Amy Kulp's Blog, page 14

Twitter

Hello everyone,

Twitter has been the biggest foreign concept to me, but I have finally joined! You can find my twitter name under the blue bird but can also click the twitter picture that is below.


​Twitter is unusual with the design for people to only post using only 280 characters. However, you can add GIFs, pictures, links, and videos to them. The most notable feature is that you can interact with other people in real-time. I am still getting the hang of Twitter. I find myself questioning what is worth tweeting over. So, what do you guys tweet about? Let me know down below!

​- Amy

Website Update - Current Reads

Hello everyone,

​I have been inspired by GoodReads to have a section on my website of what I'm currently reading. I feel like being part of an author is that you HAVE to love to read. How could you write without reading? They go hand-in-hand like cookies and milk! 

On my bio page, you should have to scroll a bit and see what my current reads are! There is the book that I am currently reading, just previously read, and the one that I plan to read next. These will always be changing but until school lets out, I will probably be reading at a much, much slower rate. 

I would keep my eyes peeled out for what I'm reading! Some of them may be from local authors around me, something I found at a garage sale, bought at Barnes & Noble, or donated to me. Some of them may be new books while others may be older than me! I will read anything that catches my eye.

Below is the first set of my books that are mentioned. What are your current reads? Should there be a book you want me to read? I am open to anything!

​- Amy
To-Be Read Currently Reading Previously Read

Book Giveaway - Missing

Hello everyone,

From the title of this blog post, you can see that Missing is having a giveaway! This is to celebrate the new book cover that was created and designed.
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: inline-block; color: #181818; background-color: #F6F6EE; border: 1px solid #9D8A78; border-radius: 3px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; outline: none; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px 12px; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { color: #181818; background-color: #F7F2ED; border: 1px solid #AFAFAF; text-decoration: none; }Goodreads Book Giveaway Missingby Amy Kulp

Giveaway ends April 30, 2023.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter GiveawayWho? Anyone with a GoodReads account and Kindle reader can enter. Ten lucky winners will get their version for free. It will automatically download to your Kindle.
​
What? A free Kindle copy of Missing will be given to ten lucky winners!

When? You can enter the Giveaway from April 1st-April 30th.

Where? You can enter through GoodReads!

Why? We're celebrating Missing's new book cover!
If you do not win, but are still interested in buying the book, comment down below and I can send you a 10% off coupon link! Tell me if you've entered!

​- Amy

Book Recommendations: Gallagher Girls

Hello everyone,

I wanted to step away from posting about all of the new social media accounts that I have and wanted to shed some light on books that I love. I want to try to post a new recommendation at least once a month. As an author, I still love to read! Reading is what started my passion for writing. I have a lot of emotions while reading and I want people to feel like that toward my books - whether it's anger, sadness, happiness, or annoyance. So I wanted to start with the FIRST book series that I ever read, loved, and continuously followed the author for. As a preteen and teenager, I would check constantly on this author's website for her blog posts and updates. I even met her TWICE at a book signing. This was my first time meeting her and I had my mom drive me about three hours away! We were the first people in line as well and I remember being so excited! I went through a phase of not wearing my glasses at that point but look how young I was - only 14!

​If you haven't guessed it already, this is Ally Carter. She is known mostly for her Gallagher Girl books! I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You - This is the starting book of the series where you get introduced to Cammie Morgan and the Gallagher Academy. She falls for an ordinary teenager named Josh. Eventually learning that she is a spy, Josh is given a tea so that he forgets this about Cammie. (I read this book out of order so I didn't read it until after the second book. I was CONFUSED).

Cross My Heart & Hope to Spy - I LOVE THIS BOOK. It is my favorite one - it follows Cammie and her friends when her school is partnering with a male school of spies. (We have a new love interest!)

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover - This focuses on Cammie's friend Macey and an organization that seems to be trying to kill her. (Some familiar people reappear in this book!)

Only the Good Spy Young - The book starts digging into Cammie's past and the realization that people are deadset on kidnapping her! Trust is broken and Cammie doesn't know who she can trust.

Out of Sight, Out of Time - Cammie wakes up with no memory! Her and the Gallagher girls must retrace Cammie's footsteps to try and figure out what happened. However, the circle is still on her trail and they are trying to prevent her from remembering what exactly had happened.

