Stephanie Faris's Blog, page 27
June 8, 2016
Cover Reveal: At First Blush by Beth Ellyn Summer
Before we get to today's cover reveal, I have to say I'm so excited for today's author. I knew Beth Ellyn Summer when she was still trying to get a book deal and she did it! Her first book, At First Blush, will debut on August 9th--the same day as mine. We're book birthday buddies! Her book comes out with Bloomsbury Spark and here's the adorable cover. Scroll down to learn more about it.
Blurb:
Lacey Robbins has one goal for the summer: hit one million subscribers on her YouTube beauty channel. Working as an On Trend magazine video blogger is just the platform she needs to get there, but falling for the cover boy, rock star Tyler Lance, was not part of her plan--especially since his dating history is longer than her Sephora wishlist.
She can't avoid him for long though, not when it's her job to film vlogs with him. As Lacey and Tyler grow closer on and off camera, her channel becomes popular for all the wrong reasons, and the two YouTubers she's working with officially hate her. Lacey's only solace is spending time with Kendall Wynn, On Trend's resident makeup artist. Kendall's scattered, carefree approach to makeup reminds Lacey why she ever picked up a tube of lipstick in the first place.
Nothing about this summer is going according to Lacey's perfect plan, and pretty soon she learns that filming makeup tutorials is easy. It's real life that could use some editing.
Bio:
Beth Ellyn Summer writes contemporary young adult fiction that somehow always includes the following elements: fame, makeup, and television. She graduated from Long Island University with a degree in Print and Electronic Journalism. Interning for Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon was the highlight of her college years. When she's not writing, Beth can be found swatching eyeshadows, solving Wheel of Fortune puzzles, and playing with her adorable cat, Penny Belle. Beth lives on Long Island in a cookie cutter town that, in an ironic twist of fate, doesn't have a single decent bakery.
Links:
Website| Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads
Blurb:
Lacey Robbins has one goal for the summer: hit one million subscribers on her YouTube beauty channel. Working as an On Trend magazine video blogger is just the platform she needs to get there, but falling for the cover boy, rock star Tyler Lance, was not part of her plan--especially since his dating history is longer than her Sephora wishlist.
She can't avoid him for long though, not when it's her job to film vlogs with him. As Lacey and Tyler grow closer on and off camera, her channel becomes popular for all the wrong reasons, and the two YouTubers she's working with officially hate her. Lacey's only solace is spending time with Kendall Wynn, On Trend's resident makeup artist. Kendall's scattered, carefree approach to makeup reminds Lacey why she ever picked up a tube of lipstick in the first place.
Nothing about this summer is going according to Lacey's perfect plan, and pretty soon she learns that filming makeup tutorials is easy. It's real life that could use some editing.
Bio:
Beth Ellyn Summer writes contemporary young adult fiction that somehow always includes the following elements: fame, makeup, and television. She graduated from Long Island University with a degree in Print and Electronic Journalism. Interning for Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon was the highlight of her college years. When she's not writing, Beth can be found swatching eyeshadows, solving Wheel of Fortune puzzles, and playing with her adorable cat, Penny Belle. Beth lives on Long Island in a cookie cutter town that, in an ironic twist of fate, doesn't have a single decent bakery.Links:
Website| Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads
June 6, 2016
My Most Viewed Post Ever Is About a Scam
I blog about a wide variety of subjects. Sometimes I blog about writing...
Sometimes I blog about entertainment...
And sometimes I blog my random observations about the world around me.
So it surprised me to learn that of all of the things I've ever written on this blog of mine, one has by FAR been viewed more than any other. Every single week, it's still the most viewed post. What is it about?
Yes, this post about mascara has, to date, been seen nearly 24,000 times. Hundreds of views a week, despite the fact that it's more than a year old.
All this time, people have been leaving comments and I haven't even been watching. Apparently I angered the Younique cultists, all ready to lash out at me (and anyone else who commented) that we dared to insult their religion makeup company.
