Two Breaths Too Late

by Rochelle Maya Callen

9.30.14

Young Adult

After years of secrets and bruises, Ellie Walker takes her own life only weeks before her high school graduation. She expected to be free, but instead is forced to face the brokenness she has left behind. 

This story isn't about happily-ever-afters. 

It is about the millions of terrible and beautiful moments that make up a life and the hope that lives in even the darkest of places. 

A Message from the Author:

EXCERPT:

Death,

I let you take me. I handed you a rope, a chair, and a hollow shell of a girl forgetting that I didn't have to be hollow at all.

I press my forehead against the glass. The feeling rakes through me. There is no relief or freedom here, in this in-between, in this limbo. This is not the sanctuary I wanted.

Hope can't be a hollow wish or dream. It needs to be filled, levied, brimming over with intention and action and belief and reaching, reaching, reaching, stretching until your muscles ache because you want it that damn much, and you won't stop reaching until you hold it.

Until it is yours.

I let go too soon.

Contribute Now!

About the Author:

ROCHELLE MAYA CALLEN is a bestselling YA author. Her first novel became a #1 Hot New Release on Amazon in 2013 within 24 hours of its debut. She has pet llamas in Ecuador, built homes in Mexico, played with orphans in Argentina and has spoken the words of Mother Teresa in front of 27,000 people at Reliant Stadium. She has been a speaker to young people since she was a teenager and has been a behavioral coach for 10 years. She lives with her husband and young daughter near Washington, D.C. Her personal experiences of loss and strength inspired her novel, TWO BREATHS TOO LATE and the #HoldOn2Hope suicide prevention project.

FIND ME ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
Follow the HoldOn2Hope project.
www.RochelleMayaCallen.com
www.HoldOn2Hope.org

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Two Breaths Too Late Cover Reveal + Giveaway

Two Breaths Too Late
Rochelle Maya Callen

Young Adult

9.10.14 (World Suicide Prevention Day)
www.RochelleMayaCallen.com 

Ellie Walker is a high school senior who commits suicide and then is forced to face the brokenness she leaves behind. 


EXCERPT:
1.

Death,

You aren't a tunnel of light, a choir of angels, or even an ascension of the soul. You are a twitching leg, a spasm of breath, a moment of fear when I realize that the noose I tied didn't snap my neck and I am left dangling with the chair tipped over too far from my toes. You are blackness blotting out my vision, my lungs heaving in breaths that aren't there, because the rope cuts into my throat choking the life out of me, slowly. 

Too slowly.

My fingers claw at the rope that I found in the closet behind liquor bottles and expired cans of vegetables. Life seeps out of me; the oxygen choked out, the carbon dioxide choked in. Where was the peace and quiet? Where was the release? The absence of fear? That is why I hid the rope under my mattress, why I waited till mom and dad left for work, why I climbed on a chair and tied the noose, why I wrapped it around my neck and pulled it tight, said a prayer, squeezed my eyes shut, and stepped off the chair. 
Leaving the screams, the bruises, the scars, the secrets and loneliness behind.

But you aren't taking me away.

I am suffocating in silent screams and the smell of ash. The floor is too far and I am too high. My chest caves in and just as blackness eats my last sliver of being conscious, I realize I regret. I realize I am too late. Death, you aren't beautiful or free or romantic like in all of the novels I have read. You are a girl who had no hope left, dangling from a ceiling beam who, two breaths too late, realized she wanted to live.

I thought you would save me, Death. 
But you are a liar.
Just like everyone else.

The Day He Died...
A Message from the Author of Two Breaths Too Late.

 He was about 6 when I met him. He was my new friend's younger brother and all long limbs, brown hair, and big brown eyes. He had one of the biggest smiles I had ever seen.

 The kid was brilliant. He read constantly. Loved learning. By 11, he was taking college classes. Languages. Science. His mind was a powerful beast that conquered many subjects. We all knew he would do amazing things with the brilliance he had within him.

 He would shine. He would soar.

 We were all ready and waiting to see it happen. We all grew up. I went to college. Gradated. Got married. He became a handsome teenager and was still wining over hearts (everyone loved him and that big smile). He joined a church band. Got his associates degree before 15. He had friends and a family who loved him.

 Then one night, he ran out of his house—his parents running after him—to the bridge that went over highway 95...and jumped.

 As a mother, I can't imagine that moment—that split second when you are looking at your child and his feet are solidly on the ground and he is so close to being within reach and that defining, heart breaking moment when he isn't any longer.

 He was 19.

