Cora Carmack's Blog, page 6
September 20, 2013
The One with Max in an Angel Costume
So... sometimes you're editing something and your brain just kind of gives out on you. Like so...
And you keep telling yourself to power through. To keep going. You eat some chocolate, drown yourself in caffeine, and then jump back in. And if that doesn't work, you try something like this:
Except, you know, I'm not much of a gun person. So, I decided to do something different. Just to take a quick break and have some fun, I decided to start something I've been thinking about doing FOREVER.
I call it... FLASH FICTION FRIDAY.
Here's the gist of it. Every Friday, I'm going to make a post on my Facebook page calling for writing prompts. You can pick any character from my books-- main characters like Garrick or Cade or minor characters like Rusty and Spencer. Comment on my post with that character's name and then a place or object for a prompt. Heck, you can even post things like songs or pictures. Anything you'd like to see me write.
Then, I'll pick one and write just a fast and fun little snippet to post here on my blog.
So, I posted my first call for prompts an hour or so ago, and though there were some awesome suggestions (like Bliss in a Sex Shop), I decided to go with the very first comment.
PROMPT: Max (from FAKING IT) outside a church in strange clothes.
What can I say? I like a challenge.
So, without further ado, here's my Flash Fiction Friday entry NUMERO UNO!
WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR FAKING IT.
WARNING PART TWO: This is unedited. Like... I wrote it in fifteen minutes. So, if there are errors, don't judge me.
WARNING PART THREE: This is NOT an excerpt from any upcoming book. This is just for fun. If I ever decide to write about Max and Cade again, I promise I'll tell you all.
“Stop staring at me.” I pulled at the polyester costume, already uncomfortable. Cade didn’t even blink. “I’m sorry. I just can’t stop.” Between gigs on stage, years spent dressing up for my parents, and nights spent dancing at Trestle, I didn’t think there was an outfit in the world that I couldn’t handle. Then again, I hadn’t ever really thought I’d be standing outside a massive Baptist church in Fort Worth, Texas decked out in an angel costume. “I’m still not quite sure how your Grandma convinced me to be in this play thing.”Cade touched the tip of one of my glitter-vomit wings and shrugged. “She’s persuasive.”“I know, right? I mean, you think she’s this sweet little old lady, and then bam! She just gets you out of nowhere. I’m kinda worried I’m gonna wake up tomorrow without my kidney.” He leaned in and placed a kiss on my cheek. “Yes. That’s my Grams. The black market organ dealer.” His kiss settled me a little bit, but not enough. “Why couldn’t you be the angel? I don’t even go to church here. Is this what happens to every girl you bring home to visit?” “One, the angel dress looks much better on you than it would on me.” His hand smoothed across my waist around to the small of my back. “And two, it’s just you. You’re the only girl I’ve ever brought home.” His other hand touched my cheek, feather soft and sweet. “I guess it’s only fair. When I brought you home, you were subjected to a complete family fallout. I suppose I can handle being an angel for twenty minutes.” He titled my chin up and kissed me slowly. I forgot about the itchy polyester and the wings that were shedding glitter all over the place. Cade was good about that… making me forget everything else but him. He leaned his forehead against mine and smiled. “I promise to make it up to you with a few less than angelic moments later tonight.” “Damn right, you will.” He laughed, and his Grandma appeared then at the back door to the church, waving a hand at me that said it was almost time. Time for my acting debut. Halo, wings, tattoos, and all.
Well, there you have it! A little peek at Cade and Max after the events of FAKING IT. So, I'll be doing this every Friday. So start brainstorming prompts for what you'd like to see me write! They can be ridiculous or serious. And make sure you're following me on Facebook, so you don't miss out!
P.S. I'm going to have HUGE announcement early next week! Get excited!
P.P.S. Starting Tuesday, we'll be expanding the FINDING IT preview on Facebook by one chapter every week until the book releases! You can already read the first forty or so pages here!
P.P.P.S. FINDING IT releases in less than a month! Oct. 15th! And the paperback version of KEEPING HER releases October 1st! You can pre-order it now from Amazon or B&N for less than $4. Not bad, right? It likely will be difficult to find in stores since it's just a novella, so I highly suggest pre-ordering if you want one!
Okay. I think that's it. Probably.
See you next Friday for some more Flash Fiction!
And you keep telling yourself to power through. To keep going. You eat some chocolate, drown yourself in caffeine, and then jump back in. And if that doesn't work, you try something like this:
Except, you know, I'm not much of a gun person. So, I decided to do something different. Just to take a quick break and have some fun, I decided to start something I've been thinking about doing FOREVER.
I call it... FLASH FICTION FRIDAY.
Here's the gist of it. Every Friday, I'm going to make a post on my Facebook page calling for writing prompts. You can pick any character from my books-- main characters like Garrick or Cade or minor characters like Rusty and Spencer. Comment on my post with that character's name and then a place or object for a prompt. Heck, you can even post things like songs or pictures. Anything you'd like to see me write.
Then, I'll pick one and write just a fast and fun little snippet to post here on my blog.
So, I posted my first call for prompts an hour or so ago, and though there were some awesome suggestions (like Bliss in a Sex Shop), I decided to go with the very first comment.
PROMPT: Max (from FAKING IT) outside a church in strange clothes.
What can I say? I like a challenge.
So, without further ado, here's my Flash Fiction Friday entry NUMERO UNO!
WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR FAKING IT.
WARNING PART TWO: This is unedited. Like... I wrote it in fifteen minutes. So, if there are errors, don't judge me.
WARNING PART THREE: This is NOT an excerpt from any upcoming book. This is just for fun. If I ever decide to write about Max and Cade again, I promise I'll tell you all.
