Laura Thalassa's Blog, page 13
August 21, 2014
My Upcoming Book Schedule and Author Q&A
I thought I’d give you all an update on where I am with my books at the moment.
The Vanishing Girl
is now in the process of getting revamped and it has a re-release date for the beginning of 2015. The bad news? This means that
The Decaying Empire
won’t be coming out until sometime after that. I know, it’s a super big bummer, but, on the flip side, it ultimately means a better book!
I will have this book done and in my publisher’s hands by the middle of September, which means that I’ll officially resume work on The Queen of All that Dies then as well! Once that’s finished, I’ll be sending the copies out the ARC copies and beginning work on The Forsaken . I’ll also be working on a super-secret mystery project during that time, so expect several books this fall and winter!
Lastly, I’m considering doing a vlog—is that what you call it? (Can you tell I’m a technophobe?) :) I figured I’d post a video and answer all those questions you’ve just been dying to ask me. Hehehe! I know you’re rolling your eyes! But in all seriousness, I’d love to do a mini Q&A video and answer some of your questions regarding my series, my 2015 schedule, how to get your hands on ARC copies of my books, other projects in the works, and all that good stuff!
So, if there is anything you want to get a straight answer on, ask your question here on the Goodreads author Q&A. I’ll answer them on the vlog post, and I’ll write in the answers on Goodreads the same day I post the video!
Hugs and happy reading!
Laura
I will have this book done and in my publisher’s hands by the middle of September, which means that I’ll officially resume work on The Queen of All that Dies then as well! Once that’s finished, I’ll be sending the copies out the ARC copies and beginning work on The Forsaken . I’ll also be working on a super-secret mystery project during that time, so expect several books this fall and winter!
Lastly, I’m considering doing a vlog—is that what you call it? (Can you tell I’m a technophobe?) :) I figured I’d post a video and answer all those questions you’ve just been dying to ask me. Hehehe! I know you’re rolling your eyes! But in all seriousness, I’d love to do a mini Q&A video and answer some of your questions regarding my series, my 2015 schedule, how to get your hands on ARC copies of my books, other projects in the works, and all that good stuff!
So, if there is anything you want to get a straight answer on, ask your question here on the Goodreads author Q&A. I’ll answer them on the vlog post, and I’ll write in the answers on Goodreads the same day I post the video!
Hugs and happy reading!
Laura
August 6, 2014
Updates and a Teaser!
It’s official: I signed the contract for a two book deal for The Vanishing Girl and its sequel with Skyscape, Amazon’s young adult imprint! (There will also be a third book in the series.) This means that
The Vanishing Girl
and its sequel will be available in multiple formats, and you’ll actually be able to pick up a copy in a brick-and-mortar bookstore! Yippee!
The downside is that my current projects will be stalled for slightly longer than I planned. However, nothing about my work routine has changed. I’m still writing away eight hours a day, five days a week, so this changes nothing about the amount of material I’m producing. :)
I will undoubtably have more updates for you all as I move further along in the process. Until then I have another teaser for you—and this one is on behalf of Marie, who asked about the adult paranormal romance I’m still working on. It’s release date is to be determined, but it should be out sometime next year.
Unnamed Paranormal Romance Teaser #2
“I have to say, sleep does not become you.”I roll over in bed and rub my eyes. When I pull my hand away, I see the Bargainer standing off to the side of the bed, his arms folded and his head cocked. He’s studying me like I’m an exotic bird, which technically, I am. “What are you doing here?” I ask, still groggy from sleep.“In case you’ve missed it, the day is done. I’m here to collect more of my payment.” The way he says payment sends shivers up my arms. Behind him, the moon shines brightly into the room, fuller than it was yesterday.I groan. I slept the entire day away. I reach over to my nightstand where my cell phone rests and check my messages. I have several, but none of them are from Eli. I frown and set the phone aside.“No calls from lover boy?” the Bargainer asks. When I look at him, his eyes are sad. As if he cares. “How did you know …” I let my voice fall away before I can finish. The Bargainer’s eyes thin as a sly smile spreads across his face. His sadness evaporates as quickly as it came. “You’ve forgotten much about me already,” he looks pleased about this, “which means I’m going to have to remind you.”He snaps his fingers and the blankets that cover me slide off.“Des, what are you—?”He tsks, interrupting me. “Your pajamas don’t become you either, cherub. I was hoping those would improve with age as well.”I stifle a yawn and push myself off the bed. “Just … shut up,” I mumble, padding past him. Where yesterday, his presence filled me with old pain, tonight all I feel is annoyance.I make my way to the bathroom, discreetly wiping away a bit of drool from my mouth. One would think a siren slept with more dignity than I did.The Bargainer follows me to my bathroom, enjoying just how much he’s ruining my evening. “You’re going to have to bargain for my silence, if that’s what you want.”In response I slam my door shut in his face. Probably not the wisest way to deal with the king of the night, but right now I don’t really care too much.I take two steps away from the bathroom door, and it blasts open behind me. I spin around and stare at the Bargainer who stands on the other side of the doorway, his body filling up the space. My door hangs off its hinges at a funny angle.“I wasn’t finished,” he says calmly. His eyes glint as they watch me; he’s beautiful and terrible to behold.“You owe me a new door,” I respond.He chuckles, and it’s full of dark promise. “Why don’t we work on paying off your current debts before you talk about what I owe you?”I glare at him, because he has me. “What was so important that you had to blow off my door to tell me?” I ask.A watch forms over his wrist and he taps the face of it. “Time, Calli, time. I have some important appointments to keep. You need to be ready in twenty minutes.”“Fine.” I walk over to my shower and turn on the facet. This would have to be a fast shower. When I turn back around, the Bargainer has made himself comfortable on my bathroom’s tile countertop. He leans against the wall next to the mirror, one of his legs stretched out in front of him, his other leg bent at the knee.“Get out,” I say.He gives me a lazy smile. “No.” “I’m not kidding.”One of his eyebrows quirks up. “Nor am I.”I run a hand through my hair. “I’m not getting naked in front of you.” “That’s fine with me,” he says. “Shower with your clothes on.”Oh, because that’s reasonable. “If you’re not going to leave the room, then I’ll go somewhere else.”“The faucet in your guest bathroom doesn’t work,” he says, calling my bluff. My eyes widen before I remember that it’s his business to know secrets. He’s not leaving and I’ve run out of options. “Fine,” I say, taking off my T-shirt. “Enjoy the peep show—that’s all you’ll be getting from me.”His laughter skitters up my arm. “Don’t delude yourself, cherub. You have a wrist full of debt and I have many, many demands.”
