EXCERPT:
Beckett pretended not to watch me, peeking up from his holo-tab from time to time. I hadn’t done anything interesting in the hours that passed and I took great satisfaction in knowing he needed to occupy himself with the electronic tethers of technology while I sat content with the freedom of the day.

In the afternoon, music filled the uncomfortable space between us. I scanned through hundreds of songs on his holo-tab, eventually selecting a list of amazing tunes from times gone by. We found common ground in our love for Green Age sounds made with instruments as opposed to the digital contortion known as music in the modern world.

“How did you find this music? I thought only eccentric old citizens longing for the Green Age still listened to this,” I teased him, his preference for the Green Age clear in everything in his home from the pillows to the color on the walls. Actually, the fact that he had any color on the walls at all was unusual for a home in the Collective. Citizens preferred modern, industrial materials and utilitarian design. No stylization, no personality, and certainly no fluffy green pillows and golden-hued walls.

“Everything is available in digi-file; you just have to know where to look for it.” He smirked, hinting at some secret digital knowledge.

“You also need one of these special issue tablets from the Affinity, but, you know, no big deal.” I laughed at my own sarcasm and stuck my tongue out at him. Beckett tried to look annoyed but his face resembled that of an adult trying not to entertain the smart remarks of a petulant child.

I lounged on the sofa while he fitted himself into the far corner where his mattress met the wall. Music floated all around us, bouncing off the walls and making the air heavy with beautiful color and emotion. One of the songs on the list featured a gorgeous falsetto male voice layered on top of thunderous drums and a driving bass guitar. I closed my eyes and let the music completely sweep me away.

Beckett noticed my abandon and increased the volume so loud I couldn’t hear myself think. Music came blaring through the speakers expertly placed throughout the cabin. I’d never been immersed in sound like that before. Even in my youth, I hadn’t experienced the consumption of my mind and body within melody. Everything outside of this room, these four walls, everything waiting for me over the mountain and deep in the forest, it all disappeared. All that I could think or feel was the rhythm in the music. My heart followed the sultry pace of the bass and my chest constricted with the painful lyrics bleeding out of the soulful singer.

The song ended and I shot up from my prone position, finding Beckett smiling at me from across the room as the beginning notes of the same decadent music filled the cabin again. I returned a grateful smile and sank back into the overstuffed cushions beneath me. As I lay, swept away in the power of the song, I felt Beckett watching me. I opened my eyes and met his in a gratuitous appraisal of my body, stretched out as if it were on display for him. Our exchange felt right, not dirty or salacious at all, just one person enjoying the vision of another person in complete physical and emotional rapture. We were happy there together, in that moment.

As the last note sounded, I immediately wished I could hear it again. If I could have bottled the feeling of that song, of our shared experience of pure bliss, I would have in a second. The remainder of the day, Beckett and I let the bleat of the horns, the sigh of the strings, and the pounding of the percussion fill up all the empty space around us.


Will Cassie and Beckett give into the smoldering passion that is sizzling between them? Can they afford to since they are on different sides of the battle over personal rights? If you love a thought-provoking, passionate science fiction story, you are going to love Frozen Heart!
 

Annabelle Blume is the author of the heart-pounding futuristic tale Frozen Heart. Today we sit down with Annabelle and are excited to share with you, our readers, a little more about this wonderful author.

When did you first start writing? What made you want to be a writer?

I’ve always been an avid reader, completely obsessed with my Scholastics flier from elementary school onward. I cut my teeth at a young age on authors who wrote adult fiction. My first true love in literature was the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. I was only 13 when I read those books. Everyone thought I was so weird because I read vampire books that weren’t in the middle school library. The Vampire Chronicles were adult not only in their themes and content, but also in the complexity of the language and writing style. At the time there were only 3 books in the series (shut up, I’m not old) and I read and re-read them until I had them memorized. I toyed with writing my own fantasy stories at the time, but abandoned the idea quickly.

Fast forward about 10 years, I got married, had kids, and didn’t have time to think let alone read. I eventually got the hang of being a mom and figured out how to balance my time. A couple years ago, I resumed the voracious reading habits of my youth thanks to the resurgence of vampire themed books like the Black Dagger Brotherhood, and began writing as well. After playing around in some online writing communities, I decided I’d take the plunge and set my sights on writing a book. It all happened much faster than I expected and I’m still getting used to the idea that I have a book. Me. A book! Crazy. Did someone check Hades for snowballs?

What inspired you to write your book?

Honestly, I saw a call for scifi submissions at romance house and the setting for Frozen Heart immediately popped into my head. On a more serious note, I felt this was my opportunity to challenge readers to think about what it means to be strong, what it means to be free, and what it means to be vulnerable for the sake of true love.

Are you a pantser or a plotter?

