I write sweet and steamy rom-coms with tear-jerker happy-ever-afters.
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where i play the role of romance author, reader, and geek

Jason and Keanne - An Excerpt

9/14/2013

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Jason Chalkias is a Greek god, a billionaire, but more than that he’s beautiful inside - the kind of guy someone damaged like me doesn’t deserve. I know people think I’m a slut for once dating a married man. I think so, too, but Jason says I’m better than everyone thinks, that in me he sees a girl any guy would be lucky to have.

The wild child who lives next door...the young girl who’s always desperate to make him smile – that’s how Jason thinks of me but no more. I’m eighteen now and Jason needs to understand that I’ve never thought of him as a substitute father – or even a brother. He’s my life, my best friend – there’s no guy whom I could ever more.

In an all-out bid to win his love, I risk everything on a bet: for every secret date we have, I must date another boy after. Jason says it will help me realize someone out there is better for me. What I don’t realize until it’s too late is that Jason also thinks someone out there is better for him...but it is not me – and it might never be me.
AN EXCERPT
(unedited)
Overkill, ma petite – simply overkill. Jason Christakos sighed, but the sound was more amused than resigned as he gazed at his protégé drive into the club’s parking lot with her usual flair for drama.

Keanne Summers had come a long way in the four years they had been friends, and it was not just because she had finally shed off the baby fat, ditched the glasses for contacts, and found the right treatment for her hair to be glossy and her skin acne free.

Even though she still had not come down, all eyes were on Keanne’s SUV, which – like its owner – was unapologetically attention-grabbing. Her ride was a Volvo S60R with a hot pink custom paint job because - as she had once seriously told a perplexed Jason – Keanne wanted to be the girl version of Edward Cullen, whatever that meant and whoever that Edward may be.

The door opened and out she came, fashionable and sexy in a sixties-inspired dress with its high collar and long loose sleeves. Of course, it was also short enough for it to effectively display her shapely legs and killer red heels. She was the picture of youthful fun and glamour, with not the smallest hint of the bitter and disillusioned teenager she had once been.

                Their gazes met.

                A playful smile immediately curved on Keanne’s lips even as her fingers brushed her chest, using the private sign of communication they had once designed out of desperation. That simple touch over her heart meant one thing. I am here for you, mon bébé.

                The silent words numbed the agonizing wound inside him, enough for Jason to regain a little of his sense of humor. A few minutes ago, he had thought it would take him forever to smile. But with his little spitfire in front him, he didn’t just want to smile. He found himself able to forget.

Jason made Keanne wait, just to provoke her. His cue came when her forehead started to furrow, and Jason swiftly crossed the street to get to her side. When he reached Keanne, his hot-tempered little doe was scowling.

He grinned, unable to help it.

She threw her hands up at the sight, a very French gesture that made Jason’s lips twitch unexpectedly. “You made me wait!” Angry sparks shot out from her gray eyes. “Why do you always insist on making me wait?”

                Jason’s grin turned into a full-fledged laugh, a dark seductive sound that had women all around them wishing they were the one who had elicited it. If they had, then perhaps one of them might have had the luck to spend a night in the divinely gorgeous Jason Christakos’ bed.

                “But of course I must make you wait, ma petite. How else are we to ensure that you do not become like one of your peers?” Jason’s faint shudder was not altogether feigned. “I do not want you to think you are all that.”

                Keanne snorted. “Oh, you mean between the two of us, you’re the only one allowed to have an ego?” Even as she spoke, Jason’s hand had already comfortably gone to the small of her back, guiding her to the entrance of the club, where the line of waiting guests had already wrapped around the entire block.

                As the club’s guards immediately waved them in, their faces alone guaranteeing their entrance, Jason said arrogantly, “I am Greek. Of course I am the only one that should have an ego. And as a woman, you must pander to me.”

                She spouted French curses at him, and she was still doing so despite Jason’s laughter by the time they were escorted to one of the private second-floor lounges reserved for VIP guests.

                He waited for her to slide first into the tiny velvet-seated booth before following, folding his long jeans-encased legs under the black mirror-surfaced table.

Keanne fell silent when Janet, the sexy brunette who identified herself as their personal server, finally left, the subtle message which she imparted about what “personal” meant still lingering in the air.