Hugs and happy reading,
Laura
The downside is that my current projects will be stalled for slightly longer than I planned. However, nothing about my work routine has changed. I’m still writing away eight hours a day, five days a week, so this changes nothing about the amount of material I’m producing. :)
I will undoubtably have more updates for you all as I move further along in the process. Until then I have another teaser for you—and this one is on behalf of Marie, who asked about the adult paranormal romance I’m still working on. It’s release date is to be determined, but it should be out sometime next year.
Unnamed Paranormal Romance Teaser #2
“I have to say, sleep does not become you.”I roll over in bed and rub my eyes. When I pull my hand away, I see the Bargainer standing off to the side of the bed, his arms folded and his head cocked. He’s studying me like I’m an exotic bird, which technically, I am. “What are you doing here?” I ask, still groggy from sleep.“In case you’ve missed it, the day is done. I’m here to collect more of my payment.” The way he says payment sends shivers up my arms. Behind him, the moon shines brightly into the room, fuller than it was yesterday.I groan. I slept the entire day away. I reach over to my nightstand where my cell phone rests and check my messages. I have several, but none of them are from Eli. I frown and set the phone aside.“No calls from lover boy?” the Bargainer asks. When I look at him, his eyes are sad. As if he cares. “How did you know …” I let my voice fall away before I can finish. The Bargainer’s eyes thin as a sly smile spreads across his face. His sadness evaporates as quickly as it came. “You’ve forgotten much about me already,” he looks pleased about this, “which means I’m going to have to remind you.”He snaps his fingers and the blankets that cover me slide off.“Des, what are you—?”He tsks, interrupting me. “Your pajamas don’t become you either, cherub. I was hoping those would improve with age as well.”I stifle a yawn and push myself off the bed. “Just … shut up,” I mumble, padding past him. Where yesterday, his presence filled me with old pain, tonight all I feel is annoyance.I make my way to the bathroom, discreetly wiping away a bit of drool from my mouth. One would think a siren slept with more dignity than I did.The Bargainer follows me to my bathroom, enjoying just how much he’s ruining my evening. “You’re going to have to bargain for my silence, if that’s what you want.”In response I slam my door shut in his face. Probably not the wisest way to deal with the king of the night, but right now I don’t really care too much.I take two steps away from the bathroom door, and it blasts open behind me. I spin around and stare at the Bargainer who stands on the other side of the doorway, his body filling up the space. My door hangs off its hinges at a funny angle.“I wasn’t finished,” he says calmly. His eyes glint as they watch me; he’s beautiful and terrible to behold.“You owe me a new door,” I respond.He chuckles, and it’s full of dark promise. “Why don’t we work on paying off your current debts before you talk about what I owe you?”I glare at him, because he has me. “What was so important that you had to blow off my door to tell me?” I ask.A watch forms over his wrist and he taps the face of it. “Time, Calli, time. I have some important appointments to keep. You need to be ready in twenty minutes.”“Fine.” I walk over to my shower and turn on the facet. This would have to be a fast shower. When I turn back around, the Bargainer has made himself comfortable on my bathroom’s tile countertop. He leans against the wall next to the mirror, one of his legs stretched out in front of him, his other leg bent at the knee.“Get out,” I say.He gives me a lazy smile. “No.” “I’m not kidding.”One of his eyebrows quirks up. “Nor am I.”I run a hand through my hair. “I’m not getting naked in front of you.” “That’s fine with me,” he says. “Shower with your clothes on.”Oh, because that’s reasonable. “If you’re not going to leave the room, then I’ll go somewhere else.”“The faucet in your guest bathroom doesn’t work,” he says, calling my bluff. My eyes widen before I remember that it’s his business to know secrets. He’s not leaving and I’ve run out of options. “Fine,” I say, taking off my T-shirt. “Enjoy the peep show—that’s all you’ll be getting from me.”His laughter skitters up my arm. “Don’t delude yourself, cherub. You have a wrist full of debt and I have many, many demands.”
Hugs and happy reading,
Laura
August 1, 2014
Author Recommendation - Timeloopers: A Strange Machine
So, I rarely do this, but today I’m going to unashamedly gush about a must-read book: A Strange Machine (Timeloopers #1). To give you a very general description of the book, it’s about six prep school seniors, time travel, and reckless behavior. It’s like Gossip Girl meets Back to the Future (only the time travel here is hours or days, not years or decades).
So, part of the reason this is so special is that my amazingly talented fiancé, author Dan Rix, wrote it. But, and more importantly, it is an amazing effing book. Like seriously, ah-may-zing. I had a massive book hangover after I read it, which is rare for me. Below are a list of reasons why you’ve got to pick this book up for a summer read!
1. An Academy full of smart and/or rich kids. Never can you have too much of this in my opinion.
2. Time travel. Wait, wait, wait, before you scamper away—because ew, time travel, really?—you should know that this might actually be the only time travel book I’ve ever gotten into. You know that inherent paradox where if you change the past, the future is altered, thereby making journeying into the past unnecessary (which would then recreate the problem, etc., etc.)? Totally answered and believably so! Also, it enhances the plot, but it doesn’t take over the plot.
3. Teenagers behaving badly. Drinking, partying, relationship issues—it is the smorgasbord of the angsty teen life. And I swear, when you read it, you feel like you’re in high school.
4. Amazing characters. Like seriously, amazing characters. You won’t like them all—which honestly is part of the fun. My favorite? Iris. The one that made me fan myself? Dante. The one I wanted to shake? Sam. You get to be in all their heads, and ugh—so good. I’m fan-girling. I need to stop. But I can’t.
Okay, stopping.
