HUGE Multi-Author Swag Giveaway!

Hey all! Popping in for a little update on a few things first, then showing you guys to a neat swag pack you can enter to win at the bottom of the post. :) 

I've had a lot of people wondering where I've been (hi Facebook peeps, I promise I'm not a ghost) and messaging me asking what's up (looking at you, super-cool smartphone). So what is up? I won't sugar coat it; I've been sick. Like, horrible, disgusting, can't-get-off-the-couch, put-me-out-of-my-misery, the-very-idea-of-food-makes-me-sick ick. Part of it is from my gluten intolerance, which means I can't eat super cool things like regular white bread, or go out to eat and shovel bowls of pasta in my mouth like I want to. But the other part of it is a mystery at this time. Something I'm coming into contact with, be it in the air or ingested, isn't agreeing with me by any means. So I've been literally perched on the couch for the last week, only getting up to grab cups of water or pace the house because I've been feeling like the hugest loser for being so stupid stinking sick. 

I'm sorry if that makes me a Debbie Downer. I really don't like being a Debbie Downer. Hopefully some upcoming doctor visits can shed some light onto what the heck is wrong with me, because I miss being the lovable goofball you all know me for online. 

That being said! I might as well add while it's on the brain- I will be at Arts Alive!, the festival held in downtown Quakertown, PA, on Saturday from 10AM-4PM signing books and passing out swagalicious goodies. If you can make it, awesome! Let's chat and take photos! If not, well, here's a neat way you can win some swag from me PLUS a whole bunch of other savvy authors. 

Over at Milly Taiden's website, there's still one day left to enter to win a basketful of goodies from authors across the board! Please note, this website is NFSW and is for 18+ due to the winnings in the giveaway, so if you're not okay with that kind of stuff, it's best not to enter in the giveaway. If you ARE okay with that, then by all means, have at it! 

That's it for now, but I'll be trying to drop in here and there as I get back on my feet. Hopefully I'll be able to post some more teasers for Alacrity soon! 

The Five Stages of Writing A Book

So I've officially started work on Alacrity, which is releasing on May 20th, and of course that means that once again, I'm going to put myself through the meat-grinder of emotional tailspins. The highs, the lows, and everything in-between. Figured it would be kind of funny to give you all a visual of the sort of roller-coaster I ride when I write a book, just so, you know, you can laugh when you realize which one I'm on when I announce projects as they progress.

Just FYI- This is totally how I handle book writing. As always, it might not be the same way for everyone else. It might be exactly the same and we might be twins separated at birth. Possible, yes?

Level One: Shiny! New! Must write down ALL THE THINGS!

Writers, you know this feeling. You're wandering down the cereal aisle, debating on if you really want Chex or Trix because heck, you haven't had cereal in months, and then it hits you. Like a shopping cart to the ankles, a glass jar slipping off the top shelf and slapping you on the head. Characters blossom to life in your head in seconds, scenes and motives and plot pieces to a story you dream of in this wild rush. It's better than any food, any drug you could imagine. And it overrides your brain so fast, you short circuit. This is why we look half-dazed all the time, guys. It's not because we never sleep (I mean, that's part of it) but it's because we're constantly waiting for that next jump of a story.

But until that new shiny story comes, you tackle the one you've just created. So what if it sounds kind of cliche? So what if you have a book on deadline due in eight hours and you're only halfway done with the final draft? So what if you haven't done laundry in a week, showered in two, or remembered to feed the cat in a month? Actually, please remember to feed your pets. Those are kind of important.

Level Two: Instant Regret

Let's be honest with ourselves, shall we? Writers, we're not robots. Repeat after me: We. Are. Not. Robots. As much as every fan wants to think we just have laptops glued to our hips all day, and we sit in tea and coffee shops nursing cups of hot love between our chilled fingers as we figure out why the villain wants to kidnap the heroine again, we don't. We totally don't. Which is why, when we take on a new project, it's all sunshine and rainbows for all of five seconds. 

Then reality hits. By the time you've already found yourself head over heels in love with a character and dived head-first into a project with hours of time devoted to it, you look back at the dozen plus manuscripts you need to finish for agents and publication and publishing houses, and the cramping in your stomach start. You reach for bottles of Pepto like some people see shrinks. Why? Because you need the relief from the fact that, yet again, you've bitten off more than you can chew. 

And it's not your fault. Really, it isn't! We just love these ideas so much, and want to write all the things that spin through our brain (I'm still working on a duo Warlock story that's nearly a year in the making, guys. A YEAR. IN THE. MAKING.) that we forget we made commitments to other things before that. Those story ideas are like shiny lures, and we're hungry fish. Don't bite… don't bite… and suddenly you're on a boat getting gutted and served for dinner with steamed broccoli. 

