Fav quotes for MY story...gasp.

So I was browsing Amazon.com and checking my sales rank for my ebook, The Stillburrow Crush.

Yeah, yeah, I know. I need to get a life.

But seriously, my young adult story has actually been selling copies there. In fact, I did a little keyword search on Amazon for my publishing house and sorted their books by bestseller. For a while, The Stillburrow Crush waffled between number one and two. As I write this post, it's currently #6 (I'm not lying!).

So this morning, I checked my bestselling rank like I always do. It was just under 4,000. Woot! My other stories usually rank around 100-200K, so YES 4K is totally awesome in my book--pun intended. And as I leisurely scrolled down the screen I noticed a section called popular highlights.

Huh? I paused. What's This? I pushed the "what's this?" button (imagine that) and here's what Amazon told me:

Amazon displays Popular Highlights by combining the highlights of all Kindle customers and identifying the passages with the most highlights. The resulting Popular Highlights help readers focus on passages that are meaningful to the greatest number of people. Some books don't have enough highlighting in them to have Popular Highlights...

Can you totally believe that? Some readers actually LIKE some of my lines enough to freaking HIGHLIGHT them. So, now I simple must share some of my fans' favorite quotes in The Stillburrow Crush (wow, I have fans--still can't believe that).


============================================

TSC Popular Highlights on Kindle
“Sometimes, the Lord just takes blessed people because they’ve filled their purpose early. Everyone plays their own song. They sing their story to the world and leave behind a melody of memories. Sometimes…their song is cut short and ends too early. But that doesn’t mean their music was any less sweet or that they left any less of an impression.” highlighted by 30 Kindle users

“Be careful,” I said, closing my eyes. “If you get too close, you might slip and fall for me.” highlighted by 16 Kindle users

I’d just given a part of my soul away to Luke Carter, whether he knew or wanted it, or not. highlighted by 10 Kindle users

I wanted to throw my arms around him and kiss him all over his face, but being me of course, I had to tease him first. highlighted by 8 Kindle users

"Every other girl in school thinks you’re the hottest thing since the microwave.” highlighted by 7 Kindle users


============================================

From now on, I'm so going to highlight my favorite quotes in the books I read just so I can pass along the love. Thanks to all those wonderful highlighters out there. You totally made my day.

Paper Snackers and Contest Finalists

My husband and I have created a play space for our eight-and-a-half-month-old. Hubby calls it her cage, though there aren’t any bars trapping her anywhere. Mostly it’s an open space in our living room, barricaded off with furniture, pillows, an ottoman and an upside-down laundry basket.

I don’t know how long the basket’s going to last before she learns to crawl over it. She likes to take toys and and throw them onto the other side and then try to retrieve them. Often times, I’ll find her her with her belly flat on the basket bottom and her legs kicking out in the air as her little fingers are stretching as far as she can reach out the other side toward a lonely toy. (Okay, confession time: since finishing this post, she's learned to crawl OVER the laundry basket, so alas, that's no longer a security gate)

Yeah, she’s a busy thing. But she can play okay by herself as long as she can see someone else around. I’ll sit on the floor, prop my back against the couch, and read while she’s at her toy box, tossing everything over her shoulder. Occasionally, she’ll crawl over to me and try to eat my book. When she realizes I won’t let her have it, she’ll make a go for my bookmark next. I don’t think I own one un-wrinkled, un-chewed bookmark any longer.

I’ve yet to figure out how a mother of young children finds time to write. I usually sneak in a couple lines while she’s at the baby-sitter’s. But at home, it’s a catastrophe to even try.

I’ll take her into the library, slash, office, slash, computer room. The walls are lined with bookshelves and it’s like baby-disaster-making heaven to her. She can have every book cleared off the shelves and littered on the floor around her in five seconds flat. And when I let her sit on my lap at the desk, she usually ends up grabbing the mouse or keyboard and either erasing some majorly awesome line I just wrote, or sending my emails into folders that take me days to find again.

It’s impossible to become engrossed in a good scene. If I focus too fully on the story, my fingers flying over the keys as the muse begins to flow, I don’t notice her until she starts gagging. Then I rush over to her and try to yank the corner of paper missing from one of my wet, slobbery books out of her mouth.

Some of the time, I’m too late and she’s managed to swallow the paper down. Then I sit back in shock, thinking, “Oh no. I’m an awful mom. I just let my kid eat paper.” But it digests through—at least, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen dissolved paper in her diaper—and life goes on. I probably don’t even want to know how much paper she’s eaten without my knowledge.