If you’re a fan of The Vanishing Girl, this is a must read! To check out A Strange Machine (Timeloopers #1) on Amazon, click here.
Here’s the book’s description:
When Seattle’s most elite private school becomes the controversial recipient of a prototype supercomputer, senior class prankster and genius computer whizz Cory Holland is determined to hack it . . . that is, if he can find the time between crashing parties and making out with his archenemy’s superhot ex, Samantha.
But Cory soon realizes the spooky coffin-sized machine humming away in his school’s basement isn’t a computer at all. Inside the machine, time appears to cycle in endless loops. Food molds in seconds. Cell phones drain in minutes. Most startlingly, it appears possible to step inside at the end of the loop . . . and step out into the past.
But when the machine delivers a cryptic warning that Samantha died in a car crash, his memories of her instantly begin to vanish—leaving only lingering moments of déjà vu. Someone’s been screwing with the past. Now he must do the unthinkable: alter the timeloop to save the life of the girl he loves, only to forget everything about her.
***
Click here to check it out on Amazon!
Hugs and happy reading!Laura
So, part of the reason this is so special is that my amazingly talented fiancé, author Dan Rix, wrote it. But, and more importantly, it is an amazing effing book. Like seriously, ah-may-zing. I had a massive book hangover after I read it, which is rare for me. Below are a list of reasons why you’ve got to pick this book up for a summer read!1. An Academy full of smart and/or rich kids. Never can you have too much of this in my opinion.
2. Time travel. Wait, wait, wait, before you scamper away—because ew, time travel, really?—you should know that this might actually be the only time travel book I’ve ever gotten into. You know that inherent paradox where if you change the past, the future is altered, thereby making journeying into the past unnecessary (which would then recreate the problem, etc., etc.)? Totally answered and believably so! Also, it enhances the plot, but it doesn’t take over the plot.
3. Teenagers behaving badly. Drinking, partying, relationship issues—it is the smorgasbord of the angsty teen life. And I swear, when you read it, you feel like you’re in high school.
4. Amazing characters. Like seriously, amazing characters. You won’t like them all—which honestly is part of the fun. My favorite? Iris. The one that made me fan myself? Dante. The one I wanted to shake? Sam. You get to be in all their heads, and ugh—so good. I’m fan-girling. I need to stop. But I can’t.
Okay, stopping.
If you’re a fan of The Vanishing Girl, this is a must read! To check out A Strange Machine (Timeloopers #1) on Amazon, click here.
Here’s the book’s description:
When Seattle’s most elite private school becomes the controversial recipient of a prototype supercomputer, senior class prankster and genius computer whizz Cory Holland is determined to hack it . . . that is, if he can find the time between crashing parties and making out with his archenemy’s superhot ex, Samantha.
But Cory soon realizes the spooky coffin-sized machine humming away in his school’s basement isn’t a computer at all. Inside the machine, time appears to cycle in endless loops. Food molds in seconds. Cell phones drain in minutes. Most startlingly, it appears possible to step inside at the end of the loop . . . and step out into the past.
But when the machine delivers a cryptic warning that Samantha died in a car crash, his memories of her instantly begin to vanish—leaving only lingering moments of déjà vu. Someone’s been screwing with the past. Now he must do the unthinkable: alter the timeloop to save the life of the girl he loves, only to forget everything about her.
***
Click here to check it out on Amazon!
Hugs and happy reading!Laura
July 31, 2014
The Vanishing Girl Sale and Other News
Here are some quick updates for all you lovely readers!
For the next seven days, The Vanishing Girl will be on sale for $0.99, so if you like teleportation, romance, and action, then c lick here to snag your copy!
Secondly, if you enjoyed The Unearthy , The Coveted , and/or The Cursed , please be sure to vote on it here for UtopYA’s 2015 Award Eligible Books on Goodreads! To all of those readers who’ve already voted on it—a super huge, heartfelt thank you! Oliver is popping his hip and telling me that it’s about damn time he was recognized for being awesome. (He doesn’t know this isn’t about him.)
You’ll be hearing from me again tomorrow, so make sure to check in again!
Hugs and much love!
Laura
For the next seven days, The Vanishing Girl will be on sale for $0.99, so if you like teleportation, romance, and action, then c lick here to snag your copy!
Secondly, if you enjoyed The Unearthy , The Coveted , and/or The Cursed , please be sure to vote on it here for UtopYA’s 2015 Award Eligible Books on Goodreads! To all of those readers who’ve already voted on it—a super huge, heartfelt thank you! Oliver is popping his hip and telling me that it’s about damn time he was recognized for being awesome. (He doesn’t know this isn’t about him.)
You’ll be hearing from me again tomorrow, so make sure to check in again!
Hugs and much love!
Laura
July 27, 2014
The Man in the Suit
Ah! I have a fun post today! So, all of you have particular ideas of what different characters look like in the stories you read. Well, for all my books, I have my own idea for what each character looks like. Most don’t have a corresponding celebrity that looks like them, but I just found one that looks dead on like the man in the suit.
I recently saw The Picture of Dorian Gray (2009), and Ben Barnes, the actor who plays Dorian Gray, was the closest rendering I’ve seen so far to the man in the suit.
Here’s the movie trailer, so you can get an idea yourself:
Hugs and happy reading,
Laura
I recently saw The Picture of Dorian Gray (2009), and Ben Barnes, the actor who plays Dorian Gray, was the closest rendering I’ve seen so far to the man in the suit.
Here’s the movie trailer, so you can get an idea yourself:
Hugs and happy reading,
Laura
July 15, 2014
The Queen of All that Dies Teaser #3 and Updates
So, some exciting things are happening in my world right now that will affect my release schedule. I am currently in talks with a publisher about
The Vanishing Girl
series. Because of this, I’ve had to prioritize working on
The Decaying Empire
(and this name could potentially change).
What does this mean? Well, unfortunately, it means that it could push back the release date of The Queen of All that Dies . However, what it does mean is that The Vanishing Girl series could be more widely distributed—more ebook formats (yippee to those of you who have non-Kindle e-readers), audiobooks, perhaps foreign language editions, and print books that will be available in certain bookstores across the country.
