Welcome back to the Tuesday tease!
As we begin the long goodbye to Celestra I thought I’d pepper the
Tuesday tease with some fun facts, mostly random stuff, I find amusing
regarding the series and my time writing it in general.
First, ELYSIAN edits are going great. It’s a large book so my
editor has chopped it in half just for edits. She’s finished the first half and now
I’m combing over it in final read-throughs (yes, final!). I expect the rest
either later this week or early, next. *somewhere Sarah cries* As for the
unusual girth, I’m sure some will say why is this book so damn big? And others
will say, hey this book isn’t that big at all! Where the hell’s rest of it?
Whichever camp you find yourself in just know each word was born of love and
perhaps a little too much lust on Skyla’s part, but I won’t take credit for that.
5 random Celestra confessions!
1. Since I began the series over two years ago I've gained what I not-so-affectionately call the
Celestra 15. (I completely blame my addiction to Nutella.)
2. My house looks wrecked twenty-four seven, unless company is
coming then I put in a manic cleanup effort. But in my defense that’s exactly
how I operated before Celestra, so there’s that.
3. I never made it a practice to drink caffeinated coffee before writing the series and
now I can’t even look at decaf. What’s the point?
4. I’ve convinced myself that it’s OK to live in the alternate
world of Paragon. Only half of the stuff that actually goes on in that island ever makes
it into the books. ;) True story.
5. While penning ETHEREAL, out on the patio, an overgrown crow (a
raven perhaps?) made a concerted effort to hop around my laptop until finally I gave in
and put him in my book. While penning ELYSIAN an overgrown crow (could it be
the same freakishly large bird?) has been hovering around the house. When I
take my laptop out back, he joins me. I think this proves that indeed,
Nevermore lives.
I’m going to do my best to get a cover for ELYSIAN this week. I’m
crazy deep in edits so if I’m slacking on anything, please forgive!
And as soon as my betas read “the end” and let me know their thoughts, I’ll
share them with you (albeit vaguely ;)
So soon you’ll have all the answers! West High and its
relatively psychotic student body will be but a memory. But, we’ll always
have Paragon.
On to the teasers!
THE SOLITUDE OF PASSION
*(Mitch saying goodbye to his pregnant wife, Lee, at LAX before departing
for a business trip to China. He’s taking his brother Colt’s place on the trip.)
Lee swoops in and shoos Colt away. Her face is
blotched, and her eyes stained with large, dark rings from crying. It’s a
haunting image that sears itself into my mind before I can stop it.
“Love you.” I press a kiss into her, deep and
lingering, as if we were alone. I don’t usually make it a practice to make out
with Lee in front of my mother, but this is an exception. I fight the urge to
start breaking all sorts of carnal rules like taking off her clothes—having her
right here at the baggage check in.
“I can’t do this without you.” The words
strangle out of her, broken in pieces, as she glides her hand over her stomach.
My hearts breaks just witnessing all of the
misery I’ve caused, and I haven’t even left yet. I sweep my thumb over her cheek
and press in a kiss to her forehead.
“I’ll be right back.” Made it sound like I was
going to the refrigerator.
“What if you’re not?” Her eyes are on fire with
grief, her lips quiver with fear; although, I’d like to think it was the kiss I
just delivered that was making her tremble.
We hadn’t entertained the theory of anything
tragic happening until now. Something tells me it’s too late to explore the
concept, so I nip it.
“But I will be,” I whisper. “I promise you.
I’ll be okay. Don’t fall in love with Colt while I’m gone.”
She shakes her head like a frightened
schoolgirl. I want to add, if I don’t
come back it’s okay to fall in love with Colt. Something tells me to say it,
but I don’t.
I crash my lips into hers instead.
ELYSIAN (Celestra Series Book 8) The Final book
in the young adult series
*(Skyla at the senior rally)
I tried to find Marshall before the rally began but he was nowhere
to be found. He’s faculty, and perverted—he’s practically required to attend
all events that star teenaged girls in their skivvies.
*(Brielle giving Skyla advice on her love life while getting ready
for Halloween)
“Hey you just called
yourself his girlfriend. I think that’s a part of the problem. You think each
one of them is your boyfriend. You’re going to have to deal with the fact that
you need to let two of them go.” She dots my forehead aggressively with a
charcoal finish. “I know! Why don’t you envision them each with another girl,
and the one you’re the most pissed at for cheating is the one you can’t live
without.”
*(Marshall, Skyla, Candace, Logan)
“Marshall,” I say it breathless. “That was so incredible.”
A gavel sounds, and I look in the direction of the clatter to find
my mother seated with the Justice Alliance. The erotic rooms filled with our
love are all but gone, replaced with the Elysian Fields. My mother and her
panel are seated high over a lake that reflects the lavender sky.
“What was so incredible, Skyla?” My mother rises to greet me.
“Yes, Skyla.” Logan pops up beside me and reels me in. “What was so
incredible?”
Hope you enjoyed the teasers!
Remember Ethereal Knights is live if you haven’t checked out what
the boys have to say yet. They’re a little naughty but oh so delicious.
Happy reading!
