Introducing Cassandra
And more about My Brutal Beast
Happy Saturday,
I want to start this newsletter off with a teaser from My Brutal Beast and a positive message afterward that I think is really important for all of us to remember.
Eventually, he slips off the bed, and suddenly, I feel empty at the loss of his warmth. The feeling is awkward. But a moment later, he picks me up.
I squeal. “What are you doing?”
“I thought you might be sore.” There’s no arrogance in his voice, only a tenderness that softens his sharp face as he stares down at me. “I’m going to take care of you.”
I feel my face heat, both from the memory of how hard and rough he was inside of me, and also because he’s carrying me. I’ve never been carried, not even as a little girl. I’ve always been too big, too overweight, and my reaction is instantaneous. “It’s okay. You don’t have to do that. I’m too heavy for you like this, put me down.”
Raven’s eyes narrow at my words, but, he drops a kiss on my forehead. “You are not too heavy for me. I’m sorry you have been surrounded by nothing but weak men who didn’t care about you—much less deserve you—but they are your past, not your present or future. That role belongs to me. Nothing they said was true. Do not do yourself the dishonor of believing their lies.”
Trauma and abuse are things that I typically write about in my stories, and as the characters work to build a relationship, they also begin to heal themselves and one another. When Raven says this, Cassandra looks at her reflection in the mirror and begins to realize how she sees herself and just how much of that is rooted in the unsolicited opinions she’s received from other people.
Cassandra is a plus-size woman, and instead of being able to love her body and feel gorgeous, sensual, and at peace in her own skin, she sees herself as every negative word you can think of, because that's how people see her. From doctors to lovers, everyone sees her as stuck in the state of a temporary person—who should feel shame in her own skin—instead of someone who is a current, beautiful reality.
I don't know why negative things stick with us more easily than positive ones. I see this constantly, and I experience it often. Five people can tell you that you look beautiful, but you won't remember them against the one person who calls you fat. But 'fat' does not mean ugly. It does not mean not beautiful, attractive, interesting, irresistible, deserving, or worthy. And that person's opinion? Truly, anyone's opinion other than your own doesn't matter.
The same should be said about the word 'skinny'. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I'm not sure why, as a society, we've decided to create this narrative that our preferences give us the right to put down, judge, and demoralize someone else's worth as a person. Regardless of your size, color of your skin, sexual orientation, gender, or beliefs, it's not on me or anyone else to judge you.
Let your opinion of yourself come first. Learn who you are and how to love that person. If you find something you don't love and you need help changing that, reach out to someone who can help and support you from the place you need them to. But don't ever, ever think you're not worth it or that you don't deserve love, kindness, and compassion. Because I promise you, you do.
It’s Time to Meet Cassandra!
I can't unsee how much I don't belong, how invisible I am to them.
Something in me has snapped, and I can no longer see the world with the same rose-colored glasses I used to.
I want my monster. I want the form he never shows me. I want his aggression. I want to be at his mercy. I want to be his prey. I want him to hunt me. I want the fear and the pleasure. I want to break his control and show him I can take it. And I will.
Life hasn’t been easy for Cassandra. She’s been constantly forced to learn how to survive on her own. She’s so starved for love and affection that she allows others to take advantage of her because she'd rather have someone than be all alone.
She’s determined, though, and once she realizes that she deserves more, she goes for it. That’s her strength. She’s able to keep her kind, caring heart, regardless of all the things she’s been through.
So when Raven whisks her into the life of a wild fairytale, she’s both excited for everything he’s willing to offer her and scared to take it. After all, she never expected to meet a protective, possessive, and brutal beast with claws, talons, a tail, and wings. But Raven sees her in a way that no one else ever has. And no matter what she wants, he won’t stop until she agrees to stay by his side forever.
Writing News
I’ve secured my editor for My Brutal Beast, which means I can finally confirm the release date to be 10/01/23! I’m so excited, and it’s the perfect day to start the spooky season off right!
All of the dates across the retailers have been updated to the official release date, and if you pre-order My Brutal Beast through my website, you can get the book one week earlier than anywhere else!
I’ve mostly finalized my release plan, so here is when you can expect to find out more about My Brutal Beast:
08/15: My Brutal Beast goes to my editor
08/20: Final My Brutal Beast chapters added for paid subscribers. If you’d like to learn more about this, click here!
08/26: Early Cover Reveal, and you get to meet Raven!
09/01: Public Cover and Blurb Reveal
09/01: My Brutal Beast will be available for pre-order on Amazon and any missing retailers.
09/02: A newsletter full of My Brutal Beast’s inspiration images, quotes, and some teasers
09/08: ARC form live
09/09: Prologue sent directly to you
09/16: The first half of Chapter 1 appears in your inbox.
09/20: Paperbacks finalized and uploaded
09/24: The second half of Chapter 1 will be sent to you.
09/24: ARCs sent out
09/24: One week early release for pre-orders through my website
10/01: Release Day!
10/02: Pre-order discount removed and price goes up to $2.99
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