Monday 18 November 2013

My SUPER, BIG, news...

So...I could write a long post detailing my journey as a writer.  From my first self-published book, a little known paranormal romance called Irresistible Fear, that while it didn't sell much is still the story closest to my heart.  


  Or I could tell you how it blew my mind that people actually wanted to read the stories I had to tell.  That when I set out to publish first, Find You in the Dark and then Bad Rep, I thought to myself:

  No one is going to want to read this.  What if no one likes it?  What if I'm just not that good of a writer? 



  And then, as crazy as it seemed to me, you guys started reading these books of mine.  

And I was over the freaking moon!





 And as you joined me on this insane journey, I started to think...hey, maybe I can do this.  Maybe I can make this dream a career.  



  I have always been proud to be an Indie writer.  
My heart, my blood, my sweat, and my tears are firmly rooted in the Indie community.

Because...


I never thought traditional publishing would be in the cards for me.  I've had the door slammed in my face enough times that I learned not to expect it.  I'd get so close...my hopes would go sky high, only to have reality hit me in the face.

Really, really hard.  



But then a super awesome editor from Gallery, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, contacted my agent about the possibility of having me write a brand new series for them.  At first I was like...


I'm a total control freak by nature, so the thought of writing on someone else's timeline DID NOT appeal to me.  But I started talking to the editor and we did a little brainstorming.  I told her this idea I had for a story about a guy and a girl and the scary, consuming world of addiction, all in the midst of the underground club scene.  This story came in part from mine and my husband's life experiences.  

The super awesome editor loved it.  I loved it.  And then I thought...
I think I want to do this.

So my announcement is that I've signed a two book deal with Gallery Books.  The first book is called

Lead Me Not
Coming in October, 2014

So what does this mean for my other projects?  Not a damn thing folks!  I will still have Reclaiming the Sand out in early 2014.  The next Bad Rep novel, Vivian and Cole's story, will also be out in early 2014.  I'm so lucky that Gallery are willing to work with my indie schedule so that I can still give you the stories I've promised you.  But I can't wait for you to meet Maxx and Aubrey in Lead Me Not.  This story is gritty and raw.  It's the sort of troubled romance my readers know I love to write.  

So here is what you can expect from LEAD ME NOT!!!!

College student, Aubrey Duncan, is pulled into the dangerous underbelly of the city club scene after meeting a sexy and mysterious stranger.  Lead Me Not tells the dark story of love and addiction and fighting a temptation that could lead to destruction.

So there you have it...my super amazing news.  I hope you'll be as excited to read this story as I am to give it to you.

But most importantly...I want to THANK each and every reader who took a chance on an unknown indie writer and has loved and championed me every step of the way!

Without you...none of this matters!




Friday 1 November 2013

RELEASE DAY FOR THE 12 NA'S of CHRISTMAS!!!

It's finally here, the official release date for the 12 NA's of Christmas!!!



We have been working on this project for so long!  I was beyond excited when I was asked to join up with 11 authors who are absolutely incredible!

The 12 NA's of Christmas are 12 separate New Adult novellas with a Christmas theme.  Some are written as part of an author's existing series (like mine, Warmth in Ice).  Others are written as a stand alone.

Here is a complete list and each are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other e-book retailers:

A. Meredith Walters (me!!!)- Warmth in Ice (A Find You in the Dark novella)
Addison Moore- Winter Kisses
Breena Wilde- Frosted Midnight
H.M. Ward- A Little Christmas Romance (this one will be available SOON)
Chelsea M. Cameron- Christmas Catch
Sawyer Bennett- If I Return
Sarra Cannon- A Season for Hope
Shelly Crane- Wide Spaces
Magan Vernon- Off the Market
Tiffany King- Cross Country Christmas
Zoe Dawson- Brave
Marquita Valentine- All for You


You can find buy links as well as the entire list on our website:  



You can also visit our author's page over on Amazon:



Here's a more about my novella: Warmth in Ice (a Find You in the Dark novella:



The Final chapter in Clay and Maggie's epic love story that began with Find You in the Dark.

