tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18600511119690968452024-03-13T06:18:41.066-07:00The Cinderella Diaries:creating happily-ever-afters from my own little corner in my own little chair...Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-78672580552855001222015-01-11T19:27:00.000-08:002015-01-11T19:27:15.702-08:00IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE!!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/"><span style="color: blue;">EVERNIGHT TEEN</span></a> turns
two this month and we’re having a huge party to celebrate! It may be EVERNIGHT
TEEN’s birthday, but you get the presents. So, grab a piece of cake, hop from
blog-to-blog and discover </span><a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">EVERNIGHT
TEEN</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">!</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Be sure to visit every stop on the hop and answer each question. The
more you blogs you hop, the more chances to win the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">GRAND PRIZE of an iPad Mini</b> sponsored by </span><a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">EVERNIGHT TEEN</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> (one entry
per blog). Plus, hop each blog for a host of other fabulous prizes. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Have your TBR list handy because we have lots of new titles for
you to add, including my featured book, PHOENIX: THE RISING!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Two years
ago on January 10, I celebrated my birthday with the release of my first novel,
PHOENIX: THE RISING. It was the launching title for the new teen imprint,
Evernight Teen, which now has over 30 fantastic titles! PTR is still one of
their top three sellers and even maintained the top seller spot for over 15 months,
a fact which I still find mind-boggling, considering the fantastic titles that
followed mine. But that stat is because of YOU, my readers. Thank you for
believing in me and Evernight Teen!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For a chance to win EVERNIGHT TEEN’s GRAND PRIZE of an iPad Mini and my blog prize, </span>a $10 Evernight Teen gift card, click on my “Excerpt” page and read the first excerpt
that begins “Three hundred years ago…”. Once you’ve read the excerpt, answer
the question below in the comments section following this post. Be sure to include your email address to be eligible to win! The question
is:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Why did
Laylah hide herself and the Fire Child under the basket in the council shelter?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-50000604264653134442015-01-10T12:06:00.001-08:002015-01-10T15:37:39.367-08:00BIRTHDAY BLAST!My idea of the perfect birthday is being able to spend my day at home, at my computer, writing with no other distractions, no other pressing demands pulling me away from what I really want to do. I think if you asked just about any writer how they'd like to spend their day, they would describe a similar scenario. So, here I am, sitting once again in my own little corner, in my own little chair, diving headfirst into my own little imaginary world. I love it!<br />
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As my birthday present to all of you, I thought I'd treat you to a birthday scene from THE TIP TOP CAFE', the first of the Four Sisters series I'm querying. Liza Erickson, our heroine, is turning 18 (and happens to have the same birthday is Yours Truly **wink-wink-nod-nod**) and gets a visit from our yummy hero, Jacob Gallagher. Enjoy!<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">My eighteenth birthday fell on a Saturday, and I, of
course, had to get up early to work. The Tip Top Café wasn’t going to shut down
just because it was my birthday. Jake had to drive Emma to the airport in Des
Moines mid-morning. She was flying out to see her sister in Amarillo for the
next two weeks, so I didn’t expect to see him until after the 5:30 mass, which,
of course, he was helping Father Kelly with. </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">I was used to Jake’s absence between 4:30 and 6:30 on
Saturdays, and was even a little jealous of the fact that he was so devoted to
this. It’s not that I’m a heathen or anything; I’m just Lutheran. Church is
supposed to be on Sunday mornings. It’s just not natural.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">January 10th turned out to be an unusually beautiful
day. It was warming up and was expected to hit the low forties. That’s shorts
weather in Iowa. The town was buzzing with activity, and it seemed we were
busier than usual at the café. Even Evelyn, one of those strange old birds who
frequent the Tip Top, ventured out to grab some pie and coffee. Evelyn is
barely five feet tall and one of the skinniest people I’ve ever met. Every
Saturday she wears her red polyester outfit with a matching red hat. Her stiff,
awkward gait makes me wonder sometimes if she isn’t really a robot. I wouldn’t
be surprised if her batteries ran out one day and she just totally shut down in
the middle of drinking her coffee. </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">At about 1:30 we started to shut things down. I was
helping Mom clean the grill when the back door opened, and in walked Jake. I
ran up and threw my arms around his waist, burying my face in his chest.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">“I am so glad you’re here!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">“Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nice
greeting.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jake pried me loose, backed
up, then smiled. </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">“Happy birthday, Eliza!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He whipped his right hand up, holding a
single long-stemmed red rose, or rather, what had once been long-stemmed. The
stem was cracked in the middle and the bloom hung awkwardly to the side.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">I raised my eyebrows, looking at the wonderful,
pitiful thing. “Gee, thanks Jake. It’s ... beautiful.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">Jake was staring at his gift. “Oops. Sorry. It must
have broken when you attacked, I mean, hugged, me.”</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">“I don’t care.” I took the rose, stood it upright, and
breathed in its glory. It really was the most beautiful thing I had ever been
given.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">“It’s from you, and I love it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cupped his face in my hand, and gave him a quick
kiss, remembering not to carry things too far. I’d learned a lot this past
month. </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">Mom filled a vase with water. I cut the stem at the
break, placed it in the vase, and set it on the kitchen windowsill. I stared at
it for a moment, and bit my lower lip. It was the first real rose I ever
received, not counting the corsage from the dance ... and I had gotten it from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">him</i>. </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">I turned around to find Jake staring at me with a
thoughtful grin on his face. He was obviously enjoying my reaction to this
simple gift. I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him gently. </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">“I really do love it, Jake.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart was beginning to pound. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Please don’t notice!</i></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">“Well, Miss Erickson,” Jake explained as he held me
close, ignoring my obviously out of control heart, “I couldn’t wait until
tonight to see you, so I thought I’d make a little surprise visit. There’s no
way I would come empty-handed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
snuggled his nose into my hair and breathed deeply. “Mmm. Eliza Jayne, you
smell so good.”</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">I backed away. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cripes! I knew exactly what I smelled like. </i>“I smell like French
fries!” I cried, horrified.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">Jake smiled crookedly. “I know. Makes my mouth
water.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He winked. Mom took that as her
cue, and popped an order of fries in the deep fryer.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">“I’ll have a batch ready in just a minute, Jake,” she
smiled. </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">Jake walked over and kissed her on the cheek. “You’re
my favorite, Mom!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom touched the spot
Jake had kissed, and turned three shades of red.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">“Now, you stop that!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was smitten. It was hard not to be.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">“You better make it to go.” He looked over at me as he
sat on a stool. “I’ve got things to take care of. Shopping to do. Plans to
make.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wiggled his eyebrows at me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .3in .6in .9in 1.2in 1.5in 1.8in 2.1in 2.4in 2.7in 3.0in 3.3in 3.6in 3.9in 4.2in 4.5in 4.8in 5.1in 5.4in 5.7in 6.0in 443.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">God, he was so sexy sitting there!<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had one leg splayed out
with the heel of the boot on his other foot hooked onto the middle rung of the
stool. He leaned back, draping his elbows on the counter behind him. It was
taking every bit of willpower I had in my body not to pounce and make him mine,
right there, in front of my mother. I breathed in deeply, closing my eyes as I
tried to get the picture running through my mind to leave. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .3in .6in .9in 1.2in 1.5in 1.8in 2.1in 2.4in 2.7in 3.0in 3.3in 3.6in 3.9in 4.2in 4.5in 4.8in 5.1in 5.4in 5.7in 6.0in 443.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">The fryer ‘dinged’ the image right out of my head, and
I pulled out the fries, flipping them into the draining tray. I sprinkled a
smidgen of salt on them and packed them in the bag. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .3in .6in .9in 1.2in 1.5in 1.8in 2.1in 2.4in 2.7in 3.0in 3.3in 3.6in 3.9in 4.2in 4.5in 4.8in 5.1in 5.4in 5.7in 6.0in 443.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">Jake’s eyes were focused on mine, and he had this smug
grin on his face as I stood about two feet away, holding the bag out to him. He
grabbed my wrist and slowly pulled me towards him. I found myself standing in
the crook of his legs, a very uncomfortable, very wonderful position to be
stuck in. Mom high-tailed it for the dining room, pulling Anne by the arm
behind her. I kept my eyes focused on his, giving him my own version of the
‘evil eye’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .3in .6in .9in 1.2in 1.5in 1.8in 2.1in 2.4in 2.7in 3.0in 3.3in 3.6in 3.9in 4.2in 4.5in 4.8in 5.1in 5.4in 5.7in 6.0in 443.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">“You are a dirty bird, Jacob Gallagher!” I accused,
shoving the bag into his chest. “You think you can break me, don’t you?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was dangerously close to the melting
point, but there was no way I would admit this to him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .3in .6in .9in 1.2in 1.5in 1.8in 2.1in 2.4in 2.7in 3.0in 3.3in 3.6in 3.9in 4.2in 4.5in 4.8in 5.1in 5.4in 5.7in 6.0in 443.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">He slid off the stool. I didn’t budge an inch, forcing
