S.S. Lange's Blog

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The next book in the Charlotte Hayes Series is finally here. Well, just about. First, let me say, you guys are amazing. I've made you wait a disgustingly long amount of time for this - and you're all still so excited! I love it. And I love you for it.

Anyway, let's get on with it.

Oh, and just let me clarify the title, No More. It doesn't mean there will be no more books in the Charlotte Hayes Series. I've seen that rumor already after Out Loud. There is at least one more coming, and probably more because I just can't get enough of this girl.

No More will be available on March 1st - and get this, if you pre-order it before then, it's only 99 cents! Less than a cup of Dunks coffee!

I can't wait for you all to read it.

Charlotte Hayes was finally at a point in her life where things were falling into place. Career, husband, baby on the way, all things she dreamed of but never thought she’d be that lucky.

When a new case is placed in her hands, it tests not only her skills as an agent, but the very foundation of the relationship she shares with Chase. With the past creeping in, and secrets still hanging over their heads, will Charlotte’s passion for saving her hometown be the catalyst that destroys her relationship with Chase?

Pre-order the e-book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iTunes

The post No More Cover Reveal and Release Date appeared first on S.S. Lange.

My oldest has started asking me to tell her stories at bedtime, in addition to the two stories we read each night. I find this to be an uncomfortable amount of pressure, but so far she seems to enjoy them. Occasionally, I get lucky and she’ll tell me a story as well.

I mean sure, she could use some work on character development and plot lines. But I love listening to her tell these stories. They’re silly and often don’t make much sense to me, but to her they make all the sense in the world.

So, here’s a glimpse into my wild, creative, and silly four year old’s head.

Once there was a bear family and their names were Brownie and Bob*, that’s the dad’s name, and Brownie is the mom. And the little brother was named… ummmm Pear, and the little sister’s name was, um, Tiana**. And Tiana and Friend Bear – actually… Pear, and Brownie and Bob went off for a hike. And, and then… they meeted a brownie shop. And they ate all of it. The End.

There waaaas, a little little princess, and she was a baby princess. And then she got like, four, four and a half. And then, the princess… knowed everything. And her name was Tiana***. And Tiana loved dancing. Even she found a green dress to put on. And a green…. crown. And then she would be a princess. And green gloves. And then she met a little frog. The End.

*There was a lot of giggling after this… it’s her dad’s name so she thought she was being really hilarious.

** She has a bunch of Disney princesses on her wall, and one of the ones she can see from her bed if she looks behind her is Tiana. So, she stars in a lot of stories.

***Told you.

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So, fun fact.

I'm really terrible at writing reviews. They're kind of like the blurbs we have to write for books - you know, the summary on the back or on the Amazon page. It's hard to boil it down to a fraction of the book. Really hard. I used to think that about book reports too, until I discovered a secret.

I could just re-write the blurb (which then I only knew as "the back cover") in my own words. Add some color. Viola! Sixth grade life hack right there*.

But, considering I'm often paralyzed in trying to figure out what the hell to read next, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites I've read this year, with really lame "reviews" in case you're looking for something to kill time until the next Charlotte Hayes novel is out.

I liked it. It took a little while for me to be convinced it was good - not like Gone Girl that I was instantly addicted to (at least my best recollection is that is how it was), but once I was in, I was all in, ya know? Be warned, and this isn't really a spoiler because it hits pretty fast, it is about murdered little girls. And motherhood has turned me into a wimp so it was tough to push past that for me, but once I did it was worth it.

This woman is hilarious and awesome and grew up a town over from my college roommate and I definitely was messaging her asking if she ever got served ice cream by Amy Poehler. I thoroughly enjoyed this, as I did Tina Fey's (actually that was one of the best books I've ever read) and Mindy Kaling's. I love these hilarious women.

This is number four in her Lynx series and I've loved all of them. If you like the Charlotte Hayes series, won't be bored by less swearing and less sex, and enjoy a bite sized amount of super-natural in your plots, definitely check these out (start here). Plus, Fiona is awesome and runs a fantastic website for writers that I use for research frequently. 10 points to anyone who is able to link a Charlotte scene directly to her site**.