This is all still up in the air, so I’ll keep all of you wonderful readers posted on what happens. To all those readers who have contacted me to read an advanced review copy of The Queen of All that Dies—this will mean that your copies will arrive later than I initially expected. However, I still have you all listed, and I’ll keep you posted on future updates.
If you have not signed up to read an advanced copy of The Queen of all that Dies , and you’re interested in getting to read and review an early copy, please email me at laurathalassa.author@gmail.com. Absolutely anyone can do this, and you get a free pre-released copy of The Queen of All that Dies . All you have to do is read the book and post a review when the book hits shelves. So again, if you’re interested, please email me at laurathalassa.author@gmail.com.
For those of you bummed by this news, I thought I’d pair it with another teaser from The Queen of all that Dies to sate your appetite.
The Queen of All that Dies Teaser #3
Marco twists the handle and ushers me inside. The king’s back is to me and he’s staring at the walls of the room. I suck in a breath of air. The walls are covered with maps of every nation on earth. Strings crisscross the images, connecting one section of land to another. I can see creases on the surface of these maps, suggesting that they were unfolded recently. My best guess is that the king takes these maps wherever he goes.Pins hold the strings down, and beneath a few of these pins are images. Most are of people whose faces have been crossed out; only a precious few have not been. My earlier nausea rises.“Feeling better, Serenity?”“Fuck off.”The king turns to face me, his expression unreadable. “You’re not wearing my gift.”“You can’t bribe me into liking you.”The king’s eyes flick to Marco. “You can go.”Behind me Marco’s footfalls fade, and a moment later the door clicks shut. There’s no one else in this room but the two of us. No guards, no servants. Like the pool last night, it’s just the two of us.“I can’t have you clouding my judgment during negotiations,” he says.My hands fist. “Right. Because how awful would it be to compromise for once in your life?”“I haven’t spent the last fifteen years waging war to finally compromise.”“No,” I agree, “you haven’t.”The king glances away from me at the maps that line the walls. “I’m not an idiot,” he says, not looking at me.“Could’ve fooled me.”“I know the WUN sent you here to seduce me.”My body goes rigid. I have no idea why his confession shocks me; it doesn’t take a scientist to put two and two together.He laughs, the sound hollow. “The problem is, it worked.” His eyes move over me, and something in them softens for a moment before he shutters the expression.“Uh huh.”“You find that hard to believe?” he asks. His lips quirk into a smirk. I’d say that he was mocking me, except his eyes are too serious. I fold my arms over my chest. Of course I do. “Why are you telling me this?” I ask.“To warn you.”“Warn me about what?”“I get what I want. Always.”“You keep telling me that, yet I haven’t seen any proof.”“You want proof?” he says. His eyes are calculating, and the smile dancing on his lips is sly. He’s no longer the man I talked to yesterday; he’s the man who’s been taking over the world for the last two decades.I take a step back. I shouldn’t have spoken just now; my words were careless, and around the king, careless words could mean the difference between life and death. I shake my head and close my eyes. “No, I don’t want proof. I just want this to end.” I open my eyes. “I don’t want to see any more crossed out faces on those maps of yours.” I jut my chin to the wall behind him. “I don’t want to be hungry all the time. I don’t want to see the hollow-eyed looks of the people I live alongside.”“I can give you that,” he says, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. I flinch at his touch.“Of course you can—but you won’t.”“That’s because no one’s offered me the correct price yet.” He says it like this is a simple matter of haggling. I throw my arms up. “You can’t expect the WUN to willingly cripple our future economy for you.”The king steps in extra close. “That’s not the price I was referring to.” His eyes move over me.And now I get it. I take a step back, then another. I furrow my eyebrows; I think I’m going to be sick. “No.”“Why not?”“Even if I believed you felt that was a legitimate trade—which we both know it isn’t—no.”“You could end this all now, and you refuse to agree to it?”“You’re asking me to make a deal with the devil.”“You and I both know you already signed your soul away a long time ago, Serenity.”“Because of you and your stupid war. I already told you last night, you don’t get to have me.”The king gazes intensely at me. “I’m not just talking about sex,” he says. But sex would be included in the arrangement. “I’d rather die than do anything with you.”“If it’s death you wish, we can arrange that.”The king reaches out to touch my arm, and I slap his hand away. “Don’t. Touch. Me.” I’m shaking; this was never supposed to happen. I’m getting played by the king, and I don’t know how to get myself out of this situation.King Lazuli sticks his hands in his pockets and leans in conspiratorially. “You know the thing about strategy? It takes knowing when to act and when to be patient.” I take a good long look at him. King Lazuli’s been waging this war for over fifteen years, yet he looks to be in his twenties. I’ve seen footage of him shot, blown-up, and stabbed, yet he hasn’t died. He’s unnatural in more ways than one.“If you try to force me into this plan of yours, I will find out your secrets,” I say, “and once I do, I will kill you.” I stare at him for a long moment so that he can see the vehemence behind my words. And then I turn and walk away from the king and the sick tapestry that hangs along the walls of the room. I’m almost to the door when he speaks. “I plan on making you love me before that happens.”
If you enjoyed that teaser, click here to add The Queen of All that Dies to your “To Read” list on Goodreads, or join my mailing list in the top right corner to get notified when the book comes out!
Hugs and happy reading,
Laura
What does this mean? Well, unfortunately, it means that it could push back the release date of The Queen of All that Dies . However, what it does mean is that The Vanishing Girl series could be more widely distributed—more ebook formats (yippee to those of you who have non-Kindle e-readers), audiobooks, perhaps foreign language editions, and print books that will be available in certain bookstores across the country.
This is all still up in the air, so I’ll keep all of you wonderful readers posted on what happens. To all those readers who have contacted me to read an advanced review copy of The Queen of All that Dies—this will mean that your copies will arrive later than I initially expected. However, I still have you all listed, and I’ll keep you posted on future updates.
