400 likes! Here you go! This is a deleted chapter that comes before the epilogue in Learn to Fly. If you haven't read Learn to Fly yet, this is full of all kinds of spoilers. It's also full of some pretty heavy teasers for book 2 (In Your Honor). The link should open the document in google drive. Let me know if you have any issues with seeing it and I'll try something else.
LTF Bonus Chapter
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Bonus Scene from Learn to Fly!!
This is a deleted scene from the middle of Learn to Fly. It takes place over the Christmas break while Lenny id home with Duke and her family. I hope you enjoy it :)
Carl parked his old Ford towards the back of the winding driveway. He looked through the windshield at the large, sprawling farmhouse and grimaced. What was he thinking? He couldn't spend Christmas with his ex-girlfriend and her whole family.
He hadn't even taken the key out the ignition yet and was seriously considering turning the car back on and hightailing it out of there. But then, a large orange and red formation behind the house caught his eye. He let out a disgusted sigh and climbed out of his vehicle. Kicking the door closed behind him, he stomped up the gravel drive towards the backyard.
The weather was unseasonably warm for New England and Carl was glad he wasn't fighting snow and ice as he trudged around the corner. When the full size of the bounce house came into view Carl let out a snort. Would they ever grow up or were they destined to always be children?
“Carl!” Harrison had spotted him from inside the bounce house. His brown, curly hair was already sweaty from his activity. “Get in here!”
“No!” Carl snapped, “You idiots get out of that thing! What the hell is wrong with you? If Miranda gets here and you have this thing up she's going to kill both of you!”
“Oh, she won't care that much! C'mon, Carl, let us have some fun.” Harrison slowly bounced to the opening and pouted at Carl.
“No, get out of there! You know how dangerous she thinks that thing is. Are you trying to ruin the whole holiday?” Carl felt his palms getting itchy and he reached into his pocket for his smokes but then remembered he'd left them home. One more thing Miranda would have freaked out about.
“She needs to lighten up, we're adults now.” Blake called from inside the vinyl and nylon structure.
“Adults in a friggen bounce house!” Carl waved his hands in the air and brought them down on his head. Even on his week off, he was still herding these hooligans. He closed his eyes trying to think of a solution to their ridiculous behavior.
Carl didn't understand a lot of things. He had no idea why Harrison and Blake had bought this thing years ago but he suspected that Miranda hating it was the main reason. He also didn't know why Miranda hated it so much. She just always had. She would go into an all out tirade on the dangers and perils of being in a bounce house and all the negative side affects that bouncing in an unsafe structure for prolonged periods of time would cause. It would ruin the whole day. And if she knew that Carl had known about it she would blame him as an accomplice. And that meant they probably wouldn't be getting back together.
Carl wasn't even sure if reconciling with Miranda was what he wanted to do but he wanted that option. He sure as hell didn't want his one opportunity blown by these two dipshits.
He strode over to the blower, intent on shutting it down.
“We'll just blow it back up, Carl. Why don't you let your hair down and try to have some fun for once.” Blake heckled as he and Harrison giggled from the inside.
Carl paused and rethought his plan. He reached around to his side and unclasped the button on the holster of his buck knife. Unfolding the blade, he made a deep puncture in the side of the house, dragging the knife all the way to the end. The air rushed out, blowing against his face. Then he reached over and shut off the blower.
He suppressed his satisfied smile as Harrison and Blake scrambled from the rapidly deflating bounce house. They stood in silent shock as their silly endeavor lost it's life right in front of them.
Finally, they turned to go back indoors. Harrison hung his head in sorrow and defeat, Blake patted him on the shoulder in consolation. As they walked past Carl, Blake turned towards him, giving his manager an icy stare.
"I hope you know you just ruined Christmas."
Carl parked his old Ford towards the back of the winding driveway. He looked through the windshield at the large, sprawling farmhouse and grimaced. What was he thinking? He couldn't spend Christmas with his ex-girlfriend and her whole family.
He hadn't even taken the key out the ignition yet and was seriously considering turning the car back on and hightailing it out of there. But then, a large orange and red formation behind the house caught his eye. He let out a disgusted sigh and climbed out of his vehicle. Kicking the door closed behind him, he stomped up the gravel drive towards the backyard.
