Spades is being redistributed

Hey there readers,

Spades is currently in negotiations to be redistributed.

As of today, Spades will be taken down (temporarily) from the following websites: Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Smashwords, Sony, Apple, Baker&Taylor, Goodreads, and Diesel.

I'm not sure how long the books are going to be under construction, but I'll definitely be updating this page to keep everyone posted.

Whatever happens, these books are going to be re-sold with new editing and new covers in the very near future. :0)

>Really excited<

Love2write.

The Spades Book Trailer

Hey there readers! For those of you biting your nails, waiting for the release of Cave of Mirrors, be sure to check out this trailer. Leave behind any comments or ideas about what you expect to find in the third book of the series. Thanks a lot for taking this journey with me. Love you all!

Spades Book Three

CAVE OF MIRRORS

// Coming Soon

As forceful winds stirred beneath the house, I was reminded that autumn was nearly finished and winter was just around the corner. Only two more months before Christmas, and I could already feel the holiday spirit taking over. Soon, there’d be famous Christmas carols filling the town with laughter. People would gather on porches with large scented reefs and golden lights to hang. White fluffy flakes would decorate the lawn, and patterns of snow angels would glisten at the peak of day when the sun was most glorious, which was something I’d been looking forward to ever since I could remember. This kind of weather was nonexistent in California, so it was just another reason I was glad to be in Arkansas. Already I could taste hints of eggnog and warm brownies, which would be baked in the morning and stacked next to Tre’s delicious oatmeal cookies, and everything would be served unreservedly. In addition to the food, there’d be a Christmas tree standing in the center of the living room, dazzling with our favorite ornaments.

Blue had already started putting some of her partially covered boxes near the fireplace. Some of them were filled with cinnamon scented pinecones and glittery silver balls and holiday stockings and multiple flavored candy canes. There might’ve also been presents inside, but I wasn’t going to go through her things to find out. I imagined stacks of presents loaded beneath the tree, waiting to be opened. The anticipation was something I hadn't felt in such a long time that I was having difficulty processing my newfound excitement. Carl and Laura were such selfish bores, living inside their privileged bubble, to ever be traditionalists. The most we ever did for Christmas was watch a stage show and give each other envelops filled with money and plane tickets. As far as they were concerned, Christmas trees were out of the question, and so were holiday songs about reindeer. For the most part, they liked to be alone at the end of the year and often sent me away to shop at the mall while they stayed in bed and enjoyed their million-dollar home. This arrangement left me with enough time to sulk about mom and how great our lives were with dad before she died. Eventually, I was going to need to forgive Carl and his new wife and get over it. But forgiving them didn’t mean I had to move back and live with them. It’d be easier to forgive them from a distance.

I knew it sounded childish, but with Carl and Laura out of the picture, I was much happier than before. Maybe because there wasn’t anyone around to shape my identity into the image they thought I should be. I was having such a grand time spreading my wings. Day-by-day, step-by-step, I could create my own destiny without interference. Even if this path wasn’t the most ethical line of work and I was currently hiding myself from the law in this small town, I was still freer than I’d been before.  

The intricate ink pattern on my arm forming a spade was the latest addition to my life – the proof that I wasn’t a little girl anymore. ‘Thieves were born in the wild’ was a famous saying here. And not only had I been fully trained as a professional in the art of taking things that weren’t mine, I was also born with a gift that hadn’t been triggered until after my 18^th birthday, soon after I arrived in this driveway. Like everyone else here, I was a spade, or someone supernaturally inclined to move things without touching them. I hadn’t quite mastered the gift yet, but I’d been secretly working on it ever since the ceremony ended. When no one was watching, I experimented in the gym and tried to grow comfortable with the idea of what I’d become. Fortunately for me, no one else thought I was freakish. Everyone had the same gift, so I didn’t have to go through the impossible awkward phase...again.

Once Chris took the others to the airport and dropped them off, he was coming back here to give me a one-on-one intensive on how to control my newly discovered gift. It appeared that him and I would be staying in the cabin for a couple of months until the others returned from their trip. As usual, the team was breaking up into partners and going on separate missions, stealing whatever was required of them...usually diamonds. In normal circumstances, Chris and I would’ve gone on our own heist assignments together for the first time. But because of what transpired with my awakened powers, he was instructed to stay at the cabin and train me alone, at least until I was able to control my ability.

