Carrigan Richards's Blog, page 2

Learning to Trust

Businessman hand change wooden cube block with TRUST and TRUTH business word on table background. Trustworthy, Truth, beliefs and agreement concept

Hello!

It’s been such a long time since I’ve written a blog post, and I need to keep up with them more. I should have been blogging more, especially to chronicle my time in grad school. I have had such a great time learning and challenging myself to try new things and to improve my writing. I’ve written about things I didn’t know I had in me, and even the academic pieces I wrote were fun! (Of course, I say that now, but being stuck at a desk for four days writing a 30-page paper was not so fun.)

A table full of research articles, notebooks, and a laptop.

This semester I’m taking screenwriting and creative nonfiction. I have never written a screenplay in my life and I was super nervous going into this class. It has turned out to be one of my favorite classes of grad school. While I love the professor, I also love what we’re learning. I’m using these tactics in my fiction writing and it’s been so much fun creating a screenplay. I hope to turn it into a novel one day.

In my creative nonfiction class, I wrote a piece about anxiety and I wrote another piece about my short-lived marriage. I was nervous to present the latter to the class, but they all loved it. My professor, who happens to be a NYT Bestselling Author – Garrard Conley – was impressed with how I wrote it and said it was something that needed to be published. He said that while I wrote about something that happens all too often, I did it in a unique way. I’m thinking of turning it into a memoir someday. We’ll see.

Woman giving hand to depressed man against dark background. Suicide prevention concept.

After class, a classmate came up to me and asked, “after all you had been through, how on earth did you learn to trust again?” The question really hit me. I don’t know why. Maybe it was because I had never been asked that before. It wasn’t easy, I told her. Once I started telling people about my ordeal, I was in such awe over the amount of support I received from family and friends. They believed me. And the more I talked to them, the more I felt relief. Finally, I was getting years of repression off my chest.

There were others out there who didn’t believe a word I said because they knew my ex-husband. He couldn’t possibly have been like that.

To answer my classmate learning to trust isn’t that easy. Not only did I have to trust again in a relationship, I had to trust myself. And trust people in general. Before my relationship with my ex-husband, I already had trust issues. I had been lied on, cheated on, betrayed in so many ways…it honestly became the norm with people. After my ex-husband and I split, I took time to get to know myself. I wasn’t writing, but I focused on work. Learned to love cooking again. I had to remember the things I loved. The things that made me me. I love hiking. Traveling. Reading. Watching TV. Listening to music. Being with friends.

Slowly, I began to remember who I was and what I wanted. I began to trust my instincts more. I dated someone, but it ended because they betrayed my trust. I knew what was going on, and I wanted him to tell me, but he never would. It wasn’t until I had proof that he finally confessed. But by that point, I was done. Yes, it broke my heart, but at the same time I celebrated because I was right. My instincts were right. Just as they were with my ex-husband.

The word Truth appearing behind torn brown paper.

Therapy helped a lot with learning to trust myself again. I began to see things as they were. I’ve always been an intuitive person, but sometimes I ignore it. Sometimes it’s okay, but other times it bites me in the ass. My ex-husband made me feel like I was going crazy. Telling me I was wrong about events and telling me things weren’t as big of a deal as they truly were. For a time, I got sucked into that. I began to feel like it was me doing all the wrong. I was the one who wasn’t understanding. But the more you start looking at things from the outside – you start to see a lot. Including what’s the truth.

bright flamy symbol on the black background

When I met my current fiancé, he kinda snuck up on me. I was not looking for a relationship. I was enjoying time to myself. We talked and hung out and I really enjoyed his time. We took things slow. Soon, I found myself falling in love.

How did I learn to trust him? I think it was little things that grew into bigger things. His reaction to things. His support for my writing. His immense care for my dog, Eli. He always tells me he’s proud of me, which is something I haven’t gotten from many people. When we started dating, I put all my cards on the table. I told him what I will and will not tolerate and who I was. And if he did or said something that bothered me, I called him out. He would apologize and correct it. Like actually apologize. None of that “sorry you feel that way” BS.

I think learning to trust is honestly whatever you make it. I don’t want to sound like a cliché and say that it takes time (it does), but I think if you stick to your beliefs and your tolerances, you’ll learn how to trust. And if someone challenges those tolerances or beliefs, you know when to walk away. Because only you know what you can handle.

