Abbi Glines's Blog, page 48
August 6, 2011
A New Breathe Excerpt
An Excerpt from: BreatheCopyright © 2011 Abbi GlinesAll rights reserved, Wild Child Publishing.
I said my goodbyes to Ms. Mary and exited out of the hired help entrance. I walked around to the front of the house and stopped short at the very expensive silver utility vehicle waiting on me. I should have expected extravagance since I doubted Jax owned anything normal. I walked toward the car. A man dressed in black stood beside the machine. He stepped forward with a serious expression on his face and opened the door. I remembered him as one of the large men who'd been here the first day I arrived. "Thanks," I said and stepped inside. I hadn't been expecting anyone else. "My intention was to let you go home alone, but I didn't like that idea. I hope you don't mind the company." Jax sat in the seat directly across from me, drinking an expensive bottle of water and watching a baseball game. He held a remote in his hands and clicked off the baseball game showing on the television above my head. I sat down on the black leather seat and smiled. My heart thumped in my chest, and I wanted to appear unaffected by his appearance. "Um, no, I don't mind." He grinned and handed me a fancy water. "Thirsty?" I took the water in hopes it would ease my suddenly dry throat. "Yes, thank you." "You're welcome. Which grocery store do you want to go to?" I smiled at the thought of Jax Stone asking where I wanted to go buy food. "Sea Breeze Foods will be fine. It's closer to my apartment." He picked up his remote again, and with a click of a button the tinted glass between us, and the driver came down "Sea Breeze Foods please, Kane." The giant in the front seat nodded and Jax rolled the glass back up. "Do you mind if I go inside with you? I'm craving a Reese's cup." I frowned remembering his wish to remain hidden. "No, I don't mind, but won't it blow your cover if you're seen walking around Sea Breeze Food's eating a candy bar?" He winked and grinned. "Yes it would, but I'm prepared." He reached over the seat and opened a compartment. It took all my will power not to lean over and sniff him, he smelled so good. I'd noticed it earlier, but not as much as I did now in such close quarters. He sat back in his seat, and I composed my face into a curious smile. He slipped a black baseball hat on with the letter A on the front I recognized immediately as the University of Alabama's logo. "Nice touch," I said grinning at his attempt to go incognito. He then slipped on tinted glasses. "Isn't it a little dark for those." He grinned. "Actually these brighten up the night time. They are glasses used for seeing, not to shade the sun, so I shouldn't stick out too much." His designer jeans and the black tee shirt clung to his muscular chest and arms, and I frowned. "No, you're going to attract attention in that shirt." He glanced down at himself. "You think so?" I tried not to stammer from the shock my system took from his grin. "I know so. Any girl in a ten-mile radius is going to stare you down if you wear it. It's impossible not to." A huge grin broke out on his face. "So does this mean you like me in this shirt? Am I impossible not to miss?" I sighed and sat up a little straighter. "I'm mature for my age, Jax, not blind." He laughed and reached back into the compartment over the seat. "As much as I like the idea of you being unable to take your eyes off of me, I don't want to draw attention, so how's this?" He slipped into an old, faded blue, jean jacket.
