Best friends

No, not literally; I’m not actually contemplating arson, crazy pants! I listed a contest for a few copies of “Chasing Shadows” in paperback on Amazon after just discovering that authors can list giveaways on the website. Who knew?! (probably everyone, but that’s beside the point) I had several copies available and set it to end in 1 week, because I assumed I would have to build traction and interest over a couple days as the giveaway spread. WRONG! I don’t know if people have alerts if a book is in their Wish List, or what, but the giveaway went live at around 1pm PST this afternoon, and it reach its max capacity for entrants in 13 MINUTES!!!! Yes, one-three, just three more minutes than 10 and WAAAAAY less than the solid week I had projected.

I couldn’t believe it!

I had just received an email that the giveaway was live, and Twitter notifications kept popping up at the top of the screen to let me know I had 10, 20, 35 new followers. I was laughing and had to ask Katie to read the notification of the giveaway’s end to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. But, nope, Chasing Shadows sold out in 13 minutes.

Panda - Uncyclopedia, the content-free encyclopedia - via http://bit.ly/epinner

I can't stop smiling - and neither can this bunny. Click through for GIF.

It sold out so quickly that I just scheduled another giveaway on Amazon for this afternoon with the same details, so hopefully some of you who missed out on entering the one earlier will have another chance at a free copy. I’ll post the link as soon as it goes live here and on Twitter and Facebook, and then be sure to enter as quickly as possible and share with your friends before all paperback copies are gone. Or don’t share, since their entry could potentially reduce your odds. 😉 If you don’t win, though, don’t let it stop you from buying a copy of Chasing Shadows for yourself and adding it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22545313-chasing-shadows?from_search=true

Oh, yeah, and did I mention that Chasing Shadows sold out in 13 minutes?

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I’ve been writing like the dickens lately—school and fun related—so I apologize for my negligence, Sweet Readers! Good news for you loyal fans, though: I literally just received the final edited copy of “Chasing Shadows”!!!!!! Huzzah! I have until Friday to look over the final edits and give the okay for the book to be printed, so it’s a bit of a race against the clock right now. . . . Hmm, much like Sarah in “Chasing Shadows.” Although, if I fail, a medieval kingdom won’t fall into the hands of a bloodthirsty ruler or unravel the very fabric of time and history, so I think I got the better end of the deal. 😉

Because of this, I’m in crack-down mode again and have basically spent until 1am the past two nights poring over the manuscript and making sure everything is copacetic It’s a little scary to know that this will be the last time I get to make corrections to and improve the sequel, but I’m giving this one up to God, guys (don’t worry; I haven’t forgotten my post about letting God take control from a while back). It has also been incredibly exciting to be inspired to write or add things to Book III in the Shadow Trilogy because of something I read in “Chasing Shadows.”

You guessed it! I’m in “Author Mode” (adj: an intensely concentrative state where all things not directly pertaining to writing/reading/editing are ignored to make room for writing/reading/editing functions of the brain. Also includes functions necessary for coffee consumption). Over the past few weeks, I’ve devised a few key concepts that have become my mantra while writing, and also a few tricks of the trade necessary for those long hours spend with pen in hand. I call it:

The Indispensable Author’s Arsenal

(Say that five times fast!) I did a variation of this Arsenal a long time ago and have kept at it since, adding my own improvements. Feel free to use this code of awesomeness for yourself while you read and write, and don’t forget to add “Chasing Shadows” on Goodreads before it comes out in the next two months, become a fan on Goodreads, and keep coming back for the release date of “Chasing Shadows.” ^_^ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22545313-chasing-shadows?from_search=true

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