Saturday, December 31, 2011

OCBBD: My Disease

Well, it's official. My name is Cyndi Tefft and I have a disease. And incurable one. And an expensive one to boot.

I have OCBBD: Obsessive Compulsive Book Buying Disorder.

Fortunately, my husband is a big time enabler who finally decided that the books I had wedged in every nook and cranny of the household needed a real home. So looky what I got for Christmas!

Bookshelves! *cue the joyous music*


Since I'm a good wife, I allowed him a small section of the bookshelf for his books (see the teeny pile in the bottom left). This is not unlike our bedroom closet. All the rest is for me. Mwahahahaha!

He gave me the gift with a note that says "Consider this a challenge." Does he love me or what?

*swoon*

And, as part of my 12-step program, I should probably note that I bought three (no, four if I count the ebook, too-rats!) books from BN.com before I wrote this blog post.

See what I mean? OCBBD is a disease and I gots it baaaaaaaad. I'm guessing maybe some of you have it as well. We should form a support group and meet up at, um, say, the bookstore? :)




Thursday, December 15, 2011

Fake Ninja Movie Title Contest- Vote Now!

Fake Movie Posters

Holy Smoking Ninjas, Batman! The entries for this contest were so awesome, I nearly choked while reading some of the titles you guys came up with. Hilarious!

Because you all made me laugh so hard, I've decided to have two separate polls: one with titles that sound like they could be real movies (and therefore are contenders for inclusion in Hell Transporter), and another with the funniest titles.

Vote for your favorite(s) in each category. I'll leave the polls open through Tuesday, December 20th at 9pm Pacific. The titles with the most votes will win a special prize (not telling what it is until then)!

Thanks to all of you for your enthusiasm and creativity. You made this SO MUCH FUN!!



And now for the funny ones...

Monday, December 12, 2011

Aiden's Angels' Super Sekrit Project Revealed!

If you've read Between, you've seen Aiden MacRae wield a claymore and sever an enemy's head from his neck. *shudders* You've also seen him be soft, caring for Lindsey as she mourns her death, and you've seen him be... er, sans kilt shall we say. hehehe

Ladies the world over have fallen for the soft and hard that is Aiden MacRae, so much so that they've teamed up to become Aiden's Angels.  Squee!!

The uber-fabulous Lindsay Cox from the Violet Hour Book Reviews, made us a team logo out of red ink, white clouds and angel dust. It's so beautiful, you should be careful when looking directly at it (not unlike the chest in the picture above). *fans self*

I love the logo so much, I wish I could adorn everything in my house with it. And here's where the super sekrit part comes in!

Lindsay put together a CafePress site where everyone can buy merchandise with the Aiden's Angels logo!

Holy cats, that's awesome!

So now you can have Aiden with you when you sip your coffee, snuggle up with your fave eReader, slam back a shot of whisky, or have him sliding down your chest as you're getting dressed in the morning.


Okay, I'll wait while you dream about that last one...

*whistles*

*checks watch*

*shakes you*

Aiden's Angels everywhere have been keeping this under wraps until today, where the blogosphere will get to join in our excitement. We're keeping prices rock bottom so everyone can enjoy Aiden's Angels goodies, so the prices listed are the minimum set by CafePress. Neither Lindsay nor I are getting any commissions on this. We just want to give you more ways to declare your love of the dimpled Scotsman.

A huge thanks to Lindsay for putting this together! And thanks to all of Aiden's Angels whose enthusiasm warms me like a shot of Macallan cask strength whisky. I love you guys!


Friday, December 9, 2011

Name That Movie! A Contest

My friend, Tim Surdyk, has a running joke with me about how he doesn't understand how the ninjas fit into Between. There are, of course, no ninjas in the book. He just says that to tease me.

And in his honor, I am going to include the word "ninja" in Hell Transporter. And you get to help me!

In Hell Transporter, there's a scene where the characters are trying to decide which movie to watch. They rattle off a few titles (that I made up) and one of them is going to have "ninja" in the title.

Here's where you come in (and the contest)!

Leave your recommendation(s) in the comments for a fake movie title with "ninja" in it. After I've received a collection of suggestions, I'll put them in a poll for peeps to vote on! The reader whose movie title wins will receive a special Christmas prize from me (and know that their movie title is in the book). How awesome is that? *grin*

Be sure to leave your email address in the comments section so I can get a hold of you if you win!

