Tuesday, October 29, 2013

BETTER Cover Reveal!

I know I haven't posted in a while, and I apologize for that. Let me make it up to you by sharing the cover of Better! Oh, I love this one! Robin Ludwig did an amazing job, as she always does. And I want to send out a "thank you" to all the blogs participating in the reveal today. I was floored by the turnout. Makes me that much more excited for release day.

Many blogs are posting teaser info one week before the book is released. I'll post links to early reviews and teasers of the book. You don't wanna miss it! You also don't want to miss the flash giveaway at the end of the post. One lucky winner will receive a digital ARC of Better. xo

(Cover by Robin Ludwig)
 
 
Release Date:
 
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
 
 
 
Book Description:
 
Their relationship has been exposed, and now their lives are changed forever.

For Cadence Miller, the fast track to adulthood proves intimidating and frustrating. She’s a little girl lost—abandoned by her parents and uncertain of her future. She doesn’t think she “fits” anywhere. She’s eighteen. She wants to be older. And the result is both comical and heartbreaking.

Mark Connelly will do anything to provide Cadence a stable, loving home—to be her protector. But he’s just as broken and lost, and his heart won’t let go of his past so easily. He knows he must share his secret with Cadence. And he hopes his revelation won't tear them apart. He hopes it will draw them closer, and make their love better.
 
 
Teaser:
 
She made sure to look as inconspicuous as possible for her first day of classes: jean shorts, tank top, flip flops. She kept her hair down but pulled it off her face with a headband. She wore a tad bit of makeup. Nothing showy, but she thought first day classes warranted mascara and lip gloss, at the least.

She slid into a seat in the row closest to the windows. She didn’t bother to look for Michael. Or save him a seat. She still wasn’t sure about that guy. She felt guilty for not telling Mark about Michael’s kissing comment. She wanted a friend, but she was unsure if he was a good one. She scanned the room for somebody better. She needed a girlfriend. And there was one sitting directly behind her.

“Hi,” Cadence said tentatively.

“Hi,” the girl replied.

Cadence wasn’t sure what else to say. Neither was the girl. That was until she recognized Cadence.

“You went to Crestview High.”

Cadence’s face fell. “Yeah.”

“My friend went there. She graduated with you.”

Cadence nodded.

The girl leaned in and whispered, “Did you really have an affair with your math teacher?”
 
 
Sale!!!!
 
Good will be on sale for $.99 on Amazon for a limited time. Encourage your friends, family, and reading buddies to snatch a copy if they've been waiting to start the series. 
 
 
Giveaway!!
 
 

Thursday, October 10, 2013

A Bunch of Random, Important Stuff

I'm task-oriented, so I'm just going to hit you up with a list of important information.


1. If you didn't hear the news yesterday, Better is releasing on Tuesday, November 19, 2013! This is the second and final installment in the Too Good series. Yeah, I know. Not really a series if it's only two books, but as I learned, a two-parter is technically called a duology, and there's no way I'm calling my series the Too Good duology. :)

Maryse was kind enough to share the pub date yesterday on her blog along with an exclusive excerpt from the book. Check it out here.

2. I emailed the winners of the Good Tour Giveaway this morning. Ladies, I can ship out your prizes by Saturday if you get back to me in a timely manner.

3. Last night I finally picked winners for my Facebook 3000 Likes Giveaway! Here are the winners and their subsequent prizes. I will email you all periodically within the next few days about your prizes. Some items I'm still waiting to be delivered. Congratulations, ladies!

 
All my books, signed
Catherine W.
 
All my books, e-format
Michelle G.
Ren R.
Lindsay G.
Katia N.
Stacey R.
Sara S.
 
Signed copy of Good/DJ Shadow's Endtroducing...CD
Neesha H.
 
Signed copy of Going Under/Custom "Gamers Embrace" T-shirt
Feifei L.
 
Custom "Gamers Embrace" T-shirts
Love L.
Kirsty L.
 
Choice of one of my ebooks
Stacey W.
Toreale S.
Sandra M.
Lisa A.
Sandra H.
Melissa J.
 
"Best Friends" Heart Charm Necklaces (from Going Under)
Lori P.
Natalia M.
 
(winners chosen by random.org)
 
 
4. I've been updating my calendar on my website because I actually got into some signings for next year! You'll start to see me advertise the heck out of these events in the coming weeks and months. Here's a list for now, and if you're in or around these areas, I'd love to meet you!
 
 
March 7-9, 2014
Wicked Book Weekend
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
 
From what I understand, this is a more intimate author signing. We lunch with you, party with you, and hang out at the pool or on the beach with you! I'm so excited about this event. Come spend a weekend with me.
 
