Angela White's Blog, page 7

Sneak Peek of Book Seven! The Price We Pay

Kendle glared at the large woman in front of her, arms crossed over her chest. “I’m not a cook. You do it.”Hilda glared back, holding out the basket of freshly harvested green peppers. “We work for everyone here, not just ourselves. You wanna eat, you do it.”Kendle snatched the basket away and stomped to the bench where a small group of women and men were cutting and cleaning the harvest. She didn’t really mind helping out, normally, but the people here were treating her like she had tried to come between Marc and his all-perfect Angela.“Wasn’t even that good a kiss,” she muttered. The memory of it immediately flashed in her mind and she stiffened. It was easy enough to shake it off as the talking and laughter floated around her, but at night, that was a harder act to keep. She’d gotten used to sleeping near Marc, seeing him, smelling him, hearing him. No one else was like that to her, no matter how much she tried to develop an interest. If she could just find someone to tolerate, then these people would see she wasn’t going to come between their leaders and then she could be accepted and settle in. Until that happened, her days would be filled with careful steps.Kendle listened to the wind blow and caught a chill that surprised her. She hadn’t felt the bite to the wind in a long time to her mind. All those months on the island had conditioned her to warm breezes and loving sunlight. Here, it was bitter wind with a sharp edge and only a few hours of true sun. The layer of grit was ugly, a haze that never left and Kendle found herself wishing for Luke. He’d know what to say to make her feel better right now.“Hey, Kendle. You doing okay?”Kendle gave a grunt and nod to Missy as she walked by. Missy, almost as old and respected as Hilda, was her adjustment partner. They were sharing a tent, eating together, and doing chores on the same shift. Kendle hated it. Having a babysitter sucked. The only thing worse would be to have no one to talk to at all.Angela stopped behind Kendle, hating the woman despite her promise to try being friends first. Marc didn’t want Kendle or that’s where he would have spent last night. With that thought in mind, Angela slid onto the bench across from the castaway with a polite smile.“How’s the harvesting work going?”Kendle glared. “Fine. What do you need?”Quick study, Angela thought. Long winded requests and small talk weren’t big right now with the Eagles. “I have some jobs. No food.”Kendle stared. “Like what? Test for landmines?”Angela snickered. “We haven’t put those down yet.”Kendle didn’t laugh. She’d felt how dangerous Angela could be if provoked, but she could also feel how loved her rival was. She had to be careful.“Not really,” Angela informed her calmly. “I hate liars. So does Marc. So do the Eagles. If you want a life here, the truth is always the way to go.”Kendle had heard it already but she wasn’t about to argue with the leader of such a massive operation. When she’d heard a woman ran things she’d been sure that the woman was just cover for a group of men, but here, Angela was in charge. Resisting, among this tension, wasn’t wise.“Kendle Roberts!” Angela snapped the brunette out of her thoughts. “If I want you pissed off or happy or out of here, I’ll make it happen. When I tell you I need the truth, no matter what it is, I expect that too.”Kendle withered under the tone. She had no challenge, only a heartache and a fierce need to…Angela sighed, understanding. “One of the jobs I have will fill that a bit but you have to do the others, in order, first.”Kendle shook her head, voice low. “I’ve got no control right now. It’s why he said I had to stay here.”“If you do these things for me, I promise to find a cure or kill you when it’s all over.”Kendle’s eyes blazed. “Swear it! He wouldn’t! I wanted to die but he wouldn’t give me that either!”Realizing she was yelling, Kendle dropped her head and tone. “Swear it!”Angela placed a hand on Kendle’s wrist. “My word as leader of this camp and as a woman. I’ll help you or kill you.”Kendle nodded, sliding her arm free. “Okay, but don’t touch me and act like we’re friends or that you care. You be honest. You’d like me dead and gone.”Right at that moment, it wasn’t true and Angela allowed her sympathy to come forward. “No, I pity you for the pain and respect you for surviving whatever you’ve gone through. I also envy you a bit, for being free to pick and choose.”Angela stood up, glancing around. “There are a lot of good men gathered in one place here. If I were single, I’d be sniffin’ through, see who happens to be here that’s my match. In case you haven’t been watching, there’s a lot of that going on.”Kendle rolled her eyes. She was tired of hearing fate brought us together or it was love at first bullet wound. “I don’t believe in two soul mates. Mine is gone and he isn’t coming back, so get off me!”Kendle shoved away from the table and disappeared into the crowd.Angela, content her words had done the trick, was watching those around them. Most of the men were not interested yet. Kendle hadn’t proven herself here, though the stories of the base battles were almost all favorable. The men here were also waiting to see if Marc did have any interest in her and that was the part Angela needed them to get over. Kendle was fair game.“Marc put her with Adrian,” the Witch reminded Angela.Angela didn’t answer.

