Pink Shades of Words...An Anthology to Raise Money for Breast cancer Research.

I am honored and very humbled to be a part of something that moves the world beyond just the limited space I am in. When Glorya Hidalgo asked me to contribute a short story to her Avon breast cancer project I was more then willing to jump in with both feet. Then when I heard she had big name authors like Emily Snow, Jessica Sorensen, Julie Prestsater and CJ Roberts, I knew I was putting my name on something truly special. Breast cancer (<---notice I didn't capitalize the insidious bitch), has made a mark in everyone's lives one way or another. It has become a too common household conversation regarding our mothers, sisters, aunts, and girlfriends. We've ALL become affected by this disease. Whether a personal story of survival or of a loved one, this disease is finding its way into too many people's lives.

I wish I had magic pill that would wipe this gnarly, insidious disease from the face of the earth, but the fact is...I don't. But what I do have is a story. MAX, A Wilson Mooney Series Prequel, a short snip-it of Max Goldstein's life up to where Almost Eighteen (book 1) begins. I wrote this short story especially for Pink Shades of Words, I figured what better way to help out then to contribute what I know. I hope you enjoy the 16 other authors that poured their hearts into this project along with countless contributors that donated their time!

Below is all the information....even links to purchase it! 
 

17 of Today’s Best Selling Authors in Young Adult, New Adult & Romance came together to support Breast Cancer Research.

Proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated towards Fifty Shades of Pink Avon Breast Cancer Team- Santa Barbara, CA.

FIFTY SHADES OF PINK team participates in the 2 Day, 39.3 miles Breast Cancer Walk in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA. For one weekend- we wake up at 5am, deal with blisters the size of mountains, body aches (from body parts we should never ach from) and become one big family with the other thousands of walkers. We do this all in hopes that no other Mother, Sister, Aunt or Friend will have to deal with Breast Cancer.

Ready to Wed by J.L. Berg
Forgetting by JL Brooks
Max by Gretchen de la O
Fate by Dani Hart
Final Stage by Jade C. Jamison
Choices by Sloan Johnson
Leap of Faith by Shayne McClendon
Trying by J.B. McGee
Ruby and Finn by Maggi Myers
A Bend In the Road by Tess Oliver
More Than A Friend Request by Julie Prestsater
Songs of Dominance by CD Reiss
Falling by Julie Richman
Determined to Obey by CJ Roberts
Meeting Sin by Emily Snow
Lies & Deceit by Jessica Sorensen
Don’t Close Your Eyes by Hilary Storm

Amazon (Kindle & Paperback)

Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Smashwords (All Formats) 

 

Sneak Peek Scene from Beyond Eighteen WM#3 & News

Hey My Loves, 

Head on over to Up All Night Book Blog and check out the exclusive scene sneak peek between Wilson and Max... Click HERE to read it!

www.upallnightbookblog.com

Also, don't forget SFINE on June 15th, the San Francisco Signing~ the event is almost to capacity...so...if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, in the middle of June, come on down to the Sheraton at Fisherman's Wharf and say hi! I'll even sign your book (or whatever you have to be signed!) 
 Click HERE for details and register soon! 



With all of that...If I get 1K (1,000) LIKES on the Wilson Mooney Fan Page I will reveal Beyond Eighteen's cover!  
I gotta tell you...is it a lot different than the other two books!  

Oh, yeah, and one more thing... You've heard it here first...I am re-issuing book 1 & 2 with totally new covers! More about that...later!  Shhhh......

Thank you for supporting me on this journey~ with the deepest gratitude and love,

Gretchen  

My First Indie Author Event in San Francisco! SFINE

I am so excited to tell you all about my first ever "indie" author's event, SFINE! I am going to be at the Sheraton at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco on Saturday, June 15th from 12-4pm. OMG, can I just say I am so excited to be invited to such an amazing event! Colleen Hoover, Nyrae Dawn, Steph Campbell, and Jillian Dodd just to name a few of the 30 authors that will be there, with me! I can't wait to rub elbows with some truly talented writers!

Hey, but wait! Did I mention you're invited! Just go to the website,www.sfine.net and register (it's free). Then, come on down! I'd  love to meet some of my amazing Northern California readers and sign your books! If you don't have a copy of Wilson 1 or 2, don't worry, click HERE, scroll through to the last page and order a copy or two!

It has been an amazing time in my life and I can't wait to share it with all of you!

With Love,

Gretchen 

300 LIKES ON FACEBOOK!

300 LIKES ON FACEBOOK! 

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS...

***WILSON MOONEY #3  SPOILER ALERT***

If you would rather stay in the dark, by all means shield your eyes, turn away and stay at the door, yet again. But if you just have to have some type of resolve, then click 

HERE 

Thanks to all who LIKED the Wilson Mooney Facebook Page. If you haven't...well, you might just be missing out!