the length of his body to slide up mine as he stood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .3in .6in .9in 1.2in 1.5in 1.8in 2.1in 2.4in 2.7in 3.0in 3.3in 3.6in 3.9in 4.2in 4.5in 4.8in 5.1in 5.4in 5.7in 6.0in 443.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">I stood on my tip-toes, raised my lips to his ear, and
whispered heavily, “Two can play this game ... remember that.” I punctuated
that with a soft brush of my open lips and a slight flick of my tongue just
under his ear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .3in .6in .9in 1.2in 1.5in 1.8in 2.1in 2.4in 2.7in 3.0in 3.3in 3.6in 3.9in 4.2in 4.5in 4.8in 5.1in 5.4in 5.7in 6.0in 443.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">“Holy Mary ...!” Jake grabbed my shoulders and shoved
me back. “Okay, Eliza, you really need to control yourself. It was just a
little test.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jake beat it for the door
with me in pursuit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .3in .6in .9in 1.2in 1.5in 1.8in 2.1in 2.4in 2.7in 3.0in 3.3in 3.6in 3.9in 4.2in 4.5in 4.8in 5.1in 5.4in 5.7in 6.0in 443.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">“I </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt;">AM</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;"> in
control, or haven’t you noticed?” Jake disappeared out the door before I
finished my sentence. I grabbed the handle to the upright freezer when Jake
suddenly stuck his head back inside.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .3in .6in .9in 1.2in 1.5in 1.8in 2.1in 2.4in 2.7in 3.0in 3.3in 3.6in 3.9in 4.2in 4.5in 4.8in 5.1in 5.4in 5.7in 6.0in 443.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">“Eliza Jayne, wear something special tonight. I have a
little surprise for you. I’ll pick you up at eight.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .3in .6in .9in 1.2in 1.5in 1.8in 2.1in 2.4in 2.7in 3.0in 3.3in 3.6in 3.9in 4.2in 4.5in 4.8in 5.1in 5.4in 5.7in 6.0in 443.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">Still holding the handle of the freezer, I swung
towards him, grabbed his shirt and pulled him to me, kissing him full on the
lips.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .3in .6in .9in 1.2in 1.5in 1.8in 2.1in 2.4in 2.7in 3.0in 3.3in 3.6in 3.9in 4.2in 4.5in 4.8in 5.1in 5.4in 5.7in 6.0in 443.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">“You won’t be able to handle what I wear tonight,
Jacob.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ended that with a lift of my
own eyebrow. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .3in .6in .9in 1.2in 1.5in 1.8in 2.1in 2.4in 2.7in 3.0in 3.3in 3.6in 3.9in 4.2in 4.5in 4.8in 5.1in 5.4in 5.7in 6.0in 443.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400;">The look on his face was laughable as he backed out the
door. As soon as he was gone, I opened the freezer door and stuck my head
inside, pressing my face against a bag of frozen peas. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Holy Mary ...!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-10151848040787847052014-11-28T07:53:00.000-08:002014-11-28T07:53:16.339-08:00GETTIN' YOUR BETTE ON...Okay. I admit it. I am no domestic goddess. Besides not being overly concerned about a dusty shelf or a counter sprinkled with dirty dishes, I cringe as holidays approach, knowing that I owe it to my family to make an effort to decorate for the season. But, no matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to conjure my inner June Cleaver (except for soup making...an art at which I excel). So when I walked in the front door the other day after work and discovered that a Christmas Wonderland had exploded in my house (courtesy of my holiday-loving husband) I was ecstatic at the thought that I wouldn't have to spend my few free hours in the evening trying to find the perfect spot for the fourteen boxes of nutcrackers, Santas, snowmen, and angels we had lugged up from the basement the day before. My evenings could now be devoted to GETTIN' MY BETTE ON! No, I'm not talking about baking. (The only Christmas pumpkin pie smells you'll find here will be coming from the scented candles my husband placed in each room.) My BETTE is a writer, not a pie-maker. My BETTE is an idea-generator, not a cookie decorator. So, I'm writing. Developing story ideas. Searching out the perfect literary agents and publishing houses to query for my TIP TOP CAFE' series.<br />
<br />
I'm also curious. How do you get your BETTE (replace my name with yours) on? I'd love to read your comments, which you can leave below (and while you're at it, I'd also love for you to follow my blog.) <br />
<br />
Oh, I almost forgot. Here's another snippet from my current manuscript, MOONFLOWER ROAD. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Collin watched as Jeannie turned and
rushed out of the kitchen. He was exhausted, but not too tired to notice the
gentle sway and roll of her hips as she exited. He felt a familiar tug deep in
his groin. <i>Stop it, you fool! A damned woman’s the reason you ended up in
Iowa in the first place!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That did
it. Thinking about Annette was like throwing water on a fire. Not a pleasant
feeling, but it produced the desired effect. He’d be armed and ready with those
deflating thoughts and whip them out when the temptation became too great.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The bathroom ended up being a
combination bathroom/laundry room. Figuring he could kill two birds with one
stone, Collin ran a bath instead of opting for a shower. That way he could run
his clothes through the washer while he bathed, which was an absolute necessity
since what he wore was the only set of clothes he owned right at the moment. At
least he had enough sense to figure that he probably couldn’t attempt a shower
and run the washer at the same time without either getting scalded or getting a
blast of cold water as the washer moved through its cycles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Removing wet jeans was harder than
Collin realized. After falling over twice, and ramming one knee on the corner
of the counter, he finally succeeded by stepping on the bottom of one pant leg
and yanking his leg out, then repeating the process with the other leg. Good
thing Jeannie wasn’t witnessing this. She would have had a good laugh and never
let him forget it. Only after peeling off every stitch of clothing, throwing
them into the washer, and deciphering the instructions on how to run the damned
thing, did Collin allow himself to slip into the glorious, hot water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He leaned back and slid under, soaked his
hair, then lathered up, and slid under again, running his hands through his
hair to get out all the shampoo. <i>Son of a...</i> He looked down at his
stinging hands. Blisters, ripped open from the repetitive movement of the
scraper, dotted the palm of his right hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sitting behind a desk for the last ten years had softened him up. His
skin wasn’t used to this much manual labor. Well, he’d have to grin and bear
it. They’d have time to heal up a bit after the bath. Plus, he could just wear
gloves tomorrow. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After giving himself a scrubdown, he
settled back into the tub and closed his eyes. He’d have time to rest just a
bit before he would have to move his clothes from the washer to the dryer...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">#</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bam-Bam-Bam!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Collin’s eyes flew open. He was up
to his nose in cold water in a bathtub in a strange bathroom. <i>Bam-Bam-Bam</i>!
Someone was pounding at the door. Jeannie! He regained his senses, remembering
where he was as he hauled himself out of the tub.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m taking a bath!” He grabbed a
towel and wrapped it around his waist.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You’ve been in there for almost two
hours, and, might I remind you that this is the only working bathroom in the
house?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Two
hours? I must have fallen asleep!</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Collin ran over to the washer,
grabbed his clothes and tossed them into the dryer. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I need to dry my clothes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Just get dressed and get out of
there, unless of course you want me to pee in the bushes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Collin held onto the towel with one
hand, and opened the door with the other. Jeannie’s jaw dropped as her eyes
flashed down to the towel. “Sorry, but the rest of my clothes were stolen out
of my saddlebag.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She squeezed her eyes shut, then
grabbed the knob of the door and slammed it shut.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Just wait. Don’t come out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Collin could hear her feet pad
across the room, up the stairs and across the floor above him. It was quiet for
about ten seconds, then the sound returned as she retraced her steps. Within a
few seconds, she knocked quietly at the door.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yes?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I have a robe you can borrow until
your clothes dry.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The door inched open and she stuck
her hand through the opening. Collin peeked out to see that she had turned her
head to the side. Her eyes were pinched shut. He smiled to himself. The naïveté
and innocence of these Midwestern girls was so unlike anything he’d encountered
in New York. This woman was actually flustered! He took the navy blue
terrycloth, and she snatched her hand away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">***</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Just hurry, will you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jeannie heard a click behind her.
Within a few seconds, the door opened. She turned to see Collin standing in
front of the door wearing Jason’s robe. It didn’t help. He might as well have
been naked. She already knew what he looked like underneath—well, at least from
the hips up, and what she had seen a few minutes ago had knocked the breath
from her. His tanned torso and rippling abs had been forever etched into her
mind, burned onto her retinas, and she could just imagine them under the
robe...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It’s all yours!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jeannie blinked, confused as she
came out of her brief reverie. “What?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Collin smiled. “The bathroom. You
said you’d prefer the bathroom to the bushes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jeannie’s face shot a blazing red
once again. She knew why he was smiling. That smug, son of a bitch was getting
a kick out of this…out of watching her ogle him like a star-struck teenager. She
cleared her throat, lifted her chin, and brushed past him, trying to preserve
some thread of near non-existent dignity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Right. It’s about time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Collin turned to face her, but she
slammed the door and threw her back against it before he could say a word. She
held her breath, waiting to hear retreating footsteps. Instead, she heard a low
chuckle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You’re welcome.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jeannie squeezed her eyes shut in
embarrassment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shit.