I caught her in my notebooks once, trying to eat the post-it note off one of my story ideas. I managed to save that paper from digestion but not from complete mutilation (into the trash that post-it went). And when I began to lecture, “now, you can’t just go eating Mom’s notebooks. I’m going to put that stuff in a story someday,” she merely grinned at me, utterly clueless to what I was saying and then pulled up on my pant leg, demanding to be held. She just has to be one of those totally adorable babies too, one of those big-blue-eyed beauties that just melts your heart whenever she smiles. You can’t stay mad at her.

I love my baby girl to pieces. She’s the delight of my life, my pride and joy. But honestly, this writer-mom stuff isn’t as easy as some people make it look.

*******************

Speaking of writer Mom! I just found out my young adult romance story, The Stillburrow Crush (which was released the same month my baby was born!!), is a finalist in the 2011 EPIC's eBook Award Contest!! Yay. Super excited. (EPIC stands for Electronically Published Internet Coalition, by the way) I find out in March whether The Stillburrow Crush wins anything.

So fingers crossed!!!!

The Stillburrw Crush Featured at TeensReadToo

Okay, this was supposed to post on Sunday, but problems ensued. It REALLY is up today though. I checked.

TRT Book Club is talking about The Stillburrow Crush. So, that's where I'm at. Hope to see you over there. If you comment on the TRT blog, you just might win a copy of my book!!!

Interviewed at Molly Daniels Blog

Molly Daniels has interviewed me on her blog : Molly's Musings. So that's where I am today. And yes, Lydia will be there too (she might only be able to say MA, BA, and DA these days, but trust me, the woman still knows how to give her opinion about things)!!

Before you go, though, my first story, the young adult romance, got all jealous because The Trouble with Tomboys has been hogging the lime light recently. Ergo, The Stillburrow Crush would like to announce a few new reviews she's received lately.

A Top Pick from Night Owl Reviews, she rated a 4.75 out of 5:

"The Stillburrow Crush has already made it into my book discussions, and I have already recommended this book be read. Linda Kage is an author I will whole heartedly follow, and in fact, I have already purchased another one of her stories. She took a clichéd book topic and made it new, and she most certainly made it exciting.

To conclude, The Stillburrow Crush Is a MUST read and I hope girls and women of all ages read this. The Stillburrow Crush more than exceeded my expectations."

And Amaterasu Reads Reviews gave her a 5 out of 5:

"I think of this book as my luckiest find for the year. No other book has topped it in my list...These are real issues they were facing. Its about family, love and acceptance of what we really are. The characters felt real, their emotions mirroring those that we feel. Linda Kage has written a marvelous story about love and the choices we make in that shapes our lives."

Okay, I'm done with you now. Have fun at Molly's! Thanks.

"The Stillburrow Crush" is released TODAY!!!!!

What are you still doing, hanging around here?


GO, GO to the main page of The Wild Rose Press and order your own copy (in PRINT or eBOOK) already!!!!

That's www (dot) The Wild Rose Press (dot) com.

Or you could find The Stillburrow Crush at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.

So.... GO!

Oh, and Thanks!

Luke Carter Interview

Today, we’re here with Luke Carter, hero in my debut novel The Stillburrow—

Luke Carter: Hey, before we start, I just wanted to thank you for finally letting me get a chance to talk—

Linda Kage: Wait. What do you mean, FINALLY? I allowed you plenty of dialogue in The Stillburrow Crush.

Carter: Yeah, but the entire story was written in first person point of view from Carrie’s perspective. No one got to see what I was thinking at all. I’m just saying… I’m grateful I’ve finally got a chance to speak my mind.

Kage: Well, okay then. Let’s hear what’s on Luke’s mind. Tell us a little something about yourself.

Carter: What? Right now?

Kage: (eyes rolling) You’re the one who was all fired to begin the interview, bud.

Carter: OK, fine. I’m ready. Uh… Hi, everyone. I’m Luke Carter. I’m a senior at SEC. That’s short for Stillburrow Education Center, though I’m not sure why they have such a fancy name for a little nothing school in a little nothing town. Sure, the grade school and high school are connected in one building, so it wouldn’t be right to exclusively call it Stillburrow High or Stillburrow Grade School. But SEC? Can you say lame? Whenever we have a game and all the cheerleaders start yelling, “Go SEC,” you just want to cringe with embarrassment. Which brings me around to football. I’m on the team… as the quarterback. We had an awesome season. Even beat Valley this year, which hasn’t happened for a long time. I was siked. But other than that, my dad’s the bank president. Mom’s a homemaker. And I’m a fairly decent student. My favorite subject is trig.

