Deirdre Riordan Hall's Blog, page 21

In the Desert Teaser Three

The third and final In the Desert teaser...plus another little excerpt to pique your interest. Check out the cover reveal on Thursday, June 5th. And the follow week, I have some VERY exciting surprises for you, so please check back! 


Mini-Excerpt: 
“Do you want me?”  Alex asked. 
His breath smelled like wine and mint and shelter.
Brighton's 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 little alcove out of the rain. 




You like? Please add it to your Goodreads To Be Read list...

In the Desert // Teaser Two

In the Desert teaser number two for you! This new adult/contemporary fiction novel is available soon. If you'd like to take part in the release-blitz, please send me an email or tweet. Thanks you! Stay tuned for more, more, more! Click here to add to your Goodreads TBR!


Here's another sneak peek...
“No one has ever made me feel the way you do,” Alex whispered, his accent stitching together the ragged parts of her heart.
“But what about us?” Brighton asked, doubt interfering.
“We can’t predict the future. We only have now.”
“Is that a cop out?” she retorted.
“No it’s just the truth. The ceiling of clouds and rain could come smashing down at us any moment.”
“I see too much of myself in you. We’re too much alike,” she said.
“Then you’ll have to learn to love yourself a little more.”
“I never thought you’d be the one with the voice of reason.” She looked away as if the glare of the truth was too bright.

“I never said anything reasonable, just worthy,” Alex answered.

In the Desert // Teaser One

Presenting...
The first In the Desert teaser. It's a contemporary romance hitting shelves and eReaders Tuesday, June 17.


Here's a little teeny-tiny excerpt:


             “Shh,” Brighton said hushing him. She molded her hands over the slender steering wheel, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. As always, before she set out, Brighton said a prayer, asking for safe passage, a journey of discovery, and to be lead home. 
             She put the key in the ignition and the engine roared to life as if to say let’s go. Hope should have fired on eight cylinders. Instead, she hummed to dull the confusion and annoyance about the strange and solid, yet semi-familiar figure seated next to her filling the space with shadows where she expected to feel openness and the carefree, possibly of the broad roads ahead. In CC’s throaty rumble, her father’s voice ushered her forward.
“In which we depart into the great unknown,” Alex said before she shushed him again. 

Hope you enjoy! If you'd like to read In the Desert, please add it to your Goodreads To-Be-Read.

Remember the time?

https://imgur.com/gallery/aKhKfRemember the time I wrote a book? And then another? Well, here we go again! That's me doing my happy dance. Okay, not really. But there is a Big Lebowski reference, because of course. 
https://imgur.com/gallery/wQFPf
The third book in the Follow your Bliss series, In the Desert, hits bookshelves and eReaders on Tuesday, June 17, 2014.


I don't want to give too much away, but there are fast cars, rock & rock, and romance. 
https://imgur.com/gallery/xVK4SsI
Look for teasers, the cover reveal, and more coming in the coming weeks. 
https://imgur.com/gallery/96Vxp
If you're interested in some behind the scenes, get-it-early, wanna-help-promote action, check out the info for trying out for Team Bliss, the Follow your Bliss Street Team. I'm taking applications now!



I can't wait to share In the Desert with you and hear what you think!
https://imgur.com/gallery/x6D54wu

And this is how I feel about your kind support. Ahh, all the feels. 
Cheers!

Things 'n Stuff

For writers to read:
John Green on not being a phony.
Chuck Wendig on ten or so things for young writers.


For readers to read:
Thrive by Arianna Huffington
To the Sea by me and a wee interview about the novel and what's to come...

For seers to see:

Surf photography, underwater scenes, love, love, love.

Some black and white images from around the world.

