Fabulously Young ePubs!

Hey, Blog Buds, the other Decadent YA authors and I are throwing together a group blog, so I'll be transitioning to that this weekend as Enduring Romance goes into retirement.  If you are or know anyone who is an *ePublished* Young Adult author, please let us know!  We're all Decadent right now, but we'd like to include non-Decadent authors to spread the love.  Fabulously Young ePubs

Five Star Review for CRUSHED SUGAR!

CRUSHED at I Heart YA Books

YA Decadent Blog Stomp: Bitter Roses

Good morning, Blog Buds!  It's my turn for the blog stomp.  Please scroll to the bottom or click on the Blog Stom icon on the sidebar to the left to learn how you can enter the daily drawings and the Grand Prize drawing for the loaded KINDLE!  
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Looking around at all the wonderful YA Authors I hang out with at Decadent got me thinking about why I write Young Adult in the first place.  Well, at first, I didn't.  I had no idea what I wrote.  I just had big stories in my head and I wrote them down.  It wasn't until people started critting them for me over at Critique Circle  , people like Sara Gwen  who was a teenager at the time, that I started getting feedback about having a 'voice' best suited to writing for teens.  Duh.  So, I worked on toning that voice and packaging my stories for that audience. 
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So, why is my voice best suited for teens?  My personal opinion is my lack of Bitter Roses.  What I mean by that is Adults seem to go through a change at around age 20 (scientifically speaking, this is the age at which the human brain stops growing) and they begin to look back on their childhood and adolescence either in Bitterness or through Rose-Colored Glasses.  Their ability to Think and Feel as their younger selves diminishes dramatically. (I've seen a similar thing happen around age 40, but that's for a different post.)
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This diminishing never happened for me.
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Here's a song to demonstrate what I mean:
'When I Grow Up' by the Beach Boys
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As I was saying, I still Think and Feel childhood and adolescence, which is undoubtedly why I was a Childcare Professional for years and years before having my own four children and finally becoming a published YA author.
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And there's another thing.  My childhood and teens were far from ideal.  I've read that other authors, most notably J.K. Rowling  write for young people as a way to recapture childhood, because their own was not-so-good.  I know I'm nowhere near the calibur of author Rowling is, but I think I've learned something she has too and I've learned to infuse my stories with it.  You can either let Pain fester into Bitterness and end up miserable.  Or, you can turn Pain on its ear and become Empathetic to those who suffer similarly.  This is why the heroine of the Ophelia Dawson Chronicles is an Empath.  It's a supernatural ability for her, but any human can learn empathy by really seeing and feeling for those around her, and then acting in a compassionate way.  I'm not saying I've arrived at that, but my journey in life is taking me there.
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Commenters on today’s post are entered to win a Decadent title of their choice. In addition, all commenters will be entered into Decadent’s grand prize drawing. There’s some great stuff to win, so please enter today and enter often!
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Kimber An

YA Decadent Authors Chat Tonight!

at The Romance Studio

Done with SWEET BYTES!

Woo-hoo!  Kimber An   is a happy author today!

Kimber An is At Reader Girls Today

Bianca Interviews Adrian and Ophelia

Kimber An's Site

Updated

SUGAR RUSH Reviewed

Got Romance Reviews   Caution: This is an over-18 site.

CRUSHED SUGAR Reviewed

Got Romance Reviews  Caution:  This is an over-18 site.

Kimber An at Daily Dose of Decadence

I'm talking about the PLAYLIST for the Ophelia Dawson Chronicles there today.

Summer Reads & Writes

Hey, Blog Buds, school's out!  I've been spending almost all my computer time on Sweet Bytes, the next full length novel in the Ophelia Dawson Chronicles.  Now that school's out, I can do more.
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Writing must always come first now.  I was hoping to have Sweet Bytes read to send to Decadent by the first week of May.  Um...okay, so then I set my goal for the last week in May.  Well...then in my story analysis I came up TWELVE chapters short of my wordcount.  Yeah, I spewed coffee on my computer screen.  Good thing I have Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder or that would have taken me months to figure out and then months more to figure out what to do about it.  As it is, it took just a few minutes.  But, it will take a solid week to make up those chapters.
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Anyway...I reckon my editors would rather receive a story that's as complete and good as I can make it all by myself. 
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Once that's done, I'm going to be spending time on blogosphere-wide events, like Decadent's YA Blog Tour in July.  I'll be guest blogging all over the place and such.  Stay tuned to this station for more details.
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Besides that and a massive amount of end-of-the-homeschool-housecleaning, I also plan to READ!  Yes, read!  Haven't had time to do that in such a long time.  I really do miss being a book reviewer.  With the last Harry Potter movie coming out, I want to read the whole series again.  My children and I are planning to read Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone out loud together.
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I also want to reread Nefertiti by Michelle Moran again.  It's one of those books I like to read once a year.  I want to read Lottery by Patricia Wood, but I gave my copy to my mother and made her swear to take excellent care of it.  Signed by the author, you know!  I'll check out a copy from the library.  Other rereads will be Down Home Zombie Blues by Linnea Sinclair and Apocalypse Blues by Walter Greatshell. 
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For first time reads, I want to squeeze in some Steampunk, like Boneshaker by Cherie Priest and a few swoony Historical Romances set in World War II and the Old West.  Any recommendations?
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Ahhh, summer!  I can't wait to go camping! 
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You know what I can't figure out about camping these days?  Why in tarnation do people even go if they have to take all their modern junk with them?  When I go camping, goshdarnit, I wanna get dirty!

