The stories were mistaken. True love didn’t triumph over all. True love was sold to the highest bidder.
- The Scarlett Lullaby

Side note: The above link/video is a clip of the song DROWING by Particle Blue, the band I am in DROWNING is a song on our EP which you can buy on AMAZON & iTunes. PS, my husband is the one playing lead geetar

I’m behind on the Teaser Tuesday, but I wanted to post a small clip of my current novel THE SCARLETT LULLABY, a young adult urban fantasy twist on the fairytale Sleeping Beauty. Current status: working on my query. Hoping to be done by the end of the month!!

 I hope you enjoy the small sample!

“I thought you’d know better by now.” The book slipped to the ground as Sebastian leapt to his feet. A long white robe draped the man before him. Despite the flecks of gray, his short blonde mimicked Sebastian’s. As did his grey eyes.  “Why are you doing this to yourself, again. It pains me to see you hurt. We hoped once you learned of her vacant memory you’d come back to us—back home.”

“She’ll remember.” Though he wasn’t sure if he believed that, especially after speaking with Wrenée, but he had to try.

“Please, son, come home. Save yourself the heartbreak. I spoke to the other elders, with little effort, we can sever the bond between you and the princess, and you can be free. Live with us, marry, and not be a slave to your charge.”

Sebastian’s anger flared. How dare he march in out of nowhere and speak of such blasphemies. Only once had a Beskyddares cut ties with their charge. The trial took months and even afterward, the Beskyydare was never the same. He lived and died miserably. And who would he possibly marry when he heart had been given away so long ago?

“I will never abandon her,” Sebastian growled. “One hundred years and I’m still as loyal as I was the day she first became mine. I’m sorry, father, but that shall never change.”

Sebastian could hardly believe what his father asked of him. To leave the one person he loved. To leave all he knew. Growing up, the mission had been embedded in his mind. They come first. Yet his father, an elder, longed for Sebastian to be selfish and leave her.

“The truth is,” his father said. “Scarlett doesn’t know who you really are or your past together. You have a chance here, one to start anew and permit her live a life without the barriers of forbidden love. One hundred years or not, Scarlett is still the daughter of the highest king.  And you, Sebastian, are a mere Beskyddare unworthy of someone with her ranking. Princesses marry princes, not servants.”

No matter how Sebastian spun the cards, he knew what his father said was the truth. The stories were mistaken. True love didn’t triumph over all. True love was sold to the highest bidder.

For more information see my BOOKS/PROJECTS page

Ciao

Angela

Now playing:  Gangstas Paradise by Coolio

You know that feeling you get after finishing a manuscript?

For an instant you feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. Well, i’m relishing in that moment because I know by tomorrow it will be gone.

The last edits on my newest book, THE SCARLETT LULLABY are complete. now time to have Betas and CPs read it and tell me if it’s any good. Lucky for me, I have some CPs who have been with me for the ride, so I know it isn’t terrible.

But I’m just so excited. I’m closer to querying. The hardest part is about to begin. While Betas are reading I’ll be crafting a query letter and a synopsis.

I told my husband that I finished and he said, “Oh, so are you going to send query letters out now?”

And at first I started to respond, until I registered what he said. I talk about query letters a lot, especially with writing friends and even to the husband. But for those of you who don’t know him….I was 95% sure he tuned me out and nodded along when query-talk comes up…

So when he said that I grinned and said…”Aw, you remembered query letters. You DO listen to me!”

That made my day. It’s the simple things.

Anyway. I am looking for some Beta Readers and i suck at finding them so if you are one and you’re reading this and you’re interested, email me.

Here is a bit about my book:

THE SCARLETT LULLABY
 Young Adult Urban Fantasy

The only thing worse than seeing the past and the future, is trying to figure out your own. Which is exactly what sixteen-year-old Scarlett Lux is trying to do. But every time she gets close, Konstantine—Majester of The Society of Assassins—sends one of his minions to capture her.

Lucky for her, Mason Salvatore, an assassin royal, and the mysterious Sebastian Andersson are ready to spring into action to keep her alive. The problem with two hot guys hanging on your every move? Whenever they are in ten feet of each other a fight transpires. But there’s no time for jealousy; not when Konstantine is trying to kill her for her light—the power to melt the barriers between realms—a power Scarlett doesn’t know she posses.

