Updates and a Teaser!

It’s official: I signed the contract for a two book deal for The Vanishing Girl and its sequel with Skyscape, Amazon’s young adult imprint! (There will also be a third book in the series.) This means that The Vanishing Girl and its sequel will be available in multiple formats, and you’ll actually be able to pick up a copy in a brick-and-mortar bookstore! Yippee!

The downside is that my current projects will be stalled for slightly longer than I planned. However, nothing about my work routine has changed. I’m still writing away eight hours a day, five days a week, so this changes nothing about the amount of material I’m producing. :) 

I will undoubtably have more updates for you all as I move further along in the process. Until then I have another teaser for you—and this one is on behalf of Marie, who asked about the adult paranormal romance I’m still working on. It’s release date is to be determined, but it should be out sometime next year.

Rhapsodic Teaser #3

“I have to say, sleep does not become you.”

I roll over in bed and rub my eyes. When I pull my hand away, I see the Bargainer standing off to the side of the bed, his arms folded and his head cocked. He’s studying me like I’m an exotic bird, which technically, I am.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, still groggy from sleep.

“In case you’ve missed it, the day is done. I’m here to collect more of my payment.” The way he says payment sends shivers up my arms. Behind him, the moon shines brightly into the room, fuller than it was yesterday.

I groan. I slept the entire day away. I reach over to my nightstand where my cell phone rests and check my messages. I have several, but none of them are from Eli. I frown and set the phone aside.

“No calls from lover boy?” the Bargainer asks. When I look at him, his eyes are sad. As if he cares.

“How did you know …” I let my voice fall away before I can finish.

The Bargainer’s eyes thin as a sly smile spreads across his face. His sadness evaporates as quickly as it came. “You’ve forgotten much about me already,” he looks pleased about this, “which means I’m going to have to remind you.”

He snaps his fingers and the blankets that cover me slide off.

“Des, what are you—?”

He tsks, interrupting me. “Your pajamas don’t become you either, cherub. I was hoping those would improve with age as well.”

I stifle a yawn and push myself off the bed. “Just … shut up,” I mumble, padding past him. Where yesterday, his presence filled me with old pain, tonight all I feel is annoyance.

I make my way to the bathroom, discreetly wiping away a bit of drool from my mouth. One would think a siren slept with more dignity than I did.

The Bargainer follows me to my bathroom, enjoying just how much he’s ruining my evening. “You’re going to have to bargain for my silence, if that’s what you want.”

In response I slam my door shut in his face. Probably not the wisest way to deal with the king of the night, but right now I don’t really care too much.

I take two steps away from the bathroom door, and it blasts open behind me. I spin around and stare at the Bargainer who stands on the other side of the doorway, his body filling up the space. My door hangs off its hinges at a funny angle.

“I wasn’t finished,” he says calmly. His eyes glint as they watch me; he’s beautiful and terrible to behold.

“You owe me a new door,” I respond.

He chuckles, and it’s full of dark promise. “Why don’t we work on paying off your current debts before you talk about what I owe you?”

I glare at him, because he has me. “What was so important that you had to blow off my door to tell me?” I ask.

A watch forms over his wrist and he taps the face of it. “Time, Calli, time. I have some important appointments to keep. You need to be ready in twenty minutes.”

“Fine.” I walk over to my shower and turn on the facet. This would have to be a fast shower.

When I turn back around, the Bargainer has made himself comfortable on my bathroom’s tile countertop. He leans against the wall next to the mirror, one of his legs stretched out in front of him, his other leg bent at the knee.

“Get out,” I say.

He gives me a lazy smile. “No.”

“I’m not kidding.”

One of his eyebrows quirks up. “Nor am I.”

I run a hand through my hair. “I’m not getting naked in front of you.”

“That’s fine with me,” he says. “Shower with your clothes on.”

Oh, because that’s reasonable. “If you’re not going to leave the room, then I’ll go somewhere else.”

“The faucet in your guest bathroom doesn’t work,” he says, calling my bluff. My eyes widen before I remember that it’s his business to know secrets.

He’s not leaving and I’ve run out of options. “Fine,” I say, taking off my T-shirt. “Enjoy the peep show—that’s all you’ll be getting from me.”

His laughter skitters up my arm. “Don’t delude yourself, cherub. You have a wrist full of debt and I have many, many demands.”

Hugs and happy reading,
Laura