The Sweetie Chronicles

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. ~William Wordsworth

My Blog Has Moved!

My new website at www.sarracannon.com is live! That means my blog has also moved with it. You know how I've been talking about wanting to have a dedicated place where I can talk about Indie topics separate from things my readers would be interested in hearing? Well, now I was able to split my blog into two pieces.


The Sweetie Chronicles is now my main blog over on the new site and you can find it HERE. Today's post? Mini Beach Retreat Weekend, where I talk about unplugging from the real world and heading to Myrtle Beach for the weekend to work on Demons Forever.

My Indie Writer Resources blog is found HERE. All on the same website now! There are resources there like links, walkthroughs, my word meter, and now a separate blog just for those writing type topics.

I hope those of you who have followed me here and have enjoyed reading my blog will move over to the new site with me! I'll still probably post a few reminders here just in case, but largely my blog has officially moved. Please come check it out!

Free Preview of Michelle Muto's DON'T FEAR THE REAPER

*I wanted to announce that my blog has a new home at my brand new website! I've been working on this website for a while, and I was happy to have it finally go live this weekend. I am migrating my blog over there as well, so please check it out HERE. For this week, I'll probably be posting my blog both here and at the new site as we transition over.

I am so excited to have the very talented YA author Michelle Muto on my blog today. She has been nice enough to give us a free preview of her book DON'T FEAR THE REAPER. Here is a brief description of the book:

Grief-stricken by the murder of her twin, Keely Morrison is convinced suicide is her ticket to eternal peace and a chance to reunite with her sister. When Keely succeeds in taking her own life, she discovers death isn’t at all what she expected. Instead, she’s trapped in a netherworld on Earth and her only hope for reconnecting with her sister and navigating the afterlife is a bounty-hunting reaper and a sardonic, possibly unscrupulous, demon. But when the demon offers Keely her greatest temptation—revenge on her sister's murderer—she must uncover his motives and determine who she can trust. Because, as Keely soon learns, both reaper and demon are keeping secrets and she fears the worst is true—that her every decision will change how, and with whom, she spends eternity.

Doesn't that sound awesome? Just wait until you read this first chapter! You will want to scoop it right up.

First Chapter Teaser:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for they are with me.

I repeated my version of the psalm as I watched the ribbon of blood drift from my wrist. I’d hoped it would be a distraction—something to stop me from wondering what my sister’s dying thoughts had been. Exhaling slowly, I let the emptiness consume me.

Jordan had kept my secrets and I had kept hers. In the end, it came down to just one secret between us that took her life. Now, it would take mine. I should have said something, but nothing I said or did now could bring her back or make anyone understand what she meant to me.

Are you here, Jordan? Are you with me?Tell me about heaven...

I told myself Jordan was gone, never coming back, but her memories continued to haunt me. I had no idea if there even was an afterlife. If God existed, I was convinced he had given up on me. Not once did I sense he’d heard a single one of my prayers. I wasn’t asking for the world—I only wanted to know if my sister was safe and at peace. What was so hard about that?

She should still be here. It wasn’t fair.

I’d been the difficult one—much more than Jordan. For a while, I’d even gotten into drugs. Mom and Dad had worried I’d get Jordan into drugs, too. But I wouldn’t. Not ever. Besides, that part of my life had been over long before Jordan’s death. A small gargoyle tattoo on my left shoulder was all that remained of my previous lifestyle.

Mom and Dad started treating me differently after Jordan’s funeral two months ago. She and I were twins, so I understood how hard it was for them to look at me and not see her. Sometimes, they wouldn’t look at me at all. Mom went to the psychiatrist, but no one asked if I needed to talk to someone about what happened. No one asked if I needed sleeping pills or antidepressants. Yeah, sure. Don’t give the former addict pills of any sort.

Not one person saw the all-consuming suffering that gnawed at my soul. Why couldn’t anyone see? Jordan had been more than my sister—she’d been my Samson, my strength. I would have done anything for her, and yet, I’d failed her. I wasn’t the one who’d killed her, but I might as well have been. How could I ever live with that? My heart had a stillness to it since her death.

I shall fear no evil.

I couldn’t very well recite the first part of Psalm 23 because it said I shall not want, and I did want. I wanted to go back in time. I wanted my sister back. Clearly, goodness and mercy were never going to be part of my life ever again. In my mind, I saw myself walking through the iron gates of hell with demons cackling gleefully all around.

I didn’t want to die. Not really. I was just tired and didn’t know of another way to stop the pain. Doctors removed a bad appendix. Dentists pulled rotten teeth. What was I supposed to do when my very essence hurt, when the cancer I’d come to call depression made every decent memory agonizingly unbearable?

Before I’d gotten down to cutting my wrist (I managed to only cut one), I’d taken a few swigs of Dad’s tequila—the good kind he kept in the basement freezer. I’d used another swig or two to chase down the remainder of Mom’s sleeping pills in the event I failed to hit an artery or vein. Then I’d set the bottle on the ledge of the tub in case I needed further liquid encouragement. Instead of using a knife or a razor, I attached a cutting blade to my Dad’s Dremel. The Dremel was faster, I reasoned. More efficient.

I recited the line from Psalms 23 again. It had become my personal mantra. It would have been easier to OD, I suppose. But I felt closer to my sister this way, to suffer as she’d suffered.

The words resonated in my parents’ oversized bathroom. I’d chosen theirs because the Jacuzzi tub was larger than the tub in the hall bathroom. Jordan and I used to take bubble baths together in this same tub when we were little.

Innocence felt like a lifetime ago. I searched the bathroom for bubble bath but came up short. Soap might have made the laceration hurt more so it was probably just as well. Besides, the crimson streaming from my wrist like watercolor on silk was oddly mesmerizing.

The loneliness inside proved unrelenting, and the line from the psalms made me feel better. I prayed for the agony inside me to stop. I argued with God. Pleaded. But after all was said and done, I just wanted the darkness to call me home.

I tried not to think of who would find my body or who’d read the note I’d left. I blamed myself not only for failing Jordan, but for failing my parents, too.

