Lisa Akers's Blog - Posts Tagged "coming-of-age"
Guest Post on Literary Meanderings by L.L. Akers
What kind of book is Let Me Go?
Let Me Go is my debut book into the world of writing, and Book 1 of The Let Me Go Series. Many people have asked me what genre it is, and the truth is… I don’t know. The first book falls into so many areas, crossing from Suspense to Coming of Age, to New Adult and Women’s Fiction, with a dab of fantasy and even a pinch of mystery braided throughout the story.
My intention when I starting writing Let Me Go was just to write a New Adult novel. I soon realized my version of New Adult was very different than many out there on the market—parts of it are a little dark. No boxers, rock stars or rich kids carrying iPhones and iPad’s attending fancy colleges and driving fast cars; but I couldn’t change my story… it is what it is, and it was almost writing itself.
My story does fit Wiki’s description: fiction with protagonists in the 18-25 age bracket… a sort of an ‘older YA’ or ‘New Adult.’ But Let Me Go looks at another side of New Adult; the side where kids didn’t grow up with nice clothes, braces, allowances… expecting to go to college. Instead, my characters were just happy to get out of the house, away from the drama of their childhood—as fast as they could—thinking that was the answer to all their problems.
H.M. Ward, the #1 bestselling New Adult author in the world, perfectly described the New Adult genre (at least as it applies in my book), this past week, in a comment on a writer’s board that I frequently pop in and out of:
“New Adult isn’t about age, although the characters tend to be early 20’s. Themes tend to revolve around getting acquainted with life, addressing darker subject matter of death, rape, abuse, etc. It’s not about sex, either. It’s about getting the rose-colored glasses of childhood bitchslapped off your face by the phenomenon known as life,” H.M. Ward.
She nailed it.
If you’ve read Let Me Go, you’ll understand why I concur.
http://www.literaryme.net/2013/09/tou...
Let Me Go is my debut book into the world of writing, and Book 1 of The Let Me Go Series. Many people have asked me what genre it is, and the truth is… I don’t know. The first book falls into so many areas, crossing from Suspense to Coming of Age, to New Adult and Women’s Fiction, with a dab of fantasy and even a pinch of mystery braided throughout the story.
My intention when I starting writing Let Me Go was just to write a New Adult novel. I soon realized my version of New Adult was very different than many out there on the market—parts of it are a little dark. No boxers, rock stars or rich kids carrying iPhones and iPad’s attending fancy colleges and driving fast cars; but I couldn’t change my story… it is what it is, and it was almost writing itself.
My story does fit Wiki’s description: fiction with protagonists in the 18-25 age bracket… a sort of an ‘older YA’ or ‘New Adult.’ But Let Me Go looks at another side of New Adult; the side where kids didn’t grow up with nice clothes, braces, allowances… expecting to go to college. Instead, my characters were just happy to get out of the house, away from the drama of their childhood—as fast as they could—thinking that was the answer to all their problems.
H.M. Ward, the #1 bestselling New Adult author in the world, perfectly described the New Adult genre (at least as it applies in my book), this past week, in a comment on a writer’s board that I frequently pop in and out of:
“New Adult isn’t about age, although the characters tend to be early 20’s. Themes tend to revolve around getting acquainted with life, addressing darker subject matter of death, rape, abuse, etc. It’s not about sex, either. It’s about getting the rose-colored glasses of childhood bitchslapped off your face by the phenomenon known as life,” H.M. Ward.
She nailed it.
If you’ve read Let Me Go, you’ll understand why I concur.
http://www.literaryme.net/2013/09/tou...
3/5 Stars from Bibliophile Kid
"But its real, the problems and difficulties that they've felt truly happens in real life. I don't want to spoil anything from that part, okay? I can't go on deeper than that, you just need to read this mysterious book.
Next, just look at the cover, the two girls suddenly hypnotized just by looking at those dragonflies. That's the thing that I felt that there is something more that definitey happened to them from that point.