I was a total pantser for Frozen Heart. The story came to me as I wrote it. I started with the first sentence and the pieces fell into place as the story unfolded. The down side to that process was how much had to be scrapped and rewritten. As for my current WIP, I plotted it before hand, and then revised the synopsis two more times before I started writing. So, I guess you could call me a switch.

Do you have any writing rituals or special processes you complete before sitting down to write?

No, but I wish I did. I have three kids, and the interrupt my writing on a 20 minute rotating schedule. I write most often at night, once they’re in bed, and I’ve also claimed a spot at the table in my kids’ karate studio where I can work while they are in class.

What authors inspire you?

F. Scott Fitzgerald is a huge favorite of mine. Oscar Wilde is another classic author who I never tire of reading. Obviously, Anne Rice has inspired me a great deal. Then there are my dystopian idols; Ray Bradbury and Margaret Atwood. My goodness, Fahrenheit 451 and The Handmaid’s Tale changed my life. Speculative fiction was completely new to me and when I read those books I felt like someone understood me, really got me and how my head worked. I’m also a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain. His voice and unapologetic social and political commentary inspire me to be true and honest in my writing.

If you could only write in one genre for the rest of your career, what genre would you choose? Why?

Romance. Without a doubt. There is so much room the in romance genre to spin out stories in whatever direction you want. Contrary to the popular view that dismisses romance as a genre full of unrealistic ideals and fantasy relationships, I believe when you dig into romance you find a deep well of stories that portray the honest moments of love. The hard and heartbreaking experiences that we go through and the hope that lies behind it all.

Which of the characters in your current release is your favorite? Why?

Tonk. He’s one of Cressenda’s dogs. The subtleties of how Cressenda and Tonk interact are really amazing to me. They’ve been a team for a very long time and she doesn’t trust anyone the way she trusts Tonk.

Are any of your characters modeled after real people?  If so, which ones?

No, they aren’t. They are completely from my own crazy imagination, which, incidentally, made it tremendously difficult to find real people to be visual examples.

What music was on your playlist while writing your novel?

Frozen Heart was written almost exclusively to the Maroon 5 album Songs About Jane.

Morning person or grumpy bear?

Don’t talk to me before 10am or coffee. Or both.

Tell us one thing it would surprise us to know about you?

I have over 10 hours of tattoo work on my body. Is that surprising? I don’t know. I suppose that depends on who you ask. 

What is next for you?

I have another romance in the works right now. I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll be able to establish myself as a romance author and have a nice long career writing sex scenes...and the stories that go with them, of course.

Do you have any unique skills or talents? If so, what?

I used to take aerial acrobatics. Tissue to be exact. You know, the stuff you see at Cirque du Soleil where they climb the long strips of fabric and tie themselves up and swing around? I really want to get back to it. Oh, and I’m afraid of heights.

If I were to look in your closet right now, would I find frills and lace or demin and tees?

Both. Like I said, I have three kids, and the youngest is 3, so I don’t spend much time in heels and lace, but when I do get dressed up, I don’t hold back. In summary, you’d find 2 pair of Converse, 2 pair of flipflops, 6 pair of jeans, and about 20 different vintage style dresses and heels. I wear red lipstick almost every day, though.

If you would like to find out more about Annabelle and her writing, please check out her blog at: http://www.annabelleblume.com/ 

Brooke Moss:
"This year my family is spending Independence Day with my oldest brother and his family. He was a 20 year marine, and now works in national security, so our American pride really comes out when we're together. He survived 3 tours in Iraq, and has devoted his life to protecting the freedoms that so many of us take for granted."

Rebecca Hart:
This July 4th, the family is heading to "Tortuga", our seasonal, pirate themed campsite in Upstate, NY for a few days of nature, sunshine, BBQs and campfires. No fireworks or big parties, but there is always something for the kids to do or someone for them to hang out with, and you can't beat the fresh air. 
 
I can't wait to sink into five days of outdoor bliss. I might even manage to do a little writing. *fingers crossed*

Stephanie Lawton:
All our family is a thousand miles away, so we don't have any plans for Fourth of July. The weather is insanely hot this time of year in the Deep South--we'll probably just grill hot dogs and eat them in the comfort of our air conditioning!

Annabelle Blume:
I'll be enjoying some family time pool-side! My cousin, Kym, and her family have the most amazing backyard. It truly looks like a resort, complete with waterfall flowing into the pool, fire pit and cabana bed. It's going to be a full day of catching up and relaxing.

Annabelle Blume
My first crush was a little boy named Shaun in preschool. We played “Greatest American Hero” every day on the playground (it was our favorite show, obviously) and we never failed to save the day. His stellar pretend-flying skills were a great compliment to my crime fighting smarts. We made a great team and I was sure we would marry. Alas, we did not. Although, my husband is routinely told he’s the spitting image of Clark Kent, so it seems I married a Superhero after all.