Friday, June 28, 2013

Undertow Picture Teaser #2

Happy Friday, reader-friends!

Several of my Indelible sistahs (link) are at UtopYA (link), where they've been nominated for awards--Rock on, ladies! I am #soproud.

I'm headed down to the hot & sticky south to see all my friends and relatives in La-Miss. Wherever YOU are, I hope you're having a relaxing, FUN holiday!

Now--who's got two thumbs and is ready for more Undertow? (this girl)

Add it on Goodreads
*sigh*... Meg.

* * *

Pulling the curtain back: The scariest part of this whole publishing process--besides release day--is when I send that first set of eARCs to my trusted beta readers. Will they love it? Hate it? Tell me it's time to resume the old editing job... *chews nails*

That's where we are in the process now, and the good news is so far early response has been very positive. And I REALLY got excited when two of my beta readers sent me long, happy blurbs--!!

I'm happy to unveil a few early endorsements for you, reader-friends. See what you think~

On Goodreads
"Undertow pulled me under and left me gasping for air and wanting so much more. I couldn’t stop thinking about these characters after Dragonfly, and now I’ll never be able to get a shirtless Bill Kyser out of my head. A sexy summer read that won’t disappoint." --Magan Vernon, bestselling author of The Only Exception

"Undertow is amazing! The characters are lovely, but they're also flawed--that sort of 'realness' and honesty breathes life into them and is truly refreshing to come across as a reader. This is such a fantastic story with a unique execution. --Kristin Fuller, Goodreads reviewer

Yaay! Happy dance! And ((squeezes)) to Magan & Kristin!

Undertow is coming July 18, but you can get Dragonfly Today! on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

You can also join the Release Day Launch for Undertow! Click Here, fill in the short form, and you'll be sent all the information for July 18 for your blog or Facebook page.

THANK YOU!!! for your help spreading the word about my new series. Have a super weekend, reader-friends.

I'll be back with INDIEpendence day and a new picture-teaser on Tuesday~

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

First Undertow Picture Teaser

It's coming...

July 18 is the official release date for Undertow, #2 in the Dragonfly series.

Reader-friends, I confess: I really love this book, even though it focuses on a dark topic--the events that led to the death of Meg Kyser and why they're being kept a secret.

Of course, you have the hopeful start of Anna & Julian's budding relationship for balance, and the bad stuff all happened in the past (revealed Rashomon style, link, through the three journals).

I guess I like it because it's so sadly real and human. Three young people, two highly ambitious, who start out with good intentions (for the most part) and then make mistakes, try to control each other, try to fix their mistakes, make more, mess up a whole bunch of lives... yanno.

I guess in a way, it's similar to the Truth books because there's a message in Undertow. At the same time, it should appeal to Rouge fans, since it's New Adult--meaning the characters are post-high school/college age and it contains more mature content. (Of course, it's not erotica.)

So without further ado, here's the first picture teaser--and let me know what you think:

On Goodreads

I also revised the description. See what you think:

Undertow
by Leigh Talbert Moore

Falling in love will pull you under...

-Bill Kyser has a plan to take the sandy farms of his hometown and turn them into a world-class tourist destination--and become a billionaire in the process. 
-Alexandra "Lexy" LaSalle has a plan to change her life by becoming a world-famous artist. 
-Meg Weaver has a plan to hold onto Bill no matter what she has to do.

Three friends, three dreams.
One fatal decision will change all their lives forever.

In Dragonfly, Bill Kyser gave Anna the three journals that held the story behind the powerful developer's seclusion and the damaged lives of his family members.

Anna hopes to find a way for Julian to know the truth, but as she digs deeper into the tragic events of the past, she realizes silence could be their only option.

Now she's in an alliance with the man she formerly feared. And if Julian finds out what she knows, she could lose the boy she's starting to love for good.
On Amazon

Coming July 18--Add Undertow today on GoodReads!