 I heard the news by phone while standing in my kitchen. The shock rendered me breathless. What had happened to this brilliant young man? We found out later that he had been recently diagnosed with schizophrenia and after watching his brother have a fierce battle with the illness, he couldn't find the hope to live on.

 His family had everyone wear brightly colored shirts and his band played at the funeral. The music was joyous and beautiful and people hugged and danced as pictures of his beautiful smile were projected onto a huge screen.

 It had been the week of Easter. It was a beautiful celebration of his life—a life that ended far too soon.

We have all suffered loss in some way. We know the ache. The feeling of too much space because something or someone is supposed to be there to fill it.

 The loss of someone to suicide happens everyday. Every minute. It is estimated that worldwide nearly a million people take their own lives. One million fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters who are lost because they had no hope left.

 The day I found out about this brilliant young man's suicide, I was brought back to a moment years earlier, when I was 11 years old and standing on a chair with a noose dangling in front of me. I had stepped down from that chair that day—despite bruises, pain, loneliness, and secrets—and lived. Lived to see heart breaks, awards won, graduations, friendships, jobs, and a million other happy and terrible moments. Ugly or perfect, those moments were mine and there I stood in my kitchen with my round and pregnant belly and listened as my mother told me the news about a boy who had all those moments taken away.

 Almost a year ago, I posted a flash fiction piece I had written about suicide and a reader contacted me and said that I should write a novel based on it. I was intimidated. Scared. How could I take on something like that? It hit such a personal chord with me that I thought I might unravel in its creation.

 I am not going to lie. This novel always brings tears to my eyes. Not because I am a literary genius or a masterful story-teller, but because with every word I write and second that passes, I know there is someone out there who is deciding to give up on on their beautiful and terrible moments and my heart breaks and I wish I could type faster, or yell louder, or reach out and squeeze every single one of those one million souls and whisper, “Hold on...just a little longer.”

 This novel isn't about happy endings. It isn't about happily-ever-afters. It is about the beautiful and terrible moments that make up a life and the possibilities that live in even the darkest of places that sometimes we are just too blind to see. I will use a portion of the proceeds from this novel to donate to To Write Love On Her Arms as well as launch a suicide prevention project entitled, HoldOn2Hope.

The project will launch in September. If all goes well, there will be a LIVE event for teens in the DC metro area as well as the project's online media awareness component will last a full year. My heart is in this project and I know that a project like this needs a ton of love and support to thrive.

 That's where you come in. I hope together we can change this staggering statistic. I send you love and light today. Please know that you are precious in this big 'ol world and it would not be as bright or beautiful without you in it.
 XOXO,
Rochelle

*Website will be LIVE on Sept 1st.*

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Allegories of the Tarot Author Interview and Giveaway!

Get to know Matthew Bryan, one of the 22 contributors to the recently-released†Allegories of the Tarot†Anthology (which is already trailblazing its way up the fantasy anthology charts on Amazon!). Lon wrote his tale,†Path of Sacrifice, based on The Hanged Man card. You can read an excerpt of†his story below.†

Get the†Allegories of the Tarot†Anthology in on†Amazon,†Smashwords, Kobo, and everywhere else e-books are sold.†Add the†Allegories of the Tarot†Anthology†to your Goodreads to-read shelf!

About Matthew

Matthew has been obsessed with reading (and writing) since he could walk. Coming home on†the first day of kindergarten mad because he couldn't read was just the first sign. It has just†steadily got worse and the fascination with creating worlds with words finally exploded. This†spring saw his first book, In Heaven's Shadow, in print. Edited by the fantastic Annetta†Ribken, he is quite excited to share it with the world. He lives in the Great White North...no not as far as Edmontonóin Calgary, Alberta Canada. Born and raised (notice the avoidance of the phrase grew up...) in a small town the move to the†big city was a bit of a shock. He's traveled around a bit and that has helped broaden his†experience. All of which comes out in his writing. You can find Matthew here: authorsnotes.ca

Just a few questions...

