Goals: 2014-2015

As a productive person who aims for continuous growth in every area of my life, I find "listing goals" to be important. I've had this running list of hopes in my mind but I decided to write them down on here. List them! Let you guys hold me accountable for them. You will, right?! Now, this list is pretty short in size but it's huge in element. I'm homeschooling both of my children, caring for my family pretty much alone since my husband is in the Air Force and constantly busy, traveling back and forth from Oklahoma to Alaska a lot, and trying to reach these goals while writing. So, hang with me, but these are the things I would absolutely love to make happen in 2014/2015 with my career.

• Attend my first signing event... and then a few more 
• Write enough/Sell enough/Earn enough that writing can be considered my lifetime "career" with no threat of having to return to my day job
• Publish at least four novels per year until I can no longer type
• Make Amazon Top 100... and every other bestseller's list known to mankind. 
• Earn enough money to pay my husband's truck off and then buy a stylin' new ride of my own
• Find a literary agent who understands my goals, dreams and hopes who can actively help me pursue those aforementioned desires. The sky is the limit, but I can't keep jumping and hoping to eventually reach it. I need an airplane. Er, well, a really hardcore, awesome, killer,  literary agent.
• Have the previously mentioned amazing literary agent hook me up with a traditional publisher who makes me feel like I'm Rose from Titanic where she's on the front of the boat with Jack holding her up as the wind blows through her hair and the ocean roars underneath her. She feels like she's on the top of the world in that moment and that she's capable of rising above the expectations being placed on her. Yeah. That sounds nice...

Side Note: I know, I know... A lot of writers don't particularly want to go the traditional publishing route anymore but for as long as I've been writing, I've dreamed of this amazing Big 5 contract with movie deals and the whole nine yards. Perhaps that's not for me, but I'll never know unless I at least try it. I love self-publishing, so it's certainly no problem if that doesn't ever happen for me, but I don't think I'll ever feel satisfied until I've made it happen. If it doesn't work out as well as I hope for it to, then I can keep self-publishing. No harm done. 

Now, I want to hear your goals. If you're reading this, I'm talking to you! So, tell me... Tell me what makes you happy. I want to know what your "dream" is. If you could choose any career in the whole world with nothing stopping you (money, education, location...) what would it be? Tell me! Then, tell me what you're doing to work toward it this year. Let's hold each other accountable. Let's help each other reach our goals and see results. My dream is to be a successful author. I want a career in writing. The goals listed above are stepping stones to making my dreams a reality and I'm determined to make it happen but I don't want to be the only one. Walk this path with me. Let me know what you're dreaming for and working toward. <3

--Brittany Jo James

The Rebels: Synopsis!

Hey loves!

I finished writing my first commercial fiction thriller last week and I love it more than anything else I've ever written. I've had a lot of people ask me, "When will The Rebels be published?" and the truth is... I have no idea! If I decide to self-publish it (as I've done with my other three novels) then probably sometime during the summer of 2014. Why so long from now? Well, because my dream to be an author has always pulled me toward the traditional publishing route. I've truly enjoyed self-publishing and there are so many benefits to just doing it all on my own, but I can't stop dreaming about traditional publishing. I just want to see if The Rebels has any potential to be represented by a literary agent and taken the traditional publishing route. So, before I go ahead and self-publish it, I want to at least try to find a literary agent who will represent me on my trade-pub goal. Regardless, I can't wait to share the synopsis with everyone! Let me know what you think! Here it is:

Nobody ever said it would be fair or easy- but when life as we know it is ripped away, the people must choose between a life of injustice or become rebels of the nation we love.

Laws are strict, money is tight, jobs are scarce, and happiness is only reserved for the upper class in the United States of America. Temper Jensen can attest to that. As an Air Force wife who spends most of her time working for hardly more than minimum wage and never finding time to spend with her husband, Temper doesn’t see how her young life can become more unfortunate.

Everyone is so busy working to make ends meet that no one realizes what’s happening in the White House until it’s too late. When Temper wakes up to find that the president of the country is nothing more than a domestic terrorist bent on total domination, she has to make a decision. Should she obey the laws compliantly, or should she stand up for the principles that our beloved nation was founded upon?