Kage: Trigonometry, huh? Wow. I would’ve guessed English.

Carter: (frowning) Really? Why?

Kage: Well, because you’re such a good poet.

Carter: (Eyes growing the size of saucers) SHHHH! Will you keep your voice down! (Hunching his shoulders and glancing around to make sure no one else heard). No one’s supposed to know about that.

Kage: About what? The fact that you like to write poetry?

Carter: WILL YOU KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN? Please? That’s private.

Kage: (Cringing). Uh, I hate to break it to you, bud. But anyone who reads "The Stillburrow Crush" is going to know your little secret.

Carter: WHAT! You put that in the book? How could you put my most private—

Kage: Hey, don’t yell at me. This is Carrie’s story. You need to take your problem up with her? SHE was the narrator.

Carter: (Scowling). Oh, don’t think I won’t.

Kage: (Grins a little smugly) You two sure like to argue, don’t you?

Carter: (not quite able to perfect an innocent, I-have-no-idea-what-you’re-talking-about smile) What?

Kage: Don’t give me that look. I know you. You LIKE picking fights with Carrie.

Carter: (Shrugs. Guilty grin slips through) What can I say? I like her witty, smart-aleck personality.

Kage: And why is that?

Carter: (Snorts) What are you, Dr. Phil, all the sudden?

Kage: Just curious.

Carter: OK, fine. Don’t you dare tell her this, but I admire that bold quality about her. I’m… I don’t know. I’m jealous, I guess. She’s just so… free. She doesn’t worry about what other people think; she just says what’s on her mind.

Kage: And you wish you were more like that?

Carter: (Shrugs) Well, yeah. Sure. I mean, as the captain of the football team, you’re expected to be the popular jock. Everyone’s always watching you, scrutinizing every little move you make. It’s impossible to act like yourself. Be yourself.

Kage: You mean, like the sensitive poet you really want to be.

Carter: Seriously, can we NOT talk about that?

Kage: (Laughs) OK, fine. I’ll let it go for now.

Carter: Thank you.

Kage: Let’s keep talking about Carrie.

Carter: (Frowns with suspicious, narrowed eyes) What about her?

Kage: Hey, I’m a major romance enthusiast. I want to know how you two hooked up?

Carter: Well, gee. You wrote the story, Ms. Kage. If you don’t know…

Kage: (Rolls eyes) And you say Carrie’s the smart aleck. We’re FINALLY in your mind now, Luke. Remember? I want to hear it from your point of view.

Carter: Oh... Well, honestly, I have no idea how that happened. Carrie just… happens to people. It’s hard to explain. She’s kind of like a train wreck. One minute, you’re chugging along, minding your own business, following the tracks laid out for you. Then, suddenly, everything’s derailed and one huge mess with Carrie standing right in the middle of it.

Kage: I suppose you don’t want her to know you said that about her either, huh?

Carter: Na, I don’t mind if you tell her that. I like to tell her she’s a disaster magnet all the time. Just read her story to discover all the problems she finds herself getting involved in. I mean, how many people can say they were suspended, grounded, grew a crush, kissed that crush, and aced trigonometry all for the first time within a one month time frame? Not to mention that whole mess with her brother and Abby Eggrow. Carrie’s been a busy girl lately. And ever since she interviewed me for the school paper, I got sucked into the catastrophe right along with her.

Kage: You got sucked into it, or you were drawn in because you like her?

Carter: Sucked in. Drawn in. Does it really matter?

Kage: Major romance enthusiast here, remember? YES, it matters.

Carter: OK, fine. I was drawn in. But Carrie’s just so... animated, you know. I couldn’t help but go back for more torture. Arguing with her’s fun. She’s addictive.

Kage: Awww. My romance enthusiast heart just with pitter pat. That was a sweet, wonderful line.

Carter: (Blushes) Geesh, it wasn’t that big a deal. You already know I like her.

Kage: But you said it so romantically. That must be why you’re such a good—

Carter: If you say poet again, this interview is over.

Kage: (Evil grin). Actually, I was just about ready to wrap things up. You could probably only go downhill from the “addictive” quote. Is there any last minute comment you’d like to make, so everyone can get a better insight into your personality?

Carter: UH…. Now, dang it. You got me all flustered. I can’t think straight. You’re too much like Carrie in that respect, you know? Talk a poor guy into knots.

Kage: Well, I did invent her.

Carter: Yeah, you did. I’d really like that thank you for that too. Without Carrie around, my life would’ve proceeded with its dull boring, “expected” path. I’m glad you threw her on my tracks to shake things up. She’s become my inspiration.

