Knock, Knock, Future

Life is too short and too precious to waste.  There is no time to waste on pettiness or selfishness, nor is there time to waste on people who don’t understand this.  There is only time to enjoy the wonderful things life has to offer us. 

Each time I come to this realization, I vow to appreciate life more and to reevaluate the things that I can change to make it better.  Then I find myself reverting back to my old ways and moving forward as before.  Today I am changing that pattern.  Every breath, every moment, could be my last-why not make them the best they can be?   

But life is also scary.  It’s the uncertainties that make me pause and proceed with caution.  It’s the fear of the unknown and the fear of change that makes me hit repeat on my daily cycle.  Fear of rejection, fear of disappointment, I could go on and on.  They are all keeping me from charging through the door to my future.  My hand is on the knob, I just have to turn it-so why can’t I?  Why can’t I follow through with a vow I so badly want to keep? 

With my history I know what I could be facing on the other side.  I’m a strong person, and I’ve been through more junk than ten people combined could handle.  I’ve taken a lot of hits and a lot of backs have turned on me when I’ve needed people.  I’ve been overlooked, under-appreciated, and treated badly for no reason at all.  And I’ve taken it all in stride, for the most part.  But truly, I’m the only person stopping myself from achieving my goals.  The real question is, am I strong enough to throw my fears aside and reach for the stars while keeping my feet on the ground?

Good riddance to bad rubbish and hello to my dreams becoming reality.  For those who are along for the ride, thank you, it’s gonna be a fun one. 

I’m turning the knob and casting fears aside-I start work on my query letter tomorrow. 

Sleep

Each night I’m going to bed later and later and my son is waking us up earlier in the morning.  You’d figure once my head hits the pillow I’d be out, but I’m more awake during the midnight hours than ever before.  Its not that I’m not tired or that I don’t want to go to sleep, it’s that I can’t.  I lie down and close my eyes and that should be all it takes, but it doesn’t work.  Instead my mind goes in to overdrive. 

I think TOO much and I think ALL the time.  It’s always been both a good and bad quality about me.  I have to get things planned and organized and then I have to get those things done.  I obsess.  The problem is there’s a never ending list of to-dos, especially as a new parent, so once I think I’m getting to a point where I can relax, a whole new round of worries, issues and to-dos appear.  I’m also an over-achieving perfectionist and I don’t have a shut-off switch, so nothing can be (pardon my French) half-assed or put aside.

With this increased lack of sleep impeding my thought process, I find myself constantly asking “What was I just thinking about?” or “What was it that I needed to remember to do?” out loud, like someone outside my head can remind me what’s on my brain.  I can feel a crash approaching.

The Unnatural series I’m developing is so important to me.  I want it to succeed and I want readers to love it as much as I do.  With my head in a fog and my new office disorganized, it’s been hard to keep my thoughts and notes together the way I’d like them to be.  I had to think of a way to organize the dozens of scenes and multitude of dialogue I’ve written so far.  This is what I came up with:

• The multi-colored cards are for dialogue.  Each character I’ve written random dialogue for gets a color (I’ll be buying more colors soon cause 4 is not enough).
• The white cards are for scenes.  I’ll write the premise of each scene with a list characters involved (along with a color key to match dialogue cards for quicker matching) on them.
• The bulletin boards are for when I’ve got my cards done.  I’ll be using these boards (and probably a full wall space) to lay out my novel, like a visual outline (I’m a very visual person).  This way I can move and rearrange what I have around to fit right.

When all is said and done (and I finally tackle my office and finish it into a functional writing space), I hope to get some sleep, because this has been keeping me up at night.  There’s more to my master plan above, but I don’t want to sound like a total neurotic dork.  ;-) 

I figured I’d show you so you can see how I’m developing the sequel.  I didn’t blog during the first novel’s process step by step and I’ve always been a fan of ‘behind the scenes’ info-it makes me appreciate the finished product that much more.  I hope at least some of you feel the same way. 

One thing’s for sure, this time around I’m doing things much differently; for better or for worse will be determined soon enough by the end result.   

Inside Look Follower Challenge Reward #2

Here it is-hope you enjoy!

I looked down the long, dark hallway for an exit; I had to get out.  My spine tingled and my hands felt clammy.  I could see a slit of light at the end, light from under a door.  I ran full speed down the concrete hall, terrified for my life.

10 more until the next reward.  Wonder what it could be next time??  Don't forget, I'm up on Facebook and Twitter, and both are linked right here on this page to your right.

