Monday, March 31, 2014

Spring Break on Location, Vampires! and an Author Spotting

Shew, reader-friends! The first day back to work after vacation is always the hardest.

Last week, the fam and I drove due south and spent six days rambling around Baldwin County, Ala., also known as the setting of The Dragonfly Series.

Since we lived there almost ten years, we've got many friends and favorite locations.

Dragonfly was the very first book I ever wrote, and since I was learning, I thought it would be easier to have all the action occur in a very familiar location.

Basically that means all of the major scenes in The Dragonfly Series happen in "real" places. Like this one...

Jesse's Restaurant on the Magnolia River

Jack and Anna's dinner date at Jesse's was doomed from the start, but I still like that scene and how it came together.

Do you have a favorite part in the series? Let me know what it is~

In the meantime, I'm back, digging out, and looking forward to writing more Mosaic very soon! I can't wait to share this final installment with y'all!

NOTE: Be sure to sign up for my New Release Newsletter (link), so you don't miss any important announcements, sneak peeks, or giveaways~**

**Please add leightmoore@gmail.com to your email contacts so it doesn't bounce to spam!

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Now, what's this about vampires?

It's coming. April 19th...

The first book in the second season of Blood and Snow is entitled VAMPIRE LIES.

My good friend RaShelle Workman is releasing her super-popular vampire series a little differently this time. Instead of 12 smaller volumes and a bunch of short stories, there will be at least three full length novels.

You can pre-order Book 1 by clicking HERE.



In Season 2 there will still be plenty of Snow White and her true love, but the story will be told from Jasmine's point of view.

Here's this summary: 

Vampire Lies
by RaShelle Workman

Blood and Snow Season 2, 
Book 1 ~ 


YA Fractured Fairytale

Eyes like violet sapphires. 
Wings of smoldering fire. 
Consume your true love's blood. 
Become the Eternal Vampire. 

Once upon a time there lived a vampire with wings and the genie who loved her...


Born of the seven magics, Jasmine is different in every way, including the obnoxious wings on her back courtesy of the original Vampires. She wants to be normal, to be a regular teenaged girl.



When a gorgeous dark-haired boy named Laeddin shows up and promises to sneak her away from all her problems and hide her in the human world, she agrees. 

But an evil lurks in her nightmares, a man with red eyes. 

It doesn’t take long for Jasmine to realize that no matter how far she tries to run from who she is, he’s only a dream away. He wants her. He needs her. He acts as though he loves her. 

It’s becoming harder and harder to tell the difference between the path that’ll lead to her happily ever after, and the path that’ll lead to her destruction as well as all magic.

Be sure to sign up for RaShelle's newsletter to be entered into her monthly drawing. Click HERE

Have you read the first season of Blood and Snow? If not, Amazon is running a special right now where you can get all 12 volumes for only $1.99.  Get it HERE

RaShelle's series is so super-popular! If you haven't started it yet, the time is now~

* * *

Author Spotting...

This coming Saturday! As in five days from today, you can meet me in Louisville! ...along with a bunch of other super-popular authors!

Get all the scoop here (link)!!!

Bring your books to have signed. We'll also have books on hand for purchase and signing. Come with questions, stop by and say hello... Take a picture! It's all free.

Hope to see you there! Until then, have a fantastic week, reader-friends~

Monday, March 24, 2014

Spring Break, Spring Books, and #WINNING!

It's Spring Break, reader-friends! whoop whoop!!!

I'm still in the Midwest at the moment, but my Southern home-fries are enjoying 70 degree sunshine (my dad told me he had to cut the grass yesterday--!), and we're looking forward to hitting the road, chasing the sun!

Incidentally, I'll be spending the week right smack in the setting of The Dragonfly Series! Yep, OBA FTW! Mosaic is cruising along nicely, and it's looking like a May/June release date...

I'll be posting Mosaic updates as they occur in April~

This week is a writing break for me, but that means it's a time to READ! And I've got TWO fantastic new books to share with you today... and Two ways to WIN!

First up is a New Adult contemporary romance by a great writer-friend of mine Elle/Lee Strauss!

I read Sun and Moon, the first book in this "series," and loved it! You can get it FREE on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. (links below) But it's not a true series, as each book can be read in any order.

Check it out:

Introducing Flesh & Bone, a contemporary romance
(The Minstrel Series #2)



Coming April 3rd!

(Another amazing cover by the very talented Steven Novak of Steven Novak Designs!)

Here's the blurb:

She can’t remember. He can’t forget. Eva Baumann is invisible. Sebastian Weiss is famous. In a perfect world Eva would be fearless and Sebastian would be guiltless.