 

 

Enter to Win Autographed Copies of book 1 & 2!

Enter to win an autographed copy of both Wilson Mooney Almost Eighteen & Eighteen at last. 
 Just fill out the form to the right, "Stay in the Loop" for the latest information about the release of Wilson Mooney Beyond Eighteen, merchandise, contests, sneak peeks and news! But hurry, the drawing ends 1/31/13. 

**If you've already filled this out. Email me at gretchen(at)gretchendelao(dot)com and tell me you want to enter the contest!**

300 LIKES ON FACEBOOK = SNEAK PEEK WM#3

Woo Hoo, Wilson Mooney's Facebook Page has reached 229 LIKES. When it reaches 300 LIKES, I will give you a sneak peek from the 3rd book, Wilson Mooney, Beyond Eighteen! If you don't have FB, find a friend that has it and make sure they LIKE the Wilson Mooney Series Facebook Page and when it reaches 300...you'll get a little something, something to help pass the time before the book is released. Check out the link below...

https://www.facebook.com/wilsonmooneytheseries

Everything is Ready...WooHoo

I ordered the ARC (advance readers copy)  for Wilson Mooney Eighteen at Last, I should have it in my hot little hands before Saturday! I am going to read through it and check the formatting. If everything is the way it should be...then it looks like WM18@L will be available the first full week of November! 

What a process it has been. 

I want to thank my graphic designer Eunice Ortegon and my editor Tiffany Grayson. These two women are beyond fantastic! They are amazingly giving, super cooperative, completely open, and extremely talented! I am so lucky to have them in my life and part of my journey. I can't explain how awesome it has been having authentic and selfless people surrounding this project. My BFF Becky Codere, which without her constant attention, Wilson and Max would have still been hanging out in my head.  Seriously, she was the one who kept pushing me, locking me away for writers weekends and read-throughs...I am truly fortunate to be surrounded by such wonderful people. They give without conditions and support me through it all.

Okay, enough mushy stuff...A couple of things to hold you in suspense until WM18@L is available....

When it becomes available it will be available and distributed in all formats at www.smashwords.com and of course Amazon, iTunes, and Barnes and Noble.

I will announce the release of WM18@L  on the following Social Networking sites...
Twitter...@delaogk
 Facebook....www.facebook.com/wilsonmooneytheseries
My Blog.....www.wilsonmooney.blogspot.com
Goodreads...http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16086588-wilson-mooney-eighteen-at-last
My Website...www.gretchendelao.com

So keep checking back!

**DISCLOSURE**
WM18@L will not be categorized as  a YA novel. I will not tout it as a YA. I don't even think I will offer it even under the guise of a "Mature" YA.  It is an adult romance novel (even though the main characters are still quite young.)

I hope you enjoy the read, and truly, thanks for all your support and kind words!

Don't forget to keep checking in!

With Gratitude and Love,

Gretchen

I Am Soooo Close I Can Taste a Release Date....

Ok...You, my lovely readers have been so patient, so understanding, and so amazingly supportive. I am excited to say, the second book is on its way.

Let me tell ya where I am at...I've uploaded my required interior files to CreateSpace, (after a good amount of cursing and figuring out what the heck they were requiring).  I've fixed the file for the Kindle and it is ready to go. 

My graphic designer has been waiting for my summary (I wasn't happy with it original). I just emailed the bar-code, summary, and all information she needs to place it on the back cover of the paperback copy. When she emails me the files for the covers (eBook & print) I will upload those and order a proof of the paperback. I also had to register the book with Bowkers (boy is that something).

In the meantime, I am waiting for the mastered, original song, from an amazing local singer/song writer for the teaser trailer I want so it will make you all hot and bothered for Max and Wilson.

For now, that's all I got for you! Thank you for all your support! Thanks for telling all your girlfriends about Wilson, and I hope you will love WM18@L.

 Shhhh...come in a little closer, I don't want to say this too loud...

Here's a little insider information for my blog-stalkers...

you know who you are! ;) 

WM18@L will NOT be labeled a young adult novel

...just in case you were wondering.

Getting Closer...

Okay, so if I would have remembered how frickin' frustrating editing in html was when using Mobipocket Creator I would have taken better notes when uploading the first Wilson Mooney! Urrghh…The most time consuming part, for me, is making sure the table of contents is working properly. After that, I always seem to need to re-set the title page, and each chapter heading. Forget ncx…that is just way out of range for me. Besides all new Kindles don’t use the ncx feature, because the reader can drag the bar across the screen. So Yay, on leaving behind the ncx formatting!

After writing, editing, and type-setting for print, I must go and create a couple documents for all the different electronic formats. I end up with roughly 3 different copies of Wilson, formatted 3 different ways. Print version has their requirements, Kindle has theirs, and Smashword (a distributor for all electronic formats) seem to have theirs too!

