UPDATE

I hope you read that like it's an update for America's Most Wanted, because that's how it sounded in my head.

I figure about three months means I'm WAY past due for an update. I'm diligently working on two novels:

One may not actually turn out to be a romance. Or, rather, it will be a romance in the Nicholas Sparks sense where there's a lot of crying at the end. (I might have to start running with two pen names!) The majority of the story takes place at an old house in a little section of shoreline called Meadowsweet Beach. It focuses on a young woman who is dealing with the loss of her younger brother in Afghanistan and on an active duty soldier struggling with PTSD and the disintegration of his own family.

The second is definitely a romance (and somewhat inspired by the Robsten scandal). This one focuses on a celebrity of my own invention who uses a friend's ranch to get away from prying eyes after a particularly embarassing breakup. There, he meets a stablehand who's been trying to come to terms with a traumatizing event in her past for ten years.

And I'm sure you're all wondering about the sequel to The System.

There have been a few changes lately at Silver Publishing, who published The System. I took a break from working on the sequel (and got very involved with the stories above) while I was waiting to see how certain issues within the company would be resolved. As I'm sure most of you know, my ultimate goal is to snag a good agent so I can focus on the writing side of things rather than the business side of things, but for now I have to do both, and I wasn't quite sure how or if I wanted to proceed with this story (with the same company, at least).

But have no fear! I'm still waffling a bit on how I want to get the sequel out to you, but I am still in love with the characters, the story, and the world of The System, and there's no way I could possibly stay away for very long. My goal of finishing the next installment by August is still very possible. I might even go so far as to say probable. :) And to hold you over, here is a very unedited tidbit from what I've written so far:

“Can I see identification?” she asked.


“Sure.” He reached into the front pocket of his shirt and pulled out a cardholder. It was black leather, and though he tried to hide the insignia, Capri had enough experience—in and out of bed—with UN Guards to know exactly who he was affiliated with.

But she’d take this charade as far as he would, which wasn’t very far at all. When she reached out to take the badge, he grabbed her by the wrist, and her hand shot behind her back for the gun. She had the barrel pointed at his head before he could locate his own. But he kept a hold of her wrist, that arrogant smirk still on his lips.

“What brings you to Tycho?” she asked dryly.

“You. And that little oddity you’re hauling around.”

Capri ignored the jab. “Are they just telling everyone about the natives now?”

“I’m a member of the Elite.”

“I can see why. You’re really good at your job.”

His eyes narrowed. “Even if I don’t make it out of here, the UN will find you.”

“Do they even know you’re here? The rebel planets are out of your jurisdiction.”

“We don’t need jurisdiction.”

“That doesn’t answer the question.”

“Don’t be stupid. Of course they know. I was assigned here.”

“Tycho’s a big planet.”

He didn’t answer. His smirk fell only slightly, resignation mixing with his self-assurance.

“That’s what I thought.”

The young guard was done talking. He looked her dead in the eye. Capri knew what she had to do. She wanted to say she was sorry, but to give him warning would give him the opportunity for a desperate struggle. Or steadfast bravery, which might be worse.

So she just shot him where he stood, without another word.

There you have it! She's been taking a few lessons from Brody, I think. ;)

Thanks for keeping up with the blog, and hopefully I'll have more for you soon!