Prologue: chasing Reese.
Snow falls like soft whispers over the treetops. The weather is blustery cold and the skies are painted different shades of grey, like the backdrops of holiday greeting cards. The winding road is desolate and untraveled. The pavement is covered with ice and snow.
Catalina Pardo sits perched on the passenger seat while behind the wheel is her fiancé, Blake Mackenzie. He is the love of her life and within Catalina’s womb reposes the fruit of their undying love.
Blake takes a glimpse at the beautiful woman sitting across from him. His eyes appraise Catalina and glisten with fervent love. With one hand on the steering wheel, Blake removes one hand from the steering wheel and lays it on top of Catalina’s that is tenderly rubbing endless circles around her wee belly.
“I love you Cat,” Blake declares, as he lifts her hand to his mouth and showers Cat’s knuckles with feathery kisses.
“I love you too, forever-”. Catalina tries to release her hand from Blake’s with a giggle. “I know you love me but you better keep your damn eyes on the road.”
Blake snorts and answers, “Your humor becomes you honey,” as he looks to her and threatens to tickle her. She throws her head back in peals of laughter.
But Catalina’s merriment ends abruptly− the car hits a patch of black ice and swerves out of control. Blake tears his hand away from hers as he desperately tries to regain control of the car. Her eyes widen as she looks out the window. The trees move past them, unusually slow, time continuum irrevocably broken. As a snow bank comes into view, her hands cover her mouth in horror.
Panicked, Blake slams on the brakes and yells− “Hold on Cat!”
In a split second, the car slides a few feet and flips in the air three times until it lands upside down. Catalina’s head hits the window shattering it into countless pieces. She’s in cutting pain. Blood rushes to her ears with the force of a freight train. All sounds diminish− she hears only a roaring hum. Her eyes blink rapidly− her body in shock going between patches of darkness and life.
Catalina tries to reach out for Blake but can’t. He looks at her, pain etched on his features, his head dangling in front of the steering wheel. A large gash on his scalp forces a steady flow of blood to drip onto the ceiling of the upside-down car.
Blake coughs as he gasps for breath. “I’m sorry Cat. I−,”
His chest exhales one last time and all the life disappear from his baby blue eyes. Catalina’s voice breaks, “Blake? Blake?”
Catalina sobs inconsolably as she screams his name in vain. She tries to move but can’t− crumbled metal restricts her, keeping her prisoner.
“God, please! No! Blake! Wake up honey. Please don’t leave me!”
A knife-edged pain grows inside her womb. Still suspended, Catalina tries to crane her head upwards. She looks to her lap. An ocean of red stains her maternity jeans. Losing all of her strength, she lets her head dangle back down.
“No God. No! Please! Someone help us! Please!”
With hurried breaths, her eyes close. The snow falls like whispers in the wind.
©Imy Santiago-ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
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The End of Vol. 1
Coming close to the end of volume 1 of the SAFELIGHT novels is a bittersweet feeling for me.
In 15 days marks a year since I’ve been working on this project. chasing Reese was originally titled SAFELIGHT and it
wasn’t a novel but a poorly written screenplay. For the last six months I’ve been working hard to turn it into a novel worth publishing.
In two days, the script/novel will be edited and ready far in advance before its release on January 5, 2015. Revised queries will be submitted to those amazing agents in my backyard next month.
The past three months have been the most interesting in the past year. I’ve met some cool people along the way and been cast away by others. It’s the nature of this business and unfortunately, part of the circle of life of any independent author.
The important thing is to not lose focus, keep your chin held up high and move along. Success is never achieved by kicking the little man down. Remember that.
For you, aspiring author who is reading this, I pray that I am able to deliver you hope. Just because you haven’t pressed ‘publish’ doesn’t mean you are not an author. It means you are someone on the cusp of fulfilling your dreams. Don’t let anyone deter you from that or break your resolve.
I wish everyone, including those who wish to see me fail, the best of luck. After all, there is an oven full of precious pies baking, one of them with my name written all over it.
-i
Announcements
I am pleased to announce that chasing Reese will be a series comprised of three books, subtitled ‘SAFELIGHT novels’. I also have an updated synopsis for chasing Reese as well as projected release dates for the next installments.
