Scarlett Edwards's Blog

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www.facebook.com/ScarlettEdwardsAuthor


Ask questions, get answers, talk to other fans, get teasers and sneak peeks at upcoming books.. it's all there.


Scarlett

Uncovering You 6: Deliverance is now available for preorder!

Coming November 19  |  Preorder on Amazon Evil.

That is really the best way to describe Jeremy Stonehart. When he was Stonehart.

Is he that anymore? I don't know. As he reveals more and more of himself to me, I start to see a glimmer of the man beneath the surface. I start to understand, in some small way, that even evil comes from a source, from some initial seed that sprouted and took hold of a person's soul.

Evil is what Jeremy was. But is it what he will continue to be?

I will only find out by sticking by him until the very end. It is my only choice. It is my only option. It is the only way I will get answers, and the only way that I will get...

Revenge. To celebrate the release of Uncovering You 6, I put together a boxed set of the first three books​. It's available as an Amazon exclusive, free for Prime members and $0.99 for everybody else.
​
If you have friends who haven't read the Uncovering You books yet, it's the best place to start.  It includes Uncovering You 1, 2, and 3.

To help spread the word, I'm running a contest open to everybody. The grand prize is a brand new Kindle Voyage and signed copies of all the Uncovering You books.

There are tons of other prizes, too, including a bunch of giftcards and audiobooks and more.  As always, I can't wait to read your feedback of Uncovering You 6.

Yours in romance,
Scarlett
  xoxo

I admit: I'm a bad author.

So, everyone who's been following me on this publishing journey... adventure... misadventure... or what-have-you, for the Uncovering You series, knows that I'm done a pretty shitty job keeping you informed and staying on track.

I'm not going to ask you guys to forgive me, because I know I've brought it all on myself. Delays between books, infrequent blog updates, etc. are all my fault.

But, I will explain why the release of UY06, which I alluded to would happen "a few weeks" after the September 12th update (scroll down to read it), still has not.

In short, it's everything to do with setting up the transcription process.  When I said "a few weeks," I meant that it would happen that way if I were to transcribe the book myself.

But, to my surprise, I got applicants for the position.  A lot of applicants.  I had to screen them all, and eventually settled on working with a girl who's been absolutely fantastic.

And yet, it's still been a learning curve.  She had to learn my handwriting, we had to get a proper workflow going (for example, when I write longhand, I leave a ton of abbreviations which make sense only to me. I had to teach her all of them), and there was a ton of administrative stuff involved.

But the good news is that that's been settled.  She finished transcribing the entire manuscript (while I've been busy working on Uncovering You 7... we're nearing the end of the series!!) and sent it to me three days ago.  I took my time going through it and doing my own edits.  

I *just* finished them.

Now the book is off to my editor, who, unfortunately, is backlogged quite a bit.  She's also great, and is going to try her hardest to finish quickly, but remember: Uncovering You 6 is the longest book in the series by a fair margin.  So whereas she could finish the first few books in a week or so, this one is going to take longer.

(For your reference: Uncovering You 6 is just over 3x the length of UY01, UY02, and UY03.)

With all that being said... I've got a release week set.  Uncovering You 6 will come out the third week of November.  If my editor finishes in advance, it could happen earlier... but the third week of November is the absolute latest it'll come out.

And while she's working on it, I'll be busy finishing up 7.  Now that my transcriber and I have everything set, there won't be such long delays between books anymore: not for Uncovering You, nor for any series I might start afterward.

So thanks for bearing with me for this long. The conclusion I'm working towards with the series will definitely be worth it. 

(I think. I hope.  Ultimately, it's up to you to decide.)

S

Quick Update...

Quick update from my end: my last blog post elicited tons of applicants for the transcribing spot, which I never expected, even in my wildest dreams.

I've spent the last week or so screening all the different applicants, and I found a great girl to work with. She started today!

I don't have a timeline for completion because this is her first go at it. But she's a fan, just like you, and she knows how many of you there are out there chomping at the bit, waiting to get the next part of the story.

That is to say, she's going to work freaking fast! (No pressure, R. lol)

But, even better, thanks to the time I've saved not having to transcribe, I've already began the next book. And I'm at least a quartet of the way through! So I bet that by the time UY6 is fully transcribed, I'll already have UY7 done as a first draft.

