Almost.

My deadline is coming up fast. Usually this type of thing never bothers me. But this time it does. 

I'm a fast writer, reader, and have turned my work ahead of schedule. I'm the excellent planner. But what I don't want is for my work to look Rushed. And this is why I'm feeling a clutched feeling in my chest. Because I fell short on a plot line. When I did this but continued to write instead of correcting right away I set myself up for a stagnate pause. Not really writer's block because I knew exactly how I want the story to end. And where it should go. But I couldn't seem to get there. An event came first that should have come later, causing my whole middle to be thrown off. 

What do you do? Do you keep writing and fix it later? Hoping there is enough time before the deadline? 

I chose to open a new word doc. Copy and paste the work up to the point where my story took a nose dive, and then worked in some new chapters. Then I plan on going back to the original and copying and pasting the rest of the chapters. Fixing the flow and the Stagnate Pause. 

Is this cutting it close? Yes. But you know what I'd rather do it right then say "eh" and just keep it as is. With the hopes of fixing later. 

What do you do? 

Are you in the mood?

The other day I just realized I really need to be in the mood for something. Like hard core motivation. I need to be in the mood to write all day. Or ... I just write my daily word count for whatever book I'm working on and then onto other things. I need to be in the mood to sit and do figures for items at work. Yes this is a monthly thing but I need to be in the mood to submerse myself in numbers.

But what I also need to be in the mood for is CPing work, or reading books. Sometimes I will go through these spells where all I want to read is paranormal stuff. This could last a week, possibly two. Sometimes it's dirty books, yes occasionally I tap into the filth.

This got me thinking about working on people's books though. My CP's are amazing and sometimes they send me over what they're working on. And it's all fantastic reads, and sometimes I can just sit there and CP a MS all day until it's finished. Then there are days like this where I get someone's awesome MS but it's taking me forever to get through it. It's not that it's shit or anything it's just my brain is not all into it. I'm not all into it. And I feel sooooo bad. Because like I said these are my amazingly awesome CP's work.

So while I take super long on a MS that I should have finished weeks ago ... I'm blogging. Because honestly I was in the mood to blog about this.

In other news:

I am currently working on three titles at once. I know. It's a little scary, but it's working out wonderfully. I have my daily schedule in gear and the word count to hit per day and it's working. I'm not overly stressed about deadlines and the amazing thing, I'll actually be ahead instead of behind. Yay!

What are some things you are working on?

Sweet Words

In the middle of my second MS to my series Scandalous Boys, I caught a horrible cold. This wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the busy time at work. Which means I can't really afford to be sick right now.

So with massive files to update, create or upload to the items and questions that need answered or sent I'm busy from the time I wake up to the time I'm about to get to sleep. Thank goodness for outlines or I would be sitting here with a fried brain trying to think of things to say. Or I'd be on the hamster wheel spinning and spinning hoping for an idea or two to come alive.

Outlines used to never be my thing. Before I was just writing without any deadlines, besides my own figurative ones that I created. But mostly it was like Eh, solid goal have it done in a year. Now, I am writing with deadlines, and it's not necessarily harder or anything, but I do have to have more of a concept of time. So outlines, and keeping my time in check is how I can get everything done in a stress free way.


Happy Writing.

Thank you for the amazing Year

It's been a wonderful year. Rival love published last year in August 26th, 2014 and then Rival Hearts came out December 22, 2014 and now ... RIVAL DREAMS will be here on August 31st. Yes I'm so excited and a little sad to have this series come to a close. But I love it and I'm glad the readers who have read it and enjoyed it will get to enjoy this book too. Thank you so much for this awesome year! It wouldn't have been possible without all of you.

What have I been up to now that Rival Dreams is complete? I'm currently working on a new series: Scandalous Boys that I think you will all enjoy as much as I am writing them. The first: Bryce is currently with my amazing publisher. The second I'm working on. And that's just a little update on what I've been up to.






Rival Dreams
Skylar Fletcher and Caleb Morgan have been together for almost two years. On the surface, everything is great. 

Skylar is kicking major butt in swimming and has been offered the captain's spot. Caleb is the top quarterback in the league. And even though their schedules can be a little hectic at times, they always seem to make time for one another. 

But once Caleb is approached by the NFL, everything changes. He flakes out on appointments to check out apartments with Skylar and doesn’t call her on the nights they’re apart. 

