Lisa Logue's Blog, page 17

July 6, 2012

Precious moments...

In book news:

If any of you follow me on Twitter, you already know that the 2nd edition of Cursed Secrets is now live on Amazon. This version includes bonus material from the sequel that is currently unavailable anywhere else! While the 1st edition is still available in print and ebook versions, that time is limited. The 1st edition ebook is being phased out, but the print copies will remain. 




In other news:

Recently my boyfriend and I celebrated our five year anniversary! It's easy to get mixed up in the push and shove of day to day life that you forget what's important. I've been blessed enough to have found a wonderful man to accept me and my children into his life and his heart. I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Perhaps my previous marriage ended because I was meant to find someone who could look at me after to five years, the same way he did when we first fell in love. He's been so great to my boys and I know they adore him as much as I do. We just couldn't be happier. (Sorry, I had a girly moment!)




With that being said, don't forget to spend time with the ones you love. It's those little moments, no matter how silly they seem, that inspire us. A simple gesture can lead to great memories. I'll always cherish the time I spend with my family, no matter how crazy they make me! 




Every now and again, just enjoy each other's company without distractions. You might be surprised at what happens! <3









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Published on July 06, 2012 22:08

July 4, 2012

Happy 4th!!!

Independence Day....










To some, it's just another day to have a barbeque, watch fireworks, get stupid drunk and have an all out blast. I'm not against any of this, but for me it means more. What exactly are we celebrating? Well, America's independence and the signing of our Constitution and so on. But we should also be thanking those who've laid down their lives to help us uphold that independence. 




Many of my friends and family are a part of our country's military. Every chance I get, I thank them for keeping me and my children safe. Truly, they should be thanked every day for their sacrifices. Some of my closest friends are wounded veterans, losing limbs while in the war. Despite their struggle, they've adapted (as expected) to their new lives and I envy them for that. 




So while you eat, drink and be merry, remember that none of those things would be possible if it weren't for our past, present and future veterans. Sure, our independence began with the Constitution, but they are the ones to make sure it doesn't end without a fight. Thank a vet, have a drink for those who've perished, and never forget what true patriotism is. 



Be safe, have fun and light a few sparklers for me! :)




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Published on July 04, 2012 08:03

July 1, 2012

~Heat Wave~

The heat must be getting to me! 




Life is just simply crazy right now. There's really no other way to explain it. I'm one of those people that is normally really laid back and comfortable in any environment, but lately I find myself restless and my anxiety is through the roof. Some personal issues have factored into this, but also I'm struggling to get back into the groove.




For about two months I was cracking out some good stuff, but lately my enthusiasm has been lacking. My characters are begging me to write their story almost as much as I'm begging them to finish it for me. I suppose, at some point, I'll have to hike into the wilderness and retrieve my muse from wherever she may be hiding. Maybe an upcoming vaca can cure it for me!




The little bit of news I do have is I'm definitely releasing the Cursed Secrets 2nd edition very, very soon. Fire & Ice will follow soon after. Once these are out and about, I will be (hopefully) finishing up Binding Secrets to publish by the end of the fall. Again, the timing for the sequel is tentative. I don't want to get myself into a bind with that, but I don't want to rush it either. You all, and the characters, deserve better than that. I refuse to rush perfection!




Unfortunately, I have no previews to post for you tonight. I know, I know, I'm lame! BUT...you can check out some samples on Scribd. I have some stuff up from Legacy of Secrets (LoS) and also a different story I was working on a few years ago. I don't know if it will end up going anywhere, but it's there for you to read anyway. 




Thanks for tuning in to my ramblings! You know where to find me...




:-) Lisa
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Published on July 01, 2012 22:43

June 24, 2012

Excitement runneth over!

 I've got some big news! 




I've decided to release a second edition of Cursed Secrets to include some bonus material and a brand new cover! This has been in the works for a while, but just recently it was decided to go ahead with the project. Part of the reason is that as my first novel, there were obviously mistakes and things I need to fix along with the fact that I hadn't a clue where the story was going when I finished. Now that I know, it hardly seems fair to keep it to myself! :)




I'll be releasing Fire & Ice within the next few weeks on Amazon, then remaining platforms thereafter. There is a new cover and the prologue is available to read here. I've been working hard to bring you all the best possible experience with these characters and I think you'll be pleased :). While Fire & Ice isn't technically part of the series, the characters are the same and follows closely to the storyline. While some have been desperate to know what happens between Christian & Lia, I can't say for sure what you'll find in this installment.




