'Still Vulnerable' ARC Copies!
Advance Reader Copies, Ahoy!
The follow-up drama to the steamy Raw & Vulnerable has finally come to fruition. Still Vulnerable is set for release on Amazon on December 20, 2025. Do you like opposites attract and bad boys? Well, this bad boy is sure to bring the bittersweet- and a true Happy Ending this time!
If you are interested in reading an ARC (advance reader copy) and reviewing, BookSirens is currently hosting a few ARC copies. The link provided is a special link for my readers from my blog, so if you're interested, go for it! Reviews are always a huge help for indie authors, and much appreciated.
If you haven't read book 1, it's on kindleunlimited (or available for just $0.99).
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Minerva 'Minnie' Fray never thought she'd find her happy ending- but then she met Gage amongst the dusty stacks of her library. Covered in prison tattoos and carrying a cocky smirk, the ex-con defies all Minnie's buttoned-up expectations. With Gage, she can be someone bold, someone different. It's a relief to be someone other than just The Abducted Girl or The Bank Hostage in town.
But happiness is like thin ice... it can be shattered by traumatic revelations.
When a shocking event reveals the hard truth of Gage's criminal past, Minnie finds herself in a dark spiral, casting their relationship into jeopardy. Can Minnie accept the knowledge that's been hidden in plain sight? Or will their love be set to rest in pieces forever?
But happiness is like thin ice... it can be shattered by traumatic revelations.
When a shocking event reveals the hard truth of Gage's criminal past, Minnie finds herself in a dark spiral, casting their relationship into jeopardy. Can Minnie accept the knowledge that's been hidden in plain sight? Or will their love be set to rest in pieces forever?
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Hello, and Happy New Year! I’m not sure if or when you’ll see this, but I hope you do. I just found out that you’re on AO3 as well, and if you don’t mind me asking, what’s your username there? I’d love to check out your account and see if there’s any of your work I might have missed. I really love your writing style and your stories.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you as well! (I've finally figured out approving comments on this darn blog!)
DeleteI am on AO3 and have been an author there for more years than I care to admit to (haha). Unfortunately, I do have a clear line that I've drawn between my Original Works account and my massively self-indulgent 'for fun' Fanfic-type account. There are a few people who likely know my fanfic account, but that is probably because they remember me writing Contention under it. That was before I shifted Contention away from the account to an account that I created specifically for Contention/original works. Contention has since been removed since publishing. My original work account is SUPER easy to find: asha_everly
There isn't too much there anymore after I removed a lot; I think I only have one dicey oneshot snippet of something still publicly available there, "An Ill-Gotten Favor". It's dark, and it explores severe power dynamics in a very short space in time. I have a full project for those characters on my docket somewhere haha. While that one is alone, that doesn't mean other works won't appear here and there. I have considered putting some chapters from my 'Final Girl' project on there, too.
I also had another, very different type of story that I hid (think Wolfenstein/Overlord WWII Genre | Supernatural Horror | Dark Fantasy), which will likely go the Traditional Publishing route. I personally think it will appeal more to male readers, considering the themes, but honestly, I love creepy Occult horror drama set in WWII, so darn it, I'm going to finish that series. At least book 1 is basically done 👻
Anyway, thank you for reading! It always makes my day to hear someone enjoyed something I wrote (even if I write some angsty dark things 😬)
Hello, and thank you so much for your reply. I’m honestly a little sad that I didn’t discover your work sooner and missed out on reading some of your earlier works on AO3, but better late than never, I suppose. I truly love your writing ðŸ˜ðŸ«¶
DeleteI just finished reading the snippet of An Ill-Gotten Favor, and even though it’s such a small glimpse, I’m already completely emotionally invested. It’s one of those stories that makes you wish you had read it yesterday. I really hope we get to read the full version sometime soon. I would also be absolutely thrilled if you could share a few glimpses of Final Girl as well, if that is not too much trouble. (I apologise if I sound demanding; that’s really not my intention. I’m just very excited already. You don’t have to share anything right away if you don’t want to)
I’m also really glad you listened to readers regarding the ending style and took into consideration how much we love a true happily ever after. Thank you so much for that, because a proper happily ever after really seals the deal for me, and I know it does for many other readers as well, especially romance readers.
If I may ask, though I know it is quite soon since Still Vulnerable was released just a month ago, is there any chance we might get another book early this year lol? No pressure at all. I’m just curious haha.