So things will be much faster from here on out. The writing process is now more or less on autopilot.

Thanks for sticking with me :)

S

Update: Uncovering You 6

Alright, so I know lots of you want an update on the next book. Here it is:

I've been writing non stop since finishing UY5. The series... but moreover, your reaction to it... has exceeded all my expectations from when I began.

When I started, I intended it all to be a quick, 3-book mini serial. One, two, three, and done. This was before the first word I put on paper. As I got to the end of UY 1, however, I knew it would take longer to finish the story (which is still contained in the prologue to book 1). So I planned it out to consist of six books, still short, each about 20,000 words.

Honestly, it began as a side project for me. I had no idea whether anybody would be interested in the story I had to tell. And then I published it... and got all your reactions... and was blown away.

So I still tried to stick to the original 6-book short serial plan. But then I saw you guys asking for more depth. You wanted longer books. You wanted better insights into the characters, their motivations, their interactions, and of course, the central relationship between Lilly and her captor.

That's why the last book (UY5) was delayed. I decided to rewrite it at the last moment to give you that depth. And as I did, something extraordinary happened: I fell in love with the characters.

Before, I knew them, I knew their background, I knew their histories, I knew how they should behave... but I didn't *love* them. Maybe that's a bad confession to make, but it's the truth. I didn't love them because I didn't allow myself to, because I knew that I would have to say goodbye to them shortly.

But after UY5, all that changed. This stopped being a short, little mini series of serials. It became something much more substantial, much more dominant, in my mind.

And suddenly, I had the freedom to really create. I wasn't bound by the 20,000-word word counts. I realized these could actually be full, significant books.

So that's what's been going on. I've been working on UY6 full time and loving it. It's nearing 80,000 words already. That's pretty much the same length as Uncovering You 1 through 4 put together. So yeah, there's a lot more here for you to sink your teeth into.

I'm closing in on the end. This is the first book that I'll probably have to edit to get rid of some fluff, so the final word count might be closer to 60,000. But we'll see.

I'm looking to conclude the book by the 16th. That's next Wednesday. From there, I'll take X amount of days to transcribe it. I don't know how long 'X' is. I can transcribe at 3,000 words an hour, so you guys do the calculation of how many hours I'm looking at with an 80,000 word book. The thing is, I can't do them all in a row... I go crazy after just three hours.

(Transcribing my longhand draft is the only part of the writing process that I hate, because it's just.... drudgery. It's not creative or interesting. It's just me sitting down and forcing myself to literally copy out the words from the paper to the screen. There is no thought involved. A freaking monkey could do it, except that I don't think there's a monkey (or human) alive who can read my handwriting.)

(PS: if any of you reading this post want to give it a try, email me at scarlett@scarlettedwards.com. I would like nothing more than to find someone who can do my transcribing for me. That way the books will come out much faster because I won't have to lose time on those unproductive, non-creative, transcribing days that I hate. You'd obviously get paid, too.)

Once the transcription is done, the book goes off to my editor. She'll take about a week. Then it'll be ready for release.

So that's the long, too-much-information update. The last thing I should say is that I am not going back to short books anymore. At least, not for this series. You've made it known loud and clear you prefer full length books. That's what you're going to get. I don't know how many books there are going to be until we get to the prologue from UY1. I am literally discovering Jeremy and Lilly's story along with you. There's no point on setting a clear number right now and then figuring out that it didn't give me enough space to reach the conclusion.

So there you have it. This is the blog post I should have made weeks ago, but I've been writing. Now, at least, you know where things stand in terms of UY6, the remaining books, the release schedule, and about my writing process a bit more. Post comments below, I'll check my site again in a few days and answer any questions or concerns you have.

Much love,
Scarlett.

Uncovering You 5 is live!

Oh my gosh, you guys can't believe how excited I am to share this book with you.

I really poured everything I have into it.  I knew I had to do something special to make up for the delay.  I'll wait for your reviews before passing judgment, because only you can tell me whether I've succeeded or not... but I've got a good feeling.

This book moves the story along at breakneck speed.  We start where UY4 left off, with Lilly being left in the dark... but we quickly move on from there.  Questions are answered, new ones are raised, and there are some enormous revelations that come up in this book.

