I thought I could take a moment to talk about my Women's Fiction novel, Against the Grain.
First, I would like to thank all of the people who so graciously offered to be Beta Readers for me, you are appreciated more than you can ever know. Writing is so all consuming, and you can find yourself so close to the project that objective minds are needed to get some real perspective. 
Now, I wanted to talk about the story a bit, because Against the Grain isn't your typical Women's Fiction or Chick Lit book. Many books in those genres tend to focus on 'finding the right guy'. And although those books have merit, and I read them too, they aren't the sort of stories I tell, and certainly nothing like this particular story. I mean 'awkward misfit girl finds awesome handsome guy and miraculously her life changes as his love shapes and fulfills her' has been done to death.
We see it in movies and books all the time. High powered corporate exec quits her job and opens a daycare thus becoming more soft and womanly and attracts the village Doctor, finding love because she changes everything she is. Or Bad Girl rebel falls for good guy surgeon, changes all the things that define her and his love saves her from herself.
You see where I am going. It always seems to me that these women don't love themselves for who they are, they feel they have to change, fit in to some very subjective mould to please the world and the man of their dreams.
But I don't think that is really love. I think love is more about acceptance, accepting and loving people for who they are, not who you envision they could be. And I don't think finding the right guy saves us; I think finding ourselves does.
This book is for the quirky girls, the misfits, the girls that struggle with the 'nice girl' mould. The girls who make mistakes, who get emotionally confused, and drink too much wine. The girls beat down by our double standard world, the girls who just aren't everyone's cup of tea.
They will tell you that you have to change everything you are and conform to societies questionable norms to have value. I am here to tell you that you already have value. Don't change a thing.
I will leave you with the last line I wrote for this book.
"Life is a series of beats. Each beat building on the one immediately preceding it. These beats tell the story of our journey, and this is mine. And although none of this is earth shattering or will change the world,  it will change mine."

Cheers!
Carey

So, this is unrelated to any of my pieces, but since there are a lot of music fans out there, and I am a well known music fan, I thought it would be fun to share my progress as I work through my breakup with my favorite band Sixx:AM. Why would I break up with a band that I consider my favorite? Good question.

I discovered Sixx:AM around eight years ago when they played my city at Crue Fest. I immediately fell in love with the music, and I avidly enthused about them at any given opportunity. It was my dream to see them play live again, and hopefully meet the band someday. For eight years I waited, and finally they came to my city! I was over the moon, and I immediately secured tickets and the VIP Meet & Greet package. I mean, I was so excited that everyone who knew me was excited for me as well.

The package was $500, it included sound check access, a meet & greet, a Q&A session, a personal picture with the band, an autographed set list and more. This is like a trip to heaven for someone like me, it was completely worth the money. I had waited, like I said eight excruciatingly long years.

What I got instead was a canvas bag with a poster, some guitar picks and the same damn CD I bought the day it came out (of which every lyric and note was committed to memory) and a thirty second picture with the guys that I was advised to be quick with. I was in the same room as the band for less than five minutes. I was told that if I hung along the side wall watching the other pictures I would upset the band. so I was escorted out.

No sound check, no Q&A, no meet & greet, and no autographed set list. And no explanation.  In fact, people that had brought personal items to be autographed were instructed to turn the items in when we arrived and the band would sign them at a separate location. They would be returned to them at the doors. I don't even know if the band signed them at all.

Now, I loved Sixx:AM, LOVED them, but I have very strong feelings about being taken advantage of. And I have another very real problem with people who falsely advertise, and take your money without fulfilling their end. So I broke up with them, I don't like fake people, and I don't support bands that don't appreciate their fans. Without us, they would be nothing.

I lodged a complaint with the promotional company that sells the VIP tickets, and I also wrote a heartfelt message to the band which I sent to them via Facebook Messenger. The advertising, and the links to buy the package were on the band's own website.  Maybe the band doesn't even know what their website advertises, but they should. They are grown men, and Nikki was smart enough to drive Motley Crue for all those years. Maybe they just expect us to be happy they showed up for pictures at all, but for $500 I expected what they sold me. Clearly I have not received a response, I don't really expect one. I am sure they don't care about one less fan.

Breaking up with your favorite band can be as painful as breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend. So, I am documenting my breakup with Sixx:AM on my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Feel free to follow, and if you have been taken advantage of by a band, post it, tell me. Don't take it quietly. They are not Gods no matter what they choose to believe.  Integrity is everything. They get away with things like this because we allow them to. They broke my heart, and crushed my dream. They didn't even ask my name.

But, I got a $500 picture. Or was that $100 a minute.....

Okay, So I sent Evermore: They Rylakian Heir off to Charlesbridge books, I still have another couple of months until I can expect a response, but I am keeping my fingers crossed. Still working on the next book, but I want to thank all of you who have been asking for more on it. Especially those of you who have read the first few pages, and have sent such encouraging remarks.

