A.J. Sand's Blog, page 9
February 12, 2013
Cool mention!
So, I didn't expect you guys to like "Documentary," at all...but there's no reward without risk, so I went for it. And thank you for reading and rating and reviewing and sharing your insightful and amazing opinions about it. I really can't say that enough! It's crazy!
Pretty cool mention: The other night/morning, I was Googling myself (there was wine involved), and randomly came across this Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WhatToReadAfter50ShadesOfGrey. And they mentioned me last Friday! Whoa! So cool.
I know tons of other books are listed, too, but I'm completely overwhelmed. Again, just completely taken aback that a book I just decided to take a chance with is being read and liked and listed on things. And Abbi Glines was listed, too, so NIGHT MADE, clearly.
Admittedly, I have yet to read FSoG, and not because I don't want to, but because I just have a huge TBR list that I'm cheating on by reading some of my favorites over again. But then I was freaking out because I was like, "Oh crap, what if people think there's more sex in it than there is. OH CRAP. There's, like, none! Ooooh no!" (See: wine) And then I realized they include books from explicit to mild in terms of sexual content, so I drank some more and stopped freaking out anyway. So everything was fine because THE WINE.
Anyway, I thought this was awesome. They have a pretty comprehensive list of great books you may want to check out.
On Thursday, I plan to drop some info on the second book, so please look out for that!
P.S. Don't forget that a way cute necklace is up for grabs! Enter to win it on the top right sidebar of my blog through March 8th 12 A.M. EST.
Pretty cool mention: The other night/morning, I was Googling myself (there was wine involved), and randomly came across this Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WhatToReadAfter50ShadesOfGrey. And they mentioned me last Friday! Whoa! So cool.
I know tons of other books are listed, too, but I'm completely overwhelmed. Again, just completely taken aback that a book I just decided to take a chance with is being read and liked and listed on things. And Abbi Glines was listed, too, so NIGHT MADE, clearly.
Admittedly, I have yet to read FSoG, and not because I don't want to, but because I just have a huge TBR list that I'm cheating on by reading some of my favorites over again. But then I was freaking out because I was like, "Oh crap, what if people think there's more sex in it than there is. OH CRAP. There's, like, none! Ooooh no!" (See: wine) And then I realized they include books from explicit to mild in terms of sexual content, so I drank some more and stopped freaking out anyway. So everything was fine because THE WINE.
Anyway, I thought this was awesome. They have a pretty comprehensive list of great books you may want to check out.
On Thursday, I plan to drop some info on the second book, so please look out for that!
P.S. Don't forget that a way cute necklace is up for grabs! Enter to win it on the top right sidebar of my blog through March 8th 12 A.M. EST.
February 11, 2013
February 10, 2013
Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Good Reads and email. Find me!
I'm all over social media... reachable all over the place! Let's get to know each other better....but not in the sketchy way that sounded.
Twitter: @ajajajsand
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ajajajsand
Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6908413.A_J_Sand
email: ajajajsand@gmail.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ajajajsand/
Fender Stratocaster electric guitar necklace is up for grabs! Enter to win on the top right sidebar of the blog through March 8th! Good luck!
Twitter: @ajajajsand
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ajajajsand
Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6908413.A_J_Sand
email: ajajajsand@gmail.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ajajajsand/
Fender Stratocaster electric guitar necklace is up for grabs! Enter to win on the top right sidebar of the blog through March 8th! Good luck!
February 9, 2013
GIVEWAY IS A GOOOOOOOOOOO A DAY EARLY!!
So a few days ago, I announced this giveaway and it is officially on (a day early)! For the next three long, miserable weeks, you can enter to win a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar pendant necklace JUST like the one Kai owns in "Documentary." Kai's guitar has a black pickguard in the book, but I couldn't find one at all. And I LOOKED.
Anyway, here's a side by side comparison of a real Fender Strato and the prize necklace... crazy right?
Fender Strato American Standard
2 1/4" replica prize in not my hand To enter, head to the widget on the top right sidebar of my blog. It's only open to U.S. residents located in the fifty states.
Here's what it's made out of, FYI: "Stamped in bronze, cloisonne enameled, then 24k gold electroplated, back is flat & gold, on an 18" gold tone necklace chain."
Good luck!! And I'll be announcing the winner sometime on March 8th! By February 28th, if the number of entries is just insane, I'll add 2 additional, smaller prizes!
Anyway, here's a side by side comparison of a real Fender Strato and the prize necklace... crazy right?
Fender Strato American Standard
2 1/4" replica prize in not my hand To enter, head to the widget on the top right sidebar of my blog. It's only open to U.S. residents located in the fifty states.Here's what it's made out of, FYI: "Stamped in bronze, cloisonne enameled, then 24k gold electroplated, back is flat & gold, on an 18" gold tone necklace chain."
Good luck!! And I'll be announcing the winner sometime on March 8th! By February 28th, if the number of entries is just insane, I'll add 2 additional, smaller prizes!
What inspires....? (NSFW-ish)
Sex Scenes...
I heart everything about this picture.I'm very self-conscious about possibly writing too cheesy sex scenes.
As much as we don't like to admit it, we've all been influenced by TV sex and porn, and the things that also emulate them. I think even if you've never seen actual porn, something you've seen has been influenced by it because the person who made the thing you're watching or reading saw porn LOL. It's important to point out that I don't think every depiction of something, be it sex or violence, is meant to condone or glorify it. I prefer to just let creative people be creative, even if it makes me uncomfortable. But we're human and we absorb things in spite of this. I'm digressing. My point is, this stuff can affect how we think about sex.
In creative expression, sometimes I think sex looks too sexy, if that makes sense. You know, in the throes of passion, so confident, so carefree. Nothing weird is happening. And if it's not that, it's too awkward. Too much weird is happening. Or too raunchy. And all those things are fine. They're all a part of sex. I guess my problem is, it can lean one way too much, if I'm not careful. A lot got cut from the sex scenes because I went crazy, did too much, went overboard.
So I try to balance these elements. I try to remember that sometimes sex isn't sexy. Sometimes it's really weird. Sometimes it's funny. Sometimes it ends before it's over. Sometimes it's romantic. Sometimes it's boring. Sometimes it's your first time. Sometimes it's your last time.
It a huge deal because when you're in a sexual situation, you want to be desirable and feel beautiful, but sometimes you're worried about whether you'll be crappy or do the wrong thing or they won't want to do it again. It can be a pretty overwhelming scenario. I'm inspired by these internal feelings, what sex does to people, not so much caring about the act and what it looks like. I want someone reading to get lost in the emotion of sex. It's way easier to get lost in the motion of sex. Pulse-pounding, Leg up there, hand on that, moving, sweating...but it's harder to make you feel the things that come along with it.
Writing sex is fun though, especially when you're trying to find ways to get your point across without using too many hackneyed terms and phrases.You have to get creative. It's awesome.One of my biggest regrets with writing the story from Dylan's (3rd person) POV was the sex scenes. I may write some of those scenes from Kai's POV at some point. His mind during sex is VASTLY different from Dylan's.VASTLY. Like the difference between laughing and choking. One of my best guy friends has been raising his eyebrows a lot at my Kai POV sex stuff. Probably because it's TERRIBLE...in a good way?
(Pictures from Pinterest and Tumblr. I don't own them).
P.S. Don't forget to enter to win the electric guitar pendant necklace starting on Monday! Check top right sidebar of the blog.
February 8, 2013
Kai + Wes BONUS SCENE- SPOILER IF YOU'RE NOT COMPLETELY PAST CHAPTER 17 .
Random fact: Kai is based on someone I know who actually has Wes and Abel's job for a living. Yup, in real life, my Kai inspiration surfs. I know his manager much better than I know him, but he's adorable and sweet and kind of a hot head.
Anyway, more Kai and Wes bromantic action. This takes place At Velvet in Orlando. If you're not past Chapter 17 in its entirety, it's not a good idea to read.
It's a spoiler.
Turn back now.
Okay!
When the song transitioned to another, Layla, the black-haired girl in front of Kai, flung her hair back over her shoulders and stopped dancing. She was beautiful. And she had been using his body as a pole earlier. Every few seconds during the song, she would grip his waist and wind her hips down to the ground, and roll her body back up and against him. He’d had a hard-on for, like, ten minutes straight.
His life wasn’t horrible.