Get Dragonfly today on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

It's EASY to join the Release Day Launch for Undertow! Click Here, fill in the form, and you'll be sent all the information for July 18 for your blog or Facebook page.

THANK YOU!!! for your help spreading the word about my new series.

* * *

I'll be back with a new picture-teaser Friday!

Have a great week, reader-friends~

Monday, June 24, 2013

Lemons & Lemonade

Hey, reader-friends! Did you see that super moon last night?

Honestly, that's the second "super" moon I've seen, and I can't tell that it's any different from the regular moon... I'm missing something.

Anywho, today's a special day...

I'm helping one of my FAB critique partners Magan Vernon unveil her newest book, AND the gorgeous cover is done by the one and only Allie Brennan of B Design! (Who did the cover for The Truth About Letting Go.)

So without further ado...


Don't you love it? Here's the blurb (which I also love):


A new teen fiction book from Magan Vernon coming this August!

When life hands you lemons, sometimes you have to say screw the lemons and bail.

Seventeen-year-old Bentley Evans had it all. Then her Dad got laid off. 

Now she has to move across town to a small apartment and leave her life of luxury for public school and a job at the local burger place. Just when her world seems like it's crumbling she finds solace in the unlikely punk boy next door, Kai Rowe. But as their relationship blossoms, a jealous ex-girlfriend and a secret to tell that threatens to bring disaster back into Bentley’s life.

You can add it to your GoodReads and sign up for Magan's newsletter to get all of the updates.


Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world.

She is in a very serious, fake relationship with Adam Lambert and constantly asks her husband to wear guyliner. He still refuses. She also believes her husband is secretly an alien, disguised as a southern gentleman.

You can find her ramblings on Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | and her Blog!


* * *

Sign up!
One other quick note, The Indelibles (link) are hosting their annual INDIEpendence Day celebration July 2-5, in which we highlight a favorite indie author!

Everyone can participate--just pick an author you love or one you've recently discovered to share with the world on one those days!


* * *

And finally, The Truth About Letting Go has been added to the 2013 Standalone Reading Challenge (link)! whoop whoop!

Sign up!
Here's the post about TTALG (link), and if you're participating in SARC, please consider adding it to your list! 

Or if you want to participate in SARC, go here and get all the details/sign up (link).

Have a super week, reader-friends! 

I'm working on picture teasers for Undertow... eeep! 

More soon~

Friday, June 21, 2013

Sales and Trailers and Tinkerbell and a #WIN!

It's the first day of summer, reader-friends!

If I were still in the south, I'd be moaning and complaining about how hot it is right now. Instead, I'm excited that we might hit 80 degrees today! Ahh, how life changes.

I'm also excited to share LOADS of great stuff for you here today!

For starters, if you missed it, the cover for Undertow has been unveiled. Check it out here (link). Oh, what the hay! I'll go ahead and post it again here (designed by the multitalented Jolene Perry)...

Add on Goodreads
And to celebrate this lovely,

Dragonfly is only 99 cents for the next two days--whoop whoop! So it's time to 1... 2... 3... one click (link)!

(Or you can go to Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes)

I have to confess, I'm having the hardest time coming up with a non-spoilerish blurb for Undertow...

I think readers have to expect a little info from the end of Book 1 will be given away in the description for Book 2 of a series, right?

What say you, reader-friends???

* * *

In other fun news, my great writer-friend Elle Strauss has grouped all her supercute Love, Tink serials into one volume, and I have the gorgeous cover for it designed by Steven Novak!

Add on Goodreads

Is that beautiful or what? If you're new to these serials, they're a re-imagining of the Peter Pan story as a YA romance. The first serial is FREE, so run get it and see what you think (link)!

* * *

Finally, who has two thumbs and loves Debt Collector? This girl right here! And the trailer for this series is ROCKING!!!

Ready to see it? Hang on, because this is the last of the news before it's time to get out and get to loving the sunshine.

