Lindsay Detwiler's Blog, page 35

Without You by Lindsay Detwiler

Without You will be available for pre-order starting November 21st. From now until then, I’ll be releasing teasers to my loyal followers :) Be sure to check out my Facebook page for more teasers, cover reveals, promotions, and release day info! I’m going to start some exciting promotions as we get closer to release, so be following. As always, thanks for your overwhelming support. I couldn’t achieve this huge dream of mine without all of you.

Released December 1st by Limitless Publishing. Pre-order your copy starting November 21st, 2015, on Amazon

Loving Liam by Gloria Herrmann

Rachel Montgomery’s family doesn’t think she can change-but she’s going to prove them wrong…What could be more out of character for overly-cautious Rachel than moving sight unseen to the small town of Birch Valley to become the principal of the town’s only elementary school? When she arrives late on her first day, she realizes no one was expecting her, leading to conflict with the staff-and particularly with one handsome, emerald-eyed fourth grade teacher.

Liam O’Brien’s life is simple and easygoing, just the way he likes it-until he shows up for school following the holiday break…

Not only is his new boss the rude woman who stole his parking spot, she’s highly motivated to switch things up in his very traditional school, and Liam is not a fan of change. His inexplicable attraction to the petite blonde complicates matters, as Rachel is adamant that she didn’t move all the way to Birch Valley to get involved in any kind of romance.

But as conflicts are resolved, family ties might draw Liam and Rachel together…

Rachel discovers Liam’s family is loving and supportive, particularly his mother Mary-unlike Rachel’s own mother. She bonds with his brothers and his sister Maggie, and it almost seems too good to be true.

Can they work through their differences and compromise enough to build a lasting relationship?

Or will Rachel be unable to let her guard down long enough to take a chance on…

Loving Liam.

Amazon ~ B&N 

   Rachel was in no hurry to return to camp. Being alone in the woods with Liam felt primal, as if they were the only two people in an undiscovered world. 
   “Liam,” she murmured. 
   He stood there towering over her, his green eyes piercing as they searched her own. “I think I might love you,” Rachel said.
  Liam brought his head lower and pressed their foreheads lightly together before pulling her into his arms. “I know I love you,” he answered before kissing her full on the mouth.     The dewy air clung to them as they stood in their embrace.


I was born and raised in southern California and relocated to beautiful eastern Washington state. The rural small towns that speckle this vast area have inspired my ideal setting for most of the stories I write. The pine and tamarack trees covering the towering mountains, the shimmering lakes and rivers, the abundant wildlife and a feeling of a time forgotten, stirs so many of my creative juices. I can’t thank my parents enough for dragging this city kid on long roadtrips up to this rugged foreign area, because now it is my home and I truly love my life here.
 
Reading was something that spurred me to begin writing at a young age. I enjoyed creating characters, different settings, and describing anything and everything. Storytelling, I have found is something I have inherited from both of my parents. I love attention to detail, using words to fully bring the picture alive, that is something I got from my dad. Creating characters and figuring out their story and how to achieve their happy ending comes from my mom. Then there is the smell of a book, new or old, the weight of it in your hands as you balance it open, seeing all those beautifully typed words spun and woven into sentences, this was created by a writer. I knew that was what I wanted to be when I grew up.
 
Over the years I fiddled with a story here and there, but it wasn’t until 2015 that I realized it was time. Time to get those dreams down on paper (or my laptop) and so The Cloverleaf Series was born. Coming from a family that is focused on being involved in each other’s lives as much as possible created a great deal of inspiration and ideas for The Cloverleaf Series. My family is one that has weathered several terrible storms and still somehow keeps propelling forward. During those sunny times we can be seen gathered around, eating good food, sharing memories, and laughing until we can’t catch our breath. We fight hard and love hard.
 
Romance, I simply love it, that’s why I write it. I remember my mom giving me my very first paperback romance novel. It was a pretty exciting one filled with suspense and an overall excellent storyline, she had just read it and she felt it was suitable for my teenage eyes. That was it, I was hooked. I began to devour these romance stories that varied over the years from sweet to sultry, I consumed thousands of books and stories over the years. Each time I finished reading a novel, the desire to write my own grew stronger. As ideas for books swirled in my mind, it always had a romantic element to it, and I suppose it always will. What is there not to love about falling in love and finding that special person to share your life with? Who doesn’t wish for passion, butterflies in your stomach, and that happily ever after?


As a reader, I can’t even begin to thank all of the writers that have created so many emotions for me, falling in love with characters, mourning their loss, sighing as I close the final chapter or smiling when everyone lives happily ever after. As a writer, I just want to do the same.
 

