New Release! Utterances

Happy Wednesday, everyone! EEP! It's release day for Utterances! I hope you're as excited as I am. Before we get rolling with the details, I'm gonna tell you a little about the book outside what the blurb says--from the author's mouth. After, I'm gonna give you a sneak peek at the INSIDES of the print book. So pretty. Ready? Grab your coffee or tea, and let's get going!

So, from the blurb, you can probably surmise that we're dealing with some pretty gnarly illnesses in this book. Cancer, dementia, and obsession are the top three. Why did I go into all that? Honestly, I have no idea. I started this book back in 2014, and none of the things on the pages had come to fruition at that time. I wrote a solid 20k or so, and then I set the MS aside and worked on other things. Then life happened, and I was handed some unique perspective for my story.

Utterances is a culmination of everything I learned during that year-long journey. Because I went through exactly what Simone was dealing with, I could relate to her on a raw level. Tons of the emotional turmoil she goes through is directly linked to things I experienced.

Things like fear of losing someone you love, and thoughts and emotions you have when you believe you have the power to save them as long as you can hold onto something else. The fear of losing that something else and being powerless. It all goes hand-in-hand with the story.

Simone is faced with a tough choice, and I did consider what the average human might do. You'll have to read for yourself to see what she chooses and why.

Anyway, enough of my rambling! On to the pretties! Here's the full wrap cover:

Here's a peek at the inside of the print book:

And here's the information (including the blurb):

Title: Utterances
Author: Jo Michaels
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Fantasy
Length: 77k words
Buy Links: Amazon Kindle $2.99 ~ Paperback $15.99

Blurb:
Simone spent the last two years by her cancer-ridden mother’s bedside. Taking care of her was the number one priority. When Mom suddenly goes into full remission, Simone is left bobbing in an unfamiliar ocean with a young man named Tristan. What happens next is the stuff of fairy tales—and nightmares.

Shocking, heart-wrenching, and insightful, Utterances will make you question everything you thought you knew about self-sacrifice. Award-winning author Jo Michaels pulls reality and the paranormal together in a way never before seen, intensely examining what we call the human condition by diving into the innermost workings of one young lady’s mind.


I hope you grabbed it! If you did, let me know what you think!

Happy reading!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE READ ON!

Jo

Emancipation Excerpt #2

Happy Thursday, everyone! So, as you all may know, I'm working on a psychological thriller. I can't even begin to tell you how twisted it is so far, but I'm about 15k in, and I have it on my calendar to share an excerpt with you today. I spent all day yesterday prepping for the big pitch party next month, and I'm happy to say it's all set up and ready to roll. Links aren't live yet, but we have an AMAZING grand prize this year. You'll have to wait until December to find out what it is. *grin*

Check out the post announcing the first full chapter publication here, and see a teaser letter from Jess to Tobias here.

If you're interested in joining the Facebook party for the release of Emancipation (March 22), you can do that here. Monthly prizes are being given away, and I have an invite contest where you can win some Amazon cash.

Without further ado, here's excerpt #2 (unedited, in case you were wondering):

“You better behave in there, Butler.”

“I will.” Giving his best smile, he waited for the door to be opened. Once he had a clear path, he stepped over the threshold and stared.

Jess was sitting at the table with her back to him. When the door banged closed, she turned, and a smile bloomed on her face. She stood up and walked toward him with her right hand extended. “Tobias. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”

Her voice oozed through his brain, and he drank her in from head to toe. Button up blouse, short skirt, and heels. To keep his loins under control—he didn’t want to pop a boner while shaking her hand for the first time—he forced his eyes to meet hers and played it as cool as he could. With a grip that was firm but gentle, he took her hand in his own and shook once. “Nice to meet you, too.” In the back of his mind, he wished all the formalities could be skipped and that they could go straight to f-ing against the wall. But he kept his face stoic, and he knew he’d passed when she laughed.

“Are we going to stand here all afternoon, or would you like to sit down?”

“I’m sorry. It’s just, when we touched, I felt something there.” He laid it on thickly, hoping she was as dumb as she was blonde. “I think we’re going to make quite the pair, Jessica.”

“Please, call me Jess. I liked it in your letter, and I’m positive I’ll like it now.” She blushed.

He noted the way she was looking at him and knew he had her. “Okay, Jess. Then you call me Toby.” With what he was sure was a pleasant smile on his face, he moved around the table and sat down across from her.

There was a box next to her briefcase, and she motioned to it as she organized her papers. “Brought you donuts.”

His jaw dropped. How the hell… “I’ve never heard of them letting anyone in here with stuff like this. How’d you manage that?” He reached for the box and lifted the lid, pulling out the first donut his hand could grab, lifting it to his lips, and taking a huge bite. Sugar melted on his tongue along with the yeasty dough, and he moaned as his eyes slid closed.

Jessica’s answer was barely heard. “I have my ways. Attorney, remember?”

“Mmm hmmm,” he said, as he chewed the third bite. When on the fourth donut, chocolate coated his tongue and sprinkles crunched between his teeth. Lost in the ritual of eating one of the sweet confections, taking them one after another, and savoring each bite, he allowed himself to relax for the first time in nearly twelve years. There was no one trying to take his food, stab him, or make him do anything. Being allowed to do what he wanted, when he wanted, was a luxury he’d taken for granted on the outside.

Never again.

When he’d consumed the last donut, he opened his eyes and smiled.

Jess was leaning forward, her chin resting on one palm, watching him intently. “Enjoy that?”

He nodded. “More than you know.”

“I enjoyed watching it. Should’ve brought you more than six.”

~~~

RELEASES MARCH 22! Enjoy the book trailer!



Hope to see you at the party!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo