Going Public!! Confessions of a Pastor's Wife...

I finally got my nerve up and contacted a few newspapers in the area to promote Phoenix: The Rising and let the locals know that there's an author amongst them. Now, I realize that most people would be shouting it from rooftops, but not me. I didn't know how the town would take to a local pastor's wife writing romance...but, they seem to be okay with it! So, here's the article...

http://tricountytimes.com/news/slater-author-has-first-book-published.html

Slater author has first book published

Buy Photo

Bette Maybee of Slater had her first book, “Phoenix: The Rising,” published Jan. 10. She said the book is “purely for entertainment” and targeted for young adult readers. Photo by Whitney Sager

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By Whitney Sager

Shortly after being published, this Slater author’s book has received 5-star ratings and already has a sequel in the works.
Bette Maybee of Slater recently penned her first published book, “Phoenix: The Rising.” The young adult novel is a fictional tale of the rebirth of the Phoenix in Mono Lake, California, and the Nephalims’ attempts to prevent the Phoenix’s rebirth in order to claim immortality. As part of their attempts to identify the Phoenix, the Nephalim seek any 17-year-old with green eyes and red hair, including Julie Mason, with the intent to kill them. Spun in with the Nephalims’ hunt is a romance story between Mason and Eli Sullivan, the Phoenix.
When Maybee finished the book last year, she submitted it directly to several publishers to see if any would publish it. Her book was chosen as the launching title for Evernight Teen, a publishing company who was looking to begin their line of teen books. “Phoenix: The Rising” was published Jan. 10 and has since become the top-selling book on Evernight Teen’s website.
“It’s an honor for me,” Maybee said of her book being chosen as the launching title.
During the approximately eight months Maybee spent writing the book, she said she most enjoyed developing the characters who make up the story. One character, Lucy, is added toward the middle of the story line. Maybee hinted that Lucy struggles with an internal conflict, but only those who read the novel will find out what the struggle entails.
“It’s exciting because the audience may hate her, but end up loving her,” Maybee said.
While some authors make an outline for a story they are writing and stick to it throughout the writing process, Maybee takes a different approach. She knew how she wanted the story to end and had some ideas for what should happen to get to the ending point, but she did not follow her original outline. Letting the characters and their dialogue guide her through the writing process made it that much more fun.
“I knew where I wanted to go, but the road there is not always straight,” Maybee said.
Fans of the “Twilight” series will enjoy this book, Maybee said, because of its paranormal qualities and romantic story-line. Maybee also added a few “Stephen King-worthy scenes” that she says make the novel that much more intriguing. Many who have read the book and left comments on various sites where the book is sold have said they hope there is a sequel. Maybee said she is trying to decide whether or not she should focus on writing the sequel, or continue work on the second of her “The Tip Top Cafe” romance series.
“The Tip Top Cafe” was the first book she wrote and is currently in submission. She plans on writing four books in the series, which will evolve around events from her childhood. While based off her childhood, the series will be fictionalized and not an autobiography.
She got the inspiration to write her first book while reading the Twilight series with her daughter four years ago. Maybee came to the part in the series where first loves were being discussed, and it reminded her of a letter she received from her first love. She dug the 33-year-old letter out of the drawer where she keeps it and let her daughter read it so she could experience what a first love was like. After reading the letter, Maybee’s daughter encouraged her to write a story about it.
“I got that inspiration from her and realized what I had been missing,” Maybee said of the push to get her writing.
Maybee has always enjoyed writing and the language arts. She served as a language arts and creative writing teacher before taking on her current role as Assistant to the Chair of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Iowa State University. She now spends evenings and weekends writing and blogging from her home in Slater, where she lives with her husband, Tim, and one of their three children.
“Phoenix: The Rising” is available in either paperback or electronic formats on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, EvernightTeen.com, and other major distributor sites.

DISINTEGRATE Cover Reveal!!

Coming April 19, 2013!

• Young Adult, Paranormal, Suspense
• Word Count: 51,000
• Published By: Evernight Teen

Description:
Emily just wanted a normal life: a boyfriend, college, two parents who loved her. Instead, her dad disappeared when she was fourteen and her life at college is anything but ordinary.
When you can manipulate matter like putty and you have no idea why, how do you pretend to be like everyone else? What happens when you meet a guy who has the same powers? Do you trust him to help you find the answers you need?
Emily desperately wants to believe that Jax can help, but the stakes grow higher than she’d ever expected: someone is after them and they’re not afraid to use violence to get what they want.

Page Flipperz Ya: Phoenix- The Rising - Book Review - Author Intervi...

Page Flipperz Ya: Phoenix- The Rising - Book Review - Author Intervi...:   Id like to introduce everyone to meet Author Bette Maybee. I had the pleasure of Reading her Debut Ya Novel Phoenix- The Rising and h...

Celebrate St. Paddy's Day with a GREAT READ!

 

Not only is the kindle version of PHOENIX: THE RISING still on sale for 99 cents on amazon.com, but ALL the books from my awesome publishing sisters are 50% off on Evernight Teen! This includes all e-book versions available on Evernight Teen, which MEANS, if you have an e-reader that's not a kindle, you can finally get PHOENIX: THE RISING for your device at the bargain price of less than $3.00!!  Just click on the banner to take advantage of this one day sale!

HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY!

Ooo...shiny!! BLOOD HEX Cover Reveal!!

Two girls. Four centuries. One curse.

Isabella started it--all because a boy fell in love with her--but it ends with Sarah.

They meet in secret, Isabella and Thomas, during the witching hours while the rest of the villagers hide behind locked doors. And even though she's scared, she wants Thomas more. He'll protect her from the night, from his father who'll decide her future, from the paranoia-fueled hunting parties taking away innocents.

Centuries later, seventeen-year old Sarah runs away to an aunt she never knew she had. Her dad? Dead. Her mother? A liar. All she wants is memories of a father she never got--memories her mom refused to give her--memories she is determined to get from her aunt, her father's journal, and a town full of crazies.

