Without further ado:
And, in the interest of being honest here… guys, it’s a little spoilery. Fortunately, it’s one of those covers where you won’t actually realize what’s spoilery about it until you read the book. So, win-win. I also think it looks totally awesome alongside the cover of Rampant. Check out the pretty pretty set (collect all two!)
So that’s nice.
You may note that the Ascendant cover is much brighter than the Rampant cover. That was done on purpose because the Rampant cover, as it will appear in paperback this fall, is actually going to be brighter as well (same images, just brighter), so they wanted them to match.
And can I just say that I totally covet this Astrid-model’s hair? And I do like that the hair is so RIGHT here. You wouldn’t believe the flack an author gets if her character’s cover hair is not exactly the way she describes it in the book. (Yes, I know Amy’s hair is shorter than the cover models’. Did that really destroy your reading experience?)
Speaking of, the stats: the “Astrid” on this cover is from a Harper photo shoot, the sword is stock photo. Personally, I have nothing against stock photos. My favorite covers (Rites of Spring Break and Rampant) are both entirely stock photorific. And I think that they do an excellent job capturing the “feel” of the book. The Astrid on the cover of Rampant looks determined and ready to fight. The Astrid on the cover of Ascendant looks conflicted and contemplative.
And here are some tidbits from the back:
“Ascendant is fast-paced, fresh, and engrossing –plus it has killer unicorns; what could be better? I love this book!” — Carrie Ryan, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth and The Dead Tossed Waves.
“I was riveted by Ascendant. It’s not only about killer unicorns, it’s also about finding the courage to make tough decisions — and to be true to yourself. I think Astrid rocks!” — Malinda Lo, author of Ash.
So there you have it folks. Mark your calendars and let the countdown begin.
Oh, who am I kidding? Why wait? Read Ascendant NOW by taking part in this ARC giveaway I just announced RIGHT NOW. And in order to enter this giveaway (as decreed by Sailor Boy, who apparently likes his giveaway entry challenges more challenging than I do), all you have to do is leave a work of 6-word fiction here in the comments section of this post.
What is six word fiction? Here are some examples. Fun, huh? Okay, have at it Contest open internationally and through the weekend.
May 20th, 2010 at 7:34 am
Vacuum cleaner. Dog revenge. Dust explosion.
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May 20th, 2010 at 7:38 am
Cat chased mouse, cat ate mouse.
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May 20th, 2010 at 7:53 am
In hindsight, the glitter was excessive.
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May 20th, 2010 at 8:02 am
When it was over, they sat.
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May 20th, 2010 at 8:22 am
Wrote all day. Only four pages?
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May 20th, 2010 at 8:26 am
My anti-spam word was unicorn.
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May 20th, 2010 at 8:35 am
Vampi–mosquito bite. Let’s hang out!
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May 20th, 2010 at 8:40 am
Fantasy to reality. Going downhill quick.
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May 20th, 2010 at 8:44 am
Zombie attack. Dinner is served rare.
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May 20th, 2010 at 8:45 am
LOVE IT!!!! Ohh I love it so much! It’s Gorgeous! The photo’s awesome! *sigh* I cant wait to read it!
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May 20th, 2010 at 9:01 am
Girls dressed as boys. Adventure purposes.
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May 20th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Love that cover (and the book) and these entries are AWESOME!!!
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May 20th, 2010 at 9:07 am
Last man’s final blog post: “Hello?”
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May 20th, 2010 at 9:09 am
The chalklines did my body justice.
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May 20th, 2010 at 9:12 am
Dog chases tail. Tail chases dog.
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May 20th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Electricity crackling, the sky burned pink.
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May 20th, 2010 at 9:16 am
When in doubt, play dead. Fast.
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May 20th, 2010 at 9:38 am
The end is nigh, future nevermore.
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May 20th, 2010 at 9:40 am
Candace doesn’t know Balthazar. She thinks.
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May 20th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Books are a necessity. Like oxygen.
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May 20th, 2010 at 10:01 am
“Duck and weave!” the rabbit babbled.
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May 20th, 2010 at 10:17 am
Phone ringing. Unknown number. Telemarketer calling!
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May 20th, 2010 at 10:33 am
She woke up oly to die.
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May 20th, 2010 at 10:33 am
This is a distraction. Don’t look behind–
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May 20th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Rogue monkeys. Seeking revenge. Bananas extinct.
I would give my first born son for an arc of Ascendent. Thanks for hosting this, Diana!
*crosses fingers*
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May 20th, 2010 at 11:14 am
She hid beneath the stairs, waiting.
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May 20th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Kid named Jinx? Soap opera life!
(based on someone’s real life kid name…I think it’s asking for trouble.)
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May 20th, 2010 at 11:52 am
A wish. The stars went black.
They thought her crazy. She was.
Dying Kingdom. The Hero never came.
The grave swallowed her tears, expectantly.
Funeral. Last letter found. No answers.
Index card brushed her awake. Gone.