I said my goodbyes to Ms. Mary and exited out of the hired help entrance. I walked around to the front of the house and stopped short at the very expensive silver utility vehicle waiting on me. I should have expected extravagance since I doubted Jax owned anything normal. I walked toward the car. A man dressed in black stood beside the machine. He stepped forward with a serious expression on his face and opened the door. I remembered him as one of the large men who'd been here the first day I arrived. "Thanks," I said and stepped inside. I hadn't been expecting anyone else. "My intention was to let you go home alone, but I didn't like that idea. I hope you don't mind the company." Jax sat in the seat directly across from me, drinking an expensive bottle of water and watching a baseball game. He held a remote in his hands and clicked off the baseball game showing on the television above my head. I sat down on the black leather seat and smiled. My heart thumped in my chest, and I wanted to appear unaffected by his appearance. "Um, no, I don't mind." He grinned and handed me a fancy water. "Thirsty?" I took the water in hopes it would ease my suddenly dry throat. "Yes, thank you." "You're welcome. Which grocery store do you want to go to?" I smiled at the thought of Jax Stone asking where I wanted to go buy food. "Sea Breeze Foods will be fine. It's closer to my apartment." He picked up his remote again, and with a click of a button the tinted glass between us, and the driver came down "Sea Breeze Foods please, Kane." The giant in the front seat nodded and Jax rolled the glass back up. "Do you mind if I go inside with you? I'm craving a Reese's cup." I frowned remembering his wish to remain hidden. "No, I don't mind, but won't it blow your cover if you're seen walking around Sea Breeze Food's eating a candy bar?" He winked and grinned. "Yes it would, but I'm prepared." He reached over the seat and opened a compartment. It took all my will power not to lean over and sniff him, he smelled so good. I'd noticed it earlier, but not as much as I did now in such close quarters. He sat back in his seat, and I composed my face into a curious smile. He slipped a black baseball hat on with the letter A on the front I recognized immediately as the University of Alabama's logo. "Nice touch," I said grinning at his attempt to go incognito. He then slipped on tinted glasses. "Isn't it a little dark for those." He grinned. "Actually these brighten up the night time. They are glasses used for seeing, not to shade the sun, so I shouldn't stick out too much." His designer jeans and the black tee shirt clung to his muscular chest and arms, and I frowned. "No, you're going to attract attention in that shirt." He glanced down at himself. "You think so?" I tried not to stammer from the shock my system took from his grin. "I know so. Any girl in a ten-mile radius is going to stare you down if you wear it. It's impossible not to." A huge grin broke out on his face. "So does this mean you like me in this shirt? Am I impossible not to miss?" I sighed and sat up a little straighter. "I'm mature for my age, Jax, not blind." He laughed and reached back into the compartment over the seat. "As much as I like the idea of you being unable to take your eyes off of me, I don't want to draw attention, so how's this?" He slipped into an old, faded blue, jean jacket.
August 3, 2011
Existence is coming sooner than planned.....
Yesterday was extremely exciting! I was informed by my publisher that we were going to work hard for a December 2011 release date for Existence! SQUEEEEEEEEEE!!!I'm thrilled, even if I did stay up all night revising a few things before I handed it over to my editor. I'm excited about the revisions and I can honestly say I'm looking forward to edits. I love seeing my work all cleaned up. One of the main things I revised was my DIALOGUE! HA! Reviewers I do read what you say, good or bad. I am determined to learn from the bad and make the next one better each time. You'll find the dialogue in Existence to have more "conjunctions" and be less "formal" and more easy to read. See, told you I read all reviews and take notes. I care what readers think. Especially the ones who actually enjoyed the story but had a few complaints. The two main characters in Existence are very different. Pagan Moore has a mom like most of us do. She isn't a spoiled brat like Sadie's mom, Jessica, in Breathe. Dank is dark, edgy and mysterious. He keeps you guessing. He doesn't do "cheesy" moments. I'm currently working on another YA contemporary and it's just about ready to send off. I'm revising and editing it now. Marcus story will be my next project then Existence needs a sequel. I won't be running out of ideas anytime soon.OH! One more thing. Breathe is coming to print. It will have a new cover that I can hopefully show you soon. Stay tuned =)
August 2, 2011
YA Scavenger Hunt Winners and Other Stuff...
I can officially say that I have read every last one of the three hundred emails I received as entries for my giveaway. Wow! You all made it hard for me to pick just ONE! I had sweet little poems, pleading, begging, compliments, you name it, I read it. I laughed and enjoyed every minute of it. Until I had to pick one! Just for the record I don't hand pick my winners. I happen to be a sucker and can't tell people no, so I use a trusty computer system that randomly draws the winners for me. It keeps me from agonizing over it. I did go a little soft and offer two runner up prizes which were not mentioned in the Scavenger Hunt giveaway post yesterday. I'm giving the two runners up (the second and third names I had the computer system spit out to me) a signed Breathe canvas tote and a digital copy of Breathe. It can be either Kindle format or .pdf. The winners just need to tell me which format they need. Yesterday was so much fun and I loved reading all the tweets from the hunters. I will be emailing the winners shortly but here they are....