As for their mother, she's a bit blinded with love actually. She always feels that the man who surrounds her everytime can fall in love and be honest with her. But she's wrong, that's how I see it. But as Gabby and Olivia restrained from it, I see their love for their mother and it is wonderful.
Let Me Go is a novel full of sadness, abuse and tragedy, yet it displays a large amount of courage and bravery to face all of it to overcome and to be free with all of it."
Read entire post at:
http://bibliophilekid.blogspot.com
Next, just look at the cover, the two girls suddenly hypnotized just by looking at those dragonflies. That's the thing that I felt that there is something more that definitey happened to them from that point.
As for their mother, she's a bit blinded with love actually. She always feels that the man who surrounds her everytime can fall in love and be honest with her. But she's wrong, that's how I see it. But as Gabby and Olivia restrained from it, I see their love for their mother and it is wonderful.
Let Me Go is a novel full of sadness, abuse and tragedy, yet it displays a large amount of courage and bravery to face all of it to overcome and to be free with all of it."
Read entire post at:
http://bibliophilekid.blogspot.com
Interview with Authors To Watch!
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Interview with L.L. Akers
Today, we're visiting with L.L. Akers. She's here to talk to us about her New Adult novel, Let Me Go...
Tricia: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
L.L: I left my career in human resources to provide at-home care for my bed-bound mother-in-law. After she passed, I didn’t want to go back into the business, and I LOVE books… so I took a job as a proofreader with a small publishing firm. After working on over a dozen books, I found I had talent in content/development editing. I opened my own free-lance business to pursue that talent.
Tricia: When did you begin writing?
L.L.: When I found myself trying to re-write entire paragraphs and chapters of other stories I was working on, I decided there was a story in me too… it had to come out.
Tricia: Describe your writing process. Do you plot or write by the seat of your pants? When and where do you write?
L.L.: I write it as it comes with no outline or synopsis. I let the characters do the talking and I just type what they tell me… at home in my office, on the back porch or at night in the garage.
Tricia: Can you tell us about your most recent release?
L.L.: My most recent and only release is my debut novel, Let Me Go.
Tricia: How did you get the idea for the book?
L.L.: Parts of the book are inspired by a true story; other fictitious parts are woven in for suspense and/or story-building.
Tricia: What would you like to tell us about your book or your writing that someone wouldn’t discover during a casual review of your blurb or website?
L.L.: Although Let Me Go is New Adult, there is a thread of suspense woven throughout the book that is not typically found in most New Adult novels. It is a small thread, but packs a heavy punch. The reader wants to find out who is in the box? It winds up with a twist and a happy ending. I think maybe my story doesn’t fit just one category—it could slide into many more, including coming-of-age, women’s fiction, family-saga, and suspense.
In addition, there is a very moving story—within the story—about adoption. I have yet to have one person read my book who did not say they were moved to tears by that chapter. And yes, that part of the book is inspired by a true story. That part of the book is not fiction, although I have changed the names to protect the innocent (and not-so-innocent).
Tricia: What is your primary goal as an author?
L.L.: I just want to write. Even if no one reads it, my goal has been met by writing it. I’m feeding the little monster in my head what it’s asking for.
Tricia: Which authors have inspired your writing?
L.L.: Although my writing style is not even similar, the authors Kathryn Stockett, Diana Gabaldon, and Stephen King have all written books that inspire me because of the emotions they are able to invoke through the pages of their books.
Tricia: What projects are you currently working on?
L.L.: The second Let Me Go novel, Captured Again.
You can connect with L.L. Akers at the following links:
https://www.amazon.com/author/llakers
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLLAkers
Email: contactllakers@gmail.com
You can get find Let Me Go at Amazon, Kobo, B&N, and Apple.
Interview from http://www.authorstowatch.com
Interview with L.L. Akers
Today, we're visiting with L.L. Akers. She's here to talk to us about her New Adult novel, Let Me Go...
Tricia: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
L.L: I left my career in human resources to provide at-home care for my bed-bound mother-in-law. After she passed, I didn’t want to go back into the business, and I LOVE books… so I took a job as a proofreader with a small publishing firm. After working on over a dozen books, I found I had talent in content/development editing. I opened my own free-lance business to pursue that talent.