Kage: (Sighs dreamily) Now, there’s my perfect finale. Ladies and gents: Luke Carter, hero of my young adult romance story, The Stillburrow Crush.

If you’ve grown “addicted” to him, here’s where you can find more: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/. The Stillburrow Crush releases tomorrow from The Wild Rose Press. He might not get to give his point of view, but I must say Carrie gives a pretty actuate depiction of him.

Thanks for stopping by to check out his interview.

TWO Days Left

Stillburrow Blog Tour Schedule January 27, 2010 - Interview at Bookworm Nation February 11, 2010 - Interview at Tales of the Ravenous Teen Reader February 16, 2010 - Interview at Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf February 22, 2010 - Interview at The Climbing Roses of the Wild Rose Press February 23, 2010 - Guest Post at The Book Butterfly February 28, 2010 - Interview at This Writer's Life

With only TWO days to go on the countdown until my FIRST book (The Stillburrow Crush) is released, I was starting to run dry with ideas on what to post, so today, I'll give you the history of my story's creation. I always like to read a book's background and how its story came to be on other author's websites, so maybe this will work (cross your fingers).

In August 2000, I started my junior year at Pittsburg State University as a transfer student, aspiring to get an English Degree with an emphasis in Creative Fiction Writing (which I got, yay!). It was during my senior year in January of 2002, I signed up for the advanced fiction writing class. There, one of my assignments was to write a short story a minimum of seven pages long. And so, Carrie was created... way back in January of 2002.

The short scene I wrote was similar to Carrie's scene in The Stillburrow Crush with her and Luke on the swing set in the park. But at the end of my seven pages (okay, I know I went over seven pages), Luke died in a car crash. The End.

Depressing?

Yeah.

But that was the kind of stuff you wrote about for literary writing assignments, right? Well, I thought so.

Anyway, I met with the professor and let her read over the rough draft before I turned in the final. She had so many comments and pointed out so many things I needed to fix, I ended up writing another short story and turning that in for my final grade instead.

But of course, Carrie and Luke stuck with me. And being the romantic I am, I just didn't like the fact he had to die. But someone's gotta die or there's no juicy drama, right? I don't know. But it sounded good. So, I created another character to kill off, and then a few more characters to tie the story together... then I had to add, like, a billion more scenes to make it my happily-ever-after romance that actually went with the dramatic demise of this other person.

Before I knew it, I had a full-length story.

I revised and gave it to my sister to read, who gave it to another sister, who passed it on to my mother. Soon, people from church were calling. "I just read some of your story!" Yikes. So, I revised a little more, showed it to my old college professor (I'd graduated by this point), who gave me lots of good advice, and sent me back to revise some more.

About a year after finishing it, I sent off the my first submission. I had no idea where to look for young adult romance publishers, so I sent my mansucript off to popular childrens book publishers whose names I knew. I received a handful of rejections, which brought me to putting the story aside for about three years, where I polished on it some more and tried one other publisher, who sent me back another rejection. At that point, I packed up the story with the idea of retiring it for good to the bottom of my closet.

Another two years passed. In that time, I joined Romance Writers of America and attended a few local writing groups. I learned more about where and how to submit my stories, and bunches more on revising. I'd also finished an arm load of adult romance stories.

With all this new-found knowledge on the Romance Publishing world, I set forth and sent off a submission for one of my adult romances (I'd pretty much forgotten about Stillburrow by this point). But the main characters of my adult story were in college, so being that they were as young as they were, the acquiring editor said she wanted to send my submission to the young adult department first since they were looking for more stories... which made a little bell in my head go ding, ding, ding.

Someone was looking for more... young adult romance stories?

Hey, I had a dusty old young adult romance sitting around somewhere in my house.

So, after the college romance story I submitted was sent back to me with a rejection, I dug up The Stillburrow Crush, polished on it some, and sent her in. That was in August of 2008. Eighty-eight days later, I had an offer for a contract.

Now, Fifteen months after that, we are only TWO days away from seeing the real thing. It's been a long, but rewarding journey. And I'll be happy to finally share one of my stories with the world. I hope you enjoy reading it at least half as much as I enjoyed writing it.

"The Stillburrow Crush" Video and Appreciation

If, for some odd reason, you haven't seen the video to The Stillburrow Crush then... this one's for you! The book comes out in THREE DAYS from The Wild Rose Press!!! I can't wait.

But don't go yet! I just gotta yell out my thanks to everyone who helped make this book possible.

