Excerpt · Giveaways · Guest Blog

Guest Post with L.A. Cadieux featuring One Life: A Teddy Owens Story w/rafflecopter giveaway!

one-life cover

…from Evernight Teen

YA (romance, paranormal, shifters, suspense, contemporary)

77,000 words, Editor’s Pick

 

Intent on leaving her troubled childhood in the past, snow-obsessed sixteen year old Teddy Owens has moved from Texas to her uncle’s secluded Rocky Mountain estate—a beautiful place, but colder than she imagined. Curious about her surroundings she ignores the persistent advice of new friends and digs around to uncover the allure of the mysterious estate—only to discover her friends have terrifying secrets of their own. With each new revelation, Teddy is thrust further into a clandestine underworld where she is hunted for her dormant supernatural power…the ability to save just one person from death.

 

After her family’s sordid history of betrayal is unearthed, Teddy’s world is rocked when she must travel to New York City and take an oath promising her power to an arrogant heir of the underworld, Leevi Koivu. Can she trust him?

 

And in the end someone she loves, but cannot save, will die.

 

Buy Links:

Evernight Teen –  http://www.evernightteen.com/one-life-by-l-a-cadieux/

Amazon  –  http://www.amazon.com/Life-Teddy-Owens-Story-Book-ebook/dp/B00L4N2PYQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403287368&sr=1-1&keywords=One+Life+by+L.A.+Cadieux

ARe –  https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-onelife-1555731-140.html

BookStrand  –  http://www.bookstrand.com/one-life

Print  –  https://www.createspace.com/4867155

B&N and Smashwords coming soon

 

 

 

 

Excerpt:

“Admit it, you’re a mess.” My words were thick with accusation as I showed her the bottle. The lines separating a mother from her daughter began to blur, the tighter my fist clenched around exhibit #1: the medication bottle. “I found this in the trash.”

Angelique placed the soda she’d been sipping onto the kitchen counter. “Stop worrying about me. Honey, I’m fine. It was an accident—those merely fell into the garbage earlier,” she said. A bead of condensation rolled down the side of the aluminum can, seeping into a chip in the counter.

“Do you take me for an idiot? The trash isn’t exactly accessible.” I pointed to the cupboard beneath the kitchen sink. As I leaned forward my wet hair hung over my face. I’d gone and dyed my locks red a few weeks earlier. Fortunately, the color had faded after two washes.

“It’s completely plausible it fell under the sink,” she argued. Angelique turned to search the deserted street outside our tattered screen door—her actions were a clear indication of what I’d suspected all along.

“Please, look at me for one minute, and don’t start with one of your conspiracy theories—seriously—I can’t take another. This full bottle was in the washroom trash. I found it after taking a shower.” A knowing expression dawned on her face…she’d been caught in another lie. “You haven’t been taking your prescription. Why?” I shoved a hand into the pocket of my cut-off shorts and pulled out the telephone wiretap.

Angelique’s eyes narrowed in on it. “Teddy, give me the bug,” she demanded, placing a thin hand on my shoulder.

I tore out of her grasp. “In case you missed the memo, this isn’t normal. It’s not okay to spy on me. Angelique, I’m not your naïve little girl anymore.” I held up the listening device. “Your sickness is worse than ever. Your paranoia is out of control—you need help. I’m tired of trying to fix it.”

“I’m fine,” Angelique shrilled. Her hair was matted to her forehead, saturated with the humidity. “You have to trust me. I have my reasons.”

“I want to trust you.” I noted how her cheeks and eyes had sunken in. God, she wasn’t eating again. Her anxiety had worsened significantly since my sixteenth birthday. Lately, she’d watched me like I was going to burst into a man-eating tarantula at any moment. “You make it hard.”

“You can’t possibly understand.” She reached over to tug at my arm, resulting in a tussle over the bug. “Give me that already—it’s not yours,” she ordered.

As I ducked out of the way, she jerked my arm. “Let me go!” I tried to snatch my arm away.

“Please, can you try to keep your voice down?” She released me, only to glance outside in search of her imaginary tormentors.

“Why can’t you try to be a normal mother?” I asked, red-faced.

“It was never in the cards for you, honey.” She pushed a limp strand of brunette hair out of her face.

“You don’t listen, not even to the doctors,” I said sadly. “Try to keep care of yourself.” Taking aim, I flung the bottle against the refrigerator and watched with disdain as it burst open, sending pills spewing across the floor. Many of them disappeared into a filthy crack in the linoleum floor under the counter. “I’m not your babysitter!” Angelique stood rigidly, staring down at the pills. Considering her current state of mental health, and knowing my mother, she was probably asking herself if they could possibly be poisoned.

I opened my mouth, then closed it, and then opened it again. “Forget this—I’m done.” I threw my fists up into the air.

“Teddy,” Angelique shouted as I ran from the house. “Get back here this instant,” she ordered. “It’s dangerous—”

I slammed the squeaking screen door behind me, cutting her off.

If I wasn’t so livid I’d have taken notice of the police car sitting at the end of our street, but it was too late: the cops were stepping out of the car. An officer waved me over. Angelique was going to lose it on them, and it was my fault.

Making my way toward the cops, I started to panic. What should I say?

“Hello there,” the first officer said. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, nothing to report.” I stared down at my sneakers, not wanting to meet their cynical gazes.

“What’s your name?” the second asked.

“Teddy Owens, sir.”

