Sasha Hibbs's Blog, page 4
August 19, 2015
New Release! Summer Crush Anthology
I'm so excited! My short story, SUTTON SUMMER, is part of Evernight Teen's anthology, Summer Crush, and will be out this Friday!
After losing her mom to a lengthy battle with breast cancer, seventeen-year-old McKenzie Westfall finds herself carted off to Sutton Lake every summer to stay with her Aunt Jenny while her contractor father works out of state.
The problem? The lake was willed to McKenzie’s aunt and her mother after her grandfather passed away and everything about the lake reminds her of what she doesn't have anymore: her mother, her own life and the geeky kid, Dylan Blake, whose heart McKenzie broke last year.
Sutton Summer puts McKenzie on the journey of self-discovery where she must find forgiveness from within before she can find love with a boy who’s not the geeky kid anymore. Returning to the lake for a fourth season, McKenzie’s surprised to find a new guy working the boat docks and rentals. He’s tall, tan and gorgeous. But McKenzie’s in for the surprise of her life when she discovers the new guy is none other than Dylan Blake all grown up. With the acne, braces, and telescope-sized glasses gone, does the heart that used to beat for McKenzie remain?
Full of tenderness, heartache and a dawning realization that beauty goes beyond the surface, Sutton Summer, packs an emotional punch where McKenzie and Dylan will never be the same. As McKenzie still grieves the loss of her mother and realizes love was in front of her the entire time, will the boy at the lake find it in his heart to forgive her?
And here's a gander at the rest of the awesome stories included in Summer Crush:
Exquisite Torture by S.D. Wasley:
16 year old Ryan thinks he's in for the summer from hell, stuck at his Gran's farm in a remote town ... until he meets the adorable Connie. But why is she so cagey about her past?
Forbidden by Melissa Frost:
The new guy in town has a bad reputation and a bad boy demeanor to go with it. Even so, Olivia can’t help feeling drawn to Gavin. Can she convince her mother he’s not the delinquent everyone believes, or will his past tear them apart?
Taking the Plunge by Diana Stager:
Overwhelmed and alone, Jessica is a teenage mother struggling to give her son the best possible life. Erik, a lifeguard at the local pool, never expected the girl of his dreams to have baby in tow. They have issues, but will it keep them from pursing the relationship, or are they willing to take the plunge?
Boarderline Love by Deanna Dee:
Nearly drowning wasn’t part of Dalya’s vacation plans. Neither was being rescued by a guy with a perfect six pack and a haunted look in his eyes. Mason reminds Dalya too much of her over-protective older brother, but when he offers to teach her to surf, she can’t say no. Can Dalya get past her frustration with her brother to realize how much Mason means to her?
An Ocean of Their Own by Bridie Hall:
Lola spends her days trawling the sand dunes in search of the perfect subject for her art. She finds it in a solitary, beautiful girl. Sarah doesn’t just fill the pages in her sketchbook, she enchants Lola’s heart too. But how can Lola tell her family about Sarah?
Buy it here! AMAZON
Add it to Goodreads: Here
Advance Praise!
'This book is a collection of six short summer love stories by six different authors. I really enjoyed all thestories in this book; they were cute short reads and perfect for summer reading. I gave the book a 4.5 overall. I really liked all the stories and recommend this book to all my contemporary lovers or if you're just looking for a light summer read.'~Sandra The Bookworm
'Each story was a little different but all focused on a summer romance and maybe taught you a little lesson along the way. I truly enjoyed each one of them.'~Janis F Book Reviews
After losing her mom to a lengthy battle with breast cancer, seventeen-year-old McKenzie Westfall finds herself carted off to Sutton Lake every summer to stay with her Aunt Jenny while her contractor father works out of state.
The problem? The lake was willed to McKenzie’s aunt and her mother after her grandfather passed away and everything about the lake reminds her of what she doesn't have anymore: her mother, her own life and the geeky kid, Dylan Blake, whose heart McKenzie broke last year.
