MARY
ELIZABETH
Author
Bio
Mary Elizabeth is an up and coming author who
finds words in chaos, writing stories about the skeletons hanging in your
closets. Known as The Realist, she is one half of The Elizabeths—a duo brave
enough to never hide the truth. Her anticipated co-written debut novel, Innocents (Dusty #1), will be released
July 14, 2014. Inspired by the broken lyrics of a single song and the idea that
monsters have softer sides, “Dusty” was originally posted for free and had been
read over a million and a half times. Working day and night, she hopes that the
published edition will be just as loved.
Mary was born and raised in Southern California. She is a wife, mother of four beautiful children, and dog tamer to one enthusiastic Pit Bull and a prissy Chihuahua. She’s a hairstylist by day but contemporary fiction, new adult author by night. Mary can often be found finger twirling her hair and chewing on a stick of licorice while writing and rewriting a sentence over and over until it’s perfect. She discovered her talent for tale-telling accidentally, but literature is in her chokehold. And she’s not letting go until every story is told.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.”—Jeremiah 17:9
Links
Novels
Innocents
(Dusty #1)
The girl with an innocent heart knows all about
bad choices, but has yet to make them for herself. Searching for freedom, she
finds it in the delinquent down the hall.
The troublemaker with summer-sky blue eyes knows he should stay away but can’t resist the blissful wonder who makes his house a home.
She’s a hopeless romantic. He’s just hopeless.
She’s his reason, but he might not catch her when she falls.
She loves him. He loves her crazy.
This is what happens when a love made of secrets is kept with rules instead of promises.
The troublemaker with summer-sky blue eyes knows he should stay away but can’t resist the blissful wonder who makes his house a home.
She’s a hopeless romantic. He’s just hopeless.
She’s his reason, but he might not catch her when she falls.
She loves him. He loves her crazy.
This is what happens when a love made of secrets is kept with rules instead of promises.
Available
7/14/14
Low
Branded:
A Bad Boys Anthology
B.L. Wilde, Jeanne McDonald, Jo Matthews, Mary Elizabeth, and
Sarah Elizabeth give us five good reasons why good girls love bad boys. The men
of Branded are sexy, adventurous, and troubled deep into their souls. There may
be no redeeming them, but at the risk of losing everything, these good girls
must decide if loving their bad boy is indeed worth the cost.
Available 8/23/2014
Delinquents
(Dusty #2)
Available
10/23/2014
Closer
Available
2015
Excerpts
Thomas
leans down and kisses the side of my throat, running his hand up the back of my
white dress. He tugs the hair at the nape of my neck. “What did you do while I
was gone?” he asks, his voice calm as tension rolls through him.
I
laugh sorrowfully in his arms. “You mean, who was I with when you took off for
over a month?”
Thomas
groans in my ear, pulling my hair a little harder. He tightens his fingers into
a fist and presses his nose to my jaw. “I swear to God.” He breathes. “I’ll
kill him.”
I
grip onto his arm and dig my nails into his skin. The bricks stacked higher
every night he was gone, and like that, I crumble.
“No
one,” I say, moving my hand underneath his chin. Forcing him to look at me, I
hold Thomas by his face.
This
isn’t the boy I grew up loving; this is a man who brings me along for his ride.
“Because
I love you.” I refuse to allow fear into my voice. “Because I love you, nobody
else will ever touch me. Even though you are constantly touched.”
He
closes his eyes, shaking his head with a small smirk. We’re still pressed near.
I can feel his words on my skin. “I haven’t been with anyone.”
My
heart cracks, and I hate him for this.
His
eyes open, and I miss blue.
Thomas’
grip on my hair loosens, but he gathers me completely to his chest. I’m held
until everything I’ve heard and felt, wondered and worried, decided and became
in his absence, dissipates. He holds me until there is nothing between us but
my dress and his shirt.
Love
is fucked-up, but love is all there is.
Thomas
flattens his right hand against the small of my back, pressing and keeping me
close. He drags his nose slowly up the side of mine and kisses my top lip.
“Come
with me,” he whispers.
I
breathe in his words, and when I exhale my reply, it’s easy.
“Okay,”
I say.
And it doesn’t feel a thing like falling.
There’s a choice to make.
