This week's writerly news: Writing Inspiration while on vacation

Hey, guys! Last week our family went on our annual summer vacation. I try not to post things about being away from my home while I'm gone, so even though I took a ton of pictures that I wanted so badly to share, I did not. And yes, this might have meant a bit of angst on my part, but guess what? It means more pics right now for you! Yay! (Didn't that work out swell?) 

We went to the beach, more specifically, where pretty much everyone from the valley goes... Pismo. (But if you go to Pismo Beach you basically always also go to Avila Beach, Oceano, Grover Beach, and the nearby San Luis Obispo, because they're so close.) 

As usual, we writers are always a few steps ahead of the game, so while the second Flora book is coming out soon, I'm already over here working on book three and the second Cozenage book (after Pity Isn't An Option). And sure, blogs and Pinterest boards are great to capture ideas and whatnot (oh hey, here are mine, by the way...) I love coming across visual inspiration the natural way. So here you go... a few photos I took recently that will most definitely end up in my books in the not-so-distant future. 

Do I even need to explain this one?

On the beach. Loved the sunset coloring and
how very dark that one low cloud was.

Looking up from inside a
eucalyptus grove.

Another beautiful sunset.

A house even worse than the Pulman residence!

Took this whilst driving down a lonely road.
It has the Cozenage series written all over it.

Through the passenger window. Soooo
someplace Jonas would come across! 

I actually filmed this. It was evening, and these
birds flew by in a continual line for almost FIVE
minutes. They were all heading south, further out
to sea. (To feed, maybe?) It was CRAZY.

Trying to look through the eucalyptus. 

The grove again -- wanted to show the
dense foliage on the grove floor and
also how dark it was inside even in
the early afternoon.

Have a blessed weekend! 

Jonas graphic from Pity Isn't An Option

Well, not Jonas exactly. Just part of a quote BY Jonas.

I was messing around with the blurb I have listed on the "books" tab here on my blog and came up with this. (Mainly just for fun and because PIAO is really set in the fall. It's always great to read a book when the setting is the same as it is around you.) Then, as I read the words over, I realized it kinda goes with what's going on with our government right now, and how some people feel, so I thought I might as well share and make the last hour I spent at least worth something! ;) Enjoy!

Writerly News

Not a whole lot of writerly news for this week, mainly because this week is a short one and I'm reading The Count of Monte Cristo (slow reading, but I am really enjoying it--especially since I watched the movie so I have particular faces in my head). Plus, I've been working on edits and whatnot. But I did want to share a little excerpt from one of the things I'm working on, because I think it shows Jonas' heart and the way he is, following Pity Isn't An Option. So here it is, and it will *hopefully* make it to book two of the Cozenage series (as yet, untitled):

I write words like birds on the page. They glide across the paper, getting me from one point to the next, flapping their wings only when the momentum dies down and I need to be propelled further. They are my flittering pace, my fluttering hope. When all is lost and I have nothing and nowhere to go, I still have words, glorious words, and they comfort me and bring me home.

Have a great weekend!

Jonas and Hattie answer a few questions for Sara in Bookland's BLOGOVERSARY

Happy Monday! :D

Jonas and Hattie have been interviewed over at Sara in Bookland's blog to help celebrate her one year BLOGOVERSARY. (Woohoo! Cookies all around!) An ebook of Pity Isn't An Option is also up for grabs, so head on over HERE to read the interview and enter the giveaway! (Feel free to share some BLOGOVERSARY love by sending her a note of congrats and enter the other giveaways going on while you're at it!)

Harry the owl and I also giving away five free bookmarks to help Sara celebrate... so the first five people to put their email in the comments section here will receive a bookmark (with excerpt from PIAO on the back) from Harry! *throws confetti*

Getting to Know Jonas, Hattie, and Wanless (Take Four)

**Photo courtesy of DP Photography

I'm a little late this week, but better late than never! 

