Ellie Potts's Blog, page 19

What the Tea…

It has been a while. After the release of Rock My Stars, which I had a blast with. Because it was my first book that got an audiobook! Things went way downhill from there. My mom in law, who we took care of, got really sick. It ended with her overcoming 2 infections, one which almost took her leg and the other in her heart. She pulled through and finished the year with a new heart valve. Right after her tumble out the door, my hubby and I caught Covid. We got her out of the house before she could get sick. We survived Covid, but had some long-term health problems. As we were dealing with the health problems, and mom in law in and out of the hospital, we were house hunting. California sucks, but by the end of that year we closed on a house that met some of the wants.

Health issues got worse, but as we moved into our new home, I started to write again kinda. Black Star, the sequel to Rock My Stars was pretty much almost done, and I have another Just Between you and Me, that I have been working on. The health issues seemed to get worse in my hubby, mine I finally got under control. While I was working on changing my position at my day job, my husband came home with a pacemaker and more heart issues. We are still working on getting the heart stuff under control. But I have been working on writing. I am finishing Black Star this weekend, and will get it to my editor. I have a lot of books I have been working on on the the side. So I hope to keep the good news rolling with book releases coming out after this summer. So yeah that is why I have been MIA. I will try to keep up with some updates as I move forward. Cover reveals coming soon, and more.

Rock My Stars is now an audiobook!

Excited to share that Rock My Stars is available in audiobook today! It’s my first audiobook. Thanks to Ivy Randall for being the voice of Tabby and crew.

Rock music is my life.

I don’t play any instrument. I can kinda sing, but I’m not one for being the center of attention. I love being in the crowd. Music connects everyone—the nerds, the jocks, the disillusioned, and the broken. To show my love to the rock gods on stage, I rave about them on my somewhat popular blog, Rockin’ with Tabby.

During the concert of the year, Summer Fest, I have a chance encounter with my music crush, Spencer Tate, head singer of my second favorite band, Suspected Tragedy. He radiates sexy with his silver eyes, growly voice, and giant tattooed arms. And when a drunken kiss turns into more, he offers me a vacation of a lifetime. I might be slightly broken, but as I learn more about the true Spencer, I discover so is he. Maybe together we can fix each other. Until I receive a crushing call that tears me back to real life and the friends I left behind.

This is a stand-alone book with new characters in the Starstruck Universe.


Listen to Rock My Stars by Ellie Potts on Audible. https://www.audible.com/pd/B0B3575ZSL?source_code=ASSORAP0511160007

Rock My Star Snippet

I finally got to the counter. “Hey, birthday girl, another cup of the same?”

“Yes, thanks, Todd.” I watched as he filled up the cup and moved it to the cash register.

“Wait, where’re your friends?” he asked, looking around. Todd was sweet, and I had seen him at most events here. He didn’t skimp, and we tipped him well.

“Around somewhere. It’s okay. I got this.”

“Aw, not fair. Birthday girls aren’t supposed to buy their own beer,” he said, and looked around again.

“Are you going to buy me one?” I bat my eyes, leaning in. Wait, was I flirting? Who is this lady?

He leaned in. “If I could, I would, but I’m working. I get off before the concert is over if you want to hang. Want my number?”

“Awe Hot Toddy, I can’t. I have to see Suspected Tragedy and Saint Saga. Plus, you live here and I live way over there.” I point towards the Valley. “It’s okay.” I pulled out my wallet.

“You know what, you’re right. The birthday girl shouldn’t have to pay for her own beer.” Holy crap, I knew why the voice was familiar. I paused as my heart thudded hard in my chest. I knew who the voice belonged to. “Can you make it two?”

“Sure,” Todd filled another cup as I tried to play it cool. No panic attack, stupid. The hand reached around me and placed a bill on the counter, and sure enough, the tattoos proved right away who it was.

“Keep the change.”

I took a cup and walked off to the side with my beer buying rescuer. I was trying not to go stupid fangirl as I looked at him.

“Is today really your birthday, or is it a ploy to get free drinks?” He smiled at me.