It’s not a perfect world.

The Minstrel Series is a collection of contemporary romance novels set in the singer/songwriter world. The books are companion novels, with shared settings and characters, but each is a complete stand-alone story with a HEA (happily ever after) and no cliffhangers! 

FLESH & BONE INCLUDES MORE GREAT ORGINAL MUSIC MP3s!

Haven't read #1 Sun & Moon? Get it FREE!!!



And now for your first chance to WIN!


* * *

The second New Release I have for you today is an *adult* romance by the leader of the Romance Writers of America group I'm in here. It's about a HOT Fireman, and it sounds yummy!

Check it out~

by Lanora Mangano

On Amazon


Here's the blurb:

It should have been a normal drive home from work for Maggie Connors.  However, a freak rain storm had other plans for her when the bridge she crossed, in her car, collapsed plunging her into the river below.

Para Rescue man, Jake Madison wasn't looking for a life changing event, but he got just that when he saved Maggie's life.  He couldn't get the red hair beauty out of his mind but was determined to give her back the courage she lost in the traumatic event.

For more information about LaNora's upcoming books, please visit:


Get your copy of Love Over Troubled Waters on Amazon Today!

* * *

Now for your second chance to #WIN! 

Hop over to my group blog YA Confidential EVERY MONDAY and enter to win a Free Book!

We post "From the Vault" questions and answers, and one lucky commenter wins the book of his or her choice every week!

Any book, every week! 


* * *

Now I'm headed to pack. I hope you all have a fantastic week. Stay warm, read a book, and keep in touch! Love ya~

Monday, March 17, 2014

#WIN Fifty Books, Meet Me in Louisville, & Book Trailer Fun!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Too bad the fun is on a Monday, but that's okay. We can still celebrate!

I'm in the writing cave, so basically I've just got a bunch of announcements for you here today...

To start off with, FIFTY author-friends (including me) have all banded together to do a HUGE Pinterest Party Giveaway.

On Facebook

It's loads of fun where you re-pin pins and enter to win--did I mention FIFTY books are up for grabs by bestselling authors like Amy Harmon, Alyssa Rose Ivey, moi...

All the scoop is on the Facebook Event page, so go HERE (link) and check it out!

You could win a Signed Copy of Watercolor~

* * *

Now What's this about Book Trailers?

I've never really done them, which is crazy because I'm a total music geek. I don't listen to music when I write, but all of my stories jumped off from a song...

So I made this cool Book Trailer for the Dragonfly Series using Flipagram!

Let me know what you think...




> > And remember you can get Dragonfly FREE on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Google Play, etc.

* * *

Finally, don't forget I'll be at the Louisville Author Event on Saturday, April 5! It's a free event, but you need to get a ticket so they know you're coming.

On Facebook


Again, there's an LAE Facebook Page with all the details HERE (link)--I hope to see you there!


It's chilly today, reader-friends but supposedly it'll be hot tamale... (pa-dum-pum)

Have a super week~

Monday, March 10, 2014

HUGE #Giveaway Event and a NEW Jolene Perry Book!

Happy Monday, reader-friends!

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling spring on the way... #eeep!

I'll get to this HUGE GIVEAWAY in a second, but first...

You hear me talk a lot about my fab cover designer and amazing writer-friend Jolene Perry...

Well, Jolene is a "hybrid" author, meaning she has both self-published and traditionally published books.

And they're all amazing... go to her website (link) right now and pick one to read.

I'll wait.

...

Which one did you pick?

J/k... Jolene's newest book The Summer I Found You is published by Albert Whitman Teen, and it is as gorgeous as it is breathtaking...

Get me on Amazon!

AND!!! I'm so excited because we have Jolene herself here today to tell you about it!!!

Take it away, Jo~

All the Swoony Stuff 
by Jolene Perry

So. When I'm making the rounds and doing a million blog posts to spread over the internet, I get to be supah specific.

Today I'm going to share some of my favorite swoony moments from THE SUMMER I FOUND YOU but first, the blurb:  

All they have in common is that they're less than perfect. And all they're looking for is the perfect distraction.

Kate had the perfect boyfriend--until he dumped her. It couldn't have come at a worse time: ever since she found out she has diabetes, she's been trying to cope. She just wants to feel normal again.

Aidan planned on being a lifer in the Army and went to Afghanistan straight out of high school. Now he's the guy with one arm and nothing is the same as it was before. He wishes he could forget.

