Summer Sale :)

On the subject of #ROW80 real quick: I’ll probably just be updating on Sundays. Wednesdays, for me, are fairly forgotten in the midst of the week. Sundays, on the other hand, are my week’s beginning :) But I did manage over 2k yesterday after doing minimal writing for the past two months, so I’m proud.

ANYWAYS! Noticed Smashwords is having a summer sale! So! From now until July 31st, if you buy any of my novels on Smashwords, you’ll be able to enter a coupon code at checkout to get them for half off!

So you can get Wolfsong, Spellbound, and Souljacker each for $1.50 during the month of July :)

Happy reading!

Welcome To The Otherside…

So, Wolfsong’s had a long life. From being created from the depths of my teenage brain in 2005, to a full-scale rewrite in 2011, to publication that same year, this novel’s been with me a long time. When I first wrote it, I’d planned on a sequel focusing on Kia’s future children, set apart from the first book but still connected. I never wrote it. I gave up writing for awhile, but when I came back, I didn’t want the “stale” old idea, I wanted something new and shiny. So Wolfsong #2 became put on hold. With each book over the years, I learned, with each book I grew. I’m a completely different writer than the girl I was in 2005. Even now, the Wolfsong everyone can read is hugely different than the first one I wrote. I guess we both grew up.

Anyway. After 2011′s rewrite, I pondered a trilogy. I loved the cast of characters and the world, so I thought about it long and hard. And decided that the story I was meant to tell–Kia and Arii’s story–could really go no further. Part of it, admittedly, was the fact that I’ve always thought of myself as a ‘stand-alone’ novel person vs. a ‘series’ person and that by admitting I could and would do a series? That scared me.

In March of 2012, Wolfsong went live on Wattpad, part of their Writer’s Partnership Program. And with every day, the amount of reads, comments, and fans went up–and they all agreed on one thing: They wanted a sequel.

Cue panic.

My knee jerk reaction was no: I’d told Kia and Arii’s story the way it felt it needed to be told. Sure, I had a couple of ideas for a second book…but I didn’t feel qualified. The whole “not a series person” hit me hard. The “what ifs” tried to take over.

It took a bit of poking and prodding from some of my closest friends (as well as most, if not all, of my fans <3). But I’ve decided on three books: The Otherside Trilogy. Instead of following the same main characters for each book, I’m breaking away from the norm. I’m staying in Wolfsong’s world, but switching it up. Wolfspirit, which is Otherside #2, will be Kia’s sister Shae’s novel. The third is undecided as of yet.

I’ll have a page when I come up with the summary and will cover-reveal when I have the page :) But I’m writing again! Just thought you all should know :)

J is for “Just Kidding!”

LOL. So. I’ve spent all day today in a time warp, truly believing it was MONDAY. When Monday actually punched me in the face, knocked me out cold, and passed me by. I’m slightly alarmed and slightly amused at the same time.

I was all proud of myself for being “ahead of the game” by posting I’s blog post (you know, before ten PM lol!)…and then they were like: Shouldn’t you be on J? It’s Tuesday. Me: WHAT? NO IT’S NOT. Mom: -nods solemnly- It really is.  Me: Crap.

So. Just kidding? :D I’m with it now, folks. I swear.

Looking back, I guess I spent all day Monday going through my proof copy of Wolfsong, weeding out errors and re-uploading everything :) So I was productive…just not…in the blog sense. But in good news, I REALLY REALLY hope the proof copy they send me is the FINAL proof copy I’ll have to go through before releasing Wolfsong in print :D Woot!

B is for Blogging

So. A-to-Z Blogging Challenge, anyone? Sounds a little tricksy, especially seeing as blogging and I…well… I’m not confident about blogging. I’m actually terrified of it. But Valerie Sloan kinda talked me into it. You can’t get over fear unless you face it. So here we go. I missed A, but here’s B.

And B is for Blogging.

I’ve never been the sort of type to journal: In the past, I’ve started journals…of course, as a kid, I would write about how horrible my parents were, how much I was jealous of my cousin for being an only child, why my friend and I were now exes. And then I would sign them with a fake name, because I grew up wanting to change it. XD So I’d write a page-long rant (basically) and sign it with my name of choice (Isabelle, Lilith, Darien, Harley…the only ones I can remember off the top of my head LOL) and then…promptly forget about it three days later because I shoved it between my mattress and box-springs.