Pro football has been Caleb’s dream since forever. But what kind of idiot asks a girl to drop everything so he can follow his dream? And what kind of girl with a bright future ahead of her would even consider something like that? 

Skylar and Caleb are about to find out. 

How do you do it?

I love when readers ask me questions. I had a reader ask me recently "How do you write a series? Do you forget things?"

Yes, I tend to forget names of like parents or teachers or even coaches so thank goodness for my handy character sheet. Yes, when writing a series I list out all the names I use and what book to find them in or what role they play.

Example:
Skylar Fletcher- Main Female Lead
Caleb Morgan- Main Male Lead
Erin Fletcher- Skylar's mom
Brian Timmons- Caleb's uncle on his mother's side


Basically I go on from there. It might be a tedious task but it helps me keep names in check. As for how do I write a series, Outline. I outline my series first book, second, so forth. I make a plan of how many, then set an outline for each book.

Do things change, yes, but with the outline already in place I can easily pick a part or change whatever is needed without having a HUGE case of writer's block which tends to happen.

Happy writing.

Writing like Crazy

Over the past couple of days I've been typing away at my computer. I am excited because I only have to write 2000 words per day for the next 16 days and Scandal Life will be complete. Excuse me, I mean step one will be complete. I will still have to go back and read it over. Edit. And then move onto Step 3 which will be have Beta readers look it over. Once this part is complete I will then  reedit once more and then it'll be ready to turn in to editors. Fun stuff right?

My next novel Scandal Life which I'm super excited about is 52% finished YAY!


Happy Writing and Reading

Updates and more

Hello Readers,

Hope everyone is doing great. I've been so busy in the best way possible. I got my Garden all planted. We tiled a floor. Got Runaways completed and turned into my agent. Got Rival Dreams completed and turned in my editorial changes to it. Working on Scandal Life and hope to have it finished and read for Beta Readers June 1. Yay!


But besides all that exciting news I want to tell you all where I will be in the next couple of weeks. I will be at Bookcon in NYC May 30th signing Rival Hearts and Rival Love. If you want to see me and get some stuff signed I'll be at Booth # 2579 at 4:00pm. :)

Busy Busy

I've been super busy. While I wait for Rival Dreams to come back from editorial I've been writing a new work called Scandal Life. I'm really excited about it.

I have 20K written and have another 45K to go, but hey it's getting there. The other things I am working on are called Punch Drunk, My Summer of Boys, and Twisted Nights.

But that's what I have going on writing wise. I am getting ready for future events one is in May. Oh and vacation time.

Oh YAY!!

Upcoming Awesomeness

I did a post at Dear Teen Me on March 10th. If you missed it you can check it out here DEAR TEEN ME


BLOG TOUR with Chapter by Chapter  March 18th. Check it out for some cool prizes.

BLOG post with Apryl's Romance Fest April 5th

I will be in NYC at May 30th to 31st at BEA/BookCon. I will be signing from 4pm to 4:45pm on May 30th. Come stop by if you're in the area. :)

Writing to ...

I am a huge write to music type.

Current song: Just Breathe by Pearl Jam

It's called trust and appreciate.

Someone said, "You're selling well. What's your secret? What are you doing differently?"

Honestly, I'm just trusting my publisher. I'm following their advice because who knows your book best besides you? Your agent if you have one and your publisher. I don't have an agent for the Rival Love Series, so I rely on my publisher's advice. 

If she tells me, "Hey, I think you need to do this." Guess what? I do it. "Hey, I think we should do this." I say okay. Do you know what? It works. You need to have faith in the person who has your book. They want you to succeed just as much as you want to so why wouldn't you follow their advice?

I also thank and adore all my readers. Because without them I'd be nothing. If they write me, I answer them. I never ignore them or put them off. I make time for their questions and answer them. Why? Because again, without these wonderful people I'd be nowhere. 

So here's my advice, trust and appreciate. 

Happy Reading and writing!

I love ...

The things you might not know about me ...

1. I LOVE answering emails, messages, and questions. Sent in email, posts on FaceBook, or ask questions on GoodReads. I love answering mail.

2. I Love both paperbacks and eBooks. I have a vast amount of book on shelves, my phone, and my Nook.

3. Sports is great live and on TV I am down with watching anything but I'm not a huge fan of golf

4. I like being around Happy people. Negative people I tend to shy away from.

5. I read all kinds of things in all different genres, from self pub to traditional pubbed authors

6. I love all my Fans each one.

And those are some things about me.