My insides were melting, turning to pudding. Holy crap, he was talking to me. Me! I pointed to the tiara. “Yep, big three-oh today. Thanks for the beer, Spencer.” Dude, I was so proud of how smoothly I did that. Not even a fumble or stutter. High-five self.

Click on the picture above to read more!

Today only Rock My Stars price drop!

Just for today January 2, 2022. Rock My Stars is just .99.

Rock music is my life.

I don’t play any instrument. I can kinda sing, but I’m not one for being the center of attention. I love being in the crowd. Music connects everyone-the nerds, the jocks, the disillusioned, and the broken. To show my love to the rock gods on stage, I rave about them with my somewhat popular blog, Rockin with Tabby.

During the concert of the year, Summer Fest, I have a chance encounter with my music crush, Spencer Tate, head singer of my second favorite band, Suspected Tragedy. He radiates sexy with his silver eyes, growly voice, and giant tattooed arms. And when a drunken kiss turns into more, he offers me a vacation of a lifetime. I might be slightly broken, but as I learn more about the true Spencer, I discover so is he. Maybe together we can fix each other. Until I receive a crushing call that tears me back to real life and the friends I left behind.

Rock My Stars (Starstruck Universe) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09J4BK5DC/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_PX46T4N43B36BDG6YKN0

Written in the Stars!

Today for the first time all three original Starstruck Universe books are being released in one book for a limited time.

Alisa Parsons & Logan Rider

Two artists leading two different lives…

Fresh out of her failing marriage, author Alisa Parsons has the chance of a lifetime fall into her lap. Actor and aspiring director Logan Rider wants to buy her book and adapt it for the screen! Throwing caution to the wind and taking the drive to Hollywood, Alisa meets with Logan and his studio to make plans for the future. What she doesn’t realize is while making those plans for her professional life, meeting with this hunky star also changes her personal life forever.

As she struggles with her new-found stardom and gets close with a man she’d only dreamed about from afar, Alisa becomes a part of the Starstruck few to live the life she always wanted. Successful career and a supportive partner at her side.

Written In the Stars is a compilation of the original trilogy; created by Ellie Potts in collaboration with Krys Janae. It includes the story where it all began – Seeing Stars, where the pair meet, Falling Stars, and how the pair handle sudden conflict, and the finale, Among The Stars, overcoming mistakes to keep their love alive.

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What stemmed from this trilogy became The Starstruck Universe; stories of normal, everyday people who get pulled into the world of glitz and glamour with the stars and artists who want to be with them. Follow their journey as they maneuver through the gossip, paparazzi, past trauma, adversity, overwhelming fans, and what it’s like to be with someone who is struggling artistically or constantly in the public eye.

Most of these stories are standalone reads, unless noted with follow-up sequels.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NL8MPD7/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_V1J8PPMYZHDQXWMD7KJB

And then continue reading on with Rock My Stars. Meet Tabby and Spencer!

Rock music is my life.

I don’t play any instrument. I can kinda sing, but I’m not one for being the center of attention. I love being in the crowd. Music connects everyone-the nerds, the jocks, the disillusioned, and the broken. To show my love to the rock gods on stage, I rave about them with my somewhat popular blog, Rockin with Tabby.

During the concert of the year, Summer Fest, I have a chance encounter with my music crush, Spencer Tate, head singer of my second favorite band, Suspected Tragedy. He radiates sexy with his silver eyes, growly voice, and giant tattooed arms. And when a drunken kiss turns into more, he offers me a vacation of a lifetime. I might be slightly broken, but as I learn more about the true Spencer, I discover so is he. Maybe together we can fix each other. Until I receive a crushing call that tears me back to real life and the friends I left behind.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09J4BK5DC

A little about Krys Janae.