On a different challenge note, the 1000 followers challenge still stands.  March 31 is right around the corner, so make sure to tell your friends and family to follow if you want a chance to vote on the name of the sequel! 

Blog post coming tomorrow.  G'night for now! 

Feelings in Writing

Ah winter.  You come in and trash the place with no apologies.  This winter in New England has been torturous to say the least.  Over 40 inches of snow so far and we’re not done.  The snow banks are so high it’s been like driving through dirty clouds-you’re not sure what’s around the bend and you can only hope there isn’t a car or pedestrian there in your blind path.  Winter has made going up and down my steep, mountain-like driveway feel like bumper bowling; my car is the bowling ball and the driveway is as slippery as the lane.  Winter makes me become reclusive because the weather is so not worth the frustration.  But it’s New England, and year after year we gripe about this.  If we truly hated it, we’d have moved already, so I’ll end my rant.

Lots going on inside and outside of my head lately, both creatively and actually-a very mobile baby, a husband I rarely see thanks to his job and commute, issues with friends, family drama, and of course, the snow.  What does that mean for my sequel?  It means its taking a dark and crazy turn. 

Not that I insert my real-life situations in my writing (I write realistic fiction, not fiction based on reality), but when I’m having issues or difficulties, it’s only natural my protagonist, Lexi, may suffer too.  Why?  Because she’s real to me, and all people have their issues.  I create issues to keep her real.  So if I’m feeling lonely and Lexi’s surrounded by friends and family, I don’t feel like I’m writing realistically.  I like to write close to my feelings, but only to the point where I can connect and relate.  When I read fiction, I still want to escape my own world and slip into the story, after all.

I don’t need my feelings to drive my writing forward (I can write a novel without an ounce of my feelings making their way in, like an actor can successfully portray a character without ever experiencing any of that character’s life or emotions as their own), but certain moods/emotions can help make a good story better.  If I get completely out of my own head, sure, I could write a whole realistic story based on rainbows and clouds and end it with happily-ever-after, but that would be boring to me.  I love real, visceral, believable stories.  And the same works in reverse.  If Lexi (or any protagonist I create) is experiencing something I may not have, I find a way to get to her level and feel how she feels in a form of method acting. 

I believe Reality TV is hugely successful because people want to escape their own reality without leaving reality.  It’s also why tabloids sell and paparazzi exist.  We want to be immersed in other people’s lives and dramas, even when some of it is scripted to amp it up.  To end my babbling, I’m saying a big part of my creativity is intertwined with my emotions.  I’m feeling dark, lost, conflicted, raw and emotional, so if I start writing out my sequel today, it’s going down that same path-tons of (good) drama, raw emotions and dark, twisty mental places, very afflicted.  The scenes I’ve compiled and the dialogue I’ve written thus far can be in line with these feelings.  And I have a feeling my readers will love every word of it.

Music may inspire me, but my emotions drive me.      

A taste of what's to come

Because we've reached the first benchmark in the new challenge, here's the reward:

He used his pale, bony fingers to lift my chin so I was looking in to his dark blue eyes. “In time, you’ll find out. But for now, I’m not even a memory.”

Want more?  10 more until the next one (70 to the grand finale-a full excerpt).  And yes, I am using the combine totals from this blog, Facebook and Twitter again.

Hope you liked it!

Bucket List item is revealed!

First off, kudos to June M. of Massachusetts for solving the clues!  Great job.  I had a feeling the last clue would give it away, ha-ha. 

Before I tell you what it is, here are the previous clues:

1.        It’s something I came close to accomplishing in my previous career path before I retired. 

2.       It involves training

3.       It’s in public

4.       It involves sports

5.       It’s patriotic

Oh boy.  My heart is beating faster than a hummingbird's wings.
IF I succeed in my goal of being published...*deep breath* I will attempt to sing the National Anthem at a professional sporting event.

Which one?  Well, most likely a Celtics or Red Sox game.  I'd include the Bruins, but with my history, I'd probably fall on the ice and make it on You Tube and all the highlight reels.  I'd try for a Patriots game (since they are my FAVORITE team), but that's more people than I can handle.  Singing in front of over 20,000 people with my anxiety is going to be a feat in itself.  I've wanted to do this since I was a little girl though.  I was thisclose to sending in my demo to do this when I was 19 years old, but my ever charming self-deprecation set in and I chickened out; I soon after retired from pursuing a professional singing career (due to personal reasons) and I've regretted it ever since.

