Seven Steps's Blog, page 3
June 25, 2018
New Cover. New Blurb. New Sale.
New Cover. New Blurb. New Sale.Hey guys! Chasing Mermaids has a new cover and blurb. In honor of that, I am dropping the price from 5.99 to .99 this week only. If you haven't already, get your copy of Chasing Mermaids for only .99 until June 30th, 2018. Don't forget to buy your copy today!
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Mermaids-Marys-Academy-Book-ebook/dp/B076Z4MDFM/
CHASING MERMAIDS
A hot ex-boyfriend. A determined swim star. And a battle of wills that will make you laugh, cry and cheer.
Ariel Swimworthy thought her life was perfect. She was the new captain of her school's swim team, she had a new best friend, and even a shiny new crush to dream about.
And then her father pulled her off the team to join a boring business academy.
Now, the only way to swim again is to accept the help of her ex-boyfriend, Eric Shipman. Eric shredded Ariel's heart when he lied to her, and she's determined not to get back with him. But its hard to be around someone who knows your deepest, darkest secrets. Even harder when that someone will do anything to win you back.
When sparks start flying, and old flames start igniting, what will Ariel do? Follow her dream or protect her heart at all cost? Its a battle of wills and hearts are on the line in this romantic, young adult contemporary romance. Buy it now.
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Mermaids-Marys-Academy-Book-ebook/dp/B076Z4MDFM/
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Mermaids-Marys-Academy-Book-ebook/dp/B076Z4MDFM/
CHASING MERMAIDS
A hot ex-boyfriend. A determined swim star. And a battle of wills that will make you laugh, cry and cheer.
Ariel Swimworthy thought her life was perfect. She was the new captain of her school's swim team, she had a new best friend, and even a shiny new crush to dream about.
And then her father pulled her off the team to join a boring business academy.
Now, the only way to swim again is to accept the help of her ex-boyfriend, Eric Shipman. Eric shredded Ariel's heart when he lied to her, and she's determined not to get back with him. But its hard to be around someone who knows your deepest, darkest secrets. Even harder when that someone will do anything to win you back.
When sparks start flying, and old flames start igniting, what will Ariel do? Follow her dream or protect her heart at all cost? Its a battle of wills and hearts are on the line in this romantic, young adult contemporary romance. Buy it now.
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Mermaids-Marys-Academy-Book-ebook/dp/B076Z4MDFM/
April 9, 2018
Sneak Peek of The Secret Lives of Princesses
Sneak Peek of The Secret Lives of Princesses
Hey gang!
I'm popping in to show you what I've been working on lately. Here's a sneak peek of The Secret Lives of Princesses, book 3 in the St. Mary's Academy series. This is Princess Jasmine's story, and it releases in June. It's also available for pre-order. Check it out:
I was late.
The Winter Formal started two hours ago, and I was late.
Breathless, I jumped in my red Maserati, a Christmas present from my dad, and sped through the moonlit streets of New York City. Heat from the vents wrapped my toes in pure warmth while Freedom 90 by George Michael blared through the stereo. I sang the lyrics, feeling them deep in my soul. “There's something deep inside of me. There's someone else I've got to be.” As usual, the magical, mind-reading app known as Pandora perfectly predicted what mood I’d be in and gave me the exact song to match it. With only a few well-placed notes and verses, George Michael became my spirit animal. This was how I felt at this very second. Restless. Unsettled. Like there was something else I was supposed to be doing. Someone else I was supposed to be. Some fun, exciting girl who actually lived her dreams. Not this boring mess that had somehow taken over my body and paraded around in my skin.Yes, I said it. I’m boring. How do I know I’m boring? Because the one person in the world that I idolize told me so.Last month, I submitted one of my paintings to a citywide art contest sponsored by the goddess herself, Devinta Holly. She is my absolute favorite modern artist. Like ever. The grand prize winner would receive an internship with Devinta’s art studio for the entire summer. Granted, it was probably just lame office work like fetching coffee and picking up her dry cleaning, but I didn’t care. I’d scrub toilets just for the opportunity to study at the feet of the woman New York Times called, This Generation's Most Sought After Artist. Devinta Holly was my paragon. My own personal deity, and this morning I received my comment card back from the first round of her contest.I opened the yellow envelope, my hands shaking with trepidation and fear.What if she didn’t like it? What if she thought I sucked? What if she told me to give up on my dream of becoming a famous painter? God knew I’d heard that commentary from my parents a million times before.I shook the contents of the envelope, a sheet of paper and what appeared to be a business card, onto my bed and decided to examine the paper first because it was larger and would take longer to read. I admired the beautiful letterhead before scanning the rest of the letter:
Dear Ms. Patel,
Thank you for submitting your art piece to The Next Big Thing Art Competition. I am pleased to inform you that your picture, Jasmines In Blue Vase, has been selected to advance to the final round of judging.
I squealed. Literally. I fell onto my back, kicked my feet in the air, and squealed. This contest was a once in a lifetime, never come around again opportunity. My one shot to get up close and personal with Ms. Devinta Holly, and I had moved into the final round of judging. My entire life turned into one big bubble of delight.
Personal comments from Devinta Holly:Excellent execution, but boring. This piece didn’t move me.
Like a light-switch flipped off, my happiness and joy turned to despair and misery. Hearing my mentor say that my art was boring hurt. Like, really hurt. It was like she’d taken a peek into my soul and found me lacking somehow. I know I wasn’t the greatest painter in the world, but I’d studied hard and practiced daily. I’d even had a few sessions with a private art tutor. And now, to hear Devinta say that my work was boring… it made me question everything. If my work was boring, what did that say about me? Was I boring too?In the last few hours since I’d received my letter and contact card, I’d analyzed my life and came to one heartbreaking conclusion.I, Jasmine Patel, was indeed boring.If I was an emoji, I’d be the circle with just the face and the eyes. Don’t know which one that is? Of course not. Do you know why? Because no one ever uses it because it’s the most boring emoji ever.
Pre-Order The Secret Lives of Princesses Below:
Hey gang!
I'm popping in to show you what I've been working on lately. Here's a sneak peek of The Secret Lives of Princesses, book 3 in the St. Mary's Academy series. This is Princess Jasmine's story, and it releases in June. It's also available for pre-order. Check it out:
I was late.
The Winter Formal started two hours ago, and I was late.
Breathless, I jumped in my red Maserati, a Christmas present from my dad, and sped through the moonlit streets of New York City. Heat from the vents wrapped my toes in pure warmth while Freedom 90 by George Michael blared through the stereo. I sang the lyrics, feeling them deep in my soul. “There's something deep inside of me. There's someone else I've got to be.” As usual, the magical, mind-reading app known as Pandora perfectly predicted what mood I’d be in and gave me the exact song to match it. With only a few well-placed notes and verses, George Michael became my spirit animal. This was how I felt at this very second. Restless. Unsettled. Like there was something else I was supposed to be doing. Someone else I was supposed to be. Some fun, exciting girl who actually lived her dreams. Not this boring mess that had somehow taken over my body and paraded around in my skin.Yes, I said it. I’m boring. How do I know I’m boring? Because the one person in the world that I idolize told me so.Last month, I submitted one of my paintings to a citywide art contest sponsored by the goddess herself, Devinta Holly. She is my absolute favorite modern artist. Like ever. The grand prize winner would receive an internship with Devinta’s art studio for the entire summer. Granted, it was probably just lame office work like fetching coffee and picking up her dry cleaning, but I didn’t care. I’d scrub toilets just for the opportunity to study at the feet of the woman New York Times called, This Generation's Most Sought After Artist. Devinta Holly was my paragon. My own personal deity, and this morning I received my comment card back from the first round of her contest.I opened the yellow envelope, my hands shaking with trepidation and fear.What if she didn’t like it? What if she thought I sucked? What if she told me to give up on my dream of becoming a famous painter? God knew I’d heard that commentary from my parents a million times before.I shook the contents of the envelope, a sheet of paper and what appeared to be a business card, onto my bed and decided to examine the paper first because it was larger and would take longer to read. I admired the beautiful letterhead before scanning the rest of the letter:
Dear Ms. Patel,
Thank you for submitting your art piece to The Next Big Thing Art Competition. I am pleased to inform you that your picture, Jasmines In Blue Vase, has been selected to advance to the final round of judging.