Krys Janae is a Filipino-American artist of many trades. She is an author, voice actor and narrator, musician, and a gamer/nerd from central California. At just 10 years old, she found a major passion for storytelling, and has been writing ever since. Her first published work came out in March of 2015 and she’s been writing on and off in her own original work and collaborative flash fiction. Additionally, she began voice acting in 2015, and has been a full-time narrator and voice over artist that has been featured in numerous titles on Audible, as well as video games and more. She is a proud pet mom of her cats Lucy, Nova and Clementine.

https://www.krysjanae.com/

Rock My Stars Release Day!!

Not only is today the release day for Rock My Stars! You can get it in ebook and print. Links are below. But you can also get a copy of Seeing Stars for FREE! And I have a giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card.

Click here to be entered into the giveaway! —->>a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rock My Stars is a sexy rock star romance. I set it in the Starstruck Universe. If you have read Seeing Stars, I introduced you to Alisa and Logan. Krys Janae loved it so much I let her write more of Alisa and Logan. The story continued in Falling Stars, and then we came together to finish their story. January of this year together we released Among the Stars, which finished Alisa and Logan’s story. But we aren’t done playing in the universe, so expect to see some characters popping up in other books.

Get Seeing Stars for free here! https://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Stars-Starstruck-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00M68SVIW

Rock My Stars introduces you to Tabby and Spencer. This is my first book in the first person too, which was a little tough. But I liked how it turned out.

Tabby is nerdy redhead who runs Rockin With Tabby, a pretty popular rock blog. Spencer hides behind his sexy rock star persona. The two find they need each other.

Rock music is my life.

I don’t play any instrument. I can kinda sing, but I’m not one for being the center of attention. I love being in the crowd. Music connects everyone-the nerds, the jocks, the disillusioned, and the broken. To show my love to the rock gods on stage, I rave about them with my somewhat popular blog, Rockin with Tabby.

During the concert of the year, Summer Fest, I have a chance encounter with my music crush, Spencer Tate, head singer of my second favorite band, Suspected Tragedy. He radiates sexy with his silver eyes, growly voice, and giant tattooed arms. And when a drunken kiss turns into more, he offers me a vacation of a lifetime. I might be slightly broken, but as I learn more about the true Spencer, I discover so is he. Maybe together we can fix each other. Until I receive a crushing call that tears me back to real life and the friends I left behind.

This is a standalone book with new characters in the Starstruck Universe.

Get it today in ebook here! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09J4BK5DC

Get it in paperback here! https://www.amazon.com/Rock-My-Stars-Ellie-Potts/dp/B09LGTTP1N

This weekend I should have my paperbacks in. You will be able to get a signed copy and a key chain in my store once the books are in. I’ll have more on that later. So I hope you enjoy it if you do get it, and I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!

Rock My Stars Cover

Covers and blurbs are the hardest part after you finish writing the book. When I was done with Rock My Stars. I wanted the cover to look like a concert poster. I saw the couple, and they screamed Tabby and Spencer. But I wanted the cover to come over as a rock concert poster. The first picture is symbolic. In the book, Spencer calls Tabby-Sunshine. Later on in the next 2 books, you will see more of Saint Saga and Might & Madness, so I wanted to highlight the bands.

Rock My Stars comes out on November 23rd. You can preorder it now!

Rock My Stars Chapter 1

I blew red curls out of my eyes after reading the Book Nerd’s reply to my comment on his blog. My fingers flew over the keyboard with what I thought was a witty comeback. I had never really commented on one of his posts before, but he’d dissed my favorite writer, and I decided I needed to make a stand. Usually his posts were spot on, and I loved we had so much in common in our reading selections. I didn’t expect it to turn into such a heated argument.

I checked the time on the screen’s corner. Five minutes until tickets were on sale, so I clicked over to the Ticketmaster tab to make sure I had everything ready. Once it hit midnight, I’d hit the next button and complete the order. Those tickets were as good as mine.

My email dinged with the reply from the Book Nerd. Excitement burned in my blood over this heated exchange.

Hitting the tab, I read his reply, and laughed. I bit my nail as I thought about my next reply. Suspected Tragedy started on my playlist, which was perfect timing. I typed out my comment, hoping I got the last word. I mouthed along with the song; it was late as fuck, and I totally didn’t want to get another stupid warning letter from the neighbor again.

