The Space Between is Free! I'm over at NA Alley, and The Dividing Line book trailer!

Hey friends! Lots of news today. To start:

The Space Between is Free on Amazon for a limited time. So get your copy today!

Amazon

I'm over at NA Alley blogging about writing People of Color in NA Fiction. So stop by and come chat with me. I'm answering questions too :)

Click me!

Lastly, The Dividing Line has a book trailer and release date. Check it out!

Wow, where did the month go? Updates, dates, teasers, ARCs, and NA Alley!

So I blinked and it was July :P I'm so sorry about that. So I suppose I owe you some updates, yes? Here we go!

So, summer hit me hard this year. I'm currently editing the sequel to The Crimson Hunt and its sequel's companion. These are both scheduled to release August 12, 2013. The covers and GR add links are below as well as info on how to request ARCs of The Bringer's Quest for review. After release, I will no longer be accepting so make sure you request now!

Click here for a sneak peak of The Bringer's Quest on Wattpad!

Click here to request an ARC of The Bringer's Quest

Also, The Bringer's Quest's virtual book tour is scheduled during the release week. Sign ups aren't available quite yet, but I'll let you know when they are. Until then here is the blog button with the tour dates :)

So... answers to some random things you might be wondering :)

What's going on with that sequel to The Space Between?

I put it on hold so I could get out The Bringer's Quest and Incandescence. I'm actually starting on it again next week since I'll have some time while my other projects are with my editor. It's called The Dividing Line and you can add it on Goodreads here. :)

How about that cover reveal you promised for The Dividing Line?

I have the cover! It was designed once again by the amazing Sarah from Okay Creations. I assure you it will be soon. :D

How about a release date for the freaking thing, Victoria??? :P

I'm planning on a October/ November release for The Dividing Line. Provided all things go according to plan....

Can we have a teaser... PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!

Fine you pulled my leg :P (This is Drake's POV by the way ;D)

Now, there was something very peculiar going on here. Lacey was in my room and had been for quite sometime. Yet, despite this fact she wasn’t in my bed and underneath me. This was a problem that needed to be corrected.

I intended to fix this problem… right now.

And because I love you here's some fun Drake and Lacey art that my graphic designer, Aminah, made for me!

And lastly, what's Incandescence about? There's no blurb on Goodreads! D:

It is about a special couple in The Bringer's Quest. (So spoilers there) BUT I will have it available once the tour information comes up which should be very soon.

-------------

So I think that's it. I'm so sorry I've been away. Between my edits and the #NACrushTourney on NA Alley blog I've been swamped. I am over on NA Alley today talking about self-publishing in the digital age, though, so feel free to stop by. 

Also, the NA Crush Tourney is still in full swing. And we have a few more rounds before it's over. Click on the banner to catch up and join in on the voting. 

Laters! I'll try to blog a few more times this month. Heart you all!

The Space Between is on sale! + I'm over at the Alley!

The Space Between is .99!

Hey all! Happy Monday! I just wanted to let you know that The Space Between is on sale for .99! Not only that, but I'm on NA Alley this week talking covers with my cover artist for The Space Between Sarah Hansen of Okay Creations. Just click the NA Alley icon to see the interview! Hope you all have a great week!

Click me to see the interview with Okay Creations!

I'm Over at The Alley!

Hey, everyone! Happy Monday!

So sorry I have been MIA latety. Between school and my releases, time has been pretty slim. I promise to check in soon, but for now, I'm over at NA Alley talking about NA and The Genre!

Chat with you soon!

Click the button to head over!

2013 New Adult Challenge Sign-Ups!!!!

Hey, all! I'm so very excited because today sign ups start for the 2013 New Adult Challenge! I participated in the challenge last year so when the founder of the challenge, Danya from A Tapestry of Words blog, offered to co-host with myself, Tara from Tater's Tall Tails, and Barbara from Bastia's Bookshelf I was ecstatic to join her and help spread the word for new adult fiction!