The club manager had thrown in two free bottles of some top shelf vodka after Kai had taken some promo pictures for the club’s website. And girls were just begging to come into the VIP section with him and Abel and join the shenanigans already going on in there. Abel was drunk and giving sloppy lap dances to anyone who wanted one. There was literally a line of women outside the velvet ropes, trying to get their attention. So much hair flipping, and winking, and eager smiles. So as much as the night had sucked earlier with the protest and his shitty performance, his life wasn’t horrible.
“This was so cool! Thank you for letting me come up here. I’ve never met anyone famous. An hour ago, I was just excited about going to your Dallas show.” Layla threw her arms around his neck, and her hair brushed his face. Kai held her against him. She was sweaty, but she still smelled really nice. She felt really good too. He liked the idea of her on top of him later. Her pelvis brushed across the front of his jeans, sliding over his erection, and he heard her giggle before they pulled apart.
“What’s your last name? I’ll have my tour manager put your name on the backstage pass list,” Kai said, whipping out his phone.
Layla’s brown eyes flashed. “Oh my God, really?! Jessup. And can you add my two friends? Emily Parker and Ana Jameson? Thank you so much. You seriously made my night.”
Kai nodded and smiled as he finished typing. “Definitely. When you get to the show, just go to Will Call. Three passes under your name.” Suddenly, Kai, anxious and impulsive, drew his eyes toward Dylan on the dance floor. She and Wes were still dancing and laughing barely fifty feet away from him. The nightclub strobe lights kept catching them, and he was mesmerized by the way it lit her up. She looked amazing.
“Can I get a picture with you?” Layla asked, and her voice pulled him back to looking at her. She was gesturing with her iPhone.
“Yup.” Kai’s eyes widened at the last minute when she grabbed his butt as she hit the flash.
“Thank you,” she said, offering her hand. It was peculiar that a girl who had no qualms about groping him was suddenly interested in being so courteous. “Nice meeting you.”
“Uh, you, too.” He smiled casually and shook her hand. Her other one was suddenly in his back pocket. She slid something in it before moving closer to him. Leaving his pocket, she grabbed the back of his neck and pulled his head forward so that her lips grazed his ear.
“Embassy Suites on Orange. Room 1825. Whatever happens tonight is just for tonight.” This was proposition number four. Or maybe five. Out of all of them, Layla had the highest chance. They had chatted earlier and she seemed like a great girl. She probably looked amazing naked. The temptation to go with her and forget the last few days for a few hours was a powerful draw. And who had troubles when they were coming?
“How about we talk about that in Dallas?” he said as a suave offer with a half-smile. That was a tip he had picked up from Nina. In his line of work, you never rejected a fan out right, especially if you were a single celeb; you just had to plant the seed of vague possibility. They would always just assume the rest.
Layla smiled and twirled her hair around her finger. “Dallas then. Well, I’m gonna go try to find my friends. Keep the keycard.”
“Thanks.” He blew out a breath as he watched her toned legs sashay past the velvet ropes and back to the main dance floor. Those could’ve been wrapped around his waist.
Damn. Any other night.
And maybe in an alternate universe where Dylan Carroll didn’t exist. And where she wasn’t having a great time with his best friend. Dylan was supposed to not matter anymore. She had betrayed him, and now, she was supposed to be just another member of his entourage for the rest of the tour.
His anger flared as he watched her laugh at something Wes said. Why was he making her laugh? What kind of friend did that? “I’m gonna kill him,” Kai muttered under the music as he watched them, standing at the railing. Within a few seconds, he managed to lock eyes with Wes, dousing him with the full weight of his jealousy and strong lack of appreciation for his actions, and he saw his best friend freeze in place. Dylan, however, glanced at him but seemed unmoved; she was still trying to get Wes to dance with her. But Wes had gotten his message.
Kai wanted to take a drink so badly, but he knew his drinking had been getting to Dylan lately. And that bothered him, both because she was upset and that he cared. He had been making her feel like shit for days because he was hurting. He had told her things even some of his best friends didn’t know, like how Lake Lure, where his mom was from, scared him. He had never told anyone that before, and confiding in her had brought some peace. He had even considered telling her his bigger secret about his mom, and what he had done to seal her fate to an early death. He hadn’t forgiven himself for that and never would’ve recovered if he had told Dylan and they had ended up where they were currently.
But if she was so awful, why couldn’t he stop giving a shit? Why did those moments where they talked matter so much still? Why couldn’t he just do the things that would’ve made it easier to forget her? Kai got a tiny moment of triumph as he watched Wes leave Dylan and walk into their VIP section.
“Are you done eye-bludgeoning me?” Wes asked.
“Are you done trying to be the hero?” Kai countered.
“You have to know I have your interest in mind.”
He did, deep down somewhere, but jealousy didn’t allow for immediate clarity at all. “Look, I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean the whole ‘fuck you’ thing.” Kai shook his head. “I just…I miss her. And it’s making me crazy. She’s right there and I miss her. It like…it’s like she’s so under my skin now and in my blood and just everywhere.”
“I feel an epic Kai White crybaby ballad coming on…” Wes swayed his head and snapped his fingers to some imaginary tune.
“I don’t know what to do.” Wes always made fun of him when he was this candid, but he was the only person that really understood when he was feeling like this. Wes had been there once. As much as he had buried that part of his life, he knew it the most.
“I know. This is Hopeless Kai. He’s a lot like Broody Kai…but without any of the dignity.”
Kai laughed for a second, not disagreeing. “Is she still mad at me?” He frowned, feeling anxious.
“Whoa. Cut this shit out, White. Your girlfriend used up all my Dr. Phil points tonight. I want to drink and talk to women. Sleep with one hopefully. The end.”
“You’re right,” Kai breathed out. “I don’t want to drag you into this.” He flicked his eyes to the dance floor and felt a twinge of sadness in his chest as he watched her standing there alone. The sight of her knocked the wind out of him. She wouldn’t come to VIP while he was there, and she didn’t know anyone else in the club, so she would probably be stuck out there by herself. What kind of person would exile someone he cared about? He released three heavy breaths in a row.
“Oh my God. Stop sighing,” Wes said with a growl before smacking him on the back. “Now, you’re giving me The Sads. Fine, she’s mad because she knows you’re mad at her, but she cares. Stop drinking; she’s worrying. And just hear her out when she comes to talk to you. Because she’s in love with you, too, dude.”
“She told you that when you took her to your room or when you were rubbing yourself all over her butt?”
“I was cockblocking! Would you rather me rubbing on Dylan—”
Kai shoved him. “I just apologized to you, Wesley. And now I’m about to say something I’m going to have to apologize again for later.”
“…Or some random dude…like now?”
Kai whipped his head back to the dance floor. Well, that was quick. And who the fuck was that guy? Dylan’s gaze lifted suddenly and met his. She smiled, probably out of spite. With her eyes pinned to him, she lifted her arms to the neck of the guy behind her and used it for leverage as she pressed and rolled her hips against him. The move would have been a huge turn-on—instead of only being kind of one—if not for the guy’s presence. But any fascination with how sexy it was passed because Kai thought his insides would burst out. Jealousy and irritation made his skin feel tight. He needed air or alcohol or to scream. The guy, in contrast, was beaming. Kai noticed the tiniest of contractions at the corners of Dylan’s mouth; she was relishing the moment. He dropped his gaze to where the guy’s hands were on her hips. Move too far in any direction and I will knock your head off you neck, dude. I dare you, Kai silently warning him.
“Damn. I gotta give the girl props. She’s way better at this than you are,” Wes said, unable to not laugh at him.
“What are my chances of getting arrested tonight, you think?”
“Yes,” Wes said.
Almost unwilling to tear his eyes away from Dylan, he tilted his head just slightly so that he could see Wes in the periphery. “Umm…”
“Your chances are ‘yes,’ Kai, if you keep standing here, and that means I’ll get arrested because I’ll have to help you beat up whatever dude she’s dancing with, as your friend. Go meet someone who isn’t Dylan Carroll. It won’t make you feel better, but I don’t want to go to jail. This is really about me.” Wes led him away from the railing and toward a group of girls congregated around the table with the alcohol. It was time for Operation Out of Sight, Out of Mind. Even though he knew he was about to fail at it miserably.
Anyway, more Kai and Wes bromantic action. This takes place At Velvet in Orlando. If you're not past Chapter 17 in its entirety, it's not a good idea to read.
It's a spoiler.
Turn back now.
Okay!
When the song transitioned to another, Layla, the black-haired girl in front of Kai, flung her hair back over her shoulders and stopped dancing. She was beautiful. And she had been using his body as a pole earlier. Every few seconds during the song, she would grip his waist and wind her hips down to the ground, and roll her body back up and against him. He’d had a hard-on for, like, ten minutes straight.
