Life weary vs. Life lazy

I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that life is hard. Life sucks sometimes. It’s painful, it’s exhilarating, and it’s exhausting. When I look at the date of my last post, I’m a little embarrassed, and a little not. I can honestly say, the past summer was so ridiculously busy that I took the fall and holiday season completely off. I was weary. I was tapped. I was creatively, emotionally, and mentally drained. I needed it.

BUT the fact that I haven’t blogged since, is just sheer laziness.

What did I do on my time off?

 Did I write? Um, no.

Did I clean my house? Pretty much…no.

I still worked—duh.

And I watched lots and lots of TV.

Hmm… Remember that awesome Netflix post a while back? Yes, Mr. Netflix is still proving himself very useful. But *blushes/grimaces* I can say  that I still went through shows like water.

Alias (105 episodes)... in a week and a half.

Beauty and the Beast (season 1) — about 3 days.

Mellisa and Joey (seasons 1-3) — about a week.

Baby Daddy (seasons 1-3)— about a week.

And, sadly, the list goes on.

Long story short, I’m BACK!

I’m writing!

 I’m taking on some other exciting projects I’ll speak about in future posts!

And I have put my relationship with Mr. Netflix on hold. It was time.

But take heart! We are only on a break. And to remind you of exactly what that means, I’ll leave you with this:

Inspirationators: What music means to me

As a musician, people expect me to know it all, be it all, have heard it all, and be able to identify it all. The truth is, I'm a listen-and-know-by-ear kinda girl. I've heard old rock songs, but I don't know them by heart and it's a rare thing indeed if I remember the band at all.

My husband tries to quiz me on this. "I'll give you a million dollars if you can name this band," he says, knowing I won't know. The sad thing is, it's usually someone easy like Red Hot Chili Peppers or the Beastie Boys. This is my memory, the way my mind works, and I've learned to accept it and overlook people's expectations.

Now ask me about Chopin and I can tell you about all the different types of pieces he wrote, who he fell in love with and why, how old he was when he died, etc. But play a 70-90's rock song and ask me who sang it and this is me--->

That being said, I can't live, can't breathe, can't go one DAY without music. It is in my blood to be affected by it.

If a song gives me goosebumps, I am a goner. I melt, I become entranced, I feel transported into a new world.

If a song has an awesome beat, I can't stand still. I'll make an absolute dork of myself and I couldn't care less. I have to move.

Music also sets my mood while writing. I do have my favorite songs, but they are mood setters. I realize this might be unusual. Most people who use music while writing, know their songs, know their favorite bands. As I said, I've accepted that I am a weird girl.

Even as I write this post, I had to go through my playlists to pick out my favorite songs. I can tell you where they are on the list, but not who sings them, LOL.

For Bitter Angel--if you know anything about this wild story--my mood setters were well-written gems like: Far East Movement's G6 and Wiz Khalifa's Black and Yellow. 

Timeless, right? HA! But they totally set the mood for the CUH-RAZY things that went down in that book, and for the heart-thumpin' base I needed to write the clubbing scenes. 

For other parts of the book, I used music from the Black Hawk Down soundtrack, because I could feel the intensity and emotion but there were no words to distract me from the action going down. 

For my next book, the mood is completely different. I need something softer, sadder, slower to set my mood. I'll leave you with this absolutely perfect musical teaser to give you a hint about what this story might be about. It's not a thriller, it is a romance, it is New Adult, and it will--hopefully--break your heart into pieces and put it back together again, of course ;) 

What are your musical inspirationators? Do you have a favorite band? Does a particular song give you such a strong feeling, you become entranced just by listening? 

Share with me!

The Forgotten Ones is LIVE!!!

The Forgotten Ones

The Danaan Trilogy

Book One

is now available exclusively on Amazon!

Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.

About Laura Howard


Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.

Connect with Laura:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook|

Cover Reveal: Lisa Harley's Destined to Succeed

Well, my inspirationators posts will be postponed until next week. Do any of you remember Destined to Change?

H.O.T!!

Now I get to bring to you the cover for Cade's book. Wow, ladies. Just, WOW!

DESTINED TO SUCCEED 

BY: LISA HARLEY

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 9TH, 2013

Synopsis: 

What would you do if what you worked your entire life to build was suddenly destroyed?