                Her sudden withdrawn attitude bemused him. “Ma petite?”

                In seconds, she had closed the distance between them, her arms going around him. "Je suis désolée,” Keanne whispered against his neck.

                Ah.

                “You remember your promise, no?” Her words were strongly accented, just like his own English would hint of his Greek bloodline when his emotions ran high, threatening to overcome his rigid self-control.

                She did not wait for him to answer. “Quand cet homme méprisable…” Keanne inhaled sharply, willing herself to stay under control. When she spoke again, she returned to English, using it as another shield for her feelings. “When that despicable man came to my school, demanding to see the principal, wanting me to be expelled – do you remember that day?”

                He did.

                They both did.

                “Do you,” she asked fiercely, “remember what you told me when I called you in tears?”

                Jason’s eyes closed as the painfully bittersweet memory came into life with vivid clarity.

Her sobs had been heartbreaking to hear, but he had steeled himself against it, knowing that the time had come for her to save herself.

                “Please come here s'il vous plait,” Keanne had begged, her words a jumble of English and French. “Please, please, please---”

                She had begged him over and over, crying her heart out, and he let her. But when she fell silent, Jason said flatly, “No.”

                Her moan was full of betrayal, and everything in him wanted to go to her – his little dove, the one thing in his world who was right. He had fucked up so many times with all the people he had loved, but with Keanne he had made sure he would do everything right – and he would be damned if he would let pity sway him to doing otherwise.

                “Listen to me.” Those were the very first words he had used to command her when he was young, to train her to be as strong and as ruthless as he was in clawing her way back to the top.

                Her sobs quieted, and his chest constricted at the way Keanne was doing her best to follow him.

                “Later, when you come home, I will be waiting for you, ma petite. In my arms, you can cry – I want you to cry, I want to comfort you. I want to be there for you. With me, you can be weak – but not with anyone else.”

                “Oui,” she whispered, but her voice still shook.

                It made Jason bite out sharply, “No more tears!”

                He heard her swallowing hard, and when she spoke her voice was still hoarse but firmer. “Yes.”

                Good. She was speaking in English now. Her shield was up, and that was exactly how it should be.

                “Only with me, Keanne. Never forget that. You cannot be weak with anyone else. All these years that I have helped you become strong will be for nothing if you give up now.”

                She did not answer.

                He did not allow it. “Do you understand, Keanne?”

                An eternity passed. “Yes.”

                “Then go. Remember that you are stronger and better than what everyone may say. They do not deserve your tears – do not deserve to see you flinch even the smallest way.”

                This time, her answer was stronger, colder. “Yes.”

                “Make me proud, ma petite. And when you come home, only then you can cry.”

Keanne lifted her head even as she kept her arms around Jason’s neck. His face was drawn with pain, and the sight of it made her want to lash out. “This time,” she told him in a shaky but determined voice, “You can be weak with me.”

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Updated Release Schedule

9/11/2013

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I posted this a while ago on Facebook but I'm also posting it here. From now on, I'll categorize posts like this as RELEASE SCHEDULE so that you can easily find the updates on my blog. :)

Now, I promised my publisher that I'll deliver to her the complete manuscripts of Jason and Keanne as well as The Demon Duke and I before I leave for Hong Kong. Those would have to be proofed before they can be released. I am not sure if they can be out on the last week of September, but knowing my publisher I have high hopes it will be so.

And for the rest ----
  • Warning: Love Moderately (October OR November)
  • Rathe's story (the last Pussketeer book) - October OR November
  • When I Moan - Most likely DECEMBER
  • Christmas Anthology - NOVEMBER
  • Alessandro Moretti's story (previously titled My Secret Professor Boyfriend) - Most likely DECEMBER
  • Reid's story - sometime between October and December

Now, those dates can still change. Most of these stories are complete on my notebooks - I wrote them years ago, like I said before and which is why I get to release them quickly. BUT of course I have to edit and flesh them out and that takes time. Plus, I can only write what I FEEL like writing at the moment. It's unfortunate, but I can't force myself to write the book everyone wants the most to read (case in point: the much-delayed A Royal Heartbreak). If I force myself to do so, trust me - you would NOT want to read that book. 