I
can shelter my mother and little sister for another month, or I can fill the
refrigerator with food. White skinned in a mostly black neighborhood, bordered
by LA’s dirtiest gang bangers and junkies, living homeless on the streets of
Inglewood isn’t an option for my girls; they’re narrowly sheltered from
drive-bys and police beatings in the piece of shit house we rent as it is.
With
a half-gallon of milk, some frozen burritos, and a pack of Ramen noodles, Mom
and Ginny won’t starve in the week until the food stamp card rebalances.
Turning over every dime I’ve made, mowing lawns and trimming hedges in the last
month, to the impatient landlord is a simple decision.
But
I’m hungry, and I don’t want an icy bean and cheese burrito.
“Take
the hood off.”
The
bell above the swing door jingles as I pass under. Dimly lit by the dusty
florescent lights above, the air is thick with the scent of lavender incense and
stale tobacco. An older man with dark brown skin and dark black hair eyes me
suspiciously under bushy eyebrows from behind the counter.
I
do as he requests and push back my hood, exposing my entire face and a head of
sweat-sticky blond hair.
“Sorry,”
I mumble, keeping my head down to avoid eye contact.
The
bottom of my worn tennis shoes stick to the tacky linoleum floor. A fly buzzes
past my sunburned ear, sending chills down my right arm. I swat at the hovering
insect as a bead of warm sweat dips down the back of my overheated neck.
“What
are you looking for?” the store clerk asks in a thick Mexican accent. A TV on
his side of the counter blares some sports game; he turns it down.
“Nothing,
man,” I say as I walk down a food aisle.
“We
close in two minutes. Hurry up and get what you need.” The volume goes back up.
Bullshit,
I think to myself. It’s summertime, not much past eight o’clock in South
Central. This joint will be open all night to serve the whores and hustlers who
occupy every corner down Manchester.
Even
crooks get thirsty.
Reviews for Innocents (Dusty #1)
Kellie- Eye Candy Bookstore- 5 stars
I loved it beyond measure. The kids are 12 and 14 when this story begins and 15 and 17 when it ends so it is by no means full of erotic sex and adult behaviors, but the relationships, the fighting inner demons, the finding their own independence, the coming into their own- knowing who they are and what they want....so real, so true to life, so scary to witness if you have teenagers (LOL!) but so very bad ass. One of the best books I have ever read.
Dusty and Bliss are two of the very best characters I have ever read in a book. Promises have been made to the authors that we would not spoil the book for you so you aren't getting much outta me, but you will not read this and not love it. If you do, I don't know what the hell is wrong with you. Lol! You will love Bekka too- that chick is batty but awesome and someone every girl wishes they had as a best friend. She's the banana Popsicle and smashed chocolate cake to Bliss and I just adored her.
I cannot wait for part two, Dusty has some inner demons to battle, but I have high hopes for the ending, as it just HAS to play out like I want it to. ;) Highly recommend and five stars is not even enough to cover how much I adored this book. <3 kellie="" span="">
Dusty and Bliss are two of the very best characters I have ever read in a book. Promises have been made to the authors that we would not spoil the book for you so you aren't getting much outta me, but you will not read this and not love it. If you do, I don't know what the hell is wrong with you. Lol! You will love Bekka too- that chick is batty but awesome and someone every girl wishes they had as a best friend. She's the banana Popsicle and smashed chocolate cake to Bliss and I just adored her.
I cannot wait for part two, Dusty has some inner demons to battle, but I have high hopes for the ending, as it just HAS to play out like I want it to. ;) Highly recommend and five stars is not even enough to cover how much I adored this book. <3 kellie="" span="">
Kelly (Perusing Princesses)'s review
Jun 28, 14
5 of 5 stars
Read on June 28, 2014
This book is everything I imagined it would be, and more. A deep
portrayal of those first real life experiences that all play a pivotal part and
shape who we become. A tale of friendship, family, love, innocence, confusion,
bad choices, heartache and everything else in-between.
Dusty Innocents is that step back in time, as we experience all those firsts all over again in the voice of a young girl and an adolescent boy, whom due to a three year age gap hide the escalating feelings they hold for one another. Hormonal, confused and scared, the effects of keeping a secret so tight lead to both characters taking different paths that ultimately still lead back to each other. A fork in the road, one that is selfless and forgiving, the other destructive and dangerous.
