Brenda Maxfield's Blog, page 6
October 16, 2013
Bad Boy Blog Hop
Greetings, Friends! I’m excited to be participating in the “Bad Boy Blog Hop”! Why is it that so many times our characters fall for the wrong guy? Even when warned, they blaze on with scary focus…
Happily, sometimes those bad guys turn out to be heroes. Other times, not so much.
I remember when I went after the bad boy in my high school. I was inexperienced, innocent, and just plain dumb. But . . . that story is for another time!
Emili Jones makes the “bad boy” mistake in The Lance Temptation. She is determined to land the current hot guy at her school — and she doesn’t much care how she does it. Emili throws all common sense into the gutter and goes about her mission with laser intent.
And she pays for it. Big time.
In honor of our Bad Boy Blog Tour, I’m giving away a free pdf e-copy of The Lance Temptation (where you can read all about Emili Jones). Just leave a comment below with your email address to enter the drawing!
And now, how about you? Did you ever go after the bad boy (0r bad girl)? How did it turn out? I love to hear all about it!
And as always, thanks for stopping by.
Brenda
Click here to visit the other participating blogs!
Click here to check out becoming part of my new street team!
Tagged: bad boy, Brenda Maxfield, dating, good clean teen reads, teen betrayal, The Edgemont Series, The Lance Temptation, YA Lit
October 15, 2013
Welcome, Tammy Turner!
Hello, Friends! I recently had the privilege of interviewing author Tammy Turner. I’m excited to share her interview with you today. Here it is:
Where are you from?
Originally I am from the most beautiful small town on the east coast, Charleston, South Carolina. It was one of the oldest cities in the United States and history slaps you in the face at every turn down her quiet alleys and cobblestone lanes. Currently I live in a much bigger town, Atlanta, Georgia. The big city is nothing like the seaside town where I grew up but both are special to me.
Tell us your latest news?
The sequel to Falling into Forever is completed and due out in the spring. The title is The End of Never and continues the wild ride Alexandra finds herself on as a high school senior with newly discovered abilities, friends and even enemies. I am also working on the third book in the series.
When and why did you begin writing?
I have been writing my whole life. Some kids sing. Some kids dance. My mom always told me I was a good actress but I think that was polite code for drama queen. From the time I could hold a crayon in my stubby little fingers I was writing words on construction paper about my stuffed animals Patty Bear and Hobbes the Tiger. I always wrote poems or short stories all the way through high school but never shared with anyone. As an adult I put writing aside for a time to concentrate on being a grown up because I got lost in my job and responsibilities and being a mom. What I had not figured out was that writing was just as much a part of me as everything else in my life. It makes me feel whole even if no one ever reads a word a write. At least I am making the effort to do something I love.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
The act of putting pen to paper makes anyone a writer but I did not feel I had really accomplished anything until I saw my name on the cover of Falling into Forever and could hold the paper, my words alone on all those pages, in my trembling hands.
What inspired you to write your first book?
A few years ago I devoured the entire Twilight series in about two weeks. I lost a lot of sleep and did not go out in the sun until I had read every single last word Stephanie Meyer wrote. When I was done my imagination was juiced like five year old kid on Red Bull. I had not written much in years but I felt inspired. So I put pen to paper and went for it.
The idea for Falling into Forever did not come to me in words but in a vision. I was at work staring at my computer screen thinking about a cigarette because I had quit for a while but still craved now and again. And everybody in my office smokes. Everybody. Except me. So I was daydreaming and pictured two girls, best friends in matching private school uniforms, who would become the central characters. One was the good girl who was not smoking and one was the bad girl who was lighting up before class. They were talking in a secret hiding spot and catching up on the first day of school. I spent my lunch hour writing a page around that scene in my head. That single page grew into many more because I had to figure out what led the two of them there. What happened before? What happened after? What kinds of things could possibly happen behind the gates of a private school? Are there any secrets? I wanted to create suspense, mystery, maybe even a little longing. After all what teenager do you know is not crushing on someone maybe they should not be?
Do you have a specific writing style?