This #5 in The Ryan Chronicles series, and I immediately read #6, Angel Fury as well. This series is totally different than everything else listed here. It's full on supernatural/paranormal suspense with some romance thrown in. There's vampires, angels, the devil, you name it. One of the things I love about Taylor's books is many of them all link together - a supporting character in one series might get spun off into his own series, and so on. It's like being part of a big family - or running joke - as you really get to know everyone and their history. That said, each series can also stand alone, so wherever you jump in, you're safe - though I would highly suggest starting at the beginning of a particular series to get the full understanding. I started with the Steve Williams Series (find book 1 here) and went from there.

I'm planning to add more crappy reviews to a new page here on the website (I'll link it back once it's up and running). I'm setting a goal of 20 books for next year (to read... not to write, sorry) so I'll add to it as I do. I try to read a few "big name" authors but also get in some of the indie and lesser knowns too - which I think you get a feel for with this short sample of the 15 books I read this year.

What was your favorite book you read in 2016? What are you most looking forward to reading in 2017?

*Hoping Mr. McKean doesn't find this post... if you do, sorry! I find this shameful as a writer now. Kind of.

**Points redeemable for super fan status

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My darling oldest daughter,

I never wanted an elf. I was very against the idea of the elf. I thought I didn’t need it in order to bribe you into good behavior for the month of December. I thought it was just going to add ONE MORE THING I had to do at the end of everyday – after dishes, lunches, getting you two to finally go to bed, laundry, writing, blog work, whatever else I was chasing after that particular day. I thought I could get away with just telling you that you’re good kids and don’t need an elf. I didn’t think you needed it. Isn’t this season magical enough what with Santa and flying reindeer? I got you an advent calendar, doesn’t that cover us on the daily Christmas cheer tasks?

But I was wrong. Oh girls, I was so wrong.

And you know I’m not good at admitting that.

You kept talking about how you don’t have an elf, and you really wanted one, and you wondered when Santa was going to send you one. Sure, you had Elfie at school, but I could tell that just wasn’t the same.

I consulted Facebook groups. ‘Do I HAVE to you guys?!’. The resounding answer was: it’s worth it. Not one person talked about how it helped their kids behavior better. Nearly everyone talked about how fun it is, how the joy their kids got from it was completely worth it. And how they only believe for so long, to enjoy it while it lasted.

I didn’t want to set up elaborate scenes or have him make yet another mess I’d have to clean up later. But… I thought, I can handle moving a small doll to different spots in my house. I guess.

I still wasn’t convinced but Christmas snuck closer and closer. The Christmas spirit had invaded our house, we’d bought piles of gifts for the giving tree in town, we’d attended multiple Christmas parties, you’d seen Santa a few times, and been singing Christmas carols for at least three months. Honey, you’d worn that god-awful so-ugly-I-can’t-believe-I-bought-it-for-you night gown for three weeks straight.

But something was still missing for me.

I was sitting in your bed, as I did every night, scrolling through my phone as she wiggled yourself to sleep. I pulled up the Amazon app, which I’d only reinstalled to be able to stay on top of the lightening deals for the holidays. I would delete it later, I swear.

I searched for Elf on the Shelf. We’re certainly not broke, but $30 dollars on something I really didn’t want seemed ridiculous. And I really didn’t need it rubbed in my face every time you would make me read the book.

But then I saw him. The book-less Elf dressed in camo. Now that is an elf that could fit in our family. Your dad said sure, and within moments he was on his way to our house.

This morning you ran downstairs to grab something for me. I will never forget your voice or your face when you came back up – I totally forgot the Elf was down there.

“Mom! Mom! I found something downstairs I really wanted!” you said as you burst back into my room as I got dressed for work.

You were so happy. So insanely happy and excited and couldn’t wait to show us and your sister. My heart about exploded.

You named him Ornament… probably because he was sitting on your advent calendar where we put up an ornament for each day. I think it’s a perfect name.

You ran into school and told everyone. I think you were that happiest girl in the world that morning, that Santa had sent you an elf, finally.

I might have felt like I was going against some belief I had, rooted in cynicism and wanting you to

just enjoy the holiday for what it was. I might have thought I was betraying myself, like when I got an iPhone after talking for years about how I hated all things Apple (except iPods. I’ve always been on the iPod train). But I was wrong.

And this right. The elf is right. You won’t stay little long. I already see it in the way you talk about the world, the stories you tell me, the way you worry about others. You won’t believe forever and my heart will break that day. But until then, I will look forward to Ornament’s appearance each year.

But he better not make a mess or that elf is out on his ass and sleeping in the barn.

Love,

Mom

It’s hard to describe to someone who has never experienced it. Which is infuriating for a writer.

