Today, January 16th, 2016, I'm so glad to announce that Pedal to the Metal L-I-V-E!
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Thank you for your patience.
Thank you for your impatience.
Both the messages of support and the toe-tapping side-eyes helped me push through this painful project.
Why painful?
I had to kick over a lot of rocks to write it. Most were long-buried and buried for a reason.
Every woman has those rocks. What we do with them varies, but we all carry the weight. We can't bury them outside of ourselves--not without a psychotic break. We can put them on our shoulders and play the victim. We can turn them into altars, and make the rock our reason to be. We can shove them in the corner and try not to stub our toe on them in the dark. We can stand on top of them and not let them sink us.
Those rocks are our earliest sexual experiences. The ill-chosen ones and the ones we didn't choose. The ones we pretend didn't happen. The ones that a thousand generous lovers cannot wipe from our minds.
We show them to our closest girlfriends in order to try and make sense of them. But, since they're rocks, they can become weapons used against us.
That's the mindset I've lived in for the last six months. In order to put the pain of growing up on the page, I had to re-live it. Seriously, I wouldn't be that age again for anything.
This series is not utterly erotica, it's damn sure not traditional romance. In fact, it is, was, and remains, erotic coming-of-age fiction. The problem with putting this story into a box labeled 'romance' is that leaves no room for the other people who touch, and shake, our girl Shelby.
Therefore, she had to struggle with more than falling for just one man. She had to find her posse. Those ride-or-die girlfriends who get us all through our lives as women. She had to deal with the fallout of loving two or three, men and women, when society allows you but one. 'Tis a curse to feel everything so damn deep.
This version isn't what you'd have read if I'd released in September. It's not the version I had on paper in November, nor even the one I'd started to format for release at the end of December.
But, it's the story I wanted to write.
I'm so proud of you for digging deep!♡
ReplyDeleteI'm so proud of you for digging deep!♡
ReplyDeleteYay! I for one am very excited. You Rock woman and I'm glad you let the world know it! Congratulations
ReplyDeletefrom everyone who is carrying (and still, at times having to figure out how to deal with) their own "rocks", thank you.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is that the rocks never get lighter. You adjust to the burden, but at least the sharp edges gradually wear down a bit. But, you are not alone. (hug)
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ReplyDeleteThank you for having the courage to bare your soul to us. I'm sure it wasn't an easy process. And then your heart kept telling you, "it's not enough", and you had to dig down ever deeper and deeper... I hope writing this book gave you a good soul cleansing you deserved. A good soul cleansing that had to be done by the author's hand or you had to ride dirty. "And Hanna's don't ride dirty." (deleted and re-poste for editing) :)
ReplyDeleteIt truly was. I'll continue to poke at it somewhat throughout the rest of the series, but I feel like I laid down a 50 pound rock. Thanks so much for the insight--and for quoting the book! <3
DeleteOMG! I can't wait to start reading, I loved the first two books and I know book 3 is going to be so awesome! thank you for writing us an awesome series!!
ReplyDeleteI loved it. I just finished it and have never want to tell another author how much I love a book. I may not have had the life Shelby has, but I have had my own rock thrown at me. And some days as a 41 year old adult I can still feel the ones from my teens all the ones from life. This my be a romance book that not everyone for sure is not going to get. But it's about about how other girls and woman let each other down and how we should lift each other up. Thank you for putting yourself on the pages and I don't thing anyother writer would go so deep. I'm so glad I pick up the first book and never put it down. Please gives us more because I'm not done with the Hanna's. I want more and I hate waiting be it was worth the wait. Thanks for asking... "weren't you ever tempted to break every speed limit? To find out what living without a safety belt feels like? To make your own rules?". Keep making your own rules and don't let anyone tell you want your books should be and I'm going to try that in my own life I've been doing what other think I should for way too long.
ReplyDeleteThat's the question I kept asking myself after my mom died. Can breaking the rules--making my own rules--possibly break my heart any worse than following them did? As for the stones, well, that's the biggest women's club of all time. Sadly. (hug) Thanks so much for telling me how the story has affected you, Nan. I plan to let Robyn, Caroline, and Marley bring us on home :)
DeleteWill these books be offered at other retailers?
ReplyDeleteI have no plans for that at the moment. Gas or Ass has been free on B&N for a while now, and has zero reviews. Going wider with distribution equals a loss in revenue for me at a point when my royalties are used for living expenses. If you have a newer Nook, with the app store, the Kindle reading app can be downloaded, and workarounds exist for other e-readers as well, if you Google them.
DeleteI got the first book from b&n and loved it. I don't know how to leave a review but I will be telling my other reader friends about the book. I also have the kindle ap on my phone so I able to get the other two books and just finished reading them. I loved them too. And am looking forward to reading more of the series. I will be telling my friends about those books as well. Thank you for writing them. Any one who reads these books will be able to relate to them in some way and I know that they touched my heart and some of my own regrets and achievements in life. Please write more about the Hannah's lives and thank you for digging so deep.
DeleteThank you. It always makes me misty to hear that these stories touched someone on a deeper level. I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know. :)
DeleteHaving lived by the rules and run at the speed limit for years and gotten no where, I know it was liberating when I finally decided to do things my way and that everyone else could go fucking themselves if they didn't like it. I know I have to ally enjoyed these 3 books and wait impatiently for more as they come out. As I told you before Thank you for having the guts to write what you did. More power to you!
