Featured Author: Connie Smith

Connie Smith was here last year with book one of her young adult Sci-Fi/Fantasy series, The Division Chronicles: Essenced, and she was here in February with book two, Emblazed. I'm happy to have Connie back today to talk about Enscrolled (The Division Chronicles: Book Three).

About the book:

In the aftermath of the latest battle, the stakes are higher than ever before, time hardly an ally to Nicholai’s army of paranormal soldiers. The Tomes remain hidden, and the clock is ticking for the Essenced tainted with the demon’s incurable toxin. And beyond those worries, reason exists to suspect that magic might be vanishing, a twist that could insurmountably cripple the army’s capabilities prior to the war’s conclusion.



Never has the conflict felt quite as desperate, danger escalating and hope lessening with the slow drain of each issue’s hourglass.

Will the answers to these dilemmas surface in time, or will the efforts of the band of warriors fail to prevent the ruin of the world?

Interview with Connie Smith:

How long have you been writing, and how did you start?
I started writing song lyrics when I was a kid, but they were pretty plagiarized. Hey, I was a kid :) Other than that, I’ve been writing short stories and such through the years, even if it was for academic purposes, all the while keeping my distance from writing a full fiction book because the idea of it seemed so daunting. A couple of years ago, I decided to try my hand at it...and failed. That particular book is still unfinished, but less than a year later, I’d jumped into this Division Chronicles business. It’s been a big part of my life since.

What’s the story behind the title of your book?
I wanted it to follow the same pattern as the other two books of the series – one word that begins with “e” and ends with “ed.” That narrowed down my options, but it worked out, even if “enscrolled” is kind of a non-word. Part of the plot for this book is the search for angelic records to end a demonic war, so the notion of a “scroll” was fitting. In the end, it seemed the best option.

Do you have another job outside of writing?
I’m a graduate student, slowly preparing myself to be able to teach courses somewhere.

How do you get to know your characters?
These characters, for the most part, were shaped around their essences. What I mean by that is that the teenagers recruited to fight the demonic war have within them the essences of specific mythical creatures. AJ, for instance, is Werewolf-Essenced. Those essences bring to life powers – and quirky side effects. In a lot of ways, those aspects were the beginnings of these characters, and I kind of went from there.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?
Soo many of them were fun, mostly because of those side effects. There’s a thieving Dragon-Essenced, a balding Thunderbird-Essenced, a girl-crazy Incubus-Essenced… There was a lot of room for humor in these books!

What would your main character say about you?
That I’m a cruel, cruel person for making her fall for Julius :)

Are any of your characters inspired by real people? 
Not really, no, but certain things do sometimes find ways into my stories. As an example, I have a friend (former college roommate) who was a fan of Wheel of Fortune, and there’s a character in the story who has that same interest.

Is your book based on real events?
I really, really hope not :)

Are you like any of your characters?
I can relate to Bree quite a bit because she suffers from a substantial case of small man syndrome. I’m teeny, too, so yeah...

One of your characters has just found out you’re about to kill him off. He/she decides to beat you to the punch. How would he kill you?
Most of these characters have super powers and magically enhanced weapons. I’d be dead, quick, if I had to go against them one-on-one.

If you could be one of your characters, which one would you choose?
Lexia! She’s Fairy-Essenced! She has wings!

With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck in a bookstore?

Jack, the Anateus-Essenced alpha, is a pretty big fan of books, so he’s the one who comes to mind. Although it would be interesting, having to keep Isaac from stealing everything...

With what five real people would you most like to be stuck in a bookstore?

Probably just some friends. Or Sebastian Stan. He’s hot.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
My favorite scene in the entire trilogy happens in this book! I won’t give too many details, but it may or may not involve a Rembrandt painting :)

What song would you pick to go with your book?
I’m using a soundtrack for a different blog post! For the whole trilogy, I’d probably pick “Countdown to Extinction” by Megadeth, but for this particular book, I’d most likely go with “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. Can you tell that I like 80s rock?

