L.S. May's Blog, page 4
April 12, 2017
The Cutting Room Floor - Trials
There are a lot of alternate versions of scenes or partial scenes from Trials of Innocence (book #3.) Since Age of Innocence (book #5) is taking longer to get right than I expected, I thought I'd share some with you. They aren't necessarily as fleshed out or proofread as scenes in the final book, but sometimes it's fun to see what might have been.
Fair warning, these are bound to contain at least minor spoilers for book #3
Alternate opening:
It’s not revenge.
I tell myself that every day. That my mission to kill is about protecting anyone else Kim’s coven – my targets – would seek to hurt.
They’d lived for more than two thousand years and wreaked havoc on countless lives. Mine was just the latest. And it couldn’t be allowed to continue.
My name is Innocence Cooper, and I am no one. Heir to nothing. Ruler of nothing. Just a witch with a goal. A vendetta. A hit list that I’ve reduced to one name: Jim Sanders. Their leader.
I must have tracked him two hundred times. Always a different city, a different country. And every time, gone by the time I got there.
Alternate Innocence and Bullet scene where they meet in his office not on rooftop
The last time I’d seen him, he’d been powerless. He’d left Red Vulture before they could kick him out, and neither of us had really known what he was going to do next.
Now, he was back in that leader’s chair.
“You could have called,” he said. “Then you’d know I work here.”
I could have called. But I’d been afraid to. I’d pictured Bullet in the gutter, or on a park bench – or, at best, some sort of leaky, mouldy, rundown old building. The problem with Are you okay? was that he could answer No.
“I’m sorry.”
He closed his laptop lid and regarded me. “I know.”
Like always, his expression gave so little away. Was he mad at me, or just being as cold and distant as he was with most people?
I leaned on the desk. My fingers crackled with purple lightning and I pulled back.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“Huh? The purple energy?”
“Fire is when you’re angry. Ice when you’re hurt or scared. What’s the purple energy for?”
I was surprised there was anything he didn’t know about me. “Nervous energy,” I said.
The very edge of his mouth turned up, like he was trying not to smirk. “Do I make you nervous, Shadow?”
“It’s Innocence,” I muttered.
“Really?” I caught the hint of a laugh in his voice, and he raised his eyebrows. “You’ve gone back to that?”
“It’s not that bad.”
“Worse than Trevor.”
I traced the lines of my left hand with my right. “I guess.”
“Can I ask you something?” he asked.
I let him read my answer in my eyes.
“When you asked Fume to help you hunt down the members of Kim’s coven, how close did you come to asking me?”
I dropped my gaze. It had never even crossed my mind.
It should have. Bullet would have killed them, not just played defence. He’d had more experience in fights.
I reached one hand across the desk, touching the backs of his fingers with my own. Again, all I had to say was, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” His eyes were on my hand, his expression still blank.
I wondered if he’d pull away. If I should pull away.
A purple spark jumped from my skin.
Bullet sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair, his hand falling from my reach. “You chose him.”
“Yeah.”
“Technically speaking, I should be calling security.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “Why aren’t you?”
“Because it’s you.”
“Maybe we can be friends.”
He smiled. “Didn’t realise we’d stopped.”
“So you got your power back and what?” I asked. “You came straight back to lead Red Vulture?”
The papers on the desk were perfectly straight. His pens were organised by colour in a holder. His laptop cord wasn’t even twisted. More than anyone – more than me – he’d always looked at home there at that desk.
So it was a little surprising to hear him say, “I’d rather not have to lead. But there wasn’t really anyone else.”
“Oh.”
He tilted his head. “You miss it.”
He knew me better than I knew myself. He always had.
“You know,” he said, “we could use you. There’s a war going on, after all.”
“I know.”
If Bullet commanded them, they would do as he said. They would accept me if he told them to.
It seemed smarter to join the winning side of the war, end it quickly and pick up the pieces in the aftermath. To take back Red Vulture and instate myself as the conqueror and ruler of the side of good.
Erin would be safe as Bullet’s prisoner – and out of my way. And the world would be united, the prophecy fulfilled.
There was only one problem: Elliot.
He wouldn’t see it as a means to an end. The second I became the leader of Red Vulture, he would leave me. He would think the position would lead me to kill. Fighting the war would lead me to kill. And he was probably right.
“I would rather you joined my fight,” I said.
“I’m on your side,” he replied. “Even if it doesn’t look that way.”
I raised my eyebrows.