The Chatter

Today feels quiet and reflective; maybe it's the the blanket of clouds hanging so low I wonder if I stretch, stretch, stretch I can touch them. Perhaps it's that I've been writing, writing, writing so much my mind is like, "Hey, let's be still for a breath." Or it could have something to do with the Scorpio moon or simply so much movement in my life. Whether it's all that or none of it, I'll slip into this space of quiet stillness, at least for now, and see where it takes me, or as mystical-alchemical-emotional things go, maybe exactly nowhere and I'll see I'm right where I belong. 


And a little writerly shout-out...to those who've signed up for Team Bliss- I'm so excited to share goodies and words and bookish delight with you. If you're interested in being a part of this great team of book lovers, fans of contemporary romance, and wonderful gals, please click here for sign-up info and everything you need to know! 

Spring! A few of my favorite things.

It's time to share a few of my favorite things? What makes your rainy April showers turn into May flowers?

These are a Few of my Favorite Things.... by deirdrespark featuring kiehls skincare
Earrings
etsy.com


Glass necklace
etsy.com


Scarve
etsy.com


Tech accessory
etsy.com


Kiehl s kiehls skincare
saksfifthavenue.com


Body cleanser
etsy.com


Organic Whole Black Chia Seeds 4 oz.
etsy.com


Colorful Heirloom Lettuce Seed Mixture Non-Hybrid Salad Heirloom Seed... 
etsy.com




Let's be friends on Polyvore! 

Ocean's Deep Boxed Set Cover Reveal!

 

I'm so excited to share this with you all. As you probably know, the ocean, waves, surfing, mermaids!!! are all near and dear to my heart. Ahem, I wrote To the Sea and Surfaced after all (and pledged 5% of my profits from both of them to Surfrider...) But this is big, huge, vast as the Pacific...I present:

The Oceans Deep Box Set Has a Cover!!! Authors: Lani Wendt Young - Telesa, Elle Strauss - Seaweed, Kristen Day - Forsaken, Karen Amanda Hooper - Tangled Tides, Amber Garr - Promises & Betrayal, Cheri Lasota - Artemis Rising,Heather Allen - Just Breathe, Nikki Godwin - Chasing Forever Down, Leigh Talbert Moore - Dragonfly & Undertow, Amy Evans - ClicksCover Designer: Starla Huchton 
 We're so excited to share the amazing cover for the Oceans Deep Box Set. Isn't it pretty???? Please be sure to add the box set to your TBR list on Goodreads. To learn more about each of the authors, please click on their name on Goodreads, or above. Keep track of the project on our tumblr: ocean-books.tumblr.com


OCEANS DEEP Twelve Young Adult romance novels that celebrate sun, sea and love to support World Oceans Day 2014. As authors, we know while the facts can change people’s minds, fiction can change their hearts. The proceeds from this box set will benefit World Oceans Day, an organization dedicated to celebrating the ocean and encouraging people to really think about what the oceans mean to them. Comprised of young adult romances in a variety of genres including science fiction, fantasy, contemporary and mythology, the books all have one thing in common: they leave readers more in love with the ocean than they were before. Together we can help ocean conservation efforts, one word, one page, one story at a time.
  


It's so pretty! I love what these amazing writers are doing and ask you to support their endeavor to bring awareness and conservation to our world's oceans. Be sure to add the set to your TBR & check out what the authors are working on. 