My lifeline to this existence continued to bleed out into the warm water. Killing myself had been harder than I’d imagined. I hadn’t anticipated the searing fire racing through my veins. I reached for the tequila with my good arm but couldn’t quite manage. Tears welled in my eyes.

Part of me foolishly felt Jordan was here. The other part feared she wasn’t.

Give me a sign, Sis. Just one.

I imagined seeing my parents at my funeral—their gaunt faces, red-eyed and sleepless. How could I do this to them? Wasn’t the devastation of losing one child enough?

No. Stop. A voice in my head screamed. Don’t do this. Don’t. Please...

I shifted my body, attempted to get my uncooperative legs under me. I could see the phone on my parents’ nightstand. I could make it that far. Had to. The voice was right. I didn’t want to do this. I felt disorientated, dizzy. Darkness crept along the edges of my vision. Focusing became difficult. A sweeping shadow of black caught my attention. Someone stood in the bathroom—not my sister. A man. Had I managed to call 911? I couldn’t remember getting out of the tub. And why’d I get back in? Did I use a towel?

Mom is going to be pissed when she sees the blood I’ve tracked all over the bedroom carpet.

I’m sorry,” I told the man in black.

It’s okay, Keely. Don’t be afraid.” Not my father’s voice. It was softer, with a hint of sorrow. Distant. Fleeting. Later, I’d feel embarrassed about this, but for now I was safe from the nothing I’d almost become. My teeth clattered from the chill. My eyelids fluttered in time with my breaths. The tub water had turned the color of port wine. The ribbons, the pretty, red watercolor ribbons were gone.

Dull gray clouded my sight.

A voice whispered to me, and my consciousness floated to the surface again.

“—okay, Keely.”

Cold. So cold.

I’m right here.”

There was no fear in me as the man bent forward, his face inches from mine. He was my father’s age, and yet strangely older. His eyes were so...blue, almost iridescent. The irises were rimmed in a fine line of black, and the creases etched at the corners reminded me of sunbeams as he gave me a weak smile. The oddly. Dressed. Paramedic. A warm hand reached into the water and cradled mine. My fingers clutched his. I sighed, feeling myself floating, drifting. Light—high and intense exploded before me. No! Too much. Too much! I shuddered and labored to catch my breath, but it wouldn’t come.

Finally, the comfort of darkness rose to greet me.

Where to buy/download sample chapters:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

Smashwords

Connect with Michelle:

Blog

FB

Twitter

Announcing CHANNELER'S CHOICE by Heather McCorkle!



Just released February 27th in hardback and eBook, Channeler's Choice, the sequel to Heather McCorkle's earth-conscious urban fantasy, The Secret Of Spruce Knoll. To celebrate she's doing a blog tour from February 27th through March 15th along with a giveaway. Here are the prizes:


Winner #1:
  • An eBook of Tangled Tides by Karen Amanda Hooper
  • An eBook of Running Wide Open by Lisa Nowak
  • An eBook of The Secret Of Spruce Knoll (if you don’t have a copy yet)
  • A paperback of Born Of Fire & Dies Irae (novella combination by Heather McCorkle and Christine Fonseca released through Compass Press)
  • And of course, Channeler’s Choice swag (bookmarks, postcards, etc.)

Winner #2
  • An eBook of Beautiful Demons & Inner Demons by Sarra Cannon
  • An eBook of Bound by C.K. Bryant
  • An eBook of The Secret Of Spruce Knoll (if you don’t have a copy yet)
  • A paperback of Born Of Fire & Dies Irae (novella combination by Heather McCorkle and Christine Fonseca released through Compass Press)
  • And of course, Channeler’s Choice swag (bookmarks, postcards, etc.)

If you don’t have an eReader then you’ll definitely want to stay tuned on Heather’s blog for a HUGE giveaway taking place at the end of the Channeler’s Choice tour.

To enter the giveaways for Heather's blog tour, stop by Heather's blog and fill out the Rafflecopter entry form!



Here is a bit about Channeler's Choice:

With her parents’ murderer’s dead, Eren can finally concentrate on fitting in at Spruce Knoll High, not to mention figuring out what it means to be a channeler. If only it were that easy. It turns out she isn’t normal even among channelers - she may be a legendary warrior meant to protect the earth in a last great battle.

But Mayan prophecies are the least of her worries as she involuntarily starts to gather her own Society, another girl moves in on Aiden, her powers rage out of control, and worst of all, someone is stalking her. To top it all off, Eren discovers she doesn’t have to be a channeler after all - she has a choice.

As an old threat closes in and she risks ending up like her parents, she is forced to decide. Be a normal teenager and leave the legendary warrior stuff to someone else, or embrace a dark destiny?



It can be found here:
Amazon

MILESTONE: 60,000 Books Sold!

Yippeee!!! I'm very excited to announce that yesterday, I hit a new sales milestone. 60,000 books sold. This is an all-time figure, starting when I self-published my first novel, Beautiful Demons, at the end of October 2010. It took me almost exactly 16 months to reach this milestone, and I couldn't be happier.


More than anything, I just wanted to say thank you! Thank you to all my faithful readers who have purchased the books in the Peachville High Demons series and supported me. It means more to me than I could ever say. You have all made my dreams come true. There is nothing I have ever wanted to do more than write, and every day for the last 16 months has felt like a gift. So thank you so much.

I'm setting my sights now on 75k, and then the 100,000 sales milestone, hoping to hit them both before the end of 2012! That might be a tad ambitious, but a girl can hope right? :)

Back to Work!

I am safely home in North Carolina and getting back to work on the rough draft of Demons Forever! I had such a great time in Georgia, but I always feel like I lose a lot of work time when I go there. It's just too hard to concentrate on writing when there's so much family activity. I mean, it's hard to justify crawling into a cave somewhere to spend hours writing when I barely get to see my mom and sister and brother, you know?


So the bottom line is that I didn't really get any work done while I was away, lol. /sigh.

