Guest Author Post: A Series With a Life of Its Own by Liz Crowe

I did not set out to make the Jack and Sara Story into the Major Saga it has become. As a reader, I like series mind you. Ones with a defined beginning and an end, although the word “series” implies “never ending.” Television shows are called “series” because they can stretch on for years, like M*A*S*H or Dallas (which is back and more explicit than ever) or any number of the daytime soap operas.  There are writers whose main job is to concoct yet more dilemmas and conflicts to resolve for these shows, and who are tasked with keeping it fresh—their express purpose being to Never Let It End.

Book series are slightly different in that most of them do end, even if readers are loathe to hear that news. There are a few that stretch on, based on reader response (read: “sales”) of the current books and some that may never end because apparently the world simply cannot have enough Sookie Stackhouse (yes I know the next one is supposedly The End), or Stephanie Plum, or Miss Marple for that matter (the death of the author is a sure way to “end” a series but we won’t go there today).

What happened to me, as the creator of the Stewart Realty gang, was that after the first 3 books were so well received (despite their unfortunate timing dovetail with a Much More Popular Trilogy) I decided that one of the side characters (Blake Thornton, Sara’s overprotective, adorable, bi-sexual brother) needed his story told. Essence of Time (the 4^th book) has been one of the most positively reviewed to date, and has won several reader’s choice awards and, recently an E-Lit bronze medal for erotic fiction.

I have let the characters in these books demand a fair bit from me, I’ll admit it. The next book (Conditional Offer, book 5) was “Craig and Suzanne’s story” because, frankly, once you hear HER backstory you will really want her to find some peace in life. Then I had to pick up the threads of the rather distressing ending of Essence of Time, which I did with Escalation Clause (book 6) which also gave me the opportunity to tell Jack’s sister’s tale. Maureen was such a cool chick throughout the other books. And so she got her story along with the “aftermath” of book 4.

For the current novel, Mutual Release (book 7), I went in a slightly different direction. It is written as a stand alone novel, and nearly every reviewer has agreed that knowledge of the previous books is completely unnecessary for the enjoyment of this one. While it is Yet Another Secondary Character tale, it’s more than that. I take Evan Adams (one of Jack’s friends from law school) and his wife Julie (you already know they are together IF you have read the first 3 books) back to their teenage years, and show what shaped them into the adults they are when they meet in their thirties. It is a coming of age tale without a doubt, for both of them. It serves is a great intro as well, because you see glimpses of Jack, Sara, Rob and some others and I hope will want to know more about them by going back and reading books one through six.

But I got to thinking about our man John Patrick (Jack) Gordon along the way and realized I had told a lot of his backstory…but through everyone else’s eyes. Jack is hands-down the most beloved/reviled character in this series. He’s meant to be. He’s the glue holding everyone together. He’s the guy who befriends Rob and Suzanne in undergrad, Evan in law school and of course, when he ends up tied in with Blake and later Craig because of Sara, his circle is pretty complete.  I felt remiss about not giving him his full due. So I wrote the House Rules novella (it’s about 30,000 words) as homage to Jack and as a gift to my fans. We will offer this book free of charge on the publisher’s site in June and for just .99 on all the other sites.

And now, not only do I feel that Jack has been treated fairly, I also have a much better sense of how to end this thing. Because an ending is coming. Good Faith, book 8, releases November 13, 2013 (I will be doing a book signing and reading from several of the books at the Ann Arbor Barnes & Noble store on Nov. 16). I don’t let my characters live in their perpetual thirties or even forties. Jack, Sara, Rob, Lila, Evan, Julie, Mo, Rafe, Craig and Suzanne all age, and they all have kids. These kids have spent a lot of time together through their lives and end up staying somewhat intertwined. One of them, Brandis, Jack and Sara’s son, looks to be a sort of “tie them together” personality like his father. Unfortunately, he has inherited some of his parents’ less favorable traits as well, and for a while it seems he will be a much more negative catalyst for many of them. He’s a type-A, driven, athletic young man—with very addictive tendencies. I explore them all, including those who try to help but become enablers by the end.

Writing The End of this series will be a challenge for me personally. I want to make sure that I have completed the trajectory of my beloved characters’ later years in a way that gives each character closure, as well as stay true to my conviction that the “happily ever after” is a myth—at least in my books. That true happiness is in the journey, the struggle, the failures and the triumphs, and finally, the satisfaction that your “what happens after” is something you feel is your legacy.  This book will be that—the legacy story. The end will be bittersweet on many levels. I have even done something as a writer I have never attempted in the creation of 20 or so books because of it: I wrote the ending, just last night, so I could get it out of my head.I needed to accept it with the knowledge of its “rightness” for the characters, and then fill it in from that, backwards.

Not all series are meant to end. I am enjoying Game of Thrones in print and on television and that is a prime example of a guy who has no intention of ending a saga. But Jack and Sara’s tale will end. In the meantime I welcome you to join the journey with me.

Available from www.sizzlinbooks.com as well as on Amazon, B&N, ARe and Kobo sites on June 16.