The Follow your Bliss Street Team >>> Team Bliss Try-Outs

What is the Follow your Bliss series?
Follow your Bliss is a new adult contemporary romance series. It contains a total of six books consisting of three full-length novels: To the Sea, In the Desert, and On the Mountain. Each one is linked with a novelette tie-in. To the Sea — Surfaced — In the Desert — Mirrored — On the Mountain — Kindled. Each of these books can stand-alone or read as a series. Each novel has a unique main character, but they all thread together, weaving a varied yet fluid tapestry.
To the Sea tells twenty-something Kira’s story of loss, the ocean and surfing guiding her toward her truest self with some lust and love along the way.
Surfaced (novelette) tells the story of Jamie, a surfer, one of Kira’s love interests, and notorious ladies’ man. Returning to Australia, he discovers what he’d left back home: family and love.
In the Desert follows college student Brighton’s annual road trip cross-country. An unexpected passenger challenges her quest to find a place to call home and letting love into her life.  
Mirrored (novelette) is Alex’s story as he brings Brighton to England where they visit her late father’s grave and he grapples with deciding whether to find his mother who left him when he was young.
On the Mountain brings Baskia to a remote cabin as she runs away from having to make decisions about her future. She gets back to basics, learns to lean on herself, and finds love in unexpected places.
Kindled (novelette) is a Christmas tale of overcoming loss, dealing with family in all its incarnations, unexpected help, and being brave when it comes to love.
The Follow your Bliss series addresses the themes of personal transformation, family, friendships and relationships, love, home, escape, and change. Each story is set against the backdrop of a specific landscape that plays a role in the shaping of the characters’ experiences. It contains mature romantic content and is recommended for experienced readers. 




What is a street team?  
A street team is a group of super-hero-readers who help an author creatively and passionately promote books via social media, online platforms, and of course in the real, physical world, word-of-mouth style. Members (politely) increase an author’s online (and in real life) presence by promoting their novels because they lurve reading. Note: Tackle hugs and bribery in the form of swag and promises of you will not be able to put this book down are always okay. This helps a book succeed and reach other readers.


Two ways to participate as a member of Team Bliss
Varsity Members (For the going all-in fangirls)
(1) Post In the Desert teasers (total of three) on your blog, website, and/or other social media platforms in the three weeks leading up to the release.
(2) Participate in the In the Desert cover reveal by posting it on your blog & promoting on your social media. (The post information will be provided in a simple copy/paste format you can easily add to a post) including the cover, blurb, upcoming  release info, and links. of course I welcome you to share your thoughts too.
(3) Celebrate the In the Desert book birthday in early June by posting a simple copy and paste media kit including blurb, cover image, excerpt, links, about the author, and giveaway entry via rafflecopter on your blog/website.
(4) A week later, announce the winner along with an "ask the author anything" mini-interview in which you ask me one question (to be submitted a week prior to posting on anything related to the novels or writing.) And I will answer—it can be about the book, the writing process, or anything you're curious about. 
(5) Share an honest review and rate on Amazon and Goodreads.

Team Bliss Varsity Incentives:
(     (1) Free Digital ARCs
(2) Free signed paperback copy of In the Desert 
(3) Free Kindle copies of To theSea and Surfaced 
(4) Behind-the-scenes stuff: Getting involved in naming characters, selecting covers, and other funsies including exclusive giveaways.
(5) Be on the secret (private) Facebook group for Team Bliss where members can leave comments, discuss the novels, ask questions, hang out, brainstorm promo ideas and best of all engage with other book lovah’s.
(6) Receive Team Bliss acknowledgment by name in the thank you section of In the Desertfor your hard work.
(7) Swag!

And of course promote all this blissed out goodness on your social media mediums. I welcome you to also get creative with how you promote the Follow your Bliss novels.


Team Bliss Junior Varsity (For fangirls short on time, but still want to take part)
(1) Participate in promoting In the Desert on your social media platforms of choice and of course in person at least three times.
(2) Share an honest review and rate on Amazon and Goodreads.    

Team Bliss Junior Varsity Incentives:
(1) Free Kindle copy of In the Desert (or epub/mobi) 
(2) Behind-the-scenes stuff: Getting involved in naming characters, selecting covers, and other funsies including exclusive giveaways.
(3) Be on the secret (private) Facebook group for Team Bliss where members can leave comments, discuss the novels, ask questions, hang out, brainstorm promo ideas and best of all engage with other book lovah’s.


Extra credit for everyone
If you refer three friends to Team Bliss, you will be eligible to select an item of your choice from my Follow your Bliss-inspired Etsy shop. (More items to come soon!) And they will receive a copy of Surfaced. (Each of these new members will be required to participate in the In the Desert promo/book review/assignments in order to receive your item, but I know ya'll have hearts of solid gold.) When your friends apply for Team Bliss, please have them include your name. 