Another implication of the above schedule?
I am soooo very sorry but it means I have to push back the release dates for the sequels of Evren and Death Loves Me Not. I know, I know - I promised it would be this year. But right now I just can't see myself being able to write them in the way I want to. These two involve detailed world-building and I wouldn't want the sequels to fall short when compared to their predecessors. 

Again, the above schedule can still change BUT one thing I'm sure is that the sequels to Evren and DLMN won't be this year. 
:( Sorry again! 

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My First Published Book - A Fling to Remember

9/10/2013

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So lately I have had my number of Filipino readers increasing. But not to worry - I love you all EQUALLY hahaha. But anyway, people here have been asking about where they can get paperback copies locally. Unfortunately, my publisher and I can't answer that yet.

Ultimately, this reminded me of my very first book - the one I wrote when I was still eighteen and was fortunate to have published. I really wish I could share it with everyone but rights belong to the publisher so I can't translate it to 100% English text. The official version is 90/10 English/Filipino though. 

But in case you are interested in it, let me just indulge in a little #throwbackthursday nostalgia - two days earlier albeit - and share with you the blurb and excerpt (EVERYTHING IN ENGLISH, I promise!).

THE BLURB
All Mairi ever wanted was to give up her baby - a 10 year old Sentra - monthly checkups, graduate from college with honors, and meet a nice guy. Unfortunately, what she ends up with is a necessary transfer to another school and a very public break-up staged by none other than her two-minute-old (first) boyfriend. 

A gorgeous award-winning actor and a scion to the Philippines' equivalent to the Royal Family, Patrick finds himself suffering from ennui... until he meets Mairi who, despite her insults about his academic status and her having only one pair of shoes (ice blue at that) for all occasions, seems to be the perfect "flingmate" because of her views about the Emotion-That-Must-Not-Be-Named. 

Patrick and Mairi are almost complete opposites of each other. But do differences really matter in having a fling or when falling in love?

THE EXCERPT
            “Patrick, may I introduce you to my friend and your date tonight, Mairi Llanos-Sy. Mairi, this is Patrick Gonzales.”  Katie hoped that she had done the instructions right because Patrick was terribly fussy when it came to things like that. 

            The two shook hands very, very briefly.       

Patrick couldn't help but notice that her hand was not as smooth as the ones he was used to holding. A woman who worked, apparently. He respected that. “I’m sorry I was late. Heavy traffic.” There was no reason not to seize using the number one excuse even if it sounded lame. It was also an outright lie since he hadn’t brought any car. Still, it sounded better than the more truthful I was so hyped up about our date I fell asleep.

Mairi refrained from saying that would be pretty impossible since Katie told her he lived nearby. She smiled at him very, very slightly. “You have a watch then.” Mairi said in her sweetest voice.

            Patrick saw Katie choke.

Huh?

“Excuse me?” Patrick asked, bemused.

            “I said,” she repeated with exaggerated patience, “you have a watch then.” She rolled her eyes as if saying he needed to clean his ears.

            Bitch. “Yes.” He stated curtly. “I do have a watch. So?”  What was happening to him? He was acting like a jerk and he knew it. But hell, the girl was pushing him to his limits. He had apologized about his tardiness, extreme it may be. The least she could do was accept it graciously like an educated, cultured woman. He couldn’t remember being annoyed so much by any woman before. Usually, they all wanted to please him.

            Mairi hid a smile at his obvious pique. She wasn’t done yet. Oh no, baby, she was only beginning. “Since you do have a watch, I guess you don’t know how to use it.” She gazed at him in sympathy. “Is it new? It seems like a pretty complicated contraption, isn’t it?” She made a tsk tsk sound. The insult stung more because his was just a simple Rolex, no digital whatchamacallits. Original, of course.

            He gritted his teeth. By then, he knew what she was driving at but he was too late. If he remained silent, he’d be letting her make him into someone who was too dumb to know how to use a stupid watch. And he hated that. He really hated that. “I know how to use my watch.” He told her crankily, hating to take the bait but unable to stop himself from doing so.