Tricia: When did you begin writing?
L.L.: When I found myself trying to re-write entire paragraphs and chapters of other stories I was working on, I decided there was a story in me too… it had to come out.
Tricia: Describe your writing process. Do you plot or write by the seat of your pants? When and where do you write?
L.L.: I write it as it comes with no outline or synopsis. I let the characters do the talking and I just type what they tell me… at home in my office, on the back porch or at night in the garage.
Tricia: Can you tell us about your most recent release?
L.L.: My most recent and only release is my debut novel, Let Me Go.
Tricia: How did you get the idea for the book?
L.L.: Parts of the book are inspired by a true story; other fictitious parts are woven in for suspense and/or story-building.
Tricia: What would you like to tell us about your book or your writing that someone wouldn’t discover during a casual review of your blurb or website?
L.L.: Although Let Me Go is New Adult, there is a thread of suspense woven throughout the book that is not typically found in most New Adult novels. It is a small thread, but packs a heavy punch. The reader wants to find out who is in the box? It winds up with a twist and a happy ending. I think maybe my story doesn’t fit just one category—it could slide into many more, including coming-of-age, women’s fiction, family-saga, and suspense.
In addition, there is a very moving story—within the story—about adoption. I have yet to have one person read my book who did not say they were moved to tears by that chapter. And yes, that part of the book is inspired by a true story. That part of the book is not fiction, although I have changed the names to protect the innocent (and not-so-innocent).
Tricia: What is your primary goal as an author?
L.L.: I just want to write. Even if no one reads it, my goal has been met by writing it. I’m feeding the little monster in my head what it’s asking for.
Tricia: Which authors have inspired your writing?
L.L.: Although my writing style is not even similar, the authors Kathryn Stockett, Diana Gabaldon, and Stephen King have all written books that inspire me because of the emotions they are able to invoke through the pages of their books.
Tricia: What projects are you currently working on?
L.L.: The second Let Me Go novel, Captured Again.
You can connect with L.L. Akers at the following links:
https://www.amazon.com/author/llakers
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLLAkers
Email: contactllakers@gmail.com
You can get find Let Me Go at Amazon, Kobo, B&N, and Apple.
Interview from http://www.authorstowatch.com
Waiting on the other shoe to drop...
What am I rambling on about? I seriously am waiting on the other shoe to drop. I just finished up a blog tour, in which close to 20 bloggers either interviewed me, posted excerpts, or read & reviewed my book on their blogs. A few went on to post their reviews on Amazon/GoodReads (a HUGE thanks to those that did!) and I received a really big push in social exposure because of these bloggers and the tour host on Twitter, Facebook, and GoodReads. All good stuff, but...
Here's where the other shoe comes in: during the first 10 days of the tour I only sold two copies of my book, even with the sale price. Pitiful... but actually, that's pretty typical. The tour is not for sales, it's for exposure. I'm an unknown writer with a debut book. No and slow sales are expected. But all of a sudden, within 36 hours almost two dozen copies were purchased! Out of the blue... cannot find who/where/why. I couldn't find the book advertised on any BookBub, pixel-ink, BookGorilla or even on the 'also boughts.' This is unusual and unexplainable.
Now, for an established author, two dozen books in just over a day is nothing--they'd giggle at that. Many indie-authors I know sell hundreds upon hundreds of their e-books everyday. But MY book? That's a big deal. The weird thing is Amazon doesn't even show my book. Since I haven't qualified for a paid ad yet (due to number of reviews needed), I haven't had exposure anywhere on Amazon. Right now (and maybe forever), they only show you my book IF you know the name of it and specifically type Let Me Go into the search bar. Which means no (or slow) sales until I get the reviews--yeah, I know... chicken or the egg concept there, go figure.
