The Wild Ones- Playlist

With just a little over a week until The Wild Ones releases on August 1st, I thought I'd go ahead and share Trick and Cami's playlist.  They don't pop out anymore, but here's the link to it on Playlist.com.  I hope you enjoy it!!

http://pl.st/p/23525030411

The Wild Ones- Teaser Two

Okay, so I promised a tease each Wednesday until release day, which will be AUGUST 1st.  It's really hard to choose a teaser.  At least it is for me.  There's so much I want to share, but I don't want to ruin anything for you.  I picked this one because it's...well, you'll see. I hope you enjoy it!  I'm off to finish up Trick and Cami's story so I can get it to you on time:)

From The Wild Ones

From the corner of my eye, I see Cami fidget.  At first, it appears to be a nervous thing.  But when I glance at her, she looks at me and smiles. It’s a bright smile.  Bright and …excited, which makes me think it’s not all bad nerves.  In fact, it makes me twitch a little in my jeans, which is never a good thing when I’m getting ready to strip down in front of mixed company.

Without even pausing, Jenna pulls her shirt over her head then reaches for Rusty’s.  While they’re all wrapped up in removing each other’s clothes, I turn more toward Cami. 

“Are you sure you’re up for this?”

She takes a deep breath and grins at me.  “Yep.  You?”

I nod.  “Yep.”

She puts one small hand on my arm and looks me in the eye.  “It’ll be fine, you know.  Drogheda would never tell on me, so you don’t need to worry, okay?”

She’s worrying about me worrying?  Now I feel bad for telling her how important this job is.

“I’m not worried,” I assure her.  “I trust you.”

Her smile is sweet and pleased and it makes me want to kiss her.  Hell, everything she does makes me want to kiss her.

“Good.  You should.” 

As if she’s making her point, Cami takes a few steps back and pulls her shirt over her head.  She does it quickly and then holds it in front of her and waits.  That's my cue to shed a piece of clothing, too. 

In the brightness of the full moon, I can see her eyes twinkling devilishly.  She’s so coy.  So damned adorably coy.

God, it would be so much fun to have her all to myself for one night.  Just one night.  Maybe that would be enough to get her out of my system.

“All right then, Mr. Rock Hard Abs, show me what you got,” she demands teasingly.

She doesn’t have to ask me twice.  Grabbing a handful of shirt behind my neck, I pull it over my head.  But I throw mine on one of the white lounge chairs, sort of like upping the ante a little.  Her eyes flicker down my chest and stomach.  My muscles tighten.  I see her gaze drop lower then hurry back to my face. She’s curious.  She wants to look, she wants to see what’s under my jeans, but she’s trying not to show it.  I bite back a groan.

What I wouldn’t give to carry her off to someplace more private…

The Search for Trick

Trick.  You can't imagine how hard it is to find a picture that even remotely matches this gorgeous, charming guy that lives in my head. But, I like to try.  And I want to find him.  Or at least someone that's really, really close.  I'm just one girl, though, and I don't know all the juicy hot-guy sites that some of y'all do.  Soooo, with that in mind, I'm going to go with a little game that might help me find Trick a little faster.  I know other people have done this before and I've been thinking about it since a reader mentioned doing it. I just had to work out the logistics. 

Here's what I've come up with.  If you stumble upon a picture of a guy who seems like Trick--early 20's, tallish with a muscular build, tan skin, greenish-gray eyes, dark hair, wears worn blue jeans and a deliciously cocky grin--send him to me via e-mail at m.leighton.books@gmail.com.  I'll screen them and post the ones who come the closest.  When I see the one that just screams TRICK, the person who found him will receive an ARC the instant I'm done with the book.  How does that sound?  Everyone who sends me a picture will get a signed The Wild Ones bookmark when I get them in.  That way you won't feel like your efforts went unnoticed:)  Be sure to include your name and mailing address when you send me the pic.

THIS CONTEST WILL RUN THROUGH MIDNIGHT JULY 31, 2012!

Here are a couple I've found that I think COULD make a good Trick, but none of them have hit me like Heather Self's Jackson (see my sidebar for that yumminess).  I knew that was Jackson the second I laid eyes on him.  There will be no other.  It's one of those I'll-know-him-when-I-see-him kind of things.