            “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you." She said with sugary sweetness. "I just thought, since you’re four hours late but you have a watch, I naturally assumed you didn’t know how to use it.” She shrugged. “It’s a rather sensible conclusion, you know. I mean, you’re from Ateneo, surely you can see the logic in it. But then, you’re still in your freshmen year. Kinda late for someone who’s in his mid-twenties, isn’t it?”

Translation: You’re too old to be in school and you’re stupid enough not to be able to read the time. Patrick saw red. That’s it. If she wanted a war, he’d give it to her. He was never the one to disappoint a lady. How could such a lovely face hide such an evil personality?

He smiled at her devilishly. “I didn’t remember telling you all those things about me, Mairi. I can call you, Mairi right?” He didn’t wait for an answer even though she was already opening her mouth to protest. “We’re going to become friends, after all. And don’t worry, Mairi. I’m fairly liberal. Seeing that you know so much about me, I can at least infer then that you like me. Enough at least to be an avid fan.”

            Earl and Katie started to laugh but hastily covered it when Mairi stared at them with murder in her eyes. “I’m not an avid fan!” she denied hotly and a bit guiltily because she was an avid fan of his, albeit secret. The jerk. He had turned the tables and now Mairi was feeling the same humiliation he had felt a while ago.

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It's September 8!

9/8/2013

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That means it's Mother Mary's birthday. :) I know this will come across as weird for some, considering how "sexy" my books are, but I'm actually pretty devout - not the OMG-I-can't-ever-miss-mass type, but I take my devotion seriously. I never blame God about anything that happens to my life, I always remember to pray - stuff like that. So...just wanted to get that out - it's one reason why I write "religious horror". 

Now, September 8 is also GRANDPARENTS DAY! So if I have grandmothers (and grandfathers?) as readers, Happy Grandparents Day to you! :)

So...I've been struggling writing this one book - to the point that I erased two chapters two times. That means I wrote two new chapters, trashed them, wrote another 2 chapters, then trashed them again. =/ I've decided that maybe I'm too stressed to work so I'm resting for tonight and hopefully I'll do better tomorrow (Monday). Hopefully I will since it's always best to start the week right. 

Mmm...lastly, don't forget we have two giveaways still running. When Fangirls Lie is on its last ten hours - you get to chance to win either a $150 Amazon GC or a Kindle Fire HD. For the giveaway I'm co-sponsoring with Pepper Winters, you get to win either a free copy of Tears of Tess or a $50 Amazon GC. Not bad, right?

Well, that's it for now - just wanted to keep you all updated. And oh, here's the image quote CT Cover Creations made for NNL. Remember: sharing is sexy so do please share!
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Newsletter No. 8 and Other News

9/6/2013

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So Newsletter #8 went out - and if you subscribed, then you would have been one of the first to see the covers and blurbs for Jason and Keanne as well as The Demon Duke and I. There was even an excerpt, too, for the latter - which I hope you enjoyed. Now, if you didn't get to read the newsletter, I've updated my books page with the blurbs. Just to be clear - TDDAI is an ADULT paranormal romance. Not YA, not NA, but adult! Because you have been asking for it! :)

Oh, and sometime this weekend, I'll share the covers here and on Facebook. Deal?

Fifty Shades - it's all over the news. The casting, I mean. I'll be honest - I really wanted it to be Alex Pettyfer. I had no idea who Charles Hunnam is initially and when I Googled him, the first images that came up were those from Sons of Anarchy (I have never watched the series but I'm planning to, mostly because it has Hellboy in it haha). So I was appalled - this bearded guy is Christian Grey??? Nooooo! Then I Googled more images of him and I'm like - oh. Give his hair a nice trim, lose the beard and he cleans up very nicely. As for Dakota Johnson - hehe, well, I'm not picky who plays Ana Steele. Because in my mind I am Anastasia Steele. Admit it - if you're a 50 Shades fan, too, then you're imagining the same thing, hohoho.

Nick and Lilac has been moved to Erotica. Just wanted to let you know that in case you're searching for it on other categories. Amazon has a new rule that titles in Erotica can only stay in Erotica. =D

Our giveaway is coming to a close. Thank you to the new fans, subscribers, followers and everyone else who just took the time to join. :) Hope you can all stay and take a chance on the books! :)

That's it for now. Till tomorrow! 