Who are your favorite authors?

Recca Fitzpatrick has become a pretty big favorite of mine. I love her Hush, Hush books, and Patch is my number one book boyfriend.

You get to decide who would read your audiobook. Who would you choose?
Christopher Walken? Kermit the Frog?

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?
Nothing! How sad is that??? I’ve been working to get all of this Enscrolled business ready! But one of my more recent reads was How to Date a Nerd by Cassie Mae in ebook form. I was impressed enough to buy How to Seduce a Band Geek by her, which I’ll *eventually* *hopefully* get around to reading at some point.

What’s one pet peeve you have when you read?
I hate it when dialogue doesn’t sound like dialogue. I get that some characters sound really refined, but not all of them. Don’t make your fifteen-year-old sound like a sophisticated narrator. It’s annoying to me.


Do you have a routine for writing?
I usually just sit on my bed, fan running to drown out noise, and type. Boring, right? I might have a vague outline for the story, but I do go off the schedule at points.

Where’s home for you?
Harlan, Kentucky. My parents moved around a lot when I was a kid, but that’s the place I consider home – without question :)

Do you know Raylan Givens? Just kidding. You’re leaving your country for a year. What’s the last meal (or food) you would want to have before leaving?My mama’s chili. It’s amaaaaaaaaaazing.

Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore?

Bookstore.

Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?

Can I count Belle’s? Sooo many books!

You can be any fictional character for one day. Who would you be? 

Rogue! The cartoon one. Not the movie one. Because that was Jubilee...

What’s your favorite candy bar?
Butterfinger :)

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Read, bake, watch TV shows I’m obsessed with...

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I’ll stick with Kentucky!

What are you working on now?
Besides all of these Enscrolled details, I plan to publish a NA Romance called Tail Lights in November of this year. So yeah. That’s on my soon-to-come agenda :)

Excerpt from Enscrolled

McKenna watched him leave before refocusing on Johnny, confused at the expression her boyfriend wore. “What are you smirking at?”

    He shrugged. “I’m just not sure how this could be such a bad memory. My girl glued to my side.” Wiggling his eyebrows, he continued. “Playing nurse…”

    “Well, you are poisoned,” she deadpanned. “That puts a damper on these types of situations for most people.”

    “Oh, you’re serious again.” His smirk broadened. “Are you gonna yell at me like you did when my leg was broken? That was attractive…”

    Though she fought against it, her smile emerged, spreading over her lips as she shook her head. “You’re impossible. You know that?”

    “Nah. I just learned along the way how to make my girl smile.”

    Her grin lingered until her attention descended to his leg, the spot of the poison’s initial contact. Then she frowned, her eyes filling with tears and her hands beginning to tremble. Just ten days, she thought.

    “Hey.” Johnny cupped her face, gentling bringing her gaze to lock with his. “We’re not gonna think about that because that’s gonna get taken care of.” Tobias again entered the medical room, moving directly to the corner reserved for the cure’s research to recommence his work. “See?” Johnny nodded his head toward the angel. “Look how dedicated he is to finding this. Think of all the soldiers around us who are perfectly capable of getting whatever weird ingredients he comes up with. If you do, ten days will seem like a lifetime, because it’s plenty of time.”

    And then she was the one smirking. “That’s quite optimistic.”

    He laughed, shrugging. “I told you that you’re rubbing off on me.”

    “And you’re trusting others. Like you finally flipped a switch.”

    “It isn’t like flipping a switch.” He smiled, revisiting the lecture she’d given him while stranded on a cliff. “It’s like deciding not to be in the darkness anymore. You take steps, and the light comes a little at a time until the darkness is gone.”

    She quirked an eyebrow, chuckling. “That seems vaguely familiar.”

    “Someone really smart once told me that.” Pulling her closer, he tapped the tip of her nose with his finger. “She was really hot, too.”