YA Scavenger Hunt Giveway (includes a $20 Barnes and Noble giftcard and a signed Breathe canvas tote goes to Lindsey Rosier
Runner Up #1 gets a signed Breathe canvas tote and a digital copy of Breathe Ariadna S Runner Up #2 gets a signed Breathe canvas tote and a digital copy of BreatheCathy Ferguson
If I could have given everyone a prize I would have =)
Speaking of giveaways there are several going on in the Breathe Blog Tour. Yesterday Stuck in Books posted a review and giveaway check it out here. Today Letters Inside Out has a guest blog post from me where I tell about why I chose South Alabama for the setting of Breathe and she has a giveaway too check it out here.
Also yesterday I was interviewed by Laura Elliott author of the awesome new YA release Winnemucca. She gets me to share my most awkward high school moment along with other pretty cool questions check it out here.
YA Scavenger Hunt Giveway (includes a $20 Barnes and Noble giftcard and a signed Breathe canvas tote goes to Lindsey Rosier
Runner Up #1 gets a signed Breathe canvas tote and a digital copy of Breathe Ariadna S Runner Up #2 gets a signed Breathe canvas tote and a digital copy of BreatheCathy Ferguson
If I could have given everyone a prize I would have =)
Speaking of giveaways there are several going on in the Breathe Blog Tour. Yesterday Stuck in Books posted a review and giveaway check it out here. Today Letters Inside Out has a guest blog post from me where I tell about why I chose South Alabama for the setting of Breathe and she has a giveaway too check it out here.
Also yesterday I was interviewed by Laura Elliott author of the awesome new YA release Winnemucca. She gets me to share my most awkward high school moment along with other pretty cool questions check it out here.
July 31, 2011
WELCOME TO THE YA SCAVENGER HUNT!On this hunt you will be...
WELCOME TO THE YA SCAVENGER HUNT!On this hunt you will be able to gain access to exclusive bonus material, sign up for giveaways, and get an all access pass to top secret insider information. This fabulous sneak peek into what's coming up in YA literature is for one day only!As an extra bonus we've put together a puzzle with one keyword found on each website. Complete it and you will be eligible for a fantastic GRAND PRIZE which will include signed editions of books, signed bookmarks, jewelry, and many more exclusive gifts with at least one from EVERY AUTHOR!Scavenger Hunt PuzzleDirections: Copy and paste the puzzle below onto a document or blank email page and fill it out as you proceed through the Scavenger Hunt. Search for keywords, one on each website that will be highlighted in RED , and insert them into the puzzle, then fill out the Google form here .
Rules: To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit this filled in puzzle before midnight on August 1st Pacific Time. All the keywords must be in the correct place, and you must include your full name and address. Entries sent in without name and address will not be considered!Welcome fans of young adult literature! Don't forget to _______ up in time to join our special event! In ____________ you roll the dice and, like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get. Our scavenger hunt is very similar. Surprises wait around every corner. Turn one page and you're chasing a _________ through a _________ _____________. Turn another and you are being ________ by a _______ which leaves your heart ________. YA ________s are full of ___________ heroes who must ___________ themselves for the greater good. Some of the characters travel through ______ or have a _________ __________. If there is one thing YA books have taught us, it's that if you leave your ___________ keep an eye out for a patrolling ________. They're very dangerous. Maybe not so frightening as a ____________, but still you should be careful. Also beware lest you become __________ by vampires. ______________ one is a different story. Just remember that bite has ___________ ramifications and that afterwards the sun can ______ you unless you get bitten by a glittering type. Whether you like dark, paranormal, romance, fantasy, ___________, Sci-Fi, or a combination of those, we've got something for you.