This novella takes place before the epilogue in Light in the Shadows.

It's Clay and Maggie's first Christmas together but will it be a season of joy or will it only bring heartache?

Clay and Maggie have gone through the dark and come out on the other side.  For the first time, they are on this journey together.  Fighting for something they both need and can't live without...each other.

But long distance relationships are hard.  Particularly for two people who are still trying to build something solid on a shaky and troubled foundation.  Clay is finally out of treatment and is living in an out patient halfway house.  He struggles with what he wants to do and where he wants to go.  Question he worries he will never have the answers to.  Maggie is trying to transition into college life and learning how to create a future with someone who is over a thousand miles away.

As the months pass and they struggle with being a part, old insecurities and fears take root and threaten a love that has come so far.

When Maggie decides to fly to Florida as a surprise for Clay on Christmas, she is  unsure whether it will be the first step toward what they both desperately want or whether it could possibly be the end of it all.

But with the holidays approaching, Maggie and Clay are reminded that even when the days are coldest, you cans till find the warmth and that hope and love are the greatest gifts of all.





Friday 18 October 2013

It's Cover Reveal Time!!! The 12 NA's of Christmas!

I am so excited to reveal the covers for the 12 NA's of Christmas! These are 12 different Christmas novellas from 12 bestselling authors. Warmth in Ice is a Christmas novella for fans of Find You in the Dark and Light in the Shadows.  I hope you enjoy this final chapter in Clay and Maggie's love story!




It’s Maggie and Clay’s first Christmas together…

***Spoilers for those who have not read Find You in the Dark or Light in the Shadows***


Clay and Maggie have gone through the dark and come out on the other side. For the first time, they are on this journey together. Fighting for something they both need and can’t live without…each other. 

 But a long distance relationship is hard. Particularly for two people who are still trying to build something solid on a shaky and troubled foundation. Clay is finally out of treatment and is living in an out patient halfway house. He struggles with what he wants to do and where he wants to go. Questions he worries he will never have the answers to.  Maggie is trying to transition into college life and learning how to create a future with someone who is over a thousand miles away. 

 As the months pass and they struggle with being a part, old insecurities and fears take root and threaten a love that has come so far. 

 When Maggie decides to fly to Florida as a surprise for Clay on Christmas, she is unsure whether it will be the first step toward what they both desperately want or whether it could possibly be the end of it all. 

 But with the holidays approaching, Maggie and Clay are reminded that even when the days are coldest, you can still find the warmth and that hope and love are the greatest gifts of all.




Warmth in Ice and the other 12 NA's of Christmas novellas will be released separately on 
NOVEMBER 1st!!!
Several are tied into an existing series but others can be read as a stand alone! 

You can find out more about each of the 12 NA's of Christmas titles here:


Saturday 7 September 2013

Perfect Regret Release Date

              Mark your calendar!  Perfect Regret will be released on SEPTEMBER 13th!  



Monday 15 July 2013

NAmazing Adventure!!!



Welcome to my stop on the NAmazing Adventure, a blog hop featuring over 60 New Adult authors, and prize packs that include ARCs, signed books, gift cards, swag, and more! If you're not sure what the NAmazing Adventure is, please CLICK HERE  to start from the beginning and read the complete rules on the NA Alley website. Now let's get this journey on the road!




"Who gives a damn about their reputation? Oh, that would be me! Especially since mine had gone straight to hell in the span of thirty minutes".

Maysie Ardin is soaking up the summer before her junior year of college, shopping, hanging by the pool and shopping some more. But when her black belt in spending lands her in trouble with her parents, she is forced to take a second job at a local bar to dig herself out of a deep financial pit.

She thought she’d be miserable. But then Maysie didn’t count on Jordan Levitt, the hot, pierced and tattooed, drum playing bartender who also happens to be very interested in her. And the feelings are totally mutual.