I don’t know who all will read this, but I hope you can gain some insight from my ramblings.

Cheers,

Carrigan

Happy Release Day!

Hey everybody!
I’m so excited to share with you the release of Shattered Dreams! I struggled with this series for years and I never thought I would finally get to this point – but here I am! I’m so proud to have finished the series. There were so many setbacks and doubts, but I persevered only because of friends and family. Laura Trujillo helped me every step of the way by making sure I didn’t give up and that I took care of myself first. She got me through a lot of ideas and got me to the meat of the story. Brandon helped me every day by being patient and supportive and always making me smile. And of course, my fans. I wouldn’t be where I am without you and I can’t thank you enough!!

In other news, Pieces of Me ranked #6 on Amazon! Thank you to everyone who has purchased a copy and supported me throughout this journey! You made this happen!!!

Also check out some free YA books for a limited time! January Dreams is in this!

Cheers!

Carrigan

Young Adult Fever

Greetings!

It’s finally springtime! Although, some nights it still feels a bit like winter. No worries though! I’ve been keeping busy reading and writing. And snuggling with Eli, because who doesn’t love puppy snuggles?

Speaking of reading! There are so many sales and new releases coming up in the Young Adult World! Who’s excited for a summer of reading?!

Jennifer L. Armentrout’s The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood And Ash Series Book 3) releases tomorrow! Gayle Forman’s We are Inevitable releases June 1, 2021 as well as Nicola Yoon’s Instructions for Dancing. Super excited for these.

There is also an amazing debut by author Caitlin Denman, She Awakens, releasing April 27, 2021! Check out the blurb:

In this Young Adult page turner, Attina finds herself in an unlikely predicament when it’s uncovered the normal, human existence she thought she lived is turned upside down. Finding out she’s half Fae not only confounds her, but in a time where the brutal Fae run the world she is suddenly tasked with bringing the Fae and humans together.

With the help of her trusty, and somewhat snarky steed Raven, Attina sets out on a mission to save the human race from extinction. As she continues on her mission, she discovers powers beyond her wildest dreams.

In a world where it’s tricky to discern who’s good and where the evil really lies, Attina finds herself in one predicament after another, not knowing who to trust except for Raven. As her journey unfolds, her strength and will are tested.

Will she ever be strong enough to bridge the gap between these two worlds?

Amazon US Amazon UK

Amazon CA Amazon AU

And of course don’t forget that Silent Dreams releases May 11, 2021! You can preorder it for only $.99! January Dreams is also on sale for $.99 for a limited time only!

Happy writing (and reading)!

Carrigan

Young Love

Greetings!

I know so many people have been asking for some new reads in the Young Adult category. I teamed up with some authors to create a promo just for that! So, if you’re searching for your next sweet young love story, look no further!

Several authors have teamed up to offer a delightful selection of new books.

Available for a limited time!

I also want to point out that through the month of April, to get ready for the release of Silent Dreams, January Dreams is only 99 cents! Grab it while you can! Also, Silent Dreams is only 99 cents for preorder. These prices won’t last long!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Monday!

Carrigan

Silent Dreams – May 11, 2021

Greetings!

I am super excited to announce that Silent Dreams is now available for preorder. Silent Dreams releases May 11, 2021.

This is the sequel to January Dreams, and as I started writing book 2 (4 years ago), I had no idea where it would take me. I struggled with it, not knowing what the story would even be.

Alas, I finished it last year, and I’m proud to say how much I love this book. It’s completely different than January Dreams, but it’s still great. This novel has much more fantastical elements to it including dragons, elves, sprites, queens, kingdoms, and much more! I really hope you enjoy the long awaited sequel.

Megan Devereux returns to Arvada, the immortal realm, in the middle of a war. Vincent reveals secrets, forcing Megan to follow the rules or she will die. But she must find Casper and return the Nuummite Jewel to its rightful place.

She escapes Vincent only to become a prisoner of the Elves where she discovers the truth about the Jewel. Convincing the Elves to join her in killing Vincent isn’t the only task she must face. She must prove to the Elves that she is on their side.

