L.S. May's Blog, page 3
April 2, 2018
My Next Release... and Other Details
So, in a way this is cheating, because my next release is nothing new. My next release is a boxset of the first three Innocence Cooper books (ebook release only.) That's Confessions of Innocence, Redefining Innocence and Trials of Innocence, all in one - cover art below.
Expect this out in the next couple of weeks. If you happen to be on the mailing list, there won't be an email about this one just because it's not new... If you are on the mailing list, there's a good chance you've already read it.
Now, to be clear, there is no bonus content of any kind in this collection. It is simply the first three books bundled together. I did consider writing a bonus scene or adding a deleted scene in there somewhere, but I don't really think that's fair to people who might have wanted to read the bonus scene and had already paid for the books. So if you have already read the first 3 books, you can safely give this one a miss (perhaps after admiring the different cover style above?)
This set will also be in KU, at least initially.
Why is it the first 3 books and not all 5? A couple of reasons - with the way Amazon pays royalties, I'd end up with less money from a book that cost $10 than I would for one that cost $9.99 - and all 5 books together would be over $9.99. The other reason is sell-through. A lot of the time someone buys a book, and that's the end of it. There's no way for me to know if they even read it, let alone liked it or finished it. Unless there's a book that comes after. If 3 people buy book 1, and 2 people buy book 2, I still don't know about person 3, but I do know that 2 people liked the book enough to keep going - which is a nice (and useful) thing to know.
Anyway, for those of you who have already read the first 3 books, here's what you can expect coming to this blog soon for you:
- The Reaper's Heart cover reveal
- A short story set between Age of Innocence (bk 5) and Ghosts of Innocence (bonus story that comes with bk 5)
Expect this out in the next couple of weeks. If you happen to be on the mailing list, there won't be an email about this one just because it's not new... If you are on the mailing list, there's a good chance you've already read it.Now, to be clear, there is no bonus content of any kind in this collection. It is simply the first three books bundled together. I did consider writing a bonus scene or adding a deleted scene in there somewhere, but I don't really think that's fair to people who might have wanted to read the bonus scene and had already paid for the books. So if you have already read the first 3 books, you can safely give this one a miss (perhaps after admiring the different cover style above?)
This set will also be in KU, at least initially.
Why is it the first 3 books and not all 5? A couple of reasons - with the way Amazon pays royalties, I'd end up with less money from a book that cost $10 than I would for one that cost $9.99 - and all 5 books together would be over $9.99. The other reason is sell-through. A lot of the time someone buys a book, and that's the end of it. There's no way for me to know if they even read it, let alone liked it or finished it. Unless there's a book that comes after. If 3 people buy book 1, and 2 people buy book 2, I still don't know about person 3, but I do know that 2 people liked the book enough to keep going - which is a nice (and useful) thing to know.
Anyway, for those of you who have already read the first 3 books, here's what you can expect coming to this blog soon for you:
- The Reaper's Heart cover reveal
- A short story set between Age of Innocence (bk 5) and Ghosts of Innocence (bonus story that comes with bk 5)
March 4, 2018
The Reaper's Heart Blurb
I feel like I've been hinting this book is coming on this blog forever, and yet you still know nothing about it... Let's fix that.
We'll start with the blurb:
After years of loving Johnny from afar, Cassie is finally going to make a move. She times her day so she can walk him home after his basketball game and talk to him alone. But on that walk the two of them witness a car crash, and Johnny unwittingly reveals his secret: he's a reaper, charged with collecting the souls of the dead.
Cassie doesn't know what to think about the boy who she's had a crush on for so long. Her best friend, Kara, urges her to stay away, insisting he's dangerous. But, with no one else he can confide in, Cassie sees it as her chance to get close to him.
Will the reaper claim her soul before she can claim his heart?
Basically, there's Cassie, hopeless romantic who has finally decided to make a move on Johnny, and Johnny, who happens to secretly be a reaper. And he plays basketball and takes science tests. Both are seventeen at the start of the book. It's your basic girl meets boy, boy turns out to be a potentially dangerous mythical creature scenario.
In terms of genre, somewhere in the YA paranormal romance/romantic comedy area. It's more light-hearted than my other stuff, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to murder your favourite character when you least expect it. (And if that reminds you of anything - sorry not sorry.)
I've already given Oct 31st as my absolute, release no later than date, but I'm hoping for sooner.
If you have any questions about The Reaper's Heart, feel free to ask below.
We'll start with the blurb:
After years of loving Johnny from afar, Cassie is finally going to make a move. She times her day so she can walk him home after his basketball game and talk to him alone. But on that walk the two of them witness a car crash, and Johnny unwittingly reveals his secret: he's a reaper, charged with collecting the souls of the dead.