Now, Scarlett has to hurry to uncover the past before it kills her.   

The Scarlett Lullaby is a twist off the classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty with underlining themes from Helen of Troy. Complete at 88, 516 words!

Bazinga!!

Now off to work on critiques for my amazing writerly friends who have been EVER so patient with me!!

Ciao!!

Angela

2011 was a big year for me. Full of showers–baby & bridal, weddings, bachelorette parties, tons of changes nd new adventures.

Most importantly, Josh and I got married. After 6 ½ years we finally tied the knot on June 22^nd at the Florida Aquarium. The wedding was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. The following day Josh, myself and 50 of our friends and family hopped aboard the Carnival Inspiration for 4 fun-filled days in the Gulf of Mexico. In Cozumel we went snorkeling and danced with the natives.

The cruise itself was amazing.  But planning the wedding was so much fun. I surprised my aunts with my easy-going attitude, because if you know me, you’d think I would have been Queen Bridezilla. Surprisingly, I wasn’t. I preferred to delegate and have everyone do the work for me. They never complained because they are so crafty and I am not. Not one bit. Lol. My idea of scrapbooking is putting pictures in an album.

A group of us on the snorkeling boat in Mexico

The band really took off this year too. We recorded our first 3-song EP, played a ton of shows and made great friends along the way. One of my favorite parts of being in a band is the people you meet, the stories they tell you and learning how music and God changed their lives. Sometimes people can get so wrapped up in the selfish part of performing and music they forget what music does to people…how it moves them in such a spirited way. Music inspires hope.  It reminds people that they aren’t alone in what they are going through. Music takes pain and suffering and turns it into something beautiful and relatable.

With the band came a new group of friends, a family unit I never expected to have. This year we bonded into something more than a band, we bonded as brothers and sisters. I love them all and the dynamic we have together, how we can say one word, like Tartlet, and crack up. (It’s so fun to have a group of friends obsessed with the show FRIENDS. You do NOT want to play us in trivia, especially us girls, we rock)

This year my best friend blessed us with an adorable baby boy. He spoils us with how cute and well-behaved he is. My other friend found out she is pregnant. Her little GIRL (we just found out it’s a girl today!!!) will join us in 2012. Did I mention how many people are popping out kids now?? Insane!

I made new friends and reunited with ones I thought I’d never talk to again. It’s funny how life plays tricks on you sometimes.  2011 was a great year and I look forward to so much in 2012. The band has a lot of gigs lined up and my newest novel, THE SCARLETT LULLABY will be hitting agent’s inboxes in early ’12!! Woot, Woot

So here’s to 2012, may it be filled with many more memorable adventures…and lots of trips to Disney World.

Love & God bless,

Angela

Below are some highlights of 2011

Family <3

Suprise Bachelorette Party

Bridal Shower

Mexico!!

― Miranda Kenneally, Catching Jordan

Last night, while the husband played the new Zelda game, I decided to start reading CATCHING JORDAN by Miranda Kenneally. Needless to say, I started around 9/10pm-ish and stayed up till after 2am because I literally could not put it down. I heard about the book how I hear about most amazing books—from other writers on Twitter. And when an author I love says, “everyone should read ____ book” then instantly I’m on it. 98% of the time I love book too.

Here is some information on it from her website:

What girl doesn’t want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn’t just surrounded by hot guys, though—she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that’s just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there’s a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team…and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

There are few things I love more than a good football read…and that is a girl QB1. I’ll admit, when I started reading I was thrown off by it being present. Some of my favorite authors—Simone Elkeles, Mandy Hubbard, etc—write in present tense and it always throws me off a bit because I really don’t like it. That’s the beauty of a good book, after the first few pages you forget the tense and really just fall into the story. This book is another exception.

CATCHING JORDAN was an easy book to fall for. Immediately I fell in love with Jordan and Henry (Sam). I felt for Ty but also had my uneasy feelings about him just as Jordan does. Jordan’s voice is fun, bold and on target. The action scenes are clear and concise and just written flawlessly. The book takes interesting twists and turns and while I didn’t anticipate where it was going, it went where I wanted it to.

