Release date!

I've unleashed the A.R.C'S. of Aberrant Fairy Tale today! I'm so excited for the release of this book I might pee my pants. I've been thinking of ways to promote it (My LEAST favorite part of publishing) and have somewhat been coming up empty. I really feel that now a days, people can't be bothered.

With all the Scentsy, Body wrap, Jewel Kade( so on and so on) parties, the thoughts of an online party kind of exhaust me. I'm not very social. There's no chance that I'm going to rent out a room somewhere only to be disappointed when no one could be bothered to put down their cell phones and come. It leaves me in a bit of a slump.

But then I think, 'why does it have to be so all or nothing?' I got into this whole publishing business for fun. If something doesn't feel right, why should I have to push myself? Don't get me wrong. I can guarantee that all of my friends, family, fan's and strangers will be sick of me talking about it. I'll be posting on a minutely basis about all  things fae.

I will NOT however be stressing over this novel  the way I did with the first two Authority series novels.

It's been a while since I've written anything on here. A lot has happened! My brother-in-law and his wife gave birth to a beautiful baby boy (with a FULL head of hair). He's been filling my baby-void whenever the craving comes on. My kids have both had Birthdays within the last 2 months. If turning 30 made me feel old, having an 11 year old daughter makes me feel ancient. They had appointments with the optometrist today. Both need glasses. I expected Brooklynn to be excited about it. She LOVES glasses and has always saved up money to buy herself some fake ones at Claire's. Now that she actually needs them, she's pissed. I swear, if her hormones get worse, I'm jumping ship. Was I this bad as a preteen? I'm sure my mother will argue but I'm going to have to say no.

The release date is set for April 1st, 2016. I've yet to share the cover of Aberrant Fairy Tale but have had some pretty amazing pictures done up (Just a little bit of promoting wont kill me). What do you think?

Newfoundland Fairies...

I'm so excited to finally be able to share this. For years I've been working on a teen fantasy series based on my childhood neighborhood, as well as a few of the legends surrounding it. My sister-in-law and I sat down and came up with the concept and character names and then kind of forgot about it. I'd worked on it in secret over the years in hopes of surprising her for her wedding with a physical copy however that didn't happen. I was a month or so too late but none-the-less, its in the editing stages!

I realize that in this day and age, fairies are about as realistic as vampires, werewolves and zombies - probably even less so considering the fact that you can find shows and movies about the other things and not so much about fairies, however, in my day - which wasn't that long ago, be nice! - we legitimately believed in them.

Being surrounded by woods, Shea Heights was shrouded in mystery, with plenty of room for kids to wander, get lost and draw their own conclusions. Not wanting to constantly be under the watchful eye of our parents and nosey neighbors, we'd retreat to the forests with our coats, sweaters or t-shirts turned inside out or with bread in our pocket - to ward off evil sprites of course - and to do the things that kids and  teenagers do, still hearing our parents and grandparents voices in our head, "Watch out for the fairies". I cant think of a time that we'd ever really sought them out, preferring to trust the adults when they told us stories about their relatives who'd gone missing for days, were pushed into wells or simply disappeared because of the little people.

A couple stories that stand out specifically to me were that of a perfectly healthy boy who'd gone out
for milk at his mothers request only to show up two years later with it in his hands and unable to speak a word. He'd walk past us in the street and we'd glance at him curiously, but always with caution. Another instance was of a young girl heading home from a party down the street from her house during a snow storm. She would continually walk toward the light over her front porch, just barely able to make it out from the blowing snow, but never reaching her destination. When her body was found the next morning, she'd worn a path on her front lawn from walking in circles. Others include aunts and uncles being found naked and stuck in a tree mumbling words about fairies and little people.

Whether or not the stories were told to us to simply scare us from wandering too far from home, the countless Google results that turn up when you type in Newfoundland Fairy Legends suggests other wise. My front lawn in the summer gets 'fairy rings' - mushrooms that grow in a circle - and despite being a fairly logical, educated adult, I still haul my kids back when they attempt to step in the middle.

'Don't let the fairies take you!' I say. ;)

Altering Authority themes (Organized crime, theft and girl fights) according to my 10 year old daughter. I'm a good mom...

Some of you may know that my book, Altering Authority, is a bit of a wild card. The main character, Tatum is a Madam, with a string of strip clubs that she inherited from her mobster-type father. Said strip clubs are hubs for drug and arms dealers, who in turn share their profit with her. She has a temper and knows how to accurately throw knives. She falls in love with Jager, a gang leader who runs an illegal gambling ring out of his clubs basement.

They are shady characters with shady moral compasses which is why I felt it necessary to interview my 10 year old daughter on such themes. I swear, I'm a good mom...  Enjoy!

Tattoos and piercings = Horrible, Dangerous people

I've discovered something recently. A friend of mine (Pictured right) on Facebook loves to share encounters he has while working at his costumer service job. People stare at him. Others who are braver confront him, ask to touch him, ask him why he chooses to look the way he does. My  nephew (pictured below) is in this same category.

I'm not talking about some kind of disease or skin condition here people. I'm talking about piercings and tattoos. I don't know many people who aren't tattooed in some form or another. One or two small illustrations seems to be acceptable, but what about the guys and girls who are covered? Arms, neck, legs, face? I get it, I mean, when you are covered in metal and ink, you're going to draw more attention. People will do a double take. I understand that. It's not typical for everyone to look like this. But the stigma that they are dangerous, or criminal seems a bit old fashioned to me. I know more people who aren't tattooed that are insane (myself included) than the ones who are inked and/or pierced.

The tatt'd and pierced people I know, all of them, from the ones with one or two all the way to the ones who are covered and who's bodies are more metal and ink than skin, are thee most amazing, friendliest people. And I'd be lying if I said that they weren't some of the best looking people. I think that's why I gravitate toward characters who fit this category. Besides my mom and people her age (no offence), I think women my age(ish) love a good man with a beard (That's a topic for another day. Beards...Yumm) and lots of tattoos. I think they represent someone who doesn't care what society thinks, someone who thinks for themselves, who like to express who they are and are proud to show it. What's braver than literally wearing your thoughts, interests and beliefs on your skin for the world to see?

When I moved from home (St. John's, Newfoundland), my nephew was only about 9 years old, with a shaved head, tan and clothes from Sport Check . I went back last September to a 6'3, gangly, pasty-white 15 year old with pierced lips, nose and long black and green hair. I loved it, however, he is the oldest of the nieces and nephews. He was my first 'baby'. To me, he is just as much mine as my own kids. I was scared for him. I didn't want people to harass him or look at him for anything other than what he was: The most handsome, amazing little shithead in the world. And, to be honest, he was a shithead. I dragged this kid into timeout when he was two, dangling from my arm by his teeth. I thought when I saw him last year that this look suited him, only to find that he wasn't this evil spawn of Satan anymore but the most polite, mature and grateful teenager I've ever known. I bought him a pair of sneakers, and he thanked me and hugged me at least 10 times for it. For a pair of sneakers?! Who would have thought?!

When girls get full sleeves, I'm always really excited for them, like Yeah! F*&% you society and your 'beauty' standards! Look at this chick ROCKIN' those tattoos and piercings (Same goes when they cut their hair off for some reason but again, that's a different post).

I kind of feel like, being one of the only ones of my friends without tattoos, I need to get something outrageous. Clearly being tattooed and pierced makes for more awesome individuals. Just thinking about it makes me what to be a better person... ;)

What's your opinion?

(Some tattooed friends of mine below.... :)