Wanna See the Cover of Resonance? Come Lookie!

Yep, I finally get to share something new and pretty and shiny with y’all again. This time it’s the cover and blurb for Resonance: Holloway Pack 2.5

Instead of waffling on, I’ll just get right to it. Here you go:

This one was certainly a hard cover to get right, but I REEEEAAALLY like this one. Heapsly.

And here’s the blurb:

Guilt is a heavy burden for the one carrying it.

Jem Stonehouse is no exception to this rule.

What if she’d acted sooner? What if she’d fully recognised the threat? What if she hadn’t allowed the male pack members to head into the witches’ ambush?

For one, youngest pack member Josh Larsen wouldn’t be trapped in the sleep of the dead.

Now, Jem is convinced it’s her job to bring him back to life no matter what it takes— learning more about her heritage, risking pack exposure, or travelling to places she couldn’t have imagined possible.

Even if the journey endangers her soul.

So, whatcha think? Sound/look like something you’d like?

Resonance will be available in E-format only on April 2nd 2013

In the meantime, I’d love if you added Resonance to your Goodreads.

Thanks for stopping by.

Time to Share a Little of Blue Moon! #HollowayPack

Yup. I FINALLY get to show you what’s going on between the covers of my upcoming novel, Blue Moon: Holloway Pack 2.

You’ve seen the cover.

You’ve read the blurb.

And now the time’s arrived for a tiny glimpse of the goods.

Yargh!

So here you go–the opening of Blue Moon‘s chapter one:

Bookmark: Front

The Porsche purred beneath my palms. Wind whipped through the gap in my window, stirring my hair into a halo. In the passenger seat beside me, my best friend Poppy sat, shivering. “You sure you’re warm enough, Pop?”

“I’m good.” She pulled her coat a little higher around her wild red curls and re-aimed the vents her way for the twentieth time.

She’d never complain anyway, not when she understood being a werewolf notched up my regular body temperature enough that sweater and scarf compensated for the chance at fresh air. At least she had the burgers for warmth. Brown paper bags filled with lunch pressed against her lap. I’d already eaten one whilst driving, but the wafts of fat-scented steam continued to entice.

Rounding the corner, I turned onto the road to the site of the pack’s latest property development. Although tempted to squeal through the gates, and announce my arrival in style, I figured it best if Sean continued to believe I drove like a snail when in his car, and shifted down the gears one by one. 

I spun the wheel left for the turn and braked hard at a woman standing in the middle of the gatepost.

She whirled, lids narrowed over irises of bright blue until she settled into a look of bewilderment.

If she thought I’d missed the fleeting irritation in her expression, she was mistaken. I stuck my head out. “Can I help you?”

Bookmark: Back

From beneath a full head of black waves, her cool stare trained on me as her hands faux-flapped in front of her. “You scared me out of my wits, flying round the corner like that.” The chill in the woman’s tone matched her expression.

I scowled. “Five miles an hour is not flying.”

“She trying to put out a fire, or something?” Poppy mumbled.

She turned from me to Poppy and quit with her hands before circling toward the almost completed apartments.

Near the entrance, Ethan, Sean’s older brother by two years, had his head in close to Connor Larsen’s ginger curls, but her focus only swung round as far as Connor’s son.

As though aware of the attention, Josh lifted his chin. His gaze shifted from the Porsche to the stranger. After he mumbled something to Connor and Ethan, the three men headed our way.

I glanced back in time to see a smirk cross the woman’s face.

“What’s she playing at?” Poppy hissed.

Shrugging, I stuck my head back out the window. “I asked you what you wanted.”

She glanced back to me. “I was just admiring the apartments.” At the arrival of the three men, she gave them her full attention, complete with winning smile.

“She switched that on pretty quick for them,” Poppy murmured.

Josh smiled at the young female as he strode past her. Arms coming to rest against the window ledge, he planted a kiss on my cheek. “You’ve been ages, Jem.”

“Well, I’m here now.”

He thumbed over his shoulder. “Who’s your friend?”