 Cade Walker is a cowboy Casanova. He’s cocky and he doesn’t care who knows it. He was raised on Walker Ranch and was destined to one day take it over. What he didn’t know was how soon that would happen. After his parents are killed in a car accident he is thrust into becoming a responsible adult. Well, sort of. Cade is always responsible when it comes to business, but pleasure, now that’s a whole other story.

 Suzanna Mallory is a red-headed spitfire, who also happens to be Cade’s best friend. She has loved Cade since they met when they were nine years old, but Cade just isn’t the type to get married and settle down. Suzanna finds herself in an abusive marriage and the only thing that keeps her sane is her daughter, Isabella, and working with Cade at Walker Ranch.

 When a fire threatens to destroy the future of Walker Ranch, Cade and Suzanna have to work together to save it.

 What will this mean for her marriage or to the feelings that she has for Cade?

 And now that Cade thought he found love with Loralei Harper, only to realize she didn’t feel the same way, is he ready to settle down?

 Is Cade Walker Destined to Succeed?

Author Bio:

I grew up in a really small town in Missouri. Very similar to the fictional town I wrote about in my novel. I moved to the big city right after I graduated. I work full-time and I am mom to a beautiful little girl. I started writing in October when a group I am in had a prologue contest. I didn't win the contest, but everyone who read my prologue asked for more of my story. I decided I had to finish it and get these characters that were in my head out on paper. During the writing process it became clear that this was going to be more than one novel. It had to be a series. I have at least 2 more novels planned for the Destined Series. I also have an idea for a YA novel that stems from one of the characters in Destined to Change...hint, hint. When I was asked to write this bio I explained that I am really boring and it would be really short...so, that's about all there is to know about me. I love music and honestly couldn't have written this book without my Spotify playlist. I am kinda obsessed with frogs (not real ones) and office supplies are my downfall! I could spend my whole paycheck at the stationery store...boring, didn't I already say that? lol Also, I am slightly addicted to Facebook and Voxer. Please message me on either one...I would love to hear from all of you.

Author Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Destinedtochange

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Lharley77

Cover Reveal: Jake Bonsignore's Empyreal Illusions

Happy Cover Reveal, Jake!!

Title: Empyreal Illusions: Book One of The Inferno Unleashed Series
Author: Jake Bonsignore
Genre: YA Fantasy / Dystopian
Release: May 29, 2013 (e-book); July 2013 (paperback)
Book Design: Regina Wamba of Mae I Design and Photography

Summary
A Thin Line Separates Justice From Revenge….

Fourteen-year-old Breena Taljain’s dreary existence in the slums of Purgaire comes
to a sudden end when a chance encounter with a criminal mastermind known as the
Patriarch goes horridly wrong. His assault on her for refusing to pay for her mother’s
addiction leaves her comatose and teetering on the edge of life and death.

Galbrecht Atalir is a washed-up doctor struggling to overcome his inner demons through
alcohol and aggression. He never quite recovered from the unsolved murder of his
family seven years prior. When he discovers Breena as his newest patient, he knows at
once that the Patriarch is the one who eluded him for almost a decade.

The medicine Galbrecht gives Breena draws her into a heavenly paradise. When it ebbs
away, though, the recurring trauma plunges her into treacherous hinterlands. There,
Breena must learn to find power in courage, hope, and love to overcome fiends of
hatred bent on permanently ending her existence.

With justice burning in his heart, Galbrecht begins a race against time to seek out the
Patriarch in the underworld before Breena loses her struggle against the ever-darkening
terrors of her mind….

HOLY GUACAMOLE, It's FRIDAY???

Where the frick frack do my weeks go? I have no stinkin' idea. This is going to be the laziest post ever, but I wanted to say that I'm gearing up for something fun starting next week. I'm going to do a series of-- *drum roll please*--

INSPIRATIONATORS 

Say WHA??? 

For the next two weeks or so, I'm going to post some things that have inspired me with writing and life. I'm hoping to make these super duper fun posts. I have been rather dry about the whole blogging thing. I've actually been having a lot of fun reaching out to other blogs, but have been rather lazy (possibly because all my creativity is going into this next novel) about my own posts. 

I'm trying to remedy that!   

So be on the lookout next week, because Megan is comin' atcha LIVE. 

(FYI I am on a veggie juice high this week, so please disregard the hyper/ridiculous/over-enthusiastic silliness of this post.)

   

Author Interview: Jaime Guerard

WOW! WOW WOW WOW! I'm SO super duper ooper pleased to bring to you Jaime Guerard today. SO pleased, in fact, that I'm nervously sweating as I sweep down the last wrinkles in the pink dress my assistant put me in this morning.