I squealed. Literally. I fell onto my back, kicked my feet in the air, and squealed. This contest was a once in a lifetime, never come around again opportunity. My one shot to get up close and personal with Ms. Devinta Holly, and I had moved into the final round of judging. My entire life turned into one big bubble of delight.
Personal comments from Devinta Holly:Excellent execution, but boring. This piece didn’t move me.
Like a light-switch flipped off, my happiness and joy turned to despair and misery. Hearing my mentor say that my art was boring hurt. Like, really hurt. It was like she’d taken a peek into my soul and found me lacking somehow. I know I wasn’t the greatest painter in the world, but I’d studied hard and practiced daily. I’d even had a few sessions with a private art tutor. And now, to hear Devinta say that my work was boring… it made me question everything. If my work was boring, what did that say about me? Was I boring too?In the last few hours since I’d received my letter and contact card, I’d analyzed my life and came to one heartbreaking conclusion.I, Jasmine Patel, was indeed boring.If I was an emoji, I’d be the circle with just the face and the eyes. Don’t know which one that is? Of course not. Do you know why? Because no one ever uses it because it’s the most boring emoji ever.
Pre-Order The Secret Lives of Princesses Below:
February 27, 2018
Check out another snippet from The Golden Boy
Check Out Another Snippet From The Golden Boy
Ten minutes --and two sore toes from kicking a trash can-- later, I walked into the St. Mary’s Academy Digital Media Program or, as we liked to call it, Film Club. Back in September, Mr. Walters showed us an independent studio’s version of The Odyssey. Now we, as a club, were tasked with making our own thirty minute short inspired by the film. I was elected cinematographer. It was an ideal job for me since I brought my camera everywhere. But of course, like every other person in this industry, what I really wanted to do was direct.I shuffled into the classroom --half in pain, half in annoyance-- and was immediately greeted by Mr. Walter’s irked gaze. Though his eyes moved, his body did not. He remained reclined at his desk, script in hand, feet stretched out in front of him as if he were in a poolside lounge chair drinking a tequila mojito instead of supervising a classroom. “Ms. Kotopuli, thanks for fitting us into your busy schedule. We’re honored to be counted worthy of your very precious time.”I rolled my eyes. “Sorry. I was dealing with a snake problem.”Mr. Walters rolled his eyes the same way I did, giving my sass right back at me. It was one of the reasons why I liked him so much.“Well, let’s hope you took a picture of it, Madame Cinematographer. Did you do your assignment?”“Yes.”“Great. Let’s see it.”My Clay inspired irritation disappeared and I smiled and held up my camera.Mr. Walters was one of those cool teachers who would definitely fit into my friend group if he were forty years younger. He was funny and witty and just a little bit out there. I could tell that he was a former theater geek. It was written all over his thin body and Errol Flynn mustache. But the dead giveaway was his ever-present ascots.Mr. Walters sat up as I angled my camera and showed him the sites I’d picked out last weekend for our film. As the cinematographer, one of my jobs was to scout out possible shooting locations. I showed him a couple of shoreline shots that looked slightly like coastal Greece, as well as houses that had the Grecian vibe we were looking for. When he came to the last picture, he sat back and rubbed his chin.“I don’t know. Those coasts are too rocky. Nothing Grecian about them. And the houses all have such a modern feel. We need something that looks more… I don’t know… ancient. Something with a wide, open living area and Grecian columns, I think.”“I know. I’m still looking for the perfect spot, but it’s hard to find anything locally. There’s a spot in Rhode Island that I really liked, but it’s not in our travel budget.”“Show me.”For what? Even if he liked it, we couldn’t afford to go.I sighed and pulled my phone from my pocket. I scrolled through my saved pictures before finding the right one and showing it to him. Mohegan Bluffs. It’s grassy coast, blue sea, and rolling green hills were perfect for our shoot.And entirely out of our five-hundred-dollar budget.“How much do you think a trip like that would cost?” He asked.I blew out a breath. “I called a bus company. It’ll be three thousand dollars minimum. That’s for a bus rental, a tip for the driver. Plus, we’d have to pay for the ferry from New London to the island and back, and meals.”Mr. Walters leaned closer to me as if sharing a secret. “I’ll present it to Mr. Mann, see if I can get him to up the funds. In the meantime, have the kids spread the word to their parents that our film program is underfunded. I’m sure I can get three times that just in donations alone by the end of the week. And, if that doesn’t work, I’m sure your dad can cover it.”He laughed.I laughed too. It was a laugh I didn’t mean. My dad struggled to pay my tuition. Surely, he couldn’t afford to pony up three grand for my film club.“Don’t worry about the money,” Mr. Walters said. “You kid’s shoe budget cost more than this bus trip. We’ll discuss it with the director. Once we come to an agreement, we’ll get the permission slips signed and we’ll be playing the slots before noon.”He cleared his throat. “Not you kids, of course. I, myself, however…” He smiled nervously as if he’d crossed the line. “Don’t tell anyone though. There’ll be a mojito in it for you.”My eyes lit up. “Really?”“Virgin, of course.” And there went that.Mr. Walters laughed. “I’m a good teacher, not an idiot.”And then he shooed me away and restarted his read through of Nancy’s script. Mr. Walters was my favorite teacher. Not because he taught me much -I didn’t have him for a class outside of film club- but because he made me feel like a person instead of an inept child like most teachers did. I felt like I could be myself around him, and he wouldn’t judge me. He was the only teacher I would even consider coming to with my problems.I sighed. If I had to leave St. Mary’s, would I like my new teachers? Would I find ever find another Mr. Walters? I walked past the popcorn machine, bean bags, and scattered book bags to the back of the classroom where a group of students were rehearsing while standing on top of desks. The director, Madeline Brawny, sat below them in a plastic blue chair.She clapped loudly, shaking her head so vigorously I was surprised it didn’t fly off.“No. No. No. It’s all wrong!”She stood up, pointing long fingers at the two students on the makeshift stage. Our recent recruit from swim club, Sophia Johnson, and the bane of my existence-slash-ex-boyfriend, Homer Gibson. Sophia was playing the part of Penelope, while Homer played the part of Eurymachus or Mike in our contemporary retelling. “Mike is charismatic, not a circus clown!” she screamed. For some reason, she was talking in a French accent today. Odd, seeing that Madeline wasn’t French.Homer ground his teeth.“It’s my interpretation of the character,” he growled.“Yes, well you are interpreting him like a circus clown. Mike is smooth, and pompous, with a layer of deceit.”“I know that.”Madeline snorted. “Well, from your performance, I couldn’t tell.” Home glared at Madeline, while Sophia put her hand over her mouth to keep in her laughter.I didn’t bother with such courtesies. I laughed long and hard and entirely too much for one of Madeline’s quips. I probably looked insane, but I didn’t care. I wanted to embarrass Homer. I wanted him to feel like a fool. Just like I’d felt when he dumped me for that plastic, blonde cheerleader.Yes. That was months ago.Yes. I was still bitter about it and I wasn’t opposed to publicly shaming him whatever I got the chance. I was petty like that.Madeline turned to look at me, and I instantly quieted myself.“Sorry.”She placed her hands on her hips. Madeline Brawny was the sort of person who took herself way too seriously. She wore a French beret and a long, itchy looking, navy blue scarf. She looked more like a caricature of a film director than an actual one. Her father, Jack Brawny, was an actual director. A good one too. He didn’t do many indie movies, but his regular movies had substance and texture and meaty stories. None of that fluffy stuff that overran movie theaters nowadays. Madeline may have tried, but she was far from the master that her father was. “Megera, dear. Though I appreciate your… uh… verbal support, perhaps your talents would best be used to scout out locations for Odysseus’ home and the Greek terrain. Why don’t you take your little camera and run along?”I gave her a tight smile.She returned the gesture and turned back to her actors. Yup. Madeline was going overboard. Again. Meanwhile, Sophia was still muffling her laughter behind her hand, and Homer was too busy glaring at Madeline to pay attention to me.I walked to the side of the classroom, past where Jonathan Freeman, our resident Odysseus, was practicing his lines and stopped next to the few people I actually got along with. And by got along, I meant that I wasn’t openly hostile to them.Sarah Whittier and Caleb Connors ran the lighting crew and Poppy Pritchett was my assistant cinematographer. They all sat in bean bags with their laptops on their laps, posting reviews on HSFilmClubs.Org, the organization that sponsored our club. In exchange for HSFilmClubs’ financial support, we had to post reviews of their family-friendly independent films. Ninety-nine percent of these movies were total snooze-fests but one or two of them were actually pretty good.