But every cycle only brings more intense, mind-shattering, life-draining suffering.


When werewolf Prime Thorn Mitchell catches Avery's scent, he knows she's Wolf, alright, but there's something off, something not quite right. His job is to reveal her for what she is, force her to enter Fulsom and accept her breed. The revelation creates utter chaos and misery. Avery's father is kidnapped for the work he's been doing, work that will reveal the lies he's told her her entire life about who she is. What she is. She is the pinnacle of a scientific experiment that will bring the Nightbreed packs to war. An assassin stalks the halls of Fulsom Academy, assigned with making certain Avery, and the threat she represents, is eliminated.


As a broken Wolf unable to shift, with secrets lurking in her genetic makeup that could either save her life or kill her, Avery turns to the boy who destroyed what was passing for her 'normal' life. Together, they try to find her kidnapped father and assemble the missing pieces of the mystery of her birth to allow her to shift into what she is to become, or die.

Represented by Gina Panettieri

Another crazy week!

Credit for photo: http://lozerface.deviantart.com/

Well, last week was busy, and this one has been, too. The first two days were spent at my Oasis sister Sheri Larsen's blog. Monday was an interview that you can read HERE. Tuesday was a contest that you can see, and still enter HERE until April 17th. Rules are you have to share, either in blog comment or an email to Sheri, a 250 word piece about a time you, or a character, was broken. First prize is a critique by me of your first five pages, query letter, or synopsis, plus a book tote sewn by me. Second prize is a copy of BROKEN after its release, or your choice of a book from The Book Depository.

Writing wise, I've been clawing up a summary, and then synopsis for the new WIP. Pictures of inspiration for this book can be seen HERE. Do me a favor, go and look, then come back and tell me what you think the book is about! The synopsis has been submitted to my fantabulous editor Amanda Rutter at Strange Chemistry, so yep, you guessed it, I'm compulsively checking my email inbox, even though I know it's a holiday weekend.

In other news, Strange Chemistry welcomed two new authors to the fold this week, Laura Lam and her book PANTOMIME, and Julianna Scott and her first book in her Holder series. You can check out the blurby and authory goodness HERE.

BUSY BUSY!

 

This isn't mine, and isn't the cover, 

but I pinned it to BROKEN's Pinterest board for a reason...

Well, I never thought when we announced BROKEN's sale that we would get interest in it right away. A book blogger contacted Angry Robot, Strange Chemistry's parent company and requested a guest post, I think, the day after the announcement. My editor and I collaborated and did the post for Jessica of Allways Unmended. You can read that post HERE.

And two friends, betas and bloggers, both opened up their blogs for interviews with me. One went up this week on Wednesday, the other goes up next Tuesday. You can read Wednesday's interview with JL Spelbring, author of the upcoming Spencer Hill Press's release PERFECTION on JL's blog HERE. JL and I had a blast with the interview. If you're curious about Emma and Alex of BROKEN, go read that interview for my thoughts on them!

The other interview, and a contest will go up on Sheri Larsen's BLOG next week Tuesday and Wednesday.

I started a Pinterest board for BROKEN. To see it, go HERE. Lots of dark, creepy, dreamy images with hints about the story and characters. You know you wanna check it out... BROKEN also have a Goodreads page. I think I fainted a little when I stumbled across that already! Feel free to check it out and add it to your TBR lists ^_^

And, I've been talking with a jewelry artist about making custom pendants and bracelets with my favorite line from the book. I will have more news on that later.

And...there's something I can' say anything about. I ran around the house with my hair on fire for a little while...

WHEW! I'm going to go collapse now.

(un)LUCKY SEVEN: A peek at BROKEN

I've been tagged by Kate Avelyn with the Lucky Seven. I'll be a good sport and play along.

The Rules:

1. Go to page 77 of your current MS.
2. Go to line 7.
3. Copy down the next 7 lines/sentences, and post them as they’re written. No cheating.
4. Tag 7 other victims …er, authors.

Seeing as my current WIP isn't to 77 pages yet, I'm going with BROKEN. Hopefully, my editor won't spank me too bad for for posting these. I mean, everybody's dying for a peek at this baby, right? Well... Here ya go!
 

