Thanksgiving: A Sneak Peek at Infinite Limits.

So, I guess I lied about there not being a post today...

I was actually in the shower when the idea came to me. You see, I was trying to think of books that are either based around the Thanksgiving holiday, or at least mention it some significant way. Then I remembered that Infinite Limits does just that! So in order to help celebrate how thankful I am for all of you, here is a first look at Infinite Limits...

Jade slumped her shoulders in defeat. 

She adjusted her scarf more tightly around her neck. 

If she pulled hard enough, she might choke and pass out, avoiding the situation altogether.

Before she knew it, they were walking up the steps.

They were in the front door. There was warm light filling the space in her head that had been dark for months. Mrs. Ashby was taking her coat. Asking her if she had a pleasant flight. Telling her she was the final guest to arrive, and assuring that no one was stuffed with turkey yet. Just alcohol.

“I’m so glad you came back to visit,” Mrs. Ashby

cheered. She was escorting Jade into the dining room.

“Larson has missed you dearly.”

Jade tried to remember the last time Larson’s mom

was so attentive. He’d mentioned that things were different at home, but she hadn’t been expecting this. She noted that Mr. Ashby hadn’t made an appearance. Maybe that was it. 

They’d finally separated. 

Jade felt a lump form in her throat at the thought of just how much she and Larson needed to catch up.

“I’m glad to be back,” she said, returning Mrs. Ashby’s smile with one of her own.

Jade was half-way lying. But it didn’t feel like it.

“Are you planning on going back to Vanderbilt? I

know Larson mentioned you were taking time off.” 

She brushed a hand through Jade’s hair. “Don’t worry, dear. Everyone does it. I did. It took me a year before I finally kicked my rear back into gear, but I did it. Graduated on schedule, too.” 

She winked. “You’ve got the rest of your life to figure out what you want to do with it.”

This was by far the most astounding and inspiring thing Jade had ever heard come out of Mrs. Ashby’s mouth. She stood with her mouth agape and found herself leaning into the woman, feeling safe.

Mrs. Ashby lit up the room with another smile, then she faced the dining room before them. Everyone Jade had stumbled across in the past six years was now sitting at the table, including a few new faces. Silas was pulling out a chair for Larson as he entered the room through the kitchen. Larson was carrying the turkey on a silver platter. He placed it carefully on the cloth surface and took the seat provided for him. 

Pre-order Infinite Limits on Kindle HERE! 

Available in paperback December 16th on Amazon and B&N.com! 

-Megan.

Owen's iPod (#10InfiniteWeeks)

I present to you... 

a handful of songs that inspired Owen's character and struggles.

I'm just going to let you all sit on these. Take some time to read over the lyrics and tell me what you think. (All Lyrics from AZlyrics.com)

1) "Keep Your Head Up"

Keep your mind set, keep your hair long.

Oh my my darlin' keep your head up, keep your heart strong.

No no no no, keep your mind set in your ways, keep your heart strong.

I saw a friend of mine the other day,

And he told me that my eyes were gleamin'.

Oh I said I had been away, and he knew,

Oh he knew the depths I was meanin'.

And it felt so good to see his face,

Or the comfort invested in my soul.

Oh to feel the warmth of a smile,

When he said "I'm happy to have you home.

Ooh I'm happy to have you home."

Yeah, keep your head up, keep your heart strong.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

Keep your mind set, keep you hair long.

Oh my my darlin', keep your head up, keep you heart strong.

No no no no, keep your mind set in your ways,

Keep your heart strong.

'Cause I'll always remember you the same.

Oh eyes like wild flowers within demons of change.

May you find happiness there,

May all your hopes all turn out right.

Ooh may you find happiness there,

May you find warmth in the middle of the night.

Yeah, keep your head up, keep your heart strong.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

Keep your mind set, keep you hair long.

Oh my my darlin', keep your head up, keep you heart strong.

No no no no, keep your mind set in your ways,

Keep your heart strong.

'Cause I'll always remember you the same.

Oh eyes like wild flowers within demons of change.

