Cecelia Earl's Blog, page 8

#Cover Reveal: After the Ashes

I am working on a novella for readers of the Kingdom Come series. It falls between book one When Ash Rains Down and book two When Smoke Rains Down. It is told from Warrior Angel Mila’s point of view. (She’s mentioned briefly at the end of book two.) After the Ashes takes place during the same time frame as When Ash Rains Down, but will give insight and background into the hierarchy of angels in my series. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the world beyond Julia’s earthly setting. Here’s a sneak peek for you!

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A Kingdom Come Novella: Mila’s story

Book 1.5 After the Ashes

When Rach’s Guardian Angel disappears, Warrior Angel Mila is assigned as her new Guardian. Busy competing with Nicholas for the spot at the head of the squadron of saints she doesn’t think she’s the person for the job, but can’t bring herself to tell Archangel Michael no. She’s determined to prove she’s the right angel to lead the saints in battle. If Nicholas can be both Guardian and Warrior, then so can she.  

Where Nicholas is strict and fierce, she’s fiery and impulsive. He’s a rigid Traditionalist, she’s quick and always ready to attack. But will her strength become her weakness when she continuously makes mistakes, and worse, falls for her rival? 

Who will earn the coveted position, especially once Nicholas’ charge lives… and hers dies?   

After the Ashes is a behind the scenes look at the hierarchy of angels from Cecelia Earl’s Kingdom Come series.

 

Chapter One

(A work in progress DRAFT)

The sound of metal screaming pulls me from my battle stance. All at once blackness descends upon our training grounds, cloaking its golden light with evil. I toss down my depleted bow and arrow and tighten the chains around my waist, gripping a Glory-filled sword. The bow and arrow shimmer before disappearing. They’ll be ready when I call upon them later.

With the cloud of smoke comes a smell so vile I nearly curl in on myself. Hyper-senses are both a blessing and a curse. The army of demons lower themselves, their every breath a puff of gray smoke that curls around our heads, arms, and legs. Angels from throughout the forest stop their workouts and band together to meet our enemies. We untangle ourselves from the tendrils of fog and release a surge of Glory, transforming our bodies. Protected by a golden aura of strength and courage, we prepare to battle, no longer muddled by a smoky haze or putrid smell.

“Mila, my sweet.” A voice, haggard from billions of years of hate and despondency, whispers in my ear. “We meet again.”

I refuse to say the demon’s name, but swivel, sword aimed at his chest. “What do you hope to gain from this?”

“Me, personally? Or, do you mean my group in general?”

I narrow my eyes and thrust the sword closer until the tip touches his scaly skin. Clothed in a gray suit, the button-up shirt below his jacket is open, revealing a green chest. His pupils are a blazing purple slit, his eyes black pits. The angel he once was is gone. Only the faintest resemblance can be found. Maybe in his chiseled cheeks or full lips, now spread across his wicked face.

When I don’t respond, he adds. “I’ve missed you.”

Revolted, disgust fills my mouth and I try not to gag. “You made your choice.”

“You were supposed to join me.”

“I said no, and I meant it.”

I look around. Nicholas is nowhere to be found. Archangel Michael isn’t far from me. He’s facing my direction, maybe watching me. Testing me. Time to up my game. I slide the tip of the sword up until it grazes my former friend’s Adam’s apple. “I’ll ask one more time. Why—and as importantly—how have you invaded this area?”

Never has a place this close to Heaven been so infiltrated by a swarm of Fallen as large as this. Especially a place covered in Warrior Angels. Lucifer has free reign—yet—but his minions? Not so much.

I glance over and find that Archangel Michael is indeed watching. And Nicholas has come into view as well, but it appears he’s distracted. I turn back toward the demon who’s babbling on.

“… all of this yes, sir and no, sir you go through.” He pushes my sword aside as if it’s a toy, ignoring the line of black ichor it releases from beneath his scaly arms. “You’d have none of it, if you changed your mind. Come with me.” He steps in toward me, so close his lips graze my ear. “I can promise, it’s so much better away from here.”