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Happy News All Around

9/3/2013

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Like...the fact that Nick and Lilac went all the way to #250? I kid you not!
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See? I told you I wasn't lying. But sadly, the ranking's gone down since then but not so much - we're still in the Top 500 and I'm really psyched about that. :) 

And you know what's even more exciting - the fact that When Fangirls Cry has also made it to #500+ in overall rankings! I've never had two books rank this high at the same time. It's mind-blowing! I remember wishing if I could have 3 books make it to the Top 1000 simultaneously, then I'd die happy. Well, I'm close to making that come true and it's all up to you!

Now, I have to confess that for the major part of the day I've been struggling with my latest book, one that will start a whole new series. But then - this amazing miracle happened, like I've been nudged by God (Thank You, God!) and suddenly everything just clicked. So now, I suddenly have almost 15k words written for a novel - in just one night. How did this happen? I have 10k from an old unfinished MS and then a little over 3k with my new one. Merge them together and voila! Like I said, a miracle!

Another piece of good news - When Fangirls Lie's book blitz has started! And I've got over a thousand likes now for my FB page. That's awesome and we still have a few days more to go! Thank you for all those who joined the giveaway - and good luck!

More good news? Oh, sure - like the fact that my books may be soon available in paperback here in the Philippines. Alas, it won't be via bookstores but instead you'll have to order directly from my publisher. But hey, at least no worries about international shipping and no need to use a credit card. That's still something, right?

What else? Oh, we've got several authors lined up for interviews this month. Can't wait to share them with you - and they've giveaways, too!

Like I said, happy news all around - but...I feel guilty if I don't mention this. I just learned about the whole controversy over Goodreads reviews, which started apparently over author L.H. Then Nathan B. posted about it and this brought the controversy back to life. I have to be honest and say I really, really like Nathan B. He was one of my dream agents back in my querying days. And I really support the MESSAGE of his post. You can browse my older entries and I wrote a post on reviews as well. I've mentioned how one of my favorite reviews was a 3-star review for Drawn back then. Now, I'm going to share with you this link - which is a one-star review for WFL. I don't mind this review at all because I was the one who asked for it, the review's obviously honest and it's totally constructive! Basically, they're saying that WFL wasn't their cup of tea, and I understand - I will also have to say that it's only made me more determined to someday write a book that these girls will finally like. =D hehe, yeah, I'm stubbornly optimistic.

I will also have to say that I was recently super surprised at how nice GR reviewers / book bloggers are. There was one who said I had real talent, but she didn't like how my plots were formed so she'd rather not leave a review. Says I should just work harder. See? Really, really, really nice right? 

Another one also wrote to me saying she didn't like my book, but she didn't like leaving bad reviews so if it's okay with me she'll just add it to her DNF shelf. See? Super, super, super nice, right?

So in the end...I guess my point is that there will always be authors who give the entire writing community a bad name the same way that there will always be reviewers who'd also give all the other reviewers are a bad name. Those people - we really have to stand up to. But other than that, really - to each his / her own. :) 
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The Busy Bee

9/2/2013

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Well...that would be me!

Being true to my promise, I've lined up a couple of interviews with some really nice authors - that you already adore! - for this month. :) I'm also going to interview the editor and cover artist that I've been working with for most of my recent books just to let you know how this part of the publishing process works. 

Nick and Lilac is doing really well so thank you for the support! I'm shocked as well by the feedback I've gotten for When Fangirls Cry so thank you for that as well. A lot of you have been asking about the story of Rathe Wellesley, the third Pussketeer - well, as long as we stick to the schedule then we'll have that one out November latest. *SQUEE* I am so excited to share his story!

Jason's story will come out next. The cover is finally done and I am just so excited to share it with you. Now, remember that Nick and Jason are twins so yes, I'm using the same cover model. Tee-hee. :)

I've finally uploaded a new chapter to The Morteia Chronicles - for those who are following this, do let me know what you think! I'm doing my best to keep to the original story line of VK but adding my own twists as well so that it's not just the usual fan fic.

Well, that's it for now - I need to start working on my books again after my weekend break. Till next time!
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