Deirdre Riordan Hall's Blog, page 18

On the Mountain Teaser #3, an excerpt & a Freebie

Here is the third teaser for On the Mountain. What's this, you ask? Someone other than Baskia and she's laying in the grass? Who is she? What does this mean? Why is she asleep and how can she possibly MOVE mountains? Let's just say she plays a pivotal role in bringing people together and awakening them to their potential, even as she sleeps.


^^^

"The hammock swayed slowly as the sun dropped behind the mountain. Baskia leaned her head against the back of the Adirondack chair that she’d pulled over. Trace glided toward her in the hammock, his face just inches from hers. She gazed at his lips. The bottom one was slightly fuller than the top. The hammock swayed, carrying him away. Then he returned. The impish grin stubbornly remained fixed on his lips, as if he could read her thoughts, answer her desire, but refused to. The heat or beer or him made her sizzle inside. She leaned in, just close enough to touch her lips to his, but then the hammock glided away." 
^^^
Do you like these teasers? Intrigued by On the Mountain? It would mean HEAPS to me if you Pinned, Tweeted, Facebooked, Tumblred, (wonky verbs happening in that sentence!) or otherwise promo-ed the forthcoming novel. It releases Tuesday, October 14th. I'd also love it if you added it to your Goodreads TBR too! I send you so many thank yous it sounds like a chorus in here! Also, as an extra special thank you, Mirrored, the 4th book in the Follow your Bliss series, is FREE today! 

On the Mountain Teaser #2, an Excerpt & a Free Book

Meet Trace. He has a past that he's not willing to share, among other things, but as days stretch into weeks and into months on the mountain, Baskia and Trace get to know each other, well. Find out how it turns out when the novel, On the Mountain, releases 
Tuesday, October, 14th. 
Will they or won't they? Does Baskia accept or reject her new life and the people in it? Does Trace have what it takes to be honest and present? 


^^^
"Like the water in the lake, his eyes were clear, despite the heat and row of empty beer bottles. They were the exact color of an exotic spice she couldn’t recall the name of, but had to throw toward the camera during a shoot in Morocco. His hair, his motorcycle, his voice was as all-American as they come, but there was also something about him that was just out of reach, mysterious and off-limits. She wanted it." 
^^^
 If you'd like to check out another title from the Follow your Bliss series, Surfaced, is FREE today! 

Remember, each book stands alone or the series can be read in order for a deeper reading experience. 

On the Mountain Teaser #1, an Excerpt & a Freebie!

We're just weeks away from the release of On the Mountain, a city-girl goes country with spotty Wi-Fi, a Christmas spent snowed in, and mysterious Trace, who may have found his way into Baskia's heart. 

^^^
"Being bored out of her mind, keeping to her room, and dealing with a brooding hottie—on top of the trench of uncertainty that continued to plague her anytime she thought beyond the present moment—was way, way worse.

And it was hot. Baskia lounged in the wooden Adirondack chair, reading and rereading a line in one of the thick, glossy books on interior decorating her mother had artfully displayed on a shelf inside. She couldn’t focus, so she rounded to the back deck, hoping for a breeze to come over the mountain, blowing away her restlessness." 
^^^

This novel can be read on its own, but if you'd like a deeper experience, check out the other novels in the series. To the Sea  is FREE for a limited time! 


 To the Sea. 
 Happy reading! And come back soon for more sneak-peeks! 
Oh, and you can PRE-ORDER On the Mountain here! 

On the Mountain Cover Reveal

The months and weeks leading up to a book release is an elastic time. It seems to bounce and spring of its own accord. Then during the days leading up to the big book birthday, I feel time get really taut like a rubber band, pulling back, back, back and then woosh, away we go on a wild ride: up, down, and all around with excitement and anxiety. 


(((think waking up in the middle night because there may or may not be a comma after a particular sentence that I'd been working on. chances are i remembered it. i mean, why wouldn't i? it's like making sure the coffee maker is off. no, i don't drink coffee, but still. i convince myself it's there. but it is too late to check.))) 

Other anxieties surface too, will readers like it? Was I fair and true to my characters? And what about the cover? 

Yeah, what about the cover? 

Well, we have all waited patiently for the book art that graces that stiff, shiny front page (or screen) of my new adult contemporary, On the Mountain. You've seen some teasers, hopefully they've been pleasers, and now I'll get on with it and finally show you the cover for ON THE MOUNTAIN. 


***
If  you'd like to give ON THE MOUNTAIN a read, check out the pretty back cover below and read the blurb. It would be great to add it to your Goodreads To-be-Read list...that way it won't get lost in your stack o' books. 

And the back of course!




Thanks and please, let me know whatcha think!

Celeste-Fest!

When I started to get wind of indie authors, Jessica Park's novel, Flat out Love, was one of my first reads. 



