As you can tell by the title of the book, I Loved You First is a story about love and, me being the sucker for romance and love that I am, I was eager to read it when she gave me the opportunity to do so. I'm so glad that I did!!

Straight up, I absolutely LOVED this book. The story of a girl named Alex and her love for her best friend Seth - it sounds so simple at first but the wrench in the plan comes from the fact that Seth is gay. Alex knows this but it doesn't change her feelings even though, deep down, she knows that the chances of Seth loving her the way she wants to be loved by him are very slim.

I want go into any spoilers as to what happens in this book but I will say that I Loved You First is everything that love is: it's sweet.... it's painful.... it's laughter.... it's crying..... it's real..... it's confusion..... it's something that you can't forget.

Anyone that has ever been in love with a best friend, or been in love PERIOD with someone they KNEW they could never be with, will relate and be able to appreciate this book for the greatness that it is. The characters and situations are real and easy to identify with. The story itself makes for a page turner - I think it took me no more than 2 hours to read it.

Get this book!

10 out of 10.

Paperback, 142 pages Published July 29th 2011 by Reena Jacobs more details... ISBN 9781463529 primary language English url http://ReenaJacobs.com

This blog is written in support of my writing pal Reena Jacobs. Check it out and support if you feel the urge (and I hope you do).

I've been rambling about I Loved You First for the past few weeks. I'm not ashamed to say, I'm totally digging this novella. If you've seen enough of it, sorry in advance. If you're new to this work, check it:

A little about I Loved You First: My best friend was more than just a best friend to me. Three words summed it up: I heart him. I’d never tell him though. I wasn’t stupid. Besides, what he’d told no one, but me, was a little something I wished I could forget… or ignore. He was gay. I guess gay wouldn’t be bad if I wasn’t so in love with him. Now it was just cruel.

Stereotypes run amok in this college love story: Parties, alcohol, hookups, and breakups. Alexandria Carmichael may find it a bit much as she deals with the unreturned love from the boy who completes her. When all is revealed, not only does she risk losing her best friend forever, but also herself. Without her childhood companion for support, Alexandria takes a journey of self-discovery but fears what she’ll find at the end.

For those looking for a new pitch, great news! I finally put up the first chapter on my blog. Read it, Love it, add it to your Goodreads List. Wait, that was rather bossy... Pretty please. :)

Here's the thing, my good people. I'm gearing up for a Kickstarter campaign to defray some of my publishing expenses. My goal is to launch Friday, sooner if possible. I just have a few things to take care of.

Right now, I'm waiting for the voice over for the simple trailer I created, plus I need to get dressed sometime in the next day or two to create a video pitch. When I say dressed, I mean more than stealing a pair of my husband's long johns and an old t-shirt. Then I need to splice everything together. Apparently the Kickstarter link isn't live until I launch. When it does go live, you can find it here.  Until then, I thought I'd tease you all with the pledge rewards.

Pledge $1 or more My heartfelt gratitude for pushing the project one step closer to the funding goal.

Pledge $10 or more Digital ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of I Loved You First - PLUS - mention on my website with optional link for backers who have a website or blog

Pledge $25 or more (US Only) Everything at the $10 pledge - PLUS - a print copy of I Loved You First // (International) Please add $10 // *Will send an additional unsigned print copy for $10 (US) and $15 (International)

Pledge $50 or more LIMITED REWARD     20 backers (US & Canada only) Everything at the $10 pledge - PLUS - first print, hand numbered (x of 50) signed copy of I Loved You First personalized with a handwritten note of your choice (up to 25 words) - PLUS - name mentioned in the back acknowledgements // (International) Please add $10 // *Will send an additional unsigned print copy for $10 (US) and $15 (International)

Pledge $75 or more LIMITED REWARD     15 backers Everything at the $50 pledge - PLUS - a print copy of my back issue Shadow Cat // *Will send an additional unsigned copy of Shadow Cat for $10 (US) and $15 (International)

Pledge $100 or more LIMITED REWARD     10 backers Everything at the $50 pledge except a mention in the back acknowledgements - PLUS - Special Thanks in front of the book - PLUS - a signed copy of my back issue Shadow Cat personalized with a handwritten note of your choice (up to 25 words) // *Will send an additional unsigned copy of Shadow Cat for $10 (US) and $15 (International)