He walked around the desk and slid a hand onto my shoulder. “You think I’m out in those battlefields every day because I want to kill random people?”
“No, I... Why don’t you just tell everyone not to go?” I asked suddenly. “No fighters, nothing the Resistance can do.”
“Tried that,” he said. “It caused the worst ice raid we’d ever seen.”
“Oh.”
He traced from my shoulder to my neck. “I’m out there because” – his fingers tangled through my hair to my jaw – “those are your people. And they need protection.”
I closed my eyes as his thumb made its way towards my lips. Then I caught his wrist with an icy hand. “Please don’t.”
He and I had never been much for words. More for comfortable silences and casual contact. But this didn’t feel casual.
“Hurt or scared?” he asked in a whisper.
“Dating someone else,” I replied.
“Guilt?” he asked. “You feel guilty because you don’t feel guilty?”
“Is that even possible?”
Bullet leaned against the wall and sighed. “You miss leading Red Vulture. Maybe you miss me.”
“Don’t make me do this again,” I said.
“What?”
Break your heart, I thought. He would scoff at the term. He would claim I couldn’t hurt him – that nothing could. But he couldn’t fool me.
Alternate Innocence and Bullet scene in Innocence's apartment, chapter 7
I wasn’t used to those blue eyes avoiding me. He was often silent, but never quite like this. Never like there was a barrier holding back his words.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For helping with this.”
He shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
“Not to me.”
He turned then, studied me for a moment. “That look,” he said, “is the only form of torture that has ever got to me.”
“What look?”
He shook his head. He drew a breath. “That look that says you care. But not enough.”
“I… care a lot,” I said.
“But not enough.”
I didn’t want to think about what he meant by that. About the unfortunate, unchangeable fact that I wanted Elliot and not him.
I reached my hand out, fingertips brushing his wrist. It was easier to say I was sorry with a touch than to form the words.
He straightened. He didn’t pull away.
“I missed you,” he murmured. “Like you wouldn’t believe.”
My voice was weak. “I missed you, too. A little.”
I felt him tense, his weight shift on the couch. He looked at me, his jaw set and his gaze hard. “Really?”
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“I know everything about you, Shadow. Except what’s in your heart.”
Fair warning, these are bound to contain at least minor spoilers for book #3
Alternate opening:
It’s not revenge.
I tell myself that every day. That my mission to kill is about protecting anyone else Kim’s coven – my targets – would seek to hurt.
They’d lived for more than two thousand years and wreaked havoc on countless lives. Mine was just the latest. And it couldn’t be allowed to continue.
My name is Innocence Cooper, and I am no one. Heir to nothing. Ruler of nothing. Just a witch with a goal. A vendetta. A hit list that I’ve reduced to one name: Jim Sanders. Their leader.
I must have tracked him two hundred times. Always a different city, a different country. And every time, gone by the time I got there.
Alternate Innocence and Bullet scene where they meet in his office not on rooftop
The last time I’d seen him, he’d been powerless. He’d left Red Vulture before they could kick him out, and neither of us had really known what he was going to do next.
Now, he was back in that leader’s chair.
“You could have called,” he said. “Then you’d know I work here.”
I could have called. But I’d been afraid to. I’d pictured Bullet in the gutter, or on a park bench – or, at best, some sort of leaky, mouldy, rundown old building. The problem with Are you okay? was that he could answer No.
“I’m sorry.”
He closed his laptop lid and regarded me. “I know.”
Like always, his expression gave so little away. Was he mad at me, or just being as cold and distant as he was with most people?
I leaned on the desk. My fingers crackled with purple lightning and I pulled back.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“Huh? The purple energy?”
“Fire is when you’re angry. Ice when you’re hurt or scared. What’s the purple energy for?”
I was surprised there was anything he didn’t know about me. “Nervous energy,” I said.
The very edge of his mouth turned up, like he was trying not to smirk. “Do I make you nervous, Shadow?”
“It’s Innocence,” I muttered.
“Really?” I caught the hint of a laugh in his voice, and he raised his eyebrows. “You’ve gone back to that?”
“It’s not that bad.”
“Worse than Trevor.”
I traced the lines of my left hand with my right. “I guess.”
“Can I ask you something?” he asked.
I let him read my answer in my eyes.
“When you asked Fume to help you hunt down the members of Kim’s coven, how close did you come to asking me?”
I dropped my gaze. It had never even crossed my mind.
It should have. Bullet would have killed them, not just played defence. He’d had more experience in fights.