2Seth slammed his kit into the truck and punched the door when it refused to close. He hadn’t gotten to see Becky this morning and now she was already gone.  The babies and younger children had been moved overnight and he’d been in charge of escorting them into the mountain bunker Angela had chosen. He’d returned an hour ago, gotten his packet from the boss lady, and had then discovered Becky gone. How the hell would he get to her when they lost if he didn’t know where she’d be?“Faith matters now, Seth,” Angela stated from behind him. “We can do this.”“I’ll follow orders,” Seth spat, slinging the next kit into the backseat.“Seth.”He didn’t want to look at her. He loved Angela as much as any of her men, and he was still as loyal to Adrian as he could tolerate, but he’d give it all up for Becky and the baby. The feel of being about to lose it all over the edge was too clear to ignore.“There’s only one thing that can ruin my plan, Seth. And you know what that is. Please don’t be the one to get us all killed.”Seth spun around but Angela had already vanished, leaving Seth to wonder if she’d been behind him at all. Her gifts were stronger than anyone else here and Seth knew Becky could reach that level of power in time. If she lived.Seth slammed two more kits into the back and turned around as gunfire rang out.“I told you!”Eagles flooded the area, but Seth stayed by the vehicle. He wasn’t only in charge of loading the gear. He was protecting it. Angela wasn’t taking any chances that their gear, their food, would be poisoned.  She also had guards on the mess, the supply trucks, the water, and then guards on those guards. Cameras were in place, with a constant crew viewing them, and the mood was one of oppression. Seth missed the freedom, the love they’d shared under Adrian’s reign and so did the rest of the camp.“After we win,” he muttered resignedly, repeating what everyone was telling themselves. “We’ll have it back. The fences will go away and the bubble will return.”That magical sight hadn’t come into view in a while. None of the laughter and hope that had filled it before existed now and Angela refused to have a black shroud hanging over them all the time.Seth scanned the truck, the area around it, and the guards on it before hitting his radio. “We’re set. Five minutes.”Seth’s hard tone was answered quickly. Their entire team was tired, but none as much as Seth and they all knew to tiptoe right now. Many of them had returned to find their family members or loved ones already gone and it was a feeling they understood. They were ready to rip someone’s head off and it almost didn’t matter who it belonged to.

3“You’re stirring the pot kinda’ hard aren’t you?”Angela nodded, not turning to look at Cynthia. The reporter had refused to leave her side and Angela had switch her out with Morgan, who she’d originally chosen to be her personal assistant for the day. Morgan was one of the click sisters who’d recently signed up to be on the next rookie female team. Kyle would handle that now. He’d been pretty pissed upon learning that Morgan was a traitor. Her ride was bound to be long and unpleasant. Angela had gotten a glimpse of her face as Kyle left and the sister didn’t seem to know anything was wrong. She’d been laughing, happy to leave the somber camp for a while.“Ready for your stir, Cynthia?”The reporter swallowed nervously, then nodded. “Yes. Get it over with.”Angela chuckled without amusement. “What’s the rush? Kevin already left.”Cynthia froze, furious. “You told me he would be here when we got finished with rounds!”Angela moved toward the next parking area. “We’re not finished, are we? You wanted me to talk to Hilda and then Zack had a favor to ask about his sons, and then the vet needed…”“I get your point,” Cynthia snapped.Angela stopped by the main gate and took a minute to view the area around them. She was monitoring a number of people’s thoughts in their camps, but it wasn’t enough. That old feeling of cold dread swarmed over her and she drew her gun as she hit the button on her radio.“Full alert. Lock us down!”

I need a trailer for the LAW series. Pays $75

I need a 45 second trailer made for the LAW series. I'm offering $75 to the person chosen. Please make a short sample(15-20 sec) and add a link to this post or email me with it at: cloudninepublications@yahoo.com, subject: trailer link. I will go through them, pick my fav, and then we'll work together on the trailer, using your sample. You get credit forever, I get all rights. Payment is $25 upon being chosen, the rest upon final delivery. Anyone game? I'd like to have it done by a fan. You guys FEEL it. That's what I'm looking for. Show me how you think this series should be advertised. I plan to use this trailer on Youtube and for a possible tv commercial script. Feel free to contact me at the above address with any questions, and thanks!