Is she willing to go so far as to kill her own kind? Determined to keep Casper safe, she does whatever it takes to defeat the enemies.

Thank you for your patience and your support over the years. It has truly meant the world to me, and I couldn’t have done this without you. You are by far the best fans a girl could ask for!

Cheers,

Carrigan

Friday News

Greetings!

Frist off, Happy Friday! If you are in areas with insane amounts of snow and freezing weather, I hope you are safe and warm. My heart goes out to those who are affected by this winter.

My amazing friend, author N.L. Hoffmann has released her new book Soulless! It is the first book in the three-book series about the sons of Lucifer! There is romance, action, and adventure!

Eva hasn’t worked for Hell in years until Lucifer decides to force her into doing his dirty work yet again. A babysitting job no less to help his seriously hot son, Damon, recapture a mysterious puzzle box that allows the worlds to merge. If they don’t find the box, hunters will possess it and release demons to roam around wreaking havoc. But it all goes wrong when she ends up stuck trying to save Damon from hunters who want him dead. Never mind that she’s developing feelings for the guy because keeping number one out of danger seems like the best way to come out of their situation alive.

Waking up surrounded by dead bodies, Damon knows it’s the first sign his life is going to hell. That’s before discovering that Lucifer is his father. Things seem grim until he lays eyes on the exquisite Eva who claims his life is in danger.

Damon and Eva have the means to stop the hunters, but can they get there in time? Most of all, will they be prepared to handle the threat that will be unleashed? Will their new bond help them fight the most dangerous enemy of all or will their distraction of heated exchanges be their undoing?

I’m excited to be able to share an excerpt from it:

Chapter One – Eva

The moment I entered my apartment, I knew Benny was into something he shouldn’t have been. I could hear his slobber from the front door. The wet, slopping noise filled the living room. It was a disgusting sound. The hellhound was a pain in the ass, but he was mine and that was all that mattered. Doomed to eternity as one of Hell’s mutts, Benny had been with me since the beginning of his punishment.

No, he wasn’t obedient and often talked back when given the opportunity, but he was a good friend. As much of a friend as a hellhound could be, anyway. They weren’t usually the reliable type, especially when there were females around. Female dogs, that is.

Someone was inside, and Benny was too busy slobbering over his meal to even care. Frowning, I looked around the darkness, taking in the shapes of the furniture. Then I spotted the figure sitting in my recliner. My powers surged into my hands, ready for the attack. Whoever it was, they’d learn not to break into my home.

“Calm down, Eva. It’s just me,” Lucifer said as the light from the lamp next to him snapped on.

I blinked several times, until my eyes adjusted to the light. When they finally did, I glared at him as I kicked the door closed.

“Why are you here?” I demanded. It was my only seat in the entire living room. I didn’t have much furniture.

My old boss smiled, staring up at me as he crossed one leg over the other. Lucifer was perfection, but then what else would I have expected from the devil? He always wore a suit, nothing out of place. Most of the time, he wore black and white wingtip shoes but tonight he just had on regular black ones. Whatever he’d come for must have been serious because normally he went out of his way to piss me off with his off the wall comments that only made him laugh.

He picked up a cup that sat on the table He sipped quietly, continuing to stare at me. It was probably his usual cup of tea that he brought from home.

Home, as in Hell.

I shifted uncomfortably as I waited for an answer. I couldn’t rush the King of Hell. If he wanted to tell me something, then he’d do it when he was ready. Even though he came off as a jokester most of the time, his mood could change in an instant.

“I have a job for you,” he said after finishing his cup of tea. He tossed it behind him, and it disappeared presumably to his dishwasher in Hell.

Before he could even continue, I started shaking my head and placed my hands on my hips. “Fuck that. I told you I was done, and you agreed. It was our deal. Since when do you back out of deals?”

As he ran a hand through his dark hair, I studied him. He was frustrated, something I’d never seen before. Normally, he was calm and collected. Even during torture, it was like watching an artist at work. Now he sat before me, tense and obviously under stress. Were those bags under his baby blue eyes?

“I wouldn’t have come, but my wife, Maye, said you’re our only hope in successfully defeating our problem. You know how I hate asking for help—especially after someone has blown me off.” He shook his head in feigned disappointment, a small smile curving his lips.