I believe that no matter what the dream, if you want it bad enough, you should go for it, no matter how young or old.  With hard work and dedication, success of some degree will always be the reward.  So that means if I'm going to do this, its back to vocal training for me!  I'm a bit rusty; it’s been almost 10 years since my last professional lesson.  Let’s hope I still have range; I’m gonna need it! 

I had a lot of fun with this challenge and I hope you did too.  With that off my plate, its time for the next one! 

For every 10 followers, I will post something from my novel- a line of dialogue, a character description, etc.  Once I reach 150 followers, I will post an excerpt from Unnatural. 

Oh, and we’re only 8 followers away from the first novel post. 

Until next time, folks!

The Final Hint in the "Bucket List" follower challenge

-It's patriotic-

9 more followers to the big reveal as well as to the next challenge.  Remember, if you think you know what the answer is, send me an email first to confirm at my address listed at the right of this page.  If you're correct, I'll reveal to all and give you a shout out for a job well done!

A site update:  I now have a direct address to my facebook page.  You can either access it through here on the right-hand side of the home page, or simply go to: www.facebook.com/crowleykt to follow me there.  And of course, I am also on Twitter @KTCrowley.

Get excited; I know I am!

Here's the hint I promised last night

Here it is:

-It involves sports-

10 more followers to the next hint and 20 more to the reveal! 

After the reveal, I'll post another follower challenge in which the end result will be an excerpt from my novel. 

The big challenge I mentioned in December still stands; if I can reach 1000 followers by the end of March, I'll open a poll to vote on the possible title of the sequel.  It’s a far-fetched challenge, I know, but I'm curious to see how many readers want to be a part of choosing its name.  I think it’s a pretty cool way to involve my readers since, after all, you'll be reading it.  Who knows, this series could fulfill my dreams of great success and you could play a part in that.  ;-)  

My office, sadly, is still a work in progress.  It’s halfway there, which I'm happy to report.  Even if I can't start the actual writing process, I am doing my research, which is a huge factor in making a story and its locations, etc. believable.  I don't enjoy the research part so much, but I'm getting it done and out of the way so once I'm able to, I can focus completely on the story. 

I learned recently I have readers in twelve countries to date.  That is not only cool and amazing, but inspiring as well.  Knowing what I'm writing reaches that far is truly awesome.  Again, I thank everyone who reads this blog and follows me.  This novel (and series) is for a specific genre but I wrote it for readers of all types and for all ages.  It’s universal, like all of you, and when the time comes to release it I hope you see that and enjoy it as much I have enjoyed writing it.



  

The First Post of the New Year...

Its 2011 and I'm so excited.  This is going to be a huge year (I hope) and I'm grateful to have my readers along for the ride.

Just a short post today to say I'm hard at work compiling scenes and dialogue for the untitled sequel.  My brain literally won't shut off, its insane how much I've come up with already.  Now I have to organize my thoughts and mold it into a complete story, which means I have a lot more nooks and crannies to fill in between what I have so far.

Unnatural was written pretty much start to finish with the exception of one scene, which is the idea that kicked off the novel.  For this one I'm a bit more scattered.  I've built the characters, the world, etc.; in the second novel I have to make that world continue to spin and grow without going overboard or killing it.  It’s a fragile process.  I can't jump in and keep the story moving, I have to weave in bits and pieces of the first novel to help keep the reader in the world with the most important jump off information.  It may sound easy to some but it’s actually not.  I have a novel that's over 350 pages and only a fraction of that needs to be peppered in to the sequel-in the right places to boot.  It’s logistical and strategic-sorta.  I have my work cut out for me.  I relish it.

My official sequel-writing kick off date is set for Monday.  I'm moving my office from one part of my home to another so that date is tentative pending its completion.  I'm so eager to get to it that I'll be running on all cylinders this weekend to get it ready for then.  I can’t wait!

By the way, 3 more fans to the next hint.  Have I mentioned how awesome my readers are?  ; - )


  

A fun challenge for the New Year

Something for the New Year:

It's a big one. If I can get 1,000 followers (using the combine totals like before) by February/March, I'll hold a vote to decide the possible title of the sequel-fun, right?!  Spread the good word!