Synopsis: It takes a wealth of collected experiences, emotions, successes and failures to craft the personality of a true Alpha Male

Jack Gordon, real estate broker, licensed builder, Juris Doctorate, has had his fair share of strife. His ability to cope, to fall down and pick himself back up has lead him to a place where he believes he has it all. Friends, money, cars, more women than he can count, and a club in Detroit where he can exorcise his inner demons, fill his days and his nights.

When he walks up to a penthouse door on a hot Ann Arbor summer afternoon, frustrated, exasperated and ready to call it quits after hours of condo shopping with a wealthy couple, the last thing on his mind is meeting his destiny.

House Rules: The Jack Gordon Story. A prequel novella of the Stewart Realty Series.

Bio: Microbrewery owner, best-selling author, beer blogger and journalist, mom of three teenagers, and soccer fan, Liz lives in the great Midwest, in a major college town. Years of experience in sales and fund raising, plus an eight-year stint as an ex-pat trailing spouse, plus making her way in a world of men (i.e. the beer industry), has prepped her for life as a successful author. 

When she isn’t sweating inventory and sales figures for the brewery, she can be found writing, editing or implementing promotions for her latest publications.  Her groundbreaking literary fiction subgenre, “reality fiction,” has gained thousands of fans and followers who are interested less in the “HEA” and more in the “WHA” (“What Happens After?”)

Her beer blog a2beerwench.com is nationally recognized for its insider yet outsider views on the craft beer industry. Her books are set in the not-so-common worlds of breweries, on the soccer pitch and in high-powered real estate offices. Don’t ask her for anything “like” a Budweiser or risk painful injury.

For more information on Liz Crowe, please visit her website www.lizcrowe.com or www.brewingpassion.com (her author blog).  She enjoys interacting with her fans on her Facebook author page www.facebook.com/lizcroweauthor. Information for all of her books, including eBook and print formats (where available), can be found on her Amazon author page.

Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia: Love is Love

Today, May 17th, is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (also known as IDAHO). This is a worldwide event held each year.

From International Day Against Homophobia:

“The cause for the International Day Against Homophobia, its central topic of interest, the common theme that provides information for each of its endeavours remains a universal, multi-faceted and historical phenomenon: homophobia.

In Canada, recognition, for lesbian and gay communities, has been first and foremost a judicial acceptance brought about by the adoption of the Charter of Human Rights. However, judicial advances will remain only that until a complete, unlimited social acceptance of homosexuality is achieved and homophobia wiped out. To achieve this goal, the Fondation Émergence proposed in 2003, along with partners, to hold each year a special day dedicated to the social recognition of homosexual experience.”

In honor of IDAHO, over 180 writers, publishers, reviewers and cover artists for LGBT have joined together to celebrate this special day with a blog hop. I am one of them.

Love is love…

When I decided I finally wanted to get published, I really didn’t have a plan. I thought I would write a story that had been rolling around in my head and take a chance and submit it in the hopes it would get published. I knew I wanted to write a romance because I adore romance novels and I love the message of how love can heal all wounds and there’s always a happily ever after at the end of the book. Since I grew up in a very traditional household, I always thought a happily ever after involved a man and woman. All the romances I read had a hero and a heroine finding love together. It wasn’t until I was much older and started experiencing life, including branching out and reading all different types of books, was when I came to the conclusion that falling in love happens regardless of the gender of the couple.

When it comes to LGBT fiction, the phrase- “love is love” is very important. A book is all about the story and the characters created. Most readers connect with the characters in one way or another. The reason I write LGBT romance is because I feel it doesn’t get enough respect like Straight fiction, and at times is belittled and disregarded. This hits close to home for me because while I was growing up, I was bullied horribly and treated like an outcast. I turned to books for comfort and it gave me a sense of empowerment and the feeling that I belonged somewhere. The reason I write LGBT romance is because I want to show how love is wonderful and precious in all forms, and LGBT romance is just as wonderful and important as Straight romance.

The majority of what I write and publish happens to be Lesbian romance. I also write M/M (Gay) and Straight romance, but I feel I’ve found my stride writing Lesbian romance. When I decided to write something in the hopes of getting published, I wanted to create something different. My very first book I ever published was a Lesbian Contemporary Romance. The reason was because of a Twitter conversation I listened in on where the discussion was about LGBT fiction and the concern that there wasn’t enough Lesbian fiction being written and published. In that moment I decided I was going to write a romance about two women falling in love and hope it would sell. The need, the urge to write this story and do whatever I could to get it published was my ultimate goal.

To be honest, I was afraid. Up to this point I would just write for myself and never thought I was good enough for publication. Plus, I was writing a specific type of romance that I was told wouldn’t sell because two women falling in love is something readers weren’t interested in reading. Also was writing with the goal for publication was scary. What if I wrote this story and the public would never read it because those who decided on accepting submissions for publication thought it wasn’t good enough? “It’s not good enough” was a phrase that stayed with me and still does. But even though there are doubts, and I can promise you the majority of writers have them, we all write because we love the written word and enjoy creating characters and new worlds.

And so, three years ago come this June I was published for the first time, and my debut novel was a Lesbian romance called Lovestruck. I can say that was one of my proudest and most memorable moments in my life. Not only did I get published, but I published something I believed in and loved writing. I proved to myself that I could write a book where it’s all about the power of love and the gender of the couple falling in love isn’t necessarily the most important thing when telling the story.