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May 20th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Wrote a story. Won an ARC.
I am going to use this as an exericse for my writing group. What great fun!
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May 20th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Blind date. I shaved for this?
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May 20th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
My anti span word was bugaboo.
Hey, These are both six words!
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May 20th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
I woke in darkness with wings.
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May 20th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
I really hate waking up dead.
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May 20th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
After the divorce, we labeled things.
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May 20th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
PS That cover is gorgeous! And I love that your anti-spam words are from your books. I had “clothilde” and “astrid!”
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May 20th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
California, born and raised. Go Celts!
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May 20th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Beware my power — Purple Ranger’s light!
(apologies to Alfred Bester)
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May 20th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
You stabbed me! Who STABS someone?
(an actual quote from my husband’s friend, summed up an entire story perfectly)
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May 20th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Shouts: “Come back!” Mutters: “Dingbat family.”
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May 20th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Finally, all the voices were silent.
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May 20th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Not Astrid’s kayaks dirt sat on.
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May 20th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
im not expecting an entry for this, but i just had to post it when i realized its six words:
Bonegrinder thinks your calves lookd delicious.
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May 20th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Mom calls cell. I answer. Crap.
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May 20th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
This is just for fun (not expecting an entry, because I’ve already posted):
Bonegrinder, stop eating my calves, please!
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May 20th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Outside of my window is: Freedom.
Still wishing on stars at night.
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May 20th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
He smirks. They laugh. I punch.
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May 20th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Every night the moon haunted her.
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May 20th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Virus killed computer, will I live?
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May 20th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Running from zombies. Fell. Brain BRAINS!
lol I had to write something about zombies!
This is really kind of fun.
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May 20th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Some things you never get over.
I wish I knew- what now?
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May 20th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
I guess he wasn’t lying. Bye.
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May 20th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
If my heart stopped I’d die.
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May 20th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Shooter in the hospital. Hide. Die.
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May 20th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Unicorns attacked, she defended them valiantly.
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May 20th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Gorgeous cover! I love it and I want it now! No waiting
So here goes,
“Virginia isn’t for lovers any more.”
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May 20th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
She mourned for him with pain.
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May 20th, 2010 at 10:52 pm
“She didn’t know she was dead.”
And, my Ascendant countdown has being ticking for many months now
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May 20th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
That is one beautimous cover. Even the hubby got excited about this challenge:
“Explanation: The smell was burning feathers.”
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May 21st, 2010 at 1:10 am
Books build worlds. Readers live them.
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May 21st, 2010 at 1:17 am
Sun shines, flower grows, it blooms.
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May 21st, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Humans error. She fixes those errors.
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May 21st, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Never say Bite Me around vampires.
PS LOVE the GORGEOUS cover. Can’t wait for Ascendant!
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May 21st, 2010 at 1:27 pm
When the dust settles, cockroaches rule!
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May 21st, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Increased my intelligence by reading books!
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May 21st, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Gorgeous cover! I covet both her hair and her looks – wish I looked that gorgeous.
Six-word stories (I had fun writing them, so you get a few):
At your insistence, read Persuasion: rocked.
Job finished: more time to read!
I bite nails. She slaps me.
We reach for the popcorn simultaneously.
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May 21st, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Made cake. Two hours. Forgot eggs
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May 21st, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Unicorn lives? Unicorn dies? You decide.
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May 21st, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Unicorns are deadly, so are feminists.
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May 21st, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Tried to study. Died of boredom.
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May 21st, 2010 at 9:02 pm
Wrote: twenty pages. Cut: nineteen pages.
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May 21st, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Romeo & Juliet = stupid. Rampant = AWESOME!
(Reading the incredibly dull tale for English. Really tempted to burn the book. Does unicorn venom do that?)
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May 21st, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Forgetting sleep for nightly book dose.
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May 21st, 2010 at 9:54 pm
Boyfriends suck. Unicorns have right idea.
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May 22nd, 2010 at 4:10 am
frost was right: life goes on.
breathing, she tried to remember faith.
a closet dreamer, reality hit hard.
listen: all living things need water.
my heart beats. i understand twilight.
florida is the south, suck it.
phinneas jumped. the wind sang quietly.
he dreams in words. she, music.
*
this was fun! i might be back, and not just because i could possibly give a kidney for an ARC right now!
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May 22nd, 2010 at 8:32 am
Daydreaming in shower. Hot becomes cold.
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May 22nd, 2010 at 11:37 am
Toes. That was it. It’s over.
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May 22nd, 2010 at 12:38 pm
I loved the cover for Rampant, and the cover for Ascendant is amazing, too!
Laughing together in the sun. Perfect summer.
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May 22nd, 2010 at 12:39 pm
hahah oops, my entry had one too many words.
Laughing in the sun. Perfect summer.
Obviously, I can’t count.
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May 22nd, 2010 at 9:24 pm
It is hot, so I swam.