His life wasn’t horrible.
The club manager had thrown in two free bottles of some top shelf vodka after Kai had taken some promo pictures for the club’s website. And girls were just begging to come into the VIP section with him and Abel and join the shenanigans already going on in there. Abel was drunk and giving sloppy lap dances to anyone who wanted one. There was literally a line of women outside the velvet ropes, trying to get their attention. So much hair flipping, and winking, and eager smiles. So as much as the night had sucked earlier with the protest and his shitty performance, his life wasn’t horrible.
“This was so cool! Thank you for letting me come up here. I’ve never met anyone famous. An hour ago, I was just excited about going to your Dallas show.” Layla threw her arms around his neck, and her hair brushed his face. Kai held her against him. She was sweaty, but she still smelled really nice. She felt really good too. He liked the idea of her on top of him later. Her pelvis brushed across the front of his jeans, sliding over his erection, and he heard her giggle before they pulled apart.
“What’s your last name? I’ll have my tour manager put your name on the backstage pass list,” Kai said, whipping out his phone.
Layla’s brown eyes flashed. “Oh my God, really?! Jessup. And can you add my two friends? Emily Parker and Ana Jameson? Thank you so much. You seriously made my night.”
Kai nodded and smiled as he finished typing. “Definitely. When you get to the show, just go to Will Call. Three passes under your name.” Suddenly, Kai, anxious and impulsive, drew his eyes toward Dylan on the dance floor. She and Wes were still dancing and laughing barely fifty feet away from him. The nightclub strobe lights kept catching them, and he was mesmerized by the way it lit her up. She looked amazing.
“Can I get a picture with you?” Layla asked, and her voice pulled him back to looking at her. She was gesturing with her iPhone.
“Yup.” Kai’s eyes widened at the last minute when she grabbed his butt as she hit the flash.
“Thank you,” she said, offering her hand. It was peculiar that a girl who had no qualms about groping him was suddenly interested in being so courteous. “Nice meeting you.”
“Uh, you, too.” He smiled casually and shook her hand. Her other one was suddenly in his back pocket. She slid something in it before moving closer to him. Leaving his pocket, she grabbed the back of his neck and pulled his head forward so that her lips grazed his ear.
“Embassy Suites on Orange. Room 1825. Whatever happens tonight is just for tonight.” This was proposition number four. Or maybe five. Out of all of them, Layla had the highest chance. They had chatted earlier and she seemed like a great girl. She probably looked amazing naked. The temptation to go with her and forget the last few days for a few hours was a powerful draw. And who had troubles when they were coming?
“How about we talk about that in Dallas?” he said as a suave offer with a half-smile. That was a tip he had picked up from Nina. In his line of work, you never rejected a fan out right, especially if you were a single celeb; you just had to plant the seed of vague possibility. They would always just assume the rest.
Layla smiled and twirled her hair around her finger. “Dallas then. Well, I’m gonna go try to find my friends. Keep the keycard.”
“Thanks.” He blew out a breath as he watched her toned legs sashay past the velvet ropes and back to the main dance floor. Those could’ve been wrapped around his waist.
Damn. Any other night.
And maybe in an alternate universe where Dylan Carroll didn’t exist. And where she wasn’t having a great time with his best friend. Dylan was supposed to not matter anymore. She had betrayed him, and now, she was supposed to be just another member of his entourage for the rest of the tour.
His anger flared as he watched her laugh at something Wes said. Why was he making her laugh? What kind of friend did that? “I’m gonna kill him,” Kai muttered under the music as he watched them, standing at the railing. Within a few seconds, he managed to lock eyes with Wes, dousing him with the full weight of his jealousy and strong lack of appreciation for his actions, and he saw his best friend freeze in place. Dylan, however, glanced at him but seemed unmoved; she was still trying to get Wes to dance with her. But Wes had gotten his message.
Kai wanted to take a drink so badly, but he knew his drinking had been getting to Dylan lately. And that bothered him, both because she was upset and that he cared. He had been making her feel like shit for days because he was hurting. He had told her things even some of his best friends didn’t know, like how Lake Lure, where his mom was from, scared him. He had never told anyone that before, and confiding in her had brought some peace. He had even considered telling her his bigger secret about his mom, and what he had done to seal her fate to an early death. He hadn’t forgiven himself for that and never would’ve recovered if he had told Dylan and they had ended up where they were currently.
But if she was so awful, why couldn’t he stop giving a shit? Why did those moments where they talked matter so much still? Why couldn’t he just do the things that would’ve made it easier to forget her? Kai got a tiny moment of triumph as he watched Wes leave Dylan and walk into their VIP section.
“Are you done eye-bludgeoning me?” Wes asked.
“Are you done trying to be the hero?” Kai countered.
“You have to know I have your interest in mind.”
He did, deep down somewhere, but jealousy didn’t allow for immediate clarity at all. “Look, I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean the whole ‘fuck you’ thing.” Kai shook his head. “I just…I miss her. And it’s making me crazy. She’s right there and I miss her. It like…it’s like she’s so under my skin now and in my blood and just everywhere.”
“I feel an epic Kai White crybaby ballad coming on…” Wes swayed his head and snapped his fingers to some imaginary tune.
“I don’t know what to do.” Wes always made fun of him when he was this candid, but he was the only person that really understood when he was feeling like this. Wes had been there once. As much as he had buried that part of his life, he knew it the most.
“I know. This is Hopeless Kai. He’s a lot like Broody Kai…but without any of the dignity.”
Kai laughed for a second, not disagreeing. “Is she still mad at me?” He frowned, feeling anxious.
“Whoa. Cut this shit out, White. Your girlfriend used up all my Dr. Phil points tonight. I want to drink and talk to women. Sleep with one hopefully. The end.”
“You’re right,” Kai breathed out. “I don’t want to drag you into this.” He flicked his eyes to the dance floor and felt a twinge of sadness in his chest as he watched her standing there alone. The sight of her knocked the wind out of him. She wouldn’t come to VIP while he was there, and she didn’t know anyone else in the club, so she would probably be stuck out there by herself. What kind of person would exile someone he cared about? He released three heavy breaths in a row.
“Oh my God. Stop sighing,” Wes said with a growl before smacking him on the back. “Now, you’re giving me The Sads. Fine, she’s mad because she knows you’re mad at her, but she cares. Stop drinking; she’s worrying. And just hear her out when she comes to talk to you. Because she’s in love with you, too, dude.”
“She told you that when you took her to your room or when you were rubbing yourself all over her butt?”
“I was cockblocking! Would you rather me rubbing on Dylan—”
Kai shoved him. “I just apologized to you, Wesley. And now I’m about to say something I’m going to have to apologize again for later.”
“…Or some random dude…like now?”
Kai whipped his head back to the dance floor. Well, that was quick. And who the fuck was that guy? Dylan’s gaze lifted suddenly and met his. She smiled, probably out of spite. With her eyes pinned to him, she lifted her arms to the neck of the guy behind her and used it for leverage as she pressed and rolled her hips against him. The move would have been a huge turn-on—instead of only being kind of one—if not for the guy’s presence. But any fascination with how sexy it was passed because Kai thought his insides would burst out. Jealousy and irritation made his skin feel tight. He needed air or alcohol or to scream. The guy, in contrast, was beaming. Kai noticed the tiniest of contractions at the corners of Dylan’s mouth; she was relishing the moment. He dropped his gaze to where the guy’s hands were on her hips. Move too far in any direction and I will knock your head off you neck, dude. I dare you, Kai silently warning him.
“Damn. I gotta give the girl props. She’s way better at this than you are,” Wes said, unable to not laugh at him.
“What are my chances of getting arrested tonight, you think?”
“Yes,” Wes said.
Almost unwilling to tear his eyes away from Dylan, he tilted his head just slightly so that he could see Wes in the periphery. “Umm…”
“Your chances are ‘yes,’ Kai, if you keep standing here, and that means I’ll get arrested because I’ll have to help you beat up whatever dude she’s dancing with, as your friend. Go meet someone who isn’t Dylan Carroll. It won’t make you feel better, but I don’t want to go to jail. This is really about me.” Wes led him away from the railing and toward a group of girls congregated around the table with the alcohol. It was time for Operation Out of Sight, Out of Mind. Even though he knew he was about to fail at it miserably.
Kai + Wes BONUS SCENE- SPOILER IF YOU'RE NOT COMPLETELY PAST CHAPTER 17 .