Since then I’ve published over 20 works ranging from short stories to novellas and full lengths with all different types of couples and settings. I refuse to limit myself as a writer and I try to write the best possible story I can. The majority of what I’ve written and published happens to be LGBT, mainly Lesbian. I would have it no other way and I’m thrilled the public at large has the option to read my stories and characters.

Perhaps in the future the LGBT label will disappear, and if the main couple just happens to be the same gender, it won’t matter because it will just be a romance-a love story featuring two people falling in love. The labels separating Lesbian, Gay, Straight, Transgender, Bi-Sexual or what have you in the romance genre will be a thing of the past and it will be only known for showing that love is all about the love shared and given, and nothing else.

CONTEST!

In honor of this special day, I'm offering any one of my LGBT titles in digital format to one lucky winner. Just leave a comment here by Sunday, 5/19.  Who are some of your favorite LGBT authors or your favorite LGBT books?

My New Author Addiction: Karina Halle and Her Artists Trilogy

It takes a lot to impress me. I’m a hard critic when it comes to books, specifically books with major buzz behind them. I first heard of Karina Halle on Twitter where here was a lot of mentions about her Artists Trilogy and the first book, Sins & Needles that was released in January. Karina is a self published author, best known for her Experiment in Terror series. Since I’m always on the lookout for new authors, I bought a copy of Sins & Needles and the prequel, On Every Street that was released in March.

I’m so happy I decided to take a chance and read On Every Street and Sins & Needles because Karina has me hook line and sinker with these books. On Every Street and Sins & Needles is a gritty, seductive, adrenaline rush that reminds me of a Quentin Tarantino movie. The characters portrayed are living on the edge and have questionable morals, specifically Ellie, the main protagonist who’s a traveling con artist. She steals, cheats and lies, but still has this endearing quality to her. You can’t help but root her on because she’s very likable but damaged. She’s damaged because of what happened to her parents and how she was scarred by acid on her leg at six years old for a con done wrong (because of her parents). She has this need for revenge against Travis Raines, who punished her because of her parents’ selfishness. She’s also running for various reasons, one of which deals with her ex-boyfriend, Javier a dangerous man (he’s Travis’s main henchman) who she basically handed her heart and soul over to. He ended up crushing it brutally. Then there’s Camden, her first love from high school who was as much of an outcast as she was. She reconnects with him, but because of her trust issues and her constant lying, she ruins that relationship and is in more danger than ever before.

Although On Every Street is a prequel to Sins& Needles, I recommend you read Sins & Needles first for one reason. In Sins & Needles, Javier, the man who has been chasing Ellie for six years comes across as this sly, possibly psychotic madman. We don’t really understand why he wants Ellie and was he’s been tracking her. It appears he’s out for revenge because Ellie tricked him in some way. When you read On Every Street, you’re given a great deal of insight on Javier and what he means to Ellie. This will change your entire opinion of Javier and what’s in store for Ellie in the second book, Shooting Stars that will be released by Grand Central Publishing in August.

Synopsis: Ellie Watt is used to starting over. The daughter of a grifting team, Ellie spent her childhood being used as a pawn in her parents' latest scam. Now she’s much older, wiser and ready to give her con artist life a rest. But returning to the dry desert town of Palm Valley, California means one more temptation than she bargained for – Camden McQueen. Once known as the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving business. Ellie’s counting on Camden still being in love with her but what she’s not counting on is how easily unrequited love can turn into obsession over time. When Camden discovers Ellie’s plan to con him, he makes her a deal she doesn’t dare refuse, but her freedom comes with a price and it’s one that takes both Ellie and Camden down a dangerous road.

In Sins & Needles, Ellie returns to the home she never thought she would go back to after she left when she was eighteen. Her Uncle Jim still lives there but isn’t as welcoming as Ellie thought he would be. He knows she’s up to no good, but will let her crash with him until she can get back on her feet. Ellie’s low on money and has nowhere to turn. But then she meets Camden, a local tattoo artist she once was friends with in high school. Camden was an outcast who was into Goth and wore black clothes and long hair. Camden has changed drastically. He’s covered in tattoos and has incredible body that would make most women drool over. Ellie drools silently and is pleasantly surprised Camden wants to reconnect. He goes out of his way to befriend her again. Ellie think she’s hit a jackpot when she finds out how much money Camden makes in his job. She plans on stealing from him even after they become lovers. But Camden has tricked Ellie and catches her in her deceit. He expects her to help him now because he owes some bad people money, and if he doesn’t pay up, his toddler son and perhaps his ex-wife could get hurt. Soon Ellie is on the run with Camden to Las Vegas. But her past comes back full throttle as her ex drug cartel mob boyfriend Javier is hot on her trail and won’t stop until he has Ellie back again and makes her pay for leaving him.

Sins & Needles is electric, especially when Ellie and Camden get involved sexually and most importantly emotionally. These two seem so wrong for each other but they click. They’re both very scarred and troubled individuals because of their families and life choices. Some may think these two are disturbed and amoral, but you can't help but like them. You understand where they’re coming from and you hurt for them.

Love doesn't conquer all or heal all wounds in Ellie's world. The end is a humdinger of a cliffhanger that has me panting for the next book.

