Saturday, March 9, 2013

YA Contest - Last Day to Win $20 Amazon Gift Card

Last day to enter to win a great YA contest - I'm also giving away a $20 Amazon gift card along with Off Stroke and Off Balance as ebooks. Just leave me a comment. One winner will be picked today.

Enjoy an excerpt from my nitty gritty young adult short story - Off Balance.






Chapter One


What the hell? Is that Jen pushing a stroller? Shit, after all the frigging time I spent writing her those stupid letters, after she dropped me like a used cigarette, I can’t believe she’s the first person I see on my leave. That’s the type of karma I’m having these days. First I find out that Eje’s going to be late returning to Halifax and now this. I glance around and wonder for a second if I can walk past her like she doesn’t exist. That’s probably what she’ll do. I never thought of her as being that cold, but not once did she respond to my letters. All I wanted to know was why? Why was it over? I get that a long distance relationship is hard but it’s not like I was going to be away for freaking forever. Maybe she’s seeing someone else. Christ, the thought of that makes me want to puke up the donair I wolfed down faster than a souped-up car. 
With my palms sweaty I feel more nervous walking toward her than my first day at boot camp, which sucked. For once the movies got something right. Boot camp is downright ugly. It was all running, learning how to function on little sleep, and forcing yourself to eat crappy sludge military food. That was the first week. Then it became more running, which alternated between pushing your sorry legs through large mother-fucking knee-deep water the Sergeant called puddles—I swear to god if he said that one more time I was going to drown him in one of those so-called puddles­—and lots of time spent cleaning weapons. After fourteen weeks of the same routine with the only deviation being getting woken up earlier and earlier and learning to heave your tired beyond-achy body past the breaking point it was hit the books study time.
“Wow, guess who I get the pleasure of running into.” I hate when I look at Jen, my heart drops to my feet. She’s changed but the same. She’s skinner than I remember and there’s a wary deer-in-the-headlights look in her eyes that makes me want to check over my shoulder. I resist that urge and hope to god I’m not drooling. Her chestnut colored hair is pulled back in a ponytail, but wisps of it frame her pixie-like face. Her cheeks look flushed and she smells like fresh clean air.
“Nice to see you Charlie.”
Nice to freaking see me. It’s on the tip of my tongue to shout at her, but one thing the military ingrained in me was it’s always best to keep my big mouth shut. The few times I did speak up, I paid for it with sweat and there’s nothing fun about working out when everyone else has gone to barracks.
“Yeah, great to see you too, Jen.” I’m so lame. Small talk was never my strong suit. I find myself shuffling my feet and I don’t want to keep walking. What I want more than anything is to sweep Jen into my arms and kiss her like I fantasized about night after night.
“So how is the military?” she asks, making sure to keep the stroller moving. She must have taken a nanny job. Funny, I never thought of her as suited to clean poopy diapers and all. I’m glad the kid’s asleep and oblivious to us.
“Great.” The kid, a baby I realize, starts to squirm around in the stroller. I attempt to peek in but Jen moves the stroller forward so I can’t see the baby. Fine. Whatever. With expertise Jen pops the soother back in the baby’s mouth and then turns to face me.
“So you really like the Army?” she asks, again.
I nod. “It’s hard though. Lots of physical work and the school stuff is a lot harder than the stuff taught in high school, but yeah, guess I really do like it.” I know now I’m rambling but hell she was the one who asked. “So what have you been up to?” 
For a weird second her eyes dart back to the stroller and then she looks up at me. “Not much. Stuff,” she says, which is so unlike Jen I think I must be making her uncomfortable.
“Well, I was supposed to meet Eje tonight but since he’s not in town yet are you interested in getting together…you know like old times. I’d really like to see the gang.” Sweet Jesus I must be nuts. Why not put a bullet through my heart while I stand. I honestly can’t believe I blurted all that out.
Jen looks down at her sneakers and for a second I let myself hope.
“I can’t tonight. Sorry, Charlie.”
“Oh, okay, that’s fine. Listen I’ve got to go but it was really great seeing you again, Jen.”
She nods but doesn’t say anything. I force myself to walk away from her and feel more than ever I should run back and kidnap her. What we had felt special. Where did I go wrong? What did I do to make her hate me so much?