Check out these ladies blogs who are my co-hosts because they are stellar, and do awesome work for NA in the book blogging community!

So with the challenge all you have to do is sign up on the linky below then pick what goal of New Adult reads you plan on devouring in 2013!

The response was so great last year that the goals have been raised! 

Here are the new goals for the 2013 challenge:

• Just Graduated: read a minimum of 5 New Adult books
• Moving Out: read a minimum of 10 New Adult books
• Living On Your Own: read a minimum of 20 New Adult books
• Fully Independent: read a minimum of 30 New Adult books

Wondering about the rules for the challenge? Well here you go!

Rules for the challenge:

Purpose of the challenge: Read as many new adult books as you can for the year 2013!

Pick a challenge goal: Refer to above!

Sign up for the challenge on the Linky below!

What is new adult and what books count for the challenge?

NA Alley's Definition of New Adult:

Kristan Hoffman, winner of the St. Martin's Press New Adult contest, was once quoted by Cally Jackson as saying:

“The Transition from child to adult doesn’t happen overnight--just ask as anyone who is or has been (or is a parent to) a teenager. But the transition from teen to adult doesn’t happen overnight either. There’s a period of time where adulthood feels like a new pair of shoes. The expectations of independence and self-sufficiency are still new, still being broken in. New Adults are the people who have just begun to walk in those shoes; New Adult fiction is about their blisters and aches.”

Cally Jackson’s post about “The Missing Genre” and Kristan Hoffman’s post for Writer's Digest "New Adult: What Is It" sum up nicely why we’re here--why we are writing New Adult fiction, and why we’re blogging about it. Because the genre is breaking in its new pair of shoes, too, and this blog is about those blisters, those aches, and ultimately, the successes that come with finding independence and self-sufficiency.

What age brackets to reach for: Books with protagonists in their late teens or early twenties (18-30 years of age) who are usually post-grads of high school and are living out in the adult world taking care of themselves. Generally, these are things to look for. Use the ages of 18 - 30 as a guideline. Everything else, just use your judgment!

What genres count: Any genre that falls into the age bracket and consists of new adult themes (ie college, first jobs, etc.) count. That means fantasy, dystopian, paranormal, contemporary, etc.

When does the challenge start and end? January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013

Final Thoughts!

Sign up on the linky below and join the Goodreads New Adult Challenge page to log in your books! That's right. Goodreads will log the books for your challenge for you. All you have to do is join the challenge page here:

New Adult Challenge Goodreads Group (Currently set up for 2012, but will change soon ;D)

To get you started on next year here are some great Goodreads lists and links* that have many amazing New Adult books listed. Feel free to add to these lists so other readers can share in the new adult goodness you devoured!

• Goodreads New Adult Fiction Page
• New Adult/Post HS Books
• New Adult Literature
• New Adult Contemporary
• New Adult of 2012
• New Adult Dark & Gritty
• Speculative New Adult Fiction
• New Adult Fantasy Series’
• College Romance
• 2013 New Adult Releases

*Thanks Tara for the comprehensive list of NA Goodreads links!

And of course check out my group blog, NA Alley, for all things NA!

Good luck readers and yeah for 2013 and New Adult Fiction!

Swipe our button!

It's The Crimson Hunt's Book Birthday!

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords

That's right everyone! The Crimson Hunt is live! My little baby is out and into the world. It's been a long road, but I couldn't be more happy with the end result.

And even though the book actually went live on November 8th, I wanted to do an official book birthday post. :D

So, now that the book is live I have a few reminders, and some announcements.

Review The Crimson Hunt for extra giveaway entries!

You can review for extra entries in my Blogoversary/ Book Release Month Giveaway! So once you've finished that last word feel free to leave a review on BN, Amazon, or Smashwords for more entries to the new adult treasure trove!

I'm Over at NA Alley Talking NA and Book Blogs!

Check out my post today on NA Alley about book blogs and their awesome influence on not only NA, but the wonderful world of fiction, as well!