If you have not signed up to read an advanced copy of The Queen of all that Dies , and you’re interested in getting to read and review an early copy, please email me at laurathalassa.author@gmail.com. Absolutely anyone can do this, and you get a free pre-released copy of The Queen of All that Dies . All you have to do is read the book and post a review when the book hits shelves. So again, if you’re interested, please email me at laurathalassa.author@gmail.com.
For those of you bummed by this news, I thought I’d pair it with another teaser from The Queen of all that Dies to sate your appetite.
The Queen of All that Dies Teaser #3
Marco twists the handle and ushers me inside. The king’s back is to me and he’s staring at the walls of the room. I suck in a breath of air. The walls are covered with maps of every nation on earth. Strings crisscross the images, connecting one section of land to another. I can see creases on the surface of these maps, suggesting that they were unfolded recently. My best guess is that the king takes these maps wherever he goes.Pins hold the strings down, and beneath a few of these pins are images. Most are of people whose faces have been crossed out; only a precious few have not been. My earlier nausea rises.“Feeling better, Serenity?”“Fuck off.”The king turns to face me, his expression unreadable. “You’re not wearing my gift.”“You can’t bribe me into liking you.”The king’s eyes flick to Marco. “You can go.”Behind me Marco’s footfalls fade, and a moment later the door clicks shut. There’s no one else in this room but the two of us. No guards, no servants. Like the pool last night, it’s just the two of us.“I can’t have you clouding my judgment during negotiations,” he says.My hands fist. “Right. Because how awful would it be to compromise for once in your life?”“I haven’t spent the last fifteen years waging war to finally compromise.”“No,” I agree, “you haven’t.”The king glances away from me at the maps that line the walls. “I’m not an idiot,” he says, not looking at me.“Could’ve fooled me.”“I know the WUN sent you here to seduce me.”My body goes rigid. I have no idea why his confession shocks me; it doesn’t take a scientist to put two and two together.He laughs, the sound hollow. “The problem is, it worked.” His eyes move over me, and something in them softens for a moment before he shutters the expression.“Uh huh.”“You find that hard to believe?” he asks. His lips quirk into a smirk. I’d say that he was mocking me, except his eyes are too serious. I fold my arms over my chest. Of course I do. “Why are you telling me this?” I ask.“To warn you.”“Warn me about what?”“I get what I want. Always.”“You keep telling me that, yet I haven’t seen any proof.”“You want proof?” he says. His eyes are calculating, and the smile dancing on his lips is sly. He’s no longer the man I talked to yesterday; he’s the man who’s been taking over the world for the last two decades.I take a step back. I shouldn’t have spoken just now; my words were careless, and around the king, careless words could mean the difference between life and death. I shake my head and close my eyes. “No, I don’t want proof. I just want this to end.” I open my eyes. “I don’t want to see any more crossed out faces on those maps of yours.” I jut my chin to the wall behind him. “I don’t want to be hungry all the time. I don’t want to see the hollow-eyed looks of the people I live alongside.”“I can give you that,” he says, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. I flinch at his touch.“Of course you can—but you won’t.”“That’s because no one’s offered me the correct price yet.” He says it like this is a simple matter of haggling. I throw my arms up. “You can’t expect the WUN to willingly cripple our future economy for you.”The king steps in extra close. “That’s not the price I was referring to.” His eyes move over me.And now I get it. I take a step back, then another. I furrow my eyebrows; I think I’m going to be sick. “No.”“Why not?”“Even if I believed you felt that was a legitimate trade—which we both know it isn’t—no.”“You could end this all now, and you refuse to agree to it?”“You’re asking me to make a deal with the devil.”“You and I both know you already signed your soul away a long time ago, Serenity.”“Because of you and your stupid war. I already told you last night, you don’t get to have me.”The king gazes intensely at me. “I’m not just talking about sex,” he says. But sex would be included in the arrangement. “I’d rather die than do anything with you.”“If it’s death you wish, we can arrange that.”The king reaches out to touch my arm, and I slap his hand away. “Don’t. Touch. Me.” I’m shaking; this was never supposed to happen. I’m getting played by the king, and I don’t know how to get myself out of this situation.King Lazuli sticks his hands in his pockets and leans in conspiratorially. “You know the thing about strategy? It takes knowing when to act and when to be patient.” I take a good long look at him. King Lazuli’s been waging this war for over fifteen years, yet he looks to be in his twenties. I’ve seen footage of him shot, blown-up, and stabbed, yet he hasn’t died. He’s unnatural in more ways than one.“If you try to force me into this plan of yours, I will find out your secrets,” I say, “and once I do, I will kill you.” I stare at him for a long moment so that he can see the vehemence behind my words. And then I turn and walk away from the king and the sick tapestry that hangs along the walls of the room. I’m almost to the door when he speaks. “I plan on making you love me before that happens.”
If you enjoyed that teaser, click here to add The Queen of All that Dies to your “To Read” list on Goodreads, or join my mailing list in the top right corner to get notified when the book comes out!
Hugs and happy reading,
Laura
July 8, 2014
Teaser Tuesday: The Queen of All That Dies
This week I wanted to share with you the second teaser I have for
The Queen of All That Dies
. Here it is:
The Queen of All That Dies Teaser #2
“You want to see compassion? Fine.” I take the hand pressed against my shoulders and kiss the king's knuckles. “I’ve now kissed the hand of my mother’s killer.”Before he has time to react to my chaste kiss, I bring my other hand up and slap him.His head whips to the side. “I’m also a vindictive bitch,” I say. Slowly he moves his face back to where it was. There’s a dull pink handprint across his cheek. His eyes glitter, and I’m already learning that this is when he’s at his most dangerous. “And I don’t play fair,” he admits.The words are hardly out of his mouth when he closes the distance between us and kisses me. There’s nothing sweet or diplomatic about this kiss. His lips move roughly against mine, and his hand runs down the length of my side, as if even a kiss isn’t enough to satiate him.I will my mind to go blank before I kiss him back. I press my eyes tightly closed as I wind my arms around his neck and lean into him. As soon as he feels me respond, the kiss deepens. His lips part my own and his tongue presses against mine.I turn my head to the side to break off the kiss. It’s too much. Oh God, I don’t think I can do this.I swallow down my bile. “Enough,” I say, my voice hoarse. He steps away from me, and I pull in a deep breath of air. The king’s staring at my lips, as though looking at them long enough might cause them to resume their former activity.I gaze at him, feeling like a cornered creature. This is when I’mmy most dangerous. He must sense it as well because he steps aside. I brush past him and he catches my wrist. “I want to see you tonight.” His meaning is clear.“No,” I say.“Yes.”“Not until you offer full medical relief to the WUN with no strings attached.” It’s a ballsy move, manipulating him like this. But this is why the WUN sent me.“I could simply have you killed if you don’t agree.”“Then kill me,” I say, tugging on my wrist. I am more than ready to leave the king and his empty threats.He doesn’t let go of me. “I’ll think about it,” he finally says, and I know he’s referring to the medical relief and not having me killed.“And all I’ll do is think about visiting you until you make your decision,” I say.The king tugs my wrist hard enough for me I stumble into him. “Stop toying with me,” he growls against my ear, his voice low and lethal.I pull away from him. “Unlike you, I don’t play games, Montes.” His eyes trail down my face to my lips. “And I get what I want. Always.” I yank my wrist out of his grip and back away from him. I can see the cold calculation in his eyes. “There’s always time for firsts,” I say, and then I walk away.