 
July 19, 2014
Southern Girls Author Event
Greenville, NC
 
This is your standard big ol' convention center setup with lots of lovely authors from ALL over. I hear they're buying cowboy boots and practicing their Southern drawl, though. Hope you can join us all for a day-long signing and after party!
 
 
August 23, 2014
Atlanta Signing
Details TBA
 
 
5. This week I had grand plans to give you a 5-day Ireland tour complete with pictures and anecdotes. Yeah . . . I'm sure at this point you don't think I really went. I swear I did! And I swear I have pictures! I mistakenly thought I'd have free time while Better is being edited. LOL!!!!!! Um, no. No free time. I'll spend the next several weeks concentrating on promo for Better. I am, however, taking a writing break once Better releases, and that's when I'll share information about my trip. I won't give you a date because I keep doing that and then not meeting it. See why I don't give you exact release dates for my books until I am CERTAIN I can meet that deadline?
 
If you made it to the end of this post, you rock! xo
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

GOOD Tour Giveaway Winners!

 
And the winners are . . .
 
Kerry B.--GRAND PRIZE Winner!
Leslie R.--Runner-up!
Shannon D.--Runner-up! 
 
 
Congrats, girlies! And now I need you to email me your mailing addresses to swaldenauthor@hotmail.com so that I can get your books to you.
 
Thank you, everyone, for entering the giveaway. There will be many more. In fact, next up? I'll announce the winners for my FB 3000 Likes Giveaway. Stay tuned.

Saturday, October 5, 2013

In case you missed it . . .

Here's the complete tour schedule for Good. What a super week! I can't thank these bloggers enough for the time they spent reading and reviewing my book and creating beautiful posts on their blogs to promote my work. If you've got a lazy Saturday planned, peruse some of these stops. Well worth your time. Some highlights? Gosh, all the stops are amazing, but if you can only do a few, consider these:

1. The alternate POV "Drunk Cadence" scene at True Story Book Blog
2. Author interview at Nicely Phrased (these questions are hilarious)
3. Dual review at All Romance Reviews (you will laugh out loud)
4. "Cocktails and Characters" at A Love Affair with Books (new drink recipes for your next party!)
5.  Character interview with Cadence at Fab Fun and Tantalizing Reads
6. Exclusive BETTER teaser at Shh Moms Reading

Also, I just ended a few giveaways and will be choosing winners soon. Give me a bit of time as I'm wrapping up my Better first draft to send off to my editor. I think we may all agree that the sequel is Priority #1. ;)

Thank you all so much for participating in my Gift-a-Friend Friday. You spread the word about Good and blew it up in the rankings. You landed me at #1 on the New Adult and College Amazon list and helped me reach #18 on the Movers and Shakers list. I hope you realize how important that is: you've helped bring a lot of exposure to my book, and I can't thank you enough. xo

GOOD Tour

 
Monday, September 30th
 
Book Crush Review – Review and Excerpt
I Love Indie Books – Review and Playlist
Bookhooking – Review and Excerpt
Love N Books – Review
Novel Seduction – Review and Excerpt
Romantic Book Affairs – Review and Excerpt
 
Tuesday, October 1st
 
Book Nerds Anonymous – Review and Playlist
Madison Says – Review and 25 Random Facts about Me
My Secret Romance – Review
Nicely Phrased Book Blog – Review and Author Interview
The Book Bellas – Review and Excerpt
Wine Relaxation and My Kindle – Review and Excerpt
 
Wednesday, October 2nd
 
Bookaholics Blog – Review
Fab Fun and Tantalizing Reads – Review and Character Interview (Cadence)
Rustys Reading – Promo and Dream Cast
True Story Book Blog – Review and Alt POV "Drunk Cadence" scene
 
Thursday, October 3rd
 
 Addicted 2 Heroines – Review
Life Becomes Me – Review
YA Book Addict – Playlist and Promo
 
Friday, October 4th
 
 Love Those Books – Review
Book Reader Chronicles – Review and Guest Post about Cadence's character
A Love Affair with Books – Review and "Cocktails and Characters" 
Becca the Bibliophile – Review and Excerpt
Book Addicts Not So Anonymous – Review and Excerpt
Who You Callin a Book Whore – Review and Excerpt
Shh Moms Reading – Review and BETTER Teaser

Friday, October 4, 2013

The Great Wrap-up

I'm both sad and excited today: sad because my tour is ending but excited because this is one uber awesome day packed to the brim with all kinds of fun stuff. And here's the most important thing about today that you need to know:

Today is Gift-a-Friend Friday. Yeah, I made it up, and I'm gonna start doing it on random Fridays. So since today's Friday, let's try it out. I dropped the price of Good to $.99, but only for today. So be my favorite fan and promoter, and gift a copy of Good to a family member or friend. Help spread the love, darlings. (That's what Mark would call you.)