Book Seven: The Price We Pay

Thank you to everyone who cared enough to comment and message me. Its hard to explain how much I need all of you. I tried to think of a way to express how I grateful I am and came up a bit short. I finally decided on a glimpse of book 7, which I officially began this weekend. Early estimates say to look for it here on my blog in September or October. I'll give a monthly update on my progress, probably through Facebook. If you haven't 'friended' me there, here's the link:
https://www.facebook.com/Angela7white

 
Life After War: Book Seven
The Price We Pay


“This is Safe Haven refugee camp. Is anyone out there?”Kevin paused to let answers come, but there was only silence.“Hello? This is Safe Haven. We are at Lookout Mountain. Is anyone listening?”The radio crackled emptily in response.Kevin hung up the mic, worry lining his face. “Been that way for two days. Not a word.”Marc reached in and flipped the channel to one they hadn’t used since Little Rock. He listened to the static, tuning out the rest of the large camp behind him that was preparing for war. Knives clanked, guns fired, men and women grunted. The babble rose to be deafening, then faded sharply as Marc found the groove.“They don’t want any more of us to gather. They’re jamming maybe, but more likely, they’re close and everyone who can hear us has gone quiet.”Kevin didn’t relax. “Are we ready for it?”Marc sighed heavily. “No one ever is unless they’re doing the attacking. It’s different from that side.”“Will we win?” Kevin dropped his head and closed his mouth. He hadn’t wanted to let that out. Too many people were already asking.Marc left without commenting. That was a lie he hadn’t been able to say yet, not even to Angela when she’d asked. Right now, he didn’t think so. They were outnumbered and piecing together an army of tailors, traders, and treasure hunted weapons. The odds certainly weren’t in their favor.Marc snickered tiredly at his mental joke and allowed himself to be drawn to the firing range despite promising not to interfere with how much Angela was doing. Her days were overfull and her nights were short, but she was happy and that was enough to keep him watching from behind the tape as she shoved a rookie away from the gun bales.“You don’t touch the guns yet. That’s the second time you’ve been told. Do it a third and you’ll be out of here!”Marc winced at the shrill snap, but the men around her nodded their agreement. She had a different style of working with people. She was hands-on, in their face as much as any drill sergeant he’d ever worked with, and she had the power to back up every threat she made and they knew it even without her detail. That group of guards on her was excessive, but Marc had refused to even listen to her pouting when he’d doubled it. She wasn’t just his light. She was the light of this camp and she would be safe above everything else. If they lost her, Safe Haven would be deserted in a few hours.“We won’t,” Adrian answered the thought from behind him, keeping his distance. It had only been a few days and his bruises were still bright, condemning.“What do you need?”Adrian’s lips thinned into a hard line as he waited for Marc to look at him. When he did, Adrian tried to grin through the scabs. “I’m supposed to distract you for a minute.”Marc scowled, fists clenching. “From what?”Behind him, a loud cheer and clapping echoed.“From that,” Adrian said. He waited calmly for Marc’s reaction.Marc spun around to see a line of rookies clumsily rolling and firing. None of them did it through the entire course, but the team leader clearly had.“Did she ask you to do it?”“She sent a note,” Adrian stated, chuckling bitterly. “And it wasn’t a request.”Soothed on that front, Marc shrugged. “Tell her you were successful. I missed it.”“She meant in a way that you wouldn’t ride her ass about it later.”“Then you didn’t do so well.”Adrian smirked. “Yeah. Sorry about that.”He moved away with a satisfied step and Marc let him. Whatever plans their former leader had, he and Angie were ready for them.Marc pretended he hadn’t noticed the loud cheer as he studied his mate. He appeared to be concentrating on their perimeter, but he was actually narrowed in on Angela’s gray hair and her flushed skin. He’d never seen her so sexy. He wanted some alone time.“Will you waste it scolding her?” the demon asked.Marc chuckled. “Maybe. She’s reckless.”“The witch has her under control.”Marc actually laughed aloud that time and drew attention from those closest. He waved them on and went back to his mental conversation.“No one has my baby-cakes under control.”“Sounds like you approve. That didn’t used to be the case.”Marc’s good humor faded instantly. “I understand why now. How can any of us hold all this inside and not be wild? I had my fun in the Corp. She’s having hers here.”“Dangerous for your child.”Marc stopped responding and the demon faded back. Marc hadn’t asked him yet about Adrian’s words on Angela’s health, but he would and soon. The demon could feel it coming.Marc continued his round, pointing his mind back at the bigger picture. He didn’t have time to stress over the baby. He had hundreds of souls that needed care. All the groups he’d fought with had come and then more. Their families and friends were pouring in.“At least they were,” Marc muttered, thinking about the silent radio and slow front gate. It wasn’t possible for the government to shut down every radio between them and Safe Haven. Was it?“Need some research done. Isn’t one of the Eagles a Ham operator? He’d know.” Marc allowed his thoughts to flow as he moved by the Mess. It was full, like usual. When people weren’t eating, they were gathering together to draw strength and compare new feats. If he could get them to show that type of bonding during training, they might have a chance, but these men and women all had their own ways of doing things. Getting them to cooperate or compromise was beyond hard and the number of fights kept growing.“They’re scared,”the demon said.“So am I.”“Good. You’ll survive then.”Angela’s laugh floated over the camp, drawing his attention for a moment. The sound was enough to speed up his heart. “So will she. So will this camp. I’ll find a way. There has to be a way.”The demon didn’t argue. He hadn’t found it and neither had Angela’s witch, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t one.  He and the witch were spending a lot of time looking for anything that might help. They wouldn’t give up until the last second, but then they had their own plans to follow. Marc and Angela might be willing to give their lives in this freedom fight, but both the witch and the demon had agreed that even an existence in captivity was better than being forced out. Searching the world for another compatible person might take decades now, if it happened at all. Their current hosts had to live and they would.