Now I'm back though, and ready to go. I spent a lot of time on my drive thinking about this final book and where Harper and Jackson will end up. I'm really excited about this last stage of their journey. My goal right now is to finish the rough draft by March 15th. This is a pretty ambitious goal considering that this book is definitely going to be the longest in the series, but I know I can do it.

Once I finish the rough draft, I'll have a much better idea of when the book will be released. Also, I have the cover art already for the book, but I think I will wait and reveal it after the rough draft is done!! One of my critique group members saw it and said that she thinks it's the best cover in the series, so I really hope all of you will like it! You'll just have to wait a tiny bit longer to see it.

Thanks again for all of the encouragement and to all of you who have bought and reviewed Rival Demons. So far on Amazon, the book has all 5 star reviews! It's almost the same for Barnes and Noble, but there is one lone 1 star review that simply reads "What order do these books go in?" LOL. I've been so appreciative of everyone who has taken the time to read and review the book! And believe me, I'm overwhelmed by the positive response. I am going to do everything in my power to make Demons Forever just as good, if not better!

So, long story short, I'm back and hard at work. :)

Home to Georgia

No, I haven't completely fallen off the face of the earth, lol. When I'm starting work on a new book, I always sort of crawl into this cave where I have less to say to the outside world. And I've been working a lot on Demons Forever. Since this is the final book in my series, it's obviously very near and dear to my heart. I've been spending a lot of time thinking about my characters, reading back through important scenes, writing out lists of all of the unanswered questions. I really want this book to be something special.

That's the main reason I've been more quiet lately. Unfortunately, my concentration on the book is about to get slightly interrupted. I'm heading home to Georgia this afternoon to spend a week with my Mom and other family. They are throwing me my first baby shower tomorrow, and I'm so excited!!! It's going to be lots of fun. I have a feeling most of the week will be all about baby - shopping, talking, dreaming. I do actually have high hopes of getting a little bit of work done on the book, but it won't be full focus like normal.

I also probably won't have a lot of time to blog or be on Twitter or Facebook. I just wanted to let you all know that I haven't forgotten about you or about the book. I'm just taking a week to be with family and celebrate being pregnant. :) I'm really looking forward to it!

I'll be back next Friday and it will be right back to work!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!! It's always such a fun day of telling people you love them and watching romantic movies or daydreaming about the future. Today, I have been thinking a lot about my sweet little baby boy, Andrew, who will be coming in June. I hope he knows how much I love him already :).

My husband and I are not doing anything fancy tonight. Just going to see a movie - and nothing romantic, haha. I think we're going to see Chronicle, which I've heard is good. And I can't resist movies about teens with powers, hehe. It should be a fun evening!!

Today, I've spent some time working on Book 6 of the Peachville High Demons series, thinking a lot about Harper and Jackson's relationship. They've been through their share of rough times, so how will it all end for them? Sometimes, even though I'm the author, I feel like it's out of my hands. I feel like I've become so close to these characters that they really truly must exist somewhere. I'm just lucky enough to know them and to be able to tell their story. Is that weird? LOL.

I'm already getting a lot of emails and messages from those of you wanting to know when Demons Forever is going to come out. All I can tell you is that I'm working on it! I promise, I will do my best to keep my word meter here on the right side of my blog updated so you can follow my progress on the rough draft. I will also keep posting blogs, tweets, and facebook updates on how the book is coming along. As soon as I know when the book will come out, trust me, you'll know too!! All I can say for sure is that I'm going to do everything humanly possible to get this book out before baby Andrew comes in June!

Oh, and in other news, I'm also working hard on a new website! It's actually completely designed (by my amazing cover designer, Robin Ludwig, and my great friend Tivi at Creativity Loft), but right now I'm working on getting the content set up. As a little warning, I will be moving my blog to the new site when it launches at the end of the month. I hope you'll follow me there :). Like I've been talking about for a while, I'll be splitting my blog into two pages - one more for readers and fans and one more for Indie authors and those interested in self-publishing news and tips and opinions. I'm excited about the change and can't wait to show you the new site!

I hope you all have a very happy day with your loved ones!

Starting Demons Forever!

Today is the day that I officially start work on the final book in the Peachville High Demons series, Demons Forever. I'm so excited I can hardly see straight!!! I already have a rough outline of the book, and I am pretty confident I know how the series ends, but to be honest, things always turn out different when I begin to write. The story always goes in its own direction, and I just have to go with it. If you looked at the original outline for Rival Demons, you wouldn't even recognize the story! But in the end, the story came out exactly as it was meant to, in spite of me :P.

My plan is to spend the next three days finishing my outline - filling in all the details that I see in my head. Here's a quick pic of my outlining tools for the next few days, hehe. I kind of have a passion for stationary and post-its and stickers, lol.

Since this is the final book in the series, I'm going to spend some serious time thinking about the previous books. What questions have been left unanswered? What story threads need to be tied up? Like I said, my rough draft never ends up being the full story. Writing a book for me is sort of like putting together a puzzle. Except I don't always start with all the right pieces. During my rough draft, I put together the pieces that fit and throw out the pieces that just don't work. Then, I rewrite the story until it's right. It's a feeling inside that just knows when something fits together the way it was meant to.

So tomorrow I start the hard (but fun) work of starting to piece together the puzzle for the first time. On Wednesday, Feb. 1st, I will start the actual rough draft. I am hoping the words come easy, hehe. I know I'm definitely excited about writing the final piece of Harper's story.

So far, I've received a lot of messages from fans of the series wondering when the final book will be out. Right now, I don't have an answer. I'm hesitant to give an expected date, because I know that pregnancy is somewhat unpredictable. I don't want anyone to be disappointed if I miss the deadline this time around. All I can do right now is assure you that I will be working on the book every day, and I will get it out as soon as I possibly can. Again, take the time to sign up for my mailing list or follow my blog if you want to stay up to date on my progress with the rough draft.

I hope you are as excited as I am about Demons Forever!!!