*the pictures have now been removed for copyright purposes*

Holy crap balls!  I love my freakin' job:D  Bahahahahaha  *wipes drool*

Okay,y'all, go find him!  But most importantly, enjoy the hunt!  This is the most entertaining kind of research / gaming EVER!!!  Nom nom nom:)

The Wild Ones- Teaser

All right, y'all!  I truly cannot wait another second to start introducing you to Trick and Cami.  They are my newest obsession! Well, mostly Trick;)  I'm going to give you little bits and pieces of their story and this novel every Wednesday until it's ready for release.  Maybe a little more often, as we know I completely and utterly lack self control.  LOL 

As many of you know, I have had hella big troubles trying to title this book, but I keep coming back to the word "wild" and I have to believe that's because it just feels incredibly right for the story.  So, even though it's not a unique title, I'm going with THE WILD ONES and I'm making it my own for Trick and Cami.  They deserve it!

Here is the first snippet from the very beginning of my newest work, The Wild Ones.  I hope you enjoy it!!

The Wild Ones

Sipping my beer, I look around at the familiar scene.  If the honky tonk music blaring from the speakers in the ceiling hadn’t been enough to scream COUNTRY BAR, the sea of cowboy hats would have been.  I smile as I adjust the black one that sits atop my own head.  I love being incognito.  Even if, by chance, someone I know stumbles into the smoke-filled dive, they’d never believe it was me looking back from beneath the brim. 

Something hits the back of my barstool­—hard—just as I put the glass to my lips.  Ice cold beer pours down my chin and straight into my cleavage.  I suck in a breath.

“’Scuse me,” a deep voice rumbles in my ear.  Two hands grip my upper arms and pull me back, keeping me from tipping right out of my seat.  I’m looking down at my soggy jeans and t-shirt when I feel the hands disappear.  Half a second later, a face appears in my line of sight.  “I’m so sorry.  Are you okay?”

My fingers stop plucking wet cotton away from my chest and I stare.  Quite rudely, I might add.  I’m speechless. Literally.  And that, like, never happens to me.  

The most amazing eyes I’ve ever seen are staring back at me.  They are pale greenish-gray, rimmed in sooty lashes and filled with concern.

A sharp jab to my shin makes me let out the breath I hadn’t been aware of holding.  I see my best friend Jenna’s head poke out from behind the mystery face.  I know she kicked me and I know she’s trying to get my attention, but I can’t look away from these eyes long enough to glare at her.

God, his eyes!  I’ve never seen eyes that make me want to gasp and giggle and do a strip tease all at once. 

But these do.

They flicker down, letting me go just long enough to collect my wits.  I find very few of them.  They are well and truly scattered.  When he looks back up at me, his eyes are wrinkled at the corners.  He’s smiling.  And holy hell, what a smile it is!

“Does it make me a bad person for liking your shirt better this way?”

I glance down at myself.  My dark pink bra is plainly visible through the now-wet paper thin material of my pale pink shirt.  So are my very erect nipples.  I blush, mortified.

Why, oh why did I wear a light pink t-shirt with a dark pink bra? 

Because you can’t see your bra through it when it’s dry, dumb ass.

A thumb brushes my right cheek.  “God, that’s sexy,” he whispers.  Against my will, my eyes fly to his face.  His smile has died to a lopsided grin that is devastation in its purest form.  “I’ve never made a girl blush before.”

I laugh nervously, struggling to find my voice, to find my dignity.  “Somehow I doubt that,” I say softly.

“The hair of a devil, the face of an angel and the voice of a phone sex operator.  You really are the perfect woman.”

To my utter humiliation, my cheeks burn even hotter.  Curse my fair skin!

Reaching into his pocket, Hot Stranger pulls out a couple bills and slides them across the bar.  “Another of whatever…” He trails off, looking at me in question, waiting for me to fill in the blank.

“Cami,” I say, trying to hold back my grin. 

Smooth way of getting my name.  Chalk one up for Hot Stranger.

“Another of whatever Cami is having.”  He turns back to me, a wicked gleam in his smoky eyes.  “Sorry about your drink.  Not so much about your shirt, though,” he admits candidly.

Willing myself not to blush again, I tilt my head.  “So, do clumsy strangers have names in this place?  Or are you just called ‘bull in china shop’?”

The lopsided grin comes back.  “Patrick, but my friends call me Trick.”

“Trick?  As in trick or treat?  That kind of trick?”

He laughs and my stomach flutters.  It actually flutters.  “Yep.  That kind of trick.”  He sobers and leans in close to me.  “Cami, can I ask a favor?”

I’m breathless again.  He’s so close I can count every hair in the stubble that dusts his tan cheeks.  For just a second, his clean manly scent overrides the cigarette smoke and stale beer smell of the bar. 