Have a wonderful summer world,
Angela White

Goodbye for awhile

After three straight years of ass-busting, I’ve finally achieved one of my biggest dreams. 36 straight months of light sleep, heavy stress, and being isolated from friends and family. Roughly 1100 constant days of struggling, of loathing my required burden, of accepting it, and finally coming to love, but I survived it. The goal was to build a future that would sustain me through old age, provide a future for my children and grandchildren, and leave a legacy for the world’s readers to enjoy forever. I built the career, nurtured it lovingly, and saw great leaps in a short (from the outside view) 36 months. I have a stunning ranch home (renting, with the option to buy next year), a garden and pond about to go be stocked, a number of shtf projects going, and a very nice laptop to work on. I also found a new editing/formatting service and though it’s 1k per book, I’m once again redoing every piece of work I have out there. I have to put the money back into the books or they will fail, but more than that, this year is for fixing my mistakes and preparing for the future.
I assumed (Ass. U. Me. Ha-ha. Bitterly) my friends and family would not only be happy for me, but that they would want to share in this new level of success and even help me build the next parts of the dream. I thought they knew what I was doing and why, and that it’s a huge accomplishment to achieve the American dream at all, let alone to have done it so fast. I was sure that because they love me and because they know of the terrible background I’d had, that they would never betray me. I knew them and they knew me. We had trust… I trusted them. When it’s your own damn blood, you should be able to do that. Instead, when I left the old hell-hole, only 2 people supported the choice.
I can’t explain what it’s like to put in 7 days a week, 15+ hours per day, for three years straight, and then have the very reasons you were doing it turn on you and accused you of only caring about your stupid books, your stupid online friends, and your stupid money. After decades of being a working mother, I retired to write and build a better life for us, and it cost me everything I held dear. That, I wasn’t sure I could survive.
But I did, it seems. I’m breathing and eating and pissing and spitting, so I know I’m here, but inside, sadness has flooded me until I can’t even think about it all without tearing up. It has interfered with every part of my plans and dreams, including my writing. I haven’t turned out anything in more than a month and I honestly don’t have any big desire to try now. I feel empty, like there’s just nothing waiting to be put on paper. No, that’s not true. It’s more like the door isn’t there anymore. I think I can get it back, believe I will once I sort through this shit in my head, but there’s some doubt. Being accused of being a bad parent because you built a life where the rent alone is $1600, is somewhat devastating. They didn’t care how unhappy I was to be living (???) that way all our lives, so long as they had their needs/wants covered. The moment I needed to make a change, I was alone. They have no idea who I am or what I believe in. My readers know me better than my own family.
At this point, this post already sounds like an’ oh, poor me’ play and I really can’t stand that either. It was very easy to put Angela’s sadness into book six, but where is the fire for the huge battle that comes next? At this point, I couldn’t give a shit less if Safe Haven wins or not. Everything they’re fighting for-what I’m fighting for-doesn’t really exist. I write fiction. It’s not like I help humanity or that my stopping writing or even dying would make one bit of difference to the way the world turns. I’ve lost my hope for that big dream. I’ve gotta tell you, it seems a lot easier to finish or end the books I have out, and then just work on my ranch. I have a pond to stock, a garden to tend, and a nursery to enjoy. I’m hoping to work in the dirt and the sun and the breeze and try to feel like I give a damn again.
What this means is that I’m leaving for awhile (fb, email, blogs, text, etc.) and there won’t be any new books until at least after harvest time. I always say I’m doing it, but I always spent the time working on a new project that I needed to concentrate on, or a new book, or a new way to make those around me happy. I’m so tired and I still don’t sleep well. I gain/lose weight unevenly, and I get sweats. Seems like menopause is choosing to hit me at the same time as the rest of life’s little pleasures. Maybe once that’s done I’ll feel like me again. Though from what I hear, I’ll probably be someone else by then anyway. As I’m sure you can feel clearly, I’m not the light anymore.
I’ll be around until mid-April when the tax bill comes in. I’m expecting to pay about $8K and I’ll be spending all summer stressing over being able to cover it by the time the extension is up. That’s a worry I can’t escape from, and one I shouldn’t bitch about, I suppose. I know a lot of people would kill to be in my shoes, but I don’t feel well right now, so it’s possible I’m not seeing things clearly. Another reason to take a break. self-doubt. What if they’re right?
Until I’m sure, I can’t pretend to be something I’m not. Thanks to the failure (mine) of the group, I can’t even pass things off to an XO for a while. I can’t trust people, no matter how much I want to or how hard I try and that’s why the Eagles have not been restarted. Basically, it’s my dream and if you can’t build it my way, it doesn’t need to be built around me. Do it yourself, your way, and good luck. I will not have my ideas and images used to satisfy anything other than what they were given to me for. I wasn’t building your Safe Haven or mine. I was building a SH for the future and that takes time and a real plan. Those groups that say you’re covered as long as you have them and your supplies close by are mostly bs. They have no foresight for what comes after those clever snares are found empty for ten days in a row, or when the group by yours decides your garden looks ripe because of it.
“We’ll shoot them.” Snort. Nice plan when they chose to slit your throat during the night instead of fighting like men. “We’ll stand watch.” Head-shake. How many people today know how to stand watch, what to do if they spot something, or even when to shoot? Without a real plan, it won’t work. Was mine a ‘real’ plan? I obviously thought so, but I don’t think we’re going to find out. I’m being pushed away so hard that I’m exhausted from just fighting to breathe. Letting the current drag me down would be much easier.
Sites will close down soon-the cover site (already is), the extra blogs, extra emails, services, and the ability to buy books from my websites. New ones will still come out on my blog and then go to retailers, but once it’s live on a big store, that will be the only place to get it. And if it all falls down and I never write another word, I’m sorrier than I already was before posting this, but I could flip burgers if I had to. I hear they’re gonna get $15 an hour. Bitter eye-roll.
As for my fans, we’ll miss each other but you’ll find another author to enjoy. I’m no one special there anyway-just look at the amazon reviews on book one which have dropped so low that I can’t get Bookbub to advertise it. Some of those assholes are outright mean and I can’t even get angry about it anymore. I’m now putting out 1.5K a month in editing, formatting, covers, and advertising, but in the end, does it matter if I’m as stupid as they think?  What if they’re right too? Then I have no business building anything for anyone. That’s what’s wrong with our leaders now. How can I be different than them if I’m exactly the same?
That’s the end of my whining. I hope after you read this that something good comes your way. I certainly didn’t have any of that to give you beyond confirming that all merchandise has been shipped as of this morning -and that’s another area that will close in mid-april. If you want any LAW merchandise before the big holidays then grab it now please.
Care packages are also being shipped this week. Please don’t send anymore items or $ to me after the first of April. Donate them to another group that helps our troops and thank you!
I’m sorryAngie
 