“Stop staring at me.” I pulled at the polyester costume, already uncomfortable. Cade didn’t even blink. “I’m sorry. I just can’t stop.” Between gigs on stage, years spent dressing up for my parents, and nights spent dancing at Trestle, I didn’t think there was an outfit in the world that I couldn’t handle. Then again, I hadn’t ever really thought I’d be standing outside a massive Baptist church in Fort Worth, Texas decked out in an angel costume. “I’m still not quite sure how your Grandma convinced me to be in this play thing.”Cade touched the tip of one of my glitter-vomit wings and shrugged. “She’s persuasive.”“I know, right? I mean, you think she’s this sweet little old lady, and then bam! She just gets you out of nowhere. I’m kinda worried I’m gonna wake up tomorrow without my kidney.” He leaned in and placed a kiss on my cheek. “Yes. That’s my Grams. The black market organ dealer.” His kiss settled me a little bit, but not enough. “Why couldn’t you be the angel? I don’t even go to church here. Is this what happens to every girl you bring home to visit?” “One, the angel dress looks much better on you than it would on me.” His hand smoothed across my waist around to the small of my back. “And two, it’s just you. You’re the only girl I’ve ever brought home.” His other hand touched my cheek, feather soft and sweet. “I guess it’s only fair. When I brought you home, you were subjected to a complete family fallout. I suppose I can handle being an angel for twenty minutes.” He titled my chin up and kissed me slowly. I forgot about the itchy polyester and the wings that were shedding glitter all over the place. Cade was good about that… making me forget everything else but him. He leaned his forehead against mine and smiled. “I promise to make it up to you with a few less than angelic moments later tonight.” “Damn right, you will.” He laughed, and his Grandma appeared then at the back door to the church, waving a hand at me that said it was almost time. Time for my acting debut. Halo, wings, tattoos, and all.
Well, there you have it! A little peek at Cade and Max after the events of FAKING IT. So, I'll be doing this every Friday. So start brainstorming prompts for what you'd like to see me write! They can be ridiculous or serious. And make sure you're following me on Facebook, so you don't miss out!
P.S. I'm going to have HUGE announcement early next week! Get excited!
P.P.S. Starting Tuesday, we'll be expanding the FINDING IT preview on Facebook by one chapter every week until the book releases! You can already read the first forty or so pages here!
P.P.P.S. FINDING IT releases in less than a month! Oct. 15th! And the paperback version of KEEPING HER releases October 1st! You can pre-order it now from Amazon or B&N for less than $4. Not bad, right? It likely will be difficult to find in stores since it's just a novella, so I highly suggest pre-ordering if you want one!
Okay. I think that's it. Probably.
See you next Friday for some more Flash Fiction!
September 12, 2013
The One with JLA's Massive Contest
OMG YOU GUYS.
AMAZING THING. HAPPENING NOW.
Okay, so Jennifer L. Armentrout is doing this EPIC contest. Seriously EPIC. And I'm participating as a judge! Whoo-hooooo!
Here's the gist of it: Out there in the world some fantabulous book lover is going to sit down and write some fanfiction using books by JLA, me, Sophie Jordan, or Laura Kaye (or some combination there of). Fanfiction (in case you didn't know) is using copyrighted characters from a published book and creating your own story (just for fun). And in fanfiction, pretty much everything goes. You could have JLA's characters meet character's from Laura's book. You could have Bliss and Garrick become dragons like in Sophie's YA series. You could write a scene that's missing from one of our books. You could write our characters ten years in the future or have them time travel. Literally... ANYTHING. GOES.
Once you have your fanfiction, turn it in! And if we choose it as the best entry, you could be heading to New Orleans next year for the RT Booklovers Convention (only the most fun convention... evah!)
So there's my spiel. Now I'll let JLA tell you all the details.
See... Here she is! Telling you the deets. :)
2014 RT Book Lover's Convention will be in New Orleans. For those who've never had the pleasure of attending the RT Convention, it caters to both writers and readers. It's nearly a week long event where you can mingle with other readers, writers, and most likely, your favorite authors. You can attend panels focused on readers and you can attend panels that are for writers. Not only that, you get to meet top agents and editors. A lot of agent/editor referrals come from events like RT. And there's parties, awards ceremonies, slumber parties, Teen Day, and a GIANT BOOK fair with hundreds of the hottest authors.And did I mention it's also in New Orleans?So I got to thinking. How could I come up with a contest centered around one of the hottest events in the biz?And so I did.Fan Fic Me all the way to the 2014 RT ConventionContest Prizes?Grand Prize
You will be flown into New Orleans on Tuesday, May 13th 2014 (if flying is required) and you will be able to attend all the RT events and panels through the 17th of May, leaving on Sunday.
Your hotel will be covered.
Your registration, valued at $495 will be covered.
You will be at RT, hanging with readers and writers.
1st Runner Up
Signed books from Cora Carmack, Laura Kaye, Sophie Jordan, me, and a slew more, plus goodies
2nd Runner Up
Signed books from Cora Carmack, Laura Kaye, Sophie Jordan, me, and a slew more, plus goodies
How do you enter? Put your writing caps on, kiddos. To enter this contest you will need to fan fic one of the books below to enter. You can mix and match books, characters. You can flip a POV of a scene or you can create a whole new one. What you write is up to you. You just cannot exceed 1500 words.Once you've written your fan fic, please submit it to this email: [email protected]You must include the following items with your submission. If not, your submission is automatically deleted.
1. Your full name and full address
2. Date of Birth
3. Email address where we can get in contact with you
If you are unable to provide any of that information, the submission will not be accepted. No exceptions, guys! We have to very age and location.
How this will work? All entries must be received by November 12th or before we receive a 180 entries. Website will be updated with submissions.
Entries will be judged by an all star cast of New York Times Bestselling authors, an agent, a member of RT Book Reviews, Two super popular bloggers, and the most important judge: a reader.Judges:
NYTimes Bestselling Author Laura Kaye
NYTimes Bestselling Author Sophie Jordan
NYTimes Bestselling Author Cora Carmack
Agent Extraordinaire Kevan Lyon
RT Web Editor Elissa Petruzzi
Stacey O'Neale from Fantasy Book Addict
The Team behind Mundie Moms
The. Reader.
And me.