I reached one hand across the desk, touching the backs of his fingers with my own. Again, all I had to say was, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” His eyes were on my hand, his expression still blank.
I wondered if he’d pull away. If I should pull away.
A purple spark jumped from my skin.
Bullet sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair, his hand falling from my reach. “You chose him.”
“Yeah.”
“Technically speaking, I should be calling security.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “Why aren’t you?”
“Because it’s you.”
“Maybe we can be friends.”
He smiled. “Didn’t realise we’d stopped.”
“So you got your power back and what?” I asked. “You came straight back to lead Red Vulture?”
The papers on the desk were perfectly straight. His pens were organised by colour in a holder. His laptop cord wasn’t even twisted. More than anyone – more than me – he’d always looked at home there at that desk.
So it was a little surprising to hear him say, “I’d rather not have to lead. But there wasn’t really anyone else.”
“Oh.”
He tilted his head. “You miss it.”
He knew me better than I knew myself. He always had.
“You know,” he said, “we could use you. There’s a war going on, after all.”
“I know.”
If Bullet commanded them, they would do as he said. They would accept me if he told them to.
It seemed smarter to join the winning side of the war, end it quickly and pick up the pieces in the aftermath. To take back Red Vulture and instate myself as the conqueror and ruler of the side of good.
Erin would be safe as Bullet’s prisoner – and out of my way. And the world would be united, the prophecy fulfilled.
There was only one problem: Elliot.
He wouldn’t see it as a means to an end. The second I became the leader of Red Vulture, he would leave me. He would think the position would lead me to kill. Fighting the war would lead me to kill. And he was probably right.
“I would rather you joined my fight,” I said.
“I’m on your side,” he replied. “Even if it doesn’t look that way.”
I raised my eyebrows.
He walked around the desk and slid a hand onto my shoulder. “You think I’m out in those battlefields every day because I want to kill random people?”
“No, I... Why don’t you just tell everyone not to go?” I asked suddenly. “No fighters, nothing the Resistance can do.”
“Tried that,” he said. “It caused the worst ice raid we’d ever seen.”
“Oh.”
He traced from my shoulder to my neck. “I’m out there because” – his fingers tangled through my hair to my jaw – “those are your people. And they need protection.”
I closed my eyes as his thumb made its way towards my lips. Then I caught his wrist with an icy hand. “Please don’t.”
He and I had never been much for words. More for comfortable silences and casual contact. But this didn’t feel casual.
“Hurt or scared?” he asked in a whisper.
“Dating someone else,” I replied.
“Guilt?” he asked. “You feel guilty because you don’t feel guilty?”
“Is that even possible?”
Bullet leaned against the wall and sighed. “You miss leading Red Vulture. Maybe you miss me.”
“Don’t make me do this again,” I said.
“What?”
Break your heart, I thought. He would scoff at the term. He would claim I couldn’t hurt him – that nothing could. But he couldn’t fool me.
Alternate Innocence and Bullet scene in Innocence's apartment, chapter 7
I wasn’t used to those blue eyes avoiding me. He was often silent, but never quite like this. Never like there was a barrier holding back his words.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For helping with this.”
He shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
“Not to me.”
He turned then, studied me for a moment. “That look,” he said, “is the only form of torture that has ever got to me.”
“What look?”
He shook his head. He drew a breath. “That look that says you care. But not enough.”
“I… care a lot,” I said.
“But not enough.”
I didn’t want to think about what he meant by that. About the unfortunate, unchangeable fact that I wanted Elliot and not him.
I reached my hand out, fingertips brushing his wrist. It was easier to say I was sorry with a touch than to form the words.
He straightened. He didn’t pull away.
“I missed you,” he murmured. “Like you wouldn’t believe.”
My voice was weak. “I missed you, too. A little.”
I felt him tense, his weight shift on the couch. He looked at me, his jaw set and his gaze hard. “Really?”
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“I know everything about you, Shadow. Except what’s in your heart.”
December 10, 2016
Titles
Titles are always difficult. Sometimes I know the title while I'm writing the story, sometimes I pick it out before, but often I agonise over it after the first draft is done.
In the Innocence Cooper series, each book had at least one working title before getting its final title. Let's take a look...
Book #1, Confessions of Innocence:
First title: 'Darkness' - probably never a real contender for the actual title, but it was the name slapped on my early drafts.
Second title: 'Redefining Innocence' - yup, this one ultimately became book two's title, but it started life as an idea for book one. And yes, this is super-confusing if I ever want to look through old drafts.