Pledge $175 or more LIMITED REWARD     5 backer Everything at the $100 pledge - PLUS - I'll critique 5,000 words or less of your manuscript. // This reward is awesome for up and coming authors as well as established authors needing an extra person to look over their work. I have a critical eye, so be sure to wear your big kid's pants. As a special bonus each critique comes with my disclaimer: I critique as I read. I try to be thorough, so if you see a lot of comments, just know it's my style and not your writing. And above all, my opinions are just opinions. Others may feel differently. It's up to you to decide what to use and what to ditch. :) // And will end with my trademark comment: Keep or trash whatever works for you. // If you're interested in viewing my critiquing style, I encourage you to head to Scribophile and take a look: http://www.scribophile.com/authors/reena-jacobs/critiques/

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Something interesting my buddies might not realize. I've never sent out a signed copy of ANYTHING... not even Shadow Cat. So though it won't be a first print for Shadow Cat, know you'll have one of the few signed copies out there. :) I'm a typist and avoid handwriting as often as possible. Already I imagine my hands cramping. haha Signed copies will forever be a rare occurrence for me.

Today's post is by a lady by the name of Reena Jacobs, one of my writing pals that I had the pleasure to meet on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/reenajacobs - follow her now!). So, read it, get some knowledge and buy her book. :-)

                   Test Driving in the Indies

                         Reena Jacobs

Unlike many, I wasn’t one of those people who dreamed of being a writer since before they could read. No. My dreams of publishing happened less than three years ago. I had nothing but time on my hands and a goal-oriented attitude.

Life got in the way; motivation waxed and waned. A year later, I had the first draft finished. What a joyous time! I boasted, cheered, and twirled. When I came down from my high, my next thoughts were: What’s next? That’s when the hard parts came—editing/revisions, learning the craft (I had a LOT to learn), and of course selling myself and my work.

Agents would race to the phones, each one more eager than the last to represent my instant bestseller. Hey! A girl can dream, right?

To make a long story short, the market was/is tough. I received a few nibbles, some suggestions, and even a couple of offers to resubmit after revisions. One issue which bothered me about the entire process was I found myself doing more querying than writing and working on my craft. Writers write. How could I call myself one if I wasn’t writing? At that time, my job title should have been “submitter.” :)

Here’s what I found during my nine months of bumping heads with the gatekeepers. Agents and publishers are searching for the book which will be the next bestseller. They don’t know what that’ll be, just hope they’ll know it when they read it. Really, it’s all a guessing game. Publishing is a business, and the individuals running the companies can only take so many chances. They have to limit their risks in order to be as profitable as possible. I respect that. It’s just smart business.

Well, I don’t accept failure so readily. Knowing how the process worked didn’t mean I had to give up my dreams. Publishers and agents weren’t infallible. They win some; they lose some. I asked myself: With the technology available, why not take a chance on myself—let the readers decide if they want to hear my voice rather than let the gatekeepers decide for both you and me. And so my quest to self-publish began.

I still remember the day I went all in. Other than formatting, my manuscript was ready to go live. I had one full out with an agent at the time. Call me crazy, but I withdrew my submission. January 7, Shadow Cat went live in digital formats. A month later, I had shiny print copies in my hands. I can’t express to you the giddiness I felt handing one to my mother.

My journey on the indie road is exciting, full of trials and errors, but totally worth it. Whether readers love or hate my writing style, I love the idea that readers get to make a choice on my offerings. It’s an opportunity I may never have experienced if I hadn’t taken a chance on me first.

Whether it’s writing or some other dream, the pitfalls are there. That’s life. You can take a chance on yourself. Or will you be the one to “go gentle into that good night?”

Ben, thank you for letting me share my indie experience with your readership.

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Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she’s known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for “just one more purchase.” Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, and Smashwords.

About her novel, Shadow Cat:

Eric Randall’s plan is simple—fix the mess his researchers have created in Malaysia, experience the pleasures the country has to offer, and return to the comforts of America. All it takes is one beautiful aborigine, and Eric finds himself stranded in a world of Malaysian myths and legends.

A novice shaman amongst her people, Berani is free and independent. Yet all is not well in her homeland. Demons prey on her people, pushing them to extinction. When a strange speaking man invades her forest, she has one more worry to add to her already troubled life. Attraction or no, she will fight Eric tooth and claw to maintain her freedom. But will she destroy herself in the process?

If Berani wishes to save her family… if Eric wishes to reclaim his old life, they must stand together against the threats of encroaching wehr-tigers and bloodsucking demons… or perish.


Links to Shadow Cat:


Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Cat-Striped-Ones-ebook/dp/B004IEA1C6/

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.uk.co/Shadow-Cat-Striped-Ones-ebook/dp/B004IEA1C6/

Barnes and Nobles: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/product.aspx?ean=2940012535580

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/36463