“She’s no friend of mine.” My lip curled. “She looked like she was spying.”

Dum, dum, dum! Who’s the broad?

I hoped you enjoyed it. If you haven’t already, feel free to add it to your reading list over at Goodreads. And as a thank you for stopping by to read, I shall giveaway a signed Blue Moon bookmark (as shown up yonder). All’s you gotta do is leave a comment before midnight on Sunday August 19th.

That’s it.

#WolfieWednesday #HollowayPackExposed

Welcome to my new meme #WolfieWednesday, a weekly theme, where I shall be exposing any questions the public (that would be you) have submitted to any member of the Holloway Pack. The meme will run weekly (for now), and will showcase one question asked (plus answer) per post. If you have a question you’d like to ask any of the guys (it can be anything that isn’t X-rated), be it from this era or the Instinct & Eternal era, then all’s you gotta do is pop it in This Form and keep an eye out for your answer.

And onto this week’s #HollowayPackExposed with a question for …

Jem!

Living with all those boys can’t be all swoon worthy so, what are your most and least favourite things about living with all those fellas?

~ Emma

Definitely not all swoon-worthy. Try playing ball with them and being chucked left and right to stop you from catching it, and laughed at when they run faster knowing full well you can’t keep up … yeah, not so cute now, are they?

Oh, heck, who am I kidding? I love the rough and tumble and teasing that comes with it.

But my most favourite and least favourite part? I’m wondering if they’re all one and the same. Because everything I love about being the only female—the being teased, their over-protectiveness, their possessiveness, the way I’m mollycoddled and pretty much get away with most things—is also everything that drives me nuts when it becomes a bit too stifling.

That answer your question?

~ Jem

WANT A PEEK AT ETERNAL?

Well, do you?

Cool!

Because the time has come for me to share my spanking new novella opening with you …

However, due to the opening containing a scene of a sexual nature, I opted not to post it directly on my blog.

But wait!

You can still get to read it!

Yep, the first 500 words off Eternal: A Holloway Pack Prequel can be found on a super secret page on my website. All you gotta do is click HERE! 

BUT don’t forget to come back and let me know what you think …

… Are you back? Marvellous!

So … sound like something you’d enjoy? Eternal will be available in July 2012.

WOLFIE-WEDNESDAY-WONDERINGS: HOW DO YOU SEE THE HOLLOWAY PACK?

In case you’re wondering, yes, this blog post is going to be all about what the title suggests.

At the end of January, one of my readers posted on my FB wall:

Hi there is something I wanted to ask you. Do you have any pics/drawings of the Holloway pack, what they look like in your minds eye? I’d love to know what they look like to you!

When I first saw the question, I was a little stumped. I also didn’t think I’d ever be able to find any images that might resemble the members of the Holloway Pack.

Here was my explanation as to why:

Before I go hunting, I’ll explain why this is a struggle for me. When I write a character, I rarely see all of their physical characteristics in one entire package. I’ll visualise their hair. Their eyes. Their muscular structure across their body. Whichever part of them is pertinent to the current line I’m writing is all I see. So to try and visualise them as a whole is difficult for me because I connect way more with them as a ‘presence’ than a body. It’s the entire package of personality, heart, soul, etc that comes to me for a character. The rest is simply made up to suit. Does that make sense? However, that being said, I did have a couple of comments on a blog post some months back about who could play Sean if D&L was ever made into a movie. One suggestion was David Boreanaz–which to me was wrong, on so many levels. Another suggestion was Josh Hartnett. Now he’s a much better fit. Just make him broader, stronger, less about the cheekbones but all about those gorgeous eyes of his and the smile and you *might* have a workable Sean. And once you have one Holloway male, all you have to do is beef him up further and make him more rugged for Ethan, and do the same with cool blue eyes for Nate.