The Winners will be announced on January 12th, 2014
Short Story GuidelinesCannot exceed 1500 words.Books you can fan fict can be any book written by the below authors: Me (under my real and pen name), Cora Carmack, Laura Kaye, and Sophie JordanBlow our minds.Rules/Disclaimers/And other important stuff you NEED to readMust be 18 years of age or older to enter. Entries under this age will be null and voided. No exceptions. I cannot be responsible for a minor attending this event.Entry cannot exceed 1500 words and must be submitted by November 12th 2013 or before 150 entries have been received. Website will be updated with number of entries.Upon entering the contest, you are agreeing to attend RT 2014 in NOLA. Please do not enter this contest if there is even a small chance you will not be able to attend due to any reason. I will be paying for the flight, the hotel, and the registration. Most of these are nonrefundable. If you back out, that’s a lot of money down the drain.Author, Judges, and RT Book Convention hold no liability for anything in this contest. So that means by entering, if you win and the airline loses your luggage or, in your excitement, you jump over your couch and break a leg, we are not responsible.This contest is not sponsored by RT Book Reviews and is solely financed by Jennifer L. Armentrout.By entering, you are a giving me the permission to share your short story through any venue I see fit. I will not be publishing the stories for financial gain, but story may be shared in a promotional or other way related to the contest.For International Peeps
Originally, I was only going to limit the contest to US and Canada entries, simply because of the cost of international flights and all the other things to take in consideration: passports, potential customs issues, entry and exit of the states, and all that jazz. That’s a lot of money and a lot of responsibility. However, I have come up with an alternative. Please see the guidelines before for International entry. DO NOT enter the contest unless you can accept the guidelines. I do not want to award this prize to a winner who cannot attend the event due to International travel issues.An international winner will be awarded a $700 voucher toward airfare (the approximate cost of a US city to US city flight), and the winner will be responsible for the remaining cost to travel into the US. Before entering this contest, ask yourself if you have the funds to cover the rest of the trip. Check out rates. Get information. DO NOT enter if you cannot purchase the rest of the ticket.International winner must have a valid passport and meet all traveling requirements that are set forth by the United States Government. This is a prize package that averages between $2,000-$3,000 when its all said and done. It's huge. It's epic. It's going to be a hell of a lot of fun in New Orleans.
Your hotel room is already booked.
Your flight is waiting for you.
Your registration is pending.
So what are you waiting for?
That's all the info from Jen! Make sure to check out her original post on her blog and ask any questions you may have there!
But be advised! We're only taking the first 180 entries, so you better get cracking!
In Awkward <3,
Cora
AMAZING THING. HAPPENING NOW.
Okay, so Jennifer L. Armentrout is doing this EPIC contest. Seriously EPIC. And I'm participating as a judge! Whoo-hooooo!
Here's the gist of it: Out there in the world some fantabulous book lover is going to sit down and write some fanfiction using books by JLA, me, Sophie Jordan, or Laura Kaye (or some combination there of). Fanfiction (in case you didn't know) is using copyrighted characters from a published book and creating your own story (just for fun). And in fanfiction, pretty much everything goes. You could have JLA's characters meet character's from Laura's book. You could have Bliss and Garrick become dragons like in Sophie's YA series. You could write a scene that's missing from one of our books. You could write our characters ten years in the future or have them time travel. Literally... ANYTHING. GOES.
Once you have your fanfiction, turn it in! And if we choose it as the best entry, you could be heading to New Orleans next year for the RT Booklovers Convention (only the most fun convention... evah!)
So there's my spiel. Now I'll let JLA tell you all the details.
See... Here she is! Telling you the deets. :)
2014 RT Book Lover's Convention will be in New Orleans. For those who've never had the pleasure of attending the RT Convention, it caters to both writers and readers. It's nearly a week long event where you can mingle with other readers, writers, and most likely, your favorite authors. You can attend panels focused on readers and you can attend panels that are for writers. Not only that, you get to meet top agents and editors. A lot of agent/editor referrals come from events like RT. And there's parties, awards ceremonies, slumber parties, Teen Day, and a GIANT BOOK fair with hundreds of the hottest authors.And did I mention it's also in New Orleans?So I got to thinking. How could I come up with a contest centered around one of the hottest events in the biz?And so I did.Fan Fic Me all the way to the 2014 RT ConventionContest Prizes?Grand Prize
You will be flown into New Orleans on Tuesday, May 13th 2014 (if flying is required) and you will be able to attend all the RT events and panels through the 17th of May, leaving on Sunday.
Your hotel will be covered.
Your registration, valued at $495 will be covered.
You will be at RT, hanging with readers and writers.
1st Runner Up
Signed books from Cora Carmack, Laura Kaye, Sophie Jordan, me, and a slew more, plus goodies
2nd Runner Up
Signed books from Cora Carmack, Laura Kaye, Sophie Jordan, me, and a slew more, plus goodies
How do you enter? Put your writing caps on, kiddos. To enter this contest you will need to fan fic one of the books below to enter. You can mix and match books, characters. You can flip a POV of a scene or you can create a whole new one. What you write is up to you. You just cannot exceed 1500 words.Once you've written your fan fic, please submit it to this email: [email protected]You must include the following items with your submission. If not, your submission is automatically deleted.
1. Your full name and full address
2. Date of Birth
3. Email address where we can get in contact with you
If you are unable to provide any of that information, the submission will not be accepted. No exceptions, guys! We have to very age and location.
How this will work? All entries must be received by November 12th or before we receive a 180 entries. Website will be updated with submissions.
Entries will be judged by an all star cast of New York Times Bestselling authors, an agent, a member of RT Book Reviews, Two super popular bloggers, and the most important judge: a reader.Judges:
NYTimes Bestselling Author Laura Kaye
NYTimes Bestselling Author Sophie Jordan
NYTimes Bestselling Author Cora Carmack
Agent Extraordinaire Kevan Lyon
RT Web Editor Elissa Petruzzi
Stacey O'Neale from Fantasy Book Addict
The Team behind Mundie Moms
The. Reader.
And me.