What have I gotten myself into?</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-26304133530877151732014-10-24T10:34:00.001-07:002014-10-24T10:34:15.382-07:00Evernight Teen 99 Cent Specials--WOOT!!I LOVE it when we have special promotions on Evernight Teen!! So, if you didn't get your e-copy of my novel, PHOENIX: THE RISING, here is your chance to get it for $0.99 (that's 99 pennies, folks!) Let's move it up to that Top Seller position again! :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/99-specials/"><img alt="http://www.evernightteen.com/99-specials/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNg2HCoBKnn893urqz9lxG9wxcNGD22zcKCSvbwKnIsiLVGr31-M90Ck7HTfNJIm_UJU8y2cV9Q2At1PkOUy5eW94m1pP29V-40x-GiskpU8RL_Rlfl4FCbcCM9eGRFoGTzDp1FFDVRUHh/s1600/teen-phoenix21M.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-71039894288472987042014-09-15T10:53:00.001-07:002014-09-15T11:00:53.239-07:00Things are heating up on MOONFLOWER ROAD...And, as promised, once again, here's a final little snippet of MOONFLOWER ROAD, giving you a taste of some sparks that are soon about to fly....Enjoy!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOahpwHIiESX93TUbsvMdzVZC5rRQZlJnlcx8KpbjZe1x0slsrb8HpihttZIwkMKk9tHeuXrydONHonSyTpIfnCZcL4WnT_xdEGGtUVaDr3Hvv_rBrTqH6GS7qerUXVq8_r651mdH1upT/s1600/Moonflower+Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOahpwHIiESX93TUbsvMdzVZC5rRQZlJnlcx8KpbjZe1x0slsrb8HpihttZIwkMKk9tHeuXrydONHonSyTpIfnCZcL4WnT_xdEGGtUVaDr3Hvv_rBrTqH6GS7qerUXVq8_r651mdH1upT/s1600/Moonflower+Road.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jeannie flipped the light off in her
room and peeked out her bedroom window just in time to see Collin ascend the
steps of the pool in all his naked glory. She gasped and jumped away from the
window, pressing her body against the wall. The pounding of her heart amplified
against the daisy-patterned wallpaper and she knew at that moment she was going
to look again. Dropping to her knees, she inched her way across the floor, and
slowly peeked over the window sill. The lights around the pool illuminated
Collin’s glistening muscles as he grabbed a towel off a deck chair and wiped
his face and arms. She moaned as he wrapped it around his waist. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oh my god, I’ve turned into a peeping Tom!</i>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As if on cue, his head snapped in
her direction and she dropped to her stomach. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shit! Did he see me? </i>Blood shot to her cheeks and she scrunched her
eyes shut. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He saw me! I just know he saw
me! </i>Frozen to the spot, she pressed her ear to the floor and waited until
she heard the screen door slam before she rose and made her way over to her
bed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Jeannie pulled her lone bikini
bottoms off, then grabbed a camisole out of her dresser drawer and a matching
pair of panties and threw them on her bed. She flicked on the small lamp on her
nightstand and was immediately faced with the reflection of her naked body in
her dressing mirror. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I wonder what he
thought when he saw me? </i>She let her eyes trail down the length of her body.
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Did he find me attractive?</i> She
allowed herself a brief glance at her breasts. They still looked pretty good.
Very good, as a matter of fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
thought she saw a smile on Collin’s face as he ogled them. The thought elicited
a warm glow in her cheeks. Her eyes dropped lower. She even had a hint of abs.
Definitely not a “hard body”, but better than most of her friends from high
school. Most of them already had a couple of kids. Of course, they also didn’t
have a husband, or, more precisely, ex-husband, doing time in a state
penitentiary. She drew her hand across the smooth flatness of her abdomen.
Obviously the lack of the effects of motherhood were a good thing…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">at least that’s what most people would think.
</i>Footsteps in the hallway halted the route her mind was taking. She wiped
away the lone tear that had mysteriously appeared on her cheek, jumped into her
panties, and pulled the camisole over her head just as she heard the knock. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He’s knocking at my door. My bedroom door.</i>
She wanted to jump in bed and pull the covers over her head, but she knew she
couldn’t...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span> </div>
Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-63447420071853162942014-09-04T18:54:00.000-07:002014-09-04T18:54:31.118-07:00MOONFLOWER ROAD: Chapter One continued: HERAnd now, as promised, it's time to meet the heroine of MOONFLOWER ROAD....<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One
month</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hot, foreign tears threatened to
spill down Jeannie Butler’s blanched cheeks as she scanned the page, trying to
see beyond the bolded date of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">October 1</b>,
beyond the panic-inducing mention of foreclosure that popped up every few
sentences. The tears threatened to spill, but she wouldn’t let them. Not this
time. She’d had this feeling before. Two years earlier. The day she got the
call. What was it that he said to her? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m
in trouble, honey?</i> She cried the day she got that call—furious, crazed
tears. Tears of dreams shattered, of love lost. She cried until there was
nothing left. No tears, no anger, no love…and she hadn’t cried since. Jeannie
squashed the final notice into a tight wad and hurled it across the room. It
hit the wall then rebounded back at her, rolling to a quick stop in front of
her bare feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When she looked back, she had to
admit the signs were there even before she walked down the aisle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jason liked to spend money on himself, and on
her, and it made her giddy with ecstatic disbelief when he did. She’d grown up
not knowing if her mom would have enough money to put food on the table since
her father drank most of it away, so when Jason took her out to eat on a daily
basis, bought her the clothes she’d never been able to afford on a teenage
waitress’s pay, it didn’t enter her naïve mind at the time that gambling might
be involved. By the end of their third year of marriage, six months after she
took a second out on their dream home to finance the downpayment on the café,
it was evident by the collection notices arriving on a regular basis that he
was draining their savings account, not for paying bills as he claimed, but for
some shady reason. Then the call came, and the next thing Jeannie knew, her
husband was serving a seven year prison sentence for embezzlement and she was
stuck paying off all his debts. He’d stolen almost everything from her, and now
the bank was taking the last two things she held dear to her heart: her home
and her beloved café.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jeannie sighed and reached down,
snatching the ball at her feet. She unrolled it as best she could and stretched
it out, running the wrinkled sheet across her thigh in a lame attempt to iron
it out. She folded the single sheet and stuffed it back into its envelope, then
tucked the envelope and its contents into the front of the file cabinet beside
the fridge, along with all the other letters. But this one was different. There
would be no more letters after this. No more warnings. This was it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> She glanced at the pile of bills on the table,
then to the picture of her, her three sisters and her mom at the grand opening
which she’d attached with a rooster magnet to the side of the fridge. The
original was on the wall at work, of course, in a fancy pewter frame she’d paid
too much for. This was just a copy she made on her scanner, but it didn’t
matter. Reading the caption still brought a bittersweet smile to her lips. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jeannie Butler, new owner of The Tip Top
Café. </i>She felt so proud at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Finally, she had
something of her own. Something she could be proud of. A tear escaped. She
brushed it away with a flick of her finger. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One
month.</i> How could she tell them? What she needed was a miracle, because it
was going to take a miracle to save the café, let alone her house.</span>Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-10392617865645200392014-09-02T10:51:00.000-07:002014-09-02T10:51:31.282-07:00MOONFLOWER ROAD, Chapter One: HimSoooo, I've been in a funk lately, especially since I took my last child, my baby, my only daughter, to college on Friday. Yesterday, after about four hours of sitting in my chair not accomplishing anything except watching Netflix and taking a two hour nap, my husband turned off the TV and suggested I find my muse and start writing again. With nothing else to lose since my baby was now gone, I opened up MOONFLOWER ROAD, primed the pump by reading my last chapter, and the writing began. Success! I added another thousand words in just a couple of hours! In honor of this auspicious occasion, over the next week I'll introduce you to both my main characters with my first chapter, then spice it up at the end of my celebration with my most recent scene, which is a little naughty, if I do say so myself!<br />
<br />
And now, heeeeeere's Collin!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Wish me luck, George.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The moment the leather of his soles
hit the cobblestone of 15 Central Park West, Collin Jamison knew there was no
turning back. He flicked away the bead of perspiration trickling down his
temple then tugged at the knot of his Lorenzo Cana charcoal silk. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Her favorite.</i> At least that’s what she
said every time he wore the damn thing. Today it felt like a noose around his
neck...choking him…taunting him to turn and run while he had a chance. He could
broker multi-million dollar deals, bang heads with Trump and his cronies, but
this one little deed, the utterance of four simple words, had him sweating like
Fat Bastard in a Santa suit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George closed the door behind him as
only George could do. Noiselessly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Ain’t no such thing as luck, Mr.
Jamison. Either the woman loves you, or she don’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Collin’s hand slipped over the
obscenely expensive lump in his jacket pocket for the millionth time that
morning, seeking some type of palpable reassurance of the decision he’d made. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pffft.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Of course she loves me. Who
wouldn’t? I’m Collin Edward Jamison the III, heir to the largest real estate
development firm in New York.</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Manhattan’s
Most Eligible Bachelor...<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George raised an eyebrow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He’s
expecting me to say something like that…something cocky and self-absorbed. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But
George knew as well as he did that Annette Bradshaw, the willowy, raven-haired,
thirty-year-old Wall Street attorney, was the love of his life. This time,
George would have to settle for the truth instead of a smart-ass answer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“She loves me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Silence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shit.
Now what?</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Are you sure you don’t want me to
wait? In case she chases you off with her briefcase?” George winked and let
loose a throaty James Earl Jones laugh, the kind that seemed to start in his
toes before working its way up to his deep baritone vocal cords. Collin
couldn’t help but smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I don’t plan on needing your
services until later in the day, George.” Collin shot him his own wink. “Much
later. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miss Bradshaw and I will have a bit
of .... celebrating to do.” He tapped the lump one more time then headed for
the door to Annette’s building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Wait!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George’s booming voice stopped
Collin in his tracks, the same way it did when he was eight years old and
George caught him pissing in his mother’s rose bush. Ruined a perfectly good
pair of Chuck’s that day. Collin turned, expecting George to give him one last
tidbit of unsolicited fatherly advice, or at least a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">May the Force be with you</i>. After all, it wasn’t every day that a
man asked a woman to marry him, and George’s advice was the closest thing he’d
be getting to anything <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fatherly</i>.