By the way, it's no longer acceptable to call it a "pyramid scheme." Every single one of these companies calls it either "network marketing" or "referral marketing." It's still this:
Do you know why my mascara blog gets so many views? Because every day, someone out there is told she can get rich selling this mascara to her friends on Facebook. Maybe she can quit her job and live the dream. Probably not. The people making all the money are on the top of that little pyramid up there. The rest?
Apparently that original post is on the first page of search results when you Google "Younique Scam." Most of the other posts were planted by the company. As with every other pyramid scheme network marketing opportunity, the people up top have the resources necessary to make sure all you ever see is how great they are.
What's your most popular blog post ever?
Sometimes I blog about entertainment...
And sometimes I blog my random observations about the world around me.
So it surprised me to learn that of all of the things I've ever written on this blog of mine, one has by FAR been viewed more than any other. Every single week, it's still the most viewed post. What is it about?
Yes, this post about mascara has, to date, been seen nearly 24,000 times. Hundreds of views a week, despite the fact that it's more than a year old.
All this time, people have been leaving comments and I haven't even been watching. Apparently I angered the Younique cultists, all ready to lash out at me (and anyone else who commented) that we dared to insult their religion makeup company.
By the way, it's no longer acceptable to call it a "pyramid scheme." Every single one of these companies calls it either "network marketing" or "referral marketing." It's still this:
Do you know why my mascara blog gets so many views? Because every day, someone out there is told she can get rich selling this mascara to her friends on Facebook. Maybe she can quit her job and live the dream. Probably not. The people making all the money are on the top of that little pyramid up there. The rest?
Apparently that original post is on the first page of search results when you Google "Younique Scam." Most of the other posts were planted by the company. As with every other pyramid scheme network marketing opportunity, the people up top have the resources necessary to make sure all you ever see is how great they are.
What's your most popular blog post ever?
June 3, 2016
The Guy Who Designed Lunch Boxes
If you were a kid in the 70s/early 80s, you likely carried a lunch box to school. On that box was probably a 3-D/bas relief-type image of your favorite TV show. Like this:
I was listening to the Mystery Show podcast last week when its host did an episode about this lunch box:
A fan of the show wanted to know where the artist had gotten this scene, since it wasn't in any of the episodes. (He'd watched them all numerous times.) Why is the jean jacket knotted? And why does Epstein look like he wants to fight Barbarino? They were friends.
To get her answer, the podcast host tried to track down the lunch box's designer, Elmer Lenart. He's no longer alive, but his designs live on in the Smithsonian, where the Kotter lunch box and many others are on display:
This is Elmer, as the giant on the Land of the Giants lunch box:
He also designed this one:
This one:
And this one:
Eventually his job was phased out. Lunch boxes stopped looking like ^^^that^^^ and started looking more like this:
And this:
Needless to say, the latter two lunch boxes likely won't end up in the Smithsonian.
Did you have a lunch box growing up?
I was listening to the Mystery Show podcast last week when its host did an episode about this lunch box:
A fan of the show wanted to know where the artist had gotten this scene, since it wasn't in any of the episodes. (He'd watched them all numerous times.) Why is the jean jacket knotted? And why does Epstein look like he wants to fight Barbarino? They were friends.
To get her answer, the podcast host tried to track down the lunch box's designer, Elmer Lenart. He's no longer alive, but his designs live on in the Smithsonian, where the Kotter lunch box and many others are on display:
This is Elmer, as the giant on the Land of the Giants lunch box:
He also designed this one:
This one:
And this one:
Eventually his job was phased out. Lunch boxes stopped looking like ^^^that^^^ and started looking more like this:
And this:
Needless to say, the latter two lunch boxes likely won't end up in the Smithsonian.
Did you have a lunch box growing up?
June 1, 2016
IWSG: Real Writers Don’t Talk, They Write
It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means hundreds of us will be posting about our insecurities. If you're a writer, join in!
An interesting woman joined our writer's group several years in, showing up one day with her fancy clothes and expensive jewelry.
She didn't really fit in with our typical writer attire, but that was okay. Everyone was welcome.