ReplyDeleteI'll be honest and say I started the first book of the series because it was free...and had two guys and a girl on the cover! I needed a pick-me-up to lighten my spirits after a rough start to the week (years really). This wasn't the easy-reading, happy-go-lucky book I thought it was going to be. It was so much more. I felt Shelbys pain, torment, heartbreak as if i was sitting right next to her, or was her. As hard as it was to read since old memories came back when reading, i could not put it down. I absolutely loved it. It brought out more emotions then I thought it would! I immediately went and bought the other two. And again, could not put them down until I read them both. (Who needs sleep anyway?) I am eagerly anticipating the next one in the series to see the next stop in the Hannah family. Thank you for putting everything you got in these stories. It shows!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading, and for letting me know you enjoyed the books, Jessie. This made my day! :)
DeleteThis series is amazing! The more I read it the more I related to a lot of it. I grew up in Indiana and NASCAR was big there too. It was weaved into my childhood right along with my own rocks. I didn't even realize it until I started reading this series. Thinking back I could replace the names of your characters to those in my own life. Rocks always get heavier and heavier the longer you carry them, until you just carry them a second longer. I'm glad you dropped yours into these books. I've carried a lot of rocks in my life and know how much they can drag you down. Sometimes they feel like shackles you can't find the keys for so you pull and struggle making your ankles bleed until you pull out of those restraints and can finally take a weightless step towards freedom. I'm glad you bled on those pages. You bled for all of us, and we bled right along with you until our blood blended together making us all lifelong blood buddies. All of our rocks have made us who we are today, no matter how we decided to bear them, and Eden my dear turned out to be a fantastic lady!
DeleteWhat a lovely comment. It never fails to surprise and delight me when this story resonates with someone. Thank you for coming by to say this, Angelina. Your remarks made my day :)
DeleteWhen does need for speed come out?!? I can't get enough of this series! All day I've been laughing at random while doing this or that like cooking or laundry, remembering parts of this series, especially with this last one PTTM. Can't wait for the next one!
ReplyDeleteNo date yet. The story's still working itself out in my head and my heart, and I have yet to put my finger on its heartbeat.
DeleteThanks for the nudge, though. I really appreciate hearing from readers :)
I just read all 3 Cuda Confession novels (in 3 days). Love, love, love them! Can't wait to read about Dale, Robyn, and Jill. You have developed such wonderfully, real characters that I am now emotionally invested and would read more about all of them. Keep up the great work! Ignore those who criticize your work based on the ages of your characters, you will never be able to please everyone. Follow your heart and your gut and I guarantee, your fans will be pleased.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm not much of one to listen to the haterz, but it never hurts to hear I'm not talking to myself :)
DeleteI loved the books all of them. I did wish that we could get pov from Colt and Caine just to understand what was going through their minds. Shelby and Caroline were great strong female leads. Loved Harry and Phillip thought they gave great comedic relief. Hopefully you will be doing another book about the characters and where they are in their lives.
ReplyDeleteThere will be other stories, from other characters POV, and we'll see the whole gang through their eyes. Might even finish up with a final story from Shelby's POV, to take us across the finish line :)
DeleteOh yeah that would be great!!! I just found these books and finished all three in a week!!!! Love the story and the characters.
DeleteThat is amazing to hear there will be more. Honestly 3 days ago I didn't know these books existed. But Lora Leigh posted on her Facebook page that has or ass was free and people should check it out if they liked a book that pushed their boundaries. I jumped and that chance. And I couldn't put it down and I had to read the other 2. I finished them all in 3 days. It takes a talented writer to make you feel everything the characters go through I literally had adrenaline coursing through me. I felt like I was on the race with Shelby and I felt all the pain and emotions she had and everything she went through. Please keep writing! Love love love! Definitely will be recommending these to all my friends, I know they will love them just as much as me!
DeleteGreat read plz how do,I get a copy on need for speed . I didn't have a debit card to buy these books but after reading the first book i was hooked and needless to say I've bought the others from amazon I'm desperate to read the last book plz help me to find want I need I have to know how it ends lol and by the way thanks for these books awesome story line
ReplyDeleteNeed for Speed is not yet released. For that matter, it's not yet completely written. The best way to know when that happens is to join my mailing list. And thanks for the enthusiasm! :)
DeleteThank you for these wonderful books please help me to find last book in series the cuda confessions 4 need for speed plz I must read it as its not on amazon I've bought the rest I really need to finish these series plz help a faithful read . Ps those kinda of mean people can just kick rocks,
ReplyDelete3 books 3 days I'm hooked update plz for need for speed
ReplyDeleteMeh. Prepare to be patient. It's a painful book to write, the most personal yet, and I need to be alone to write it and do it justice. Living with my daughter means I am. Never. Alone. But that's about to change at the end of May (fingers crossed.) Then, I can focus on N4S exclusively, and hope to have it done by..whenever it gets done. Me and deadlines don't gee-hah.
DeleteBut, thank you so much for the enthusiasm!
I loved the book thanks so much
ReplyDeleteWhen I first seen the title Gas or Ass, It caught my attention. I decided I wanted to read it to figure out where the title came from. I found myself drawn to Shelby and the crew. Her struggles and her successes kept me wanting to read more. There was definitely a lot of sex; but the actions of Shelby to survive and move on, are what kept me wanting to keep reading. At times, I was laughing, other times crying, and even cheering her on. I enjoyed the first book so much, I couldn't put it down. I stayed up until early morning hours just to finish it. Which left me wanting to know more. So I bought the next two books. Now I'm left hoping for more of Shelby and Caine after finishing those books too. Thank you for the stories! Loved them!! Looking forward to more of Shelby. She's a fighter!
ReplyDeleteWill there be more of the Cuda Confessions? Love the books and love the crew. Please let your readers know.
ReplyDeleteLoved all three books can't wait to read more. Thank You
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