Instead, George held out a brown paper bag. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You forgot your bagels ... and I
think you’re gonna need your strength, Mr. Jamison. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Celebrating </i>takes a lot of energy.” George guffawed at his own joke
and shoved the bag at Collin’s chest, but Collin blocked the assault before it
crushed the Lorenzo Cana. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Her favorite. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those two words followed on the tail of
“Lorenzo Cana” as automatically as the succulent memory of her wearing nothing
but that charcoal silk and an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m gonna
make you beg for mercy </i>look in her mahogany eyes the day she gave it to
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thought elicited a delicious
but inconvenient tug in his groin. At least he didn’t feel like he was choking
anymore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Thanks, old man.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Old? Who you calling old, you
little pipsqueak?” George puffed his chest out like a rooster in a henhouse and
strutted around the Mercedes to the driver’s door. “I’ve done more <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">celebrating</i> on a daily basis for the
last thirty years than you’ll do in the next sixty. As a matter of fact, I
think I’m gonna head on home and do some celebrating myself, since you won’t be
needing my services for the day.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Collin chuckled. “You do that,
George.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George slid into the driver’s seat
and, for the first time in recorded history, slammed the door of his beloved
Mercedes. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Holy shit!</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Seems I ruffled the old man’s feathers.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Collin turned and faced the nineteen
story tower as George drove away, took a deep breath to calm his nerves, patted
the lump in his pocket one more time, and smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She
loves me.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-70628370484988997272014-07-14T20:16:00.002-07:002014-07-14T20:16:48.583-07:00Give the Gift of Education!Haven't gotten an e-copy of PHOENIX: THE RISING yet? Well, now you can buy a book and give the gift of education! Just click the link below, and make a difference in a young girl's life...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://evernightteen.com/"><img alt="http://evernightteen.com/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJS2pZy4Sl01XOaD8D_VehGVp3hYT_-y3Nf8b9yqwctcb7ZIPD10PzpWR6k-5R349dxaEFFIJ_9tdyiTvMlAjyPkOplUubET60xmqsZBnqj0Z5uTWMSYa-sf94UvAxOIzpVugyqNjGv0v/s1600/education+for+girls.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-9072926422056725352014-07-04T07:39:00.000-07:002014-07-04T07:39:08.753-07:00Celebrate the 4th of July!<span class="userContent"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_53b6bacb8f2b11297513307">
WHAT??? Did I just say that you can get PHOENIX: THE RISING by YOURS TRULY in an e-format for 25% off this 4th of July weekend? Yes, I did! <a href="http://evernightteen.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://evernightteen.com/</a> is offering all titles for 25% off from July 4th through 6th. <span class="text_exposed_show"> Let's move that lovely Eli Sullivan back up into the Top Seller spot! </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/phoenix-the-rising-by-bette-maybee/"><img alt="http://www.evernightteen.com/phoenix-the-rising-by-bette-maybee/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QA5dcYXSzqMiTSOVaXSvISxaMuuNRQq1u-ae8ECtx_scgYHRIj48s8Rgmh-dCBM3wEmckYsP-vb1e7S0KKgPB5mgR9Fd58sZtzShc6w1KjJuvBsRuVSCnxFKW5f3SLA5oSTH-9G61xmC/s1600/RockWeekendSaleET.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></div>
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</span>Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-35408388242154866842014-01-23T19:01:00.002-08:002014-01-23T19:01:20.621-08:00PHOENIX: THE RISING JUST TURNED ONE!!That's right! It's been one year since ET's top seller--Phoenix: The Rising--debuted as the launching title for Evernight Teen, which means both Evernight Teen and Phoenix: The Rising are sharing a birthday! What does that mean? TIME TO CELEBRATE with a BLOG HOP and tons of GREAT PRIZES!! <br />
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<a href="http://evernightteen.blogspot.com/2014/01/evernight-teens-1st-birthday-blog-hop.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kJfPfpccoqW9BnhuTHvJlttik-cO5s1r_0UAnPPdXj9qc3rQJnlOX9CPVVehOfi1-PotCF3xK2K-EScQLWdDOYVcyT5UTZCkhQtLLp87yTQqrvw2Xd8aGJDSiKXJnv2aOEjEG8yMBXEL/s1600/ET+BDay+BlogHop+graphic.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
ET will be raffling off a $100 iTunes gift certificate, taking 25% off all Evernight Teen titles on the ET site from 1/24-1/31, the other authors and reviewers may have their own special prizes, and I'll be giving away TWO $10 Amazon gift cards!<br />
<br />
All you have to do to win a chance at one of my $10 Amazon gift cards is A-join my site (just to the right) and B-answer a simple question about the excerpt below. Leave your answer in the comment section along with your email address and I'll contact the winners after February 1!<br />
<br />
The excerpt:<br />
<br />
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Courier New'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 36.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Where in the hell have you been, young man?” </span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Courier New'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 36.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eli spun around, nearly dropping the towel he clutched around his waist. Lucy giggled and waved from her spot near the window. “Surprise!” </span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Courier New'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 36.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Ah, jeez, Lucy, you about scared the crap out of me! What are you doing in here? Do you know what time it is?” Eli tightened his grip on the towel and marched over to his dresser.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I was worried. I thought for sure something happened to you.” She strolled over to his bed and sat, crossing one long, smooth leg over the other. “What are you doing out so late, anyways? We do have school in the morning, you know.” One of the straps of her camisole fell off her shoulder, revealing tanned, soft skin and a hint of cleavage. Lucy didn’t make any attempt to cover up. She knew her body was bangin’, and she wanted to make sure Eli noticed as well. Unfortunately, his eyes landed only momentarily on her legs, barely hesitating on them before he turned and headed towards the closet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I’m well aware that we have school tomorrow, and where I was is none of your business.” To Lucy’s delight, Eli’s use of the flimsy closet door as a dressing screen while he changed into a pair of athletic shorts was about as successful as her own attempt to seduce him. Lucy bit her lower lip as brief glimpses of muscular, naked ass made her blood race in her veins once again. It took everything in her to keep from pouncing on him at that moment. Instead, she rolled to her stomach and batted her eyelashes at him as he approached the bed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I bet you went to see a gir-rl,” Lucy sang, but the taunting elicited nothing from Eli but a dark, exasperated stare. Lucy slid off the bed and began circling him with the giddy anticipation of a vulture about to dive-bomb fresh road kill. “Hmmm.” She tapped her chin as she pushed further. “Let me see if I can guess who it was. You went to Homecoming with that girl. What was her name?” She raised an eyebrow and smiled in self-satisfaction at her game-playing skills. “Julie, wasn’t it?” The muscle in his jaw twitched. Bingo! She stopped her circle of attack just inches from his nose. God, he smelled good! “You are a naughty boy, Eli Sullivan. I thought you said you didn’t know where she was?” Lucy tapped him on his nose, yelped, and pulled her finger back as a small burst of electricity passed between her finger and the end of his nose...</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;">And now... the question: What was the name of the girl Eli took to Homecoming? Post your answer in the comment section below, along with your email, and don't forget to join this site so you are sure to be entered into the drawing! Good luck!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></span>
<a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/phoenix-the-rising-by-bette-maybee/">Phoenix: The Rising on Evernight Teen</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=phoenix%3A+the+rising+bette+maybee">On Amazon</a><br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/phoenix-bette-maybee/1114127110?ean=9781771302388">On Barnes and Noble</a> <br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16112023-phoenix">On Goodreads</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/evernightteen/phoenix-the-rising-by-bette-maybee/">On Pinterest</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BetteMaybeeAuthor?ref=hl">On Facebook</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/BetteMaybee">On Twitter</a><br />
<br />
<br />Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-67671813480518565812013-11-29T08:56:00.000-08:002013-11-29T08:56:41.270-08:00ET BLACK FRIDAY 50% OFF SALE!!Still yearning for an e-version of PHOENIX: THE RISING written by little ol' me? Evernight Teen is having a BLACK FRIDAY 50% off sale on all titles. There are now 18 and PHOENIX: THE RISING is their #1 BESTSELLER! Here you go!<br />
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<a href="http://evernightteen.com/"><img alt="http://evernightteen.com/" border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIlcxL4KUKonhWwZ2TLjXGHEAGC2QbeQ7FRFRLYxbUzDAH9riCeR33dbAxoYC3jYJ942ziaBAtiPljHu5jerOmIU0vBXB11ZEphtzv8Tq19_S48_j7k0LuuXMylHIomqGnTY7fekMLW7O/s320/Black_Friday_Teen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-57242550269783595772013-10-13T15:04:00.000-07:002013-10-13T15:20:29.455-07:00SCAVENGER HUNT! WIN A KINDLE!!<br />
Today kicks off <a href="http://www.evernightteen.blogspot.com/" sl-processed="1"><span style="color: #6d3426;">Evernight
Teen</span></a>'s Autumn Scavenger Hunt and you have a chance to win...are you ready for it???<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>A Kindle!</strong></div>
<br />
And that's not all! Three commenters <a href="http://www.evernightteen.blogspot.com/" sl-processed="1"><span style="color: #6d3426;">here</span></a> will receive $10 Evernight gift certificates! Take a look at the books on <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/" sl-processed="1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6d3426;">Evernight Teen</span></a> and let them know which titles you’d love to
read and why. (Of course, I'm pretty partial to that hottie, Eli Sullivan, who's decorating the cover of PHOENIX: THE RISING!!)<br />
<br />
Follow the link below to all the participating blogs, then answer the
questions. The answers can be found on each author’s blog.<br />
<br />
<strong><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent"><a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NWZLXTL" rel="nofollow nofollow" sl-processed="1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6d3426;">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NWZLXTL</span></a></span></span></strong><br />
<br />
The question for my blog is.....<br />
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<em>What did I "confess" on Feb. 8, 2013?</em><br />
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<span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">One winner will be randomly
chosen from the participants who answered all questions correctly.
</span></span></span></div>
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<div class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper">
Other participating authors
include:</div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://stephanielawton.com/" sl-processed="1" target=""><span style="color: #6d3426;">Sasha
Hibbs, </span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Stephanie Lawton, </span><a href="http://stephanielawton.com/" sl-processed="1" target=""><span style="color: #6d3426;"><br /></span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://www.sxbradley.com/" sl-processed="1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6d3426;">S.X.