I never work with any kind of outline. My process is organic, and I never know when I sit down to write where my thoughts will take me. As I finish one chapter I concentrate on ideas for the next until the words start flowing. I also rarely compose at a computer. When an idea strikes I grab a pad of yellow legal paper and a pencil and start writing. Sitting at a computer for too long reminds me of my office job too much to promote any kind of creative productivity.
How did you come up with the title?
Falling into Forever was not the first title of the manuscript. At first it was The Dragon King which sounds too much like a story about hobbits and trolls so it got dropped. I think the title describes what my protagonist Alexandra Peyton experiences in the novel. In the first week of her senior year she goes from a quiet, good girl to a brave fighter when secrets and circumstances beyond her control change her life irrevocably and forever.
Is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?
Things are not always what they seem. There really are heroes. Sometimes you just need to have a little hope and faith to see them.
How much of the book is realistic?
I tried hard to blend the fantasy and supernatural elements with the reality teenagers face daily. Most high school students have some sort of issues with their parent. Some are in good in school. Some do not care about school. Boyfriends, girlfriends, homework – they are all a part of life. Even for my protagonist Alexandra despite the fantastical secrets surrounding her and threatening to turn her world upside down and inside out.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
I wish I had a handsome, immortal admirer but if I do he has not walked out of the shadows yet like Kraven does to reveal himself to Alexandra.
What books have most influenced your life?
Of course I have to say Twilight or I might still be doodling ideas in notepads. Also I want to mention a story book my dad gave me for Christmas when I was a little girl. He helped teach me to read with an adorable book titled The Sailor Dog by Margaret Wise Brown. I still have it on my bookshelf. And I could not write anything at all without two books my dad gave me from when he was in college many, many years ago: a Webster’s dictionary and a well used Roget’s thesaurus. I would be lost without either of them and the idea that my dad used them when he was a student holds special meaning for me.
Thank you, Tammy, for taking the time to answer my questions!
Here’s the blurb for Tammy’s book, Falling into Forever:
Immortality, thousands of years, and voodoo will make you fall in love . . .
High school senior Alexandra Peyton has a secret admirer with devilish good looks: shoulder-sweeping raven hair, brooding azure eyes, and a ten-foot wing span. But their thousand-year age difference may be a deal breaker for the shy seventeen-year-old. Kraven, the admirer (and immortal victim of an ancient curse), is certain that Alexandra is the reincarnation of his long-dead princess bride.
When Alexandra returns from a road trip to her grandmother’s beachfront estate on the South Carolina coast to the hectic, big-city life in Atlanta, Georgia, she possesses two souvenirs. The first is a once-lost package, sent to her by her now-missing father, which contains a mysterious pendant necklace. The second is a journal filled with the ravings of her dead uncle, an army officer who wrote of meeting the devil during his service in Europe during the final days of World War II.
However, a voodoo priestess who stalks the grounds of Peyton Manor is convinced that the journal will help her conjure the devil and wants the book returned at all costs. As school starts, a vicious wolf man, working for his voodoo mistress, plots an attack on Alexandra. When her life is threatened, the immortal stranger who has vowed to protect her reveals himself and changes her life irrevocably.
Tammy Turner’s Bio:
Growing up in the coastal town of Charleston, South Carolina, instilled an infatuation with history, mystery, and legend in first-time author Tammy Turner. From the time she could shuffle along behind her father, they would hunt for sharks’ teeth, explore crumbling cemeteries, and dig for pirate gold along the low country beaches. Attending school in the heart of the city, the palpable lore of history fed her imagination and inspired her to craft her own stories. An honors graduate of Georgia State University, Tammy has a degree in journalism and works in the field of international trade. Now a resident of Atlanta, Georgia, Tammy plans adventures with her son and capturing the essence of make believe with her writing.
Click here for Tammy’s Website!
Buy Links for Falling into Forever:
Tammy will be awarding a $10 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. I love it when my readers win! So please take a moment to drop me a comment below! (I think it only fitting that the greatest readers in the world get the prize!)
And as always, thanks for stopping by!