Book #2, Redefining Innocence:
First title: 'Illuminating Shadow' - based on the idea that Innocence was going by 'Shadow' for a time.
Book #3, Trials of Innocence:
First title: 'Tears of Innocence' - if you've read it, I'm sure you understand. But it never really felt right, and 'Trials of Innocence' has a bit more meaning to the story.
Book #4, I Am Not Innocence:
First title: 'Queen of Witches' - I still love this one, but I really wanted this book to fit the pattern of the other titles and end with the word Innocence.
In the Innocence Cooper series, each book had at least one working title before getting its final title. Let's take a look...
Book #1, Confessions of Innocence:
First title: 'Darkness' - probably never a real contender for the actual title, but it was the name slapped on my early drafts.
Second title: 'Redefining Innocence' - yup, this one ultimately became book two's title, but it started life as an idea for book one. And yes, this is super-confusing if I ever want to look through old drafts.
Book #2, Redefining Innocence:
First title: 'Illuminating Shadow' - based on the idea that Innocence was going by 'Shadow' for a time.
Book #3, Trials of Innocence:
First title: 'Tears of Innocence' - if you've read it, I'm sure you understand. But it never really felt right, and 'Trials of Innocence' has a bit more meaning to the story.
Book #4, I Am Not Innocence:
First title: 'Queen of Witches' - I still love this one, but I really wanted this book to fit the pattern of the other titles and end with the word Innocence.
October 5, 2016
What on Earth am I Doing?
Resigning myself to the fact that I'm human, it looks like there will be no more new releases from me this year... which means 2017 is shaping up to be pretty good.
My top priority is Innocence #5, Age of Innocence. Sadly, this will probably be the last Innocence Cooper novel :( Unsadly, it's probably not the last of the world or all of the characters. And it comes with a bonus short story at the end called Ghosts of Innocence.
There is an Over the Edge sequel in the works - tentatively titled Through the Cracks. I'm not one to force a story to be longer than it wants to be, so this might be a novella. Or it might work its way up to a full novel. Either way, it's looking good for 2017 release.
I have a new series in the works as well - I feel bad when I work it on it, because I know some people out there are waiting on some of the above, but it's a lot of fun. It's a YA paranormal romance... and that's all I'll say for now. Book one and maybe even two of this series could make it out there by 2017.
And, of course, who knows what I'll write without really meaning to write it...
My top priority is Innocence #5, Age of Innocence. Sadly, this will probably be the last Innocence Cooper novel :( Unsadly, it's probably not the last of the world or all of the characters. And it comes with a bonus short story at the end called Ghosts of Innocence.
There is an Over the Edge sequel in the works - tentatively titled Through the Cracks. I'm not one to force a story to be longer than it wants to be, so this might be a novella. Or it might work its way up to a full novel. Either way, it's looking good for 2017 release.
I have a new series in the works as well - I feel bad when I work it on it, because I know some people out there are waiting on some of the above, but it's a lot of fun. It's a YA paranormal romance... and that's all I'll say for now. Book one and maybe even two of this series could make it out there by 2017.
And, of course, who knows what I'll write without really meaning to write it...
August 19, 2016
New Release: I Am Not Innocence (Innocence #4)
I Am Not Innocence is out now. Get your copy here. (Currently available in ebook form from Amazon, also free to read with KU.)
Blurb:
Finding the afterlife not to her liking, Innocence Cooper's archenemy, Kim, uses her connections to get her hands on a possession spell. Kim plans to use it on Innocence – to slot into her life and fool everyone. But Kim didn't count on Innocence having a powerful, recently deceased ally, and the process might not be as seamless as she hoped.
Born a spellwrite and with the rare ability to use more than one active power, Kimaya was hailed a queen by the witching world, her power envied and revered. But she wanted to throw it all away for the ungifted boy who stole her heart. The decision to sacrifice her position for love will cost her more than she could possibly imagine.
When I started writing about Innocence, I was originally going for the whole villain protagonist thing - where the villain is the main character. But the world I threw Innocence in made things a little more complicated - good and evil weren't so easy to pin down. So I Am Not Innocence is another take on the villain protagonist idea, with someone a little more solidly in the villain camp.
The title is a play on 'I am not innocent,' because Kim would be the first to admit she's not, and, of course, with the possession spell there's the idea of her literally not being Innocence. Because what's the point of a title with only one meaning?