Sutton Summer puts McKenzie on the journey of self-discovery where she must find forgiveness from within before she can find love with a boy who’s not the geeky kid anymore. Returning to the lake for a fourth season, McKenzie’s surprised to find a new guy working the boat docks and rentals. He’s tall, tan and gorgeous. But McKenzie’s in for the surprise of her life when she discovers the new guy is none other than Dylan Blake all grown up. With the acne, braces, and telescope-sized glasses gone, does the heart that used to beat for McKenzie remain?
Full of tenderness, heartache and a dawning realization that beauty goes beyond the surface, Sutton Summer, packs an emotional punch where McKenzie and Dylan will never be the same. As McKenzie still grieves the loss of her mother and realizes love was in front of her the entire time, will the boy at the lake find it in his heart to forgive her?
And here's a gander at the rest of the awesome stories included in Summer Crush:
Exquisite Torture by S.D. Wasley:
16 year old Ryan thinks he's in for the summer from hell, stuck at his Gran's farm in a remote town ... until he meets the adorable Connie. But why is she so cagey about her past?
Forbidden by Melissa Frost:
The new guy in town has a bad reputation and a bad boy demeanor to go with it. Even so, Olivia can’t help feeling drawn to Gavin. Can she convince her mother he’s not the delinquent everyone believes, or will his past tear them apart?
Taking the Plunge by Diana Stager:
Overwhelmed and alone, Jessica is a teenage mother struggling to give her son the best possible life. Erik, a lifeguard at the local pool, never expected the girl of his dreams to have baby in tow. They have issues, but will it keep them from pursing the relationship, or are they willing to take the plunge?
Boarderline Love by Deanna Dee:
Nearly drowning wasn’t part of Dalya’s vacation plans. Neither was being rescued by a guy with a perfect six pack and a haunted look in his eyes. Mason reminds Dalya too much of her over-protective older brother, but when he offers to teach her to surf, she can’t say no. Can Dalya get past her frustration with her brother to realize how much Mason means to her?
An Ocean of Their Own by Bridie Hall:
Lola spends her days trawling the sand dunes in search of the perfect subject for her art. She finds it in a solitary, beautiful girl. Sarah doesn’t just fill the pages in her sketchbook, she enchants Lola’s heart too. But how can Lola tell her family about Sarah?
Buy it here! AMAZON
Add it to Goodreads: Here
Advance Praise!
'This book is a collection of six short summer love stories by six different authors. I really enjoyed all thestories in this book; they were cute short reads and perfect for summer reading. I gave the book a 4.5 overall. I really liked all the stories and recommend this book to all my contemporary lovers or if you're just looking for a light summer read.'~Sandra The Bookworm
'Each story was a little different but all focused on a summer romance and maybe taught you a little lesson along the way. I truly enjoyed each one of them.'~Janis F Book Reviews
August 17, 2015
Behind!
I'm so far behind I'm fairly certain I can see my own ass. Okay, venting out of the way... Loads of stuff coming up.
I've got a short story releasing this week alongside some fabulous authors. Our anthology, Summer Crush, is releasing on the 21st.
We're excited that it is being sold at a special pre-order price ($2.99) and it is going to be featured in USA Today's Happy Ever After section. How cool is that? Well for me, I'm going to bask in it... It is probably the closest I will ever come to USA Today anythingness :)
This week we are also hosting a Facebook release party. Prizes will be given out :)
And, I just received my first round of edits for the fourth and final book, Black Apocalypse, in my Vulcan Legacies series. Did you notice the new, shiny, beautiful cover added? I love it. What I do love so much right now is re-editing. It's...so not, well, fun. But it's necessary.
I'm also half way finished with my new YA Contemporary that I LOVE LOVE LOVE! I cannot wait to unleash Mickey and Autumn upon you. I have to say, this might be my favorite yet!