We think that each fan is a __________ and we love you all!
Note: Make sure to read instructions on how to enter my bonus giveaway at the end of this post. It includes a $20 Barnes & Noble gift card and an autographed canvas BREATHE tote.
ON TODAY'S HUNT I have the pleasure of hosting...
*rubs hands vigorously in anticipation*
THE FABULOUS COLLEEN HOUCK
Colleen is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, science fiction, and romance. Formerly a student at the University of Arizona, she has worked as a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter for seventeen years. Tiger's Curse is her first book, which has already received literary praise and digital success. Her self-published eBook claimed the #1 spot on Kindle's children's best-seller list for seven weeks. Colleen lives in Salem, Oregon, with her husband and a white stuffed tiger. She is currently hard at work on Tiger's Destiny, the fourth book in the Tiger series.Find out more about Colleen Houck
Website: www.tigerscursebook.comMovie info: www.ineffablepictures.comTwitter: @colleenhouckFacebook: click here contactme@colleenhouck.com
Tiger's Quest can be purchased online at Barnes &Noble and Indie Bound
Want an exclusive insider secret about the Tiger's Series? Colleen will be revealing her cover for Tiger's Voyage coming out November 1, 2011 on the Barnes & Noble website on August 3rd. You won't be able to see it anywhere else for two more weeks!
Ready for Colleen's YA Scavenger Hunt Exclusive Treat? It's Tigertabulous! Click Here
BUT Wait Colleen isn't done blowing your mind.
When you make it to Colleen's site on your way through the hunt you will have a chance to enter to win a rocking tiger Giveaway!Signed copies of Tiger's Curse and Tiger's Quest, a signed galley of Tiger's Voyage, and a special bonus: See the lovely poster above? Colleen will be giving away an exclusive signed poster depicting concept art for the upcoming motion picture!
MY GIVEAWAY: I am giving away a $20 Barnes & Noble giftcard along with an autographed canvas BREATHE tote (I love having a canvas tote to carry my library books in) as my YA Scavenger Hunt giveaway. To enter: When you find my special feature along the scavenger hunt path then email me at abbiglines@yahoo.com and tell me what author was hosting me, what special feature I shared today, and my secret word. I will randomly choose a winner from those emails on Tuesday Aug 2. The winner will be announced in a blog post and emailed.
READY FOR MORE ACTION? CLICK HERE
July 30, 2011
Blog Tour Secret #3
The Sadie and Jax from the Breathe book trailer didn't just sit around and let my photographer snap shots of them. There was actually something going on here.... BUT this time I'm not going to tell you ;) It will be a blog tour treat that you'll have to keep your eyes open for.... although if you really want a glimpse then don't miss the YA Scavenger Hunt THIS Monday. When you find the author's blog where my exclusive sneak peak is hiding then you can see it before it is posted on the blog tour. Because YES it will disappear after Monday but it will return again somewhere along the blog tour road ....
The hunt begins... on Aug 1 visit this website and get an exlusive sneak peak from a YA author that is currently rocking the world. Once you check out what the YA author I am hosting has to show you then you will click a link in my post that sends you on your way in the hunt. Josephine Angelini, Angela Corbett, Andrea Cremer, Kady Cross, Heather Davis, Bree Despain, Clare Dunkle, Marley Gibson, Abbi Glines, Colleen Houck, Tara Hudson, Elana Johnson, Alexandra Monir, Lisa Nowak, Gregg Olsen, Amy Plum, Beth Revis, Lisa and Laura Roecker, Inara Scott, Sophie Jordan, Lani Woodland and many more. Fabulous surprises wait around every corner. Don't miss out on exclusive access to bonus chapters, news on upcoming books, cover reveals, and much much more! Your special all access pass is good for one day only. All the bonus material heads back into the vault on Aug 2nd so circle the date on your calendars and join us as we celebrate what's new in YA fiction
July 29, 2011
Blog Tour Secret #2
No one has ever accused me of being able to keep a secret! The days until the Breathe Blog Tour are dwindling down. Monday will be here before you know it. I've already clued you in on Jax song being featured on the tour. Now, I have another surprise you're not going to want to miss.