Level Three: Wait, I've got this. Right? 

By the time we hit the middle of a project, it's roughly around this stage that you hit those funny forks in the road. On one side, it's bliss. A bold, shaded paradise in the desert that entices you with water and fresh fruit and all the sorbet you can eat. I mean, it's that good. You love the story. You love the plot, the characters, the flow; it all meshes like it was meant to be. Of course it does! Because it was meant to be. We say so.

On the other side, though, it's a little less friendly. It's hot, dry and lonely. Nothing but sand and solitude in the middle of no where. You're pretty sure if you continue down this path, they'll find you on an archeological dig in another thousand years. This is the path you feel yourself on when the book flat out sucks. The plot is weak and falls apart, well, like sand in your fingers. The characters are so annoying, you just want to kill them off for the mercy. Don't even mention the flow of the book, it's laughable at best. It's stiff and stagnant. Boring. You can hear the reviews now if you ever take it publication. "Held great promise, until I tried to get through the writing. So. Boring." So you grab a bucket of popcorn, slather some melted chocolate on top, and swallow a few mouthfuls. 

Somehow, we manage to jump between these two trails like we play hopscotch for a living. It's incredibly frustrating. These are the nights you'll find an author wide awake at 5AM, clutching a seventh cup of tea while sitting in the dining room, shaking from the idea of ever writing another word of this awful piece, but too far in to turn back. 

Level Four: Mystery unraveled! It all makes sense!

Just when you think it's all over, and you have to trash a project you thought was going to be the next novel on your list, it hits you all over again on the head. You practically shove your face through the monitor when you realize what's been staring you in the face all along!

Suddenly you don't have to consider throwing away all those precious pieces you've created. Sure, you might need to re-work a few scenes, skip some pieces you originally loved, and probably have to kill off a character or two in the name of plot progression, but it's okay. You worked out the huge knot that was holding you back, the staleness that made you cringe just thinking about reading it. Your fingers fly across the keys. Any author knows this is the part where you start to cackle under you breath in those coffee or tea shops, marveled at your crazed little characters. Of course people stare. So what? Let 'em. You're writing the next big thing, baby. 

Level Five: Survival of the Fittest

All too soon, it's over. Like smoke clearing from a battlefield, you finally take your eyes away from the screen, and a weird sensation takes over. 

What is it? Satisfaction. 

Sure, it might not last more than a few days, but that's okay. That's what writing is about. You took a story from a conception to a full-fledged idea, scrambled through the messy middle where everything fell apart, pulled it back together, and saved the day. That's real hero work right there. So put the draft away, sit back in a chair and sip some tea or wine or whatever tickles your fancy. You deserve it.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to pull myself out of level three. This book has promise, I just… you know, can't see it yet. 

Happy A SHARD OF ICE Release Day!

It's time! Oh holy crap, it's finally time! Cue the party gifs!

It's been nearly a year since I first announced A Shard of Ice publicly, and since then, I've basically been sitting here, twiddling my thumbs and freaking out at least three times a day over the fact that eventually, all of you were going to read it. If you think an author gets over this, the answer is no. We go into these incredible spazzes worthy of YouTube gold.

And now here we are, a year later and another book out. This one is, by far, both my favorite book to have written and my favorite book to share with all of you. There's just so much in it that pulls from who I am. Lilix was a character I had created in Middle School, and she stuck with me after all that time, insistent on having her own story. I kept putting it aside for Essallie and Kayden, but she wouldn't quit nagging me, not until I wrote down her story. That was all it took, and from there, A Shard of Ice was born. 

Well, it's out there now, and there's no going back. Which means I'm going to sit here, and try really hard not to freak out at the impending reviews, comments, and more. But really, I'm going to compulsively look for mentions of it anywhere. It's going to be hilarious and a little sad all at the same time. I wonder if my local B&N will mind if I just start camping out in the Teen section… 

But I'm rambling! Go forth, devour A Shard of Ice! Tell me why you loved it, why you hated it, who drove you insane, who made you feel like you made a new best friend! Create hilarious reviews that use gifs showing how utterly insane you were driven over the book. Jam out to the playlist of A Shard of Ice as soon as I upload it on a new blog post. Or not. But definitely grab it, read it, share it, explore the story Lilix wanted the world to read. 

Right now, you can grab the paperback or hardback off of Amazon. Barnes & Noble's website should have the book up within the day. As for the ebook, I'm being told it might not be until the 17th that it'll go live. I know, it's lame as hell. But as soon as it DOES go up, I'll edit this blog post to include the link, and probably spam-tweet/Facebook it for everyone, soooo. 