Jack was insistent about not getting the two worlds mixed up. Our heist assignments were altogether separate from our innate talent to regulate air pressure. And they were never allowed to intermingle. That meant we had to conceal our powers by not using it in public or during a heist. Jack didn’t want us getting caught. If the police found out we were thieves (which was an impossible occurrence due to our extensive list of connections) it was better for them to throw us in jail for stealing than for them to know power lurked beneath our fingertips. The first could be dealt with, but the latter would be the destruction of our species. Our underground world would be destroyed forever. Not to be confused with witches, we were the next best things. The only difference between us was that we didn't use tools, like spell-books, to distort the elements of the earth to get what we wanted. We were a natural force, born with the gift, and when the time was right and we were ready, the power within us turned on. Mine turned on right after my last birthday, which was why I needed to learn how to operate these surges of energy flowing through my veins before taking on any more assignments.

Secretly smiling to myself, I rested my head on the front door, staring into the driveway. This time of year usually made me sad from thinking about  my mom. But for some reason, the thought of getting warm and toasty inside this cabin next to Chris made me want to leap out of my skin and do something inappropriate with my coach. I was surprised when the thought didn’t subside right away. Chris hadn’t spoken to me much since that night in the attic when he pressed my body against the wall and cradled his mouth on the curve of my neck, whispering how much he wanted me and how much he knew I wanted him. Even now, the memory rippled through my being, raising my skin. I could feel him trapping me in the corner of the room with a groan in his throat, breathing my name, making my heart melt and setting it on fire. I could taste the warmth from his lips as though they’d never left, and shivers raced to the top of neck where his hands had been. Those strong hands were like gentle magnets, exploring me for the first time in that lonely dark corner, all of this while raindrops struck the window. Gravity itself seemed to implode right through me. So I balanced myself and closed my eyes, recounting the collision of our desire; the desire that for so long, Chris had denied and pretended didn’t exist, and I’d suppressed for the sake of not wanting to be the only one with feelings.

Since then, Chris never looked at me the same way he did that night. Nothing was ever as intimate as the experience we shared in my attic bedroom. We exchanged a few polite words during practice, but it was nothing more than politeness. The others were always around to distract us from what happened three weeks ago, so we addressed each other formally and continued on as if nothing happened. This left me with enough room to fantasize about the unknown and what could’ve happened if Tre hadn’t knocked on the door and interrupted paradise. Whenever I was working out or taking a midnight run or relaxing in the tub . . . I was always thinking about Chris. In fact, there wasn’t a place in the world where I didn’t think about him. My mind was completely mesmerized by what took place that it was hard to command myself to think about something else. Which wasn’t a good thing. This kind of enchantment always led to a broken heart. But I couldn’t help it. I didn’t want to stop myself from wanting him. And I probably wouldn’t stop feeling this way until we finished what we started.

At the sound of the van’s engine, my attention thwarted, and I watched my teammates pull out of the driveway. Chris was behind the wheel, and Tre’s arm swung out the passenger’s window, throwing up the peace sign. I returned the gesture and formed a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. Folding my arms, I realized the obvious. My usual strive for greatness was at its lowest. I could feel the carelessness taking over my practices. Usually I was more self-motivated about being the best thief in the cabin, or at least better than Blue. I should’ve been more clear-headed about my position. Learning this magical craft was just as crucial as being a skilled crook, and both aspects needed to be taken seriously if I was going to wear the crown as Chris’s new partner. That wasn’t going to happen if I was thinking about him all the time. Tre made it perfectly clear that I was making history, and replacing Jennifer wouldn't be an easy feat. I definitely had some big shoes to fill. For one, Jennifer was a legend in this place. She used to be Chris’s partner until she disappeared (or died), and there was no way I could fill her shoes without feeling intimidated.