Binding Secrets is still currently set for release in Fall/Winter of this year. This is tentative and may change depending on where the story takes me. You can't rush perfection and I surely don't want to try! I can tell you that there will be some surprises in this installment. Characters you thought were bad may end up good and so on. As it turns out, Lia isn't the only one that has secrets...(wink, wink, nudge, nudge)




So, I shall leave you with a little taste of Binding Secrets to pique your interest. Check my website often for updates on Legacy of Secrets and releases. Also, a great community called Indie Author Network has been kind enough to showcase my work. Feel free to pop over and give them a shout and look around at some cool stuff. There are plenty of authors and books to choose from, not just the Fantasy types!




'Till next time!....










Binding Secrets Teaser...




 

She looked so frail and broken in the dim light of the room and my heart sank. I’d never seen her sick my entire life and fought back the panic. I couldn’t take losing another person I loved, not to mention one of the people I owed my life to.
   
“Nana?” I asked timidly, secretly hoping she would be asleep.
   
“Hmm? Adalia? Oh dear, you picked a terrible time to come home. I’m sure your grandfather hasn’t cooked a thing for you,” she answered in a raspy voice, taking a breath before each word.
   
“Christian feeds me well. Don’t worry about me, Nana, let’s just concentrate on getting you better, okay?” I knelt beside the bed and rested my hand on hers. Her skin was clammy and cold, but I could sense the fever.
   
She smiled, “I will do my best” and the coughing began. Her tiny body wracked violently and I had to restrain the tears.
   
“Shh, shh, it’s okay. Would you like some water?” she nodded briefly and I dusted her with a misty rain. She sighed with relief and stretched to let the moisture sink in.
   
“You’ve always been special. Despite everything, God gifted us with an angel. You seem to understand everything now, don’t you?”
   
“I think so. I don’t care about any of that right now. You are more important. I will stay here until you’re better. Anything you need, Nana” she nodded and relaxed into the pillows. Her chest rattled like a purring cat’s and the terror inched closer to the surface.
   
I touched my head gently to hers and let the silent tears fall. My thoughts centered on the noise in her chest and the fever that failed to ebb. I wanted to know where it was coming from; how to fix it. Sudden warmth caught me by surprise and I struggled to see.
 

I focused my energy into her body and immediately I was sucked in. The weakening heart, clogged lungs, and immense heat took over my senses. I plunged deeper, looking for a clue. Whatever virus she had was strong and her cells just couldn’t fight it fast enough.
   
I could tell that something was very wrong from the way her cells reacted. It looked as if the infection was drawn in like a magnet. A sickly feeling spread over me and my heart started racing. I knew what this was, but I didn’t see how it was possible. There was nothing that I saw on the outside that would explain it. I retracted slowly so I didn’t shock her system and tried to mask the horror on my face as I descended the stairs.
   
“Lia, what is it? What’s wrong?” Christian asked before I reached the bottom.
   
“She’s infected” I muttered.
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Published on June 24, 2012 22:14

June 14, 2012

Where it stops, nobody knows...

Anyone else in need of a vaca? I know this girl is! 




The cover vote was a success!!! You all voted this cover in for Binding Secrets and with a few added touches, it will be just as epic as the story itself! For a teaser, click the picture!!!






 




For the last few weeks, I've been working closely with the Indie Author Network (affectionately called IAN). We've been creating a new interactive fansite for a group of incredibly talented independent authors and it's been exciting and exhausting at the same time. The members of IAN are all self-published, hard working and incredibly dedicated authors. I've never met a greater group of people!




The dead line for Fire & Ice is inching closer (I know, it's freaking me out!), but I have faith I will complete it in time. Char is working on a great cover for me and I can't wait to see it! Writing this novella has actually been pretty refreshing. I enjoy taking time trips every now and again to see how my characters lived before I knew them! I know it sounds cheesy, but I'm only a vessel folks! My characters are all alive inside my head...and no I'm not schizophrenic! *Sigh*




Currently, I'm reading The Ancient Fae by Terry Spear. I've enjoyed The World of Fae series and look forward to more from her. I decided that I needed to recharge by reading a nice, long novel and Terry sure did deliver! 




