Elizabeth Stevens's Blog, page 5
February 22, 2018
It’s (a)Live!
Happy release day all! Four books out to my name and counting!
Well, it feels like it was a long time coming, but the Trouble with Hate is… is finally live! It’s live and orderable and readable! If you don’t have your copy, get it on Kindle here now and in paperback from Book Depository here for a surprisingly reasonable price of AUD$24 (woot woot) + free shipping! Everyone likes free shipping 
February 17, 2018
PSA: Idiocy Alert
Well, what is a girl to do when she has a week left until the next release? She goes completely insane and makes an odd choice; release the next book on April 6 2018. So, read on all. Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination…
We’ve got a new section this time around: Life Being Rude is where I’ll give a ramble about what’s been eating into my writing time – much like Plot Bunnies, it’s all the things that are distracting me only not (yet) another story idea. As per usual, any word/title/phrase that’s blue and underlined and all cover pictures are hyperlinks, so feel free to have a click around.
[image error]Writing Progress Update: In exciting news, I’m making good progress on a couple of pieces and have not started any new ones. I’ve had a couple of ideas, but just made notes and moved on successfully. Keeping Up Appearances and The Stand-In (page coming soon – I’m surprised I don’t already have one [bad me]) are going well. Keeping Up Appearances even has a cover, and *gasp* there it is!!
January 22, 2018
One month to go
Today, I have a few things going on, so I shall break it up into sections. Who knows, maybe I’ll make it a regular thing.
First up, we have a Writing Progress Update where I will let you know what I’ve been working on lately and what my plans are. Secondly, we have A Reading Update in which I will make some quick comments on the books I’m currently reading or plan on reading. Next is Release Rambles – as the name suggests, it’s where you’ll find out the latest release news. Current Focus is where you’ll get a run down/reminder of what I’m working on right now. And, Plot Bunnies is where I’ll give a brief explanation of whatever has recently distracted me.
Writing Progress Update: Whelp, I made it[image error] though twenty-three days before I got distracted by an new idea. I did however, finish Accidentally Perfect (if you want to read more about it, pop on over to my WIP page or click the cover to the right) even if was a week later than I’d hoped. So, I guess one for one isn’t the end of the world. Especially when my current focus (The Stand-In) isn’t behaving itself like it should. I am going to try very hard to only plot this new one out, get all the scene bunnies out of my head, and then get back onto with my current focus. I’m trying a ‘force myself to just work on one thing at a time’ thing at the moment. And, well, it got the first draft of Accidentally Perfect finished so it’s not all bad thus far.
A Reading Update: My read of Sense & Sensibility is going well, if slow. As I get further into it, I’m getting back into the swing of Austen’s writing style and the going is getting easier. Of course, my reading plan did fly out the window a bit the other night as I couldn’t sleep and a light was going to keep the husband up, so I started reading something on my Kindle instead. Still, that just means one less contemporary later on I guess! As I get more into writing mainstream YA fiction, I’m going to delve into that as a reader some more as well. I’ve got a stack of authors and titles lined up that I can stick in the research pile (which I have decided is quite aside from the general TBR pile).
[image error]Release Rambles: As we all know, the Trouble with Hate is… will be released on February 23rd. ONLY A MONTH TO GO! Do I sound freaked out? Because I am a little. Proofing is done. Final files are almost ready and it’s available for Kindle pre-order now!
Lani and Casper’s story will be exclusive to Kindle for ebook – and available for free in Kindle Unlimited. But, it will be available at all good online book retailers in paperback format. Keep an eye on the book page for where to buy it after release day.
If you are interested in a copy of the ebook in exchange for a review, then please contact me. I have varying ebook formats available.
With Accidentally Perfect now finished, it’s probably time to think about when to have it ready for release. Well, with Gray’s Blade and doggone being released as well this year, I think Roman and Piper might need to wait until next year to meet the world proper.
C[image error]ole’s version of No More Maybes, Gray’s Blade has a projected release date in August 2018. To read more about the duet, click here. To see more on Rory’s point of view in No More Maybes, click the link. To learn more about Cole’s side of the story, click the cover image to the right or the link in the above paragraph.
doggone is pitched for a December 2018 release, following on from unvamped‘s release last December. You can read more about the whole trilogy here. A link to book 1, unvamped, can be found in the second line of this paragraph. And a link to book 2, doggone, here or above. Book 3, dewitch, is currently tentatively slated for December 2019.
Current Focus: So, what am I supposed to be working on right now? Well, it’s a fun little piece called The Stand-In: my life as an understudy.
He’s a semi-famous rockstar
I’m Nerdy McNerdleton
Elijah Sweet: born rock god, gorgeous, sinful
Ella Cowan: beautiful, confidant, popular
Chloe Cowan: wait…who?
Born for the express purpose of being the understudy for my older sister, I’ve learnt that life goes faster if I just go along with the madness.
