Tracy Deebs's Blog, page 6
November 28, 2011
Smooch Stop #1
Be sure to leave a comment (including your email address) to be entered in our Around the World in 80 Kisses Contest -- scroll down (or click here) for all the details on how you can win a Kindle Fire!
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XOXO,
Ivy Adams
November 23, 2011
What are you thankful for?
This year in particular, I'm thankful that I live in a post-Harry Potter, post-Twilight world, where there is so much great Middle Grade and YA out there. Some of the best-concieved, best written books I've read this year were MG or YA and I think the growth the genres have shown can all be tied back to those two series. So, yay, Stephanie Myers and J.K. Rowling for jump-starting the industry!
What are you thankful for this year?
Meet the Boys of the IKC: Guiran
When you're 12,000 miles away from home, don't speak the language and have already landed on the bad side of the local mean girls, a girl could really use a friend--that he's super cute and sweet is the cherry on top!"It's easy," Guiran told her, balancing on his skateboard like he'd been born with it beneath his feet. "All you have to do is trust yourself not to fall."
Mei snorted. "Sorry, but I put my trust in Sir Isaac Newton and a little thing called gravity. There's no way you're going to talk me into getting on that thing. I'll kill myself."
"Come on. Give it a try." His grin was huge, infectious, but Mei refused to let it get to her. She'd come to China to find her birth parents, no play around on a four-wheeled death trap with a cute guy.
Not that there's any reason I can't do both, a little voice in the back of her head whispered. Mei ignored it. She was only going to be here for another month.
Guiran boarded ahead a little, then did a one-eighty, with lots of air, before landing a couple of feet in front of her.
"Come on, Mei. Just try it once. I promise I won't let anything happen to you."
Against all odds, and her better judgment, Mei felt herself relenting. "Is it really so important to you that I get on your stupid skateboard?"
"It is."
"Why?"
"Because you look like you've just lived through the most miserable six weeks of your life. I think you could use a little fun."
"Playing guitar is fun. Shopping is fun. Acing a test is really fun. Getting on that death trap, not so much."
"Fine. Tell me the last time you did any of those things and I'll leave you alone."
"I'll have you know I bought a very nice belt a few weeks ago," she answered.
"Wow. A belt. Big spender," he teased.
"I play guitar every day," she said.
"Okay, then. What I meant was, when was the last time you tried something new?"
When she didn't immediately answer, Guiran's smile grew wider. "See, you need a challenge. That's what keeps life interesting." He stepped off the skateboard. "Try it. If you don't have fun, I promise I won't ask again."
She wasn't sure if she was happy about that promise or not--she had gotten to the point that her time with Guiran was the complete highlight of her day, so much so that she found herself watching the clock--and the grounds outside her dorm room window--at least an hour before he was supposed to show up. The practical side of Mei was a little worried about her dependence on him. After all, it was never good to put all your eggs in one basket, and if this friendship didn't work out between them, then she'd be totally screwed. Without his wicked good translating skills, she didn't know if she was ready to tackle the four and a half hours of public transportation required to get from Shenyang to Dalian. China had seemed smaller when she was back home, planning her trip.
At the same time, though, the impractical side of herself--the one that dreamed of running off with a rock band instead of going to MIT--refused to be concerned. Guiran was a good guy, it told her. She should just relax and enjoy the time she got to spend with him.
November 17, 2011
Meet the Guys of IKC: Tanner – The Good Ol' Boy
Tanner Colt: local football god and all around good ol' boy. Izzy has known him for years and they've never gotten along. Plus, he dates Germaine Stewart, the queen bitch of Paris High. But with all of Izzy's friends studying abroad, Tanner turns out to be the one bright spot of the semester. He gets her a job working at his parent's farm, which is better than working at Dairy Queen, even if she has to learn to drive a tractor. Tanner just might be Izzy's one friend in left in Paris. But could he be more?
Izzy looked down at Tanner, only to find him climbing into the tractor with her.
"Oh, do you need to sit here?"
"No. You're good." He reached across her. She plastered herself back against the seat, but there was barely enough room and his shoulder brushed against her chest. "Here's the other end of the seat belt."
She stared blankly at him as he straightened and handed her the buckle. When was he going to get out of the cab? She swallowed hard, then took the canvas belt he dangled in front of her. "Safety first," she said faintly.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
"What about you?" She didn't glance over her shoulder as she asked the question, already keenly aware of how close he was.