On a side note, I've met a new author recently. Her name is Rachel Olson and I think she has such great potential and a contagious positive attitude. She's definitely someone to look out for. Rachel is currently writing a Sci-Fi novel and is also co-writing on another project. Her vision is definitely intriguing and while she's not yet published, I'll definitely be buying her debut...won't you? :) You can view some of Rachel's writing here.




Well folks, I'm off! I promise to write you all more often once the whirlwind settles. Stay tuned for more teasers and special offers!




xoxoxoxo


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Published on June 14, 2012 21:40

June 6, 2012

Change isn't always bad, right?

Sorry to have stayed away so long! I've had my fair share of craziness attacking from all fronts lately. Sometimes personal matters get in the way of my writing, and while I hate it, it is necessary. On the upside, I'm about to make some pretty exciting changes in the coming months that will be revealed as they unfold. (Sorry, folks! I can't give away all secrets just yet!)




In case you didn't know, the cover vote for Binding Secrets is currently going on until next week. There are four to choose from and since it's difficult for me to pick, I'm leaving that decision up to you all! The artwork is amazing and I promise you won't be disappointed! 




Fire & Ice: A Legacy of Secrets Novella will be released very, very soon. So soon, in fact, that I'm putting on the finishing touches before it goes to editing and beta readers. I'm extremely excited for this installment as I've been wanting to delve more into this part of the story for a while now. Undoubtedly, there will be more novellas to come as the story unfolds. 




In celebration of the new changes and impending release, I'm throwing in a tasty little morsel from Fire & Ice. If you want to know more, please keep in touch by going to my website. All my social connections and highlights are listed on the main page. If you want to know more, you can always contact me via my website and I'll respond as soon as possible. I love my fans!!!!



Teaser!!!



The cell was dank and dingy. Water dripped along the walls, creating a draft. Normally the elements wouldn't effect me, but I was starving. It was either days or weeks that I had been left there. Only one enforcer watched me wither away. He sat in an old wooden chair, staring a hole through me. I didn't dare utter a word. I knew it was useless.

I lay with my face against the hard cement floor, wanting to die. I didn't know how it would happen; I just prayed it was quick. Flashes of faces haunted me when I closed my eyes. I didn't recognize them, but I wept anyway. Part of me didn't want to remember.

One such face appeared more than the others; one of a woman. Ringlets hung just at her ears from the strays left behind by her messy bun. Her green eyes were stricken with such sadness, it was almost impossible to bear. Something about her was eerily familiar, but the aches from hunger made it hard to concentrate. Was she a memory from before? Was she a victim of mine? It hurt to think.

A metal door grated in the distance, followed by heavy footfalls. Muffled words were passed to the enforcer on watch, probably about me. I was so weak. Pulling myself up from the floor was next to impossible. My body began to protest with cracks and pops. Rigor-mortise had begun to set in.

"Christ, he can barely move. Didn't you feed him?" one voice said.

"He never asked for food. He didn't say anything at all since he was put in here," the enforcer replied.

"It's your ass if he's dead," the voice replied.

"Christian? Christian, can you hear me?"

"Yes," I choked.

"Hold on, mate. I'll get you something," the footsteps scurried from the room.

I sighed, unsure if it was from relief or disappointment. Death wasn't coming, but my body was dying. I didn't know such a thing was possible. The feeling was strange, to say the least. My already icy body turned colder; my flesh solidifying. To the touch, I was a corpse. It was the perfect punishment.

My throat burned horrifically at a familiar scent. A human approached, deliciously afraid and unwilling. Every muscle in my body twitched in anticipation, releasing a wave of excruciating pain that radiated through me unmercifully. The agony was more than a human could bear, but lucky for me I wasn't human. Oh joy.
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Published on June 06, 2012 09:46

May 23, 2012

Whew...what a day!

I can hardly contain my excitement! Recently, I've become a member of Angie's Diary, an online writing magazine, and some of my work has been featured here. I've been working closely with Indie Author Network, IAN, and we're going to be rolling out some great features shortly. Yay! It's incredibly awesome to be moving forward on more avenues!




Also, I've been in contact with a local bookseller and they're considering carrying my novel! On top of that, they are very interested in holding book signings and other events since I'm a local author. Cool, right?! It figures that instead of taking time off I'd be working in a different fashion. My boyfriend probably hates me for it -.-.