Synopsis: When young con artist Ellie Watt decides to call herself Eden White and go after the drug lord who ruined her as a child, she never expects to fall for one of his henchmen. But Javier Bernal is no ordinary man. Subtly dangerous and overwhelmingly seductive, Eden finds herself passionately in love with Javier, the very person she's set-up to betray. With her body and heart in a heated battle against her deep need for revenge, no one will walk away from this con a winner.

On Every Street had me hooked right from the first page. It’s gritty, dark and very steamy, although this isn't a tender and sweet romance. Javier, the villain of Sins & Needles, is seductive here and I can see why Ellie fell for him, but something was very off about him. He's twenty-three but acts much older and is far too slick and cool as a cucumber. Ellie is from the school of hard knocks and should know better than to fall for him, but she does because she think he’ll give her something she had always wanted but never had- unconditional love and a permanent home.

You end up sympathizing with Ellie a great deal, although she can be a manipulator. Javier manipulates her from the first moment they meet. The way he handles Ellie reminds me of someone who owns a beloved pet like a cat or a dog.

Ellie's "deflowering" scene by Javier was not sexy to me at all and it’s unflinching, but then again it seems to fit the way Javier is. The erotic and sensuality tone is more intense than Sins & Needle, and don’t be surprised after you read On Every Street you’re more of a Javier fan than Camden. But Javier is all wrong for Ellie and will destroy her because of some questionable things he does that are more confusing than understandable and very cruel.

The ending is gut wrenching because of the, "oh no he didn't!" reveal about Javier that has me wondering if what he did is really what he did or there’s something more behind it. There’s actually two events here Javier precipitates, much like a very shocking, unredeemable act he does in Sins & Needle that proves he’s the true villain of this tale and one that will be Ellie’s downfall when all is said and done.

If you’re not reading Karina Halle or haven’t picked up these two book, grab them ASAP. Grant Central did a very smart thing and bought this trilogy. They have a very good thing with Karina Halle. Karina’s writing is fierce and she’s willing to take some big chances that has her readers, and me, in awe of and constantly talking about. 

Final Grade: B+

Coming August 20th from Grand Central Publishing...

 (The Artists Trilogy Book #2)

Synopsis: A second chance at first love.

There are a few things worth risking everything for - even your life. For Camden McQueen, this is one of them.

Shooting Scars is the second book in The Artists Trilogy and is told from the dual POV of Camden and Ellie.

Happy Release Day To Me! The Lady and the Vixen by KT Grant

Today my 26th published book, as well as my 9th Lesbian fiction was released today. The Lady and the Vixen is a Lesbian Victorian Romance, set in London,1851 has been released by Ravenous Romance.

One big event highlighted in The Lady and the Vixen is The Great Exhibition that took place at the Crystal Palace from May to October 1851. I love the Victorian era and this was a great way for me to showcase this time period. The Lady and the Vixen is stand alone novel featuring two women who are very wrong for one another but can't help but fall in love while unraveling a mystery that may destroy both their families.

(Available for $4.99)

Synopsis: After eight years, Lucy Endcott has finally returned to London to visit her dying father, a cold disciplinarian who never approved of his eldest daughter. Lucy is a respected widow, residing in the countryside away from the wicked excess the city has to offer and her unscrupulous ex-lover, the Marchioness Irena de Macey.

When Lucy finds out her youngest brother has gambled away his inheritance at the Pythos Club, she enters the den of iniquity in order to save him. Inside the club she meets the owner’s alluring daughter, Tisha McGrath, who is more than willing to help her brother…for a price.

Tisha longs to introduce Lucy to those secret passions she’s kept hidden away for so long. But dark secrets and transgressions from the past connect their families in shocking ways. Both women will work together to resolve this scandal before it unravels further but Irena is waiting for the right moment to strike, and Lucy may have no other choice but to give into Irena’s demands in order to save the ones she loves from utter ruin.

Click here for excerpt

Guest Author Post: Character Names & Personalities by Donna Grant

One of the things that really connects me to a character is their name.  I get asked a lot how I come up with my names.  I have a couple of different ways that I do it.  If I’m coming up with a new series, then I bring out my list of names I have used to make sure I don’t use them again (talk about confusing a reader – lol).

If it’s a historical series, I go to my character naming source book and jot down names (male and female) that I like.  Then I’ll do a search online and try to find names for a certain time period, again writing down the ones I like.  For fantasy names, I have several online generators that give me lots of possibilities.

Sometimes, if I already have an idea of a character’s personality I might be able to match up names from the list.  Other times I have to go back to the book and more online research.

I’ve learned that finding male names is fairly easy for me, as is matching them to the right characters.  Female names are an entirely different kettle of fish.  I’ve had heroines that I changed their names multiple times until I found the right one. Either the hero didn’t like it or the heroine didn’t.  I mean, if the hero can’t shout out the female’s name while in the throws of passion, then something is amiss.

When I moved into contemporary paranormal, my heroes remained immortal, so I had to keep that ancient feel to their names, but I got to have fun with the female names like I never had before.  I used Dani, Ronnie, Saffron, and one of my favorites – Gwynn.  I now have a longer list of female names I can go through and choose from. 