And, no worries, the Vulcan Legacies are not completely done... Just the YA side of things. I'm going to write the rest of the stories adult style. When you introduce characters that are supposed to be hundreds of years old, I found myself struggling to tell their stories in a YA way. So what can you do? Well, write them for an adult audience. Which should be fun. It's something I've never done before. So we will see how all that turns out :) But there are some surprises in store, and I think you'll be able to tell whose book is next in the series at the finish of Black Apocalypse. *insert squeal* I'm super excited!
And, I'm still waiting to hear back from another publisher, but I'm hoping to have some more news in the near future... job wise. Crossing my fingers, please cross yours as well. Maybe enough crossed fingers will work?
Also I'll be posting some long overdue reviews shortly. Entangled Teen and Entangled has been kind enough to send me some fabulous ARC's to read and review over the last couple months. In the past week, I've read three: Own Me, Gamma Rift and Summer Marked. All three crazy good books!
Stay tuned!
I've got a short story releasing this week alongside some fabulous authors. Our anthology, Summer Crush, is releasing on the 21st.
We're excited that it is being sold at a special pre-order price ($2.99) and it is going to be featured in USA Today's Happy Ever After section. How cool is that? Well for me, I'm going to bask in it... It is probably the closest I will ever come to USA Today anythingness :)
This week we are also hosting a Facebook release party. Prizes will be given out :)
And, I just received my first round of edits for the fourth and final book, Black Apocalypse, in my Vulcan Legacies series. Did you notice the new, shiny, beautiful cover added? I love it. What I do love so much right now is re-editing. It's...so not, well, fun. But it's necessary.
I'm also half way finished with my new YA Contemporary that I LOVE LOVE LOVE! I cannot wait to unleash Mickey and Autumn upon you. I have to say, this might be my favorite yet!
And, no worries, the Vulcan Legacies are not completely done... Just the YA side of things. I'm going to write the rest of the stories adult style. When you introduce characters that are supposed to be hundreds of years old, I found myself struggling to tell their stories in a YA way. So what can you do? Well, write them for an adult audience. Which should be fun. It's something I've never done before. So we will see how all that turns out :) But there are some surprises in store, and I think you'll be able to tell whose book is next in the series at the finish of Black Apocalypse. *insert squeal* I'm super excited!
And, I'm still waiting to hear back from another publisher, but I'm hoping to have some more news in the near future... job wise. Crossing my fingers, please cross yours as well. Maybe enough crossed fingers will work?
Also I'll be posting some long overdue reviews shortly. Entangled Teen and Entangled has been kind enough to send me some fabulous ARC's to read and review over the last couple months. In the past week, I've read three: Own Me, Gamma Rift and Summer Marked. All three crazy good books!
Stay tuned!
July 30, 2015
Written On My Heart by Cole Gibsen! Review + Giveaway!
Some words last forever...
It's been six months since Ashlyn Daniels was kicked out of her home. Six months since she stood up to her abusive stepfather and got a busted rib-and seeing all her things set ablaze in a backyard bonfire-for her trouble. Never going back. She doesn't need trouble...especially if trouble is tattoo artist Lane Garrett, who's six-feet-plus of tattooed hotness and a complete ass.Lane has spent the last decade fighting to support his family. To protect them. There's no room for romance, even with a fragile (yet amusingly feisty) stunner...even if she somehow manages to invade his world and his heart. But while some secrets are as visible as ink on the skin, others must remain hidden at all costs...
My review:
I loved Written on My Heart. There was never a dull moment from beginning to end. We are instantly introduced to Ashlyn who has been trying to make it on her own. At such a young age, with no support from family, she has next to nothing, but regardless, she works at a coffee shop and has been saving her tips. She meets a friend at work who introduces her to her brother, Lane. And in walks a swoon worthy romance.
I stayed up all night reading this and any book that forces me to lose my sleep garners a 5 stars any time!