I"m going through to the next round in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest!

The Change has made it to the second round in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award!
http://www.amazon.com/b?node=332264011
I’m under the Science Fiction Fantasy Horror category, near the end.
This calls for a celebration. It’s the first big contest I’ve ever entered! I think it’s time for a glass of wine and a soak in the hot tub I haven’t used yet.

News, Notes, and a Niggle

What is the Greater Good?We hear that, but do we honestly understand it? Start by searching the net. You cannot get just one set definition. There isn’t one because it changes with every situation that refers to it. For one person, it might mean their family line survives throughout time. For another, it might mean the family lines of their friends and neighbors also survive. For a third, it could mean their country rules all others. For a fourth, it could mean that all evil people are killed. For the fifth, it is that killing for any reason should be illegal. For a sixth, it might be solving one of the world’s problems–like hunger, but for the seventh, it might mean an end to the world as we know it so that another society with vastly different rules can take its place.See what I mean? It is based on what is important to us personally. Very few citizens of any nation think of the success of the entire world on levels of building a peaceful, enlightened future together. We’re greedy. We see our ‘big picture’, but not the one our neighbor has hanging above his fireplace, not the dream in a foreigner’s mind, nor the one that our leaders have hidden in their hearts. To say anything is for the Greater Good is biased, and therefor, unreliable under the current definition, or I should say, lack thereof.So, let’s give it a set definition for those who wish Safe Haven was real and this world was fiction.The Greater Good:What best serves a set and defined dream for the future.
It seems that we require a set and defined dream for the future, but who gets to pick that? Should I, as the creator of SH? Should you, as the readers who’ve brought it to life? Should the retailers, who so generously take their cut and change my prices at their whims? Should the law, since more than a few of SH’s rules are illegal by today’s society? Should it be based on a particular religion or declaration? Or maybe we’ll use little bits of all. those mentioned.Most new civilizations that formed have used that last theory, but has it (or any attempt) worked? Has the future of mankind improved since, say, the 1400s? You could say yes, that science and technology have made such leaps as to account for the other less nice things that we’ve done to ourselves and each other since then. You could say we have the internet and it’s helped millions of people, that medical breakthroughs and research proven more than makes up for the mistakes.I say that’s shit and that deep down, we all know it. To build a perfect world, you have to do imperfect things, like get rid of evil people instead of renaming them so they’re classified as ill instead of a criminal once they’ve been caught (Ex: Pedophiles. They just can’t stop, so it’s an illness, not a crime. By those standards, bank robbers have money syndrome and should be listed as theft-challenged on their record. Huge snort. A crime, is a crime, is a crime. The true statistics don’t improve when you only change the titles.Someone very close to me recently said that because of personal freedoms that I would remove, my idea of life post shtf was unreasonable, unrealistic, and they wouldn’t want to live in an afterworld that I create.Ouch.This came from a talk of insurance>teen drivers>personal freedoms. It wasn’t a pick-a-fight moment for either of us–it just came up. I stated that 16-year-olds shouldn’t be allowed to have a license at that age, and that elderly folks should have a more detailed renewal test as they age. To me, both of those are common sense. Remove those two portions of drivers from the roads and it will be safer. Notice, I didn’t say safe. Nothing can make a highway safe, but we all know there are people who should not be on there, right? If they were gone, it would be safer.Now, I didn’t say if you’re old or young, you can’t drive. I said 16 is too young, and people should be tested more in-depth as they age. That got us into the talk of personal freedoms, and I swear, I don’t understand how anyone can look at the world and think no laws is a good idea. I agree that many of the ones we have are useless. Clearly, after writing so many novels that bash oppression and claim freedom is a right, I also feel smothered by the regulation and rules and dangers that we’re now facing. But does that honestly mean that no laws should be the rule of the land? That’s the only way to not take away any personal freedoms.Let’s break to Ben Franklin, who added to my ire when I was quoted something he said during the slightly heated conversation.
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