I should mention that if you follow this blog page anonymously, it does not count toward the total-sorry!  I, unfortunately, can't see how many anonymous (private) followers there are.  If you're one of those, thanks for supporting me!  Good news is if you decide to publicly follow this blog, I don't list my followers on the page for your privacy.  If you want to be counted toward the total but still wish to remain anonymous on the follower list, feel free to send me an email at the address to the right.  =)

Thanks for your support and Happy New Year!  I have a feeling 2011 is going to be fabulous...

Another Hint in time for the Holidays!

So excited, 10 more followers means another hint for my readers!

-Its in public-

You know the drill-10 more fans to the next hint (if you don't know what this is about, please see my post titled "Bucket List" to fill you in on the fun). 

I appreciate the support so much, especially as I approach what I hope to be the final step before the finish line (which is getting a publishing deal).  Thank you to everyone whose been spreading the word and to my new readers, welcome!  I hope you enjoy what I have to say.

Thanks again and please keep spreading the word.  The more followers, the better!  ;-) 

Happy Holidays everyone!  =)

Another Hint...

Its time for a another hint!

-It involves training.-

10 more followers to the next one.  Remember, I'm using the combine totals from this blog, facebook and twitter so be sure to spread the word-I can use all the support I can get! 

If I don't post again before the holidays, I hope everyone has a safe and joyous holiday season.  =)

Bucket list

Per my update last night I’ve completed this round of work on my manuscript.  This is huge for me and I couldn’t be happier.  I’m thrilled with how the tweaks and rewrites came out.  Hopefully I’ll be sending queries soon.

I’m behind on my 10 week deadline but surprisingly I’m okay with it.  I took the time needed to work instead of rushing through it and in the end that helped me craft a better novel.  With any luck I’ll make up that lost time somewhere else.

With the last obstacle I spoke of, I chose to condense 8 pages in to 5 while tweaking some paragraph placement.  Cutting all 8 pages would have taken out some dialogue I felt was relevant and by condensing I still gave a character their chance to show us a different side of him.  Cutting all 8 wouldn't have allowed that.

As for the word diet-I cut just over 12,000 words total.  I didn’t hit the 20,000 I’d hoped for, but as I said in one of my previous posts it’s not so much about the number of words as it is about how they tell the story. 

So now that I’ve sent my manuscript in for critiquing you may be wondering “what next?”, so I’ll tell you.  While I wait for my manuscript critique, I’ll begin work on the first draft of the sequel.  I have one of the major plot twists already set and it’s the kind of twist no one will see coming-my favorite kind.  I’m looking forward to writing it out.

I’m excited and nervous.  When I get this way I start thinking about all the things I’ve always wanted to do.  So I got a crazy idea and made myself a bet…

If I land a publishing deal at the end of this rollercoaster ride, I’m setting myself up for a “bucket list” type challenge.  What is it?  I’m not going to reveal it just yet but trust me, it’s BIG.  My heart pounds thinking about it.  Only two people know what it is and they’re both sworn to secrecy.        

   

A hint:  It’s something I came close to accomplishing in my previous career path before I retired. 

I’m thinking that for every 10 fans that “follow” or “like” me on this blog, Facebook and Twitter (I’ll use the combine totals), I’ll reveal another hint.  Once I reach say, 60 fans, I’ll post what it is.  If you think you’ve figure it out before the big reveal, email me first to confirm it.  If you’re right I’ll give you kudos on the blog.

If I reach the 60, I’ll do another “fan me” item.  Maybe a character bio, maybe a page of the story, who knows…

I only got about an hour’s worth of sleep last night (bringing this week’s total hours of sleep to 8) so I’m taking the rest of today off-I feel I’ve earned it.  

Just an update...

Its finally done!  I'll be posting a new blog tomorrow.  I may even post something crazy to motivate my readers.  ;-) 

Very, very excited!

So close!

Belated Happy Thanksgiving to my readers!  I hope that your holiday was as wonderful as mine was.  We were surrounded by family and shared a wonderful meal prepared by my Mom (with help from my sister and me).  I had a lot to be thankful for this year and I couldn’t have asked for a better 1^st Thanksgiving for my son.

Okay, so I conquered my last dilemma and went with scene C.  Why?  Because it just made sense logistically.  I’ve made the character in question a bigger part of the story, but not by as much as previously thought.  And the best part is it doesn’t weigh the story down, and I’ve opened up opportunities for this character’s expansion in the sequels.  So I’m pretty pleased with myself. 

How’d I do it?  I stopped thinking so much and went to bed.  I barely sleep usually; with a 7 month old, a house, a husband, holidays, friends and family, on top of this manuscript and all the other fun curve balls life throws at you, my brain needed a break.  Once I shut it off, it processed and created the solution on its own.  If only everything in life were that easy.   