Now, go crazy!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Hell Transporter Cover Made of Awesome!

In case you missed the reveal on Reading Angel's blog, here is the cover for Hell Transporter, the sequel to Between, due out in the spring. I love love love it!


(Blogger cuts off the right edge but I wanted to make it big enough for you to see. I wish there were a fit-to-frame option!)


Huge thanks to Dave at Woulds & Shoulds Editing and Design who created this cover made from sheer awesome. He's the same designer who made the cover for Between, and the continuity of the two is simply masterful.

And here is the book excerpt posted earlier, from the Hell Transporter's point of view:
My gaze locked onto the girl and a violent, lusty excitement soared in my chest. I would tear her apart, rip her limbs from her body and laugh as her blood soaked into the ground.

You will die tonight. Her whole body twitched and I knew she heard. The war cry that erupted behind me told me the Scot heard as well.

I crashed through the brush toward her. She didn’t move, just shivered like a mouse before the cat’s jaws, but her eyes grew larger than the moon as I bore down on her. She was making it too easy. She was taking the all fun out of it. Bitch.

Summoning the wind’s power, I flew forward with the speed of a raging fire and grasped the girl's hair in my talons, yanking her limp body up off the ground. I didn’t have time to savor her death. The Scot was raining down on me. No matter. One quick snap and she’d be dead. I wanted to see her eyes as she died, as the light dimmed from the inside out.

When she met my gaze, I froze.
You like? :) If you're excited to read Hell Transporter when it comes out in the spring, be sure to mark it as "to read" on Goodreads. You can also pick up the Aiden's Angels logo below to put on your blog!


Friday, December 2, 2011

Crazy Stupid Love That Lasts a Lifetime

I watched Crazy Stupid Love last night, curled up on the couch with my hubby. It was really cute. You should rent it!

In the movie, Steve Carell plays a man (Cal) who met his soul mate when he was 15. Okay, I realize this is Hollywood so it doesn't have to be believable. But you know what? It happens.

Teenagers fall in love. Like real, forever, honest-to-goodness, crazy, stupid love.

Sometimes they even get married. And stay married.

It happened to me.

My husband and I got together during our first year of college. We met in late August, were engaged by February and married the following December. We would have been married sooner, but our folks freaked out because we were so young. When we got engaged, I was 19 and he was 18.

This year marks our 19th wedding anniversary.

Okay, yes, I realize you can do the math and figure out how old I am. I know, you're shocked! Eh, you'll get over it. *grin*

Turns out we're not the only ones in this Crazy Stupid Love Club. I was tweeting with some fabulous ladies the other night and they, too, were blushing brides who've stuck it out for the long haul because of crazy, stupid love!

@NewUTMommy: married at 20, going on 15 years together now
@deviantzangel: engaged at 20, married at 22, still together
@readingangel002: married at 17, going strong
@Loretta_Lynn86: engaged at 16, married at 18, still in love
@violethourBR: married at 19, 7.5 years together now
@jderucki: engaged at 20, married at 21, celebrating 16 years together
@baakrjacks: married at 20, been together for 25 years!

Young adult romance is not always about crushes. Sometimes it's the real thing. And that's a beautiful thing. <333




Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Hell Transporter Cover Reveal!


Big news!! The cover for Hell Transporter will be revealed tomorrow, December 1st, on Reading Angel's blog

****UPDATE: Aiden's Angels have demanded that the cover reveal should happen on SCOTLAND time in honor of Aiden MacRae, so the post is up now! I love you guys!***

I'm so excited for you guys to see the cover, I can barely stand it.

It's beeeeeoooootiful!

But wait, there's more! (No, not a set of knives, though that would be cool, come to think of it. LOL)

In addition to the cover reveal, Reading Angel will also be posting an excerpt from the book written from the Hell Transporter's point of view. *chills* If you missed the teasers I've posted already on my blog, here they are.

Oh, and check out my Awesome Fans! page for two new buttons (one for Between and another for Aiden's Angels). Thanks to the lovely Lindsay Cox for those designs! <33

Monday, November 28, 2011

Support Four Debut Authors & You Could Snag $125!

The utterly fabulous Shannon Mayer has put together a promotion so simple and full of awesome that I am bursting at the seams to share it with you! *squee*


With this contest, there is something for everyone and it’s SO simple to be in on the winning!
On November 28 and/or 29, purchase 1 or all 4 of the debut authors' books listed here. Then forward proof of purchase (the receipt Amazon sends you will do just fine) to motionsrider@yahoo.ca and get up to 4 entries into a draw for a $100 Amazon gift card!