I lose my voice—again—so I nod.

“Pick ‘treat.’  Please, for the love of God, pick ‘treat’.”

Like an idiot, I say nothing. I do nothing.  I simply stare.  Like a…a…well, like an idiot.

He makes a disappointed noise with his lips then starts shaking his head.  “Too bad.  Woulda made my night.”  He straightens, takes a step back and smiles at me again.  “Nice to meet you, Cami,” he says, and then he turns and melts into the crowd.

UtopYACon and my WIP

As many of you know, I attended the first ever UtopYACon, which is a conference celebrating the women writers of paranormal fiction.  I must say, I thought it was great!  The coordinators and the founder, Janet Wallace, did a truly phenomenal job!  I can't even imagine the time and planning and money and effort that went into something of that magnitude.  My hat is off to y'all!  Really. 

I got to meet many of the authors I've talked to on Twitter or friended on FB and most of them were even more fantastic IRL than I imagined they would be.  I was thoroughly WOWd:)  I sat on panels with some of my faves and in the evenings, we went out for dinner and drinks and lots and lots of talking.  As you might have suspected, most of that was done by yours truly.  You know, because I'm so quiet and all.

*pauses*

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Yeah, they all probably got their fill of Michelle and then some!  But, it was great fun and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.  In fact, I have every intention of going next year.  If they'll have me back, that is:)

Here's a picture they took at the con.  It's small, but you can still see some of the awesome peeps at my table. 

That's me, third on the left between the hilarious Heather Robbins (aka Supa Gurl) and the gorgeous Amy Bartol.  Quinn Loftis and Georgia Cates, two of the most awesome girls you could ever hope to meet, hadn't arrived yet.  Boo!  I so wanted them in that picture!!  We had the rowdiest table there.  Are you surprised?  Nah, I didn't think so:)

I'm in the aftermath now.  You know that funky place you go to after you get back from vacation?  It's like that.  Ack!  *sigh*  But, it's time to get back to life in the real world and I'm more determined than ever to focus on my writing and the important things in life, to let go of the things that don't matter.  Life is actually pretty simple. It's people like me who tend to complicate it, the people who worry about the little things. 

I'm stopping right here to give a huge shout-out to the genius behind the phrase "don't sweat the small stuff".  Duuuuuuude!  You freakin' rock!

Anywho, so today begins the sprint to finish my WIP.  Y'all, I am so in love with these characters, with this book, I can't even tell you!  I hope and pray it comes out like I think it will and that you'll love it as much as I do!  That's my mission.  It's a contemporary romance of the mature YA variety.  I'm leaning toward posting the blurb as soon as I settle on a title.  I've wavered back and forth on a name for a good two weeks now.  It's giving me a fit for some reason.  But I'll get there.  It'll come to me eventually.  I'm just hoping for sooner rather than later.

Oh and did I mention that y'all are awesome?  And that I love hearing from so many of you every day?  And that when I say it makes my day, it actually does?  I write for the love of it, but if I'm being honest, I have to admit that, even more than that, I write for you!  It's my goal to write you the best story you've ever read.  And I'll get there!  Mark my words, one day, I'll get there:)

I hope y'all have a phenomenal Tuesday and a great week!  *hugs*  Love ya lots!!

Just a Few Things

Wow.

This summer has been crazy!  Right?  I mean, seriously, it has only just begun.  What the what?  YIKES!  I think it's only fair I warn you that, much like Einstein's Theory of Relativity, a formula can be applied to my life.  It might explain a lot to you.  It is as follows:

Chaos + Heat = INSANITY

For me at least. If I were a bird, I'd be molting.  See?  Crazy!  I'm pretty sure that's the theme of my life, though, so I'm not exactly sure why this surprises me.  I think, to some extent, I thrive in chaos.  That or I'm just a magnet for it and, somehow, manage to  survive.  Could be either one.  The point being, it is what it is.  I guess that's just how I roll!  (If you need a visual at this point then YES, I'm doing the gangsta peace sign;)

Annnnnnyway, there are a couple of announcements I'd like to make and, after writing and deleting this frickin' post twice, I'm just gonna lay 'em out, k?  K:)