I don’t have the cover yet, but I am very close to having the book ready to go. What I’ve worked on last night was checking the formatting and functionality of different options with the electronic/eBook formats. Once I get the cover for the paperback and the electronic copy...I will be able to finish uploading the book…WOW, that was a pretty LOUD Whoop!

Oh man, if you guys only knew how crazy nervous I have been lately—I’ve been, driving everyone around me bonkers. I don’t bite my nails, but I do require the occasional “really, really” when I start to feel inadequate or unsure about the book.

Gosh, I just can’t get over the fact that there are thousands of readers waiting at the door. Waiting to find out what happens next between Wilson and Max. It’s pretty amazing that people—I don’t know, have become emotionally invested in the characters from my head. Let me just say…the pressure is on…

It’s close to that time to get ready for Wilson and Max to dance across the screens of your e-readers as they live amongst the words that give them their lives.

Thanks for waiting…it won’t be long now…So here’s a little something I’m working on to keep you excited...

Wilson Mooney ~ Eighteen at Last

(Back of the book description Rough Draft #1)

Eager to take the next step in their relationship, Wilson and Max return to Aspen to celebrate Wilson’s eighteenth birthday. When an uncontrollable situation leads to a split second decision, both will be tested like never before. Butterflies will soar, hearts will clash, and Wilson’s relationship with Max will spin into a silken cocoon with choices that seem too impossible to overcome.

Could it be…uncovering the deep ache that lays dormant in their hearts will become the real threat to their forbidden love? Or will the pressures of keeping their relationship a secret be too much to bear?

Are you ready?

When A Spark Catches...

When a spark catches, a fire will blaze until its unstoppable flames consume without consideration. It is at this particular moment when we must decide if it is a blessing or a curse. We can either stand on the edge of a new opportunity grieving for what was lost or choose to celebrate the newly discovered possibilities.

When Wilson came to me several years ago, I didn’t know what she was all about. Some people told me that none of the big publishers would touch the story with a ten-foot pole. They thought the story was too taboo because it was about a girl and her teacher. But something inside me kept me writing it. The creative urge to tell her story was stronger than the mainstream belief that readers couldn’t handle the subject.

I knew that once people read the story, the whole idea of a student and a teacher would be an afterthought to the relationship of two young people who were falling in love with each other. It was so much more than the superficial, knee-jerk judgment of a naughty novel.

As I passed chapters to people who wanted to read Wilson’s story, I worked really hard to stretch out of the box of conventional thinking. If someone tried to stuff me back in the box, I would find the means to kick my way out. I guess I was too naïve to believe that stories like Wilson’s didn’t have an audience.

When I needed help, I would ask and opportunities would always show up. When I didn’t know if I was doing the right thing, I would stop and wait for the answers. When days turned into more days and doubt would creep into my head, I was fortunate enough to have people who would whack me upside the noggin for stopping mid-sentence and then give me positive strokes for continuing with my passion. It never took much to remind me why I was writing Wilson and Max’s story.

If there is anything I learned in the journey of bringing Wilson and Max to the world, it would have to be anything is possible. 

What mind can conceive, man can achieve.

Patience is truly the most rewarding attribute of seeing your dream unfold. When you feel like giving up, find every moment that sparks the creative energy in your heart and focus on that. When situations hurt your feelings, find something in that situation that helps you grow. Find the diamond buried in the huge mountain. And never forget, sometimes your ignorance of the worlds views will keep you alive and swimming when so many others are eaten by the sharks circling to swallow them whole.

**WM18@L Update**

I’m meeting with my beta readers Sunday! Whew, I can’t wait to hear what they have to say! Also, my editor is done with the book. She should have it to me in the next couple of days. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the first part of next week to see the progress on the cover from my graphic designer.

Lastly, I want to thank each and every one of you. I’m speechless and can’t think of any words to express how grateful I am to have all your support. You took a chance on an unknown author and bought my novel. That means the world to me. You’ve come back to my blog and Facebook page, checking in on my progress and I totally appreciate that. It’s funny to think, not too long ago Wilson’s story only existed in my head and now it’s out in the entire world, being shared!

With Overwhelming Gratitude,

Gretchen

Wilson Mooney, Eighteen at Last Teaser...

Alright ladies, here's a little bite for ya...

"Max glared at the floor for a postponed moment. His eyes slowly raked up my body. My skin burned and my vision blurred as my heartbeat bruised my lungs. It was agonizing to watch him take me in inch by inch. His expression tortured; his lips pulled in a severe line; his shoulders rounded like the whole world was dumped heavy across them. He opened his mouth and his nostrils flared as he began to speak words that must have caught somewhere between his heart and the back of his throat."

(Wilson Mooney, Eighteen at Last~2012)