Alissa Arford's Blog, page 3

Welcome to Seagull Street… and My Backyard

I’ll be honest: publishing a book is very hard. But celebrating a book? That part is pure magic.

On May 24, 2025, the official release day for Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland, I hosted a private book launch party at my house, and I’m still feeling all the warm, sunny, bookish feelings. It wasn’t fancy. No prepared speeches or velvet ropes. Just good people, good snacks (Fisher’s Popcorn, Dolle’s saltwater taffy, Berger Cookies, Otterbein Cookies, and crab dip!), and lots of laughter and support.

To everyone who stopped by: thank you! Whether you came from across the street or across the state, you helped make this indie author feel like maybe, just maybe, all those late nights and rewrites and moments of “what am I doing?” were worth it.

Seeing people I love holding my book, flipping through pages, reading the back cover, sharing their own OCMD memories, was surreal and emotional in the best way. And signing your books? That was the cherry on top. (Still working on making my signature consistent and coming up with clever phrases!)

To my family, friends, neighbors, and everyone who cheered me on from the sidelines (or from social media): thank you for showing up. For believing in me. For buying the book, bringing flowers, wine, Maryland goodies, sharing social posts, or just saying “Congrats!” when you saw me on my daily walk in the neighborhood. It all means more than you know.

Welcome to Seagull Street is officially out in the world now and thanks to you, its journey started with joy, hugs, and kicking off summer with a huge splash!

Here’s to more stories, more summers, and more reasons to gather. Cheers!

P.S. If you haven’t grabbed a copy yet:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IngramSpark POD

If you’re one of the more than 100 people out in the world with a copy of Welcome to Seagull Street in these first few days, please consider writing a review on Amazon or Goodreads because people who don’t know me rely on reader’s reviews to help their book-buying decision process!

Real Places, Real Memories: A Love Letter to OCMD

When I started writing Welcome to Seagull Street, I knew I wanted Ocean City, Maryland, to feel like a character all its own. That meant weaving in the places so many of us know and love, whether it’s the scent of Fisher’s Popcorn on the Boardwalk, a sunset dinner at Fish Tales, or that first bite of a Thrasher’s French Fry on a lazy summer afternoon.

These aren’t just background details. They’re memory triggers. They’re the heartbeat of summer in OCMD.

Real Places in Welcome to Seagull Street:

Bahia MarinaBLUBrass Balls SaloonCandy KitchenCheese Wheel PastaDe Lazy LizardDolle’s CandylandDumser’s DairylandEmbersEmbers Mini GolfFager’s IslandFisher’s PopcornFish TalesFractured PruneGreen TurtleGrotto PizzaHammerheadsHappy Jack Pancake HouseHarborside Bar & GrillHarrison’s Harbor WatchHooper’s Crab HouseJay’s CafeJolly Roger Amusement ParkLedo PizzaMacky’s BaysideMargaritaville (RIP)MR DucksOcean City Rum ShackOcean GalleryPapi’s TacosPhillips Crab House (RIP)Purple Moose SaloonRaggamuffin BoutiqueRipieno’sSeacretsShenanigansThe Atlantic HotelThe Grand HotelThe Other One (RIP)Thrasher’s French FriesTony’s Pizza (RIP)

Of course, there were so many more I wanted to include, but I had to stop somewhere! I did my best to capture the places that felt most essential to this story and the spirit of Ocean City.

This list will keep evolving, I probably forgot to include a few that are in the book. Eventually, I plan to update this with page numbers so you can spot exactly where each place shows up in the book.

If your favorite didn’t make the list, don’t worry! I’m already keeping notes for the next book that’s a flashback to Ocean City in the 1980s.

Got a go-to OCMD spot I should include next time? Let me know, I’d love to hear it.

Fictional Places in Welcome to Seagull Street:

Seagull StreetJJ’s Bar and CafeMarlin’s PointAntonio’s Pizzeria

Welcome to Seagull Street is coming May 24, 2025!

Available May 24th on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever you get your ebooks. A limited number of signed copies are available NOW at Second Edition Books in Columbia, Maryland! Starting in June, you’ll be able to get signed copies at Raggamuffin Boutique and Bethany Beach Books!

Order on Amazon
Order on Barnes & Noble

Order POD from IngramSpark:

Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean Ci …. Arford, Alissa A Buy Now

Welcome to Seagull Street is Available via POD at IngramSpark

Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean Ci …. Arford, Alissa A Buy Now

Get It First: Welcome to Seagull Street Now Available in Print!

