Changing Tunes (31 page)

First and foremost to my children: Gabe, Lucas and Jacob. I swear I’d be lost without you three. You three are the air I breathe. I still want to keep you through all of the fighting that ensues, even when I’m trying to write. I love that you all understand my love for writing and how important it is to me. I also love that you don’t mind take out and when I do actually cook, you always make a point of telling me that I’m the best cooker ever in the world. Yes, for that, you will be kept. I love you so, so much!

Tami Norman, there’s not really anything else I can say that I haven’t already. You’re my go to person; about everything! You are my biggest support system and cheerleader! You are a rock star. I swear everything you touch is amazing and you make my books so beautiful. Thank you for always sticking with me. I’d be truly lost without you. I love you dear friend.

Robin Harper of Wicked by Design, my friend first and cover designer second. Thank you for your beautiful work. You know me so well and you always know exactly what I’m looking for. You’re stuck with me for life; I hope you know that. I love your face off!!

My street team: Honey’s you all rock my socks and I’m so grateful to you all. Marcia Woodell, Julie Deaton, Amanda Berisford, Caroline R Hattrich, Debbie Diprima, Emily Proffitt-Plice, Jena Eilers, Kathleen Williams Rider, Kristy Louise, Nanee McGee, Stefanie Kral, Tamara Debbaut, Tami Norman, Terri Cox & Sarah Goodman.

My editor, Rae Green, my pal first and foremost, and editor second. I love your guts, girl! I’m so glad we get to be on this journey together.

I would be nowhere without my fabulous and favorite bloggers. Into the Night Reviews, The Novel Seduction, Book Addict Mumma, Debbie the Book Vixen, Mommy’s Late Night Book-Up, Up all Night Read all Day, Secretly Adorkable Readers, Evette Reads, Felecia Hickman-Amaya, Lara Feldstein with Mean Girls Luv Books,

Sarah Goodman, you’re my twin, my other half. Thank you for talking me down from the ledge and just being there for me. You’re always there when I need you. You are a fantastic friend and author and don’t ever forget that.

Keep reading for a sneak peek of book #2 in the Changing Series

The Changing Series - Book #2

Coming spring 2014

I run as fast as I can, trying to meld away into the shadows with tears streaking down my face. I held it in as long as I could, but I’m human. The minute I turned they just wouldn’t stay any in any longer. I can’t let anyone see me cry, especially not the ones with the awful words that laughed and mocked me as I turned and sped away. How could he just stand there and allow it to happen? How could he pretend there was nothing there? How could he just let me walk away?

I knew I wasn’t anyone special, but I thought he saw me, that he did see me. How wrong I turned out to be.

I wasn’t popular, but we were friendly in class. When I spoke to him, he seemed to listen. The only reason we got to know one another was solely because he had a sister in gymnastics where I also trained. I’d been in gymnastics for what seems like my whole life. I lived and breathed it. I’m of Puerto Rican-American heritage and I have the body of a gymnast. Yes, my body is strong and reliable, but this also means I have overly muscular legs and defined arms and I’m flat-chested as hell. I don’t have the body guys dream of but I’m certainly not ugly by any means.

But this? This I never saw coming. I thought when I’d received a note from him wanting me to attend a party that this was it. This was when he was going to ask me out on a date. I’d been so excited after school and taken special care to find clothes that helped make me look pretty. Clothes that made me look more feminine. I’d walked into that party with my head held high and immediately sought him out. Unfortunately, I’d also found him playing tonsil hockey with my arch nemesis, Holly.

Holly is the queen bitch in our school. She’s the mean girl that you’re scared of. She’s the first one to ridicule you if you’re wearing the wrong clothes, or if you’re legs are too muscular, or your arms remind her of a guy’s… or if you’re me. I don’t remember a day passing when she hasn’t had an unkind word for me. If it’s not me, she is bullying someone else.

Imagine the shock I felt as I approached the one guy I thought I’d made a connection with, thought was different, only to see his lips locked firmly on the one person that made it her mission to make my life hell. As if she was watching for me, Holly pulled back smirking as I approached. The next words out of her mouth were like a bucket of cold water dumped over my head.

“Did you really think he wrote that note?” She looks me up and down and then motions to Reece. “Look at him and then look at you. He’s hot and you’re just…not.”

In that moment I vowed to never look at Reece Shaw, ever again. He didn’t deserve any admiration from me. He certainly wasn’t the boy I thought he was, the kind boy who seemed to like talking to me. What I was seeing tonight made me question everything I thought I knew about him.

I ran as quick as my legs could carry me, but it wasn’t fast enough to escape the string of laughter that followed me, with Holly’s raucous laughter the loudest of them all. As I turned the corner taking me well out of sight, I could still hear the laughter resounding in my ears. It followed me all the way home, staying with me until I cried myself to sleep. 

Music is a huge inspiration to me when I’m writing. Some songs I listened to more than others and for certain scenes. There are two songs that I listened to over and over again.

Waiting for Superman
by Doughtry was the theme song through the entire book. It was inspiring and made me think of Ashley throughout and I really wanted to be able to get approval to put the lyrics of the song in its entirety in here but sadly that’s a very hard thing to do. So this is my plug to Daughtry and for the record the entire album is fantastic.

The next song that would make me cry buckets and literally would help me write an emotional scene is
Breathe Again
by Sara Bareilles. I’m a huge fan of hers anyway, but the piano and her voice together are like magic. I would cry every single time.