If you haven’t done so, put CATCHING JORDAN on your Christmas list…or just hurry into a bookstore (or whatever you buy books) and pick it up. If you are in love with the show Friday Night Lights this will curb your football cravings.

With all the amazing new authors out there, I have added a new favorite to the list. I can’t WAIT to see what she writes next!

So I realized I haven’t blogged since September. Ouch, not good Angela! Life has been pretty hectic these last couple of months. The band takes up most of my weekends (if you like Christian music, check out Particle Blue, we have a free download right now! Plus, you can hear me sing a little. Fun? Yes!)

As for writing, much hasn’t changed since September. I’m in my last round of edits and finding some betas to take a read through. So far the feedback has been awesome. I’m really excited about this one and can’t wait to start querying in January! The fun part of edits is rebuilding chapters from the ground up. You read the chapter and you’re like, wow, this just isn’t working, so you scrap it and start over. The result up to this point has been awesome. I love my rewrites even though they mean I have to adjust a lot of other parts, but oh well!  Here is a little about the book I will be querying! Super excited. I made a cute mock cover too. Woot, Woot!

The only thing worse than seeing the past and the future, is trying to figure out your own. Which is exactly what sixteen-year-old Scarlett Lux is trying to do. But every time she gets close, Konstantine—Majester of The Society of Assassins—sends one of his minions to capture her.

 Lucky for her, Mason Salvatore, an assassin royal, and the mysterious Sebastian Andersson are ready to spring into action to keep her alive. The problem with two hott guys hanging on your every move? Whenever they are in ten feet of each other a fight transpires. But there’s no time for jealousy and kissing (even though Scarlett can’t seem to stop); not when Konstantine is trying to kill her for her light—the power to melt the barriers between realms—a power Scarlett doesn’t know she posses.

Now, Scarlett has to hurry to uncover the past before it kills her.   

The Scarlett Lullaby is a twist off the classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty with underlining themes from Helen of Troy.

Want to see a little teaser?? Well, glad you asked!
Here is a little sample of part of the first chapter from Mason’s POV.

Inhaling deep, Mason’s mind swirled, voices buzzed, and scents trailed through his nose until he found the odor—decaying corpse, whisky and cigars—of his target. Upstairs in the VIP lounge Giovanni caroused with two blondes. The excitement and adrenaline thrashed through Mason. It’s go time.

He loved his job.

Mason turned to Leighton, but kept a keen eye on the rest of the place in case other vamps were patrolling the premise. “He’s upstairs, but not alone. Two blood–lovers, plus the entrance is guarded. ”

Black velvet ropes and a large bodyguard kept stragglers from sneaking into the VIP lounge. The only way to reach Giovanni was up the winding staircase. Leighton seemed to notice that too.

“What’s the plan, boss?”

With Mason’s height going unnoticed seemed nearly impossible. Why all assassins were over six feet tall was beyond him. It made sneaking around much harder. Except the females, who resembled runway models with their long legs and slim build.

Mason pressed his palm against the thick stone walls. They dated back fifty years or older, when the nightclub probably functioned as a office and not a place the undead dwelled. Nevertheless, the cracked foundation proved to be sturdy enough to travel through.

 “Pose as one of Giovanni’s blood banks,” Mason said, backing away from the wall. “The guard won’t let you in otherwise. I’ll meet you up in time to slice and dice.”

“Are you sure the walls can handle it?”

 “Yep,” Mason nodded. “Let the games begin.”

After Leighton sauntered toward the guard, Mason found the washroom. Luckily the stall against the wall was unoccupied. Mason tried to avoid molding at all costs—it sucked and took more energy than he cared to use. But he didn’t have time to fret, the clock was ticking. With his back against the cool concrete, he closed his eyes, and took a deep breath—allowing the process to begin.

The stone drew him in, wrapping around him like a fleece blanket. Concrete poured into his veins, filling each crevice blood touched. No longer human flesh, he and the rock become one. Pain seared throughout him. The first time Mason molded, he swore the process would kill him. Now it was like dipping a hand in ice then into bubbling wax. After awhile you only felt numbness.