This one was a lot of fun. I think it's the best one yet. I hope you enjoy it :)
Blurb:
Finding the afterlife not to her liking, Innocence Cooper's archenemy, Kim, uses her connections to get her hands on a possession spell. Kim plans to use it on Innocence – to slot into her life and fool everyone. But Kim didn't count on Innocence having a powerful, recently deceased ally, and the process might not be as seamless as she hoped.
Born a spellwrite and with the rare ability to use more than one active power, Kimaya was hailed a queen by the witching world, her power envied and revered. But she wanted to throw it all away for the ungifted boy who stole her heart. The decision to sacrifice her position for love will cost her more than she could possibly imagine.
When I started writing about Innocence, I was originally going for the whole villain protagonist thing - where the villain is the main character. But the world I threw Innocence in made things a little more complicated - good and evil weren't so easy to pin down. So I Am Not Innocence is another take on the villain protagonist idea, with someone a little more solidly in the villain camp.
The title is a play on 'I am not innocent,' because Kim would be the first to admit she's not, and, of course, with the possession spell there's the idea of her literally not being Innocence. Because what's the point of a title with only one meaning?
This one was a lot of fun. I think it's the best one yet. I hope you enjoy it :)
July 15, 2016
Cover Reveal Innocence #4
So, if you've been paying attention, you already know a few things about the upcoming Innocence Cooper book. It's a little different from the previous books, because this one is told from the point of view of Kim (Innocence's archenemy,) instead of the point of view of Innocence herself.
I wanted something about that difference to show in the cover, hence the white background. The covers of the Innocence Cooper series each reflect one of the active powers witches can have in the series. Book #1 shows fire, #2 ice, #3 the purple electricity pulses. In some ways those powers tie to the stories - some more strongly than others.
Book #4 shows dark energy, which is a rare and dangerous gift that is granted by the dark masters instead of the spirits who gift ever other power. The dark masters themselves will make an appearance in book #4, and we will finally know why they favour who they favour.
Enough of that. Cover:
I might be biased, but it's basically my favourite cover ever.
(All covers in the Innocence Cooper series have been designed by Rebecca Frank, http://bookcovers.rebeccafrank.design/)
I wanted something about that difference to show in the cover, hence the white background. The covers of the Innocence Cooper series each reflect one of the active powers witches can have in the series. Book #1 shows fire, #2 ice, #3 the purple electricity pulses. In some ways those powers tie to the stories - some more strongly than others.
Book #4 shows dark energy, which is a rare and dangerous gift that is granted by the dark masters instead of the spirits who gift ever other power. The dark masters themselves will make an appearance in book #4, and we will finally know why they favour who they favour.
Enough of that. Cover:
I might be biased, but it's basically my favourite cover ever.(All covers in the Innocence Cooper series have been designed by Rebecca Frank, http://bookcovers.rebeccafrank.design/)
July 6, 2016
What's Next?
Every time I called Over the Edge a standalone, I put a little disclaimer - a for now? Or a question mark. Why did I do that?
There is a little something that comes after in progress. Now, it might not be novel-length - I don't know yet - and it might not be soon. But... something is in the works.
The other major thing in the works is, of course, Innocence #4. At the start of the year I committed to three books this year - Over the Edge, Innocence #3 and Innocence #4, and I'm happy to say that I'm almost there. (Read: sometime in the next one to three months.)
I find it easier to write the whole book than the blurb, so that's still in progress, but basically it's Kim's story (spoilers for book #2 ahead.)
Book #4 is part prequel, part sequel. It contains the story of Kim (then Kimaya) and her coven becoming immortal, the hows and the whys and a bit more about who she was and what her life was like before. It also contains the story of now-dead Kim turning to her powerful friends for a possession spell to use on Innocence Cooper.
I'm also playing with a first draft I wrote earlier this year that might become a new series... but not for a while. And Innocence #5 needs some work. I'm not very good at the whole focusing-on-one-thing thing.
There is a little something that comes after in progress. Now, it might not be novel-length - I don't know yet - and it might not be soon. But... something is in the works.
The other major thing in the works is, of course, Innocence #4. At the start of the year I committed to three books this year - Over the Edge, Innocence #3 and Innocence #4, and I'm happy to say that I'm almost there. (Read: sometime in the next one to three months.)
I find it easier to write the whole book than the blurb, so that's still in progress, but basically it's Kim's story (spoilers for book #2 ahead.)
