Editing, Writing, and Reediting

Tags

#amediting, #amwriting, #wip, Burn, DANCE WITH ME, Nate & Belle, SPEEDING

Today was a rare grown-up snow day, and tomorrow will be as well.  Kentucky was slammed with a big winter storm and Lexington ended up with over ten inches of snow and a high in the teens, so everything shut down.  Given the chance to write instead of earning a real living today I tried to embrace it (well, around the barometric migraine) but all I managed to do was edit what was already there and decide that as much as I like the bones of this book, I’m not loving it the way it is.  This happened with Live For Me as well, so I’m not surprised, but I really don’t enjoy removing words when I feel like I should be adding them.

At the same time, I know Dance With Me is in need of some editing it didn’t get three years ago when I started this whole writing thing, and Speeding needs not only editing, but an actual ending, and I’ve come to the conclusion that Speeding might need to be wrapped before Burn can really move forward.  It’s a frustrating thought, but the Aylesford series really begins with Reid and Kendall.  So… yeah, I have a lot of work to do.

So… I suppose I should stop complaining and get back to work!

Awesome Reviews at The Jeep Diva!

Tags

#amwriting, #wip, DANCE WITH ME, Fight For Me, Five Star Reviews, Live For Me, reviews, Saturday Snippet, snippet, The Everetts of Tyler, The Jeep Diva

Both Everetts of Tyler books were reviewed by The Crazy Granny over on The Jeep Diva this week, and Dance came away with 4.5 Stars while Fight received 5 Stars!

Read both reviews here:

The Jeep Diva

Great reviews aside, I haven’t been writing like I’d like on Live For Me– although I am making progress, there is a slight chance the release date may have to be pushed back a bit.  We’ll see how Haleigh and Caleb (and Georgia) work out their lives (and if they work them out well together with no gaping plot holes, crappy dialogue, or stupid grammar…)  That said, today’s snippet!

She was cleaning up her office when a chill crawled up her spine, making her turn to look out the door and down the hall. Instincts on high alert, she took a deep breath to keep from panicking and searched the corridor for something or someone out of place. Finding nothing, she returned to her office, but the unease didn’t dissipate. Afraid something had happened to Georgia, she fished her phone from her bag.

“Mommy!” Georgie greeted from Caleb’s phone.

“Hi, baby. Are you having fun?”

“We seed a billion animals!”

“A billion?”

“Uh-huh. And we had hot dogs and ice cream!”

At least she could say Caleb was true to his word. “I’m happy you’re having such a good time, baby girl. Can I talk to Dr. E?”

She heard Georgia tell Caleb it was his turn, and braced herself for the sound of his deep voice in her ear. “We’re fine, Mommy,” Caleb said through a laugh when he took the phone from Georgia.

“I wasn’t worried,” she denied, causing his laughter to intensify.

“Yes you were, and that’s okay.”

She sighed. “Having fun, Doc?”

“More than I thought possible. I promise she’s fine, and I won’t let anything happen to her. You don’t have to worry, Angel.”

It was silly that his endearment made her feel better. Ignoring the niggling sensation something was still wrong, she said, “I’m glad you’re enjoying the zoo. I’ll see you both after work.”

 

 

The Everetts of Tyler Series on Sugar and Spice Reviews

Tags

book review, DANCE WITH ME, Fight For Me, Five Star Reviews, Live For Me, Saturday Snippet, Sugar and Spice Reviews, The Everetts of Tyler

Janet at Sugar and Spice Reviews reviewed both Dance With Me and Fight For Me (Five stars apiece!) and both books are featured over there (you know the drill, just click the link).

I’m amazed by all the reviews (no, really, I’m not fishing here, I swear).  My favorite parts of each review…

You can’t help but fall in love with Katerina and Mason. The secondary characters help develop the story and really draw you into their world.

 

 

 

Their passion for each other just leap off every page.  And what’s not to like about lots of hot, sweaty sex!   The suspense, danger and mystery kept me intrigued till the very end! 

 

 

 

So, now between working a million hours this holiday season, moving into our newly purchased house (still waiting for closing, but cross your fingers for us that it’s soon!), and trying to be a half-decent wife and mother, I am also working on Caleb’s book, Live For Me.  And… Since I won’t be doing a post tomorrow, how about a snippet from Book 3?

Her thoughts went to what he had said before she’d rudely fainted. “You’re afraid there’s a bomb?”

He nodded. “It’s possible.”

She felt herself get woozy and slid down the wall to sit on the floor. “I don’t like that idea.”

“I’m not fond of it either.” He knelt in front of her to study her intently, his dark chocolate eyes taking in every inch of her face. “Your pupils are dilated, your breathing erratic. Let’s get you somewhere safe.”

Before she could protest, he’d scooped her up, her arms automatically locking behind his head, her nose finding its way into the crook of his neck. His scent was intoxicating, and she was thankful she could blame her heart rate and breathing on a panic attack. She was safe with him. Safe enough to wallow in the connection with another human—a man no less—her body finally acknowledging that she was a woman after years of being nothing.