I apologize for being out for a while. Editing can be a tricky, time consuming, I want to gouge my eyes out with a spoon kind of thing. My editor and I will be working hard to trim this plus size beauty (115K) into a fit 85K novel.
Synopsis
Everything in life is not permanent but it was perfect. Catalina Pardo had a career in journalism most people could only dream of, a hot, sexy fiancé to call her own and a brilliant future ahead of her. When tragedy struck, the life she once knew fell apart. Four years later, traumatized by the events that ultimately changed her existence, Catalina sets herself on a punishing work schedule, preventing herself from facing the demons of her grief-stricken past. Emotionally shut down, she’s alive but not living because everyone she ever loved leaves her.
Loss brings love…
Fate intervenes in Catalina’s life in the form of a last minute assignment to a snowy mountain lodge in Whistler, B.C. Sent there to cover the life of the infamous Jackson Reese; an Olympic Snowboarding Champion, she is faced with many challenges bringing to surface the raw emotions of her past. Compelled to work alongside Stryder Martynus, an award winning photographer brought in to document the Reese press tour, tensions and denial run high forcing Catalina to accept the past and face the present with zero regrets.
chasing Reese. a SAFELIGHT novel (book one) January 5, 2015
finding Reese. a SAFELIGHT novel (book two) Summer 2015
saving Reese. a SAFELIGHT novel (book three) Fall 2015
Calling All Bloggers
I’m very excited to announce I have a book cover for chasing Reese. I would like to have a simulcast reveal on Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks.
As you know, being an Independent Author means you are responsible for your own marketing. Living in an era where we rely on social media for news, why not use it to my advantage.
I have created a Google Doc for bloggers to sign up. Please disseminate. I need all the help I can get. Here’s the link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O7U9slE3ssGAAN7PNMW4DVg7ZvUEUK26G17jipkvKtw/viewform
The clock is ticking, my heart is racing! chasing Reese is coming oh so soon!
Hot Read Wednesday
Hi everyone!
This past weekend I was introduced to The Everything Trilogy – a New Adult Romance series penned by the fabulous K.L. Shandwick.
Musicians, star crossed lovers, drama, heartbreak and growing up; all the perfect elements needed for a hot, sexy, steamy read. I was warned by the author to keep an open mind while reading Enough Isn’t Everything (Book 1 in the series). This was K.L. Shandwick’s debut novel and like all new authors, she struggled with self-doubt. After all, we are our worst critics. I can almost hear her Scottish accent telling me: “Rubbish“. That makes me smile for she was WRONG. It isn’t rubbish. I’ll explain further below.
Amazon USA http://www.amazon.com/Enough-Isnt-Everything-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B00HFG2UWS
Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Enough-Isnt-Everything-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B00HFG2UWS
synopsis
Lily’s friends in London regard her as having the whole package. Smart, beautiful, and musically talented, she’s finally realised her dream to study in the USA, by securing a music place at college in Miami. She regards herself as worldly, having lived the London life and travelled to Mumbai to work in an orphanage in the past, so felt more than able to cope with living and studying abroad.
On arrival in Florida, everything on the surface seems to be running to plan. That is, until a chance encounter on campus with a stunningly handsome, charismatic, rock-god-like musician, Alfie, leads her into a no-strings sexual relationship with him. Until she arrived in the USA, Lily had tried to avoid personal relationships with the opposite sex, not wanting anything to affect her plans. She was sexually naïve but after meeting Alfie, she convinces herself she’s able to deal with what Alfie is offering her. What follows takes Lily on a roller coaster of emotions and after a surprise visit from Max, her friend and room mate’s brother it leaves her questioning her morals.
At college Lily quickly teams up with Will, a handsome sax player, who helps her develop her creative ideas and performs with her as a duo in the Miami music scene. A series of bad choices in her relationships with Alfie, Max and Will, create emotional turmoil for Lily which leaves her doubting her judgement about men. Each of the three men has a special place in her heart for different reasons. She realises that she’s no match for Alfie and tries to resist his attention. He’s told her he can’t love her, but wants to be with her physically, arguing, sex between them is enough. The reality for Lily is she knows enough isn’t everything.