It had the makings of the perfect romantic set up. Boy meets girl. Boy likes girl. Boy has girlfriend? Okay, maybe not.

But attraction is a hard thing to ignore and soon Jordan and Maysie find themselves in the middle of a gossip induced firestorm. Maysie has to learn whether she can set aside her fear of public disapproval in order to be with the one she wants. Or will she let the opinions of others dictate her life and her heart?


Got that jotted down in your quest scroll?
Great, because you’ll need it for the quiz at the end of this quest! And remember, you must complete ALL SIX quizzes to be eligible for a prize pack.

HOLD ON!!!!  You have a chance to win a signed paperback copy of Bad Rep right here in addition to the NAmazing Adventure giveaway!  All you have to do is like my page on Facebook or follow me on Twitter!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Thanks for stopping by. Ready to move on?
CLICK HERE to go to the next stop on your adventure!  Good Luck!!! -A




Tuesday 25 June 2013

Last Perfect Regret teaser of the day...

First I want to say THANK YOU for all the awesome birthday wishes!  I can't tell you how much it means to me to have each and every one of you supporting me and my books the way that you do!  So here is the final Perfect Regret teaser for my Birthday Extravaganza!  This scene is shorter than the other two...but it's pretty steamy!  Enjoy some Riley and Garrett lovin'!!!  This is unedited so forgive the typos and grammatical mayhem!

*Intended for mature audiences- over 18***

*************

He lifted my hair and swept it over my shoulder.  His lips were hot on my skin as he kissed my neck.  “We can’t keep doing this.  I can’t stand you,” I said in a shaky voice as I felt the tip of his tongue glide along the outside of my ear. 

  Garrett turned me so I faced him, his eyes smoldering as he looked down at me.  He grabbed the hem of my shirt and yanked it over my head, leaving me in only my black lace bra.  He traced his finger along the top of my breasts, making me shiver. 

  “I can’t stand you either.  Your mouth just doesn’t know when to stop.  The shit that you say makes me want to strangle you,” his voice was low and rough as he cupped my breasts, his thumbs rubbing my already taut nipples. 

  Garrett leaned down so that his lips brushed against mine.  Our breath was coming in short, erratic bursts.  “I don’t particularly like you Riley.  But right now I want to fuck you,” he growled.  My eyes widened, my heart sped up and my panties grew instantly wet. 

  My fingers curled into his messy hair and I pulled with enough force to make him wince.  “You’re an asshole,” I whispered, not trusting my voice at the moment.  Garrett’s emitted a low groan as I yanked on his hair again.  I bit his bottom lip, pulling it into my mouth.


  “And I want you to fuck me,” I said raggedly.  Garrett gripped the back of my head, holding me in place as his mouth slammed down on mine.  I hated him.  He made me want to pull my hair out.  But goddamn it, I wanted to taste every inch of him.  And I knew by the frantic way he touched me, that he felt the same way.

Happy Birthday TO ME!

Throughout the day I will be posting some Perfect Regret teasers.  One now, another one this afternoon and then one later tonight.  I also have an awesome Perfect Regret surprise to share with you later!  But for now, have a look at the awesome friendship between Maysie and Riley.  You were introduced to their fun dynamic in Bad Rep.  Maysie was the the angst filled, sometimes whiny sorority chick while Riley was the snarky, tell it like it is best friend.  Now see how thing have flipped for the both of them.  Riley is a bit of a mess and Maysie is there to help her sort it out!  Enjoy!!!


*******

     “Riley, don’t make the same mistakes I did.  I almost lost the most important thing in my life because I had unrealistic expectations about what a relationship should look like,” Maysie warned, taking the bowl of popcorn from my hands.  I didn’t even try to stop her.  I was too busy processing the fact that at some point in all of this mess our roles had reversed.  Maysie had, unbeknownst to me, become the no nonsense voice of reason and I had become the screwed up head case with a bad case of I-can’t-make-up-my-mind.
 