If you enjoyed this teaser, click here to add The Queen of All That Dies to your “To Read” list and make sure to join my mailing list (located in the top righthand corner) to get notified when this book comes out!
Hugs and happy reading,Laura
The Queen of All That Dies Teaser #2
“You want to see compassion? Fine.” I take the hand pressed against my shoulders and kiss the king's knuckles. “I’ve now kissed the hand of my mother’s killer.”Before he has time to react to my chaste kiss, I bring my other hand up and slap him.His head whips to the side. “I’m also a vindictive bitch,” I say. Slowly he moves his face back to where it was. There’s a dull pink handprint across his cheek. His eyes glitter, and I’m already learning that this is when he’s at his most dangerous. “And I don’t play fair,” he admits.The words are hardly out of his mouth when he closes the distance between us and kisses me. There’s nothing sweet or diplomatic about this kiss. His lips move roughly against mine, and his hand runs down the length of my side, as if even a kiss isn’t enough to satiate him.I will my mind to go blank before I kiss him back. I press my eyes tightly closed as I wind my arms around his neck and lean into him. As soon as he feels me respond, the kiss deepens. His lips part my own and his tongue presses against mine.I turn my head to the side to break off the kiss. It’s too much. Oh God, I don’t think I can do this.I swallow down my bile. “Enough,” I say, my voice hoarse. He steps away from me, and I pull in a deep breath of air. The king’s staring at my lips, as though looking at them long enough might cause them to resume their former activity.I gaze at him, feeling like a cornered creature. This is when I’mmy most dangerous. He must sense it as well because he steps aside. I brush past him and he catches my wrist. “I want to see you tonight.” His meaning is clear.“No,” I say.“Yes.”“Not until you offer full medical relief to the WUN with no strings attached.” It’s a ballsy move, manipulating him like this. But this is why the WUN sent me.“I could simply have you killed if you don’t agree.”“Then kill me,” I say, tugging on my wrist. I am more than ready to leave the king and his empty threats.He doesn’t let go of me. “I’ll think about it,” he finally says, and I know he’s referring to the medical relief and not having me killed.“And all I’ll do is think about visiting you until you make your decision,” I say.The king tugs my wrist hard enough for me I stumble into him. “Stop toying with me,” he growls against my ear, his voice low and lethal.I pull away from him. “Unlike you, I don’t play games, Montes.” His eyes trail down my face to my lips. “And I get what I want. Always.” I yank my wrist out of his grip and back away from him. I can see the cold calculation in his eyes. “There’s always time for firsts,” I say, and then I walk away.
If you enjoyed this teaser, click here to add The Queen of All That Dies to your “To Read” list and make sure to join my mailing list (located in the top righthand corner) to get notified when this book comes out!
Hugs and happy reading,Laura
June 17, 2014
Teasers, Reviews, and Playlists, Oh My!
Ah, I am chalk full of fun news today! First and foremost, for those of you who haven’t yet heard,
The Cursed
is now out! Click here to check it out on Amazon! I’ve already heard back from some of you, and the messages I've received have warmed me to my toes! You all are what makes my job so much fun!
If you enjoyed reading The Cursed and are dying to get your first taste of The Forsaken , the second-to-last book in the series (that’s right—only two more!), click here and leave a review on Amazon for The Cursed . I’ll put up the first teaser for The Forsaken when The Cursed reaches 15 reviews!
I’ll also be putting up the second teaser for The Decaying Empire , the second novel in The Vanishing Girl series, as soon as The Vanishing Girl hits 85 reviews! Click here to visit The Vanishing Girl’s Amazon page and leave a review.
Now on to other fun stuff. I’m currently working on The Queen of All That Dies , my new adult dystopian novel, so you all should be hearing more on that soon! Beta readers and readers interested in receiving ARC copies of The Queen of All That Dies send me a message at laurathalassa.author@gmail.com for more information—and make sure to join my mailing list (located in the top righthand corner) since I only give out ARC copies to members of my list.
If you haven’t read The Unearthly series (hello Vanishing Girl fans), The Unearthly will be on sale for $0.99 from Thursday, June 19, to Saturday, June 21.
Okay, saving the best for last—well, “best” is arguable. Anyway, here’s The Cursed playlist, so you can all jam to Gabrielle’s soundtrack.
The Cursed“I’m in Love (with a Killer),” Jeffree Star“Once Upon A Dream,” Lana Del Rey“Barton Hollow,” The Civil Wars“I Want Your Bite,” Chris Crocker “Breaking My Heart,” Lana Del Rey“I Gave You All,” Mumford and Sons “Courtesy Call,” Thousand Foot Crutch“Whispers in the Dark,” Skillet“Body Electric,” Lana Del Rey“Scarborough Fair,” Nox Arcana“Soul 4 Sale,” Simon Curtis“Passive,” A Perfect Circle“Thistle and Weeds,” Mumford and Sons“Red,” Chevelle
Hugs and happy reading,Laura
If you enjoyed reading The Cursed and are dying to get your first taste of The Forsaken , the second-to-last book in the series (that’s right—only two more!), click here and leave a review on Amazon for The Cursed . I’ll put up the first teaser for The Forsaken when The Cursed reaches 15 reviews!