I really hope you girls love it.  And I really hope you forgive me for the delay.  But honestly... this version of the book is so much better than what I had originally.


Uncovering You 5: Confessions Store Links: Amazon US:    
Amazon UK:    
Barnes & Noble:     goo.gl/ZV2uMq
goo.gl/5BUbCZ
goo.gl/hOLoZb Description:

I am mentally exhausted. I am at my wit's end. I am in the dark, again, with no end in sight. 

But just when all hope seems lost, a light appears at the end of the tunnel. A confession... that breaks me from the stranglehold of hopelessness and despair. An admission... that brings new dimensions to the man who is shrouded in secrecy. 

Stonehart’s revelation can never change what he’s done to me. But can it be enough to make a difference in how I see him? As old questions are answered, new ones arise: 

Is it possible for a man to change? 

Is is possible for him to repent for all his sins? 

And, perhaps most important of all: 

Is it possible for me to forgive?

Guess what I just did...

...thought some of you girls might want to see this.  It's just a matter of hours before the book is live on Amazon!

:D

For now, two more teasers... and the cover:
Teaser Two:

Before I can move or say a word, Stonehart is out of the chair and looming before me.  I brace myself for something—what, I don’t know—but what I get instead surpasses every expectation.

Stonehart puts one hand above my hip, tugs me into him, and kisses me fiercely.

The kiss is a mixture of molten lava and smoldering passion.  He hasn’t ever kissed me like this.  No one has.

Heat flows into me and the blood drains from my head as my body responds to him in the most natural way possible. Stonehart’s kiss consumes me, and I let it do so entirely.

When he finally lets go, my legs are shaky.  My lips are swollen from the assault.  And I can feel heat—palpable, scorching heat—radiating from my cheeks and neck and chest.

I’d mistaken the look in his eyes.  It wasn’t displeasure.  It was desire.

Teaser Three:

We sit down at an elevated table close to a massive window.  I can see the river below and the clear sky speckled with stars above.  If I were in even a slightly better mood, I would be in awe of the natural beauty.

Stonehart speaks to the waiter.  I don’t listen.  A glass of wine is set down before me.  With bitterness, I remember what happened the last time I accepted a drink at a restaurant with Jeremy Stonehart.

“So.”  Stonehart looks at me after the waiter leaves.  “This has been a very productive trip for us so far, wouldn’t you say?”

I glare across the table.  “I hate you,” I declare.

He chuckles.  “A reasonable claim.  But false, I think.”

“No,” I challenge.  “I really, really hate you.”

Stonehart smirks and leans back.  “You find me fascinating.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

“I don’t need to when you do it so well.  You’re curious, Lilly.  Inquisitive.  You want to know what makes me tick.  Put that psychology education to use.  Tell me what you see in me.  Your analysis on the ride here was quite compelling.”

“I don’t have to do anything of the sort,” I say.

“Oh, but you do, sweet Lilly.  Did you forget the terms of our Contract?”

And there it is again.  The Contract.  Of course it never disappeared.  It was just buried somewhere in the background.

“Fine.  You want to know what I think?  I think you’re manipulative and sadistic.  Everything you told me yesterday… the things you said after Rose and Charles left… those were all lies, weren’t they?  Meant to butter me up.  So that I would lower my guard and be vulnerable for the surprise you had in store for me today.  You…


[This scene continues, but the teaser ends here!]

Cover: Description: I am mentally exhausted.  I am at my wit's end.  I am in the dark, again, with no end in sight.

But just when all hope seems lost, a light appears at the end of the tunnel.  A confession... that breaks me from the stranglehold of hopelessness and despair.  An admission... that brings new dimensions to the man who is shrouded in secrecy.  

Stonehart’s revelation can never change what he’s done to me.  But can it be enough to make a difference in how I see him?  As old questions are answered, new ones arise:

Is it possible for a man to change?

Is is possible for him to repent for all his sins?

And, perhaps most important of all:

Is it possible for me to forgive?

First Teaser for UY5

I'm going to be posting a few teasers to lead up to release date... which still isn't set, but shouldn't be too far away.  Today I've been working on the cover (I make my own covers) while waiting for the final edits of UY5 to get back to me.

Anyway... hope this little bit helps tide you over:
Teaser 1:

“What—“

He lifts a finger.  Just one, but the simplicity of that motion speaks louder than words.  I cut off.