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Loving Liam Blog Tour

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The Passion of a First Love Doesn’t Fade With Time

I am so excited for my second novel, Without You, which will be released on December 1st by Limitless Publishing. However, there will always be a huge place in my heart for my first novel, my first set of characters. Emma and Corbin’s story haunted me for years as I wrote about their passionate love story torn apart by unfair circumstances. Their first love, their real love, was challenged by an unjust justice system, tragedy, and time. However, Emma and Corbin epitomize a principle I’ve always believed in strongly; a first love never goes away, never completely disappears. The gut-wrenching, soul twisting emotions that accompany a first love change us forever. A first love morphs us into the person we will become. Thus, to say a first love can be forgotten is like saying a piece of ourselves can be thrown out.

Emma and Corbin remind me that love is real, is powerful, and is enduring, even in the most heart wrenching of circumstances. In a world where everything seems temporary, this is an ideal I like to cling to.

Lindsay Detwiler, author of Voice of Innocence

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Nicholas Sparks, Wrongful Convictions, and Heart Stomping Reading: Read Voice of Innocence If…

As an English teacher and obsessed bookworm, I know the harsh truth: there are so many books out there begging to be read. Why, then, should you pick up a romance by a little known author like me?

If you like Nicholas Sparks with a kick of realism, you’ll like this book.

To me, Nicholas Sparks is on a pedestal. I don’t even like mentioning my book in the same sentence as him because I feel like he’s in a different league. However, many of my readers have compared my style and genre to him, with an exception: they’ve noted that there is an added touch of realism to my work. Trust me, I practically fell over with joy when a few readers compared me to my writing idol. So if you’re a fan of Sparks, check out Voice of Innocence.

2. Voice of Innocence has crossover appeal

If you’re in your teens, you’ll connect to the flashbacks of Emma and Corbin. If you’re in your forties, you’ll connect with the present day Emma and Corbin. Either way, you’ll get a glimpse into a past you recognize or a future you will someday achieve. Emma and Corbin’s various ages in the book connect with different readers in different ways.

3. Voice of Innocence will rip your heart out and stomp on it.

My book has been called emotional, captivating, and tragic. There are a lot of harsh realities faced in the book and a lot of deep issues. From the heartache of wrongful conviction to lost love to suicide, you’ll face a gauntlet of gut wrenching emotions. However, there are also moments of sheer beauty and humor in the novel as well. So keep the tissues close by, but also be prepared for some laughs.

4. Voice of Innocence explores a different facet of wrongful conviction.

We’ve all heard the tragic stories of the innocent facing prison for something they didn’t do. However, few have examined the impact of this tragic situation on loved ones. How would it feel to be in love with  a man wrongfully convicted of a crime? How frustrating would it be to know he was innocent but not be able to convince anyone? What would happen if you lost decades of your life unjustly? These are emotions Emma and Corbin fearlessly share in first person narration in the book. You’ll look at convictions differently, you’ll look at the justice system differently, and you’ll really start to think about wrongful convictions in a new light.

5. It’s a quick read.

I know what it’s like to be crazy busy. We’ve got jobs, houses, families, pets, and hobbies to keep up with. So Voice of Innocence is a quick read. You’ll feel the full power of the emotions, feel the suspense of the story….but it won’t take you months to get through. Most of my readers finished the book in a weekend, partially because it’s so short…but also because they just had to know what happened. I’ve been told the story sucks you in.

Ready to check out the book reviewers are calling “magical” and “captivating?” Head to Amazon or Barnes & Noble to pick up your copy, available in e-book version or paperback. Please stop by and let me know what you think :)

Lindsay Detwiler, Voice of Innocence and Without You

http://www.facebook.com/lindsayanndetwiler

Urban Decay Fans, Rejoice!: Cheap Ammo Eye Palette at Sephora

Thank you, thank you, thank you Jamie Lynch for the heads up on this great sale! Sephora currently has the Ammo Palette on SALE for only $16.00. Is this real life?

I’m super excited because there are some really pretty colors. Jamie also told me a lot of Youtube tutorials use this palette.

Click the photo below to go to the link and snag your palette before they’re gone :)

Loving Liam by Gloria Herrmann: Release Day!

Rachel Montgomery’s family doesn’t think she can change-but she’s going to prove them wrong…What could be more out of character for overly-cautious Rachel than moving sight unseen to the small town of Birch Valley to become the principal of the town’s only elementary school? When she arrives late on her first day, she realizes no one was expecting her, leading to conflict with the staff-and particularly with one handsome, emerald-eyed fourth grade teacher.

