The Secret Unveiling

So the time has come to start unveiling some things about my novel. I have already given you one sneak peek already (to see that sneak peek click HERE) but now it’s almost time to unveil the back of the book description.

There are two parts to this description that you need to know. The back of the book description and the synopsis.  This unveiling that I will post first is the back of the book (not the full synopsis).

So here’s were you come in…

In order for me to post that description I need to get 150 likes on my Facebook author page. So start spreading the word and if you haven’t already please head over to my FB page and like it! Click HERE to go to it! Once I have those likes I will unveil that description!

I WAS NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD!

I was nominated for an award!! A BIG thank you to L.E. Pate for the nomination! This nomination was completely unexpected but very much appreciated and I feel honored to have been recognized! L.E. Pate is also an aspiring writer and I would encourage you to take a look at her blog.

HERE’S HOW THIS AWARD WORKS:

– I list 11 random facts about myself.
– I will answer the 11 questions asked of me by the person who nominated me.
– I will then nominate my 11 picks for the award along with my 11 questions for them to answer when they post a response.
– If you’re nominated, your name/link will appear at the bottom of this post along with your questions. Follow the same format; paste the award badge to your blog, give us 11 random facts about yourself, answer my 11 questions, and choose your nominees…but you cannot nominate the blog who nominated you.

11 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME:

1. My passion is dance. I’ve been dancing since age 4
2. I love to sing
3. I’m a mother of three young boys
4. COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE!
5. I am 5′ 2″ and my husband is 6′ 4″ lol
6. I love EVERYTHING Chocolate
7. My favorite color is purple
8. My favorite holiday is Christmas; family, friends & giving
9. One of my idiosyncrasies: No matter how bad a book is, I have to finish it
10. My favorite number is 7
11. One of my favorite quotes, “The longer you wait for something, the more you’ll appreciate it when you get it. Cause anything worth having, is worth waiting for.”

L.E. PATE QUESTIONS FOR ME:

1.  What is your favorite thing to rant about? After reading the most incredible, spectacular, off- the- charts amazing novel and then you watch the movie, only to find out that they have changed some important aspects of the story… that’s when I have to rant.

2.  What is your favorite aspect of writing? When I finish my manuscript (not the completed, edited, I’m-ready-to-publish version), the un-edited completely messy version. When I first completed my current manuscript a few years ago I think I cried a little. It was bitter-sweet to finally have my story (that I’ve worked so hard for and had countless hours of no-sleep) out on a page.  It felt AMAZING!

3.  What makes you feel the best that you have ever felt? When I sent my novel out to my beta readers and hearing how excited they were about it, and how they are eagerly awaiting my next book! I can’t put it into words!

4.  How structured are you with your writing? I’m structured but also not lol… if that makes any sense. I’m structured in the sense that I work on my novel daily but not so much where I have set hours. It’s kind of hard having a “day job” and setting hours for yourself but I work on it when I can.

5.  What has been the best book you have read in the last year? That answer will have to be Divergent by Veronica Roth. I couldn’t put the book down!

6.  What is your favorite genre of books to write? To read? That one’s easy YA fiction! For reading…I like all types of genre’s but for right now my reading list is 85% YA fiction.

7.  What or who inspires you to write? I love to get lost in a storyline. I have a lot of novels in my head and if I don’t get them out and onto a page I will go crazy! I want my readers to not only fall in love with my stories but also take something away with them. In my debut novel (coming 2013) not only is it a fictional story but it also has hidden “life situations” that I hope could help someone with their own situation in their “real” life.

8.  How do you picture your writing career developing? I currently have two novel series and two individual novels that I want to write. My goal is that I will become a full time author within a few years time. In three years, I hope to have my current novel series out and on the New York Times best sellers list! Dreams can come true…right?

9.  Who is your favorite classic author?  Why? Margaret Mitchell who wrote Gone with the Wind. That novel has to be one of my all time favorite stories and consequently my favorite classic author.

10.  Do you enjoy writing true to life events or creating your own world? Both! I love writing true- to- life but adding in the fictional aspect to it. I think it makes it more interesting and fun!

