FOUR AGENCY SISTERS AWAITING UPCOMING RELEASES…

Nobody ever said the road to publication would be a quick, smooth, pothole-less trip, but wow, the last few months and weeks before release are pretty intense! Lucky me, I’ve had the privilege of sharing this journey with three very special ladies—first, Katie McGarry, who I’ve been fortunate to call my friend and critique partner for the past four years. Also, the amazing Elizabeth Langston and Chanel Cleeton who I met and soon came to adore at the RWA conference last summer—introduced by our amazing agent, Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

I recently spoke with each of them to see how they are holding up so close to their release dates and here’s what they had to say…

First up in just two short days—November 19, 2013!

Elizabeth Langston, author of YA Historical Fiction novel, WHISPER FALLS.

 “Waiting for my release day has been scary, distracting, and crazy slow. Sometimes it feels like it will never get here...not all that different from awaiting my first baby.”

While training for a mountain bike race, high-school senior Mark Lewis spots a mysterious girl dressed in odd clothing, standing behind a waterfall in the woods near his North Carolina home. When she comments on the strange machine that he rides, he suspects something isn't right. When Susanna claims to be an indentured servant from 1796, he wonders if she's crazy. Yet he feels compelled to find out more.

Mark enters a "long-distance" relationship with Susanna through the shimmering and temperamental barrier of Whisper Falls. Curious about her world, Mark combs through history to learn about the brutal life she's trapped in. But knowledge can be dangerous. Soon he must choose between the risk of changing history—or dooming the girl he can't stop thinking about to a lifetime of misery.

Next up is my book in exactly 8 days—November 25, 2013:

Colette Ballard, author of YA Romantic Suspense novel, Running On Empty.

“While it’s super cool finally counting down in single-digits days instead of weeks or months, it is nerve-wracking and intense. There’s been lots of random dry-heaving, sleepless nights, and worrying. If I were to be graded on my waiting skills, I would certainly get an F, for failure or freak or fraidy-cat… But for all my shortcomings, maybe I’d get a P for pursuit, perseverance, and oh…published.” J

What does it feel like when you die— in those final moments? Do you feel the physical pain, or just the pain of your regrets? What does it feel like when you realize you can’t answer these questions because you’re not the victim?

     You’re the killer.

River Daniels lives an ordinary life as a high school junior growing up in the confines of rural Texas until her boyfriend’s brutal attack leaves her both a murderer and a fugitive. When River’s closest girlfriends come to her aid, they make a hasty decision to not only help her, but leave their own troubled lives behind and join in her escape. The girls manage to elude police for months, but with every near-miss, River’s life spirals further out of control, until she finally hits rock bottom. Realizing she must stop endangering her friends and find evidence proving she acted in self-defense, the girls decide to make a risky return to Texas. Her return means more than facing her ugly past, she must also face the one person she was protecting the night her world caved in, the guy she has loved for as long as she can remember.       

In only 9 days is—November 26, 2013!

Katie McGarry, author of YA Romance novel, CRASH INTO YOU:

"Gearing for release day brings on a myriad of emotions. I'm excited and nervous and

happy and nervous. It's an absolutely thrilling time!"

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life—that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers…and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker—a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind. 

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks—no matter how angelic she might look. 

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other. 

And last but not least, in less than three months—February 1^st, 2014:

Chanel Cleeton, author of NA Romance novel, I SEE LONDON:

"For me waiting on my release feels a bit like being a kid on the night before Christmas.  You're excited, a little bit anxious, a little impatient.  Plus, you may have a hard time sleeping:) The waiting can be tough, but the best part is knowing you have something you've been dreaming about, just around the corner."

Chanel’s cover is yet to be released so I inserted her lovely picture insteadJ

When a small town girl moves to London to attend an exclusive international university— where college parties are hosted at nightclubs and beer bongs are replaced by bottles of champagne— she is caught between the hot British guy who is everything she always wanted and the Lebanese playboy she can’t resist.

So the point of this post is that in every aspect of this business it’s nice to know you’re not alone. Reach out to each other when things are tough, lean on each other, learn from each other. But equally important, take time to celebrate each other’s accomplishments no matter what stage of the game you’re in!!! J

I’d love to hear anyone’s thoughts on awaiting release dates, revisions, cover reveals, or contest news if that’s where you are!

All our books can be found on Goodreads at: https://www.goodreads.com

Also, it’s not too late to catch the last few days of Katie’s blog tour, and the beginning of mine! For more info:

http://www.katielmcgarry.com/blogs.aspx

http://coletteballard.blogspot.com