A special early offer for my inner circle!

I’m so excited to share that Welcome to Seagull Street is now available in paperback and you can order it directly from me through a special print-on-demand link from IngramSpark! This is a new feature and I’m excited to be one of the first authors to try out their POD!

This is the same professionally printed version that will be available on Amazon and in bookstores on May 24th. (Let’s be honest, IngramSpark’s printing quality will be better than the Amazon edition.) If you want to be among the first to hold a copy in your hands, this is your early access pass!

It ships straight to your door (U.S. only)
Printed on demand in the U.S.
I earn more from these direct sales than a purchase from Amazon

Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean Ci …. Arford, Alissa A Buy Now

Welcome to Seagull Street is my love letter to Ocean City, Maryland. A slice-of-life, multi-POV story about friendship, fresh starts, and the kind of summer that quietly changes everything.

Thank you for being here, supporting indie books, and reading stories that live close to real life!

One Week Until Seagull Street!

Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland

One week from today, my debut novel Welcome to Seagull Street will officially be released into the world, on May 24, 2025. I’ve been working on this story in bits and pieces for two years.

I confess that I didn’t set out to write a literary epic. What is it? It’s a slice-of-life story grounded in place and feeling. It’s what happens when my journalism background (clear, conversational, descriptive) collides with fiction and out of that comes a summer story about three strangers who become something like family.

It’s a love letter to my favorite vacation spot: Ocean City, Maryland. It follows along with real events from the summer of 2023. If you’ve ever spent time in OCMD you’ll know the feeling:

Sunrises over the Atlantic OceanBayfront sunsets behind fishing boats and piersThe chaos and charm of the BoardwalkSeagulls that might be up to somethingConversations with new friends that change everything

The book centers on Ray Anders, a reclusive cybersecurity analyst trying to move on from a hard few years of pandemic-related trauma. She’s joined by Olivia McNalley, a recently divorced third-grade teacher who moves to Ocean City in hopes of escaping the chaos and drama stirred up by her ex-husband, a man who just won’t let her move on. And then there’s Evan Michaels, a marketing manager and weekend surfer who’s trying to start over after a break-up.

Is there romance? Yes. Mystery? Yes. But more than anything, it’s a book about real life, connection, recovery, second chances, and the small moments that shape a summer, and a life.

Where to Get Welcome to Seagull Street

Amazon + Barnes & Noble – Available in paperback, Kindle, and Nook starting May 24, 2025. Amazon Listing. Barnes & Noble Listing.

IngramSpark Distribution – The book will be available for order through independent bookstores and library wholesalers. Details (PDF).

eBooks – Distribution to Apple Books, Nook, Kobo, and Google Books is rolling out throughout launch week.

If you love books with warm-hearted characters, small-town connections, and beach-town energy, I hope you’ll give this one a try. And if you’ve ever visited Ocean City, I hope it brings back a little sunshine and salt air.

Thanks for being here with me. I can’t wait for you to meet Ray, Olivia, Evan… and the seagulls who may or may not be watching.

Now Available Print-on-Demand via IngramSpark:

Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean Ci …. Arford, Alissa A Buy Now

From First Draft to Final Proof: The Long Road to Seagull Street

If you’re going to do something, do it right. That’s been my personal motto for as long as I can remember. Maybe that’s why it took me nearly two years to write and publish my debut novel, “Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland.“Writing the First Draft

I started writing in earnest in April 2023, shortly after quitting a nightmare of a job. By September, I had a full draft—but it was far from done. What followed was six months of beta readers, self-editing, revising, cutting, and rewriting. Like most first-time novelists, I learned the real work begins after “The End.”

Working with a Professional Editor

By early 2024, I was back in a full-time job and had taken the manuscript as far as I could on my own. I didn’t have the time or energy to keep up the momentum for this passion project.

I’ve always been a picky reader. If a book is poorly edited or badly formatted, I can’t ignore it, and I didn’t want my book to fall into that trap. As a professional editor and content writer, I knew I needed outside perspective. I hired a developmental editor who specializes in fiction to help tighten the structure, clarify character arcs, and uncover blind spots I couldn’t see on my own.

Editing a novel is slow, emotional work. The process took another six months and wrapped up at the end of 2024.

Choosing the Self-Publishing Path

I never seriously considered traditional publishing. I’ve worked in marketing and communications for years and helped others promote their books. I have an MBA, I’ve run a business, and I know how to manage a project. So in 2023, I founded Red Hill Creek Enterprises, LLC, and set out to publish the book myself. It felt like the perfect way to combine everything I’ve done professionally.