I'm also a part of a wonderful group on the site BookRix. It's called Reviews & Critiques and our aim is to offer those who normally don't get an opportunity for their books to be read a chance to get much needed feedback. We'll review short stories, poems, novels and just about anything else you can think of across all genres. Your reviews will be posted wherever you ask both on and off site. It is a small group, as we are new, but we're more than willing to read your stories! BookRix is a free site, so if you don't mind sharing works with the community, we're here for you! Simply click the link below and you will be directed to our wonderful little spot!





http://www.bookrix.com/_group-en-reviews-critiques




Look forward to seeing you there!!!


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Published on May 23, 2012 17:04

May 17, 2012

Busy, busy bee!

Life is never dull in my corner of the world! School is almost out for the kiddos, so I can only assume it will get busier. Sleeping has become something of an afterthought as my imagination runs wild, but I can't say I'm complaining. Well, aside from the fact that I'm a walking zombie. I enjoy when the juices are flowing. I was worried there for a while because I'd draw a blank every time I sat down to write. I'm happy to say it was a short reprieve (if you could call it that!). 




Writing is now back in full swing, along with current promos and outside projects. I'm currently working with a great group of Indie Authors to get some content to our fans that isn't currently available. Cool, right? It's amazing what you can do with technology nowadays!




One major goal over the next few weeks is to finish Fire & Ice: A Legacy of Secrets Novella. I want to have the release scheduled for the end of June, but as of the moment I'm only about 1/4 of the way finished. But, I'm confident I can get it done. I've been getting some great feedback from some of my friends about the content and I'm excited! 




You know I can't completely leave you guys hanging, so here's a little nugget to sleep on! :)







Excerpt from Fire & Ice :




"So how did you end up back here?"

"Austin used some herbs and some spells to help me remember. It worked too well. Not only did I remember where I came from, but I began to remember my turning. Every time I fed from someone, I'd feel the pain of the venom all over again. It wasn't long before feeding at all became difficult. That's when Austin helped me make the elixir," I pulled out the flask and took a small drink. Her heart pulsed loudly in my ears, making it hard to concentrate.

"So you don't like biting people?" she asked in confusion.

"Uh, not exactly. It's in my nature to thrive for nothing else. I enjoy it too much. That's also why I hate it. I don't like hurting people, Lia," I affirmed.

"But you said people like it?"

"Yes, and those are the ones I despised. I was a predator. I didn't want the willing ones, I wanted the ones who ran. What fun is it to have all these abilities and not use them?" I asked morbidly. Her eyes grew wide, but she wasn't afraid. Something else conflicted in her mind, but she did well to hide it.

"I see," she turned away as blood flooded her cheeks.

"What's the matter? Do I say something?"

"No, I don't mind you telling me. I just don't think I need to hear about your preferences. It's....well, let's just skip over that, okay?" she kept her back to me, but her voice shook.

"I didn't mean to frighten you."

"I'm not afraid," she laughed shyly. "It's actually incredibly sexy to hear you talk about it that way. There must be something wrong with my brain."

"Sexy? That's a new one," I chuckled.

"I wish I'd have known you then," she stole a glance, but not before I saw the desire in those big brown eyes.

"That wouldn't have been a good idea. I killed for fun. I hunted women down and took what most men would have been willingly given. It wasn't sexy, it was predatory."

"But they did give it, you said so yourself. They went to bed with you because of you, not what you are. Being a vampire is a bonus," she shook her head in exasperation.

"A bonus? I have no idea what you mean," she turned toward me with a strange look.

"You are the sexiest, most intelligent man I've ever met. There's something about you women can't figure out. They know you're trouble, but it's the good kind. The kind that makes them go weak in the knees just thinking of all the dangerous things a man like you could do. There's a passion in your eyes that is raw and deep, emanating from somewhere deep inside. Being a vampire enhances your emotions, right? You feel it much stronger than any other man could. It's not a curse, Christian," she exhaled roughly, trying to mask her excitement.

"How can you see any good in what I am? At any second, I could kill you. Not that I'd ever want to, but I could. One wrong move and you'd be gone. How does that not scare you?"

"You work too hard to not pursue those urges. You drink that elixir to prove to yourself that there is more to being a vampire than the bloodlust, no matter how strong of a hold it has on you. There isn't really anything you could to make me think you'd kill me aside from actually doing it."

"Your judgment is clouded by your emotions," I smirked at her.

She shrugged, "Maybe, but even if I felt nothing I'd still want you. Sadly, I'd want to see what kind of passion you are capable of. The fact that you fight against it makes me want it even more."