Book #4 is part prequel, part sequel. It contains the story of Kim (then Kimaya) and her coven becoming immortal, the hows and the whys and a bit more about who she was and what her life was like before. It also contains the story of now-dead Kim turning to her powerful friends for a possession spell to use on Innocence Cooper.
I'm also playing with a first draft I wrote earlier this year that might become a new series... but not for a while. And Innocence #5 needs some work. I'm not very good at the whole focusing-on-one-thing thing.
June 10, 2016
Over The Edge - Out Now
You can get it here. Also available through Kindle Unlimited.
Over The Edge is the story of Cierra, a teenage girl who tries to kill herself by jumping off a cliff and instead discovers a secret portal to another world. Obviously, that's a little heavy, but it does have its funny moments too. Plus it's very much a romance.
Cierra is a modern teenager in a new town. She's a little lonely, keeps herself busy with YouTube and Wikipedia and all the rest, and she's hiding her depression from her friends and family. Justin lives in - well, imagine the lovechild of a treehouse and a cave. He doesn't know what a phone is and is frustrated with the small amount of the world he's allowed to see.
Ugh - I hate describing books. I never know what to put in and what to leave out and which spoilers matter and... maybe you should just go read it?
I hope you like it, and if you have time, leave a review.
Over The Edge is the story of Cierra, a teenage girl who tries to kill herself by jumping off a cliff and instead discovers a secret portal to another world. Obviously, that's a little heavy, but it does have its funny moments too. Plus it's very much a romance.
Cierra is a modern teenager in a new town. She's a little lonely, keeps herself busy with YouTube and Wikipedia and all the rest, and she's hiding her depression from her friends and family. Justin lives in - well, imagine the lovechild of a treehouse and a cave. He doesn't know what a phone is and is frustrated with the small amount of the world he's allowed to see.
Ugh - I hate describing books. I never know what to put in and what to leave out and which spoilers matter and... maybe you should just go read it?
I hope you like it, and if you have time, leave a review.
May 28, 2016
Five Things You Didn't Know About the Innocence Cooper Series
1: The first draft to book #5 was finished before book #4 was even conceptualised.
2: Cinder wasn't planned to be (minor spoiler's) daughter until the sentence where it was revealed - I was just as surprised as Innocence.
3: Innocence's middle name is... revealed in book #5, and she hates it far more than she hates her first name.
4: Succession rules for the Council have no gender preference, although females tend to have stronger magic.
5: In the first draft of book #1, Innocence was 16 years old. She was aged up to 17 for a couple of reasons: a) so her younger sister could be 16 and hence a little more adult, and b) so she could be a little more believably independent over the course of the series. (She turns 18 between book #1 and book #2)
So, is there anything you wish you knew about the Innocence Cooper series? Ask below in the comments. You won't get major spoilers of future books out of me, though :)
2: Cinder wasn't planned to be (minor spoiler's) daughter until the sentence where it was revealed - I was just as surprised as Innocence.
3: Innocence's middle name is... revealed in book #5, and she hates it far more than she hates her first name.
4: Succession rules for the Council have no gender preference, although females tend to have stronger magic.
5: In the first draft of book #1, Innocence was 16 years old. She was aged up to 17 for a couple of reasons: a) so her younger sister could be 16 and hence a little more adult, and b) so she could be a little more believably independent over the course of the series. (She turns 18 between book #1 and book #2)
So, is there anything you wish you knew about the Innocence Cooper series? Ask below in the comments. You won't get major spoilers of future books out of me, though :)
May 14, 2016
2016 Update...
So, Trials is out. Grab it here. Or, if you're a bit behind, go grab Confessions here and get caught up. I'll wait.
Right now I am working on my new/side/standalone(?)/other project, Over the Edge. So... what is that about?
The official blurb will be around soon. It's basically an issues novel, wrapped in a romance novel with a portal fantasy painted over the top.
And what about Innocence?
Well... Innocence #4, I Am Not Innocence, is set to come out before the end of this year. Vague, I know, but I'd rather not give a date and then disappoint because editing will take... as long as it takes.
And why is it called I Am Not Innocence?
Because for the first time, it's not from Innocence's perspective. Yes, she is in it. And so is her usual supporting cast - her sister, Elliot, Bullet etc. But someone else is going to take the lead on this one. Who? I'll let you speculate for a bit :) But you're going to love it.
So when do you get another Innocence Cooper book from Innocence's point of view? At the moment Innocence #5 is scheduled for 2017.
Hopefully that gives you an idea of what's coming. If I didn't ask myself the right questions, just put yours down in the comments.