Sue is having a giveaway for audiobooks of Debt Collector!!! Go here and enter to #WIN!!! (link) **Cool aside: the narrator of the audiobooks is the voiceover in the trailer...

What? You want to see that trailer now? OK! Let's go backwards. 3... 2... 1...



The first installment of Debt Collector is FREE, so go here (link) to get it~

* * *

Have a super week-end, reader-friends! And remember to email, tweet, post on my Facebook, leave a review--let me know what you think about Dragonfly~


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Undertow unveiled!

Here it is, reader-friends! Book #2 in the Dragonfly series...

What do you think?


(I hope you can see that--I'm posting from my phone as I travel home today! Yes, I forgot to set this up before I left for #SFINE... LOL!)

Thanks to the lovely Jolene Perry once again for her cover design skillz, and a BIG Thank You!!! to all the awesome bloggy friends helping me celebrate today!!!

#MUAH!

Release Date for this lovely is July 18! More details, teaser-excerpts, etc., coming very soon!!!

((Hugs)) and Have a super day~

Friday, June 14, 2013

San Francisco is #SFINE - You with me?

Hello, lovely reader-friends--I. Am. Flying!

Literally.

Undertow eARCs are due today, and I've got a few remaining tweaks left... so I'm keeping this short.

I'll be boarding a plane at 7 a.m. tomorrow to be at the San Francisco Indie Author Event (link), and it is going to be awesome!

Please let me know if you'll be there!

In the meantime, Dragonfly is happily flying, too~

THANK YOU to everyone who's bought it, loved it, tweeted at me, emailed me, or left a message on my Facebook page (link). If you have a chance, please consider posting a short review on Amazon (link) and/or Goodreads (link)!

Undertow is right on track. I'm posting updates on the Facebook page, and the big Cover Reveal is next week! Then come the picture teasers... whee!!!

Undertow is the first book I wrote that I literally fell in love with. If it weren't for that book, this series might still be in the drawer... no lie. And I can't wait for you guys to read it.


On Saturday, before (or after!) you visit me at #SFINE, please remember to stop by the Dragonfly tour (link)!
And have a lovely weekend, my friends; Happy Father's Day to the Dads~ 

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Burning Questions, Gorgeous Settings... Right here~

Today on the tour...

And THANKS AGAIN! For all the love, encouragement, and wonderful reviews.

We're One Week away from the Big Cover Reveal for Undertow... stay tuned~

In the meantime, I'm still revising. Have a lovely day, reader-friends! 

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Revising and Reading and Tours... oh yes!

Undertow revisions are drawing to a close, and I have to confess, the second book in a series is always the scariest.

What are readers expecting? Will they be let down if I don't give them that? But I don't have psychic powers!!!

In the meantime--apart from that freakout I'm doing my best to ignore so my revision process doesn't completely shut down--I'm having tons of fun with this tour and would like to Thank everyone who's participated and also the lovely KP Simmons of Inkslinger PR (link) for making it possible.

The Complete Tour Listing is here (link) if you missed any days or want to know what's coming.

I've got to get back in the revisions cave, but please be aware, every time I come out, I'm looking to see what readers are saying about Dragonfly. Thanks so much for your positive feedback!

Here's where I am today

What's this?

If you're in the San Francisco area, a quick reminder that I'll be at the SFINE author event (link) on Saturday. I hope you'll drop by and say hello!

Back to the revision cave for me. I hope you're all having a lovely summer week, friends ((hugs))~

Monday, June 10, 2013

Dreams, Changes, and #FUN stuff!

Dragonfly was the first book I ever wrote and tried to sell to agents back in 2009.

Back then, it wasn't perfect, my novel-writing skills were poor. I'd only been a journalist, an editor, and a former English major and teacher. 

But I got a lot of full requests, and polite rejections. I think 15 was the final number before I put it away in 2010. Some pretty big names, too (Paige Wheeler, Kevan Lyons, Kelly Sonnack, etc.) 

