Courtney Cole's Blog, page 3

Cougar Chronicles Sequel!!!! Finally!!

(Yes, finally!)

 

Whenever I have signings, one of the most commonly asked questions is WHEN WILL CONFESSIONS OF AN ALLI CAT HAVE A SEQUEL??  Yes, it’s usually spoken in all shouty caps.

I know.  Alli Cat was released in 2012, and It’s now 2016.  BUT!! Time is just a number, like age, because TODAY, the sequel is released.

If you want to read Sara’s story– it’s here, it’s here, it’s here!

 

Our definition of Cougar:

A sexy, confidant woman who knows who and what she wants.

This is Sara’s story.

She’s fiery, sassy and explodes at any given second.

She’s sexy, funny and wildly inappropriate.

She pokes holes in eggplants,

And has an obsession with penises.

She might be a train-wreck,

but she sure has fun before she crashes.

YOU CAN BUY ON AMAZON HERE.  

 

Also, just in case you haven’t read Confessions of an Alli Cat, it’s on sale for three days.. from now until April 26th.  If you enjoy wildly inappropriate things, you need this book in your life.

 

I hope you enjoy the sequel.  I’m sorry it took so long to write.  But I do plan on writing other novellas in the Cougar Chronicles.  They’re a fun break from reality— a chance to laugh at ridiculous things.  Have fun with them!

Have a great weekend!

XO,

Courtney

Nocte Trilogy Boxed Set!!

Hey, all!

The Nocte Trilogy boxed set just went live on Kindle!   It includes all three books in the Trilogy– Nocte, Verum, and Lux– and includes the novella, Initium.  It will be $4.99 for a very limited time…. so if you’ve been waiting to read this series– now is the time to snap it up!

XOXO,

Courtney

Buy on Amazon 

Let’s take 2016 by the balls!

Happy New Year!!   *throws confetti and sips a mimosa*

I hope your 2015 was awesome, and that you’re gearing up to completely crush 2016.  I know I am.  I took a lot of time off last year for personal reasons, but I’m ready to get back in the saddle now.

I had an epiphany last night in the middle of the night.  Yes, I know.  I don’t know why my moments of genius always come at 2am, but they do, which is weird because I’m SO not a night-owl.

But anyway.

I’ve decided that I’m not going to live in fear in 2015.  

I’ve been hesitant to fully engage in life for the past few months because of a personal issue, something I’m still battling to overcome—because I’m AFRAID that it might come back or recur.

And you know what?  That’s a dumb way to live.

If I spend my time worrying that it will come back, it’ll mar each and every day that I have, and so in essence, I’m ROBBING MYSELF OF JOY and I’m giving my fear power.

I’m not willing to do that, and I hope you aren’t either.  Fear is a choice, and I’m choosing to close the door on mine.

No matter what is troubling you, I hope that you choose to put it aside, to decide that you’ll handle it IF it should ever arise.  Don’t worry about it before it happens.

I’m ready to grab 2016 by the balls and make it my bitch– and I hope you are too!

Let’s DO THIS!!

XOXO–

CoCo

Lux is available on Nook!

For those who have been waiting–Lux, the final book in the Nocte Trilogy, is available on Nook! It took a while for it go live, but it’s there now. Nook readers, are you ready to fall into the rabbit hole? DoItDoItDoIt. Get your Nook copy here.

Get LUX on Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

Add LUX to your Goodreads TBR

NOCTE and VERUM are still on sale for $.99. That will end this week. 

Get the series on Amazon 

Get the series on iBooks 

Get the series on Nook 

Get the series on Kobo 

“Lux” is here… can you handle it?

The series finale to the Nocte trilogy is finally here! Are you brave enough to jump into the rabbit hole?

Get LUX on Amazon | iBooks | Nook* | Kobo

Add LUX to your Goodreads TBR

*We’re still waiting on Nook to go live. The link will be posted once it is!

My name is Calla Price and I’m broken.

My pieces are all around me, floating on the wind, even as I desperately try to grasp them.

Who is dead? Alive? Insane?

What is the truth?

I don’t know.

I do know this: The darkness is strangling me. With every breath, I choke on another lie.

My mind has protected me, but that shield will soon be lowered.

All will be revealed.

Every answer to every question.

It’s all been leading to this.

Don’t be afraid.

Be terrified.

Get LUX on Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

Add LUX to your Goodreads TBR

Series reading order: Nocte (#1), Verum (#2), Initium (#2.5), Lux (#3).

