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A Camping Weekend

Today dawned cold and dreary, which makes me even happier that we spent the weekend at Enchanted Rock with sunny, 85°F weather. We almost didn’t go because the rain forecast was more than 50%, but my optimistic husband talked me into it, and I’m so glad he did. It sprinkled on us a few times, but mostly the weather was lovely.

Also, because it’s in the boonies, we didn’t have cell service, which meant a weekend away from being constantly connected. It was awesome. I am tethered to my phone as much as the next person, and there were a few times I would’ve liked to post a photo to social media, but overall, it was nice to disconnect.

Plus, look at this amazing campsite we snagged.

Campsite

Continue reading “A Camping Weekend”

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Book Two Update and Snippet

Book two has been sent off to my editor! Woohoo!

I have to admit, sending in book two was far scarier than sending in book one. After all, she liked the first book enough to buy it. This one is an unknown. What if she hates it? What if the first book was just a fluke and I’ll never write anything as good/better? And so on and so forth. Thanks, brain, for making me neurotic. :/

In less crazy news, book two has a title: Aurora Blazing. It’s due out late next year, currently October (subject to change, etc, etc). Somehow, Goodreads already knows more about it than I do. I don’t know what kind of data ninjas they have over there, but nice work.

Polaris Rising is the story of Loch and Ada. Aurora Blazing picks up where PR left off, but it’s the story of Bianca and Ian. Bianca is Ada’s sister.

Here’s a little snippet from Aurora Blazing. This is from the rough draft and subject to change/be cut from the final draft. :)

My com vibrated and Ian’s info reappeared on my glasses. The five-minute block had expired. I confirmed Aurora was on course for orbit, then accepted the video link as voice-only on my side—I could see him, but he couldn’t see me.

If I’d thought I’d seen Ian at his angriest before my meeting with Evelyn, I’d been dead wrong. I’d never seen him so furious as he was right now. His face was set in lines of granite and his eyes blazed with temper. His jaw was clenched so hard I was afraid he’d break his teeth.

It seemingly took him a force of will to open his mouth. “Lady Bianca, return to the ground. Now,” he gritted out.

Continue reading “Book Two Update and Snippet”

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POLARIS RISING Early ARC Winners!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered to win a copy of Polaris Rising! I found so many new books to read thanks to all of your recommendations!

There were 116 entries total, which is beyond amazing. Because so many of you entered, I’m giving away an extra ARC! Harper Voyager was incredibly generous with my allotment of ARCs, so if you didn’t win this time, never fear, you’ll have another chance closer to release. :)

And if you sign up for my author newsletter, you still have four more chances to win (one winner per month).

As always, if you want to guarantee yourself a copy of Polaris Rising, you can preorder it now from your favorite retailer! We’re just a little over four months away from release. 😳😱

Preorder links:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books
Kobo | Google Play | IndieBound

And now, the moment you’ve all be waiting for: the winners, as selected by random number!

#110 – RobC
#56 – Amanda Fink
#32 – Janeen Horne
#83 – Kimberly

WINNER INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Please double check the link to the winner comment to make sure you’re the right winner. :)
  2. Email me at [mylastname]writes at gmail.com (replace [mylastname] with my actual last name). If you have trouble, get in touch via the contact form.
  3. Please email me from the email you used to comment, so I can verify you’re the right person.
  4. Include your name and address. Also, if you want the book personalized, please include the name you’d like me to sign it to.
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Server Updates

I’ve moved the blog to a new server! I think everything changed over successfully, but let me know if you run into any issues with commenting, viewing posts, etc.

The new server uses SSL, so you’ll see https:// at the start of the address (and a lock in the address bar). You may also have to re-enter your name/etc in the comment form because the cookies likely got reset.

And don’t forget to enter the Polaris Rising ARC giveaway! My TBR pile is getting bigger and bigger as I read all of your comments. :)

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Polaris Rising ARC Giveaway!

ARC Giveaway Graphic

Book two has been sent off to my beta readers for initial feedback, so I’m free of the deadline cave for a little while. To celebrate, I’m giving away three signed ARCs (advance reading copies) of Polaris Rising! See below for details on how to enter!

Here is the back cover copy. If you’ve seen the galley copy, this will look very, very familiar.

Polaris Rising Cover A space princess on the run and a notorious outlaw soldier become unlikely allies in this imaginative, sexy space opera adventure—the first in an exciting science fiction trilogy.

In the far distant future, the universe is officially ruled by the Royal Consortium, but the High Councillors, the heads of the three High Houses, wield the true power. As the fifth of six children, Ada von Hasenberg has no authority; her only value to her High House is as a pawn in a political marriage. When her father arranges for her to wed a noble from House Rockhurst, a man she neither wants nor loves, Ada seizes control of her own destiny. The spirited princess flees before the betrothal ceremony and disappears among the stars.

Ada eluded her father’s forces for two years, but now her luck has run out. To ensure she cannot escape again, the fiery princess is thrown into a prison cell with Marcus Loch. Known as the Devil of Fornax Zero, Loch is rumored to have killed his entire chain of command during the Fornax Rebellion, and the Consortium wants his head.

When the ship returning them to Earth is attacked by a battle cruiser from rival House Rockhurst, Ada realizes that if her jilted fiancé captures her, she’ll become a political prisoner and a liability to her House. Her only hope is to strike a deal with the dangerous fugitive: a fortune if he helps her escape.

But when you make a deal with an irresistibly attractive Devil, you may lose more than you bargained for . . .

Want to guarantee yourself a copy when it releases? Preorder now! :)

To enter to win an ARC, here are the rules. Please read them all! Incomplete entries will be ignored.

1. The entry period starts now and ends on September 28, 2018 at 12:00PM CDT. You must be eighteen or older. Open to US and international readers.

2. Leave ONE top-level comment below and tell me about a book you’ve enjoyed recently or your favorite book. Duplicate top-level comments will be deleted. You are welcome to reply to other comments, though, because those won’t count as entries.

3. Comments must be on the blog post on my site (www.jessiemihalik.com). Comments on Facebook, Goodreads, etc. won’t count.

4. Come back after 9/28 and see if you’ve won! Winners must claim their book. Instructions will be included in the winning post. Any books unclaimed after a couple weeks will be rolled into a future giveaway.

Want even more chances to win? Sign up for my author newsletter! I’ll be giving away an ARC a month from now until release. That’s five more chances to win!

EDIT: CONTEST CLOSED! Winners will be announced soon!