I loved that the author didn't give away who Haley was right away. I did think that Ashlyn's reaction to her was a bit over the top, but with all that said, I could understand her apprehension given her own situation. Thankfully she comes around.
Now with Lane... oh my, oh my! Now here's a character that you really empathize with. He's been the man of the house so to speak since his police officer father died with he was teenager. That coupled with the fact that a one night stand produced his daughter, he has a ton of responsibility.
He sees something in Ashlyn and I'm so glad. The tension between the two is good.
This was a great read, fast paced, and had just the right amount of romance in it. I will certainly by on the lookout for future works from Ms. Gibsen.
Buy Written On My Heart here: Amazon
About the Author:
At seventeen Cole found herself homeless with only a beat-up Volkswagen Jetta and a bag of Goodwill clothing to her name. The only things that got her through the nights she spent parked in truck stops and cornfields were the stacks of books she checked out from the library along with her trusty flashlight. Because of the reprieve these books gave her from her troubles, Cole vowed to become a writer so she could provide the same escape to readers who needed a break the reality of their own lives. a Rafflecopter giveaway
July 18, 2015
To Outline or Not to Outline?
I've written 4 novels, one shorty story and working on a few other projects at this time. To date I've never outlined a novel. I guess I fall into that category of what this field calls a "panster."
I conjure up the idea for a novel, have certain scenes flash through my head and kind of fill in the spaces in between.
For the first time in my writing career, I actually sat down and completed an outline complete with character profiles and such.
I think there are benefits to both sides.
In completing my first outline ever, I like it that I can flip through and find important elements that I might have had the best intentions of writing down once I got home and then having not done it and then the material is forgotten and I'm left kicking myself.
However, there is a certain beauty in writing panster-style. You have a concept, a certain scene, and kind of allow your characters to help you navigate your way around the novel. In doing this, I actually came up with my third book. Black Atonement was never something I intended to do when I conceived the idea for the Vulcan Legacies. But around the middle of book 2, Black Abaddon, the future characters took on a story all their own and thus, book 3 was born.
Are you a plotter?
Are you a panster?
And whichever of the above category you fall into, why? What do you find beneficial about your writing style?
I conjure up the idea for a novel, have certain scenes flash through my head and kind of fill in the spaces in between.
For the first time in my writing career, I actually sat down and completed an outline complete with character profiles and such.
I think there are benefits to both sides.
In completing my first outline ever, I like it that I can flip through and find important elements that I might have had the best intentions of writing down once I got home and then having not done it and then the material is forgotten and I'm left kicking myself.
However, there is a certain beauty in writing panster-style. You have a concept, a certain scene, and kind of allow your characters to help you navigate your way around the novel. In doing this, I actually came up with my third book. Black Atonement was never something I intended to do when I conceived the idea for the Vulcan Legacies. But around the middle of book 2, Black Abaddon, the future characters took on a story all their own and thus, book 3 was born.
Are you a plotter?
Are you a panster?
And whichever of the above category you fall into, why? What do you find beneficial about your writing style?
July 16, 2015
DRAWN by Chris Ledbetter. Blog Tour/Review/Giveaway!!!!!!
DRAWN BLOG TOUR AND GIVEAWAY
Drawnby Chris Ledbetter Release Date: 06/08/15Evernight TeenCover Artist: Jay AheerJays Book Covers By DesignSummary from Goodreads:Caught between the sweltering fall landscape of Wilmington, NC beaches and southern illusions and expectations, all sixteen year-old Cameron Shade thinks about is art. That, and for Farrah Spangled to view him as more than just a friend. Cameron longs to win her heart through art.
After several warm interactions with Farrah, including painting together at the beach, Cameron discovers just how complex Farrah’s life is with her boyfriend and her family. Following a tense run-in with Farrah’s father, she forbids Cameron to ever speak to her again, but Cameron’s convinced there’s more behind the request.