Alex’s shirt slides over me with a whisper of cotton, the smell of leather and death.

His front door is open, and he’s covering his scars and skin with another long sleeved-shirt. “I’ll take you to the clinic so you can get another brace, then I’ll take care of the deer,” he says.

“Okay,” sounds limp in light of what’s happened but it’s all I can force out.

His seats are covered with sheepskin seat covers. I hesitate a moment, clutching my right hand to my chest.

“Don’t worry,” Alex promises. “They’re washable.”

As for tagging people...Nope. I don't do that. Fly and be free my minions!

New WIP hint

Curious where my mind has been going since the book sale?? Not the announcement, but the SALE?
Well, Like BROKEN, which I played very close to the vest, I won't say much about this one either. I will tell you it is the most complicated, research-heavy concept I have ever dared to bat around. I've contacted two different experts in the separate fields, even. And below is a picture hint, but even if you guess it, you'll still be missing the most of it.

I SOLD MY BOOK!!!!!!

Oh yeah, peoples. *buttdance in the typing chair* We've been sitting on this news for a little while now, but I finally get to share!! And the press release says it so prettily:

Strange Chemistry, the YA imprint of Angry Robot Books, is delighted to announce the signing of another wonderful author. A. E. Rought has been signed to Strange Chemistry in a two book deal with worldwide English rights negotiated between Amanda Rutter and Gina Panettieri, of the Talcott Notch Literary Agency.
The first of these two books will be called Broken and will be published by Strange Chemistry in early 2013.

About Broken:
Imagine a modern spin on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein where a young couple's undying love and the grief of a father pushed beyond sanity could spell the destruction of them all. A string of suspicious deaths near a small Michigan town ends with a fall that claims the life of Emma Gentry's boyfriend, Daniel. Emma is broken, a hollow shell mechanically moving through her days. She and Daniel had been made for each other, complete only when they were together. Now she restlessly wanders the town in the late Fall gloom, haunting the cemetery and its white-marbled tombs, feeling Daniel everywhere, his spectre in the moonlight and the fog.
When she encounters newcomer Alex Franks, only son of a renowned widowed surgeon, she's intrigued despite herself. He's an enigma, melting into shadows, preferring to keep to himself. But he is as drawn to her as she is to him. He is strangely... familiar. From the way he knows how to open her locker when it sticks, to the nickname she shared only with Daniel, even his hazel eyes with brown flecks are just like Daniel's.
The closer they become, though, the more something inside her screams there's something very wrong with Alex Franks. And when Emma stumbles across a grotesque and terrifying menagerie of mangled but living animals within the walls of the Franks' estate, creatures she surely knows must have died from their injuries, she knows.

AE said: “When my agent told me Strange Chemistry was interested, I think I squealed out loud. Angry Robot has an amazing reputation, and to be welcomed into their YA imprint? Bliss. Nerdvana. I'm absolutely thrilled to be with Strange Chemistry and working with Amanda.”

Amanda Rutter says: “As soon as I received the email from Gina detailing the premise of Broken, I knew that I had to read this book. I was thrilled to discover that the writing was just as good as promised and I have no doubt Broken will prove to be a massive hit!”

SQUEE!!!! *deep inhale* SQUEE!!!!! Do the Sold Book Dance with me.

Repost from the Oasis blog: Writing prompt

borrowed from http://fotolympus.deviantart.com/

I'm between WIPs right now, waiting on news, researching to keep my mind busy... And on my ceaseless trolls of the Internet, I found this picture. I love the blues, the streaks in the sky and the way they echo the waves in the foreground, and the mysterious ship. So, I decided to make this week's Whoseywhatsit Thursday, a no more than 250 word writing prompt. If you play along, make sure to hit all the senses. Make us see, smell, hear, heck, maybe even taste what this picture makes you see. I'll take a wild stab at it:

Ship's log, 25th May.
We're stranded here, the shore in the distance, out of reach and mocking me. The salty air sits in my nose, parches my skin. Father had promised so much when he dragged me on board this ship--I know now those promises were hollow. How can he make good on the sunlit beaches, the sweet fresh fruit, the girl he said was waiting, when he's lying on his rack coughing blood? The mutinous crew took everything, even siphoned the fuel and then beat my father, the captain, near to death.
"Thomas," he rasps, a dry rattle knocking around in his chest, "water..."
"Of course, Father." My parched lips crack. Iron tickles my sinuses, red smears my sleeve when I drag it over my chin.
I dip the tin cup into the bucket, scraping the bottom to get the last drops--our last drops. Maybe it will rain tonight, the clouds look ready to weep. My hand shakes, the precious water splashing in the cup, but I won't spill.
A sick smell comes from his mouth, pushed out by a groan when I tilt his head. I touch his chin, let him know the cup is coming. Blood shines in the split skin of his lips when he sucks the water down. Then a wracking spasm of coughs grip him, and the water is lost in the mix of blood and spittle flying to stain his cheeks and bed clothes.
"Leave me," Father commands. He's so weak he can't even roll to the side to spit. How can I leave him? Would I want to die alone? No. I will stay with him these last moments, I vow. Father flails a limp, broken hand at me, his words hardly a whisper when he says, "Leave me."
"I can't, poppa. I can't."
Father eyes sag, matching his sunken cheeks. He has no strength left, still he lifts that shattered hand and places it on my cheek. His skin is cold. White clouds his eyes. "Love you, son."
"Love you, too."
One last breath escapes him, his chest sinks, and outside rain begins to fall.
I wish it would fall in here, and take the place of the tears my body can't produce.

THAT'S YAMORE BLOGFEST POST

This post is a little longer than the 250-words. But we said swoon-worthy, so I went for flat-out Hot and Steamy! 

EXCERPT FROM DRENCHED (out on submission):

From there, my normal shower routine takes a massive skew away from normal. I turn to undress and find I’m not alone. Steam curls from around the white curtain, but cannot match the heat in Thorn’s gaze. My temperature rises in response to his finger hooked in the waistline of my pajama pants and reeling me in.

“What’re you doing?” I ask.

“Helping you get undressed.” His voice is rough velvet on my ears

My brain locks on the feel of his fingers slipping beneath the hem of my t-shirt, and the electric sensation of them brushing my ribs. I draw in a sharp breath after he growls, totally wolf, and drags me to him. Instead of kissing my lips, he sets my nerves afire by nibbling my earlobe, nipping and kissing down my neck. My t-shirt inches up just underneath my breasts, guided by his searching fingers.

Heat floods me, and the fire triangle appears in my head, a rhythmic pulse of flame to match my pounding heart.

“Mm,” he whispers, then licks across my collar bone. “You’re so hot.”

You have no idea, I think. Combustible and you’re playing with matches.

He leaves my shirt halfway up my body. Steam from the shower clings to my skin—I refuse to think he’s making me sweat.

Thorn drags his fingers slowly down my bare sides to my waistband. The fire symbol flares, tugs on my cellular puzzle as his hands meet at my spine and he uses them to pull me closer. My nerves sizzle and snap beneath his teeth when he playfully bites my shoulder. Catching fire under his hands is a huge possibility and I don’t really care. Tingles follow his fingers from my spine to my pelvis, tracing the path of his fingertips along the inside of my pants. The fabric inches down, matching the general direction of his lips along the v-neck of my shirt.

Then, when I’m ready to cave and yank the rest of my clothes off for him, Thorn stops and in one fluid motion disappears behind the outer curtain.
NOW FOLLOW THE LINK AND READ SOME MORE Y-AMORE!!

Well, Christmas is over, and the new year fast approaches. I've scanned a few 2011 Top Ten lists and feel so woefully inadequate in my reading. Divergent was on almost every list and I totally agree. Then there were the contemporaries. Yeah... Not my thing. I want more, the paranormal/supernatural/something other in my reads. I could probably do a list of Top Ten Stinkers easier than I could do my own Top Ten, but I won't stick my head on any chopping blocks.

But I will give you my Top Five favorite reads this year:
Divergent
Across the Universe
Hourglass
Die for Me
The Iron Fey series (read them all this year)


Come on, 2012!! There are SO many books I'm anticipating in the coming months. What about you? Favorite reads? Anticipating a great one?