Cassie doesn't know what to think about the boy who she's had a crush on for so long. Her best friend, Kara, urges her to stay away, insisting he's dangerous. But, with no one else he can confide in, Cassie sees it as her chance to get close to him.
Will the reaper claim her soul before she can claim his heart?
Basically, there's Cassie, hopeless romantic who has finally decided to make a move on Johnny, and Johnny, who happens to secretly be a reaper. And he plays basketball and takes science tests. Both are seventeen at the start of the book. It's your basic girl meets boy, boy turns out to be a potentially dangerous mythical creature scenario.
In terms of genre, somewhere in the YA paranormal romance/romantic comedy area. It's more light-hearted than my other stuff, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to murder your favourite character when you least expect it. (And if that reminds you of anything - sorry not sorry.)
I've already given Oct 31st as my absolute, release no later than date, but I'm hoping for sooner.
If you have any questions about The Reaper's Heart, feel free to ask below.
January 19, 2018
Alternate Chapter 1 - AOI
Chapter one either comes out perfect first time, or it takes months - and dozens of revisions - to get right. As you might have guessed from the time it took to release, the fifth Innocence book went through more revisions than most of what I write. I have several very different 'chapter one's lying around.
So here's one of them. Just FYI, this does contain spoilers for Innocence #5. Even though it is a version of chapter one, some things that aren't mentioned until later in the actual book are referenced here, and it might constitute a spoiler. Only mild spoilers for past chapter one in the actual book, though.
Please also note that the vast majority of blog content has not been through the editing process, so may not be mistake-free. You can download a PDF of the alternate first chapter below.
[image error] aoialternatechap1.pdfFile Size: 499 kbFile Type: pdfDownload File I still don't have anything nailed down as far as what will be released next. The best I can offer in terms of concrete dates is this: The Reaper's Heart will be out Oct 31st if not before. I'm hoping for before. The aim is to follow it up reasonably quickly with its sequel, tentatively titled 'The Reaper's Soul'.
I am expecting that TRH and TRS will be the first two books of a trilogy.
So here's one of them. Just FYI, this does contain spoilers for Innocence #5. Even though it is a version of chapter one, some things that aren't mentioned until later in the actual book are referenced here, and it might constitute a spoiler. Only mild spoilers for past chapter one in the actual book, though.
Please also note that the vast majority of blog content has not been through the editing process, so may not be mistake-free. You can download a PDF of the alternate first chapter below.
[image error] aoialternatechap1.pdfFile Size: 499 kbFile Type: pdfDownload File I still don't have anything nailed down as far as what will be released next. The best I can offer in terms of concrete dates is this: The Reaper's Heart will be out Oct 31st if not before. I'm hoping for before. The aim is to follow it up reasonably quickly with its sequel, tentatively titled 'The Reaper's Soul'.
I am expecting that TRH and TRS will be the first two books of a trilogy.
October 13, 2017
It's here
Through the Cracks is officially available in ebook form. Buy it or read it through KU here.
Through the Cracks is the last book in the Over the Edge series, and the paperback should be available within the next 2-3 weeks.
Blurb:
Last year, Cierra tried to kill herself and instead discovered a secret portal to another world. Encouraged by the people she met there, Cierra finally felt like she made some headway against her depression. Until she receives a suicide note from her best friend, Olivia.
With Olivia in the ICU, Cierra struggles not only with the guilt of not seeing her friend's pain, but against the mental illness she thought she'd beaten.
Worse, a dark secret from Zach's past draws Cierra back through the portal and threatens to separate her from everyone she loves.
________________________
So for the first time in a long time, I don't know what book I'm releasing next. Or when. Because of the way time works - in that a certain amount of it is required to produce a book, and that my boss requires a certain amount of mine to be dedicated to my day job - I'm predicting no more releases this year.
But what am I working on?
- A short story set between Age of Innocence and Ghosts of Innocence that's probably destined to be a blog exclusive.
- A new series (trilogy?), the first book of which is called The Reaper's Heart. It's little more lighthearted than some of the stuff I've written... except for the whole death/reaper thing...
- A spin-off book (series?) from the Innocence Cooper series
I expect something to be out in the first half of next year... but what?
Through the Cracks is the last book in the Over the Edge series, and the paperback should be available within the next 2-3 weeks.
Blurb:
Last year, Cierra tried to kill herself and instead discovered a secret portal to another world. Encouraged by the people she met there, Cierra finally felt like she made some headway against her depression. Until she receives a suicide note from her best friend, Olivia.
With Olivia in the ICU, Cierra struggles not only with the guilt of not seeing her friend's pain, but against the mental illness she thought she'd beaten.