The Winners will be announced on January 12th, 2014
Short Story GuidelinesCannot exceed 1500 words.Books you can fan fict can be any book written by the below authors: Me (under my real and pen name), Cora Carmack, Laura Kaye, and Sophie JordanBlow our minds.Rules/Disclaimers/And other important stuff you NEED to readMust be 18 years of age or older to enter. Entries under this age will be null and voided. No exceptions. I cannot be responsible for a minor attending this event.Entry cannot exceed 1500 words and must be submitted by November 12th 2013 or before 150 entries have been received. Website will be updated with number of entries.Upon entering the contest, you are agreeing to attend RT 2014 in NOLA. Please do not enter this contest if there is even a small chance you will not be able to attend due to any reason. I will be paying for the flight, the hotel, and the registration. Most of these are nonrefundable. If you back out, that’s a lot of money down the drain.Author, Judges, and RT Book Convention hold no liability for anything in this contest. So that means by entering, if you win and the airline loses your luggage or, in your excitement, you jump over your couch and break a leg, we are not responsible.This contest is not sponsored by RT Book Reviews and is solely financed by Jennifer L. Armentrout.By entering, you are a giving me the permission to share your short story through any venue I see fit. I will not be publishing the stories for financial gain, but story may be shared in a promotional or other way related to the contest.For International Peeps
Originally, I was only going to limit the contest to US and Canada entries, simply because of the cost of international flights and all the other things to take in consideration: passports, potential customs issues, entry and exit of the states, and all that jazz. That’s a lot of money and a lot of responsibility. However, I have come up with an alternative. Please see the guidelines before for International entry. DO NOT enter the contest unless you can accept the guidelines. I do not want to award this prize to a winner who cannot attend the event due to International travel issues.An international winner will be awarded a $700 voucher toward airfare (the approximate cost of a US city to US city flight), and the winner will be responsible for the remaining cost to travel into the US. Before entering this contest, ask yourself if you have the funds to cover the rest of the trip. Check out rates. Get information. DO NOT enter if you cannot purchase the rest of the ticket.International winner must have a valid passport and meet all traveling requirements that are set forth by the United States Government. This is a prize package that averages between $2,000-$3,000 when its all said and done. It's huge. It's epic. It's going to be a hell of a lot of fun in New Orleans.
Your hotel room is already booked.Your flight is waiting for you.
Your registration is pending.
So what are you waiting for?
That's all the info from Jen! Make sure to check out her original post on her blog and ask any questions you may have there!
But be advised! We're only taking the first 180 entries, so you better get cracking!
In Awkward <3,
Cora
September 9, 2013
The One with Another Novella
Hello my loves!
I am back at my new home in New York (which is STILL covered in boxes... I procrastinate) after a fabulous weekend in Seattle.
Seriously. If I hadn't just moved to New York, I would be looking at places in Seattle right now. I was THAT in love with the city. If you've never been, you should definitely put it on your list of places to vacation someday. I, myself, can't wait to go back. Hopefully for a longer trip this time.
The Seattle signing was amazing. I met so many wonderful fans and had a blast chatting with them all. I also got to meet a few authors I love for the first time (like Kristen Proby. Adore her). Thanks so much to everyone who came out. Loved loved loved it.
And now for the good stuff. An announcement... When we sold Garrick and Bliss's novella, Keeping Her, to Harper, we also sold a second novella.
I'm happy to announce that second novella now has a name and a release date! It will be from the point-of-view of Jackson Hunt, the hero of FINDING IT. He looks a little like this in my head...
(You're welcome for that visual).
In some ways it is a Pre-quel to Finding It. It starts before the events of that book, but then about half the novella will overlap with Finding It and give you scenes from that book in Jackson's POV. It was a blast to write. And I love Jackson like WHOA. And I can't wait for you all to read Finding It! Just a little over a month (Oct 15th), and you'll be able to! So don't forget to add that book on Goodreads and buy it when it releases!
And once you've read FINDING IT, you'll be able to pick up the novella, SEEKING HER on January 28th 2014 for only $1.99! You can pre-order it here!
And if you're a blogger who wants to participate in the cover reveal later this year, make sure you've joined by blogger mailer list that is at the top of my sidebar on the upper righthand side of the blog. That list will guarantee you get contacted for future cover reveals and announcements. :)
And now... I'll leave you to imagine Jackson Hunt's abs and celebrate. :)
(Yes... Sadly... that's kind of how I dance).
UPDATE: P.S. I'm attending the Houston Book Rave Event on Nov. 2nd, but if you can't be there, you can still order SIGNED books! Don't miss your chance to get signed copies of Losing It, Faking It, and Finding It! http://houstonbookrave.blogspot.com/p...
I am back at my new home in New York (which is STILL covered in boxes... I procrastinate) after a fabulous weekend in Seattle.
Seriously. If I hadn't just moved to New York, I would be looking at places in Seattle right now. I was THAT in love with the city. If you've never been, you should definitely put it on your list of places to vacation someday. I, myself, can't wait to go back. Hopefully for a longer trip this time.
The Seattle signing was amazing. I met so many wonderful fans and had a blast chatting with them all. I also got to meet a few authors I love for the first time (like Kristen Proby. Adore her). Thanks so much to everyone who came out. Loved loved loved it.
And now for the good stuff. An announcement... When we sold Garrick and Bliss's novella, Keeping Her, to Harper, we also sold a second novella.
I'm happy to announce that second novella now has a name and a release date! It will be from the point-of-view of Jackson Hunt, the hero of FINDING IT. He looks a little like this in my head...
(You're welcome for that visual).
In some ways it is a Pre-quel to Finding It. It starts before the events of that book, but then about half the novella will overlap with Finding It and give you scenes from that book in Jackson's POV. It was a blast to write. And I love Jackson like WHOA. And I can't wait for you all to read Finding It! Just a little over a month (Oct 15th), and you'll be able to! So don't forget to add that book on Goodreads and buy it when it releases!
And once you've read FINDING IT, you'll be able to pick up the novella, SEEKING HER on January 28th 2014 for only $1.99! You can pre-order it here!
And if you're a blogger who wants to participate in the cover reveal later this year, make sure you've joined by blogger mailer list that is at the top of my sidebar on the upper righthand side of the blog. That list will guarantee you get contacted for future cover reveals and announcements. :)
And now... I'll leave you to imagine Jackson Hunt's abs and celebrate. :)
(Yes... Sadly... that's kind of how I dance).
UPDATE: P.S. I'm attending the Houston Book Rave Event on Nov. 2nd, but if you can't be there, you can still order SIGNED books! Don't miss your chance to get signed copies of Losing It, Faking It, and Finding It! http://houstonbookrave.blogspot.com/p...
September 5, 2013
The One Where I Suck (Not Literally, but Well... You know)
*peeks out from under rock*
AHHHHH my God, I have been so MIA that MIA doesn't even begin to describe my MIA-ness.
I suck.
I'm sorry. Incredibly sorry.
My only excuse is that I have been busy writing books! And signing books! And traveling! Oh, and I moved, too!
But hey! A lot has happened in that time. Most of it very good. So bear with me... this will be the catch up posts of all catch-up posts. But there is one VERY important announcement and a giveaway coming near the end.