Tanner stood just behind her, wedged into between her seat and the roll bar. Despite the cramped quarters, he managed to stretch out, filling every extra centimeter of space. He voice dropped a notch, to a husky murmur that had melted hearts all over Paris High. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
Good thing one of them did.
He pointed to the right side of the steering wheel. "Ignition is right there. You'll want to turn the key counterclockwise for a few seconds first, to let it warm up. Then clockwise. Just like starting a car."
She followed his instructions, trying not to notice how good Tanner smelled. Fresh and clean. Like he bathed in catnip for girls. Most of the football players at her house either smelled like sweaty locker room floor or like they'd drenched themselves in cologne. Or worse, some combination of the two. But not Tanner. He smelled like clean soap and line-dried clothes.
She drew in a deep breath and—
"What was that?" he asked.
All she could do was stare blankly in reply.
"You seemed like you were about to say something."
"Oh." Shit. What was she supposed to say? No, I was just smelling you? "Is that long enough?" she asked instead, looking back to meet his eyes.
He hesitated. Like he could read her thoughts or something. Then he shook his head. "Sure. Go ahead and start it up."
She cranked the key in the ignition and the beast hummed to life.
"From here on out"––He leaned even closer to be heard over of the roar––"it's just like driving your standard."
She settled her foot onto the clutch. The pedal felt huge. Spongier. This wasn't like driving her standard. It seemed bigger. More dangerous.
She pressed down hard and felt the gears line up. The gearshift was directly in front of her seat, right between her legs. Just as she reached down to settle her hand over it, Tanner leaned in and put his hand on top of hers. He had one arm resting across the back of her seat and the other practically draped across her left thigh.
"Here's first." He moved both their hands together as he shifted through the gears. "Here's second. Third, forth. And here's reverse." This one was down and to the far right, so that his knuckles brushed against the inside of her denim-clad right thigh. "You feel that?"
Was he joking? She swallowed hard. "Pardon?"
"The reverse is a little tricky on this old girl." He gave the gearshift another wiggle. "You've got to work to get it in."
She jerked her hand out from under his, moving so fast her foot slipped, so she popped the clutch and killed the engine. "I think I've got it."
He leaned back; a slow smile broke across his face. "Looks like you do."
She narrowed her gaze to a glare.
"You want to try it again?" he asked, that smug grin of his never leaving his face.
Her heart was pounding and her hands sweaty. What the hell was going on? This was Tanner Colt. Tanner! He was not supposed to make her feel this strange mixture of...
But her mind shied away from admitting she felt anything. This was all just standard I'm-a-football-god charm. He wasn't flirting with her. He probably didn't even realize he was doing it. Which should have made her feel better, but it didn't at all.
November 16, 2011
Cover flats! Yay!!!
There are a couple of really exciting moments in the life of an author. Getting "the call" that someone wants to buy your first book. Yeah, that's up there. Pretty freaking cool. Selling a book you really, really love. Yep that's cool too.But one of the weird things about selling books is that it's a long process. It's a contractual agreement. There are negotiations involved. So, you get the call (from your agent if you've got one), you run off to have a celebration. She or he gets to work. Sometimes, weeks pass. You don't feel like you can tell that many people. It's not a done deal yet. What if the editor changes her mind? (That actually never happens, but I'm a worst-case-scenario thinker.) What if, I've finally taken that last trip around the bend to loonyville and I imagined the whole thing? (Has also, never happened. Yet. But see above.) So I always end up waiting to "announce" that I've sold a book until I see the contract. And then I'm not super excited anymore. So I don't get to share the excitement with anyone other than my hubby and my agent.
That's one of the cool things about working on IKC. There were three of us! We got to share all that excitement and joy and love and ... And we had witnesses we could trust to confirm we were delusional. Just happiness all around.
This weekend I had another one of those joyous, happy fun moments. We all got the cover flats for the hardcover of IKC. It's beautiful! Just so pretty! I took pictures to share with you. Shellee took some too and hers are probably better ('cause just used my iphone and she has a great camera.) So maybe she'll post her's too.
The hardcover will be out at the same time as the trade paperback. It's for libraries and stuff, so the trade will be what you'll see in stores. But if you love hardcovers, you should go pre-order it on Barnes and Noble, 'cause right now they have the hardcover for only $10.97 and the cover price is higher, so it'll probably go up.
But for now, just enjoy our beautiful cover! I know I am!!!