I genuinely think you would be surprised by how many women readers would line up for stories inspired by Wolfenstein, Overlord, dark supernatural horror, or dark fantasy.
Even though I only discovered your work recently, I have completely fallen in love with it. Your writing feels like a breath of fresh air, and the way you tell stories truly speaks to me. Honestly, whatever you choose to share next, we will feel lucky to read it, even if it is your grocery list! 🩷
It's always a journey to see a writer develop over the years! Oftentimes, most don't get to see the path. I can look back at things I wrote twelve years ago and think, 'well, she was on to something, but clearly had no plan' 🤣
DeleteWorse yet would be the things on my hard drive that have like 3 chapters before I stopped. I look back and read them and think, darn, why didn't this chick finish this? Oh, that would be me!
I am my worst critic, so that's why I have so many plot ideas left to rot; I never think I am good enough to write them! Imposter syndrome is real for everyone who writes, no matter their level or stage. I believe it is my biggest battle, but I've invested in some classes/materials to understand how to break through that and become more effective in drafting. I need to draft faster, but imposter syndrome makes that tough for me.
I have quite a few strong chapters already built for the 'Final Girl' type project, but that is one of those stories that I don't see a happy ending at all, because it is an extremely dark subject and plot. It probably makes Contention seem pleasant by comparison. I had an initial ending determined, but at the same time, I probably need to spend more time with it. The narrator is unreliable due to trauma, but I probably need to work to flesh out how the end comes about in a satisfying way. I may even change it completely, who knows, seeing as we know people tend to like happy endings! I probably will end up putting some chapters on Ao3, but probably not until I have a more solid view of how that story is truly going to end.
I am flattered by your enthusiasm to read more from me so soon! Sadly, I doubt there is anything coming out in the next few months; between work and life, getting things completed can take time. I'm actually shocked that there are people out there who just crank out 10 books a year, although I've also heard the rumors that there are people who just write whatever they can to keep their KindleUnlimited numbers up, regardless of the quality. Regardless, I envy their capability to draft, edit, and publish so quickly!
I think I will eventually get to a place in life where I can focus more on creative writing for hours at a time, but I think that day will likely be closer to when I am ready to take on a day job that isn't so demanding/aggressive.
Anyway, hopefully you are having a lovely week! The weekend is almost here! 😄😄😄
Hello, I just finished the Contention series, and I'm so excited to start this one! I'm always curious about the author's writing process; when writing both books of Contention, did you already have an outline and ending in mind, or did it form throughout the story? And would you ever consider revisiting the series, or is it a fixed ending?
ReplyDeleteHey there!! I'm glad you enjoyed the Contention series (admittedly darker than the Raw & Vulnerable series). Hopefully, you find something in R&V that you like. It was written as a smutty short, so less of a dramatic dive into the dark like Contention.
DeleteEveryone has a different writing process, although the two styles most try to cram writers into would be Pantser or Plotter...or the mix of both, Plantser. (Pantsers write by the seat of their pants, and Plotters plot everything to death before they write. The Plantser mixes both methods.)
I used to strictly be a Pantser for many, many years. I would just see scenes in my head and start writing. Eventually, a story would evolve around these scenes (if I was lucky). I think Pantser can be risky, because sometimes you go full ahead into something you really haven't thought through too deeply, and may end up losing your way.
I've tried being a full-on Plotter in recent years, but that wasn't for me either. It felt like a chore. I learn little nuances about my characters the more time I spend with them, and spending time with them requires writing them! My style of Plantser is writing what I feel for maybe two chapters, but then I take a step back and write a short scene from the character's past that won't be in the book. That's my way of learning them, understanding their trauma, and why they might act how they act.
I wrote in mostly the Pantser style for Contention, but Dissention was probably Plantser. I think those ending scenes with Dieter were written loooong before the book was ever done.
I did, however, keep an excel spreadsheet that bare bones outlined the chapters (some left blank while I figured things out) with word counts and whatnot, and the goal of the chapter as well) for both books. I've since been doing a lot to become a stronger writer and a stronger Plantser for future stories. I want to focus on methods that work surrounding structure and plot, along with character. There's always room to learn, and I'm excited to improve over the next year!
As for revisiting the Contention series, I have played around with the idea of doing a post-series short, just to see the status quo of our Disaster Duo...with maybe a hint of my favorite problem child showing his face just to throw Kara off her game 👻