Cover Reveal!!

Posted in Nature's Destiny by JustineWinter

I’ve been sitting on this cover for a good few weeks now, and I’m SO excited that I FINALLY get to share it with you! I want to thank the amazing bloggers that have taken part in today’s reveal, they literally rock my world with their awesomeness!

Less chit-chat from me, and time to reveal! I hope you like it!

Cover Designer: Melody Simmons
Cover Model: Janna Prosvirina

AND, the best part? I have a RELEASE DATE!

Do you want to know when?

MARCH 14th, 2014

Blurb:

My life was changing, morphing into something greater than I could have anticipated. I was becoming something I didn’t recognise as myself anymore. A Werewolf.
I was different.
Bitten.
‘Hybrid’ was what they called me, and the weight that rested against that one word was crippling. They depended on me to bring them safety. What made me so special?
Oh, that’s right. My destiny.
I was sucked into a world I’d had no idea existed. Twenty-one years as a human, and this was what I found out.
My travelling plans, my writing degree, all of it was gone within one night. One evil night that robbed my humanity.
I wasn’t completely sour. Life had been unfair a while ago, only now I’d had something worth fighting for besides myself. Something to live for.
I was afraid for the others. I couldn’t let them down. I wouldn’t let them down.
I’d gone to bed a human and woken up a Werewolf.
A special Werewolf.
A Hybrid.

AND, because I LOVE to whet your appetites, here’s my Facebook banner with a SNEAK PEEK quote!

Find me on facebook: www.facebook.com/justine.winter.7921
Follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/JustineWinter

29Dec2013

Reflect And Renew Resolutions

Posted in Writing by JustineWinter

2013 was the year I vowed was for me, not because I depended upon luck, but because I promised myself to make things better. I was stuck in the shadows of my past as they tore away at me day by day. I was becoming hollow, a mere figment of the person I once was.

I wasn’t the type to create resolutions year upon year that I already knew I wouldn’t keep. Determination couldn’t succeed if belief and willpower wasn’t behind it. Why set yourself up for a fall?

I didn’t. I succeeded because I believed in myself to not give up, not this time. Being ambitious and determined didn’t make me naive, it made me dangerous.

A person with a dream and a goal was far more likely to succeed than somebody who didn’t.

Who was the fool now?

Like a Phoenix I rose from the ashes of my buried past, and made the year better.

I hadn’t set out to write my debut novel this year, but like a sequence of events everything clicked together. The pattern that formed soon after was what led me here. The secret?

Reading. Never underestimate the power of a good book. It led me to write mine, to create this blog, and most importantly to connect with others in the wonderful writing community.

While they may not be resolutions, I do have a plan for the writing year ahead:

January 1st will be the day I begin writing the sequel to my novel Nature’s Destiny. I’m super excited about extending the journey that begins in my debut, and I cannot wait to expand on the ideas I’ve had rolling around my mind for the past few months.
Nature’s Destiny will be published. I’m nearing the end of my editing process, and will soon be depending on my beta readers.

While I cannot promise to know exactly what will happen in the long-term future, I do know that I’ll make the most of it. Why? Because being optimistic has given me the better outlook on life. The time I wasted trapped in the past changed my perception. The clock continues to tick whether I want it to or not, only now there isn’t a minute I want to waste.

Writing has become the essence of my being, and I’ll make sure it has a place in my future.

2013 was my year. Will 2014 be yours?

1Dec2013

Nature’s Destiny Snippet

Posted in Nature's Destiny by JustineWinter

As the month of December encourages the festive cheer within my giving soul, I find the muse for this weeks blog post. Perhaps against my better judgement, I cannot help but feel the need to unveil a little more from my upcoming novel Nature’s Destiny, which will be released in 2014.

This snippet is from the second chapter, and as usual I welcome all thoughts and comments. I hope you enjoy!

I was busy clearing up my table when the door opened. The air crept in and the most delightful scent cradled my senses as a mixture of aftershave and the woods enveloped me. I looked up to see who it was and froze.
                It was him.
My breath caught in my lungs as I realised the man that I’d been dreaming about stood across from me. He turned and looked directly at me, and the same emerald eyes that I’d memorised shone with   intensity.
                My heart raced as I watched him walk towards the bar. His body moved with an elegant grace, and confidence exuded from him. He was tall, really tall, and the navy t-shirt he wore clung to his big biceps.
                I didn’t know what to do. Half of me   thought about turning around and walking away, feigning ignorance of his presence, but the other, more curious half wanted to know more about him. Against my better judgment I went to the bar with my empty drinks tray, where he stood waiting to be served.
My skin tingled   the closer I got to him, and without realising it I   quickened my pace to reach him. I was drawn to him like a magnet, like some unforeseeable force was pulling me towards him. I opened the half-door to the bar and stepped in. My foot caught the step and I tripped over the only stair there was, and landed ungracefully on my face.
                I stood up as quick as I could, dusted off my apron and smoothed out my hair, and pretended the pulsating throb across my nose wasn’t there. It wasn’t easy, especially when tears began to form. I gathered the nerve to look at him, and   I stood with my mouth open appalled.
                He was laughing at me!
His shoulders bunched up and down as he continued to laugh, and my skin reddened with embarrassment. I knew I was clumsy, but for   once I really wished I wasn’t. I felt like a fool.
                I   cleared my throat and attempted to act cool.   “Can I get you something?”

