Life and Writing Schedule Updates: December 2020

 Hey readers!

I feel like I haven't had a real heart-to-heart post in here in awhile--which, let's be clear, is because I am a boring adult who does boring things that I'm sure no one wants to hear about. But, in the spirit of oversharing my life, here goes: today I basically sold my soul for new flooring (told you my life was boring). The carpet in my house is 30+ years old and is frankly something that must've been spawned by Satan himself because it is that disgusting. Not that this little fact made forking over the deposit any easier. (I'm not supposed to talk about money stuff right? That's a taboo subject, right? Whatever.) No pressure to the installers or anything, but this new flooring better be so pretty I want to lick it.

Anyway, I ate my feelings away after that (salted caramel milkshakes are, in fact, the shit). And now I'm writing my little heart out.

Highlight of my week? I've basically adopted a fox who comes to my backyard to find any stray snack crumbs my 1 year old drops (🤦‍♀️). Mr. Fox destroyed my kids outdoor toys, but he was SO CUTE and I really want him to be my pet fox now, but my husband said no (<--further reason to adopt him), and when I asked my husband why he said because it's a feral fox, you crazy ho. (He didn't really say that, but it DOES make the story a little less boring, right? And I already told you my life was boring-as-crap, so, you're welcome.)

Anyway, you all probably want to know about my writing schedule and Death (The Four Horsemen #4), and muahaha, I made you read this far to get to the good stuff. All right, so at the moment, I'm working on one of my secret projects. It's a NA fantasy romance and I am being super secretive about this project since I always seem to lose interest when I talk about a project. What I will say is that I'm absolutely in love with my story idea! I've been working on it on and off for the last three years, and I'm going to try to finish the entire series before I release any of the books in this series.

I'm also working a little bit on Death--I'm not officially going to start writing Death's book until the new year (I gave myself the end of the year to write whatever I wanted to while I plotted Death's book in the background), but I've already written some of the book anyway because this final horseman is just so damn interesting! I'll have more on him once the new year rolls around.

I've also been working a little on The Disappearing Act (The Vanishing Girl #3). Again, super freaking fun! I hope to finish that book after I finish my secret project.

Oh, and lastly, as far as the Famine audiobook goes, it's all recorded, and hopefully it will be released in the next couple weeks!

Hugs and happy reading!

Laura

Famine (The Four Horsemen #3) is Now Out!

 I cannot believe I finally get to say this—Famine (The Four Horsemen #3) is officially out now! For those of you who want me to shut up so you can check it out, here’s the link! (And no hard feelings; I’m an author, I don’t know how to be brief!)

I can’t wait for you all to read the third book in this series! It’s been a long and crazy year (hot damn 2020, what is your safe word?), but I’ve finally managed to complete this between a new baby and a pandemic … and wild fires … and ugh, well, everything else. And now I’m excited to allow you all to escape into a world that has suffered … a pandemic … natural disasters … oh crap, this sounds familiar doesn’t it? I swear it’s fiction!

In all seriousness, I hope you enjoy this third installment in The Four Horsemen series. I loved writing it so much. And can you believe there’s only one more after this? So wild!

Paperback and Audiobook Versions

 I’m working on Famine’s print book as we speak. Hopefully that will be available for purchase in another week or so. I will probably send out another email in another few weeks with a link to it. As far as Famine’s audiobook goes, it won’t be available for another few months. My narrator just received the novel, and recording takes a couple months, especially with a book this big. Sorry for the wait! One of these days I will have all my ducks in a row and I’ll have the audio done before the book’s release … but that day won’t be today!

 

Other Updates

I’ve got plenty of other news, including where and when you can get signed copies of my novels (should you so wish to purchase a copy), my upcoming release schedule, and other fun stuff, so be on the lookout for another email in the next few weeks. Other than that, I hope you enjoy Famine!

Hugs and happy reading,

Laura

Famine Release Date

 Hey guys!

I hope you've all had a great summer! I know many of you have been checking in here to see news on Famine. For those of you who aren't aware, Famine is up for pre-order on Amazon. For those of you who are aware, you'll know the release date is set for September 1.

I have some bad news, and I guess there’s no real way to sugarcoat this, so here goes: I have to push Famine’s release date to October 1.

Whhhhhhyyyy?