It’s that easy: no reviews, no hoops to jump through. Just a great .99 book or two. Or three or four. AND, if the person who wins the $100 Amazon Gift Card has purchased all 4 books, an additional $25 Amazon Gift Card will be awarded to the winner!

On top of that, 2 random commenters picked from 2 of our participating blogs will receive $5 gift Amazon gift cards. So be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think of the promo, the books, or the authors. Don't forget a contact email in your comment in case you win!

Winners will be chosen randomly. One entry per person, per book.

All winners will be announced on December 7th on Shannon's site Wringing Out Words


So without further ado (what is ado, really? LOL), here are the four books in the order Shannon gave them to me (just in case you thought I was vain for putting mine first):




It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water's life isn't alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile, and Scottish accent.

After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates.

Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven's siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries.
Available from Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iBooks. Prefer a paperback? Order your personalized copy using the widget in the upper right corner of this blog.




When darkness falls, whose side will you be on?


For the past six years, Zoë has been anything but “normal.” Struggling to accept her immortality and thrown into a war that’s been waging in the shadows for over a thousand years, Zoë must now become who she was meant to be, joining the other Chosen to save what’s left of humanity. When the endless night falls over the Earth, will she be able to save the one man who reminds her of what it is to be human, or will it be too late?


Until Dawn: Last Light is a story of death and despair, love and longing, hope and hopelessness, and the ability to survive and keep going even when it seems impossible – when you want nothing more than to give up.

Grab your copy of Until Dawn: Last Light on Amazon for only 99 cents to be entered in the drawing!




A stranger enters a dying town and makes a desperate plea…


The Kayson Cycle introduces the Kayson Brothers, a pair of faith healers who once wowed crowds in a traveling show but went their separate ways after a night in which a healing took a dark turn. Jeffrey Kayson disappeared into the wilderness and William Kayson, wracked by guilt, moved to the failing mining town of Calico Hills to build a nice, quiet life – one that has lasted for over ten years.


His quiet, predictable life crumbles when a mysterious stranger walks into his tavern bearing a proposal to find his long-lost brother and do the one thing that William has sworn to never do again - have his brother heal a woman. William soon learns that he can’t escape his family – or his destiny.


Includes an exclusive sample chapter of The Corridors of the Dead. Please note that this is a Kindle Single, and around 6,000 words in length.
The Kayson Cycle is available from SmashwordsAmazon or Barnes & Noble for less than a buck!




A miracle drug, Nevermore, spreads like wildfire throughout the world allowing people to eat what they want, and still lose weight. It is everything the human population has ever dreamed of and Mara is no different. Only a simple twist of fate stops her from taking Nevermore.


As the weeks roll by, it becomes apparent that Nevermore is not the miracle it claimed. A true to life nightmare, the drug steals the very essence that makes up humanity and unleashes a new and deadly species on the world that is bent on filling its belly. Locked down within their small farm home, Mara and her husband Sebastian struggle against increasingly bad odds, fighting off marauders and monsters alike.


But Sebastian carries a dark secret, one that more than threatens to tear them apart, it threatens to destroy them both and the love they have for each other.


Now Mara must make the ultimate choice. Will she live for love, or will she live to survive?

Pick up a copy of Sundered from Smashwords, Amazon or Barnes & Noble for a chance to win!  

HUGE thanks to all the bloggers who are participating in the event. Love love love you guys! *mwah*





Sunday, November 6, 2011

Love One Another

I've been battling a nasty cold this week, which means I haven't been sleeping well. After church, I crawled into bed, clicked on the electric blanket and took a nap. It was wonderful.

But I couldn't get up.

I heard my family moving around the house: the clicking of the dog's toenails on the hallway floor as he searched the house for me, the muffled talk of my husband and children in the living room.

I knew I needed to get up.

If I stayed in bed, I wouldn't be able to sleep later and I'd be up all night. I kicked myself around inside my head, yelled "Get up!", called myself names to try and combat the sinuous lure of sleep and the warmth curled around me. It didn't work. I slipped back into oblivion. Again and again and again.

I needed someone to come wake me.