About the author:

Connie L. Smith spends far too much time with her mind wandering in fictional places. She reads too much, likes to bake, and might forever be sad that she doesn’t have fairy wings. And that she can’t swing dance. Her music of choice is severely outdated, and as an adult she’s kind of obsessed with Power Rangers. She has her BA from Northern Kentucky University in Speech Communication and History (she doesn’t totally get the connection either), and is currently working on her MA.


Connect with Connie:
Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Readwave

Buy the book:
Amazon | Amazon author page


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Featured Author: Connie Smith

Connie Smith's novel, Emblazed, (Book two of The Division Chronicles) has just been released, and I'm happy to share an excerpt from the book as well as feature Connie in a guest post. Connie talks about what helps keep her sane through the writing process, and with the exception of the fan (keep reading) I couldn't agree with her more. If you'd like to read the first book in the series, Essenced, now's the time, as it's being offered for free this week (February 24-28). But first, read about Emblazed:

About the book:

After all the preparations, Nicholai’s warriors stand on the threshold of warfare, the demons entering the realm in battalions and the world unknowingly depending on the army’s success to continue intact. But the battle is only the beginning of deadly struggles, and the soldiers will soon realize how little they know, how many things are at stake, and how much they have to lose.

Love, hate, hope, despair, anguish, joy... The journey is a gauntlet of emotion and combat, threatening their resolve as much as their lives.

Will their training and ties be enough, or will the complications and the forthcoming evil forever cripple the world’s last hope of survival?

Guest Post from Connie Smith

Apparently Lord Byron once said, “If I don’t write to empty my mind, I go mad.”

There might be a smidge of truth in that thought. As of right now, I have at least half a dozen ideas for future books in my head – not including stories related to The Division Chronicles. That’s a whole lot of characters and places and situations and romances and disputes...All jumbled and waiting to be put to paper. I wouldn’t go mad, but I’d definitely have my own daydreams that no one could really relate to.

Still, writing can be a stressful process. Trying to get from Point A to Point B, making judgment calls for characters, worrying over consistency... And when you finally get the first draft penned, it’s time for the cruelest piece of the writing puzzle: Editing. I HATE editing. It takes a loooong time, it’s tedious, and I end up finding numerous reasons to think I’m a moron within my own text. Possible complaints include:

“Why did I think that sounded good?”

“That doesn’t make any sense!”

“Why can’t books edit themselves?”

So yeah. It isn’t a fun process, but there are certain things that help me maintain my sanity, just like letting my characters free makes my daydreaming mind less odd to other people. Care to know some of them?

1) Candles. Yes. Candles. I can’t tell you how unbelievably relaxing it is, after hours of editing, to turn off the lights, put a cool compress over my tired, tired eyes, and just linger in candlelight for a few minutes. It’s rejuvenating, even if I can’t completely explain why. All I know is that candles have become quite an appreciated part of my life.

2) My fan. And yes, I mean a literal fan. Like, hot summer day, fan in the window. I do my best writing in quiet, and my fan is kind enough to block out the craziness that goes on around me. Granted it makes noise, but it’s a constant drone rather someone talking or music, something that’s more fluid. The monotony of it is such a constant that it doesn’t bother me, instead drowning other noises. It’s a weird habit, I suppose, but it’s helped me write and edit.

3) Maintaining a schedule. This seems simple, but it works wonders. I like to have a time frame or a goal in my mind when I start writing as to what I want to accomplish that day. Of course there are times when I might have to push past those intentions, but in general. If I say I’ll work for four hours, or write one chapter, it helps to maintain that goal throughout the process. Sometimes the mental ball is rolling, and it pays to see where it’s going. Maybe I’m in the right mood, and I just *want* to keep writing. If that’s the case, great. But if not, there’s no shame in calling it quits. Taking my time. Keeping my sanity. Ideally my story will be better because of it.