When Kate and Aidan meet, things couldn't be more awkward. Neither wants to get attached, and they both could use some fun. But what if they need each other more than they realize?


First off from Kate...

Now that I’ve leaned over, the warmth of him hits me, and we’re close. Really close. Aidan’s breath hits my face, and I slide my arms over his toned stomach and down his muscular arm to get my arms around the baby. And for the first time, I’m touching a guy who I’d really, really like to see with his shirt off. Our eyes catch, and his breath blows across my face. 

Whoa. Butterflies are running circuits through my insides, over a guy who’s two years older, and only wants to hang with me so I can babysit with him.

What’s wrong with me? I’m like all hormonal or something. Even making out with Shelton didn’t make me all breathless like this. I scoop up the bundled baby, and lay him down in his bed, relieved I didn’t break him or wake him or something.

I back away from the crib and run into the stomach and chest I was just thinking about...

And then from Aidan...

I open my mouth to argue, but I suddenly feel pretty dumb for not thinking about it earlier. And I’m completely distracted by how her hand feels on my chest. As her hand slides down, her eyes follow, and I want for her to have wanted to touch me way more than I should.
All I hear is my breathing and I’m still staring at her hand, which is now nearly to the top of my jeans.

She drops her arm, and steps around me leaving me feeling very on edge, and maybe a bit like I want her to touch me that way again. I go around the front of the car and climb into the driver’s seat—still feeling the heat from her touch. I have no idea if I’m thrilled or terrified that I said yes to going with her tonight. Kate isn’t like Georgia, my Air Force girl. It wouldn’t be a hook-up once in a while kind of thing. Nerves start to press in.

I settle into the seat, and the car takes over my thoughts. I love this car. I run my hand over the top of the steering wheel a few times.

“When you’re done fondling your vehicle, I need you to show me how to shift.”

I chuckle, and turn as sideways as I can, pushing the clutch in with my left foot.

“Put your hand on the shift.”

She does. Her hair falls over her face a bit as she looks down, but I can still make out her dark eyes staring in concentration.

“Now you just follow the map on the top, you’ll feel a bump and then you’re in neutral, pull it back farther and you’ll be in second.”

She pulls down and the shifter goes slack in neutral. “Now what?” Her eyes are still focused on her hand. 

“Pull back more and you’ll slide into second.” 

She concentrates for a few moments, and jerks, but nothing happens. I scoot even farther sideways to put my left hand over hers. Our eyes catch. Okay. Breathe. This is just a girl. No big deal. 

“Okay, first.” I move our hands into first. “Second.” I move our hands again. We go through all the gears a few times. My hand on hers. Me trying to keep my heart beating normal, trying to force my chest to relax. This is crazy. I’m just touching her hand.

And finally this from Aidan :-D

I don’t even have to look to know her cheeks are turning red,and that she probably just said something she didn’t mean to. This is when her bursts of honesty are really going to help. She leans forward until the top of her head is pressed into my chest, hiding. Her arms wrap around my sides, keeping us together.

“I can’t believe you just said that.” I kiss her softly on the temple, and run my hand slowly up and down her arm.

“Me either.”

I touch her chin until she lifts her head from my chest and looks back up at me. It’s stupid, but I want her to kiss me first this time. Like I want to make sure she really does want this as much as I do.

But now I wonder—what will she actually think about me only having one arm? What will happen when she accidentally runs her hand over where my arm should be? Will it matter? Will she care?

I’m actually relieved that my shoulder stump is against the seat. Out of reach.

She leans forward and our lips come together in a small soft kiss before pulling away. I kiss her back, but this time our kiss is deep enough that the electricity flies through my body sending tingles to my toes, fingertips, every piece, every part. All of it. And I should probably be thinking more, but it feels so good to not think, to just feel. I slide my arm around her waist, frustrated I don’t have more power to keep her close, and kiss her again.

~ ~ ~

So. Care to share any swoon-worthy books you've read lately? Because I'm always looking for a great love story...  

~Jolene

* * *

Yay! Thanks, Jolene!!! Doesn't The Summer I Found You sound uh-mazing??? Run get it:



* * *

Now for the HUGE GIVEAWAY!



FIFTY of your favorite YA and NA authors will celebrate being Irish for a day and play on Pinterest. There will be more than 45 e-book giveaways! 


Join the Facebook party HERE! and don't miss a thing!!!