At the time, my job was to greet new people and make them feel at home. Within five minutes of meeting her, I'd heard all about the book she was writing. In detail.
It continued every time she came to a meeting. For months...and months...and months. I soon realized she likely hadn't written more than a few chapters of that book and never would. She just wanted to be seen as a writer. You know the type.
The problem with writing is that it's a fairly private endeavor. It's you, sitting in front of your computer, putting words on paper. You do that day after day after day until one day you have a novel. You should look like this:
And not like this:
It's even worse now that people can self-publish. While there are plenty of talented writers who publish their own books, there are also quite a few blowhards who do it for party conversation.
The sad thing is, nobody really cares. Trust me. Every cent I make comes from writing and nobody ever wants to hear me talk about it. If you ask me what I do for a living, I'll tell you, but I'm not going to tell you every detail of everything I've written in the past month. Which brings me to my point...
Most real writers don't talk about our work. We're too busy doing it.
Have you ever found yourself stuck in a conversation you couldn't get out of? What did you do?
An interesting woman joined our writer's group several years in, showing up one day with her fancy clothes and expensive jewelry.
She didn't really fit in with our typical writer attire, but that was okay. Everyone was welcome.
At the time, my job was to greet new people and make them feel at home. Within five minutes of meeting her, I'd heard all about the book she was writing. In detail.
It continued every time she came to a meeting. For months...and months...and months. I soon realized she likely hadn't written more than a few chapters of that book and never would. She just wanted to be seen as a writer. You know the type.
The problem with writing is that it's a fairly private endeavor. It's you, sitting in front of your computer, putting words on paper. You do that day after day after day until one day you have a novel. You should look like this:
And not like this:
It's even worse now that people can self-publish. While there are plenty of talented writers who publish their own books, there are also quite a few blowhards who do it for party conversation.
The sad thing is, nobody really cares. Trust me. Every cent I make comes from writing and nobody ever wants to hear me talk about it. If you ask me what I do for a living, I'll tell you, but I'm not going to tell you every detail of everything I've written in the past month. Which brings me to my point...
Most real writers don't talk about our work. We're too busy doing it.
Have you ever found yourself stuck in a conversation you couldn't get out of? What did you do?
May 27, 2016
Best Books of May
It's once again time to tell you about the best books I read this month. Here are my favorite May reads!
The first book I read this month is on my list of best book premises ever! Jen Malone is a fellow M!x author who also writes YA and comes up with some of the best plots. The cover of this new one will draw you in right away:
Imagine a tween version of The Hangover. Substitute a bachelor party for a sleepover, replace the crazy-wild bachelor stuff with things that could go wrong when a group of tweens is hypnotized, and you have The Sleepover. What I love about Jen Malone's books is that they remind me so much of an 80s movie. Think Adventures in Babysitting, where a group of young people end up on a quest, faced with one adventure after another. And best of all, Jen's voice is magnificent. When it comes to capturing the voice and mindset of a 12-year-old female girl, she's one of the best of all time. Even more amazing, she can jump to writing a young adult book and capture that age group perfectly as well. Once you start reading a Jen Malone book, you won't stop until you've read them all!
I've known the next author a long time and she's one of the sweetest people I've ever met. Phyllis Bourne is an award-nominated romance novelist and her latest book has a cover you'll fall in love with.
Between a Rock and a Hot Mess puts a hotheaded female construction company owner right in the middle of a love triangle. There's Hudson, her sexy archenemy who is everything she doesn't want in a man, and there's Ian, the suit-wearing most eligible bachelor. Phyllis always creates strong female characters and sexual tension that oozes off the page.
My next book is the third Elizabeth Seckman novel I've read and I've loved every one. This time she covers a family mystery, with a man in search of his long-lost sister.
Swept Away is a mystery-slash-romance that will hook you from page one. Two friends survive a bad storm...or do they? We switch to Tucker's story and learn one of the girls in the prologue may be the sister he's never met. He follows the clues to an island, where he meets a woman who closely resembles the girl in the picture...but is she? I've read quite a few mysteries and I have to say this is one of the most unpredictable I've ever read. You'll keep eagerly turning the pages until you reach the end!