“Are you serious right now? You kept prank calling me from different countries, claiming to be in trouble.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes as I let out a breath.

Lucifer squinted at me. “I’ll have you know I was in Africa fighting lions then in Scotland running from a bunch of large men with axes!”

This was not happening. We’d parted ways nearly ten years ago. Why was he bothering me now? “Why would you be in those situations in the first place?”

He opened his mouth to reply, but I held up a hand to stop him.

“You know what? Never mind. I don’t want to know.” I grabbed his left arm and started tugging. “What I do want is for you to leave. You’re not welcome here.”

“Is that why you have your home warded with anti-devil sigils?” he asked, refusing to move.

How much did he weigh? Even though I was throwing my weight into it, he wasn’t moving an inch!

Losing my grip on his arm, I stumbled back, my hair falling forward and into my face. Growling, I fixed the wild strands, glaring at Lucifer. “Yes! Why didn’t it stop you? I put a lot of work into making those.”

Amused, Lucifer stared at me as if I was the dumbass. This coming from a man who once thought that, since his home was in the fiery parts of Hell, he could handle the heat of a ghost pepper. “I’m too powerful, love. Nothing can stop me.” He snapped his fingers, and every sigil on my walls and doors disappeared with a puff of smoke.

“Aden can stop you,” I pointed out, thinking I was clever coming up with that response. I raised my eyebrows, daring him to challenge me.

His face darkened, eyes taking on an eerie red glow. When his horns began to emerge from his head, I knew I’d stepped over the line.

Suddenly Lucifer grinned. “Just kidding. Of course, my brother is stronger than me. He created everything.” His gaze traveled over me, but not in a sexual way. He was sizing me up, making sure I could perform the job he had in mind. “But nothing you can do will stop me. If I want something, I’ll get it.” He stood and took two steps closer to me. “And my dear, I want you to get back to work.”

Benny hobbled over to me now that he was finished with his meal, whatever it had been He glanced up at me, confusion in his large, bulging eyes.

I motioned to my face. “You have some, uh, stuff on your face.” My stomach rolled violently at the sight of it. It looked like raw guts. From what, I couldn’t even begin to guess.

Lucifer stared at Benny, scrunching his face in disgust. “If I’d known you’d eat like a bloody pig I would have put you outside on the balcony with that.” He walked into the kitchen, flipped on the light and started rummaging around in my kitchen. “When are you planning on dinner? It’s almost six in the evening. Most families have begun to sit down for their feast.” He gave me a scathing look.

“Look, I’m not coming back. We had an agreement and now it’s your job to keep up the deal.” I folded my arms, watching as he pulled out a box of crackers and started munching.

“Even after I brought back Thatcher for you? This is how you repay me?” Lucifer sat the box of crackers down and straightened his suit jacket. He glanced down at his watch as if he was running out of time.

Turning around I went back into the living room and took a seat in my chair. I picked up the remote and turned on the TV to start searching through the guide. “Thatcher is dead. He died six months after you brought him back. How is that an even trade for everything I’ve done for you?”

Lucifer was a bastard for bringing up Thatcher. He was my first and only love. We were pirates with our own ship in the 1700s. We’d been together for close to ten years, discussing marriage even though he didn’t believe in it. Then one day he died. He became very ill with something I couldn’t identify even now to this day. Taking care of him was hard. Watching the life leave his eyes as each day passed was harder. When he was finally gone, I didn’t deal with it well. We attacked ship after ship, stealing what we could because I was too weak to face the truth of his death.

Eventually, a few weeks later, Lucifer showed up, surprising all of us. We attempted to kill him, but he had powers I’d never seen before. He tossed every member of my crew overboard. When he cornered me, he made the offer for me to come work with him and in return he’d bring back Thatcher. At the time, I was eager to do whatever I could to bring my lover back, but when he died during an attack, I became resentful and blamed Lucifer despite it having nothing to do with him.

It would have been unusual for him to approach a normal human. As far as my crew was concerned, I was. Thatcher was the only one who knew the truth about me being a witch. I was old, yet didn’t age over thirty-seven as far as my looks went, but I was born in 1401. I’d been through the witch hunts and was even there for the Salem Witch Trials. Yet, I managed to escape all of it.

