The Tuesday Tease~!

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.

Also, there’s Laken!

Happy reading!