You've probably seen Rebecca Green Gasper around my blog. We met during this year's A to Z Challenge and I already feel like we've known each other for years. This month, I waited eagerly for her new book, A Spy in Me, to launch.
I'm not exaggerating when I say I loved this book! Harley (named for a geeky comic book character, not a cool motorcycle) is a reporter for the college newspaper who has been demoted to fashion and stye. When girls begin fainting in her dorm, she knows something is behind the mysterious illnesses. Not only does Rebecca set up a perfect mystery, but she also manages to include a very important message to young girls in the process. I can't wait to read more in the series!
You never know what you'll get when you download a Medeia Sharif book. She writes across a range of genres. I was so excited for her latest because the premise is just so fascinating. Who can resist a possessed stepsister?
The Haunted Stepsister tells the story of a young girl possessed. But it's so much more than that. Early in the story, we learn of an incident that took place just before...and that incident is still hanging over the Moradi family. The possession part of the story is intense and suspenseful, but the underlying message about the complexities of blended families is the best part of the book, I think. You'll totally admire the journey these two stepsisters take.
What are you reading?
The first book I read this month is on my list of best book premises ever! Jen Malone is a fellow M!x author who also writes YA and comes up with some of the best plots. The cover of this new one will draw you in right away:
Imagine a tween version of The Hangover. Substitute a bachelor party for a sleepover, replace the crazy-wild bachelor stuff with things that could go wrong when a group of tweens is hypnotized, and you have The Sleepover. What I love about Jen Malone's books is that they remind me so much of an 80s movie. Think Adventures in Babysitting, where a group of young people end up on a quest, faced with one adventure after another. And best of all, Jen's voice is magnificent. When it comes to capturing the voice and mindset of a 12-year-old female girl, she's one of the best of all time. Even more amazing, she can jump to writing a young adult book and capture that age group perfectly as well. Once you start reading a Jen Malone book, you won't stop until you've read them all!
I've known the next author a long time and she's one of the sweetest people I've ever met. Phyllis Bourne is an award-nominated romance novelist and her latest book has a cover you'll fall in love with.
Between a Rock and a Hot Mess puts a hotheaded female construction company owner right in the middle of a love triangle. There's Hudson, her sexy archenemy who is everything she doesn't want in a man, and there's Ian, the suit-wearing most eligible bachelor. Phyllis always creates strong female characters and sexual tension that oozes off the page.
My next book is the third Elizabeth Seckman novel I've read and I've loved every one. This time she covers a family mystery, with a man in search of his long-lost sister.
Swept Away is a mystery-slash-romance that will hook you from page one. Two friends survive a bad storm...or do they? We switch to Tucker's story and learn one of the girls in the prologue may be the sister he's never met. He follows the clues to an island, where he meets a woman who closely resembles the girl in the picture...but is she? I've read quite a few mysteries and I have to say this is one of the most unpredictable I've ever read. You'll keep eagerly turning the pages until you reach the end!
You've probably seen Rebecca Green Gasper around my blog. We met during this year's A to Z Challenge and I already feel like we've known each other for years. This month, I waited eagerly for her new book, A Spy in Me, to launch.
I'm not exaggerating when I say I loved this book! Harley (named for a geeky comic book character, not a cool motorcycle) is a reporter for the college newspaper who has been demoted to fashion and stye. When girls begin fainting in her dorm, she knows something is behind the mysterious illnesses. Not only does Rebecca set up a perfect mystery, but she also manages to include a very important message to young girls in the process. I can't wait to read more in the series!
You never know what you'll get when you download a Medeia Sharif book. She writes across a range of genres. I was so excited for her latest because the premise is just so fascinating. Who can resist a possessed stepsister?
The Haunted Stepsister tells the story of a young girl possessed. But it's so much more than that. Early in the story, we learn of an incident that took place just before...and that incident is still hanging over the Moradi family. The possession part of the story is intense and suspenseful, but the underlying message about the complexities of blended families is the best part of the book, I think. You'll totally admire the journey these two stepsisters take.