I’ll also be putting up the second teaser for The Decaying Empire , the second novel in The Vanishing Girl series, as soon as The Vanishing Girl hits 85 reviews! Click here to visit The Vanishing Girl’s Amazon page and leave a review.
Now on to other fun stuff. I’m currently working on The Queen of All That Dies , my new adult dystopian novel, so you all should be hearing more on that soon! Beta readers and readers interested in receiving ARC copies of The Queen of All That Dies send me a message at laurathalassa.author@gmail.com for more information—and make sure to join my mailing list (located in the top righthand corner) since I only give out ARC copies to members of my list.
If you haven’t read The Unearthly series (hello Vanishing Girl fans), The Unearthly will be on sale for $0.99 from Thursday, June 19, to Saturday, June 21.
Okay, saving the best for last—well, “best” is arguable. Anyway, here’s The Cursed playlist, so you can all jam to Gabrielle’s soundtrack.
The Cursed“I’m in Love (with a Killer),” Jeffree Star“Once Upon A Dream,” Lana Del Rey“Barton Hollow,” The Civil Wars“I Want Your Bite,” Chris Crocker “Breaking My Heart,” Lana Del Rey“I Gave You All,” Mumford and Sons “Courtesy Call,” Thousand Foot Crutch“Whispers in the Dark,” Skillet“Body Electric,” Lana Del Rey“Scarborough Fair,” Nox Arcana“Soul 4 Sale,” Simon Curtis“Passive,” A Perfect Circle“Thistle and Weeds,” Mumford and Sons“Red,” Chevelle
Hugs and happy reading,Laura
June 13, 2014
The Cursed is Out Now!
Hi all you lovely readers,The day is finally here! After a crazy last few months The Cursed , the third book in The Unearthly series is now out! Click here to check it out on Amazon!
As usual, I’m super eager to hear what you all have to say about it—and I desperately hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. And, once it’s finished, make sure to keep an eye out for The Forsaken , the fourth book in the series, which is slated for publication in January 2015.
I know, I know, that’s super far away. However, I will be busy working on The Decaying Empire , the sequel to The Vanishing Girl , as well as The Queen of All That Dies , so make sure to check out these books in the meantime.
Hugs and happy writing,
Laura
June 1, 2014
The Cursed Teaser #2
As promised, now that
The Coveted
has reached over 30 reviews, I’m posting the second teaser for
The Cursed
! This excerpt took me a really long time to pick out because there were so many I wanted to share with you. However, you’ll get to read all of those potential excerpts soon, since I’m putting the final touches on
The Cursed
as we speak. That means that if all goes well (fingers crossed),
The Cursed
should be out by the end of next week! Eeeek! So make sure to check back in here or better yet, join my mailing list to receive an email the day
The Cursed
comes out.
Until then, enjoy!
The Cursed : Teaser #2
I trotted over to Caleb’s room and knocked on his door. When it opened, I nearly dropped Oliver’s computer.It was the middle of the day and yet Andre stood in front of me.“What the h-hell?” I stuttered.Andre glanced down at himself. “I’m pretty convincing, aren’t I?” he said. More like terrifying beyond belief. It was Andre’s body, Andre’s voice, but it wasn’t Andre’s soul that resided beneath his skin. I socked Caleb in the arm. “Knock it off. I cannot even express just how creepy that is.” Caleb laughed, as though this were all one big joke.“I’m serious,” I said softly. I was picking up Andre’s quiet menace.Caleb-as-Andre grinned. It was such a Caleb mannerism, his mouth lifting more on one side than the other, that it made Andre look like a crude parody of himself. “Sorry,” he said, his tone suggesting he felt otherwise. Andre’s skin rippled and in his place stood Oliver. “This better?”Behind me I heard Oliver yelp. “Oh my God, ew, stop that!” he said, throwing a hand over his eyes. His fingers split apart wide enough for him to peer between them. “Do I really look like that?” he asked me.“No—this is the hot version of you,” I said sarcastically.He swatted my arm and dropped his hand from his face, inching closer to Caleb. Caleb watched him, wearing a satisfied smirk. I peered at Caleb-as-Oliver. I’d seen Caleb shapeshift before—often in fact—but he’d rarely impersonated people.“People are harder to mimic,” Caleb said with Oliver’s voice, as if reading my mind. Oliver crept closer and, using his index finger, poked Caleb-as-Oliver. “Hey,” Caleb-as-Oliver said, rubbing the flesh Oliver poked. Oliver began to circle him. Once he’d made a full circle, he nodded to himself. “Damn, I look good.”Caleb-as-Oliver focused his gaze on me, his eyes mischievous. “Want to see what you look like?”My response was immediate. “No—”Even as I spoke Oliver’s skin rippled into something paler, more delicate. The clothes Caleb had been wearing hung loose on him now, and all of Oliver’s masculine edges dissolved into soft, feminine curves.I stared into my own face. My lips were too red, my cheekbones too high, hair too dark, and my skin too pale. Even more disturbing was that Caleb lay beneath that skin. My skin.I glanced away. Looking at my double was not the same as looking in the mirror. No, it was way worse.“Don’t I look pretty?” Caleb asked jokingly, toying with a lock of my hair. Except it wasn’t Caleb’s voice that spoke. It was my own.I cringed at the voice. Like everything else, it was too much. Too feminine, too melodic. “Stop it,” I said, refusing to look at him—her—me.“Geez, Gabrielle,” Caleb said in my voice, “we all know you’re hideous, but you don’t have to look away like that.”“You’re not funny, Caleb,” I said, keeping my gaze averted. “Please, stop.”“Really?” he said in my voice. “Do you seriously not want to look at yourself?”I shook my head.I could feel his gaze boring into me but eventually he reverted back to himself. “Well that was—”I threw my fist forward and socked him in the face, making sure to hold back most of my strength. Even still, the force of my blow knocked him on his ass.“Bitch went down,” Oliver threw in, helpful as always.I stood over a moaning Caleb while he held his nose.“Don’t ever fucking pull that again without our permission,” I said.Caleb’s words came out muffled. “You didn’t have to punch me.”“That wasn’t a punch,” Oliver said, “that was her knocking the idiot out of you.” Oliver turned to me. “I don’t think it worked, either.”I tilted my head. “I could always try again.”Oliver pursed his lips in thought, as Caleb got to his feet. “Hasn’t anyone told you to use your words?” Caleb said.I raised my eyebrows, amused. “This is coming the guy who threatened to get his hands involved the next time Oliver and I got into an argument.”“For the record,” Oliver said, “I’m still interested in this hand business.”Caleb muttered something not so nice under his breath as he brushed himself off. “There will be no hand business,” he said. Oliver’s lips drew down in a pout. “So,” Caleb said, looking back and forth at us expectantly. “What is it that you two wanted to discuss oh-so-badly?”“Unholy creatures,” I said.Caleb’s face scrunched up. “What?”Oliver leaned into me. “Nope,” Oliver whispered, “you definitely did not knock the idiot out of him.”