Brenda
P.S. Would any of you like a free advanced review copy of my new book, Cornered Ocean Mist Book Two? I’d love to send you a copy in exchange for an honest review on Amazon. Just let me know in a comment below (include your email address please!), or email me at: contact@brendamaxfield.com
Thank you!
Tagged: Amazon gift card, Atlanta Georgia, Brenda Maxfield, Falling into Forever, free advance reader copy, good clean teen reads, South Carolina, Tammy Turner, teen fiction, writing
September 30, 2013
Welcome, Judy Teel!
Hello Friends! Please join me in welcoming author Judy Teel! I’m thrilled to have her here and to announce her book, Shifty Magic!
Judy is offering a $25 gift certificate to a lucky commenter! (I’d love one of my readers to win the prize!) See below for the link.
Here’s the scoop on Judy’s book:
BLURB from Shifty Magic:
…some people will do anything for revenge.
A tough PI struggles to track down a vengeful serial killer only to discover that the murderer holds the key to her secret magical heritage.
Book One in the YA13 paranormal/mystery series Dangerous Magic by Judy Teel. “Expect action, on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense, and the perfect touch of romance.”
Here’s an Excerpt for you from Shifty Magic:
Resting my right hand on my gun, I poked the yellow button of my office door’s remote with my left index finger. My muscles tightened for action as the thick metal barrier swung ponderously open with a long-suffering hiss of hydraulics.
Cooper’s curious gaze swept over me and around the room. Wizard’s attention swept over Cooper. When the two of them locked eyes, the Were tensed and the cat started purring. Wizard rose to her feet and arched her back in a luxurious stretch, her focused attention never leaving the Were.
He was dressed for work, which in the FBI world meant black slacks and shoes, crisp white dress shirt, black jacket and a tie. The tie was bright yellow with a picture of Bugs Bunny on it.
He narrowed his luminous silver-green gaze on my cat, and then landed it back on me. “You should check your video readout before opening the door,” he said with that kind of authoritative sternness that inspired people like me to do the opposite.
I frowned at him. “What do you want?”
“To hire you. But first I need your alibi.”
“It’s too early for alibis,” I said, taking a sip of coffee to cover my surprise. As far as I knew, I hadn’t done anything obviously illegal. At least, not lately.
He glided into my office in that graceful, menacing way Weres had, and I buzzed the door closed. Despite looking barely old enough to buy a beer, Cooper radiated energy and purpose like the sun did heat. As the door clicked shut, he filled the space making the bread-box size of my office feel more like a matchbox.
His expression sobered as he eased himself gingerly onto one of the spindly folding chairs. “Where were you last night between the hours of eleven and one?”
And a little about Judy Teel:
I live in North Carolina with my boisterous family–husband, three kids, a dog and a geriatric bunny–and yup, I’m Southern so occasionally I let a “y’all” slip out. Maybe more than occasionally.
I love my job and dedicate as much of my time to writing as I can. When I’m not doing the weaving of the adventurous and romantic tales, I’m running errands, driving people around (or crazy depending on your perspective), and generally pretending I’m a grownup.
When I was fifteen, I knew I wanted to be a novelist–wanted to write for Harlequin actually. But the calling to tell stories came a lot earlier than that, I just didn’t know what it meant.
I had a lot of growing up to do before I could manage it, though many would claim the growing up part didn’t take–you know who you are–but I finally have my dream job.
Life rocks—so should the books you read!
Judy’s Links:
Enter here for a chance to win the $25 gift certificate!
Judy’s new book is full of action. Do you have a favorite action book? (Or maybe a movie?) I’d love to hear about it! Leave me a comment below!
And as always, thanks for stopping by!
Brenda
P.S. Would any of you like a free advanced copy of my new book, Cornered Ocean Mist Book Two? I’d love to send you a copy in exchange for an honest review on Amazon. Just let me know in a comment below (include your email address please!), or send me an email to: contact@brendamaxfield.com.
Thank you!
Tagged: Advanced reader copy, Amazon gift card, Brenda Maxfield, gift card, good clean teen reads, Judy Teel, prize, Shifty Magic
September 24, 2013
Back to School Hop for YA Books!