During the tour one of the blogs will be featuring a special excerpt from Breathe . Even if you haven't read Breathe you can read the original excerpt here . What's the surprise? WELL... the blog featuring this excerpt will be featuring a slightly different take on Sadie and Jax's first real meeting. This time you can read it from JAX POINT OF VIEW. Find out just what the rockstar was thinking...
July 28, 2011
Psst.... Want to hear a secret?
Have you read Breathe? If so, then you know the song that Jax writes for Sadie. Well.... Jax is currently recording that song for his fans ;) Where can you hear it? The blog tour of course! Make sure to follow the tour because it will be posted on several blogs. Once it makes it's debut on the blog tour you can then download it for free off iTunes. Shhhhhh..... don't tell anyone!
July 26, 2011
Teaser Tuesday
This is my first Teaser Tuesday! The fact I'm excited about it makes me a dork but I don't care.
This week I am reading Meant To Be by Tiffany King
(excerpt)We all paused about ten feet past the concrete wall. There was no mistaking the surge of electricity that seemed to shoot up through the sand and into our bodies. I looked at the astonishment on the other's faces and knew I was wearing the same expression on mine. "This is insane," I mumbled to Mark. "This whole week has been insane. First, we find out that the people we have dreamed about our entire lives really exist, and then we all end up in the same city, at the same time."Mark's words did little to soothe me. What other surprises could we possibly discover? I thought to myself as I removed my flip flops.
You can buy Meant to Be on Amazon for only .99
This week I am reading Meant To Be by Tiffany King
(excerpt)We all paused about ten feet past the concrete wall. There was no mistaking the surge of electricity that seemed to shoot up through the sand and into our bodies. I looked at the astonishment on the other's faces and knew I was wearing the same expression on mine. "This is insane," I mumbled to Mark. "This whole week has been insane. First, we find out that the people we have dreamed about our entire lives really exist, and then we all end up in the same city, at the same time."Mark's words did little to soothe me. What other surprises could we possibly discover? I thought to myself as I removed my flip flops.
You can buy Meant to Be on Amazon for only .99
July 21, 2011
Why Kids are Smarter than Adults...
As adults, we completely believe we are smarter than kids. We make comments like, "When you are older you'll understand" or "Wisdom comes with age." I have said these very things to my kids. In some aspects this may be true. We see danger they don't see and we've made mistakes that we had to learn from. However, there is a knowledge that kids have and with time lose as they make their way into the land of "adulthood". Yesterday I was "schooled" as my daughter calls it by my twelve year old son. He was talking about how he was going to play football at the University of Alabama one day. Before I tell you the rest of this story let me give you a little visual here. My son is not a big kid. He loves football more than air. He wears his bruises and bumps with pride during football season. He is very unaware that he is one of the smallest boys on the field. This has given me heart failure more than once when I've watched him helplessly from the stands while he gets in a big 'ol boy's face and smack talks. Anyway, I replied, "You know son to play football at Bama you have to be really big...." I realized I was shooting down his dream and I felt awful but as his Mom I didn't want to lie to him. He was quiet for a moment then looked at me and said, "When did you stop believing that if you wanted something bad enough you could make it happen?" I had absolutely no reply for this. When I didn't respond he said, "It's all about determination Mom not the size of the player." Kids believe in themselves. We call it fairy tales, they call it possibilities. We say that you live and learn but maybe you just live, get bitter by disappointment and stop dreaming. There is a knowledge in our kids that we as adults let the world kill by the time they reach adulthood. Why are so many adults attracted to YA fiction? Because the dream's still there. The belief anything is possible lies within those pages of fantasy. It is something we as adults crave because we lost that knowledge so long ago. Sure, maybe we won't marry a vampire or find out we are part fairy but it reminds us that if we fight for our dreams anything is possible.