A Shard of Ice (Hardback)

A Shard of Ice (Paperback)

A SHARD OF ICE Pre-order Goodies + Giveaway Winner!

I have a confession; I've been a little whacky and a whole lot of insane. 

Okay, so that isn't really much of a confession, but here is a confession; I've been stashing some last-minute 'sekrit' news from all of you. I'm sorry, really I am! It's not like I don't like being on Facebook, or Twitter, or Blogger, or anywhere on the internet or in person where I run into people and chat and tell lame jokes that people seem to enjoy laughing at. It's because there's only twelve (12!!!) days until A Shard of Ice comes out, and I'm doing this sad little thing called last-minute-why-do-I-do-this-to-myself edits. Between sleeping on the couch, cooking breakfast at all hours to stay alive and fed, and forgetting to shower, my week has sort of looked like this…

"But why did you wait until the last minute to edit this mammoth book, Alivia? Do you really enjoy torturing yourself like this, so close to a deadline?"

I'm sure at least one of you (other than my family and friends) is thinking that right now. Honestly, it's a ying-yang sort of answer. One one hand, I thrive under pressure in ways I cannot express. Magic just sort of spills from my brain. I can't explain it, but I can tell you it certainly helped me graduate High School. 

But right now I'm sort of regretting it. Because I've been spending nearly every hour awake, on a computer, frying my eyeballs in the name of making sure Lilix's story is clear, strong, and flows well. 

So yeah. There's that. But yes, I did have all winter to do this. And technically it should have been done back in February when I was supposed to have these stinkin' edits finished. It's a long story as to why none of that happened, one that involves a near-ER trip for a sinus infection, dropping nearly forty (yes, 40) pounds in less than a month, and realizing I had to change something or die, but I'll save the details for that for another blog post. 

ANYWAY. 

So the good news first, then a giveaway winner second!

Good news? Ahhh, yes. The news I'm super crazy excited to tell you all about involves that shiny new book, A Shard of Ice, that releases in 12 days. Pre-orders for the paperback and hardback have been up for a while now, and I've been able to see a bunch of you guys grabbing the hardback (which, by the way, makes me feel INCREDIBLE. It's the cover, isn't it? That shiny cover totally pulled you in.) and a few of you picking up the paperback, too. 

Well, if you've been on the fence for buying a hard copy because you just have to read the book the day it releases, hop over to the dark side. JOIN US. Why? Because if you pre-order any hard copy of the book, paperback OR hardback by April 10th, and email proof to redalicepress@gmail.com, you'll get an ebook copy the day of the release. So it's like buying a hard copy and ebook at the same time! How freaking cool is that?! It's all included in the tab labeled PRE-ORDER, so click that for the details!

And lastly, a giveaway winner announcement from the masquerade pendant and signed copy of ASOI from Facebook! Hold onto your hats…

Chelle H., do as the picture says, or else. You're the wicked winner of that sweet pendant and signed book!


Alright, that's it, I'm out. These edits aren't going to do themselves. Until later. :)

UTopYA + Giveaway Winner!

Phew, finally I can upload this blog post! 

I've managed to sit on some fanfabulouslytastic news for… about 16 hours, give or take a few, and now I can share the flippity good news worthy of all the celebration gifs in the world. But first, I have the winner of the huge signed swag and book set from Facebook to announce! 

Yay Sue! Do me the most awesomest favor ever and email me ASAP so I can ship your goodies out pronto! 

And now, to the other news I can't contain any more. A few of you might know already because I just had to message you with my freakish glee, but to those of you who don't…

Pack your bags, and haul some booty to Nashville this June, because I'm going to be at UtopYA 2014! 

Yes, yes yes yes yes YES! By the stroke of luck, this girl managed to land a table space as an exhibitor for this year's UtopYA Con. Which means I will be bringing books, oh so many books. And special goodies only for UtopYA peeps that may include special bookmarks, a sneak peek to the fifth book in the Illumine Series, a sneak peek to the second book in the Black Symphony Saga, possibly advanced copies of Kayden's novella… 

You get the point, right? This is going to be HUGE. You must, MUST, come along and bring your happy smiling shining faces for all the things I am planning! But if not, I'll take pictures, lots of pictures, but it's so not the same as being there and getting to know all the amazing authors I will be honored to share company with for those few short days. 

Keep your eyes peeled, I'm a freight train running full speed ahead for this event, and the couple other singings I will be at this year! Don't forget I do local signing in the Quakertown area of PA for both Arts Alive! in May, and Autumn Alive! in October. Plus, I am attending a signing in Phillipsburg, NJ on March 22nd for those around that area. 

That's all for now! I need to get back to the writing cave. All those books, so little time. Totally doable. 