And now for the tour. I said fun stuff and I meant it. You'll get a firsthand look at how I developed Cadence's character at Book Reader Chronicles. I mixed up some cocktails and characters for you, too. Want to see what drinks represent Mark, Cadence, Avery, and Gracie? Head over to A Love Affair with Books. Need to read a few reviews to help convince you that Good is the book for you? Well, just check out the schedule below. It's packed with reviews! Oh yeah, and if you're interested in an exclusive look at Better, the sequel, then Shh Moms Reading has you covered.

 
October 4th
 
 
Love Those Books – Review
Book Reader Chronicles – Review and Guest Post
A Love Affair with Books – Revew and Guest Post
Becca the Bibliophile – Review and Excerpt
Book Addicts Not So Anonymous – Review and Excerpt
Who You Callin a Book Whore – Review and Excerpt


Shh Moms Reading – Review and Book 2 Teaser
 (Better teaser will be up at 11 A.M.!!)
 
Here's my dream cast for Good. It was featured this week on Rusty's Reading, but I wanted to share again.
 
 
Cadence Miller
(Teresa Palmer)
 

 
 
Mark Connelly
(Ben Barnes)
 
 
 
Avery Fisher
(Analeigh Christian Tipton) 
 
 
 
Fanny Burken
(Dame Judy Dench)
 
 
Oliver Miller
(Brendan Robinson)
 
 
Gracie
(Jane Levy)
 
 
 
 
 


Thursday, October 3, 2013

It's a Review Day!

I said it yesterday, and I'll say it again. Book bloggers blow me away. The time and effort they put into their reviews is astounding. I mean, seriously. They read an entire book (and Good was decently long--95,000 words), then contemplate it. Maybe jot down some notes. Perhaps talk it over with a spouse or friend. Then they sit down and write. And write. Aaaaaaaaand write. I love when they have a lot to say because that means I did my job. I love to feel their enthusiasm. I love to hear their emotional struggles with the characters. I love the honesty they bare, especially when they admit to a moral struggle. That stuff's good. That stuff tells me, "Hey, you didn't end up wasting your time writing this book after all!" :)

October 3rd
 
Life Becomes Me – Review
 
 
Need some tunes to jam to today? Check out the Good Soundtrack at YA Book Addict. Some songs may be inappropriate at work. Just a heads up.
 
YA Book Addict – Playlist and Promo
 
 

In other news today, I learned that Good received an honorable mention from Maryse on her Top Five Summer Reads 2013. That made me pretty damn happy. If you've not read her review, take a few minutes to check it out here. It's squirmy, honest, and real.
 
 

My 3000 Likes Facebook Giveaway is almost over. If you haven't entered, do it. Lots of prizes. Lots of ways to enter to receive maximum pointage. (Yes, I made up that word.)
 


Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Wednesday Stops. *sigh* I'm in love . . .

Every day is my favorite tour day. Seriously. These bloggers constantly amaze me with the work they put into their posts, the time they take to write insightful reviews, the enthusiasm they show for my work. I'm truly blown away. And today is just so much fun! More reviews, a character interview with Cadence (she answers some pretty tough questions), my dream cast, and an exclusive alternate POV scene. Remember when little Cadence drinks just a bit too much wine? lol Wanna hear it from Mark's perspective? Check out today's stops and support these killer blogs. <3 
 
 
October 2nd
 
Bookaholics Blog – Review
Fab Fun and Tantalizing Reads – Review and Character Interview
Rustys Reading – Promo and Dream Cast
True Story Book Blog – Review and Alt POV

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

GOOD Tuesday Tour Stops

These ladies have you covered today with all kinds of goodies--honest reviews (I made some of them squirm!), Good soundtrack, 25 random facts about me and interview (I hope you find both of these humorous), and book excerpts. They've put together stellar posts, so take some time to check them out. My hope is that you get to know me a little better. And don't forget to enter the giveaway and contest!

 
October 1st
 
Book Nerds Anonymous – Review and Playlist
Madison Says – Review and Author Interview
My Secret Romance – Review
Nicely Phrased Book Blog – Review and Author Interview
The Book Bellas – Review and Excerpt
Wine Relaxation and My Kindle – Review and Excerpt