However, the lady had asked so (being me) I was intent on delivering. And to help me along, I went with a comment I recall from a while back—when I wrote a post about books on the big screen—that said she’d (Keri Lake, I think) love to see Darkness & Light on the big screen. And on pondering over who could play Sean Holloway, David Boreanaz was mentioned (which I kinda frowned at) along with Josh Hartnett.

Now … when you look at those two choices, you’ll notice the dudes don’t really look anything alike.

Which only adds to my point: does every single reader truly see each character differently?

So … at the request of Renée, I thought I’d ask you guys: who do YOU see as most closely resembling the Holloway Pack cast? And since I’ve recently joined up at Pinterest and have the beginnings of a Holloway Pack Board set up, I’m even more interested to hear other’s opinions.

The complete Facebook conversation (along with found images) can be found HERE!

AND THE WINNER of the Holloway Pack T-shirt is …

Heheheh, y’all may  remember that I ran a contest a few weeks back. A search for my biggest fan, as hosted by Mr B. Well, I am so muchero (*giggle*) happy that I can now announce the winner.

Because the First. Ever. Holloway Pack T-shirt headed off to The Netherlands to visit a local windmill and here’s the proof, with winner, Renée Vossen

Hehehehe, cool, no?

Thanks so much to Renée (and the other entrees) for participating. And a huge thanks for the pic.

WIN A HOLLOWAY PACK T-SHIRT: Are YOU Up To The Challenge?

If you’ve been paying attention, you already know I was waiting on a delivery of Holloway Pack goodies. Just as if you’ve been paying attention, you already know I intended to do a giveaway for my ordered Holloway Pack T-shirt.

Obviously, the fact I’m blogging about this means the T-shirt is here:

Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

It also means it’s time for the giveaway.

Double-wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

But what to do?

Well, I chatted to Mr B (alternately known as: The Man or Him Indoors), and he thought I should make the contest a fun search for my biggest fan. So, because this idea is his, I’m giving him the freedom to pick the winner.

So … want to win this freakin’ frackin’ awesome Holloway Pack T-shirt*? 

(psst, here’s a tip: clicking on an image will take you to an enlarged version of the pic)

The FIRST EVER HOLLOWAY PACK T-SHIRT–it is also currently the only one in existence.

Cool, no?

I have a (huge-ish) condition, though: Everyone who enters MUST agree to send me pics of themselves wearing the T-shirt**.

If you’re comfortable with that then read on for how to enter:

Mr B wants to know where you’d be willing to wear my prized Holloway Pack T (and it IS prized—it’s taking a lot for me to part with it). Yep, that’s it. He’ll be looking for the whackiest, most random, or funn(i)est local spots when picking the winner. And then I’ll announce the winner with the pics we get to prove their claim.

Make sense?

Also, although comments are ALWAYS welcome here on my blog, please do NOT leave your submitted entry here.

Any entries posted here will be deleted because I don’t want anybody to copy—I want to be sure everyone has come up with their random spots on their own.

So all entries need to be sent to: jabelfield(at)live(dot)co(dot)uk by midnight of January 29th 2012.

Please put: ‘I must have that HP T-shirt dammit’ in the subject line.

And all emails must include the line: ‘I vow to send you my piccies of awesomeness within one week of prize receival’ beneath your entry (see the trust I place in you guys here?).

You have until the end of the week.

Got it? Okay then, go, go, goooooooooooo!

I am sooooooooooo looking forward to hearing from you. This is going to be so much fun.

ALSO, BEFORE YOU GO …. For any who have yet to grab themselves a copy of Darkness & Light, Danielle is currently holding an E-Book giveaway over at Known to Read, where I guest posted. Why not pop on over and say hi?

*FYI: T-shirt size is X-Large

**If you loathe & detest having your pic taken (as so many do), it would be acceptable for you to rope in a volunteer to model it for you–just so long as the pics are taken as proof the task has been carried out.

T&C’s

-          This contest is International and will stay open to entrees until midnight of January 29^th 2012.