I loved the story, the characters, the journey. I loved writing it, and I couldn't wait for everyone to read it. In the year I'd spent waiting to hear back from those guys, I'd written Undertow (#2), Watercolor (#3), and started Mosaic (#4)...

...and then I read Nathan Bransford's advice: If you can't sell the first book in a series, why are you still writing it? (Basically, stop and write something new.)

He was right. And it hurt so bad. 

But I put my dream books in the virtual drawer, dusted myself off, and wrote The Truth About Faking. Then, while I was shopping it, I wrote Rouge. And I got a literary agent. And in 2011, I got an offer for a book deal with a Big 6 publisher.

In the meantime, several of the lovely critique partners, advice sharers, and friends I'd made through this blog had started self-publishing. It was still early in the indie game, and it was still considered a huge risk. 

We were told that if you self-published, you could kiss any traditional dreams goodbye. We were told, the traditional guys wouldn't touch an idie book with a 10-foot pole. We were told you instantly became a pariah. 

But my friends were risk-takers. One--Susan Kaye Quinn--had gone the small press route with her first book, a YA romance, and after that experience, she took the reins and went independent with her very successful science fiction book Open Minds.

And after my agent couldn't sell The Truth About Faking, I decided to self-publish it. In Sept. 2011 it came out, and it's still selling very well today.

Why am I tell you all this?

Because it broke my heart when I put Dragonfly in the drawer. I believed that book was dead, and I'd never have the joy of sharing it with readers... and I was wrong.

Granted, in February when I decided to pull it out again, it still had all those first novel problems. I had to take a sledgehammer to it, break it apart, put it back together, remove all the boring parts, beef up the tension, polish out the dialogue...

But my dream came true last week. And every time someone emails me that they love the story or they can't wait for July 18, I get a little misty. So much is changing in publishing, and it's a wonderful time to be a writer. 

Follow the path that's right for you, traditional or indie, but no matter what, hold onto your dream. Be persistent. Don't listen to what "they" say. And for goodness sake, just keep swimming!

The Dragonfly tour continues!
Finally, looking for #FUN? Romance Reviews is doing a Sizzling Summer Reads ginormous book giveaway and Dragonfly is a part!

Check it out!

Visit The Romance Reviews site (link) for all the fun, but watch out! That game's addicting... (The Dragonfly Q&A is #19.)

Have a super week, reader- and writer-friends! I'm in final edits for Undertow, but I'll be back with more tour stops tomorrow~

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Dream Cast #contest, Reviews, and Excerpts, Oh My!

Official Tour Dates

Happy weekend, reader- and writer-friends!

I'm posting a double-header Dragonfly Tour Update for today and tomorrow with a #FUN idea (+SWAG) I hope you'll want to join in!

I was asked for my Dream Cast for Dragonfly, but since I wrote the book way back in 2009, my Dream Cast is somewhat outdated.

Here's my idea: Why not have a Reader Dream Cast contest! With a chance to #WIN some #SWAG!!!
(Or we'll do a vote for like the Top 10.)

Does that sound like fun?

So here are Today & Tomorrow's Tour Stops:

And to prevent my other book babies from feeling neglected, MaryAnn at Chapter by Chapter posted a Review (link) of The Truth About Letting Go that literally made me cry-smile. See what you think (link)!

* * *
On Sunday, be sure to stop by

Have a lovely weekend, my friends! I appreciate you in advance~


Friday, June 7, 2013

Who Likes Dragonfly?


Official Tour Stops

Today on the Tour, it's REVIEW time! The Dragonfly dailies are in. And the critics say... (*chews nails*):

Tee with "A Diary of A Book Addict" (link): 

"Five of Five stars! HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL! From the first page I was captivated by Dragonfly because it is a read like no other. There are so many twists and turns and secrets that with every page turn I was jumping for joy because I needed to get my mind wrapped around everything that was happening."