What she discovers is her father's death isn't as innocent as everybody claims, and everyone--the Wiccans, the townies, even her quasi-boyfriend--all seem to be hiding something. The secret the history-rich town lives to keep entangles Sarah into a centuries old witch curse.
 
BLOOD HEX by the fabulous Erin Butler is set to be released in early April with Evernight Teen. Isn't this cover fantastic??

And NOW, an excerpt for your enjoyment...

I took it all in. Giant banners announced “Adams Colonization”, eerie witch posters and mannequins with stringy green hair and large, red eyeballs stared back. The guards along the stage dressed in old brown suits and hats I guessed were supposed to be replicas of what the first settlers wore. The costumes reminded me of pilgrims. They stood at attention, faces impassible as they monitored the crowd. The picture sank into my brain, this parallel reality where past met present in a jumbled mesh.

Drake leaned into me again. “Sorry. I should have told you.”

No wonder why she said she was too busy to hang out with me. I snuck forward a little, caught up in the surprise appearance of Rose. The arm that had been touching Drake instantly chilled. He was so nice. And cute. But the reason why I came here was up on that stage.

Rose’s voice rang out, low and seductive. “On this day in 1610, our ancestors inhabited a foreign land. Today, we call that piece of land Adams, Virginia.” Scattered applause swelled through the park. “Our ancestors brought with them superstition…and fear from England. Men and women, children—all terrified of one thing.” Rose's hypnotic voice was mesmerizing and I leaned forward even more. “Witches.” The stare of an old, wise woman lingered over everybody and when her eyes met mine, a pool of black reflected the licking orange flames.

“They fled here, terrified of the supernatural. They hoped to start a new life. One without the constant paranoia. They failed. Our ancestors lived in complete, maddening, unrelenting fear their entire lives. Are we like them?” Audible no's and descending grunts rose from the crowd. “No. We're not.” Her voice pitched higher, and louder. “Today, we embrace our history. Today, we stare the supernatural in the face and laugh at it.” Loud cheers erupted from every corner of the park and Rose shouted over them, “Today, we celebrate!”

Rose motioned to the side of the reaching flames. Two men in the ugly brown trousers and jackets nodded. “During this opening ceremony, we will conquer fear as they did back in the old days.” The men pulled at ropes, hoisting a cross into the air. Mounted to the cross beam was the body of a woman, her mouth agape in horror.

I drew in a sharp breath. I felt Drake move next to me so I turned my gaze on him. A sly smile graced his face. He put his arm around me, pulling me closer. “Are you scared?” he whispered.

I couldn't speak. These people were freakin' crazy. My eyes darted through the crowd, looking for a policeman—somebody—who might stop this.

“Don't worry. We always do this on opening night,” Drake said, pulling me even closer, rubbing my shoulder with his hand.

I wanted to scream at him to do something, to help the poor woman. He only sat smiling, eyes bright with anticipation. I knocked his hand off me and pulled away, but before I could wiggle free of Drake's arms and run to the fire pit, the cotton clothes the woman wore caught fire from the reaching flames underneath. My breath clogged my throat. I didn't know whether to scream first, or cry.

The flames spread fast. The waistline already edged with black char before the fire incinerated it. Dark gray smoke furled over the helpless woman and puffed up toward the blood red sky.

A bit about the author...
Erin Butler lives in upstate New York where winter is her arch nemesis. She prefers to spend her time indoors reading and writing, but ventures out for chocolate, sunshine, and to perform her librarian duties at a local library. She lives with her very understanding husband, a stepson, and doggie BFF, Maxie. Erin’s dreams of becoming an author started in Kindergarten when she wrote her first story about witches, the eloquently titled, six-sentence page-turner, “The Three Witches”. Now, she likes to write longer works for teens in many different genres. 
 Here are a few links to Goodreads and Erin's website:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17335703-blood-hex
www.erinbutlerbooks.com

PHOENIX: THE RISING .99 STARTING 3-13!!

Fantastic News!! PHOENIX: THE RISING (Kindle edition) will be on sale for $0.99 (YES, NINETY-NINE CENTS!!) for ONE WEEK starting tomorrow, March 13! This is NOT about making money (as I won't be making any on this sale!), but it's about getting my book into the hands of readers and building a following! You can help make this happen. Buy one when it goes on sale. Buy one and gift it to a friend to spread the word, SHARE THIS POST ON YOUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and tell your friends and co-workers. This is the chance of a lifetime for me, but it will only be successful with your help! Read the reviews on Amazon to see what readers think so far! Watch the ranking rise on the Amazon page along with me! THANK YOU!!! 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-The-Rising-ebook/dp/B00AZQ80II/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363135860&sr=8-1&keywords=bette+maybee

Can you say, VALENTINE'S BLOG HOP??

The first ever Evernight Teen Valentine's Blog Hop is here!! Join in the fun for your chance to win some fantastic prizes from Evernight Teen and Evernight Teen's fabulous authors, including YOURS TRULY from February 14 through February 17!

It's easy! My challenge is for you to read the excerpt below and answer the question that follows in the comment section. You also need to leave your email address so I can email your fantastic prize, which is....DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!....a digital copy of PHOENIX: THE RISING. That's all you have to do, but I will also love you forever if you'd "share" this post on your Facebook or Twitter account, AND, when you find yourself on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, please "LIKE" PHOENIX: THE RISING (we authors COVET "likes" and "shares"!) Once you're done with my challenge, click on the linkies for the other authors and Evernight Teen to see what glorious challenges they have in store for you! And now, for the excerpt and challenge question:

EXCERPT:

Allison was just beginning to nod off when she heard two car doors slam. She swung her feet off the Natuzzi and scanned the room. TV—off . Cushions—straight . Dirty glasses—in the dishwasher . Just as the front door opened, she yanked her almost-forgotten ear buds out, cutting off Katy Perry in mid-chorus, and stuffed both the buds and her iPod in the pocket of her running shorts.

Allison pasted on a smile as first Mrs. Paulsen—and then Mr. Paulsen—entered the room. Mrs. Paulsen, a slightly overweight, frump of a woman who looked closer to fifty than her actual age of thirty-four, smiled sweetly with her too-red lips and cocked her head to the side as she patted Allison’s arm.

“How’d things go tonight, dear? Did the boys give you any trouble?”

Allison raised her eyebrows and lied through her newly braceless teeth. “It went really well. The boys had a good time.”

Mr. Paulsen pulled out a money clip and sauntered over to Allison as his wife went upstairs to check on the boys. He was obviously on the far side of forty, but tried to dress the part of a younger man in low-riders and a striped tee pulled dangerously thin across his bulging mid-section.

“Are you sure you don’t want a ride home?” Mr. Paulsen handed her a twenty-dollar bill, warm and limp from the ride in his front pocket. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to my favorite babysitter.” Paulsen’s eyes shifted from Allison’s face down to her chest, where they stayed for several uncomfortable seconds before moving back up.

Allison felt the hot rush of blood to her face as she folded the bill and stuck it in her pocket. She wiped her hands down the front of her shorts. It didn't help. “No thanks, Mr. P. I’m training for cross country. Besides, my parents are fine with it.”

Paulsen thought for a moment then traced his tongue between the seam of his lips. “All right, but if you change your mind, just call. I can be there in a flash.”

Forcing a smile, she pulled open the front door and sprinted away, trying to gain as much distance in the shortest amount of time possible between herself and the ogling pervert.

Allison fell into her pace, running parallel with the broken yellow line down the middle of the road that led to her father’s small sheep ranch located just two miles outside of Palisades. Cars rarely frequented this lonely stretch of road, so it was quite a surprise when she saw the dim glare of headlights headed her way.

The car, which was coming at a good clip towards her, slowed as the headlights illuminated Allison’s moving form. Her heart skipped a few uncertain beats, and she instinctively moved to the side of the road. A rush of adrenalin kicked in and her pace quickened. As the car passed, a hand shot out the driver’s side window and waved.  “Hey, Chica!” 

Allison breathed a sigh of relief and smiled to herself as she waved back. She recognized the voice as one belonging to a Paiute boy from her History class, but she couldn’t recall his name. 

Allison returned to the middle of the road and settled into her pace once again. She removed a band from her wrist, gathered her curly auburn hair and secured it into a high ponytail, never breaking stride. About a half mile up the road, she saw the lights of her house and decided to sprint. As she kicked it in gear, the roar of a racing engine came up behind her. She turned to see headlights bearing down on her. Too late.

The crack of bone and snap of ligaments registered in Allison’s brain at the same time her face slammed onto the hood of the car. It was at that moment she realized she had been hit, and she wondered why it didn’t hurt. A microsecond later, she was airborne, catapulting off the hood when the driver hit the brakes. 

I’m Superman!  Clark’s words echoed in her head as she flew through the air. She could see her legs extending outwards, following her in flight, but they didn’t look right. The knees were bent the wrong way. Backwards. Backwards was not good. She couldn’t run with them backwards. 

She heard another crack as she landed. The blacktop seemed to mold itself around the back of her head, cradling it like a stinky, black, memory foam pillow. Allison felt no pain, only a muddy sluggishness that seemed to be clouding her senses. She was, unfortunately, still lucid enough to taste the metallic tang of blood as it pooled in the back of her throat, choking her. Still lucid enough to come to the horrible realization that she couldn’t turn her head to spit it out ... or cough ... or feel her body. As she struggled for one last breath, someone spoke.

“See, I told you she had green eyes.”


QUESTION:

There are two reasons Allison didn't accept a ride from Mr. Paulsen. One is obvious, one is only hinted at by Allison's reaction to Paulsen. Give me one of those reasons, or both, if you can (if you get one right, your name still goes in the drawing for the prize!)

Now write your answer and your email address in the comment box, then HOP on over to the next blog by clicking on one of the 7 links below. Thanks and have fun! (The winning name will be drawn on the 18th.)

Blogger:

Confessions...

I have a confession to make...I'm a signing event virgin. I've never even attended one**sigh**and here I am, on the brink of having one of my very own. In my hometown. With people who know me--some as I am now, but most, as an awkward, skinny, shy teenager who sang a lot, snuck cigarettes in the girl's bathroom, and always had her nose buried in book.

It's scary thinking about meeting the very people who have, are, or plan on reading your book. What do I say? What do I write? Will anyone even show up??

Question Time:
For my author friends: What have been your experiences with book signing events?
For my regular friends, old and new: What do you expect at a book signing? If I had one, would you even considering attending?? If so, would you want me to provide books for purchase/signing?

I'd really love to have your feedback!

Oh, BTW--Only 2.5 days until the Goodreads Giveaway of a paperback copy of PHOENIX: THE RISING!

Other news: PHOENIX: THE RISING has earned a Silver YA Bestseller Star on All Romance and continues to be the Top Seller on Evernight Teen. A HUGE "THANK YOU" to all of you for your support, whether it's from buying a copy, writing a review, or hitting that ever-helpful "LIKE" or  "SHARE" button on Amazon, Evernight Teen, Barnes and Noble, or Facebook!! You ROCK!!

Watch Out for SHRAPNEL!!

I'm so excited to be able to feature my friend and fellow Evernight Teen author, Stephanie Lawton, acclaimed author of WANT, on The Cinderella Diaries today! Stephanie's newest upper-YA novel, Shrapnel, is now available from Evernight Teen.

Happy Book Birthday, Stephanie!!

Isn't this cover luscious??!!

 

 

 

 

  

A little about the book...

It’s been six years since Dylanie and her family visited a Civil War site and the place came alive with cannon fire. Problem was, no one could hear it but her.

Now she’s sixteen, her dad’s moved out, her mom’s come out of the closet and Dylan’s got a spot on Paranormal Teen, a reality TV show filming at historic Oakleigh Mansion. She’ll spend a weekend with two other psychic teens—Jake and Ashley—learning how to control her abilities.

None of them realized how much their emotional baggage would put them at the mercy of Oakleigh’s resident spirits, or that they’d find themselves pawns in the 150-year-old battle for the South’s legendary Confederate gold. Each must conquer their personal ghosts to face down Jackson, a seductive spirit who will do anything to protect the gold’s current location and avenge a heinous attack that destroyed his family.

 

The story is told from three characters’ POVs, but the main one is Dylan, a tomboy with a bad attitude. She transforms herself into a goth goddess, and it’s her that you see on the cover. It’s a strange mix of paranormal romance/magical realism/historical fiction/soft horror/and just a touch of LGBT.

 

About the Author...

 

 

Stephanie Lawton 



After collecting a couple English degrees in the Midwest, Stephanie Lawton suddenly awoke in the deepest reaches of the Deep South. Culture shock inspired her to write about Mobile, Alabama, her adopted city, and all the ways Southern culture, history and attitudes seduce the unsuspecting.

A lover of all things gothic, she can often be spotted photographing old cemeteries, historic buildings and, ironically, the beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast. She also has a tendency to psychoanalyze people, which comes in handy when creating character profiles

 

Where can I buy Shrapnel, you ask??

 

Evernight Teen

Amazon

AllRomance

 

 

 

 

Do You Want to Win an E-copy of Phoenix: The Rising??

So, I forgot to hit "checkout" when I ordered my print copies of Phoenix: The Rising the other night. My own book!! I. AM. AN. IDIOT! My sister even has a copy in her greedy little hands right now, and now I have to wait two days to get mine.

You don't have to miss out! If you'd like to win an e-copy, just go to the blog below and leave a comment about your favorite song from my playlist (which is awesomely awesome!) Only one person has commented so far, so you'll have a good chance of winning!

http://talesofbooksandbands.com/2013/01/14/phoenix-the-rising-by-bette-maybee-blog-tour-book-playlist-giveaway/

Phoenix: The Rising on the Blog Tour Bus!!

Whew!  This blog tour gig is intense! Thought I'd stop by my own blog and let you know what has happened so far...

I started off the tour with a character interview  and giveaway at Bookish Temptations. Saturday I traveled over to My Guilty Obsession and made a guest post. And now, the infamous podcast interview with Girls in the Stacks is here! You can learn all my secrets about Phoenix: The Rising and writing! I'm a bit hard to hear at the beginning, but after I get rid of the jitters, all is okie-dokie!

http://girlsinthestacks.com/podcasts/ya-podcast/2013/01/chatting-with-ya-author-bette-maybee/

Oo-oo, you can also listen to it on iTunes, which is pretty cool!

Tomorrow, I'll be moving on to Tales of Books and Bands and share my playlist for Phoenix: The Rising. I hope you all tune in!

Talk to you later!

PHOENIX: THE RISING RELEASE DAY!!

BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER!! I am so amazingly pumped to announce that my debut YA paranormal,

PHOENIX: THE RISING 

was released tonight on Evernight Teen and Createspace.

 

 

 

Live buy links as of tonight!

Amazon--print and e-format

 

Evernight Teen--e-formats and link to print

 

Createspace--print (POD)

 

Tomorrow morning 1-11-13 e-formats will be available on All Romance, Smashwords, and Bookstrand. It will be on Smashwords affiliates (Sony, Kobo, B&N, Diesel, Apple, etc.) within 2-4 weeks.

  

My Blog Tour begins tomorrow with the incredible Bookish Temptations. Check it out!

 

11th Bookish Temptations--character interviews and giveaway
12th My Guilty Obsession--guest blog and giveaway
13th Girl in the Stacks--podcast and giveaway
14th Tales Of Books and Bands--Book Playlist and giveaway
15th Evernight Teen--Guest blog, excerpt and giveaway
16th Stephanie Lawton--Guest blog, excerpt

My web-presence

http://www.bjmaybee.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/BetteMaybeeAuthor

https://www.facebook.com/bette.bushoremaybee

https://twitter.com/BetteMaybee

 

Thanks so much for all your support! I couldn't have done it without you!

EEEK!! Only SIX days until PHOENIX: THE RISING debuts!!

OMG! I can't believe January 11th is coming up so fast! It's like I just breached the summit of a the first hill on a roller coaster and am on the fastest, scariest, most thrilling ride of my life!

Things have really started rolling in my writing world! My blog tour is almost totally booked. I started this morning with a SKYPE interview with Stacy and Shannan from girlsinthestacks.com that'll be aired as a podcast shortly after my release. These girls are BESTIES and they totally made me feel welcome. The best part of all? I think they actually like my writing! Girls in the Stacks rock, and I hope I get to work with them in the future!

For other blogs on the tour, including the fabulous Bookish Temptations, My Guilty Obsession, and Tales of Books and Bands (to name a few!) I have been writing guest blogs, playlists, and character profiles. It looks like I'm gonna be one busy girl for a while!

Only SIX MORE DAYS...

REMAIN CALM . . . ALL IS WELL!!!

Ecstatic?? YUP! Petrified?? YOU BET!! About ready to pee my pants?? THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT!!!  This is me when I found out that my BLOG TOUR for PHOENIX: THE RISING is in the works:

Pic taken out so I can avoid possible litigation!

(YUM--Love me some Bacon)

I am TOTALLY pumped and honored that the AMAZING blogs by the Girls In The Stacks, My Guilty Obsession, and Kate's Tales of Books and Bands (so far) have welcomed me with open arms. 

Sounds like I'll be doing some guest posts, a playlist, giveaways and **whispering in sweat-inducing anticipation** A PODCAST **gulp**. That last one made me rush to previous podcasts by my girlies to try and figure out what they'll be asking me. I found out two things: 1) There is no generic list of questions because they are really interested in YOU and YOUR story, and 2) there is a LOT of giggling that goes on, which is good, cuz I'm gonna giggle like a school girl on her first date!  