Once the clock rolled over to midnight, I followed through to buy mine and my dude’s tickets. My fingers drummed along the countertop as I waited for the order to finish processing and flipped to the next tab. I was just a little disappointed Book Nerd had not made another comment and stuck my tongue out at the screen immaturely. We had been at their cyber fight for a good two hours. I flipped back and saw the ticket order had been completed. My email and phone beeped with a confirmation a second later. I jumped off my stool with a whoop as I got down with a very awkward happy dance.

I wanted to believe this summer would be the most epic when Summer Fest was announced. The lineup included ten of my favorite bands, plus some others I had yet to see live. Also, the opening day was on my birthday, and I would turn the big dirty thirty, so it just had to be a sign. Right?

I grabbed my phone and sent off a group text: Got Tickets!

The dudes had to be at work at the ass-crack of dawn. So, they left me in charge of ordering since I could be up late enough. Using a scrunchy to bundle my crazy mop of thick curls, I couldn’t help but skip the few feet to my bedroom. I tossed off the oversized t-shirt and fell on my bed. I double checked, making sure I set my alarm, and let my eyes close as I daydreamed of the epic could-be of the next few months. I then thought of the Book Nerd.

“See you soon,” I said to the ceiling, although he wouldn’t see me. Maybe deep down, I could hope he would, perhaps. But why? I was just a normal woman, and he was a rock star. 

The text message notification pierced my skull early. I grumbled for not turning the notification sound off, knowing who it was, so I hugged my body pillow tighter. Turning over, I let sleep take over again.

****

The next day, I made it home from work, a little extra tired. In the middle of fighting to remove my uniform shirt, a bang sounded on the front door, making me jump. My startled green eyes caught my reflection in the mirror, and I gave a little laugh as I blew myself a kiss. I hated being so jumpy, but I couldn’t blame myself. Trauma fucks you up, and once there, it never really leaves. You just learn a better way to cope with it, and I’m pretty sure my idea of coping was not too healthy. Alcohol, horror movies, and hiding didn’t seem like I was actually trying hard enough to conquer it.

Tugging on a clean shirt, I answered the door. Walt pushed past me with a six-pack of the new IPA he found. He had a thing for beer. Unlike me, I’m not very picky about what kind of alcohol goes in my mouth. Walt stood six-five, with blond hair and blue eyes. A mountain hunk of a man, my brother from another mother, and best friends since we were seven. I held open the door, waiting for Danny to saunter in. When he didn’t follow, I poked my head out the door. Slightly confused, he wasn’t with Walt.

“Tabby, he isn’t with me. He said he had ‘some things to do before he graced us with his presence tonight.’”

Seems like what Danny would say, too, I thought, rolling my eyes. “Did he say what things?” I closed the door. I was being nosy, and Walt knew it, but didn’t give me crap about it. He’s just the best of best friends anyone could ever ask for.

He shook his head as his hands searched his pockets. I walked past him to the small kitchen, grabbing the beer opener off the fridge and handing it to him.

“Oh, I love you, you green-eyed devil. He said he would be over before we started the movie.” He popped off the tops of two beers and handed one to me.

“Well, we have to wait anyway, cause it’s his night to bring the movie.” I sipped the hoppy beer. “Hmm, blueberry?”

“Yep, not bad,” he said. “Not sure if I would get it again.”

Walt, Danny, and I had been best friends since junior high, and we’d had horror movie Fridays that were never usually missed. There were always little exceptions—being sick, honeymoon/anniversaries, or vacations. It was rare for us to go a week without hanging out. Walt was my rock, and Danny was confusing. Or, it was me that was confused, cause I had a small crush on him. Even though he’d made it clear I would never be his type.