Greetings, Friends!
I’m excited to be part of this Back to School Hop for YA Books! I remember those days when school used to start in September. My best friend’s birthday was September 3rd, and we never started school before that.
Right now during this blog hop, I’ve already been in school seven weeks! Even my students are shocked at how quickly the first marking period has passed!
As a thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment below, you’ll be entered into a prize dive! You may have your choice of one of my ebooks, shown in the right hand column on this page. In the comment section below, just leave me your email and which book you’d like in case you’re the winner!
I’m also calling all readers, reviewers, bloggers, and YA lovers to join my street team and help spread the word about my current and future releases. Every author needs help spreading the word! All you need to do is share honest and positive reviews of my books, and recommend my books to other readers, friends, and family. I’d love to welcome you to the team.
As always, thanks for stopping by,
Brenda
Click here visit the Other Blogs in the Hop!
P.S. My newest teen read, Farah’s Deadline, was just released! Here’s the blurb:
Sassy, strong-willed, and pregnant, Farah Menins plans to be married at sixteen after her dad dumps her in a “special home” to be rid of her. Trapped in a place full of rules, Farah refuses to admit defeat — not when marriage would give her an out.
Farah’s roommate Lizbet hides her own painful secrets, and together, they forge an unlikely friendship when Farah sneaks off to confront her baby’s father. A dead baby, a mystery brother, and a house fire threaten to derail Farah’s plans. The confusion is compounded when Lizbet’s brother shows interest in her. With time running out, will Farah be able to salvage any of her dream? Click here to purchase.
Tagged: Back to School, Blog Hop, Brenda Maxfield, Contest, Free Ebook, good clean teen reads, Street Team
September 19, 2013
Farah’s Deadline Releases!
Hello Friends!
Have you ever had a character stick in your mind? Even when you didn’t like them? And no matter what you did, they kept coming back?
That’s what happened to me with Farah Menins. Farah was in my first book, The Lance Temptation. She was the rotten girl, the mean girl. I didn’t like her at all. But when the book was over and finished, she wouldn’t shut up. She yammered and yammered at me.
I finally gave in and wrote her book. And wonder of wonders – once I got to know her better, I actually became fond of her. I liked her toughness, her snarky attitude, her survival instincts.
Today, Farah’s Deadline releases.
Here’s the blurb:
Sassy, strong-willed, and pregnant, Farah Menins plans to be married at sixteen after her dad dumps her in a “special home” to be rid of her. Trapped in a place full of rules, Farah refuses to admit defeat — not when marriage would give her an out.
Farah’s roommate Lizbet hides her own painful secrets, and together, they forge an unlikely friendship when Farah sneaks off to confront her baby’s father. A dead baby, a mystery brother, and a house fire threaten to derail Farah’s plans. The confusion is compounded when Lizbet’s brother shows interest in her. With time running out, will Farah be able to salvage any of her dream?
Here’s an excerpt to give you a taste:
I planned to be married at sixteen.
Note to self: Things don’t always go as planned.
Which was why I was riding in the front seat of our car, a virtual prisoner. Dad pulled into the long, curving driveway of Pleasant Living Home. The name itself was enough to make a person gag — and being two months pregnant, I’d been gagging plenty.
Dad’s knuckles blanched white on the steering wheel, and a thin moustache of sweat lined his upper lip. He stopped the car under an ivy-covered portico and glanced over at me.
“We’re here, kiddo,” he said. His voice climbed an octave, and a slight tremor shook beneath his words.
“So I see.”
“This is it.” He stared at me, I guess waiting for me to agree or gush or fall at his feet with gratitude. I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction.
A few seconds passed, and I muttered, “Right.” Unlike my dad’s, there was no tremor in my voice, only steel. I wouldn’t be staying at Pleasant Living Home for long. I wouldn’t have to — Pete would rescue me. He’d been a total pig earlier, but he’d change his tune.
“Shall we get your things?” Dad asked, grabbing the door handle.
“Oh, let’s.” The steel in my voice morphed into snarky sarcasm.
Whatever.