Random fact: Kai is based on someone I know who actually has Wes and Abel's job for a living. Yup, in real life, my Kai inspiration surfs. I know his manager much better than I know him, but he's adorable and sweet and kind of a hot head.
Anyway, more Kai and Wes bromantic action. This takes place At Velvet in Orlando. If you're not past Chapter 17 in its entirety, it's not a good idea to read.
It's a spoiler.
Turn back now.
Okay!
When the song transitioned to another, Layla, the black-haired girl in front of Kai, flung her hair back over her shoulders and stopped dancing. She was beautiful. And she had been using his body as a pole earlier. Every few seconds during the song, she would grip his waist and wind her hips down to the ground, and roll her body back up and against him. He’d had a hard-on for, like, ten minutes straight.
His life wasn’t horrible.
The club manager had thrown in two free bottles of some top shelf vodka after Kai had taken some promo pictures for the club’s website. And girls were just begging to come into the VIP section with him and Abel and join the shenanigans already going on in there. Abel was drunk and giving sloppy lap dances to anyone who wanted one. There was literally a line of women outside the velvet ropes, trying to get their attention. So much hair flipping, and winking, and eager smiles. So as much as the night had sucked earlier with the protest and his shitty performance, his life wasn’t horrible.
“This was so cool! Thank you for letting me come up here. I’ve never met anyone famous. An hour ago, I was just excited about going to your Dallas show.” Layla threw her arms around his neck, and her hair brushed his face. Kai held her against him. She was sweaty, but she still smelled really nice. She felt really good too. He liked the idea of her on top of him later. Her pelvis brushed across the front of his jeans, sliding over his erection, and he heard her giggle before they pulled apart.
“What’s your last name? I’ll have my tour manager put your name on the backstage pass list,” Kai said, whipping out his phone.
Layla’s brown eyes flashed. “Oh my God, really?! Jessup. And can you add my two friends? Emily Parker and Ana Jameson? Thank you so much. You seriously made my night.”
Kai nodded and smiled as he finished typing. “Definitely. When you get to the show, just go to Will Call. Three passes under your name.” Suddenly, Kai, anxious and impulsive, drew his eyes toward Dylan on the dance floor. She and Wes were still dancing and laughing barely fifty feet away from him. The nightclub strobe lights kept catching them, and he was mesmerized by the way it lit her up. She looked amazing.
“Can I get a picture with you?” Layla asked, and her voice pulled him back to looking at her. She was gesturing with her iPhone.
“Yup.” Kai’s eyes widened at the last minute when she grabbed his butt as she hit the flash.
“Thank you,” she said, offering her hand. It was peculiar that a girl who had no qualms about groping him was suddenly interested in being so courteous. “Nice meeting you.”
“Uh, you, too.” He smiled casually and shook her hand. Her other one was suddenly in his back pocket. She slid something in it before moving closer to him. Leaving his pocket, she grabbed the back of his neck and pulled his head forward so that her lips grazed his ear.
“Embassy Suites on Orange. Room 1825. Whatever happens tonight is just for tonight.” This was proposition number four. Or maybe five. Out of all of them, Layla had the highest chance. They had chatted earlier and she seemed like a great girl. She probably looked amazing naked. The temptation to go with her and forget the last few days for a few hours was a powerful draw. And who had troubles when they were coming?
“How about we talk about that in Dallas?” he said as a suave offer with a half-smile. That was a tip he had picked up from Nina. In his line of work, you never rejected a fan out right, especially if you were a single celeb; you just had to plant the seed of vague possibility. They would always just assume the rest.
Layla smiled and twirled her hair around her finger. “Dallas then. Well, I’m gonna go try to find my friends. Keep the keycard.”
“Thanks.” He blew out a breath as he watched her toned legs sashay past the velvet ropes and back to the main dance floor. Those could’ve been wrapped around his waist.
Damn. Any other night.
And maybe in an alternate universe where Dylan Carroll didn’t exist. And where she wasn’t having a great time with his best friend. Dylan was supposed to not matter anymore. She had betrayed him, and now, she was supposed to be just another member of his entourage for the rest of the tour.
His anger flared as he watched her laugh at something Wes said. Why was he making her laugh? What kind of friend did that? “I’m gonna kill him,” Kai muttered under the music as he watched them, standing at the railing. Within a few seconds, he managed to lock eyes with Wes, dousing him with the full weight of his jealousy and strong lack of appreciation for his actions, and he saw his best friend freeze in place. Dylan, however, glanced at him but seemed unmoved; she was still trying to get Wes to dance with her. But Wes had gotten his message.
Kai wanted to take a drink so badly, but he knew his drinking had been getting to Dylan lately. And that bothered him, both because she was upset and that he cared. He had been making her feel like shit for days because he was hurting. He had told her things even some of his best friends didn’t know, like how Lake Lure, where his mom was from, scared him. He had never told anyone that before, and confiding in her had brought some peace. He had even considered telling her his bigger secret about his mom, and what he had done to seal her fate to an early death. He hadn’t forgiven himself for that and never would’ve recovered if he had told Dylan and they had ended up where they were currently.
But if she was so awful, why couldn’t he stop giving a shit? Why did those moments where they talked matter so much still? Why couldn’t he just do the things that would’ve made it easier to forget her? Kai got a tiny moment of triumph as he watched Wes leave Dylan and walk into their VIP section.
“Are you done eye-bludgeoning me?” Wes asked.
“Are you done trying to be the hero?” Kai countered.
“You have to know I have your interest in mind.”
He did, deep down somewhere, but jealousy didn’t allow for immediate clarity at all. “Look, I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean the whole ‘fuck you’ thing.” Kai shook his head. “I just…I miss her. And it’s making me crazy. She’s right there and I miss her. It like…it’s like she’s so under my skin now and in my blood and just everywhere.”
“I feel an epic Kai White crybaby ballad coming on…” Wes swayed his head and snapped his fingers to some imaginary tune.
“I don’t know what to do.” Wes always made fun of him when he was this candid, but he was the only person that really understood when he was feeling like this. Wes had been there once. As much as he had buried that part of his life, he knew it the most.
“I know. This is Hopeless Kai. He’s a lot like Broody Kai…but without any of the dignity.”
Kai laughed for a second, not disagreeing. “Is she still mad at me?” He frowned, feeling anxious.
“Whoa. Cut this shit out, White. Your girlfriend used up all my Dr. Phil points tonight. I want to drink and talk to women. Sleep with one hopefully. The end.”
“You’re right,” Kai breathed out. “I don’t want to drag you into this.” He flicked his eyes to the dance floor and felt a twinge of sadness in his chest as he watched her standing there alone. The sight of her knocked the wind out of him. She wouldn’t come to VIP while he was there, and she didn’t know anyone else in the club, so she would probably be stuck out there by herself. What kind of person would exile someone he cared about? He released three heavy breaths in a row.
“Oh my God. Stop sighing,” Wes said with a growl before smacking him on the back. “Now, you’re giving me The Sads. Fine, she’s mad because she knows you’re mad at her, but she cares. Stop drinking; she’s worrying. And just hear her out when she comes to talk to you. Because she’s in love with you, too, dude.”
“She told you that when you took her to your room or when you were rubbing yourself all over her butt?”
“I was cockblocking! Would you rather me rubbing on Dylan—”
Kai shoved him. “I just apologized to you, Wesley. And now I’m about to say something I’m going to have to apologize again for later.”
“…Or some random dude…like now?”
Kai whipped his head back to the dance floor. Well, that was quick. And who the fuck was that guy? Dylan’s gaze lifted suddenly and met his. She smiled, probably out of spite. With her eyes pinned to him, she lifted her arms to the neck of the guy behind her and used it for leverage as she pressed and rolled her hips against him. The move would have been a huge turn-on—instead of only being kind of one—if not for the guy’s presence. But any fascination with how sexy it was passed because Kai thought his insides would burst out. Jealousy and irritation made his skin feel tight. He needed air or alcohol or to scream. The guy, in contrast, was beaming. Kai noticed the tiniest of contractions at the corners of Dylan’s mouth; she was relishing the moment. He dropped his gaze to where the guy’s hands were on her hips. Move too far in any direction and I will knock your head off you neck, dude. I dare you, Kai silently warning him.
“Damn. I gotta give the girl props. She’s way better at this than you are,” Wes said, unable to not laugh at him.
“What are my chances of getting arrested tonight, you think?”
“Yes,” Wes said.