Anyhoo... so I'm wondering, in the middle of all this hoopla going on all around us, who bought these books... and why?
p.s. if the other shoe is about to drop, please let it be a Jimmy Choo Shoe! That's the closest I'll ever be able to come to saying I own a pair; later on, when Book 2: Captured Again, comes out, maybe someone will drop the match to it. Size 7 1/2 (okay... an 8, but only because my feet swell)
Here's where the other shoe comes in: during the first 10 days of the tour I only sold two copies of my book, even with the sale price. Pitiful... but actually, that's pretty typical. The tour is not for sales, it's for exposure. I'm an unknown writer with a debut book. No and slow sales are expected. But all of a sudden, within 36 hours almost two dozen copies were purchased! Out of the blue... cannot find who/where/why. I couldn't find the book advertised on any BookBub, pixel-ink, BookGorilla or even on the 'also boughts.' This is unusual and unexplainable.
Now, for an established author, two dozen books in just over a day is nothing--they'd giggle at that. Many indie-authors I know sell hundreds upon hundreds of their e-books everyday. But MY book? That's a big deal. The weird thing is Amazon doesn't even show my book. Since I haven't qualified for a paid ad yet (due to number of reviews needed), I haven't had exposure anywhere on Amazon. Right now (and maybe forever), they only show you my book IF you know the name of it and specifically type Let Me Go into the search bar. Which means no (or slow) sales until I get the reviews--yeah, I know... chicken or the egg concept there, go figure.
Anyhoo... so I'm wondering, in the middle of all this hoopla going on all around us, who bought these books... and why?
p.s. if the other shoe is about to drop, please let it be a Jimmy Choo Shoe! That's the closest I'll ever be able to come to saying I own a pair; later on, when Book 2: Captured Again, comes out, maybe someone will drop the match to it. Size 7 1/2 (okay... an 8, but only because my feet swell)
Humbled by this blogger's review for Let Me Go.
"...On the flip side, this was breathtakingly beautiful. I don’t want to go to deep into it because I don’t want to give spoilers, but it was. As hard of a subject as this is to write about, L.L. Akers did an amazing job."
...
"Amazing book. I kept turning the pages, who was the girl in the box. Which of these women? Who put them in the box? Do they make it out of the box in time? I finished this in just a couple of hours (272 pages), I couldn’t put it down. I had to find out. I wanted to see if any of them finally stood up and said I don’t deserve this, I am more valuable then this, THIS IS NOT MY FAULT!
Amazing author. I cannot wait for the next book in the Letting Go series. Do not miss this one..."
Read the full review @ http://digiscrapping.net/blog/2013/12...
...
"Amazing book. I kept turning the pages, who was the girl in the box. Which of these women? Who put them in the box? Do they make it out of the box in time? I finished this in just a couple of hours (272 pages), I couldn’t put it down. I had to find out. I wanted to see if any of them finally stood up and said I don’t deserve this, I am more valuable then this, THIS IS NOT MY FAULT!
Amazing author. I cannot wait for the next book in the Letting Go series. Do not miss this one..."
Read the full review @ http://digiscrapping.net/blog/2013/12...
Tens List!
If you were stranded on an island, name 10 CELEBRITY people you would want with you?
I must preface my list by saying I am not choosing my hubby and boys because I’m stranded—so I’m truly making the ultimate sacrifice here—so if I have to suffer to infinity+ on the d*mned island, here’s who I choose to join my suffering:
1) Brad Pitt – need I say more?
2) Charlie Hunnam (Jax Teller from Sons of Anarchy), just in case I get tired of Brad or don’t like his pouty attitude.
3) Oprah Winfrey, because I want to see her a little mussed up and not so pampered. What does that doo look like without her hair team? How about no make-up, Oprah? And God forbid we take away ‘her favorite things,’ and *gasp* her bff Gayle King! So… Oprah’s my entertainment.
4) Sandra Bullock. We’re close to the same age and I genuinely like her. She’s got class and heart. I think we could totally be chatty. I’d love to get the scoop on her sexy, tattoo-sleeved, cheating ex-hubby.
5) Bear Gryllis, from Man vs. Wild. Gotta eat. Gotta survive. At least I can choose a hot survivorman to help feed and shelter me.