Even with that background, self-publishing was no walk in the park. Learning the technical side—how to format files, set margins, and pick the right print specs—was a crash course in trial and error. I probably re-exported the manuscript two dozen times just trying to get the PDF right.

What’s Next?

As of today, I’ve submitted the files to request my printed paperback proof copy. After countless rounds of editing and reviewing, I’m hoping (fingers crossed!) that everything looks the way I imagined. I know it won’t be perfect—but I also know I gave it everything I had.

Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland, is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback formats, launching May 24, 2025.

Join Alissa’s Email list to win a signed copy!

Welcome to Seagull Street Releases May 24, 2025

NEW BOOK: Welcome to Seagull Street Releases May 24, 2025

I’m thrilled to officially announce that my debut novel, Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland, will be released on May 24, 2025!

This story has been a labor of love—and more than a few seagull sightings—and I can’t wait for you to meet Ray, Olivia, Evan, and the unforgettable summer that changes everything.

Set in the heart of Ocean City, Maryland, Welcome to Seagull Street is a slice-of-life novel that’s part romance, part mystery, and 100% a love letter to fresh starts, late-summer sunsets, and unexpected friendships.

Here’s how you can be part of the launch:

Preorder the Kindle edition now on Amazon
If you love reading on your device, you can lock in your copy today.
Amazon Book Listing

Paperback edition available May 24
Prefer a physical copy? The paperback will be available on Amazon on release day.

Limited signed paperbacks
I’ll also be offering a small number of signed copies here on AlissaArford.com after launch—stay tuned!

Join the journey on social media
Follow me on TikTok and Instagram for sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes updates, and release-week fun.

Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Bluesky | Threads | LinkedIn

Thank you for being part of this story—and part of this dream.

I can’t wait to hear what you think of Welcome to Seagull Street!

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Oceans Calling 2024

The second annual Oceans Calling Music Festival was a three-day extravaganza from September 27-29, 2024, held on the beach with the backdrop of Ocean City’s iconic Boardwalk.

For me, it wasn’t just the spectacular music performances, but the shared experience with my now 55,000 closest Facebook friends. It was the electric energy, the pure joy of seeing our favorite musicians giving it their all, the surprise musical guests and collabs and cover songs. Braving the torrential rain and flooded streets on day one to dealing with the humidity the next two days. All of this combined made the event truly unforgettable!

From the moment we purchased our tickets last winter, I’ve been looking forward to this festival. And now, as I start writing this article on the following weekend, I’m wishing that I had also gone to Country Calling because I’m having major FOMO. I keep reading the Facebook posts and watching my videos and wishing that I didn’t have to wait another year to experience it all over again.

Last year, I wrote a comprehensive blog post about the logistics of the Oceans Calling 2023 Music Festival. Rather than rehash all that (which is basically the same for this year), I’ll try to focus on new things.

THE PEOPLE

Concert organizers say that there were 55K tickets sold for each day versus 50K last year. Perhaps an unpopular take, but I felt like it seemed less crowded this year. The lines seemed shorter, the crowd density seemed lower, aside from certain times when there was a crush – most notably for the Boyz II Men performance at Carousel and leaving the festival each day, trying to squeeze out of the gate to walk up the Boardwalk.

As far as the ages of the attendees, I felt like the crowd skewed a bit younger than last year but overall, fewer families with young kids and fewer seniors. I felt like the behavior of the attendees was much better than last year – not as many drunk and rowdy folks. Everyone was energized and excited to be listening to live music… and you could tell that the bands appreciated the dancing and singing. The vibe of Oceans Calling is truly epic.

THE LINEUP

After Oceans Calling 2023 we were undecided about going in 2024 – not because we didn’t have an amazing time, but more because of the expense and prioritizing diversity in our annual vacations. Once we saw the 2024 lineup, though, we knew that we had to try to get tickets. With Blink-182, The Killers, and Dave Matthews Band as headliners and so many of our other favorite bands, it was a no-brainer to save up and attend again.

There’s been a lot of commentary that the acts were “too old” with nothing current “in the last decade,” but if you love music you’re sure to love the classics. Last year, I was easily able to say that Weezer was my favorite performance. This year? I just don’t know. It’s a toss up because I really loved them all. If I were to list out my favorite songs of all time, I heard about a dozen of them at Oceans Calling 2024!