Almost unwilling to tear his eyes away from Dylan, he tilted his head just slightly so that he could see Wes in the periphery. “Umm…”
“Your chances are ‘yes,’ Kai, if you keep standing here, and that means I’ll get arrested because I’ll have to help you beat up whatever dude she’s dancing with, as your friend. Go meet someone who isn’t Dylan Carroll. It won’t make you feel better, but I don’t want to go to jail. This is really about me.” Wes led him away from the railing and toward a group of girls congregated around the table with the alcohol. It was time for Operation Out of Sight, Out of Mind. Even though he knew he was about to fail at it miserably.
Anyway, more Kai and Wes bromantic action. This takes place At Velvet in Orlando. If you're not past Chapter 17 in its entirety, it's not a good idea to read.
It's a spoiler.
Turn back now.
Okay!
When the song transitioned to another, Layla, the black-haired girl in front of Kai, flung her hair back over her shoulders and stopped dancing. She was beautiful. And she had been using his body as a pole earlier. Every few seconds during the song, she would grip his waist and wind her hips down to the ground, and roll her body back up and against him. He’d had a hard-on for, like, ten minutes straight.
His life wasn’t horrible.
The club manager had thrown in two free bottles of some top shelf vodka after Kai had taken some promo pictures for the club’s website. And girls were just begging to come into the VIP section with him and Abel and join the shenanigans already going on in there. Abel was drunk and giving sloppy lap dances to anyone who wanted one. There was literally a line of women outside the velvet ropes, trying to get their attention. So much hair flipping, and winking, and eager smiles. So as much as the night had sucked earlier with the protest and his shitty performance, his life wasn’t horrible.
“This was so cool! Thank you for letting me come up here. I’ve never met anyone famous. An hour ago, I was just excited about going to your Dallas show.” Layla threw her arms around his neck, and her hair brushed his face. Kai held her against him. She was sweaty, but she still smelled really nice. She felt really good too. He liked the idea of her on top of him later. Her pelvis brushed across the front of his jeans, sliding over his erection, and he heard her giggle before they pulled apart.
“What’s your last name? I’ll have my tour manager put your name on the backstage pass list,” Kai said, whipping out his phone.
Layla’s brown eyes flashed. “Oh my God, really?! Jessup. And can you add my two friends? Emily Parker and Ana Jameson? Thank you so much. You seriously made my night.”
Kai nodded and smiled as he finished typing. “Definitely. When you get to the show, just go to Will Call. Three passes under your name.” Suddenly, Kai, anxious and impulsive, drew his eyes toward Dylan on the dance floor. She and Wes were still dancing and laughing barely fifty feet away from him. The nightclub strobe lights kept catching them, and he was mesmerized by the way it lit her up. She looked amazing.
“Can I get a picture with you?” Layla asked, and her voice pulled him back to looking at her. She was gesturing with her iPhone.
“Yup.” Kai’s eyes widened at the last minute when she grabbed his butt as she hit the flash.
“Thank you,” she said, offering her hand. It was peculiar that a girl who had no qualms about groping him was suddenly interested in being so courteous. “Nice meeting you.”
“Uh, you, too.” He smiled casually and shook her hand. Her other one was suddenly in his back pocket. She slid something in it before moving closer to him. Leaving his pocket, she grabbed the back of his neck and pulled his head forward so that her lips grazed his ear.
“Embassy Suites on Orange. Room 1825. Whatever happens tonight is just for tonight.” This was proposition number four. Or maybe five. Out of all of them, Layla had the highest chance. They had chatted earlier and she seemed like a great girl. She probably looked amazing naked. The temptation to go with her and forget the last few days for a few hours was a powerful draw. And who had troubles when they were coming?
“How about we talk about that in Dallas?” he said as a suave offer with a half-smile. That was a tip he had picked up from Nina. In his line of work, you never rejected a fan out right, especially if you were a single celeb; you just had to plant the seed of vague possibility. They would always just assume the rest.
Layla smiled and twirled her hair around her finger. “Dallas then. Well, I’m gonna go try to find my friends. Keep the keycard.”
“Thanks.” He blew out a breath as he watched her toned legs sashay past the velvet ropes and back to the main dance floor. Those could’ve been wrapped around his waist.
Damn. Any other night.
And maybe in an alternate universe where Dylan Carroll didn’t exist. And where she wasn’t having a great time with his best friend. Dylan was supposed to not matter anymore. She had betrayed him, and now, she was supposed to be just another member of his entourage for the rest of the tour.
His anger flared as he watched her laugh at something Wes said. Why was he making her laugh? What kind of friend did that? “I’m gonna kill him,” Kai muttered under the music as he watched them, standing at the railing. Within a few seconds, he managed to lock eyes with Wes, dousing him with the full weight of his jealousy and strong lack of appreciation for his actions, and he saw his best friend freeze in place. Dylan, however, glanced at him but seemed unmoved; she was still trying to get Wes to dance with her. But Wes had gotten his message.
Kai wanted to take a drink so badly, but he knew his drinking had been getting to Dylan lately. And that bothered him, both because she was upset and that he cared. He had been making her feel like shit for days because he was hurting. He had told her things even some of his best friends didn’t know, like how Lake Lure, where his mom was from, scared him. He had never told anyone that before, and confiding in her had brought some peace. He had even considered telling her his bigger secret about his mom, and what he had done to seal her fate to an early death. He hadn’t forgiven himself for that and never would’ve recovered if he had told Dylan and they had ended up where they were currently.
But if she was so awful, why couldn’t he stop giving a shit? Why did those moments where they talked matter so much still? Why couldn’t he just do the things that would’ve made it easier to forget her? Kai got a tiny moment of triumph as he watched Wes leave Dylan and walk into their VIP section.
“Are you done eye-bludgeoning me?” Wes asked.
“Are you done trying to be the hero?” Kai countered.
“You have to know I have your interest in mind.”
He did, deep down somewhere, but jealousy didn’t allow for immediate clarity at all. “Look, I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean the whole ‘fuck you’ thing.” Kai shook his head. “I just…I miss her. And it’s making me crazy. She’s right there and I miss her. It like…it’s like she’s so under my skin now and in my blood and just everywhere.”
“I feel an epic Kai White crybaby ballad coming on…” Wes swayed his head and snapped his fingers to some imaginary tune.
“I don’t know what to do.” Wes always made fun of him when he was this candid, but he was the only person that really understood when he was feeling like this. Wes had been there once. As much as he had buried that part of his life, he knew it the most.
“I know. This is Hopeless Kai. He’s a lot like Broody Kai…but without any of the dignity.”
Kai laughed for a second, not disagreeing. “Is she still mad at me?” He frowned, feeling anxious.
“Whoa. Cut this shit out, White. Your girlfriend used up all my Dr. Phil points tonight. I want to drink and talk to women. Sleep with one hopefully. The end.”
“You’re right,” Kai breathed out. “I don’t want to drag you into this.” He flicked his eyes to the dance floor and felt a twinge of sadness in his chest as he watched her standing there alone. The sight of her knocked the wind out of him. She wouldn’t come to VIP while he was there, and she didn’t know anyone else in the club, so she would probably be stuck out there by herself. What kind of person would exile someone he cared about? He released three heavy breaths in a row.
“Oh my God. Stop sighing,” Wes said with a growl before smacking him on the back. “Now, you’re giving me The Sads. Fine, she’s mad because she knows you’re mad at her, but she cares. Stop drinking; she’s worrying. And just hear her out when she comes to talk to you. Because she’s in love with you, too, dude.”
“She told you that when you took her to your room or when you were rubbing yourself all over her butt?”
“I was cockblocking! Would you rather me rubbing on Dylan—”
Kai shoved him. “I just apologized to you, Wesley. And now I’m about to say something I’m going to have to apologize again for later.”
“…Or some random dude…like now?”
Kai whipped his head back to the dance floor. Well, that was quick. And who the fuck was that guy? Dylan’s gaze lifted suddenly and met his. She smiled, probably out of spite. With her eyes pinned to him, she lifted her arms to the neck of the guy behind her and used it for leverage as she pressed and rolled her hips against him. The move would have been a huge turn-on—instead of only being kind of one—if not for the guy’s presence. But any fascination with how sexy it was passed because Kai thought his insides would burst out. Jealousy and irritation made his skin feel tight. He needed air or alcohol or to scream. The guy, in contrast, was beaming. Kai noticed the tiniest of contractions at the corners of Dylan’s mouth; she was relishing the moment. He dropped his gaze to where the guy’s hands were on her hips. Move too far in any direction and I will knock your head off you neck, dude. I dare you, Kai silently warning him.