-          Winning entries MUST be sent to jabelfield(at)live(dot)co(dot)uk to be counted in the manner described above. All others—posted or sent to anywhere else—will be disqualified

-          Winning entry will be chosen for its randomness by Mr B (all entries will be passed anonymously to him)

-          As soon as the winner is picked, I shall email them and they will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address

-          Prize as stated—no cash [or other] alternatives available

A MERRY CHRISTMAS GUESS WHO?!

Christmas is but 3 days away (wheeeeeeeeeeeee!) and I wanted to leave you all with something a little fun … a kind of gift … for you to participate in.

Yes, I know last year’s gift ‘One for the ladies‘ is almost unbeatable without writing you all an erotic piece of flash but I didn’t want to go that route.

Instead, to send you all on your merry crimble way, I’ve written a scene for a fun game of GUESS WHO?

Yep, this snippet depicts some of the Holloway Pack … (dare I say it?) before they were famous (ha!).

My challenge to you is this: Guess Who‘s the toddler?

Thick dark hair stands on end, as defiant over laying flat as the boy is over smiling for the camera. His eyes, as dark as rich cocoa yet nowhere near as warm—not in this moment—stare across at the bundle in his mother’s lap.

Her fussing with the soft fleecy blanket reveals a robust baby with hair as dark as the toddler’s and almost as thick. This only seems to determine the grim line of the boy’s mouth further as his pudgy little arms fold over his puffed out chest. Not even the mother finally giving him her attention seems to waver his mood.

“Son.” His father, on the far side of his mother, leans around and beckons him closer. “Come on now. Come and stand by your mother.”

With an impressive scowl, the boy shakes his head.

A hulk of a guy behind the camera barks out a laugh. “Boy’s stubborn as a mule.”

“Wonder where he gets that from,” his mother mutters before she aims a smile at the toddler. “If you come and have your picture taken, Mummy will make you jelly and blancmange.”

The boy’s head tilts, as though he’s considering the barter, whilst the narrowing of his eyes suggests he’s waiting for the catch. Still, he refuses to smile. Refuses to step closer. And his folded arms tighten across his chest.

“Boy,” his father says, his expression firm, “you will come and stand by your mother. That is an order. Do you understand?”

The boy stares back at his father for seconds before he drags his feet across as though wading through a marsh. At his mother’s side, his fingers toy with the hem of her skirt, yet he still refuses to give the lens his full attention.

As the flash blinds the family on the sofa, the boy’s focus is wholly on the baby occupying his mother’s lap—the lap where he should be sitting—and he does not look happy.

So … d’you know who it is yet? Hehehehe.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS, ALL! HAVE A GREAT TIME!

ANY CHANCE OF A VOTE?

Due for release January ’12, my novella, Instinct, received its first review last week over at The Romance Studio. And not only a review, but a 5 heart review.

Wheeeeeeeeeee!

On top of that, they also entered it into this week’s 5 Heart Sweetheart vote. The winner gets their cover, buy link and a review snippet on The Romance Studio’s front door page the following week along with promotion on all of their social media outlets.

Sooooooooooo … any chance you’ll pop on over and vote for me?

Please?

Here’s the link: http://www.theromancestudio.com/5heart_form.php

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, I’m also over at the blog of the soon-to-be-new-author Keri Lake in my latest author interview today. What’s more, I’m not alone. Nope. I am there with the totally delicious Holloway Boys, Sean & Ethan: Check it out!

To all the amazing people who show support time and again for my writing: Thank you in advance! You’re totally awesome!

INTO THE UNKNOWN GOODNESS!

Yeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Do I sound excited?

I should. Because I am.

Any who have been following my 6SS posts will have had tiny little snippets tossed at them from my short story Marked.

Marked will appear in the Into the Unknown anthology, alongside Misguided by Aimee Laine (author of Little White Lies) and Tempted by Jocelyn Adams (author of the newly released The Glass Man), due for release 1^st December.

For any who have enjoyed my 6SS snippets, and new visitors alike, I have a real treat for you today.

The time has arrived to share Into the Unknown excerpts.

Yep, you heard me right.