You bought The Crimson Hunt? Email me for a FREE copy of Holiday Fling!

Don't forget, if you buy The Crimson Hunt and email me your proof of purchase (Amazon, BN, or Smashwords confirmation) you'll get a free copy of my NA holiday contemporary romance, Holiday Fling. AND it doesn't come out until November 26, which means you get your copy before it's even on sale!

Final Thing!

Comment below and I'll put you in a drawing for a free eCopy of The Crimson Hunt.  Just leave your email below. That is all :D

I'll be at TFEiC, will I see you there? + Abbi Glines Cover Reveal

Happy Monday, everyone!  I've got a bit of a long post today so bear with me!

First things first,

Today I'm over at NA Alley interviewing new adult author Angela Corbett!  She wrote the second new adult book I ever read called Eternal Starling. So feel free to drop by and say hello :D

Check out my post----> here.

Next on the agenda,

I'm going to TFEiC, an indie book signing event, this saturday!  As you can see from the poster there is going to be a treasure trove of NA authors at the event.  This actually means a few things for you!  

First:  I will be participating in a Q&A session with the authors and asking questions about all things NA!  I will post this interview on an NA Alley post in the near future.

Second:  I will be coming home with a crazy ton of signed books.  And if you all haven't noticed my little blogoversery button to the right of the site....   

NOTICE IT PRETTY QUICK because some exciting things will be coming soon!  That's all I can say for now...  FREE STUFF!!!! Okay, really, that's all I'm going to say for now ^.^

And finally,

I've got another cover reveal for you this week!  I will be meeting this author at TFEiC, so I was very excited to bring you the cover reveal for her new NEW ADULT book!!!

Just for Now (Sea Breeze, #4) by: Abbi Glines
Release Date: October 23, 2012
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

The day Preston Drake figured out that wealthy women paid well for a set of tight abs and a pretty face his life turned around.

The run down rat-infested trailer he had shared with his alcoholic mother and three younger siblings was now only a place he visited to pay the bills and stock the pantry with food.


He no longer worried about his family starving or living without electricity. The money he made entertaining rich older women more than covered his family’s needs and his own. He had it all figured out. Except…

There was this girl.

She was as innocent as he was tainted.

Amanda Hardy wished her knees didn’t get weak when Preston walked into a room. She hated the fact her heart raced when he flashed his smile in her direction. He had a different girl in his bed every night. He was the kind of boy a smart girl ran from. So, why was she coming up with ways to get close to him? Even when it was obvious he wanted to keep her at a distance.

Maybe her heart knew something the world didn’t. Maybe Preston Drake was more than just a pretty face.

Cover by Mooney Designs and Tour by AToMR Book Blog Tours

About the Author:

Abbi Glines can be found hanging out with rockstars, taking out her yacht on weekends for a party cruise, sky diving, or surfing in Maui. Okay maybe she needs to keep her imagination focused on her writing only. In the real world, Abbi can be found hauling kids (several who seem to show up that don’t belong to her) to all their social events, hiding under the covers with her MacBook in hopes her husband won’t catch her watching Buffy on Netflix again, and sneaking off to Barnes and Noble to spend hours lost in the yummy goodness of books. Her debut novel, BREATHE, can be found in digital format at Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Existence, a YA paranormal, was released December 13, 2011 by Wild Child Publishing. She also released a YA contemporary romance, The Vincent Boys this Fall. She just released her first New Adult contemporary, Because of Low. She is currently editing the second book in the Existence Trilogy, Predestined. If you want to find her then check Twitter first because she has a severe addiction to tweeting @abbiglines. She also blogs regularly but rarely about anything life changing. She also really enjoys talking about herself in third person.