Dad jumped out of the car as if going on a picnic. I knew the reason for his enthusiasm — sheer relief to be dumping off his problem child. Never, under any circumstances, should people face their problems. I’d learned that lesson years ago when Dad and Mom kicked my brother out of the house, and later when Mom kicked Dad out.
Now, it was my turn to be kicked.
To a pregnancy home no less. Who knew they even existed anymore? What was this — the 1950s?
I pushed open the heavy door, climbed out, and surveyed Pleasant Living Home. The rambling brick house was set back off the road, smack in the middle of winter-naked trees. Every window was decked out with one of those miniature lamps — the kind meant to welcome strangers, losers, and injured strays.
Which one was I?
I’d be delighted if you’d grab a copy! And I’d love to hear your thoughts about the book. You can get it here:
If you enjoy it, I’d be thrilled if you would write an honest review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and/or Goodreads. Reviews are super helpful to authors and MUCH appreciated!
Thanks friends! I hope you enjoy Farah’s Deadline!
And as always, thanks for stopping by.
Brenda
P.S. I’d love to have you join my street team. Click here for more info!
Tagged: Farah's Deadline, good clean teen reads, Indiana, inspirational teen, new ebook, new kindle ebook, teen pregnancy, teen romance, The Edgemont Series
September 3, 2013
Teen Safety Crossing Streets
Hello Friends! Happy day after Labor Day. I hope you were able to get in some R & R! Hmmm, maybe instead of Rest and Relaxation, we should change it to Rest and Reading! Ha!
Today, it’s back to school for a lot of us. My high school is located on a very busy stretch of road, particularly when kids are being dropped off and picked up. Every year, we are concerned about the safety of our students.
Yesterday, I read an article talking about teen safety when crossing streets. The article stated how we mistakenly assume we’re safe when on a crosswalk. Of course, crosswalks increase our safety odds, but statistics paint a grim picture.
“Pedestrian injury rates have increased by 25 percent over the past five years among teens ages 16 to 19, according to Safe Kids, with that age group now representing about half of all pedestrian deaths for children and adolescents.” Safe Kids Worldwide as told to CBS News (Click here for full article.)
When a study was conducted watching crosswalks, it was found that one in five students were distracted by electronic devices when crossing, thus greatly increasing their chances of getting hit. (See above article.)
There’s a growing campaign to raise our awareness of the dangers of texting while driving. It appears that we need to extend awareness to limiting electronic devices when walking across streets.
So… if you’re a teen, please observe Safe Kid’s “Moment of Silence” when crossing the street. We adults can observe that same moment and also urge the teens we love to unplug when they’re crossing streets. Let’s keep our teens safe!
I’d love to know your thoughts on the subject. Please leave me a comment below.
And as always, thanks for stopping by!
Brenda
P.S. Player is FREE today and tomorrow on Amazon. Click here to get it!
To celebrate Player being free, Buried Truth is on sale for 99 cents! Grab a copy here!
Thanks, Friends!
Tagged: Brenda Maxfield, Buried Truth, CBS, Crosswalk safety, Free Kindle book, Labor Day, Moment of Silence, Player, Safe Kids, Teen Safety
August 26, 2013
Welcome, Emma Right!
Friends, please join me in welcoming author Emma Right! We are celebrating the release of her new book Keeper of the Reign. (News flash: Keeper of the Reign is a finalist in the reader’s Choice Award 2013!) Emma is also offering a gift card to a lucky commenter. See the info at the end of this blog!
Here’s a blurb to entice you:
Sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze is an Elfie – half elf, half fairy, living in a cursed Kingdom. The Keepers, entrusted to protect sacred Books written in blood, have long forgotten their purpose and struggle with the effects of the curse.
Jules finds himself in the crosshairs of an evil lord bent on destroying Keepers and their Books. His mother is a Keeper and she has disappeared, along with his grandparents. His father is nowhere to be found, and Jules now finds himself alone with four siblings to protect and a house ravaged by the enemies.
War rages on all sides of his homeland. Agents and assassins sent by the evil Gehzurolle are determined to kill him. Jules must find an ancient book whose secrets are the only thing that could give him answers and save him, his family and his homeland.
