Music from The Other Fish in the Sea

So you all probably know by now that music influences and plays a big part in my stories, right? Well, since I'm getting closer to releasing it, but not quite ready to give you any actual teasers yet, I thought I'd throw you guys a little treat just for funsies by publishing the playlist I have for book 2 in the Grab Your Pole series, The Other Fish in the Sea. It might not be wholly comprehensive in regards to what I personally heard in my head when I was dreaming scenes up and writing them, but this is what I currently have collected in my iTunes playlist for this book. And while I understand that a few of these songs were not originally done by the artists I have listed as doing them, they are the artists who perform them in covers of the songs and what I choose to listen to instead, because honestly, sometimes the covers are just simply better than the original IMHO. I also thought it would be kind of fun for those of you who like to postulate on what could be happening in the book based on the song—as my playlists essentially serve as soundtracks and songs typically coincide with specific events in my books. ;-) 

As always, thanks for your interest and enthusiasm, and above all, ENJOY!!

The Other Fish in the Sea (GYP Book 2) — Soundtrack

v Our House — Madness
v  We Are Family — Sister Sledge
v  Livin’ On the Edge — Aerosmith
v  Lips of an Angel — Hinder
v  Ave Maria — Chris Cornell
v  I Want to be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart — LeeAnn Rimes
v  Enter Sandman — Metallica
v  Mama, I’m Comin’ Home — Ozzy Osbourne
v  How Great Is Our God — Chris Tomlin
v  Runnin’ With the Devil — Van Halen
v  Kickstart My Heart — Motley Crue
v  Bawitdaba — Kid Rock
v  I’m Still Here — Johnny Rzeznik
v  Lies — The Thompson Twins
v  Take Me Out to the Ballgame — The Goo Goo Dolls
v  Hells Bells — AC/DC
v  Don’t Fear the Reaper — Blue Oyster Cult
v  Rhinoceros — Smashing Pumpkins
v  Women — Def Leppard
v Girls On Film — Duran Duran
v  Girls, Girls, Girls — Motley Crue
v  Hot ‘N Cold — Katy Perry
v  Poundcake — Van Halen (Van Hagar)
v  Kryptonite — 3 Doors Down
v  The Good, The Bad, The Ugly — Ennio Morricone
v  Sex & Candy — Marcy Playground
v  Candy — Iggy Pop & Kate Pierson
v  Wherever I May Roam — Metallica
v  Sun King — The Cult
v  Leather & Lace — Stevie Nicks & Don Henley
v  My Heart Will Go On — Love Theme from Titanic
v  Dirty Little Secret — The All American Rejects
v  Classic Girl — Jane’s Addiction
v This Woman's Work — Kate Bush
v  Harder to Breathe — Maroon 5
v I Wanna to Kiss You All Over — Exile
v  Comfortably Numb — Pink Floyd
v  Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door — Guns ‘N Roses
v  Dancing Queen — ABBA
v  Relax — Frankie Goes to Hollywood
v  Cradle of Love — Billy Idol
v  U Can’t Touch This — MC Hammer
v  All Cried Out — Lisa Lisa & the Cult Jam
v Sweet Sixteen — Billy Idol

The Answer is SPRING

Hola to all of you adoring fans whose lives are made better by simply reading my work (Shhh... let me have this), I hope you all survived the holiday season and that the new year has been kind to you thus far! As for me and mine, 2013 has gotten off to a rocky start which I'm hoping isn't a sign of how the rest of the year will play out, because like I told a blogger friend of mine the other day, if this shit keeps up, I'm gonna have to bitch slap the fucking shit out of something. I'm sure you would all just love to hear my tale of woe, but alas, that's not the purpose of this post. The purpose of this post is to give you all as much of an answer/update as I can on the progress of The Other Fish in the Sea, book 2 in the Grab Your Pole Series.

I know I've mentioned it in and around the blogosphere, but since I've sorely neglected my blog, I figured I'd toss up a quick post here where the info won't get too buried by my other ramblings and general updates. So, in answer to when in the good lord above's name is book 2 going to be released, all I can tell you at this point is this spring. I wish I could be more specific, however that's the best I can do at the moment. TOFitS is still with a couple of beta readers who I really want to hear from before seriously getting into the nitty-gritty of the editing process, and from there, formatting needs to be done and cover art—my personal demon-monkey that lives in my nightmares—needs to be completed before I can even officially send out ARCs.

Oh and one other thing HAS to happen before I can publish The Other Fish in the Sea... Shark Bait needs its new cover art done.

Yes, that's right. Shark Bait is getting a facelift. It's been no secret that while it was fun in an adolescently cute way, I was never really in love with what I came up for cover art wise for Shark Bait. I'm also aware that many readers who absolutely adored SB initially passed on it based on the cover, so I've gone back to the drawing board, so to speak, and hopefully with the help of a talented and dear friend, we can give the books in the Grab Your Pole series a new look that will be more relatable to the story and the series as a whole while still maintaining a smidgeon of youthful innocence. I've heard and read countless reviews praise Shark Bait for its YA-ishness and humor, but the reality is, deep down these books are about coming of age and love, and we're all aware that love inherently lends itself to drama as does growing up. So, my goal is to have the covers represent that truth with a simplicity that isn't bogged down with anything that might misrepresent the story inside, if that makes sense. :-p We'll all have to wait and see if what is being developed accomplishes that goal or not. I'm praying it does, because I seriously don't think I can take another nightmare where cover art is hunting me down like a dog wanting to tear my throat out with its teeth. (<---No lie. I've had that nightmare. Twice.)

Also, before I publish book 2, I want to have book 3 as close to ready for release as humanly possible so that you guys don't have to wait another 6-9 months for it. You may all thank me for that whenever it pleases you, but I will ask that you keep in mind after you finish The Other Fish in the Sea, you don't have wait for what seems like forever for the next book with your only other option in the interim being plotting a very public and very painful death for me.

So, that's where we are, and for your understanding, patience, and endless support, I thank you.
You're the best. :-*

—Jenn

Hasta La Vista Real Life!! I'll Be Back... (Very Terminator-esque of me, huh?)

Okay folks, here's your advanced notice:

I'm going to wholeheartedly attempt to retreat into MY world and leave ours behind until I finish writing a large handfull of scenes in book 4 of the Grab Your Pole series which absolutely MUST be done before I can edit and publish book 2, The Other Fish in the Sea. For those who knew me pre-publishing, you all know what this means. For those who don't, well...it means I have to go off the grid and fully submerge myself in my stories and the characters to get any kind of decent

 writing done. So, if you need to reach me, phone and email is your best bet—in that order.

Also, like several other people, I haven't been getting all of my FB notifications or all of my PMs so if you've messaged me something and haven't heard back, that's why. Not only that, but my mobile Twitter notifications have been for the most part completely absent and I don't have the wherewithal at the moment to try to figure out what the issue is there. Basically, if you've tweeted or messaged me and/or need to get in touch with me, try calling/texting or emailing me instead.

Additionally, I have a horrifically bad memory and I'm easily shiny objected so if I've committed something to you, please feel free to pester me incessantly because if you don't remind me, chances are I'll completely forget. True story.

Email: contactjenncooksey@gmail.com and if you don't already have my cell and need it, email me at the above address!