Abbi Glines| Facebook| Twitter

Cover Reveal: STRENGTH by Carrie Butler

I have an oh-so-special cover reveal for you today, my friends.  My dear friend and fellow NA Sister from NA Alley, Carrie Butler, has a book coming out!  I'm so very excited for her and I love her lots.  I have also had the pressure of reading this wonderful book of hers and I know you will all enjoy it as much as I did :D

The book is a new adult paranormal romance and set in college!!!!  Eep!  Her cover is stellar and her trailer is amazing.  So enjoy!  And add this title to your Goodreads TBR pile, peeps!  Congratz, Carrie, my dear!!!!

STRENGTH (Mark of Nexus: Book 1) by: Carrie Butler
Release Date: March 7, 2013
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing

When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, her rumor-laced notions are shattered. Handsome, considerate, and seemingly sane, Wallace Blake doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, screaming and banging on the walls of his dorm room. Hell, he doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, period.

Too curious for her own good, Rena vows to uncover the truth behind Wallace’s madman reputation—and how two seconds of contact had left her with bruises. Of course, there are a few minor setbacks along the way: guilt, admiration, feelings of the warm and fuzzy variety…

Not to mention the unwanted attention of Wallace's powerful, supernaturally-gifted family.

They’re a bloodline divided by opposing ideals, two soon-to-be warring factions that live in secret among us. When Rena ends up caught in their crossfire, Wallace has no choice but to save her by using his powers. Now they’re really in trouble. With war on the horizon and Rena’s life in the balance, he needs to put some distance between them. But Rena won’t let go. If fighting is what it takes to prove her own strength and keep Wallace in her life, then that’s what she’ll do—even if it means risking a whole lot more than her heart.

About the Author:

Carrie daydreamed her way through college—until they thrust a marketing degree into her hands, slapped a summa cum laude seal on the corner, and booted her out into a less-than-stellar job market. Instead of panicking at the prospect of unemployment, she used her Midwestern logic to steer into the skid and point her life in the direction she really wanted to go: writing out those daydreams.

Where to find Carrie:

WEBSITE  |  BLOG  |  SSP  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK  |  GOODREADS  |  GOOGLE+ 

Where to find Strength:

BOOK PAGE  |  GOODREADS  |  FACEBOOK (New!)

NA Misconceptions: An Analysis on New Adult fiction (with pictures!)

Hey friends!  Happy Monday.  So I've been wanting to do this post for a while.  I'm really seeing some things happening for New Adult fiction (characters in fiction between the ages of 18 - 25) right now, and I feel they should be discussed.  So to do this post, I had to do some research...and go on a little field trip.

My Local BN! Date - 8.3.12

I'm sure you all know this place above!  'Tis the awesomely, awesome bookstore named Barnes and Noble. (Pardon the clear lighting fixture problem they're having with their letters.  I'm sure they're fixing this soon ;D)

So before I get into this.  Read this post by my fellow NA Sister Carrie Butler.  This post is inspired by her NA Alley post on NA Misconceptions.  She discusses common misconceptions about new adult fiction, and why the are indeed misconceptions about the category.  I'll wait for you to come back...

Hi again!

So in Carrie's post she discussed some common misconceptions about NA.  So I decided to tackle  a couple of these misconceptions a step further, and discuss one of my own.  So...

On to my local Barnes and Noble!

Carrie's First NA Misconception stated: 

We don't need one more category clogging up our bookshelves!

Hmm...  Are these bookstores really clogged???  Are they???

Sure is lots of space for the clearance section....

Anyone need a journal or Rosetta Stone?  Apparently, we do since there is so much space set aside for them....

World History is a bit bare at the moment.  And my goodness, does the Travel Pictorial section really need to have the books facing forward like that?  Look at all that space!

So obviously this is MY BN, but you see where I'm going with this.  There is clearly some extra space for at lease ONE little incy wincy New Adult shelf.  Just a little one.  Doesn't have to be huge.

Another of Carrie's NA Misconception stated:  

Don’t write NA. You’ll never get published.

So besides the fact that Carrie stated that myself, she herself, and fellow NA Sister Juliana Haygert have all recently had one of our new adult works contracted, I decided to hit up BN and get the skinny to see if these books really are being published and hitting the shelves.