For one, KEEPING HER made the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller list! HUZZAH! That was awesome. And I did something that looked a little like this...
I have visited some truly FANTASTIC places. Really. London. Toronto. Atlanta. New York. Las Vegas. Many for the first time.
London kept my mom's appendix. So there's that. We forever left our mark. :) I met some fabulous bloggers, some of whom had been with me from the very beginning and hold a truly special place in my heart. We had a fab event where among other things, I read from my books. You can hear me read from FAKING IT here. Toronto was gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait to go back and spend a little more time there. RWA in Atlanta was understandably AMAZING. There is something so awe-inspiring about that many booklovers in one place. New York is... well... I loved it enough to move here. That should say something! ;) And Las Vegas... the land of the Naughty Mafia. I had a BLAST... friends, food, fun, and too much gambling. Haha. Hey, it was my first time! I needed the full experience.
If you missed me at any of these events, make sure and check out my Appearances page.
Several other AMAZING things have happened, two in particular. Unfortunately... I can't share about those yet. SOON. Within the month, I hope to be able to tell you about ALL THE GOOD THINGS. Feel free to speculate in the mean time. ;)
Here's the part with the announcement.
A very important, not quite as exciting, announcement.
Remember this book?
The one about Kelsey and Jackson (who might be my FAVORITE book boyfriend yet! Don't believe me? I'm not alone).
Well... originally it was due to release October 1st here in the US and the end of September in the UK. Things have... changed. It will now be releasing October 15th in the US and October 10th in the UK.
I know... I know... before you do something drastic...
Hear me out. There's a good reason! In simplest terms, we needed those extra two weeks to make sure the book was in the best possible shape. The last thing I wanted to do was put out a book I wasn't proud of. I always want to give you the best story I can.
AND... that extra time allowed us to do something VERY special for Finding It. We've known for a month or so that we were pushing back the release day, but I've been putting off telling everyone because I wanted to be able to tell you about that VERY SPECIAL thing, too. Unfortunately... I can't tell you about that thing. Not yet. But considering we're less than a month out from the original publication, and I was seeing contradicting posts, I thought it was time that I went ahead and made the announcement.
So all in all, pushing it back two weeks sucks. I know. BUT... It will be worth it.
(Or you know, I'm Cora).
P.S. When you do get to read about and fall in love with Jackson Hunt... you'll be glad to know he's getting his own NOVELLA! I just finished it (squee) and it will be releasing early 2014!
Well, then. Now that you've stuck with me through the updates and the sad!face announcement, you'll be happy to know I've got some good news!
IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME! In honor of hitting 11,000 likes on Facebook, I'm giving away this giant stash of books.
ARC of Foreplay by Sophie Jordan (Signed)ARC of A Little Too Far by Lisa DesrocherTaking Chances by Molly McAdamsLosing It (Signed)Faking It (Signed)Opal by Jennifer L. ArmentroutARC of Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Signed) "Awkward people need love, too" Bracelets Signed BookmarksSigned Losing It Rack cardsSigned Faking It Rack cards
(P.S. I know I said I was going to give away a stuffed version of Hamlet, but I'm still looking. Next time!)
I'll be choosing THREE winners!
The Grand prize winner will get: Signed Losing It, Signed Faking It, One additional book of their choice, plus swag.
The Second prize winner will get to choose two books from the remaining books, plus swag.
The Third prize winner will get the remaining two books, plus swag.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
AHHHHH my God, I have been so MIA that MIA doesn't even begin to describe my MIA-ness.
I suck.
I'm sorry. Incredibly sorry.
My only excuse is that I have been busy writing books! And signing books! And traveling! Oh, and I moved, too!
But hey! A lot has happened in that time. Most of it very good. So bear with me... this will be the catch up posts of all catch-up posts. But there is one VERY important announcement and a giveaway coming near the end.
For one, KEEPING HER made the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller list! HUZZAH! That was awesome. And I did something that looked a little like this...
I have visited some truly FANTASTIC places. Really. London. Toronto. Atlanta. New York. Las Vegas. Many for the first time.
London kept my mom's appendix. So there's that. We forever left our mark. :) I met some fabulous bloggers, some of whom had been with me from the very beginning and hold a truly special place in my heart. We had a fab event where among other things, I read from my books. You can hear me read from FAKING IT here. Toronto was gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait to go back and spend a little more time there. RWA in Atlanta was understandably AMAZING. There is something so awe-inspiring about that many booklovers in one place. New York is... well... I loved it enough to move here. That should say something! ;) And Las Vegas... the land of the Naughty Mafia. I had a BLAST... friends, food, fun, and too much gambling. Haha. Hey, it was my first time! I needed the full experience.
If you missed me at any of these events, make sure and check out my Appearances page.
Several other AMAZING things have happened, two in particular. Unfortunately... I can't share about those yet. SOON. Within the month, I hope to be able to tell you about ALL THE GOOD THINGS. Feel free to speculate in the mean time. ;)
Here's the part with the announcement.
A very important, not quite as exciting, announcement.
Remember this book?
The one about Kelsey and Jackson (who might be my FAVORITE book boyfriend yet! Don't believe me? I'm not alone).
Well... originally it was due to release October 1st here in the US and the end of September in the UK. Things have... changed. It will now be releasing October 15th in the US and October 10th in the UK.
I know... I know... before you do something drastic...
Hear me out. There's a good reason! In simplest terms, we needed those extra two weeks to make sure the book was in the best possible shape. The last thing I wanted to do was put out a book I wasn't proud of. I always want to give you the best story I can.
AND... that extra time allowed us to do something VERY special for Finding It. We've known for a month or so that we were pushing back the release day, but I've been putting off telling everyone because I wanted to be able to tell you about that VERY SPECIAL thing, too. Unfortunately... I can't tell you about that thing. Not yet. But considering we're less than a month out from the original publication, and I was seeing contradicting posts, I thought it was time that I went ahead and made the announcement.
So all in all, pushing it back two weeks sucks. I know. BUT... It will be worth it.
(Or you know, I'm Cora).
P.S. When you do get to read about and fall in love with Jackson Hunt... you'll be glad to know he's getting his own NOVELLA! I just finished it (squee) and it will be releasing early 2014!