The weather was unseasonably warm for New England and Carl was glad he wasn't fighting snow and ice as he trudged around the corner. When the full size of the bounce house came into view Carl let out a snort. Would they ever grow up or were they destined to always be children?
“Carl!” Harrison had spotted him from inside the bounce house. His brown, curly hair was already sweaty from his activity. “Get in here!”
“No!” Carl snapped, “You idiots get out of that thing! What the hell is wrong with you? If Miranda gets here and you have this thing up she's going to kill both of you!”
“Oh, she won't care that much! C'mon, Carl, let us have some fun.” Harrison slowly bounced to the opening and pouted at Carl.
“No, get out of there! You know how dangerous she thinks that thing is. Are you trying to ruin the whole holiday?” Carl felt his palms getting itchy and he reached into his pocket for his smokes but then remembered he'd left them home. One more thing Miranda would have freaked out about.
“She needs to lighten up, we're adults now.” Blake called from inside the vinyl and nylon structure.
“Adults in a friggen bounce house!” Carl waved his hands in the air and brought them down on his head. Even on his week off, he was still herding these hooligans. He closed his eyes trying to think of a solution to their ridiculous behavior.
Carl didn't understand a lot of things. He had no idea why Harrison and Blake had bought this thing years ago but he suspected that Miranda hating it was the main reason. He also didn't know why Miranda hated it so much. She just always had. She would go into an all out tirade on the dangers and perils of being in a bounce house and all the negative side affects that bouncing in an unsafe structure for prolonged periods of time would cause. It would ruin the whole day. And if she knew that Carl had known about it she would blame him as an accomplice. And that meant they probably wouldn't be getting back together.
Carl wasn't even sure if reconciling with Miranda was what he wanted to do but he wanted that option. He sure as hell didn't want his one opportunity blown by these two dipshits.
He strode over to the blower, intent on shutting it down.
“We'll just blow it back up, Carl. Why don't you let your hair down and try to have some fun for once.” Blake heckled as he and Harrison giggled from the inside.
Carl paused and rethought his plan. He reached around to his side and unclasped the button on the holster of his buck knife. Unfolding the blade, he made a deep puncture in the side of the house, dragging the knife all the way to the end. The air rushed out, blowing against his face. Then he reached over and shut off the blower.
He suppressed his satisfied smile as Harrison and Blake scrambled from the rapidly deflating bounce house. They stood in silent shock as their silly endeavor lost it's life right in front of them.
Finally, they turned to go back indoors. Harrison hung his head in sorrow and defeat, Blake patted him on the shoulder in consolation. As they walked past Carl, Blake turned towards him, giving his manager an icy stare.
"I hope you know you just ruined Christmas."
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Signed Paperback Giveaway!
I have 5 signed copies of Learn to Fly. With a NEW cover design! Enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thursday, November 21, 2013
The One Where I Talk About Dave Grohl. Again.
If you know me, even but at all, then you know how much I love Dave Grohl. Okay, maybe not how
much. Because even I am not sure how much I love him. A whole heck of a
lot. And probably more. But you at least know that I do, in fact, love
him. Some might even speculate that he inspired the very idea of Double
Blind Study and to some extent he did. Someday I may tell y'all the real
story behind where DBS came from, but today is not that day. No, today,
I'm talking about Dave Grohl.
I just have to share with you one of the most inspiring things I have ever experienced. I was in the middle of revising Learn to Fly and beginning the rough draft for In Your Honor and I was completely discouraged. I thought about throwing the whole thing in the trash and walking away. Forget this writer business, I suck. And then my friend, Emily (who is one the most amazing people alive), sent me this link because she knows how much I love Dave. She also loves Dave. We understand one another deeply in this area. Changed my whole perspective. Now, when I'm doubting myself or feel like I've lost focus, I come back to this. Yes, it's lengthy. And yes, he says all the swear words. But if you're an artist of any kind and need to be inspired, I haven't found anything that even remotely compares.