For two, there were a lot of girls here already who didn’t want to see Chris with anyone else but them. Having continued fantasies about him would just make me vulnerable to attack and incapable of handling the position with honor. I wanted to curse at myself for being distracted, and in a moment of irritation and rationality, I tried shutting him from my mind completely. There was no time for puppy love games when I needed to focus on my career. I owed this to myself to remain firm and professional. If Chris wanted to pretend like nothing happened, I’d do the same . . . even though every inch of me wanted to knock on his door in the middle of the night and ask him, what the hell? He couldn’t just handle me the way he did in that attic bedroom and then go about his business like we hadn’t just opened Pandora’s box. But that’s exactly what he did. And from this moment forward, I was going to do the same. For the sake of my own sanity and for the sake of my profession, I was going to end this diversion once and for all. My thoughts about him were over. Starting now.

Feeling newly inspired about my decision, I tightened my ponytail and grabbed my helmet from the kitchen counter. There was an errand I had to take care of before Chris returned, which was why I hadn’t gone with them to the airport. There was no telling when I’d have another opportunity to handle it. I knew once boot camp started, my schedule was going to be way more tied up than I wanted it to be. 

Enjoying My Release Day :)

I'm glad you could be here on this special day. 

I just wanted to share how excited I am to be releasing Spades The Ceremony (Book Two). 

I've decided to push back Spades The Introduction to mid-September, so you can keep looking back on this website for more information.

I have to do admit, my entire heart and soul has gone into this project, and I really hope my readers will enjoy reading the material as much as I've enjoyed writing it. 

Looking over the transformation of Book One & Book Two, I can say that this has been an amazing roller coaster ride, full of surprises and hard writing sessions, but it's just the beginning. The characters and their personalities have become clearer in the second edition, which means, with each book, they're becoming more real to me. 

This process has been a constant unfoldment, a field of exploration, and I'm still getting answers along the way. Things I didn't even know were going to happen are happening. Maybe that's the underlining benefit of writing a series. It allows more time to get to know the characters and provides a bigger window to either fall in love with them, or passionately hate them.

The journey has been a mysterious one, because I usually don't know what's going to happen next until I write it. And not knowing the ending beforehand has made writing The Ceremony an enjoyable experience. 

So, without further a due, you can purchase your copy of Spades The Ceremony (Book Two) at these links: >>  Barnes & Noble

>>  Smashwords

Be sure to leave a review and let me know how you feel about the books. That's the only way I can know if I've made a difference. And yes, your voice matters.

Love you guys,

Kristy

Facing Another Thunderstorm

Athens, OH is insane right now, and it's been insane for the past few days.

Last week, the power went out for an entire 48 hours, and I had no way to charge my phone. I wasn't the only one. The whole town and campus was without electricity until the weekend was over. Thankfully nothing blew out today. I still have my computer and cell phone and internet, so that's a good thing.

Mom was worried we were going to die and insisted me and Phil buy a ticket to California ASAP.

I told her this is my town, and I'm not running away from a few drops of rain. Even though its pouring outside, the weather is still 90 degrees, and it's not a total bust.

I like comparing Athens weather to Caribbean weather because it's turning more and more into a tropical environment. The only reason it's raining intensely is because the air is extremely hot and the trees need their nourishment (that's what I keep telling myself). Mother Nature knows what she's doing, and I personally enjoy the violent rain storms. It doesn't have to snow all the time. Ohio can have rain and be a desert, too :)

Aside from the thunderstorm, we cut Missy's nails yesterday. WOO! Thank GOD! That girl was having way too much fun shredding up my furniture with her crazy bear claws. I'm not exaggerating. I know she's a kitten, but her nails were the size of a male lion's. All she did was dig into stuff and leave marks on my arm. 

Phil and his brother finally went to the dollar store and bought some new clippers. They held her down pretty tight to get the job done, which she didn't like very much. But we're all enjoying the result; now I can cuddle with her and be worry-free :)

I also did some research about cats stealing people's breath away when their sleeping. I know, I know, I'm being superstitious and it's an old witch's tale, but I believed in that non-sense. Now that I have one, I realize cats just like being close to their owner. They like breathing near our faces because it's cozy to them. They're not 'stealing' the oxygen from our lungs or some insane idea like that. They're just sharing an intimate space with their owner. And with that realization came a new acceptance for me; I'm not freaking out every time she comes near my face.