What are you reading?
May 25, 2016
Living in a Clickbait World
At one time, the media was fairly straightforward. "Real news" came from legit media outlets. Unsubstantiated rumors were presented in this format:
Then came the Internet. Today's news can come in a variety of ways. You might learn a celebrity died on Facebook or read about a major event on someone's blog. Some "news sites" combine news with personal essays, where writers comment on news events or tell their own personal stories.
My mom and I were discussing it and she pointed out something I hadn't realized. These personal essays, which are all the rage now, are very similar to the stories that used to be published in these magazines:
My mom and I both wrote for those magazines at various times. (Yes, she's a writer, too!) The best thing about writing for "confessions magazines" was that we wrote the stories anonymously, so we didn't have to worry about reputation destruction.
Not so with essays. I have to write about fairly innocent things anyway, due to being a children's author. But even if I didn't, I just couldn't bring myself to give out personal information for money.
In the age of the Internet, what you write can remain out there for-e-ver. With your name attached. When people Google you four years from now, what will they find?
Would you ever take money for a personal story about your life? What secrets are off limits?
Then came the Internet. Today's news can come in a variety of ways. You might learn a celebrity died on Facebook or read about a major event on someone's blog. Some "news sites" combine news with personal essays, where writers comment on news events or tell their own personal stories.
My mom and I were discussing it and she pointed out something I hadn't realized. These personal essays, which are all the rage now, are very similar to the stories that used to be published in these magazines:
My mom and I both wrote for those magazines at various times. (Yes, she's a writer, too!) The best thing about writing for "confessions magazines" was that we wrote the stories anonymously, so we didn't have to worry about reputation destruction.
Not so with essays. I have to write about fairly innocent things anyway, due to being a children's author. But even if I didn't, I just couldn't bring myself to give out personal information for money.
In the age of the Internet, what you write can remain out there for-e-ver. With your name attached. When people Google you four years from now, what will they find?
Would you ever take money for a personal story about your life? What secrets are off limits?
May 23, 2016
The Mystery of the Taos Hum
Imagine if all day long, an annoying hum played in the background. You couldn't get away from it, whether you were at home, in your office, or out with friends. It's a hum that sounds like this:
For some residents of Taos, New Mexico, the hum is an everyday way of life. An estimated two percent of the population can hear the hum, yet when equipment is set up in the homes of Taos residents who claim to be plagued by it, nothing is detected.
There have been many explanations for the phenomenon over the years. Ambient noise is present in every city and some experts believe those who hear the oscillating noise in Taos simply have exceptional hearing.
Some say it's merely an auditory hallucination.
Image Credit: TriVo for Mic
The hum isn't isolated to Taos. In fact, there are areas around the world where a small percentage of the population report hearing a low hum. In each area, the sound has a name that matches the area: the Windsor Hum, the Auckland Hum, etc.
In fact, according to Mic magazine, reported incidents of "the Hum" are extremely widespread. Here is a portion of the World Hum Map, created by Glen MacPhearson:
In some areas, the Hum has led people to commit suicide and report great pain. Even in today's rarely-silent world, it seems there's no escaping the hum if you're one of the two percent who can hear it.
Have you ever heard a strange noise nobody else could hear?
For some residents of Taos, New Mexico, the hum is an everyday way of life. An estimated two percent of the population can hear the hum, yet when equipment is set up in the homes of Taos residents who claim to be plagued by it, nothing is detected.
There have been many explanations for the phenomenon over the years. Ambient noise is present in every city and some experts believe those who hear the oscillating noise in Taos simply have exceptional hearing.
Some say it's merely an auditory hallucination.
Image Credit: TriVo for MicThe hum isn't isolated to Taos. In fact, there are areas around the world where a small percentage of the population report hearing a low hum. In each area, the sound has a name that matches the area: the Windsor Hum, the Auckland Hum, etc.