Book Release Schedule for 2014 + SHARD OF ICE Goodies Giveaway!

Yar. You read that right, matey. Head ter shore for and find the hidden chest, for thar be where the booty rest!

(I'm only talking like a pirate because apparently I'm like Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time, or so says some Facebook quiz. Kind of digging it. Might rock some eyeliner and write a pirate novel for giggles. Kidding. Sort of?)

Last week, I promised all you scoundrels a post on all the release schedules and details on each book releasing in 2014. And of course, if you were hanging out on my Facebook page last night, you'd know I also promised a chance to win some more of those neat little collector cards for A Shard of Ice, the very same ones that have a unique website on the back to an upcoming website for the new series. 

So I thought, why not put the two together? Yar? YAR! 

So without further adieu, here's a release schedule with details you can sink yer teeth into;

February 17th - An Ice Princess Kiss: A Shard of Ice Novella #2

- This one has been pushed back twice. Once by me being sick, and once by me realizing it needed editing, badly. You think the first draft of Illumine was bad (it was, it really was) you did not want to read this in the state it was. February 17th it will release (finally) and you'll get to read so much more than the first draft carried.

SYNOPSIS (from Goodreads): The first time Lilix Morgan met Kyle Ambrose, she knew her life would never be the same. Captivated by his gentle charm and curious itch to know about her shrouded past, she struggles to keep him at arm's length before he discovers her true nature. But when a power outside force seeks to end Kyle's life, Lilix may have to do more than reveal herself if it means saving his soul.

March 4th - An Ice Princess Symphony: A Shard of Ice Novella #3

- Following the second novella, this one I had to re-work a little bit, so it was pushed back twice, too, for the same reasons. A lot more was added to this one, giving readers a chance to see not just who Lilix is, but also see the other four primary characters that haven't had much time yet. 

SYNOPSIS (from Goodreads):  Nearly a year has passed since the events that transpired between the five Originals in Ice Princess Kiss, and Lilix is still no closer to finding their missing link than the day she began to look. One evening while returning home, she stumbles across a girl in the street, a girl who cannot remember the last year, only the frightening knowledge that she was held captive by an immortal enemy Lilix had thought long dead.

March 25th - An Ice Princess Dream: A Shard of Ice Novella #4

- Still on schedule as planned! 

SYNOPSIS (from Goodreads): When Lilix begins to experience frightening nightmares of their tragic deaths, she races against the clock to save them all from a final fate. But the unlikely turning of someone closest to her will put all five of them in jeopardy in ways she never thought possible. 

April 14th - A Shard of Ice (The Black Symphony Saga #1)

- I have been getting asked a ton about ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) for this book, both in paperback and ebook (and some in hardback), so I'm here to let you all know what is up with that. I will have a really tight number of paperback ARCS, and they will be going strictly to bloggers who agree to review and sign up for the ASOI Blog Tour that will be running all April. Readers have the chance to win two ARCs currently on Goodreads here, and I will probably have one more to give out with a signed swag pack mid-February, but that will be it. No hardback ARCs. Ebook ARCs will also only be given to bloggers who agree to review and sign up for the ASOI Blog Tour. The sign-up sheet for the A Shard of Ice Blog Tour will go up in a blog post at the end of this week; bloggers are encouraged to sign-up immediately if they want to be considered for an ARC, but more details on all of that will be posted in the blog post this week. 

May 20th - Alacrity (Illumine #4)

- I've been very hush-hush about this until I posted that little teaser picture on Facebook for the new banner, and I still have to be pretty hush-hush, but here's what I can share with you:

1- Alacrity is NOT the final book to the series. 

2- There will be several chapters from Kayden's POV, and it is very important. 

3- Someone to the central point of the plot WILL die.

4- Alacrity will be released with two different covers at the same time.

Two covers?! Yar, two covers, matey. Readers who have the older Illumine style cover with the blue fire and white pendant will be able to continue their series with the same set of covers, and readers just getting into the series with the newest covers courtesy of Mae I Design will be able to collect them steadily as well. I'm not leaving any one hanging on this, promise. 

June 16th - Lucid Echelon (Dream Chronicles #1)

- This is going to be a new, but short, trilogy releasing steadily over the summer. I can't share too much information on this one, either, but what I can tell you is that it involves Elves in a different twist then you typically see, and takes a curious approach to the idea of dreams and how we interact with them. Each book in the series will release one month apart, so readers will be able to devour this series in a very short time with no wait at all. At this time, the second and third book do not have titles, and will be released July 17th and August 18th, respectively. 

November 17th - Untitled (Illumine #5)

- Yes, you're reading that right. Six months after Alacrity, the newest book in the Illumine Series will release. It is NOT a novella, and it is NOT a spin-off novel; it is a full-length novel following what happens in Alacrity continuing with the center cast. 