Shuddering, I jump back and flick the sword back to his chest. Before I can thrust it through, a cluster of his demon friends swarm us, grinning hideously.

“Mila. Still so pretty,” one says.

“Still so pure,” says another.

“Still so obedient.” My ex-friend, Legion, sneers.

There’s a flash of movement to my right. I pivot and leap straight up and out of harm’s way, landing behind my attacker. I whip around, intending to swipe my sword across Legion and his entire gang, but when my blade reaches the spot where he stood, he’s shoved one of his demon pals in front of him. I continue to slice through the lot of them, but Legion has disappeared, only his deep, rumbling laughter lingers in the polluted air. Having beheaded several demons, I rush to unwrap the detention chains from around my waist. Calling upon my core Glory, but before I join their spirits in the realm I’ve sent them to, I see that Nicholas has joined the fight. Ducking my head, determined to do this quickly to get back to the battlefield, I push through the ward, the division lines rippling like a wall of water.

The Realm of Detention is a vacuum, no air, no light, time stands still. It’s a long drawn out minute, never-ending. The boundless space is both burning and freezing. I cloak my skin in Glory to remain unscathed. Holding out my left hand, palm facing forward, I pull the demon spirits toward me. Once I have them before me, I lasso my chains to encircle each in its own detention space with its own chains.

The final one is fighting me, but I pull as tight as I can, still rushing more than I know I should to return before Nicholas can one-up me in front of Archangel Michael. Knowing him, he’s winning in detaining more spirits, giving instructions to that human charge of his, and commanding the nearby saints. It’s infuriating how he always winds up looking superior to me. Well, not this time.

I will earn the position at the head of the squadron of saints.

The click of the manacles isn’t as loud as it should be, but when I tug they seem secure enough, so I leave the demons to push back through the ward lines and rejoin the battle.

It’s beyond bizarre to see our training ground smeared with ugliness. Between the golden rays of shimmering light are streaks of smoke and billows of ash. The ground, usually lush and brilliant, is slick with demon ichor. Even the trees bend, duller, wheezing, as if trying to not breathe in the evilness of demon breath.

It’s their hazy breathing that seems to be taking its toll on Nicholas’s charge. She’s not looking so hot, and therefore he’s distracted. I roll my eyes. This takes away the fierceness of the competition. It’s hardly even. Yet, I puff out my chest when Archangel Michael takes note of my having detained Legion’s gang with a nod of his head.

As the battle wanes, Raze rushes up beside me. “Mila, what’s your deal?”

Startled by his tone, I lower my sword just as one of the remaining demons drops from tree limbs above my head. Un prepared, Raze lets a flaming arrow fly, converting his demonic body into a pile of vile ash.

“What are you talking about?” I ask.

He turns, his eyebrows lowered over amber eyes. “Word has it you’ve wreaked havoc in Detention.

My chest quivers, that flicker of uncertainty returning. The manacles. I narrow my eyes at him before bounding through the ward’s streaming walls into the airless black world away from worlds.

What he said is true. Demons are releasing demons. I find the set of manacles that had detained the final demons I’d placed there earlier. Empty… and faulty.

There are other angels hidden by time and space that I can sense rounding up the rampant demons as well, which means I’ve messed up and others know about it.

The sounds of demonic laughter are hideous and echoing until I hold out both palms and release a surge of Glory, pulling the lot of Fallen to me as if by magnetic force. With the same force, I send forth links of chains, wrapping them round and round, ensnaring the wicked, tightly this time. I coat each manacle with enough Glory that there’s no way they’re not perfectly secure.

Exhausted, but certain my work is complete, I return to the training ground, still encroached upon by once-angelic creatures. I shudder to think that once we all communed together, singing and laughing side by side.

Bow and arrow ready, I spin slowly, surveying the area, scanning the spaces between each tree, searching among the golden tree limbs. Nicholas, shoulders tense and angry, retreats with his human charge. He must’ve been told to leave the area to deal with her. I tighten my lips and shake my head. My success here today will be bittersweet, what with his competition taken out of the equation.