  I started to chew on the skin around my thumb.  “I know I’m being a hypocrite.  I know I’m not making a shit bit of sense, but…”  I let my words trail off.  No reason to cut myself open completely.  I was feeling way too vulnerable and way too touchy.  I hated that my world had turned upside down because of a guy. 

  Somehow, someway, Garrett Bellows had gotten underneath my skin in the worst way possible.  He was like a parasite, slowly sucking me dry.  That’s what he was!  I gigantic, blonde haired, too-cute-for-his-own-good tape worm, eating away at me from the inside out. 

  “He scares you,” Maysie piped up, grinning at me as she shoved a handful of popcorn into her mouth.  She needed to keep that mouth full because I wasn’t appreciating her on the nose analysis of my internal conflict. 

  I made a noise that sounded like I was choking.  “Scared?  Give me a fucking break, Mays.  Annoyed? Yes.  Frustrated?  You betcha.  Ready to take off someone’s head? Looking more and more like a definite,” I said giving her a pointed look.  “But never, ever scared,” I said with more conviction than I felt.

  Maysie chuckled.  “Oh yes he does.  He gives you butterflies.  He makes you sweat.  He calls you on your bullshit and keeps you on your toes.  You both love and hate how he does that.  He has you tied up in so many knots you can’t get out.  And Miss I-Have-My Whole-World-Figured-Out is going crazy because of it,” Maysie seemed entirely too proud of her deduction. 

  I opened my mouth to say something but she cut me off…again!  “I’m not saying this to be mean, but Riley you’ve become your own worst enemy.  I know you think Garrett has nothing to offer.  That you’re embarrassed by the fact that you actually like him.  But he’s a good guy.  He’s a smart guy.  And there is no one else in this world that would lay everything at your feet the way that he would.  Remember that when you’re sitting in your room later, thinking of a thousand reasons you shouldn’t give things with him a try.  Remember he’s the same guy who had your back with Jaz.  He’s the same guy who drove you over three hundred miles to be with your grandmother.”  My throat felt uncomfortably tight and I blinked rapidly to try to hold off the tears.  I will not cry like a little bitch! 


  “And remember he’s the guy who has made you feel like you’re worth all the hassle.  That no matter what you dish out, he is there to take it.  To volley it right back and is there to go toe to toe any time you’re ready.”  Maysie squeezed my hands.  “Damien wasn’t that guy for you.  But Garrett is,” she said softly and I closed my eyes and tried to take a deep breath around the huge, crushing weight in my chest. 

Tuesday 14 May 2013

Perfect Regret snippet!

Okay, here's a little glimpse of Riley and Garrett.  This is UNEDITED and subject to change.  But these two have been entirely TOO much fun to write!  I hope you enjoy it and thank you for all the new likes!!!

*This contains adult contain and is meant for readers over 18 years old!!!*

****




I was being smothered!  I literally could not get air in and out of my lungs.  My brain was fuzzy, my head felt like it was being clenched in a vice and my eyes were having a hard time adjusting in the pitch blackness.

Where the fuck was I?

I tried to sit up and realized that the reason I was having such a hard time drawing breath had to do with the heavy, sweaty male form laying prostrate over me.  And did I mention this male form was NAKED? 

Oh God!  I was NAKED! 

I tried to roll out from underneath the unidentified man but all I got for my efforts was to be squeezed even tighter against hot, sweaty, NAKED guy.  

I flopped back down on the bed, trying not to freak out at the feel of a very erect penis digging into my hip.  Because it was quite obvious that I had engaged in drunken, monkey sex with my current bed partner. 

And what was even more messed up was I had no idea who he was. 

I couldn’t make out anything about him in the darkness.  But his hair was tickling the hell out of my nose and I was trying really hard not to sneeze and blow snot all over him and thus making this awkward and mortifying experience all that much better.