Anyway. I never stick with it. And blogging’s kind of the same way. Who wants to hear about me? I’m boring. I’m not adventurous, I’m not wild and crazy. I don’t have an amazing dog who does silly things that people will love. I generally don’t do things worth writing about, or even outside my comfort zone. So why?

I…am still not sure :P But I’m doing it (Look Ma, no hands!) Because I can. Because some people who like my books, might wanna know what I have to say about the real Kodi. Because once I get a topic to blog about (or in this case, a letter of the alphabet) I run with it and find that I might have something worthwhile to say.

And because I need to get over this irrational fear that if I blog, and if I comment on other blogs, I’m going to get eaten by a big, black shadow monster who sucks out your soul (and let me tell you, it sounds like a long and painful process). So. I’m blogging. Once a day, besides Sundays, for the whole of April. And maybe by the end of the month, I’ll be a more confident blogger.

I can do this. :)

(And because it’s Music Monday…a song that starts with “B” and oh, so fitting :) Much love!)

Wolfsong: Wattpad’s Friday Find

Hey all! I’m busy kicking bronchitis’s butt right about now, but I have something to share!

A few months ago, my friend sent me a link to this blog post about Wattpad’s Writer Partnership Program. Already a member of Wattpad, I’d found so many good stories through the site already (I loveee their Android app and I’ve bought several books after finding them on WP) that this just seemed to be the right choice for me, a way to build a fan base and share with readers who love books like Wolfsong.

Today, Wolfsong went Featured on Wattpad and was also their Friday Find :) I’m so beyond excited for this turn of events.

So what’re you waiting for? Go read it :D If you read it and like it, why not share the love? Comment or vote? FB/Tweet it to the world? Thanks guys, ILU <3

(Working on making Spellbound the best than it can be! Still planning on a March release :D )

Update :)

Whoo, been a long month…even though the month isn’t over yet (nor is it very long, but OH WELL Long in my book).

Been really focused on eating healthier, exercising, and all that jazz. I’ve fallen off the wagon a few times, particularly with giving up pop (ugh, my Kryptonite!) but I’m doing good for the most part. Excited to see the changes in my body and mind as I go through this journey, and excited to what the future brings. I really want to go horseback riding by my birthday this summer, so that’s my goal.

Another thing that has me working double-hard: I want to be independent. Not just, “Oh I’m making money!” independent, but a car, a house, a yard, a puppy, sort of independent. It’s the puppy that’s really driving this one :P I’ll admit. I know myself too well: If I start looking up breeders now, I’ll start wanting it badly. So I’ve decided I’ll reassess my situation around Christmastime this year. And then look at breeders xD (I want an Australian shepherd, I’ve decided, btw! I’m so bad, I already have names picked out LOL)

On the writing front, after finishing Spellbound, things just went to hell in a hand basket. Had some family drama, which has resulted in my younger two siblings moving to our Dad’s house early March. We may or may not be moving to a farmhouse this summer. It’s all up in the air right now and just stressful. I hate change haha.

After deciding on a “game plan” for future releases this year, I picked up my 2011 NaNo, Souljacker, which I’d abandoned halfway through the month. Lucky for me, I’d outlined it 100% already, so I set up the outline in Sticky Notes on my desktop, made a mock-cover, and have been working on that. So far, all’s going smoothly. I forgot how much I loved Lucy :D

Spellbound‘s still in editing stages, but I’ve gotten one round of critiques back and have implemented them. I’m hoping to have it out by mid-March, but we’ll see what the future holds.

And an update on Wolfsong! My proof is on its way here. Should be here by the 4th. :D If all goes well formatting-wise, paperback should be available through Amazon, Createspace, and several other vendors in March!

Technical Difficulties and Guest Post

I’m having a little trouble with WordPress, so a few of the pages are no longer showing under certain categories? And I’m not sure why? But I’m working on figuring it out and hopefully things will be back to normal soon!

Meanwhile, why not check out my guest post/interview over at the lovely Sadie Hart’s blog, where we talk about Wolfsong and you can read an excerpt of my next YA fantasy project, Spellbound. 

Have a wonderful day!

Wolfsong: Now available!