As soon as I know the names of the other blogs on the tour and all the dates are set in stone (this begins 1-12-13), I will SHOUT IT FROM THE MOUNTAINTOP! If you'd like to be part of the tour, just let me know, or contact Emma at evernightteen.com. We'd love to put you on the schedule!

Meanwhile, I will have a little Irish Mist and REMAIN CALM... :)

I'll Take Manhattan...Another SNEAK PEEK!

I've been working on my next WIP--I'LL TAKE MANHATTAN--one of my Four Sisters novels--and decided to rewrite the whole thing in first-person-present POV. I've written in first person before, but choosing to go present-tense is a big, risky step for me. New authors can sometimes slaughter present-tense and make it extremely uncomfortable and unenjoyable for the reader, but I'm hoping I can really sink my teeth into the characters and their internal conflict by going present-tense. I at least have to give it a try. Anyhoo, here are the first 750 words or so of I'LL TAKE MANHATTAN. Please let me know what you think...

“Wish me luck, George.” My shoes hit the pavement of 15 Central Park West, and I know this is it. I tug at the knot of my Lorenzo Cana charcoal silk. Her favorite. At least that’s what she says every time I wear the damn thing. Today it feels like a noose around my neck. Choking me. Taunting me to turn and run while I have a chance. I can broker multi-million dollar deals, butt heads with Trump and his cronies, but this one little deed, the utterance of four simple words, has me sweating like Fat Bastard in a Santa suit. Is it worth it? Damn straight it’s worth it. She’s worth it.

George closes the door behind me as only George can do. Noiselessly.

“Ain’t no such thing as luck, Mr. Jamison. Either the woman loves you, or she doesn’t.”

My hand slips over the obscenely expensive lump in my jacket pocket for the millionth time that morning, seeking some type of palpable reassurance of the decision I’ve made. Pffft.  Of course she loves me. Who wouldn’t? I’m Collin Edward Jamison III. Heir to the largest real estate development firm in New York City. Manhattan’s Most Eligible Bachelor...

George raises an eyebrow as he waits for my reply. He’s expecting me to say something like that. Something cocky and self-absorbed. But George knows as well as I do that Annette Bradshaw is the love of my life. This time, he’ll have to settle for the truth instead of a smart-ass answer.

“She loves me.”

Silence.

Shit. Now what?

“Are you sure you don’t want me to wait? In case she chases you off with her briefcase?” George winks and lets loose a throaty James Earl Jones chuckle, the kind that seems to start in his toes before working its way up to his deep baritone vocal cords. I can’t help but smile.

“I don’t plan on needing your services until later in the day, George.” I shoot him my own wink. “Much later. Miss Bradshaw and I will have a bit of .... celebrating to do.” I pat the lump one more time, then head for the door to Annette’s building.

“Wait!” 

George’s booming voice stops me in my tracks, the same way it did when I was eight years old and he caught me pissing in my mother’s rose bushes. I turn, expecting George to give me one more tidbit of unsolicited fatherly advice, or at least a May the Force be with you. After all, it isn’t every day that a man asks a woman to marry him, and George’s advice was the closest thing I’d be getting to anything fatherly. Instead, I find him holding out a brown paper bag.

“You forgot your bagels ... and I think you’re gonna need your strength, Mr. Jamison. Celebrating takes a lot of energy.” George guffaws at his own joke and shoves the bag at my chest, but I block the assault before it crushes the Lorenzo Cana. Her favorite.  Those two words follow on the tail of “Lorenzo Cana” as automatically as the succulent memory of her wearing nothing but that charcoal silk and an I’m gonna make you beg for mercy look in her chocolate brown eyes the day she gave it to me.  The thought elicits a delicious but inconvenient tug in my groin. At least I don’t feel like I’m choking anymore.

“Thanks, old man.”

“Old? What do you mean, old, you little pipsqueak?” George puffs his chest out like a rooster in a henhouse. “I’ve done more celebrating on a daily basis for the last thirty years than you’ll do in the next sixty.” George struts around the Mercedes to the driver’s door. “As a matter of fact, I think I’m gonna head on home and do some celebrating myself, since you won’t be needing my services for the day.”  

I chuckle. “You do that, George.”

George slides into the driver’s seat and, for the first time in recorded history, slams the door of his beloved Mercedes. Holy shit! Seems I ruffled the old man’s feathers.

I turn and face the nineteen-story tower as George drives away, take a deep breath to calm my nerves, pat the lump in my pocket one more time, and smile.

She loves me.

CHARADE by Nyrae Dawn--A Review

I can't help myself ... I just have to review CHARADE by Nyrae Dawn! That's how much I love it!

Nyrae Dawn has made me fall in love with contemporary romance all over again, first, with her YA hit--What A Boy Wants, and now with her New Adult masterpiece--Charade--a beautiful, heart-wrenching love story of two souls who need each other more than each ever want to admit.

Colt and Cheyenne swept me away in their little charade and it wasn't just the romance that got me, but their stories--the relationship each of them have with their mothers--the lives each have had to endure and overcome. I could feel the hopelessness, the choking fingers of panic around Cheyenne's neck I've experienced so many times in my own life, and the relief and true passion they found in each others' arms.

Charade is a novel that will make you laugh, cry, and order pizza for your family so you can finish reading it. It deserves nothing less than five stars!

Here's her cover (YUM!!) and a blurb about the story!

Nineteen-year-old Cheyenne tries to portray the perfect life to mask the memories of her past. Walking in on her boyfriend with another woman her freshman year in college threatens that picture of perfection. 

Twenty-one-year-old Colt never wanted college and never expected to amount to anything, but when his mom's dying wish is for him to get his degree, he has no choice but to pretend it's what he wants too. 