“Hey guys,” I said with a wave. I dropped down into a bean bag and fiddled with my camera settings.“I’m watching a movie about a woman who thinks God lives in her cereal bowl,” Poppy said, pulling her chocolate brown hair into a messy bun atop her head. “Every morning she wakes up, pours herself alphabet cereal, and tries to figure out what God's saying to her. It’s demented and weird and oddly fascinating.” The bun didn’t hold, and the dark strands fell like rained over her shoulders again. Caleb gave her a half smile. “I’ll bet he says oh and ah a lot,” Caleb replied, his fingers flying across the keyboard. He was the type of kid who wore turtlenecks and Hawaiian shirts at all times of the year. That’s right. Turtlenecks in the summer, fall, winter, and spring. Needless to say, Caleb was frequently prey for bullies.“Shouldn’t God live in kale and egg white omelets?” Sarah asked. “Cereal is so high carb.” She chuckled at her joke. No one else did. Embarrassment for her warmed my cheeks.“We’ve told you a million times, Sarah,” Poppy said. “Your. Jokes. Aren’t. Funny.”Sarah pouted. “Well, that was harsh. I’ve been planning that joke for like a week. It was the perfect opportunity to use it and-”“Please clear all jokes with us in writing first,” Caleb said, not looking up from his screen.I waved them away, smiled at Sarah and gave her the laugh that she’d been craving.“It was a very funny joke,” I said, placing a hand on her knee.Sarah wasn’t funny. In fact, she was the unfunniest person that I’d ever met. But, she tried to be funny and I was behind anyone who knew they were terrible at something and tried to improve themselves.Sarah smiled at me gratefully.“Do you mean it?” she asked.I nodded.“Of course, I do.” It was a lie, but the way that Sarah beamed at me made it all worth it. Sarah may not have been funny, but she was good to talk to, patient, and kind. I’d actually thought about calling her a few times, just to talk. Maybe one day, I would.Poppy spoke up again. “The lady just asked God if she’d have a happy life, and the cereal just spelled out ‘perception’.”“I call bull crap on that,” I said. “What if she’s reading the letters wrong? Like she thought it said perception, but it really says reception and the p’s all wonky. Like God’s saying, don’t go into areas with bad reception.”Poppy and Conner both looked at me with questions in their eyes.“So, God doesn’t want her to connect to bad Wi-Fi networks?” Poppy asked. Her chocolate hair had fallen in her face, and she pushed back over her shoulder.I was being facetious. They didn’t get it. My cheeks heated again.Sarah was bad at jokes.And, apparently, so I was.“It was a joke,” I said.Conner and Poppy shared a look, then returned their eyes to the screens. The two of them were best friends, along with another girl named Christina who was apparently too cool for the film club. Imagine that. Three best friends. I didn’t even have one.Sarah gave me a half smile.“I got your joke,” she said. “It was funny.”She was lying of course. I knew this because I’d just lied to her the same way. I gave her back the same pitiful yet grateful smile she gave me. It’s amazing how shared trauma can bring people together. Both Sarah and I were just mortally embarrassed and now I felt closer than ever to her. I resolved to call her as soon as I could. After all, us weirdos had to stick together. Especially against tough crowds like Caleb and Poppy. I sat back in my beanbag, or more so leaned back awkwardly, and allowed the sights and sounds of my favorite place in the world to wash over me.Sophia delivering her lines in perfect rhythm, while Homer botched his.Madeline yelling at someone for missing their cue.The clicks of fingers typing on keyboards.The smell of costumes.The sound of someone playing music samples for Mr. Walters.The camera in my hand cemented the feeling of warmth that went through me. Even though I didn't get along with everyone here, this club still felt like home to me. We were all different -some of us more than others- but we shared a common bond. Film. No matter if we were directors, or actors, or composers, or cinematographers we all came together to create something mind-blowing.Art.It wasn’t perfect but that was the beauty of it.I loved this club. It was my life.Clay’s offer floated back into my mind. Would I do anything to stay?Even tell a lie?
Purchase The Golden Boy
Ten minutes --and two sore toes from kicking a trash can-- later, I walked into the St. Mary’s Academy Digital Media Program or, as we liked to call it, Film Club. Back in September, Mr. Walters showed us an independent studio’s version of The Odyssey. Now we, as a club, were tasked with making our own thirty minute short inspired by the film. I was elected cinematographer. It was an ideal job for me since I brought my camera everywhere. But of course, like every other person in this industry, what I really wanted to do was direct.I shuffled into the classroom --half in pain, half in annoyance-- and was immediately greeted by Mr. Walter’s irked gaze. Though his eyes moved, his body did not. He remained reclined at his desk, script in hand, feet stretched out in front of him as if he were in a poolside lounge chair drinking a tequila mojito instead of supervising a classroom. “Ms. Kotopuli, thanks for fitting us into your busy schedule. We’re honored to be counted worthy of your very precious time.”I rolled my eyes. “Sorry. I was dealing with a snake problem.”Mr. Walters rolled his eyes the same way I did, giving my sass right back at me. It was one of the reasons why I liked him so much.“Well, let’s hope you took a picture of it, Madame Cinematographer. Did you do your assignment?”“Yes.”“Great. Let’s see it.”My Clay inspired irritation disappeared and I smiled and held up my camera.Mr. Walters was one of those cool teachers who would definitely fit into my friend group if he were forty years younger. He was funny and witty and just a little bit out there. I could tell that he was a former theater geek. It was written all over his thin body and Errol Flynn mustache. But the dead giveaway was his ever-present ascots.Mr. Walters sat up as I angled my camera and showed him the sites I’d picked out last weekend for our film. As the cinematographer, one of my jobs was to scout out possible shooting locations. I showed him a couple of shoreline shots that looked slightly like coastal Greece, as well as houses that had the Grecian vibe we were looking for. When he came to the last picture, he sat back and rubbed his chin.“I don’t know. Those coasts are too rocky. Nothing Grecian about them. And the houses all have such a modern feel. We need something that looks more… I don’t know… ancient. Something with a wide, open living area and Grecian columns, I think.”“I know. I’m still looking for the perfect spot, but it’s hard to find anything locally. There’s a spot in Rhode Island that I really liked, but it’s not in our travel budget.”“Show me.”For what? Even if he liked it, we couldn’t afford to go.I sighed and pulled my phone from my pocket. I scrolled through my saved pictures before finding the right one and showing it to him. Mohegan Bluffs. It’s grassy coast, blue sea, and rolling green hills were perfect for our shoot.And entirely out of our five-hundred-dollar budget.“How much do you think a trip like that would cost?” He asked.I blew out a breath. “I called a bus company. It’ll be three thousand dollars minimum. That’s for a bus rental, a tip for the driver. Plus, we’d have to pay for the ferry from New London to the island and back, and meals.”Mr. Walters leaned closer to me as if sharing a secret. “I’ll present it to Mr. Mann, see if I can get him to up the funds. In the meantime, have the kids spread the word to their parents that our film program is underfunded. I’m sure I can get three times that just in donations alone by the end of the week. And, if that doesn’t work, I’m sure your dad can cover it.”He laughed.I laughed too. It was a laugh I didn’t mean. My dad struggled to pay my tuition. Surely, he couldn’t afford to pony up three grand for my film club.