Liam O’Brien’s life is simple and easygoing, just the way he likes it-until he shows up for school following the holiday break…

Not only is his new boss the rude woman who stole his parking spot, she’s highly motivated to switch things up in his very traditional school, and Liam is not a fan of change. His inexplicable attraction to the petite blonde complicates matters, as Rachel is adamant that she didn’t move all the way to Birch Valley to get involved in any kind of romance.

But as conflicts are resolved, family ties might draw Liam and Rachel together…

Rachel discovers Liam’s family is loving and supportive, particularly his mother Mary-unlike Rachel’s own mother. She bonds with his brothers and his sister Maggie, and it almost seems too good to be true.

Can they work through their differences and compromise enough to build a lasting relationship?

Or will Rachel be unable to let her guard down long enough to take a chance on…

Loving Liam.

Amazon ~ B&N 


I was born and raised in southern California and relocated to beautiful eastern Washington state. The rural small towns that speckle this vast area have inspired my ideal setting for most of the stories I write. The pine and tamarack trees covering the towering mountains, the shimmering lakes and rivers, the abundant wildlife and a feeling of a time forgotten, stirs so many of my creative juices. I can’t thank my parents enough for dragging this city kid on long roadtrips up to this rugged foreign area, because now it is my home and I truly love my life here.
 
Reading was something that spurred me to begin writing at a young age. I enjoyed creating characters, different settings, and describing anything and everything. Storytelling, I have found is something I have inherited from both of my parents. I love attention to detail, using words to fully bring the picture alive, that is something I got from my dad. Creating characters and figuring out their story and how to achieve their happy ending comes from my mom. Then there is the smell of a book, new or old, the weight of it in your hands as you balance it open, seeing all those beautifully typed words spun and woven into sentences, this was created by a writer. I knew that was what I wanted to be when I grew up.
 
Over the years I fiddled with a story here and there, but it wasn’t until 2015 that I realized it was time. Time to get those dreams down on paper (or my laptop) and so The Cloverleaf Series was born. Coming from a family that is focused on being involved in each other’s lives as much as possible created a great deal of inspiration and ideas for The Cloverleaf Series. My family is one that has weathered several terrible storms and still somehow keeps propelling forward. During those sunny times we can be seen gathered around, eating good food, sharing memories, and laughing until we can’t catch our breath. We fight hard and love hard.
 
Romance, I simply love it, that’s why I write it. I remember my mom giving me my very first paperback romance novel. It was a pretty exciting one filled with suspense and an overall excellent storyline, she had just read it and she felt it was suitable for my teenage eyes. That was it, I was hooked. I began to devour these romance stories that varied over the years from sweet to sultry, I consumed thousands of books and stories over the years. Each time I finished reading a novel, the desire to write my own grew stronger. As ideas for books swirled in my mind, it always had a romantic element to it, and I suppose it always will. What is there not to love about falling in love and finding that special person to share your life with? Who doesn’t wish for passion, butterflies in your stomach, and that happily ever after?


As a reader, I can’t even begin to thank all of the writers that have created so many emotions for me, falling in love with characters, mourning their loss, sighing as I close the final chapter or smiling when everyone lives happily ever after. As a writer, I just want to do the same.
 
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Makeup Mistakes: Lessons Learned

Salmonella. A simple word, a word we don’t often like to hear (especially in a makeup post…?). But for me, it’s a word that changed the way I looked at things and humbled me quite a bit.

Because recently, I’ve learned that I’ve been mispronouncing it my whole life.

My husband picked up on it a few months ago. Apparently I’ve been adding an extra a sound between the l and m. Embarrassing, right? Even more embarrassing when you’re an English teacher.

Have you ever found out in adulthood that you’ve been doing something wrong, saying something wrong, or thinking something wrong your life? Salmonella is just one of my examples.

The other example? Makeup, of course.

This summer was my summer of makeup experimentation. My friend Jamie got me hooked on Urban Decay eyeshadow and, along with it, eyeshadow tutorial videos. Holy smokes have I been doing it wrong! This summer, I’ve learned a lot about things I’ve been doing wrong all of my makeup wearing years. Check out my list so maybe you can avoid my makeup mistakes.

One eyeshadow brush doesn’t cut it.

I never spend my money on brushes, opting to use the ones that come free in kits. Wow, this was a mistake. After watching Youtube videos, I realized how many different eyeshadow brushes there are. I’d been using the flat brush my whole life, swiping on the shadow in quick sweeps. Now, I’ve bought the It cosmetics blending brush. Where has this been all my life? No wonder I could never get the model eyeshadow look down. This brush seriously is worth the $14 at Ulta. It changed everything about my eyeshadow

Don’t sweep your eyeshadow on; use circles and pats.