The urge to write.

No, not urge. Need.

It’ll start with a thought – maybe a shoe on the side of the road, or a misshapen leaf. Something small. And then the wheels begin to turn and the story starts to weave itself in your head.

That’s when the terror begins. If you don’t get it down quick, it’ll disappear. An infant plot line is much like smoke, you can see it and you can smell it, but if you don’t do something quick to contain it, it’s going to disappear.

Except unlike smoke, you don’t want it to go.

So you repeat it over and over in your head, hoping it engraves itself enough on your brain you can dig it back out when the time is right. Or your thumbs twitch over your cell phone at a stop light – illegally – because it’s just too good and you don’t even care if you get a $100 texting and driving ticket. Cost of doing business.

And maybe you get enough down that you feel like it’ll stick. But maybe you don’t. Or you think of more.

An ache starts in your chest and your heart probably picks up pace. You could walk around all day like that. Distracted from the real world by the one building in your head.

And then finally you have the time to get it out. You don’t dissect each bit – that’ll come later. You just let it come out as quick as you can, flowing from the nooks and crannies of your brain onto the screen. You no longer have control of what’s happening, the fictional characters in your head are doing all the work, you’re just scribe.

You glance at the clock. Midnight.

Doesn’t matter, there’s still more to go. Your eyes might sag and beg to be closed but you can’t. Not until it’s all there, not letting one detail escape.

In the light of day you review it. You might not even remember some parts. Much of it needs work, some should be trashed, and you’re not sure what to make of the rest – maybe it’s good, but maybe you’ll end up deleting it in a week.

Either way, you’re satisfied for the time being.

And maybe this isn’t how it is for anyone else, I couldn’t tell you, I’m only me. It doesn’t happen like this every time, I don’t think I’d have the stamina for it to. When the inspiration hits in this way it’s all consuming and exhausting. But so very perfect.

I am not dead, and the Charlotte Hayes Series is not over with four books. I’m very much alive and so is Charlotte, no worries there.

But did you forget I had this website? Cause I kind of did for a while.

In fact, something broke on it at some point and it was straight-up not working when I finally came back to try and do something.

So my apologies for the serious neglect over here, just trying to keep it real folks.

Looks like my last post was in July 2015. (Gross.) So let’s catch up quick, shall we?

New house, kids are older, ran a lot, worked the day job, got a new day job, built a barn and chicken coop and filled both with ducks, chickens, goats, and quail – oh and some barn cats because dead mice in the goat water? Yeah, no. If you follow me on instagram or Twitter (SSLangeWrites on both) you’ll get some occasional farm yard fun.

I could go on and on about how busy I’ve been, because you guys, so busy, but you don’t want to hear that.

You want to know when the f*ck the next book is coming out because how the hell could I leave you hanging like that?

I know, I’m kind of an asshole with endings. And you should probably thank my editor because if it was up to me I’d be even meaner and you’d have no closure at all. But she’s protecting you, my dear loyal readers.

All that said, soon. No specific dates yet, but I’m pretty happy with the shape it’s in at this point and am extremely motivated to get it out to you guys, you’ve waited plenty long enough.

On that note, thank you all for reading what I write. Seriously, I haven’t published anything new in what feels like an embarrassingly long amount of time but you’re all still so excited for the next one and you have no idea how amazing that feels. I can’t wait to share this next one with you and please know my fingers are already on fire wanting to get #6 down on paper. And maybe some other stuff I’ve been half working on for years.

Stay tuned. 2017 is going to be the year of so.many.words. for me.

Hard to believe it was just about a year ago I started my facebook page, and effectively announced to the world I was going to be a published author. And here I am on the eve of my FOURTH novel being released.

As long as I can remember, “be published” has been on my proverbial bucket list, long before anyone called them that. (I think it was just my “do these things before I die” list. Not morbid at all for a ten year old, amiright? I really need to get to that swim with dolphins one though…)

I could have written it off a long a time ago as I was published in a collection of poetry as a kid. And I wrote for the local paper in high school. So technically, I achieved “being published”. But some stars aligned and I realized maybe I could actually write a novel.

And as of tomorrow, there will be four installments in The Charlotte Hayes Series. Charlotte and I have learned a lot together and we’ve both changed and grown quite a bit over these last 1,000-something pages. But the main thing I think we’ve both learned from this journey so far is this: don’t ever give up.