Here are my thoughts about this book:
Life isn’t perfect. We all make mistakes. Somewhere along our journey we make a wrong turn and eventually get lost. The beauty of this is that you learn, you grow and eventually evolve.
I was in college once upon a time. There were moments where I felt like everything was perfect and then suddenly it wasn’t. That’s exactly what happened to Lily in this book. Her life was seemingly perfect. She had a strong head on her shoulders. It seemed the world was her oyster for the taking… And it always takes one. One person to make your head spin, to unleash the wild child that is locked away inside of us all.
I soared and I fell alongside Lily. My heart broke for her. Many of her decisions were eschewed by a void she, herself could not understand. Her relationship with Alfie was too toxic but so full of love. I want to understand Alfie, I want to know the reasons why he can’t give in to Lily. I want to understand why Lily gave herself away in the process.
All these questions are good. The author did one hell of a job strapping me in on a wild ride. I couldn’t put this book down. I devoured each page wondering where K.L. Shandwick was taking me. Each twist and turn in the plot had me holding my breath, clutching my pillow and making me hope there is a silver lining to Lily’s journey.
Not many authors can do that to me so thank you! I loved this story! I loved each detail. I am so happy to have read this book. Did I mention the sex is HAWT?! *Fans face*
I can’t wait to read Everything She Needs (Book 2). Next week I’ll share my thoughts on it.
Oh. Before I forget, as authors, we are only as good as our readers think we are. That’s why it’s important to write an honest review after reading a book. All it takes is 20 words. The best way to compliment an author is by leaving a kind review.
chasing Reese and Smutty Book Friends on Facebook
For #TeaserTuesday, Smutty Book Friends on Facebook shared a brand new teaser for chasing Reese.
The ladies behind the blog are simply amazing. They have shown so much support throughout my journey to author-hood. Please, grace these ladies with a ‘Like’. They’re coming close to 1000 ‘Likes’. I can’t wait to see what kind of celebration they will have for their fans.
https://www.facebook.com/Smuttybookfriends
Ladies, love you tons. Thank you.
-i
#TeaserTuesday
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Please meet Stryder Martynus, Award Winning Fast-Action Sports Photographer and leading man in #chasingReese.
Stryder Martynus is a handsome man, who is jaded but hopes to find the woman of his dreams. Working in different cities in different countries seldom offers him an opportunity to have a stable relationship. So he delves in women, not allowing sentimental entanglements to cloud his judgment. He is talented, honest and passionate. Will he find love in Whistler, B.C.?
You’ll have to find out in chasing Reese. a SAFELIGHT novel coming to you on January 5, 2015.
(Credits: Design: SAFELIGHT Productions; Model canstockphoto13307024)
Join me for my first blog takeover EVER!
“Hey I just met you and this is crazy! But here’s my first blog take-over so show up baby!”
Pleased to announce my FIRST EVER blog takeover as an AUTHOR (MEEP!) with the lovely ladies at Bottles & Books Reviews tomorrow, Sunday August 17th from 4p-6p EST.
You have a date with me. Help me celebrate their One Year Birthday Bash and promote the heck out of chasing Reese.
It will be fun! I might even RP with you guys… <— I have a tendency of doing that during takeovers. Fish puns, teasers, chasing Reese galore. See you there!
SUPER Sexy Celebration with C.J. Wells-Authors of Perfect Plans
I am super pleased to share this awesome information with you!
I will be celebrating with C.J. Wells, Authors of Perfect Plans (Available Now on Amazon) and Take A Bow (releasing Dec. 1, 2014) on the success of 1,000 ‘Likes’ on Facebook and 5,000 ‘Followers’ on Twitter. As a thank you, for a limited time only, Perfect Plans will be available for FREE. Make sure to click on the links for further information.
C.J. Wells has gathered some really talented authors to give away some of their work for free on e-Book format only. Also there will be some Amazon e-gift cards for the taking via Rafflecopter. https://www.facebook.com/CJWellsAuthor/app_228910107186452
I’m honored and proud to be part of this and CONGRATULATIONS C.J. Wells on your remarkable milestone! Well deserved.
xoxo
imy santiago 