“Damn. I gotta give the girl props. She’s way better at this than you are,” Wes said, unable to not laugh at him.
“What are my chances of getting arrested tonight, you think?”
“Yes,” Wes said.
Almost unwilling to tear his eyes away from Dylan, he tilted his head just slightly so that he could see Wes in the periphery. “Umm…”
“Your chances are ‘yes,’ Kai, if you keep standing here, and that means I’ll get arrested because I’ll have to help you beat up whatever dude she’s dancing with, as your friend. Go meet someone who isn’t Dylan Carroll. It won’t make you feel better, but I don’t want to go to jail. This is really about me.” Wes led him away from the railing and toward a group of girls congregated around the table with the alcohol. It was time for Operation Out of Sight, Out of Mind. Even though he knew he was about to fail at it miserably.
February 7, 2013
HOLY FREAKING CRAP!
AND HOLY FREAKING MOLY!
You guys got me into the top 1,000 on Amazon! Eeep!! This crazy! Absolutely crazy! Thank you so much. I don't even know what more to say. I'm stunned. Thank you for tweeting and telling your friends and reading and buying and reviewing and interacting with me and all the other stuff amazing readers do!
All of a sudden, my giveaway feels lacking, but I do hope you'll still enter on Monday! You could be wearing a replica of a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar necklace (much like Kai's guitar, Sable) come March!
You guys got me into the top 1,000 on Amazon! Eeep!! This crazy! Absolutely crazy! Thank you so much. I don't even know what more to say. I'm stunned. Thank you for tweeting and telling your friends and reading and buying and reviewing and interacting with me and all the other stuff amazing readers do!
All of a sudden, my giveaway feels lacking, but I do hope you'll still enter on Monday! You could be wearing a replica of a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar necklace (much like Kai's guitar, Sable) come March!
GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY FOR READERS!!! WANT KAI...?
's guitar? Yeah? Would you settle for a necklace instead?
I've been so incredibly touched and surprised by the reception of "Documentary," and I've been thinking of (many) fun ways to thank readers in a way related to the book. I decided to find out if there were such a thing as a Fender STRATOCASTER Electric Guitar necklace, since it's the guitar that Kai owns in the book.WELL, LO AND BEHOLD, there is SUCH a thing!! And I'm giving it AWAY. TO (ONE OF) YOU. I was so incredibly excited to find it, and I've been mulling over when exactly I wanted to do this giveaway. And I JUST couldn't wait anymore. Patience is NOT my strong suit.
I didn't take this picture and this isn't the actual prize one, but this is what it looks like. The seller didn't have Kai's actual guitar, Sable, (which has a black pickguard instead of a white one), but I figured this was close enough! I'm calling it Sable #2. And Fender licensed the trademark and copyright to the seller so it's actually the shape and dimensions of a Stratocaster, even though it's so small (2 1/4"), and it SAYS Fender on it!
CAN YOU TELL I'M FREAKING OUT?!
So consider the giveaway ANNOUNCED! I'm doing it through Rafflecopter (the widget is on the right sidebar of my blog currently, but not open for entries just yet).
Anyone can enter. You'll have the option of entering, starting on Monday 2/11 12 A.M. EST, by:
1) telling me which Kai and Dylan scene is your fave,
2) tweeting about the contest, and/or
3) following me on twitter.
The first one has the most value because it is a reader appreciation contest, so if you've read the book, you'll be able to answer the question and increase your chances of winning. Technically no purchase is necessary, but readers will have the advantage since the question is worth more.
If you choose to tweet, here's what my preset tweet will look like:
"I just entered A.J. Sand's giveaway for an electric guitar necklace like the one Kai plays in the book "Documentary."" And Rafflecopter will have directions on how to tweet it properly when you enter.
Following me on twitter (@ajajajsand) is worth the least. I didn't want to make that a big thing, but it's the easiest option.
No particular option is mandatory to enter, but you MUST do at least one (properly) for it to be considered a valid entry. Doing more than one will certainly help you.
And this time around, it's only open to U.S. residents within the fifty states.
Here's the official info on the necklace, so pay attention in case you have any metal allergies:
"Stamped in bronze, cloisonne enameled, then 24k gold electroplated, back is flat & gold, on an 18" gold tone necklace chain."
I'm running the contest for three weeks with plans to start on 2/11 (through 3/04 12 A.M. EST), So please spread the word, tell everyone you know (or keep it quiet for yourself LOL...I KID, I KID); however, if there are TONS of entries within a week of the giveaway ending, I'll be more likely to give out (2) additional (but not as cool...well, maybe) surprise prizes.
I'll give you another heads up on here on the 9th (and Amazon and Goodreads should pick up the RSS feeds within 24 hours of my blog posting if you prefer to get the posts that way).
I'll probably be giving out some other stuff in the coming weeks, but I wanted to come out of the gate with a BANG! =) SO excited and I hope you are, too!! Either on the day the giveaway or a few days after it launches I'll put up pics of the necklace so you can see how incredibly cool the detailing is, and hopefully get you even more excited.
Thank you again for your support and feedback and liking this book. And good luck on winning "Sable #2."
Email if you have any questions: ajajajsand@gmail.com
I've been so incredibly touched and surprised by the reception of "Documentary," and I've been thinking of (many) fun ways to thank readers in a way related to the book. I decided to find out if there were such a thing as a Fender STRATOCASTER Electric Guitar necklace, since it's the guitar that Kai owns in the book.WELL, LO AND BEHOLD, there is SUCH a thing!! And I'm giving it AWAY. TO (ONE OF) YOU. I was so incredibly excited to find it, and I've been mulling over when exactly I wanted to do this giveaway. And I JUST couldn't wait anymore. Patience is NOT my strong suit.
I didn't take this picture and this isn't the actual prize one, but this is what it looks like. The seller didn't have Kai's actual guitar, Sable, (which has a black pickguard instead of a white one), but I figured this was close enough! I'm calling it Sable #2. And Fender licensed the trademark and copyright to the seller so it's actually the shape and dimensions of a Stratocaster, even though it's so small (2 1/4"), and it SAYS Fender on it!
CAN YOU TELL I'M FREAKING OUT?!
So consider the giveaway ANNOUNCED! I'm doing it through Rafflecopter (the widget is on the right sidebar of my blog currently, but not open for entries just yet).
Anyone can enter. You'll have the option of entering, starting on Monday 2/11 12 A.M. EST, by:
1) telling me which Kai and Dylan scene is your fave,
2) tweeting about the contest, and/or
3) following me on twitter.
The first one has the most value because it is a reader appreciation contest, so if you've read the book, you'll be able to answer the question and increase your chances of winning. Technically no purchase is necessary, but readers will have the advantage since the question is worth more.
If you choose to tweet, here's what my preset tweet will look like:
"I just entered A.J. Sand's giveaway for an electric guitar necklace like the one Kai plays in the book "Documentary."" And Rafflecopter will have directions on how to tweet it properly when you enter.
Following me on twitter (@ajajajsand) is worth the least. I didn't want to make that a big thing, but it's the easiest option.
No particular option is mandatory to enter, but you MUST do at least one (properly) for it to be considered a valid entry. Doing more than one will certainly help you.
And this time around, it's only open to U.S. residents within the fifty states.
Here's the official info on the necklace, so pay attention in case you have any metal allergies:
"Stamped in bronze, cloisonne enameled, then 24k gold electroplated, back is flat & gold, on an 18" gold tone necklace chain."
I'm running the contest for three weeks with plans to start on 2/11 (through 3/04 12 A.M. EST), So please spread the word, tell everyone you know (or keep it quiet for yourself LOL...I KID, I KID); however, if there are TONS of entries within a week of the giveaway ending, I'll be more likely to give out (2) additional (but not as cool...well, maybe) surprise prizes.
I'll give you another heads up on here on the 9th (and Amazon and Goodreads should pick up the RSS feeds within 24 hours of my blog posting if you prefer to get the posts that way).
I'll probably be giving out some other stuff in the coming weeks, but I wanted to come out of the gate with a BANG! =) SO excited and I hope you are, too!! Either on the day the giveaway or a few days after it launches I'll put up pics of the necklace so you can see how incredibly cool the detailing is, and hopefully get you even more excited.
Thank you again for your support and feedback and liking this book. And good luck on winning "Sable #2."