4) Taking a day off. Again, there are times when not working might be a stupid option, but when things are on schedule and everything is flowing well, letting myself have a day off is one of the best things I’ve found. It coincides with the keeping-to-a-schedule fiasco. My mind can flutter around to other things, rather than feeling continually dragged down by the same project every day for weeks on end. A breather day here and there has become a staple in my process.

5) Pinterest. Does this sound stupid? Trust me. It isn’t! Ways exist to be productive where my books are concerned other than just writing and editing the actual stories. Blogging, Twitter, Facebook... There are social media options that I can work on – still being the diligent author – while letting myself step away from the craziness of the book’s text. Pinterest, I’m finding, is one of my favorites. I can go to the site and work on a board made for The Division Chronicles, and while it’s time separated from the piece itself, it isn’t wasted.

There are other things that help me out, but five is such a good number, don’t you think? I think so. In any event, thanks for reading my post and helping me celebrate the release of Emblazed (The Division Chronicles: Book Two)! Keep in mind that Essenced (book one of the series) is scheduled for a free promotion throughout this blog tour (Feb. 24th-28th), so if you aren’t ready for Emblazed, you can catch up! I’m also planning giveaways for each day included in this tour for my Twitter account, so you might want to check that out!

Excerpt from Emblazed

AJ sensed him there, standing wordlessly some feet in the distance, just like she always recognized his presence when he lingered near. She absorbed the comfort and happiness he brought her – not that she’d admit that out loud – before sighing and speaking. “It’s called making a bed, Julius. It’s pretty commonplace.”

He didn’t push away from the doorframe, instead leaning further against it while he continued to observe her. “Sweetheart, nothing’s commonplace when you do it.”

Hearing the grin and affection in his voice, she smiled, peeking at him over her shoulder. “Is that a compliment or an insult?”

He gazed upward to stare at the ceiling with a thoughtful expression, then returned his attention to her, his shrug carefree. “Both.”

She smirked. “Sweet talker.”

“Odd ball.” He finally moved from the threshold, unhurriedly advancing toward her. “You know, most people make their beds in the morning. Not ten o’clock at night.”

She snorted. “Yeah. I’m gonna make my bed as soon as I roll out of it at six AM. I wouldn’t be making it now if I didn’t have to wrestle the sheet back on four times a night.” Finally setting her pillow in its position, she turned to him with an unashamed grin.

He chuckled, his adoration plain, and brushed a lock of hair from her face. “You’re one of a kind, you know that?”

“Compliment or insult?” she teased again.

“Compliment.” He smiled, cupping her cheek. “Definitely a compliment.”

“Sweet talker,” she repeated, standing on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his lips. Wrapping her arms around his neck, his circling her waist, she dove into the moment, reveling in the wonderful sensations only Julius incited. Safety. Warmth. Passion. So many more she couldn’t quite put a name to, the combination too heady and consuming to adequately decipher. It was simply a Julius effect, and its wonder had no equal in her life. Gradually breaking away, she knowingly lifted an eyebrow. “You didn’t come here just to make fun of me over my bed-making habits.”

“Maybe I came up here just to kiss you.”

“If that were the case, dear Julius, you wouldn’t have waited until I kissed you.”

Narrowing his eyes, he barely restrained his smirk at her forwardness and how well she’d grown to understand him in their time together. “You have a point.” He stepped back from her embrace, grasping her hand in his. “Come on. We have a mission.”

“A mission?” Her brow furrowed, though she made no move to retrieve her palm from his, following him in confusion as he neared the hallway. “At ten o’clock at night?”
“I believe we already covered the time in this conversation, AJ.” He made a clucking noise with his tongue, shaking his head in mock disappointment. “You really need to keep up with matters a bit more.”

She glared at the back of his head, lips thinning despite her vexing boyfriend’s inability to see her from his location. Realizing the futility of her frustrated efforts, she clenched the fingers he clutched, smiling in accomplishment at his grunt of discomfort. “Yeah, we covered it, but in household chore way. Not in a mission way. What could we possibly have to do this late at night?”

