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Bright Side – deleted scene

Bright Side – deleted scene (unedited)

This scene was originally in Bright Side until my editor, Monica Parpal, and I decided Keller needed to be a bartender, instead of a … well, read on and find out. 🙂

Thursday, October 20

(Kate)

                  It was sweet of Clayton to gift me this massage, but now that I’m here for the appointment I feel uneasy. I’m not a spa girl. I’m out of my element.

The woman at the counter is ultra-manicured: trendy hairstyle, tasteful but heavy make-up, spray-on tan, and bright red fingernails. I can’t help but think that she must take advantage of every service they offer here. God, I hope she gets an employee discount.

She takes her job seriously. And her job seems to be to test my unease with the haughtiest goddamn attitude I’ve seen in Grant so far. This woman could be related to my mother or Maddie. Don’t ask me, “Have you ever had a massage before?” and when I respond, “Nope, first time,” promptly walk out of the women’s dressing room after handing me a robe with no further explanation or instruction. Whatever. I can figure this out. Continue Reading…

Thank YOU to the Bright Side family – the READERS!!!

The outpouring of love and support for Bright Side from readers this weekend has stunned and touched me. Readers have been so passionate in sharing their thoughts and love for this little book. I am humbled and honored.  Massive thanks to everyone out there reading Bright Side and telling their friends about it!

There’s been a lot of discussion on Goodreads and Facebook, so that’s where I hang out most of the time. (I kinda neglect this website because the other two are more interactive and personal.) So, come find me on Goodreads or Facebook and we’ll chat. 🙂

Hugs to everyone!

Bright Side playlist

(Potential Spoiler Warning)

I cannot write without music—physically, psychologically, emotionally impossible. The writing process for this book started late 2012 and wrapped up early 2014. These are the songs that I fell in love with for the first time, or the hundredth time, while writing Bright Side. They inspired the overall vibe of the story and its characters, or in some cases they inspired very specific situations or even entire chapters. Kate’s passion for music is my own, though I can’t play an instrument and I’m completely tone deaf when it comes to singing. Like Kate, I LOVE me some strings, especially in unexpected places—they make any song sexy. And I’ve got a HUGE thing for California bands. I’m lucky to say I’ve seen most of these bands perform live (many of them while I was writing this book)—the rest are on my bucket list.

Continue Reading…

Book Blog Tour for All of It!!!

You know how some days you just feel unbelievably lucky? The kind of lucky that’s overwhelming. The kind of lucky that makes you think “This can’t really be happening, can it?”. The kind of lucky that fills your heart and mind and soul with happiness. And gratitude. And love.
All of the above–that’s how I’m feeling today.
Because thanks to my friend Jess, at Inside the Pages of a Book, today kicks off a two week book blog tour for All of It. Fourteen book blogs will review my book over the next fourteen days. FOURTEEN BLOGS!
MY BOOK!
This is freaking INSANE!!
I don’t feel worthy …
This is massive exposure and something I never dreamed would happen. Jess is a real life Fairy Godmother. (It’s true what you’ve probably heard–Iowa is jammed-packed with lovely people, some of which are indeed Fairy Godmothers.) I cannot thank her enough for orchestrating the tour and believing in and supporting me and so many other indie authors. She works tirelessly to promote. She’s awesome!

To all of you readers, I thank each and every one of you for supporting me as well. Your kindness and encouragement makes me want to keep writing. Thank you!!
And if I’m dreaming, because frankly this whole thing seems too surreal, no one, I repeat NO ONE, wake me up.
And least not for the next two weeks.