Ups and Downs

It's amazing how easy it is to get swept up in the day to day and forget about everything else. Before moving back in May, I had a relatively consistent schedule for writing and what not, but now it's all jumbled. The time is still there, the energy just isn't. Honestly, I don't really know what to do about that.

Some of my free time has been spent by just reading and catching up on books I've not had a chance to read in the last year. Another large portion of time has been spent with my hunny and the boys since it's summer break. Then, of course, the rest of my time I've been working. I need a schedule pretty badly, but I'm always tired and completely drained.

So, what to do? Clearly I'm just whining because the only one stopping me is me, but it just feels better to get it off my chest. If any of you have ever had a similar problem, how did you fix it? What techniques did you use to keep yourself on track? Any and all input will be greatly appreciated!

xoxoxo

Beautiful Darkness {Review}

The first half of this book annoyed me. It wasn't that it was bad or poorly written, it was because the story was taking too long. There were obvious queues in the bulk of the book that didn't come to fruition until much later and I was borderline tearing my hair out while I waited for it all to happen. The wait was worth it, but I still would have enjoyed a bit of a faster pace.

Once I passed the annoying parts, I was finding myself rushing to the end. I definitely loved how the book ended and how all of those annoying strings finally tied together into a beautifully dysfunctional bow. I genuinely like Ethan, although I wish he'd be less of a boy sometimes! I don't know how thrilled I am to continue reading the series if the remaining books are as slow as this one was, but I'm going to muscle through anyway!

I give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars!

Beautiful Creatures {Review}

I'm usually not one to jump on the "hype" band-wagon, but I was intrigued by what I'd heard about Beautiful Creatures. It took a little bit of time for me to get into the book, but once I dove in it was hard to put down. The only complaint I have about the book is that the constant descriptions of the narrow-minded view of the folks in Gatlin and how the main character views them became redundant. After hearing about it a few dozen times, the point is taken.

There was nothing about the story in itself that I would want to change. It's refreshing to have a different type of point of view than the normal paranormal books (yes, this also includes my own!). I love to read stories like this and learn different techniques for possible future projects. Anyway, I definitely give this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars. 

P.S- The movie wasn't bad either! :)

You can read more of my reviews at Goodreads!

***Carmen DeSousa: News Release!!!***

Carmen DeSousa: New Release, ENTANGLED DREAMS, for readers who love romance swirled with suspense:

New release this weekend, Entangled Dreams . A modern-day fairytale filled with romance, mystery, suspense, and of course, tragedy. New release this weekend, Entangled Dreams. A modern-day fairytale filled with romance, mystery, suspense, and of course, tragedy. After all, doesn’t every great fairytale begin with a tragedy?

Book description:

When Alexandra Nicole was eight, she thought she was a princess in a fairytale. But after a tragic accident shatters her magical life, she finds herself in a cold and heartless reality.

As an adult, she once again faces harsh truths and decides to take control of her destiny. Unfortunately, choices have a way of entangling her dreams and pushing her down a dark and dismal path.

Alexandra must trust her instincts to escape danger, but be able to surrender all to find her happily ever after. Knowing how to decipher the difference, will be her toughest challenge.
Need a little more, you can read the first three chapters here.
OR
Download from Amazon
Barnes and Noble (coming soon)
iTunes (coming soon)
Smashwords
Amazon UK

Sneak Peek for My Peeps!

So, if you've been keeping up with my Facebook and Twitter, you'd know that I just made TREMENDOUS progress with Binding Secrets! Woohoo! With all of the things going on lately, I'm so happy I've been able to finally get in the groove and bust out some good stuff for this sequel. I'm really excited about where the story is going! I can't say it won't have a cliffhanger ending, but it will definitely have a lot more action (wink, wink)!

Without further ado, here's a sneak peek into the highly anticipated book 2 in Legacy of Secrets, Binding Secrets:

Endless Responsibilities

It seems I've hit a road block. I haven't really had the energy to sit down and write over the last week or so. I've had so many crazy things going on at home, it's been difficult to find time to breathe. I hope you all aren't too angry with me for being away so long!

I don't really have an upside to this post. Sometimes life just gets in the way of things you need to do and it's really that simple. Not to mention, the last few weeks have been hectic enough with school starting, birthday parties, important meetings and doctor's appointments. I wish it was over, but I'm afraid it's only beginning.

As of right now, I'm going to do my best to keep the book release of Binding Secrets to the end of October. I'm going to buckle down next week and get it done for you all. BUT...in the event something else comes up, I will let you guys know if I have to push back the release. That's the last thing I want to do, but I also don't want to put out something that could have been done better had I taken just a few more weeks.