*whispers* Okay, here she comes!!!  *resumes super professional face*


Me: Hi, Jaime! It’s so good to have you here. *Pats the plush red chair* Do you like my chairs? I’m kinda known for the luxury here. *Props chin on hand* So tell me. The buzz is that Awaken published on March 31^st, is this correct?

Jaime: Hi Megan! Thank you so much for having me here today! Yes, Awaken was published on March 31^st.

Me: I have on secret authority this book is pretty awesome. Could you share with us just a little bit about your main character Breanna and how she came to be?

Jaime: Awe, thank you Megan! Breanna is a normal high school teen who one day has something strange happen to her. A vision appears before her and shows her an event that (Bre thinks) could happen to people she knows.

When the idea for this novel came to me (back in October 2008) I knew right away who Breanna Davis was as a character. I saw her perfectly: she was a strong independent person because of what she had to face in the novel, she was the girl next door but had this confidence that you trusted her with the people in her life. However, Breanna faces what I think everyone faces in life. She has struggles with relationships, family stresses and questions herself; ‘am I good enough’. I think Bre could relate to many people who read this series.

I also knew what her name was immediately. I named her Breanna (aka: Bre) because that was the name I was going to name my daughter (if I had one). Since I had three boys and was content with my family I knew that my main character had to be Bre.

Me: Wow, very cool. Is this book a stand alone, or a part of a series? How many books?

Jaime: Awaken is a series and there will be three books in all.

Me: Could you share with us a snippet of Bre’s adventures, maybe a teaser?

Jaime: I would love to!

Austin shut and locked the door while I stood out in the open, chills prickled down my neck. I didn’t move my head, only my eyes searching for anything out of the ordinary. I came up with nothing. The wind picked up a little, sending tiny strands of hair in my face, startling me. In the silence of the night, with only the wind rustling through the trees, my mind was running away from me. I couldn't break away from this fear of the unknown.

Austin put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me in tight. The house was about fifty feet away and the further we got from the truck, the more hurried I became, speeding up, trying to get out of this unprotected forest and into an enclosed building where I hoped to feel a little bit safer. Austin locked me to his side. I would’ve run if I could, but I didn't want to separate myself from him, not out here.

“I don’t see anything,” Austin tried to reassure me.

Then a crack came from our left, making us both jump and stop suddenly. Austin squeezed me tighter.

Breathing heavily, I whispered, “I know you heard that.”

“Yep,” he whispered back. He stood still, frozen like me, either waiting to hear something that would explain it, or for another sound that might send us bolting to the house. The row of cars parked along the driveway made it difficult to see into the forest.

“Do you see anything now?” I asked.

“No,” he whispered.

I looked up into the trees and there they were again, those two white eyes staring down at us.

Me: HOLY CRAP, JAIME!!! I have goose bumps. GOOSE BUMPS all over my body. Ahem. Let me gather my bearings… *commands a straight face* As I do with all author interviews, I like to ask the (dun-dun-dun) question about marketing. What are your plans for marketing this book?

Jaime: There are a lot of different things you can do for marketing: giveaways, blogging, giving your potential readers teasers and sneak peeks. I’ve done all of that. However, I believe the way that I will gather my readers is by word of mouth. So far it’s going great and I’m truly amazed by what my readers are saying. I love every one of you and thank you so much for your excitement and helping me spread the word!

Me: That’s great advice, Jaime! *pockets information* I heard you re-did your cover. Is this true? And why did you change it?

Jaime: Yes, I did change the cover before I published. The first cover idea I felt like it didn’t capture my story the way I hoped it would. And this has nothing to do with the cover artist at all because my cover artist is amazing! I just felt like it needed to go a different way. So I went back to my cover artist and between the two of us came up with the perfect cover! I’m in love with my cover and I feel like it really does capture what the book is about.

Me: Wow, Jaime. I, too, am so captured by the new cover. It stands out, grabs me and really reels me in. I’m really excited for Awaken! Bre sounds like an awesome girl. I look forward to reading all about her and this “dream” boy.

Jaime: Thank you Megan. I’m so grateful that you had me here today! And thank all of you who took the time to get to know me better. For all of you who pick up my novel and read it…I thank you! 

Me: *snaps her fingers* Assistant! Assistant! I need water!!! STAT!

Find Awaken on Amazon and B&N!!


Find Jaime on her Site, Facebook, or Twitter!!