6) Ellen DeGeneres. She makes me laugh. Plus she’s older than me so she’ll make me look less like a cougar to #1 and #2 (or at least better than her), and I think she’d do well stranded on an island, less likely to whine than others.
7) Jeff Probst, the host of Survivor, only so I can finally tear that blue shirt off his back and see him get dirty... I’m so tired of the same old shirt!
8) Stephen King. Maybe he would divulge his secrets, and tell me creepy stories to ward off the boredom.
9) Natalie Portman, the Black Swan leading actress. She’s smart. She’s been published twice in scientific journals, holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and speaks six languages. Hopefully she can figure out a way to write a note and we’ll have more of a chance of it being read depending on which it way floats if it’s repeated in six languages. Plus she can act. More entertainment.
10) And last but not least, Morgan Freeman. I just like to hear him talk; it calms me.
Check out this blog: http://lauries-interviews.blogspot.co...
I must preface my list by saying I am not choosing my hubby and boys because I’m stranded—so I’m truly making the ultimate sacrifice here—so if I have to suffer to infinity+ on the d*mned island, here’s who I choose to join my suffering:
1) Brad Pitt – need I say more?
2) Charlie Hunnam (Jax Teller from Sons of Anarchy), just in case I get tired of Brad or don’t like his pouty attitude.
3) Oprah Winfrey, because I want to see her a little mussed up and not so pampered. What does that doo look like without her hair team? How about no make-up, Oprah? And God forbid we take away ‘her favorite things,’ and *gasp* her bff Gayle King! So… Oprah’s my entertainment.
4) Sandra Bullock. We’re close to the same age and I genuinely like her. She’s got class and heart. I think we could totally be chatty. I’d love to get the scoop on her sexy, tattoo-sleeved, cheating ex-hubby.
5) Bear Gryllis, from Man vs. Wild. Gotta eat. Gotta survive. At least I can choose a hot survivorman to help feed and shelter me.
6) Ellen DeGeneres. She makes me laugh. Plus she’s older than me so she’ll make me look less like a cougar to #1 and #2 (or at least better than her), and I think she’d do well stranded on an island, less likely to whine than others.
7) Jeff Probst, the host of Survivor, only so I can finally tear that blue shirt off his back and see him get dirty... I’m so tired of the same old shirt!
8) Stephen King. Maybe he would divulge his secrets, and tell me creepy stories to ward off the boredom.
9) Natalie Portman, the Black Swan leading actress. She’s smart. She’s been published twice in scientific journals, holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and speaks six languages. Hopefully she can figure out a way to write a note and we’ll have more of a chance of it being read depending on which it way floats if it’s repeated in six languages. Plus she can act. More entertainment.
10) And last but not least, Morgan Freeman. I just like to hear him talk; it calms me.
Check out this blog: http://lauries-interviews.blogspot.co...
My Goofy Random Act of Kindness - 03.11.14
Today I decided it was time for a random act of kindness. Sounds like I'm a really good person, right? eh...not so much. It's actually a very selfish act. I love seeing people's faces when you perform a RAK. It's like a drug to me. Makes me feel euphoric for the entire rest of the day. *shrug* Maybe I'm just weird.
So anyhoo... my RAK today involved wacky flowers. I went to Wal-Mart (yes, if you read my FB, you know I shouldn't go there, but I behaved today). And I went in the first door and looked around... saw no flowers, so walked across the front of the store in front of the registers to the other door—I swear I remember the fresh flowers being just inside the door in the few times I ever go to Wal-Mart. I ask the girl sitting vigil at the doors, "Where's the fresh flowers?" She laughed and said, they're at the other door (obviously she knew I had to walk right past them, as that was the only other door into the store from which side I came)... so I walked back to the other door. Still... no flowers. Wtf? So I asked the woman sitting vigil at that door--btw, this woman is in a wheelchair and facing the store, not the door, like the other lady... so they're not greeters. What are they? Goodbyers? Surely, they're not there to catch thieves? I mean, I'm all for equal opportunity, but wouldn't someone who could get around a little easier be better suited for that job? Thieves can be a rough bunch, yeah?
