Tuesday, December 22, 2015

What Books Are Ringing in the New Year for ME! (See You In 2016!)

So it's no secret that I have a special relationship with books. It's a love affair I refuse to extricate myself from, because honestly...it's just so great! 

As the year comes to an end and I embark on a little (and much needed) Christmas vacation, I have assembled a very particular reading list to ring in the new year. Because what is life, I ask, without a stack of good books and a quiet evening with an electric blanket? Tis nothing, I say! 

The holidays are my favorite time to read books. Everything is magical and cozy. It just puts me in the mood, I guess!

Here are the books I currently have stacked on my desk, waiting for me to read all of them before I return to work in January 2016. 

Gates of the Arctic
by Shelena Shorts 

In a thought-provoking novel, Gates of the Arctic challenges how far people will go to protect themselves in a time of crisis and questions the meaning of true freedom. 

This one is an Advanced Reader Copy that I received from Lands Atlantic Press. 

The 5th Wave 
by Rick Yancey 

"After the 1st Wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th Wave, only one rule applies: trust no one. 

Now is the dawn of the 5th Wave. 

Reading this so that I can thoroughly enjoy the movie when it releases! I usually don't read books that have aliens in them, but this one looked so good, I had to make an exception!

The City of Ember 
by Jeanne DuPrau 

Humanity's last hope...
Is a city in the dark...
When the lights begin to fail...

This one is a reread for me. I just love the storyline so much! It's really amazing how much outstanding literature can be found in the children's section at Barnes & Noble. 

Allegiant
by Veronica Roth 

One choice can transform you. 
One choice can destroy you. 
One choice will define you. 

Funny story: I was so attached to the characters from Divergent when I was in High School, I could barely bring myself to read Insurgent for fear of something terrible happening to my beloved Four! Since we've survived the first two books, I've heard SO many things about Allegiant. I made myself wait two whole years to read it so that I wouldn't take a theoretically unhappy ending so hard. I hope this ending doesn't destroy my Four-loving soul! We shall see. 

Coraline
by Neil Gaiman 

Coraline has often wondered what's behind the locked door in the drawing room...

A wonderfully chilling novel about an alternate world, and the dangers that lie within. 

This is another reread. I remember reading this at some point in high school, and despite the fact that it is actually a children's book, it scared the LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME. So I guess I'm ready for more scares, because I'm back to reread once again! 

Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon 

What happens when a young woman is transported back in time to the 1700s, in the midst of a war-torn Scotland? Drama and romance, that's what! 

Already in the process of reading this one on my handy-dandy Kindle Fire. I just got to the part where Claire falls through the time portal (or whatever you want to call it) and lands in the middle of good ole' Scotland. I'm looking forward to see how the book goes. I'm hoping for lots of Claire kissing Scottish men in kilts. That would be so entertaining, you know? 



So there's my little list for my little vacation, and after I have finished, I shall go back to writing and editing and working and planning. 

But until then, I wish you ALL a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Very Wonderful New Year! 









Monday, December 14, 2015

Goodbye, 2015! The Year Behind and the Year Ahead

2015. No matter how I slice it up, 2015 has been one of the busiest years of my life. I wrote and released 5 major titles (State of Alliance, State of Vengeance, Day One, End of Day and Collapse: The Illustrated Guide). I produced my first-ever audiobook for Day Zero. I took on more students for creative writing tutoring. I got engaged to the love of my life. Oh, and have I mentioned that I've been spending the last five months nursing a sickly cat? Yes. It just doesn't get any busier than that, folks. 

With 2015 behind me, I have learned some pretty valuable lessons about writing and about life. 2016 is going to be even more busy and even more crazy, but I'm ready for it. Here's what's coming up in 2016, in both book and life! 




  • State of Destruction. I'm charging right out of the box on January 29th, 2016, with the seventh installment of The Collapse Series. PRAY FOR MY SOUL because this book is tricky, let me tell you. I love Cassidy Hart, and she is giving me a run for my money. 
  • Bravo: Apocalypse Mission. I have such a thing for dogs. You couldn't tell, either. The way I randomly sit and gaze and dogs at the park or kiss their noses when we're introduced is not in any way a dead giveaway. On March 11th, 2016, I'm releasing the first installment of the Bravo Saga, following the adventures of Bravo the bomb dog and his survival in the apocalypse. 
  • State of Deception. Yes. Why write one book a year when you can write five or six? Yep. That's the brilliant advice I keep giving myself. It's only a matter of time before my hair starts turning gray. On June 24th, 2016, book #8 of Collapse releases. 
  • Bravo: Death Brigade. Book #2 of the Bravo Saga will be released on August 5th, 2016. See? I really am too dumb to stop writing. I just have to get these stories out, guys. Sorry not sorry. 
  • I Get Married. Oh yes. The "M" word. In October of 2016, I am getting married to my own boot-wearing, tractor-driving, pickup-owning prince charming. (That's a relatively catchy title, right?) For this reason, I will not be releasing any titles from September-December of 2016. Fear not. The next Collapse book will release right on schedule, in 2017. 



I am well aware that writing and releasing 4 books in the timespan of 8 months is a little (and by "little" I mean "extremely") insane, but it's all good. I love my readers, and I want to share these stories with them. I have carefully constructed each book of every series to fit into an overarching, connecting plot, and each time I release a novel, we get a little bit closer to putting the puzzle together. It's a great pleasure to me! 

Thank you for making 2015 a rock-and-roll, bestselling, phenomenal, out-of-this-world year. I'll see you on the other side of the ball drop. *wink*  



Monday, December 7, 2015

Annual Christmas Collapse Sale! 99 Cents for ALL COLLAPSE BOOKS!

Yes. Every book in the entire Collapse Series is on sale for 99 cents for FIVE DAYS ONLY:

 December 7th-11th.

This has become my annual Christmas-time tradition. With State of Destruction coming out on January 29th, 2016, I would advise you to snap up all the books in the series before the release and catch up while you have the chance! 

Thank you for your readership. I love you ALL! 







And don't forget, you can ALWAYS get The Zero Trilogy for just 99 cents, with the final installment being sold for only 1.99, all year long! 



Wednesday, December 2, 2015

DOG VERSUS APOCALYPSE: BRAVO, APOCALYPSE MISSION


Civilization, collapsed. 
Society, gone. 
The apocalypse rules all, and mankind struggles for survival. 

But there was a dog. 
And his name was Bravo. 

Trained as a military bomb dog in the Marines, Bravo is living with his handler, Lieutenant Nathan Ingalls, in San Diego, California, when the apocalypse strikes. Torn cruelly from the Nathan in the dying days of society, Bravo fights for survival in the city, longing to be reunited with his handler, his friend. 

This is the story of a dog. This is the story of a hero. 
This is the story of Bravo, the bomb dog, and his apocalypse mission. 




The first leg of this fearless canine's adventures in the apocalypse, Book #1 of the Bravo Saga! 

Coming March 11th, 2015 

Add it to your shelf on GoodReads

Use the hashtag #Bravo and #ApocalypseMission on Twitter.