Simply put: the edits won’t be finished by August 28 (the date I need to submit the book to Amazon).

But why a whole month?

Because I am clearly an AWFUL judge of how much time I need.

Truly you all, I am SO, so sorry. Back in June I would’ve told you that this book would already be published by now. I think I underestimated just how long it takes me these days to write a book (plus limited childcare plus writing longer books in general). I’ve been pretty quiet on here because I’ve been trying my hardest to get all the edits finished by my deadline, but unfortunately, there’s just no way.

I’ll probably finish this intense round of edits by the end of the month, but then I still need to do a read through, have some more eyes do a read through, and then it’ll be ready for publishing. But for those of you who might be worried that the book will never come out (cue nervous laughter), the book is done, and I’m working all day everyday on this, just as I have been, so it’s just a matter of how quickly I can move through these edits.

I hope you can all forgive me. I know times are hard and we need fictional escapes now more than ever. One great thing is that on September 1, a slew of other AMAZING books are releasing. I know you’ve heard me rave about Jennifer Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash—I’m seriously obsessed with this series. The sequel, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire comes out on September 1, and I’m reading it at the moment, and OMG, it’s EVEN BETTER than the first book. Another highly anticipated sequel is Blood and Honey by Shelby Mahurin. The first book, Serpent and Dove, was such an engrossing read (and it’s enemies to lovers). Finally, C.N. Crawford has the second book in her Night Elves series coming out, Ruined King!!! I haven’t started this series yet, but I’ve heard so many good things! I’ve linked all my recommendations below! Please feel free to add any recommendations you have in the comments as well; I know we’re all always on the hunt for more good novels!

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BZ61HDF

Blood and Honey: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082936Z5V/

Ruined King: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0896W2GHN

I’m so sorry again. I know there are a lot of people who are going to be disappointed by this news, and all I want to say is thank you—for reading my books and for bearing with me. It’s a privilege that I get to have fans at all, and I’m always, always, always grateful for your support and enthusiasm.

Oh, and I thought I’d throw in a teaser as a peace offering! Happy Friday!

Famine Teaser

“What does that have to do with anything?” Famine growls, glancing at me. After a moment, his eyebrows rise. “Is that why you kissed me? To test a damn theory of yours?” Even as he asks, his gaze strays back to my lips.

I can practically feel the heat of his anger. I think the only thing that might piss the horseman off more than getting kissed right now is getting kissed for the wrong reasons.

The corner of my mouth lifts. I definitely shouldn’t enjoy toying with him—people tend to die when this happens—but I can’t help it; he’s fun to tease. He takes it so poorly.

My eyes drop to his lips. “That … and I was curious.”

I’m still curious. He felt like sin against my lips. And damn me, but now all I want is to do it again—if only to see another tree blow up.

Famine stalks back to his horse.

“What?” I call after him. “Did I say something wrong? Don’t be mad—you’re much less pretty when you’re mad.”

In response, he growls.

I grin. So much fun to tease.

Famine (The Four Horsemen #3) Cover Reveal

Ahhhhh!!! So freaking excited to share Famine's cover with you all! I'm O-B-S-E-S-S-E-D with it. 😍😍😍😍 A huge thank you goes to Regina Wamba of Mae I Design for the gorgeous cover and to @allenbokendall for modeling for it!

A lot of you have asked about when Famine was releasing. I'd been aiming for March, and that obviously didn't happen. I'm still in the middle of writing the book, and then there are edits, so it will probably be another couple of months--but it could be longer. At the moment I have both a toddler and an infant at home, so I'm back down to halftime work. That being said, I am LOVING writing this story and the characters. I can't WAIT to share more with you all. I'm sure I'll post another teaser in the next few weeks, but for now, here's the description:

Famine (The Four Horsemen #3)

Coming Spring/Summer 2020

They came to earth--Pestilence, War, Famine, Death--four horsemen riding their screaming steeds, racing to the corners of the world. Four horsemen with the power to destroy all of humanity. They came to earth, and they came to end us all.

Ana da Silva always assumed she’d die young, she just never expected it to be at the hands of Famine, the haunting immortal who once spared her life so many years ago. But if the horseman remembers her at all, he must not care, for when she comes face to face with him for the second time in her life, she’s stabbed and left for dead.

Only, she doesn’t quite die.