“Mila.” Archangel Michael is beside me, though I hadn’t noticed him approaching.  I chide myself for my mistakes today, but know he must’ve seen my artful fighting and the skill in how I was able to detain masses at a time. I’m much more efficient than my counterparts. There’s much I could teach a squadron that no other—not even Nicholas—could. Straightening up, I lower my weapon and face him, chin high.

“Sir,” I say. His eyes are golden and warm my face, paternal and caring. Yet, there’s something there, in his eyebrows and lips, something like dismay.

“You fought well today.”

I don’t smile, but blink and puff out my chest. “Thank you, sir.”

“But you must work to be more strategic and thoughtful.”

My Glory wanes and for a moment a waft of rank demon breath invades my nostrils. I cough. “Yes, sir.”

“Your impulsivity is a detriment that we can’t afford. Take care when you fight and detain.”

I nod, unable to speak through the stench.

He glances over to where Nicholas is retreating through the trees and he smiles. A smile that falters when his eyes meet mine once more before he moves on to oversee the other Warriors.

A smile that will propel me to fight smarter.

That will propel me to win, because the next time I will be the one who shines more brightly than Nicholas.

Charge or no charge, I will be the better Warrior, and I will be the leader Archangel Michael chooses in the end.

It’s my pen name’s birthday!

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A year ago I decided not to query my paranormal angel trilogy and instead to go into the publishing business for myself.

I chose a pen name, started a Twitter account, author Facebook page, and WordPress website. Shortly after, I created Instagram, Tumblr, and Pinterest accounts for Cecelia.

Then I spent at least a month on covers.

Then I revised my first book– and revised it some more– and then sent it off to my editor. Months and months later, I published it.

Months after that, I wrote, revised, edited, and published a second novel. I’m about to publish a short story and begin working on a novella before writing the third novel in my Kingdom Come series.

It’s been a fun, BUSY, and exciting year. Thanks for following along with my posts and journey.

Thanks, more than anything, for buying and reading my books. If I didn’t have readers, I may not still be here.

Much love, Cecelia ❤

#YALit and Love Triangles: Love ’em or hate ’em?

Love triangles. Do you love them or hate them?

Personally, I enjoy them. But I’ve  had some Goodreads comments letting me know that not all readers share my opinion. Somewhere I recently read that it might benefit authors to change it up a bit, rather than have the triangle with two guys always going for the same girl, have two girls interested in the one male character.

Have you realized how very true this is in YA fiction?

All of these examples have two guys, one girl:

[image error]Scarlet must choose between the two Archer brothers.
[image error]Which will Katniss end up with: Gale or Peeta? This is one case where my favorite does not win the main character’s heart in the end.
[image error]Sigh… Will. My favorite. But, Tessa also has the sweet Jem longing for her heart.
[image error]Clary’s best friend Simon may not stand a chance against Shadow Hunter Jace.
[image error]Bella’s got feelings for her BFF, Jacob, and pale, sparkly Edward.
[image error]Elena has to choose between Stefan and Damon. I know which I prefer, how about you?
[image error]Zoe’s torn between the love she feels for her best friend, Kieran, and the new, hot guy, Shay.
America must choose between her childhood sweetheart and Prince Maxon. Who do you prefer?

And however many more love triangles there are out there in YA lit…

Are there different kinds of love triangles? Or are they all the same ol’ same ol’?

The best friend vs the new guy. The nice, cute guy vs the hot, bad guy. The safe, known guy vs. the unknown, dangerous yet protective guy. The girl and the two brothers. The girl chooses between the two best friends, or maybe even blood brothers or parabati.

You get the idea.

What are your favorite, or most loathed, love triangles that you’ve read? What do you love, or hate, about them?

Do you choose NOT to read a series simply because there’s the potential for a love triangle? Which series did you in so that you vowed never to invest in another?