So I ask Goodbyer #2, "Where are the fresh flowers? The girl at the other door said they were at this door." She laughed and said, "Right there! You've walked past them twice."
There they were, in plain freakin' sight. I don't know what's wrong with my brain lately. I think back to the drive on the way there, and I had said to myself, "Damn... you gotta get out more." I felt like I had forgotten how to drive...no, really. I shit you not. At every light I was stopping for green and people were honking horns at me. So I had to keep reminding myself to stop for red before I got killed. I made a little rhyme: Red Means Dead. Actually, that's what my hubby tells me to remember about my gun safety button. But I just couldn't think clearly today out in the big open world. See, I rarely leave the house. And if I do, it's usually with hubby driving. For no particular reason I’ve become somewhat a recluse…especially in Winter—I hate winter. But today I needed to drop off some papers to the attorney's office. And it's like 70 degrees out there and sunny. So I think I'm in a fog.
I grab two bunches of flowers. These are too cool: Dyed Daisies. Blue, green, orange, red... an explosion of color. I dig 'em. I pay for the flowers and then notice this store has a McDonald's! I love me some Sweet Tea. So I treat myself to a tea. Our conversation goes like this:
I tell the cashier, "One large sweet tea, please," and hand her $1.09 exactly.
She takes the money and says, "Would you like ice today?" as she slides me the cup (it's fix your own at this store).
Hmm, that’s a weird question, but I answer, "Yeah, I would. Isn't it still over there with the tea?"
Looking confused, she says, "I don't know what you mean."
I look at her like she's an idiot and say, "Usually, the ice is with the drinks. Has that changed?"
Then she looks at me like I'm an idiot and says no.
"Then why did you ask me if I wanted ice today?"
"I didn't. I said I hope you have a nice day."
Facepalm.
"Oh! You too!" I cheerily reply with very red face. I’m not admitting this to my hubby and sons. They swear all the time they think I’m losing my hearing and I tell them they mumble… so let’s keep this to ourselves. They don’t Tumblr, FB or tweet… so this is our secret.
I hurry over and fill up my cup with ice and tea, put a lid on it, and reach for the straws—empty. There is a cardboard sign in the straw box that says, “Sorry, we are out of straws today.” I’m like, WTF? Seriously? I CANNOT drink without a straw. I really just can’t. It’s one of my idiosyncrasies, one of my quirks, one of my pet peeves…I. Can’t. Do. It. Can you imagine how many fingers have touched these cups?! So I head back to the girl up front and say, “Ummm, are you sure you don’t have any straws? Maybe just one back there with your shake thing machine?”
She shakes her head no.
Son of a Dick! I can’t believe this. Already my RAK is off to a bad start.
So I trudge all the way out to my car and get in, throwing the flowers to the other seat and do another facepalm. I. was. In. Wal-Mart. Duh! They sell straws. Oh well, not going back. Too long to walk and all that. I pull the bendy straw from an old Mello Yellow can in the back seat cup holder and open the window and blow real hard through it, just in case... and I make due—yeah, I know. I’m disgusting. At least I know it's my germs on that straw, though.
Off I go to perform my random act of kindness! I figure I’ll find someone on the road, in a parking lot, somewhere on the way to the attorney’s office. (I plan to give one bouquet to the lady who’s been helping with this legal thing who got a little grumpy with me yesterday.)
First person I see is an old woman walking down the street with a mean, unhappy look on her face. She’s African American (or is it Black? I have friends who confuse me because they use different terms for themselves). Anyway, she’s not dressed very nice at all, and I’m being nice about that. She looks tired. And sad. So I jerk into the ice cream parking lot next to the sidewalk she’s walking on and jump out with one of my wacky-colored daisy bunches and say, “Hey, excuse me!” She stops walking and turns around. I run up to her and hold out the flowers. “I’d like you to have these,” I say.
She steps back and holds her hand up. “Why?! Who are you?”