Oh my god I think I’m going to be sick. Of all the people to run into, Charlie. God he looked so good he made me want to cry. Instead I acted like a fool and said nothing. I can’t help glance over my shoulder to see if he’s still there but he’s gone. Out of my life for good and he doesn’t know. Maybe I should have told him. Would it have made a difference? Who knows.
Danny starts to cry and for once I like the distraction. I turn the corner, put the stroller in park and pick him up, holding him tight. At six months now he’s looking more and more like his father. The man I let walk out of my life for good. I cuddle Danny close, amazed at how bright his wonderful big brown eyes are. He’s got light cinnamon colored skin, thick dark curly hair and eyes so alert and intelligent he makes my heart soar.
“You my little man must be getting hungry.” I watch his mouth suckle hard on his soother. It will take me three more blocks until I get to my sister’s place. Tucking him back into his stroller, I make sure the baby blankets keep the chilly September day from his body.
Shame you didn’t do one of your famous cries for your Daddy. The mere thought of Charlie holding Danny unlocks something I’ve tried hard to keep closed for months. I fight the tears wanting to fall. Months ago I willed the emotional side of me to shut off. The words my father screamed at me still haunt me. I made my bed and now I’ve got to lie in it. A giggle escapes me. At least I get to hold Danny in that bed.
I haul the stroller up the two flights of stairs and open the door. Ella, my big sister is there holding the door open for me. I don’t know what I’d do without her. Unlike my father she’s been my rock. When Dad found out I was pregnant he hit the wall, literally. Things got worse from there so a few weeks before I delivered Danny I took up my big sister’s offer and moved in with her. She hasn’t asked me for rent yet and when I offered to pay what I could she told me not to worry about it. Thank god she’s got a big paying job at the bank because the truth of the matter is I don’t have much money saved.
“Did the walk calm him down?”
“Yeah, the minute we hit the street he conked out as usual,” I say, moving the stroller into the living room. No way am I taking him out of that until he wakes up screaming for his food. His last feeding frenzy meant three nights of no sleep and my breasts are still sensitive. Maybe I should start him on a bottle soon.
“Your friend Shannon just called. You really should go out with her.”
I look at Danny and give a silent chuckle. “Can’t.”
“Well, when you’re ready I’ve got formula and bottles for you and maybe when he wakes he’ll be so hungry he won’t miss you.”
“Why do I get the impression it’s you who wants him to take the bottle more than me?”
Ella walks over to the stroller and adjusts one of his blankets. At the age of twenty-six she’s still single and I have no idea why. She’s dated lots of men but according to her none have met her criteria. I should have drawn up a list of must haves too. Maybe that would have helped me resist Charlie. I feel heat creep up my flushed cheeks and hope my sister doesn’t notice.
“I just love him so much, Jen. He’s so adorable. I’d like to try the bottle with him to see if he’d take it. I won’t push you. I know it’s totally up to you, but he’s just so cuddly.” I’m sure Ella’s coworkers would kill to hear how she speaks when she talks to Danny. Normally, my sister is all business, but not when it comes to her nephew.
I look at Danny sleeping peacefully still in his stroller and nod. “Okay, you win. I’ll give Shannon a call and maybe if you’re lucky I’ll meet her for a coffee.” I head down the hall to my bedroom. I swear to god my sister almost jumped for joy. Obviously we both need to get out more.

I give Shannon a hug the minute I see her. She squeezes me back and then punches my arm.
“Why’d you do that?” I slide my butt onto the worn leather seat. We’re at a greasy spoon and so I wouldn’t be out long in case Danny doesn’t take to kindly to the bottle my sister has eagerly gotten ready.
“You didn’t tell him.”
“Tell who what?” I ask, pleading ignorance.
“Don’t play that game with me. Charlie’s in town. He just called me to say he ran into you. He didn’t mention anything else. So, I’m guessing you didn’t tell him.”
Shit. I knew I shouldn’t have said anything to her. She’s never been good at keeping secrets. I stare hard at her. “Listen, how was I to know I’d run into him. He’s busy. I told you this was my burden.”
Shannon looks at me like I’m nuts and maybe I am, but it’s my call. She doesn’t know Charlie like I do. If Charlie knew I had been pregnant he’d never have gone into the Army. He’d never get that opportunity to do what he wanted with his life. No way was I going to be the anchor around his neck. Especially after he told me straight up how his childhood was growing up in the projects. What’s that expression? If you love something enough set it free. Well, hell that’s exactly what I promised myself I’d do for Charlie. My love for him gave him his independence.
“That’s not right, Jen and you know it. Charlie deserves to know about Danny. That’s not a secret you hide from his father.”
I’m tempted to stand up and leave. I don’t want to have this conversation. Especially since I’m feeling vulnerable. Seeing Charlie today knocked that barrier I’ve built up down a bit, so I spent the rest of the day reminding myself why I did what I did.
I lean across the table so I can stress my point. “Shannon this hasn’t been easy on me but you’ve got to trust me, the decision I made is the best thing for Charlie.”
She sits back and studies me. God, I hate when she does that. Shannon’s been my good friend all my life and the one thing she knows is when I lie my eyes twitch. I feel overly conscious of my facial movements.
“You’re full of shit. You still have feelings for him. Jen, tell him. What if someone else does?”
“What? Did you tell Eje?”
She shakes her head. “No. I promised you I wouldn’t but I hate that. Eje and I don’t have secrets between us. We promised each other we wouldn’t after all that happened and honestly this…this is killing me.”
“Don’t you dare tell him, Shannon.”
“Then you tell Charlie. He deserves to know. Trust me, you’ll hate yourself if you don’t. Listen, Eje’s going to be in town tomorrow night so I’m giving you twenty-four hours before I spill my guts to Eje and you know how tight Eje and Charlie are.”
This is blackmail. I can’t believe Shannon is doing this to me. After everything I’ve endured, she’s going to ruin it. I’m so mad at her it takes me a full minute to realize I’ve got tears in my eyes.
Shannon takes my hand in hers and gives it a squeeze. “This isn’t fair to you. Charlie’s done his basic training. Didn’t he tell you he’s been stationed here, in Halifax? Tell him. He might surprise you.”
I wipe the tears from my cheek and remove my hand. “The only surprise is how much he’ll hate me. I can’t tell him, Shannon. It’s too late. Just leave it alone. Please stay out of it.”
“I can’t, Jen. Either you tell him or Eje will. I think news like this should come from you.”
Her words haunt me all through the stupid meaningless meal we have. I practically race back to the apartment needing more than ever the feel of Danny. Telling Charlie might be the right thing but deep down I know it’s going to be more painful than childbirth.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Realistic Teen Novels - Why They Are Needed