24Nov2013

Regrets Removed

Posted in Nature's Destiny, Writing by JustineWinter

The dark sky embraced the evening signifying an end to another day. The bitter, cold air whistled through the open window, blowing its way through the room. Goosebumps ran across my body, raising the hair on my arms. I shivered as the sensations travelled down my spine.

The small, bleak room had doubt running through my mind, but I quickly squashed the feeling in favour of happiness.

I relaxed in the most comfortable chair I’d ever been in and let my thoughts wander. Optimism set in to my pensive musings. I couldn’t afford to live a life of ‘what ifs’ and regrets when time was moving forward, and I, backwards.

The past was where it should remain. I was thankful for the journey I’d taken to create my path of footprints within the world. It hadn’t been easy, the road I’d travelled had more than a few bumps, but was it worth it?

Completely. I wouldn’t be where I was today without it. Without regrets I can live freely.

“Sometimes you just have to stop and take in your surroundings. Really look at where you are in life, otherwise it’s just going to pass you by. Regret is a heavy word to live with.”
– Riley, Nature’s Destiny (coming 2014)

27Oct2013

Nature’s Destiny Sneak Peek

Posted in Nature's Destiny by JustineWinter

I’ve pondered over what to write this week for a few hours. My indecision wavering from one thought to another. It was my birthday yesterday and while I received many gifts, I realised I had a gift to give in return.

For my followers, readers and fellow writing enthusiasts my gift to you today is a sneak peek at the first chapter of my novel, Nature’s Destiny. As I’ve previously posted my Prologue, it seemed only fitting that I follow on from that. I hope you enjoy reading it.

Hysteria penetrated my body. I couldn’t think straight and my head thumped from the blinding pressure. I could see black dots floating above my eyes. I knew I was about to pass out.
I tried to breathe evenly, taking big   gulps of air and letting them whoosh out of me. I couldn’t pass out, not now. I had to stay calm, I needed to work out what was going on. I   stuck my head between my legs, which should have worked, but made no difference.
The searing pain in my head increased and I felt the urge to give in to the darkness. I couldn’t resist it anymore.
I   woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. I stretched my arm out and patted the bed, but it was no use I couldn’t   find it. I was   too sleepy to really care, and I could feel the pull of my dreams drawing me back to sleep. The phone could wait, for now I needed to rest.
I could hear a faint pounding in my   dream, it matched   the rhythm of paws hitting the ground as I ran. The noise   grew louder the   closer I got to my destination.   “Luna, are you there? Come on girl, open up!” Huh, that’s odd, I could’ve sworn that was Sky’s voice.
The constant thudding increased and my head started   to hurt all over again. “Luna, I swear if you don’t   open this door in two seconds I’m going to kick it down!” With that threat,   I realised I wasn’t dreaming anymore, that was definitely Sky’s irritated voice I could hear. Intent on keeping my door on its’ hinges I leapt out of bed and dashed through the house to open it.
“Geez, Sky, there’s no need to get all dramatic!” I couldn’t help sounding sullen, I was enjoying my dream too much for it to be over. The second I opened the door she came barging in. “Hello, to you too!” OK, so maybe I   was grumpy, but she deserved it.
  I closed the door behind her   and turned to face her. She’d better have a good reason for interrupting my sleep.

20Oct2013

Howling All Beta Readers

Posted in Nature's Destiny, Writing by JustineWinter

As I continue to edit Nature’s Destiny, I can’t switch my mind off from the many self-publishing tasks ahead. Today’s thought of choice is Beta Readers, and the irony of this title isn’t lost on me.

I have researched and pondered many times over this topic, and inevitably questioned whether anyone would even want to Beta Read my novel. It is such a trusting nature, to send off your pride and joy to someone unknown, in the hopes that they won’t tear it apart completely. I know as a general rule, that I won’t please everyone, but the majority? Yes please!

That means feedback is the only way forward.

I have an awesome, talented, writer buddy whose promised to read my novel – providing I haven’t scared her off already. I value her opinion, and I’m really excited to hear what she has to say about it.

I’m getting ahead of myself, because as I say, I’m only at the editing stage now, but I like to be prepared. It’s good to have a schedule, right?

So I’m wondering, are there any other Beta Readers out there who’d like to read my novel when it’s ready?

8Sep2013

Happiness Unlocked

Posted in Nature's Destiny, Writing by JustineWinter

Friday afternoon I celebrated by flailing my arms about in the air whilst my legs, extremely uncoordinated as they are, swayed to my non-existent music. Why, you ask? Because I finished the first draft of my debut novel! Cheers!

As I questioned my ability for the hundredth time, I metaphorically slapped my back and congratulated myself on reaching the first milestone. Yipee!

For the past month I have sat my (hopefully-though-not-likely small) butt at the desk, and written every day pouring my heart, guts and questionable eye fluid into my story. I could tell you I did it because I’m crazy, but honestly I loved every minute, even when I was frustrated at my characters for not doing what I asked of them. I mean seriously, who’s the writer here?

After the writing comes the editing, and perhaps rather foolishly of me, I’m looking forward to the process. Please, I’m not stupidly punishing myself, but it means I’ll be another step closer to publishing my little bundle of joy. You can understand that right? Plus I really need to make sure I’m not repeating myself. Repeating myself. 😉

Idealistically I’ll have you all swooning over my creative efforts, and by some unfathomable reason you’ll be knocking my door down to read the sequel. After all, I’m nothing but optimistic. *insert cheesy grin, and awkward wink*

On a serious note, I will be posting the prologue soon which I hope you’ll enjoy. As a kind farewell I’m going to let you in on a secret; my novel is based on Werewolves.

Have a howlingly good week!