Writing and stuff

As I am currently writing Rival Dreams, I realize deadlines are actually a challenging and rather fun thing. They also can be somewhat of a curse. Depending on your writing mood of course you can get a lot accomplished. If your flow and mind set is there.

While my little ones are on winter break I had planned to write. Get as much in as possible. But here is the thing I didn't really count on, me, winter break, my kids asking me for things every flipping three minutes. I love my kids. I do. I just sometimes find them distracting at all the wrong times.

Needless to say I had a goal to reach at least 30K by Jan 2. I am currently at 20K. YAY! It's been a challenge so far but I do believe I might hit my goals.

How to accomplish reaching goal tips?

1. Time Management

- We all have to clean, work, and get projects done.
Set a schedule. Clean in the morning. Get laundry started and keep doing more loads while going about your day. Unless you have to take it all to the laundry mat. Then ... Do laundry and write if your are a writer. Or answer emails. Do whatever you can do there while you wait for your laundry to be done. It kills two birds with one stone.

2. Things happen plan for them

- Are you ever in the middle of something and an emergency comes up? I've had it happen too.
If you are in the middle of a good scene and it's playing out in your head when ... emergency happens. Don't stress. Grab your cellphone. All of them even the junk flip phone have this. Recorder. Yes. That's totally right. Talk out the scene into your recorder. Then play it back when you get home. This also works if you are scheduling events, setting up a meeting and have certain topics to go over. Record and replay so you don't lose your place.


3. STOP PLAYING CANDY CRUSH

-Facebook, Twitter, and all social networks are important. But if you are answering every friend request, or getting your candy crush on, or reading your twitter feed for hours you are wasting time.
No more games. I know as addicting as the game is DON'T. Spend no more than 30 minutes on ALL social media and do it once in the morning before Cleaning, Once at night before Bed.
Trust me you get a lot more done this way.

These are some of my helpful tips.
Happy reading

Counting Down

We're counting down. No! Not to Christmas, but the release of RIVAL HEARTS!

20 more days until RIVAL HEARTS comes out! Are you excited? We are! Our story continues ...

For those who love Skylar and Caleb, thank you so much! I hope you enjoy Rival Hearts as much as I did writing it. Here is a snippet of what's to come ...

I catch a glimpse of Mr. Annoying’s last test and have to hold back a scream. Another A+. Before the move to New York, the only thing I got was A+’s. My eyes dart down to my own paper and I frown at the C- before me. In my last class I got a B and I thought that was the end of the world. This … this is like the end of the universe.

My life has officially hit rock-freaking-bottom. I need a tutor fast, before I can kiss even my partial scholarship to Duke goodbye. The bell rings and I already have my stuff in my hand, heading out the door, when I hear, “Oh, hey! Babycakes, have you finally started stalking me?”

I turn my glare to Malcom. “Why do you keep calling me that? And no, I’m not stalking you.”

“To answer your question, you wrinkle your nose every time I say it, and I find it cute.” He nudges my side. “But seriously, I must ask, what’s up with the frown? No peanuts for your parade?”

“Huh?” Who says that? And what the hell does that even mean?

He laughs and shrugs. “Sorry, my dad has all these dumbass sayings and they rub off.” He smiles. “So, what’s up? You don’t usually look so depressed. Guy troubles? Lacking some attention in the downstairs department?” He nudges me.

“No. Jeez. What’s wrong with you?” What a pervert. But as his words sort of play around in my head, I stop and ask, “And how would you know how I usually look?”

“Damn, the gig is up. Well, I’ve known you were in all my classes since day one. Fun is a good thing, you know. You should try it.” We leave the school and head down the busy sidewalk.

“You know what else is a good thing? Mace.”

Won't be able to let you go

Oh Skylar ...

Skylar

Every time my phone vibrates against my skin, I freeze as dread washes over me. The police and new superintendent have been trying to find the underlying cause of the school vandalism. At least that’s the message they’ve been leaving on my phone for the past week.

On top of that, my heart literally breaks whenever I see Caleb’s name pop up, via text or phone calls. I could easily pick up the phone, sure, but what is there to say? Hey, I miss you. Wish you were here. I can’t stand this separation. All this stuff is true, but it doesn’t change the situation. I’m here and he’s there. That’s what makes this so hard, knowing we aren’t across the hall or even a few minutes away, but hours from each other. And no one wants to have a relationship like this, especially at our age. So I’ve been avoiding him, too. Hoping that maybe he’ll forget about me.