Character personalities I approach differently.  For the main hero/heroine, I do try to learn about them before I sit down to write, but for secondary characters who will have their own books, I let them show me who they are throughout other’s books. 

For instance, Arran (MIDNIGHT’S KISS) in the previous Dark Sword books was kinda quiet, but always ready for a fight. It wasn’t until a later book that he gave me a hint that there was a darker side of him.  And a part of his past involving his sister that left a hole in him.  By the time his book arrived I knew him, but he had given me those hints a little at a time.  I love having a character flesh themselves out to me that way.  I feel like I learn so much more about them, and readers get to connect with them well before their books.

Bio: Donna Grant is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels and novellas spanning multiple genres of romance.

She was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica, Mexico, and Scotland. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding. Her childhood dream was to become a professional ballet dancer and study under the amazing Mikhail Baryshnikov. Though she never got to meet Baryshnikov, she did make it to New York City and performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Later, Donna’s love of the romance genre and the constant stories running through her head prompted her to sit down and write her first book. Once that book was completed, there was no turning back.

Donna sold her first book in November 2005 while displaced from Hurricane Rita, a storm that destroyed portions of the Texas Gulf Coast. Since then, Donna has sold novels and novellas to both electronic and print publishers. Her books include several complete series such as Druids Glen, The Shields, Royal Chronicles, Sisters of Magic, Dark Sword, Dark Warriors, and her new series, Dark Kings. Despite the deadlines and her voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two young children, four cats, three fish, and one long haired Chihuahua. She’s blessed with a proud, supportive husband who loves to read and travel as much as she does.

Coming June 4th from St. Martin's Press...

Synopsis: Bound by the gods. Champions against evil. The Dark Warriors have taken their battle from ancient Scotland to the modern world—where a woman’s love is the greatest danger of all…

Dr. Veronica Reid is a world-renowned archeologist whose Druid abilities help her to unearth ancient magical items. The arrival of the all-too-attractive and charismatic Arran MacCarrick puts her on the defensive when he begins to question how she really finds her artifacts…until an unknown foe attacks and Ronnie discovers that Arran has a secret as great as her own. Together, they unleash an all-consuming passion that won't be denied...

Immortal Warrior Arran is on a mission to find the spell to bind the god within him. But one look at the impossibly beautiful Ronnie and he knows there is more to her than meets the eye. With danger lurking around every corner and an undeniable hunger that grows with every kiss, Arran must reveal who he is to keep Ronnie from his nemesis. Now he is left with no choice but to fight—or fall—for the woman he loves.

Under the Light Book Review *Laura Whitcomb*

Synopsis: Helen needed a body to be with her beloved and Jenny needed to escape from hers before her spirit was broken. It was wicked, borrowing it, but love drives even the gentlest soul to desperate acts.

When Jenny returns to her body, she finds that someone has been living her life while she was away. She doesn’t remember being Billy’s lover or defying her family. But now she is faced with the consequences. And Helen, who has returned to warn Jenny—to help her—finds herself trapped, haunting the girl she wished to save.

In this captivating companion novel to A Certain Slant of Light, the love story between Jenny and Billy begins out-of-body—where they can fly and move the stars--and continues into the tumultuous realm of the living, where they are torn away from each other even as they slowly remember their spirits falling in love.

Under the Light (Light #2) is the sequel to A Certain Slant of Light, and one I’ve been waiting for since 2005 for. A Certain Slant of Light is one of my all time favorite books, as well as one of my most beloved Young Adult reads. This is a book you find yourself re-reading time and again, and will want to pass it along to anyone you know. The story is so beautiful, the writing poetic. This is a book that makes you cry because of the message about love and life and death. Under the Light should impressed fans of A Certain Slant of Light, but it didn’t pack as much of a punch like A Certain Slant of Light, although the writing is still rich and full or prose.

Under the Light begins right after A Certain Slant of Light ends. Helen, the spirit who possessed Jenny's body, the depressed and sad girl, for a week has left and found peace in what looks to be Heaven. While in Jenny’s body, Helen met another spirit James, who possessed Billy’s body. Jenny comes from a very strict, religious household, while Billy lives with his older brother and gets in trouble with the law. Over a course of a week, Helen and James connected and fell in love. Unfortunately when they left the bodies they took over, both Jenny and Billy are then clueless as to what happened during that week their souls were away. Their souls were on another plane where they met and also connected, much like Helen and James did. Now that Jenny and Billy have returned, they must figure out what they missed and the consequences, if any, of Helen and James’s actions.

Jenny finds out her father has been cheating on her mother and left for his mistress. This comes as complete shock because Jenny’s father is very a bible thumping, religious fanatic who ruled his household with an iron fist. Jenny is very confused and scared. But she’s not alone. Helen has come back to Jenny to help her find peace, much like she has found. Then there’s Billy, who wants to stay friends with Jenny. Both team up and investigate the time they’ve lost. Helen is there the entire time to guide Jenny, who feels Helen is helping her, especially when it comes to her father and those at the church who believe Jenny was possessed by a demon.