***
If you enjoyed that excerpt, make sure to click here to add The Cursed to your reading list on Goodreads, and join my mailing list (in the top right corner) to get notifications on new releases and free schtuff (note the Sean Connery accent there)! All the cool kids are doing it, so join the fun!
Hugs and happy reading,
Laura
Until then, enjoy!
The Cursed : Teaser #2
I trotted over to Caleb’s room and knocked on his door. When it opened, I nearly dropped Oliver’s computer.It was the middle of the day and yet Andre stood in front of me.“What the h-hell?” I stuttered.Andre glanced down at himself. “I’m pretty convincing, aren’t I?” he said. More like terrifying beyond belief. It was Andre’s body, Andre’s voice, but it wasn’t Andre’s soul that resided beneath his skin. I socked Caleb in the arm. “Knock it off. I cannot even express just how creepy that is.” Caleb laughed, as though this were all one big joke.“I’m serious,” I said softly. I was picking up Andre’s quiet menace.Caleb-as-Andre grinned. It was such a Caleb mannerism, his mouth lifting more on one side than the other, that it made Andre look like a crude parody of himself. “Sorry,” he said, his tone suggesting he felt otherwise. Andre’s skin rippled and in his place stood Oliver. “This better?”Behind me I heard Oliver yelp. “Oh my God, ew, stop that!” he said, throwing a hand over his eyes. His fingers split apart wide enough for him to peer between them. “Do I really look like that?” he asked me.“No—this is the hot version of you,” I said sarcastically.He swatted my arm and dropped his hand from his face, inching closer to Caleb. Caleb watched him, wearing a satisfied smirk. I peered at Caleb-as-Oliver. I’d seen Caleb shapeshift before—often in fact—but he’d rarely impersonated people.“People are harder to mimic,” Caleb said with Oliver’s voice, as if reading my mind. Oliver crept closer and, using his index finger, poked Caleb-as-Oliver. “Hey,” Caleb-as-Oliver said, rubbing the flesh Oliver poked. Oliver began to circle him. Once he’d made a full circle, he nodded to himself. “Damn, I look good.”Caleb-as-Oliver focused his gaze on me, his eyes mischievous. “Want to see what you look like?”My response was immediate. “No—”Even as I spoke Oliver’s skin rippled into something paler, more delicate. The clothes Caleb had been wearing hung loose on him now, and all of Oliver’s masculine edges dissolved into soft, feminine curves.I stared into my own face. My lips were too red, my cheekbones too high, hair too dark, and my skin too pale. Even more disturbing was that Caleb lay beneath that skin. My skin.I glanced away. Looking at my double was not the same as looking in the mirror. No, it was way worse.“Don’t I look pretty?” Caleb asked jokingly, toying with a lock of my hair. Except it wasn’t Caleb’s voice that spoke. It was my own.I cringed at the voice. Like everything else, it was too much. Too feminine, too melodic. “Stop it,” I said, refusing to look at him—her—me.“Geez, Gabrielle,” Caleb said in my voice, “we all know you’re hideous, but you don’t have to look away like that.”“You’re not funny, Caleb,” I said, keeping my gaze averted. “Please, stop.”“Really?” he said in my voice. “Do you seriously not want to look at yourself?”I shook my head.I could feel his gaze boring into me but eventually he reverted back to himself. “Well that was—”I threw my fist forward and socked him in the face, making sure to hold back most of my strength. Even still, the force of my blow knocked him on his ass.“Bitch went down,” Oliver threw in, helpful as always.I stood over a moaning Caleb while he held his nose.“Don’t ever fucking pull that again without our permission,” I said.Caleb’s words came out muffled. “You didn’t have to punch me.”“That wasn’t a punch,” Oliver said, “that was her knocking the idiot out of you.” Oliver turned to me. “I don’t think it worked, either.”I tilted my head. “I could always try again.”Oliver pursed his lips in thought, as Caleb got to his feet. “Hasn’t anyone told you to use your words?” Caleb said.I raised my eyebrows, amused. “This is coming the guy who threatened to get his hands involved the next time Oliver and I got into an argument.”“For the record,” Oliver said, “I’m still interested in this hand business.”Caleb muttered something not so nice under his breath as he brushed himself off. “There will be no hand business,” he said. Oliver’s lips drew down in a pout. “So,” Caleb said, looking back and forth at us expectantly. “What is it that you two wanted to discuss oh-so-badly?”“Unholy creatures,” I said.Caleb’s face scrunched up. “What?”Oliver leaned into me. “Nope,” Oliver whispered, “you definitely did not knock the idiot out of him.”
***
If you enjoyed that excerpt, make sure to click here to add The Cursed to your reading list on Goodreads, and join my mailing list (in the top right corner) to get notifications on new releases and free schtuff (note the Sean Connery accent there)! All the cool kids are doing it, so join the fun!
Hugs and happy reading,
Laura