[Hello! Yes, I'm in love with that one! (whoop whoop!)]

Jessica with "Lovin Los Libros" (link):

"A bit of everything: teen angst, drama, romance (a bit of a love triangle), and intrigue... the mystery behind the Kyser family and then Julian's mom is what really intrigued me."

[Yay! Good to know because that's the main focus of Undertow, coming July 18!]

Thanks Tee and Jessica! And these great reviews were posted yesterday if you missed them:

And I'd love to know what YOU think! If you like my books (or any author's books), consider leaving a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads! Great reviews really help us!

As always, THANK YOU for being awesome. ((hugs)) Back tomorrow~ 

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Happy Birthday! ...wait.

Remember how Frosty the Snowman would say, "Happy Birthday!" Every time they put the hat back on his head? Yeah. It's like that.

I know, Dragonfly's birthday was technically yesterday, but Today's the Official Release Date--so Happy Birthday to my new little book! I hope it's as lucky as the insect it's named for.

The tour continues, with today's Release Day Launch~
Official Tour Stops

Fun Stuff happening today: 


Also be sure to visit my SUPER-AWESOME bloggy buddies who are helping me spread the word and giving you a chance to #WIN fun prizes! HUGE hugs and THANKS to these guys:


(If I missed you here, please let me know!)

The Special 99-cent Customer Appreciation Sale ends June 8! So get your copy of Dragonfly TODAY (link)!

And a HUGE THANKS to you, reader-friends, for buying my books, and to all my great friends who are helping me spread the word. I wish I could give you all a big *squeeze*.

I hope you know how much your support means to me, I hope you know how much I appreciate you, and I hope you know that I know I couldn't do this without you! Have a super day~ 

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Let the Touring (and Prizes) Begin!

It starts...

Dragonfly goes on tour today; Tomorrow, it will be everywhere... It's actually everywhere Now! (a day early) And here's the deal, now through June 8, you can get it for only 99 cents.

I figured I'd start with the sale for you guys who always buy my books the minute they're out. Thank you!


On the Tour:

Hop over and see me chatting about my Top 10 Favorite Contemporary Reads here: Into the Hall of Books (link).

And you can find a Review of the book here: Once Upon a Twilight (link).

Please stop by and say hello to these guys--and at each stop, every day of the tour, you can Enter to #WIN these awesome prizes:
  • A Kindle Touch loaded with all FOUR of my books AND an exclusive eARC of Undertow (US only); OR
  • A signed, print set of Dragonfly and Undertow (US only); OR
  • Ebook sets of both Dragonfly and an exclusive eARC of Undertow! (open internationally)
Thanks so much for supporting me and for hanging with me through all this. 

I couldn't do this without you, reader- and writer-friends~ 

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Dragonfly Release Week -- re-Teaser #3!

Squee!!!

And Shew!

The pressure of release week, I tell ya. It's exciting and terrifying. Will everyone like my new book? Will they hate it? Will they even buy it? Will they come back for #2?

And the biggest question: How in the world did I choose the biggest release week of the year for my little series starter? Seriously. Have you seen all the great books coming out this week? Holee...

Anyway, since my big publicity tour starts tomorrow, this will be the last re-teaser before Book Birthday!

See what you re-think~

Dragonfly

And thanks again for being too cool! I'm wrapping up Undertow (Book 2), and trying to enjoy the summer with the kiddos.

Pretending to be normal... Haha!

Have a super week, reader-friends~

Monday, June 3, 2013

Dragonfly Release Week -- re-Teaser #2!

We're counting down the days, reader-friends!

1... 2... 3... let the Dragonfly teasers continue~

I think this one was my favorite picture-teaser. The colors are so vivid.