He sent her an amused glance – one she deemed condescending, particularly after the physical hint of her annoyance  – while tugging her through the doorway. “You do realize it isn’t ten o’clock everywhere, right?”

“Of course I realize that! I’m not a moron!”

“I never said you were…”

She growled, steeling her feet against the floor and prying her hand from his. “You didn’t have to. Your little grin said it all for you.”

His stare revealed sincere bewilderment – maybe a speck of frustration as well – and his arm dropped to his side. “So let me get this straight. You’re angry at me… because I smiled at you?”

Her eyes widened in fury, one finger raising to point at his chest while her left fist braced against her hip. “Don’t try to turn this around like I’m crazy!”

He scrunched his forehead, gaze traveling up and down her form while he held his hands out, as if silently offering his evidence.

She groaned, unhappy, turning away from him to rein in her irritation. For several seconds, she simply scanned her room, livid exhale after livid exhale falling from her lips, but the attempts did little to calm her turmoil, Julius actually flinching when her focus again landed on him. “It’s the grin you used. It’s the same one that was on your face when you drove into New Mexico, and I was surprised the facility was stationed here. Like I’m the dumbest person in the world and your number one source of entertainment.”
Instantly, his expression softened. “You can’t possibly think that I think that way?”
She just glared at him.

“Look, I’m not gonna lie.” He approached her, smiling tenderly. “You do amuse me, but not because I think you’re stupid. You’re… animated. And quirky. But not stupid. And I get it’s late, and no matter what time zone we’re entering, it’s ten o’clock here and we’re handing over sleeping hours, but Nicholai insists we need to go now.”

She kept pinched eyes on him, but her posture loosened a bit.

He laughed, reaching for her hand once more. “See? Animated. I can pretty much watch the wheels in your head turn.”

“Does that make you my mental stalker, too?”

Processing the playful edge of her words, he kissed her knuckles and led her into the hall. “Trust me, sweetheart. I have no desire to wander through your mind. I can’t imagine all the weird things I’d encounter.”

She tilted her head to the side, smiling. “Compliment or insult?”

Smirking over his shoulder, he caught her eyes with his. “Insult.”

About the author:

Connie L. Smith spends far too much time with her mind wandering in fictional places. She reads too much, likes to bake, and will be forever sad that she doesn't have fairy wings. And that she can't swing dance. When she isn't reading or writing, there's a good chance she's goofing off with her amazing, wonderful, incredible, fabulous nieces and nephew, or listening to music that is severely outdated. She has her BA from Northern Kentucky University in Speech Communication and History (she doesn't totally get the connection either) and likes to snap photos. Oh, and she likes apples a whole big bunch.


Connect with Connie:
Blog/Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads 

Buy the books:
Essenced FREE!! | Emblazed

Featured Author: Connie Smith

When I interviewed Connie Smith I was happily surprised to find out we're fellow Kentuckians. It's my pleasure to have her here to talk about her young adult novel, Essenced (The Division Chronicles: Book One), and to give you a sneak peak at the book.

About the book:

Years ago, demons were forced out of the earth’s realm by a band of supernatural fighters, banished from the place and its people in the aftermath of a horrific war. It should’ve ended there – would’ve – if not for the final demon’s claw snagging on the open portal. What felt like victory became only a reprieve, the winning warriors understanding that the tear would spread, and the demons eventually would escape exile. It was only a matter of time, and a need for future defense – a question of genetics and essences, magic and power. 

Now, centuries later, a new army must bind together – one of teenagers with inhuman potentials and abilities… 


AJ went to bed Sunday night an average teenage girl, clumsy and athletically lacking. So when she wakes up Monday morning with super-strength, she does what any rational person would do: She goes into denial. When a smoking hot guy in a suit shows up, rambling about the end of the war and demons spilling through some kind of rift, she refuses to listen, telling herself he’s insane. Except weird things just won’t quit happening, and the guy keeps popping up in her life, trying to explain the changes suddenly happening within her. Is she crazy, or is this guy… not so crazy after all?