Bliss and Dusty are opposites, yet two sides of the same coin. Love is beautiful as much as it is painful and for these two kids, it is certainly never going to be easy.
A beautifully written and deeply compelling story that will have you turning the pages well into the night. A must read!!!
Dusty Innocents is that step back in time, as we experience all those firsts all over again in the voice of a young girl and an adolescent boy, whom due to a three year age gap hide the escalating feelings they hold for one another. Hormonal, confused and scared, the effects of keeping a secret so tight lead to both characters taking different paths that ultimately still lead back to each other. A fork in the road, one that is selfless and forgiving, the other destructive and dangerous.
Bliss and Dusty are opposites, yet two sides of the same coin. Love is beautiful as much as it is painful and for these two kids, it is certainly never going to be easy.
A beautifully written and deeply compelling story that will have you turning the pages well into the night. A must read!!!
Elizabeth (Perusing Princesses)'s review
Jun 29, 14
5 of 5 stars
Read on June 29, 2014
My dear God! This book is just... It's just... Raw, and
emotional... And soooooo intense. It's painfully sweet and rash and
heartbreakingly beautiful... I loved this... I cannot wait for the next book...
Elizabeth
Todd's
review
Dec 05, 13
5 of 5 stars
I can't even begin to explain what this story means to me. This
story is my childhood, my teenage-hood, and my new found adulthood. I've never
felt so strongly about a book before, ever. Innocents being published is going
to be one of the best things that happens to me in my life, to love a story
this much and to see the authors work so hard to make it a reality is truly
something so inspiring that it'll bring you to tears. When I first read this
fan fiction, it left me absolutely starry-eyed, I had never cried so hard in my
life. Bliss is my inner goddess and I feel like I relate to her so well, and
the imagery that the authors create for you will literally feel surreal and
you'll find yourself experiencing so many ranges of emotions, you'll be
experiencing love through a someone else's mind; It hits you so hard with waves
of nostalgia, you'll feel like you'll explode. I have never been so passionate
about virtually anything. Dusty was written for me, Dusty was written so
everyone could read and understand how precious growing up is, Dusty was
written so everyone would understand that Love can easily break you just as
much as it can make you feel amazing. I will forever love Dusty, and all that's
it about. Most beautiful writing I've ever experienced and my utmost respect to
The Elizabeths.
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
Brittany
Rochelle's
review
Jun 28, 14
5 of 5 stars
Read from June 27 to 28, 2014
WOW! WOW! WOW! My mind is blown. I have no words. The writing is
beautiful. The story is heart-breaking and brilliant and real. ALL THE FEELS!
I'm speechless and I have no clue how the crap I am going to write a full
review of this for the blog tour. My heart fucking hurts. It has never hurt
this much and I've read my fair share of emotional books.
Dear Mary,
As you're writing this,
you're two weeks away from the release date of your very first book. You—the
girl who's always done everything a little backward and a little wrong. You—the
one who has had the odds against you. You—an introvert with next to zero social
skills.
You.
You're tired, anxious,
overwhelmed, and scared, but you're also unbelievably proud of what you've
managed to accomplish despite the difficulty. It's hard for you to believe
you've contributed to the literary world, and the literary world seems to
embrace you.
You.
This time last year,
publishing was a goal, just not one within reach. But second chances happen,
and when you got yours, you took it and ran. Your dream coming true, more
brilliant than you ever imagined, is what pushes you to work through your
anxiety and fear. Looking into the faces of your family members who have more
belief in you than you have in yourself, allows you to feel safe despite how
frightened you are.
There are people all
over the world who anxiously wait for what you have to offer, but they take the
load off by promoting and encouraging and supporting you. Their help makes
things a little less overwhelming.
Your nails are bitten
down. You're pulling your hair out at a too-steady pace. Your head is pounding.
The kitchen is a mess, you haven't taken a shower today, and all you want to do
is go to bed ... but your heart is threaded and weaved through Dusty. So even
though your knees ache, your house is a mess, and you really need to wash your
hair, you stay in front of your computer in order to make your heart beat
strong.
Successful or not, on
July 14th, you will have done everything in your power to make your words, your
characters, and your story known. You'll go to bed the night of July 14th and
sleep well, accomplished. And then you'll wake up on July 15th and start the
next book.
That's your deal.
Sincerely,
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