United We Spy - The last installment of the GG series focuses on Cammie and her friends trying to prevent the Circle from destroying them and their country!

MY OVERALL RATING: *****

I remember being so hooked on these. The second book I read all day and stayed up until three in the morning trying to read it all. There are twists and turns after every page and it is amazingly written. I was so into the fandom that I bought merch and continuously bought Ally's other series as well. In the end, my wildest dreams come true where a wedding takes place (although, it's not what you think!).

Have you ever read this series? If you have, what book was your favorite?  Let me down in the comments!

- Amy

TikTok

Hello everyone,

The next website/app/social media platform that I wanted to talk about was TikTok! My account has been around for quite some time and I know how addicting the app could be to other people. My username is authoramykulp. TikTok - TikTok is an app where people can show make, edit, and view videos that only last a couple of seconds. I have been a member on there for a such a long time but have only recently started posting about a year ago. I like to showcase my true personality on there by making jokes that I think are funny, advertise my books using viral sounds, and talk about my book recommendations on there. I have also done ASMR and created small playlists that I think would play during my book readings. I intend to post more frequently - maybe once a month so make sure to follow me! TikTok can be so addicting and as someone who can scroll on it for hours, I highly recommend the fun, high-energy videos. Make sure to follow me on there!

What are your favorite TikTok creators that I should start following? What are your favorite videos?

​- Amy

Missing's New Cover

Hello everyone,

I'm sure that some of you have noticed a little change on the website and multiple social media platforms. If you look at the home page or any page with Missing on it, you will see the change - there is a new cover! Most of the websites that sell my book have updated their product page already but it may take a little longer for others. Don't worry, if you buy a paperback now, you will get the version that has the updated cover.

​
As a reminder, this was Missing's old cover. This was self-made and I absolutely loved it! It had everything I envisioned for it - it looked like a missing poster and it was easy to read. However, it wasn't producing the results I wanted. Old Cover New Cover I hired Arley to help me market, Missing as I wasn't getting the results I wanted from sales. One of the suggestions was that I needed a new cover. At first, i was weery. The old cover was something I created. However, after multiple revisions and making sure I was happy, Arley and their team were able to produce the new cover. I instantly fell in love with it. While it does not resemble a missing poster anymore, my eyes are drawn to it and I am captivated - which is the entire point of a book cover!
So tell me what you think of the new cover! What are your favorite parts about it?

- Amy

GoodReads

Hello everyone,

I have joined another social media platform - GoodReads! Like many, I find new websites and social media platforms to be very intimidating. Also like many, I assume that they are all different variations of each other. While true, each social media website has it's own features and rewards. Down below, will be the link to my author page in case you want to follow me on there! I will also be listing the different reasons you may join if it is a new website to you! GoodReads - If you love to read, this is the book for you! The main purpose is for you to review books, see what books your friends like, and follow your favorite authors on there. My blog is linked to automatically update when I post something as well. You can see what I'm currently reading, what I'm planning to read, what I've read, and what I recommend. I am going to start blogging about what I recommend too! There is also options to answer Q&As - I answer roughly every other day. As an avid book lover, I am excited to see what other people may read or recommend. I usually don't read a book just because it is in at the moment, but absolutely love finding a book because I think it's interesting. Nothing worse than reader's block!

Do you have any book recommendations for me to start reading? How about any websites for me to join? 

​- Amy

Deleted Scenes - Missing

Hello everyone,
I wanted to give a little gift to everyone for having me nominated in Times Leader's Best of Best 2023 awards. I am incredibly grateful for being nominated and can't wait to see the winners. Voting ended the 24th and as a token of my appreciation, I wanted to share a deleted scene that didn't make it to the final draft of Missing. 

Originally chapter ten was much longer! Mr. Barnett and Emily had a much longer discussion in their office. Mostly about her future in college and her indecisiveness of a future college. While I loved this scene, it was cut because that wasn't the main focus of this book. I originally had it in there because I wanted Emily to have a future to have plans, but unfortunately, didn't get to participate in it. The little excerpt will be down below and please note that formatting is changed so that it makes it easier to read.