I’m super excited that Emma has given us an exclusive excerpt! You can only read this here, folks! (And, of course, in her book!)
They took a swig from their water pouches and were about to set off except that a glow from another shaft next to the one they had emerged from alerted Jules.
“Shh!” he motioned for the others to stay behind him. Gophers didn’t carry lamps.
After some seconds the glow brightened. Jules glanced from one tunnel opening to another. Which one should they rush into to escape from whatever was heading their way? A part of him was curious to see who could be traveling in these parts with lamps. But if he stayed behind and it was an enemy, would he endanger his siblings? He shoved Tippy behind him and determined the direction to take. Hopefully toward the river. Hurry!
“Jules!” a whisper echoed in the chamber.
Jules swiveled toward the speaker.
It was a gopher, all right! With his back to the tunnel he’d edged out from, Holden stood, a crude jar lantern in hand and with a stunned face. Even in the dim light it was obvious Holden had bruises and cuts on his arms and face.
“Who pummeled you?” Jules rushed toward his neighbor, eyes wide.
“We must get away.” Holden was still panting. His green cloak was in shreds.
“What happened? Did you see my mom?”
“Your mom?” Holden shook his head, eyes dazed. “But my mom….” He hung his head and slumped to the ground.
Here’s a bit of info about Emma:
Emma Right is a happy wife and homeschooling mother of five. Besides running a busy home, she regularly reads and writes stories for children. An avid Christian, she enjoys writing stories with themes involving family-life, friendship, faithfulness, and seeking wisdom, all in an imaginary fantastical world. She has written several young adult novels and plans on writing many more. Right worked for two advertising agencies and has won several major awards, including the prestigious Clio Award. She currently resides in California where she takes care of her children and her many pets.
Here are the links where you can find Right’s book and also contact her:
Emma will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. You can enter by clicking here!
Please share a comment, as I’d love one of my blog readers to win!
Before you leave, kindly take a moment to enter your email address in my newsletter subscription box in the upper right column. 
It’s scheduled a few times a year.
Let me know how everything’s going for you. And as always, thanks for stopping by!
Brenda
P.S. Check out my new series! If you want to “escape” to the Washington Coast, you might enjoy Player, a short YA story, and Buried Truth, Ocean Mist Book One. Find out why Andrew can’t ever trust a girl again!
Tagged: Buried Truth, ebook, elves, Emma Right, faries, good clean teen reads, Keeper of the Reign, Ocean Mist, Player, YA Fiction
August 20, 2013
Tanning Beds Prohibited
Greetings, Friends! I’m always on the lookout for news that involves teens. Today, I read something that affects teens in my neighboring state to the west. The governor of Illinois signed a bill last Thursday which prohibits teenagers under eighteen from using tanning beds.
This new law goes into effect on January 1, 2014. Opposition to the law claims it should be up to the parents as to whether their teens can use tanning beds or not. Supporters of the law say that this prohibition is a way to protect the state’s youth from skin cancer. (You can read the entire article here.)
The new bill says nothing about spray-on or mist tans.
I know my students bristle when they feel anyone has taken their rights away. I asked one of my senior classes today what they thought about the law. I was surprised when most of them thought parents would be more upset than teens. When asked why, many said their parents would see it as interference with their parental rights and duties. (Although, when one student mentioned that maybe the government should restrict energy drinks, a small uproar followed!)
It was an interesting discussion…
Do you think it interferes with parental rights? Or is it simply a matter of public health?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
And as always, thanks for stopping by.
Brenda
P.S. I’d love to have you join my new street team. Just click here for info.
P.P.S. I’m looking for more willing readers for my two new releases, Player and Buried Truth. If you’re interested in a free copy of either book in exchange for writing an honest review, leave a comment below or click here!
Tagged: Brenda Maxfield, good clean teen reads, Illinois, parental rights, tanning, tanning beds, teen health, teens
August 16, 2013
Sweet Saturday #5
Greetings, Friends! Happy Sweet Saturday!