Really hoping that they take a close look at it.
Also, I have finally completed It's Complicated! It has undergone a name change, at the moment we are calling it Happily Ever Me. Again, thanks to everyone who has been pre-reading the piece, your comments and feedback are incredibly important to me. Now I have the fun of trying to find an agent willing to represent such an unconventional book. I have noticed lately that books in the 'chick lit' genre are usually all about how 'the right man will save you', 'the right guy will help you erase your flaws and fix your life'. Yeah, I don't write those sorts of books. I think that sometimes the things that we consider to be our flaws, are what makes us unique. And beautiful. I don't write books about needing to be saved. I write books about  being you. So, this could be challenging. But I am fairly confident from the feedback this piece is getting, that I will find a home for it.

As for Worlds Collide...still editing. Have I mentioned how much I dislike this process? Lol. But I know that it will make the story stronger.

So hold some good thoughts for me!

Carey

Wow, time flies! Okay, still working on It's Complicated, I would say I am about half way through, maybe a bit more. I have to say, it is one of the most satisfying , yet hardest pieces I have ever written. That being said, I am really enjoying it, it can feel so daunting one moment, yet when I get a piece out, and it is as honest as it gets...that's where the satisfaction comes out. So, for those of you that have been reading pieces for me as I finish them...thank you! Your help and feedback is incredibly appreciated.

Now, I have been doing some editing on World's Collide, so that has been fun. I always enjoy reaching in to Evan's mind. I suppose I have always liked girls that weren't afraid to kick butt.

And a gentleman who enjoyed The Rylakian Heir, asked me to email him the bits that I had completed for the second book in the series, The secrets in Sarrillia, which I did, so hopefully he likes them. In the second book we are dealing with the fallout of Rosalyn's attempts on Snow's life, Cinderella's commitment issues and the impending racial war. Much of the book will take place in Sarrillia as the friends seek out the dreaded trickster, and maybe we will even find out what happened to the Sarrillain  royal family and their court which disappeared over one hundred years ago.

I guess this makes me pretty busy...
Thanks for all the support!

Carey

So, a lot of time has gone by since I last posted anything. And, a lot has happened since my last post, I have had another baby, a beautiful daughter born in mid September, and I have finally completed Dark Angel, formerly entitled Child of Darkness. I have decided to try a different method of publishing this time...traditional publishing. So that means I am embarking on the wonderful madness of "Querying" , perhaps some people like this, but I find it nerve racking. 

If anyone reading this post can think of an agent that might find my work to be a good fit, feel free to let me know. I am having such a great time with the characters, and the direction the plot in Dark Angel has taken me, that I am unsure whether to work on the sequel, finish Secrets, or work with It's complicated.... maybe all three? I just wish there were more hours in a day, if I could, I would write eight or more hours a day, every day.  Oh, and also, I have updated the little blurb about Dark Angel.


 Dark Angel is the story of Holly Vanrite, an eighteen year old demon hunter, on a mission to rescue her mother, Lilith the Immortal. She has erased herself from mainstream society, and vanished in to the night. She now roams the North American west coast, following rumors and interrogating lower level demons, armed only with her mother's ancient athame, and a whole lot of attitude. With the help of Adrian the Angel, Chester the Demon and Dionysus, she uncovers a supernatural plot, that if not stopped, could plunge the Gods in to war, and devastate the Earth in the process.


I thought it better explained the story. Now, Hope, Hope, Hope that one of the agents I query asks to read the completed manuscript. I will keep you all posted!
Keep Reading!
Carey
 

So, as promised, I have been working on the sequel to The Rylakian Heir, and I have a few pages that I am going to post. Now, it is a first draft, and completely unedited so.... But I am kind of on a roll, so hopefully the book will come along quite quickly. The editing...that's a completely other story. I hate editing. And more importantly...I am terrible. I constantly auto correct in my head.

But here are the first 15 pages, I hope you enjoy them. Feel free to let me know what you think, I value all input.

Caroline

So, I have been looking over a few different sites that Evermore: The Rylakian Heir is sold/downloaded from, and I noticed quite a few reviews and comments that I had not even known about. The most frequently asked question is "When will the sequel be out."
Well. I am working on it. And from the comments that I have read, I should hurry up. Haha. So, as the title implies, much of the action takes place in the land of Sarrillia. Those that have read The Rylakian Heir, are familiar with that Kingdom, or should I say "Republic", as the Sarrillian royal family disappeared mysteriously over one hundred years ago. Also, we know that the dark and terrifying "Trickster" originated in Sarrillia, as well as the elixir that saved Manuel's life. Sarrillia is a republic, ran by an elected official, that borders Lonstas to the north.
I can tell you that the sequel takes up exactly where the last book left off.At the exact moment that Snow White opens her eyes, after Prince Charming's famous kiss. I will be posting a bit of it on this site, but right now I have about 10,000 words or so, and it is all a bit patchy. So as soon as I can make it flow a bit better, I promise to post it. I have it all pretty much mapped out, and I know how it all plays out, so I promise to start devoting more time to this one.
Someone posted a question asking who would win in a fair fight, Manuel or Mercury...all I can say is that is an idea that I am sure we will be visiting in this next book.

Thanks,
Caroline