December 12th - The Unwanted (Unwanted #1)

- I know, I know. What about Unwanted, it released in July, right? Well, yes and no. Some of you might have noticed, but Unwanted was pulled from all areas shortly after release. To make a very painful story short, I didn't think it was ready, the story is a little out of my element for my pen name of Alivia Anders, and it was more than a stand-alone. I decided to take this back to the drawing board, work on it a little bit, and re-publish it under a separate pen name called Silver Roxen. I'm not going to hide the pen name, I'm just not going to tie it directly to my Teen YA writing because the divide is so great, a lot of readers were confused by the obvious difference in style and reader level. Expect to see this in December. 

Looking back, that's a heck of a lot of think about in the near future. But hey, it'll be so worth it, right? Now, you made it this far, and I promised some Shard of Ice cards, right? 

This time, I have 50 cards to give out for US and INT! 

This is what you need to do to get one of those cards:
Go to Facebook (specifically here) and read the pinned post! 

Now off with ye! Walk the plank! Swab the poop deck! Why is the rum always gone? Oh right, because I found this scalliwag on me way out of port...

SNEAK PEEK: Shard of Ice Website (And Goodies!)

So all this week, I've been half tempted to munch on my fingernails and show you all of this awesomeness, and half tempted to fling myself into a stampede if I could ever find one in PA. Thankfully, I have a horrible phobia of both being trampled to death and putting my hands in my mouth, so we're safe for now. 

What is this awesomeness that I speak of? Well, I'm not exactly the best with words when it comes to blog posts (unless I plan them out months in advance and recite exactly what I'm going to say while washing the dishes at 2AM), so I think I'll just show you instead.

But first! There's a blog post winner to be had here. Drumroll....

Yay Ashley, super congrats! I have a whole pack of bookmarks, special cards, magnets, and more coming your way!

And now, back to the other super surprise at hand. I know I promised you guys a post on book releases and stuff, but I figured no one was going to tie me to a tree and hold me hostage if I released this information first instead. The book post will go up probably Tuesday, and have details on all the series, including a new one called the Dream Chronicles, which is... well, you'll see. I'm giving away too much already as it is! 

Back to the surprise. Y'all are going to want to mark your calendars for February 6th. Why, dare you ask? Some of you already know what I'm hinting at; a good handful of readers have been getting their hands on some special Shard of Ice cards I had printed ages ago. On the back side, there's a pretty little website to follow to. But it's what's going to be on that website that's going to get everyone's knickers in a welcomed pinch. (That sounded weird.)

The website will give the chance for everyone, both from bloggers to book lovers and more, to get their hands on signed goodies, paperback ARC chances for ASOI (and I only have a few, so these will be a limited batch) early reads of the first few chapters, insight to the characters, and a whole bunch more. 

So again, FEBRUARY 6th! Check back here, and you'll see a post with a nifty link. I'll share the heck out of it on Twitter and Tumblr too for you non-blogger and Facebook peeps. 

But until then, I leave you with this sneak peek! Here's the header to the site, maybe you can fish a few clues out of it. ;)

2014 (AKA The BEST Year EVER)

I'm officially dubbing 2014 the best year ever. It's not too soon, right? I might sound I had one too many pretty drinks, but when you read the rest of this post, you'll probably join along with me in the cheerfest.

When I first published in 2012, I originally drafted up this lengthy and wild idea for some 5-year plan to success. It was a pretty little chart, decorated in fancy font and strategic points of attack to achieve world domination a-la Loki. You know, minus the fail, but plus the hot Hiddleston.

If 2013 taught me anything, it's that not only do I feel like the biggest stick in the mud for hiding new books from you, but that 5-year plans are lamer than no birthday cake on your birthday. So, I tossed that whole 5-year shiz out the window in favor of a new plan. The plan where I will do whatever I please. This means more books, less wait time, and a few more neat things. 

Like what, you ask? I shall tell! 

1- Hello, new blog layout! (And you know, other cool bloggy things.)

In the next week or so, you'll see a whole new layout on the blog. My goal is to make it cleaner, easier, and not have parts of it un-updated since 2012. Because not updating is lame. I'll also be posting a heck of a lot more, from cool things like giveaways, to random thoughts, announcements of ARCs or upcoming book releases, you know the drill. I used to do a huge chunk of this on Facebook, but their stupid algorithm crap sort of makes it impossible for me to reach everyone the way I want to. 

Which brings me to #2! 

2- MOAR BOOKS! 

Remember how I said I had a 5-year plan? That plan sort of went like this; 

2012- Release books. Make one new friend.