Participating Authors:

Lila Felix   A. W. Exley  Melissa Pearl   
Jessica Gibson  Cindy M. Hogan  Sarah Ashley Jones  
Marie Landry  Rachel Morgan  Jennifer Snyder 
Stacey Marie Brown  Jessica Therrien  D.L. Raver 
Stacey Wallace Benefiel  Marilyn Almodóvar  Angee Taylor 
A.O. Peart  Devyn Dawson  Rick Chiantaretto 
Raine Thomas  L.P. Dover  Tamara Hart Heiner  
Leigh T Moore  Meradeth Houston  Amber Argyle 
Tawdra Kandle  Carlyle Labuschagne  Lisa Collicutt
Christy Dorrity  Stephanie Fowers  Kristina Renee
Faith McKay  Charlotte Abel  Jamie Ayres
A.M. Hargrove  Charli Webb  Amy Harmon  
Alyssa Rose Ivy  Kristie Cook  Lani Woodland
T.M. Franklin  Laura Howard  Sharron Riddle
Eliza Tilton  S. M. Boyce  Bethany Lopez 
Dawn Leigh  L.A. Casey  Emma Adams  
Amber Garr  Liz Long



a Rafflecopter giveaway


That's it for me, reader-friends! Have a SUPER week~

Monday, March 3, 2014

It's a Choice

True Confession time, reader-friends...

I signed up to participate in a blog hop, and I failed to do my assignment. *hangs head in shame*

The lovely and immensely talented Sheri Larsen (link) invited her blogger friends (including me) to watch a Video on Gratitude (link) each day last month and take notes on how our attitudes changed. Or just our findings in general.


Can I just say, I'm GRATEFUL that Sheri is as kind and understanding as she is. She's an amazing writer-friend. One of my first! She's always looking for ways to be encouraging and positive, and in this business, you NEED that so much.

I forgot to watch the video every day.

But! While I didn't do my homework, I am still immensely grateful for so many things that have happened to me since I started my publishing journey in 2009.

It's easy to get defeated in this business. Five positive reviews can be killed by one mean-spirited negative review.

Luck is a big part of success--and that can be very discouraging.

Don't get me wrong. Luck is not the only part of success. You still have to produce good work.

But you can work your tail off and only achieve mid-list status for a long time, and then there are friends for whom it seems to come so easy... It can cause one to lose focus. It causes some to make poor choices. (Beware the green-eyed monster, friends!)

Gratitude in this industry is a Choice.

It's not quite the assignment, but Today I Choose to be Grateful because...

1-I got into publishing at an unbelievably revolutionary time. Not only can I make a living from my books, but I get to meet my readers up close and personal, I get to meet other crazy-talented writers... the networks and connections and support are out of this world.

2-I met Susan Kaye Quinn (link). I'm sure there are other phenomenally talented authors out there who are supportive, encouraging, generous, and great friends. Sue's at the top of my list.

3-I met Jolene Perry (link). At a time when I was so scared, she pushed me in the pool. Then she stood on the side and laughed and laughed. Just kidding! She did not. But she did make six amazing book covers for me. She listens to me when I'm having "moments," she makes me giggle and swoon with her gorgeous stories, and she keeps me in the publishing loop... Jolene's another unbelievably talented author who is also an amazing friend.

4-I met Sheri Larsen... And Matt and Tami and Jessica and Kelly and Elle and PK and Lydia and Sarah and all the Indelibles and the kids over at YA Confidential... Did I mention this was an incredible time to be a writer?

The Internet has made it possible to find true friends to offer support and encouragement, to let you vent, and who share what they've learned and a helping hand. What a blessing!

5-I have the most incredibly supportive family. This should be #1. No, this shouldn't even be on a numbered list, but rather it should be the big headline up there... When this business gets me down, I'm so so fortunate to have JRM and the girls to hug me and tell me they think I'm amazing. Isn't that amazing? It makes me cry, I'm so blessed.

6-I have been lucky/blessed. From the amazing reception to The Truth About Faking to the encouraging things happening right now with the Dragonfly series on Wattpad (link), I'm so thankful for the opportunities that have come my way.

7-I found YOU, my reader-friends! (Or you found me?) I love your emails and tweets and Facebook messages and comments on Wattpad... I love YOU! You guys keep me going!

Last year was hard.

From family stresses to changes in the market to being so far from home... I was ready to walk away more than once. JRM asked me what I would do if I wasn't writing at one point. "Get a job at Target! Who cares!" I cried...

Isn't that silly? See, I can be a drama queen too. The Truth About Me, however, is I have to be a writer. I don't have a choice.

That being the case, I'm so grateful I'm alive in these days. I've said it a lot, but this is truly the best time to be a writer.

Please visit these other fab bloggers who actually did the assignment (link), and have a super week, reader-friends~