Bradley, </span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://theeternalwritingoptimist.blogspot.com/" sl-processed="1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6d3426;">Trakena Prevost, </span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://dianastager.blogspot.ca/" sl-processed="1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6d3426;">Diana
Stager, </span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://christinekloceklim.com/" sl-processed="1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6d3426;">Christine
Klocek-Lim, </span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://www.amarischapman.com/" sl-processed="1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6d3426;">Amaris
Chapman, </span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/melissahosack/home" sl-processed="1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6d3426;">Melissa Frost</span></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://evernightteen.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9W2g7NDOORWm39Ko1zMy2mWN6SCwHchuQQtH4XSaoF9jhWrcfjvmpyOGNW5NIPCpnKjOMStkO60BUDFg5UU_iuEZu94iCA7QSeymm3VesFoJmkF9jda6_Jg_Q1F3v8fr8y3rUYMkvTuk/s320/TeenReadingWeekBanner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-52209875544210375892013-09-14T07:33:00.001-07:002013-09-14T07:54:18.339-07:00Want to Win a Signed Copy of Phoenix: The Rising?Hey, all!<br />
<br />
The Pufferbilly Days signing event was a success! I couldn't believe all the folks who showed up. I made many new friends and got to revisit some old memories with many friends I hadn't seen in over 30 years! (Yes, I am THAT old!) Take a look at the print I had signed by all those who stopped by. I'm honored to have gotten all THEIR autographs! It's decorating the side wall of this page, and will also be decorating my wall at home. I love my peeps!<br />
<br />
In celebration, I'm going have a drawing to give away one signed copy of Phoenix: The Rising. To enter the drawing, make a comment below AND sign up as a member of this blog. If you are already a member (thank you!), then just make a comment. You will, however, need to be located in the continental U.S. to participate. **sad puppy**. (Sorry my other peeps! Shipping costs necessitate this!) Make sure you comment and sign up by 11:59 pm, Central, Saturday, September 22. <br />
<br />
Hope to read your comments and see your beautiful faces decorating my side wall soon!<br />
<br />
Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-19851671383200455132013-09-02T09:48:00.000-07:002013-09-02T09:48:49.329-07:00The ELI SULLIVAN EXPRESS is heading to Pufferbilly Days!Don't you just LOVE hometown festivals?? Boone, IA, my sweet hometown nestled smack-dab in the middle of the Iowa cornfields, will host Pufferbilly Days this weekend and I'll be having my first official book signing event a the local book shop, appropriately named, The Book Shoppe (dontcha just love it?) on Sunday, Sept. 8 from 11-3!<br />
<br />
Now, if any of you have read even a part of PHOENIX: THE RISING, you'll know what I'm talking about when I mention the ELI SULLIVAN EXPRESS in the title of this post. My hottie, Eli Sullivan, is gracing the door of the book shop and has garnered more than a few shocked/curious eyebrow quirks, swoons, and <em>tsk-tsk-tsks</em> by the locals, followed by loads of questions. The shopkeeper giggled as she told me of explaining that this is a gritty, upper young adult paranormal aimed at the Twilight audience, and that the cover is a picture of the Phoenix, a fallen angel (see the wings??) Well, all I can say is that the cover is doing its job by attracting attention and sales.<br />
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I'm now in pre-signing event mode, making sure I have enough copies, putting books on reserve, making bookmarks, and getting just-the-right-type of signing utensils stowed in my pack.<br />
<br />
As far as Pufferbilly Days is concerned, I'll be heading there to visit the beer tent on Friday night, and....possibly Saturday night, maybe take in the parade, and of course, I'll visit the craft fair! I'll eat a bratwurst (or possibly two) with sauerkraut and mustard, drink overpriced Diet Coke, and visit with friends I haven't seen in years. I'll listen to the Standing Hamptons, drink beer, and laugh as the festivities are periodically accompanied by the whistle of trains as they roar through the middle of downtown Boone, always remembering that this is one reason I love being from a small town in the heart of the Midwest. <br />
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Watch out Boone, the Eli Sullivan Express is heading to Pufferbilly Days, and I'm heading HOME!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.thebookshoppe.net/ai1ec_event/bette-maybe-teen-book-signing/?instance_id=235">http://www.thebookshoppe.net/ai1ec_event/bette-maybe-teen-book-signing/?instance_id=235</a><br />
Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-28461116881329304022013-08-05T19:38:00.002-07:002013-08-05T19:38:47.220-07:00FIRST KISS...<span class="userContent"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed">
FIRST KISS...<br /><br /> Julie held her chin high, praying that her eyes and her voice wouldn’t betray her. “I’m fine. Really.” Her voice cracked as a single tear broke through, sliding down her cheek and over her swollen, split lips.</div>
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Eli took a step closer and cupped her face in his hands, turning it up to meet his gaze. “No, Jules, you’re not.”</div>
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<br />He traced the trail of the tear down her cheek. Her lips parted as his finger brushed them, and she watched in wonder as he lifted his finger, wet with her tear, to his own lips. She shook her head slowly in confirmation as more tears cascaded down her face.</div>
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“No. I’m not.”</div>
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She knew he was going to kiss her—and she wanted it to happen—more than she had wanted anything before in her life. Her breath hitched in her throat as vivid streaks of color flickered in the sapphire depths of Eli’s eyes, like tongues of fire in the night sky. She couldn’t wait any longer. Without another thought, she reached up and entwined her fingers in the back of his hair, pulling him close.</div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show">“Kiss me, Eli,” she pleaded breathlessly.<br /> </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show">And he did.<br /> </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show">Eli’s breath quickened as he lowered his lips to hers, kissing her softly—almost hesitantly—at first. Julie felt a slight sting on her tender, injured lips, and then a familiar sense of euphoria soaked in as the pain melted away and passion took its place...a passion she had never experienced before. Her mind whirled as colors flew in front of her eyes, and she felt Eli respond with the same urgency she was feeling, his kiss pulling her deeper into the maelstrom of lights that now blinded her. Too soon, the colors swirled into a spiral of white light, reduced to a pinpoint, and then disappeared from Julie’s vision...<br /><br /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=bette%20maybee%20phoenix%3A%20the%20rising#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=phoenix%3A+the+rising+bette+maybee&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aphoenix%3A+the+rising+bette+maybee">PHOENIX: THE RISING</a> $0.99 on kindle for one week only... paperback on sale for $12.98. </span></div>
</span>Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-66569904694800101092013-08-03T19:58:00.000-07:002013-08-04T15:53:31.933-07:00START YOUR ENGINES!!!Get those KINDLES fired up folks! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-The-Rising-ebook/dp/B00AZQ80II/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1375584765&sr=8-2&keywords=bette+maybee">PHOENIX: THE RISING</a> (by little ol' ME) and all other Evernight Teen titles: Shrapnel by Stephanie Lawton, Disintegrate by Christine Klocek-Lim, Unraveled by S.X. Bradley, Blood Hex by Erin Butler, Slayer for Hire by P.E. Cunningham, and Elysium by Sylah Sloan are on sale for $0.99 (NINETY-NINE CENTS!!) for one week only! Don't have a Kindle?? You can get a free app for just about any computer, tablet, smartphone or Kindle Cloud Reader here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sa_menu_karl?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771">http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sa_menu_karl?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771</a><br />
<br />
Annnnd, since you're here, why not become a member? I'd love to have you!<br />
<br />
BetteBette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-30058391635601298882013-07-14T16:07:00.000-07:002013-08-07T10:33:01.984-07:00Guy Writing...I've found that I LOVE writing from the male point of view. After cutting my teeth on Eli in PHOENIX: THE RISING, Collin Jamison, the hot Manhattan executive who has found his way to the quaint Midwestern town of Boone, Iowa, is coming alive in book two of THE TIP TOP CAFE: FOUR SISTERS series, I'LL TAKE MANHATTAN. Here's a snippet from Collin's point of view. Enjoy!<br />
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<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Collin
watched from a shadowed spot by the cart shed as Jeannie left the country club.
He thought maybe she had called a cab, but when she took off walking down the
street, he knew she wasn’t thinking straight. He gave her a few minutes, and as
soon as he saw her stumble and kick her shoe to the side of the road, he took off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was bawling so hard by the time he came
up behind her that she didn’t even notice.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext;"></span><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">“Need
a ride, stranger?” She glanced at him, but didn’t break her wobbly stride.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">“Go
AWAY!!” The words strangled in her throat.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Collin
rolled along silently beside her. There was no way he was abandoning her. He
had the full scoop on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the suit</i> now.
Ross Williams. Former classmate. Banker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The man who held the purse strings of this woman’s life. The
man who could make her or break her, and he knew it. That gave him leverage.
