Ssshhh...

Wanna know what I'm doing today?

Writing.

And it's going good.

So please... sssshhhh....

Or I'll sic my stealthy ninja on ya!

.99 cents Kingdom Series Collection!

Yup, you read that right. I've slashed the book yet again for my second promotion. Tomrrow Bookbub will be blasting my book out to some readers, but I went ahead and already dropped all the prices, EVERYWHERE. This is a very short promotion. So if you've been thinking about the series, but not sure you wanted to pay 5.99 or even 2.99 then you don't have to. :) The total sum of all 4 Kingdom books at the moment is 3.98. This sale won't last long at all, so spread the word and make sure you get in on it before it disappears.

Now, enough promo because who likes to go to an author's site and only read my books on sale, please buy me, pleassssssssse kind of posts??? It's come to my attention that many readers are curious about this enigmatic character called Pandora who has a very tiny, but crucial role in Jinni's Wish. For those who haven't read it she's the gyspy (or is she really???) who sends Paz packing for Alaska to meet up with Jinni.

I've been reading a couple of reviews lately wanting to know who she is and why I went into such detail about the characters that worked in the carnival. I'd intended to keep them a mystery for a bit, but I've decided to answer part of your question.

Pandora is a character I wrote about ages ago. 7 years ago to be precise. Her first book is completed and I adore her. She's one of my favorite characters I've ever created. I stuck her book away for a while, never forgetting that someday I'd go back and finish her series. Not only will she have her own series, she's also responsible for the spin off I've created. The Forbidden series will feature her as well and the lore of her people are many of the central themes I'll explore in my future YA.

Have you ever read the books, "Where's Waldo?"

Well in Jinni's Wish, that was my version of Where's Waldo. A Pandora sighting that you'd only recognize as a sighting in retrospect once her book is released.

Now I won't say more because I don't want to give too much away, but if any of you ever wondered... that's the long and short of it.

Okay, have a great Monday!

Happy reading,
~Marie

Happy Friday!

So it's been a while since I've posted random but useless nonsense and I thought I'd do it again because it makes for fun posts. :D So my top three (silly and random (but true)) thoughts.

1. It is estimated that millions of trees in the world are accidentally planted by squirrels who bury their nuts and then forget where they hid them!

(So next time you see a squirrel, say thanks *this is me, being totally non-sarcastic... seriously, not even a little *giggle*)

2. While there wasn't any cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, or pumpkin pie to eat at the first Thanksgiving, there was beer, brandy, gin, and wine to drink.

(Hmm... maybe that's why they were so quick to cry witch, the truth has finally been revealed. The puritans were all drunk!)

3. The fingerprints of koala bears are virtually indistinguishable from those of humans, so much so that they could be confused at a crime scene.

(That's a great idea for a book, next time I write a crime scene I'll make the villain say "the Koala did it!" Brilliant!)

Well, that's it... wasn't that fun. How true these are, you decide. :) Wrote another 2.5k words yesterday on Forbidden, aiming for similar today. Hope you all have a great weekend!

Happy reading,
~Marie

Kingdom Collection Bargain

On the 24th I'll be dropping my first three books, called my Kingdom Collection to 2.99! :-D So if you've been waiting to catch up on the books... that would be a great day to just go for it.

Got in 1.5k words last night on Forbidden, felt good to write again, though I threw out my back yesterday morning so I'm in a wee bit of pain that's more than just wee. Feeling loads better this morning, still tender... but at least I feel human. :/

Just loading up on the pain meds right now... can't wait to read what I wrote after I'm better... bet it's gonna be crazy, lol.

Have a great hump day (and by hump day I mean Wednesday, it's military slang... get your minds out of the gutter LOL)

Happy reading,
~Marie

Opposites (A tribute)

So Saturday I woke up and felt a rush of energy. Decided I wanted to hike Makapu'u Lighthouse point. It's beautiful. It's an easy hike that cuts straight up a mountain pass, it's all rocky and ledgy and you skirt the very edge of land and ocean. The surf was wild and full of white caps and the water such a deep blue it seemed to slip into eternity. It was breathtaking and as I was standing at the very edge of the cliff I saw a sight I haven't seen in the three years I've lived here.

A breaching humpback whale. It was exhilerating, awe inspiring, moving... so beautiful. The whales migrate here from Alaska during mating season and I've heard of others getting to see them, but I never have. I remember as I stood there that day that it was really one of the best days of my life.

The next day I received a call from my MIL to let us know that my husband's grandmother was in the hospital. She passed away peacefully early this morning.

Sometimes a memory gets so imprinted because there're moments in our life that we will never forget. Nanny's death will always be wrapped up in the beauty of that day and that's a beautiful memory to have.

Rest in peace grandma,
Marie

Sorry I've been M.I.A.

Just a short note to tell you I haven't disappeared from the face of the Earth. Whenever family is in town I put all writing away to focus on them since they're never here long. I'll get back to my regularly scheduled program next Monday!

Until then, here's a short snippet of Hook's Pan:

Danika bit the corner of her lip.

For all that the blonde bombshell seemed tough as nails, inside she was a little girl that was raw and bleeding and one word shy of completely cracking.

Of all the women Miriam had told Danika were fated to be with her boys, Trishelle had worried her the most.

Even Alice’s cancer and Violet’s murdering tendencies had nothing on the blonde’s fragile state of mind. To look at her, no one would know her past, the horrors she’d lived through and all that she’d seen. How they still kept her up at night trembling and desperate until the sun came out. How she hid behind a façade of lies and easy going grace, when in truth, she couldn’t be anything further from it.

So there you go! See you Monday and until then GO NINERS!!!
~Marie :D

And the winner is...

Thank you all who participated in this blog hop, it was really fun to read all your responses! :D So without further ado. My winner is...

Cassandra Hicks!

I'll be writing you off list.

Happy reading all!
~Marie