It wasn't that I didn't know I needed to get up. I did. I just couldn't do it on my own. The pull of the bed was too strong, it felt too good. Even though I knew it would only hurt me, I wasn't able to extract myself from the jaws of slumber.

This week, we learned that a close friend has been leading a double life of sexual sin for several years. It rips my heart out to think of what he and his family are going through right now. I love them all deeply and wish that I had known--that anyone had known--and that he'd been able to reach out and ask for help.

Sometimes life is too much for us to handle on our own and we need to have someone come and wake us, pull us from the lure of what ensnares us. I implore you to be the kind of person who not only asks for help, but who also willingly gives it.

Love one another. 



Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Sugar! Sugar! Sugar!

I hope you all had a fabulous Halloween! My kiddos were successful in bringing in quite the haul of candy. Before we went out, I told them, when given the choice, to pick chocolate (since I like chocolate- haha), and they followed my advice. Good job, kids! :P (Proud Mama)

Now, to manage the sugar rush and distribute said candy...

We're going to dump it out on the counter and let them take turns picking the pieces they want most (15 pieces each). Then I'm going to buy the ones I want from the rest of the pile, and the others we'll take to their dentist, who will pay them cash for their candy. Pretty sweet, huh? (See what I did there?- lol)

How do you divvy up Halloween candy to your kids? Let them eat it all? Put a limit on pieces per day?

If you don't have kids, how do you think it should be done?

I want to hear from you!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

So You Wanna Win a Book?

There are oodles of opportunities for you to win a copy of Between right now, so I thought I'd be a sweetie ('cuz I'm nice that way) and collect them all in one place for your clicking and entering pleasure.

You're welcome! *grin*

Enter to win a print copy from Paper Cut Reviews (part of the Feast of Screams) through November 1.

A print copy is up for grabs at vvb32's blog. Contest ends November 13.

Unabridged Bookshelf is giving away five ebooks of Between (ends October 31).

Reading Angel has an interview with me and an ebook giveaway (through November 4).

Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads is giving away two paperback copies internationally! Ends 11/11.

Good luck!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yep, it's my birthday today! Woohoo! Let's celebrate!

*tosses confetti*

*hands out kazoos*

*pins the tail on Adam Levine*

*takes a sip of champagne*

*cranks the tunes*

I told my hubby that I love my birthday because it's the one day a year when it's all about ME. He said, "The ONE day???"

LOL- He knows me too well.

I asked my son this morning how old he thought I was. He said "29" and I didn't correct him. So, from the mouth of babes, I am officially 29 today.

Hey, no snickering, you in the back!

:)


Saturday, October 15, 2011

Piracy Sucks!


In less than 24 hours, my book has popped up on FIVE sites for illegal download. Worse, two of the sites plagiarized my dear friend Jaime's review along with the posting. Jaime is spitting mad and so am I.

Between is practically free as it is! The ebook only costs 99 cents. Who doesn't have that? I've had bloggers email me and request a free review copy, which I willingly give. So if a person doesn't have a buck and is desperate for the book, there are ways to get a copy without stealing.

And I'm not the only one. Jennifer Armentrout, the author of the upcoming Half Blood, was recently plagued by illegal postings of her book as well.

So what can we do about it?

We've emailed the sites to ask that the pirated copies be removed, but Jennifer called them gremlins that multiply at night, and I have to agree with her. My Twitter friend Trina M. Lee told me that her books have been pirated for years and that even if a site agreed to take the posting down, it would pop up again a few weeks later.

Jaime is fighting back. And so am I.


Okay, so maybe I can't stop the books from being posted illegally. People who wish to do evil will find a way. So we choose to counter that with good.

Jaime is hosting a contest on her blog where she's going to buy and give away a copy of Between. Go and show your support! HappyTwilighter made a Piracy Sucks twibbon to add to your Twitter avatar. HeyItsFishy is making a Piracy Sucks banner. What The Cat Read has already posted about this. Larissa's Bookish Life is the awesome talent behind the icon above. Add it to your blog! Unabridged Bookshelf is giving away 5 copies of Between and another 5 of Angeline Kace's Descended by Blood (which has also been plagued by illegal postings).

Figure out how you can be part of the movement to speak out against piracy.

For me, I will give a free ecopy of Between to EVERY SINGLE PERSON who blogs about this and comments back here with the link.

This isn't about me and my book. It's obviously not about money, since the book is dang near free already.