She was a sitting duck, and from the look of it, he just broke her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jeannie suddenly stopped walking and
moaned. “Okay.” She limped over to the Harley, hiked her dress up and climbed
on behind him. He took off without a word. As soon as he hit Highway 30 and
opened the throttle, Jeannie wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned into
him, resting her dampened cheek on his back. He knew he’d just rescued her from
something, but he didn’t know quite what.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After a few minutes, her hands slid
from his waist to his chest and she clung to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew she was upset, but the feel of her
body pressed up against him, her breasts warm against his back, her long, naked
legs straddling his thighs, was just about more than he could take, and he felt
guilty for taking any pleasure from it. Still, even guilt couldn’t make this
feeling go away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Collin slowed as he descended the
hill that led to her house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some
silly, selfish way he didn’t want the ride to end. She was totally dependent on
him right now. He felt--foolishly and a bit self-righteously--like the proverbial knight in
shining armor rescuing the damsel in distress, and damn, it felt good. At the
same time, he was madder than hell that a man could have this effect on her, that
another man could have this much control over her life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Collin pulled to a stop beside the
garage in his usual parking spot on the crushed, white, limestone. Before he
could even turn off the engine, Jeannie swung her leg over the seat and dismounted
without a word. The feel of her hands, her legs, her body, separating from him left
him cold and empty. The last fifteen minutes he had felt more needed than any
other time of his life, and now he just felt … alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-69240801423624865772013-06-20T20:31:00.000-07:002013-06-24T13:50:13.881-07:00ET Summer Kick-Off Blog Hop!Yowzers! What better way to start the summer than with a BLOG HOP featuring the crazy awesome Evernight Teen authors (including YOURS TRULY) and other amazing YA bloggers. Not only will you be introduced to some fantastic YA authors and their newest releases, but you'll also be in the running for some great prizes, including an e-copy of all our great books (including one of my very own PHOENIX: THE RISING), a $10 amazon gift card, and a brand-spanking-new Kindle Paperwhite offered by Evernight Teen.<br />
<br />
And now, for your reading pleasure (and a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift-card from me and the Kindle Paperwhite from ET)...simply leave a comment with your email address after this excerpt (and I'd especially LOVE it if you'd become a member of this blog!):<br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">***</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">Julie
pushed the door open and walked inside. Eli lay silently on the hospital bed,
staring at the same game on TV that Simon was watching in the waiting room. He
still sported a neck brace, and he looked incredibly uncomfortable. Julie walked
by his bed and sat on an orange, vinyl-upholstered chair in the corner of the
room. Eli looked over at her and raised his eyebrows. Her heart flipped in her
chest. Even in a hospital gown and a neck brace, he was still the hottest
guy Julie had ever seen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"> “That
was probably the worst three dollars I ever spent. I hardly got to see any of
the game at all.”</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">“You
mean you didn’t buy an activity pass?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">Julie
shook her head and leaned back in her seat, trying to appear relaxed. “I hadn’t
planned on attending any games. I’m not normally a sports
fan.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">“Wow,
then I feel pretty honored that you came to see me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">Julie
smiled. “You should be.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">Eli
started to smile, and then winced, obviously in pain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">Julie
hopped off the chair and ran to his side, clutching his hand in hers. A jolt of
electricity raced up her arm. She was so glad to feel it, but it immediately
began to wreak its normal havoc on her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">“Are
you okay?” She was now breathing too hard, and those familiar spots of color
were beginning to cloud her vision.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">“I’m
gonna be okay, Julie, but you look like you’re about to pass out. You better
sit.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">Julie
nodded. She did feel like she was going to pass out. She took a step away from
the bed, intent on heading back to the ugly orange chair in the corner, but Eli
still had hold of her hand, and pulled her back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">“Sit
here, on my bed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">Julie
had no time to protest. She knew if she didn’t sit, she’d end up on the floor.
She sat, pulled her hands out of Eli’s, closed her eyes, and breathed deeply,
trying to gain control of herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
the second breath, she was feeling a bit better. She opened her eyes to a
smirking Eli Sullivan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">“What?”
she snapped. His smirk immediately softened into a concerned
smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">“I’m
sorry my touch has this ... effect on you. It doesn’t seem to affect anybody
else quite like this.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">“Besa
Soobedda.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">Liana
stood in the doorway. She whispered the words again and nodded towards Julie.
The foreign words meant nothing to Julie, but she could see Eli understood them.
His brow furrowed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">“No,
Liana. It’s too late.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">Liana
backed out of the doorway and disappeared down the hall. Julie looked at Eli
suspiciously.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">“What
did she say?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">Eli
crossed his arms across his chest and stared at the ceiling. “Nothing you need
to be concerned with.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">“It
must be something important if you said it was too late. Too late for
what?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">Eli
started to shake his head, but stopped with a groan and a gasp of pain. “Ah,
cripes, Julie. It’s nothing. She’s just a meddling old woman who needs to mind
her own business.” Julie was about to push for an answer again when Eli closed
his eyes and grimaced. Droplets of sweat spotted his forehead and upper
lip.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">Julie
slid off the bed and grabbed a washcloth. She held it under a stream of cold
water, rung it out, and laid it across Eli’s forehead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">“Is
it bad?” she whispered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">Eli
bit his lower lip. “It’ll pass. It always does.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">Julie
sat helplessly by Eli’s side and watched as Eli fought silently against the pain
that wracked his body ... the healing pain of immortality. It was mind-boggling.
Eli should be dead, or at the very least, paralyzed from his injury, and here he
was, on his way to being completely healed. Julie wondered how many times he’d
already gone through this. Had he ever actually experienced death?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">The
grimace on Eli’s face relaxed bit by bit as his breathing slowed. He was asleep.
The worst of it must be over. Julie slid softly off the bed, careful not to
disturb him, and curled up in the orange chair. She stared at Eli ... at the
steady rising and falling of his chest. He just cheated death. <i>Death</i>. It
was something she’d spent most of the last five years thinking about. But it was
her own death she contemplated. The thought of someone else dying, someone she
... cared about, frightened her, more than the reality of her own death ever
could. Her death was inevitable. It was just a matter of time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">***</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span> REMEMBER TO POST A COMMENT WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card! (Don't forget to sign up as a member of this blog, pretty please!)</div>
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And now for the blog-roll! </div>
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1.
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6333924" target="_blank" title="Linked to: christinekloceklim.com">Christine Klocek-Lim</a></div>
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6334722" target="_blank" title="Linked to: www.bjmaybee.blogspot.com">The Cinderella Diaries</a></div>
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6335627" target="_blank" title="Linked to: sashahibbs.blogspot.com/">Sasha Hibbs</a></div>
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6341034" target="_blank" title="Linked to: susanxbradley.blogspot.com/">Susan X Bradley</a></div>
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6342741" target="_blank" title="Linked to: www.dianastager.com">Diana Stager</a></div>
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6432643" target="_blank" title="Linked to: maw25.wordpress.com">Love, Laughter, Friendship</a></div>
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6436750" target="_blank" title="Linked to: www.lchardesty.blogspot.com">Larissa's World</a></div>
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8.
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6441718" target="_blank" title="Linked to: www.readergirlsblog.com">Reader Girls</a></div>
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9.
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6442088" target="_blank" title="Linked to: youngadultbookhaven.blogspot.com">Kristin @ Young Adult Book Havem</a></div>
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10.
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6442539" target="_blank" title="Linked to: amysbookden.blogspot.com/">Amy's Book Den</a></div>
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<div style="float: left; font-size: 80%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 28px;">
11.
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6442661" target="_blank" title="Linked to: buffy-kennedy.blogspot.com/">Buffy's Ramblings</a></div>
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<div style="float: left; font-size: 80%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 28px;">
12.
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6445891" target="_blank" title="Linked to: www.flirtyanddirtybookblog.com">Flirty and Dirty Book Blog</a></div>
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13.
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6446245" target="_blank" title="Linked to: unputdownablebookies.blogspot.com">Unputdownable Books</a></div>
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<div style="float: left; font-size: 80%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 28px;">
14.
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6448790" target="_blank" title="Linked to: www.thcreviews.com/">The Hope Chest Reviews</a></div>
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15.
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6452659" target="_blank" title="Linked to: www.addictedtonovels.blogspot.ca">Addicted To Novels</a></div>
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6462387" target="_blank" title="Linked to: www.booklabyrinth.com">Book Labyrinth</a></div>
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17.
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6473381" target="_blank" title="Linked to: www.bookangelbooktopia.com/">Book Angel Booktopia (Int)</a></div>
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6476473" target="_blank" title="Linked to: thelibrarianerin.wordpress.com/">Erin Butler</a></div>
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19.
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6490988" target="_blank" title="Linked to: stephanielawton.com">Stephanie Lawton</a></div>
</div>
</td>
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<div style="float: left; font-size: 80%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 28px;">
20.