To impress Farrah with a last-ditch effort, Cameron sketches her portrait. But the sketchbook he uses hides a dark secret. Farrah’s now in grave danger because the sketch he drew of her siphons her real-life’s soul into the sketchbook. Cameron now has twenty days to extract Farrah. To save her, he must draw himself into the book.
If he fails… they both die.
Now, let me introduce you to the amazing array of characters.....enjoy!
Sigh...Cameron and Farrah...what a beautiful YA read! The chemistry and desire was intense making me cheer for this couple from start to finish!
Let me talk about our main character in DRAWN: Cameron... I adored him! Are you getting the sense that DRAWN might have something to do with art yet? Wait 'til I get to the review part. I love this kid!
Farrah....the object of Cameron's desire. What I love is that Farrah isn't your cliche gorgeous teenage girl, she is pretty, but she is also intellectual...and Cameron is DRAWN (sorry about the pun!) to her....
Okay, okay! On with the review! 5 BRIGHT STARS!!!!!!!!!!DRAWN by Chris Ledbetter is easily one of the best YA reads I've had the pleasure of reading this year! I'm not going to go on and on about what the story is about ...you can read the blurb. What I want to go on and on about are the characters, the world, and intense relationships created by Mr. Ledbetter. It's been a long time since I've read anything that has captivated me like DRAWN did. Most of the time when I peruse for a book to read, I try to pick put something that I think will have great characters. I've given up on originality a long time ago. Not in a defeatist kind of way, but everything that could've been done, has. Or has it? Well, well, well...Once I started reading DRAWN, the realization that everything that could've been done, has, was shot down in the flip of a page. I found myself ... mistaken. For once there was a prophecy that once in every thousand years, a reluctant reader would rise from the piles of books and emerge with the destiny to find something original, something that's never been done before. The readers task is one filled with great peril, immense loss at all the hours spent reading to have not ever found the "one." But, wait... after searching far and wide, fighting trolls and battling to save planet earth...the reader emerges a victor. For in her hand is a book, the book, the one. And it's name is DRAWN!Mr. Ledbetter creates such a unique world brimming with vivid characters that jump right off the page. One of the main things that I loved about DRAWN are the voices of the characters. I could hear them. They were so real. Cameron, to me, is the first teenage voice that I've read that actually sounded like a teenager. Him playing video games, him talking with his friends, him agonizing over Farrah, the loss of his mother and art mentor... Oh, swoon, swoon, swoon. He was so real. Something authors get away from in this genre is the voice of a teenager. Mr. Ledbetter nailed it. I could easily picture my nephew (he's approaching 16) go from being completely captivated and immersed in his video game, to being reminded of the girl he's agonizing over. I loved that Cameron voiced confusion concerning some female characteristics and traits. Some of the things that Farrah did, didn't make sense to him and I loved that Cameron was honest about that instead of falling all over her and loving everything about her which equates to just loving a girl for what they look like. It added depth to the relationship. Made it so much more believable and interesting. DRAWN is filled with art. Something I love. Something Cameron loves. I love that it's a huge theme in this book. Farrah...I loved her equally. Mr. Ledbetter did justice to her character. I could easily empathize with her dilemma. She's torn between family and obligation and what the reader can see is a desire to let it all go and be with Cameron. I appreciated her struggles. The obstacles laying between her and Cameron only made for a read that was that much more intense. The secondary characters were just as important. It is easy to see that Mr. Ledbetter is skilled at his craft. The world building was amazing (wait until you read about Terra Sempre). These characters stole my heart! I loved everything about DRAWN. Oh, and I need to mention that the cover...oh the cover! You'll totally drool that much more for it after you've completed DRAWN. I don't think I've seen a cover better suited to a book than DRAWN. I did read somewhere that the cover artist (talented Jay Aheer) used 12 different photos as well as an actual painting drawn specifically for this title to create the cover. And it is stunning! To sum DRAWN up... it was amazing, stunning, fresh, original, swoon-worthy, unique, with a story and plot that will keep you flipping the pages. If you're looking for that book that will pull you out of the reading slump... look no further. DRAWN has arrived to save you!