Before we went to the concert, we listed out our top priorities, aside from the headliners: O.A.R., Phillip Phillips, Blues Traveler, Barenaked Ladies, Counting Crows, The Offspring, The Beach Boys, and The All-American Rejects. I had already seen The Offspring, Cage the Elephant, O.A.R., Sugar Ray, and The Beach Boys. I knew that I wanted to see all of them again if possible, but difficult choices had to be made!

I printed out the daily lineups and my concert crew (my 22-year-old son and my boyfriend) gathered around the kitchen table and discussed our personal preferences and circled our priorities. We discussed our walking routes, when we would try to eat, when we could go on the rides, when we would try to get up close to the stage, and when we would rest on our beach blanket. We would have to split up at times, and we were all ok with that. There were a few critical overlaps where we would try to sprint back and forth to see both bands at the same time on Sea Bright and Carousel. We weren’t going to sashay in just before the headliners, we were all off work for three days and ready to enter the festival right when it opened at 12:30 PM each day.

Oceans Calling Playlist on YouTube

Click on the upper right menu to see other video clips posted at “The Adventures of Alissa & Kip” YouTube Channel.

FRIDAY / DAY 1

On Friday, it was overcast and drizzling most of the day, making way for heavy rain and wind in the evening. We were prepared with ponchos and raincoats, but it did put a bit of a damper on the festivities. Right after going through security and getting our IDs checked for the “Over 21 Bracelet” we went straight to the Rock and Recycle table to get a trash bag to collect aluminum cans and get a free festival t-shirt. At the festival last year, we noticed people walking around with these bags but by the time we realized what it was, they’d run out of bags.

On Day 1, our first “must see” was Phillip Phillips at the Rockville stage. We prioritized getting up close for that, and after Vincent Lima’s heartfelt performance we kept our place at the front rail and waited an hour for Phillip Phillips to start his set, which most definitely exceeded our expectations! Hearing the huge crowd sing along and sway to Gone, Gone, Gone and Home was such a special moment that I’ll always remember when I hear those songs going forward. Watching his wife and young son watch on from backstage was a sight I’ll always remember.

Mid-afternoon, we went on the Ferris Wheel at the Jolly Rogers Pier (all the rides were free!) and we tried to catch some of both competing acts, Tonic and Larkin Poe. The ​​Lovell Sisters had so much energy that it was impossible to not dance around with them as they jammed out on stage… and as a Baltimorean and Ravens fan, it’s hard to not love them. Their band name comes from their great-great-great-great-grandfather, a cousin of Edgar Allan Poe.

After Larkin Poe, we moved up closer to the stage and staked out a spot right in front to wait for O.A.R. – one of our top priorities. In the meantime, my son ran over to Rockville to watch The Darkness and get some video clips for me to watch later on. He saw almost all of the acts for the entire festival – speed-walking back and forth between all the stages.

Prior to the first Oceans Calling, we knew that O.A.R. was formed in Rockville, Maryland, and enjoyed their songs but hadn’t seen them in concert. Now, we’re absolutely O.A.R. fanatics. The people around us by the stage were also super fans and we had a fantastic time rocking out to their best hits… and it was indeed A Crazy Game of Poker. I grabbed a card from the sand to add to my festival momentos. Watching the other VIPs looking on from the partition above the stage was also fun. If you didn’t know, actor Jason Biggs and Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine are both good friends with Marc Roberge, lead singer of O.A.R. and “Founder” of Oceans Calling.

After O.A.R., we all split up. I went to the bathroom and got some Dumsers ice cream and went to watch The Revivalists – under the Carousel tent, which covered the falling rain but the ground was flooding. I was standing in a puddle with a couple inches of water. For me, this was one of my favorite performances. blink-182’s performance at the end of the night was heavily impacted by the stormy weather.

SATURDAY / DAY 2

My biggest challenge and accomplishment was on Day 2, with the goal to hear all of my favorite songs at The All-American Rejects while also seeing much of The Beach Boys set. Before the concert, we checked out previous setlists for most of the bands. We figured that AAR would play Dirty Little Secret early/mid-act. By pure luck, we timed it just right and were able to get from Beach Boys to AAR to hear that song. Then I went back to The Beach Boys solo for a few songs and saw Dexter from The Offspring do a cameo with them… and then I got back to AAR just in time to hear their last few top songs… next we all rushed over to the Rockville stage for The Offspring.

I saw The Offspring at Pier Six Pavillion in Baltimore a couple years ago and they were excellent. But their performance at Oceans Calling was on another level. The energy was epic and everyone was singing and dancing and acting pretty fly… and maybe we were not quite hip, but in our own mind, we were the dopest trip. By far, The Offspring was one of my favorite performances of the entire festival!

