GUEST POST and GIVEAWAY
Next to You
(Life Book 2)
(Life Book 2)
by Claudia Y. Burgoa
Next to You is the second book in Claudia Y. Burgoa's Life series. Also available: Where Life Takes You (read my blog post).
Next to You is currently on tour with Xpresso Book Tours. The tour stops here today for a guest post by the author and a giveaway. Please make sure you visit the other tour stops as well.
You can read about another of Claudia's books, Getting By (A Knight's Tale Book 1), as well as an interview with the author, in another blog post.
Description
Him
… I need time. Time to heal those wings and learn to use them …
Was part of the letter Rebecca Trent, Daniel Brightmore’s fiancée and best friend left when she ran away. The person he trusted the most for the past decade disappeared without giving him a second glance. She taught him how to love, believe in family and that everyone deserves a happily ever after. Now he’s struggling between wiping any traces of her from his life and drowning his sorrows away with the help of his new best friends - Don Julio and Jack Daniels.
Her
Rebecca’s past suffocated her to the point of not wanting to continue, her lifeline and the only reason to live began to withdraw from her. She wished it had been her imagination, but heard it loud and clear: “If not, there’s always a divorce, nothing is forever.” This time it became a leave or die situation. Something has got to change - she had to change. Packing light and leaving a letter behind, she takes a journey that can help her find herself through the shards of her painful childhood.
As letters, memories and stories are exchanged, two once inseparable people reconcile what’s left of their relationship. Beyond the confines of everything they built together, they’re left with two lonely people searching for what it means to be whole. Will they find meaning under their bruised psyches or will their pasts get the better of them?
Excerpt
From Becca’s list, I have accomplished two things: I didn’t look for her and I haven’t dated Trish. At the moment I’m at Sotano—Buddy’s night club—with a blond draped on my left, a brunette on my right and another blond next to her. One is slim, one curvy in the right places and the other in-between. All types, so no one gives me some shit that I have preferences or a type, because I don’t. Before we began this encounter, I asked them if they were sluts—Becca was very specific that I shouldn’t date that type. Of course, while we made the introductions, I omitted the part where my ex asked me not to date skanks—or easy women—I’m not an idiot. With a giggle the three of them shook their heads about the slutty part. Though the barely there material covering their bodies made me wonder if they were being honest. Of course, as a gentleman, I didn’t question them any further. Three at the same time should shorten the amount of women I should date. Though Becca didn’t give me a specific number of females I should go out with. As of right now, she hasn’t answered any of my fucking emails. There are several unanswered questions. Like duration of the dates? Can I fuck them? I don’t know, because Rebecca refuses to give me any further instructions. Perhaps, next time I’ll send her a letter to that address she gave me in her six page correspondence—front and back. Geneva, quite a trip and whoever helped her will pay. I just need a moment to regroup and plan my vengeance.
“Ladies, if you excuse me.” I run both hands through my hair when I hear that. Buddy is interrupting one of the girls, she was telling me something about her career in communications. That is rude. He should be thankful that I’m not at my best. If not I would beat the hell out of him for sticking his nose where nobody wants him. My fucking friends, brothers and security personal believe they are my sitters. Buddy—my foster brother—is looking all shades of pissed. Next time I need to take my dating to a place he doesn’t own. “D, out!”
Guest Post by the Author
The Writing Process
My process has evolved…
We know there are two types of writers: Plotters and Pantsers.
Being a pantser is fun, and I’m not afraid to confess that I’m a pantser at heart. Like all those amazing super heroes that instead of tracing a plan, they save the world as they go - not that I’m saving the world. The thing is that I make up things as I type. It’s like going to an archeological site and have two options, guide or discover on your own. I take the latter because that’s so much fun, right?
As much fun as it is - imagine visiting Disneyworld without having a map - after three published novels, I had to stop. Why is that? Because though I follow what my characters are supposed to do, there are times - multiple times - when I have to erase entire chapters because I took them to the wrong exit. All of a sudden my heroine is a wiping idiot that lost her strengths right before the end, when she’s supposed to have done the opposite.
During the development of Standing By, and as I tried to figure out why was it that I spent so much time rewriting, I send my work to a developmental editor. As she pick apart my manuscript, showed me the strengths, the weaknesses and the incoherent thoughts, she also gave me a few tips. Before I sat down to rewrite Standing By, I drew an outline, based on my initial plot, my characters motives, their personalities and the end of the story.
As I’m working on my two next novels - the third book of the Knight’s tales and a new Sci-Fi series, I’m doing something similar.
I wrote my initial manuscript, the 10-20k words draft where I get to meet my main characters. The ones that popped out from my imagination, I write down my mc’s profile, names, traits and physical characteristics. Then draw the plot … though I only have such for one of the books. The Sci-Fi book is right now waiting for me to define exactly what I want from it.
In a few words, I’m a world traveler that uses a map.
Featured Review
This is the much awaited sequel of Where Life Takes You. I can tell you that I was in pins and needles after reading the first book waiting to find out how Daniel and Rebecca were ever to resolve their issues.
With Rebecca's past literally paralyzing her and making her suicidal and Daniel's need for control, my emotions were flying everywhere when I read her goodbye letter. Our author has a way with her words where the emotions are brought to the surface and we cannot hold back - we are involved!
Following these two lovers through their reactions to their separation is probably best described as bungee jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Down ... Up... Down ... Chaos! Loved the scene with the burning car. What can I tell you - I am divorced and know how it feels to think someone you love has abandoned you! The rage you feel can make you do crazy things!
About the Author
Claudia lives in Colorado with her family and three dogs. Two beagles who believe they are human, and a bichon who thinks she’s a beagle. While managing life, she works as a CFO at a small IT Company. She’s a dreamer who enjoys music, laughter and a good story.
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win some great prizes, including a $100 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash (open internationally).
Links