I'm really glad Phil found her when he did. She was living on the street and he just picked her up and brought her home on the night of the storm. She's a pretty awesome kitty. She even jumps on my desk and writes with me most of the time. I think I'll dedicate a page to her; cats are such an interesting subject that I'd probably never get tired of talking about them.

I can at some point get tired of talking about books, though. There's been so much technical delays on the Amazon website that it's driving me CRAZY. I can't even begin to express how frustrated I am with my favorite online store right now. But they've really made it impossible for me to make my books available there. For the last 30 days, people have been buying my book, and the sales haven't been showing up on my reports. In other words, I'm not getting paid. Period. I haven't been getting accurately paid for SPADES for the last 30 days, and I was about to call my lawyer and start a case until I realized I can take matters into my hands. I'll just sell my own books from my own website - problem solved.

With Amazon's system being inaccurate at the moment, I'm only getting one or two sells a day on their website when I know for a fact it's selling more. I even bought 10 copies of my own book yesterday to prove it, and sure enough, the payments went through and the money was deducted from my bank account, but it has yet to show up on my reports. That's what's been going on for an entire month. So I've lost a lot of money waiting for them to do their job. I  also emailed them a bunch of times and they said they're aware of the problem and that the issue is widespread and high priority and they're working to fix it as soon as possible.

I'm not upset or anything like that, ok maybe a little. Malfunctions happen. But instead of depending on them for my livelihood, I've made my ebooks available here, as well as the paperbacks. I'll still keep an introduction page on Amazon, because I love them. But hey, I have to make a living, too.

And to all the aspiring authors and indie writers out there, when you finally do release your material, never put all your eggs in one basket.

Thanks for your understanding, and thanks for reading this post.

Love&Light

-Kristy

Purchase E-book(s)

The book is written as a feel-good YA novel with elements of suspense and slight hints of the supernatural. This is a sort of a book the readers would either love or hate because while the promise of the book is that of a dynamic, fast-paced adventure, the execution is more of the inner exploration of the main protagonist, Calise. She gets involved with a mysterious group of young people who take her all the way from her home in California to a secluded place in Arkansas, where she undergoes rigorous training. She is crashing hard on the "coach," Chris, who saved her from a botched suicide attempt and decided to take her in. She is trying to fit with the group, members of which are not very accepting of her, especially the only other girl in the mix, Blue.

It takes a while for the reader to realize what it is these people train for, and about half of the book is basically Calise taking in her new surroundings that are interjected with mysterious happenings, existential angst that is mostly due to the main heroine loosing her mother two years prior, and her admiration for Chris. "There was nothing perfect about him," Calise thinks to herself, and she is totally fine with that notion. Things start to pick up afterwards but the format remains pretty similar."Spades", in my humble opinion, is aimed at older teenage female readers. The writing is tight and the main character, Calise, does have a nice stability to her even though she had to go through some painful experience. Here's hoping you'll find this book enjoyable.

- Oleg Medvedkov

(E-book #1 on Sale For Free)

Read it right now from your computer

17-year-old Calise Thomas grieves her mother's death. As she trains with Chris and his friends at a cabin in the woods, she realizes why they live in the forest - to hide their identities and profession. With each of them wearing a spade tattoo, she tries to investigate the purpose behind the mysterious mark. At the same time, her attraction for Chris heats up and things get sidetracked when she feels like she's being watched. Something unseen and heavy is in their midst, but no one acknowledges the foul, unsettling presence that grips the air. Instead, they take on their secret profession, leaving Calise to figure out who she is and what she's capable of.

        Read from one of these links

>> Smashwords

>> iBooks

The ceremony is a step away, and everyone is watching.

Calise Thomas must prove her worth. With the pre course assignment at hand, she'll either be crowned as an official spade, or sent back home to deal with her remarried dad and his trophy new wife, Laura. Even if it means breaking the law, she'll do whatever it takes to stay in the same cabin with Chris. 

The man who is too professional to love and too busy to feel sends Calise mixed messages about his affection for her and leaves her desperate for something more substantial. It's not long before she finds herself lured into a dangerous entanglement that could jeopardize everything she's worked hard for, including her undercover identity.

A statue. A letter. A secret.

 And only one thing's certain . . . 

A Murder.