When Lucifer approached me, he changed me into something more. There was only one of my kind, and I hated that I enjoyed that part of my powers.

Everyone in the supernatural world knew me as the Soul Eater.

I glanced at Lucifer as he opened his mouth wide and spooned a Nebraska-sized scoop of ice cream into it. Confused, I pointed at it. “Where did you get that? I don’t even have ice cream.”

Lucifer leaned against the doorframe of the kitchen. He licked his spoon, staring at me thoughtfully. Annoyed he was taking so long to speak, I turned back to the TV to start watching a cop show. It was one of my favorites and there was a new episode.

I felt his power sizzle in the air and the screen went black. I looked over questioningly. “Why are you here? You’re dragging this out, and it’s annoying the shit out of me.” I stood up and stomped a foot in irritation only to hear a yelp. “Oh shit.”

Bending over, I looked down to find Benny laying at my feet. His bug eyes stared at me like a helpless puppy would. “Sorry, dude. You keep getting under my feet.”

“I wish he’d tell you why he was here so we can watch our show,” Benny growled, plopping back down on the floor so he could go to sleep.

“You’re to work for me again. I have one more assignment that I need help with and to refuse would mean the start of your new life in Hell’s prison system.” His face was expressionless, eyes once again taking on that red sheen. He was close to showing the real devil. This was the part of Lucifer I avoided as much as possible.

Defeated, I stood up. “Fine!” I said throwing my hands in the air. “Just know I probably won’t forgive you for this. Tell me the job.”

Rubbing his scruffy chin, Lucifer smiled, pleased he’d won the fight. Asshole. I was raging inside. What could he possibly need from me that he couldn’t do himself? Hell, he could enlist his brother to help him instead of bringing me out of my retirement.

“I need you to watch over my son, Damon. Protect him and do whatever you need to do to make sure he survives.” Lucifer flashed me a smile before raising his hand, fingers posed to snap. “Now, get to work.”

“Wait—” I started to say, but he’d already snapped his fingers, teleporting me out of my apartment. When I looked around, the last thing I expected to find was the bodies littering the floor.

I’m so excited for this release as I’ve always enjoyed N.L. Hoffmann’s books – and this one is yet another awesome book!

Before you go – I have a surprise for you! If you haven’t gotten your copy yet, January Dreams is now FREE for a limited time only. Grab your copy before this sale ends!

Cheers,

Carrigan

January Dreams – Available Now!

Greetings!

The day has finally arrived! January Dreams is now available in eBook and paperback! Click here to purchase!

I am proud of this rewrite, and I hope you all enjoy this book. It is the first in the three book series. I will have updates on when books 2 and 3 will be released soon!

To celebrate the release week, below is a sneak peek available only here:

Standing on a cliff, darkness shrouds me except for the full moon hiding behind the tall trees. I hold myself as if it will make me warmer, but the strong gale pushes against me, almost knocking me over. I look over the cliff and gasp when I see several feet below, waves crashing against sharp pointed rocks and trying to reach me. I take a step back, but I collide with something hard. I try turning around, but it’s no use. Hands force me to stay straight.

“Don’t scream,” a dark gruff voice demands in my ear. He presses something hard into my back and leads me back toward the cliff.

“Please don’t do this,” I beg.

The waves continue to rumble below, and I have no way out. I close my eyes and cold tears trail down my face. 

“It’s finally your time to die, traitor.”

“No, please!” I wail and push against him but like a statue, he doesn’t budge.

The man whirls me around to face him, but all I can see are dark eyes under a hood. “He doesn’t love you, Megan. He used his magic to make you fall in love with him. He’s an Elf. That’s what they do.”

I narrow my eyes and gasp. “No. You’re wrong.”

The man laughs. A deep throaty laugh. “You are a fool. A sad, pathetic fool if you ever believed he loved you. He only wants the Jewel. He’s only using you as leverage.”

A gunshot sounds and the man releases me. I lose my balance. My heart jumps to my throat as I fall. I grasp the edge of the cliff and small rocks break and fall past me. They always say don’t look down, so I look straight up into the indigo starry night, holding on so tight.

“Megan.” Casper calls and grabs my wrists. His beautiful face takes the place of the stars and he hoists me up until I am safely in his arms. Holding me close, he kisses me fervently. “I can’t lose you. This is getting too close. We have to keep going. There could be others.”