This is about stealing that which should be a gift. When an author pours her heart onto the page in order to make you laugh, cry, and fall in love, it is a gift. From her to you. It's a special time capsule of hours spent when you were swept up in another world and just for a little while, were able to set aside the trials of this world. Don't steal the gift. It won't mean as much to you in the end, I promise.

Go and spread the message that Piracy Sucks and come back here to let me know you have. Be sure to leave your email so I can send you the free copy.

Because above all else, I want to share the gift of Between with you. From my heart to yours.


Friday, October 14, 2011

Pen Fatale Tour Pics!

I met a fabulous lady on Twitter today and she mentioned that a group of YA authors were doing a signing at Barnes & Noble in my area. So skip forward a handful of hours and not only did I get to meet the authors (and get signed books), but I got to meet my new Twitter friend, too. What a great night!

The Pen Fatale Tour made its very last stop in Seattle and I was fortunate enough to attend. Alyson Noel, Jessica Brody, Mary Pearson and Gabrielle Zevin (L-R) were out promoting their new books. While Alyson was definitely the most well-known of the group (and most of the questions were addressed to her), all four ladies were personable and engaged the audience beautifully.

One girl up front asked Mary Pearson how she got the idea to put thoughts in a black box (the premise of her novel, The Fox Inheritance). Mary responded that she'd done some research and that scientists currently believe that in about 25 years, they'll be able to scan our brains and download the information to a computer so we can have conversations with ourselves. Jessica Brody piped up and asked if her computer brain would be able to tell her where she left her car keys, since she has difficulties with that. :)

Alyson shared that she finds writing inspiration from events in her life, that she's been through some tough times: lost 3 people in her family within a short period and almost lost her husband to leukemia. Mary spoke of her daughter's cancer and how that played a role in the stories she came up with to work through the emotions. Gabrielle lightened the mood by recounting a story about a vicious chihuahua trying to attack her and her pug outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art as the inspiration for her novel, All These Things I've Done.

I had the chance to ask Jessica about the Ah-Mazing book trailers she's done for The Karma Club and My Life Undecided, which are more like movie trailers than book trailers. She said that she has friends in the film industry who've helped her out and that they take months to do, but that they are a labor of love. When I talked with her one-on-one during the signing, I told her I'd love to have her do a book trailer for Between.

*dreams of casting a hot guy in a kilt as Aiden*

*swoons*

All in all, it was a fabulous night. An inquisitive and attentive crowd, and some lovely women encouraging young readers (and writers). What's not to love?

Safe travels home from your tour, ladies!

And super big thanks to my new Twitter friend, @seibslikefeebs!


Sunday, October 9, 2011

Seattle Sounders Fan-tastic

I went to my first Seattle Sounders game last night and had an absolute blast! That's not me in the picture, but I felt like it. The energy in the crowd was out of this world: jumping, chanting, cheering, singing... it never stopped.

The Sounders didn't win the game, but it scarcely mattered since it was really all about the fans. I snapped a little video with my phone, which doesn't do the crowd justice, but might give you a taste of the intensity.

Sheer. Awesomesauce!


The Fan Gallery Has Begun!

I wanted to put together an homage to the awesome people who've read Between, so be sure to check out the Fan Gallery page of the blog. If you've got a copy of Between, snap a picture of you with the book and email it to me at cynditefft -at- gmail -dot- com. I'd love to add your photo to the page! :)


Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Q&A with Jody Hedlund and Giveaway!

I am honored to have the lovely Jody Hedlund on the blog today, talking about her new novel The Doctor's Lady which just came out on September 1st. See giveaway deets at the end!



Priscilla White knows she'll never be a wife or mother and feels God's call to the mission field in India. Dr. Eli Ernest is back from Oregon Country only long enough to raise awareness of missions to the natives before heading out West once more. But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field. Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs. Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God's leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts.

When did you start writing The Doctor's Lady and how long did it take you?
I started writing the first draft of the The Doctor’s Lady last January (of 2010). I spent approximately 5 months writing it, doing about 5000 words a week. I had to take a few weeks off during those months to do some in-house editing on The Preacher’s Bride. But overall, the first draft of The Doctor’s Lady went fairly quickly.


Was there anything notably different in writing this book than your first?

I always fall madly in love with my books during the first draft stage. It’s not until after I finish and start the editing that I begin to fall out of love. And that was true of The Doctor’s Lady the same as all of the other books I’d written previously.