He signed off on a whole list of laws for our society to follow. He took away personal freedoms to start America and I’ve always found it quite hypocritical. That feeling increased after re-reading the Declaration of Independence (a transcript-3 pages) this morning. Almost all of the things he was fighting against have come to pass for us. Why? Lack of foresight on the part of the FFs? Laws instead of complete freedom? Fate? Destiny? Or was it all shit and they planned for it to eventually become what it did?I have a hard time believing that the FFs wanted this world. I also doubt they thought we’d flourish they way we have. My vote is on simple lack of foresight. They didn’t think that American generations would ever allow their dreams to be corrupted, so they didn’t put enough measures in place to prevent it from ever being changed. Some would argue that our laws are supposed to change based on our needs, or even that the FF thought we wouldn’t need laws in the future because real freedom would sink in and magically make people do the right thing.  Others would tell me that if the documents were followed to the letter it would be the way it was meant to and there would at least be more peace than we have now.I won’t rule any of those things out, since I only see so far back in time from my seat in history, but my argument would be that not expecting it to happen or hoping it would get better or evolve on its own, is not something that I would ever be willing to tolerate. I was made to solve and build, to explore and create, and it goes against every fiber of my being to discover a problem and leave it there, or to only consider a short while into the future instead of as far as I can imagine. My God, World! What happened to us that we went from dreaming of landing on and then colonizing the moon, to miserably toiling and suffering the fools we call leaders every day now?Sigh.I sucked it up this morning and said we needed to change the subject because I was getting pissed. It wasn’t because the person didn’t agree with me, or that even that they said something so hurtful to me personally. It was being faced with more proof that even when the truth looks us in the face, we won’t/can’t accept it. No laws at all? Really? Think about that a sec.Hospitals don’t have to treat your emergency if you can’t pay for it then and you die because your next paycheck got halved when your employer chose to cut salary for the third time this year. Your husband/wife couldn’t come and help you because your neighbor took your car again after beating their ass and raping your daughter.All legal and the only defense is who can kill who first. That would be better? How?I know! People everywhere wake up on the first day of having no laws and are so lightened of their societal burdens that they no longer commit wrong acts? Damn. That’s fiction light-years beyond what I can write. Even famous stories about that sort of thing involve a chemical introduced to their air or water.Should I assume the person meant only some laws? Then what was wrong with raising the driving age and in-depth testing of drivers as they age? Where the hell has common sense gone? And why do I keep hearing that exact remark from people who will have a clear lane in front of them at the store lot where they parked and still insist on backing out into a blind spot where they could be hit or tag a shopper?That’s my bitterness. How can we ever evolve to a time where we honestly won’t need laws or to take away personal liberties? I want that world more than I can tell you. That’s my greater good and I understand we have to have good laws, breed good people, and work hard to get there. I don’t understand why I seem to be so alone in that view lately.The hope came from my own reaction. I ended the coming fight without being too mean (imao) or giving in (which means more), and that newest hollow place in my heart made this fire burn hotter in my gut to accomplish my goals. It also added another brick to the wall I’ve been erecting against those who don’t see any further than their own views, doors, or neighborhood boundaries. Without that distraction/pain/frustration, I can get more work done on my goals.Which is what I’ve been doing. Here's the Jan news and notes:
Where We Stand -LAW 6 will be on B&N, Amazon, Smashwords, & Kobo in the next week. iTunes, as always, could be yesterday, last year, or a century from now. (Roughly the message you get when you publish there.)
I am 150 pages into the third and final book of the Bachelor Battles. It will go up for pre-order in the next week or two, and thank you to everyone who grabs a copy early. Money is tight right now and I appreciate it. (That is the best way to help an author after putting up reviews. We wait an entire month between checks and those few bucks in the paypal account sure make the difference for some of us.) 
The Safe Haven website is now open in Beta mode. You can spend days there exploring each icon, lesson, and interaction. I suggest bookmarking it and coming back upon each book release once you get through it all. I will add new pages/links/activities/ with each new LAW book that comes out.
I hope to have book 7 (still unnamed) out by the end of this year. Please try not to ride my ass any more than you have to. This one will be really, really good if you can give me the time to it right. With Brady in charge, sparks should fly and the enemy should die.
The Killin’ Fields, Book 2 of the Alexa’s Travels series, will come out during the summer.
I now have more than 800 premade book covers on my website. If you need a art cover, please check me out.
I’ll be holding an author Q&A on 4/12. We’ll talk about the LAW series and bs for a couple hours. You ca RSVP on the new website.
That’s it for now. I’m back to the book files with a slightly lighter mood. Sometimes, you just have to get it out of your mind and let it be heard, whether people want to hear it or not. I’ll either keep the whining to a minimum for the rest of the year, or make this a weekly post. We’ll see how it goes.
Lighting a smoke and shrugging it off,Ang