That being said, I have two giveaways going on this month. Cursed Secrets will be free Saturday August 11th and Fire & Ice will be free Saturday August 18th. Each is only a one day promo, but you get the opportunity to read each book for free! As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated.

I promise to check in with you guys sooner next time. Hopefully life will calm down so I can get something done! <3

This is crazy!

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine my book to be so well received! The promo weekend is starting off with a resounding bang and a tremendous amount of downloads. It's both fantastic and frightening! I don't have any illusions to fame or fortune, but I feel like I'm finally in the right place!

Thank you just doesn't seem to be enough for those who've downloaded my book this weekend. It may not seem like much, but to indie authors all over the globe, even one reader is a triumph! Granted, the first edition of Cursed Secrets did become a bestseller very early on, but I value anyone and everyone who reads my books no matter which platform. 

If you haven't yet, you can download Cursed Secrets for free until 11:59 on 7/15. Make it a bogo with the novella, Fire & Ice, for only $.99. For more information about my books, you can find me on Facebook, Twitter and My Website.

Thanks so much and if you've got the time, don't forget to leave a review!

~Heat Wave~

The heat must be getting to me! 

Life is just simply crazy right now. There's really no other way to explain it. I'm one of those people that is normally really laid back and comfortable in any environment, but lately I find myself restless and my anxiety is through the roof. Some personal issues have factored into this, but also I'm struggling to get back into the groove.

For about two months I was cracking out some good stuff, but lately my enthusiasm has been lacking. My characters are begging me to write their story almost as much as I'm begging them to finish it for me. I suppose, at some point, I'll have to hike into the wilderness and retrieve my muse from wherever she may be hiding. Maybe an upcoming vaca can cure it for me!

The little bit of news I do have is I'm definitely releasing the Cursed Secrets 2nd edition very, very soon. Fire & Ice will follow soon after. Once these are out and about, I will be (hopefully) finishing up Binding Secrets to publish by the end of the fall. Again, the timing for the sequel is tentative. I don't want to get myself into a bind with that, but I don't want to rush it either. You all, and the characters, deserve better than that. I refuse to rush perfection!

Unfortunately, I have no previews to post for you tonight. I know, I know, I'm lame! BUT...you can check out some samples on Scribd. I have some stuff up from Legacy of Secrets (LoS) and also a different story I was working on a few years ago. I don't know if it will end up going anywhere, but it's there for you to read anyway. 

Thanks for tuning in to my ramblings! You know where to find me...

:-) Lisa

Excitement runneth over!

 I've got some big news! 

I've decided to release a second edition of Cursed Secrets to include some bonus material and a brand new cover! This has been in the works for a while, but just recently it was decided to go ahead with the project. Part of the reason is that as my first novel, there were obviously mistakes and things I need to fix along with the fact that I hadn't a clue where the story was going when I finished. Now that I know, it hardly seems fair to keep it to myself! :)

I'll be releasing Fire & Ice within the next few weeks on Amazon, then remaining platforms thereafter. There is a new cover and the prologue is available to read here. I've been working hard to bring you all the best possible experience with these characters and I think you'll be pleased :). While Fire & Ice isn't technically part of the series, the characters are the same and follows closely to the storyline. While some have been desperate to know what happens between Christian & Lia, I can't say for sure what you'll find in this installment.

Binding Secrets is still currently set for release in Fall/Winter of this year. This is tentative and may change depending on where the story takes me. You can't rush perfection and I surely don't want to try! I can tell you that there will be some surprises in this installment. Characters you thought were bad may end up good and so on. As it turns out, Lia isn't the only one that has secrets...(wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

So, I shall leave you with a little taste of Binding Secrets to pique your interest. Check my website often for updates on Legacy of Secrets and releases. Also, a great community called Indie Author Network has been kind enough to showcase my work. Feel free to pop over and give them a shout and look around at some cool stuff. There are plenty of authors and books to choose from, not just the Fantasy types!

'Till next time!....

Change isn't always bad, right?

Sorry to have stayed away so long! I've had my fair share of craziness attacking from all fronts lately. Sometimes personal matters get in the way of my writing, and while I hate it, it is necessary. On the upside, I'm about to make some pretty exciting changes in the coming months that will be revealed as they unfold. (Sorry, folks! I can't give away all secrets just yet!)

In case you didn't know, the cover vote for Binding Secrets is currently going on until next week. There are four to choose from and since it's difficult for me to pick, I'm leaving that decision up to you all! The artwork is amazing and I promise you won't be disappointed! 

Fire & Ice: A Legacy of Secrets Novella will be released very, very soon. So soon, in fact, that I'm putting on the finishing touches before it goes to editing and beta readers. I'm extremely excited for this installment as I've been wanting to delve more into this part of the story for a while now. Undoubtedly, there will be more novellas to come as the story unfolds. 