I just have to share with you one of the most inspiring things I have ever experienced. I was in the middle of revising Learn to Fly and beginning the rough draft for In Your Honor and I was completely discouraged. I thought about throwing the whole thing in the trash and walking away. Forget this writer business, I suck. And then my friend, Emily (who is one the most amazing people alive), sent me this link because she knows how much I love Dave. She also loves Dave. We understand one another deeply in this area. Changed my whole perspective. Now, when I'm doubting myself or feel like I've lost focus, I come back to this. Yes, it's lengthy. And yes, he says all the swear words. But if you're an artist of any kind and need to be inspired, I haven't found anything that even remotely compares.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Update on Mike's Story
Okay, so here's the deal. I was working really hard on the rough for book 3 and it kept getting more and more out of control. Around chapter 6 I started to feel like this wasn't working. It was getting too big, too much was happening. But at the same time, there was so much more that needed to be added. So I set it aside for a week and worked exclusively on revisions for book 2. Solved the problem. But it kind of made a bigger one.
I have to divide what was originally going to be book 3 into two separate stories. It's the only way to give both of them the attention they deserve. There is some good news to this. One of them will only be a novella, book 2.5 if you will. It will have elements of book 3 in it to set the stage, but this way book 3 can be as intricate and crazy as it needs to be.
I didn't want to do it. I fought the characters all over the place. But the problem with creating dynamic characters is you really can't phone it in, you know? They have these enormous personalities and they demand to be heard.
So on to the bad news. I know that, like, ALL of you are waiting anxiously for Mike's story, it's going to take me a bit longer. He'll get book 3 all to himself and he won't be forced to share which what I had going on in the beginning. You'll like it better this way. And I can't tell you who 2.5 is about (spoilers) until book 2 comes out. After that, I think everything will make sense to you.
Book 2 is slated for a February 8 release. I should be able to have an idea for a release for 2.5 and 3 at that time.
So, you hate me yet?
I have to divide what was originally going to be book 3 into two separate stories. It's the only way to give both of them the attention they deserve. There is some good news to this. One of them will only be a novella, book 2.5 if you will. It will have elements of book 3 in it to set the stage, but this way book 3 can be as intricate and crazy as it needs to be.
I didn't want to do it. I fought the characters all over the place. But the problem with creating dynamic characters is you really can't phone it in, you know? They have these enormous personalities and they demand to be heard.
So on to the bad news. I know that, like, ALL of you are waiting anxiously for Mike's story, it's going to take me a bit longer. He'll get book 3 all to himself and he won't be forced to share which what I had going on in the beginning. You'll like it better this way. And I can't tell you who 2.5 is about (spoilers) until book 2 comes out. After that, I think everything will make sense to you.
Book 2 is slated for a February 8 release. I should be able to have an idea for a release for 2.5 and 3 at that time.
So, you hate me yet?
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Harder to Breathe
My brain is nearly worthless. So I'm sorry if we're having a conversation and I go slack jawed and stare off into space. It's because I'm so deep inside book 2, it takes a monumental effort to rejoin real life and become a functioning piece of society again.
Sometimes I'm going over a chapter and I think to myself, "Brilliant! Amazing! So much angst and tension! You're the best, Heiders!" (Yes, I call myself, Heiders in my head and only occasionally out loud.)
But then I get to the next paragraph and I say, "No. I'm the worst. This is shit. Pure feces. You're not a writer, Heidi Rae. You're just bad." (I call myself by my middle name when I'm disappointed in myself, ask my co-workers.)
It's torturous. Feel bad for my betas and my editors. They have to put up with so much more than you ever will know about. >insert threat about the burn pile here>
But truly, In Your Honor is the greatest thing I have ever written. Though if you look up to the third paragraph you realize that's not very good. I still want to share it with you. And I want you to tell me if you hate it. And how much you hate it. And if it ended up in your burn pile. But what if it's the greatest thing ever?! But it won't be. Because I wrote it.
Sometimes I'm going over a chapter and I think to myself, "Brilliant! Amazing! So much angst and tension! You're the best, Heiders!" (Yes, I call myself, Heiders in my head and only occasionally out loud.)
But then I get to the next paragraph and I say, "No. I'm the worst. This is shit. Pure feces. You're not a writer, Heidi Rae. You're just bad." (I call myself by my middle name when I'm disappointed in myself, ask my co-workers.)
It's torturous. Feel bad for my betas and my editors. They have to put up with so much more than you ever will know about. >insert threat about the burn pile here>
But truly, In Your Honor is the greatest thing I have ever written. Though if you look up to the third paragraph you realize that's not very good. I still want to share it with you. And I want you to tell me if you hate it. And how much you hate it. And if it ended up in your burn pile. But what if it's the greatest thing ever?! But it won't be. Because I wrote it.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Serial Returners AKA Jerks
This is mostly just me venting about something I had no idea was even an issue until recently. Serial Returners. Or Pirates. Or as I call them, thieves.