LAW Sneak Peek

Merry Christmas!


Kendle found him–alone and drinking again.Sometimes he was with Kyle, but mostly he wanted only to be left alone in his misery and while she understood his needs, she couldn't do it this time. She needed him.Marc didn't frown when he saw her come in the door nor when she locked it behind her."You hidin too?"His slur had her scowling. "Sort of. Can we talk?"He shook his head, pouring another shot with a hand that shook. "Not if it's about them."She moved slowly closer, got herself a glass. "It's about me. Can I have one of those?"He filled it a bit over half without a comment, but Kendle could see that she had some of his attention now.She drained the glass and held it out. "Another."Her voice was raspy and he grinned at her. "Sure?"She nodded and downed it. She tossed the cup along the counter, toward the dishpan and smiled when it slid into place with the others he'd clearly been throwing that way."Nice shot."She giggled nervously and the tremor broke through Marc's haze. She wasn't pissed or hurting. She was nervous. Of him? Then why was she here?"Do you remember what we talked about the day the sail snapped?"It took his foggy mind a full minute and then he shrugged. "Lots of stuff. Them."She drew in a breath. "And me."His eyes widened and some of his drunk vanished. "I'm not in any shape right now, baby. Come see me tomorrow night."Her face flamed and Marc realized she wasn't joking.Her shoulders hunched, and when she headed for the door without another word, he stumbled after her, grabbed her arm. "What's up? You meant that?"Face scarlet, she didn't realize she that hadn’t flinched at his touch. “Maybe...”She turned, heading for the bottle. "Maybe."Marc watched her down a third shot with narrowed eyes. She was kidding, right?"Why? They're together. You can't get him that way.""No, but I can get me."She looked at him with liquid eyes full of confusion. "I don't know who I am. I want.. need that to go away, if I'm to recover."She refilled her glass, voice gentle. "You did it for her."Marc was stunned. Sure, he'd thought about their little joke later, when her eyes would linger on him during a meal or a gathering, but he hadn't ever thought she'd come to him and ask."Guess it's carrying friendship a little too far, huh?"Marc shrugged, mind flying over her request. He hadn't had a woman in a while, so that wouldn't be the problem. The issue was… What? They were both free and lonely."You sure? Maybe you're not ready."She shook her head in fast denial, face still flushed. "I'll see there's nothing to be afraid of and be free of Ethan’s memory… The way his tongue hung out, How he liked me to cry."Marc was helpless to resist and he went to her, surrounded her with his arms.She held onto him, surprising them both. Please?”He nodded against her hair, thinking she smelled like roses, and felt her stiffen in his arms."Now?"He shook his head, voice compassionate. “No, not for a while. We'll start slow."She relaxed a bit and he stepped out of her warm embrace, suddenly a bit self conscious."And when I'm not drunk."He gestured at the bottle. "Let's drink and play darts, talk. We'll start tomorrow if you like."He could see she liked his words and surprised himself by falling into planning how far he should push her tonight.

