Sunday, April 17, 2016

Dead Girls Do it Better

Time again for Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday!




I'm starting a new series of snippets this week from my YA paranormal thriller, After Me, the first book in my UNFINISHED series. (If you missed the last snippet from Shades of Blue, you can read it here.) I shared snippets from this one before when it was just a WIP and had a different title, so it's a lot different now. Here's a blurb to set it up.


After she’s murdered by a sexual predator, 18-year-old Jada Gayle must stay among the living until she finds and stops the Internet stalker who killed her. When the Afterlife Admissions Office assigns the now “transdead” Jada to a foster home back among the living, she assumes the identity of a homeless teen and is expected to simply fit in as she hunts down her killer, but that's not so easy when you’re a hot zombie chick channeling Chuck Norris. Then she meets Lew Stanton—captain of the chess team and computer whiz who makes her dead heart beat phantom rhythms in her chest. As if it’s not bad enough to have the hots for a nerd, Jada’s new friend Annalee likes him too. While Jada deals with all this unwanted teenaged angst, the man who murdered her is closing in on more foolish girls. Jada thinks she has plenty of time to handle her predicament until the night she gets a terrifying message: I HAVE YOUR FRIEND.

This scene is from the beginning of the book, right after Jada's killer gets into the Ferrari he lured her with.


“Drive!” he said and jammed the nose of a freakishly big pistol into my ribs. “Go to the intersection and make a U-turn. Keep going until you get back to where you picked up the car.”

If I’d still felt emotions like normal girls, I probably would’ve been scared shitless, but the best I could manage was irritation that he’d tricked me.

“Look, you don’t need the gun,” I said. “I’ll do whatever you say.”

“You sure as hell will.”

Even more than his words, the laugh that came from behind the bandana was the second thing that told me I wouldn’t live to see nineteen. Dang, I’d need my fake ID for all eternity. And it wasn’t even a good picture.


Get used to that snark—it's Jada's trademark. Can't wait for more? You can buy After Me here. And please also check out the other Snippet Sunday folks and the Weekend Writing Warriors. Something for everyone among these talented writers!


~Stay true to yourself and your dreams will come true!

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24 comments:

  1. Great final line! I approve of heroines who have a snarky sense of humour!

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  2. Love the premise of this one...but I'm still a bit confused (especially with that last paragraph). She's sent back from the afterlife, and becomes a zombie? So, if she dies again, will she just get sent back like a revolving door?

    Guess I'll have to pick it up on my Kindle!

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    1. No, there are rules and regulations for the Transdead. She just calls herself "Zombie Girl" because that's how she rolls. ;-)

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  3. I think her final thoughts in this snippet are brilliant. I love all the characterization you managed to include in this snippet. Great job!

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  4. I like that she's so scared she's gone straight into sarcasm. Great snippet, Joyce. :)

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  5. This sounds great. I chuckled all the way through the blurb and Jada is already delivering as a great character.

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  6. I'm a little worried about the body she's occupying now. Her snark rings loud and clear, so I'm guessing there's a rule that protects her host(ess).

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    1. She stays in her own body and just assumes a fake identity. And this snippet is before she's murdered by the man she's sent back to stop.

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  7. I can sense her fear, but she's still holding strong with her inner snarky responses. Intrigued to know more.

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  8. Anonymous2:32 PM

    Very interesting premise. It reminds me of The Lovely Bones.

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    1. The difference is that Jada appears alive and can interact with the living. And boy does she interact! ;-)

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  9. Wow, I like the setup as well as the main character. I like her spunky attitude.

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  10. Really interesting premise to the story and a super fiery heroine. I look forward to reading more!

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  11. Whoa, we jump right into the excitement! Her reactions provide insight into her character. I love the premise of this book! Looking forward to more...

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  12. I love this girl, and I love the the premise behind the book.

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  13. Wow, she's spunky for a girl staring down the barrel of a gun. The premise sounds like a great read.

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  14. You had me loving the story at the intro!
    Loved the last few lines. Look forward to heaps more!

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  15. Love all of this. Love love love! The cover is cool, the blurb really, really hooks you (especially with the last sentence), and from this snippet I can already tell I'll like Jada a lot. I want to read more!

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  16. Man that scene was intense but it was lightened by her snarky -ness. Good job!

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  17. I wonder why she isn't panicking.

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    1. She's basically been dead inside since her best friend died in a drunk driving accident. That's why she says, "if I'd still felt emotions like normal girls."

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  18. I love "transdead" and the Afterlife Admissions Office. (Who knew there was bureaucracy in the afterlife?

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  19. Love her attitude. Looking forward to more.

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