Brief Update and a Thank You

First and foremost, thank you to everyone who has been so supportive over the last week. Rival Demons has been out for exactly one week, and the reviews are starting to come in. All 5 stars so far on B&N and Amazon, which is so exciting I can hardly see straight! Thank you to everyone who has purchased the book and to those of you who have left reviews. I sincerely appreciate your support of the series!!!


I also wanted to give a brief update on Demons Forever. I've been getting a ton of messages from people who have just finished book 5 and are dying to know when Book 6 is coming out. Eek! I haven't actually started writing the book yet, but I do have an outline. Next week, I will officially start the rough draft, and I promise I'm going to work hard to get this book out faster than the last one. I definitely want to get it out a good amount of time before my baby comes, but I'm hesitant to actually make a guess on a release date until I've at least finished the rough draft. I promise I'll keep you updated here on my blog and through my mailing list. If you haven't signed up yet, you can find the sign-up form here on the right side of this blog at the top of the green section. I don't mail out often, but I'll definitely be sending out a mail when I have a release date set for Demons Forever, so stay tuned!

Today on the web, Beautiful Demons is the featured book over at Kindle YA Authors. This is a great new site that features bargain YA books for your Kindle, so check it out! Also, as you all know by now, I've joined a group of Indie YA and MG authors called the Indelibles. We're all taking turns posting on the blog (a post goes up every Monday, Wed., Friday) and today is my day!!! Stop over at the Indelibles blog if you have time and leave a comment so I don't feel lonely hanging out over there, hehe.

Again, thanks to everyone for your support. I know those of you who have read Rival Demons are already anxiously awaiting Demons Forever, so I'm going to be hard at work finalizing my outline and getting ready to start writing next week! Yay!

RIVAL DEMONS Now Available!!


Yay!! Rival Demons, Book 5 in the Peachville High Demons series, is finally available! Let me tell you, writing this book was no easy task. With everything that's been going on in my life, it was difficult to forge ahead. Still, all of your sweet comments, notes, and support kept me moving forward. It felt so amazing to hit the 'publish' button!!!

Now, after all the wait, Rival Demons is here. You can purchase it on:



I always feel like I'm on pins and needles when a new book comes out, so nervous about whether the fans will like the book. I can tell you that I put my heart into writing this book, and I hope that you love it as much as I do. Thanks for all of your support and for always believing in me, even when times are tough.

Now, let's celebrate!!! Have a great weekend everyone! And if you do pick up the book and you enjoy it, feel free to leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, B&N or wherever you like to go to talk about books. Thanks for everything.


XOXO,

Sarra

Only 2 Days!

Just two days before the release of RIVAL DEMONS!!! I am so excited, and as usual, very nervous. Releasing a new book into the world is always such a crazy experience. After working so hard on a book, I just want everyone to love it, hehe. Rival Demons is by far the longest book so far in the series, coming in at just over 72,000 words. (For comparison, Shadow Demons was about 62,000.) The entire book takes place in the shadow world, where we find out so much about Harper and about Jackson! Their journey is dangerous and filled with emotional ups and downs, but hopefully you'll find it as fun and exciting as I have.

Right now, the book has been read by my husband and my critique group. We worked together to clean up most of the typos and any problems with the plot or story. Now, I'm working on all of the fun formatting that goes into publishing an Indie ebook. Tomorrow, I will load the finished book onto my Nook and Kindle devices to double check the formatting and make sure everything looks great. If all goes according to plan, I will be able to upload the books to Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes and Noble late Thursday night. At that point, it usually takes them anywhere from 3-12 hours to get the book listed for sale on their site. My ultimate wish is that the book will be on sale when everyone wakes up Friday morning!!

Check back here on my blog for buy links and news as it comes in! Also, if you just want to get an email notification about this and any new release of my books, please sign up for my mailing list. All you have to do is enter your email into the small box here on the top of the green sidebar to the right. I'll be sending out an email as soon as the links to buy are up and ready to go. I hope you're as excited as I am about the upcoming release of Book 5. I know it's been a longer wait than normal, but I appreciate your patience and support. The day is almost here (finally) !

FREE ebooks from the Indelibles Blog Hop Stop

Just a quick update!

I have just sent out smashwords coupon codes for FREE downloads of the first two books in my series. As I mentioned earlier in the week, EVERYONE who entered my contest will get free books! I guess I'm just in a really super good mood since Rival Demons comes out next week, yippee!!!!

However, there are a handful of people who commented on the blog but didn't leave an email address. I tried my best to pair your name with the emails in my mailing list, but for a few of you, I just couldn't figure it out. If you believe you entered the contest or left a comment on my blog last week during the blog hop, please send me an email at sarracannon(at)gmail.com or leave another comment here with your email address, and I will send you the free smashwords coupons!!

Thanks again to everyone who stopped by. That was fun wasn't it?? And don't forget that RIVAL DEMONS, Book 5 in my Peachville High Demons series, comes out this upcoming FRIDAY!

Thank you!!! And A Special Surprise!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered my contest and for all who signed up for the mailing list or left comments or just stopped by on the blog hop! It was such a fun event and was so exciting for me to see the comments rolling in. I really appreciate every one of you who took the time to stop by my blog during the Indelibles on Fire blog hop.

As a special surprise, instead of choosing just one single winner for the free ebook copies of Beautiful Demons and Inner Demons (or Rival Demons for my die-hard fans!), I have decided to go ahead and give free copies to each and every one of you who entered my contest!!! Remember that in order to qualify, you had to have done TWO things - 1) Signed up for my mailing list and 2) Left a comment on the blog to say that you entered or stopped by.

Tonight and tomorrow, I will be tallying up all the email addresses and names of those of you who did both things and will be sending out a winner's letter to you through email. It may take a couple of days since I'm also in deadline mode with Rival Demons coming out next week. In this email, I will send you a Smashwords coupon code for the two free ebooks, which you can download in any format you prefer (anything from EPUB to Mobi to PDF!).