Email if you have any questions: ajajajsand@gmail.com
February 6, 2013
Bonus Scene - Kai and Wes BUT SPOILER(ish) IF YOU'RE NOT PAST CHAPTER 2.
Hey, guys, thank you so much for your reviews and taking the time to friend me on Goodreads! I'm a little behind and playing catch up, but I'm getting to them. I will NOT leave you in friendship purgatory!
You guys keep buying "Documentary" and I'm sure the $0.99 price isn't hurting. So here's a bonus scene for ya, from Kai's (3rd person) POV! It was supposed to be longer, but Temple Run 2, Ruzzle and Zombie Road Trip happened last night. Nothing particularly juicy, but Wes and Kai's friendship is pretty much my favorite thing ever (even though I didn't get to write about it as much).
Expect more scenes to come between them. There's one coming from Kai's POV at Velvet.
If you haven't read "Documentary" or you're not past Chapter 2, it's probably not a good idea to read this.
I'm serious.
For real.
Okay:
This takes place after Kai interviews Dylan:
“What’s her name?” Wes Elliott said, lilting.
Kai White shifted his gaze from the open back of the Land Rover to his friend as he approached. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ve known you forever, dude. Whatever this is…” Wes waved his hand at him as if Kai were part of some sort of display. “…There’s a chick you like attached to it.”
“I really have no idea what you’re talking about.” Kai frowned, wishing Wes were wrong, and he tried to look as confused as possible. “What am I doing?” Wes tossed him a black duffel, and Kai threw it into the car before closing the back.
The paparazzi were flitting around near Wes and Abel’s house in Venice, calling Kai’s name and snapping photos of him, and it was taking a staggering amount of willpower not to scream at them. This was one of the things he hated most about his life, and most of the time he ignored it, but he had been on edge with them since the nightclub fight. And how could a picture of him packing up for a weekend trip be worth any money? But a picture of Kamikaze Kai, raging at a photographer, would be worth tons more, so he would keep calm.
Wes flipped Kai’s baseball cap off his head and caught it before it hit the ground. With a growl of annoyance, Kai snatched it back and pulled it down on his head. “Huntington is an hour away, dude. Is this how it’s going to be the whole ride?”
“Someone’s touchy…” Wes chuckled and put his hands up defensively. “Broody Kai means she’s really hot...and unavailable.”
Kai didn’t really want to go to Huntington Beach, but Wes needed a wingman for a surfing event, and without a doubt there would be party in Orange County. He needed to clear his head for a few days, needed to stop thinking about Dylan Carroll. He was setting himself up for disappointment otherwise. For days, since interviewing her for a film job, he had wanted to call her, but he knew if he did, he would ask her out. Inviting her down to Huntington Beach had been an option he had considered. He just hadn’t been able to think up a good excuse other than really, really wanting to see her again. It was wrong to hit on her; things could get messy, especially because she seemed perfect for the position, and he was sure that his manager would hire her. With his tour so close, it was better to stick with girls who wanted to date him to piss their dads off or who wanted to indulge in mythical rock star sex. The attachment never went farther than the initial attraction and the whirlwind few weeks that followed, and he knew that going in, so emotional distance was easy.
He was willing to put money on it that Dylan was the kind of a girl who could only be emotionally available, and they were the worst kind, the true heartbreakers. They found a way to dig through the slush of his damage, and that’s when he would really start to care. But then they would realize that there was no way back up to the surface; no family for them to meet, no Christmases ‘round the fire or Thanksgiving vacations to Grandma’s. So they ran…and usually took pieces of his heart with them.
He knew better, he knew to stay away, but curiosity about her was sinking in. No mention of wanting an autograph or wanting to hang out with him after the interview or asking for his phone number. Even some of the people who worked at the record company asked for favors unrelated to work. She had just let him walk her back to campus. He had genuinely wanted to, but it was also a test to see if she would take advantage of the opportunity and her access to him. Would she want to parade him around campus for people to see? He had waited for something during the short walk. He always gave people everything, and the ones who took it were never really there for him in the first place. But she hadn’t wanted anything.
She was nice and gorgeous, he thought. The guy she was going to that Screwing Dance with would fall for her. They’d probably be dating by the time the tour started. Girls that cool were never single or they weren’t for very long. He flexed his jaw. The thought angered him a little; he was jealous. He had barely registered a little more than a heart rate increase when his ex of a few years, Yeardley, had broken up with him. He had been sad then, but he had been sadder about losing the familiarity and comfort of their relationship more so than losing her. He barely knew Dylan, so there was no way this was going to end well for him.
“I’m not brooding. I’m just wondering what I’m going to do for the next sixty minutes to prevent me from strangling you, and since you’re driving, it would mean I would die, too. I should download a game on my phone.”
“Abel said when he got back last night you were up writing. We all know what’s really happening when you’re writing…”
Kai smirked at his friend and maintained his poker face. “Yeah. Working. That’s how I afford my lifestyle, Wesley. All of us don’t get to play in water all day.”
Wes wasn’t convinced. He shook his head. “Not to mention all the groupie pussy you turned down last night at Crush…”
“You know I hate when you use that word, right?” They both turned toward the voice; it belonged to Charlotte, Wes’ cousin. She was the spitting image of him, feminized. Charlotte had straight, long blond hair, light blue eyes and a perpetual tan glowing against her short black dress. She was really skinny but had been curvier before moving out to L.A. Recently, she had invested in implants courtesy of her savings account for school. Now she was crashing at Wes’ place to make up the difference while she attended UCLA. Char was probably objectively gorgeous, but all Kai ever saw was Wes and his twin brother Abel when he looked at her, which was good because, with certainty he knew, Wes would’ve beat him to death for seeing her in any other way. Everyone else’s female relatives were fine to defile, but anyone related to him was apparently off-limits until the end of time.
“Are you coming with us?” Wes asked, slinging his arm over her shoulders when she reached them. Kai’s gaze drifted down the lengths of her body, pausing on her chest and exposed legs momentarily. Her gaze volleyed Kai, and the tiniest smile settled on her lips. Kai pressed out an awkward grin back, slightly ashamed at having been caught checking her out. Okay, so maybe he didn’t completely see Wes and Abel, but this was still Charlotte Elliott. Just looking, no touching.
“Yeah. My friend, Abby, lives down there. Gonna crash with her,” Charlotte said, leaving Wes’ side momentarily to hand her bag to Kai. “So, what’s this about groupies?”
“Nothing, and that’s the problem. Kai is hopelessly devoted to some chick he won’t tell me about,” Wes said, laughing. He aimed narrowed and suspicious eyes at Kai. “I would think after dating Yeardley for so long you would want to see what all you were missing out on before you jumped back into something.”
“Believe it or not, cuz, but some people don’t think sex is a free-for-all. Sometimes, we like it with just people we care about,” Charlotte explained, shooting a supportive smile at Kai, but there was a flirtatious undercurrent flowing behind her eyes. Oh boy. “Even though, Kai, you did miss out on a lot of girls who weren’t bitches. A lot. Some you really would’ve liked.”
“Hey!” Kai said, offended. His friends were never going to let him live down Yeardley.
“Lee’s a bitch, Kai. Bitch adjacent on her good days,” Charlotte continued without any sign of guilt. She shrugged. “Does this one at least retract her claws amongst pleasant company?”
After a sigh, Kai tried to present a more adamant tone than before. “There’s no girl, guys.”
“Bullshit,” Wes fired back as he tossed his keys into the air. Kai didn’t need someone else’s thoughts meshing with his and confusing things further. And certainly not Wes Elliott’s. He wasn’t about to plummet down that rabbit hole of debauchery.
“Is that new?” Kai, leaning against the back of the SUV, ticked his chin up at the tattoo peeking out from beneath Wes’ black tank top. It was some dark-colored impish creature with fangs sprawled out just below his left collarbone.
“Would you like for me to strip my shirt off so you can see it better? Jesus, White, you’re choosing checking me out over talking about this? Must be serious.”
“Leave him alone, Wes.” Charlotte pouted and slipped her arm around Kai’s torso and hugged him closer to her. This would make for an effortless change of subject. Kai shot a defiant grin at Wes, pulling Charlotte against his body, as he watched his expression morph from jovial to disgusted. It was perfect.
Wes grimaced and he shook his head. “No. NO. Don’t use that brooding shit on Char, dude. It’s time to go. Char, you’re up front with me.” He pried the two of them apart and pulled Charlotte toward the passenger side of the car. “Let the rock star sit in the back alone. And you’re going straight to Abby’s. You’re not about to ruin my weekend because a bunch of horny surfers are all over you.”