Whoo. Holidays are officially over (for me, anyways. We don’t really celebrate New Years). We had an awesome Christmas, saw a bunch of family, had a couple of great dinners. Despite my holiday-anxiety (which is a reoccurring theme LOL), things went awesomely.

We got a Wii. >3 It is blue and full of amazingness. So I am a happy Kodi!

Speaking of happy: I have an announcement. After multiple edits and revisions and polishes, my debut novel, Wolfsong, is officially available for sale through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. I will be updating Wolfsong’s page as additional distribution venues become available. Also, I hope to have it for sale in paperback by mid-January!

That said…

When his wolf-dog goes from furry to beautiful girl in 2.7 seconds, 17-year-old Kia doesn’t believe it. Arii’s been recruited to bring Kia home, back to her realm, where werewolves are real, the supernatural exists, and tension between the two wolf packs is threatening to erupt into a full-scale war. With his father missing, Kia is the rightful heir and without an Alpha’s power behind them, their pack is defenseless in the face of an oncoming battle.

Kia has spent his entire life being a wallflower—he’s not leader material, but he’s not given a choice. Stolen away from all he knows, he’s thrust into a world where rank is dictated by the color of your eyes and where the light of the full moon transforms you into a powerful beast. All Kia wants is to go home, where his only worry is not flunking calculus.

With the help of his new-found friends, he soon realizes that the only way to return to the real world is to end the war—but not everyone wants Kia to succeed, and as he starts to enjoy his awakening confidence as a leader and he falls deeper in love with Arii, he starts to doubt if he wants to go back at all…

~

So whoo! Much excitedness! :D

You can read the first chapter here.

And it’s available for sale ($2.99) as an e-book here: Amazon, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

I hope everyone enjoys Wolfsong as much as I have <3

Now it’s time to open up Spellbound and work on finishing it. Back into Word I go!

Early Inspirations

I grew up in the middle grade/YA section of the library. I was am kind of a hermit, and to top it all off, I was homeschooled. What else was there to do but read?

But back when I was 12-15 years old, the books that I wanted to read? Fantasy, and not the sword-and-sorcery stuff, wasn’t popular. Or if it was, our library didn’t get it in. Harry Potter was the first big contemporary fantasy our small-town library got in, and with HP came the trends of ‘good’ fantasy. I was like, yes, finally! I got hooked on stuff like Artemis Fowl (still a huge fan of Eoin Colfer’s writing style as an adult!). But what got me truly loving fantasy enough to write it?

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. Our library had one of her books, Hawksong. I found it while browsing the shelves and liked the title. I devoured it in a sitting, and then passed it off to my mom. We became fans; Mom ended up eBaying her previous book, and we waited with bated breath for the rest of her Kiesha’ra series to come out. We bought them hardcover, which we never do :P But that’s beside the point.

Her novel inspired me: shape-shifters. I’d never heard of such a thing before Hawksong. What if I could do my own version of shifters…with my lifelong love of wolves? (Werewolves weren’t hot yet; that love came from Blood & Chocolate, as well as one of my CP’s original novels :P )

Thus, the idea for Wolfsong spawned. I wrote it in three months in 2005, in a mess of disarray and chunks of novel here and there. I skipped the middle to write the end. It’s come a long way from the original draft and I can’t wait to share my love of Wolfsong with the world :)

Here I Go

It’s not often that my siblings and I have the same taste in music, but every time they had their Pandora stations playing loudly, I’d hear a couple of songs and every time, I was like, “Hey, who’s this. I like them.”

They’d reply: “Relient K.” (And then promptly roll their eyes, like I should know this.)

So I started listening to them. And…well. They’re my favorite band at the moment, between their punk-pop-acoustic sound, the sexy vocals, and the meanings behind the lyrics.

I heard this song…and it’s so…me. The lyrics strike a chord (no pun intended :P ) deep within me and I just keep listening to it on repeat on my ancient MP3 player.

For me, it signifies the fact that I am ready. Ready to release my debut novel, despite the setbacks, despite the preaching I had growing up that I’d never make it, that it was just a pipe-dream. Oh, and my personal favorite: “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Sorry, Dad, but the basket’s full. I don’t plan to ever stop writing. No more sitting around, waiting for something to happen. Time to make this dream a reality.

So yes. I love this song :P