What intrigues you about this particular Tarot card?†Reading through the description and details this statement jumped out: ìThe Hanged Man is a willing victim, someone who has chosen the path of sacrifice to accomplish a higher goal.î It immediately called to me. A character in my first book is the epitome of the Hanged Man. He puts his entire existence at risk for the greater good, to save the world. Why did you decide to get roped into this project? Partly because Annetta bullied me into it but also because it gave me a chance to delve into the sacrifice he made and reveal it for the world to see. Plus it was fun! Have you ever had dealings with the Tarot before? My mother worked with Tarot years ago and I found it fascinating. What other projects do you have planned?†Book two of my Citizen Soldier series. How did you decide what to write about?†Looking through the tarot cards and their meanings, the Hanged Man jumped out at me. It was absolutely perfect for my character Mkai. He's the epitome of self-sacrificing, he put his whole existence at risk to save the world. How literal did you want to get with your card?†I wasn't sure how literal I would be able to get - as it turns out it's a very broad definition. Or at least that's how it feels to me. Is your story a part of something you've written about previously?†The story I contributed to the anthology is based on a series I'm currently working on, Citizen Soldier. I published book one, In Heaven's Shadow, in may 2013. Path of Sacrifice gives some background to, the lead up to book one. Would you like to have written about any other card? Which card? Why?†Honestly I'm not sure which other card I could have worked with, I don't think any would have felt as perfect as this one. From what I understand, each author picked a unique card, all of us, no one choose the same card. Fate you could say delivered the cards best suited for each of us. If you could have the power to divine the future, would you or would you not and why?†If I could know or read the future.. hmmmm In the broadest strokes maybe. I think I would rather not though. I'm a firm believer that everything happens for the reason, even if that reason sometimes takes time to find. I guess knowing large scale things like if the zombie apocalypse ever happens etc - things like that - so I'd know whether to keep preparing for it or not LOL.

An excerpt from†Path of Sacrifice

He licked his lips nervously, the forked tip appearing for a flash before disappearing behind jagged fangs. †Sweat beaded on scaled skin as Fsol fidgeted in his seat before sliding to the edge to lean even closer to Mkai.

"She is planning war. †War with Heaven. †She is determined to succeed where Samael failed."

Mkai's heart thudded hard in his chest as he fell back in his chair.

"War with Heaven? †Is she insane?" he said, instinct keeping his voice low as he spoke words of treason. "Samael didn't even war directly and look at the result. †Even those, like us, who didn't side directly with him were thrown from His Grace. †What does she hope to accomplish?"

"That is what sent me running here old friend." Fsol said, excitement stealing over his face. "She has a plan, and I think it might work."

Samael had a plan as well.

"What's her plan? †How does she expect to succeed where Samael failed so drastically?"

"The souls. †She will build an army of the Damned and with them, invade Heaven. †She will tear down the Gates of Heaven and bring us unto His Light, with the souls of His favorites to lead the way." Read the rest of Path of Sacrifice†in the Allegories of the Tarot Anthology!

About Allegories of the Tarot

Once upon a time, there was an editor with a fascination for the Tarot. She was struck one day by a crazy idea. ìHey,î she said. ìWhat if twenty-two writers each wrote a story about the twenty-two cards of the Major Arcana of the Tarot and were fashioned into an anthology?î The idea would not leave her alone. And thus, the Allegories of the Tarot was born. Crowdfunded by a campaign on Indiegogo with the help and support of an amazing group of writers, twenty-two stories were crafted around the mysteries of the Tarot. The group includes a Pushcart Prize nominee, a Pulp Ark nominee, a former Bigfoot researcher, a journalist, an award-winning YA author, and a Rhysling Award winner. Professional writers, new talent, and a range of genres boggling the mind: Horror, Speculative Fiction, Bizarro Fiction, Erotica, Mystery, Humor, Paranormal, Epic Fantasy, Literary, Romance, and Historical Fantasy. What has emerged is an outstanding collection of fiction, unique and mysterious. Stories that will make you cry, make you laugh, and make you think. Stories that make you feel the touch of the Universe. Dare to step through the portal to shadowy realms and emotional journeys.

Get the book!

Allegories of the Tarot†is available in e-book and paperback format†on Amazon, Kobo, and in multiple e-book formats†on Smashwords. Donít forget to†add†Allegories of the Tarot†to your to-read shelf on Goodreads. Connect with the†Allegories of the Tarot†Anthology on its†website,†Facebook, and†Twitter.

HALLOWED INK PRESS ARRIVES

The brand new publishing company that pre-published and debut

Authors have been waiting for is HERE!

Open to Submissions, Hallowed Ink Press is a traditional publishing house looking for ‘fresh,’ innovative voices in both the YA and New Adult genres.

The incredible ‘team’ behind Hallowed Ink Press bring experience and skill to the table in a wealth of areas, including; writing, cover design and editing. Most importantly, however, these industry professionals are on a mission to find and work with artists who have ideas that will break through the stereotypical literature and bring back exciting, inventive tales to the eager reader. From stand-alone fiction to poetry to anthology projects, Hallowed Ink Press will focus on finding the best and brightest in the literary realm.