In celebration of the new changes and impending release, I'm throwing in a tasty little morsel from Fire & Ice. If you want to know more, please keep in touch by going to my website. All my social connections and highlights are listed on the main page. If you want to know more, you can always contact me via my website and I'll respond as soon as possible. I love my fans!!!!

Whew...what a day!

I can hardly contain my excitement! Recently, I've become a member of Angie's Diary, an online writing magazine, and some of my work has been featured here. I've been working closely with Indie Author Network, IAN, and we're going to be rolling out some great features shortly. Yay! It's incredibly awesome to be moving forward on more avenues!

Also, I've been in contact with a local bookseller and they're considering carrying my novel! On top of that, they are very interested in holding book signings and other events since I'm a local author. Cool, right?! It figures that instead of taking time off I'd be working in a different fashion. My boyfriend probably hates me for it -.-.

I'm also a part of a wonderful group on the site BookRix. It's called Reviews & Critiques and our aim is to offer those who normally don't get an opportunity for their books to be read a chance to get much needed feedback. We'll review short stories, poems, novels and just about anything else you can think of across all genres. Your reviews will be posted wherever you ask both on and off site. It is a small group, as we are new, but we're more than willing to read your stories! BookRix is a free site, so if you don't mind sharing works with the community, we're here for you! Simply click the link below and you will be directed to our wonderful little spot!

http://www.bookrix.com/_group-en-reviews-critiques

Look forward to seeing you there!!!

Busy, busy bee!

Life is never dull in my corner of the world! School is almost out for the kiddos, so I can only assume it will get busier. Sleeping has become something of an afterthought as my imagination runs wild, but I can't say I'm complaining. Well, aside from the fact that I'm a walking zombie. I enjoy when the juices are flowing. I was worried there for a while because I'd draw a blank every time I sat down to write. I'm happy to say it was a short reprieve (if you could call it that!). 

Writing is now back in full swing, along with current promos and outside projects. I'm currently working with a great group of Indie Authors to get some content to our fans that isn't currently available. Cool, right? It's amazing what you can do with technology nowadays!

One major goal over the next few weeks is to finish Fire & Ice: A Legacy of Secrets Novella. I want to have the release scheduled for the end of June, but as of the moment I'm only about 1/4 of the way finished. But, I'm confident I can get it done. I've been getting some great feedback from some of my friends about the content and I'm excited! 

You know I can't completely leave you guys hanging, so here's a little nugget to sleep on! :)

A breath of fresh air

I've been buried in work lately! From school to writing and my "real" job, it seems I stay glued to the internet. As the days tick on, I still struggle with time management, but I don't think I'm doing too badly as I'm reaching my deadlines pretty steadily. I'm working on the first novella from the LOS series called Fire & Ice with the hope that I can release it by the end of June-ish. I still have a bit to do to polish it up, but I'm hoping it will be a good way to hold all of you over until Binding Secrets comes out. At least that's what my hopes are!

My graphic artist is still working on compiling some great cover samples for you all and as soon as I get them I will post for everyone to vote on their favorite! This is a big step for me as I'm usually super protective over my work, but I know you all will choose the right one ;). 

Follow the jump break to read a sample of Fire & Ice and let me know what you think! Remember, you can find out about all my books and work from my website as well as following me on Facebook and Twitter. See you in a few days!

Around the bend...

I'd like to thank those who wished me well over the last few days. I've been under the weather, battling some allergy irritations. Thanks for being patient as I intended to get this blog out at the beginning of the week. I'm still not better, but I'm well enough to pass along some good info!

The ebook giveaway is still going strong through tomorrow! Hurry and enter for a chance to win one of 10 signed copies. There will be probably one or two more chances to win a free copy over the summer.

I will still be holding the cover vote for Binding Secrets. I'm waiting on the samples to come back and then we'll begin! All info about the vote can be found on my Legacy of Secrets page.

Exciting news! I will be expanding LOS with novellas based on the characters from the main novels! Also exciting, I have plans on releasing the novellas for free! Crazy, right? I don't have many specifics for these yet, but I'm working with "my people" to bring you all some great reads! These will be significantly shorter than the novels, but won't skimp on the goods :p.

I will try my best to keep in contact with you all, but I may be scarce. There is some rearranging going on in my life as well as my books, so my schedule will be hectic. I promise to keep you all posted of any news and contests. 

I can always be reached on my Fanpage and Twitter as well as from My Website. I'll never hesitate to reply, whether you're a fan or aspiring author. Keep in touch!

xoxoxo

Lisa Logue <3