Get NOCTE: Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | Audible (Add on Goodreads)

Get VERUM: Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | Audible (Add on Goodreads)

Get INITIUM: Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo (Add on Goodreads)

Get LUX: Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo (Add on Goodreads)

Dear readers,

It’s done. Lux is live on all platforms except for B&N. We’re still waiting on that one. For some reason, they always seem to be last.

I’ve been getting some messages from readers… it seems you will either love LUX or kinda hate it. I would apologize for that, but…. I won’t. You see, if a writer waters down the story to try and please everyone, it turns it into a very vanilla, very forgettable book. I didn’t want that. AT ALL. I knew Calla’s story was vibrant and rich from the moment that it first came into my mind.

In fact, I hesitated to write it for two years. Yes, TWO YEARS. I wasn’t sure I could do it justice. I knew that the reader would have to think like Calla in order to get the full effect. I knew that in the end, it would be a polarizing series, one which the reader would either love or hate. As a writer, we tend to stay away from those kinds of stories… no one likes for their art to be hated.

But, Calla wouldn’t leave me alone. I saw her in my dreams, she would burst into my head at inopportune times, because SHE wanted her story told. So… I did it. I wrote it. Then I re-wrote it. I re-wrote it again and again, and I tried to make it softer and more definite, more palatable, and more cut-and-dried. But in doing that, I ruined the story. So finally, I said fuck it,and re-wrote it the way it had to be, without regard to whether or not the reader would hate it in the end.

This is NOT a book or a series that you can read without thinking about. It’s not an empty-headed cotton-candy beach-read kind of book. It couldn’t be. That wouldn’t have done justice to either Calla, or the idea for the series. It had to be complex. It had to be twisted. It had to make you crazy. You had to feel like Calla, and I couldn’t spoon-feed you the truth. You have to come to it on your own. I’m sorry.

But I’m not sorry.

You can’t be mad at me, though. I warned you in the beginning (see the attached letter below that I wrote to you over a year ago).

XX,

Court

You can buy the series at the links below.

NOCTE and VERUM are still on-sale today for $.99. That will end this week. 

Get the series on Amazon 

Get the series on iBooks 

Get the series on Nook 

Get the series on Kobo 

An excerpt from “Lux” (Nocte Trilogy #3) coming October 28, 2015

It’s coming. ‪#‎LUX‬ is coming. It’s coming it’s coming it’s coming its coming its coming itscomingcomingcoming.

And now I’m going to give you a sneak peek. Just you. Because you should feel it. In your bones. In your bones. In your hollow reed bones.

10. Ten days. Just ten days left. The light will shine. And the things it will let you see may just be the ones that destroy you. An excerpt will go out TOMORROW, October 19, *only* to members of the Nocte List. Are you part of it? Sign up. If you Dare.

Are you ready? Then start.

There’s a fork in the road and even though I see it, I can’t avoid it.

One road goes left, one goes right, and neither of them ends well. 

I feel it in my bones,

In my bones,

In my hollow reed bones. 

He grabs my hand and we walk…through a tunnel…through a hall… through the dark. 

“It’ll be ok,” he whispers.

Will it?

“We have to do this,” he says.  “But I’m with you. I won’t leave you.”

I nod because I believe him, because no matter what else, I know that much is true. He won’t leave me.  

The room is shrouded in shadows, in flame, in secrets.  I step inside, and peer around, and the heat from the fire warms me, warms my blood, and the blood pumps through my heart. 

I sing a song of nonsense, and it sings back.  The notes echo and twist in the air, and I swallow them whole.

“Come out,” I call behind me, because I know they’re there.  

I can’t see them, but they’re always watching. 

The eyes appear, inky black, and glistening, and they blink once, twice, three times.

“I can see you,” I announce and it growls and then I’m crushed beneath the dark, beneath the weight, beneath the oppression.

“You don’t scare me,” I lie.

Because it does scare me.  It’s followed me my whole life, and finally, finally, I’ll find out what it is. 

Why it’s here.

Why it wants me. 

Because above all, I know it’s here for me.

I know it

I know it.

The walls around me pulse and hum and growl,

There’s savagery here, there’s grace. 

But above all, there’s oblivion and no matter what I do, I will be sucked into it. 

I know it.

I feel it.

I’m crazy.

 “Are you ready? she asks and we nod, because we aren’t but it doesn’t matter. 

