Still here

Wow I've been offline for a long time. I swear I haven't dropped off the planet. I've been going through some personal things, but I am getting back in my internet life.

I will be posting some news, excerpts, and maybe something private about myself soon.

Thanks for hanging in there.

-August

Bring Me To Life excerpt--Biking

Here's one last snippet to celebrate BRING ME TO LIFE and its release. This scene was originally shorter but my lovely editor and I decided to make this something special. I love it.

Links

Lyric

“Have you ever…been happy?”

I glanced at Anson. His expression was hopeful. I smiled. “When I was younger. My dad was a great guy. We were on the run so much but he still managed to be an amazing father. Those memories were the only things that kept me going for a long time.”

He reached out and touched my hand on the handlebar. “Happy you love…him. Anyone else…make you smile?”

“No. I’ve only been around other people long enough to get information and some rest before I left to be on my own.”

“Been in love?”

My feet slid off the pedals, and I jerked the bike before realizing what I was doing. Once I had control of the bike again, I peered at Anson. His eyes never left mine.

Had I ever been in love? No. I’d never given anyone the chance to get so close to me. Love? Nothing had made me ready to throw my life down for another person. I never had the need to wear a ring. Love made a person forget all logic. Love caused physical sensations. Love was trust.

No, I hadn’t experienced that, but as I watched Anson’s eyes light with curiosity, my heart skipped a beat, my stomach fluttered, my belly warmed. I didn’t want to ever reach the camp. I wanted us to stay together.

I forced my eyes back onto the road. “Been in love? I’m not sure that I’m capable of all that entails.”

“I’m capable. Give life for you. Most human thing…I can do. See you live.”

Something deep in my chest begged me to grasp on to him. The pressure inside of me released and I sighed. Anson’s blue eyes made me feel…alive. Comfortable. Like I was home. Complete.

Whatever this was, I couldn’t allow it to hold on to me. I’d fought for so long and now was not the time to stop. Relationships were dangerous. Death was inevitable. Anson’s was in progress. I’d built up so many barriers since I lost my father to keep my heart safe and somehow I’d let Anson inside. But I couldn’t keep him there. It would only lead to more pain.

Release Day!

Officially Bring Me To Life is out in the world. Now I get to commence biting my nails until they're gone, wait a week, and bite again.

While I will post links and such, I also want to take this time to thank some people.

First, thank you to my amazing editor, Jennifer Miller. Bring was a bit of a mess when she accepted it, and to tell the truth, I'm not sure why she did take it on. I feel like it was so much work. But she was patient with me, showed me how to improve this, and every other manuscript. She did such an awesome job and the book is so much better for it. So mega thanks to Jennifer for believing in me and my book. You don't know how much it means to me.

Thank you to my betas, Azalea Moone and Barbara Sheridan. They read Bring and pointed out issues. Both gave me some advice that really helped it form nicely. Without you two I'm not sure the book would be out there.

Thank you to the Bordello over on Absolute Write. They've taught me so much about writing and making a manuscript shine. They listen when I gripe about writing issues, and they help me through it. Your knowledge has been so valuable.

Thank you to me amazing husband, my mom, and my best friend. I think they've all heard so much about my books that they're probably sick of it, but they always listen. I appreciate your support.

And to Little. She knows who she is. She taught me to always use my imagination and never be afraid of it. Some people might say zombie erotic romances are gross or weird, and that's okay. Little showed me to never forget my imagination, and I haven't.

Thank you all so much. You guys are forever in my heart.

Bring Me To Life excerpt--Moving On

Here's a scene that changes a lot. I'm not posting what they were doing two paragraphs before this snippet, but you can probably guess.

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Lyric

“Can’t do this,” he said.

I sat up and looked at Anson. He was focused on the trees covering the sky above us. His jaw was clenched, his hands fisted.

He was pissed at me, and I knew he didn’t want to talk but at the same time I felt like he did. “Can’t do what?”

His eyes stayed on the sky. “Told myself to use…you like you…did me. Thought I could pretend…that you were nothing…to me. But can’t.” He looked at me. “Like you still. Can’t

stop.”

A wave of self-loathing washed over me. “Anson, you have every right to hate me.”

“But don’t.”

My stomach fluttered hearing that he still cared. My own feelings for him were a jumbled mess of fucked-up, and maybe I’d figure them out soon. My head repeatedly reminded me of what Anson was but my heart refused to slow down when he was near.

Anson got to his feet and put his pants back on. I did the same. Should I tell him that, even though my plan was supposed to be emotionless, the exact opposite happened? Would he even believe me or think I was using him again? I couldn’t stop the nagging inside me. If I said anything more it would make it harder on Anson. I’d done enough damage. He held out his hand for me. “We need to…get you to safe…place.”

“You don’t have to.”

He smiled. “Want to. Die happy knowing…you safe.”

I didn’t want to take away what could be his last wish. We hooked hands and started back on our path.