          Purchase from one of these links

>> Barnes & Noble

>> Smashwords

Spades Book Two

                                                                                                                                                  

                                                  

                                                                      < Coming this summer >

Prologue

Staring outside the attic window, my heart was ablaze and fluttering. On the outside, I might've appeared calm and collected, but underneath the robotic transfixion, I was both baffled and confused. Dryness had swelled inside my throat and almost halted my ability to breathe. An eerie silence crept inside my eardrums and promptly filled them with a disturbingly low hum. Everything around me had lost its distinctiveness and became a fading blur in the background.

The view from where I stood showed off one side of the house, as well as part of the front, and I watched as heavy raindrops hit the surrounding lawn. The entire scene was melodramatic and depressing and perfectly matched the mood I was in. I couldn't understand what just took place in the living room less than thirty minutes ago, but it was the first time Chris ever raised his voice at me. Even though I completely understood the reason for his disposition, I couldn't help from feeling slighted.

In those brief moments of being lectured, he made me feel irresponsible and reckless, like someone who had no regard to his rules, when in fact, he couldn't have been farther from the truth. I wanted to be here more than anyone else. This cabin was my safe house; my only escape from an unfulfilled, materialistic life in Beverly Hills with Carl and Laura, and Chris should've known better.

Becoming a spade meant everything to me. It provided a sense of purpose and helped me to forget about the failed attempts at ending my own life. Not only was being here a convenient distraction, but it also made me forget about my deceased mother and how empty my existence was without her. Chris should've known me better. He should've known I'd never do anything to purposely jeopardize my position in being here. If anything, he should've accused me of trying too hard to belong. He knew I valued being a spade more than anything else, and what happened wasn't my fault. It was all a mistake.

It was funny, though. I always imagined him being the laid back, cool-headed one; the calm and understanding tutor. But today he didn't hold himself back, and his frustration was as shocking as it was paralyzing. Of course any disciplinary coach would've been just as disappointed about the event that had taken place. But I'd expected him to believe me when I said it wasn't my fault.

I needed him to believe me.

Tears formed in the corners of my eyes, and I quickly wiped them away. I wouldn't let Chris blame me for what happened. I wasn't an eight-year old kid and incapable of following the rules. I wasn't going to allow him to hang this over my head for the rest of the summer. As soon as I saw him again, I'd face him like a strong-willed professional and tell him how it all happened, from point A to point B, until he got the whole picture.

With my mind made up, I noticed noises coming from outside the door. They sounded like footsteps coming closer and closer at a steady pace. Holding my breath, I realized someone had approached my room and were now standing directly in front of it.

I nervously squeezed my hands, which were still damp and shaking from my last encounter with Chris, and took a deep breath. My body trembled with the memory of his flaring temper. Chris didn't know it, but I'd been on the verge of crying right in front of him. That was because I hadn't been prepared for his sudden outburst.

But now, I was ready for anything.

"Come in," I said, turning from the window. 

The knob turned slowly, and soon, the door opened completely. Chris walked in wearing rugged blue jeans and a white sleeveless shirt. The rain had obviously taken advantage of him, and water dripped from the ends of his hair and the tip of his nose. I hadn't been prepared for the new set of eyes that met mine, which were vibrant and burning with intention.

He stared ahead, taking me in and walking forward. His eyes roamed down my shirt, down my shorts, back to the top of my head, as though he were taking a mental picture. He continued until we were only a space apart. "I'm sorry, Calise. I haven't been very honest with you." He lifted a finger to my cheek, brushing a strand of hair from my face. I was surprised by his gentleness. There was such sincerity in his movement that I could only stand there and watch him purposefully stare back. "What I meant to say was . . . he won't satisfy you like I can."

Before I could respond, his hands already found their way around my waist, lifting me clear off the ground. Pressing me against the wall, he applied a light pressure to my body, holding me up and looking into my eyes. I barely realized my legs had clenched onto him, and my fingers dug into the back of his neck. His strong arms glistened, and this time, I was firmly in them. "Is this what you want?" he whispered, staring at the curves of my lips. My eyes melted into his, and I wasn't sure if I actually ever said the word.

But I think he knew the answer.

          Purchase from one of these links

>> Barnes & Noble

>> Smashwords