BUY IT NOW! I SAID NOW! HERE: AMAZON
ADD DRAWN TO GOODREADS: HERE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: CHRIS LEDBETTER
Author of DRAWN (Evernight Teen). Represented by Ella Kennen, Corvisiero Literary Agency.
Chris Ledbetter grew up in Durham, NC before moving to Charlottesville, VA in 11th grade. After high school, he attended Hampton University where he promptly "walked-on" to the best drum line in the CIAA. And, without any prior percussion experience. He carried the bass drum for four years, something his back is not very happy about now.
After a change of heart and major, he enrolled in Old Dominion University and earned his degree in Business Administration. He's worked in various managerial and marketing capacities throughout his life. While teaching high school for six years in Culpeper, VA, he taught business management, business law, marketing, and sports marketing, and also coached football.
He has walked the streets of Los Angeles and New York City, waded in the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and climbed Diamond Head crater on Hawaii and rang in the New Year in Tokyo, Japan. But he dreams of one day visiting Greece and Italy.
He's a proud member of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and a strong supporter of the Need for Diverse Books. As a self-described, young reluctant reader, he writes young adult stories specifically to reach other reluctant readers. As a participant in the prestigious Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program, he was blessed to be mentored by Suzanne Morgan Williams, 2012 SCBWI member of the year.
He now lives in Wilmington, NC with his family, including three cats.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
July 7, 2015
Naked by Stacey Trombley! Review + Giveaway!
The best place to hide is in a lie...I could never fit in to the life my parents demanded. By the time I was thirteen, it was too much. I ran away to New York City...and found a nightmare that lasted three years. A nightmare that began and ended with a pimp named Luis. Now I am Dirty Anna. Broken, like everything inside me has gone bad.Except that for the first time, I have a chance to start over. Not just with my parents but at school. Still, the rumors follow me everywhere. Down the hall. In classes. And the only hope I can see is in the wide, brightly lit smile of Jackson, the boy next door. So I lie to him. I lie to protect him from my past. I lie so that I don't have to be The Girl Who Went Bad.The only problem is that someone in my school knows about New York.Someone knows who I really am.And it's just a matter of time before the real Anna is exposed...
Buy NAKED here: AMAZON
My Review:
5 STARS
NAKED was a haunting read. This one will stick with me for quite some time. As read from the blurb, Anna has some dark secrets, a past that is troubled and resurfaces in a new life she is trying to rebuild.
NAKED is not your typical happy-go-lucky-teenage-love-at-first-sight kind of book, No. Naked is dark. It's tragically more real and hits closer to home than most of us would like to realize. There are happy elements that shine through, but you need to understand going into this novel, that it isn't lighthearted. And that is a compliment.
The subject matter is one that most publishers shy away from, but I'm glad Entangled Teen rolled the dice on this one. And I'm even more thankful that Ms. Trombley had the courage to write it.
Naked may've been fictitious, but the content, the subject ... they are all very real.
Anna, Naked's protagonist, tells the story through her eyes. She leaves a life of comfort and vanishes into the hard streets of NYC. There at such a young and impressionable age, she meets an older guy she falls in love with. And her life spirals out of control from there.
NAKED explores teenage prostitution, human trafficking, abuse...
There was a line in the novel that gripped me, about all the girls being swallowed in a city with millions of people. It made my blood run cold. Naked was terrifying, and all too real.
The story may explore tender topics, but the hope is in the way Anna rebuilds her life, repairs relationships, rebuilds herself.
Naked was a beautiful novel, the prose stunning, the storyline haunting. How could I give it any less than 5 stars.
Thank you Mrs. Trombley for writing such a tender novel and thank you Entangled for helping to bring it into the world!