Man Candy Monday

Back to Bring Me To Life #mcm. Here's my inspiration for Anson, Mr. Arthur Gosse.

Arthur has modeled for some big named designers.

Anson fun fact: He has a tattoo of Odin's weapon, Gungnir, on the right side of his neck. Gungnir is known for always hitting its mark then returning to Odin. Before Anson was turned into a zombie, this was how he viewed himself. Always made the kill but returned to his loved ones and the man he was.

Bring Me To Life excerpt--Rain

Another snippet from BRING ME TO LIFE. This is possibly my favorite scene in the book. Nothing more romantic than rain and sexy times.

Purchase links

Lyric

Thunder boomed around us. The rain poured even harder, at times stinging my bare arms. I welcomed it. I hadn’t meant to make him feel less than human. Curiosity had gotten the better of me. Survival first. Always first. He couldn’t stay angry with me.

“Anson, how rotted are you?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Not sure. Think none.” I smiled. Things could happen the way I expected.

“That’s good. You’re a total babe, after all.”

His brows furrowed. “Babe? Humans say babe. Child?”

I could have face-palmed. I knew damn well he had little knowledge of humans and what he did was through conversations from the pit. I doubted people were talking about how sexy one another were. “No, I mean you’re hot.” I winced. “I mean handsome.”

“Oh. Woman said Max was…once. She try to…flatter. Escape.”

At least he knew what I was talking about. It would make this so much easier.

Setting the fish on the table, I strolled to him, shaking my hips. His eyes focused on how I moved my body, and his cheeks darkened. Oh yeah, he was still a man.

And I didn’t know how to flirt.

“Very handsome.” I placed my index finger on his chest and traced circles. He swallowed hard, and that wasn’t the only thing hard. I smiled at him and took a deep breath. This was something I had to do. Survival, I told myself.

My hand traveled down to his stomach where I felt him inhale. His body trembled under my touch, or was that me? Maybe both.

“I hope you’re not rotted anywhere. Especially here.” I drifted my hand over his lower

abdomen. “Or here.” With a deep breath, I reached for his cock.

He pulled back, his eyes hooded, his body shaking. “What you doing?”

“You wanted to remember your past. As sexy as you are, I’d bet you had a girlfriend or

four.”

Anson stilled as I touched him again. I slipped my hand under his pants and beyond his

boxers. His cock was swollen and twitched under my grasp. I stroked its length slowly. I was

really doing this. Jerking off a zombie. Not my finest moment. But when my pussy tightened,

began aching for him, I stopped. This wasn’t supposed to happen. This was supposed to be a ploy to get him to like me. It wasn’t meant for my body to feel the same way.

Now was not the time to get turned on. I pumped his dick in my hand. He groaned, but

not the typical zombie way. No, it was purely lust-driven. My breathing quickened, my heart

racing. My core became hot, and I could feel myself getting wet for him.

Anson pulled back again. He removed my hand from his cock and placed it on his heart. “It beat faster. Why?”

It was pounding. “It’s okay. You’re okay. You’re just getting excited.”

He touched his hand to my cheek. “I seen humans hug and…press lips. Why?”

His hand was so warm on my skin. Comforting, gentle. Real. “To show affection. To show care.”

Anson didn’t say anything. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and hugged me.

At first I wanted to step away from him. I couldn’t trust him not to bite me. But something

about him and his innocence kept me to him. I slid my arms around his waist and held him.

When was the last time I’d hugged someone? Sure, I’d protected others by embracing them,

like when I’d made Ivory feel better in the pit, but hugged? Not since my father. A mass of

tension left me.

“Feel good.” He brushed his hand over my hair.

I closed my eyes. This was right. The rain covering us, the thunder playing like music. I could stay here forever.

“I press my…lips to yours.”

Anson pulled back and looked into my eyes. His blues now dark and filled with passion. Their intensity had my breath hitching. I leaned in. Our mouths were only an inch apart, his warmth covering me. My body tingled for him, needing his hands all over me. I brushed my nose across his and almost shattered. Being so close to him was dangerous, but I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to.

He pressed his forehead to mine and grunted. I sighed, knowing it was over. He couldn’t kiss me. His mouth…

Fucking hell. “Sorry,” I whispered.

“I sorry too.”

We stayed that way for a second, yet an eternity.

Loud thunder broke us apart. It was for the best. I had a job to do to keep the status quo, I told myself. Maybe if I said it enough I’d start believing it.

Man Candy Monday... Now Woman Wednesday!

I'm swapping men for women this week, but since Monday is the eye candy day, I didn't want you all wondering for an extra couple days.

So for my woman of the week, to keep in the theme of Bring Me To Life, here's my inspiration for Lyric, Andreea Diaconu.

Andreea is simply stunning.  I love how she looks so soft and feminine, yet strong. That's the best way to describe Lyric.

What do you think of Ms Diaconu?