Meet one shelf of the BN New Teen Fiction section in my local store.  

Let's see how many of these are NA.  Look closely now....

There are some there, my friends!!!!!

Oh, and those four are just the ones I knew off hand that day.  Through research, I discovered at least 4 - 6 more books on this shelf were 18-year-old characters in their final week of high school, or on summer vacation between high school and college.  Oh, and lets not even get started on all the NA I found on all the other shelves.  I would have been in there all day snapping shots.  

What this picture also shows is how hard it would be for the average reader to find those four books.  I knew they were NA because I'm a NA freak and always try to stay current on NA books, but what about the people who don't?  What about the causal Barnes and Noble shopper?  They would have no idea those books were NA by just browsing the covers.

An NA Misconception I Discovered:  

College Students Don't Read, So Why Publish These Books?  

I decided to end this post by adding my own misconception to supplement Carrie's.  Somehow this weird misconception started going around that college students don't have time to read fiction so they aren't.  Um?  Who in the world has talked to every single college student in the world and asked them that question? I know I'm in grad school and still have time to not only read a book a week, but write them as well on top of doing my school work.  The YA Rebels also discuss this misconception here.

Also, who in the world said only college students should read fiction about college life?  How many of you have read Harry Potter?  Are you in middle school and high school still?  How many of you have read Hunger Games?  Are you seventeen?  Because Katniss Everdeen, the heroine of the Hunger Games, sure is so that means you're the only age who can read that book. 

So to further prove that many audiences are in fact reading these books.  Here we go!

Here we have the infamous Fifty Shades series.  Say what you want about it, but this series a selling powerhouse right now.  It dominates this NYT Best Sellers list, USA Today's Best Selling List, and also Amazon.com + BN.com sales at the top positions.  It has done so for weeks, and guest what?  It's about a COLLEGE student.  She's TWENTY-ONE, my friends.  And the material does indeed have a NA voice. 

What?  You want a read less spicy?  Here were go!

Colleen Hoover's Slammed Series has been on NYT, USA Today's, Amazon, and BN's lists as well.  And for WEEKS.  Also, great NA reads.  

Some other NA authors with NA books dominating Amazon's Top 100 Selling eBooks List right now?

Abbi Glines

Tina Reber

Jamie McGuire (NYT Best Seller for Beautiful Disaster)

Tammara Webber (NYT Best Seller for Easy)

NA self published authors who's books were doing so stinkin' well they were recently picked up by major publishing houses within the last 3 months?

Colleen Hoover (Atria)

Jamie McGuire (Atria)

Jessica Park (Amazon)

Tracey Garvis Graves (Penguin)

So obviously some one is reading these books.  May not be college students (a lot probably are ;D), but someone is reading them.  

Now, I would like to ask you:  What do you think about this NA trend?  Are you seeing the same happenings in the fiction reading world, as well?  Let me know your thoughts below!

Oh, and thanks Carrie Butler for your awesome post, which inspired this one :D

Laterz Peeps!

RWA 2012 VLOG with Me! and Jaycee :D

Mentions:

RWA Chicago North Conference

Hey all!  I know I promised this for yesterday's post, but I was having some audio visual issues, haha.

*Note - If the video doesn't work I'm sorry.  I'll keep toying with it this weekend and see what I can do.

So here's the VLOG I suckered Jaycee into making with me (Oh, so sorry my friend =D).  Pardon how tired we both are.  We made it LATE, LOL.

Anywho, RWA was outstanding!  I got to go to some stellar classes and learned a lot.  I wanted to share some of the pictures I took below.  It was a long week, but it was amazing.  It was so cool to meet my critique partner Jaycee and I can't wait until my next conference.

We went to Disneyland on the last day.  I am a Disney FREAK so it was too much fun and I spent way too much money.