2013- Hoard ALL THE MANUSCRIPTS.

2015- Take over world. Possibly get RDJ in on it for the giggles. 

Well, I tossed out that plan. Sorry, Robert. We'll need to work something out later. (I'll have my people call your people.)

You're going to see a book schedule unlike anything I've ever done. There are at least 9 books that will release this year. That's probably me being generous. The list is more like 15, give or take a few. My next blog post will give you all the crazy details on the multiple releases of both known and unknown series coming to bookstores and e-readers near you.

Oh, and one more thing.

3- One website to rule them all. (MWAHAHAHA!)

Many of you have been patiently waiting for some news on A Shard of Ice. Specifically, some of you got those neat little cards with a certain something-something on the back. A website address. It hasn't gone live yet, but it will shortly. Once it's open, both readers and bloggers alike will be able to get their hands on a ton of ASOI swag, some early reader copies both in paperback and ebook, and other neat surprises I have in store for you all. 

Since you're all so awesome for making it to the end of this blog post, and no one's given me the stink eye yet, let's start this off with a bang, shall we? Leave a comment below on what you're looking forward to most out of the three things I mentioned above. I'll pick a winner next blog post, and they'll get a signed swag pack full of coveted goodies! 

TTFN, ta ta for now! <3

Guess What's Getting A Cover Re-Vamp?!

I feel like this blog post would best be described in a combination of Minion and RDJ gifs.

When I first published Illumine in 2012, there wasn't enough feel-related pictures or quotes to show how excited I was to dive head-first into the tricky waters of indie publishing. I had waited so long to share this story to the world, that I ended up growing pretty impatient and, well, shooting myself in the foot with the first things readers see when they check out a book.

The cover.

How was Illumine's original cover? Good, right?

To be perfectly honest, the original cover really, truly, stank. It was cute... for an 8-year-old learning an above-average program similar to MS Paint. But I still wasn't quite ready to go cover artist hunting, so I kept the cover, only to later run into the problem of the second cover not matching the first. As an indie author, branding early means ALL THE THINGS. It's like if Apple didn't brand with an apple, but a pear, and still called themselves Apple. Can you say 'hello confusion'?

I went back to the drawing board, only this time with a few more tricks under my belt, errr, up my sleeve. Hours of screaming matches at the computer, music that never fit my mood, and I-lost-count how many microwave burritos and coffee later, the second and current cover to Illumine was finished. It matched the second book, the third cover that I had been silently prepping between writing the first two books, and the novella I had drafted.

This cover was better, right?

Well, sort of. It was good, definitely a step up, but nothing a crowd of wild minions would go ape-nuts over. That's probably when the epiphany struck me right over the head. Illumine would forever be one of those books, one of those series, that I simply could not un-attach myself from. As a result, I couldn't create a cover worthy of describing the tale inside its flap. 

So I went cover artist hunting, and contacted one woman who's name was whispered in alleyways, traded like gold in a tight market, a woman who's work reached so far and wide you can see her work on shelves in B&N. (Ahhh, the dream spot.) 

Who? Regina Wamba, aka miracle worker of Mae I Design. 

We talked, and within seconds of Facebook messages, I knew she was the one. Deposit down, time booked, and some emails later, and I got the cover of my dreams in my inbox. 

Want to know how a minion would react upon seeing the new cover? 

And inside I'm like- 

That's not even the best part. Best part? The entire series is getting a re-vamp of super shiny, smoldering, oh-my-goddess covers. 

When will you get to see them? Uber soon. How soon? Well, how about as soon as we get some sign-ups on this awesome series cover reveal sheet right here? Then you'll see them everywhere! 

Illumine's massive, explode-all-over-the-place cover reveal is set for December 6th, 2013!

Want to take part in the cover reveal and see it before everyone else?

Here's how:

You must be signed up by 9:00PM EST on December 3rd, 2013 in order to join the cover reveal!

And now, we wait for December 6th!

Cover Wars: Vote for A Shard of Ice!

Twitter tipped me off this morning that The Sirenic Codex has a cover war going on between 3-week winner Undertow and A Shard of Ice! Make sure to head over and vote for which one you think deserves the crown. 

Will Undertow hold the title for the fourth week in a row, or will A Shard of Ice freeze out the competition? 

Click the link, and scroll down to vote!

Hi. I'm Alivia Anders, and I'm a Terrified Writer.

I wish this was a happy, giddy, ridiculously funny blog post. You know, the kind that you share to your friends and snicker over the subtle innuendoes or nod in approval at the brave message woven into the text. But it's not. 

My name is Alivia, and I'm a terrified writer.