See what you think:

On Amazon

“Gossip Girl meets VC Andrews in this contemporary family saga. Love, lies, and betrayal become the new normal when Anna enters the world of Jack and Lucy Kyser.” –Magan Vernon, international bestselling author of The Only Exception

"Angst, longing, jealousy, mystery, secrets, love triangles, sexy scenes! Could you even ask for more? Well you can because it is also very well written and fast paced. Great book to dive into poolside, but I will warn you may get so swept up in it you may end up with some sun burn so I STRONGLY suggest you invest in some sunscreen as well as a copy of Dragonfly." --Nichole, 5-star Goodreads review

"I truly enjoyed this one! I thought the characters were intriguing, the mystery and story were interesting and definitely have ME WANTING MORE!!!!!!!" --Mandy, The Romance Bookie

Dragonfly
by Leigh Talbert Moore

Three bad things I learned this year:
-People you trust lie, even parents. 
-That hot guy, the one who’s totally into you, he might not be the one. 
-Things are not always how they appear.

Three good things I learned this year:
-Best friends are always there for you, even when they’re far away. 
-That other hot guy, the one who remembers your birthday, he just might be the one. 
-Oh, and things are not always how they appear.

Anna Sanders expected an anonymous (and uneventful) senior year until she crossed paths with rich-and-sexy Jack Kyser and his twin sister Lucy.

Pulling Anna into their extravagant lifestyle on the Gulf Coast, Lucy pushed Anna outside her comfort zone, and Jack showed her feelings she’d never experienced... Until he mysteriously withdrew.

Anna turned to her internship at the city paper and to her old attraction for Julian, a handsome local artist and rising star, for distraction. But both led to her discovery of a decades-old secret closely guarded by the twins’ distant, single father.

A secret that could permanently change all their lives.

Get Dragonfly Today! And be watching for Undertow, Book #2 in the Dragonfly series, coming July 18!

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Dragonfly Release Week -- re-Teaser #1!

*squee*!!!

It's Release Week for Dragonfly, the first book in my new summer series. (Book #2 releases July 18, which is why you haven't been seeing me so much... #dying!)

So to celebrate, every day leading up to the official June 6 release, I'm re-posting a teaser from the book for your reading pleasure!

Here goes:

On Goodreads

“Gossip Girl meets VC Andrews in this contemporary family saga. Love, lies, and betrayal become the new normal when Anna enters the world of Jack and Lucy Kyser.” –Magan Vernon, international bestselling author of The Only Exception

"Angst, longing, jealousy, mystery, secrets, love triangles, sexy scenes! Could you even ask for more? Well you can because it is also very well written and fast paced. Great book to dive into poolside, but I will warn you may get so swept up in it you may end up with some sun burn so I STRONGLY suggest you invest in some sunscreen as well as a copy of Dragonfly." --Nichole, 5-star Goodreads review

"I truly enjoyed this one! I thought the characters were intriguing, the mystery and story were interesting and definitely have ME WANTING MORE!!!!!!!" --Mandy, The Romance Bookie

Dragonfly
by Leigh Talbert Moore

Three bad things I learned this year:
-People you trust lie, even parents. 
-That hot guy, the one who’s totally into you, he might not be the one. 
-Things are not always how they appear.

Three good things I learned this year:
-Best friends are always there for you, even when they’re far away. 
-That other hot guy, the one who remembers your birthday, he just might be the one. 
-Oh, and things are not always how they appear.

Anna Sanders expected an anonymous (and uneventful) senior year until she crossed paths with rich-and-sexy Jack Kyser and his twin sister Lucy.

Pulling Anna into their extravagant lifestyle on the Gulf Coast, Lucy pushed Anna outside her comfort zone, and Jack showed her feelings she’d never experienced... Until he mysteriously withdrew.

Anna turned to her internship at the city paper and to her old attraction for Julian, a handsome local artist and rising star, for distraction. But both led to her discovery of a decades-old secret closely guarded by the twins’ distant, single father.

A secret that could permanently change all their lives.

Add it on Goodreads today! And be watching for Undertow, Book #2 in the Dragonfly series, coming July 18!

See you tomorrow, reader-friends~