If there’s one thing Famine is good at, it’s cruelty. And how these blighted bastards deserve it. Try as he might, he can’t forget what they once did to him. But when Ana, a ghost from his past, corners him and promises pain for what he so recently did to her, she and her empty threats captivate him, and he decides to keep her around.

In spite of themselves, Ana and Famine are drawn to each other. But at the end of the day, the two are enemies. Nothing changes that. Not one kind act, not two. And definitely not a few steamy nights. But enemies or reluctant lovers, if they don’t stop themselves soon, heaven will.

Add Famine on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49480530-famine

Pestilence has Been Nominated for Film ... Now I Need Your Help!

Hey readers! 

So I know that what you all really want are Famine (The Four Horsemen #3) updates--and those are coming--but I wanted to pop on to mention that Pestilence has been nominated for film in a flash voting contest on TaleFlick. What is TaleFlick? Basically, it's a site that allows Hollywood agents to discover books that readers think should be turned into movies, and the more votes that book generates on the site, the more likely they are to take notice.

So, I never do this--I hate asking you readers for anything--but I'm going to ask you all now: if you enjoyed reading Pestilence and think it would make a good movie or show, please consider following the link here and voting. V

oting closes in two days, so this is like speed-dating, only for books! 

Also, can we talk about the fact that Pestilence has been a huge D-bag lately with this Coronavirus? Go home, Plague-Boy, you're drunk. But seriously, I hope you and all those you love are safe and healthy! (And more news on the series is coming soooooon!!!)

Also, here's the link one more time, for those of you, like me, who are easily distracte--SQUIRREL! ;)

Love and hugs to you all!

Laura

Famine Teaser #2

Famine Teaser 

Hey guys! So, I'm crossing my fingers that this teaser pops up without any issues because when I originally tried to post it, I had all the issues. (I can't decide if technology has backslid in the last few years, or if I'm simply getting old ... I'm sure it's the technology ;)

I thought I'd share another Famine teaser with you all! This is unedited and subject to change between now and the book's release. Apologies for any errors you spot! Enjoy!

Five years ago 

The chilly air pricks at my bare skin. I don’t dare take my shirt back from the horseman, even though I’m cold to the bone. I begin to shiver, my teeth clicking together.

“You’re cold.” His husky voice seems as though it’s pulled from the darkness itself.

“I’m okay.”

“Lay next to me.”

I stare at where I think his eyes are. His words coil low in my belly. I can tell he doesn’t mean to make the offer sexual, but between that rough voice and the fact that our torsos are both bare, my mind can’t help going there. I’ve never laid next to a man who I wasn’t related to.

“You’re hurt,” I say. “I don’t want to jostle—”

“If you were worried about jostling my injuries, you wouldn’t have dragged me damn close to the point of death.”

Er, fair point.

“I wasn’t trying to hurt you,” I say. “I was trying to help you.”

He grunts, though I have no clue whether he believes me or not.

“I … couldn’t leave you,” I admit, picking at a fingernail. The room is quiet for a long moment. Then—

“Lay down next to me.”

I stare at him again, running my teeth over my lower lip.

“I don’t trust you,” I confess.

“That makes two of us.”

I make a disbelieving noise. “I saved you.”

“If this is your idea of saving a man—” His voice cuts off and he takes a ragged breath, “then I don’t want to know what your idea of punishment is.”

“I can’t believe—” My teeth chatter, “I actually felt bad for you. You’re an ass.”

“Fine,” he says, “stay cold.”

I glare at his form in the darkness. It’s clear he’s done talking.

I last maybe another fifteen minutes before I curse under my breath, then scooch over to his side. I bump into something wet and gooey.

The horseman hisses in a breath.

Shit— “Sorry!” I apologize.

He grunts again.

Gingerly I lay myself down next to him, bumping his arm twice more on accident. Each time he makes a low, pained sound.

Bet he’s regretting his offer now.

My bare skin presses against the side of his torso. The only place to put my head is on his shoulder. This is how lovers sleep, nestled in each other’s arms.

“Don’t get any ideas,” I warn him, as though he’s the one with the dirty thoughts.

“Because your flesh is so tempting right now,” he quips.

***

Add Famine (The Four Horsemen #3) to your TBR list here! 

P.S. This book is coming spring 2020!