“Don’t worry about the money,” Mr. Walters said. “You kid’s shoe budget cost more than this bus trip. We’ll discuss it with the director. Once we come to an agreement, we’ll get the permission slips signed and we’ll be playing the slots before noon.”He cleared his throat. “Not you kids, of course. I, myself, however…” He smiled nervously as if he’d crossed the line. “Don’t tell anyone though. There’ll be a mojito in it for you.”My eyes lit up. “Really?”“Virgin, of course.” And there went that.Mr. Walters laughed. “I’m a good teacher, not an idiot.”And then he shooed me away and restarted his read through of Nancy’s script. Mr. Walters was my favorite teacher. Not because he taught me much -I didn’t have him for a class outside of film club- but because he made me feel like a person instead of an inept child like most teachers did. I felt like I could be myself around him, and he wouldn’t judge me. He was the only teacher I would even consider coming to with my problems.I sighed. If I had to leave St. Mary’s, would I like my new teachers? Would I find ever find another Mr. Walters? I walked past the popcorn machine, bean bags, and scattered book bags to the back of the classroom where a group of students were rehearsing while standing on top of desks. The director, Madeline Brawny, sat below them in a plastic blue chair.She clapped loudly, shaking her head so vigorously I was surprised it didn’t fly off.“No. No. No. It’s all wrong!”She stood up, pointing long fingers at the two students on the makeshift stage. Our recent recruit from swim club, Sophia Johnson, and the bane of my existence-slash-ex-boyfriend, Homer Gibson. Sophia was playing the part of Penelope, while Homer played the part of Eurymachus or Mike in our contemporary retelling. “Mike is charismatic, not a circus clown!” she screamed. For some reason, she was talking in a French accent today. Odd, seeing that Madeline wasn’t French.Homer ground his teeth.“It’s my interpretation of the character,” he growled.“Yes, well you are interpreting him like a circus clown. Mike is smooth, and pompous, with a layer of deceit.”“I know that.”Madeline snorted. “Well, from your performance, I couldn’t tell.” Home glared at Madeline, while Sophia put her hand over her mouth to keep in her laughter.I didn’t bother with such courtesies. I laughed long and hard and entirely too much for one of Madeline’s quips. I probably looked insane, but I didn’t care. I wanted to embarrass Homer. I wanted him to feel like a fool. Just like I’d felt when he dumped me for that plastic, blonde cheerleader.Yes. That was months ago.Yes. I was still bitter about it and I wasn’t opposed to publicly shaming him whatever I got the chance. I was petty like that.Madeline turned to look at me, and I instantly quieted myself.“Sorry.”She placed her hands on her hips. Madeline Brawny was the sort of person who took herself way too seriously. She wore a French beret and a long, itchy looking, navy blue scarf. She looked more like a caricature of a film director than an actual one. Her father, Jack Brawny, was an actual director. A good one too. He didn’t do many indie movies, but his regular movies had substance and texture and meaty stories. None of that fluffy stuff that overran movie theaters nowadays. Madeline may have tried, but she was far from the master that her father was. “Megera, dear. Though I appreciate your… uh… verbal support, perhaps your talents would best be used to scout out locations for Odysseus’ home and the Greek terrain. Why don’t you take your little camera and run along?”I gave her a tight smile.She returned the gesture and turned back to her actors. Yup. Madeline was going overboard. Again. Meanwhile, Sophia was still muffling her laughter behind her hand, and Homer was too busy glaring at Madeline to pay attention to me.I walked to the side of the classroom, past where Jonathan Freeman, our resident Odysseus, was practicing his lines and stopped next to the few people I actually got along with. And by got along, I meant that I wasn’t openly hostile to them.Sarah Whittier and Caleb Connors ran the lighting crew and Poppy Pritchett was my assistant cinematographer. They all sat in bean bags with their laptops on their laps, posting reviews on HSFilmClubs.Org, the organization that sponsored our club. In exchange for HSFilmClubs’ financial support, we had to post reviews of their family-friendly independent films. Ninety-nine percent of these movies were total snooze-fests but one or two of them were actually pretty good.“Hey guys,” I said with a wave. I dropped down into a bean bag and fiddled with my camera settings.“I’m watching a movie about a woman who thinks God lives in her cereal bowl,” Poppy said, pulling her chocolate brown hair into a messy bun atop her head. “Every morning she wakes up, pours herself alphabet cereal, and tries to figure out what God's saying to her. It’s demented and weird and oddly fascinating.” The bun didn’t hold, and the dark strands fell like rained over her shoulders again. Caleb gave her a half smile. “I’ll bet he says oh and ah a lot,” Caleb replied, his fingers flying across the keyboard. He was the type of kid who wore turtlenecks and Hawaiian shirts at all times of the year. That’s right. Turtlenecks in the summer, fall, winter, and spring. Needless to say, Caleb was frequently prey for bullies.“Shouldn’t God live in kale and egg white omelets?” Sarah asked. “Cereal is so high carb.” She chuckled at her joke. No one else did. Embarrassment for her warmed my cheeks.“We’ve told you a million times, Sarah,” Poppy said. “Your. Jokes. Aren’t. Funny.”Sarah pouted. “Well, that was harsh. I’ve been planning that joke for like a week. It was the perfect opportunity to use it and-”“Please clear all jokes with us in writing first,” Caleb said, not looking up from his screen.I waved them away, smiled at Sarah and gave her the laugh that she’d been craving.“It was a very funny joke,” I said, placing a hand on her knee.Sarah wasn’t funny. In fact, she was the unfunniest person that I’d ever met. But, she tried to be funny and I was behind anyone who knew they were terrible at something and tried to improve themselves.Sarah smiled at me gratefully.“Do you mean it?” she asked.I nodded.“Of course, I do.” It was a lie, but the way that Sarah beamed at me made it all worth it. Sarah may not have been funny, but she was good to talk to, patient, and kind. I’d actually thought about calling her a few times, just to talk. Maybe one day, I would.Poppy spoke up again. “The lady just asked God if she’d have a happy life, and the cereal just spelled out ‘perception’.”“I call bull crap on that,” I said. “What if she’s reading the letters wrong? Like she thought it said perception, but it really says reception and the p’s all wonky. Like God’s saying, don’t go into areas with bad reception.”Poppy and Conner both looked at me with questions in their eyes.“So, God doesn’t want her to connect to bad Wi-Fi networks?” Poppy asked. Her chocolate hair had fallen in her face, and she pushed back over her shoulder.I was being facetious. They didn’t get it. My cheeks heated again.Sarah was bad at jokes.And, apparently, so I was.“It was a joke,” I said.Conner and Poppy shared a look, then returned their eyes to the screens. The two of them were best friends, along with another girl named Christina who was apparently too cool for the film club. Imagine that. Three best friends. I didn’t even have one.Sarah gave me a half smile.“I got your joke,” she said. “It was funny.”She was lying of course. I knew this because I’d just lied to her the same way. I gave her back the same pitiful yet grateful smile she gave me. It’s amazing how shared trauma can bring people together. Both Sarah and I were just mortally embarrassed and now I felt closer than ever to her. I resolved to call her as soon as I could. After all, us weirdos had to stick together. Especially against tough crowds like Caleb and Poppy. I sat back in my beanbag, or more so leaned back awkwardly, and allowed the sights and sounds of my favorite place in the world to wash over me.Sophia delivering her lines in perfect rhythm, while Homer botched his.Madeline yelling at someone for missing their cue.The clicks of fingers typing on keyboards.The smell of costumes.The sound of someone playing music samples for Mr. Walters.The camera in my hand cemented the feeling of warmth that went through me. Even though I didn't get along with everyone here, this club still felt like home to me. We were all different -some of us more than others- but we shared a common bond. Film. No matter if we were directors, or actors, or composers, or cinematographers we all came together to create something mind-blowing.Art.It wasn’t perfect but that was the beauty of it.I loved this club. It was my life.Clay’s offer floated back into my mind. Would I do anything to stay?Even tell a lie?