For those of you who have already read the series and are looking forward to a free copy of Rival Demons, I will send out an email letting you know you when and when you can expect to get your free download code! The book should be out next Friday, so keep your eye on your email!!!

Thanks again to everyone who entered. I can't tell you how much fun it was for me to have such a great response. Thanks for supporting Indie authors and for coming out to cheer on the Indelibles.

Introducing the Indelibles



Welcome to the Indelibles Blog Hop!

In celebration of our official launch, we are giving away a KINDLE FIRE! If you’d like to start at the beginning of the INDELIBLES ON FIRE GIVEAWAY BLOG HOP, then please start here: http://indeliblewriters.blogspot.com/

If you are already mid-hop, then welcome to your next stop! By following the link at the bottom of this post, you can proceed to the next author (and check out the awesome, individual giveaways we are doing along the way!). If you are entering to win the KINDLE FIRE, don’t forget to make a note of the keyword at the end of every blog post - the words spell out a phrase you will need to enter the contest on the last stop.

Marketing guru Shelli Johannes Wells has teamed up with twenty-four other indie and small press authors to bring you the Indelibles.

“We are indie authors who write middle grade and young adult fiction.
We are dedicated to leaving a permanent mark on the world with our stories and words.
We are the Indelibles.”



Hi! I am Indie Author Sarra Cannon.

I am so excited to be a part of the Indelibles! I have always loved reading YA fiction, and once I started writing it, I felt like a fire had been ignited inside of me. In 2010, I made the decision to self-publish my first Young Adult Paranormal series, The Peachville High Demons series, and I have never looked back. Self-publishing is awesome because it allows me to write and publish books faster without having to follow traditional rules. I can step outside the box and be true to my own stories. It's an honor to be a part of a group of YA authors who also made the choice to either self-publish or publish with an Independent Press.

As for what I write, my stories always have a paranormal element and a bit of romance. I love reading and writing about witches and magic, so you'll find a lot of that in my novels as well. This week on my blog, I'm giving away ebook copies of the first two books in my Peachville High Demons series. Here is a short teaser about the first book, BEAUTIFUL DEMONS:

In Peachville, even the cheerleaders have a dark side...

Harper Madison isn't like other girls. She has extraordinary powers, but her inability to control them has gotten her kicked from so many foster homes she's lost count. Shadowford Home for Girls is her last chance, and she hopes Peachville High will be the fresh start she needs. 

But when evidence ties her to the gruesome murder of a Demons cheerleader, Harper discovers this small town has a big secret.




In order to enter the giveaway for ecopies of the first two books in my series, simply sign up for my mailing list at the top of the green sidebar ------>, then leave a comment below with your name**. It's that easy! Oh, and for anyone who has already read the first four books in my series, I will give you a free copy of Book 5, Rival Demons, instead! (to be released January 20th)

Feel free to also find me on Twitter and Facebook!



My Blog Hop Keyword: OF

Visit the next Indelibles author, Rashelle Workman, HERE.

*Contest runs from 12:01 AM Monday, January 9th to 12:01 AM Thursday, January 12th (or in simpler terms, midnight Sunday night to midnight Wednesday night). If you've stumbled upon this post early, keep in mind that all of the links may not work and the final contest entry form will not be active until Sunday night at midnight when the contest officially begins.
**Must be 13 to enter or have parent's permission. Winner will be chosen through Random.com. Contest ends Thursday, January 12 at 9pm EST. No substitutions. Void where prohibited.


MILESTONE: 50,000 Books Sold!

Is this really happening? That's the question I ask myself every day. Am I really making a living doing what I love to do? It's the most amazing dream come true, and none of it would be possible if it wasn't for all of you out there who took a chance by picking up BEAUTIFUL DEMONS and giving the Peachville High Demons series a try.

Yesterday, I hit the huge milestone of selling my 50,000th book. It took just a hair over 15 months to reach that sales goal, and I'm really proud of that. I was looking back at the other milestones I've posted here on my blog and here is a quick breakdown of what and when:

  • 1,000 books sold - January 2011. I only had the first two books in the series out at that point, but it was a big accomplishment for me. When I first decided to self-publish my books, I knew I was taking a big risk. Would I make any money? Would anyone like my books? Would I ever sell a thousand books? Thankfully, the answer was yes to all of those questions!!
  • 10,000 books sold - Mid-March 2011. This is when my books really started to take off. After book three, BITTER DEMONS, released in late February, I had a huge boost in all sales of my books with Beautiful Demons reaching an all-time high ranking in the Kindle store of #363.
  • 25,000 books sold - Late June 2011. Just about a week before Book 4, SHADOW DEMONS, was released, I hit the 25k milestone mark and set my sights on the 50k. Well, if you read the post, you'll see I actually started day-dreaming about hitting the million book mark, but that's still years away, hehe. Someday...
  • 50,000 books sold - January 2, 2012!! So you can see that I sold exactly 49,000 books in a year. What a dream come true!!!
  • 100,000 books sold??? This is the next big goal I have in my head. I can't even begin to predict when I might hit that. Maybe by this time next year? I hope so!! I have some lofty goals set for 2012, especially considering the fact that I'll be welcoming a sweet baby boy in June. But I have so many stories I want to tell and I love to write, so I will keep working even if my writing does slow down a little bit.
Thank you to everyone who has read the Peachville High Demons series and continues to support the books and tell your friends about the series. I appreciate it with all of my heart! Less than 18 days now until RIVAL DEMONS comes out, and I hope you're as excited about it as I am. Just to tease you a bit, here is the description for the book: (Add it to your Goodreads To-read list!)

After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Order of Shadows, Harper finds herself thrust into the strange and beautiful world of the shadow demons. But crossing through the portal doesn't mean she is safe. The Order of Shadows is determined to bring her home and transfer the Prima line to the Harris family. They send their most vicious hunters after Harper. Hunters who will not stop until they have found their prey. 


Determined to keep her safe, Jackson takes her deep into an underground world filled with dangers of its own. Here, Harper will begin a journey that will teach her more about herself and her own path than she ever imagined possible.