Usually, love triangles lead to Team A and Team B which means some readers choose one over the other and vice versa… which also means there’s a chance of disappointing a large number of readers in the end. Are there love triangles listed above where the majority of readers agree with how the romance turns out for the main characters in the end? Or… don’t?

Now, is there the potential to be a love triangle in my series? Yes… but it’s muted and somewhat unclear. I’ve had readers from book one that had no idea it was even hinted at. I guess it’s all about what you’re reading for and how perceptive you are. My books are little more paranormal and a little less romance, though it’s definitely there, overtly between Julia and Cole, anyways. Book two may make the triangle a little more apparent, and I hope it doesn’t turn you off!

Also know that there will be competition for the boys’ hearts, not just the girl’s! (Meet Mila in book 1.5! Coming soon!)

What are your thoughts on love triangles where there are girls fighting over a guy’s interest for a change? Have you read any YA lit where this is the case?

I’ve posed lots of questions. Please share your comments, responses, or additional examples below!

Find me on Facebook, twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, (@authorcecelia) or email me ceceliaearl@yahoo.com I’d love to hear from you. And if you check out my books, let me know what you think! I aim to please, so any writer who shares opinions with me can help to shape the future of my stories.

Much love, Cecelia ❤

#Cover Reveal: Before the Ashes

I’m excited to share my latest work with you. (Scroll down.) I’ve written a short story, a prequel to the Kingdom Come series. It takes place at the same time that book one opens, in the fall, homecoming week, but it is told from the point of view of a senior named Kari. Kari is introduced in When Ash Rains Down, but the main books in the trilogy are told from Julia White’s point of view.

I had great fun writing from another character’s perspective and hope you get as much enjoyment out of reading it. Best of all, it’ll be FREE on all e-book retailers very soon.  For now, here’s the (work in progress) blurb and first chapter. I’d love to know what you think, so please leave a comment or email me or find me on twitter or Facebook! (ceceliaearl@yahoo.com) (@authorcecelia) Thanks! Can’t wait to hear from you!

Much love,  Cecelia ❤

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Kari’s actions will shake the world as she knows it… and there’s nothing she can do to fix the error of her ways.

Kari is nobody special. She’s a high school spirit enthusiast, an aspiring Homecoming Queen, and a straight (almost) C-student who benefits from tutoring sessions with the anti-social, actual Homecoming Queen, Julia White. Kari’s a pleaser, and she’ll deny herself anything if it means making someone else happier, and that includes Julia. So, if that means studying to get a good grade on her math test, then that’s what she’s bound and determined to do.

Yes, Kari’s just another senior at Shady Creek High School… until shadows creep to cover the land around her renovated farm house one autumn evening. It’s a night she won’t remember, but its impact will shake the world as she knows it—because in those shadows hides a powerful, conspiring demon with big plans for her.

And one day soon, he’ll order her to put those evil plans into play.

Just this once, she needed to say no. She needed to deny someone—no, something—what he was asking for. Because, by summer, nobody will be safe. Especially not Julia. And acing a math test won’t fix the error of Kari’s ways. Nothing will.

Before the Ashes is a Kingdom Come Series Short Story, A Prequel to When Ash Rains Down

Chapter One

 

After the announcement, my palms start to sweat. I sit down, hand on my crownless head, and breathe, slowly, in and out. Is the room starting to tilt? No. No, the gym is perfectly intact, as am I, seated on a lacquer-covered bleacher, names and letters and numbers carved into the once-perfect shiny surface. I touch my cheeks, lick my lips, and clear my throat.

Once perfect.

“Kari!” Fingers reach down my arm to find my hand to tug at it. “Get up! What are you doing down there? You’re missing it.” My eyes travel up the arm of one of my two best friends, Caroline, until I reach her eyes. They’re brown like mine, and right now they’re looking at me as if I’m insane. Nobody, not even her, knew how badly I’d wanted it to be my name called this afternoon. Shaking my head as if the disappointment can be erased like my sister’s etch-a-sketch pictures, I rise. I clap so hard each beat stings the palms of my hands. I smile so hard my cheeks nearly crack.