Purchase The Golden Boy
February 21, 2018
Check Out The First Chapter Of The Golden Boy
Check Out The First Chapter Of The Golden BoyHey guys!
Audrey Rich and I have been hard at work putting the finishing touches on The Golden Boy, and we are proud to bring you the first chapter. Enjoy!
“All you have to do is tell him you’re pregnant.”
When Clay Roman passed me a note during chemistry telling me he had good news about my tuition woes, I thought he meant he’d found a scholarship I was eligible for. I ran to the football field bleachers, hoping for some good news. This wasn’t good news. This… this was a curveball straight from the underworld.
I rubbed my ear and dramatically inclined my head at him.
“I’m sorry, what was that?”
His icy, almost lifeless, pale blue eyes rolled in exasperation. As if I were frustrating him. Me. The girl he’d just asked to fake a pregnancy. Where can one buy that amount of nerve? Amazon? Sam’s Club? Did he get frequent shopper points with The International House of Audacity? I mean seriously!
“Tell Julius you’re pregnant and he’s the father, and I will ensure your tuition is paid in full for the next two years.”
Yup. That’s what I thought he’d said.
I planted my hands on my hips to keep from flipping him off.
“You made me walk all the way across the football field to ask me to commit pregnancy fraud? What kind of girl do you think I am? Do I look like I’ve ever been on a daytime talk show?”
His demeanor was cool. Calm. He leisurely leaned on the sun-warmed bleachers, totally at ease with the fact that he was asking me to tell the biggest lie of my life. Meanwhile, my temper was at DEFCON 1.
“Think about it, Meg,” he said. “All your money problems can go away just like that. You won’t have to switch schools or leave your friends. Your parents won’t even have to know.”
I scoffed and ground a pebble into the dirt with the toe of my sneaker.
“I know you don’t understand how the world works, so let me spell it out for you. My parents get a bill from this school every semester. I think they’ll notice a big fat zero next to the amount due box.”
“Tell them it’s a scholarship, or that you’ve received a grant. The means don’t matter to me. Your cooperation is what’s important.”
He placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled as if he knew I’d cooperate.
Not so fast Clay. It’s going to take a whole lot more than a slick smile, enviable blond hair, and a hot body to even begin to convince me to go along with this crazy plan.
I lifted his pointer finger from my skin and slid his clammy hand off of me.
“Ok. Let’s assume for one minute that I’m a crap daughter who would lie to my parents. How am I supposed to pull this whole charade off? Number one, I’ve never even spoken to Julius Samson. Number two, I may be three steps from impoverished right now, but I still have a moral compass. And three, how am I supposed to trust that you’ll pay up?”
I gave myself a mental pat on the back. These were all valid questions, and if Clay was smart, he’d take this opportunity to apologize for even thinking of such a terrible plan. Then he’d kiss my feet and beg my forgiveness. Some tears would be shed. It’d all be very beautiful, really.
But no.
Clay was too slick for that. He just stood there in the sunlight and stared at me like I was an old horse he was about to put out of its misery. “Meg, Meg, Meg.” His head shook each time he said my name, making me even madder. “Don’t you think I’ve thought of that? I already told Julius that the girl he took off with that night might be knocked up. Everything is in place. Megera, I’m offering you the world.” He placed his thumb and forefinger on my chin, squeezing it. His skin was cold, even though it was a warm October day. Makes sense. After all, snakes are cold-blooded.
“I’ll give you twenty-four hours,” he said. “Either tell one little lie or say goodbye to St. Mary’s Academy forever. The choice is yours.”
He gave my chin one last squeeze before picking up his black book bag, hoisting it onto one shoulder, and walking away.
I watched him go, my body feeling on edge. My gut dipped and twisted as if I were riding a rollercoaster, and tension sat heavy on my shoulders. Something about this didn’t seem right. Well, nothing about this was right, but there was one thing that especially bothered me.
“Clay!”
He turned, his icy eyes finding me. The longer he looked at me, the more I felt my blood freeze.
“Isn’t he your friend?” I asked. The ‘he’ in this equation was, of course, Julius.
He dropped his chin slightly. “My best friend,” he replied.
My shoulder’s rose. “So, why are you doing this?”
His lips raised at the edges. “Twenty-four hours, Meg,” he said. “I hope to hear from you.”
Regardless of what type of person Clay assumed I was, I wouldn’t be shaken off so easily. This was someone's life we were talking about. I took another step forward.
“What’ll happen to him?”
He scoffed. “Shouldn’t you be more concerned about what will happen to you?”
“I’m not heartless.”
“I never said you were. And, if your ex is to be believed, it was your celibacy rather then your heartlessness that was the problem.”
The stinging words were like a right hook straight to my heart. “Leave Homer out of this. He would never say that?”
“Wouldn’t he?”
Clay’s words hung in the air, and my cheeks warmed. I crossed my arms to hide my heaving chest.
“Look, all I’m saying is that men are dogs, Meg. Consider this your opportunity to remove another hound from St. Mary’s Academy.”
“Is Julius a hound?”
Clay smiled. “One of the worse. That’s what makes this so simple.”
I dropped my gaze to the field turf.
Could I really do this? Could I really destroy someone’s life to protect my own? Even if they were a so-called ‘hound’? I didn’t really know Julius Samson. I knew that everyone called him Hercules or Herc. He always seemed like a standup guy to me. Never bullying anyone or anything like that. But then again, I didn’t really know him. Clay did. Was Clay telling the truth about Julius?
I rubbed my hands on my jeans, my increasingly agitated state making me fidgety.
“What about me?” I asked. “Everyone will be calling me a whore for the next two years.”
Clay shook his head. “Once Julius is gone, it’ll be old news. Think about it, Meg. Are you willing to face a little humiliation to remain at your family’s alma mater? In a month’s time, you won’t even remember this conversation. Julius will be out, I’ll be the new Quarterback, and you’ll get to say in school. Everyone wins.”
“But-”
“Twenty-four hours,” Clay said. He turned around, his long legs making quick strides across the field. “This offer expires in twenty-four hours. Tick tock, Meg.”
I watched him until he disappeared around the front of the school. My legs felt weak and I collapsed on the bench with a sigh.
This morning, I was Meg Kotopuli. A junior at St. Mary’s Academy. Resident film geek with modest grades and an ex-boyfriend with a penchant for cheerleaders way outside of his league. Now, Clay expected me to lie to someone I’d never even met. And not just anyone. The most popular guy in school. Was it worth it? Could I do it?
My chest felt tight and I rubbed it.
The right thing to do would be to tell Clay to shove his idea where this sun didn’t shine.
The right thing to do would be to tell Julius about this conversation.
The right thing to do was to not consider this offer at all.
But it was hard to do the right thing.
Sometimes, it was absolutely impossible.
I hope you enjoyed this first chapter preview. The Golden Boy is available on Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079JN5J4C
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Win a copy of Thinking About Love Part 1
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February 14, 2018
Big News from Seven Steps
Big news! There's another St. Mary's Academy story coming your way soon. How soon? Try April 24, 2018.
As you know, the main characters of St. Mary's Academy all have a fairytale counterpart. The Boyfriend Agreement gave us Bella and Cole (Belle and The Beast/Adam from Beauty and the Best). Chasing Mermaids gave us Ariel and Eric (Ariel and Eric from The Little Mermaid). Now, I'm pleased to introduce Megera and Julius, whose counterparts are Meg and Hercules from Hercules.
I enjoyed writing Julius and Meg's story. Meg's life is a mess. Her father is under investigation for corruption, her mother is dying of cancer, she can no longer afford to go to school, and her boyfriend just dumped her for a cheerleader. She believes that everything is hopeless until she gets an offer she can't refuse. All she has to do is convince the star quarterback, Julius, to leave school. Love was never the plan. That is, until she meets Julius 'Hercules' Samson face to face.