Well, then. Now that you've stuck with me through the updates and the sad!face announcement, you'll be happy to know I've got some good news!
IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME! In honor of hitting 11,000 likes on Facebook, I'm giving away this giant stash of books.
ARC of Foreplay by Sophie Jordan (Signed)ARC of A Little Too Far by Lisa DesrocherTaking Chances by Molly McAdamsLosing It (Signed)Faking It (Signed)Opal by Jennifer L. ArmentroutARC of Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Signed) "Awkward people need love, too" Bracelets Signed BookmarksSigned Losing It Rack cardsSigned Faking It Rack cards
(P.S. I know I said I was going to give away a stuffed version of Hamlet, but I'm still looking. Next time!)
I'll be choosing THREE winners!
The Grand prize winner will get: Signed Losing It, Signed Faking It, One additional book of their choice, plus swag.
The Second prize winner will get to choose two books from the remaining books, plus swag.
The Third prize winner will get the remaining two books, plus swag.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
August 12, 2013
The One Where Keeping Her is live!
After long last, more Garrick and Bliss has arrived.
Here's what you need to know:
*KEEPING HER is a novella. That means it's going to be short. And I know (trust me I know) that many of you will wish it had been longer, but the truth of the matter is... it's more than I ever intended to write. I'd always planned LOSING IT to be the end of their story. But because I love you (and you all love them), I decided to squeeze out a little more awkward goodness for you. But Keeping Her really is the last story that will focus solely on Bliss and Garrick. They make appearances in FAKING IT, and (sort of) in FINDING IT. But this is the last book they'll get all to themselves.
*KEEPING HER is also a sequel. It's not rehashing the events of LOSING IT. It takes place AFTER LOSING IT's epilogue. It is not meant to be a standalone. You DO need to read LOSING IT first.
*For now, KEEPING HER is ebook only. There's a possibility it might pop up later as a mass market paperback, but that's not guaranteed. If you don't own an e-reader, you can always download the Nook or Kindle app on your phone or computer.
*The only other territory where rights have sold to Keeping Her is the UK. So far. It releases in the UK on the 15th.
And here's the official synopsis for the novella:
ABOUT KEEPING HER
Garrick Taylor and Bliss Edwards managed to find their happily-ever-after despite a rather... ahem... complicated start. By comparison, meeting the parents should be an absolute breeze, right?But from the moment the pair lands in London, new snags just keep cropping up: a disapproving mother-in-law-to-be, more than one (mostly) minor mishap, and the realization that perhaps they aren't quite as ready for their future as they thought.
As it turns out, the only thing harder than finding love is keeping it.
And now, in honor of the return of Garrick and Bliss... I have some fun news!
First, I'll be donating 20% of all my earned royalties for this book to the charity Planting Peace. You can find out more about Planting Peace here: http://www.plantingpeace.org/. Planting Peace is a progressive nonprofit organization founded for the purpose of spreading peace in a hurting world. Although the organization operates on a global level, they emphasize the power of one; the ability that each person possesses to make a difference in the world.
I chose Planting Peace because they're a young, passionate non-profit that does work in multiple areas from environmental causes to orphan care to foreign aid to civil rights causes. And they're known for putting as much of the money earned toward charity as possible, rather than to salaries or overhead. They accomplish as much as possible with the money given to them, and I'm excited to be apart of it. I hope you'll check out the charity (and be happy with where your money is going). In particular, their de-worming project is tremendously impressive.
And now for the part you're really waiting for... AN EPIC GIVEAWAY.
In honor of the release of KEEPING HER, we'll have two lucky winners. One will received a signed set of LOSING IT and FAKING IT. And the other...
*drumroll please*
Will have their name (or a name of their choice) featured in my next novella! My next novella (currently untitled) releases early 2014 and focuses on Jackson Hunt, the hero in FINDING IT.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks again for all your love and support. I couldn't do any of this without you guys. And just in case you missed it one of the other dozen times I posted it, you can read the first chapter of Keeping Her AND several bonus chapters from Losing It in Garrick's POV here.
August 11, 2013
The One Before the Release Date
Hellooooo my loves!
I know it's been horrendously long since I've updated here. But I promise, I have a good excuse.
First, I was moving. Which was long and stressful (and is still not completely over), but I've officially left Texas for New York. I'm still sleeping on an air mattress and waiting for my furniture, but I'm here.
Second, (and more importantly), between travel for multiple events, I was working diligently on edits and then copy-edits for FINDING IT, which thankfully is completely finished and off to print now. I cannot WAIT for you all to meet Jackson Hunt. He might just be my FAVORITE hero yet. He's former military and 110% swoon-worthy. In my head, he looks a bit like this:
Seriously... look at that smile! And he's getting his own novella after FINDING IT. EEEEP.
But enough about Jackson... let's talk about Garrick. Have you missed him. Well, he's BACK!
THAT'S RIGHT. This Tuesday (or Thursday if you're in the UK), Garrick and Bliss are coming back in the novella, KEEPING HER. And it's only .99 cents!
I know, right? The novella takes place after LOSING IT, and is centered around a trip to London to meet Garrick's parents. As a novella, it's a short little look at what comes AFTER a happily ever after. There's more romance (a lot of it actually), some adjustments to engaged life, and some major life decisions. And it's in London! Feel free to freak out!
Me thinks you all need a bit more convincing to revisit Garrick and Bliss. So how about a little teaser? :D
Her pretty little mouth formed a circle. That was all it took. No matter that there were hundreds of people downstairs, and we were in my parents’ house. I wanted her as badly as I ever had. I walked her toward the bed and she said, “Garrick! The people downstairs.” “Won’t hear a thing unless you plan on screaming my name. In which case, it might be worth it.” She swatted my shoulder, and I deposited her on the bed.“What if your mother comes upstairs?” I knelt at the foot of the bed and slipped off her shoes. “Then we’ll have another awkward occurrence to add to our repertoire.”“That’s not even remotely funny, Garrick” I kissed the inside of her knee and said, “Do you see me laughing?”
And after you give KEEPING HER a read, join me this Wednesday for a chat on the Avon Romance website at 12PM EST with the amazing Monica Murphy.
That's all I've got. Though I should have more exciting updates for you in the coming weeks. *wink*
I LOVE YOU ALL.