Temper knows what she must do, even though it means being separated from her husband, Voss. Risking everything, she runs back to her moonshine-brewing anarchist daddy’s home in southwest Arkansas to be with her religious mama and womanizing brother to collect a congregation of rebels to fight in the revolution. No one can be trusted, especially Temper’s devious ex-boyfriend who won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. Killing and stealing to survive is second nature, and Temper must somehow find the power to reclaim the United States of America.

Can Temper reunite with her husband, keep her wayward family out of trouble, and restore the USA to the nation under God that it was intended to be with the help of the rebels?

A Pirate Princess is on SALE!

A Pirate Princess is on SALE for this week ONLY! $0.99! Get your copy now... <3


http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Princess-Brittany-Jo-James-ebook/dp/B00HUFUDUK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392097370&sr=8-1&keywords=brittany+jo+james

Blog Tour Giveaway for A Pirate Princess

In honor of the Blog Tour for A Pirate Princess, I'm holding an awesome Giveaway! There are signed paperbacks, ebooks, bookmarks, assorted swag, gift cards and more. Enter to win!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/OTQ3ZjAwNGI0OGFjMzgyZTlkNzBhMDM0NGZhYzZmOjc=/

Also, have you read A Pirate Princess yet?! If so, please leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. I want to know what YOU think. 

http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Princess-Brittany-Jo-James-ebook/dp/B00HUFUDUK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391022507&sr=8-1&keywords=brittany+jo+james

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19509711-a-pirate-princess

Teaser Tuesday: "The Rebels"

Woohoo for Teaser Tuesday!!

This is a few pages from my current work in progress, "The Rebels." I actually hope to query a few literary agents about this one before taking the plunge and self-publishing it, so don't expect it out in print right away. It'll probably be later this year (summer time frame) if I do decide to self-pub. "The Rebels" is a New Adult Contemporary full of action and adventure, plus a little romance. As of now, this is unedited and subject to change, so don't judge it to harshly! Let me know what you think about it!

I thought about Daddy and instantly one of our arguments came to mind. “You’re making a mistake leaving this town, girl. Ain’t nothing out there but crooks. I need you here to help with the family business. Why can’t you just go to college in town like your brother did?”

“Daddy, that’s a vocational college. I don’t want to learn to weld,” I mumbled, packing my bags.

“What’s wrong with welding? Hell, you could get a job at the steel mill right across town and make good money. Besides, you’d be close and could help me with the moonshine business. Do you know how busy I’ll be when I don’t have you making our runs?”

“I don’t want to run moonshine, Daddy. I want to be a psychologist. I want to help people.”

“Who says my White Lightning don’t help people?” He grumbled, obviously offended.

I rolled my green eyes, “Daddy…”

“And you want to be a shrink? That would probably take like twenty years of school. I can’t have you gone that long. I know a man who can print you up a real nice license that will look genuine and never get you caught. You could start charging money for advice tomorrow,” he said seriously as he picked up the phone to dial.

“No, no, no!” I shrieked, yanking the phone from his fingers. “Daddy, I’m going to college whether you like it or not. I’ll only be an hour from home.”

Daddy scrunched his eyebrows up, “Is that Voss Jensen boy going to be there? Is that what this is all about? You know, I talked to Sutton Sorenson’s grandpa at the hardware store yesterday and he said that Sutton took a job at the mill.”

I took a deep breath, putting my hands on my hips as I answered. “Yes, he’ll be there. No, he’s not what this is about. And for the last time, I couldn’t care less what Sutton Sorenson does. I’m not dating him anymore and I won’t ever be again. That ship has sailed, Daddy. Anyway, once I graduate I can even afford to buy you a new fishing boat. How does that sound?”

“Your sweet talk ain’t changing my mind about all of this, Temper. What if you get up there and have an emergency? How could I get to you? Have you thought of that?” He questioned, his voice growing louder. Daddy reached up and tucked a stray string of my wayward blond hair behind my ear lovingly and then crossed his chest with his arms.

“Oh! Listen to yourself. I’ll be an hour away. One hour! I’ll be home every weekend. Besides, I can take care of myself. You taught me how to handle things on my own,” I reminded him. Daddy trained me from the time I was born to be tough, strong, unshakeable, unbreakable. He taught me to fight. He taught me to survive.

“I don’t know, Temper. I just don’t think you should go,” he grumbled as he walked out of my room.