Apparently it happens frequently and often. Someone downloads a book on amazon or nook or something, they read it, then they return it for a full refund. They don't give a reason, they don't leave a review that says, "I really hated this book because it went against everything I believe in." Or, "This was poorly written and I felt ripped off." They just quietly hit the return button and get their money back only to do it to someone else.
Maybe it's all my years of working in the restaurant industry but i feel like if a customer is so dissatisfied with their purchase that they are demanding their money be returned then at the very least, they should have to give a reason. Teenagers tried to pull crap like that all the time. They'd come in, order some bread sticks, eat the whole bag and then ask for their money back. "What was wrong with the product? You ate all of it." The response was usually, "I didn't like it." With which I would offer to remake it and they usually jumped at the chance to eat more bread, as long as it was free.
This leads me to believe that the policy, The Customer is Always Right, has been incredibly abused and misused. And as a result, we have a generation of people who think it's okay to rip off a business. A product costs money to make. It takes time and usually several different people before it reaches the consumer. So when the consumer doesn't fulfill their end of the deal, and doesn't pay for the product they received, but only consumes, the lasting affects can be devastating.
Some businesses simply can't afford to absorb the selfish impulses of those who won't be responsible for thier decisions. It's starts with price hikes, employee layoffs and eventually business closure. What's weird is that there are provisions put in place for people who can't afford different things. Can't afford to a buy 12 new books a week but you love to read? Public Library. Music is your heart and soul but it's too darn spendy? Radio anyone?
Really, nothing can be done. It's irritating and it's a a problem but there's no way to get people to be decent human beings. It's a personal choice. We can blame parents, society and too much sex and violence on TV if you want. But it really comes down to personal responsibility. We all have to make our own choices. And I, for one, have never asked for my money back for food I've eaten, music I've listen to, clothes I've worn to a single event, or books I've read. Even if the end result didn't sit well with me. That's the risk you take when you purchase something. It's the same type of risk the artist takes when they release their work for the public to dismantle. Have some respect for that kind of bravery.
Apparently it happens frequently and often. Someone downloads a book on amazon or nook or something, they read it, then they return it for a full refund. They don't give a reason, they don't leave a review that says, "I really hated this book because it went against everything I believe in." Or, "This was poorly written and I felt ripped off." They just quietly hit the return button and get their money back only to do it to someone else.
Maybe it's all my years of working in the restaurant industry but i feel like if a customer is so dissatisfied with their purchase that they are demanding their money be returned then at the very least, they should have to give a reason. Teenagers tried to pull crap like that all the time. They'd come in, order some bread sticks, eat the whole bag and then ask for their money back. "What was wrong with the product? You ate all of it." The response was usually, "I didn't like it." With which I would offer to remake it and they usually jumped at the chance to eat more bread, as long as it was free.
This leads me to believe that the policy, The Customer is Always Right, has been incredibly abused and misused. And as a result, we have a generation of people who think it's okay to rip off a business. A product costs money to make. It takes time and usually several different people before it reaches the consumer. So when the consumer doesn't fulfill their end of the deal, and doesn't pay for the product they received, but only consumes, the lasting affects can be devastating.
Some businesses simply can't afford to absorb the selfish impulses of those who won't be responsible for thier decisions. It's starts with price hikes, employee layoffs and eventually business closure. What's weird is that there are provisions put in place for people who can't afford different things. Can't afford to a buy 12 new books a week but you love to read? Public Library. Music is your heart and soul but it's too darn spendy? Radio anyone?
Really, nothing can be done. It's irritating and it's a a problem but there's no way to get people to be decent human beings. It's a personal choice. We can blame parents, society and too much sex and violence on TV if you want. But it really comes down to personal responsibility. We all have to make our own choices. And I, for one, have never asked for my money back for food I've eaten, music I've listen to, clothes I've worn to a single event, or books I've read. Even if the end result didn't sit well with me. That's the risk you take when you purchase something. It's the same type of risk the artist takes when they release their work for the public to dismantle. Have some respect for that kind of bravery.
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