Sandra Ruth : Sister by chance, friend by choice. She has patiently (and probably painfully at times) read every single piece of writing I've ever shown her, starting way back when I was ten and began to spin my fictitious tales. I'll never forget the last day of my junior year of high school (she was only weeks pregnant with her firstborn). We hopped in the car as soon as classes let out and drove about eight hours to Taylorville, Illinois because for some reason I'd set the first novel I wrote there, and she thought my manuscript would be more authentic if I actually visited the place. Even though her morning sickness started halfway through the trip, my big sister stuck by my side so I could experience this writing research. I'll never be able to thank her enough for her unending support. This book is definitely for her.

To my hubby, my parents, and the rest of my family (especially Cindy, Jamie, Nancy, Kayla, and Mom, who actually sat down and read The Stillburrow Crush when it was unvarnished and raw; and all you others who probably did, though I don't know about it). Thank you for always being there for me and letting me know you'll ALWAYS be there for me.

A big thank you to Susan Yates : Seriously, guys, no first-time author could find an editor as amazing as this lady. She's been patient, supportive, even down-right flattering at times. The Wild Rose Press found a gem when they hired her on.

To my all the teachers who've given me an extra boost in my English classes (from first grade through college): Mrs. Coltrane, Mrs. Lomshek, Mrs. Elrod, Mr. Cooper, Mrs. Tilley, Mr. Parsons, Ms. Washburn, and Dr. Degrave (an special extra thanks to Dr. Degrave for reading through The Stillburrow Crush in it's earliest days to give me a critique).

To the ladies at PPL, who also read through The Stillburrow Crush before it was what it is now, Thank you to: Helen, Cindy, Jean, Tiffany, Sue, Susie, Gail and anyone else who read it that I don't know about! I'll always remember your support.

And last but certainly not least : my writing pals, critique partners, and blogger buddies. You've all provided support that no one else could because you KNOW what it's like to struggle through the writing world. You've made this struggle of mine tolerable and even fun. Thank you so much.

Okay, okay. My awards acceptance speech is over--couldn't you just picture me up on stage, decked out in some glamour gown and hugging an Emmy close to my chest, while giving that speech.

You may now go on your merry way! See you tomorrow.

A Puzzling Countdown

There are FOUR days left until my first book, The Stillburrow Crush, is released by The Wild Rose Press. So, while you wait, here's a puzzle to play. I created it a while back and posted it on my blog, so some of you have no doubt seen this before. But, hopefully, it's been long enough you can't remember where all the pieces go!!

See you tomorrow!!

Stillburrow Contest

For day FIVE on my Stillburrow Crush Countdown (only five days until my book is released. eeek!), we're starting the ten-day contest. Over on the contest page of my website (http://www.lindakage.com/contest), I'm throwing my biggest contest yet. For FIVE days before the release date and FIVE days after, the contest will be open for people to drop their name into the proverbial raffle bin in the hopes of being one of the big winners... and I'm going to have FIVE lucky champions (are you catching onto my "five"theme going on--wink, wink).

1 winner will be awarded a $20.00 gift certificate to Amazon.com,
1 winner will receive a SIGNED (by me!) print copy of The Stillburrow Crush, and
3 winners will win the e-book version of The Stillburrow Crush.

So, don't waste time. Head over to my website and sign up today... or, you know, sometime within the next ten days.

Good Luck!

Carrie's Yearbook

Only SIX days until The Stillburrow Crush is here and available to the public. This morning on my countdown, I've stolen my heroine--Carrie's--yearbook from her junior year (which happens to be the year her story takes place), and I copied down a few quotes people wrote in the autographs section.

Don't worry, I put the yearbook back when I was done... she'll never know it was gone!

And now, here are what fellow classmates had to say to her after her junior year at Stillburrow.


I loved your prom dress. You and Luke looked cute together.
--Brenda Newell

You're pretty cool, Paxton.
--Rick Getty

I used to think you were weird. Now, I KNOW you are. But in a good way!
--Nathan Bates


Thank you for the quote you wrote on my leg cast. It made my day.
--Jill Anderson


A hot brother AND a hot boyfriend. I so wish I was you.
--Liz Curry


Timmy was here!
--Tim Newell


I'm impressed with how well you raised your trigonometry grade.
--Mr. Underhill


I'll never forget how Luke stood up to Egghead for you.
--E. T.


I still think YOU wrote those poems.
--Jordan Burke


Nice article about Appomattox Court House you wrote in the school paper. I think I'll use it in my history class next year.
--Mr. Decker


Thank you for the best year of my life. Love, Luke.
P.S. But Bates is right, you ARE weird!!