I walk up to my father’s brownstone. Lidia is already in the living room, entertaining another guy. Third one this week. She props up on his lap and plays with his hair while laughing at nothing that entertaining. I roll my eyes and head up to my room. Her interactions make me miss Caleb even more. I should call him. No, I shouldn’t. Calling him will break me. I’m broken enough.

The wait is over ...

Have you been waiting for RIVAL HEARTS? Are you dying to get a sneak peek at what's to come? Well, the wait is no more. Below is an excerpt, And in the pages is the full chapter feel free to leave comments.

Chapter 1

Caleb

A letter. A stupid letter.

Almost a week has gone by since Skylar Fletcher left. Looking around, no one would be able to tell a Harris Academy Bulldog was once a student here. And the really shitty part—that girl hasn’t spoken to me since. No texts, calls, how are you’s. Not one flipping word.

I don’t understand. I thought we had something special. Then again, in eighth grade I thought Alison Winters was something special, and she turned around, ripped my heart right out of my chest, and stomped on it a few times. You’d figure I’d learn, and up until August, I was doing just fine. Not letting others in. Keeping my distance. Now look at me. I’m a mess, all because I had to fall for Skylar-freaking-Fletcher.

Might as well hand in my man card because I’ve officially turned into a huge sap. Calling her, texting her, asking how she is and whatever else, but she hasn’t responded.

Lance and Kayla come walking up to the lunch table hand in hand, making my thoughts worse. Kayla glances over at me and drops her smile into a deep frown. “She hasn’t called?”

I wish they’d both quit asking me this damn question. “Nah.”

I force my attention to the Pepsi machines. “I’m sorry, man,” I hear Lance say. “Maybe … she’s waiting for winter break. Five more days.”

Rival Hearts

Caleb is ticked off. Skylar hasn’t answered any of his calls, texts, or emails since her move to New York, virtually cutting him out of her life without warning. So Caleb decides to go after her—and convince her to come back home. 

But even when Skylar realizes her heart does belong at home with Caleb, her uncertainty lingers. Is it safe? Have things changed? 

After the mysterious vandalism to the pool at Delmont High, everyone is desperate for answers they believe Skylar can provide. At first, she’s determined not to run. But when Caleb’s ex-girlfriend unleashes a vengeful surprise, Sky's love for Caleb is threatened. 

Are these two rival hearts ready to fight for their love, or will they have to throw in the towel? 

RIVAL HEARTS is the sequel to the bestselling teen romance novel RIVAL LOVE by Natalie Decker.

Is that a hint?

Lunch finally ends, but Danielle’s clinging continues all the way to her class. She tries to make out with me near a set of lockers, but I make an excuse and bolt to my class. Once Skylar and I started sharing facts about one another, things changed. Not even between us, but within my own self. Especially today. Today of all days, I should be riled up and yelling like everyone else roaming the halls. This is the game of the season. The one that determines who walks away a legend and who walks away a chump.

Instead of being pumped up and focused on the game tonight, I’m worried about Skylar. Her words from this morning have been on my mind more than I’d care to admit. Was she giving me a hint? And why hasn’t she said no to Mr. Chamberlin and Mr. Keegan’s request? It bothers me so much that I decide to take a detour from my sixth period class, and head to my uncle’s room.

Usually I knock on his door and then enter, but this is his free period, so there’s no reason to knock. Walking into his room, I spot him instantly scribbling some stuff on his board behind his desk. “Uncle Brian?”

All you want is a kiss ...

I’m staring at his mouth with desire, and even dart my tongue out to taste more of the afterthought of mint coating my lips. Caleb blinks and then brushes his lips against my cheekbone, causing a butterfly effect throughout my body so intense I feel as if ten bombs went off inside me. Blood rushes to my face, causing my skin to warm while I desire more of him. I gasp as excitement of wanting more of him fills me.

Caleb pulls away. He has an awkward smile on his face, and the next thing I know he hops off the bed and heads to the door. I don’t know whether or not I should feel grateful or upset. The feelings of desire, want, and need are so intense it scares the crap out of me. And yet, he’s leaving me. Rejection and disappointment wash over me.

He leaves my room without a goodbye. I sit up in my bed and rub my cheek, which oddly enough is still warm and tingly where he kissed me. All the mixed emotions bombard me, and suddenly I’m upset with myself. I’m upset that I allowed myself to fall for him. I’m even more ticked with myself for getting involved in his stupid game. Well it’s not happening again.