Charlotte turned back once to look at Kai and winked. “No one’s weekend is going to be ruined. I have a feeling it’s going to be amazing.”
You guys keep buying "Documentary" and I'm sure the $0.99 price isn't hurting. So here's a bonus scene for ya, from Kai's (3rd person) POV! It was supposed to be longer, but Temple Run 2, Ruzzle and Zombie Road Trip happened last night. Nothing particularly juicy, but Wes and Kai's friendship is pretty much my favorite thing ever (even though I didn't get to write about it as much).
Expect more scenes to come between them. There's one coming from Kai's POV at Velvet.
If you haven't read "Documentary" or you're not past Chapter 2, it's probably not a good idea to read this.
I'm serious.
For real.
Okay:
This takes place after Kai interviews Dylan:
“What’s her name?” Wes Elliott said, lilting.
Kai White shifted his gaze from the open back of the Land Rover to his friend as he approached. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ve known you forever, dude. Whatever this is…” Wes waved his hand at him as if Kai were part of some sort of display. “…There’s a chick you like attached to it.”
“I really have no idea what you’re talking about.” Kai frowned, wishing Wes were wrong, and he tried to look as confused as possible. “What am I doing?” Wes tossed him a black duffel, and Kai threw it into the car before closing the back.
The paparazzi were flitting around near Wes and Abel’s house in Venice, calling Kai’s name and snapping photos of him, and it was taking a staggering amount of willpower not to scream at them. This was one of the things he hated most about his life, and most of the time he ignored it, but he had been on edge with them since the nightclub fight. And how could a picture of him packing up for a weekend trip be worth any money? But a picture of Kamikaze Kai, raging at a photographer, would be worth tons more, so he would keep calm.
Wes flipped Kai’s baseball cap off his head and caught it before it hit the ground. With a growl of annoyance, Kai snatched it back and pulled it down on his head. “Huntington is an hour away, dude. Is this how it’s going to be the whole ride?”
“Someone’s touchy…” Wes chuckled and put his hands up defensively. “Broody Kai means she’s really hot...and unavailable.”
Kai didn’t really want to go to Huntington Beach, but Wes needed a wingman for a surfing event, and without a doubt there would be party in Orange County. He needed to clear his head for a few days, needed to stop thinking about Dylan Carroll. He was setting himself up for disappointment otherwise. For days, since interviewing her for a film job, he had wanted to call her, but he knew if he did, he would ask her out. Inviting her down to Huntington Beach had been an option he had considered. He just hadn’t been able to think up a good excuse other than really, really wanting to see her again. It was wrong to hit on her; things could get messy, especially because she seemed perfect for the position, and he was sure that his manager would hire her. With his tour so close, it was better to stick with girls who wanted to date him to piss their dads off or who wanted to indulge in mythical rock star sex. The attachment never went farther than the initial attraction and the whirlwind few weeks that followed, and he knew that going in, so emotional distance was easy.
He was willing to put money on it that Dylan was the kind of a girl who could only be emotionally available, and they were the worst kind, the true heartbreakers. They found a way to dig through the slush of his damage, and that’s when he would really start to care. But then they would realize that there was no way back up to the surface; no family for them to meet, no Christmases ‘round the fire or Thanksgiving vacations to Grandma’s. So they ran…and usually took pieces of his heart with them.
He knew better, he knew to stay away, but curiosity about her was sinking in. No mention of wanting an autograph or wanting to hang out with him after the interview or asking for his phone number. Even some of the people who worked at the record company asked for favors unrelated to work. She had just let him walk her back to campus. He had genuinely wanted to, but it was also a test to see if she would take advantage of the opportunity and her access to him. Would she want to parade him around campus for people to see? He had waited for something during the short walk. He always gave people everything, and the ones who took it were never really there for him in the first place. But she hadn’t wanted anything.
She was nice and gorgeous, he thought. The guy she was going to that Screwing Dance with would fall for her. They’d probably be dating by the time the tour started. Girls that cool were never single or they weren’t for very long. He flexed his jaw. The thought angered him a little; he was jealous. He had barely registered a little more than a heart rate increase when his ex of a few years, Yeardley, had broken up with him. He had been sad then, but he had been sadder about losing the familiarity and comfort of their relationship more so than losing her. He barely knew Dylan, so there was no way this was going to end well for him.
“I’m not brooding. I’m just wondering what I’m going to do for the next sixty minutes to prevent me from strangling you, and since you’re driving, it would mean I would die, too. I should download a game on my phone.”
“Abel said when he got back last night you were up writing. We all know what’s really happening when you’re writing…”
Kai smirked at his friend and maintained his poker face. “Yeah. Working. That’s how I afford my lifestyle, Wesley. All of us don’t get to play in water all day.”
Wes wasn’t convinced. He shook his head. “Not to mention all the groupie pussy you turned down last night at Crush…”
“You know I hate when you use that word, right?” They both turned toward the voice; it belonged to Charlotte, Wes’ cousin. She was the spitting image of him, feminized. Charlotte had straight, long blond hair, light blue eyes and a perpetual tan glowing against her short black dress. She was really skinny but had been curvier before moving out to L.A. Recently, she had invested in implants courtesy of her savings account for school. Now she was crashing at Wes’ place to make up the difference while she attended UCLA. Char was probably objectively gorgeous, but all Kai ever saw was Wes and his twin brother Abel when he looked at her, which was good because, with certainty he knew, Wes would’ve beat him to death for seeing her in any other way. Everyone else’s female relatives were fine to defile, but anyone related to him was apparently off-limits until the end of time.
“Are you coming with us?” Wes asked, slinging his arm over her shoulders when she reached them. Kai’s gaze drifted down the lengths of her body, pausing on her chest and exposed legs momentarily. Her gaze volleyed Kai, and the tiniest smile settled on her lips. Kai pressed out an awkward grin back, slightly ashamed at having been caught checking her out. Okay, so maybe he didn’t completely see Wes and Abel, but this was still Charlotte Elliott. Just looking, no touching.
“Yeah. My friend, Abby, lives down there. Gonna crash with her,” Charlotte said, leaving Wes’ side momentarily to hand her bag to Kai. “So, what’s this about groupies?”
“Nothing, and that’s the problem. Kai is hopelessly devoted to some chick he won’t tell me about,” Wes said, laughing. He aimed narrowed and suspicious eyes at Kai. “I would think after dating Yeardley for so long you would want to see what all you were missing out on before you jumped back into something.”
“Believe it or not, cuz, but some people don’t think sex is a free-for-all. Sometimes, we like it with just people we care about,” Charlotte explained, shooting a supportive smile at Kai, but there was a flirtatious undercurrent flowing behind her eyes. Oh boy. “Even though, Kai, you did miss out on a lot of girls who weren’t bitches. A lot. Some you really would’ve liked.”
“Hey!” Kai said, offended. His friends were never going to let him live down Yeardley.
“Lee’s a bitch, Kai. Bitch adjacent on her good days,” Charlotte continued without any sign of guilt. She shrugged. “Does this one at least retract her claws amongst pleasant company?”
After a sigh, Kai tried to present a more adamant tone than before. “There’s no girl, guys.”
“Bullshit,” Wes fired back as he tossed his keys into the air. Kai didn’t need someone else’s thoughts meshing with his and confusing things further. And certainly not Wes Elliott’s. He wasn’t about to plummet down that rabbit hole of debauchery.
“Is that new?” Kai, leaning against the back of the SUV, ticked his chin up at the tattoo peeking out from beneath Wes’ black tank top. It was some dark-colored impish creature with fangs sprawled out just below his left collarbone.
“Would you like for me to strip my shirt off so you can see it better? Jesus, White, you’re choosing checking me out over talking about this? Must be serious.”
“Leave him alone, Wes.” Charlotte pouted and slipped her arm around Kai’s torso and hugged him closer to her. This would make for an effortless change of subject. Kai shot a defiant grin at Wes, pulling Charlotte against his body, as he watched his expression morph from jovial to disgusted. It was perfect.
Wes grimaced and he shook his head. “No. NO. Don’t use that brooding shit on Char, dude. It’s time to go. Char, you’re up front with me.” He pried the two of them apart and pulled Charlotte toward the passenger side of the car. “Let the rock star sit in the back alone. And you’re going straight to Abby’s. You’re not about to ruin my weekend because a bunch of horny surfers are all over you.”
Charlotte turned back once to look at Kai and winked. “No one’s weekend is going to be ruined. I have a feeling it’s going to be amazing.”