Park's lyrical badassery is impressive, especially among the indie author geeks/connoisseurs book lovers everywhere!




She paints a picture, conducts a symphony, and shapes a story that comes alive on the page.




When I learned about the follow up, giving Matt's quirky little sister Celeste, the spotlight, I could not pass it up. And Flat Out Celeste did not disappoint. It is clever and lyrical, original, and compelling.
And then when I had the opportunity to participate in Celeste-Fest, I just HAD to. The following is my celebration of a misunderstood girl who comes home to herself, discovers her inner treasures, and shines like a gem. 

Get to know Celeste Watkins:

And if I had to put a theme song to the novel, anything by Vampire Weekend would do the trick. They capture that Boston-beachy vibe so perfectly, which spans Celeste's world too. 



And a party for Celeste would be incomplete without the legendary curtsy, at the Pacific ocean, of course. 

Thank you for reading and if you are interested in learning more, check the links above or grab your copy of Flat Out Celeste, here. 


No contractions were harmed in the making of this post. 
For more on WordSmith author promotion, visit:  *No compensation was provided for this post, the opinions expressed are mine alone. Thank you. 

Bliss Seekers!

So... the thing about following your bliss is it takes effort, a tremendous amount of energy and time and thought. But the thing is, that's what we have. Each new day we're given the gift of being, 86,400 seconds , and the power of our imaginations. It's phenomenal and lucky. And wow, when we're not acting in service of the things that make our hearts sing, it's such a disservice to humanity. 

Who are we not to shine brightly? Who are we not to contribute in a meaningful way? Yes, it's scary, intimidating, and can feel like an upward climb, swim, and trek all at once, a triathlon of sorts, but dang it all if the process isn't equally as exciting and exhilarating. Oh and the view, when you follow your bliss, I hear it's marvelous. 

All of this is to say, YOU, go for your dreams whether it's repurposing old lawn chairs and making something useful, creating art out of fresh picked produce from the garden, or singing and dancing your heart out when everyone IS watching. 

Whatever it is, go for it. Follow your bliss, I dare you. 

Sooo.... This month marks the third full length novel in the Follow your Bliss series. It's technically the fifth book if you count the novellas. Confused? Check this out. 

I can't say how happy I am that I've pursued publishing, even when I hear crickets in my sales or someone points out a typo (or ten) and especially when someone leaves a note or writes a review about how much they jived with the story. It's me following my bliss, warts and lauds and all. 


Sooo... what do I have in store for you? On the Mountain . It hits those eReaders and paperbacks October 14, 2014...and is the perfect read for the fall as Baskia retreats from city life and finds herself in the country. Mishaps, love, lust, SNOW, and some soul-searching ensue!


Check out the blurb below and stay tuned for more details, the cover reveal, and lots more!
Add it to your Goodreads TBR HERE! 



And remember, always follow your bliss.

5 Time Savers for Writers

1) Automate tweets using Hootesuite or Buffer. I recently read in Write. Publish. Repeat, that the best thing we can do to contribute to our success as an author is to write, alot—go for quality and quantity. I've heard this for many years from some of the literary greats (Anne Lamott & Natalie Goldberg.) But it is especially true for indie authors. So when we're in the process of building our platform, the social media distractions can pulls us away from the actual work of writing. Interacting is important and connection is key, but prepping some posts ahead of time and scheduling them can reduce the temptations online. 

2) Create a timeline. Or an outline. I know, it might sound counterintuitive to spend time doing something so that you can do it. But bear with me. I find that if I write down my writing goals for that stretch of time, I'm more likely to meet the benchmarks I set out for myself. For instance: I want to finish chapter thirteen, add some detail about a character in chapter two, and make sure I spend a little bit of time fleshing out a scene that's to come, so I can be prepared for it as I move closer to it in the manuscript. By having timeline I am better able to manage how much time I allot to each item. Then there's the gratifying crossing out of said line item as I go. 

3) Set an incentive. If say, I complete my goals outlined in number two I receive an award of my choosing. For instance take out, those shoes I've been eyeing. (I know one of my favorite things about my job is that I don't need footwear, strictly speaking. But a gal needs shoes!) Or you can put x amount of cash aside for a writers retreat, conference, or workshop, that way I;m reinvesting in myself. Brilliant, right? 

4) Step away to rest and recharge. Likely when you return to your project, you will have a fresh perspective, renewed motivation, and the energy to go full throttle.

5) Value your time. I'm as guilty as the next person when it comes to frittering away my precious writing hours to check my social media, get sidetracked on a really great blog, or "window" shopping. And while I for sure can benefit from an insightful article or connecting, if it's time to write, and I'm not, that means priority 1 is not happening. At the end of the day I know I will feel awesome of I met or came near my writing goals...not the new shoes I bought (because duh, writers who are seated. At a desk. Really don't need shoes on their feet. But you know what I mean.) If self discipline isn't realistic use one of these cool programs to temporarily block access from the internet. Here and here. 