Laura Whitcomb has a lovely way with words. Under the Light is a precious tale about forgiveness and acceptance. Jenny and Billy are total opposites but have a bond now because of Helen and James. Under the Light is also very sweet and tender and suited for all ages. It’s the perfect book for teens feeling lost or uncertain about their own lives. Under the Light  gives you a sense of hope. The ending will make you smile and possibly shed a tear.

I loved reading about Helen again, although I wish James was by her side as she helped Jenny. I’m hoping there will be one final book showing Helen and James together in their paradise they have made for themselves. Under the Light was like coming home to old friends.

Do yourself a favor and pick up A Certain Slant of Light and Under the Light. You won’t regret it. (Houghton Mifflin)

Final Grade: B

A few other Under the Light reviews:
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The Readadventurer

Book Spotlight: Direct Contact by Ninette Swann *Contest*

(Available for $4.99 from Resplendence Publishing)

Also available at:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Direct-Contact-Reality-Series-ebook/dp/B00C2BXXKO

All Romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-directcontact-1148943-143.html

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/direct-contact-ninette-swann/1114938157?ean=2940016277257

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17697673-direct-contact

Synopsis: Julie Gladwell has a secret. Acting as chief attendant for the New Government’s procreation program, she rears girls to carry the emperor’s heir. Only a few are chosen for the program, called “The Special Ones,” and they are given no names, only numbers. They see no one but authorized personnel until their twenty-first birthday. Which is usually when they die. Direct contact is forbidden. As she cares for these girls, no one ever suspects who she actually is.

Scientist Malcolm Odin hated his job and hated himself. Put in charge of the entire human engineering program, the experiments and suffering he witnessed made him sick. Still, it paid the bills and kept him living comfortably in Terrecina. He knew of far too many who’d fallen through the cracks, living on the earth below. The Level People, they were called.

When he confides his unease to Julie, she lets him in on her secret and into her heart. What starts as fancy ends in revolution, but how will they choose between their fellow man and each other?


Excerpt...

“He’ll be there in three minutes.”

The crackling voice over the private intercom system jarred Malcolm Odin from where he was bent over the small window overlooking Number Twenty-seven’s room.

Malcolm pushed the button next to him with his thumb. “Thanks, Jim,” he said, before switching off the system. No need to alert the emperor that his lead scientist had been warned of his upcoming arrival.

“Sleep well, Anna,” he whispered, pressing his fingers to his lips and blowing over them at the stilled body through the glass. He couldn’t help but feel like a father figure to the girl, though they’d never met. He snapped shut the security blinds and turned to the computer panels on the wall of in the Rouble Palace’s science headquarters.

Number Twenty-seven was almost ready. Malcolm’s predecessor, George Hawin, had worked tirelessly on this project, readying girls for the carrying and birth of the emperor’s super-human heir. But after many mistakes, which led to the death of the first twenty-five girls in the program, he had been let go. Of course, in Terrecina, when the emperor fired someone, he killed them or, worse, sent them down into The Levels.

Malcolm swallowed down his fear as he heard the emperor’s footsteps approaching. At thirty-five, he was the youngest ever chief of Terrecina’s reproductive experimental unit. Malcolm was in charge of overseeing the feeding, dressing, socialization and rearing of the Special Ones, a small group of girls the emperor had hand-picked to carry his seed and create the new leader of Terrecina, an island suspended over the earth. Direct contact was strictly forbidden. The girls had female attendants who interacted with them on a daily basis, but they were never to see a man, other than in specific texts picked out for them. The emperor did not want their eyes, minds or bodies sullied.

Malcolm had already breached major policy by naming this one. They were not to have names. But Malcolm couldn’t help himself. Of the five girls in his charge, this small brunette child had called to him even before he’d taken over the program. Though they’d never spoken, Malcolm had come to see a rebellious side of her while he’d tracked her brain patterns. And her dreams. Her dreams were so vibrant and full of life and adventure. He hated to think of her fate. Especially since the serum remained unfinished, the new version to be tested on Twenty-six then her. He swallowed again. She was simply a shell for a royal embryo. He would do well to remember that.

“Odin, when are the girls’ birthdays?” The emperor’s voice boomed through the metal-paneled room as his figure filled the doorway.

“Twenty-six turns twenty-one on January fifth. Twenty-seven on January seventeenth. The others won’t turn until March, June and August respectively.”

Malcolm’s insides roiled, his entire being fighting the project. Malcolm’s former boss, George, had mangled several girls with the new injection techniques. While the emperor was fully human, he insisted on breeding a super child. In order to achieve this—super-strength, super-speed, good looks and health with automatic immunity to most of the world’s diseases, new and old alike—the sperm had to be mixed with a special serum. Several births had been successful in monkeys during the trial periods, but the entry site was smaller in humans. Either George had kept missing or something in the injection was fatal to humans—or both. Though the new tests were not complete, the emperor continued the insemination attempts as each girl turned twenty-one. Malcolm blanched. That meant twenty-five dead girls. He fought back the feelings of guilt and disgust that had been creeping up on him during the past months. He’d signed on for this after all. He’d made his bed.

“Excellent,” the emperor said, nodding his large head in an exaggerated motion. Malcolm looked at the man, took in his sallow skin, his bugged-out eyes. The graying hair that fell in waves around his shoulders was still strong and shiny, but the rest of the man seemed to be ailing.