 

 

Shameless Self-Promotion!

Tags

AskDavid, DANCE WITH ME, Dylan and Cassidy, Fight For Me, Kat and Mason, Promotion, StoryFinds, The Everetts of Tyler

I have not been online very much this past week (this whole working thing is rather annoying), and I missed my Wednesday post, yet here I am with a rather shameless self-promotion.

First, I am now on Storyfinds, which is really cool page featuring great deals and recommendations.  I’m also now on Kindlegraph, so I can virtually sign your digital copy of DANCE WITH ME.  (Hey, paper won’t be around forever, right?)  Finally, DANCE WITH ME is featured on AskDavid, too.

Now, I know I don’t do this very often, so if you’ve already done this, or don’t care to, please don’t feel pressured or that I’m being whiny, but…  If you have read and loved DWM (or even if you haven’t and want to help), likes, tweets, recommendations and reviews are always appreciated.  I’m working on FIGHT FOR ME, and honestly, I am not great at this whole promotion thing, so any help is amazing.

So… now, it’s time for a snippet, isn’t it?

“Do you want to go home, or shall we stop for lunch?” Cassidy asked a frustrated Dylan.

Chuckling, Dylan asked, “Did you just say shall?”

“I did.” She bit her lip, stopping the snark that wanted to pop out of her mouth. “Would  you like to eat, or do you need to rest?”

“Can’t I do both?”

She barely resisted shoving him. “Would you just answer the damn question?”

Snippet Saturday

Tags

DANCE WITH ME, Fight For Me, RomCon, Saturday Snippet, SPEEDING

First, DANCE WITH ME is featured on RomCon this week!  It was scheduled for June 28th, but posted early, so if you haven’t already read it, pop by and make a comment to win a copy in the format of your choice.

Next, let’s do a snippet from FIGHT FOR ME, second in The Everetts of Tyler series.

She jerked her hands from her friend’s grasp. “It’s not like that. He’s just here to heal, and then he goes back home.”

“And home is where, exactly?”

“Outside Aylesford.”

“So, forty minutes from you?”

“When you put it like that…” she trailed off, not sure where she was going with the thought.

Rochelle shot her a scathing look. “Cassidy Everett, I have never known you to be a coward.”

“I’m not being a…” She stopped, not allowing herself to think about Rochelle’s point. “Let’s just get that flippin’ plea agreement figured out and put this case to bed.”

With a sigh, Rochelle sat back down at her desk. “Fine, but ignoring the problem never makes it go away.”

“I’m ignoring you anyway.”

“Me, you can ignore. Six and half feet of muscled white man at your house? Honey, you can’t ignore that.”

“I can sure try.”

Just for fun, maybe we’ll do a snippet from SPEEDING, too.  Chapter 12 is coming along, and should be finished and posted by the end of the month.  Thanks for hanging in there with me for the loooooong stretches between chapters!  This snippet is from Chapter 10.

He came around the truck to wrap her in his arms. “God, I love you,” he told her before covering her mouth with his own.

She looped her arms around his neck as she jumped to wrap her legs around his waist. “Show me,” she demanded breathlessly between kisses.

He carried her easily, much as he had that first night, unlocking the door and pressing her against it once they were inside. “Right here, right now,” he told her before taking her mouth again. “I want you all the damn time. I think about you when I should be doing something else. I can’t believe you promised to be mine forever, and you’ll be an amazing mother.”

She anchored her hands in his hair, staring into his deep blue eyes as she said, “We will be amazing parents to Annie and anybody else we’re blessed with.” She kissed him sweetly before pulling away to give him a wicked smile. “Until then, why don’t we practice?”

Music

Tags

DANCE WITH ME, Fight For Me, Inspiration, Music, The Everetts of Tyler

I love music in most forms.  Personally, I am a vocalist and while I can read music and have tried my hand at writing it, I can’t particularly play any instruments save for plucking out the correct keys on the piano (slowly).  Music has played a big part in my life, and that definitely carries into my writing as well.  So… Let’s have fun with music, shall we?

First, an important song from DANCE WITH ME.  I chose this because I love the lyric, and it happens to be a waltz.  Alicia Keys, If I Ain’t Got You.

A song that has featured while writing FIGHT FOR ME is this one, Fall Into Me by Brantley Gilbert

While we’re at it, as I was plotting the rest of the series, Thompson Square’s new song Glass struck a chord.

And Jo Dee Messina’s Burn

As you can tell, I tend to gravitate toward country music–I love the stories, the feelings evoked.  I do, however, enjoy listening to many genres.  Now, for the question of the post: What songs inspire you?

Oh, I also wanted to point out the new addition to the blog.  I have added a page devoted to The Everetts of Tyler series, with blurbs and the release schedule.