11.  What is your favorite short story you have ever written? That would have to be the short story I wrote in High School (although at this point in time I can’t for the life of me remember what I called it). It was set in the 40’s about a girl in the country who was sent to live with an older couple because her parents died unexpectedly.

This particular short story is better sweet for me because it was the first time that my writing actually was noticed and got amazing reviews from my teacher. I believe that’s when my love for writing began.

HERE ARE MY NOMINATIONS. PLEASE CLICK ON THEIR LINKS BELOW AND TAKE A LOOK AT THERE WEBSITES.

1. Danielle Sibarium – http://daniellesibarium.com
2. Megan Hand – http://meganhandwrites.com
3. Laura Howard – http://laurahoward78.blogspot.com
4. David James – http://djamesauthor.blogspot.com
5. Megan Whitmer – http://meganwhitmer.blogspot.com
6. Jessica Freeburg – http://jessicafreeburg.com
7. Jake Bonsignore – http://jakebonsignore.com
8. Kendra Ayers – http://kendraayers.com
9. Kelly Anne Blount – http://kellyblount.com
10. Andrea Lynn Ford – http://andralynnford.com
11. Laney McMann – http://laneymcmann.com

NOMINEES…HERE ARE YOUR 11 QUESTIONS:

1. Who is your favorite author?
2. What is your favorite quote?
3. What type of genre do you like to read? Why?
4. Where do you hope to be in 5 years?
5. How long have you been writing?
6. Who has inspired you throughout your life?
7. What is one word to describe your personality?
8. What is your favorite book? Why?
9. Life’s to short for… (you fill in the blank)
10. What is your desert island food (you only get one choice)?
11. If you could have one celebrity on your speed dial, who would it be and why?

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU!

Top Secret…

I just sent my manuscript off to all my beta test readers…

Dramatic pause…crickets chirping in the distance…as I bit my nails

This for me is always the hard part. Even though I’ve had great response with my first round of beta readers (click HERE to see what they said about my novel) I will never get over that nervous feeling of will they like it? What if they hate it? Maybe I should have worked on it longer… Etc., Etc.

So for now this is me…

Merry Christmas!

The Reviews Are In!!!

The time has come for my first round of reviews for my debut novel! These reviews are coming from my first beta test group that I’m very excited to share with all of you.

Disclaimer: The Beta Readers have not been compensated in any form and their reviews are true testimonies of what the reader thought about my novel.

Alysa:

“I could NOT put this book down!! It has action, suspense and romance! Everything you could ask for in a great read:) I can’t wait to read it again and to get the whole series! All I have to say is KEEP WRITING because I want more!!!

P.S. I need to know what happened to Collin!! Dying here!! Get the second book out soon! I LOVE this book!”

Jennifer:

“This story is unique and interesting in many ways. It is energetic and unpredictable, I found the pages turning faster as I followed Breanna’s unfolding life. Everyone must learn to balance responsibilities and desires and this book reminds us of the choices we make everyday that guide our lives. The plot is very intricate and takes some unusual turns that readers will not have seen before.  A well-written story that young adults will love! This book was full of energy and well-developed characters, it goes quickly and will leave eagerly awaiting the next installment. Highly recommended!”

Chris:

“I have just had the opportunity to preview the book that Jaime Guerard is about to publish…WOW!  I was so impressed with her ability to tell a story.  Her writing style keeps you intrigued and certainly keeps you guessing.  There is no predictability in the story line. Throughout the book, she constantly introduces new elements, with twists and turns.  Good luck trying to figure out where she is going with the story.  You will find out only when she wants you to know.

This is a book that will not only be enjoyed by young people, but people of every age.  I can’t tell you how much I loved this book.  I anxiously await the sequel!”

Tina:

“It is rare for me to find a book that I can’t put down.  Jaime’s novel has been a great read; exciting, even frightening at times, but also innocent and sincere.  The story weaves together perfectly always leaving me wondering… what will happen next?”

Katie:

(Seen synopsis only – Katie is in 2nd beta group)

“Each time I find out a new detail of the story it leaves me wanting more! I can’t wait to get my hands on this book and put all these “details” together!”

