Yes, I know, if I'm gonna swear in the title of a post, I should just do it, right?
But I get in enough trouble for all my naughty pictures, so I'm trying to be a good girl...
Fuck it!
I'll give you a minute to either enjoy the picture or run away. If that makes you uncomfortable, you probably stumbled into the wrong blog. Totally cool. My books probably aren't for you, but today is the release day for a TON of awesome books, so I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for!
Happy reading!
All right, now that those who don't love manlove are gone, let's get down to the how and why of what I do. Not sure it will help any new authors who hope that I know what I'm doing and can point them in the right direction. The best piece of advice I can probably give you is 'Don't do what I do.'
EVER.
Seriously, don't.
UNLESS you're willing to spend most of your career swimming against the tide.
If so, grab a seat, pour yourself some whiskey, and let's be friends! <g> I collect crazy little authors and you're cute!
Now, not only have I stepped into the rockstar romance genre without writing rockstars, but I ignored all the very successful trends in the genre. Not even trying to be a rebel, I just don't do formulas.
At all.
Actually, to be fair, I CAN'T do formulas. If I could I'd have a nice stable job writing for Harlequin. My books would fit neatly into categories and my life would be a whole lot simpler.
But I get bored easily and I can't write the kind of book I wouldn't be passionate about reading. Books others love that are cozy and comfortable gather dust on my shelves. I actually get a little jealous about those who can keep it simple because...
Well, remember what I said about swimming against the tide? It gets tiring. You're constantly sucking in mouthfuls of salty water while getting dragged under. You're never sure if your gonna gain some distance or drown.
Is it worth it though?
Abso-fucking-lutely!
I thought long and hard about what I was going to post today. The smartest thing would have been a happy 'It's RELEASE DAY!' post, with an excerpt. But this is the first book I've put out in awhile that isn't a rewrite, an expansion, or a completion. Ever since I released GOAL LINE this summer, this is the first book that's completely new.
It's about a super rich rockstar that meets one of his fangirls, who isn't like other fangirls, and they fall in love!
Yeah...no. Remember the formula deficiency I have? That right there is one that works for rockstar romance. So of course what I wrote is absolutely nothing like that.
And if that's the book you wanted, check out the bestsellers in the category. You'll find plenty of amazing books for your reading pleasure.
BACKLASH doesn't even start with introducing the heroine for quite some time. Actually, she takes her sweet time joining in and even I had a few moments where I was like 'This is a mistake. People are going to HATE this book.'
Then...I got out of my own fucking way and let the characters do their thing. This series isn't just about the heroine, or the heroes. Their lives revolve around a metalcore band that's struggling not to implode. None of the guys are rich, their tour schedule is crazy, and all but ONE has faced the reality that the lifestyle isn't all sex, drugs, and rock n' roll. It's hard work and they've got to fight to make it in a world where cheesy pop tunes dominate all the charts.
Which is how it works in real life.
So how do I do it? Well, like with the Cobras, I learn absolutely everything I can about the world my characters live in. I don't bother smoothing the edges or making anything easier on them. If a character is gay or bisexual, which many tend to be, they're not living in a world where everyone is accepting.
Life is hard. And books can be an escape, but they can also be a place that reflects your own failures and triumphs. Where you're just as uncertain as you are in your own life, but you know if you keep pressing forward, if you give it your all, you can be proud of every damn thing you accomplish.
This is the story of a band that doesn't get anything handed to them on a silver platter. But when they breakout? When they accomplish everything they've been fighting so hard for?
You get to celebrate with them. Because you were right by their sides every step of the way.
And when they fall in love? Damn, you feel it. You believe they've got someone who'll stand by their side.
Nothing is easy. Nothing is neat and shiny and pretty.
But it's a wild fucking ride!
BUY LINKS:
Amazon: http://bit.ly/backlashKIN
Apple: http://bit.ly/backlashiBooks
Kobo: http://bit.ly/backlashKOBO
Nook: http://bit.ly/backlashNOOK
AllRomance: http://bit.ly/backlashARE
Last, but not least, I mentioned a GIVEAWAY!
I'll keep it simple! <g> ONE commenter will receive a PLATINUM PRINT PRE-ORDER PACKAGE. Simply comment, asking me a question about ANYTHING. Not only will I answer every question, but I'll pick one person at random for the prize.
And if there's enough questions, I'll giveaway a couple of surprise packs!
So good luck and don't bother keeping it clean! lol! It's me! ;)
