A huge thank you to Claudia at Phatpuppy Art for producing this awesome cover. Claudia is fantastic to work with and does an amazing job. Examples of her work can be found on her website.
Meet Brandon! He will be on the cover of my new book, Integration. Brandon is a New Jersey native. He loves hockey and hanging out in the sun.
I photographed Brandon last Saturday against the magnificent background of Princeton University. My friend Janet came along to help pose him. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and we managed to get just the right shot.
Broken. I couldn’t think of a better word to describe it. Torn. Shredded. Not that I could see anything. I wasn’t sure that I even had any eyeballs left. If I did, I couldn’t feel them. All I felt were excruciating stabs of pain searing through every inch of my body. Was the pain was coming from within or was I being repeatedly sliced open with a sharp implement? Did it matter? I could feel my head getting hazy. It was only a matter of seconds before my thoughts would end.
“Cordelia!”
My name. I heard the same voice say my name again and again. Why? Who was it? It–he–sounded familiar. My stomach heaved as the voice triggered the memory of his face… his touch. Not being able to stop the bile from travelling up my throat, I choked and then purged, emptying my stomach completely.
His voice was laced with disgust as he muttered my name again. But his revulsion couldn’t compete with my utter repugnance and disbelief at what he had done. Him. Someone I had trusted with my life, even though the rule was clear. Trust No One.
Yes, I’m still here! I have to be the worst blogger on the internet, and one of my resolutions for the year is to try to post more frequently.
Things have been a bit up in the air as far as my books go, mainly because I have been digging my heels about making any major edit changes to PORTAL. I will blog some more about that next Tuesday.
For now, I’m busy writing again. I have started writing the second book in the Bonfire Chronicles prequel series, Bonfire Academy. I realize that probably wasn't a popular choice, as the Portal Chronicle fans are waiting for the next book. However, I think my time line will flow better this way. And I get to photograph the model for my cover next week. It'll be the first time I shoot a live model (apart from my daughter), so that should be interesting. I might interview him for the blog.
What else am I doing... or not doing? I am not reviewing anymore. It was taking too much time, and it sapped the fun out of reading for me. Speaking of which, I’m reading The Hunger Games at the moment. Absolutely awesome! I loved Battle Royale and hesitated in picking up The Hunger Games because of the obvious similarities. When my daughter decided she wanted to read it (after watching the movie trailer), I thought it might be fun to read it together. What hooked me are the characters. Suzanne Collins has done an excellent job of writing characters who I (and my daughter) immediately fell in love with and invested my emotions in. So, if you haven't read it already, do! The movie will be out this March.