Amy:

“Couldn’t put it down! Excitedly awaiting what happens in the rest of the series! A healthy mix of suspense, danger, romance and just a great plot make it a must read!”

Here are the next beta test readers. After they finish my MS I will post their reviews for all of you to see.

 

Well That Was Scary!

I had a big scare on Monday, one that took me back 4 years ago where I lost my manuscript 3 times. Click here to read about it.

I woke up, turned on my computer and after about an hour of trying to boot-it-up it just was stuck! I couldn’t get into any of my files, I couldn’t get onto the internet….NOTHING!

To say that my heart stopped is an understatement. Luckily, from my past experience with this type of thing happening (having me loose my work) I thankfully had it backed up. But still, I couldn’t work, I couldn’t do anything. When you have a deadline and something like this happens you just start to go into panic mode.

It did turn out okay. With the help of my very good friend Mat, he was able to get my computer working again! I have to thank him because after he worked his “day job” (which was a 12 hour shift) he got right on the phone with me (he lives in California) and 4 hours later it was complete! It is a funny story though, he couldn’t remotely sign into my computer (the internet wasn’t working) so we had to facetime each other on our cell phones, talk on another phone and I had to hold  my cell phone up to the computer so he could guide me.  At the time it wasn’t fun but looking back, it’s nice how technology has grown (with facetime & skype) so I could do that type of thing and get the results I needed.

Well, I better go and continue editing, this little bump has set me back a little and now I have to work twice as hard to meet my deadline. So for now, it’s off to the cave!

It Finally Came!!!!!!

I’VE DECIDED ON A NAME FOR MY BOOK!!!!

BIG sigh of relief!!! Now I can stop stressing about it!

I knew it would come to me, but with booking my cover artist in January I knew I didn’t have much time to figure it out.

I will be revealing the name soon but I just couldn’t keep my excitement to myself!

Click HERE for a little bit about what happened with the name and why I’m so excited to have another one, THE PERFECT ONE!

Pick A Name…Any Name

So it’s Saturday morning and I have only had about three hours of sleep. Why do you ask did I only get three hours of sleep? Well…the simple answer is, my mind just wouldn’t shut off! Remember the post titled Get In My Head? Don’t worry, it’s nothing like that post. It’s just that as I near the final days of the big “waiting game” the pressures of it all begin to pile on and my mind begins to fill up with everything I still need to accomplish.

The big hurdle that I’m facing right now is the name. About two years ago I came up with the perfect name. I was dead set on it until recently. While I was searching B&N, I discover a book (that was just released) with the same name I was going to name my MS. For all you authors out there who have had a similar experience like this one, you know what I’m talking about when I say that my heart sank. I literally sat at he computer for a good half-n-hour with my mouth hanging open as I silently screamed NOOOOOOOO! You see, I’ve been working on this current MS for four years and it took me two of those four years to settle on a name in the first place.

Since that decision to put that name to rest and re-name my book it’s been a very tiresome process. Every time I think of something else and google it I find many books with the same name. It would be okay if the book was years old or not in my genre but all the names I come up with are taken.

So here begs the question…do I give up?

No, silly! 

Of course I wont give up, but what I do need is a little help. Perhaps, some of you creative thinkers out there might have some great words that you could through my way. My last post I gave a small sneak peek into my book. You can see that here. Read it and if you think of anything that might help me out please send me an email. You can email me in the contact me page here.

BIG NEWS! To anyone who suggest a name and I actually pick it, I will give them an advanced copy of my book! So again just send me a message in the contact me page or send me a personal message on my facebook.

I Have To Say This…

Alright, so here’s the deal… if you read my blog post titled “What’cha Reading” I commented on the book that I was reading called Matched by Ally Condie. If you would like to read that post so you know what I’m talking about just click here. Anyway, I finished the book and I have to say this. It took a very long time to get into it but by the end of the book it finally started to get interesting. Now I find myself needing to find out what’s going to happen. I’m still on the fence about it and I am very hopeful that the second book, Crossed, is more of a page turner but I just wanted to give you my thoughts about it.

If you have read the book tell me what you think. Just please don’t give away anything in the second book, I still have yet to read it.