Now I’ve come to another wall in my final read through.  I have 8 pages worth of scene and summary that I love, but could be cut or condensed.  I have to figure out which to choose, and if I go with the latter, I have to decide what to cut.  I’m an indecisive person when it comes to creative decisions-it took me days to come to a compromise on the last issue and that only happened after some sleep.  I don’t think this time its going to be so easy.

As for the diet, I’ve trimmed another 2,000 words.  I’d be thrilled if I could cut another 13,000, but realistically I think I’ll be able to cut another 5,000.  And I’ll be happy with that.  In the end it’s not about how many words it is, but if those words convey the story I want to tell and keep the reader turning the pages.  I think I’m accomplishing that.

I’m off now to figure out how to climb this newest wall.  ;-)

Writer’s block couldn’t have picked a better time to rear its ugly head

So I’m a week behind on my self-imposed deadline.  Now, I know with writing it’s a creative process and it shouldn’t be rushed, but I’m an overachiever with a serious need for deadlines (for some reason, I perform much better up against one, hence why I imposed one) and I have to get it done.  Its one of the many anal, O.C.D. type traits I possess.

The reason for being behind?  Stress-partly because of said deadline and partly because I have so much going on in my life.  And what does stress lead to?  Writers block.  I battled the first case of it earlier this month with a night of wine, junk food and TV.  I’m now on the last re-write task before a final read through and submitting my manuscript to be critiqued and here it is again-writers block. 

This time it’s different.  I have to decide how to rewrite a scene and I’m torn between two scenarios.  I’ve played out both in my mind, and both would fit in like the last puzzle piece.  I can’t decide how to pick. 

If I choose scene A, I have to give a character a bigger part in the story, which won’t necessarily be hard, just tedious.  He’ll also add another dimension to the plot, possibly deepening it.  Question is do I need another dimension?  I don’t think I do. 

If I choose scene B, then the same character may not be relevant enough in the story, so I would most likely need to take him out all together, which means I’d have to re-edit areas he’s in and say goodbye to a character I’ve grown to like in my imagination.  I could leave him for a sequel, but I don’t know if he’d make sense anywhere else.  Taking him out also takes away from another character, posing another problem since I’d have to rewrite some of that person’s back story.

Some of you may think “then go with scene A, which sounds like what you want to do K.T.”, but it’s not that easy.  Weaving him in may add too much to the story and instead of helping drive it forward, it may weigh it down.  And after writing all this, I am leaning away from scene B because rewriting another character’s back story and how it’s relevant to my protagonist is going to be much more difficult than I care to attempt.

Maybe I need to come up with a scene C…          

On a related note, I’ve shed 8500 words on my manuscripts diet just on a quick glance.  I plan to fully read through it after I get over this wall.  With any luck, I’ll shed another 8500-11000 words.

I have the house to myself for once, so I'm now going to grapple with my decision.  Wish me luck!

Updates

I'm now up on twitter and facebook!
@ktcrowley on twitter

K.T. Crowley on facebook (its a page, so instead of a friend request, you simply click the 'like' button).

The official website should be up soon.  http://www.ktcrowley.com/ but for now it will lead you here.

Back to writing!

Music as a muse

I love music.  I was in performing arts for twenty years, so music has always been at my side.  Not only do I love the sounds and rhythms, I also love the lyrics and the meanings behind them.  Music itself can be a story.  If you listen carefully, it can trigger emotions and memories, good or bad, and it can speak to your soul.  So sufficed to say, music inspires me.

A lot of the music I listened to while writing Unnatural came from the same six artists:  The Fray, Paramore, The Bravery, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Flyleaf.  I know, completely random collection here.  I did sprinkle in other artists like Muse, Justin Nozuka and Michael Bublé, but these six particular artists I listened to on loop, especially the first three.  When I listened to their music, I would type and type until the music stopped playing, then I would do it all over again, the words just pouring out on to the screen.

One song I listened to over a hundred times in two days was “Say When” by The Fray.  That song helped me write one of the pivotal scenes in my novel, and I don’t think it would have come out the way it did if I hadn’t had listened that song.  It set the tone for the state of mind I needed to be in while writing it, and it helped me evolve the scene in to more than what I had originally planned for.