Until the madness involves me, the School Formal, my sister’s hair-brained scheme to win over the hottest boy in school, and a misunderstanding that I’m the one interested in him.
Suddenly, my quiet existence isn’t so quiet anymore and the bright neon light that heralds my eighteenth birthday and freedom is overshadowed by one that follows a boy who’s going to be the next big thing.
But, I am so not interested… Am I?
It is a comedy with an arrogant if somewhat charming male lead and a sassy is somewhat tongue-tied female lead. I have possible intentions of making it a trilogy but, at the moment, it’s just a sweet little standalone piece about learning to be yourself on your own timeline. There are some cheesy songs, some arts and crafts, a few embarrassments, and a cast of supporting characters I think you’ll love; I know I sure do. It’s all planned, I just have to stop stressing that I’m going to mess it up and just write the dang thing!
Plot Bunnies: Distractions, I can avoid you only for so long. Unfortunately, this one started with a vague notion and has run away with my brain(cell). At the moment, it feels a little like it has a Sucker Punch and Alice: Madness Returns vibe to it – flitting in and out of ‘reality’ and ‘fantasy’. Currently titled Do you Believe in Magic? it’s got some decent potential I think, as long as I don’t veer too far off the unbeaten path. More to come if it looks like it’s behaving.
As per usual, nothing will get finished if I don’t go and work on it. So, off I hop. Read, write, and live well,
x iz
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January 12, 2018
my year as a reader
So, writing goals have been made for this year. As I stoically accept that Accidentally Perfect isn’t going to be finished today, I have come up with my reading goals for the year.
My plan is this; I’m going to try to read in rounds of three this year.
A contemporary book – no set publication time but most likely something written after 1990.
A classic book – here defined for my own purposes as something published prior to 1950 (I may give good old Tolkien another crack)
A book by someone I know personally – a chance for me to read the books by my friends and colleagues that I’ve been intending to get around to for quite some time and just never done it.
I’m in the process of deciding if I need a list or if I’m just going to pick the next one as I go. But, for now, I’ve finished my first contemporary and am onto my first classic for the year. It’s time to lose my Sense & Sensibility virginity!
My husband gave me an absolutely beautiful set of my very own Jane Austens for our third anniversary last year and I have a bet going with that I can finished them all before our fourth anniversary – he’s still going on the boxed set of Harry Potters I got him for our first anniversary which he is attempting to get finished in the same time (Law at Uni ruined any passion for reading he had) – so they will undoubtedly fill my classics quota for a while.
As for books by people I know, I have a few ideas in mind! Keep an eye out for updates; I’ll post things up as I go.
For now, I need to find a way past the “last fifth freak out” with Accidentally Perfect and try to get it finished before work goes back next week. At least I have made word count progress this year. It might not have been all on finishing one novel, but it’s all been on the same six and I haven’t started any new ones so that’s a plus. *mould friendly thumbs up*
Happy reading, happy writing, and happy living folks,
x iz
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January 9, 2018
New year, Same old me
Welcome to 2018! Well, day ten of 2018 – I’ve been in denial. It just feels weird to say that. Like, how is it 2018 already when the 90’s were only a few years ago? 
December 7, 2017
Pre-Order available now!
[image error]the Trouble with Hate is… is my fourth novel, to be released by Sleeping Dragon Books on 23 February 2018.
the Trouble with Hate is… is a novel about family and love that discusses suicide and depression, and it’s effects on the sufferers and the ones they love. While the characters are young adults, the material is best suited to Mature Young Adult or New Adult readers.
The Granger and Drake families have always lived in each other’s pockets. They’ve been through the suicide of the Granger’s oldest son, the Drake patriarch’s cancer diagnosis, family holidays with only slight maiming, and more dance concerts than anyone would care to remember.
Leilani Granger can’t stand the person Casper Drake has become, and Casper doesn’t even recognise his best mate’s little sister anymore. Loving each other is second-nature, but they don’t know how not to hate each other either.
As they face another crisis, old habits lead them back to each other for comfort.
But, after one night of a deeper connection than either of them were ready for, the lines between the emotional and the physical start to blur.
Leilani wasn’t the kind to lose herself in meaningless sex.
Casper’s been doing it for years.
It’s the only time hate doesn’t get in the way.
But, the trouble with hate is…it’s often not hate at all.
November 28, 2017
News, news, news, news
Whelp, one and all, it is that time!
With the revamped unvamped being released on Friday, all the files for print and ebook are finalised and ready to go. Cue the inundation of nightmares featuring spelling mistakes and misplaced commas! The scenes have had a shuffle, the text has (hopefully) been tightened and the scene has been set for book 2, doggone. Along with a new cover, unvamped, is ready and raring to go under the Sleeping Dragon banner from Friday December 1st 2017.