However, The Doctor’s Lady was the first book I’d written under a contract with a publisher. They gave me initial input into the book. But even with approval of my synopsis and their guidance for the story development, when I turned the finished manuscript in to my editors, they didn’t like some of the aspects of how I shaped the story.

I ended up having to spend a couple of months doing some major rewriting of the book which was very difficult. But their input and feedback has hopefully made the book into something my readers will enjoy.


What advice do you have for aspiring writers out there, particularly about the Christian fiction market?
My first piece of advice for aspiring writers is to make sure they’re actively pursuing growth in their writing skills through reading fiction how-to books like Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell or Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass. I can’t tell you how important writing craft books have been to my own personal growth as a writer. Over the years, I’ve read countless books and then practiced what I’ve learned. Without all of the study and practice, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. Writing a captivating and well-told story is the foundation of a promising writing career.


My second piece of advice for aspiring writers, particularly those interested in Christian fiction, is to familiarize themselves with the industry. Study the various publishers and their websites, become familiar with authors and their styles, get to know agents and their clients. A great place to get more information about Christian agents and publishers is on the American Christian Fiction Writer’s (ACFW) website. They have a list of agents and editors who will be attending their annual conference and what kinds of projects they are specifically looking for.

If you could buy land anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I’d definitely buy a plotof land on a mountain and build a log cabin (fully equipped with all modern conveniences, of course!). And then I'd use it as a place where I could retreat for peaceful writing sometimes! It would also be an ideal place for hosting writing getaways with writer friends. So does anyone have any mountaintop real estate they'd like to sell to me? *wink*

What's one article of clothing you probably should throw out, but won't?
I have a floral print dress that I made for my honeymoon. Not only does the dress hold wonderful memories, but it was also incredibly difficult and painstaking for me to make (since I don't really know how to sew well!). I can't make myself throw it out, even though I haven't worn it in nearly twenty years, and likely will never wear it again!


Jody Hedlund is an award-winning historical romance novelist and author of the best-selling book, The Preacher's Bride. She received a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, both in Social Work. Currently she makes her home in Michigan with her husband and five busy children.



Enter to win a signed paperback copy of The Doctor's Lady by leaving a comment (and your email address) below. US mailing addresses only. A winner will be drawn September 30th. Good luck!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Sitting By Yourself on the Bus (aka Growing Pains)


My son started kindergarten this year. When I asked him how his day went today, a shadow passed over his face and his eyes glistened. He blinked, pushing down the emotion.

"I rode the bus by myself," he said in a small voice.

"What do you mean? Don't you usually sit with your other two friends? Were they gone today?"

"No, they were there. They didn't sit with me. I had to sit by myself."

Yep, that sound you heard was a mom's heart breaking, mostly because I know there's nothing I can do to fix it. No Band-Aid can fix the hurt that comes with being rejected. No ice pack can heal the pain of friends turning away from you.

I can't even offer him a promise that things will get better, that kids will grow up and learn the error of their ways. It still happens to adults. Not as often, sure, but it hurts just as much when it does.

We all want to belong, to be loved, to be accepted. I want to wrap my arms around him and keep him safe from the pain of the world. But I can't.

All I can do is love him, pray for him, and pray for his friends, too. And lead by example so that maybe he won't make the same mistakes.


Saturday, September 24, 2011

A Tribute to My Fans! {{HUGS}}



You want to know the best thing about writing Between? Connecting with readers who love the book (and Aiden!) like I do. *insert enormous group hug here* Dang, I love you guys!

In honor of these fabulous like-minded peeps, I'm going to create a Fan Gallery page on my blog.

Snap a picture of your beautiful self with the book and email it to me at cynditefft at gmail dot com and I'll include your photo in the page. Feel free to be creative!

If you don't have a copy of the book yet, you can order a personalized copy from me (see upper right corner of this page). I'm so excited to see pics of all of you! *hug*


Friday, September 16, 2011

YA Indie Carnival Winner!

Holy buckets of awesome, Batman! I am just full of winners today, aren't I?

Last week, the YA Indie Carnival threw a giveaway bash and today, I get to announce the winner of an ebook of Between:

Paige Bradish

Woohoo! Congrats, Paige!

If you didn't win a copy of Between as part of the YA Indie Carnival or the YA Scramble, never fear! There are more opportunities for you to win!

Reading away the days (ends 9/23)

Goodreads (ends 9/30)
Inky Fresh Press (giveaway starts next week)