There comes a time in your life when things get... hard. I use the term hard lightly, because I know there are plenty of others in this world that have it really hard. When I say hard, what I mean to say is that something has changed, something large enough that made me scramble into the nearest dark corner and hide. I'm sure you've all noticed the lack of posts, both on here, Facebook, Twitter, some of the Goodreads groups I circle. 

I'm getting sweaty and shaky just trying to type this mess out in a way to make you all understand what I'm trying to say, probably without actually saying it. Never in my life have I been good with confrontations, be it to other people, or myself in a private room. So the thought of owning up to this has me wanting to sprint to the bathroom and lean over the tub in case I heave dinner back up.

Guys, I'm terrified. If fear was ever a tangible thing like, it's definitely here with me. It's a black pit you can't claw out of no matter how deep you sink your fingers into the sides. It's a choker someone strapped too tight, and you can't so much as gasp out for help as you grasp at the air before you. It's as if someone took my heart and decided it would make a lovely tennis ball, and right now they're playing with it on the local courts, beating it back and forth, laughing. 

When I first started writing, I used to think those blog posts from authors talking about pressure and fear of failure were silly things. Why would someone who crafted such beautiful prose worry about not being good enough? They had legions of fans clamoring at their doors, enraptured by the very words they feared weren't good enough. Yet, the author panics, and anxiety and fear creeps from the shadows to strike. It all sinks downhill from there. 

But right now, that's exactly where I am. The idea that people are reading what I've written, are waiting for stories I'm still writing or waiting to publish, it leaves my stomach in knots like no other. Some days, I honestly would rather run to the dentist and have them do work than think about the idea that someone in the world is reading the words I poured onto pages, crafting tales of characters that feel as real to me as my own family. 

Every morning I wake up, the first thought that hits me is, "Do I write? Do I bring myself one step closer to letting another read these characters?" My gut rebels, and I feel sick. My heart beats a million miles a minute until the head rush kicks in, and I go weak all over. 

So for a while there, I stepped back. Stopped visiting my Facebook, stopped popping on Twitter to chat, vanished from my inbox because one more email would send me over the edge. I numbed out with music and sleep, cover design and food, an ungodly amount of coffee and some really bad fights with friends. But it never stopped the flow of words in my head, the images of characters waiting patiently for me to find my footing in this chaotic mess in my head. They waited until I gave the green light today, and like oxygen to a flame, they roared to life in an overwhelming rush. Essallie and Kayden are fighting in battles, Emily and Ben are scrambling for safety, and Lilix and Kyle are finding themselves all over again in the first brush of love. 

I think that's the best thing about this job- some people write for the idea of publication, big contracts, and movie deals. Me? I write because I need to create. It's a passion, a core piece of me so deeply rooted in that if I wasn't writing, I'd go freaking insane. No matter how many times I walk away, or 'take a break' from the madness that comes from writing, it always waits for me to return. Because writing is the darkness to my light, the insanity to my sane. It's like vanilla ice cream to chocolate-peanut butter candy pieces; separate they taste good, but together they make a heavenly treat. 

So to recap, yes. I admit it, I'm an overwhelmed, terrified, somewhat unhinged storyteller. But I'm here, and no matter how hard some days are, I'm never going to quit. I'm here to stay, and one day I'll get to all the emails lingering in my box, and the items I need to mail out or gift online. If you're patient with me, I'd appreciate it endlessly, as would Kayden and Essallie, or Emily and Ben. 

<3

Authors Blog Hop and Giveaway

Hey, another hop, yay! I seem to be ignoring my blog lately, I'm sorry. No, seriously, I'm sorry. Pretty sure my body is in survival mode right now as I hyperventilate my way to Unwanted's release at the end of the month, so it keeps cutting off anything that isn't immediately in front of my face. 

Like my blog. Ahem.

So here's the sad part: I don't have any crazy excerpts or reveals right now for you guys. Bummer, I know, but please hold the torches and pitchforks, please. I do, however, have a signed and limited edition print of Illumine in hardback to give away to one lucky peep in the US. And if the hardback doesn't get you jumping, maybe one of the other giveaways on the Authors Blog Hop will! 

So do your thing; share this blog post around with your friends, make sure you enter, and keep those fingers and toes crossed!

About Illumine:

Every action comes with a price.

Let the flames begin.

For the past five months Essallie Hanley has been trying to forget about the frightening murder of her boyfriend. Haunted by vivid nightmares and hallucinations of the event she does anything she can to pretend she's like every other normal girl in High School. 

Only Essallie is far from normal. Able to conjure blue fire and a shimmering silhouette of wings from her body, she seeks the only known solace left to her name; her first home in Belfast, Maine. 