Cheyenne needs a fake boyfriend to get back at her ex and Colt needs cash to take care of his mom, so they strike a deal that helps them both. But what if Cheyenne’s past isn’t what she thought? Soon they’re trading one charade for another—losing themselves in each other to forget about their pain. The more they play their game, the more it becomes the only thing they have that feels real.

Both Cheyenne and Colt know life is never easy, but neither of them expect the tragedy that threatens to end their charade and rip them apart forever.

Blog Tours, Bookmarks, and Bears...OH MY!

My journey into publishing continues, and just like Dorothy and her friends as they entered The Haunted Forest in the Land of Oz, I'm entering into a world I haven't experienced before, full of the unknown. It's just a wee bit scary, but thrilling at the same time!

I just turned in what I hope are my last edits, and on the heels of that comes the marketing plan. I had so many questions for my marketing manager...How do I set up a blog tour? Should I have a separate website and blog? Should I pass out bookmarks? How can I get some pre-release reviews? How can you have a book signing or something similar when your novel is released in e-format and POD only? Without going into detail on all of these questions, the one answer I was ecstatic to hear is that Evernight Teen will set up a blog tour for me! Considering that I don't know the first thing about blog tours, this is fantastic news! I had already given them a list of YA bloggers who added PHOENIX: THE RISING to their to-read list on Goodreads (you can add it, too), so they'll be adding them to their list of blogs they'll be contacting. I can't wait!

With all this marketing stuff swimming around in my head, I'm really curious...
Author friends--What are your top marketing strategies for promoting your work? How do you utilize Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Pinterest, etc.? I would be eternally grateful for any advice you can give this newbie!
Non-author friends--What type of promotional material do you like to see/what influences you to read a book? Do you ever watch book trailers? Do you read reviews before you buy a book? Are you more likely to order a book in e-format or in print? Would you ever attend a book signing?  I really value your input, so PLEASE leave a comment and let me know what you're thinking!

(BTW--Have you seen the trailer for OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL? It looks absolutely fantabulous! Have a peek HERE! )

Paradise by the Dashboard Light....

No, I'm not sitting in my car with my cover model :) ... but I am sitting in front of the warm glow of my monitor in a darkened office, praying that no one knocks on the door to disturb my mid-day me-time. I'm sitting here in the dark because I want to tell you about last night...

Last night, I did something I never thought I'd be able to do...I completed my first round of edits for my publisher. Without screaming. Without crying. Without busting out a neglected bottle of Irish Mist from my top cupboard. You see, editing is a terrifying, gut-wrenching, amazingly exhilarating experience. I had no idea it would be like this!

When I first got my edits, I was almost afraid to open my email. What would she say? Would she want me to rewrite the whole thing? Would she hate it? Would she think I'm a complete idiot?  Taking a deep breath, I hit download, and the whole, red mess came popping up. Actually, it wasn't a red mess. It was more... magenta. And it wasn't a mess. As a matter of fact, besides letting me know, repeatedly, that The Bird (as in flipping the bird) didn't need to be capitalized, the first chapter was left virtually untouched, which doesn't surprise me, since that's the chapter most authors pour 90% of their blood, sweat, and tears into. After that, the little magenta lights lit up my text sporadically, occasionally clustering in areas, indicating I may have been writing in my sleep which resulted in an overuse of commas, an occasional semi-colon, and even one section of head-hopping. These, thank goodness, were the easy fixes.

The challenge came with three panic-inducing comments. Marie, my editor, asked me to develop relationships and emotions in three main areas. At first I thought there was no way I was going to be able to do this. There was a reason I wrote it the way I did, and I thought it was near-perfect. (Authors tend to be very territorial about their babies, and Phoenix was definitely my baby.) But, knowing Marie was hired as an editor for a reason, I dug right down to the bottom of my soul (oh, yeah) and decided to look at my words through the eyes of my readers. And I knew. Marie, my now all-wise editor, was right.

So, last night I put the finishing touches on my first round of edits, reread them for the zillionth time, and I have to say I am forever grateful that Marie challenged me to stretch myself and my characters. I think the result is outstanding! I'm going to languish in that feeling for a while--at least until the next round of edits...

THERE IT IS!!!

OMG! I just checked out Evernight Teen and guess whose cover is featured on their homepage???  What a fantastic way to end the night! I just had to hop on here and share my good news before I head off to la-la land. Sweet dreams, everyone!

COVER REVEAL!!! Phoenix: The Rising

**loosening collar**
  

**clearing throat** 

And now. . .
as promised . . .
the COVER . . .

PUBLISHING DATE: JANUARY 11, 2013

MUST . . . 

REMEMBER . . . 

HOW. . . 

TO . . . 

BREATHE . . .

Seriously, though, it took my breath away the first time I saw it! Evernight Teen caught all the elements I requested, and then some! I hope you love it as much as I do!

PHOENIX: THE RISING now has its own Goodreads Page and I would love it if you'd stop in for a visit and mark it as a To-Read! I also have a Goodreads Author's Page, if you'd care to take a look!

And please, PLEASE, know that I would love it if you'd become a member and follow this blog! It only takes a moment to sign up and I can promise you updates on Phoenix, future novels, and will start posting reviews of books by my awesome writerly-type friends--ala Nyrae Dawn, Kelley Vitollo, Alex Adams, Colleen Oakes, and Stephanie Lawton, to name a few!

Thanks so much for taking the time to be part of my COVER REVEAL!!

A SNEAK PEEK!!!

My cover for PHOENIX: THE RISING has finally arrived, and it's better than I ever dreamed it could be! Seeing the vision of my hero come alive before my eyes...seeing the title emblazoned across the image... seeing MY NAME in bold type across the bottom has been simply overwhelming! I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time when I first opened the email from my publisher. It's hard to believe this is really happening!

To give you a good idea of what PHOENIX: THE RISING  is all about, here's the jacket blurb:

Every 300 years, the immortal Phoenix returns to Mono Lake to be reborn--but this time it didn't return alone. The Nephilim are back in force, trying to keep it from being reborn so one of them can claim its immortality. But first they have to figure out who the Phoenix is--and any red-haired, green-eyed, seventeen-year-old in the area is fair game. And so, the killing begins...