Also, if you have a moment, take just a second to sign up for my brand new mailing list. You will find the sign up on the right sidebar just below the Rival Demons countdown ticker. I promise I won't send out any spam or share your email addresses with anyone. Mostly, the newsletter will be used for announcing release dates and important information about my upcoming books or contests.

Indie Book Fair 2012!

Did you find a new Kindle, Nook, or iPad under the Christmas tree? Browse the Indie Book Fair and find a new ebook to break in that reader! These great new books were released Nov 2011-Feb 2012 by Indie authors, priced right so that taking a chance on a new author doesn’t have to break your wallet. (Check out my previous Internet Book Fair for other great Indie finds.)
[Indie = self-published or small-publisher, for the purposes of this post, because no matter how we’re published, we’re all in this together, trying to get the word out about our books]

Note: Links are given for Amazon, but most authors publish across all e-book formats. Click on the author’s name for additional purchasing options, including paper copies.


For Your Browsing Pleasure


Contemporary (Adult)
Build a Man by Talli Roland (Chick Lit) 
Slave to the rich, rude and deluded, cosmetic surgery receptionist Serenity Holland longs for the day she's a high-flying tabloid reporter. Unfortunately, every pitch she sends out disappears like her clients' liposuctioned fat, never to be seen again. Then she meets Jeremy Ritchie -- the hang-dog man determined to be Britain's Most Eligible Bachelor by making himself over from head to toe and everything in between -- giving Serenity a story no editor could resist. With London's biggest tabloid on board and her very own column tracking Jeremy's progress from dud to dude, Serenity is determined to be a success, even going undercover to gain intimate access to Jeremy's life. But when Jeremy's surgery goes drastically wrong and Serenity is ordered to cover all the car-crash goriness, she must decide how far she really will go for her dream job. $0.99 on Amazon
The Golden Sky by Elisa Hirsch (Memoir)
The night I met Cade I never would’ve thought that two years later, after we were homeless street musicians in Hawaii, we would have a little girl and another baby on the way. Our son was born with the type of birth defects that make televangelists cringe. The “death home” gave him a really nice funeral, the kind I’d never wished to attend. We lost it after that, totally cemented in our grief. Cade got into drugs, joined a rock and roll band, and I kicked him out of the house. That was how I met: Earl (an old man and unlikely best friend), the “big sag” (a middle aged woman who still flashed folks), Todda (the stripper next door), and Chris (a cowboy who fell in love with me). It wasn’t until I killed a rogue skunk, and my daughter nearly choked on a fry, that I gave my husband another chance. But could our marriage recover from the death of our son? $2.99 onAmazon
Someone Else’s Fairytale by E.M. Tippetts (Contemporary Romance)
Jason Vanderholt is the hottest actor under thirty with legions of screaming fans. Chloe Winters is a college student who hasn't gotten around to watching most of his movies. When they meet by chance, he is smitten, but it just isn't her fairytale. In fact, it could be her worst nightmare as her past, attracted by the bright lights of the media, comes back to haunt her. $0.99 on Amazon



Historical Romance (Adult)
The Duke’s Divorce by Anne Gallagher Available late January 2012
A simple trip to the Scottish Highlands finds the Duke of Cantin with a bride he does not want.  With her impeccable beauty and fiery disposition, Fiona takes Society by storm.  As their prearranged divorce proceedings draw near, can Fiona change his mind? Check author's website.






Literary Fiction
String Bridge by Jessica Bell 
Greek cuisine, smog and domestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expecting when she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece. Keen to play in her new shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a 'proper' career and her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer and plots a return to the stage—and the person she used to be. However, the obstacles she faces along the way are nothing compared to the tragedy that awaits ... $6.99 on Amazon ALSO:  Music Sample!


Mystery
Sherwood Ltd. by Anne R. Allen
Sherwood. The name immediately conjures up images of Richard Greene, Michael Praed and Russell Crowe. Or maybe that sly fox in the Disney version. Only, in Anne R. Allen's latest rom-com mystery the fox is a coyote and there's no Robin Hood. Or is there? In her usual inimitable fashion Allen peels back the layers, one hilarious subplot after another, until you just never know what's real and what's not. Rather like the Robin Hood legend. When the Manners Doctor, Camilla Randall, flies into Robin Hood airport with a suitcase in one hand and a book contract in the other she thinks she's leaving all her problems behind and is about to start a new life. If you look very carefully you may just spot the Sheriff of Nottingham, Maid Marian and even Little John hidden away. But as for Robin Hood himself... You'll just have to read it and find out. $2.99 on Amazon


Short Stories and Anthologies
The Initiate (Cloud Prophet Trilogy) by  Megg Jensen (YA Fantasy)
Over a thousand years ago, the gods left Eloh's people and took their magic with them. To win back their favor, her people sacrifice ten female initiates every ten years. No has ever survived. There has never been a Chosen One. Forced into becoming an initiate, Eloh will try to find a way to beat the odds, stay with her boyfriend, and survive the fires that threaten to consume her. But will her lack of faith in the gods and her disbelief in their magic doom her to a painful death? $0.99 on Amazon
Eight by Karly Kirkpatrick (YA Paranormal Short Story Collection)
Prepare to be thrilled and chilled by Kirkpatrick's eight short tales in EIGHT. These eight stories, while short, pack a big punch. There are demon spirits, zombies, and even some human baddies. Each story comes complete with author's commentary. It also includes the previously unreleased short Grenades. $0.99 on Amazon




{CoverComingSoon} In His Eyes by The Indelibles (YA Anthology) - Available February 14th
Just in time for Valentines Day, The Indelibles bring you a one-of-a-kind young adult anthology! Twenty original short stories, all from the point of view of our favorite male characters - some are old flames from our novels and some were dreamed up especially for this anthology. Let these imminently crushable, swoon-worthy guys show you what romance looks like – in his eyes. Add to Goodreads TBR
The contributors to IN HIS EYES include award winners, frequent “Top 100” placers, and hot 2011 debut authors: S.R. Wells, C.K. Bryant, Elle Strauss, Susan Kaye Quinn, Jessie Harrell, Magan Vernon, Lisa Nowak, Heather McCorkle, RaShelle Workman, Ali Cross, Karen Amanda Hooper, Cory Putman Oakes, Laura Pauling, Stacey Wallace Benefiel, Sarra Cannon, Katie Klein, Cheri Lasota