I enjoyed writing these spunky, angsty, hilarious characters, and I know that you'll enjoy reading them. The Golden Boy will release April 24th, 2018 and is currently available for pre-order for the low sale price of 0.99. But this price is only temporary. Once the book is released, it will go up to 2.99, so make sure you grab your copy today.
Pre-Order The Golden Boy HERE
Pre-Order The Golden Boy HERE
The Golden Boy is the brainchild of myself and Audrey Rich. Audrey is a young adult author whose been making a splash in the indie community. She's best known for her Stonehaven High Series. She's sweet, caring, and an excellent writer. I got the chance to interview this very busy lady. Check out her story below.
What made you want to be an author?
I never had any author aspirations, not consciously. Despite that as a child, I spent hours creating my doll’s unique romantic stories full of drama and heartache, and I was a voracious reader, especially of romance books once I entered freshman year of high school.
While I used to enjoy writing countless papers on the assigned Classics Literature books in college, becoming an author never crossed my mind, and I went on to receive my MBA in accounting so I could obtain my CPA license.
My first indication that I would abandon the accounting field to pursue an author career came the night I opened up Word and started my debut novel. The writing bug pushed me to stay up all night to produce the first thirty pages without a conscience thought beforehand. And I’m still a pantser writer, who has no plan, no outline before my fingers hit the keyboard but somehow the majority of the readers fall in love with my characters and the Stonehaven High world I’ve created.
What struggles have you had to overcome before you became a published author?
The biggest struggle for me to overcome before I became a published author was deciding whether to wait to be traditionally published or to bite the bullet and become self-published. The decision took years of research, and receiving feedback from the first and only acquiring editor I sent my manuscript to in 2015. While she liked my writing and plot, she didn’t like my main character, and I didn’t want to re-write her.
What struggles have you had to overcome since becoming a published author?
The biggest struggle since I became an author is reaching my target audience. I wish tweens and teens as well as women of all ages, to enjoy reading my sweet and innocent romance stories. While the various retailers are great at reaching adult women, they’re not great at reaching the tweens and teens. Hopefully, the sisters, aunts, and mothers reading my books will share them with the younger generations they know.
What are you currently reading?
I’m reading Chasing Mermaids by Seven Steps.
Tell us about an interesting reader encounter.
One special encounter was having a reader send me a Facebook Private Message that they still remembered my characters and Masquerading Our Love months after they read it.
Have you ever met anyone famous? If not, what famous person would you like to meet?
When I lived in New York City, I met many famous people. One of them was Robin Williams, who walked down Madison Avenue. I smiled at him and he winked as we passed each other by. That was pretty cool.
Tell us about a difficult time in your life where writing saved you.
When I started writing, I was on the Board of Directors of our homeowner’s association. Writing helped me escape all the political issues that come from enforcing the documents that homeowners must follow.
If a genie could grant you one writing-related wish, what would it be?
If the writing genie could grant me the ability to write with no typos, I would be eternally grateful.
What's your favorite genre to read?
I have so many genres but I’ll narrow it to my three favorites:
YA Contemporary Romance, YA Dystopian, and Regency Historical Romances.
Who's your favorite author?
One of my favorite authors is Stephanie Laurens, who writes Regency novels.
What's the genre of your latest release?
YA Contemporary Romance.
Tell us about your latest book and where it’s available.
My latest book, Thinking About Love, Part 2, is set in sunny South Florida and it is the continuation of Trina Weber and Stuart Grant's romance. In Part 1, they overcome a major obstacle in their lives and in Part 2, they must deal with a major consequence from adopting YOLO. To deal with the consequence they must both give up their dreams and compromise. It’s available on Amazon and can be read as a standalone.
Which character do you identify with most in your latest novel?
I think there’s a tiny bit of me in every novel but Maria Santiago is probably the one I can identify with. She’s first generation Hispanic and is not afraid to voice her opinions, is confident, and has a strong-will that causes people to be careful around her.
What's your book's message?
The message is that everyone makes mistakes, even Christians, and although the mistakes may produce consequences they do not want to deal with, at the end they can overcome them and survive.
What do you enjoy when you’re not writing?
I love reading, traveling, hanging out with my family and friends, and volunteering.
If you could design your dream writer’s cave, what would it be like?
My dream writer’s cave would include a stand-up desk, comfy chairs in various heights, a small kitchen for snacks and where I could make coffee and tea, and a stereo system with all the CDs that I love.
Where can we follow you on social media?
www.facebook.com/AudreyRichAuthor
www.goodreads.com/author/show/16025219.Audrey_Rich
www.twitter.com/goaudreyrich
www.instagram.com/goaudreyrich
www.amazon.com/Audrey-Rich/e/B01M3R7JP5
www.goaudreyrich.wordpress.com
GIVEAWAYS>>Click Here To Enter To Win A Copy Of The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back<<
>>Click Here To Enter To Win A Copy Of The Fault In Our Stars<<
>>Click Here To Enter To Win A Copy Of The Isle Of The Lost<<
>>Want $50 and an Amazon Kindle? Click the link below to enter this amazing giveaway!<<
As you know, the main characters of St. Mary's Academy all have a fairytale counterpart. The Boyfriend Agreement gave us Bella and Cole (Belle and The Beast/Adam from Beauty and the Best). Chasing Mermaids gave us Ariel and Eric (Ariel and Eric from The Little Mermaid). Now, I'm pleased to introduce Megera and Julius, whose counterparts are Meg and Hercules from Hercules.
I enjoyed writing Julius and Meg's story. Meg's life is a mess. Her father is under investigation for corruption, her mother is dying of cancer, she can no longer afford to go to school, and her boyfriend just dumped her for a cheerleader. She believes that everything is hopeless until she gets an offer she can't refuse. All she has to do is convince the star quarterback, Julius, to leave school. Love was never the plan. That is, until she meets Julius 'Hercules' Samson face to face.
I enjoyed writing these spunky, angsty, hilarious characters, and I know that you'll enjoy reading them. The Golden Boy will release April 24th, 2018 and is currently available for pre-order for the low sale price of 0.99. But this price is only temporary. Once the book is released, it will go up to 2.99, so make sure you grab your copy today.
Pre-Order The Golden Boy HERE
Pre-Order The Golden Boy HERE
The Golden Boy is the brainchild of myself and Audrey Rich. Audrey is a young adult author whose been making a splash in the indie community. She's best known for her Stonehaven High Series. She's sweet, caring, and an excellent writer. I got the chance to interview this very busy lady. Check out her story below.
What made you want to be an author?
I never had any author aspirations, not consciously. Despite that as a child, I spent hours creating my doll’s unique romantic stories full of drama and heartache, and I was a voracious reader, especially of romance books once I entered freshman year of high school.
While I used to enjoy writing countless papers on the assigned Classics Literature books in college, becoming an author never crossed my mind, and I went on to receive my MBA in accounting so I could obtain my CPA license.
My first indication that I would abandon the accounting field to pursue an author career came the night I opened up Word and started my debut novel. The writing bug pushed me to stay up all night to produce the first thirty pages without a conscience thought beforehand. And I’m still a pantser writer, who has no plan, no outline before my fingers hit the keyboard but somehow the majority of the readers fall in love with my characters and the Stonehaven High world I’ve created.
What struggles have you had to overcome before you became a published author?
The biggest struggle for me to overcome before I became a published author was deciding whether to wait to be traditionally published or to bite the bullet and become self-published. The decision took years of research, and receiving feedback from the first and only acquiring editor I sent my manuscript to in 2015. While she liked my writing and plot, she didn’t like my main character, and I didn’t want to re-write her.
What struggles have you had to overcome since becoming a published author?
The biggest struggle since I became an author is reaching my target audience. I wish tweens and teens as well as women of all ages, to enjoy reading my sweet and innocent romance stories. While the various retailers are great at reaching adult women, they’re not great at reaching the tweens and teens. Hopefully, the sisters, aunts, and mothers reading my books will share them with the younger generations they know.