The man on the ground groans and I stiffen. We get to our feet and I cautiously walk toward the man, but Casper holds me back. I can’t see the man’s face.

“You think you’ve won,” he says through a thick garbled voice. He coughs and I see a pool of liquid spreading around him under the bright moonlight. “The night of the eclipse, the war will start.”

Casper takes my hand and pulls me through the thick forest, picking up his pace the further we get. It is hard though, running in such a long dress.

“He will find you, Megan,” I hear the man bellow behind us. I gasp and look back. I lose my footing and crash to the ground.

“Megan.” Casper helps me to my feet.

Is the man right? Is Casper only using me? He wants me to go back home. He wants me to forget about him. But why is he grasping my wrist, holding me against him as we run away from my home?

I hope you all enjoy the newly polished version of January Dreams, or for those who haven’t read it, a new book!

Thank you for your patience and your support over the years. It has truly meant the world to me, and I couldn’t have done this without you. You are by far the best fans a girl could ask for!

Cheers,

Carrigan

It’s Been a Long While

Greetings!

My apologies for not writing to you sooner, but as the old saying goes, life got in the way. On that note, I wanted to express my utmost gratitude to you for being so patient. So many of you have asked when I’ll publish again, and I have good news for you!

But first…a little preface.

A few months ago, I removed January Dreams from sale because she needed work. She should not have been published, and for that I am sorry. There was so much I overlooked, and during that time of my life, it wasn’t a good time to publish anything of quality. It was the last book I published. That being said, I have now had the book re-edited, revised, some of it has been rewritten into a more polished and more exciting book! I finished writing the complete series as well. I am re-releasing January Dreams January 26, 2021. I’ll have links for you soon!

She is still one of my favorite stories, and Megan is one of my favorite characters. I can’t wait to share with you the changes that I’ve made with this novel.

In the first of three novels of this series, Megan begins dreaming of sharing an intensely, visceral love with Casper Truitt, whom she loathes in real life. But in her dreams, they’re in love. She wants nothing to do with him, but that doesn’t stop him from suddenly paying attention to her, claiming he likes her. Trying to ignore them, she meets the brooding and charming Vincent, and falls in love with him quickly. But each time they kiss, she sees vivid visions of another time and place. Consumed by the dreams and visions, Megan’s determined to learn the truth about them, but the more she learns, the more her life is in danger.

I love this story because even though there are fantastical elements to it, there is so much truth to it and I feel a lot of people can relate. I love each and every character as I feel they bring such a large part to the story. As a trend with my novels, Megan is a strong lead. She makes mistakes and is naïve (she’s only seventeen), but she’s smart and listens to her instincts whether she wants to or not. I also love writing villains you love to hate, but also villains you actually feel empathy toward. Every villain has a backstory that makes you ask yourself if they really are a villain or not.

The idea for January Dreams came to me about whether reincarnation actually exists. Have we had previous lives? That was the basis of the idea, but it has grown into something much bigger. I also have a thing about dreams (and if you’ve read anything by me, you’ll see a trend). I love writing about dreams because of how real they feel sometimes and how much they stay with me. Unfortunately, I can’t share too much without giving it away! It has real-life themes, fantasy, action, and plenty of romance.

Here is a sneak peek available only here:

I hate Casper Truitt. Actually, hate is such a nice word for the way I feel about him. He has no regard for anyone but himself and isn’t afraid to let anyone know. He hails from a stupid rich family and probably bathes in hundred dollar bills every night, at least, that’s what Cherry and I joke about.

My room is dark, and I relax a little thinking I have a couple more hours before I have to get up, but when I check my clock, I curse, knowing I forgot to set the antiquated alarm. I’m used to my phone where I program it and not have to worry about it, but Mom took it away.

I kick off the covers and rush through my morning routine. Great way to start the week.

Grabbing my backpack, keys, purse, coat, I breeze by my goodbyes to my dogs, all five of them, and run out the door. Luckily, my old as dirt car starts without too much issue and I carefully speed through the neighborhood to get to school, hoping I can get there before the bottom falls out. A storm is coming, and it doesn’t look like it’ll be brief.