Y’all are being given the chance at a sneak preview of what to expect when this little beauty is unleashed on the world.

For any who are totally oblivious as to what Into the Unknown could be, here is the blurb:

Three men never expected love to wreak so much havoc in their lives.

In Marked, Darkness & Light’s Sean Holloway is on a mission—to find the perfect gift for the woman of his dreams. When all conventional choices turn out to be the wrong ones, each failed attempt convinces Sean his self-imposed task is impossible. But in the world of the Holloway Pack, anything is possible if it can be kept a secret.

In Misguided, Little White Lies’s Wyatt Moreland is hot on the trail of a wanted man when a rumor about his fiancée halts his progress. His desire to keep her safe wars with her need to be involved in his work and could derail their entire wedding unless he finds out the truth before she does.

In Tempted, The Glass Man’s Liam Kane made a promise to the fae he loves never to use his power to harm others. When a horrific event angers him, the energy boiling inside seduces him into walking a dark path. He has but one choice: resist his own nature or give up the one he loves.

Will the three men make the right choices? Or will their actions destroy their futures with the women they love?

See? Mucho coolness!

So … you ready for my excerpt?

You sure?

Okay, okay, here it is, my lovelies; the opening to my short story, Marked (please note, bold denotes italics):

I had an assignment.

To find something special—preferably perfect.

To get it wrong could have catastrophic results.

To succeed, my mission had to stay a secret. I placed the chances of that happening at slim to none.

One week. One week to make my arrangements. One week to keep schtum.

Why didn’t I believe I could do it?

 ~*~*~*~

Gravel crunched underfoot as I strode across the driveway of the building site late Monday morning. To my rear loomed the apartment complex nearing exterior completion—the latest project of my family’s property development business. At the portacabin, I gave a quick glance behind myself. Once assured nobody trailed me, I tugged down the handle of the door.

I’d barely taken a step inside when I smelled her.

Jem. My mate.

Twin sapphires drew me as her face tilted up. “Hey.”

I froze on the spot, attempting to reflect the smile she sent me. “Um … hey.” I could have sworn she’d been in the showroom apartment.

In the corner, Dad turned his bulky frame, mug in hand. His bright blue eyes stared my way from beneath dark hair identical to mine and my brother’s. “What’s up?” The heavy scrutiny of my pack’s Alpha grounded me like an anchor despite the casual question.

My eyes flickered from him to Jem, back to him. “Nothing.”

I spun and walked out before he could ask anything more of me.

Shit! Now what?

Hehehehehee, poor Sean.

For Aimee’s Misguided excerpt and Jocelyn’s Tempted excerpt, simply visit their blogs (by clicking on their names up there ^).

Aaaaannnnnnnnd … on top of those? Over on the J. Taylor blog sometime today, my publisher will be hosting a MASSIVE giveaway.

MASSIVE!

From the J. Taylor blog:

{Giveaway} 4 books. 3 signed bookmarks. 1 triple-signed cover. All for YOU! Free!

Excerpts from each of our debut novelist’s entries in the Into The Unknown Anthology have posted on their respective blogs today. In honor of their releases in 2011 and the release of their combined upcoming anthology, we’re giving away ebooks of each novel AND one of Into the Unknown, signed bookmarks for each novel and a printed, signed cover for the Into the Unknown Anthology! Yes! All for 1 person.

One ebook of each of the following…

One signed bookmark like this:

And one printed signed cover of Into the Unknown!

All for YOU! Yes … YOU!

How do you get these goodies?

All you have to do is this:

Tell us why you’d want to read all three books and the anthology in the comments of this post!

Tell us why by or before Friday, October 28, 2011 at 5:00 pm ET, and you’ll have your books before the weekend begins!

This is open to International participants.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Exciting stuff, no?

So, what did you think? Did you enjoy my excerpt? Are you looking forward to Marked (and Into the Unknown)?

Psssst, don’t forget to go enter the contest! Your comments to enter must be on the J. Taylor blog post to count. Though feel free to comment hear, too.