Any tips you've learned to save time? 

On Writing & Creative Contribution

In thinking about actually Following your Bliss, not the "One day, I'll pick up the paintbrush, write that story, or do xyz" but actually going forth and doing it, even if it's in baby steps, a recent loss reminded me how finite our time here is.

There is only one unique version of each of us, and like a fingerprint, we have something valuable to contribute to the world.

There's no better time than now to start doing that magical something: art, music, film, fashion, woodworking, speaking, inspiring, athleticism, that makes us forget what time it is, places us "in the zone," and makes our soul feel like singing, unless of course it's literally singing.

For me, it's writing and rarely a day goes by when I don't drop something on paper or in a document file. But make no mistake, pursuing the things we love, take effort, often monumental amounts of effort and discipline, which is not to be mistaken with work. When in the groove, the effort required has a return that makes every bit of sweat and concentration worth it.

Here are a few snaps of truth that have propelled me forward in following my bliss and doing what I love:

Once an author, always a writer.
Learn to love your unique voice.
Make every word count.
Don't let your writing get lazy.

And last, but not least, patience. I have to remember to be patient with myself; some days there are chores, errands, and other big life things that pull me away from my bliss projects. That's okay. Taking an occasional break, to rest and recharge or simply place our attention elsewhere, often contributes to an increase in creativity when we return. And my measure of self-worth and success in my bliss based endeavors starts and ends with me. As long as I love what I'm doing and believe in it with my whole heart, that are all the affirmations I need. Some people won't like it, notice it, or will, despite their best intentions, not give it the praise I'm hoping for, and I need to be okay with that. At the beginning and end of the day, what matters is that I'm doing what I love.

How does this translate to following your bliss? What project are you working on that makes your pulse quicken, that you can't take your mind off? 







Actually, they're not so random. Not really.

Superb post on why writing is important by Leo Babuta.

To the Sea Review- In PRINT!

I was surprised and honored to crack open my monthly copy of SurfGirl Magazine and find To the Sea reviewed on its pages. I was all like, that book cover looks familiar. Oh, I WROTE it! 
It's my first print review, and as an indie author, I really celebrate these small victories! Thank you SurfGirl, thank you readers, thank you, thank you, thank you!

As an aside, SurfGirl is a great surf & pro-girl lifestyle magazine out of the UK and definitely keeps me stoked!

Flash! Mirrored Release Day

I poured a lot of love and angst into In the Desert, a rock and roll romance that unfolds along an epic road trip...
And now, the follow-up that traces Alex and Brighton's relationship overseas can be yours!
Also, Mirrored, is told from Alex's rock and roller perspective...check it out!




Title: In the DesertBook Three in the Follow your Bliss Series(Can also be read as a stand-alone)Author: Deirdre Riordan HallRelease Date: June, 17, 2014Genre: Contemporary FictionAge Group: New Adult
Available on Amazon

---A sneak peek---

Alex pulled Brighton into an alcove, protected from the rain. She pressed in against him, their faces inches apart. 

“Why would you need a brolly, if you have me?” he said. 

The way he said brolly made more laughter tickle her tongue, but the question, the offer, of having him, made it fade on her lips.

“Do I have you?” she asked. Her throat tightened at the possibility that the relief from loneliness she yearned for may or may not be found in him.

“Do you want me?”
His breath smelled like wine and mint and shelter.

Her pulse quickened. She’d never wanted anyone more in her life. She fought her way to his lips. They were out of the rain, but somehow her face was damp as another secret found its way to the surface.

“I have something for you,” Alex whispered.

His sexy voice was magnified against the backing track of the rain. He’d already given her so much. She had everything she wanted snugged tight into that hidden little alcove.

He dug his hand into his pocket, his hips pressing up against hers in the small space. He pulled out a guitar pick. “For you,” he said placing the vinyl chip in her hand.

On one side, it was printed with a series of numbers: 50.8429˚N, 0.1313˚. She breathed in his crooked smile.

“Coordinates if you ever get lost again.” 

She turned the guitar pick over in her hand. On the other side, it had the date in July when they’d met along with the word always.

“In case you ever forget.”

They kissed, never wanting to forget that moment before stealing back through the sopping streets, the glare of headlights and streetlamps guiding their steps in the inky night. 

--- 



And that guitar pick? You can have your very own! Please visit my Etsy shop. Or enter to win this giveaway!
Want to read To the Sea, Surfaced, & In the Desert? Click on over to my Amazon Author page and catch up on all the magic and mayhem.