Walt, AKA Walter McMurry Jr., and I had met in second grade. He’d been the only boy taller than me, and he’d never stopped growing, although I had at five-ten. We’d both been giant Superman and Thundercats fans, which had made us instant best friends. Danny, AKA Daniel Rodriguez, had been the new kid in school after four months of starting the sixth grade. His family had moved from the town over, and he’d been a nervous little thing. He’d sat with us at lunch, discovering we loved the same bands, and the three of us have been best friends ever since. We have had our share of difficulties, but our friendship has been pretty solid.

Danny knocked once before inviting himself in. We both turned, beers in hand, ready to greet him. Danny was the opposite of Walt. He stood five-five with dark hair, caramel eyes, and bronze skin. Whenever he appeared, he made my stomach do a little flop. As he strolled in, a little blonde woman followed him, which made me choke on my beer. Why was there a new female on my turf? Walt, who knew of my forever crush on Danny, patted my back.

“Hey Danny,” Walt said. “I got Tabby with my newest joke.”

I waved, grabbing a napkin to wipe my watering eyes.

“It’s not a funny joke if it’s the one you told me earlier. Please don’t kill our Tabs. So, guys, this is Liz,” he said, grabbing her from behind him swinging her out in front. He showed her off like she was a brand-new car, a flashy gem, something new and shiny, and I already didn’t like her. Which wasn’t fair, I told myself. I don’t even know her. She might be totally nice? Maybe?

“Hi,” she said shyly.

“Liz, this is Walt and Tabby.”

Walt gave me a slight glance before giving Danny and Liz his full attention. “She your—”

All our after-puberty life, Danny had a thing for small petite blondes, which I never would be, and each time he brought one around, a piece of my heart kinda broke. I would never be small, or recommended weight for my height, which was all bullshit anyway. I only had self-esteem issues when Danny had a new girlfriend, which has happened a lot lately. I wasn’t fat. I have curves, but on a stockier frame. I thought I had great boobage, or so I had been told. But even for me, dating has been rough. Between my over-protective wingmen and my own mental issues, I was in hole. I knew why I hoped for Danny. He was safe, and that was my go-to for the past ten years. But I was lonely. I was turning thirty. Maybe being safe had to stop.    

Danny nodded. “Me and Liz have been dating for a month now.” He gazed at her with lovesick puppy dog eyes.

I turned so he couldn’t see me roll my eyes. Blech. Always me, I thought at his phrasing. ME, me, me.

“Explains why you canceled our trip to the brewery up north,” Walt replied.

Explains a lot, I thought.

“Yeah, sorry. I have a new movie we found.”

“I don’t like we,” I leaned in, whispering to Walt, turning around to down the rest of my beer.

“Deep breath. You know, you really need to get over him,” Walt whispered back.

“Uh, guys?” Danny said, brow furrowing. He hated when we whispered without him.

We turned around. “She’s giving me shit for making her choke on the dirty joke. What’s it about?”

“Oh, it’s going to be great. Online reviews say it’s not as gory, but the storyline is awesome.”

“No gore?” I asked, a little shocked cause it was Danny’s favorite. Even Walt cocked his head at that as I looked between them.

“Liz isn’t such a big fan of gore.”

GAH! my mind moaned. And this happened when he dated. He changed what he liked. It was infuriating. I’d never change who I was to be with someone. 

Walt nudged me with his elbow. “Well, let’s watch this movie and get Friday started.”

I took my seat in the center of the couch, Walt sat on my left, and Liz sat on the love seat as Danny put in the movie. His eyes briefly lingered at the spot next to me, but moved to sit next to Liz. I scooched over, feeling a little sad. I loved being sandwiched by my dudes. If the movie was scary, I had anchors. And we had watched some crazy, scary shit. But they had always been my rocks. Maybe that needed to change, and clearly I needed to drink another beer, cause I didn’t enjoy getting all psychoanalyst on myself.

“How many tickets did you buy?” Danny asked before the movie started playing.

“Three.” I hoped the duh was implied in my tone.

“It’s okay. I’ll get Liz’s tomorrow.”

I watched Walt crinkle his nose. Usually he was the easiest-going friendly giant you would ever meet. But when you messed with our concerts, that made him angry. There was one rule, and right now, Danny was breaking that rule.