And a little piece of Scarlett…

The eerie silence continues as Scarlett stares at the man in front of her. Anxious to find something—anything—to focus on, but molten silver takes the place of true human flesh. After six months, he has yet to fully materialize. Today his hair mimics the sun as it cast rays of light down upon the sand. She imagines his hair would be coarse and thick between her fingers.

 Grey shadows drip from his outline, exposing a creamy complexion. Scarlett’s eyes travel along his body and grab onto every crevice of his form. Finally they arrive at his face; those fierce iceberg eyes pour into hers, like she’s drowning in an ocean.  The tide snakes through and pulls deeper until she breathes nothing but him.

 Unable to resist, Scarlett steps forward and touches him—brightness bubbles through her desperate for an escape. She holds a hand in front of her face, mesmerized, as her palm burns golden. Slowly, brightness weaves into the air, tinged with lilac, indigo and ivory.

Scarlett swallows, instead of fear, she feels whole, as if a void inside of her is filled. She giggles and the pretty light buries beneath the surface, hiding like a gopher from his shadow.

 “Dance with me, skönhet.”

 He draws her attention back to him and a frown twitches at her eyebrows. Has he forgotten they are unable to touch? He glides close; his gaze never escapes hers. Those delicate eyes of his resemble frost melting off a windowpane in winter. Scarlett imagines his skin is like satin. Even the hairs on his arms are soft and thin, like the web of a spider.

 “You must believe,” he whispers, the closeness of his mouth teases her.

 She nods, knowing she believes each word he speaks to her. “I do.”

 The blurry image flickers as Scarlett holds out her hand. His grip is like thick glass. With one hand on her clothed hip, he hums—the melody sweeter than a nightingale’s song. He twirls Scarlett in; the wintry aura he releases sends her sinking again. His hand travels across her neck, into her hair and down her side as they dance.

“Where are you, skönhet?”  His voice hums, deep and familiar. She adores how he regards her as skönhet. Which she learned means, Beauty in Swedish. 

 “I’m here,” she whispers.

 His silvery head shakes, “No, skönhet. Don’t you want to be with me outside your dreams?”

 “More than anything in the entire world.”

 Her love for him steals her breath away and every moment they are apart Scarlett weakens. Pain wrenches through her as they dance because she realizes soon she’ll awaken, and he shall be nothing but a dream—a dream she wishes were real life.

 “I’ll find you soon. Min sovande skönhet,” he says. “I promise you,”

 Wishes fill her soul to one day feel his lips against hers. Praying she will be able to memorize what he looks like instead of a shadowy figure with a glass body.

 “Scarlett.”

 Her name repeats. Then a pull, and like a plunger to her soul, a force drags her away.

 That’s all for now folks.

If I don’t post again, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! 

I may not post again till after then, must get this book perfect!!

Ciao~

Angela

By Plumb

Music Monday: Monster by Skillet

Friday I completed my second round of revisions. I use the word second very loosely considering I went through and edited when I hit a wall. Still I have a lot of work to do—technical edits, line edits, and all that jazz before I find some critique partners to flush through it. But it’s coming along father nicely.

With my last book I learned a lot. My flaws were exposed, showing me everything I did wrong as a writer and I ultimately didn’t get the agent I wanted because of it. That won’t happen this time. Determination is a huge motivator and the mistakes I made in the past novel will not carry into this one. And more than anything I can’t wait to send her a query on this one and get another chance with her.

I’m taking huge leaps with this mss. Normally, I write contemporary, first-person young adult. This one is third-person, urban fantasy YA. And it was NOT easy, but through the struggles…especially in the beginning…I feel like I’ve really grown. Sometimes the best medicine is to go outside your comfort zone. As an actress I loved it, especially since I was usually type-casted as the comedic relief/dumb blonde. I relished the chance to do something different, darker. That’s why I love writing dark because I’m completely the opposite. Still it hits a part of my soul that is only exposed with ink and paper.

Anyways, I’m really anxious to finish editing, because I have a great feeling about my mss, THE SCARLETT LULLABY. But with the end of this round comes countless others, plus query letter writing and synopsis (gag!).