A Six Day Week

Tags

DANCE WITH ME, Fight For Me, SPEEDING, writing

The problem with the whole working thing is that sometimes I don’t get to write like I’d like.  This week I’m working Monday through Saturday, so I will be writing at night, but we’ll see how the work count comes out.  Good news?  I’m definitely writing.  Bad news? Well, I have SPEEDING and FIGHT WITH ME to work on, and Cassidy and Dylan are flowing better in my head than the next installment of Kendall and Reid.  Chapter 12 will be this month, though… I just have to switch gears from Tyler back to Aylesford.  Easy, right?

So… That said, how do you feel about a snippet from FIGHT FOR ME?

She should step away. Run away. Anything. Instead of heeding the warning bells in her head, she skimmed her hands up his washboard abs to his hard chest. How could he look so amazing in a sling and gauze? She scooted closer until her hard nipples were against his bandaged torso, separated by only the thin cotton of her shirt. Aching to be closer to him, she shifted to encircle his neck with her arms. He was so tall, she still had to tilt her head to look into his molten gold eyes, the heat of his body burning her through her clothes. She shouldn’t be here like this, but she didn’t care. She could worry and feel guilty tomorrow.

Sunday Six!

Tags

DANCE WITH ME, Fight For Me, Six Sentence Sunday

I know I haven’t done Six Sentence Sunday in a while, I hope you forgive me!

He devoured her, one hand in her hair, the other on her hip. Miraculously, they made it to the desk without injury, focused as they were on each other. He wanted to give her pretty words of love and encouragement, and he promised himself he would. Later.

Kat had no intention of making Mason jealous when she’d come downstairs to dance. Every day she danced in front of an audience, and he had never reacted like this. 

I apologize for such a short post this week, but I am working on SPEEDING, Chapter 12 and FIGHT FOR ME, so I am a busy bee!

Go check out the other sixers this week!

I’ll Admit, I Got Teary-Eyed

Tags

book review, DANCE WITH ME, Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews, Jimmy Thomas cover, New Release, SPEEDING, tears of joy

So, this morning DANCE WITH ME was reviewed by Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews and got 4 stars!

The review is here:  http://www.guiltypleasuresbookreviews.com/2012/05/review-dance-with-me-by-hayden-braeburn.html

Of course, if you’ve been following/reading me for a while, you followed the tie-in with our Aylesford cops.  If not, click the link to SPEEDING in the sidebar.  (Can’t miss it, it’s a hot Jimmy Thomas cover).

Oh, yeah, the links… Can’t forget the links!

Dance With Me on Amazon

Dance With Me on Smashwords

Dance With Me on B&N

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since it’s Sunday, let’s do Six Sentences, too.

He raised his eyebrows at his brother. “The pleasure is all mine.” Caleb held onto her long enough to watch his brother’s coffee eyes heat. With a grin at Mason, he dropped her hand. “So, Katerina is the woman you’ve been mooning over lately?”

Mooning over? Was he that dopey? 

And We’re LIVE!!!

Tags

Bitch Can Write a Book, DANCE WITH ME, Friends are awesome, Jimmy Thomas cover, New Release

Today is a special day.  Not only it is a wonderful, supportive and overall fabulous friend’s birthday, but it’s release day for DANCE WITH ME!

Dance With Me on Amazon

Dance With Me on Smashwords

Dance With Me on B&N

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re saying, “That’s great and all, Hayden, but…um… what’s it about?  Here’s the blurb:

Champion ballroom dancer Katerina Nemecek pushed the love of her life away when he offered to save her studio from foreclosure. She loved him despite the secrecy surrounding their relationship, but she refused to take advantage of him or his wealth.

Mason Everett wants nothing more than to share his life, his family, and his fortune with Kat, but keeping her a secret was the only way he could keep her safe. He’d rather hide her away than chance losing her.

When Kat and Mason’s relationship finally goes public, it sets in motion a plan to keep them apart. Can they survive the firestorm to dance together forever?

A long excerpt is on my site here: http://haydenbraeburn.weebly.com/dance-with-me.html

Oh, and speaking of the lovely birthday girl, Maureen has gushed about DANCE here: http://bitchcanwriteabook.blogspot.com/2012/05/dance-with-me-everetts-of-tyler-by.html I can’t begin to tell you how much of a cheerleader she is (although, admittedly, she tends to just scream, “MORE!” at me).  She and Cindy at BCWAB are amazing, and I have to give a shout-out to my beta-readers (a wonderful group), as well as a big, giant pat on the back to Jodi Jo, the incredible cover artist.  I hope the book lives up to the visual she created (props go to Jimmy Thomas and RNC for the original photo, too).

So, yeah, now what?  Well, it’s long past time for Chapter 12 of SPEEDING (I heard you, Maureen!), and FIGHT FOR ME is knocking around in my head, too.

Oh, you wanted a snippet?  Let’s pretend it’s Sunday and do Six Sentences.

His eyes traveled slowly down her body, snagging on all the good places. “You look wonderful, Katerina,” he said, his voice rough.

She swallowed. “We match, Mason. We look like we’re trying too hard.”

“You were made for me, babe. Matching or not won’t change that.”