Visit www.HallowedInkPress.com TODAY!

Find out more about

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Get the Allegories of the Tarot Anthology in on Amazon and Smashwords. Add the Allegories of the Tarot Anthology to your Goodreads to-read shelf!

Swing by the Allegories of the Tarot Facebook page and enter the release-day giveaway of a custom Tarot box--complete with Tarot deck!

Who hasn't been fascinated by the mysterious Tarot, writer and reader alike? For centuries, fortune-telling by the Tarot has caught many an imagination, but nothing like what will be presented here. 22 cards... each an individual splinter of the human psyche. 22 writers... honing each splinter into a story of triumph and decay, arrogance and humility. Stories of the brightest lights and the darkest corners of the weirdest minds. 22 cross-genre worlds. 22 portals into the Universal. Only one way to get there. Come with us. Cross the portals. The Universal awaits.

About the book

Once upon a time, there was an editor with a fascination for the Tarot.�She was struck one day by a crazy idea. "Hey," she said. "What if twenty-two writers each wrote a story about the twenty-two cards of the Major Arcana of the Tarot and were fashioned into an anthology?" The idea would not leave her alone. And thus, the Allegories of the Tarot was born. Crowdfunded by a campaign on Indiegogo with the help and support of an amazing group of writers, twenty-two stories were crafted around the mysteries of the Tarot. The group includes a Pushcart Prize nominee, a Pulp Ark nominee, a former Bigfoot researcher, a journalist, an award-winning YA author, and a Rhysling Award winner. Professional writers, new talent, and a range of genres boggling the mind:�Horror, Speculative Fiction, Bizarro Fiction, Erotica, Mystery, Humor, Paranormal, Epic Fantasy, Literary, Romance, and Historical Fantasy. What has emerged is an outstanding collection of fiction, unique and mysterious. Stories that will make you cry, make you laugh, and make you think. Stories that make you feel the touch of the Universe. Dare to step through the portal to shadowy realms and emotional journeys.

Early readers have fallen in love with the�Allegories of the Tarot

"Allegories of the Tarot Anthology is a magical book. Magic that will keep you turning the pages. There are muses, demons, �psychics,�evil,and more! I shivered, I laughed and I even cried. Magic, I tell you. Magic." -Julie Affleck "Reviewing an anthology is slightly more difficult than discussing a book or comic because the tone varies from author to author. However, Allegories somehow flowed together as a well-matched whole. The project ended up feeling like several beads strung together to form a beautiful necklace that were more amazing for being paired together." -Jodi Scaife "All twenty-two stories in this volume are, in a word,�superb. I found myself scouring the Internet as I read it; every story made me want to go find more work by its author.�The ultimate compliment I can give�Allegories�is to say that when I finished it, I thought how I envy those who haven�t read it yet." -Lisa Millraney

Get the book!

Allegories of the Tarot is available in e-book and paperback format on Amazon, and in multiple e-book formats on Smashwords. Don't forget to add�Allegories of the Tarot�to your to-read shelf on Goodreads. Connect with the�Allegories of the Tarot�Anthology on its�website,�Facebook, and�Twitter.

Happy Release Day for Mari Arden's One!

HAPPY RELEASE DAY!

Title: ONE

Author: Mari Arden

Genre: New Adult

Release Day: September 4th 2013

Blitz Host:  HYPERLINK "http://ambersupernaturalandya.blogspot.com/p/lady-amber-tours.html" Lady Amber's Tours

Blurb:
Jules Hendricks has had a string of bad "firsts."

 Embarrassing first kiss. Traumatic first date. An obsessive first boyfriend she can't understand. 

It's taken her years but she's finally able to leave her small town life behind for a new start as a freshmen at UW- Madison. For Jules this chance to be independent and rebuild her life is an opportunity she won't ever let anyone take from her again. She's determined to make something of herself without a man by her side, in front, behind or anywhere near her. 

Reid "Pax" Paxton is the star quarterback for the UW Badgers. His brush with death makes him understand how precious life is, and how important it is to take life by the horns, unafraid. Jules knows he's dangerous for her. Dark hair. Smoldering eyes. Killer smile. That dimple. That body. Those arms. Pax is everything she's trying to run away from, but she can't help coming back for more. Slowly he begins to show a life together can be more than just a dream. It can be their reality. The truth about reality is it's not always sunshine and butterflies.

Sometimes it's a wasteland. 