Click HERE to read Chapter Four of Pity Isn't An Option (Jonas' point of view!)

Getting to Know Jonas, Hattie, and Wanless (Take Two)

**photo courtesy of DP Photography

Happy Friday, guys! Okay... can I say it? I'm totally in love with my blog. Hafsah rocks. :) To quickly recap this week, we're two weeks into Local Author Wednesday, and so far, Sharon Lathan, author of historical romance, and James Garcia Jr., author of paranormal (as in, vampires), have been featured. Both giveaways are still going, so please feel free to enter Sharon's HERE and Jimmy's HERE.

And now for the second installment of Getting to Know Jonas, Hattie and Wanless! YAY! I've posted the second chapter of Pity Isn't An Option at Goodreads, so if you've already read Chapter One, click HERE to read Chapter Two! (If you haven't read the first one yet and want to start from the beginning, click HERE.) 

Have a blessed weekend!

Getting to know Jonas, Hattie, and Wanless (Take One)

**Photo courtesy of DP Photography

Happy Friday! :) I'm so excited to have a new and bee-au-tiful new blog design thanks to my amazing and talented pal, Hafsah! This girl rocks (she's a writer, book blogger, designer... and all around awesome gal)! I mean, the cover to Pity Isn't An Option is a testament in itself to her talent--but THIS? I love love love it (possibly even more than PIAO's cover. Gosh. That's a hard one.) If you've been wanting any kind of design (or even if you haven't) feel free to check out her business, IceyDesigns (link).

In honor of the new design and hosting Local Author Wednesday here on the blog and well, a lot going on around here (middle daughter graduating from 8th grade; kitchen being, well, gone at the moment; writing; and other stuff--oh and let's not forget Lovemuffin and my 16th wedding anniversary, too), I thought it would be fun to take each Friday this month to share a chapter from Pity Isn't An Option. This is mainly because I love Jonas and Hattie so much and want to share their story with you all (and introduce you to the town of Wanless), but also because I'm working on the companion novel to it right now and am so excited I just can't help but share a part of them. :)

So, without further ado, click HERE to check out Chapter One (Jonas' point of view) of Pity Isn't An Option on Goodreads.

P.S. Have you checked out this week's Local Author Wednesday author, Sharon Lathan and entered the giveaway? If you're a Pride & Prejudice fan (or even if you aren't yet but love historical romance) you'll love her books! Click here to enter the giveaway! Enjoy!

Have a blessed weekend,

Jessica

Blog stop updates, Latvia, BRUISER review & more

Somehow I got behind on the blog stops this week and there are three to share today! :)

First, yesterday PIAO was at  Izz "Pingle"Bookish Place (link) with excerpt #1.

Second, Jonas and Hattie made it out of the US and all the way over to Maija's blog, Bookish Randomness in Latvia, Europe (link)! After Maija informed me where it was exactly, I had to check it out!

Pretty cool, right? I mean, they go on a little journey themselves, but that's nothing compared to Europe (see Finland above Latvia, a bit?) ;) I believe there's an excerpt there, too.

Third, Hattie's excerpt is up today over at Sara in Bookland's blog. (link) I'm noticing almost all of these ladies also have birds on their blog designs... coincidence? I think not!!! ;)

I also have a book review of BRUISER by Neal Shusterman (he's written Unwind, UnWholly, the Everlost series, and a whole lot of other books) over at Afterglow Book Reviews. BRUISER was a GREAT book! (link) There were lots of laughing and tears... as with all of Neal's books, it's going to stick with me for a while.

Last, I thought I'd do another little teaser and share a new photo from PIAO's Pinterest board:

There's a pivotal scene that takes place near Hattie's gran's mailbox (for those of you who have the paperback, it's the back cover excerpt). This view here seemed so perfect for how I imagined things to look in Wanless (though, technically, there'd be a little less grass and more dirt).


Happy Wednesday! :)

Jessica