Things will get in your way. You’ll make excuses, you’ll be tired, you’ll get distracted. People will try to kill you (okay, that one is only Charlotte). You’ll decide to sell your house, have a baby, and build a new house all at once (okay, that one is just me). But you just keep going. Because you know what you ultimately want, even if you sometimes pretend you don’t.

Charlotte is by no means done with me, nor I with her. We’ve still got a ways to go. But we’re going.

I can’t wait to hear what you all think of Out Loud!

It took me way, way longer to get this one finished than I would have liked. I’m not one to make excuses, but the whole being super pregnant and having a baby thing really slowed me down unfortunately. (Unfortunately only from the writing perspective. The kid is, in fact, amazing.) But I’m finally able to say Book 4 in the Charlotte Hayes Series will be released on July 13th!

Quick tip: sign up for my newsletter. And not because I want to spam you, but because I’m going to give you a chance to grab an e-copy before it’s released! Make sure you’ve gotten your reviews up of the other books as well and you’ll be a step ahead of the game.

Oh, and I can also stop calling it “Book 4″ now – thank God, that was starting to irritate me, so I’m sure you guys are done with it also… anyway, cover and blurb below, along with pre-sale links if you feel so inclined. The excitement around The Charlotte Hayes Series lately has been so energizing I’m already a third into the draft of the next one. Girl never gets a break, sorry Char.

After an unexplained breakup and months without speaking to him, Charlotte Hayes is given an undercover assignment that forces her into a steamy relationship with Special Agent Chase McKinney as part of their cover. Working hand-in-hand, the pair must determine the intentions of a billionaire and his wife and their possible link to terrorist activities.

With exes, explosions, secrets, and Las Vegas temptations coming at them from every angle, Charlotte and Chase must contain the damage, control their feelings, and find a way to survive.

Pre-order:

Amazon

iTunes

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

xo,

After my second daughter was born it took some time to get back to regular routines. Scratch that, it took time to develop new regular routines. Especially around writing. Finally, *finally*, I’m getting to a productive point again. Thank God.

Book 4, which I can’t wait to tell you the title and stop calling it “Book 4″ (very soon!), will be out this summer and I can’t wait! Charlotte has been getting antsy. If you want a chance to get an advanced copy, make sure you sign up for my newsletter, and get your reviews up of the first three books. Details will provided through the newsletter in the coming weeks

xo,

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you might have noticed I jumped on the whole 100 Happy Days Challenge (I actually didn’t even realize this was an actual website until I just Google’d it for this post… whoops?). I’d been debating it for a while as I love the concept of pulling something positive out of every day. I read an article (that I now can’t find, but it’s somewhere on my Facebook wall…) that finally pushed me to do it. I figured, post-partum is both stressful and isolating time (yes babies are wonderful, but they are also the other things I said too), and maybe this would help keep me both grounded and positive.

Guess what? I suck at it. I’ve been doing it since March 9th and I’ve successfully posted 19 days worth of happy photos.

Does that mean the other days weren’t happy?

Nope, not in the least.

You see, I’m also using this as an exercise in imperfection.

I’m a perfectionist by nature. If you aren’t a perfectionist yourself you might not realize how debilitating this can be. You avoid things because you don’t think you can execute them perfectly. You abandon things that you started because of a minor flaw or mistake (it’s RUINED forever now, so what the hell is the point?). You know you can’t possibly be the best at something so you never bother trying.

My perfectionism manifests itself heavily in “streaks”. Having things happen in a row – or not happen as the case may be – are a huge, weird point of pride for me. I’ve given up exercise programs far too many times because I missed a day, so what was the point?

I might be sucking at the 100 Happy Days thing in the traditional sense. But the goal is no longer to post a photo everyday for me. This is a challenge for me personally, to let it go (hence Elsa. I have a toddler you guys, it was only a matter of time until I made a Frozen reference). To let go of giving up just because something isn’t perfect.

It’s a life lesson, and a parenting lesson. A skill I’ve struggled with for a long time. Look at that Play-Doh. It hasn’t been the same since she did this. I gritted my teeth and let her do it. All the colors, mixed together. Inside I was screaming, but my inner Elsa made me take a deep breath and remind myself she’s two-and-a-half, and Play-Doh is not the expensive. And she’s expressing her creativity.

So, I’ll keep doing my Happy Days challenge, with a week between pictures at times. And I will refuse to let myself feel an ounce of guilt over it.