Connie, how long have you been writing, and how did you start?

I’ve been writing since I was in elementary school, but I actually started off writing song lyrics. Of course, in single-digit ages, my songs tended to be highly plagiarized, but I got better! I visited that off and on, and really invested myself into it in high school. I can remember being excited about short stories I’d written for school – the first memorable one in fifth grade – and I liked having that creative outlet. I didn’t seriously attempt to write an actual novel until last year – the beginnings of which have been temporarily abandoned. Essenced is my first dedicated effort to see one through.

What’s the story behind the title of your book?

Essenced is a term used heavily in the book. As you can tell by the blurb, certain humans are carrying the essences of mythological creatures within them, and minus a prologue, the story starts when the magic has already brought those essences to life. Those people changed are referred to as Essenced. It’s also used for individual packs – Dragon-Essenced, Fairy-Essenced, Thunderbird-Essenced...

What’s your favorite line from a book?

I don’t know if it’s my favorite, but I do have a Terry Pratchett quote at the top of my blog. It’s from The Light Fantastic: “Inside every sane person there's a madman struggling to get out... No one goes mad quicker than a totally sane person.”

How do you get to know your characters?

For this book, I needed to begin – for the most part – with the mythological creatures and work my way back. Aside from the handful of humans and angels in the trilogy, it was pretty open territory to pick and choose any type of creature I wanted. Obviously I used the standard ones – vampires, werewolves, fairies – but I really wanted to bring some myths to the story that readers might’ve never known about. So that’s where a good chunk of my characters started – searching for the right creature and building from there. Their personalities have a tendency to reflect the creature.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

I honestly enjoyed writing so many of these characters, because their side effects (the transition to Essenced wasn’t as flawless as they’d hoped!) were so fun. There’s a skirt-chasing Incubus-Essenced, an emo-poetry spouting Necromancer-Essenced, a balding Thunderbird-Essenced, a thieving Dragon-Essenced...I don’t know that I could pick one specifically just based on how much fun they are to write. (I say ‘are’ because book three isn’t complete.) My favorite character though, is Johnny. I have a bit of a crush on him – I won’t lie – and his story is really something that snagged my attention. Plus his side effect is fun!

Are any of your characters inspired by real people? Who?

Not really, no. Parts of them might come from different people, or maybe conversations I’ve had. Like Ray-Ray’s obsession with Wheel of Fortune. That definitely reminded me of one of my friends – my BFFFFFFFFFFF, actually. But the characters as a whole, no.

One of your characters has just found out you’re about to kill him off. He/she decides to beat you to the punch. How would he kill you?

If this happened, I would be in trouble. These characters – the soldiers and angels – are pretty hardcore and have some magically-infused weapons. My only shot would be to hide.

If you could be one of your characters, which one would you choose?

Lexia! She’s Fairy-Essenced! Sparkly wings!

What song would you pick to go with your book?

I’m actually planning on posting a soundtrack list to my blog in the near future! For now, I will say this. If AJ and Julius had a song, it would have to be “True Love” by Pink. It’s like she wrote the song about them.

You get to decide who would read your audiobook. Who would you choose?

Misha Collins, but he has to do the whole thing in Castiel’s voice.

I don’t claim to be an expert on writing, but there are some writing techniques (or mistakes) that stand out to me when I read (e.g. when an author switches POV mid-scene). What’s one pet peeve you have when you read?

I HATE when dialogue doesn’t sound like a person actually talking. If it’s an omniscient narrator, I’ll accept some fancy language. But if it’s an average character...If you can’t picture a person saying something, you really shouldn’t make your character say it.


Where’s home for you?