Then I see her.

And him.

Of course, it would have to be him.

But she looks so bewildered, so uncomfortable, that rather than feel anger or jealousy, I feel sympathy for her. She’s stuffed her hands in her sweatshirt’s pockets and looks as though she’d like to stuff her head inside its hood as well. The boy, Cole, grabs her hand and grins at her, pulling her forward and in front of him almost as if he’s about to start waltzing with her. Instead, they stop and pivot, facing the entire school population to receive their homecoming crowns—Julia White the queen and Cole Stevens the king. The words of Principal Lambert are a blur of sound, blending with the murmurs of the crowd. My other best friend, Kerry, is wearing so much perfume I want to gag. It seems we’re afforded a little more space on the bleachers because of it, but I’m lightheaded and nauseous.

All I can see are Julia’s and Cole’s eyes on each other, and the way her lips turn up into a small smile, like she can’t make them obey to continue to pout. Her shoulders have relaxed with him next to her, but I can tell she’d still rather bolt.

Oh, to be the one by his side.

Steeling myself for the pang of jealousy to return, I push back my shoulders and raise my chin. I will make this the best homecoming she’s ever had. If she’s been named queen, she must be deserving. It’d be one thing if she were proud or condescending or flippant about it. She’s not. She’s stressed and distracted, shy and bothered. She looks sad.

I’d like her to be happy, even if for only one day. She should enjoy being queen, the way I would have. And I’ll help her to.

Practically bouncing down the bleachers after the assembly, set on my new self-assigned role—assistant to the homecoming queen—I assemble a plan of action.

 

The following Monday morning, I arrive at school with all my ammunition: a tiara, a royal cape lined with faux fur, long-stemmed flowers, and floral vines.

“What,” Caroline asks after swallowing a sip of coffee, “are you doing with all that?”

Kerry stops walking to dramatically put her hands on her hips. “Did you decide to join the drama team or something?”

I sigh. “I don’t think it’s even called a team, but no.” The tiara slips from my grasp, and while bending to pick it up without dropping anything, get my legs tangled in vinery. “Care to help?”

Caroline looks at her coffee and then at me. She shakes her head. At least the droop in her lips look apologetic.

Kerry rushes and plucks the tiara from the ground and begins to unwind me like I’m a spool of thread. Once I’m free and dizzy, she announces, “There! All better.” She looks at the objects in her hands. “Now what? What are we doing with all this crap?”

“Yeah, what are you up to, if not decorating a stage or something? Is this for the homecoming dance or the parade?”

I smile. “No.” After removing the items from Kerry’s arms, I walk on, hoping to get to Julia’s locker before she does. Moments later, however, the queen is speed-walking past with her cute, but odd, friend following at her heels. “Here’s my chance.” I don’t mean to say it aloud, but once it’s out there my friends look at me, once again, like I’ve gone mad, and then at each other with their eyebrows raised. I point up.

Above our heads are the homecoming flags we raised after our homecoming committee meeting the day before. Flags with the images of our newly crowned king and queen.

“Ohhhhh, got it,” they say in unison.

I roll my eyes and rush up to Julia as gracefully as I can with my arms full. My counterparts bound up behind me, shrieking and giggling.

“Happy Homecoming!” I cheer while laying the vines across Julia’s shoulders and wrapping them around her like Hawaiian leis.

After I place the tiara on her head, my friends say, voices filled with awe, “She’s royalty!”

Stepping back to admire my first attempt at cheering on our queen, I realize that Julia is not smiling. She’s holding her arms out toward us, palms facing us.

“Y-you look ridiculous,” her white-haired friend tells her.

“Girls, enough,” Julia says. Then she tells us to stop or to stay or to go and I wilt. She checks her watch and I realize she’s pressed for time.

“S-sorry,” the boy says to me before turning to follow Julia into the building.

