GOING POSTAL

I love getting to know my readers on a personal level. Never have I referred to my readers as fans. To me, readers are friends I have yet to meet in person.

Fans are different, or so I like to believe. For example: I am a HUGE fan of Johnny Depp, which means I will never know him on a personal level, and, thankfully, my husband is kind enough to overlook my slight obsession. :)

Kelly, a reader I met on Wattpad back in 2011, is awesome! She has my full admiration. Allow me to explain. Kelly lives in Singapore. We have exchanged emails for quite some time. Back in September, she mentioned ordering one of my books through a site.

It was a pirate site. I told her how pirates worked, and thanked her for her support. Granted, authors make zero royalties through pirating sites. However, Kelly got the book she wanted in a reasonable time.

KUDOS to those pirates! They provided excellent customer service.

When I told Kelly, she could order the books directly through me at a much cheaper price, which included autograph and poster. She was delighted. 

*shakes head* If only I had known what it would entail.

     

      Kelly ordered Desired Nights. I headed to the post office and got the rates for shipping. One of the options was by paddle boat, and it would take up to three months! 

      We exchanged laughs about Jaws and bad weather. In the end, we chose shipping by air.

The first time I shipped the book, I put a little surprise in the package. A handmade fairy book mark, and an autographed poster that matches the book, The Secrets of Albion Falls.

On November 5th, 2013, I got a call from customs. I forgot to claim and add a value to the bookmark. Bad Sass, I know!

My logic?

What good is a surprise when there is a list written on the outside of the package?  I told them what it was and tried to pay over the phone. 

It did not work.

Kelly did not deserve an extended delay. Nervously (because that's who I am), I quickly put another package together, without the bookmark, and shipped it right away. Then I gave my sincerest apologies. 

It was and is unfair to delay any shipments.

Bad … bad Sass! I am a strong believe in customer service, and I don't like disappointing friends.

Over the next few weeks, we exchanged virtual teas. Kelly sent me virtual hot chocolate and hugs, during the ice storm. 

The ice storm video links are below.

Video 1

     Video 2

     Video 3

    Video 4

We chatted about the different ways we celebrate Christmas, and sent New Years wishes to one another… sadly, no mail arrived to either home. :(

On January 8th, 2014 Kelly sent this email.

Hi Sass~~

*Tea party~* ;P

Need a little help from u... erm.. Is there like any tracking available for the book you've sent me? Cos I still haven't received it yet.. Sorry for the trouble yet again… sorry really sorry....

Sending u lots of and hugs~ & hot choco too~

      My response?

      Sass Cadeaux

      Are you kidding!!! Oh my Goddess this is crazy! I'll look into it and get back to you. xoxox
 

      I rushed to the post office and explained everything. The ladies were helpful. They began a full investigation and warned that it may take a couple of days. 

      On January 10th, I received this message.   

Sass!!! I just received the book!! Sorry for the trouble I made u went through. Thank you so much! It's awesome! I'm so happy n excited I received. Hee Happy happy so happy! Lots of hugs! Tytyty

Attached were pictures and awesome stickers. 
      
Kelly is a blast to chat with, and I love knowing her! She is a blessing, as are all my readers. :)
 

      The postal investigation continued. 

      It has to. 

      There is a book, bookmark and poster floating somewhere in customs. :)

      So why entitle this blog, Going Postal when clearly there is a happy ending?

      Well my friends, to this day I have yet to receive the first package I sent. Normally, I would be upset, and would inquire about the investigation daily. No ... not red faced or calling people names. However, a strong letter and follow up phone calls would be added to my daily regiment, but they are not.

      Why?

      How can I be upset when I have readers like Kelly? 

      It is impossible! 

      She got her book and poster.  She is happy, and we continue to have our virtual teas. We share life stories, and, you know what? I learned a long time ago that if it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.  

      With readers like Kelly, I am blessed, and I would rather cherish my blessing than pray for luck.

      Wishing you all the BEST adventures in reading and in life,
     
      Sass

      )O(

SASS EXPOSES HER FIRST TWO CHAPTERS!

New Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy Adventure

Living a sequestered life in Albion Falls, Sophia’s trusted friend, a fairy named Rosalba, provides a welcome source of comfort and support.

It is a lie. Rosalba is not what she appears to be.

Rosalba’s sinister intention to devour Sophia’s soul becomes the focus of her parents. Her family and the local villagers try to protect this young woman.

Unknown to Sophia destiny calls for her to become the Princess of the skin-walkers. A way of life shared secretly by all who surround her.

The announcement of Sophia’s plans to leave Albion Falls brings the crisis to a head, as Sophia must fight for her life against the evil witch who deceived all for many years.


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CHAPTER ONE: WHY

Why would anyone in twenty-twelve want to write a memoir they could never publish? It would seem almost vain in comparison to Facebook, Twitter or any popular social network, also known as online diaries.

However, my life is not like most. If I’d known . . . I know, right? How many of us go through life wondering about those “what ifs,” or what would have happened if we had said or thought of a snappier comeback?