Other news has the Trouble with Hate is… being up on Amazon for pre-order now, with a release date of 23 February 2018. It’s with its beta readers and editing has commenced hopefully well in advance so we have no late night scrambles to get things finished this time. Haha!
We also have confirmation that unvamped book 2: doggone and Cole’s version of No More Maybes, Gray’s Blade, will both be released in 2018 (dates TBA). The sequel for Netherfield Prep, Proposition Prep, is well underway and we’re looking at a 2019 release for that one.
Final news for now sees me winning NaNoWriMo 2017, currently at 70,421 words with a day and a half to go (must remember to validate this year!). No new finished pieces, but I’ve only worked on three this month, so a new completed piece should be making an appearance soon! One of which is the first in a planned six book series (I do like to make things easy on myself!) that I’ve spent far too much time planning and not enough time writing for my liking.
So, I had best get back to the production of stories and hopefully will get another one finished soon! Approaching 800,000 words for the year; you’d think I’d be able to manage it 
September 21, 2017
New book news again!
Well, then! Almost 600,000 words for the year and I have finally finished the first draft of a new book among all the fragments! It’s taken me almost 12 months for this one, about four re-starts, a bunch of umm’s and ahh’s, a whole lot of emotional energy, and some literal tears. But, it is done! I have a new 86,000-or-so word YA draft for the Trouble with Hate is…
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Leilani Granger can’t stand the person Casper Drake has become, and Casper doesn’t even recognise his best mate’s little sister anymore. Loving each other is second-nature, but they don’t know how not to hate each other either.
But, after one night of a deeper connection than either of them were ready for, the lines between the emotional and the physical start to blur.
Leilani wasn’t the kind to lose herself in meaningless sex.
Casper’s been doing it for years.
It’s the only time hate doesn’t get in the way.
But, the trouble with hate is…it’s often not hate at all.
It’s off with the first lot of beta readers. So, now, here comes the editing phase!
BTW, if you’re interested in becoming a beta reader, feel free to get in touch or shoot me an email! The more the merrier 
September 1, 2017
‘No More Maybes’ *free* on Kindle!
For the next 24 hours, you can get No More Maybes for free on Amazon Kindle!
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“It would kill the past, and when that was dead he would be free.” – Oscar Wilde
Aurora Daniels just wants to get through Year 12 with no distractions.
Then, Cole Fielding comes along.
She is instantly drawn to him but isn’t sure he’s the sort of guy she should fall for—he smokes, he’s unreliable, gets into fights, and just exudes bad boy.
But, Cole hides an intelligence that speaks to her.
As they get closer, so does Cole’s harrowing past. Can she believe in someone who can’t believe in himself? Maybe…
A YA Romance, this is Cole’s story told by Aurora. Cole’s side coming 2018.
August 29, 2017
Cover reveal!
A new and improved – dare I say, revamped? – unvamped is being released by Sleeping Dragon Books with a lovely new cover!
First published in 2015, my debut novel unvamped is a YA Paranormal Romance told from three POVs:
[image error] Would you accept yourself to find your humanity?
Ellie Cooper comes from a long line of witches, but wishes she could be normal. When she nearly kills herself cursing a vampire, her dislike of her heritage deepens. Will she find a way to accept her magic, or will she forsake her family altogether?
After feeding on a witch, 693-year-old vampire Charles Dumphrey wakes up to find he is living a human teenage life, complete with parents, school and girls. Can he adjust to his new life as a human, or will he find a way to break the curse Ellie puts on him?
Lee is a werewolf who is not yet shifting regularly. He worries about who he will be when he regulates. Will the wolf take over, or can Lee find the balance between his humanity and the wolf?
Will all three of them be able to overcome their uncertainties and accept themselves in order to save Ellie’s life?
I’m currently working on book two, doggone, which will focus a little more on Lee, as well as a return of someone from Charles’ past who is intent on causing some trouble:
Wolf out. Bite down. Go wild.
Still dealing with the repercussions of her trauma and what it means for her powers, Ellie finds a safe place at uni to practice and learn. Druidry gives her an outlet and a sympathetic group of new friends.
Finally regulated, Lee is learning how to live in his own skin. But, the call of the moon is strong and Lee has trouble resisting. Matters aren’t helped when a human comes into his life. But, Lee’s wolf isn’t the only thing she unleashes.
Between keeping Lee in check on a full moon, issues with Ellie, and someone killing his descendants, Charles’ return to university life is less than ideal. He’s constantly saving everyone else, but who’ll save him?
Wild sides are revealed as our trio realise that it’s one thing to accept yourself and another entirely to control yourself. Especially when you don’t want to.
Book three, dewitch, will focus a little more on Ellie, bring all strands of the narrative to a close and hopefully see our trio older, wiser and happier.
So, keep an eye out for the release date news, as well as new book news