I perk up. We’ve made her late and stressed her out, but that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to make the week festive for her. “Come on girls,” I call moving toward the building.

Even Caroline must be catching the wave of school spirit as she uses her free hand to hold the door for me. “Well, will wonders never cease?” I say. She raises her eyebrows and takes another sip of coffee. She follows me in, letting the door close on Kerry. I can’t help but laugh while heading toward Julia’s locker to pretty it up before she gets out of class.

“That,” Kerry says, stealing up behind Caroline to swipe her coffee and put it to her lips to sip before Caroline can react, “wasn’t at all nice.”

“What are you even talking about?” Caroline reaches to take back her cup and then reconsiders. “Never mind. Keep it.” She struts off, her heels clacking against the linoleum. “Later, ladies.”

Kerry shrugs. “Her loss.” And she sashays off in the other direction, her tall-heeled boots also pounding against the floor.

I weave the vines through the sticky placeholders I purchased until Julia’s locker is framed by them. I take a leftover rose for my hair as the hallway fills with students and their voices. I’ll stash the rest of the extras in my locker for another day to keep the surprises for Julia coming all week long.

When I get to my own locker, I feel the weight of someone’s stare. Out of the corner of my eye, I see an unfamiliar boy. Turning my head, his eyes grab a hold of mine. They’re bottomless, colorless, dark. He’s cute—cuter, even, than Cole—and I get chills, but I’m not sure they’re the good kind.

He’s beyond attractive, but I’m kind of creeped out by him.

He smiles, though, and I can’t help but smile back.

26 FREE Romance Novels

Are you looking for some new books to fill your e-reader with this summer? Going on a vacation and planning some time to read and relax? Well, I’ve got 26 books for you to peruse and read FOR FREE!

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Get your free books by clicking here!

Happy Reading!

Cecelia ❤

Summer Book Sale!

My second book, When Smoke Rains Down, is on SALE today! For the next two days it will be only $1.99 on Amazon.

It will go back to its regular price of $2.99 on July 7, BUT it’s always FREE if you subscribe to Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program.

Happy Reading!

(Don’t be confused. This is the NEW e-book cover image on Amazon!)

Grab your copy here!

If only humans knew the invisible danger lurking around them…

In the aftermath of an explosion and Homecoming battle, Julia tries to form some semblance of a routine: work, study, and visit her brother who remains hospitalized. Unable to confide in anyone about her double life of being both human and angel, and fearful she’ll bring more death and destruction to those she loves, she pulls away from her family and best friend.

When demons once again start to show up at every turn, seemingly bringing about her brother’s deepening depression, she demands her sword from Nicholas. Ever the stern Guardian Angel, he forbids her from using it. Isolated, she takes protecting her brother into her own hands. But when demons show they have evils hidden within their weapons in addition to their ability to siphon souls from the living, Julia’s not sure she knows the best way to handle saving him any longer. Especially when ash-colored lines begin to appear on humans, lines of demonic poison that travel through their veins toward their hearts and alter their moods.

Thrust into a dark world of conspiring demons, Julia is in more danger than she ever imagined possible. To stop evil from spreading and overtaking those she loves, she’ll have to seek out the one person she mistrusts most–especially when a line appears on her own arm, and her apathy toward doing much of anything, including saving anyone, grows.

Enter a complex world where humans, demons, and angels collide, all battling to rule the Earth. For readers who enjoy young adult paranormal romance and dark fantasy. Fans of City of Bones, Hush Hush, Unearthly, Halo, and Hidden Wings will be captivated by this unique take on angels and demons.

When Smoke Rains Down is Book Two in the Kingdom Come series. Book Three, When Fire Rains Down, the final installment, will be out late 2017.

“An AMAZING sequel that leaves me DYING for the next one!” ~ early reader of When Smoke Rains Down

Summer Book SALE!

My second book, When Smoke Rains Down, is on SALE today! For the next three days it will be only 99 cents on Amazon.