Worse, a dark secret from Zach's past draws Cierra back through the portal and threatens to separate her from everyone she loves.
________________________
So for the first time in a long time, I don't know what book I'm releasing next. Or when. Because of the way time works - in that a certain amount of it is required to produce a book, and that my boss requires a certain amount of mine to be dedicated to my day job - I'm predicting no more releases this year.
But what am I working on?
- A short story set between Age of Innocence and Ghosts of Innocence that's probably destined to be a blog exclusive.
- A new series (trilogy?), the first book of which is called The Reaper's Heart. It's little more lighthearted than some of the stuff I've written... except for the whole death/reaper thing...
- A spin-off book (series?) from the Innocence Cooper series
I expect something to be out in the first half of next year... but what?
September 23, 2017
Soon.
Through the Cracks is almost done. Here's the cover:
Over the Edge was an exploration of depression from the inside. Through the Cracks is more of a look from the outside - at how easy it is to not look deeper, to let signs of other's struggles slip past unnoticed.
Be sure to subscribe to the mailing list and/or follow me on Twitter to ensure you're the first to know when it releases.
Over the Edge was an exploration of depression from the inside. Through the Cracks is more of a look from the outside - at how easy it is to not look deeper, to let signs of other's struggles slip past unnoticed. Be sure to subscribe to the mailing list and/or follow me on Twitter to ensure you're the first to know when it releases.
September 2, 2017
Through the Cracks Blurb
The sequel to Over the Edge is called Through the Cracks.
It's due out soon...ish, but I haven't said much about what it's about...
So, blurb:
_____________
Last year, Cierra tried to kill herself and instead discovered a secret portal to another world. Encouraged by the people she met there, Cierra finally felt like she made some headway against her depression. Until she receives a suicide note from her best friend, Olivia.
With Olivia in the ICU, Cierra struggles not only with the guilt of not seeing her friend's pain, but against the mental illness she thought she'd beaten.
Worse, a dark secret from Zach's past draws Cierra back through the portal and threatens to separate her from everyone she loves.
_______________
And now you know :)
If you haven't yet read Over the Edge, you can grab it here so you'll be all ready for when the sequel releases.
It's due out soon...ish, but I haven't said much about what it's about...
So, blurb:
_____________
Last year, Cierra tried to kill herself and instead discovered a secret portal to another world. Encouraged by the people she met there, Cierra finally felt like she made some headway against her depression. Until she receives a suicide note from her best friend, Olivia.
With Olivia in the ICU, Cierra struggles not only with the guilt of not seeing her friend's pain, but against the mental illness she thought she'd beaten.
Worse, a dark secret from Zach's past draws Cierra back through the portal and threatens to separate her from everyone she loves.
_______________
And now you know :)
If you haven't yet read Over the Edge, you can grab it here so you'll be all ready for when the sequel releases.
July 14, 2017
Yes, That Is My Hand in the Cookie Jar
If you've ever wondered, a typical book I write is a little over 50 000 words. Over the Edge was about 53 000, Confessions of Innocence about 54 000. Age of Innocence was around 60 000 with an about 10 000 word short story with it.
Through the Cracks has been in the 40 000's for a couple of months.
Untitled book I shouldn't be writing is nearing 23 000. And what's untitled book I shouldn't be writing about? I'll just leave the below in all its not-too-spoilery, first-draft, Word-grammar-and-spelling-squiggled goodness.
Note to self: just add 'Ayin' to the dictionary already...
Anyway, that's what I'm doing right now - namely writing the book I shouldn't be writing instead of working on the ones I am supposed to be writing. Still no idea when that untitled book will be ready, but I'm hoping end of September for Through the Cracks... The cover reveal is probably not too far away - watch this space.
Through the Cracks has been in the 40 000's for a couple of months.
Untitled book I shouldn't be writing is nearing 23 000. And what's untitled book I shouldn't be writing about? I'll just leave the below in all its not-too-spoilery, first-draft, Word-grammar-and-spelling-squiggled goodness.
Note to self: just add 'Ayin' to the dictionary already...
Anyway, that's what I'm doing right now - namely writing the book I shouldn't be writing instead of working on the ones I am supposed to be writing. Still no idea when that untitled book will be ready, but I'm hoping end of September for Through the Cracks... The cover reveal is probably not too far away - watch this space.June 20, 2017
Age of Innocence (Innocence #5) Out Now!
Grab the ebook here!
Beginnings are hard (Innocence #5 alone has 4 completely different first chapters.) But, it wasn't until I was trying to wrap up a 5 book series that I realised exactly how hard endings can be...
I really thought this book would have been out months ago, but wrapping up all the loose threads and doing justice to all those characters wasn't easy. I hope I pulled it off in the end - sorry about the wait. I know they've only been out in the world for a couple of years, but I started writing these books in 2008, and it's really weird to think that I won't be writing that story anymore.