Spoilers Ahead! "Are you done taking inventory?" he asked me. I made sure to whirl my eyes around the room once more. I nodded my head with significant force and turned forward to meet his eyes. "I have four things that I want to talk to you about." He held up his fingers like I didn't know how to count and waited until I shook my head before finding a notepad and jotting notes down. "Let me list them off and then I'll go through it in more detail with you." He paused but looked down at what he had written before looking back up. "Your attendance in class, how you are doing since you have been out, your future goals, and concerns I have." I eyed him but nodded anyway. "So first up, your attendance. Why weren't you in class?" He stared at me and I felt myself stuttering. Any excuse that I could come up with was bubbling up and down my throat, but nothing wanted to come out. "I want the truth," he warned. I just shrugged my shoulders and listened to him sigh. It sounded like the disapproval all adults had when you didn't do exactly what they wanted.

Was I going to lie? Would he know if I'm lying? Before today I had never seen him face-to-face, so if my poker face is good, I might be able to fool him. I contemplated whether I wanted to lie or not, but it was hard to choose. What did I have to lose? Technically, he was a counselor and he was not able to tell anyone anything outside of our meeting. At least I think so. He didn't say the mantra, but I was assuming. I looked up at him and he must have been staring at me while I was thinking because he shifted his eyes back down to his paper.

"Is it confidential?" I asked. That probably made me seem even guiltier than I was, but I had to cover my bases. I didn't want my family to know that I was in his office. They would think that something tragic is happening at school and then they would want to get involved. All accusations would fall onto Chad. Technically, he was the cause of all of this, but I didn't want to admit it. I waited for Mr. Barnett's response and he shook his head yes when I needed him to. I breathed a sigh of relief and slumped in my chair. Was I going to tell him the truth? Probably not. However, it gave me a sense of relaxation knowing that nobody would know of this conversation except us. "I was in the bathroom," I lied. I felt my cheeks beginning to turn a tint of red and cleared my throat. "When you're caught off guard..." I drawled to see if he would understand where I was going, but he stared at me blankly. I cleared my throat again and finished my statement, whispering it to add effect to what I was saying. "I didn't have any pads." It seemed to work because Mr. Barnett immediately cleared his throat, straightened his back, and his lips pursed.

"Well, how did you get one?" he asked. His eyebrows arched and I could clearly tell that he did not want to continue this conversation. He shifted his eyes to the notebook and sighed. "Next time, just try to be prepared." I nodded my head and he made a motion of a check mark being ticked off of the checklist. "How are you doing back in school?" he whispered. He looked up at me with a pleasant smile on his face. He knew that I heard the question so he did not need to repeat himself.

"I'm working my body to regain my physical strength."

I paused. Mr. Barnett just sat up from his chair a little to look my body over. It sent chills down my spine and made me shiver. I grabbed my bag and immediately pulled it over my body. I tried to not make it obvious, but I'm not sure how I couldn't. I'm sure seeing me snuggling a huge backpack couldn't have looked comfortable.

"What about mentally and socially?" he asked as he cleared his throat. I scrunched my eyebrows at his question.

It made me think. How was I socially and mentally? Before I left, I didn't have any friends. Now that I'm back, I have Bri. Before I left, my relationship with Chad was strained. Now that I'm back, I've been hit and rumors are being spread about us, but it feels like brand new love. The notes were also new. Did they impact me socially? I felt like I couldn't speak out without someone hearing about it and going to my locker. I also didn't understand what the person had to gain from me getting these notes. Like yes, it's making me more self-conscious, but that's it. I'm not crying and going off to feel bad for myself. They're notes.

"I have more friends than I ever had before." I look up and smile. It felt genuine too.

"Oh, who are they?" he asked.

"The co-captain of the soccer team, Bri." His eyes arched and he seemed interested in what I had to say about her. "You would think it's weird that we are friends."

"Why's that?"

"Well," I stuttered. I looked at him and was slightly confused. What does he mean? "We're both the co-captains, you would think we would be competing against each other."