About the author:
Stacey Trombley lives in Ohio with her husband and the sweetest Rottweiler you’ll ever meet. She thinks people are fascinating and any chance she has, she’s off doing or learning something new. She went on her first mission trip to Haiti at age twelve and is still dying to go back. Her “places to travel” list is almost as long as her “books to read” list. She wants to bring something new to the world through her writing, but just giving a little piece of herself is more than enough.Keep a look out for her debut novel NAKED, coming from Entangled Teen in 2015Giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
July 4, 2015
Flash Sale this 4th of July weekend at Evernight Teen!
This weekend only, Evernight Teen is having a flash sale on all their e-books. Discount will be taken at check-out.
Now's your chance to stock up on some fabulous titles.
Go here to their website: Evernight Teen
Happy reading!
July 2, 2015
Signing a book deal never gets old....
I received word a week ago that my YA novel, Black Apocalypse, was going to be published with Evernight Teen. This is my fifth book deal with them and the thrill and excitement is as new today as it was when I first signed with them 2 years ago.
There is something magical about envisioning a novel, writing it, submitting, waiting, and waiting some more, and then the special moment when you check your inbox and there it is: "We would love to publish your novel."
It takes me back to when I was still out there searching, submitting, receiving requests for partials, then fulls, then the dreaded rejections that slowly trickled in after so many times of having been asked for the entire manuscript with positive feedback that still ultimately led to the disheartening rejection.
Those times will always stay with me. It keeps me humble and reminds me of how lucky I am two years later to now have 5 stories under my belt.
Here's to another 5, and here's leaving you with a preview of the last installment of my YA series, the Vulcan Legacies....
There is something magical about envisioning a novel, writing it, submitting, waiting, and waiting some more, and then the special moment when you check your inbox and there it is: "We would love to publish your novel."
It takes me back to when I was still out there searching, submitting, receiving requests for partials, then fulls, then the dreaded rejections that slowly trickled in after so many times of having been asked for the entire manuscript with positive feedback that still ultimately led to the disheartening rejection.
Those times will always stay with me. It keeps me humble and reminds me of how lucky I am two years later to now have 5 stories under my belt.
Here's to another 5, and here's leaving you with a preview of the last installment of my YA series, the Vulcan Legacies....
June 10, 2015
Summer Crush, Evernight Teen Anthology Cover Reveal!
I'd posted sometime ago that my short story, SUTTON SUMMER, was accepted for publication with Evernight Teen Publishing. This beautiful cover landed in my inbox Monday:
I'm keeping the blurb quiet for now as I'm hoping to surprise someone dear to me. But I will GLADLY gush about Sutton Summer itself. Last year while lounging at Sutton Lake, WV, with my family, my cousin and I had a brief conversation of how Sutton Lake was the perfect setting for a YA Contemporary Romance. I looked around the lake, the border of beautiful and heavy woods, the boat docks, the sandy beach, the teens running around, and I knew at some point I was going to have to write that story. When Evernight Teen posted they were seeking authors for their upcoming anthology, Summer Crush, it was like BOOM! Here's your chance! And literally, over the course of two evenings, I wrote Sutton Summer. Of course I was over the moon when I got the "yes" from my publisher but when the beauty above landed in my inbox, it all became real. Sutton Summer is slated for release this August and I can't wait to share it with you. Here's a glimpse of the anthology as a whole. I'm thrilled to be among the line-up of talented authors and this anthology is sure to please your craving for young summer love! I'll post more details as they come my way.