I scramble out of my car and rush to the front office. When I open the door, I see Mrs. McCarthy dressed in a pumpkin outfit. Crap. It’s Halloween and Cherry is going to kill me. I completely forgot.

Mrs. McCarthy looks up, removes her glasses, revealing her brown eyes, and smiles. Her short brown hair makes her look like most of the female teachers around here, something I have always wondered about. Is it a requirement to have such short hair when you become a school administrator? Her makeup always looks like it’s permanently stained on her face.

“Can I help you?” she asks in her Southern drawl.

“I need to sign in for a late pass,” I say, panting.

A tall boy with cropped dark, brown hair fumbles through the door, almost tripping. He’s wearing a long-sleeved shirt and jeans on his lean, muscular body. He is hot. Is he new? This school is huge, but how could I have missed him? He’s not part of the popular crowd.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” he tells Mrs. McCarthy as he makes his way behind the counter.

“It’s okay, Vincent.” She smiles as she stands. “I’ve got some errands to run so you’ll be at the front desk for the remainder of the block. Oh, and this young lady needs to sign in.” She winks.

Vincent turns around and seems to do a double take. His face turns pale as if he’s seen a ghost. Mrs. McCarthy grabs her purse and is out the door. He drops his backpack on the floor and when he looks up, our eyes lock. His eyes are beautiful. They are the color of the deepest part of the ocean. So blue they almost look black. He looks at me like he’s enamored or something and it makes my heart pound. My stomach starts fluttering like there are butterflies or freaking penguins flapping their wings in there.

I am proud to see how much this series has grown and it’s also a milestone for me in that I’ve gotten back to writing—my true passion. It was a long road to get back, but through all of it, I’ve matured and have only become a stronger person and writer. As with all of my stories, there are bits of truth from events of my life in January Dreams and I wanted to embed those into this series. I am excited to be releasing the series (each book will be released separately) and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

In other news, I wanted to share that I have written another contemporary novel that I am sending off to literary agents currently. I have several other stories in the making as well that I’m excited to bring to light. For so long, I feared I that had lost my writing voice, but I just needed time to heal. That is something that has taken me a long time to realize and that it was okay to take a break from writing. It scared me because that is my true love. How could I possibly take a break from it? But nothing was coming to me and I couldn’t force it. Have any of you ever felt that way?

I hope you all enjoy the newly polished version of January Dreams, or for those who haven’t read it, a new book!

Thank you for your patience and your support over the years. It has truly meant the world to me, and I couldn’t have done this without you. You are by far the best fans a girl could ask for!

Cheers,

Carrigan

The Lone Wolf by John D. Pepe

Welcome to the blog tour for the Lone Wolf by John D. Pepe! Read on to learn more about this exciting new fantasy novel, and find out where to get your copy.

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While tracking a tribe of orcs, Remence comes across much more than that…an ogre mage seeks to unite all the orcs of the region against humans and non-orc kind. These orcs are well-disciplined, organized, and much better equipped; it is a true army, unlike anything young Remence has ever seen. And they are heading right for his village! When he fails to convince the village elders of the imminent threat to their lives, Remence takes extraordinary measures to save his people.

Caladin and Quinn are much more than the fancy thieves they appear to be. On their latest endeavor, they, too, learn of the orc host bearing down on the people of the region and throw themselves into the fray. After the gentlemen procurers are hired to uncover information about the recent orc attack, they enlist the help of Remence, learning their fight is against a common foe. Alongside a ragtag group of orc hunters, three half-ogre brothers, and a half-orc, Caladin, Quinn, and Remence turn detective and seek to find the person who is aiding the ogre mage. What they discover is that they may be the only ones standing between the massive orc army and the threat to humankind.

Read an Inside Peek Here
About John:

Website|Blog & Podcast|Instagram|
John D. Pepe is the author of THE LONE WOLF. He is a former practicing attorney turned school counselor. He’s a Neek (Nerd and Geek) and a life long D&D player. He enjoys martial arts/working out, podcasting/blogging, travel, and spending time with his family and friends. He lives in So. Cal. with his wife and son.

Sale!

Hello and Happy New Year!

Just wanted to let you know that Pieces of Me is now on sale for $0.99! Also, Girl Disappearing is now permanently free! Check them out.