Teaser #2 - Here Without You (Between the Lines #4)

This week's teaser is from Dori, who doesn't pop up until the third book in the Between the Lines series. Again, if you haven't read the first three, this post is one big spoiler, so proceed at your own risk.

Good For You (#3)

He doesn’t answer, staring at me like he’s analyzing a complex riddle. Uncrossing his arms, he hooks one hand in his front pocket while the other lifts, his fingers catching a strand of hair too short to stretch to the elastic pulling the rest of my hair back. He slides it behind my ear, grazing the tip with his finger, and suddenly there’s no sound but the pounding of my heart. This is where I should put my hands up between us like I did before. This is where I should say excuse me and get out of here. 

His hand drops to his side and he stares down at me, making no movement towards me or away. I suck my lower lip into my mouth, a nervous habit leftover from childhood, and his gaze drops there, sticks. A minute passes before he braces a hand on the wall just over my shoulder and leans closer, his eyes flashing to mine. “Tell me what to do next, because I’m not sure what you want.” His voice has gone rusty and low, like he hasn’t used it in weeks. 

I know what he’s asking, despite the words threading across this scene: This is not happening. I shake my head, barely moving. Thoughts tumble through my mind, blurred, flashing in and out, opposites: kiss me, don’t touch me, come closer, move away. 

“All I’m asking,” his knuckles brush along my jaw, “is that you tell me, Dori, what... you... want.” 

When he straightens and begins to back away, I almost protest, biting my lip to keep from doing so. This movement betrays me, though, because again, he stares at my mouth a long moment before his gaze shifts to my eyes. 

“Or maybe, just tell me if I do something you don’t want,” he says quietly.

Here Without You (#4)

“What do you want to do… while you’re here?”

His low chuckle initiates a warmth in the pit of my belly that spreads like a slow blaze. “Do you need to ask? It feels like months since I’ve gotten my hands on you.”

Entering the library, my voice drops to a whisper. “It’s been ten days, I think.”

“Months,” he insists. “And did you just say you're wearing mittens? Photo. Now.”

I shake my head and laugh soundlessly. “You’ll just have to wait and see them in person.” 

“Is there a matching hat? And scarf? Hmm, I like the thought of a scarf… scarves are so handy for draping or blindfolding or trussing—”

“Stop that,” I hiss softly. “It’s abnormal to blush like this in the library, you know. Maybe you should bring your own scarf and I’ll use it on you.” When he doesn’t reply, I say, “Reid?” 

“Sorry. I’m way too turned on for a proper comeback.”

Giveaways and Stuff and Things

Last week, I gave away a couple of hardback books to lucky people who were really paying attention on Twitter. ;)

In one case (Just One Day - Gayle Forman), an extra-sweet friend attended a book signing. Knowing what a huge Gayle Forman fan I am, she bought a second copy of the book and got Gayle to sign it for me! (Thank you Heather Self! I'm buying you lunch next time I'm in Austin!) That left me with an extra copy of a wonderful book, so I decided to give my original (unsigned) copy away.

In the second case (Dare You To - Katie McGarry), I'd ordered the book online... but before I received it, I just happened to be at Barnes & Noble... and instant gratification won out. When my copy arrived from Amazon a day later, I had another extra copy of a great book.

Those two were mailed out Saturday - one to California and the other to Mexico. Fingers crossed that they both arrive safely!

Meanwhile, my Easy-on-CD giveaway ended last night. I've emailed the winner (Crystal Y.), who hasn't emailed back yet, and the twenty winners of signed bookplates (each of you will receive two signed Easy bookplates - one of each design).

Everyone has 48 hours to email me back, or I'll go back to PunchTab and click "random winner" another time or two!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

EASY - Audio Giveaway

I'm giving away one of these:

And also a few of these signed BOOKPLATES. (Let's say one of each to... twenty winners?)

Enter with the PunchTab thingy below, and good luck!

1. ELIGIBILITY: This Giveaway is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia age 18 and over with access to the Internet at all times during the Giveaway and subsequent prize-award period unless otherwise specified by Tammara Webber. NON-US RESIDENTS AGE 18 AND OVER MAY ENTER UNLESS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY LOCAL REGULATIONS AND LAW. All employees of Tammara Webber (“Sponsor”), all associated agencies and each of their sales representatives, distributors, or agents (all of the foregoing, together with Sponsor, collectively referred to as “Giveaway Entities”), and their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses) and those living in the same household of each (whether related or not), are ineligible to participate in the Giveaway. All applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Entry in the Giveaway constitutes your full and unconditional acceptance of these Official Rules. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

2. GIVEAWAY PERIOD: The Giveaway entry period begins at June 14, 2013, 1 p.m. (CST) and ends at June 16, 2013, 11:59 p.m. (CST) (the "Giveaway Period"). Winners will be selected from entries properly submitted and timely received during the Giveaway Period.

3. GIVEAWAY ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS: During the Giveaway Period, you may submit an entry form online. LIMIT ONE (1) ONLINE ENTRY PER PERSON, PER E-MAIL ADDRESS, AND PER HOUSEHOLD during the Giveaway Period via Online Entry, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A PERSON HAS MORE THAN ONE ADDRESS OR MORE THAN ONE PERSON USES THE SAME ADDRESS.