Any advice on writing a query for a story that has multiple POVs????

Quote from my WIP, THE SCARLETT LULLABY

Love’s transient, like a cherry blossom—beautiful, delicate but quick in death. Just like life.

Arrivederci
Angela

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it’s a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy’s car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend’s attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players’ girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won’t get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don’t count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

The greatest love story ever told is a lie.

Juliet Capulet didn’t take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn’t anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light.

For 700 years, she’s fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she’s forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot

Katie Ellison is not a liar. It’s just that telling the truth is so . . . tricky. She knows she shouldn’t be making out with a drama club hottie behind her football-player boyfriend’s back. She should probably admit that she can’t stand eating quahogs (clams), especially since she’s running for Quahog Princess in her hometown’s annual Quahog Festival. And it would be a relief to finally tell someone what really happened the night Tommy Sullivan is a freak was spray-painted on the new wall outside the junior high school gymnasium—in neon orange, which still hasn’t been sandblasted off. After all, everyone knows that’s what drove Tommy out of town four years ago.

But now Tommy Sullivan has come back. Katie is sure he’s out for revenge, and she’ll do anything to hang on to her perfect (if slightly dishonest) existence. Even if it means telling more lies than ever. Even if, now that Tommy’s around, she’s actually—no lie—having the time of her life.

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. Each day she goes to school like a normal teenager, and each night she must swim, or the pain will be unbearable. She is a siren – a deadly mermaid destined to lure men to their watery deaths. After a terrible tragedy, Lexi shut herself off from the world, vowing to protect the ones she loves.

But she soon finds herself caught between a new boy at school who may have the power to melt her icy exterior, and a handsome water spirit who says he can break Lexi’s curse if she gives up everything else. Lexi is faced with the hardest decision she’s ever had to make: the life she’s always longed for – or the love she can’t live without?

***

I JUST finished Shut Out and it was flipping awesome. I’m about to dive into Getting Caught by Cyn Balog and Mandy Hubbard.

What have you been reading??? I urge you to post about it as well and tag me!

Ciao~

Angela

Awake and Alive by Skillet

In reading news, I’ve downed almost 8 books in three weeks. I think that’s a record for me. But you know what they say, you write best when you’re reading. 

Currently reading:
Forbidden Boy by Hailey Abbott 

So far I’ve completed:
Angel Burn by L.A Weatherly
Ripple by Mandy Hubbard
Airhead by Meg Cabot
Being Nikki by Meg Cabot
Runaway by Meg Cabot
Overbite by Meg Cabot
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire 

On my list to read after that is:
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
But I Love Him by Amanda Grace 

I MUST finish Forbidden Boy tonight because SUPERNATURALLY comes out tomorrow! YES after waiting so long, after Mrs. White tormented us with blogs and tweets and FB posts about this AMAZING book, it is finally going to be released! You know that means? Everyone has to go out and by it tomorrow.

Anyways, I devoured RIPPLE in just two days. It was beautiful. Mandy’s writing is like poetry and so vivid, I couldn’t put it down.

As always, Meg Cabot’s books are addicting. But recently, I’ve been diving into new authors. I have so much on my list to read.  Any suggestions?

<3 Angela

Anyways, this is not about me, it’s about her and her book RIPPLE.

Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. Each day she goes to school like a normal teenager, and each night she must swim, or the pain will be unbearable. She is a siren – a deadly mermaid destined to lure men to their watery deaths. After a terrible tragedy, Lexi shut herself off from the world, vowing to protect the ones she loves. But she soon finds herself caught between a new boy at school who may have the power to melt her icy exterior, and a handsome water spirit who says he can break Lexi’s curse if she gives up everything else. Lexi is faced with the hardest decision she’s ever had to make: the life she’s always longed for – or the love she can’t live without?

Sounds amazing, right? I know.

So, what now after hearing how awesome this book sounds? You go out and buy it of course! Available at book stores and online, so if you don’t want to go head over to your local B&N online and have it shipped to your front door.

You definitely want to read this book. Support Mandy Hubbard because she rocks.

Oh, and while you’re there check out her other books: Prada & Prejudice, But I Love Him, and You Wish.