(too bad that’s the total opposite of the weather here! boo! thanks for the great contest)
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May 22nd, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Car accident. One survivor. Name? Unknown.
Fates cut her line. She was.
***
Also, AWESOME COVER! can’t wait!
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May 22nd, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Lovely cover once again. Can’t wait for Ascendant!
Entry:
“Don’t pull the cat’s tail.” “Ouch!”
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May 23rd, 2010 at 3:22 am
That’s a really nice cover. Can’t wait to pick up a copy
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May 23rd, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Chatterbox. ARC Contest. Spontaneous human combustion.
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May 23rd, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Hot weather, cool water, great day!
Gorgeous cover, simply gorgeous!
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May 23rd, 2010 at 6:49 pm
He looked at me. I fainted.
Great cover! Can’t wait to read.
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May 23rd, 2010 at 7:34 pm
The rain stopped. New life began.
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May 23rd, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Typo humiliation: “Gone for a sex.”
Body in backyard escapes from grave.
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May 24th, 2010 at 3:56 am
Dragon inhaled. The rest was ash.
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May 24th, 2010 at 7:39 am
For Sale: Wedding Ring. Slightly Used.
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May 24th, 2010 at 7:46 am
Blinding flash. Cockroaches inherit the Earth.
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May 24th, 2010 at 7:50 am
Muddy water puddle. Scared horse runs.
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May 24th, 2010 at 7:54 am
1) “Everything you learned was a lie.”
2) “Nothing goes according to plan. Ever.”
3) “No. I don’t know. Maybe? Yes!”
Can’t wait for “Ascendant!” Even without reading it, I already know it’s going to be fabulous.
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May 24th, 2010 at 7:54 am
Great Giveaway anda great cover
How about:
Unicorns are cool Get the point?
or
Death came quickly. She was grateful
Thanks
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May 24th, 2010 at 7:58 am
Dog slept soundly, fart cleared room.
I love love love your Ascendent cover.
Please enter me..
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May 24th, 2010 at 8:07 am
90 degrees. She regretted the sweater.
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May 24th, 2010 at 9:26 am
He’s gone. Move on. But how?
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May 24th, 2010 at 10:42 am
A plus sign, who’s the father?
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May 24th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Looking back, some mistakes were made.
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May 24th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
You, good cop. Me, bad cop.
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May 24th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Beautiful Arizona. Wish U here… Deportation?!!
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May 24th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Her sword sang sweetly. To kill.
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May 25th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Walls sung. The girl sang along.
I just finished Rampant and LOVED it! I was actually quite shocked. I’m now sitting down to write my AWESOME review!
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May 26th, 2010 at 9:00 am
Don’t know if I’m too late, but here it goes…
Riding horses. Wait, unicorns. Everyone falls.
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May 26th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Cut feet walking down bone staircase.
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May 26th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
“Colon overkill. This fad must go.”
“Walking the labyrinth… Lost? Not anymore.”
That’s what I’m thinking of here, regarding six-word stories!! And I loooove the new cover! Can’t wait!
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May 27th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Hello?The world has gone dark.
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May 27th, 2010 at 10:22 am
The cover looks great but more importantly can’t wait to read the pages between.
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June 1st, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Are you sure they used the same model for both covers? Because there appear to be slight differences in both the eyebrow and the upper lip.
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June 1st, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Um, I’m sure they DIDN’T, as this model is from a bespoke photo shoot cast by Harper and the model for Rampant (as well as the mock up for the Ascendant cover) are both stock photography.
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June 4th, 2010 at 2:10 am
i wandered back here and decided to write a few more. it helps my insomnia.
(and i love looking at the beautiful cover!)
two days, she says, until birthday!
your heart in my hand, beating.
wake up. dress. leave quitely. pretend.
you can do anything. now leap.
i don’t need wings to fly.
trust your gut. now run. RUN!
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June 9th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
[...] All you have to do is leave your name in the comments. And yes, I know i never announced winners from the ASCENDANT ARC giveaway contest. Oops, sorry. But I will on MONDAY, as well as announce winners for this contest. That means you have until Monday to enter this contest and the other one. [...]
June 10th, 2010 at 7:29 am
Even my ears are wet. Hot.
I can’t wait to read this!!
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June 10th, 2010 at 7:45 am
Where am I? Oh right, bathroom.
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June 10th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
yes! please do enter me
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June 10th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Better to love than to hate.
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June 10th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Opened eyes. It’s monday. Inward groan.
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June 10th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
Cloud-gazed together. Stains worth it.
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June 11th, 2010 at 1:56 am
he’s the first i can sleep beside.
it’s hard to sleep at home.
water tickles my feet, slowly lapping.
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June 11th, 2010 at 5:38 am
End of the world. You coming?
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June 13th, 2010 at 11:40 am
Boy. “It wasn’t a candy dispenser?”
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June 14th, 2010 at 1:42 am
If you’re here, where’s your corpse?
My husband’s home. You should leave.
Have you been tested for herpes?
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