Begin Reading "The Stillburrow Crush" Now

And now for your reading pleasure, I've provided a never-posted-before excerpt of the beginning of my debut novel,

The Stillburrow Crush, which comes out in one week's time (February 26, 2010) from The Wild Rose Press

. Enjoy...


CHAPTER ONE

Want to read more??? Good news! Next week, The Climbing Roses of the Wild Rose Press Blog will let you read the first THREE chapters completely. So, make sure you check out that blog as well for Stillburrow Crush treats. They'll also throwing a contest to win a copy of my book, plus will interview me some time next week as well.

See you tomorrow.

Find your way around Stillburrow

(Click to Enlarge)

There's only eight days left until my first book comes out in online stores across the world. Can you believe it? I'm still in shock myself!

But before the big moment arrives, I think everyone should prepare themselves. I've already given you a rundown of basically what will happen (on countdown day #10) plus shown you two short scenes (countdown day #9). So, you're all geared up to start on page one. But maybe a map of Stillburrow will help guide you around once you begin reading.

Lucky you, I happen to have a map handy of my fictional setting. It's also available on my website on my Bookshelf page, just so you know.

See you again tomorrow for yet another extra special treat.

The Stillburrow Crush - Lydia Approved

We're on day nine of the countdown to The Stillburrow Crush's release, and the party is just getting started. Yesterday our pre-ordered copies arrived at my place, and as you can see above, my seven-day old just can't put the story down...oh, yeah, it's that good (LOL)!

Anyway, on DAY 10, I gave you a glimpse of what the plot is about. So, today, how about a sneak peek at an actual scene. This excerpt has been up on my website for months and months, so it's possible you already read it. IF not, now's your chance to enjoy.

THE STILLBURROW CRUSH - EXCERPT #1

“They really ought to tear that place down. Just look at that sagging roof.”

Luke gave a soft laugh behind me. “That would involve change.”

“What do you mean?”

“Haven’t you ever noticed this town’s stuck in a time capsule? It’s like we’ve never heard of the term progress. I mean, there’s hardly any cell phone towers around and forget about high speed internet.”

“High speed what?” I asked, glancing back to give him a puzzled look.

He opened his mouth to explain, when it dawned on him I was joking. “You always have to be a smart aleck, don’t you?”

We shared a smile.

I looked into his face and relished these minutes where I could ogle him selfishly. I knew I should give him the information he wanted from me now, but I could only stare. It took me a moment to notice his expression, though.

His gaze had been roaming my face but had paused on my left ear. When he snorted out a surprised laugh, I frowned.

He pointed a finger toward my hair. “Uh, I think the wind messed it up some.”

I patted my head, my face flaming.

“Here,” Luke said, and flipped down his visor,lighting up the mirror underneath. I looked up and groaned. Not only had the wind caught a hold of my hair and ripped it half out of its ponytail, it had also knotted and twisted it into a healthy-sized rat’s nest.

I tried to ignore the fact that Luke was sitting next to me—and already knew exactly what the disaster looked like—and ripped the holder out of my hair. I combed through the mess with my fingers but there were knots everywhere. When I caught him staring again, I glared.

“What?” I demanded. But he continued to gawk. I patted at my hair and wondered what he could possibly be thinking about the mess.

“I’ve never seen it all down before,” he said.

Startled, I glanced back in the mirror. I’d seen it down millions of times. I just didn’t leave the house with it loose. There was too much of it to let it run wild. I tried to see it how Luke must see it. It was curly—so curly it bobbed. Tight little curls framed my face like a border full of personality. From the corner of my eye, I saw Luke lift his hand toward one spiraling lock. But when I turned to him, he lowered his fingers and shifted his attention out the window. I stared at his profile for a second, breathing hard.

“It’s pretty,” he said, more to the windshield than to me.

I wanted him to lift his hand again. I wanted him to touch my hair. “I think yours is prettier.”

He laughed. “Guys do not have pretty hair.”

“Well, yours is.” I reached over and touched his hair. I thought maybe if I touched his, he might get the guts to touch mine. But at contact, I gasped. “It’s so soft.” I ran my fingers through the part that always curled around a cowlick when it got wet. I scooted over, leaning across the console between us.

“Carrie.”

His voice sounded strained so I looked down. I hadn’t realized I’d moved so close. But when I gazed into his face, we were only a breath apart. I was positioned a little above him so I could reach his hair. He lifted his face up to stare at me. His eyes were a blazing blue.

That’s when he touched my hair. He drew his fingers through the curls to cup my head. Then he tilted his chin to the side and pulled me down. I was shocked when our mouths connected. He was kissing me.