But... I might have thrown a few words into a book that focuses on a different character in the same world. A whole lot of characters from the Innocence Cooper series pop in and out, too. This is a barely an idea at this stage, but eventually it should be an actual spinoff book or series... watch this space.
That, of course, is getting ahead of myself... next out will be Through the Cracks - the sequel to Over the Edge. Which is probably the last book in that series... Over the Edge was always meant to be standalone, until it wasn't... Through the Cracks should be out around September of this year.
After that, I'm launching a new series - book one is called The Reaper's Heart. It's a paranormal romance... more on that later.
Anyway, I really hope you enjoy book #5! It's introductory price is $2.99, but since it is quite a bit longer, it will probably go up - be in quick. It is available in KU, too, and will be for the foreseeable future.
Beginnings are hard (Innocence #5 alone has 4 completely different first chapters.) But, it wasn't until I was trying to wrap up a 5 book series that I realised exactly how hard endings can be...
I really thought this book would have been out months ago, but wrapping up all the loose threads and doing justice to all those characters wasn't easy. I hope I pulled it off in the end - sorry about the wait. I know they've only been out in the world for a couple of years, but I started writing these books in 2008, and it's really weird to think that I won't be writing that story anymore.
But... I might have thrown a few words into a book that focuses on a different character in the same world. A whole lot of characters from the Innocence Cooper series pop in and out, too. This is a barely an idea at this stage, but eventually it should be an actual spinoff book or series... watch this space.
That, of course, is getting ahead of myself... next out will be Through the Cracks - the sequel to Over the Edge. Which is probably the last book in that series... Over the Edge was always meant to be standalone, until it wasn't... Through the Cracks should be out around September of this year.
After that, I'm launching a new series - book one is called The Reaper's Heart. It's a paranormal romance... more on that later.
Anyway, I really hope you enjoy book #5! It's introductory price is $2.99, but since it is quite a bit longer, it will probably go up - be in quick. It is available in KU, too, and will be for the foreseeable future.
June 1, 2017
Age of Innocence Blurb
Blurbs are hard.
So, this here may not be the final version... but since it's the version that exists right now, it's the version you can read:
After taking over the Council, Innocence Cooper thought leading it would be the easy part. Then a witch turns up dead, magic itself starts dropping in and out like bad Wi-Fi, and her boyfriend's father, Sam, goes missing.
All signs point to witch hunters, and Innocence's boyfriend, Elliot, is the next one in their sights.
With the hunters blocking magic, fighting them seems impossible, but there's no hiding anymore. Can Innocence save her Council, her people and her city?
Age of Innocence will be the final book in the Innocence Cooper series, and I'm excited for you all to get to read it. Its vague release date is June or July 2017. If you want to be the first to know when the ebook releases, join the mailing list. (Paperback is usually within a couple of weeks of the ebook.)
So, this here may not be the final version... but since it's the version that exists right now, it's the version you can read:
After taking over the Council, Innocence Cooper thought leading it would be the easy part. Then a witch turns up dead, magic itself starts dropping in and out like bad Wi-Fi, and her boyfriend's father, Sam, goes missing.
All signs point to witch hunters, and Innocence's boyfriend, Elliot, is the next one in their sights.
With the hunters blocking magic, fighting them seems impossible, but there's no hiding anymore. Can Innocence save her Council, her people and her city?
Age of Innocence will be the final book in the Innocence Cooper series, and I'm excited for you all to get to read it. Its vague release date is June or July 2017. If you want to be the first to know when the ebook releases, join the mailing list. (Paperback is usually within a couple of weeks of the ebook.)
April 24, 2017
Cover Reveal: Age of Innocence
Innocence #5 now has a cover! 
The covers in the Innocence Cooper series are based on the active powers used in the series - this one on golden light. All covers in this series have been designed by Rebecca Frank .
The book itself is still in progress - I don't yet have a concrete release date, but it deals with Innocence and her new Council facing the threat of witch hunters. Included after the novel will be a short story (Ghosts of Innocence.) More info to come...
Anyway, I think the I Am Not Innocence cover is still my favourite, but this one is pretty great too. Leave your comments on the cover below :)
The covers in the Innocence Cooper series are based on the active powers used in the series - this one on golden light. All covers in this series have been designed by Rebecca Frank .The book itself is still in progress - I don't yet have a concrete release date, but it deals with Innocence and her new Council facing the threat of witch hunters. Included after the novel will be a short story (Ghosts of Innocence.) More info to come...
Anyway, I think the I Am Not Innocence cover is still my favourite, but this one is pretty great too. Leave your comments on the cover below :)