“I’m nobody. I just saw you walking and you looked unhappy. I wanted to brighten your day,” I explain and smile and reach toward her with the bunch of flowers.
“Help!” she screams and starts backing away. She gets about five feet away while my heart starts beating triple time and I’m just standing there with my mouth open and hand out, then she turns and runs. This old woman could trot too.
Soooo embarrassing! I run back to my car and jump in and take off the other way, hoping she doesn’t find a police officer to flag down. In my car, which is suspicious in itself (a white Hummer with tinted windows and a peace sign on the front tag), I have two bunches of wacky dyed flowers, in addition to a red-tattooed .380 pistol, 3 magazines full with extra ammo, a .32 revolver—loaded, with an extra box of ammo with that. If a cop pulled me to ask me questions, the combination of flowers and guns and approaching strangers might look bad for me. I take that back. It. Would. Look. Bad.
So forget it… I’m going straight to the attorney’s office. I decide to take both bunches of flowers in there. There are two ladies that work there. I only managed to piss off one of them yesterday, but what the heck… they both get flowers today.
I get out of the car and am walking and looking down into the tops of the bunches, trying to decide which one is prettier (to be given to the one I pissed off) and boom, my foot hits something, sending me flying forward, nearly landing on my face, and having to practically jump to get my other leg in front of me. Super trip… I land and half-run a few feet just because the momentum makes me. I finally stop myself and straighten up, quickly looking to the street—both ways—no one there to see my major goof. Yes! First break of the day! Then I look toward the attorney’s office. There she is. The recipient of my random act of kindness, watching me clutch two bunches of strange flowers, my keys, and the paperwork as I recover from the trip.
She loved the flowers.
I’m back home now.
I’m. Never. Leaving. Again.
Captured Again... a little sad part to get to the HEA
Gabby startled awake in the dark. She sat up quietly, listening, trying to find what had awoken her. She looked at the window, surprised to see it was dark outside. She must have slept the entire day through. Guilt pinched her conscience. She knew her boss was getting close to the end of his patience. Dammit, I hope I don’t lose my freakin’ job, she thought.
That morning she’d gotten up with all intention of going to work. But she’d made the mistake of glancing out the window and seeing her swing dangling in the early morning mist. She’d walked out to sit for just a minute—she had told herself—but minutes had turned into an hour as her mind convinced her she should just call out of work one more day. She was late anyway, and she could just go back to bed and sleep... and dream of Jake.
A breeze had tickled her toes. She had still been in her pajamas. She hadn’t found the energy to dress for work yet. So she had sat and swayed, not swinging... feeling bared—stripped of all the goodness in her life. She’d shivered uncomfortably. But this was the place she felt closest to Jake. He’d hung the swing the same day they’d moved into their new house, seven years before. It was his special gift to her.
As she’d sat on her swing that morning, she’d gotten lost in remembering the day Jake hung it, her giggling as he grew tired and sweaty trying to throw the bundle of rope over the lowest limb of their oak tree—which was quite high—and missing over and over again as she’d yelled out, “I’ve seen better throwing in T-ball! You got about as much control as two rabbits on their first date! You couldn’t throw a party! Come on!”
She’d cracked Jake up with her pitcher repartee, and he’d stopped throwing the rope and started chasing her with it instead. They’d wrestled and he’d tickled her relentlessly until she had finally promised no more heckling. He looped it over on the next throw. When the rope finally made it over the branch and fell back to the ground, she had run to him, thrown her arms around his neck, and kissed his sweaty, grinning face. She’d been so happy she’d have her swing. That was a fun and special day. One of many she’d had with Jake.
Gone now.
He’d been gone six weeks. She couldn’t remember the first two weeks at all. It was a blur, a dark spot in her memory. She couldn’t... or wouldn’t go there. All she could say for sure was during that two weeks, she scarcely remembered crawling out of the unquestioning sanctuary of her bed. She didn’t leave the house. She’d watched the empty swing from their bedroom window and thought how lucky she had been; her time with Jake had been a gift. He’d saved her—twice—the first time when she’d had nowhere to go after giving up her baby at age seventeen, an event that had left her alone and homeless. But he’d scooped her up, married her, and helped her build a life, a good life, together.