I know it's been horrendously long since I've updated here. But I promise, I have a good excuse.
First, I was moving. Which was long and stressful (and is still not completely over), but I've officially left Texas for New York. I'm still sleeping on an air mattress and waiting for my furniture, but I'm here.
Second, (and more importantly), between travel for multiple events, I was working diligently on edits and then copy-edits for FINDING IT, which thankfully is completely finished and off to print now. I cannot WAIT for you all to meet Jackson Hunt. He might just be my FAVORITE hero yet. He's former military and 110% swoon-worthy. In my head, he looks a bit like this:
Seriously... look at that smile! And he's getting his own novella after FINDING IT. EEEEP.
But enough about Jackson... let's talk about Garrick. Have you missed him. Well, he's BACK!
THAT'S RIGHT. This Tuesday (or Thursday if you're in the UK), Garrick and Bliss are coming back in the novella, KEEPING HER. And it's only .99 cents!
I know, right? The novella takes place after LOSING IT, and is centered around a trip to London to meet Garrick's parents. As a novella, it's a short little look at what comes AFTER a happily ever after. There's more romance (a lot of it actually), some adjustments to engaged life, and some major life decisions. And it's in London! Feel free to freak out!
Me thinks you all need a bit more convincing to revisit Garrick and Bliss. So how about a little teaser? :D
Her pretty little mouth formed a circle. That was all it took. No matter that there were hundreds of people downstairs, and we were in my parents’ house. I wanted her as badly as I ever had. I walked her toward the bed and she said, “Garrick! The people downstairs.” “Won’t hear a thing unless you plan on screaming my name. In which case, it might be worth it.” She swatted my shoulder, and I deposited her on the bed.“What if your mother comes upstairs?” I knelt at the foot of the bed and slipped off her shoes. “Then we’ll have another awkward occurrence to add to our repertoire.”“That’s not even remotely funny, Garrick” I kissed the inside of her knee and said, “Do you see me laughing?”
And after you give KEEPING HER a read, join me this Wednesday for a chat on the Avon Romance website at 12PM EST with the amazing Monica Murphy.
That's all I've got. Though I should have more exciting updates for you in the coming weeks. *wink*
I LOVE YOU ALL.
July 4, 2013
The One With the Incentives!
As I mentioned in this post, The #NACrushTourney is happening, and you guys are doing an AMAZING job supporting Garrick.
So amazing in fact that you've already earned some incentives! I'll update this post throughout the day if (and hopefully when) we earn new rewards! Check it out:
UPDATE: EARNED! Garrick had 52% of the vote at 11 AM, so here is your teaser from Keeping Her! And this is a great time to give you all a little bit of news about that novella! Originally, we pitched that novella as Garrick's POV, which it still is! But in revisions, we decided to add in Bliss's POV, too. So, it's a dual narrative like FAKING IT. This little snippet comes from Bliss's POV:
So amazing in fact that you've already earned some incentives! I'll update this post throughout the day if (and hopefully when) we earn new rewards! Check it out:
If Garrick is ahead at 11am, I will post a short teaser from Keeping Her (which releases in August)
UPDATE: EARNED! Garrick had 52% of the vote at 11 AM, so here is your teaser from Keeping Her! And this is a great time to give you all a little bit of news about that novella! Originally, we pitched that novella as Garrick's POV, which it still is! But in revisions, we decided to add in Bliss's POV, too. So, it's a dual narrative like FAKING IT. This little snippet comes from Bliss's POV:
“That, Mr. Taylor, was a very good answer to my question."
His fingertips tickled the back of my knee and his mouth moved lazily across my shoulder. I shivered as he said, “What was the question again?” The hand on my knee trailed up the sensitive skin on the inside of my thigh. “I got distracted.”
If Garrick is ahead at 2pm, I will post a short teaser from Finding It (which releases in October)If Garrick is ahead at 5pm, we'll get another short teaser from Keeping Her,If Garrick is ahead at 8pm, we get a longer teaser from Finding it!
And just in case you need more to keep you going - if Garrick WINS this round, not only will I host a facebook chat with Garrick where you can ask him all your burning questions, but I'll throw an EPIC celebration giveway of 8 signed copies of Losing It or Faking It + 10 signed bookplates! All open internationally. So go vote for Garrick!
Oh, and there's this other thing: If Garrick wins the whole NA Crush Tourney, I was thinking I could probably write the proposal scene. You know... the one that Garrick hints at in the epilogue of LOSING IT. You guys would like that... right? *grins*
July 3, 2013
The One Where--GO VOTE, Silly! What are you waiting for?
MY LOVES! THE TIME IS NIGH.
(Yeah... I'm the giant nerd that just said nigh).
Garrick's first match in the #NACrushTourney is underway!
He's up against Kayden from Jessica Sorenson's The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden. I love me some Jessica Sorenson, so Garrick's not got an easy match in front of him.
But I believe in our hunky British guy... don't you?
What... you need convincing? Well, here's a little video that my uber awesome #TeamGarrick street team made:
Vote for Garrick! by Slidely - Slideshow maker
Yeah. The accent always wins, right? Still need more convincing? What about all these delicious Garrick icons?
(Okay... I know that last one doesn't say anything about Garrick, but Joseph Morgan could totally be Garrick, and HELLO.... HAMLET).
If those haven't convinced you... I guess these might!
And while I've got you all... you know that Keeping Her (along with several other of my books including Losing It) are on sale right now, right? YUP... the novella continuation of Garrick and Bliss's story is only $.99!
And please do check out my advocate's blog, In the Best Worlds! Hannah and the street team have done so much amazing work, and they've got fun giveaways and events happening that you should be a part of!
(Yeah... I'm the giant nerd that just said nigh).
Garrick's first match in the #NACrushTourney is underway!
He's up against Kayden from Jessica Sorenson's The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden. I love me some Jessica Sorenson, so Garrick's not got an easy match in front of him.
But I believe in our hunky British guy... don't you?
What... you need convincing? Well, here's a little video that my uber awesome #TeamGarrick street team made:
Vote for Garrick! by Slidely - Slideshow maker
Yeah. The accent always wins, right? Still need more convincing? What about all these delicious Garrick icons?
(Okay... I know that last one doesn't say anything about Garrick, but Joseph Morgan could totally be Garrick, and HELLO.... HAMLET).