“Are you okay, Your Majesty?” Malcolm asked, ducking his head in subservience.

“Oh, yeah,” he said, nodding again. “Just tired. It’s about time for my monthly spa treatments.” He chuckled.

“Makes me sound like a nancy-boy, but the healing hands of my girls do wonders for me.” His small blue eyes glittered. “I’ll have the health clinic attend to me on the first of January. That way I’ll be spruced up for my meeting with Twenty-six.”

Malcolm nodded. If he got a good shot into Twenty-six, perhaps the emperor would leave Anna alone. Everyone could be happy. Twenty-six would be Queen or, at the very least, mother to the emperor’s son and the others could go on their merry way. Or so Malcolm hoped.

The emperor heaved himself around, turning from the room. His garish purple and red robes heralded from another time, showing the man’s twisted love of ancient history. In 2140, after the collapse of the former civilization, it seemed perverse to wear the royal garb of the ancients from Spain, England and all the other countries that no longer existed.

“We don’t have much time, Malcolm,” the emperor said on a sigh, right before he left. “I’m getting old. This will be the last batch of Special Ones. If you cannot make it work, your death awaits you.” He left the room with heavy steps, the metal flooring creaking and clanking beneath his feet.

“Well, no pressure then,” Malcolm muttered, wondering for the millionth time what he had gotten himself into when he’d signed that contract with the New Government all those years ago.

Bio: Ninette Swann is a journalist turned novelist who writes her books from sunny Florida in between parenting, freelancing, editing and going to grad school. She writes all genre of romance, including contemporary, thriller, suspense, and dystopian. Her books include Hit and Stay, Body Combat, Finding Home, Just the Messenger and Direct Combat. You can reach her through her pages at: http://ninetteswann.com, http://www.facebook.com/NinetteSwann, and @ninetteswann
 

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The WTFckery Abercrombie & Fitch Promotes and My History with Fat Shaming

The first time I realized I was fat was when I was thirteen and in eighth grade. I had gone to the same school with the same schoolmates since Kindergarten (It was a catholic school with grades Kindergarten to Eighth grade). I had always been an outcast and bullied mainly because my schoolmates thought I was weird and strange, basically a freak. When middle school started, that’s when the bullying toward me increased. These kids decided because I was the tallest in my grade and I was broad and hefty that I was fat and started to made fun of me because of that. My new nickname was “chunky chicken” thanks to one boy who gave me that label. It caught on, and during my last year at this school I was known as the chunk.

Around this time all the kids my age wanted these pants called Z. Cavaricci. They were extremely popular in the late 80s and very expensive, especially for a young girl like me who made $1.50 an hour babysitting. Z. Cavaricci’s are designed like a parachute, best known as parachute pants. Their biggest claim to fame was when MC Hammer wore them in the “You Can’t Touch This” Video. Everyone my age wanted these pants, and most in my class were given to them by their parents. Unfortunately for me, my parents couldn’t afford these pants because they were expensive, around $80. But in order to be cool, you just had to wear these pants. Knowing you were considered cool and accepted all because you wore Z. Cavaricci’s had me obsessed. I had to get these pants, because if I wore them, I wouldn’t be bullied and I would finally be accepted. But I had two problems. One was not having enough money to buy a pair, the other was my weight issue. By the time I graduated eighth grade, I wore a size 14 in pants. My mother knew I was being made fun of because of my weight and she made a deal with me. If I could drop two sizes, she would pay for half the pants. I accepted that deal and lost the weight needed. I took on more babysitting jobs so I would have half the money needed for pants that would finally make me cool in the eyes of my peers.

By the time I lost the weight and got those pants, it was too late. I remember wearing them to some event, showing them off, these white, bulky parachute pants that I really didn’t find all that special, but if it was my way to be a cool kid, I would wear them. Guess what happened? Nothing. I was actually made fun for wearing them because Z Cavaricci’s were old news and because of the style, regardless that I lost 2 sizes to fit into these pants, I still looked fat, or so my classmates thought. I knew then and there I would never be accepted or considered cool even though I was wearing a respected name brand all the cool kids wore.

Years later those pants haunted me. I ended up gaining all the weight I lost and more. My Z. Cavaricci’s went into storage, never to be worn again. I made a promise to myself that I would never wear certain clothes just to be accepted. Years later I would break that promise I made to  myself.

I’ve never bought clothes based on brand name or how stylish the public may think them to be. The one reason is as an overweight woman it’s hard to find stylish clothes to wear. By the time I was a junior in college, I had ballooned up to 240lbs and was wearing a size 24. I wore baggy jeans and sweaters, mainly men’s sizes. I started shopping in the men’s department rather than in women’s because none of the women’s clothes fit me, or I felt uncomfortable trying them on. But then during my senior year that all changed. Based on a picture of me, dressed in big baggy sweatpants and a sweatshirt and a hat, and someone making a comment based on that picture where they thought I was a big, fat dude, I decided I had to make a change for myself. My issues with weight had controlled me most of my life and I was sick of it.