The guy mumbled something in his sleep and he nuzzled his face into my neck.  I was a rigid block of stone.  I needed an escape plan.  Like two minutes ago.

But one thing was for sure, whoever ambiguous sex dude was, he smelled good.  We’re talking really, really good.  Like smoke and outdoors and something extremely masculine.  But I could give a shit if he smelled like chocolate and vomited up hundred dollar bills, I had made a decision last night based on too much alcohol and a bad case of rebounditis.  And that made my feelings about my current situation bordering on hysteria.

I glanced over at the alarm clock on the small bedside table.   It claimed to be 5:00 in the morning.  Entirely too early to be up under normal circumstances.  But this was anything but normal.  Because I was living in morning after hell.  And that was about as far from my normal as one could get. 

Mr. Stiffy rolled his hips, grinding his ever-present erection into my side again.  And Riley Walker Junior, who had been happily slumbering between my legs, began to stir.   

Go back to sleep you wanton slut!  I screamed silently to my insolent vagina.  She and I were not in agreement as to the best way to handle this.

Because even though my brain couldn’t remember my night of lust, other parts of my body obviously had clear as crystal memories of it.

Once mystery guy settled back into sleep, I started the futile process of trying to wiggle out from underneath him.  My hands pressed into surprisingly smooth and hard skin and I flattened my palms against his seemingly muscular chest in an effort to budge the massive amounts of man pinning me to the bed.

Even in my moment of self-mortifying disgust, I was pleased that my bed partner appeared to have a nice body.  Glad to know that in my drunken psychosis I could still be called on to pick a guy with a nice set of abs.

Get a grip, Riley!  As if his body really matters when you’re trying to walk of shame out of here!  I scolded myself harshly.

After a few minutes I grudgingly realized I was stuck.  My ass wasn’t going anywhere.  And now I had to pee.  My bladder was being pressed painfully by the guy’s weight. 

Ah, Fuck it!

“Hey!”  I yelled, shoving the dude’s shoulder.  He grunted and tightened his ironclad grip around my waist.  If he didn’t get off of me in about ten seconds, he was going to wake up in a very wet bed. 

I leaned in close and moved some hair away from his ear, making a concerted effort to not notice how soft and silky it felt between my fingers.  “Wake up!” I yelled and then smacked the back of his head for good measure.

Yep, that did the trick. 

The guy bolted straight up in bed.  “What the fuck?” he yelled and leaned over to flip on the lamp.  And it was then that I got my first glimpse of my one night stand.

“You have GOT to be fucking with me?” I screeched, hurriedly pulling up the sheet to cover my entirely too naked breasts. 

Garrett Bellows, lead guitarist for Generation Rejects and otherwise annoying human being, ran a hand through his shoulder length blonde hair and blinked at me in confusion.  “What the hell is your problem?” he asked, scrubbing his face with his hands before dropping back onto the bed.  My eyes drifted down the length of his very toned and obnoxiously nice body until they stopped and honed in on a very prominent part of his anatomy that I only too recently felt pressed intimately against me.  And Mr. Veined and Throbbing was at attention and on very prominent display.  I swallowed thickly as images came swimming back through my hazy memory.

Garrett kissing me as though I had been the air he breathed.  Garrett slowly taking off my clothes and then laying me out on the bed I now found myself in.  I closed my eyes and could see him over me as his weight pressed me into the mattress.

I shivered uncontrollably.  Shit, shit, shit!

I opened my eyes and sneered at him, throwing a sheet over his lower half.  “Cover yourself up, will you?” I snarled, leaning over the side of the bed and finding my shirt from the night before.  I quickly pulled it over my head and felt better at having a barrier between Garrett and my skin. 

Garrett had lowered his arm and was watching me.  He didn’t look angry by my attitude.  He didn’t appear to be hurt in any way, which was both a relief and weirdly disappointing. 