4. PUBLICITY: As a condition of entry into the Giveaway, except where prohibited by law, each entrant and each winner by accepting a prize grants to Sponsor and its affiliates, legal representatives, assigns and licensees, all right, title and interest in to publicize, broadcast, display and/or otherwise use the Giveaway entrant’s name, city, and state (collectively, “Licensed Rights”) in any media now or hereafter known throughout the world in perpetuity for advertising and publicity purposes, without additional review, compensation, permission or approval of the winner. Where necessary, the Prize winner will be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability and Publicity Release within twenty four (24) hours of attempted notification or the winner may be disqualified and an alternate winner selected. Prize winner must email a valid address upon notification of winning entry WITHIN 48 HOURS OF NOTICE OF WINNING, or said winning entrant will FORFEIT THE PRIZE to next winning entrant.

5. SELECTION OF GIVEAWAY WINNERS/ODDS: The potential Prize winners will be selected in a random drawing to be held after June 17, 2013, 12:00 a.m. (CST). Winners will be selected from entries received during the Giveaway Period. Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received during the Giveaway Period. The potential winners will be notified via email to the email address submitted with the potential winner’s entry within twenty four (24) hours after the drawing. The drawing will be conducted by Sponsor, the judge of the Giveaway, whose decisions on all matters relating to the Giveaway shall be final and binding. In the event that a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, award the applicable prize to an alternate winner selected at random. ANY RETURN OF PRIZE NOTIFICATION OR PRIZE EMAIL ASUNDELIVERABLE WILL RESULT IN FORFEITURE OF ANY PRIZE AND AN ALTERNATE WINNER MAY, AT SPONSOR'S DISCRETION, BE RANDOMLY SELECTED.

6. PRIZES: EASY on CD (compact disc). Prize will be delivered after June 22,2013. The Prize will be delivered to the winning entrant’s address or at the sole option and discretion of the contest sponsor to a recipient designated by the contest winner. PRIZES ARE NOT TRANSFERRABLE AND ARE NOT REDEEMABLE FOR CASH. All taxes and other charges are responsibility of the winner. No substitutions allowed. All expenses not specifically mentioned herein are not included as part of any Prize package, and are solely the winner’s responsibility.

7. GENERAL RULES: By entering or participating in the Giveaway, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules, and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. Giveaway Entities are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information or technical failures of any kind, (2) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Giveaway; or (3) any other computer, network, technical, human or other error, problem or malfunction that may occur in connection with the administration of the Giveaway, the processing of entries, or the selection or notification of winners. Further, if, for any reason, the Giveaway is not capable of running as planned for reasons outside the control of the Sponsor which, in the sole opinion of Sponsor, may corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Giveaway (or portion thereof), Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to CANCEL, TERMINATE, MODIFY OR SUSPEND the Giveaway (or portion thereof). Sponsor also reserves the right at its sole discretion to DISQUALIFY the Entry of any individual found to be (a) TAMPERING or ATTEMPTING TO TAMPER with the entry process or the operation of the Giveaway or any website operated by the Giveaway Entities; (b) USING ANY ROBOTIC, MACRO, AUTOMATIC, PROGRAMMED OR LIKE ENTRY METHODS, WHICH WILL VOID ALL SUCH ENTRIES; (c) violating these Official Rules or the terms of service, conditions of use, and/or general rules of any Sponsor property or service; or (d) acting in an UNSPORTSMANLIKE or DISRUPTIVE MANNER, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other person. Giveaway Entities are not responsible for claims, injuries, losses or damages of any kind resulting, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the awarding, delivery, acceptance, use, misuse, possession, loss or misdirection of the prize; participation in this Giveaway or in any activity or travel relate thereto or from any interaction with, or downloading of, computer Giveaway information.

8. PARTICIPANT OBLIGATIONS: By participating in the Giveaway, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor. By accepting the prize, the winner agrees to release and hold Tammara Webber and affiliates harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, rights, claims, actions and liabilities of any kind in connection with the Giveaway or receipt or redemption of the prize. The winner assumes all liability for any injury, death, or damage caused, or allegedly caused, by participating in the Giveaway or use or redemption of the prize.

9. PERSONAL INFORMATION: The personal information collected through the Giveaway is subject to PunchTab’s Privacy Policy, located at http://www.punchtab.com/privacy. By entering the Giveaway, you agree to the use of your personal information as described in the above Privacy Policy.

10. SPONSOR: Tammara Webber

Quoting and Attribution

This post is intended for anyone who likes to make and post things like this:

This is my cat, Lola. She is one of many.
(My husband: "Please don't ever die, because
then I'll be that guy with all those cats.")

Or this:

This is from the photo shoot for the US version
of Good For You (photo by Brandon Lyon).
Before we threw paint at them.

This post is especially written for authors who post other authors' words. And use them as, say, the cover photo for their author page on Facebook. With no attribution to the author who wrote them. This is mind-blowingly simple: If you don't attribute those words to the author who wrote them, you're being dishonest as a writer at best (to people who might assume that thought/poem/bit of dialogue came from your head) and committing copyright infringement at worst (on the author of those words - something you of all people, as a writer, should understand).

No, it isn't enough to put the attribution in the description or the comments. People download photos and share them, separating the photos from your description of them - and yes, photos can be altered to remove words, and there's nothing to be done about that. But at least, for God's sake, give it a shot. Keeping the attribution with the quote prevents your followers from thinking some awesome sarcastic saying or poem or bit of literary wisdom is something written by you.

Of course - if you don't care about that, and you're an author, I can't help you. If you're okay with posting someone else's words as your Facebook cover photo, with no attribution to that author at all... I guess that tells the world everything it needs to know about you as a writer, huh?