But she soon realizes that her return home is only the beginning of a long and twisted road taking her as far from her humanity as possible, with Kayden, the demon originally summoned to slaughter her, leading the way. Unable to touch her but oddly curious, he joins Essallie in her search to find out just what she is. But neither of them were prepared for the secrets they've begun to unravel, secrets that will change Essallie and everyone around her forever.

Want it in ebook?

Amazon US Link | Barnes & Noble Link

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A Note on Following Your Dreams

Late last night, I had a moment of heart-stopping nervousness. Today, my brother graduates from High School. It's a day of caps and gowns, of celebrations with valedictorian speeches, diplomas and certificates. Tomorrow, the start of a new chapter will mark his life. 

Originally, I wrote this down (thought it out in my head) for him, and had planned on putting it in his graduation card. But I realized what I had to say to him could be said to many others, not just grad students. It's something I wish had been said to me when I graduated in 2009, thrilled I managed to pass yet terrified of what was yet to come. Anyone who feels stuck, lost in the middle, or unsure of their footing in life, this is for you. Print it out if you must, write it down and tack it on a wall, or read it and move on. Either way, I'm glad you took a minute to read it.

_____

There are only a few things you need in life. Happiness is one of them. 

By now, you know pretty well how the story of my High School nightmare went. The transcripts of my grades, hidden somewhere in this house, would show you a different side of things. Yes, I failed classes. Failed them miserably. Yes, I took Summer School, and Dad paid a whopping $150 for it, $135 of which I still need to pay back. But this isn't a lecture about trying not to fail school, or to not bite off more than you can chew. This is a message about finding happiness in the gray areas. I'm living proof that if you dream it hard enough, and you never quit no matter how much it hurts, that you can achieve anything.

In High School, junior year, I failed English. 

You already know that, but I feel the need to repeat it. Maybe you're asking, "Why? You're an author, you've won awards, made countless friends and fans along the way. How did you do that if you failed English?" 

I'll tell you why; because I was lost. I was not happy. Junior year of High School is one of those pivotal moments when people like to shove their thoughts down your throat. You'll be pressured into career ideas you don't care for, harassed by everyone who thinks college is the only way to get anything done, snubbed for the idea of taking an alternate route. Junior year is 'The Year'; you either make it, or break in half trying. 

Ten dollars says you know what happened to me. 

I broke. All around me, things were falling to pieces. I wasn't comfortable in my skin, and even though I had friends I didn't feel like I fit in anywhere. The same questions always came up- "What colleges did you apply to? What are you going for?" Imagine the nightmare when, shocker, I had to tell everyone I failed Junior Year, and by the skin of my teeth and Dad spotting me the cash for Summer School, I managed to still advance to Senior Year, but only if I doubled on the failed classes from Junior Year to make up those credits. 

You'd think, after that scare, I'd become a model student. Straight A's, perfect attendance, exemplary child. Not even close. 

Senior Year was just as hellish as Junior, only worse in some ways. Like Hell, the fire burned deeper than a superficial wound as I fell out of love, lost friends over trivial things, and became even more self-conscious about myself. By a miracle beyond all miracles, I graduated in 2009 with my class. I'll never forget sitting in those chairs, sobbing after I walked down the aisle to my seat, and everyone around me asking why I was crying. 

It was because I managed the impossible. It was because I graduated against all odds that said it wouldn't happen. It was the first time I had a taste of what happiness felt like, and I started on the path to where I am now. 

From 2009 to 2011, things moved up and down in wild highs and lows. I wish I could tell you that, post-graduation, I had a happy fairy-tale style ending and went off to achieve perfection. But I can't, that would be lying. Instead, I'll tell you the truth. For roughly two years, I struggled in a weekend job that stole 31 hours of my time, and carried the taste happiness from graduation in the back of my throat like a wild dream nearly forgotten. 

Somewhere in 2011, something snapped. I was tired of trying to be put into this box of what others labeled as 'okay'. I wasn't built for college, that much was obvious; I was built to write, dammit, and write I would. My declaration wasn't met with the round of applause you'd hope for, but I pushed on, and in January of 2012, Illumine made its first appearance. 

Why am I giving you a play-by-play? Not because I feel you need it, but because I need to stress something, something I wish one person had stressed to me in those critical years. You can be anything you want in life, you can get anything you want out of life, you just need to keep pushing forward and find happiness. 

Look, if anyone can say there's a happy ending along the way, it's me. I freaking bombed English, graduated with some of the crappiest grades known to mankind, and here I am living the dream. I refused to quit no matter how hard it hurt, and no matter how painful it got. And now it's your turn to do the same. 

So go off to college, or go right into the work force. Start drafting that new novel, or planning a house design. Build a website, build ten of them. Just remember to do what makes you happy, because without happiness, it's going to be an empty, dark place.