To celebrate the release of my third nitty gritty novel - Off Stroke and my short story Off Balance I'm highlighting why I write realistic teen novels. 

I'm also giving away a $20 Amazon gift card along with Off Stroke and Off Balance as ebooks to one lucky person. All you need to do is leave a comment and you could win. I'll be picking the winner on Saturday, March 9.

Why I write hard hitting realistic teen novels?
Off Stroke is my third nitty gritty realistic young adult novel. I write realistic teen novels because I personally feel there's a gap in the market and authors aren't providing enough reads like this. Life might not be great for many teens but what has always inspired me is their determination. It's okay to not have a hollywood ending. My own teen life certainly wasn't great and I understand the word 'struggle'.

Why did you pick the sport paddling?
That's easy. For the past three summers I've worked as the club manager for my local paddling aquatic club and I have to say it was the best job ever. I learned a ton about paddling and watching such wonderful coaches work with young adult teens, trying to push them to do better, was extremely rewarding. I love everything there is about the sport of kayaking and I hope that comes through in this novel.

Why did you decide to write from an immigrants perspective?
Who better defines the word 'struggle' than a teen immigrant trying to find out where they belong? Eje developed in my head totally on his own and I think I really wanted to highlight a part of  my city that's come under hard times but that's also trying to make a change - Halifax's north end. I tried at first to write this story with Eje being a girl and that really didn't work. I loved how Eje was the 'man of the house' and how he felt all this responsibility to help his family while at times hating his family - isn't that how most teens feel?

Why did you want to highlight gambling?
When I started to write this story I wanted to highlight something that was addictive. That's exactly what gambling is. Gambling can and does destroy people and families and that's exactly what I'm hoping comes across in this nitty gritty novel.

I noticed you are also debuting Charlie's story in a nitty gritty short story, why?
I love Charlie and Jen. When I finished writing Off Stroke I truly felt like they needed their own story and while I didn't want to write an entire novel, I thought a short story would work best for them. It's hard hitting but it also takes up a year later after Eje's story ends.

What's next for you?
A biggie. I'm working on a new nitty gritty novel - The Dressing Room and it's got everything but the main theme is bullying, hockey and dare I say it - cross dressing! I'm having lots of fun writing this story but like most of my nitty gritty stories it's a hard hitting one.

Discover more of what Renee writes at www.reneepace.com


Friday, March 1, 2013

Edgy Young Adult - The Forsaken by Renee Pace debuts today


To celebrate the release of my new edgy upper young adult novel I'm giving away a $10 Amazon gift card and an ecopy of The Forsaken to one lucky person today. It's easy - drop me a note and you could win!

Fighting for freedom means falling from grace.
After taking up arms in a heavenly war, teen angel Isabella is banished to Earth. Her penance: to live as an immortal teenager. Her objective: to create a safe haven for her fellow exiled angels who believe in her mantra of independence. Faced with life on the mortal plane, she and her girls form a rock band as a means to literally sing for their supper. 


But when Isabella saves a fallen male angel, things fall apart. If she thought her penance was hard before, she’s got an even harder path to follow now that she realizes Nathan is her soul mate—and that he holds the key to returning her to the heavenly realm. But she has no intention of going anywhere if it means leaving her sisters alone in exile. Until she discovers a hellish plan to amass a human-turned-demon army. Now she must convince the very angels who cast her out that war can no longer be avoided—if they want to survive…


Purchase link - Kindle - http://amzn.com/B00BMZDRWK


Check out the book on Etopia Press - http://etopiapressblog.wordpress.com/