Transcendent: Tales of the Paranormal by Lani Woodland, Melonie Piper, Rita Webb, Wendy Swore, Melanie Marks, Heather McCubbin and Evan Joseph (YA Anthology)
Discover the secrets of a siren, fly with a hawk girl over the mountains of Montana, and flee supernatural party-crashers as the décor comes to life in this magical journey through paranormal stories. Along the way, watch for ghosts in a haunted house, or ride through the moonlight with a stranger. Save a comatose boy who has lost his soul, and don’t forget to bring your garlic and wolfsbane—you never know when the shadows will snag you. Transcendent includes eight stories of magic, love, death, and choice by some of the newest names in young adult fiction. $0.99 on Amazon

Young Adult
Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn (Paranormal/Science Fiction) 
When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep. Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her. $2.99 on Amazon 
Bound by C.K. Bryant (Paranormal Romance) 
When a photo shoot ends in tragedy, Kira discovers her best friend, Lydia,has been keeping a secret. Knowing the truth, and accepting it, will change Kira’s life forever and thrust her into a world of ancient curses, magical objects, and savage enemies. What happens next will challenge everything Kira knows about her world, herself and the shape-shifting warrior she’s falling in love with. No longer the timid mouse her mother accused her of being, but a woman who finds the mental and physical strength to endure and survive. $3.99 on Amazon
Become by Ali Cross (YA Urban Fantasy)
Sixteen-year old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it’s cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, she’s sent back to Earth where she Becomes the evil she despises and the good she always feared. When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her Choice has been made—that she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesn’t count on, is a reason to want to change—something she’s never had before—a friend. $3.99 on Amazon
Exiled by RaShelle Workman (YA SF Romance) 
Worlds divided them. Chance brought them together. Only love will save them. An alien princess exiled to Earth. An arrogant boy. One week to get back to her planet or she'll die. And, her only chance for survival? She must help the boy find his soul mate. Piece of cake! $0.99 on Kindle
The Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle (Urban Fantasy)
Following the tragic death of her parents, Eren Donovan moves to Spruce Knoll to live with an aunt she’s never met. Little does Eren know the entire town of Spruce Knoll is filled with “channelers”—a magical group of people who immigrated to the small Colorado town when they were driven out of their own lands. Channelers are tied to the fate of the world. As the world slowly dies, so do they—and they alone have the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Soon, Eren learns she not only lives among them, but she is one. When she meets local boy Aiden, his charm convinces her that being a channeler may not be all bad though. $4.99 on Amazon
Destined by Jessie Harrell (Retelling) 
When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear. As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined. $0.99 on Amazon
Darkspell by Elizabeth Mueller (Paranormal Romance) 
Winter Sky believes she is everything ordinary . . . until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold. As seer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winter’s protector against the darkness that hunts her.  Violently thrust into a magickal realm she always thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own. Will love prove thicker than magick? $3.99 on Amazon
Untraceable by S. R. Johannes (Thriller) 
Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival. When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe he’s dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials, and nature to find him. One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and a secret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Grace travels deep into the wilderness to escape  and find her father. Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships and lives. Soon she’s enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And it’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to save everything she loves. $2.99 on Amazon
Rival Demons (Book 5 of the Peachville High Demons Series) by Sarra Cannon (Paranormal Romance) Available January 20th
After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Order of Shadows, Harper finds herself thrust into the strange and beautiful world of the shadow demons. But crossing through the portal doesn't mean she is safe. The Order of Shadows is determined to bring her home and transfer the Prima line to the Harris family. They send their most vicious hunters after Harper. Hunters who will not stop until they have found their prey. Determined to keep her safe, Jackson takes her deep into an underground world filled with dangers of its own. Here, Harper will begin a journey that will teach her more about herself and her own path than she ever imagined possible. Add to Goodreads TBR
The Legend of Victor Standish: Under a Voodoo Moon by Roland D. Yeomans (Urban Fantasy/Romance) 
Can love kill? Yes ... if you love a ghoul who hungers for your flesh only slightly less than she does your heart. Yet to the lonely street orphan Victor Standish, who has risked his life for a meal, to find love (even for one magical French Quarter night) is worth dying in the morning. $2.99 on Amazon All profits go to the Salvation Army.
Getting Sideways (Book 2 in the Full Throttle Series) by Lisa Nowak (Contemporary) 
Getting shipped off to live with his uncle Race was the best thing that ever happened to fifteen-year-old Cody. Then a wreck at the speedway nearly ruined everything. Cody’s making every effort to get his life back on track—writing for the school paper, searching for the perfect girlfriend, and counting the days until he gets his drivers’ license—but there’s no escaping the nightmares that haunt him. A chance to build his own car seems like the perfect distraction. Until Cody realizes he’ll have to live up to Race’s legendary status. But that’s the least of his worries, considering he doesn’t have his dad’s permission. All he has to do is the impossible: keep Race from discovering his lie until he can convince his dad that racing’s safe. Yeah, sure. That’ll be easy. $3.99 on Amazon
Tangled Tides by Karen Hooper (Sea Monster Memoirs) 
Yara Jones doesn’t believe in sea monsters—until she becomes one. When a hurricane hits her island home and she wakes up with fins, Yara finds herself tangled up in an underwater world of mysterious merfolk and secretive selkies. Both sides believe Yara can save them by fulfilling a broken promise and opening the sealed gateway to their realm, but they are battling over how it should be done. The selkies want to take her life. The merfolk want something far more precious. Treygan, the stormy-eyed merman who turned Yara mer, will stop at nothing and sacrifice everything to protect his people—until he falls for Yara. The tides turn as Yara fights to save herself, hundreds of sea creatures, and the merman who has her heart. She could lose her soul in the process—or she might open the gateway to a love that’s deeper than the oceans. $4.99 on Amazon