“Dude, you know its bros before, you know—” He nodded towards Liz.

“Don’t let me get in the way. I’ll hear about it when you get back,” Liz replied.

“Don’t be a dick. She’s never been to a concert.” He took her hand. “I want her to have an epic first time.”

Walt clutched his beer, sat back, and said no more. But it bothered me. It was not only a concert—it would be my birthday.

The movie started. It had a bland storyline, disjointed and dry. By the end, Walt and I were snoozing. Walt had got up early, so he had an excuse. But for me, it was boring. Usually, we made fun of the movies, but Danny was too busy playing kissy-face.

The movie ended, and Danny decided to take Liz home. It pissed Walt off about Liz going with us, and no amount of beer was going to fix that. He did at least wait to express his displeasure until they had left the apartment. Our concerts were our escape from everything. It’s three best friends and the music and mayhem that we shared. 

Walt sat in the nook separating the kitchen. “Well, that sucks. No word of this to my wife,” I mimed, zipping my mouth, locking it, and tossing the key over my shoulder. “He’s a dick. The rules have been in place since we were teens.” Walt had married a she-bitch named Sheila, and we were still trying to figure out how it happened. He thinks she drugged him, but I was leaning more towards the idea that she was a black wizard of some sort. If Sheila knew one of us was bringing a ‘special friend,’ he would never hear the end of it. She never got to go to concerts, because she would complain and just be a general bitch about everything. This was undoubtedly going to cause some Friday night problems.

Read more on November 23rd when Rock My Stars will be released. Preorder now!

Rock My Stars Cover Reveal and Preorder link!

Rock My Stars is a contemporary romance.

Rock music is my life.

I don’t play any instrument. I can kinda sing, but I’m not one for being the center of attention. I love being in the crowd. Music connects everyone-the nerds, the jocks, the disillusioned, and the broken. To show my love to the rock gods on stage, I rave about them with my somewhat popular blog, Rockin with Tabby.

During the concert of the year, Summer Fest, I have a chance encounter with my music crush, Spencer Tate, head singer of my second favorite band, Suspected Tragedy. He radiates sexy with his silver eyes, growly voice, and giant tattooed arms. And when a drunken kiss turns into more, he offers me a vacation of a lifetime. I might be slightly broken, but as I learn more about the true Spencer, I discover so is he. Maybe together we can fix each other. Until I receive a crushing call that tears me back to real life and the friends I left behind.

Release date is November 23! Preorder your copy today

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09J4BK5DC/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=rock+my+stars&qid=1633933263&sr=8-1

Blood Ties is out today!!

Welcome back to the Opposite Side, where not everything is as it seems. Leslie is searching for her missing sister as she herself is being hunted by the very organization she had just quit. She seeks help from the one person everyone warns her against, Mr. Forever. With his help, she teams up with Jamie, Princess of Fairy, who is in town looking for her missing partner, who is a werebear. Their paths seem to lead them to the cult of Lycanthia. The closer they get to the truth, the more Leslie’s life is unraveled. Someone had used magic on her to lock away memories. With loved ones disappearing, she has to unlock them one at a time, but the bad memories and truths will change her life forever.

To celebrate the release, Blood Witch is free for today!

Welcome to the Opposite Side, where monsters really do roam the night, but The Supervisors make sure that the monsters don’t get noticed by the normal humans. Meet Leslie, a Supervisor, and a blood witch, one of four in California. Blood witches are said to have powers that rival gods, that’s why they were almost hunted to extinction. Leslie came into her power late and fell in with the wrong crowd before she became a Supervisor. Nathan is the king of the local werebear clan. He has plans for his pack, and the other local shapeshifters, but also has his eyes set on Leslie. She is not your ordinary Blood Witch, and together they can stir up power that the world has never seen. But nothing is as it seems in the Opposite Side, and Leslie’s already different world is going to be shaken as a new case starts a chain of events that can lead to a feud war.

I am looking for readers for reviews. If you are interested, let me know!