If those haven't convinced you... I guess these might!
If Garrick is ahead at 11am, I will post a short teaser from Keeping Her (which releases in August)If Garrick is ahead at 2pm, I will post a short teaser from Finding It (which releases in October)If Garrick is ahead at 5pm, we'll get another short teaser from Keeping Her,If Garrick is ahead at 8pm, we get a longer teaser from Finding it!
And just in case you need more to keep you going - if Garrick WINS this round, not only will I host a facebook chat with Garrick where you can ask him all your burning questions, but I'll throw an EPIC celebration giveway of 8 signed copies of Losing It or Faking It + 10 signed bookplates! All open internationally. So go vote for Garrick!
Oh, and there's this other thing: If Garrick wins the whole NA Crush Tourney, I was thinking I could probably write the proposal scene. You know... the one that Garrick hints at in the epilogue of LOSING IT. You guys would like that... right? *grins*
And while I've got you all... you know that Keeping Her (along with several other of my books including Losing It) are on sale right now, right? YUP... the novella continuation of Garrick and Bliss's story is only $.99!
Regardless of how today plays out... I'm thrilled to have been a part of this tournament. And I hope all you awesome fans will take the opportunity to read any of the books involved if you haven't already. I've read a lot of them, and loved them so much. And please take the time to thank the hosts at NA Alley for hosting such a fun, celebratory event. And thank you all in advance for your support of my books and the New Adult category as a whole. You rock!
And please do check out my advocate's blog, In the Best Worlds! Hannah and the street team have done so much amazing work, and they've got fun giveaways and events happening that you should be a part of!
June 21, 2013
The One with All Things Garrick and Bliss
Hello friends!
I know I've been MIA A LOT.
First, I got to take a fabulous trip to London where I met some amazing UK fans... seriously, amazing. But then my mom fell ill with appendicitis, and had to have surgery. That combined with the whole foreign country thing meant very little free time and access to internet.
After her surgery, we got her back to the states, but then I immediately had to take off for a conference in Toronto (which was LOVELY). I also got to meet some fans here in Toronto at a Harper blogger event.
I'm actually just about to head back home to Texas (for a whole week! Yay!). I'll be heading to Orlando for Book Bash shortly after that! If you're going to be at Book Bash, keep an eye out here for a chance to hang out with me and the uber awesome Chelsea Cameron! Details to come this week!
If we haven't gotten a chance to meet yet, but you still want to talk or ask me questions... you're in luck! I'll be chatting it up on goodreads with Jay Crownover (author of Rule and Jet , of the Marked Men series) in a Goodreads chat on June 26. There is also a Faking It book club on My Facebook page on June 27 from 3-4 p.m. EDT where you can live chat with me about the book and ask me all your burning questions about Golden Boy and Angry Girl. So, if you haven't read FAKING IT yet... hurry it up already! You've got a deadline. :)
Before I leave though, I wanted to get out this preview package of my upcoming Garrick/Bliss novella, KEEPING HER. The following package contains the first chapter of the novella along with all the Garrick Bonus scenes that had been posted previously in scattered form on the blog. I hope you enjoy!
Preview Package: Cora Carmack's KEEPING HER by AvonBooks
I know I've been MIA A LOT.
First, I got to take a fabulous trip to London where I met some amazing UK fans... seriously, amazing. But then my mom fell ill with appendicitis, and had to have surgery. That combined with the whole foreign country thing meant very little free time and access to internet.
After her surgery, we got her back to the states, but then I immediately had to take off for a conference in Toronto (which was LOVELY). I also got to meet some fans here in Toronto at a Harper blogger event.
I'm actually just about to head back home to Texas (for a whole week! Yay!). I'll be heading to Orlando for Book Bash shortly after that! If you're going to be at Book Bash, keep an eye out here for a chance to hang out with me and the uber awesome Chelsea Cameron! Details to come this week!
If we haven't gotten a chance to meet yet, but you still want to talk or ask me questions... you're in luck! I'll be chatting it up on goodreads with Jay Crownover (author of Rule and Jet , of the Marked Men series) in a Goodreads chat on June 26. There is also a Faking It book club on My Facebook page on June 27 from 3-4 p.m. EDT where you can live chat with me about the book and ask me all your burning questions about Golden Boy and Angry Girl. So, if you haven't read FAKING IT yet... hurry it up already! You've got a deadline. :)
Before I leave though, I wanted to get out this preview package of my upcoming Garrick/Bliss novella, KEEPING HER. The following package contains the first chapter of the novella along with all the Garrick Bonus scenes that had been posted previously in scattered form on the blog. I hope you enjoy!
Preview Package: Cora Carmack's KEEPING HER by AvonBooks
June 5, 2013
The One with Garrick and Bliss
SOOOOO.... I have a SURPRISE FOR YOU ALL!
You know that novella releasing in August?
The one about Garrick and Bliss and their life after LOSING IT?
Well, we were going to do a traditional cover reveal, but it appears that Garrick and Bliss just didn't want to wait. Or... they didn't want to share the limelight with Cade and Max of FAKING IT. Because they decided to pop up a little early on a few sites.
Which just means you guys don't have to wait to see the COVER!
Whoo-hoo! I really love this cover. I think it captures the sweetness of Garrick and Bliss's relationship.
BUT WAIT!
That's not all! Instead of doing a cover reveal, we're going to be doing a more in-depth preview of the novella soon. We'll reveal more details of what the book is about as well an an excerpt from the novella and other fun things!
We're looking for bloggers interested in being a part of the novella preview. If that's you, sign up below.
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You know that novella releasing in August?
The one about Garrick and Bliss and their life after LOSING IT?
Well, we were going to do a traditional cover reveal, but it appears that Garrick and Bliss just didn't want to wait. Or... they didn't want to share the limelight with Cade and Max of FAKING IT. Because they decided to pop up a little early on a few sites.
Which just means you guys don't have to wait to see the COVER!
Whoo-hoo! I really love this cover. I think it captures the sweetness of Garrick and Bliss's relationship.
BUT WAIT!
That's not all! Instead of doing a cover reveal, we're going to be doing a more in-depth preview of the novella soon. We'll reveal more details of what the book is about as well an an excerpt from the novella and other fun things!
We're looking for bloggers interested in being a part of the novella preview. If that's you, sign up below.
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