Daddy was the one who named me. Mama wanted to call me something popular from a giant book of assorted baby names. I think she was settled on Courtney or Bethany, something like that. Daddy wanted something unique instead, something unheard of. Once I was born he told everyone in the room that I wasn’t meant for a normal name. I needed something special, something different. He supposedly said, “Look in her eyes. You can tell she has a temper! That’s what we’ll call her. My little Temper.” I would have much preferred Courtney or Bethany.

My name was a joke from the beginning though. Everyone in school called me Timid Temper, because I was sweet and shy, far from being the spitfire my daddy wanted. “I don’t care what anyone says,” he always argued. “I can see it in her eyes. She’s got something bold and stubborn about her. Yep, she’s got a temper, alright.”

I gave up trying to convince Daddy that I should leave town and go to college. I just waved goodbye from the rearview mirror. That was four years ago, before I went to college with Voss. He and I were married only a year later. Daddy wasn’t fond of that choice either.

When the economy crashed, Voss joined the United States Air Force. It didn’t take me long to find out that a bachelor’s degree in psychology amounts to little but costs a lot. Voss never graduated from college. The Air Force recruiter promised he could continue his education to get him to join but that was just a trick we shouldn’t have fallen for.

Thinking about our lifelong journey that would surely be full of struggle, lack, exhaustive work and little enjoyment must have been depressing enough to put me to sleep because my eyes fluttered closed.

A few hours later, I woke up to the sound of my world crashing around me. I’m sure the first day of the crisis was different for everyone, but for me it all started with a twenty second phone call.

Release Day: A Pirate Princess is LIVE!!

It's finally here! Today is the big release day for A Pirate Princess! I'm so excited to share this one with you all. I would feel so honored if you would read it then leave me a review and let me know what you think. I'm dying for feedback and I can't wait to hear your opinion. Add it to your to-be-read list on Goodreads, as well. Check out the back-cover summary and then scroll to the bottom for the Amazon link! Thanks loves. 

The only thing a pirate desires more than his ship is his treasure and the crew of The Beloved Loss holds the most valuable jewel on the sea… their pirate princess.  

Enchanting and spirited Corisanda St. Aubin has been a prisoner aboard The Beloved Loss since she was born. Cori’s dream of escape has been crushed countless times by her father, the heartless Captain Marin St. Aubin. She’s accustomed to her father’s hatred but nothing can prepare Cori for the malicious quartermaster, Falco de Vries, who schemes to marry her.

The Count of Calais and sea trader, Burke Belcourt, has been trapped by a malevolent woman’s demand for marriage. In an attempt to prolong his wedding, Burke agrees to bring the pirate captain of The Beloved Loss to justice for the King of France. He soon discovers that Marin is no easy target… but not until he finds himself locked aboard with the beautiful pirate princess.

Cori and Burke are prepared to defeat all their enemies together in order to escape but the only thing they cannot seem to overcome is their unwanted yet undeniable feelings for each other. 

Here's the link for Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Princess-Brittany-Jo-James-ebook/dp/B00HUFUDUK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1389713599&sr=8-4&keywords=brittany+jo+james

A Pirate Princess: Cover Reveal

Cover Reveal!!

A Pirate Princess
By: Brittany Jo James 
(Release Date: January 14, 2014)
The only thing a pirate desires more than his ship is his treasure and the crew of The Beloved Loss holds the most valuable jewel on the sea… their pirate princess.

Enchanting and spirited Corisanda St. Aubin has been a prisoner aboard The Beloved Loss since she was born. Cori’s dream of escape has been crushed countless times by her father, the heartless Captain Marin St. Aubin. She’s accustomed to her father’s hatred but nothing can prepare Cori for the malicious quartermaster, Falco de Vries, who schemes to marry her.

The Count of Calais and sea trader, Burke Belcourt, has been trapped by a malevolent woman’s demand for marriage. In an attempt to prolong his wedding, Burke agrees to bring the pirate captain of The Beloved Loss to justice for the King of France. He soon discovers that Marin is no easy target… but not until he finds himself locked aboard with the beautiful pirate princess.

Cori and Burke are prepared to defeat all their enemies together in order to escape but the only thing they cannot seem to overcome is their unwanted yet undeniable feelings for each other.

A Pirate Princess: Goodreads Link