Julie Mason doesn't believe all this legend crap until she falls for Eli Sullivan, whose hallucination-inducing kiss not only saves her, but makes her the Nephilim’s prime target. But, it's worth the risk. Her death is inevitable...not even Eli can prevent it. All she has to do is keep the Nephilim off Eli’s trail until The Rising. Once Eli is reborn and forgets his past life, Julie’s life is over, whether she’s dead or not. At least that's what she thinks...

PHOENIX: THE RISING  is aimed at the upper young adult (high school-aged), new adult (college-aged), and adult audience. It's most definitely not for younger readers. Although I'd love to share the entire cover with you, right now you'll have to settle for a SNEAK PEEK! Keep checking back for the total COVER REVEAL which will be happening soon. I promise!

And now, for a peek at my banner...I hope you love it as much as I do!

 COMING JANUARY 11, 2013 FROM EVERNIGHT TEEN !

SQUEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

WOW! I can't believe I finally get to say it, but here goes ... I'm being published!!! PHOENIX: THE RISING (yes, I changed the title again, but an author gets to do that!) is set to be one of the launching titles for Evernight Teen, with a tentative release date of January 2013.  Until then, you can check out my author's bio page at http://www.evernightteen.com/bette-maybee/ .
BUT WAIT ... THERE'S MORE!
If you're a YA author, Evernight Teen has a CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS going on right now. Head on over to  http://www.evernightteen.com/submissions/ and get those manuscripts sent in!

Elvis has left the building!!!

It was a long time coming, but I'm happy to announce that I have finally finished writing MONO LAKE. Yes, you read correctly. I've changed the title. Authors get to do that. :) I actually finished almost two weeks ago, but spent the last two weeks editing and writing a synopsis, which (THANK GOD!) I finally finished last night. Writing a synopsis is almost physically painful, since you have to summarize everything from your story in two pages.

In celebration, I'm going to post one final excerpt. This is a scene from the first quarter of the book where Julie finds out her best friend, Charsey, isn't the ditz she thinks she is.

“Charsey Winters. You’re looking delicious, as usual.”

Julie saw Kas’ eyes drift down to Charsey’s cleavage, which was billowing over her tube top. Charsey’s hand snaked up to Kas’ face. She pulled him to her and gave him a full-on kiss, pressing her chest up against his. Julie could swear she saw an exchange of tongues before Kas pulled away from her. Julie cleared her throat and looked up at Kas.

“Kas, could you get me a beer?”

Kas tore his eyes from Charsey’s cleavage.

“Sure, babe. Be right back.”

Julie had no intention of drinking. She just wanted to get Kas away from her for a few minutes so she could talk to Charsey.

“Where’s Eli? I figured you’d be here with him.”

Charsey’s eyes flashed. “Well, you figured wrong. I decided Eli isn’t my type.” Her eyes trailed over to Kas. “Now Kas, on the other hand ...” Julie couldn’t care less if Charsey was interested in Kas. As a matter of fact, she would gladly turn him over to her. But right now, she wanted to know what was going on with her ditzy friend. She grabbed Charsey by the arm and dragged her down the hallway. Finding an empty bathroom, she pulled her in and locked the door behind her.

“Are you drunk, Charse?”

Charsey pulled out a tube of strawberry lip-gloss from her pocket, turned to the mirror and applied a double layer, smacking her lips together in approval.

“No.” She put the tube back in her pocket, then leaned forward and kissed the mirror, leaving a perfect imprint of her lips. “I’m not drunk, sweetie. I am in total control.”

“Then why are you acting like this?  Like a--”

Charsey finished her sentence, “Ditz-extraordinaire?”

She turned back towards Julie and cocked her head. “That is what you think of me, isn’t it Julie?”

Julie lowered her eyes, ashamed that Charsey knew exactly what she thought of her.

“Ummm ... well, yes, sometimes.” 

She looked back up to see Charsey smiling.

“I’m a pretty good actress, aren’t I?” Charsey lifted an eyebrow. “Boys love the ditz, Julie. Well, most of them, anyways. Plus, it keeps me out of your precious AP classes. Those kindergarten courses I qualified for are a breeze, and that’s how I like it.”  She unlocked the door and pulled on it. “You know what they say, Jules, ‘all work and no play makes Charse a dull girl’. A paraphrase of a very old proverb.”

Charsey hesitated, closed the door again, and walked back to a now baffled Julie.

“I like the second part of the proverb better, ‘all play and no work makes Charse a mere toy.’” She leaned in and whispered directly into Julie’s ear, “I like being a toy, Jules. I like it very much.” 

Julie swallowed and stood frozen to her spot as Charsey breezed out the door, humming.

Who the hell was that?

Whatever Lucy wants...Lucy gets! (or does she??)

Just hit the 61K mark on Phoenix, and I'm so close to the end, I can taste it! Here's my latest snippet. Enjoy!

     Lucy waited several minutes until she heard slow, steady breathing behind her.  The feel of Eli's warm breath on her neck just about drove her crazy with desire, but she knew she had to move slowly or she could really screw things up.  Patience, and just a few small movements brought her in full contact with the only body she had ever yearned for, and, as if it were scripted, his arm slid over her, pulling her close.  The warmth of his form saturated hers, eliciting a soft moan from deep within her.  She expected her body to scream for him to take her, but instead, a rush of contentment washed over her, and all it wanted to do was sleep.  She felt something she'd never felt before.  Safe.  Safe in his arms.  Lucy couldn't help but giggle.  God, I must really be tired! 

Just Keep Writing...Just Keep Writing...

Just hit the 42K mark on PHOENIX, and made some headway on I'LL TAKE MANHATTAN! It feels so good to get back into my characters! My favorite snippet of the day from PHOENIX:   
     Julie lay silently, her skin swimming in a pale blue light, as if death had visited her and left its mark.  If it weren't for her slow, shallow breathing, Eli would have sworn she had died.
     "Julie." The name was just a whisper on his lips, but it was enough. Her eyelids fluttered and opened.
     "Eli? Are you here?"