What are you currently reading?
I’m reading Chasing Mermaids by Seven Steps.
Tell us about an interesting reader encounter.
One special encounter was having a reader send me a Facebook Private Message that they still remembered my characters and Masquerading Our Love months after they read it.
Have you ever met anyone famous? If not, what famous person would you like to meet?
When I lived in New York City, I met many famous people. One of them was Robin Williams, who walked down Madison Avenue. I smiled at him and he winked as we passed each other by. That was pretty cool.
Tell us about a difficult time in your life where writing saved you.
When I started writing, I was on the Board of Directors of our homeowner’s association. Writing helped me escape all the political issues that come from enforcing the documents that homeowners must follow.
If a genie could grant you one writing-related wish, what would it be?
If the writing genie could grant me the ability to write with no typos, I would be eternally grateful.
What's your favorite genre to read?
I have so many genres but I’ll narrow it to my three favorites:
YA Contemporary Romance, YA Dystopian, and Regency Historical Romances.
Who's your favorite author?
One of my favorite authors is Stephanie Laurens, who writes Regency novels.
What's the genre of your latest release?
YA Contemporary Romance.
Tell us about your latest book and where it’s available.
My latest book, Thinking About Love, Part 2, is set in sunny South Florida and it is the continuation of Trina Weber and Stuart Grant's romance. In Part 1, they overcome a major obstacle in their lives and in Part 2, they must deal with a major consequence from adopting YOLO. To deal with the consequence they must both give up their dreams and compromise. It’s available on Amazon and can be read as a standalone.
Which character do you identify with most in your latest novel?
I think there’s a tiny bit of me in every novel but Maria Santiago is probably the one I can identify with. She’s first generation Hispanic and is not afraid to voice her opinions, is confident, and has a strong-will that causes people to be careful around her.
What's your book's message?
The message is that everyone makes mistakes, even Christians, and although the mistakes may produce consequences they do not want to deal with, at the end they can overcome them and survive.
What do you enjoy when you’re not writing?
I love reading, traveling, hanging out with my family and friends, and volunteering.
If you could design your dream writer’s cave, what would it be like?
My dream writer’s cave would include a stand-up desk, comfy chairs in various heights, a small kitchen for snacks and where I could make coffee and tea, and a stereo system with all the CDs that I love.
Where can we follow you on social media?
www.facebook.com/AudreyRichAuthor
www.goodreads.com/author/show/16025219.Audrey_Rich
www.twitter.com/goaudreyrich
www.instagram.com/goaudreyrich
www.amazon.com/Audrey-Rich/e/B01M3R7JP5
www.goaudreyrich.wordpress.com
GIVEAWAYS>>Click Here To Enter To Win A Copy Of The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back<<
>>Click Here To Enter To Win A Copy Of The Fault In Our Stars<<
>>Click Here To Enter To Win A Copy Of The Isle Of The Lost<<
>>Want $50 and an Amazon Kindle? Click the link below to enter this amazing giveaway!<<
February 7, 2018
I'm Back!
I'm Back!
It's been way too long since I've updated this blog. My last post was in September. September! What's been keeping me away? In a word, writing. In the last five months, I've written 3 books (1 novel and 2 novellas) and I'm in the middle of writing another novel and producing two audiobooks. Yes, I've been a busy bee when it comes to the writing department.
I've also been reading like a fiend. My favorite book that I've read in the last few weeks has been The Hate You Give. OMG, it was a work of art! Raise your hand if you can't wait for the movie (both hands raise high in the air). Right now I'm reading Love, Life and the List by Kasie West and loving every word.
So, since it's been so long, allow me to re-introduce myself. My name is Stephanie. I write under the pen names Seven Steps and Mildred B Lewis. My life is mostly IT person by day, wife and mother by early to late evening, and by late night and super early morning, writer. Yes, I have an S on my chest. I enjoy Disney, fruity desserts, sweet wine, and laughter. I'm a terrible speller and somewhat of an introvert, but I love to meet new people so please don't hesitate to email me at info@sevenstepsauthor.com.
My Seven Steps pen name is mostly young adult books. Do you love Disney and YA romance novels? Then you'll love my St. Mary's Academy series that take classic fairy tales and puts them into a contemporary setting. Think Riverdale but with fairy tale characters instead of Archie characters.
Mildred B Lewis is my historical romance pen name that focuses on mail order brides in the old west.
So that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Keep an eye on this space for Giveaways, snippets of my writing, new releases, my struggles and triumphs, and so much more. I'll be posting every Wednesday. You can also catch up with me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sevenstepsauthor, my website at https://www.sevenstepsauthor.com, Bookbub at Seven Steps Author or email me at info@sevenstepsauthor.com.
Just for being here, let's have some giveaways!
>>Click Here To Enter To Win A Copy Of The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back<<
>>Click Here To Enter To Win A Copy Of The Fault In Our Stars<<
>>Click Here To Enter To Win A Copy Of The Isle Of The Lost<<
>>Want $50 and an Amazon Kindle? Click the link below to enter this amazing giveaway!<<
Until next time!
Stephanie
It's been way too long since I've updated this blog. My last post was in September. September! What's been keeping me away? In a word, writing. In the last five months, I've written 3 books (1 novel and 2 novellas) and I'm in the middle of writing another novel and producing two audiobooks. Yes, I've been a busy bee when it comes to the writing department.
I've also been reading like a fiend. My favorite book that I've read in the last few weeks has been The Hate You Give. OMG, it was a work of art! Raise your hand if you can't wait for the movie (both hands raise high in the air). Right now I'm reading Love, Life and the List by Kasie West and loving every word.
So, since it's been so long, allow me to re-introduce myself. My name is Stephanie. I write under the pen names Seven Steps and Mildred B Lewis. My life is mostly IT person by day, wife and mother by early to late evening, and by late night and super early morning, writer. Yes, I have an S on my chest. I enjoy Disney, fruity desserts, sweet wine, and laughter. I'm a terrible speller and somewhat of an introvert, but I love to meet new people so please don't hesitate to email me at info@sevenstepsauthor.com.
My Seven Steps pen name is mostly young adult books. Do you love Disney and YA romance novels? Then you'll love my St. Mary's Academy series that take classic fairy tales and puts them into a contemporary setting. Think Riverdale but with fairy tale characters instead of Archie characters.
Mildred B Lewis is my historical romance pen name that focuses on mail order brides in the old west.
So that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Keep an eye on this space for Giveaways, snippets of my writing, new releases, my struggles and triumphs, and so much more. I'll be posting every Wednesday. You can also catch up with me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sevenstepsauthor, my website at https://www.sevenstepsauthor.com, Bookbub at Seven Steps Author or email me at info@sevenstepsauthor.com.
Just for being here, let's have some giveaways!
>>Click Here To Enter To Win A Copy Of The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back<<
>>Click Here To Enter To Win A Copy Of The Fault In Our Stars<<
>>Click Here To Enter To Win A Copy Of The Isle Of The Lost<<
>>Want $50 and an Amazon Kindle? Click the link below to enter this amazing giveaway!<<
Until next time!
Stephanie
September 19, 2017
The Boyfriend Agreement Is Live!!
The Boyfriend Agreement Is Live!!(Cue the confetti)
The Boyfriend Agreement is LIVE. I'm so happy to introduce you to Bella and the other kids at St. Mary's Academy. Expect to laugh, cry, and cheer for them as they navigate the confusing, exciting, scary, and always entertaining world of high school.
--Seven Steps
Download HERE
The Boyfriend Agreement is LIVE. I'm so happy to introduce you to Bella and the other kids at St. Mary's Academy. Expect to laugh, cry, and cheer for them as they navigate the confusing, exciting, scary, and always entertaining world of high school.