This is not from book 7, but more like #9 or #10, and there's always the chance that things will rewrite themselves once we get that far. I often think that this story controls it's own fate, and I'm just the delivery method.
Hope you enjoyed the quick look. Have a Happy New Year, World!Angie

Book Six in PDF and Now... EPUB!

Dear Reader,
This is a limited edition, unedited, and pre-released for the fans who can’t wait even one second longer. Here it is, 6 months earlier than what I swore in the notes section of book 5! Thank you for inspiring me to work harder.This book will be released on all the major retailers sometime in 2014, in all ebook formats. Paperbacks will come out shortly after that.Hope you enjoy it!Waving at you,Angie
Safe Haven Route of Travel



The soldiers are coming for Adrian... and everyone else like him.Safe Haven has grown too powerful to be ignored any longer and the surviving government wants these dangerous Descendants secured for their own use or eliminated. And they couldn't have chosen a better time to reemerge.Safe Haven has a new leader and XO, and a thick wall of fresh challenges to overcome. Adrian's condition is critical, the camp isn't ready to accept the existence of magic, mother nature still has them in her crosshairs, and they are low on food, water, and fuel. The next eight weeks might be the hardest they've worked, and still not be enough to ensure survival.Can they bring the pieces together in time or will this be the end of Safe Haven Refugee Camp?


Book 6 Formats PDF $4.99 USD EPUB $4.99 USD

Book Six is here!

Dear Reader,
This is a limited edition, unedited, and pre-released for the fans who can’t wait even one second longer. Here it is, 6 months earlier than what I swore in the notes section of book 5! Thank you for inspiring me to work harder.This book will be released on all the major retailers sometime in 2014, in all ebook formats. Paperbacks will come out shortly after that.Hope you enjoy it!Waving at you,Angie
Safe Haven Route of Travel



The soldiers are coming for Adrian... and everyone else like him.Safe Haven has grown too powerful to be ignored any longer and the surviving government wants these dangerous Descendants secured for their own use or eliminated. And they couldn't have chosen a better time to reemerge.Safe Haven has a new leader and XO, and a thick wall of fresh challenges to overcome. Adrian's condition is critical, the camp isn't ready to accept the existence of magic, mother nature still has them in her crosshairs, and they are low on food, water, and fuel. The next eight weeks might be the hardest they've worked, and still not be enough to ensure survival.Can they bring the pieces together in time or will this be the end of Safe Haven Refugee Camp?

Book 6 PDF $4.99 USD

September News and Notes

September News and Notes

Hello, and happy where the hell are you, Fall?!Here’s what’s up with me.I’m 200 pages into book 6. I still say June, but we’ll see what happens. Maybe I’ll get something else out in the meantime, but book 6 has my mind pretty cluttered these days. I can’t imagine there’s room for much else at the moment, considering my other projects.Speaking of other works, have you read my Smashwords interview? It’s a new feature on that site. Here’s the link, and while you’re there, why not add my books to your library if you have an account? Most fans don’t know that helps an author with rankings.
I started a yahoo group for those who want to join my Eagles. I was limited in what I could put on the basic description, so you’ll have to join to read the welcome files. If you change your mind, no big deal, just opt out. It’s free, of course, and has some advantages I hope you’ll enjoy. The first mandatory meeting is 9/24 at 5pm, Ohio time. This is the link.In relation, I also need people to shoot a few videos for the group. 3-5 minutes, on your phone or camera, is perfect. If you’re a FB friend, you can view the request list on my wall and message me. If not, please friend me so that you can. Here’s the link for that.
For the rest of the year, book three: Safe Haven, will have a reduced price of $0.99! Feel free to spread that around, especially on 9/14, when I’m starting the promotions for it.

And now for the something new. Here is the first 50 pages of book 6, Where We Stand. You’ll notice, I’m sure, that quite a few things changed just from the rough draft of 20 pages I posted last month.
Waving,Angie