He seemed only thoughtful.  Curious even.  What the hell?

“Where are my pants?” I muttered under my breath.  I got out of bed, trying not to die of total embarrassment as I flashed Garrett a pretty picture of my ass while I bent over to retrieve the rest of my discarded clothing.  As I finished getting dressed, I muttered, I cursed and I otherwise fumed at my total idiocy.

And Garrett freaking Bellows didn’t say a damned thing.  He just lay there, watching me, as though he found me supremely entertaining. 

“Do you know where my keys are?” I asked him, hating that I had to talk to him at all.  I would rather have left with my head hung in shame, never to reveal my night as Miss Skankalicious to anyone…ever.

Garrett pointed across the room.  “You dropped your purse when we came in here last night.  I’m guessing you’ll find them in there,” he remarked dryly.  He stood up and I was treated to another view of his body.  And my body tingled in response. 

Time to shut that crap down here and now. 

“I just need to get out of here,” I said more to myself than to him but he heard me loud and clear.

“Why the rush?” Garrett asked, cocking his eyebrow.  His blasé nonchalance prickled my already testy nerves and reminded me of why he annoyed the shit out of me.  People that laid back drove me crazy. 

“No sense in wasting anymore of your time.  I think we’re done here,” I spat out, glaring at him.  I knew I was being a bitch but I was mortified by my behavior.  Riley Walker does not get so drunk she blacks out.  Riley Walker does not have sex with a guy she barely knows; particularly when said guy was one she could barely stand.

And apparently Riley Walker was now talking about herself in the third person. Hello insanity!

Garrett pulled on a pair of sweat pants and lifted my purse.  I grit my teeth as he crooked his finger in my direction.  “You want it, come over here and get it.”  He was messing with me, trying to make me more uncomfortable than I already was.   Well screw him!  

Wait...I already did that...Ugg!

I snatched it from him, making sure not to touch him as I did so.  More flashes flooded my brain.  

His lips.  His hands.  The way he said my name right before he kissed me.

What I wouldn’t give for another bought of alcohol-induced amnesia right about now.

Garrett’s eyes heated for a moment, as though he could read my mind.  His gaze slid down the length of me and then back up to meet my eyes where they cooled slowly.  His mouth, entirely too pretty to be on a guy, set into a firm line and for a second I felt a flash of regret.

Not for our night together, but for the way I was treating him.  He didn’t deserve to be shitted on because I was feeling like a fuck up.  I opened my mouth to apologize, a Riley Walker first, when he beat me to the punch.

He opened the door to his bedroom and gave me a cold smile.  “Oh, we’re done here alright.”  Garrett ran his fingers down the side of my neck and I couldn’t help but notice the way his face softened a bit before he went in for the kill.

“It was fun, but I won’t be signing up for round two.  You can leave now.”  He grinned at me and my face flushed red in a mixture of humiliation and gnaw through his jugular rage. 

Screw the apology!

I leaned up on my tiptoes, my hands gripping his shoulders.  My lips hovered near his and I smirked inwardly at the sound of the hitch in his breathing.  “Well it’s a good thing you were entirely forgettable then,” I whispered, licking my lips slowly and chuckling as Garrett’s eyes dropped to my mouth.

“Now get the fuck out of my way,” I bit out, moving away from him.  Garrett blinked, his eyes becoming once again glacial cool and he gestured me out into the hallway and the proceeded to slam the door to his room behind me. 

Well that went well.  I thought as I made my way as stealthily as possible out of the house.  Maysie was nowhere in sight and hell if I was going to look for her.  I needed to go home, stat!

I started up my car, and chanced one last glance toward the house.  Curtains moved in one of the second story windows and I could have sworn I saw Garrett watching me. 

Crap, there it was again.  

Regret.  

And as I drove away from Garrett’s house, I wanted desperately to leave that unfortunate feeling behind but it took up quiet residence in my heart and I feared it wouldn’t let go anytime soon.