I'm keeping the blurb quiet for now as I'm hoping to surprise someone dear to me. But I will GLADLY gush about Sutton Summer itself. Last year while lounging at Sutton Lake, WV, with my family, my cousin and I had a brief conversation of how Sutton Lake was the perfect setting for a YA Contemporary Romance. I looked around the lake, the border of beautiful and heavy woods, the boat docks, the sandy beach, the teens running around, and I knew at some point I was going to have to write that story. When Evernight Teen posted they were seeking authors for their upcoming anthology, Summer Crush, it was like BOOM! Here's your chance! And literally, over the course of two evenings, I wrote Sutton Summer. Of course I was over the moon when I got the "yes" from my publisher but when the beauty above landed in my inbox, it all became real. Sutton Summer is slated for release this August and I can't wait to share it with you. Here's a glimpse of the anthology as a whole. I'm thrilled to be among the line-up of talented authors and this anthology is sure to please your craving for young summer love! I'll post more details as they come my way.
June 3, 2015
News, News, and More News!
I've touched on this a time or two, but sometimes more than others it can be...tough to juggle working a fulltime job, writing, reading, reviewing, beta reading, promoting, socializing via internet, etc. I've been going through one of those rough patches, but I'm making some headway. Also known as just getting caught up. It's so EASY to fall behind but harder to get yourself some breathing room.
I'm reminded of the times that I continue to do all of the above when I see someone I know land a contract with a literary agent and then on to a publisher. What greater joy for an author than that? Or see that their book just received another awesome review.
It's also still so fresh in my mind what it felt like to be on the other side of that fence. I would dreamingly look at book covers and wish it were my name on it, my book in the hands of that reader, me reading email correspondences from my publisher or literary agent. And it took FOREVER for it to happen. However it left such an impression on me that whenever I can reach out and help someone (aka offer a hand to help pull them over across and on the other side of the fence) I do.
So with all of that out of the way, I do have some things coming up! I'm eager to participate in two upcoming blog tours, one from Evernight Teen Publishing and the other from Entangled Teen Publishing.
I also have a story (Sutton Summer) that is being released this summer as part of an anthology with Evernight Teen alongside a list of some super awesome authors. And I can't wait! I'm super excited for people to read it. It's the first story that is set in my home state, as the title implies, at a lake that I've had so many fun times at. It felt so appropriate to write a YA Contemporary love story there. I envisioned this possibility a few years ago, and with the anthology call, I thought, "Now is my opportunity!"
And most exciting of all, the fourth book in my Vulcan Legacies series, BLACK APOCALYPSE, is almost finished. So near is it that I've sent it out to beta-readers. And I am stoked!
I'll keep this under wraps for now, but I'm hoping to release some exciting news later this month! Finger crossed, all will turn out.
Be on the look out for more posts, blog tours, reviews, etc.
Happy reading!
I'm reminded of the times that I continue to do all of the above when I see someone I know land a contract with a literary agent and then on to a publisher. What greater joy for an author than that? Or see that their book just received another awesome review.
It's also still so fresh in my mind what it felt like to be on the other side of that fence. I would dreamingly look at book covers and wish it were my name on it, my book in the hands of that reader, me reading email correspondences from my publisher or literary agent. And it took FOREVER for it to happen. However it left such an impression on me that whenever I can reach out and help someone (aka offer a hand to help pull them over across and on the other side of the fence) I do.
So with all of that out of the way, I do have some things coming up! I'm eager to participate in two upcoming blog tours, one from Evernight Teen Publishing and the other from Entangled Teen Publishing.
I also have a story (Sutton Summer) that is being released this summer as part of an anthology with Evernight Teen alongside a list of some super awesome authors. And I can't wait! I'm super excited for people to read it. It's the first story that is set in my home state, as the title implies, at a lake that I've had so many fun times at. It felt so appropriate to write a YA Contemporary love story there. I envisioned this possibility a few years ago, and with the anthology call, I thought, "Now is my opportunity!"
And most exciting of all, the fourth book in my Vulcan Legacies series, BLACK APOCALYPSE, is almost finished. So near is it that I've sent it out to beta-readers. And I am stoked!
I'll keep this under wraps for now, but I'm hoping to release some exciting news later this month! Finger crossed, all will turn out.
Be on the look out for more posts, blog tours, reviews, etc.
Happy reading!