Regrets? Sure, we all have them. Some are made from honest mistakes, and others, such as the “what ifs”—there is no avoiding them. Such is life, my life.

Mom used to say, “Sophia, you can’t change the past, so stop looking back.”

I have often wondered who she was trying to kid?

I mean, even when I try not to think about the past, it still haunts me.

All I have to do is close my eyes and fall asleep. In little to no time, it is back. Of course, it is under a different name. Some people call them nightmares, and others call them bad dreams, but me, I call them reality.

Therefore, instead of writing a memoir filled with dates and quick points of boring ‘Dear Diary’ crap, I decided to share the whole story with you from the very beginning. It is something I wish my mother had done for me.

This story will explain be the reason for my death, well, if I die that is. There is a slim chance I will finish telling you this story before I—well, only one in three of our kind survive giving birth.

Maybe an online diary would have been a better way to share my story, but if I have learned anything in my little time on earth, it is that secrets are secrets for a reason.

So little ones, if you are reading, this and I am no longer around to read it to you, I want you to know that my nightmare was also my dream come true.

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New Adult, Skin-walkers, shifters, action

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CHAPTER TWO:  RAYMOND

“Hurry up, or we’ll be late,” my brother, Raymond, turned and demanded.

“I told you she’d hold us back,” Liam snapped, “and there’s no way in hell I’m gunna get grounded because of her.”

Liam is my brother’s best friend. Wherever Liam goes, my brother follows and drags me with them. Liam never liked me. I was nine, and he constantly reminded me that I was holding them back or in the way.

“Screw this. I’m outta here.” Liam glared at me, and through clenched teeth he growled, “We don’t get paid to babysit. She’s not worth getting in shit.”

With that, he turned and bolted out of sight.

I tried to speed up, but I could not. Raymond is three years older, and back then, he was nearly a foot taller. Raymond gave me a sympathetic smile. I knew what was coming next. My brother would try to cheer me up. He always tried to lighten the blow from Liam’s insults.

“Come on squirt, you don’t want Roger to use the belt again, do you?”

“No,” I admitted.

Roger was our stepfather. We didn’t have to call him dad, but mom constantly suggested we consider it. When she was not home, Roger punished us, but when she was home, he told her to deal with “her kids”. He thought his kids were perfect. They didn’t live with us. We saw them every other weekend, and they were afraid to move when he was around. Thoughts of my last, well, my only spanking began to run through my mind.

It was our first summer as a family. I played with my Barbies in the warm sunshine, out of the way and happy in my own little world. Whenever Raymond and Liam laughed, I looked up to see what was happening. They tossed a baseball back and forth while telling jokes. I did not get the jokes, but they enjoyed them.

As I was heading into the house to use the washroom, Liam shouted, “Catch!”

He whipped a baseball at my head. I ducked, just in time, and it broke the living room window.

Within seconds, the front door flew open. My stepfather stormed out and yelled at boys. Liam blamed me. Before I could defend myself, Roger grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me into the house. He slammed me across his lap with my pants down to my knees and gave me the spanking of my life. It was the third or fourth hit when I loss control of my bladder. I know it upset him because the next two strikes were louder and stung much worse than the previous hits.

Raymond ran into the living room shouting all sorts of swear words. I heard a smacking sound without feeling the belt, and a baseball fell to the ground, rolling on the floor below my face. Roger abruptly stood, dropping me to the ground, and began freaking out. He kept asking if my brother thought he was man enough to take him on.

I stood there in complete shock with my pants around my knees and watched in horror as Roger’s face contorted. Wrinkles began to form in the oddest of places. His face appeared to shorten while his cheekbones protruded around his nose. It looked as if his eyebrows were growing before my eyes.

My attention bounced from Roger to Raymond.

Terrified, I could not say a word.

Mom’s car pulled into our driveway. I felt my pants fall to my ankles, which I instinctively reached down and pulled up.

When I stood, Roger was completely calm. His face was back to normal, and you could not tell that he had been yelling. While putting his belt back on he ordered me to my room and warned Raymond that he would deal with him later.

Since then, my brother refuses to be at home when mom is out.

© 2011 - 2013

THE SECRETS OF ALBION FALLS IS OUT!

Click on cover for a direct link to Amazon!

Living a sequestered life in magical village named, Albion Falls. Sophia’s only friend, a fairy named Rosalba, provides a welcome source of comfort and support.

It is a lie. Rosalba is not what she appears to be.

Rosalba’s sinister intention to devour Sophia’s soul becomes the focus of efforts by her parents and the village to protect this young woman. Unknown to Sophia, destiny demands her to become the Princess of the skin-walkers, a way of life shared secretly by her parents and local villagers.

The announcement of Sophia’s plan to leave Albion Falls brings the crisis to a head as Sophia must fight for her life against the evil witch who deceived all for many years.



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What is in the making for 2013?

Coming soon!

What's Hidden Within - Volume 2 - The Secrets Series
Bound To Be - A matchmaking book that will surprise you!
Sweet Expressions - The Cots Series - Book V
Resurrect My Heart - The Cots Series - Book VI