Through exercise and cutting back on my bad eating habits, I lost thirty pounds in six months during my senior year of college. I ended up losing another fifty pounds after college over three years. I did this by going to the gym almost every day. I ended up working out up to 3 hours a day, and I also joined a weight loss program for a year. I then had two goals for myself in order to get down to my ideal weight. I wanted to wear a two piece bathing suit for the first time. The second was to fit into a pair of Abercrombie & Fitch shorts. For me, Abercrombie & Fitch was the impossible dream. It was widely known and accepted that people who were considered thin and attractive, who looked like fashion models, shopped there. Since I received compliments in the past on my pretty face, I thought, if I could lose enough weight in order to fit into Abercrombie & Fitch, I would finally become what I always wanted- thin, accepted and cool.

These two goals of mine were unhealthy ones. I had become obsessed with losing even more weight. I had reached my goal weight- 150lbs, a healthy weight that’s suggested for my height and bone structure. But that wasn’t good enough for me. I had to lose more. By the time I felt I was good enough to shop at Abercrombie & Fitch I was almost at 135lbs. My new goal was to hit 120lbs, 30lbs under my healthy, ideal weight.

The day I entered Abercrombie & Fitch was scary for me. I didn’t feel like I belonged there because I still believed I wasn’t good enough to shop there. I had tricked myself into thinking I was still this unsexy, obese whale even though I was underweight. By the time I walked into Abercrombie & Fitch I was exercised almost every day for 3 hours a day, taking water and green tea pills and had cut down my daily calorie intake to 1,000 calories. I was contemplating taking laxatives to lose more weight. I no longer wanted to be 120lbs. I was going to try for 100lbs.

Abercrombie & Fitch is just like any store in the mall. The people who work there were friendly and asked me if I needed any help. They didn’t roll their eyes or act insulted that I would dare shop in their domain. I ended up grabbing a pair of khaki type shorts. I went into the dressing room, held my breath and pulled on those shorts that took me decades to fit into. I was able to fit in those shorts, although they were tight. The problems I still had was that no matter how much weight I lost, I still had a pooch for a stomach unless I has plastic surgery to get rid of the access fat. When you lose a great deal of weight- almost 100lbs, you have that left over skin and no amount of diet and exercise can get rid of it. I stood there in those shorts, this well respected brand that would make me feel thin, attractive and cool just because of the name-Abercrombie & Fitch. I had a fantasy of buying those shorts and walking through the mall with them, showing off the Abercrombie & Fitch bag to everyone who would look at me in amazement because I could fit into Abercrombie & Fitch clothes.

And then I had a flashback to when I was 13 and those Z. Cavaricci pants I lost weight for so I could wear them in order to be considered thin, cool and accepted. I took a closer look in the mirror and say how gaunt my face had become and how my collar bone stuck out. My fingers looked more skeletal than ever before. Years before I had stopped looking at myself in the mirror because I was ashamed of how fat and ugly I had become. Now I had to look away at myself because I was disgusted by how sickly I looked. I took off those shorts and left Abercrombie & Fitch. Since then I haven’t been back there. A few weeks later I ended up blacking while at the gym because I wasn’t eating and exercising more than ever before. That was my wake up call. I had to stop this path of destruction I was doing to my body.

I’m not Abercrombie & Fitch ideal customer and I accept this. This past week it’s come out that Mike Jeffries, the CEO wants acertain type of customer to shop at his stores:

“As far as Jeffries is concerned, America’s unattractive, overweight or otherwise undesirable teens can shop elsewhere. “In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids,” he says. “Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely. Those companies that are in trouble are trying to target everybody: young, old, fat, skinny. But then you become totally vanilla. You don’t alienate anybody, but you don’t excite anybody, either.”

Jeffries has accomplished what he set out do. Abercrombie & Fitch is valued at $5 billion. The Abercrombie & Fitch brand name is considered hip and cool, meaning if you’re attractive and thin, you’re cool and are welcome to wear Abercrombie & Fitch. For some reason being hip and cool means wearing a specific size, mainly aimed for woman. Abercrombie & Fitch doesn’t have larger sizes or plus sizes for women, although the average size for a woman is a size 14. Abercrombie & Fitch doesn’t stock clothes for a size 14 woman because to Mr. Jefferies, that size or bigger isn’t considered thin, attractive or cool. What’s the ideal size for an all-American kid? Mr. Jefferies believes he knows based on some distortion of what being thin really is. Is thin a size 2 or 4? Is it a specific weight number like 100lbs? If you’re not Mr. Jefferies’ idea of thin, than you’re unattractive, overweight and undesirable. I can’t help but feel sorry for the man, even with his fortune and most likely all those attractive and thin people he surrounds himself with.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and is skin deep. Beauty and attractiveness is subjective. I accept myself as I am now. Many years later I’m no longer that 13 year old girl who fit into those Z. Cavaricci pants or that woman who wanted to own a pair of Abercrombie & Fitch shorts to prove some point to show that she’s thin, attractive and cool. I’ve come to accept my body for what it is. I’m now at a healthy weight and a size I can live with. I’ll never be a single digit size woman and I’m fine with that. Just as I’m fine shopping at other stores I feel welcome at regardless of what size I may be. I don’t need to wear a specific brand of clothes just because the CEO of some store tries to convince people that wearing his T-shirts, shorts or bathing suits means you’re accepted and cool.

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” –Marilyn Monroe