Jake saved her again when the family cycle of abuse finally caught up to her and shattered her life—cracking it into fragments. She had tried to hold the pieces together alone, not wanting to hurt Jake, but she wasn’t strong enough. She was the victim of a sociopath, forced to endure sexual abuse in fear of her marriage and her freedom. It was a puzzle she couldn’t put back together again, so she tried to escape it. Escape life. He’d saved her, not just by rushing her to the hospital, where she’d nearly died, but by standing beside her after finding out why she had wanted to die.
He had stayed with her for five years after that nearly fatal night.
Gabby had thought once Jake knew she’d been with another man—repeatedly—he wouldn’t want her, regardless of the circumstance. But he had. He had believed the truth and not only stayed in the marriage, but helped her recover.
She’d wake up nearly every night, for years. Screaming from nightmares of being held captive in a wooden box. She’d awoken countless times swatting and swearing there were spiders in the bed, and too many times to count she’d been so adamant that René was in the room—yelling that she wasn’t asleep; he was there—that she’d convinced Jake, too. He’d jump up and grab his ball bat, searching under the bed, in the closet, the bathroom, before he finally realized Gabby was having a night terror again—eyes wide open but asleep.
He’d held her. Rocked her back to a peaceful sleep. Never losing his temper, even after so many sleepless nights. And he’d given her space to heal, mentally and physically, supporting her through it all. So patient, never letting her go.
How could she let him go?
Gabby hadn’t been able to go to work. She’d dropped down from the swing and slowly walked up the steps leading into the house. She’d made her call to her disappointed boss and crawled back into bed, covering her head to block out the sun shining through her window, and slept through yet another day.
She shook off her replay of yet another wasted day and looked at the clock. Damn, chick. You did sleep through another day, she thought. It was the middle of the night. I’m definitely dragging your lazy ass to work tomorrow, so get some more shuteye. She dropped her head onto her pillow, forgetting about the noise that had woken her up, and fell instantly back to sleep.
Bloody Blurbs!
One of the hardest things for a writer to do is write a blurb...seriously, it's harder than writing a book! So I've taken a stab at a new one, and although I don't feel good about adding "Bestseller" to my cover, I did hit it multiple times on Amazon and decided to use it in the blurb. Is that wrong? Should I take it out? Anyone willing to give me some feedback on the new blurb:
Bound by blood...Marked by the Dragonfly.
Amazon Top 100 Bestseller in three categories February, 2014:
#44 Sagas, #52 Family Saga's, #77 Coming of Age
The pasts of four women collide head-on with a mysterious present in this surreal and gripping family drama. One woman finds herself trapped. Alone. In a box. She battles to survive the terrifying darkness. With long hours of nothing to do but wait in terror for her captor to return, she grapples through obscure dreams and memories of their painful past, painting the story of the scarlet dragonfly tattoo--meant to be a beautiful, family mark of freedom--but instead seeming to become a prophetic brand to the four women who wear it.
When identical twins, Gabby and Olivia, and their little sister, Emma flee their less-than-perfect childhoods, they find they took more of their mother with them than her long chocolate-colored hair, startling blue eyes... and the exact copy of her tattoo.
Just wanting away... Olivia marries her first love--at age 17--and realizes later he's not what he seemed. She falls victim to his fists of fury when his mask finally slips. She attempts to break free, but finds herself unwillingly flittering back to the cycle her own mother had tried to leave so many times before. Meanwhile, her twin sister, Gabby, finds sweet love with Jake, a humble, well-mannered southern boy who saves her not once--but twice. But she is pursued by a dangerous admirer at work, and her happily ever after seems to be ending too soon. And little sister Emma has some secrets of her own, painfully bottled up inside of her, wrestling to get out for revenge.
Deeply evocative, Let Me Go is a suspenseful and heart-wrenching Coming of Age story with a beautiful ending for survivors.