In fact, according to Mic magazine, reported incidents of "the Hum" are extremely widespread. Here is a portion of the World Hum Map, created by Glen MacPhearson:
In some areas, the Hum has led people to commit suicide and report great pain. Even in today's rarely-silent world, it seems there's no escaping the hum if you're one of the two percent who can hear it.
Have you ever heard a strange noise nobody else could hear?
May 20, 2016
I’m Not Multitalented
I was in my late 20s when I attended a booksigning for a bestselling author. For some reason, nobody had shown up for the event. I planned to leave as soon as the next fan showed up, but nobody did.
So I stayed.
And stayed.
And stayed.
I watched for an indication she wanted me to leave her sitting there alone. She never gave one. So we talked about the writing life. She gave me tips that have stuck with me to this day. One of them was very interesting.
"Writing is all I can do," she said. "I have no other talent. So I put all my effort into writing. Then I can pay other people to do all the other things."
Think about it. If you could make enough writing, you could outsource everything. You wouldn't have to know how to bake or cook...
You could pay someone to clean your house and reorganize your closet.
A writing friend of mine published a few novels, then retired to the beach. She now acts and sings in local productions, makes crafts, and writes novels she publishes herself.
Of course, there are also the many talented children's authors who can illustrate and write. I envy them, too!
I can't even keep a plant alive for more than a month.
Are you multitalented? What are your talents?
I have bookmarks! If you want some for your class, library, or just to hand out to your kids' friends, fill out the form here or comment below and I'll track you down! I'll even sign them.
So I stayed.
And stayed.
And stayed.
I watched for an indication she wanted me to leave her sitting there alone. She never gave one. So we talked about the writing life. She gave me tips that have stuck with me to this day. One of them was very interesting.
"Writing is all I can do," she said. "I have no other talent. So I put all my effort into writing. Then I can pay other people to do all the other things."
Think about it. If you could make enough writing, you could outsource everything. You wouldn't have to know how to bake or cook...
You could pay someone to clean your house and reorganize your closet.
A writing friend of mine published a few novels, then retired to the beach. She now acts and sings in local productions, makes crafts, and writes novels she publishes herself.
Of course, there are also the many talented children's authors who can illustrate and write. I envy them, too!
I can't even keep a plant alive for more than a month.
Are you multitalented? What are your talents?
I have bookmarks! If you want some for your class, library, or just to hand out to your kids' friends, fill out the form here or comment below and I'll track you down! I'll even sign them.
May 18, 2016
My Home Is Just a Little Smarter Than Yours
First I wanted to announce that I got my first piece on NYPost.com Friday. Check it out!
Now...to today's post!
When we bought our new house, we soon discovered it needed a new doorbell. The one we had was all:
Okay, maybe not quite that old. But if we were going to buy a new doorbell, why not go for the latest technology? I write about the Internet of Things for some of my clients. I know smartphone-accessible appliances are the future.
We invested in a smart doorbell. When someone presses it, it rings your phone. You can then pull up the video and speak with them (they can hear but can't see you).
It's motion activated, so any time someone is on your front porch, video is captured of that person. Most of my videos are of these guys:
The next logical step is to buy something else that's Internet connected. Perhaps one of these?
Or these?
Or these?
You can also buy smart plugs for your home...they let you plug in anything and control it from your smartphone.
Very sci-fi, right? Do you have any smart appliances in your home? Do you think you'd ever buy any of the items above?
Now...to today's post!
When we bought our new house, we soon discovered it needed a new doorbell. The one we had was all:
Okay, maybe not quite that old. But if we were going to buy a new doorbell, why not go for the latest technology? I write about the Internet of Things for some of my clients. I know smartphone-accessible appliances are the future.
We invested in a smart doorbell. When someone presses it, it rings your phone. You can then pull up the video and speak with them (they can hear but can't see you).
It's motion activated, so any time someone is on your front porch, video is captured of that person. Most of my videos are of these guys:
The next logical step is to buy something else that's Internet connected. Perhaps one of these?
Or these?
Or these?