What Inspires Me...THE LEGEND

One question I hear whenever someone finds out I write is, "What inspires you?" That's a tricky question. It could be anything! A news story. A picture. A song title. My life. A love letter tucked away in my undies drawer for thirty-three years.

In the case of PHOENIX, I set out wanting to write a young adult paranormal romantic suspense. I wanted my hero to be a Phoenix in human form--one with the power of healing and immortality. I wanted a cool setting--just outside of Yosemite in California, and I wanted to combine it with a Native American legend from that area. So, I began my research into Native American folklore and stumbled upon The Lady and the Giant--a Paiute legend. The moment I saw "Giant", my mind immediately went to Genesis 6:4, where Nephelim (offspring of human women and angels) are introduced. I knew I had my nemesis, and PHOENIX: The Gathering was born.

Melding those three legends, I wrote what started off as my prologue, basing my entire novel on this. Eventually, the prologue turned into a large section of my fourth chapter. I'm now nearing 36,000 words and figure I have about another 30,000 to go.

Curious? If you'd like a peek at my original prologue, click HERE .

I'm also curious. If a book has a prologue, do you take the time to read it? The concensus among authors is that people DON'T like prologues. I happen to enjoy reading them. Do you?

The Muse is Back! An Excerpt from PHOENIX...

Well, as I said in my last post, THE MUSE IS BACK! I've had a great time working on PHOENIX, a YA paranormal romantic suspense, and would like to share an excerpt from a recent chapter.

PHOENIX: THE GATHERING

Six miles outside of Bishop, Dan Penemue pulled into a deserted rest stop. "Make it fast. We only have a couple hours before sunrise. All Hell's gonna break loose as soon as they discover the mess we left.  I wanna be sleeping in my own bed with my alibi when they do."

Lucy staggered over to the restroom, pulled the string to the overhead lightbulb, and locked the door. She fought the urge to retch as she yanked the blood-soaked hoodie over her head and threw it by the stool. Dan would get rid of it later with his own. Turning on the faucet, she plunged her hands into the stream of icy water, and watched as the color changed. A spiral of crimson swirled around the drain, and eventually faded back to plain water as she washed the last bit of the girl's blood from her hands.

My first kill, she thought bitterly. Dan considered it an honor, even if it was just taking care of a "loose end". Killing a suspected Fire-Child was one thing, but this girl was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. An innocent.  Even knowing that, it amazed her at how easily she did it. Her hand trembled only slightly. All she could think of as she slid that blade across the girl's throat was her birthright. Immortality.

FLUTTER: an excerpt from my WIP--THE HOUSE ON CARROLL STREET

So...I've been trying to rev myself up for the last few months to write. I think my muse has been vacationing somewhere warm, and tropical, and secluded. She sure as heck hasn't been anywhere near Main Street in Slater, Iowa!  I believe, however, that she may be on her way back...at least I'm hoping she is! She popped in for a visit the other day, which resulted in me making some headway on PHOENIX, after having been stuck at a crossroads all winter. It's a pivotal moment in the story where I'm introducing a new character, and I think I FINALLY figured out how to weave it all together.

In celebration of my muse's homecoming, I'm going to share an excerpt from THE HOUSE ON CARROLL STREET.  I wrote this particular piece quite awhile ago. I hope you enjoy it! (warning--it's a darker piece and some may find it disturbing)

THE HOUSE ON CARROLL STREET

“Flutter”

I could hear them. Little voices. Little voices coming from the trashcan by the door of my brother’s bedroom closet. Little voices whispering so rapidly, so quietly, I couldn’t quite understand what they were saying.

Mom told me the last time I heard the voices that it was just my imagination. I imagined a lot of things at night. Shadows turned into spiders sliding across the wall. Thomas's fat, six-toed paws padding across the linoleum turned into the feet of wicked little gnomes running under my bed. Yes, I knew it was just my imagination, but knowing that didn't make any difference. The fear was too real--and it won. Always. I pulled the covers over my head, and squeezed my legs together tighter, praying that the feeling would pass--praying that I wouldn’t have to walk by that trashcan filled with those scary little people and their scary little voices.

I pissed myself only once before. It happened four years earlier in first grade when Tanya McDonald decided to take a nap in the class bathroom. I didn’t know I could ask Miss Mills to use the one in the hall--so I sat at my desk, crossed my legs, and waited. I waited until the butterfly wings began tickling the back of my throat. By the time I stood, it was too late. Hot pee raced down the inside of my pumpkin-colored cable tights and flooded my new, white, patent-leather Mary Janes. Across the hall, Billy Maynard leaned across his desk and watched me through the open doors with those big, black-rimmed glasses magnifying his chocolate brown eyes. I loved Billy--but he saw me. He saw me piss myself.

And now, the butterflies were back--but, so were the voices.

“Mommy?”

Mom’s warm body lay motionless behind mine, holding me close. On the other side of her was my sister, Ann, who was two years older than me. A second bed held my younger brother, Mark, and two of my older brothers, Steven and Matt.

“Mommy?”

“What is it, Jaynie?”

Flutter.

“I have to pee.”

Mom pulled the covers down and we climbed out of bed. I buried my face in the lavender warmth of her flannel nightgown and wrapped my arms around her hips as she walked me across the frigid linoleum floor, past the trashcan full of those scary little people with those scary little voices, to the door of the closet. She opened it, grabbed a flashlight off a side shelf, turned it on, and aimed it at the floor. Two startled cockroaches scuttled out of the light, disappearing into the darkness.

“There you go, honey,” she whispered. “Try to do it quietly.”

The light reflected off the metallic sides of the make-shift toilet.

You see, this is what happens when my drunken father passes out at the bottom of the stairwell. I have to piss in a coffee can.