--Seven Steps
Download HERE
August 29, 2017
Special Advanced Release Of The Boyfriend Agreement
Special Advanced Release Of The Boyfriend Agreement
The Boyfriend Agreement releases September 19th. I am giving my blog readers an opportunity to receive the book before the release date.
Click the picture below to receive your special Advanced Copy of The Boyfriend Agreement for only $4.99 (the post release day price).
Happy Reading!
Buy Now
The Boyfriend Agreement releases September 19th. I am giving my blog readers an opportunity to receive the book before the release date.
Click the picture below to receive your special Advanced Copy of The Boyfriend Agreement for only $4.99 (the post release day price).
Happy Reading!
Buy Now
August 27, 2017
Fairy Odd Comparisons - Bella French
Fairy Odd Comparisons - Bella French
Did you know that The Boyfriend Agreement is full of fairy tale easter eggs? Check out the infograph below to learn more.
Click the picture below to purchase The Boyfriend Agreement from your preferred vendor.
Did you know that The Boyfriend Agreement is full of fairy tale easter eggs? Check out the infograph below to learn more.
Click the picture below to purchase The Boyfriend Agreement from your preferred vendor.
August 24, 2017
YA Romance Author Cindy Ray Hale Takes Over Forever Sweet Romance!
YA Romance Author Cindy Ray Hale Takes Over Forever Sweet Romance!
Author Name: Cindy Ray Hale
Describe your writing style in three words: This is tough! Let me see, honest, heartfelt, and funny.
Three interesting things about your books in general: I write clean romance. My books don’t have any swearing or on page sex scenes. Religion is important to me. It was a huge part of my life growing up. So I decided to tell a story about what it was like being bullied for being different because of my religion. I was a Mormon girl in a Baptist school and was targeted for it all the time. Although focusing on religion is definitely different in the world of YA lit, I feel like it’s still a story that deals with issues like bullying and forbidden love that a lot of teens can identify with.I like to tell stories about characters who have been through similar things that I have been through. I wrote a story called It Was You about a young actress pursuing dreams that felt unreachable. Because I’ve been on big time film sets (Like Ant Man, Vampire Diaries, and Allegiance) I know what that world feels like. I want the readers to feel like they’re there with me, exploring a world they may know nothing about. It’s why I like to sell books to people who have no idea what a typical day for a Mormon girl would be like. I want to take them to a new place, somewhere unique and unusual that I’ve been and help them feel what it’s really like while experiencing emotions that they can closely identify with.
What is the very first thing that you remember writing? I was in third or fourth grade. I wrote a book about a little girl named Sally. I don’t remember much more than that.
What inspires you to write? Powerful experiences that change lives.
What is your favorite part about being an author and why? Struggling with a big plot hole or a scene that just won’t come together for me, leaving it, and coming back to have it all come together after seeing it with a fresh eye.
What is your least favorite part about being an author and why? Writer’s block. It’s the worst! It makes me feel like I’m wasting time, and the guilt is horrible.
What is your favorite book that you have written, and why? Destiny. Because it was so scary for me to write. But I did it, and so many people loved it because it spoke to them. It's the book that made me an author. It will always be near and dear to my heart.
What are you working on now? Right now I’m working on a rewrite of the Destiny trilogy. I’m stretching it into a nine books series with new titles and new covers. I’ve gotten through book one, which I’m calling A Braver Version of Me, and I’m finishing up the last scene of book two, A Better Version of Me.
Click Here>>Destiny Trilogy Series Page<<Click Here
What is it about? A Braver Version of Me is the first third of Destiny. It’s about her growth from being terrified of the bullies on the bus at the beginning to finding the strength within herself to learn to stand up to them and to stop caring so much about what they say.A Better Version of Me is the middle portion of Destiny. It’s the story of when Destiny and Isaac first get together and deals with overcoming personal biases and judgments.
Give us a one paragraph excerpt:Gasp! This is scary! I’ve never shared an excerpt publicly like this from my rewrites. This is from A Braver Version of Me.
Where can we purchase it? Right now the only Destiny books I have available for purchase are the first two of the original trilogy, Destiny and Synchrony. You can view all my books here:
>>https://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Ray-Hale/e/B00GEMM4IO<<
Interview by Seven Steps. Check out her new book, The Boyfriend Agreement, wherever books are sold.
Author Name: Cindy Ray Hale
Describe your writing style in three words: This is tough! Let me see, honest, heartfelt, and funny.
Three interesting things about your books in general: I write clean romance. My books don’t have any swearing or on page sex scenes. Religion is important to me. It was a huge part of my life growing up. So I decided to tell a story about what it was like being bullied for being different because of my religion. I was a Mormon girl in a Baptist school and was targeted for it all the time. Although focusing on religion is definitely different in the world of YA lit, I feel like it’s still a story that deals with issues like bullying and forbidden love that a lot of teens can identify with.I like to tell stories about characters who have been through similar things that I have been through. I wrote a story called It Was You about a young actress pursuing dreams that felt unreachable. Because I’ve been on big time film sets (Like Ant Man, Vampire Diaries, and Allegiance) I know what that world feels like. I want the readers to feel like they’re there with me, exploring a world they may know nothing about. It’s why I like to sell books to people who have no idea what a typical day for a Mormon girl would be like. I want to take them to a new place, somewhere unique and unusual that I’ve been and help them feel what it’s really like while experiencing emotions that they can closely identify with.
What is the very first thing that you remember writing? I was in third or fourth grade. I wrote a book about a little girl named Sally. I don’t remember much more than that.
What inspires you to write? Powerful experiences that change lives.
What is your favorite part about being an author and why? Struggling with a big plot hole or a scene that just won’t come together for me, leaving it, and coming back to have it all come together after seeing it with a fresh eye.
What is your least favorite part about being an author and why? Writer’s block. It’s the worst! It makes me feel like I’m wasting time, and the guilt is horrible.
What is your favorite book that you have written, and why? Destiny. Because it was so scary for me to write. But I did it, and so many people loved it because it spoke to them. It's the book that made me an author. It will always be near and dear to my heart.
What are you working on now? Right now I’m working on a rewrite of the Destiny trilogy. I’m stretching it into a nine books series with new titles and new covers. I’ve gotten through book one, which I’m calling A Braver Version of Me, and I’m finishing up the last scene of book two, A Better Version of Me.
Click Here>>Destiny Trilogy Series Page<<Click Here
What is it about? A Braver Version of Me is the first third of Destiny. It’s about her growth from being terrified of the bullies on the bus at the beginning to finding the strength within herself to learn to stand up to them and to stop caring so much about what they say.A Better Version of Me is the middle portion of Destiny. It’s the story of when Destiny and Isaac first get together and deals with overcoming personal biases and judgments.
Give us a one paragraph excerpt:Gasp! This is scary! I’ve never shared an excerpt publicly like this from my rewrites. This is from A Braver Version of Me.
As I stepped onto the final platform of the ropes course, I looked over the forest canopy, taking in the beauty of Tennessee. A bird of prey soared across a bright blue sky, scattered with white, puffy clouds, and dove into the blanket of green leaves beneath. Beyond the woods the lake sparkled in the afternoon sun. Tree-covered mountains rose up in the distance.Isaac joined me on the platform, a smelling woodsy with a hint of sweat, a heady combination that set my pulse racing. “Wow, this is breathtaking,” he said. I stole a glance at him. His eyes took in the scene before us like a thirsty man seeing an oasis in the desert.“Yeah,” I breathed. He looked down at me, his brown eyes crinkling at the corners. Between Isaac’s enticing smell and the way his eyes pulled me in, I was very much in danger of getting my heart broken.I looked away. Don’t fall into his trap. It was one thing to watch him from afar, but a very different thing to be standing alone with him, sharing a moment in nature.
Where can we purchase it? Right now the only Destiny books I have available for purchase are the first two of the original trilogy, Destiny and Synchrony. You can view all my books here:
>>https://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Ray-Hale/e/B00GEMM4IO<<
Interview by Seven Steps. Check out her new book, The Boyfriend Agreement, wherever books are sold.