You can also buy smart plugs for your home...they let you plug in anything and control it from your smartphone.
Very sci-fi, right? Do you have any smart appliances in your home? Do you think you'd ever buy any of the items above?
May 17, 2016
Introducing A Spy in Me by Rebecca Green Gasper
I have a new friend to introduce to you this month. I met Rebecca Green Gasper during the A to Z Challenge and hers was one of my favorite blogs. When I saw that she had a new book out, I couldn't wait to help out...especially when I heard it was a young adult mystery. Here's her fun cover. It's book one in a new series called Freshman Year. Scroll down to read more about A Spy in Me.
Blurb:
Harley Jenkins has no idea how she’s going to get out of the mess her roommate has dragged her into. The university has placed her on probation and the disciplinary board has demoted her from her position in local news to the fashion section of her school’s online newspaper. She doesn’t even care about fashion and is far from trendy. She wants to be an investigative journalist.
So when she hears the rumors that something major went down at her dorm, she sees the opportunity to detract herself from her impeding board meeting and the problem with her roommate. A girl has fallen to her death, and Harley is sure the authorities are missing something. She’s determined to do anything to find out what happened, including hiding out in small spaces to get information even though she’s claustrophobic.
But when another girl ends up in the hospital, Harley’s convinced the two situations are related. Soon Harley finds herself torn between solving the mystery of the girls and solving her own issues. With the probation hanging over her, a fashion article due, and the upcoming hearing approaching, Harley thinks about backing out of her investigation. Will Harley be able to stuff herself into yet another tight corner to solve the mystery, or will she have to back off to solve her own issues? Will the spy in her even let her dismiss this odd mystery?
Join Harley during her freshman year as she takes on mysteries around her college town. This is Book One in a series.
Bio:
Rebecca Green Gasper is an author, speaker and photographer. She writes young adult contemporary fiction on tough teen issues, new adult sleuth mystery series, historical fiction, and non-fiction. She was a high school teacher, tutor, and coach before becoming a writer. She is passionate about raising awareness on teen tough issues and speaking out against teen violence. She loves pinwheels, bright colors, daisies, long talks with friends, and time with her family. She grew up in the mountains of Colorado and now lives outside of Denver with her husband and two children. You can find her at www.rebeccagreengasper.com.
Links:
Amazon| Website| Blog | Goodreads
Blurb:
Harley Jenkins has no idea how she’s going to get out of the mess her roommate has dragged her into. The university has placed her on probation and the disciplinary board has demoted her from her position in local news to the fashion section of her school’s online newspaper. She doesn’t even care about fashion and is far from trendy. She wants to be an investigative journalist.
So when she hears the rumors that something major went down at her dorm, she sees the opportunity to detract herself from her impeding board meeting and the problem with her roommate. A girl has fallen to her death, and Harley is sure the authorities are missing something. She’s determined to do anything to find out what happened, including hiding out in small spaces to get information even though she’s claustrophobic.
But when another girl ends up in the hospital, Harley’s convinced the two situations are related. Soon Harley finds herself torn between solving the mystery of the girls and solving her own issues. With the probation hanging over her, a fashion article due, and the upcoming hearing approaching, Harley thinks about backing out of her investigation. Will Harley be able to stuff herself into yet another tight corner to solve the mystery, or will she have to back off to solve her own issues? Will the spy in her even let her dismiss this odd mystery?
Join Harley during her freshman year as she takes on mysteries around her college town. This is Book One in a series.
Bio:
Rebecca Green Gasper is an author, speaker and photographer. She writes young adult contemporary fiction on tough teen issues, new adult sleuth mystery series, historical fiction, and non-fiction. She was a high school teacher, tutor, and coach before becoming a writer. She is passionate about raising awareness on teen tough issues and speaking out against teen violence. She loves pinwheels, bright colors, daisies, long talks with friends, and time with her family. She grew up in the mountains of Colorado and now lives outside of Denver with her husband and two children. You can find her at www.rebeccagreengasper.com.Links:
Amazon| Website| Blog | Goodreads