“Don’t press your luck,” he warns.  “I want you to take a silent minute to compose yourself.  Then we can risk going back in there.  And Lilly?  Tread carefully.  Wait until we’re outside before speaking your mind again.”

I narrow my eyes at him.  What’s he hinting at?

“I’m not going back,” I say, crossing my arms.  “I—”

“Two.”  Stonehart’s voice is soft and slices through my protest like a frosted blade.  He lifts a second finger.  “I’ve been very generous with you tonight, Lilly-flower.  As proof of my new intentions.  But if you think of testing my desires a third time… well, the result will be very unpleasant.  For us both.  I don’t want to backtrack with you.  I hate wasting my time.”

Second Version Of UY5 is DONE!

Quick post from my phone...

The second version of UY5 is done! I can honestly say that I love this book. There's so much that happens. We're not stuck in the mansion anymore. Stonehart and Lilly have some pretty epic battles, and our girl finally gets to speak her mind. There are surprises everywhere.  Things become a whole lot clearer. Their relationship is now front and center, and it's a doozy.

I think some of you know that I write my books longhand and then transcribe them at the end. Well I actually finished the book three or four days ago, and it's been one marathon session to get it all typed up since then. But now it's done... literally minutes ago... and I feel like I can finally breathe, for the first time since announcing the delay of the book.

Now it's off to my editor, who'll get back to me quick. From there it's only a few days to publication. I'll have an exact date for all of you soon.

And this one, I'm not going to miss.

Scarlett

Jul 21

Uncovering You 5 is done… but I’m not releasing it.

    All right guys, girls, and readers everywhere… here’s what’s up:

    We’re on the eve of Uncovering You 5’s release date, and I have to make a difficult decision: whether to publish the book or not.

    Is the book written? Yes.  Has it been edited and is it ready to be published? Yes.

    But will I do it?

    No.

    Here’s why:

    The book does not do justice to the story. I want to bring back the intensity you loved in UY1 and UY2.  I’ve read the reviews.  I know that you thought UY3 and (more so) UY4 were weak.

    I don’t want to follow those up with another ‘meh’ book. My current version of UY5 isn’t awful.  It’s just not great.  I knew it from the moment I finished it a week ago.

    I’ve been mulling my options for the past few days.  I tried to edit it, but that was a disaster.  The book demands a rewrite.  Why?  Because this is the most pivotal part of the story.  Everything comes out.  All the questions that have been building are finally going to be answered.  You’ll finally learn the depths of Stonehart’s depravity.  You’ll learn why Lilly was the one chosen by him. And you’ll see a world that has only been hinted at before.

    I want to do it right.

    I took a few days away from writing to clear my head.  Now I’m back and more inspired than ever.  I wrote a new draft for UY5 and I love it.  LOVE it.  That same excitement I felt when writing UY1 is back.  And (you could probably tell) it was missing from UY3/4.

    So the next question that comes to mind is “when”.  When is the book going to be released?  When is it coming out?

    Uncovering You 5 will be out some time in July.  I don’t want to commit to a firm date yet, so that I don’t miss it again. 

    But I’ll keep you updated on my blog.  If you haven’t yet, sign up for my mailing list so that you don’t miss it when it comes out. 

    Now, how am I going to make it up to you?  I’ll double the length.  Uncovering You 5 is going to encompass the plot I originally had for UY5 and 6.  It will be full and meaty and freaking awesome.  No more short serials.  Instead, you get full books.

    The only favor I’d ask of you… is that if you see this letter… please let other readers know.  Only a tiny fraction of everyone who’s followed along with the series actually comes to my website.  Those who don’t visit the blog won’t know where Uncovering You 5 is, and will get mad when they don’t find it tomorrow.

    One final thought.  A rushed book is forever bad, while a delayed book is eventually good.  That’s the  philosophy that sealed my decision.  Everything I have, I owe to you.  I could release a book that I’m unhappy with, which in turn would disappoint you… or, I can hold off, rewrite, and give you something awesome.  Neither choice is ideal, but I’m trying to pick the lesser of two evils.

    Anyway.  I hope you stick around.  The story of Lilly Ryder and Jeremy Stonehart is about to take on a whole new intensity.

  Love,

  Scarlett Edwards

  June 30th, 2014.