Number 1:  From this point on, I will be writing in the Mature YA / New Adult genre.  I think my "voice" resonates with and translates better into the older population, be it the upper end of the YA crowd or straight up adults.  I doubt this is a surprise to many of you who know me, but I just thought I'd pass it along to all those who don't:)  Consider yourself warned that I'm gonna let my writing and my imagination off the chain a little more.  Truthfully, I'm very excited!  I've tried for the last year and a half to conform to what I thought constituted "YA" and it turns out that's not really who I am as a writer.  So, watch out world!  Michelle's coming out of the booth!! *nods to Toll Booth Willy for all you Adam Sandler fans out there*

Number 2:  Throughout this summer, I'm going to be doing GIVEAWAYS on random nights on Twitter.  If you don't follow me... *gasp* shame on you!  LOL Nah, just kidding.  But seriously, you totally should!  I'll be giving away anything from eBooks to t-shirts to signed paperbacks to...well, who knows what I might throw in there?  You'll just have to keep your eyes peeled and see for yourself;)  My handle is @mleightonbooks

Number 3:  I've decided to do some sort of reader appreciation type thing.  I just haven't worked out the details yet.  So, so, so many of you have told me you're telling your friends to pick up my books, spreading the word, and that makes my heart hurt! OMG!  Seriously, you just have no idea how much that means to me.  And for those of you who love my work enough to take the time to put a review on Amazon and B&N, I freakin' heart you! 

It's people like you, readers like you--the ones who do these amazing things--that keep me doing what I'm doing, and I'm FOREVER grateful.  I really want to do something special for you.  And I will. I just need to figure out what.  And how.  But I will!  I'm no quitter, dang it!

Number 4:  I'll be attending UtopYA Con next weekend.  If you're in the area, stop by and say hello.  But be warned!  I am a hugger so brace yourself!

Number 5:  I'll be sharing a booth with the A-MAZING Courtney Cole and Fisher Amelie at the Decatur Book Festival in Atlanta Labor Day weekend.  If you happen to be around those parts, by all means, stop by!  I can assure you, you'll be entertained;)

Number 6:  For those of you who don't know and haven't "heard" me say it, I love and adore each and every one of you.  You can't imagine how much!  You really, truly, genuinely can't.  THANK YOU!  Thank you, thank you, thank you for being so incredibly awesome. You are such a positive force in my life, I could never in a bazillion years thank you enough.  But I'll try.  At every opportunity, I'll try:)

Well, I feel like I've given a public service announcement.  You may now return to your regularly scheduled Saturday. 

Beeeeeeeeeep!

See y'all out there!

UTopyYACon

Where all the cool kids go to meet their favorite female authors

It’s time to get excited and to get to Nashville for the first ever UtopYA Con, which is the convention for female, paranormal/fantasy young adult authors and readers who love them.  It will be held at the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville, TN on July 6-8, 2012. Would you like to come? You’re already excited I know, but wait until I tell you who’s coming (and this is just a few)… Myra McEntire (Hourglass and Timepiece), Angeline Kace (Descended by Blood), Amy Bartol (The Premonition Series), Tammy Blackwell (Timber Wolves), Tiffany King (Saving Angels), Abbi Glines (The Vincent Boys), Ella James (Stained), Jessica Sorenson (Fallen Star), and so many more! You can find the full list at the UtopYA Con website.

Here’s what a few of them are saying about going to UtopYA Con:

Raine Thomas (Daughters of Saraquel)-  “"The world's been waiting for a conference like UtopYA. It's unique and in a class of its own. If you enjoy YA fantasy and paranormal stories, you can't miss this event!”

Chelsea Fine (Sophie and Carter)- “"Don't miss out on UtopYa Con 2012: Bringing your YA books to life!"

Brina Courtney (Cryptid Tales)- “If you’re a true YA fan, you’ll be there,  mixing it up with all of us.”

But it’s not just for fans, it’s for authors too. Learn the tricks of the trade from people who are there, doing it successfully already. There are sessions and panels for both readers and writers alike.

So how about it? You wanna go? Well obviously you do, but here’s the question… ARE YOU GOING?

Here’s where you can find out more about tickets.

Now, so maybe you’re awesome, but you can’t go, and you’re bummed obviously. Well you still want to participate right? Here’s your chance, from now until June 29^th, 2012 you can vote for your favorite books to win UtopYA Con awards, hosted by CMT’s Katie Cook. Pretty sweet right? I know, I think so too.

Anyway because we had so many blogs help us to promote this unique event we decided to do some fun giveaways provided by some of our authors at UtopYA Con and some other authors.

Good luck and we’ll see you at UtopYA Con!

Giveaway info is on the sidebar

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