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<div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 34px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6491040" target="_blank" title="Linked to: http://rebeccahartwriting.wordpress.com">Author Rebecca Hart</a></div>
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<div style="float: left; font-size: 80%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width: 28px;">
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<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=6491111" target="_blank" title="Linked to: http://www.bookfaerie.com">The Book Faerie</a></div>
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Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-14019731729651562632013-05-16T17:45:00.001-07:002013-05-16T17:45:37.415-07:00Going Public!! Confessions of a Pastor's Wife...I finally got my nerve up and contacted a few newspapers in the area to promote Phoenix: The Rising and let the locals know that there's an author amongst them. Now, I realize that most people would be shouting it from rooftops, but not me. I didn't know how the town would take to a local pastor's wife writing romance...but, they seem to be okay with it! So, here's the article...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://tricountytimes.com/news/slater-author-has-first-book-published.html">http://tricountytimes.com/news/slater-author-has-first-book-published.html</a><br />
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<h1 class="entry-title title">
<span></span>Slater author has first book published</h1>
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<a class="cboxElement" href="http://tricountytimes.com/sites/tricountytimes.com/files/article/519933_web_bette-maybee_9768.jpg" rel="image"><img alt="Bette Maybee of Slater had her first book, “Phoenix: The Rising,” published Jan. 10. She said the book is “purely for entertainment” and targeted for young adult readers. Photo by Whitney Sager" height="360" src="http://tricountytimes.com/sites/tricountytimes.com/files/styles/large/public/article/519933_web_bette-maybee_9768.jpg?itok=DTZJ2NDV" width="480" /></a><a class="buy-photo button" href="http://amestrib.mycapture.com/mycapture/category.asp?CategoryID=47761/mycapture/remoteimage.asp?thumbpath=http%3A%2F%2Ftricountytimes.com%2Fsites%2Ftricountytimes.com%2Ffiles%2Farticle%2F519933_web_bette-maybee_9768.jpg" role="button">Buy Photo</a><div class="image-cap">
Bette Maybee of Slater had her first book, “Phoenix: The Rising,” published Jan. 10. She said the book is “purely for entertainment” and targeted for young adult readers. Photo by Whitney Sager</div>
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By Whitney Sager</div>
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Shortly after being published, this Slater author’s book has received 5-star ratings and already has a sequel in the works.<br />
Bette Maybee of Slater recently penned her first published book, “Phoenix: The Rising.” The young adult novel is a fictional tale of the rebirth of the Phoenix in Mono Lake, California, and the Nephalims’ attempts to prevent the Phoenix’s rebirth in order to claim immortality. As part of their attempts to identify the Phoenix, the Nephalim seek any 17-year-old with green eyes and red hair, including Julie Mason, with the intent to kill them. Spun in with the Nephalims’ hunt is a romance story between Mason and Eli Sullivan, the Phoenix.<br />
When Maybee finished the book last year, she submitted it directly to several publishers to see if any would publish it. Her book was chosen as the launching title for Evernight Teen, a publishing company who was looking to begin their line of teen books. “Phoenix: The Rising” was published Jan. 10 and has since become the top-selling book on Evernight Teen’s website.<br />
“It’s an honor for me,” Maybee said of her book being chosen as the launching title.<br />
During the approximately eight months Maybee spent writing the book, she said she most enjoyed developing the characters who make up the story. One character, Lucy, is added toward the middle of the story line. Maybee hinted that Lucy struggles with an internal conflict, but only those who read the novel will find out what the struggle entails.<br />
“It’s exciting because the audience may hate her, but end up loving her,” Maybee said.<br />
While some authors make an outline for a story they are writing and stick to it throughout the writing process, Maybee takes a different approach. She knew how she wanted the story to end and had some ideas for what should happen to get to the ending point, but she did not follow her original outline. Letting the characters and their dialogue guide her through the writing process made it that much more fun.<br />
“I knew where I wanted to go, but the road there is not always straight,” Maybee said.<br />
Fans of the “Twilight” series will enjoy this book, Maybee said, because of its paranormal qualities and romantic story-line. Maybee also added a few “Stephen King-worthy scenes” that she says make the novel that much more intriguing. Many who have read the book and left comments on various sites where the book is sold have said they hope there is a sequel. Maybee said she is trying to decide whether or not she should focus on writing the sequel, or continue work on the second of her “The Tip Top Cafe” romance series.<br />
“The Tip Top Cafe” was the first book she wrote and is currently in submission. She plans on writing four books in the series, which will evolve around events from her childhood. While based off her childhood, the series will be fictionalized and not an autobiography.<br />
She got the inspiration to write her first book while reading the Twilight series with her daughter four years ago. Maybee came to the part in the series where first loves were being discussed, and it reminded her of a letter she received from her first love. She dug the 33-year-old letter out of the drawer where she keeps it and let her daughter read it so she could experience what a first love was like. After reading the letter, Maybee’s daughter encouraged her to write a story about it.<br />
“I got that inspiration from her and realized what I had been missing,” Maybee said of the push to get her writing.<br />
Maybee has always enjoyed writing and the language arts. She served as a language arts and creative writing teacher before taking on her current role as Assistant to the Chair of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Iowa State University. She now spends evenings and weekends writing and blogging from her home in Slater, where she lives with her husband, Tim, and one of their three children.<br />
“Phoenix: The Rising” is available in either paperback or electronic formats on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, EvernightTeen.com, and other major distributor sites.</div>
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Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-32742031137110114402013-04-11T17:59:00.000-07:002013-04-11T17:59:20.139-07:00DISINTEGRATE Cover Reveal!!<a href="http://christinekloceklim.com/young-adult-fiction/disintegrate/disintegrate-excerpt/"><img alt="Disintegrate" class="alignnone wp-image-1382" height="658" src="http://chrissiemkl.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/disintegrate.jpg?w=439&h=658" width="439" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #99cc00;"><strong>Coming April 19, 2013!</strong></span><br />
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<li>Young Adult, Paranormal, Suspense</li>
<li>Word Count: 51,000</li>
<li>Published By: <a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/">Evernight Teen</a></li>
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<strong>Description:</strong><br />
Emily just wanted a normal life: a boyfriend, college, two parents who loved her. Instead, her dad disappeared when she was fourteen and her life at college is anything but ordinary.<br />
When you can manipulate matter like putty and you have no idea why, how do you pretend to be like everyone else? What happens when you meet a guy who has the same powers? Do you trust him to help you find the answers you need?<br />
Emily desperately wants to believe that Jax can help, but the stakes grow higher than she’d ever expected: someone is after them and they’re not afraid to use violence to get what they want.<br />
<a href="http://chrissiemkl.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/editors2.jpg"><img alt="editors" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1395" src="http://chrissiemkl.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/editors2.jpg?w=549" /></a>Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-10931438153515123092013-04-11T17:31:00.001-07:002013-04-11T17:31:55.269-07:00Page Flipperz Ya: Phoenix- The Rising - Book Review - Author Intervi...<a href="http://pageflipperzya.blogspot.com/2013/04/phoenix-rising-book-review-author.html?spref=bl">Page Flipperz Ya: Phoenix- The Rising - Book Review - Author Intervi...</a>: Id like to introduce everyone to meet Author Bette Maybee. I had the pleasure of Reading her Debut Ya Novel Phoenix- The Rising and h...Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-52393583764484138352013-03-16T14:07:00.000-07:002013-03-17T13:17:38.961-07:00Celebrate St. Paddy's Day with a GREAT READ!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.evernightteen.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Evernight Teen books will be 50% off in honor of St. Patrick's Day (on the ET site, Sunday only).
Please spread the word on your FB wall and websites. Here's a banner you may use to advertise the sale." border="0" class="img" height="122" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/s480x480/734531_122096061309757_1768514077_n.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
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Not only is the kindle version of PHOENIX: THE RISING still on sale for 99 cents on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-The-Rising-ebook/dp/B00AZQ80II/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363467003&sr=8-1&keywords=bette+maybee">amazon.com</a>, but ALL the books from my awesome publishing sisters are 50% off on Evernight Teen! This includes all e-book versions available on Evernight Teen, which MEANS, if you have an e-reader that's not a kindle, you can finally get PHOENIX: THE RISING for your device at the bargain price of less than $3.00!! Just click on the banner to take advantage of this one day sale! </div>
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY!</span></strong></div>
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<br />Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-58902226584781442752013-03-15T19:36:00.000-07:002013-03-16T13:02:55.636-07:00Ooo...shiny!! BLOOD HEX Cover Reveal!!<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: large;">Two girls. Four centuries. One curse. <br /><br />Isabella started it--all because a boy fell in love with her--but it ends with Sarah. <br /><br />They meet in secret, Isabella and Thomas, during the witching hours while the rest of the villagers hide behind locked doors. And even though she's scared, she wants Thomas more. He'll protect her from the night, from his father who'll decide her future, from the paranoia-fueled hunting parties taking away innocents. <br /><br />Centuries later, seventeen-year old Sarah runs away to an aunt she never knew she had. Her dad? Dead. Her mother? A liar. All she wants is memories of a father she never got--memories her mom refused to give her--memories she is determined to get from her aunt, her father's journal, and a town full of crazies. <br /><br />What she discovers is her father's death isn't as innocent as everybody claims, and everyone--the Wiccans, the townies, even her quasi-boyfriend--all seem to be hiding something. The secret the history-rich town lives to keep entangles Sarah into a centuries old witch curse.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">BLOOD HEX by the fabulous Erin Butler is set to be released in early April with Evernight Teen. Isn't this cover fantastic??</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEa2WjsBGQm7DE_a9ytvNmX8q43En1XfcntQupoVLWwxYjQo-yHinVmVnkjIIiUc-aOZhdcpWnRt170R2p9REEXPoQoVuOUlUH-hOIdUIsvdTR6QGrusH3syhRcH_1v3-lrZEvezgYQyY8/s1600/blood-hex-teen1s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEa2WjsBGQm7DE_a9ytvNmX8q43En1XfcntQupoVLWwxYjQo-yHinVmVnkjIIiUc-aOZhdcpWnRt170R2p9REEXPoQoVuOUlUH-hOIdUIsvdTR6QGrusH3syhRcH_1v3-lrZEvezgYQyY8/s400/blood-hex-teen1s.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">And NOW, an excerpt for your enjoyment...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">I took it all in. Giant banners announced “Adams Colonization”, eerie witch posters and mannequins with stringy green hair and large, red eyeballs stared back. The guards along the stage dressed in old brown suits and hats I guessed were supposed to be replicas of what the first settlers wore. The costumes reminded me of pilgrims. They stood at attention, faces impassible as they monitored the crowd. The picture sank into my brain, this parallel reality where past met present in a jumbled mesh.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Drake leaned into me again. “Sorry. I should have told you.” <i></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><i>No wonder why she said she was too busy to hang out with me. </i>I snuck forward a little, caught up in the surprise appearance of Rose. The arm that had been touching Drake instantly chilled. He was so nice. And cute. But the reason why I came here was up on that stage.