"Not everyone in the sport wants it to be their career," he mentioned. I looked at him and frowned a bit. I felt like he wasn't approving of what my goals were. Then again, how would he know? "This brings me to our next topic." He got out of his seat and grabbed a stack of papers off his desk, sitting down in the chair next to me. "Your future goals." He paused and when I was going to open my mouth to talk, he shut me down. "You have wanted to be the same thing since you were in seventh grade." He motioned towards his lap and I saw that the papers were a bunch of letters I had written to myself. I blushed because I had never realized those assignments would be kept for future me to see. "An Olympic soccer player." I nodded my head and he looked up at me through his glasses. He gently reached over and placed his hand on my knee. I felt my body melt under the touch. "I think that it is about time for you to grow up." Immediately I perked up and moved my knee out of the way. His hand came along with it and I felt a sudden urgency to run. "There is barely any chance that you will make it with soccer in college." He retracted his hand, but it didn't comfort me at all. "Have you applied to any colleges yet?" I shook my head no and kept my guard up. Whenever he moved, my eyes went to whatever body part was moving. "Most applications are due in a month." I nodded my head. I knew where I was applying, I just hadn't applied yet. "I've noticed in your records that you haven't used your free campus tour slip." I didn't say anything. "We are getting a little group together to help tour some campuses and I think you would greatly benefit.”

He got up and I felt myself shrink in my seat. He went back over to his desk and got papers from a drawer. He handed me them and I briefly looked at them. It read about a campus tour and how I would be responsible for getting my school work the day before. I shook my head and just gently put it inside my book bag. I hesitated before I put the bag on the ground because it seemed as though he was staying over on his side of the desk. I breathed a sigh of relief for a second before he jumped into his next subject.

I listened to the bell ring from outside of his room and he hesitated a moment. He lifted a finger to signal me to wait and clicked the keys on his computer. He turned his attention to his phone before calling my teacher and telling them that I would not be there for class today. He said I was excused, and as I glanced at the clock on the wall, I noticed that this was my last period. I felt relieved and the weight instantly dropped from my shoulders. I knew that everyone would want to know what I and the guidance counselor were talking about.

​"Now," he said as the final bell rang. I wasn't sure if he was patiently waiting for the bell or if he was waiting for me to stop daydreaming. Either way, he grabbed my attention and I forced myself to refocus on what he was saying. "There have been rumors going around the school." He paused strategically and I felt myself shift in my seat. What rumors was he talking about? "I have to get involved because another student has brought them to my attention." I stared at him innocently. I felt like every pause he did was purposeful. Maybe he wanted me to spill my guts and then I would accidentally spill the wrong secrets. "We need to talk about how lies can hurt people and their reputation." My eyebrows instantly sunk down in confusion, but I tried to keep my face still and emotionless. "There have been rumors that you have been telling people that Chad hit you."
Just a little inside knowledge of what could have been in the book! Do you think that this excerpt changes anything? Do you think this makes Mr. Barnett seem more humane? Tell me down below!

​- Amy

Thank You - Nominations

Hello everyone,

Just a reminder that YOU can vote for me for the Times Leader's Best of Best 2023 Awards! Directions on how to vote for me are on the "News & Events" page and also the last blog post!
I would just like to thank everyone who had originally nominated me for this category. I would also like to thank everyone who is currently voting for me. It would mean so much to me to win this title against those in my area. Being nominated is such a huge honor as this can open up the doorway for more people to read my books. While I love the little family I have that reads my books, I would love for it to expand and welcome others into our welcoming community!

Thank you to everyone, it means so much to me.
​- Amy

Times Leader's Best of the Best 2023

Hello everyone,

I know it's been forever since I last wrote a blog post (since November!). I have been super busy with teaching and advertising Missing. While I have been gone, I have been constantly revamping Missing and am excited to say that is now has a new back cover blurb and will soon get a new cover! I am so excited for everyone to see it. Do you have any guesses on what it might look like? Let me know what you think it could possibly look like!

In other news, I have been nominated for the Times Leader's Best of the Best 2023 awards! There was a nomination round that took place in January and now until February 24th. If you click the picture to the left, it'll send you to the website.
Here's how to vote for me:Click on the picture above - it'll send you directly to the website.Click "Arts & Entertainment".Scroll down until you find "Literary Writer".Vote for me! If you have never voted before, you will need to enter your email, phone number, date of birth, zip code, and gender. If you have voted before, you will just need to enter your email if you are not already logged in. You can vote daily.
Thank you to everyone who voted for me! Let me know in the comments what you think the new cover to Missing will look like!
​- Amy