Angel Island Anniversary

This week, two of my books celebrate anniversaries - yay! Today is the one-year publication anniversary of After the Storm (Angel Island #2), and tomorrow is the 2-year publication anniversary of Waiting for the Storm (Angel Island #1).

These two books, along with their companion, Take Them by Storm (Angel Island #3) (released this past January), mean so much to me. Charlotte and her story in particular have a special meaning to me. Charlotte is probably the closest character to myself I’ve ever written, likely because I was experiencing my own grief at the time I wrote it. Waiting for the Storm starts just after Charlotte’s mother died, and I wrote her story shortly after losing my grandmother. It was the easiest and the hardest book I’ve ever written. I wrote it in the span of a couple weeks - the words just flowed like they’d never done before. I cried buckets while writing (and revising), but it was therapeutic for me.

Charlotte and Ella’s relationship in Waiting for the Storm is complicated. Ella is in self-destruct mode, and she’s determined to make everyone as miserable as she is. She’s hurting and confused, and taking her pain out on the whole world, but especially Charlotte. When I wrote Waiting for the Storm, I had no idea that it would end up being the first in a companion series, but Ella kept whispering in my ear, telling me she had her own story to tell. Part of me was worried because I knew people hated her in Waiting for the Storm (which was my goal), so I needed to have her redeem herself in a realistic way, and most people responded really well to her story, which made me so happy. The relationship between sisters is often complex, messy, and complicated, and it was fun, painful, and ultimately fulfilling exploring that with Charlotte and Ella.

I really wish I could afford to do a great giveaway to celebrate, but unfortunately all my spare cash is currently going into saving for my trip to Europe this June. I promise I’ll make it up to you guys eventually! I have a few fun things planned for later in the year, one in particular for once I’m back from my trip. For now, I’ve reduced the price of Waiting for the Storm and After the Storm from $2.99 to 99 cents for the next week. If you haven’t read them yet, this could be a good chance - you can get both for less than the regular price of one! Or if you have read them and you’re feeling generous, maybe you’d like to gift them to a friend? ;-) Also, please feel free to share my graphic on social media - I’d really appreciate it!

WAITING FOR THE STORM: Amazon US || Amazon CAN || Amazon UK

AFTER THE STORM: Amazon US || Amazon CAN || Amazon UK

As always, thank you so much for your support. You guys make this crazy, wonderful journey so worth it. 

 {Facebook || Twitter || GoodReads || Instagram || Pinterest || Author blog}

Blue Sky Days Anniversary Celebration Day 4

One year ago today I sent my book baby out into the world. It's been a year full of highs and lows, but I feel so incredibly blessed to say I am living my dream of being a published author. It still amazes me that people are reading my work, talking about it, enjoying it, and anticipating my future novels. It's crazy and so, so wonderful. Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me over the last year, and been part of this journey. You guys are awesome!

Today is the last day of my four days of giveaways, and since this is the actual anniversary of Blue Sky Days, I'm giving away two e-copies of the book. 

Be sure to enter my other giveaways!
Day 1: Win a book of your choice up to $12
Day 2: Win a one-of-a-kind beaded Blue Sky Days bookmark
Day 3: Win an ARC of my third novel, Waiting for the Storm

Also, don't forget that Blue Sky Days is on sale for 99 cents until tomorrow! If you haven't read the book and don't want to wait to see if you've won the giveaway, grab a copy while it's still on sale. ;-)

 

{Amazon.com || Amazon.ca || Amazon.co.uk} 

Don't have a Kindle but want to take advantage of the sale? You still can! Simply go to Smashwords and check out with the coupon code JZ94A and you can download the book for 99 cents in the format of your choice. 

A year after graduating from high school, nineteen-year-old Emma Ward feels lost. She has spent most of her life trying to please her frigid, miserable mother - studying hard, getting good grades, avoiding the whole teenage rebellion thing - and now she feels she has no identity beyond that. Because she spent so many years working hard and planning every moment of her life, she doesn't have any friends, has never had a boyfriend, and basically doesn't know who she is or what she really wants from life.
Working two part-time jobs to save money for college hasn't helped her make decisions about her future, so she decides it's time for a change. She leaves home to live with her free-spirited, slightly eccentric Aunt Daisy in a small town that makes Emma feel like she's stepped back in time.
When Emma meets Nicholas Shaw, everything changes - he's unlike anyone she's ever met before, the kind of guy she didn't even know existed in the 21st century. Carefree and spirited like Daisy, Nicholas teaches Emma to appreciate life, the beauty around her, and to just let go and live. Between Daisy and Nicholas, Emma feels like she belongs somewhere for the first time in her life, and realizes that you don't always need a plan - sometimes life steers you where you're meant to be.
Life is wonderful, an endless string of blue sky days, until Nicholas is diagnosed with cancer, and life changes once again for Emma in ways she never thought possible. Now it's time for her to help Nicholas the way he's helped her. Emma will have to use her newfound strength, and discover along the way if love really is enough to get you through.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Facebook || Twitter || GoodReads || Pinterest || YouTube || Author blog || Personal/photography blog}
{Subscribe to my author newsletter}

Blue Sky Days Anniversary Celebration Day 1

This week is the one-year publication anniversary of my debut novel, Blue Sky Days. It’s been a crazy, amazing, whirlwind year, and to celebrate and thank all of you for your support, I’m doing 4 days of giveaways, plus lowering the price of Blue Sky Days to 99 cents until Friday!