Here by Denise Grover Swank (SF Romance)
Sixteen year old Julia Phillips buries herself in guilt after killing her best friend Monica in a car accident. Julia awoke in the hospital with a broken leg, a new talent for drawing and false memories of the accident, in which she dies and Monica lives. The doctors attribute this to her head injury, but no one can explain how a bracelet engraved with her name ended up at the scene of the accident. A bracelet no one has ever seen before. Classmate Evan Whittaker paid Julia no attention before the accident, let alone after. Now suddenly he’s volunteering to tutor her and offering to drive her home. She can't ignore that his new obsession started after his two-day disappearance last week and that he wears a pendant she’s been drawing for months. When the police show up one night looking for Evan, he begs Julia to run with him, convincing her that Monica is still alive. Julia agrees to go, never guessing where he’s really from.  $2.99 on Amazon
The Veil by  Cory Putman Oakes (Paranormal Romance)
Seventeen-year-old Addison Russell is in for a shock when she discovers that she can see the invisible world of the Annorasi.  Suddenly, nothing is as it appears to be—the house she lives in, the woman who raised her, even the most beautiful boy in town all turn out to be more than what they seem.  And when this strange new world forces Addy to answer for a crime that was committed long ago, by parents she has never known, she has no choice but to trust Luc, the mysterious Annorasi who has been sent to protect her.  Or so he says . . . $7.99 on Amazon
Embrace by Cherie Colyer (Paranormal Romance)
Madison is familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it. Change took her long-term boyfriend away from her. It caused one of her friends to suddenly hate her. It’s responsible for the death of a local along with a host of other mysterious happenings. But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks her luck is about to improve. Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome and intriguing Isaac Addington. She quickly realizes he’s a guy harboring a secret, but she’s willing to risk the unknown to be with him. Her world really spins out of control, however, when her best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that aren’t there and desperately trying to escape their evil. When the doctors can’t find the answers, Madison seeks her own. Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover. $6.99 on Amazon
Onyx Talisman by Brenda Pandos (Paranormal Romance)
Unrest stirs deep in Scotts Valley. Filled with uncertainty, Julia anxiously awaits Nicholas’ return. Phil, holds the pieces of Julia’s fragile psyche together, secretly hoping Nicholas stays away forever. But Alora secretly conspires to reclaim her talisman and strip Julia of everything she holds dear. Little do they know, a war is coming and more than one vampire would like to see the Prince of Vampires overthrown. Can Julia bargain with fate? Find out how it all ends in this explosive grand finale of The Talisman Trilogy. $3.99 on Amazon
How to Date an Alien by Magan Vernon (Science Fiction) 
High school senior Alex Bianchi's estranged father gets her an internship at Circe Operations Center to pad her college applications. But Circe isn't your typical military base. It's an alien-run operation center and not all of the aliens are friendly, especially the one that tries to kill Alex on her first day. When Ace, a dark-eyed Caltian, enters and saves the day, she can't help but be drawn to him. Can these star-crossed lovers survive when they're on the brink of intergalactic war? $2.99 on Amazon
Fireseed One by  Catherine Stine (Science Fiction/Thriller) 
Fireseed One is a journey into a tricked-out near-future earth where 18 year-old Varik has inherited a vast ocean farm, following the suspicious drowning of his Marine biologist father. When Marisa, a beautiful and devious terrorist, destroys the world's food source, Varik is forced to travel to a lethal hotzone, teeming with dangerous nomads and a strange cult to search for a magical hybrid plant that may not even exist. The catch? He must take Marisa along, the only person who seems to know way, way too much key information. $2.99 on Amazon
The Missing by M.A. Leslie (Paranormal)
Eight-year-old, Ethan Doyle is just a normal kid whose biggest problem in life was to fight for the attention of his busy parents from his older twin siblings. But, after his aunt and uncle tragically die, his family takes in his teenage cousin, Kelsey, and moves to a spooky old, manor house in a new town. At first, everything seems fine, but when he begins to see and speak to a spirit named Lucas, his biggest problem becomes, just staying alive. Lucas was ten years old when the spirits of the house came to him and asked him for help setting their spirits free. Unfortunately, he never made the deadline and as a result the spirits took him and made him a part of the house as well. As he soon finds out, the only way he can save his own soul is to save the souls of the missing boys in the house. With his own deadline in place, Ethan enlists the help of his cousin Kelsey to solve the twenty-year-old mystery of THE MISSING. $0.99 on Amazon
Princess Kandake by Stephanie Jefferson (Fantasy) Available February 1, 2012
In Nubia a woman can be whatever she chooses. At 14, Kandake knows exactly what she chooses...Prime Warrior of Nubia. But her grandmother has said that she will follow her father on the throne. Refusing to abandon her warrior dreams she continues to train. When her brother is kidnapped, Kandake learns she must be both queen and warrior to win his release! See Author's Website 




Middle Grade
Blink of a Dragon by Eisley Jacobs (Fantasy)
Discovering she’s connected to dragons is one thing, but when another dragon is caught hanging out in the fifth grade, Meia thinks things couldn’t get any worse. Is she ever wrong! Trouble is brewing in the cosmos and Deglan believes this new dragon holds the answers, but his hopes are crushed when the leader of the exiled dark dragons ambushes them. The fate of the dragons and possibly the whole world falls to Deglan and Meia as they search for the only creature powerful enough to send the dark dragons back into the abyss. What they encounter along the way makes the adventure worth fighting for. $6.99

Sarra Cannon

Young Adult Indie Author

I always secretly wanted to be a cheerleader. And a witch. Now, I write about both. The first five novels in my Peachville High Demons Young Adult Paranormal series are available now in ebook!
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Sarra's bookshelf: sarra-s-favorites

Beautiful DemonsThe Time Traveler's WifeLoveroot: PoemsFear of FlyingWe the LivingAnthem

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