Oh my God, Luke Carter was kissing me.

But, wait, I'm not done yet!! The Wild Rose Press has a different excerpt up on their site. Here's a sneak peek at that!

THE STILLBURROW CRUSH - EXCERPT #2

A bead of muddy sweat trickled out of his hairline and down his temple, mixing with blood before moving on. Fascinated, I watched it drool a crooked path down his cheek and neck and then into the collar of his jersey.

As if catching my entranced stare, he lifted the hand that held his helmet and wiped the sweat away with the back of his palm. “What do you want to know?”

I cleared my throat and dropped my eyes. “Umm, well…” I yanked a notebook from the inside pocket of my trench coat. The wind caught a few sheets, making the lined pages flail and thrash like they were drowning in the ocean or something. I tried to get a hold of them and rein them in but only succeeded in wrinkling most of the pad.

“Sorry,” I muttered, and dug deep into my outer pocket, frantically searching for my pen. I couldn’t find the irritating thing there, and switched hands on the notebook to search the other pocket. I didn’t dare look up. I could feel him watching and it made my cheeks hot.

He coughed, trying to get my attention, and my head flew up—long bangs falling into my eyes. He motioned toward my right ear with his index finger. I frowned, wondering if there was a twig or something in my hair and reached up, patting the area. And the pen, which had been securely tucked behind my ear, stabbed me.

“Ouch!”

So, there you go... A two-fer. Hope you liked them! If you're too impatient to wait for the ebook's release, the PRINT edition is available to buy now at THE WILD ROSE PRESS!

I checked Amazon.com on Sunday and, YAY, the print version for The Stillburrow Crush IS available to buy there. I know a lot of you wanted to be informed when Amazon had it, so CLICK HERE if that is your burying preference.

Also, be sure to check out my BLOG TOUR to the right, to see where I'm being interviewed.

Thank you so much for dropping in. Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for Day EIGHT of Stillburrow's Countdown!

Stillburrow Countdown

My first book EVER is released soon, so of course I must have a countdown, right? Right. Start saving your money now because in TEN DAYS, the e-book will be available at The Wild Rose Press to purchase and keep forever and ever for your reading pleasure.

**One happy correction: It looks like the ebook will be selling for $5.50 instead of the $6.00 like I originally thought.

**And a happier correction: The PRINT edition is already available to order at THIS LINK from The Wild Rose Press. Cool, huh? Anyway...

The story is a young adult romance about:

Sixteen year old, Carrie Paxton, isn't the most popular girl in her small town of Stillburrow. But that's never concerned her before. Her life revolves around her writing and she loves her job as the student editor of the school paper.

But when she gets assigned to interview the football team's beloved quarterback, she takes one look into Luke Carter's blue eyes and is a goner. Suddenly, she doesn't like her lowly rank so much. Then her dreamy, popular crush surprises her when he starts to act as if he likes her in return. But there's no way Luke Carter could possibly ever like a nobody like Carrie Paxton.

Is there?

Every day until the big kick off, I'll have a little something special here to celebrate The Stillburrow Crush's grand opening. Today, I'm giving away postcards that look like the image above. They make awesome bookmarks.

If you'd like one, please email me at Linda (at)Linda Kage (dot) com and give me a snail mail address in which to send you an original limited-time offer of "The Stillburrow Crush" postcard (you might want to say "postcard" in the title line of the email, so I don't mistake you for spam)!!!

And with that... I'll see you tomorrow for more!!

Interview at The Ravenous Reader

Next stop on the Stillburrow Crush Blog Tour: Tales of the Ravenous Reader.

Over at The Ravenous Reader Blog, I'm being interviewed today for my book, The Stillburrow Crush. Feel free to pop over sometime and say hi.

Books, Babies, and Contest Winners

My baby is in the breech positions so I'm scheduled to have a c-section tomorrow (squeeeee!), meaning you probably won't hear from me personally for a couple of weeks (but don't worry: I still have blogs scheduled to post in my absence).

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My book, The Stillburrow Crush, is now available for pre-order from the publisher's website, The Wild Rose Press. I keep checking Amazon, but it still hasn't shown up there yet.

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And the winner chosen from the Nancy J. Parra Interview post is:

Sheila Deeth

Congratulations, Sheila! You won a new paperback copy of Nancy's book, Dream Man. Boy, are you lucky. What a keeper!

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But if you did not win Nancy's story, never fear, there's another contest presently running to win...what do you know...MY book!!! Over at the Climbing Roses of the Wild Rose Press Blog, the blog goddess Blaize is throwing a fun contest. She says:

Got a crush story you want to share with us? E-mail it to me at blaizerose (dot) cr (at) gmail (dot) com. We'll be posting crush stories on the blog all this month and asking readers to vote on them. Whoever's crush story gets the most votes will win a copy of The Stillburrow Crush.