2) "Please Don't Say You Love Me"

Summer comes, winter fades
Here we are just the same
Don't need pressure, don't need change
Let's not give the game away
There used to be an empty space
A photograph without a face
But with your presence, and your grace
Everything falls into place
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that
There's no need to worry when you see just where we're at
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Heavy words are hard to take
Under pressure precious things can break
And how we feel is hard to fake
So let's not give the game away
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that
There's no need to worry when you see just where we're at
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
And fools rush in
And I've been the fool before
This time I'm gonna slow it down
'Cause I think this could be more
The thing I'm looking for
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that
There's no need to worry when you see just where we're at
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that
There's no need to worry when you see just where we're at
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back

3) "Sooner Or Later"

We're all standing with our backs against the wall, Sooner or later
Waiting on a phone that never calls, at all
Heartbreak comes Rollin in like a storm, Sooner or later
Trying to swim but your sinking like a stone, Alone
and I can feel fire in the night
Waiting here
Baby its like we're
Walking on a wire thru the fear
Take my hand
We'll get there
Sooner or later I swear we're gonna make it, we're gonna make it,
Sooner or later I swear we're gonna make it, we're gonna make it
Milk and honey till we get our fill
I'll keep chasing it I always will
Sooner or later I swear
We'll make it there
Sooner than later
We're all waiting on dream thats hard to own, Sooner or later
trying to feel the high without the low, you know
you can feel fire in the night
lying here
Baby its like we're
Walking on a wire thru the fear
Take my hand
We'll get there
the fear inside
the hills we've climbed
the tears this side of heaven
all these dreams inside of me
i swear were gonna get there

4) "Ordinary Love"

I don't wanna be no star
Have fame on the Boulevard
No that's not what I'm looking for
I don't need shiny things
Or love from a movie screen
But I tell you what I really want
Oh oh, oh oh gimme an ordinary love
That I touch
That I hold
Gimme an ordinary love
I don't live in the hills
And I probably never will
But that won't keep me up at night
Cause she's dancing like a fool
Across my living room
Whenever I'm with you
my heart is singing
Oh oh gimme an ordinary love
That I touch
That I hold
Gimme an ordinary love
Keep those fancy things
Keep your magazine
I don't even want what I'm chasing
because all I know isn't ordinary love is what we're made for
Oh oh, oh oh gimme an ordinary love
That I touch
That I hold
Gimme an ordinary love
Oh oh, oh oh gimme an ordinary love
That I touch
That I hold
Gimme an ordinary love
Gimme an ordinary love
Yeah gimme an ordinary love

-Megan.

Lowen (#10InfiniteWeeks)

Owen Spencer was born in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. His parents split when he was very young, but his home life was never affected by it. His mother and father remained friends, which allowed Owen to have an equally close relationship with both of them. He lived with his father and step-mother before attending Foster & Allan Academy in his seventh grade year. This is when Owen was introduced to the Ashby's for the first time.

It's a well known fact amongst Small Circles readers that this was the pivotable moment that forever connected Owen and Larson. Owen stands up for Larson against a group of guys on the lacrosse team. They had been teasing and taunting Larson for a long time, but when they finally get the balls to call him offensive names to his face, Owen steps in. It's this that seals the boys' friendship in Paxton's eyes. Owen is accepted into the group as an equal, and from then on out they are inseparable.

As Owen grows up, he's faced with the idea that he might be different than his friends. He knows that Larson obviously likes boys, and it's just as obvious that Paxton likes girls. But what makes Owen so different is that he doesn't quite know what he likes. He doesn't really like girls, but there aren't any boys he finds attractive either. Except for one. After Larson's birthday party, the two share a moment that forever changes how Owen views his openly gay best friend. One of Audrina's friends dares Owen to kiss Larson during a game of Truth or Dare. He does, but instead of just shrugging it off as mission accomplished, it lingers with him. He feels something. And so does Larson.

Over time, it's the need to explore this new territory that leads Owen to believe that he might possibly be falling for his best friend. But he doesn't publicly acknowledge it. Not by any means. He eventually decided to give in to his need to be with Larson, but only in private. He hides their relationship, which in turn puts a strain on it. Larson's love for the other boy grows so deep and so strong that he suggests coming out as a couple to their friends. Owen refuses. There's a part of him that still can't believe he's gay. To him, there's no proof, other than this one connection with Larson. He's never wanted any other boys. He's never felt "feminine". But over time, he realizes that's not what love is about.

After a long time apart, Larson is the one to convince Owen that love is not about labels. Slapping a definition on who he is isn't going to make either of them feel any better. I was completely moved by Owen and Larson's relationship. It was very important to me to shed light on a character like Owen in my books. Not everyone knows exactly who they are when growing up. Sometimes it's not about gender or sexuality. Sometimes it's just about the connection. And that's what happens with Owen. He falls in love with his best friend, because there's no one else. For Owen, Larson was it. And even though his life was cut short, it was full because he was loved back.


-Megan.