"So if I gave in, you wouldn't want me?" I challenged.

"Oh no, I'd want you. The difference is if you gave in, you might want me," she turned away again as a shudder caught her by surprise.
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Published on May 17, 2012 22:29

May 6, 2012

A breath of fresh air

I've been buried in work lately! From school to writing and my "real" job, it seems I stay glued to the internet. As the days tick on, I still struggle with time management, but I don't think I'm doing too badly as I'm reaching my deadlines pretty steadily. I'm working on the first novella from the LOS series called Fire & Ice with the hope that I can release it by the end of June-ish. I still have a bit to do to polish it up, but I'm hoping it will be a good way to hold all of you over until Binding Secrets comes out. At least that's what my hopes are!




My graphic artist is still working on compiling some great cover samples for you all and as soon as I get them I will post for everyone to vote on their favorite! This is a big step for me as I'm usually super protective over my work, but I know you all will choose the right one ;). 




Follow the jump break to read a sample of Fire & Ice and let me know what you think! Remember, you can find out about all my books and work from my website as well as following me on Facebook and Twitter. See you in a few days!











Fire & Ice (Teaser)




"Aren't you just darling? What is your name?" she looked me over.

"Christian Mason. At least that's who I was," I answered in a whisper. I was so hungry. She smelled of fresh blood, making my chest ache.

"Oh no, you're still you. You've just gotten a second chance is all. Now you can do all the things you never thought possible, the world is your oyster!" she clapped her hands in delight.

"I'm sorry, I can't see how that's true. I don't feel like myself," I buried my head in my hands.

"Now, now, don't be so glum. How long has it been since you've eaten, sweetie?"

"I'm not sure. I don't want to kill anyone. I can't," I shook my head viciously.

"Once you learn what to do, it won't hurt them. They'll even like it," she patted my shoulder lightly. I wasn't sure why I followed her, but I did. I watched her graceful movements in awe. Her gown billowed as she walked, or rather glided over the ground.

"My name is Jasmine. I can show you all you need to know about being a vampire, if you so choose. Without me you might just kill all our food. We can't have that, now can we?" she spoke over her shoulder.

I shook my head, "How can you speak of it that way? They're people! What I've done is vile. If I knew how to kill myself I would have done it weeks ago!"

"It's a shame you feel that way. You're simply young. Let me show you what to do, then you can make your choice. Fair?" she stared at me with piercing blue eyes.

There was something about the way she looked at me. Those eyes held many lifetimes of stories and knowledge. Was I willing to pay the price of trusting a stranger? Although the bargain she offered was an open one, there were implications in making that type of agreement. In the end the only question was if I was strong enough to walk away. Of course I wasn't. I'd barely eaten in days. I needed her and she knew it.

"Fine, I'll stay. I want to learn how to stop killing people," I confessed.

"Oh, how sweet. I'm afraid that's not always avoidable," she started walking again, beckoning me to follow. 





"I will do my best to show you the proper way to feed. I rarely kill anyone these days, but I'm not beyond playing with my food."
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Published on May 06, 2012 19:25

April 27, 2012

Around the bend...

I'd like to thank those who wished me well over the last few days. I've been under the weather, battling some allergy irritations. Thanks for being patient as I intended to get this blog out at the beginning of the week. I'm still not better, but I'm well enough to pass along some good info!




The ebook giveaway is still going strong through tomorrow! Hurry and enter for a chance to win one of 10 signed copies. There will be probably one or two more chances to win a free copy over the summer.




I will still be holding the cover vote for Binding Secrets. I'm waiting on the samples to come back and then we'll begin! All info about the vote can be found on my Legacy of Secrets page.




Exciting news! I will be expanding LOS with novellas based on the characters from the main novels! Also exciting, I have plans on releasing the novellas for free! Crazy, right? I don't have many specifics for these yet, but I'm working with "my people" to bring you all some great reads! These will be significantly shorter than the novels, but won't skimp on the goods :p.




I will try my best to keep in contact with you all, but I may be scarce. There is some rearranging going on in my life as well as my books, so my schedule will be hectic. I promise to keep you all posted of any news and contests. 




I can always be reached on my Fanpage and Twitter as well as from My Website. I'll never hesitate to reply, whether you're a fan or aspiring author. Keep in touch!







xoxoxo




Lisa Logue <3
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Published on April 27, 2012 09:05