Nearly Freebie Friday

Well, friends, I am having some blogger issues today so I can't do my usual post with the cover and all the fun stuff, but I did my best to let you know that Sarah Eden's book, Kiss of A Stranger (my favorite one of hers!) is on sale for $2.99!

That is an amazing price for her Kindle books (they're usually over ten, silly publishing company!) so head  on over to Amazon and go pick up your Kindle copy while you can!

Let's hope blogger works for me by Monday. Maybe it just took an early weekend, you know? We all need those once in a while, right?

Happy Friday!

The ARCs Have Flown the Nest!

It was an exciting day for me.  The ARCs (Advance Reading Copy) of my new book, Ring Around the Rosie, have gone out!

I honestly didn't know if this day was going to come.  This have been one of the toughest manuscripts I've ever produced because I realized that when my life has emotional turmoil in it, my creative juices dry up. Like the Sahara. And yeah, I had a lot of emotional turmoil in the last six months. Thankfully I seem to be on the other side of it now, *knock on wood* and I learned a lot of valuable lessons about my life and my writing and where my limits are.

I do have to say thank you to my critique group Jordan McCollum and Emily Clawson for being my shoulders to cry on and my cheerleading section to get this book done.  Also, Jon and Debra, you guys were amazing beta readers and I am so grateful for your patience in helping me get this manuscript off the ground! I have the best fans and friends in the world.  Seriously.

So, fans and friends, I'm glad you've all stuck with me and been so patient.  I think this is one of my best books ever and I can't wait for you all to read it.

What are you reading this summer?  Any good books?  Any ARCs?

Death Comes Soft and Cruel

I know this is Word Count Wednesday, but I have no word count. My fifteen year old nephew, Tyler Hallsey passed away Sunday night.  I want to tell you a bit about this brave young man.

In January 2013, this athletic boy started having some balance issues.  He didn't seem himself.  Sports that he loved to play were becoming harder, even playing catch was tough.  His parents decided to take him to Phoenix Children's Hospital.  On Feb. 8, 2013 Tyler was diagnosed with Pontine Glioma which is a tumor surrounding the brain stem.

It wasn't something anyone would add to a list of good things, but after he was diagnosed, he was scared. Regardless, when his dad asked him what he wanted to do to beat the disease, he said, "Whatever it takes."

He tried really hard to live with a positive outlook, to do whatever it took to beat the disease.  His life was an inspiration to thousands as they all followed his story on Facebook.  His father's posts (on the Whatever It Takes Facebook page), as the disease progressed made my heart ache.  One especially touched me and I wanted to share a portion of it.

"Tyler is unable to get out of bed, so we spend a lot of time repositioning him and trying to make him comfortable. His physical therapist told us to think about how many times we shift our body when we stand or sit. Tyler can’t shift his body, so we do it for him. He likes to have his right hand on his chest. We prop up his elbow with a pillow, so his arm is straight across his chest. Since he has no strength in his arm, it will slide down and we reposition it where he likes it. It’s constant shifting and adjusting.

The other day he had a very determined look on his face and was straining to do something. I didn't know what he was doing, but I saw the sheet just above his right arm moving slightly. I pulled it back to see his elbow being lifted off the pillow just a little, maybe a half inch (this is the only movement he hasn’t lost). He did it over and over. He was really working hard. He was determined. He was exercising and doing all he could to get stronger and fight. Talk about being a proud dad. I told him how good he was doing and how proud I was of him. He got the biggest smile on his face. He was so determined and happy with what he was doing...lifting his elbow a half-inch. He was happy about something so simple, when he could, and probably should be angry that this is all he has left, but he chooses to be happy and excited. He teaches me everyday what it means to not just endure, but endure well. He is my hero.

How can I not look in the mirror and ask myself what I am doing with my half-inch? We can't waste anything God has given us, no matter how big or small. If Tyler can find joy, happiness and a sense of accomplishment in a half-inch then what's my excuse?

What are you doing with your half-inch?

Cherish every moment.

Tyler’s Dad
Whatever It Takes

After Tyler was diagnosed and battle plans were made, there was an outpouring of love for Tyler when his favorite sports heroes came to meet him or invited him to games.  Smiles lit up his face when he had visitors of any kind and he found the strength to fight on.

There is a clothing company that sells his designs.  You can see the inspirational shirts here.  

There was a song written especially for Tyler that shows a lot of his life (I posted it below) and how much he'd been through and how far he'd come with DIPG.  

He is a hero.

He battled hard.  He persevered through countless treatments.  He inspired everyone around him to do better and be better.  

He will always be a hero.

Tyler passed away on July 13, 2014.

  

I'm so glad for my knowledge of God's plan.  Tyler has gone on to a beautiful place where he can run and play without any pain.  And we will see him again.  Because families are forever.

But just because we don't know when death will come to any of us, tell your loved ones how much you love them.  Hold them close.  Do "whatever it takes" to forgive, to be kind and loving.

For Tyler.