Sometimes secrets can't stay buried.

Sometimes your past will find a way to hunt you down. 

Excerpt:
**Warning: the contents of this book are intended for readers 18+ and older due to explicit adult situations.

"Do I make you nervous?" His husky drawl drips like chocolate covering a ripe, round strawberry. Does he make me nervous? Does a simmering volcano make an ant nervous?

I swallow. "Nervous? I'm not nervous," I babble, refusing to look at him. I'm in physical pain. What's that thing I do where I take in air, and then let it out? Oh yeah, breathing. I need to do that. 

Like right now. 

I make a strangled sound and inhale through my nostrils, taking in the smoky air like a ravenous puppy finding milk. Instantly I feel Pax's heat next to me. Soon I'll be immersed in it, wrapped in it. 

Wrapped around him. 

So does that make me nervous? Only a hundred kinds of nervous.

"Time to begin!" Cade yells, as he jogs back to Pax and I, flashing his pearly whites. He pounds Pax on the back. "Don't drop the ball," he grins. 

"As if I ever do."

Cade turns to me. I see the second he registers my cleavage is exposed to the world. His eyes appraise me slowly. He gives me an appreciative grin. "Well, hello there."

"Hi," I reply. "Um, should we start now?" I don't mean to be rude, but I'm a second away from vomiting every cell inside me, and call me crazy, but I'd prefer not to start off my year known as the Vomiter. 

"Yes," Pax glares at Cade. "Let's start." He inserts himself between us, blocking Cade's view of me. His firm, half naked body is next to my face. Pax's musky cologne combined with a sweaty scent unique to him assails my nostrils until my senses are reeling out of control. 

Cade chuckles, looking amused. I want to glare at him. I don't find anything amusing about this. "Ready when you are."

Pax turns to me, his emerald eyes dark pools in the sunlight. This close I see every glorious inch of him, from the tiny stubbles of black hair covering the lower part of his face to the rippling six pack decorating his stomach like a tattoo. I don't dare look any lower. My pulse skitters. I forget to breathe. Something hard and hot unfurls in my belly. Unable to tear my gaze from him I watch helpless as his mouth drifts closer, until he' so close his breath mingles with mine.

"Ride me."

Excerpt copyright 2013 Mari Arden

Author Bio:

I'm Mari Arden (Mari rhymes with safari). Teacher by day, author by night. When I'm not living my double life I like to hike, take zumba classes, and try foods from all over the world. I write to soothe my soul and to, hopefully, entertain YOU. I write YA and NA including the YA series, "Fireborn". 

Adventurous? Come join my double life!

Links: www.mariarden.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mari-Arden-author/493749174011347

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6897452.Mari_Arden

  

www.twitter.com/mariarden

Cover Reveal! Breaking Angelina & Taking Chances

Title: Paranormal Investigation Series (Breaking Angelina 1.5 & Taking Chances 2)

Author: Rita & TJ Webb

Genre: New Adult Paranormal

Cover Reveal Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Blurb:
Powerless to silence the voices in her head, Angelina obeys their every command, even if it means ruining her college career, swindling money from her friends, or kidnapping and killing a siren so she can brew a love potion to ensnare the man she's crushed on since childhood.

The Hunter, a man-wolf-hawk chimera, drowns the memories of his murdered family in liquor. A tracker for hire, an honorable man who has misplaced his honor, a twisted soul with no heart left to care.

…until Angelina hires the Hunter to help her track down a siren and wakes him from his drunken stupor. What will it take to set them both free?

Blurb:

Someone — or something — vandalized Jason's new shop. Smashed windows, a broken cash register, damaged merchandise are strewn across the floor, but the culprit left the money.

The evidence: bloody bear prints larger than any bear Jason's seen, black ooze that can eat the flesh from bones, and a missing employee.

Bears don't wander into busy shopping districts, turn off security alarms, and break into stores. When more people go missing, Jason and Emma realize the cops aren't up to handling the situation.

Something’s going wrong in the paranormal world. Can Jason and Emma fix things before someone else gets hurt?

Links:

Blog:  HYPERLINK "http://afantasyfiction.blogspot.com"http://afantasyfiction.blogspot.com 

Goodreads:  HYPERLINK "http://www.goodreads.com/ritawebb"http://www.goodreads.com/ritawebb

Twitter:  HYPERLINK "http://www.twitter.com/ritajwebb"http://www.twitter.com/ritajwebb

Facebook: HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/RitaJWebb"http://www.facebook.com/RitaJWebb