She nods and the flames lap, and the words start,

One for one for one.

I fall backwards from the precipice

into oblivion.

The endless

Endless oblivion. 

Don’t forget: An excerpt will go out TOMORROW, October 19, *only* to members of the Nocte List. Are you part of it? Sign up.

40 Things I’ve Learned in 40 Years

Sooooo, my 40th birthday was yesterday.

I thought it was going to be this big, terrible, scary thing, but you know what?  It wasn’t.  I feel good, I’m healthy, I’m in an awesome place in my life, and I’ve learned A LOT in this 40 years.  So much, in fact, that I wouldn’t go back to my 20’s if you paid me.  And I’m not even kitten you right meow.

I celebrated with a margarita lunch, and I wore a tiara all day.  I went to Epcot and wore a Happy Birthday button, so tons of people were wishing me a great day, and I dragged my kids and hubby to Medieval Times, because I’m nerdy like that.  (Why does the Green Knight always get to win?)

I’m not gonna lie.  This past year was hard for me.  SO HARD because of personal reasons.  And you know what?  Life is like that sometimes.  You take your knocks.  You fight back.  You get knocked down, so you get up again, and kick life in the face and you keep going.  That’s what adversity and trauma teach you.  YOU CAN DO IT.  You can make it.  You keep getting up in the morning, and you just keep doing it.  That’s how you make it to better and brighter days.

I’ve learned a few other things in the past forty years, too.  In no particular order, here are 40 bits of knowledge that I’ve banked up:

You can’t please everyone, so you just have to please yourself.  It sounds trite, but it’s true.
Wear a Pashmina to the airport.  It doubles as a blanket if your flight gets delayed.
Take care of your skin.  You’re not going to be 20 forever (thank God!) but having good skin makes you look that way.
Be your own hero.  You can’t always count on someone else swooping in and having your back.  So you know what?  HAVE YOUR OWN.
Chocolate chips will do in a pinch when you get a sweet tooth and three’s nothing else in the house.
Sleep in when you can and order room service in your robe.
You’re never too old for Harry Potter or DisneyWorld.
Drink lots of water.  It keeps you pretty.
What you put into the world comes back to you.  Karma is real, people.
Blood isn’t always your family– it’s who you choose.
What doesn’t kill you really will make you stronger. Or crazy.
You can dye your hair 12 times in month and it won’t fall out.  Probably.
You can never aim too high.  I mean it.
No one is better than you, and you aren’t better than anyone.
Laugh lines are totally worth it.
If you rely on someone else to make you happy or to complete you, you’ll never be happy or complete.
A good night’s sleep can literally make all the difference.
Don’t judge yourself too harshly.  There are plenty of people in the world who will do that for you.
To prevent a hangover, drink a glass of water for every alcoholic drink you have.  I’m serious. It works.
Don’t drink wine and hard liquor in the same night, though.
Your mistakes don’t define you.
Use manners and treat others with respect.  it goes a long way.
Don’t carry hatred.  The only person it hurts is you.
If you don’t try, you won’t fail.  But you won’t win, either.
Your kids will learn to value what you value.  So be a good role model.
TRUST Y OUR GUT.  This took me 40 years to really get through my thick head.  Your gut will NOT steer you wrong.
Invest in good shoes.
Do things that scare you.  It will wake you up and make you feel alive.
No matter how much money you make, save some.  Even if you aren’t making much money right now, save a little. Even $5 a week will add up eventually.
You become like the people you surround yourself with, so choose them wisely.
Ask for what you want and say what you need.  People can’t read your mind.
Vacations are important.  Take them.  The memories you make with your family are priceless.  Your job comes second to them.  When you’re dead and gone, your job will just find someone to replace you. You are irreplaceable to your family.
 Artificial foods/sweeteners can’t be good for you.  Don’t eat them.  Just use moderation with the real stuff instead.
Comparison is the thief of joy. (<
Feelings aren’t facts.  When you get into arguments, don’t use them as such.
Everyone has their own crosses to bear and demons to fight.  Don’t judge them.
If you don’t have time to shower before bed, at least wash your face and feet.  You’ll sleep better. (See #17)
Vulnerabilities and weaknesses don’t make you weak.
Never ask if a woman is pregnant, no matter how much she looks like she is.
It’s ok to paint over chipped toenail polish.

There you have it.  These are the things I can think of off the top of my head.