{Amazon.com || Amazon.ca || Amazon.co.uk}

Don't have a Kindle but want to take advantage of the sale? You still can! Simply go to Smashwords and check out with the coupon code JZ94A and you can download the book for 99 cents in the format of your choice.  

A year after graduating from high school, nineteen-year-old Emma Ward feels lost. She has spent most of her life trying to please her frigid, miserable mother - studying hard, getting good grades, avoiding the whole teenage rebellion thing - and now she feels she has no identity beyond that. Because she spent so many years working hard and planning every moment of her life, she doesn't have any friends, has never had a boyfriend, and basically doesn't know who she is or what she really wants from life.
Working two part-time jobs to save money for college hasn't helped her make decisions about her future, so she decides it's time for a change. She leaves home to live with her free-spirited, slightly eccentric Aunt Daisy in a small town that makes Emma feel like she's stepped back in time.
When Emma meets Nicholas Shaw, everything changes - he's unlike anyone she's ever met before, the kind of guy she didn't even know existed in the 21st century. Carefree and spirited like Daisy, Nicholas teaches Emma to appreciate life, the beauty around her, and to just let go and live. Between Daisy and Nicholas, Emma feels like she belongs somewhere for the first time in her life, and realizes that you don't always need a plan - sometimes life steers you where you're meant to be.
Life is wonderful, an endless string of blue sky days, until Nicholas is diagnosed with cancer, and life changes once again for Emma in ways she never thought possible. Now it's time for her to help Nicholas the way he's helped her. Emma will have to use her newfound strength, and discover along the way if love really is enough to get you through.

Today's giveaway is for a book of the winner's choice up to $12 CAD from The Book Depository. I decided to let the winner choose rather than choose a bunch for you to pick from, but if you're looking for suggestions, I have a ton! ;-)

This giveaway is open internationally as long as The Book Depository ships to your location. The only mandatory entry for the giveaway is to follow Ramblings of a Daydreamer - the rest are just extra chances for you to win and you don't have to do any of them if you don't want to.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to everyone who has helped make this last year the incredible journey it's been. I appreciate your support and encouragement so much!

{Facebook || Twitter || GoodReads || Pinterest || YouTube || Author blog || Personal/photography blog}
{Subscribe to my author newsletter}

 

Happy Anniversary to my brother and sister-in-law!

Today, my brother Jamie and sister-in-law Amanda celebrate their 4th wedding anniversary.  They've been together for a little over ten years and have two beautiful children, Noah (8), and Logan (9 months). 

We've had some hard times and some issues as a family...things I won't go into because it's not fair to anyone to relive it when it's in the past and doesn't matter now...but as a family right now, there's nothing I would change.  It took us a long time and a lot of bumps to get here, but I think I can say we're all happy and loving life and each other.

My brother and I are super close and always have been.  He was 10 when I was born and from the moment I was born, he was my protector, and almost 27 years later, he remains my protector.  We have a really strong bond and have always been able to communicate without saying a word - just a look or raised eyebrow or grin will say it all.  Jamie isn't just my brother, he's one of my closest friends. 

Amanda and I have had our issues in the past...we haven't always gotten along, but in the last year, she's been one of the best friends I've ever had and has been there for me whenever I needed her.  It's funny, it took some really bad stuff happening to make us realize how important we are to each other, and to really bond...now it feels like we've been friends forever...we always say the same things at the same time, know what the other is thinking and finish each others sentences.  We spend a lot of time together, make a lot of plans for the future, laugh like maniacs over stupid stuff and learn things together...it's what I always wanted, and she's the best sister and friend I could ask for.

Their wedding day was one of the best nights of my life.  The weeks leading up to it were pure chaos because we planned the whole thing ourselves and did all the work, and even the morning of the wedding was stressful, but the minute the wedding march began to play, everything was perfect.  I started to cry the moment I saw my brother at the front of the hall, so handsome and relaxed, despite the fact that we were an hour late.  I think I cried through the whole ceremony...I could see Jamie's face the whole time and his eyes were so full of love as he watched Amanda, it made my heart ache, and I kept thinking how happy I was for them, and that I hoped some day, I'd find a man who looked at me with such love in his eyes and would be as anxious to marry me as Jamie was with Amanda.  The ceremony was beautiful and the reception was so much fun, we laughed and danced and ate and had a great time.  It's actually hard to believe that four years ago right now, it was happening...sometimes it feels like longer, and sometimes it feels like yesterday.

So that's just a little tribute to my brother and sister-in-law, who mean the world to me.  Wishing you guys a very happy anniversary and many more happy, healthy, love-filled years together (and a niece would be nice too lol).  Love you guys!

Me, Jamie and Amanda on their wedding day, November 18, 2006