After watching the videos, I realized that circular motions work in th crease and patting the shadow in on your lid makes it look so much better.

Don’t just slap highlighter on your whole face; contouring actually works!

I used to just dust Bare Minerals radiance all over my face. Oops. Now, I’ve learned that a few simple contouring tricks really does make your makeup look so much better. I’ve mastered where to put the highlighting products to really give my face the pop it needs.

Don’t be afraid of a bold lip

I always avoided reds, plums, and hot pinks, afraid of looking old or like the 1980s. Now, though, I’ve realized that a bold lip can change your whole vibe. Don’t have time for makeup? Just slap on some bright lipstick, and you instantly look better.

Use a neutral base color shadow all over you lids as a foundation.

I learned this on Youtube. After eyeshadow primer, do a coat of a neutral shade of eyeshadow over your entire lid. This makes your shadow colors so much easier to blend!

I’m still perfecting the contouring and the eyeshadow, but wow, I’m glad I’ve learned the err in my ways :) How about you? Any mistakes you’ve learned about? Any tips you’d like to share?

Innocence

Feel Something

I want to love with a passion so strong, my heart melts in my chest when he walks by.

I want to stand on the shores of a distant place, feeling lost in a current of emotion and beauty.

I want chills to strike me when I hear that song again, or a fleeting excitement to pass through me when I read the words on a page.

I want to stare at the stars with inexplicable wonder, knowing I’m not alone in this whole place.

I want to laugh until my face hurts, cry until I’m numb. I want to feel hopeful and wistful and mischievous.

Breeze in my face, I want to explore, to feel spontaneous and unhinged.

I want to find connections that last, friendships that complete me, people I can’t live without.

I want to dance in the rain and truly enjoy it. I want to do something that scares me.

I want to feel everything there is to feel here in this world: wonder, amusement, gut-wrenching guilt, loss, humor, anger, and rage. I won’t leave anything left on the table when I’m done.

I want to feel something every moment, every breath.

I want to feel something from now until I’m done.

And when I’m done, I’ll pass the feeling on to

someone else, someone who felt something for me.

At the end of the day,

I just want to feel

something.

Lindsay Detwiler, Voice of Innocence

Living on Love: Why a No Roses Kind of Anniversary Works For Me

It’s officially been four years since I said “I do” in our cozy, hometown church. Four years since the white dress, the flowers, the excessive worrying about my hair and makeup. Four years since I married my best friend, my first love, the boy I met at the art table.

So what did we do for our fourth anniversary? Fancy dinner? Roses? A candlelight serenade to our wedding song?

None of the above.

For our fourth anniversary, we ate Domino’s Pizza, said happy anniversary, and posted our memory on Facebook.

And that was it.

But guess what? I’m okay with it.

Yes, I’m truly a hopeless romantic. I adore the boat scene in The Notebook with all of the birds. I love Augustus Water’s grand gesture of donating his wish to Hazel Grace. I melt every time I watch the first kiss in any Nicholas Sparks movie. And yes, I do like flowers now and then.

But in real life, I’m totally okay with a Domino’s pizza for our anniversary.

Why?

Because I think real love is about so much more than excessive fanfare and diamonds. Real love for me doesn’t happen one day a year on the anniversary that we exchanged rings. Real love happened five minutes ago when I was stressing out about school and Chad took the trash out himself. Real love happens when we are content taking a nap in our sweatpants and eating takeout on the sofa. Real love happens when we pitch in and help each other out, support each other, encourage each other on a daily basis. Real love is laughing hysterically together at a stupid inside joke or how crazy our cats are. Real love is that Chad picks Baked Beans as one of our KFC sides because I like them, even though he doesn’t. Real love is that when he goes to the grocery store, he always picks me up orange tic tacs because they’re my favorite (and Henry’s, too).

So I’m okay with a Domino’s pizza tonight instead of a fancy steak dinner. I’m okay that we didn’t get each other fancy gifts or go out on the town or do something noteworthy. Because real love is the love you have day in and day out. It’s the love that still exists when the fancy white dress is shoved in a closet and the champagne glass is broken (both true statements). It’s Emma and Corbin spending their prom dinner in a barn eating sandwiches. It’s Jenna and Camden from Without You eating grilled cheese and watching TV.

It’s a boy and a girl at an art table who never fell out of love.

Lindsay Detwiler

@Lindsay Detwiler

www.facebook.com/lindsayanndetwiler