For me, there’s a direct correlation between how close you get to the band as to how much you enjoy the performance. And I always enjoy a performance more if people around me are energized, singing along, and engaged. Typically, if you love a band, you’ll try to get closer. I found that my favorite performances were indeed the ones that I was up close to the stage.

SUNDAY / DAY 3

Day 3 was our biggest question mark. We wanted to see so many of the competing acts, so we had to make some difficult choices. We decided to get up close to Blues Traveler, which meant we would not be as close to the stage for Barenaked Ladies. It was mesmerizing watching John Popper masterfully play his harmonica, less than 20 feet away from the stage.

Next, we rushed straight over to the Starlight stage to see Barenaked Ladies and ended up setting out our beach blanket, although the performance was just too good to actually sit down. It was such a fun set and we were singing along and dancing and having an absolute blast on the sunny beach. One of my favorite songs is One Week, and I’d been spending months trying to memorize the words and actually sing along with the fast timing of the song. I was relieved when I saw that they put the words to the song up on the screen so we could all sing along more easily. The best part was the “Chickity China – the Chinese Chicken,” for which they did a super fun remix. When we all sang along to “If I had a million dollars…” I was daydreaming about going to music festivals all around the world if I was that rich. Or maybe just buying a super fancy Yeti cooler.

In 2023, O.A.R. and Friends was one of our favorite performances so we knew we couldn’t miss it and everyone was anxious with frenzied anticipation about who the ‘friends’ would be! Along with some of the festival’s other performers, they had three special guests: Damian “Jr Gong” Marley, Arrested Development, and Dee Snider. When Marc Roberge announced that Dee Snider was there, it was electric. Twisted Sister is absolutely iconic, and I think everyone was in shock! It was the most exciting performance of the entire festival, by far.

We were also up close to the stage for Counting Crows and watching Adam Duritz perform, I felt like I was at a Broadway show. Get that man a Tony award! I don’t think I’ver ever seen such emotion in a festival performance.

On Friday night, when it was a torrential downpour, I split off from my squad and got under the tent to watch The Revivalists, while others went to Cage the Elephant and to wait up close to Sublime.

Given the high winds all weekend, and heavy rain on Friday, the sound was not always clear. No surprise that the weather can significantly affect the travel of sound by causing sound waves to bend or refract, meaning sounds can be heard further or less clearly depending on the direction of the wind and the presence of rain. Many attendees complained about the sound quality. For me and my crew, if we couldn’t hear, we moved. We never couldn’t hear a band all weekend… it was just a matter of switching our location.

The biggest surprise? “Ladies. Gentlemen. Ladies and gentlemen…” I just wanna say that it had to be The Hives! Great stage presence, attire, vocals, instruments, energy. Bravo to the group from Sweden!

When you’re watching your favorite bands and sitting on the beach right next to the ocean, it’s one of those moments in time of pure bliss where you look around and think to yourself, can this please not end? I could stay here forever.

#1 TIP: SET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

I’ve gone to a few music festivals and my number one tip is to set realistic expectations and be prepared for uncertainty.

You know it will be crowded.

The weather will be an ever-changing mystery.

You’ll be uncomfortable and tired.

It won’t be perfect.

But it will be perfectly imperfect.

The imperfections will make it so much more memorable.

Listening to the bands you love is worth it.

The next Oceans Calling is coming in September 26-28, 2025.

https://www.oceanscallingfestival.com/

Oceans Calling 2024 Musical Lineup
Friday, September 27, 2024

Stolen Gin

Winona Fighter

Larkin Poe

O.A.R.

Cage the Elephant

Blink-182

Vincent Lima

Phillip Phillips

The Darkness

311

Sublime

Tonic

Sugar Ray

The Revivalists

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Glom

Trevor Hall

The Beaches

Young the Giant

The Beach Boys

The Killers

Katelyn Tarver

Switchfoot

The Hives

Rebelution

The Offspring

The Samples

Brett Dennen

Grouplove

The All-American Rejects

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Jade Bird

Guster

Barenaked Ladies

Mt. Joy

Dave Matthews Band

Stephen Kellogg

Big Head Todd and the Monsters

Blues Traveler (performing Four)

O.A.R. & Friends

Counting Crows

Lisa Loeb

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

Boyz II Men

Culinary Demos

Chef Marc Murphy

Chef Robert Irvine

Chef Amanda Freitag

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