Four Stars for CRUSHED at Night Owl!

CRUSHED at Night Owl

Heather's Showcase for CRUSHED at the Galaxy Express

Thanks a bunch, Heather!
CRUSHED at the Galaxy Express

Blood-Sucking Dead Guys

I'm hanging out with longtime blog buddy, Tia Nevitt today.  Pop over and join the conversation.  Comment and be entered to win a free copy of CRUSHED SUGAR.

My Decadent Page and The Cool Ad They Got For Me

See here!
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My Books at Decadent
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And here!
Kimber An at Night Owl Teen

CRUSHED SUGAR Release Week Festivities

My *prequel* novella, Crushed Sugar, is due to be released this Friday, March 25th by Decadent Publishing.  The most important thing to remember about Crushed, especially if you've already read Sugar Rush, is that it is a PREQUEL.  This means its set BEFORE the first events of Sugar Rush.  The thing is I really wanted to release Crushed first, but Sugar Rush was more ready to go.  I just didn't have time to do Crushed Sugar justice in the editing department before Sugar Rush.  So, please, bear in mind that the villain, Martin, is fully human at the start of Crushed, he's always been nice to Ophelia, the heroine, and she has no idea what he will become.
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Yeah, I guess I am a little paranoid about that!  But, just look what happened to George Lucus and the Star Wars prequels!  Those little buggers are hard to write.  Pop over to my main site to learn more- Kimber An
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On Release Day, I will be posting a nice big announcement here.  Plus, a bunch of my blog buddies are hosting me in the coming weeks and some of them will be giving away free eBooks of Crushed.  AND!  I will be giving away a Grand Prize here, a free eBook of Crushed Sugar, a t-shirt, and these cool Alaskan thingys I just bought today.  Anyone who comments under Release Week posts, starting with this one, will be entered into the drawing.  The Grand Prize Winner will be announced Wednesday, March 30th.

I'll be stopping over at Tia Nevitt's Blog   on Wednesday, March 23rd to talk about my spin on Blood-Sucking Dead Guys.
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The lovely Lisa Shearin  is graciously letting me take up space at her blog on Release Day, Friday, March 25th.
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I'll be adding to the Ramblings of a YA Writer with Julie Particka   same day.
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Heather Massey, brand new debut author, will be helping me reach for the stars at The Galaxy Express
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And fellow Decadent author Vanessa Barger said she'd give me a shout-out too.  She co-blogs here one Saturday of the month, by the way.
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Fellow Enduring Romance reviewer, Nayuleska, is hosting me at her blog, Nayu's Reading Corner  on Saturday, and I'll be popping in at the SFR Brigade   too.  And then I'll post here on Sunday, rounding up the week.
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The Grand Prize Drawing Winner will be announced Wednesday, March 30th.
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I'll post an excerpt of Crushed this Wednesday, March 23rd, but, for now, here is the blurb-
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Be careful what you wish for.

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Ophelia’s had a wicked crush on Martin since they were kids, but she was always just his geeky little friend.  Then, on the first day of her junior year, he’s suddenly and wildly attracted to her.  She can’t imagine what’s changed, but shocking her small school’s social order fills her with vindication for insults suffered.

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Ophelia meets Adrian right after and true love extinguishes the wicked crush.  In secret, he gives her courage against a specter threat.

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Tristan Li is pale and hungry, and draws Martin’s immediate ire.  He knows things about Ophelia which she assumes are delusions brought on by an aggravated illness like her own, diabetes.  When battle breaks out between his ancient race and new blood, even the courage of her secret love might be crushed. 

Kimber An at Rebecca Lynn's

I'm the guest at New Kids On the Writers' Block today!

CRUSHED Ad at Romance Reviews

It was free too, because I put their banner at the bottom of this blog.  This is kinda nice, because I can't afford to buy ads.  It's the revolving ad at the top so you have to wait for CRUSHED's turn.  Check it out.

Kimber An at 'Daily Dose of Decadence Today'

Not a Newbie Anymore

Upcoming Events for CRUSHED SUGAR Release

Good morning, Blog Buds!  My calendar is taking shape for Crushed Sugar.  It'll be considerably low-key compared to the release of my debut novel, Sugar Rush.  It's so nice not to be a freaked-out new author anymore! 
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Kimber An's Calendar
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If you'd like to showcase Crushed Sugar, have me guest blog for you, or interview me, please email me at eMail Me!
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If you're a book reviewer and I haven't already tracked you down and begged you to read it, please eMail me and I'll ask Decadent Publishing to send you a FREE electronic Advanced Reviewer's Copy.
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Several blogs hosting me and Crushed will be giving away free copies of it.  I will also be giving away a BIG PRIZE here to commenters on my Release Day post, March 25th.  I haven't decided what it'll be, but definitely something Alaskan.  For Sugar Rush, I sent a plush toy moose.
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To all my blog buddies, if you'd like to give me a simple shout-out, please pop over to my Media Kit for Bloggers.  I'll be updating it with the blurb, which can be found on the About CRUSHED SUGAR  page right now.  If you let me know, providing I don't find out, I can link to it here and my other blogs and Facebook and such.
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For this week, expect excerpts at some point, plust my daughter, a member of the target readership, will be reviewing Crushed Sugar right here this week, Thursday or Friday.  Yeah, she's my daughter, but, believe, she doesn't hesitate to tell me when something's crap!
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If you all Tweet, Facebook, and otherwise shout-out about Crushed Sugar sometime during the next couple of weeks, I sure would appreciate it!