In and around the bustle of a new school year, I’m getting in some writing on Ocean Mist Book Two. But for now, I’d like to share another sample from my newly released book, Buried Truth Ocean Mist Book One.
Here’s excerpt #5 for you:
I rushed over to my dresser and pulled open the drawer again. I picked up the lid. What a moron to have left the box in plain sight. I didn’t usually make that kind of mistake.
I wouldn’t again.
The bathroom door rattled open, and I shoved the drawer tight. Bri came in yawning.
“It was kind of fun, wasn’t it?” she asked, rubbing her hand through her short, black hair, making it stick straight up in a Mohawk.
“The bonfire?”
“Yeah. But I think we better revisit your temporary Andrew insanity.”
“My turn to pee,” I said and waltzed out of the room. I hurried because I didn’t totally trust Bri not to snoop in my drawer. But when I returned, she was already tucked into bed.
“Now, about Andrew,” she said.
“We’re not talking about Andrew.” I worked to ignore my pounding heart. A sense of urgency filled me, as if somehow being with Andrew was hugely important. A cold chill snaked through me. It made no sense. None.
And I for sure didn’t want to talk about it.
****
The spicy smell of sausage crept up the stairs and awakened me. I stretched out against the flannel sheets and took a deep breath. A tiny shaft of light from the street lamp down a ways from our cabin peeped in through the window to pierce the darkness. There was nothing in its way, no huge trees, no competing lights from town, so its flickers often waltzed on my bedroom walls.
Bri was a motionless lump beside me. From her deep breathing, I knew she was still asleep. Fine by me.
Lying in bed thinking was one of my favorite things to do. That morning, my mind was still stuck on Andrew. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d had earlier. His importance was all out of proportion, and it bothered me.
Something about his eyes pulled me in. Something hidden, intriguing. If I got to know him better, I could discover what it was.
Buried Truth is a contemporary young adult novel. It’s part of a new series which takes place on the West Coast, Ocean Mist. If you’d like to grab a copy, click here.
Thanks for reading today! If you’d like to visit other Sweet Saturday Samples, click here.
I’d love to know what you’re doing on your Saturday today. Leave me a comment below. I love hearing from you!
And as always, thanks for stopping by.
Brenda
P.S. Are you interested in becoming part of my new street team? Click here for more information. Thank you!
P.P.S. I’m always looking for people who’d be willing to receive a free copy of my book in exchange for an honest review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Let me know if you’d like to be put on my list! (Leave a comment below with your email address or write me at: contact@brendamaxfield.com) Thank you!
Tagged: Brenda Maxfield, bullying, Buried Truth, environment, good clean teen reads, green teens, Sweet Saturday Sample, teen friendship, teen romance, Washington Coast
August 13, 2013
School has Started!
Hello Friends!
School has started! And my life has become a big whoosh as I work to keep up with it all.
School starting has brought mixed feelings. Some of my students are happy as kids receiving new phones with no strings attached. Others tell me they’d rather be in the back of a mile-long line at the grocery store. Ha! But still, for me there’s nothing quite like the spark in a student’s eyes after ingesting some tidbit of learning for the first time.
So we start the 2013/2014 school adventure. The year is waiting – clean, fresh, and unsullied. I know, I know – I can be nauseatingly positive about new school years. One student actually asked me if I ever didn’t smile.
Uh. Yeah.
Just ask my birth kids…
But it is true that every day I put on my happy face and walk into school with high aspirations. Yet, like my students, I mourn the passing of fancy free July days when I could spend hours upon hours writing. Hours upon hours reading. And hours upon hours playing in the dirt. (Made even more delicious when joined by my grandson!)
So, how about you? Are you back in school? Or are your kids or grandkids back in school? Anyone else besides me excited?
I’d love to hear from you.
And as always, thanks for stopping by!
Brenda
P.S. I’d love to have you join my new street team. Just click here for info.
P.P.S. I’m looking for more willing readers for my two new releases, Player and Buried Truth. If you’re interested in a free copy of either book in exchange for writing an honest review, leave a comment below or click here!
Tagged: Brenda Maxfield Street Team, Buried Truth, gardening. grandson, Player, school, school year, teens