Harlan, Kentucky. I moved around A LOT when I was a kid, and Harlan’s the place where I ended up spending most of my years in total. I wasn’t born here, but it’s my hometown.

Oh my gosh! You're a fellow Kentuckian! That's so cool! Okay, back on track. Neil Gaiman said, “Picking five favorite books is like picking five body parts you'd most like not to lose.” So...what are your five favorite books and your five body parts you’d most like not to lose?

Books: Small Gods by Terry Pratchett, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks (just because it’s the last book of the AWESOME trilogy), and Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay. I still have others I want to mention...

Body parts: If I say ‘eyes,’ does that count as two??? I’ll pretend not. I’ll pick eyes, ears, mouth, hands, and feet. By extension, my arms and legs would have to remain intact. Unless I’m going all Jaime Lannister...

Very smart! You can be any fictional character for one day. Who would you be?

Belle! She has a drool-worthy library, and she gets to randomly burst into song! Or Rogue, if it’s the cartoon version. She was my childhood hero!

What steps to publication did you personally do, and what did you hire someone to do? Is there anyone you’d recommend for a particular service?

I hired someone to make the cover, and I’m taking this opportunity to brag on her. The cover was designed by Laura Gordon, and she had very little detail from me about what I wanted. I gave her a few guidelines, and she worked on the project until I was happy with the final product – which only took a handful of changes. In fact, she made a second option for the cover. I loved it so much that it’s waiting to be the cover for the second book of the trilogy. The prices are good, and the work is phenomenal. Check out her site: http://bookcovermachine.wordpress.com/.

What’s your favorite candy bar? And don’t tell me you don’t have one!

BUTTERFINGER! I snatch them out of the bowl intended for trick-or-treaters!

What three books have you read recently and would recommend?

Abel by Elizabeth Reyes. I fell in love with her books when I first read Forever Mine, and I’m only listing this one because it’s a recent read. She has some wonderful stories.

A Brush of Darkness by Allison Pang was good, but I haven’t read the other books. I can’t make any claims for the whole series.

Boundless by Cynthia Hand. I love the trilogy, even though I think my dear Christian got a bad deal :)

What are you working on now?

Emblazed, the second book the trilogy, is in the edit stage, with a planned release the week of February 24, 2014. The third book of the trilogy’s rough draft is about halfway through (maybe a bit more). I also have a novella scheduled to come out around December. It’s a Paranormal Romance prequel to The Division Chronicles called In Your Wings. And I’m starting a new project for NaNoWriMo.

Is that all?! Seriously, good luck with all your projects, and come back soon to tell us more.

Excerpt from Essenced

Even as she thought about those things, gathering her empty water bottles to leave the endurance room, she felt his eyes on her, so intense she both cringed and shivered. Both good and bad, beautiful and bothersome. That’s Julius, alright. Turning to him, seeing the intensity for herself, made her pause as an involuntary gasp escaped her.

“What?” she finally demanded.

He kept staring. “I’m deciding something.”

“Okay…” She elevated an eyebrow, drawing the word out. “Well, I’m gonna go eat, so just… keep deciding.”

“I’m deciding about you.”

She stopped, gawking at him with wide eyes. Deciding about her? What did he mean exactly? Surely he hadn’t bridged the topic of them out in the open for everyone to overhear.

They’d done so well these last days, pleasantly ignoring all the complications the topic brought, playing selective memory. If he meant to change that – which she couldn’t decide if she wanted or not – the endurance room certainly didn’t seem the ideal setting.

“Deciding what about me?”

He gazed a moment longer, biting the inside of his mouth as he thought through his answer. “You fought against Nicholai longer than the other alphas today.”

Well, this definitely didn’t sound like it concerned them. She argued with herself that she held no disappointment with that fact. “Yeah, I managed a pitiful defense for a little over a minute.”

“More than the others did.”

“Well, then, we all need help.”

He nodded. “So you do. And so you’re getting it. Lesson learned, I think. Today you all pushed. A lot.”