Age is just a number.  It really is.  Feel fantastic and do fantastic things.  That’s what matters. My goal now is to make my 40’s my b@tch.  My plan is to make it the best decade of my life so far.  I’ve never shirked away from anything in my life, and I’m not about to start now.

Watch out, 40’s.  I’m coming for you. 

I’m going to do the things that are still on my goal list.

I’m going to write the books that are bursting to get out.

I’m going to take more vacations.

I’m going to stress less about the things I can’t change.

I’m going to keep toxic things out of my life, and keep reaching for more knowledge, more grace.

I’m going to walk in the blood of my enemies.  << Ok, fine.  That last one was an exaggeration.  Lol.  But you get the point.

I’ve got this.  And no matter what point you are in life, or how old you are, so do you.

 

LUX Release Date

Hi guys!

Sooooo, I’ve been getting a lot of inquiries about the release date of LUX (book three in the Nocte Trilogy). I’m afraid I have some news that you aren’t going to like much.

The release date has been pushed back until August, hopefully the first couple weeks of August. I know. That’s so far away. Please don’t hate me.

There are a couple of reasons.

1. I’ve gone through what you might call a personal crisis. I’m ok, so don’t worry, but it put me on my ass for awhile. Today is the first day that I’ve actually been at my keyboard in weeks. It wouldn’t have been fair to Calla’s story to try and write it while I was so unfocused. Calla deserves the best story possible, and so do you. I’ll be back in the saddle again on Monday to finish up LUX and to start writing a couple other exciting projects.

2. Audible bought the audio rights for the Nocte Trilogy, so after I finish LUX, I have to wait 60 days after I turn it in to Audible to release it on e-book and in print. So even if I finished it tomorrow (which isn’t feasible), then I would still have to wait until June 29 to release it. That’s not going to happen. I’m probably a few weeks away from finishing it including the editing process, and then the release date has to be 60 days after I turn it in.

So, to summarize, I’ll be working hard to bring you the best possible conclusion of LUX. The story is all in my head– I know exactly what is going to happen…. and trust me, you won’t see it coming. I can’t wait to start writing again, and bring you this story.

Thank you so much for your patience with me, and I hope you’re having an amazing week!

XOXO,

Courtney

M. Leighton’s “Pocketful of Sand” is here!

A story of heartbreak, loss, redemption and second chances: Pocketful of Sand from New York Times bestselling author M. Leighton

Get it on Amazon | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Google Play

Add it on Goodreads

 

“She’s beauty for my ashes. And I’m hope for her heartache.”—Cole Danzer

I don’t know what makes a great love story. Is it that instant attraction when boy meets girl? The passionate kisses and the fairy-tale ending? Or is it a lifetime of tragedy, paid in advance, for a few stolen moments of pure bliss? The pain and the suffering that, in the end, you can say are worth it for having found the missing piece of your soul?

The answer is: I don’t know. I don’t know what makes a great love story. I only know what makes my love story. I only know that finding Cole when I did, when Emmy and I were running from a nightmare, was the only thing that saved me. That saved us. He was more broken than I was, but somehow we took each other’s shattered pieces and made a whole. If that is what makes a great love story, if that is what makes an epic romance, then mine…ours is the greatest of them all.

Contains material that some may find disturbing. Not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Get it on Amazon | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Google Play

Add it on Goodreads

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author M. Leighton is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you’ll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren’t roaming in that direction, she’ll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

AL Jackson’s A Stone in the Sea!

 

A Stone In The Sea (Bleeding Star Novels #1) by A.L. Jackson is out today!

In celebration of this AMAZING love story, I’m excited I can give you the chance to take part in this release day hop!

 Between 20 authors & bloggers, you have the chance to win 20 gifts from A.L. Jackson! That’s not including the GIANT giveaway on her page, so be sure to end your hop over with A.L. Jackson!  The catch is that the gift is a surprise…It’s easy to win, but you won’t know what you’ve won!

To win here on my blog, all you have to do is like my page on Facebook and share this post (make sure you tag me so I see it).   I’ll choose a winner tomorrow!

For a complete list of all the participants in the hop and to make sure you’ve entered all of them, go to A.L.’s Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/aljacksonauthor

 AND be sure to grab you copy of A Stone in the Sea! http://www.aljacksonauthor.com/books/a-stone-in-the-sea

For more chances to win, visit the next author on the hop,  Gail McHugh

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGailMcHugh?ref=hl

Happy reading!