NEW WIP

Well, I think y'all might now by now, when I get quiet on here, Facebook and Twitter it's because I'm in over my head in a story. Well, I am so totally in over my head, and loving it! The dark atmosphere, the beauty of twisted characters and the heart-wrenching romance... My agent and I are playing this one really close to the vest, so the only hints I'll give are the picture above, and it may or may not have something to do with Gothic Fiction, and I call it NewToy online. I'm sharing the playlist, thinking maybe you can get a feel for the story through music. Some songs are for sound, some are from her, some are for him, all get played over and over.

NewToy Playlist

Eclipsed -- Evans Blue

So Much -- The Spill Canvas

All Around Me -- Fly Leaf 

Breaking Inside --Shinedow

Perfect -- Burn Season

Closer -- Burn Season

Staplegunned -- The Spill Canvas

Decode -- Paramore

You're Not Alone -- Saosin

Fix Me -- Ten Years

Monster You Made -- Pop Evil

CONTEST LINKAGE

Oo! Y'all, my Oasis sister is having a contest on her blog to celebrate her 3-book deal with Tor Teen. Trust me, you want to go enter, so, Go already! Jessica Souders Book Deal Extravaganza

A Taste of A TOUCH MORBID!!

Y'all know I'm a HUGE Leah Clifford fan. She rocks, and her books do, too! I've been trailing behind her snuffling up any A TOUCH MORBID crumb she drops. Well...she dropped the motherload on her blog, with a contest to win a copy, too!

Go HERE for A Touch Morbid description and to enter the contest!

NEW TOY!

**borrowed from Zindy on DeviantArt**

Ooo am I in love with this new idea! It's a retelling/revisionist piece, taking a classic fairytale and spinning it dark and steampunk-ish. Corsets. Enchanted steam-driven machinations. Dark atmosphere. Swoony romance. Oh yeah.

Are you a member of #YAlitchat? A member of the First Five Pages critique group there? If so, you can go read the first five pages and get the scoop on the longline. If not...WHY NOT?! YALitChat is full of amazing content for YA writers, including peer critique groups for your query, your synopsis, first five pages, and more! If you're a YA writer, check it out: YALitChat

THE RIGHTS ARE POSTED

The rights to DRENCHED have been posted on Publishers Marketplace. In case you can read the listing, I've copied it here:


Fringe meets True Blood, but with Weres taking a leading role.

Anything-but-typical teen Avery Frost experiences body-torquing pain with every full moon. Her geneticist father insists it's all in her mind, and keeps her locked away at home when the moon is full. Avery knows he's hiding something, from her and from himself.

It's been four years since the Nightbreeds outted themselves, creating an uneasy 'separate but equal' society. Avery fears her agony is an indication she's the next one who'll shift and be hauled off and locked away at the all-werewolf Fulsom Alternative Academy. But every cycle only brings more intense, mind-shattering, life-draining suffering.

When werewolf Prime Thorn Mitchell catches Avery's scent, he knows she's Wolf, alright, but there's something off, something not quite right. His job is to reveal her for what she is, force her to enter Fulsom and accept her breed. The revelation creates utter chaos and misery. Avery's father is kidnapped for the work he's been doing, work that will reveal the lies he's told her her entire life about who she is. What she is. She is the pinnacle of a scientific experiment that will bring the Nightbreed packs to war. An assassin stalks the halls of Fulsom Academy, assigned with making certain Avery, and the threat she represents, is eliminated.

As a broken Wolf unable to shift, with secrets lurking in her genetic makeup that could either save her life or kill her, Avery turns to the boy who destroyed what was passing for her 'normal' life. Together, they try to find her kidnapped father and assemble the missing pieces of the mystery of her birth to allow her to shift into what she is to become, or die.

Rights Available: World

Contact:

Gina Panettieri
Talcott Notch Literary Services
gpanettieri@talcottnotch.net
phone: 203-876-4959
fax: 203-876-9517
2 Broad Street, Second Floor, Suite 10, Milford, CT 06460