“How old are you?” He leaned against his cruiser, tilting his head to the side to consider me.

“Sixteen—at the beginning of August.” I cringed as the screen door on our house banged shut. The officers wore amused expressions as Angelique stomped toward us. They wouldn’t be smiling if they knew what she was capable of.

“It’s going to be one of those nights,” the first officer said under his breath.

It was one of the last times I’d play the role of an innocent spectator.

guestpost

A Day in the Life – Author L. A. Cadieux

 

There isn’t a day of the week not filled to the brim. Being a mom of two kids and a full-time Project Manager in Information Technology is a lot of handle for anyone – but add on being a newly published author and you have a recipe for one crazy day.

 

My day starts at 7:00 AM when the alarm rings on my iPhone. I usually hit the snooze button once or twice before rising to meet the day.

Around 5:00 AM my son usually crawls into bed so when I wake up he has a foot draped over my shoulder or back. He usually wakes up at this time to keep me company while I’m getting ready for work.

I head to my closet to get dressed.

Then the regular morning routine commences. Brush teeth, pull up hair, do my make up.

By the time I’m finished my daughter is up.

Before heading out, I give both the kids a kiss and hug and ensure they are settled in with their child caregiver for the morning.

I’m usually out of the house by 8:00 AM.

Head over to Tim Hortons for my daily in-take of caffeine – always a double double and a bagel toasted with butter.

My drive to work usually takes me 40-45 minutes.

My first team meeting is at 9:00 AM and usually lasts 30 minutes.

By 10:00 AM I’m usually busy coordinating project work, attending another meeting, or working on project documentation.

I break for lunch some of the time, but on occasion I’ll just work through until it is time to head home. My work is across the street from a university so I typically head over there to grab a quick bit to eat in the food court before returning to work.

If I have time for a longer lunch break I try to bring my laptop with me to work on one of my manuscripts – and/or answer writing related emails.

The afternoons are typically more or less the same as the mornings. I’m either trying to grab a spare moment at my desk for working time, coordinating some aspect of a project, or in project meeting.

I currently do not have a consistent end of workday time, but I try to head out by 5:30 PM.

At least once a week I’ll head to the gym to work out on the Elliptical before heading home.

I try to be home by 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM.

My favorite part of the day is when the kids greet me at home. I love to hear about their day. I try to take time and ask how school/playschool was, if they went to the park, etc.

I eat supper and then spend time with the kids before it is time for bed.

My daughter likes her dad to put her to sleep, but we all make sure to say our goodnights.

I read a story and lay down with my son before he goes to sleep every night. He is only 3 so he likes the cuddle time with mom.

My son and daughter are usually both asleep by 8:30 PM.

I take time to check my social media, maybe watch something on the television. Then it is time to work again. I open up my laptop to edit/write for at least an hour or two in the evening, and then head upstairs for a shower.

Pick out my clothes for work the next day.

I try to be in bed by 11:30 PM.

The nights, weekends, and stolen spare moments are the majority of my writing time.

 

 

About the Author:author pic LA Cadieux

“Our perception of the world is shaped by our experiences and imagery. As a genre fantasy writer it’s my job to create new possibilities.”

My name is L. A. Cadieux, I’m a YA/New Adult writer and social media-aholic born in Lac La Biche, Alberta, living in Calgary, Canada. Since childhood I’ve been mesmerized by stories of fairy tales, knights, Greek and Roman mythology and comic book heroes. Naturally, I wanted to create my own worlds/characters and set off on a long quest to write fantasy novels. Creative, yet business minded, I went on to earn a Degree in Management from the University of Alberta Augustana, specializing in Business Economics.

I’m a Project Manager by day and by night I work on my stories. After shelving some of my earlier manuscripts I decided to focus on ONE LIFE, the first in a series of Teddy Owens Stories.

As a proud mom of two – I spend my days and nights multi-tasking.

Random facts: Tim Hortons coffee and ketchup chips are my vices. I’m also a fan of the HBO and CW Networks. My favourite book is Jane Austen’s PRIDE & PREJUDICE.

 

Website: http://www.lacadieux.com

Blog: http://lacadieux.blogspot.ca

 

Contact:

 

Twitter: LACadieux_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLACadieux

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lacadieux/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7910457-l-a-cadieux

Google+: https://plus.google.com/101606432963829216880/posts

 

Giveaway:    L.A. Cadieux would like to give away a $25 Amazon Gift Card
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

One Life Tour Banner

12 thoughts on “Guest Post with L.A. Cadieux featuring One Life: A Teddy Owens Story w/rafflecopter giveaway!

  1. Thanks for the blurb and excerpt. Love the paranormal and this sounds like a wonderful read. Your day is full and I was exhausted reading it, keep up the good work.

    1. You live in the most part of Canada. That’s where my hubby and I honeymooned. And yes, we are dying to go back again.

      Harlie

        1. We actually stayed in Canmore for 5 days. Went to the parks, Banff, walked a glacier, played golf and I went to the Fairmont Hotel Spa. Didn’t fish on the Bow River but we just ran out of time.

          Alberta is on our bucket list to visit again. The people were awesome, the food good and the scenery…breathtaking.

          BTW, we were there in early September. Too soon for hockey season. Boo!

          Harlie

  2. I enjoyed the excerpt and the blurb definitely has me interested in checking this one out. Thanks for sharing I’ve added it to my TBR. 🙂

Leave a Reply to Sue Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.