Word Crimes by Weird Al--So Funny! Don't Miss This!

Have you seen this Weird Al video? It is SO FUNNY!  Seriously. If you love words, you've got to watch this one.

Were you guilty of any of the "crimes?"  Come on, 'fess up!  Haha.

The RONE Awards!

As you all know, I went to the RONE awards ceremony on Friday night. It was quite the party! I got all glammed up and headed over to the venue.  While we were waiting for the ceremony to start, this quiet new friend came to sit by us and mock the man at the end of the row. Haha!

I was on the second row and when I turned around, guess who was sitting behind me? Anne Perry! One of the best-selling authors of all time!  I got to chat with her for a few minutes and she was so gracious. She also has a charming accent! Here's the picture I got of the two of us.

Then, I had the honor of accepting the Best Fantasy award on behalf of Amber Argyle, but on my way up the stairs I tripped and nearly fell off the stage. It was SO embarrassing! The "Casanova" who was supposed to be helping me up the stairs nearly had a heart attack trying to catch me. Poor guy.  (I didn't get a picture of it. I was too mortified!)

The entertainment for the evening was incredible.  First, we had singer David Nichols (who was wearing military-style boots with his tuxedo. Interesting wardrobe choice!) but he was a great singer and had a lot of fun with ladies in the audience.  Then we had the Kristeff brothers perform (they were on America's Got Talent).  Here's the picture I got right before they kicked one of the lights on the ceiling.

And then it was time for the Suspense category.  The nominees were announced and I won Honorable Mention this year!  So, sort of a first or second runner-up, but still pretty awesome to be in the top three Suspense books for the year.  I was excited!

So there you have it.  I'd really like to thank those at InD'Tale magazine who put on these awards every year, and everyone who has supported me on my writing journey. None of this recognition would be possible without my wonderful readers and fans.  You're awesome! Thank you!

If you want to see the full list of RONE award winners, click here

Friday Freebie: Heart of the Ocean

Well, I am off to the RONE awards this evening. I'm so excited to be part of it! Wish me luck! (I'll be doing some live-tweeting if you want to follow along @juliebellon)

Today's Friday Freebie is an awesome historical that has all the thrills and chills to keep you up at night turning pages.  Click here to see what I thought of the book when I reviewed it.  If this sounds like a book you'd like, click the title Heart of the Ocean to download your free Kindle copy!

Here's the back copy:

In Heather B. Moore’s enthralling 1840s historical romance, Heart of the Ocean, Eliza Robinson has turned down the very pretentious Mr. Thomas Beesley’s marriage proposal. As a business partner of Eliza’s father, Thomas quickly discredits the family and brings disgrace to the Robinson name.

While her father scrambles to restore his good name in New York City, Eliza flees to the remote Puritan town of Maybrook to stay with her Aunt Maeve. Although relieved to be away from all- things-male and unforgiving gossip columns, odd things start to happen to Eliza, and she is plagued by a ghostly voice. Her aunt’s explanation? That Eliza is being haunted by a woman who died of a broken heart twenty years ago.

After Aunt Maeve is tragically killed, Eliza's life is put in danger as she tries to uncover the mystery of her aunt's death. She encounters Jonathan Porter in Maybrook, whose presence in the town seems suspicious, yet she finds herself drawn to him. When she discovers that Jonathan’s dark secrets may be the link between the dead woman who haunts her and her aunt’s murderer, Eliza realizes that Jonathan is the one man she should never trust.

Cover Reveal for Debra Erfert's New Novel!

I am THRILLED to be able to be part of Debra Erfert's cover reveal.  Her new novel, Relative Evil, will be released JULY 25! I can hardly wait!

....drum roll....

Isn't it gorgeous? I love it!

Here's the back copy:

When life imitates art—life gets deadly.

Claire Abney, twenty-five and single, doesn’t necessarily believe that her new stepmother deliberately causes her dad to have accidents bad enough he breaks his bones. Well, maybe she does after she sees the way Adelaide marinates in the praise she gets from being the perfect caregiver. As an author of two weak-selling romance novels, Claire turns to her writing as a coping mechanism. She loosely bases the evil villain in her new suspense on her stepmother, giving her an obscure mental illness, Munchhausen Syndrome by Proxy. Not wanting her family to find out that she wrote about their lives, Claire uses a man’s pseudonym, and her publisher furnishes her the man—for book signings. How do you spell “love interest?”

After Claire’s dad has a heart attack and dies, she suspects Adelaide committed murder, but trying to find the evidence may be impossible. Being the obstinate, sometimes oddly dressed woman, Claire vows to either prove her stepmother is truly sick, or a cold-blooded murderer before another member of her family is targeted.

I am so excited for Debra and if this sounds like a book you'd like to read, (and since I got to read an advance copy I KNOW you're going to want to read it. It's so good!) then you can get all the updates on her blog here or her author's Facebook page here.  

Debra and her publishing company will be having an online release party on Saturday, July 26th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. I know I'll be there! I can't wait!