(If you miss the 99 cent sale, it'll be on sale for $1.99 for three days after that!)

It will go back to its regular price of $2.99 on July 7, BUT it's always FREE if you subscribe to Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program.

Happy Reading!




(Don't be confused. This is the NEW e-book cover image on Amazon!)

Grab your copy here!

If only humans knew the invisible danger lurking around them...
 
In the aftermath of an explosion and Homecoming battle, Julia tries to form some semblance of a routine: work, study, and visit her brother who remains hospitalized. Unable to confide in anyone about her double life of being both human and angel, and fearful she'll bring more death and destruction to those she loves, she pulls away from her family and best friend.
 
When demons once again start to show up at every turn, seemingly bringing about her brother's deepening depression, she demands her sword from Nicholas. Ever the stern Guardian Angel, he forbids her from using it. Isolated, she takes protecting her brother into her own hands. But when demons show they have evils hidden within their weapons in addition to their ability to siphon souls from the living, Julia's not sure she knows the best way to handle saving him any longer. Especially when ash-colored lines begin to appear on humans, lines of demonic poison that travel through their veins toward their hearts and alter their moods.
 
Thrust into a dark world of conspiring demons, Julia is in more danger than she ever imagined possible. To stop evil from spreading and overtaking those she loves, she'll have to seek out the one person she mistrusts most--especially when a line appears on her own arm, and her apathy toward doing much of anything, including saving anyone, grows.

Enter a complex world where humans, demons, and angels collide, all battling to rule the Earth. For readers who enjoy young adult paranormal romance and dark fantasy. Fans of City of Bones, Hush Hush, Unearthly, Halo, and Hidden Wings will be captivated by this unique take on angels and demons.

When Smoke Rains Down is Book Two in the Kingdom Come series. Book Three, When Fire Rains Down, the final installment, will be out late 2017.

"An AMAZING sequel that leaves me DYING for the next one!" ~ early reader of When Smoke Rains Down

So, I did this…

I decided to revamp my e-book covers, hoping they may better fit in with other Fantasy books.  Here they are. What do you think?

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Grab a FREE copy!

If you don’t already have When Ash Rains Down, go ahead and grab it now for free! https://goo.gl/uW25L7

(Sale runs TODAY ONLY. Regular e-book price is 99 cents)

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When Smoke Rains Down– An Excerpt From My Favorite Chapter

Book Two in my Kingdom Come trilogy will be released TOMORROW! I’m nervous and excited to have it out in the world. I’d never written a sequel before, and the writing process had all sorts of scary factors. Namely, I didn’t want to disappoint readers. I worried I’d forget about something they might want to read more about from Book One, or that I’d take the story in a direction they wouldn’t like, or do something with a character they wouldn’t approve of. But, it’s done now… so nothing left to do, but wait and find out.

Here’s an excerpt from When Smoke Rains Down.

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My Favorite Chapter

Nicholas is doing pull-ups from a low-hanging tree branch and doesn’t acknowledge my arrival, so I follow suit. I squat and leap up to grab a branch. I’m getting stronger. He used to have to hoist me up to reach. I’ve also doubled the amount I can do before taking a break to do lunges and squats.

“Sprints,” he calls out when I’ve finished all the sets of arm and leg workouts.

I race back and forth between two of the tallest tree trunks while he times me. It’s apparent why I’ve been eating so much and obvious how much strength I’ve gained. Yet the stony expression on his face remains. This workout will make me ache for days.

When finally I’m dripping with sweat and fatigued, he walks over to me.

“Time for your lesson.” Then he walks to the center of the clearing without waiting for a response.

I allow myself two seconds to close my eyes and take a deep breath.

“Now, Angel.”

I push out my wings and push up off the ground and glide over to him, lowering myself gently behind him. He turns and narrows his eyes. I put my wings away, proud of myself even if he’s not. Flying had been rocky at best the first few times I’d tried it. I’d had no control and crashed into more than a few branches—and one bird. Poor thing.