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">Rose’s voice rang out, low and seductive. “On this day in 1610, our ancestors inhabited a foreign land. Today, we call that piece of land Adams, Virginia.” Scattered applause swelled through the park. “Our ancestors brought with them superstition…and fear from England. Men and women, children—all terrified of one thing.” Rose's hypnotic voice was mesmerizing and I leaned forward even more. “Witches.” The stare of an old, wise woman lingered over everybody and when her eyes met mine, a pool of black reflected the licking orange flames.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">“They fled here, terrified of the supernatural. They hoped to start a new life. One without the constant paranoia. They failed. Our ancestors lived in complete, maddening, unrelenting fear their entire lives. Are we like them?” Audible no's and descending grunts rose from the crowd. “No. We're not.” Her voice pitched higher, and louder. “Today, we embrace our history. Today, we stare the supernatural in the face and laugh at it.” Loud cheers erupted from every corner of the park and Rose shouted over them, “Today, we celebrate!” </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">Rose motioned to the side of the reaching flames. Two men in the ugly brown trousers and jackets nodded. “During this opening ceremony, we will conquer fear as they did back in the old days.” The men pulled at ropes, hoisting a cross into the air. Mounted to the cross beam was the body of a woman, her mouth agape in horror.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">I drew in a sharp breath. I felt Drake move next to me so I turned my gaze on him. A sly smile graced his face. He put his arm around me, pulling me closer. “Are you scared?” he whispered.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">I couldn't speak. These people <i>were</i> freakin' crazy. My eyes darted through the crowd, looking for a policeman—somebody—who might stop this.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">“Don't worry. We always do this on opening night,” Drake said, pulling me even closer, rubbing my shoulder with his hand.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">I wanted to scream at him to do something, to help the poor woman. He only sat smiling, eyes bright with anticipation. I knocked his hand off me and pulled away, but before I could wiggle free of Drake's arms and run to the fire pit, the cotton clothes the woman wore caught fire from the reaching flames underneath. My breath clogged my throat. I didn't know whether to scream first, or cry. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">The flames spread fast. The waistline already edged with black char before the fire incinerated it. Dark gray smoke furled over the helpless woman and puffed up toward the blood red sky.</span></div>
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</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><span style="color: black;">A bit about the author...<br /> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman",times;"><span lang="EN"><em>Erin Butler lives in upstate New York where winter is her arch nemesis. She prefers to spend her time indoors reading and writing, but ventures out for chocolate, sunshine, and to perform her librarian duties at a local library. She lives with her very understanding husband, a stepson, and doggie BFF, Maxie. Erin’s dreams of becoming an author started in Kindergarten when she wrote her first story about witches, the eloquently titled, six-sentence page-turner, “The Three Witches”. Now, she likes to write longer works for teens in many different genres. </em></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Here are a few links to Goodreads and Erin's website:</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17335703-blood-hex" target="_blank">http://www.goodreads.com/book/<wbr></wbr>show/17335703-blood-hex</a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.erinbutlerbooks.com/" target="_blank">www.erinbutlerbooks.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span>Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-40444341365507656152013-03-12T18:52:00.000-07:002013-03-12T18:52:19.819-07:00PHOENIX: THE RISING .99 STARTING 3-13!!<span class="userContent"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_513fdb4f084092a46839719">
Fantastic News!! PHOENIX: THE RISING (Kindle edition) will be on sale for $0.99 (YES, NINETY-NINE CENTS!!) for ONE WEEK starting tomorrow, March 13! This is NOT about making money (as I won't be making any on this sale!), but it's about get<span class="text_exposed_show">ting my book into the hands of readers and building a following! You can help make this happen. Buy one when it goes on sale. Buy one and gift it to a friend to spread the word, SHARE THIS POST ON YOUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and tell your friends and co-workers. This is the chance of a lifetime for me, but it will only be successful with your help! Read the reviews on Amazon to see what readers think so far! Watch the ranking rise on the Amazon page along with me! THANK YOU!!! </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-The-Rising-ebook/dp/B00AZQ80II/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363135860&sr=8-1&keywords=bette+maybee">http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-The-Rising-ebook/dp/B00AZQ80II/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363135860&sr=8-1&keywords=bette+maybee</a></span></div>
</span>Bette Jayne Maybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13483811864702004139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860051111969096845.post-48279145670488895872013-02-13T20:55:00.000-08:002013-03-16T13:04:05.896-07:00Can you say, VALENTINE'S BLOG HOP??The first ever Evernight Teen Valentine's Blog Hop is here!! Join in the fun for your chance to win some fantastic prizes from Evernight Teen and Evernight Teen's fabulous authors, including YOURS TRULY from February 14 through February 17!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEj5nwTeGvGKE7MnZVhueVAhkBHj2hBSbIUJpsopQH5YiF1VLFaMs5TwNVrqsmXs3jZK94EwnRjZ1m7NVCFBAmPf_MZT289jlbkhYKXzUyoTD_gvUB0UPTJpFOFtWcBzKtdcJhVdCKY6_t/s1600/teen-phoenix2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEj5nwTeGvGKE7MnZVhueVAhkBHj2hBSbIUJpsopQH5YiF1VLFaMs5TwNVrqsmXs3jZK94EwnRjZ1m7NVCFBAmPf_MZT289jlbkhYKXzUyoTD_gvUB0UPTJpFOFtWcBzKtdcJhVdCKY6_t/s320/teen-phoenix2-1.jpg" /></a></div>
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It's easy! My challenge is for you to read the excerpt below and answer the question that follows in the comment section. You also need to leave your email address so I can email your fantastic prize, which is....DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!....a digital copy of PHOENIX: THE RISING. That's all you have to do, but I will also love you forever if you'd "share" this post on your Facebook or Twitter account, AND, when you find yourself on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-The-Rising-ebook/dp/B00AZQ80II/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360857881&sr=8-1&keywords=bette+maybee+phoenix">Amazon</a> or <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/phoenix-bette-maybee/1114127110?ean=9781771302388">Barnes and Noble</a>, please "LIKE" PHOENIX: THE RISING (we authors COVET "likes" and "shares"!) Once you're done with my challenge, click on the linkies for the other authors and Evernight Teen to see what glorious challenges they have in store for you!
And now, for the excerpt and challenge question:
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EXCERPT:<br />
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<span style="color: black;">Allison was just beginning to nod off when she heard two car doors slam. She swung her feet off the Natuzzi and scanned the room. TV—off . Cushions—straight . Dirty glasses—in the dishwasher . Just as the front door opened, she yanked her almost-forgotten ear buds out, cutting off Katy Perry in mid-chorus, and stuffed both the buds and her iPod in the pocket of her running shorts. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Allison pasted on a smile as first Mrs. Paulsen—and then Mr. Paulsen—entered the room. Mrs. Paulsen, a slightly overweight, frump of a woman who looked closer to fifty than her actual age of thirty-four, smiled sweetly with her too-red lips and cocked her head to the side as she patted Allison’s arm. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">“How’d things go tonight, dear? Did the boys give you any trouble?” </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Allison raised her eyebrows and lied through her newly braceless teeth. “It went really well. The boys had a good time.” </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Mr. Paulsen pulled out a money clip and sauntered over to Allison as his wife went upstairs to check on the boys. He was obviously on the far side of forty, but tried to dress the part of a younger man in low-riders and a striped tee pulled dangerously thin across his bulging mid-section. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">“Are you sure you don’t want a ride home?” Mr. Paulsen handed her a twenty-dollar bill, warm and limp from the ride in his front pocket. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to my favorite babysitter.” Paulsen’s eyes shifted from Allison’s face down to her chest, where they stayed for several uncomfortable seconds before moving back up. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Allison felt the hot rush of blood to her face as she folded the bill and stuck it in her pocket. She wiped her hands down the front of her shorts. It didn't help. “No thanks, Mr. P. I’m training for cross country. Besides, my parents are fine with it.”</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Paulsen thought for a moment then traced his tongue between the seam of his lips. “All right, but if you change your mind, just call. I can be there in a flash.” </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Forcing a smile, she pulled open the front door and sprinted away, trying to gain as much distance in the shortest amount of time possible between herself and the ogling pervert. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Allison fell into her pace, running parallel with the broken yellow line down the middle of the road that led to her father’s small sheep ranch located just two miles outside of Palisades. Cars rarely frequented this lonely stretch of road, so it was quite a surprise when she saw the dim glare of headlights headed her way. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">The car, which was coming at a good clip towards her, slowed as the headlights illuminated Allison’s moving form. Her heart skipped a few uncertain beats, and she instinctively moved to the side of the road. A rush of adrenalin kicked in and her pace quickened. As the car passed, a hand shot out the driver’s side window and waved. “Hey, Chica!” </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Allison breathed a sigh of relief and smiled to herself as she waved back. She recognized the voice as one belonging to a Paiute boy from her History class, but she couldn’t recall his name. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Allison returned to the middle of the road and settled into her pace once again. She removed a band from her wrist, gathered her curly auburn hair and secured it into a high ponytail, never breaking stride. About a half mile up the road, she saw the lights of her house and decided to sprint. As she kicked it in gear, the roar of a racing engine came up behind her. She turned to see headlights bearing down on her. Too late. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">The crack of bone and snap of ligaments registered in Allison’s brain at the same time her face slammed onto the hood of the car. It was at that moment she realized she had been hit, and she wondered why it didn’t hurt. A microsecond later, she was airborne, catapulting off the hood when the driver hit the brakes. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">I’m Superman! Clark’s words echoed in her head as she flew through the air. She could see her legs extending outwards, following her in flight, but they didn’t look right. The knees were bent the wrong way. Backwards. Backwards was not good. She couldn’t run with them backwards. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">She heard another crack as she landed. The blacktop seemed to mold itself around the back of her head, cradling it like a stinky, black, memory foam pillow. Allison felt no pain, only a muddy sluggishness that seemed to be clouding her senses. She was, unfortunately, still lucid enough to taste the metallic tang of blood as it pooled in the back of her throat, choking her. Still lucid enough to come to the horrible realization that she couldn’t turn her head to spit it out ... or cough ... or feel her body. As she struggled for one last breath, someone spoke. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">“See, I told you she had green eyes.”</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">QUESTION:</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">There are two reasons Allison didn't accept a ride from Mr. Paulsen. One is obvious, one is only hinted at by Allison's reaction to Paulsen. Give me one of those reasons, or both, if you can (if you get one right, your name still goes in the drawing for the prize!) </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Now write your answer and your email address in the comment box, then HOP on over to the next blog by clicking on one of the 7 links below. Thanks and have fun! (The winning name will be drawn on the 18th.)</span><br />
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