I’m about to start writing the sequel to Unnatural and I need some new music ideas.  To give you an idea of the vibe I’m leaning toward, I’ve already got Linkin Park, The Killers, Muse, and Flypside lined up.  So what I’m asking for from my readers is what music inspires you?  What artists, songs and albums have helped you through a tough time, played during one of your greatest moments or felt like it should be the track to your life?  Email me at crowleykt@gmail.com with your play lists/suggestions.  Keep in mind, the music does not have to fall in to the same genre as the bands/artists listed above; I’m open to every genre.  Who knows, one just may wind up on the book’s soundtrack (because it’s not just movies that need a soundtrack) that I’m compiling. 

I hate you, but I love you too much to give up

Writing makes me vulnerable, and I hate being vulnerable.  I doubt myself and my craft, and because this story is mine, I’m the only one to blame if it’s horrible and a complete failure.  I’m already self-deprecating to begin with so knowing this from the beginning I had to learn to believe in myself somewhat to keep going.  Rewriting intensifies all of this, like, brings it from a 5 to a 10, then from a 10 to a 20.      

Now, I love my creation.  But I also hate it.  I’ve been told that this is normal, that writers almost always hate their own work.  I sit here, listening to Paramore’s albums on shuffle (I need music to write, it helps inspire me), reading comments and notes and I keep asking myself, ‘Why am I doing this?  This is terrible, it sucks, and I hate it’.  I walk away, only to be brought back to my laptop because my mind (and heart) won’t let me stop.  I’m dedicated and I’ve invested myself in this and I'm not a quitter. 

Writing is hard work, some of the hardest work out there.  As a fiction writer, it’s my job to create a world, characters and a plot worth reading.  You grow attached to your creation, nurturing it to the end.  But when that’s done, once I’ve written the last word and finished my creation, it’s not the end; enter the rewriting and revision process.

This week I started that painful process.  I’ve done it before, but I have to do it again.  I have to get down to the bare bones (or studs) of my story and rebuild the body (or house) around it, taking out or changing the parts that don’t belong, don’t fit or are just unnecessary, as well as recreate to get to the perfect end product.

I know what you may be thinking:  That doesn’t sound too hard; just cut the fat.  But cutting sentences, paragraphs or even whole chapters, changing/deleting characters that-to the writer-are real people in their imagination is kind of like building a city.  You fill it with businesses, landmarks and people and then have to take a chunk of it away to make it its best.  How do you choose when you’re the one who put it there to begin with?  It’s hard, especially because as the writer, I don’t see it from a reader’s point of view so I may not recognize what’s not working or is irrelevant.  But its work that needs to be done. 

I kind of relate some of the rewriting/revision process to dieting.  I love pizza and ice cream, but I can’t eat those all the time because if I did, I’d weigh twice as much as I do and be very unhealthy.  In order to stay healthy and feel good about myself, I have to exercise and sometimes eat things I’d rather were pizza or ice cream.  Exercise and eating right, for me, are work but they are things I need to do. 

So basically, my manuscript is on a diet.  And instead of it needing to lose 20 pounds, I need it to lose at least 20,000 words to get to where it’s healthy and feels good.  And as much as I hate making my manuscript do crunches and cardio and cut out junk food, I love how good it feels as I see the results of this hard work and how much more I will love my end product.  I may hate the work to get there, I may hate the way it looks now, but I kept telling myself it’ll all be worth it in the end because underneath the excess weight is an awesome creation ready to be told. 

I just have to keep believing. 

So what’s this manuscript about, anyway?

Good question.  Here’s a teaser I’ve been working on:

Alexa Lawton has good friends, a great family and she's about to start college across the country with her boyfriend and lifelong friend Dell Connery.  She considers herself to be an average teenager - only Alexa’s not average; she has visions of the future.  When she falls in love after meeting the handsome Hayden DeLane by chance, she starts to question everything she knows and soon learns that she possesses more than just the ability to see the future.  Worse, the people around her know she’s something special, and they’re willing to do anything to take advantage of her for their own dangerous motives. 

Unnatural is a powerful and compelling story about a young woman who experiences secrets, lies, betrayal and deception on her journey to discover who and what she is.  All while involved in a supernatural war she didn’t know existed and a love triangle she can't escape.

Now remember, this teaser is a 'work in progress'.  My hope is that it gives you enough insight to peak your interest without giving it all away.

Feel free to comment below to let me know what you think (you can also e-mail me at the address listed to the right) and to pass the word along on my blog; the support is greatly appreciated!