November 15, 2011
Meet the Boys of the IKC: Lucas - The Guy Down Under
Lucas McCann: charming, golden surfer boy with a heart-melting dimple - he's any girl's dream. So what's a girl like Cassidy Barlow to do when falling in love is the absolute worst thing that can happen?
(Shellee's note: I loosely based Lucas on Australian surfer Julian Wilson--that's him on the left and below.)
"So, let me get this straight: you came all the way to Australia to kiss guys?" Lucas gave her a sidelong glance.
Cassidy came back to the conversation at hand. She heard the incredulity in his voice and was glad it was dark, because pink was not a good color on her, and right now she was covered in a huge blush head to toe. "I told you it was stupid."
Why had she told him anything about the IKC at all? She blamed that damn dimple--it was like Kryptonite; she was powerless against it. He could charm anything out of her when that little divot made an appearance.
He slouched a little in his seat. "So, how many points do you have so far?" For the first time since she'd met him, Lucas didn't sound so surfer-Zen-go-lucky.
"Me? Oh, well...you see...actually..." she fiddled with the zipper on her sweater as she practically glowed red. She should make up some number. What did it matter? He'd never know. God, if he were playing this game, he would probably have twice the points she did in just the time it took to drive over here. "Tell me. It's a lot, right?"
She sighed. This was so embarrassing. "Three. I have three points."
"So...you've kissed three guys since you've been here," he said, his tone deflated. "Are you still seeing them, the other guys?"
What? No. Wait...what was that? If she was better at reading guys, she'd say he sounded pouty and a little bit jealous.
She'd never had a guy be jealous over her before. Cassidy didn't know how to take this development at first, but then she considered it. It was way sexy.
The idea that he didn't like the thought of her kissing other guys gave her off-court confidence a supercharged injection. She scooted toward him and in gesture a complete one-eighty from her usual reserved self, she did something she'd been dying to do since that day at the airport: she touched his dimple with the tip of her finger.
Cassidy let it linger there before trailing it down his cheek to his chin to turn his head toward her.
"No. The rules of the International Kissing Club state that I get three points for an amazing, earth-stopping epic kiss," she said with all the matter-of-fact seriousness she could muster.
It took a moment for what she was saying to sink in, but then a grin broke out across Lucas's bronzed face, crooked and just a little cocky. Her insided turned molten. Oh. God. If he kissed her again now she wouldn't be much more than a puddle of mush on the vinyl seat.
"Epic, yeah?" His hand stole around the back of her neck and he nudged her nose with his. "I can live with that," he whispered against her lips. Cassidy closed her eyes and melted.
The International Kissing Club was Piper's Best. Idea. Ever.
November 14, 2011
IKC Now Available at NetGalley
November 13, 2011
Yay!!!!
November 12, 2011
OMG! I Just Ran Across the Cutest Blog Ever!
My favorites are definitely Jaws and Blair Witch ...
November 10, 2011
Meet the Boys of IKC: Up First-- Sebastian (Piper's Guy)
Name: SebastianAge: 19Nationality: French, of course ;)
Occupation: Art student at the Sorbonne/Sculptor
For a second, Sebastian only stared at her, a puzzled look on his face. Just when she was starting to regret her honesty-- what guy liked thinking a girl was interested in kissing him because of a competition?-- he threw back his head and laughed. And laughed. And laughed.
He laughed so hard and long that she stiffened, a little offended. But he reached for her hand and finally managed to get himself under control. "You Americans ... always competing. Always wanting to have more, more, more. Don't you realize that the best things in lif are about quality, not quantity?"
She nearly swallowed her tongue at the sizzle in his eyes, in his voice, and for the first time since this whole wild adventure had begun, Piper couldn't help wondering if he was right. "What's wrong with both?" she asked softly.
"Nothing But don't you know, just like in art, you ned to master one technique before you move on to the next?" He entwined his long, calloused fingers with her own and Piper couldn't believe how right it felt to be standing there, letting him hold her hand.
"So tell me, Piper," Sebastian said after a moment. "If I kiss you right now, will that be enough? Or will you kiss me back and then go to a club and kiss some other guy tomorrow?"
She couldn't breate, couldn't think. Could brely stand upright as heat streaked along ever nerve ending she had. "We could-- we could try it." Was that really her voice, that high-pitched squeak that practically broke the sound barrier?
"Oh, cherie, we're going to do a lot more than try." His hands trembled a little as they cupped her face, which surprised her even as it made her intensely happy. And then he kissed her and it was more amazing, more delicious, more real than any and every kiss that had come before it.
So, what do you think????????