Want to try out for the team?

Entries close on Friday, May 31. Please copy and paste the list below into an email  (deirdre spark @ yahoo . com —obvs no spaces) and then fill in your answers: 

NameEmailWebsite/BlogFavorite Book (Honestly, I don’t expect you to say mine. Ditto below.)Favorite Author (Anyone in your top three. Ditto above.)What are your two or three preferred social media platforms and how many followers, friends, etc. do you have on each? (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, Google+.)Would you like to join as a Junior or Varsity member?Comments/Referring friend’s name.)

I will be in touch if we are a good match with a special hello and your start-up materials. Thank  you!

Hold Me Tight by Faith Sullivan --- Launch!

Title: Hold Me Tight
Author: Faith Sullivan
Release date: April 30, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Ebook available at: Kindle | Nook | Smashwords 





HOLD ME TIGHT Synopsis:

He loves me. He loves me not.

Ivy's heart shatters upon hearing Eric's crushing ultimatum. Despite how much she cares for him, she won't give in to his demands. She has no choice but to leave, even if it's the hardest thing she's ever had to do.

She loves me. She loves me not.

When Ivy walks out, Eric can't help feeling betrayed. Unwilling to put her at risk, he values her safety above all else. By refusing to compromise, he's blindsided when she moves in with a man who's already stolen so much from him.

I love you. You love me not.

Lauren sees Eric and Ivy's split as an opportunity to end their relationship once and for all. When Ivy places herself at the mercy of Eric's rival, Lauren plots to destroy the fragile tie binding them together, even if she endangers Ivy's life in the process.


Excerpt:

But there’s something I have to do before this goes any further.

Slowly, I draw my head away from her embrace, finding the courage to finally meet her eyes. Her hair hasn’t been combed and her face is all tear-stained, but she has never looked more beautiful.

She stands, bracing herself against me. Her breath hitches when I gently start unbuttoning her shirt, but her eyes never leave my face. I stop partway up, raising the bottom half of her cami up and over her baby bump. Dropping down, I run my hands across her stomach, feeling her shiver against my fingertips. Looking up at her, I place my lips on her bellybutton, kissing the child that’s growing within her, the miracle we created.

“I will never ask you to choose again,” I say solemnly, my voice nothing but a whisper.

Ivy starts to cry in earnest, placing her hands atop mine.

“You are my heart now. Whatever happens to you happens to me.” I kiss each one of her knuckles as she sighs deeply, like she’s been longing with all her soul to hear me say these words. “I know I’m not as brave as you are, but I promise to try harder.”

“Eric, stop. You’re the bravest man I know,” she proclaims with a tender fierceness, tears shining in her eyes.

“I’m just so afraid of losing you,” I mutter, breaking down.

“Oh, Eric,” she whimpers, sobbing right along with me. “I know, baby... I know.”

I lean back against the wall, guiding her onto my lap. We don’t say anything more. We just sit there and hold each other, savoring the moment.

What readers are saying about HOLD ME TIGHT:
"I'm so excited! Eric's balls grew back! He's going to fight for her. I envisioned the whole scene in my mind. True romance at its finest." - Rhonda Hofmiller
"You are such a tease! What a way to leave me hanging there, after that scene at the kitchen table. DAMN. Hose me down with cold water please!" -Natalie Smith
"Hallelujah and praise the Lord, Eric is FINALLY going after what's his! *sigh* What a lovely welcome home present indeed!"- Ashley Bodette

Books in this New Adult Contemporary Romance trilogy:


About the Author:
Faith Sullivan is an author of New Adult contemporary romances including the HEARTBEAT trilogy , the TAKE ME NOW series and the 9/11 novel, UNEXPECTED . She writes love stories with a little dash of crazy.
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