“Summon the bow and arrow we worked with last time,” he orders.

Bow, I think. Nothing happens. I reach my hand out into the air. Bow. A spear materializes in my closed fist. I growl. “It’s all I ever get!”

“Calm down. Try again.”

I let go of the spear and it disintegrates. “Bow,” I yell. The spear is back in my fist.

He sighs. “The spear is the lowest of the weapons. You have to work your way up.”

“I know this,” I say through gritted teeth. “Spear, bow, rope, chains…” I don’t bother to mention my sword. I’ve stopped asking for it.

I try to calm down. Spear, I think. I get the spear I’ve pictured. One that’s longer and narrower than the one I’d been conjuring up. I let it go and take a deep breath through my nose. Bow. The same short, thick spear materializes.

Nicholas reaches into the air and pulls a bow and arrow from it with ease. He hands them to me. “Show me how to set the arrow and aim for the target.”

Nicholas had explained the reason the demons had overrun the hospital was most likely because of Noah, either because they’re after him, or after something he has. He wants me to be ready the next time I’m faced with a hoard of demons on my own. He wants me to be able to get rid of demons from a distance by sending an arrow across a space, and though I can’t summon the bow and arrow, my aim is pretty good.

“Bullseye,” I say after striking the center of the target three times in a row.

“Pride will get you nowhere,” he says, retrieving the arrows and returning them to me.

Rather than aim the arrow at the target, I aim it at a knot in a tree and strike its center.

“Julia, focus,” he shouts, his voice stern and reprimanding. I can’t stand the annoyance that flares to life in his eyes when I don’t just do as he tells me. He’s so bossy and controlling. More than once, I’ve nearly rammed him alongside his head with a metal object. After half an hour more, he relaxes. “Better. Now…”

He doesn’t get a chance to finish his command, because Michael has entered the clearing. Twice before he’s come to oversee either my progress or Nicholas’s training technique. I’m not sure which. Nicholas is that much tenser when he’s around, like he’s trying to prove himself or something.

And sure enough, he straightens and his shoulders go rigid. I guess he’s been loosening up around me, because the difference in his personality is laughable. His face is all hard angles and his hands move at lightning speed. He won’t look me in the eyes.

I summon a spear and defend myself as Nicholas comes at me. We continue lunging at one another and defending jabs until Michael leaves with a nod and a “Good work.”

Nicholas gets up off the ground where he pinned me and brushes off his clothes.

“Wouldn’t it serve you better to cool it when he’s here? Let me win and pin you or something?”

He looks up from buttoning his overshirt. “No.”

“Well, I mean if you want to look like this almighty trainer, then wouldn’t it benefit you to make it look like I’m able to fight well?”

He strolls over to me where I’m still standing holding my weapon. “No. If you want to overpower me, then you have to earn it. Do it authentically. I don’t play games to win. Or lose.”

I nod, chewing on my cheek, and then he adds, surprising me, “You are able to fight well.”

I’m almost touched by the compliment, so touched that I lunge forward, kick Nicholas’s feet out from under him, and land on top of him. I push the long metal rod across his throat and pin him to the ground.

“Thanks,” I say.

He looks at me and whips me around, pinning me with the edge of a blade to my throat. “You made that too easy. Stay on the offensive and pay attention.”

He lays the dagger down in the dirt and holds himself above me with his palms on the ground, looking at me. His breath is on my face, and suddenly it’s a gazillion times hotter and harder to breathe. He’s so beautiful to look at when he’s not scolding me and bossing me around. I realize how very much I needed to hear that compliment come from him, how very much I wanted to make him proud of me. He runs his tongue over his bottom lip. I take in a sharp breath. His eyes are on mine a moment longer before he pushes up off the ground and jumps to his feet.

“We’re done for today.”

Once again, he strides off, leaving me to show myself out.

“Sword,” I demand of the air around me. A bow and arrow appear in my fists. “Gah!” I shout at the trees.

I let the weapons drop into the shimmering dirt and stomp off through the trees.