So, head over there and gives up your crush story. Want to read my entry (it's so embarrasing)? HERE it is!

The Stillburrow Crush -- Preorder Now!

I'm so happy to announce that my first book, THE STILLBURROW CRUSH, is NOW available to order in PRINT from The Wild Rose Press.


So, if you're not into ebooks or you just can't wait until the official release, please feel free to go ahead and order a copy today (that's exactly what I did)!! HERE is the link.

So far, it's only for sale at the publisher's website, but it WILL be available within a few weeks at many major online retailers and distributors such as...

Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Baker & Taylor
Barnes & Noble
Ingram Book Company

To celebrate, I redecorated my website. What do you think??

The Stillburrow Crush Blog Tour

Like I mentioned in my last post, my February schedule is a bit unpredictable right now. But I do know a couple blogs have been interested in interviewing me about my upcoming debut novel. Like TODAY for instance. Kathy at the Bookworm Nation blog has interviewed me. So, please hop over that way to check it out! The rest of my Blog Tour Schedule I currently have is very sketchy with details, so I hope to be able to drop in every once in a while with updates...like specific dates and links. But I'll give you what I have so far.

The Stillburrow Crush Blog Tour Schedule

-October 6, 2009 - Interview at Happily Ever After

-TODAY (January 27, 2010) - Interview at Bookworm Nation

-February 2010 - Interview at Tales of the Ravenous Teen Reader

-February 2010 - Interview at Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

-February 24 or 25, 2010 - Guest Post at The Book Butterfly

-February 28, 2010 - Interview at This Writer's Life

-April 19, 2010 - Interview at The Long and Short of It : Aurora

-September 19, 2010 - Interview at Teens Read Too

Once I get more precise dates and direct links to interviews, I'll let you know.

Awards and Announcements

There are a ton of things happening lately, plus I've received a bundle of awards. So, please bear with me while I share all this amazing information with you. I'll start with announcements.

As you can see a little to the north, I already have a book cover for my adult contemporary romance story, The Trouble With Tomboys, which will be published by the glorious Wild Rose Press! WOW. It's surreal to actually see the faces of my characters. My editing process seems to be going at warp speed, so I have a feeling I'll be able to share a release date for this book with you in only a few months...if not sooner!

For my YA Romance, The Stillburrow Crush, I have a WIDGET up (as you can see to the LEFT there), showing the countdown to the release of my first book...right down to the very second. There's another big WOW in my writing journey. Oh, and feel free to share the widget with whomever you like!

The cover of The Stillburrow Crush was shown on The Story Siren's blog. I'll be giving away free goodies there after the new year. Plus, I'll be donating a copy of my book to The Princess Bookie Blog, for their "Around the World 2010 Debut Author Challenge." You might want to check that out.

Then...I've got a blog interview in the works for the end of February, plus I'll be interviewing the amazing romantic suspense author, Nancy J. Parra, at the beginning of February.

	In other people's news, My wonderful critique partner, Claire Ashgrove, had her second book (ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS...IS BIG BLUE EYES) released last week from The Wild Rose Press. Big round of applause for her. Then, Heather Snow--from my writing group--recently started her own blog called Heather's Historical Hodgepodge. I'm already an avid fan there. She posts every Tuesday, if you're curious. And the biggie: Tess Hilmo, a blogger buddy of mine, just announced she sold her first book, With A Name Like Love, to Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Did you hear that??? Farrar, Straus & Giroux!!! I'm so in awe.
Now for the awards.
Loyal Friend Award	I received the "Loyal Friend" Award from Robyn, over at Putting Pen to Paper. Thank you so much, Robyn! You're the sweetest!
Who Loves you Award	Then, or maybe it was before that, I received the "Who Loves You" Award from Laura Gerold, over at Laura's Reviews.
Super Comments Award	And both Laura and Robyn bestowed "The Super Comments" Award on me sometime during all that. Thank you, thank you, guys. You're truly TOO good to me.

And finally, Tricia J. O'Brien at her blog, Tailspinning passed the "Honest Scrap" Award to me at the end of November. For this award, you're supposed to tell five to ten "honest" things about yourself and then pass the award along to five to ten other bloggers for them to do the same.

I think I'm already taking up too much time and space here, so I'll do all the award passing along later (probably after the new year) and share some "honest" things about myself then!

So...Until Thursday. See you guys later!