OMG! I went totally fan girl here.  This is Jennifer Echols.  She wrote the first New Adult book I ever read.  It's called Love Story and it's a romance about a college student who lives in NYC.  

Of course, I had to pester her about New Adult and she happily listened to my babble, haha.  No but seriously, she not only is a huge supporter of NA, but fights for it, too.  She continues to write her edgy romances despite what the industry says about them not selling and her books sell like hot cakes.

I got her to sign a few of her books and guess what???  I'm doing another giveaway, baby!  Stay tuned for more details ;D

Okay so I really can't do this post without this next part.  Through the creation of NA Alley I have met so many cool and stellarific NA authors and one of which is Alysia Gray Painter.  Her fun emails brighten my day and I'm happy to call her a dear friend.  Well, she heard Jaycee and I were going to be in Cali (where she just happens to reside) and she wanted to meet up.  Unfortunately, she had to go out of town and we couldn't schedule the meet.  So imagine what I felt when Jaycee and I get a knock on the door after a long day.  There was a man with a cart of milk and cookies. 

Here's me:  "Um, we didn't order this, sir." *Laughs nervously*

Man at the door with the cart:  "Oh, miss, a guest outside of the hotel ordered this for you."

Me: *mouth agape* 

Then I remembered that Alysia kept asking me where we were staying.  I told her, but didn't really think much of it.  Well, SHE sent the milk and cookies!!!!

This woman is so sweet and you should all go out and read her awesome books.

I have copies of her first two reads and can't wait to dive in!  Thanks so much Alysia. You're a gem.  Muah!

Wilfair 

Alysia's Blog

So on a final note.  I have GREAT news for all you New Adult peeps!  It's really happening! Not only did pretty much all the editors and agents I spoke to take it, but they are rooting for it.  

Everyone, was really excited about it and I couldn't believe how supportive everyone was.  

Here is a list of some of the people I spoke to:

St. Martin's Press

Grand Central Publishing

Month 9 Books

Samhain Publishing

I will soon add this list to the NA Alley page, but go ahead and look them up.  Oh, and certain editors of St. Martin's Press take unagented manuscripts!!!! I was in shock. They are a Big Six!  They don't list that on their site, so now you know.  And Dan Weiss from St. Martin's is looking for e-serials and I heard through the grapevine that he's taken at least 3 NA authors for this, so jump on it!

Well, that's all I have for now.  I can't wait until my next conference and I'll keep you updated when I head to the next one.

Special Announcement!

Tune in Friday for a special post-RWA 2012 giveaway!  I got some major swag peeps and I've completely lost my mind.  My craziness is your gain.  I'm giving out signed and unsighed copies of YA and NA books.  So come back Friday for details :D

Don't forget about my indie giveaway. Ends 8/6. + Sign up to be a part of The Crimson Hunt cover reveal - email me at: victoria.smith775@gmail.com to take part! :)

Join me on Twitter Tonight for NaLitChat!

I'm Over at the Alley!

Hey friends!
First off, let me give you an official welcome to the new blog!  Tis' now an author blog as you can see!!! Squee!  Not much of my blogs content will change right away.  The title and look has just changed for now and I will still do a few reviews here and there, but soon those will be discontinuing and I will be recommending books instead, which is why I have titled the review tab "20-Something Reads" :D  More on that and more changes later though friends!  
To get a blog design like this and at a really reasonable price check out Sheila!  She's so stellar peeps and she is so reasonably priced.  She did my last design, too.  Thanks, Sheila ;D (Click on the pick for more info!

So I'm officially back from Cali and RWA Nationals 2012!!! I learned a lot and got some awesome info about the future for new adult fiction! Tune in Wednesday for a special VLOG (yep, I'm at it again ;D) details post and tune in Friday for a bonus surprise giveaway post!!!

For now, I'm over at NA Alley today talking about the importance of Goodreads.com for new adult fiction and how YOU as a reader can advance the category.  So head over friends! See you Wednesday!

Visit me at NA Alley today!