July 18, 2011
What's up for Grabs? Tons of cool stuff!
This month has been crazy busy! August 1 is just around the corner so that means the
Breathe
Blog Tour is too! I am soooo excited. Valerie from Stuck in Books interviewed Jax a couple weeks ago and I can't wait to read what all he had to say ;) Then of course Sadie and Marcus have interviews coming up soon too. I've spent the week getting the Grand Prize together for the blog tour. On the night of the live chat YA bound is hosting on Aug 25 the winner will be announced. What's to be won? Well let's just see.......A $15 gift card to Barnes & Noble (because I am obsessed with the place) and........
Beach towel, beach bag, frisbee, and one of my favorite basket/totes from Sister Belles (I decided this was tons cuter than a cooler. The frisbee says Fairhope, AL on it. That is not only where I live but where the Breathe book trailer was filmed)
And then there will also be a Breathe water bottle that I don't have a picture of yet.12 copies of Breathe will also be given away during the blog tour. I have a few surprises that I am so excited about I've had to mentally wrestle myself to keep from blabbing them before it's time.
August 1 will also be the day of the YA Scavenger Hunt hosted by Colleen Houck bestselling author of The Tiger's Curse and The Tiger's Quest. You can begin the hunt here at my site. I'll be hosting a YA author who will be sharing their little special surprise. Then just follow the link I provide in the post on to the next stop in the hunt. Several giveaways will be available on the hunt so be sure to check out all the sites and register to win great prizes. I will be giving away a $10 Barnes & Noble card (yes I know I have a B&N sickness) along with another fabulous basket from Sister Belles (similar to above pic). ONE more location I can be found on August 1 is at Closet Writer. I am being interviewed about life as a mom and a writer. Thanks to the following sites for wanting to be a part of the blog tour. I have made some awesome new friends through this and I am incredibly grateful for their support. OF COURSE YA BOUND for hosting the whole shabang. Trisha has done an excellent job pulling this together. So major props to her!
StuckinBooks
Letters Inside Out
Woven Strands
Surrounded by Words
Callie Kingston
A Written Rhapsody
I Heart YA Books
A Tale of Many Reviews
The Magic Attic
Two Readers Reviews
The Ending Unplanned
Anxirium
Young Readers
Lala Land
Adventures in Writerland
Back of the Book Reviews
Beach towel, beach bag, frisbee, and one of my favorite basket/totes from Sister Belles (I decided this was tons cuter than a cooler. The frisbee says Fairhope, AL on it. That is not only where I live but where the Breathe book trailer was filmed)
And then there will also be a Breathe water bottle that I don't have a picture of yet.12 copies of Breathe will also be given away during the blog tour. I have a few surprises that I am so excited about I've had to mentally wrestle myself to keep from blabbing them before it's time.
August 1 will also be the day of the YA Scavenger Hunt hosted by Colleen Houck bestselling author of The Tiger's Curse and The Tiger's Quest. You can begin the hunt here at my site. I'll be hosting a YA author who will be sharing their little special surprise. Then just follow the link I provide in the post on to the next stop in the hunt. Several giveaways will be available on the hunt so be sure to check out all the sites and register to win great prizes. I will be giving away a $10 Barnes & Noble card (yes I know I have a B&N sickness) along with another fabulous basket from Sister Belles (similar to above pic). ONE more location I can be found on August 1 is at Closet Writer. I am being interviewed about life as a mom and a writer. Thanks to the following sites for wanting to be a part of the blog tour. I have made some awesome new friends through this and I am incredibly grateful for their support. OF COURSE YA BOUND for hosting the whole shabang. Trisha has done an excellent job pulling this together. So major props to her!
StuckinBooks
Letters Inside Out
Woven Strands
Surrounded by Words
Callie Kingston
A Written Rhapsody
I Heart YA Books
A Tale of Many Reviews
The Magic Attic
Two Readers Reviews
The Ending Unplanned
Anxirium
Young Readers
Lala Land
Adventures in Writerland
Back of the Book Reviews