Although she appreciated the compliment, she wondered what this had to do with her specifically. If he wished to congratulate her on a job well done, and all the students had increased their focus and determination, shouldn’t he be addressing a crowd rather than just her? “Is there something you’re wanting to say here? Because I really am hungry. And tired. And I really, really stink….”

“You outlasted the rest of them.” He looked her up and down, again causing her to cringe and shiver, nodding once when his eyes locked with hers. “You’re ready.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “In case you aren’t aware, that’s exactly the attitude that got us all in trouble in the first place.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Not ready for the war. But you’re ready for the next room.”

She tried to understand his words, but their meaning evaded her. “Next room?”

He nodded, then jerked his chin toward the door, intending her to follow him. Though nervous, and not a little unsure, she kept to her self-promise of acquiesce and walked behind him. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll know in a minute.”

“But I don’t get it. You gave me the tour the day after I got here. I’ve seen all the rooms already.”

Glancing over his shoulder at her, that annoying smirk spread across his lips. “You sure about that?”

He stopped in front of the supplies room, checking to see if anyone could see his actions. When he noticed a clear coast, he opened the door and ushered her hurriedly into the dark room, flipping on a light switch seconds later.

“This is where you wanted to take me? ‘Cause I gotta say, Julius. I’ve kind of been here.”

“Shut up and keep walking.” He gently shoved her toward the area’s opposite end, grinning at her unease. As they neared the back door, leading to the desert circling the facility, he pointed to the left.

Glancing there, AJ only saw boxes piled high, layers of training materials that, although organized, hardly seemed like a destination worth finding. She turned to him, confusion and concern etched on her expression. “You’ve brought me here to kill me, haven’t you?”

He rolled his eyes, though with a smile on his lips. “I told you once before. If I was gonna kill you, it would’ve been when you wouldn’t quit with the adrenaline thing. Just walk over there.”

She tilted her head to the side, eyes suspicious. “To the piles of supplies? In the supplies room?”

“Yes.” He considered the uncertainty on her face, sighing and shaking his head. “Just this morning you were shown how this hardheaded mentality works against your training. Do you really wanna hold to it before you fight the demons?”

She winced, then glared. “That was low.”

“It was necessary. Even with your newfound determination to not be stubborn, you can’t help but be stubborn with me.”

“Well, the other trainers didn’t drag me off to show me the wonders of supply organization. I could be eating right now, you know. We walked right by the cafeteria…”

“…And the sooner you go along with this, the sooner you can eat.”

“And get rid of you…” She thought it over, then agreed. “Solid reasoning. Let’s get on with this.”

Watching her spin toward the piles of boxes, Julius smiled to himself.

Once they reached the stacks, he maneuvered one to the right, leaving just enough space between two of them for a person to fit through. He grinned at her, mockingly, and strode through the path.

“He’s so gonna kill me,” she mumbled to herself.

“I’m not gonna kill you! Just come on already!”

She did as instructed, stepping in between the mess of provisions, inching forward a few feet until she reached her trainer, finding him waiting – and smirking – beside a door she hadn’t previously seen.

“Where did that come from?”

“Do you want the construction plans?”

She scowled at him, though obviously intrigued with the unfamiliar part of the facility.
He opened the door, holding his hand out to motion her through. As she stepped over the threshold, her eyes widened at the wondrous vision, somehow stashed away behind the clutter of the supplies room.

About the author:

Connie L. Smith spends far too much time with her mind wandering in fictional places. She reads too much, likes to bake, and will be forever sad that she doesn’t have fairy wings. And that she can’t swing dance. When she isn’t reading or writing, there’s a good chance she’s goofing off with her amazing, wonderful, incredible, fabulous nieces and nephew, or listening to music that is severely outdated. She has her BA from Northern Kentucky University in Speech Communication and History (she doesn’t totally get the connection either) and likes to snap photos. Oh, and she likes apples a whole big bunch.

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