Deirdre Riordan Hall's Blog, page 4

Non-Fiction

      
About Book Promotion 365
You wrote and published a book, now what? How do you reach readers?

With so many books filling the digital marketplace and bookstore shelf space, it's often not quite enough to put forth our best work and launch, hoping we'll see our name on the bestseller list. More often than not, it falls to the author to take action and steadily build an audience. Your novel didn't write itself, nor will it land in the hands of readers without some effort. 

Book Promotion 365 is about making daily choices to build your dreams into reality. You'll dig down and identify whom you are as a writer, your goals, and create a plan to move forward as a self-published or traditionally published author of fiction in the digital age. The book promotion practices presented will also help you connect with readers and transform your writing life. 

You'll learn how to best serve your readership and promote your book with authenticity, make meaningful connections, and generously add value by forming new ways of thinking about promotion that will set you up to reach readers over time. There's no magic formula for success, but if you're ready to share your work with the world and be your own promo fairy, consider this book your wand.

Amazon // iBooks, Nook, Kobo & Other digital platforms // Looking for the blogs, products, books, platforms, and resources mentioned in Book Promotion 365? Click here for access to the list.  About My Essential Oils Journal

Want to keep track of the essential oils you use and take note of their benefits?

Have a huge collection of oils and want to record the various ways you use them?

Want to keep track of the oils you share with family and friends?

Have a hard time finding the little notes you used to jot down your oil recipes?

Want to keep track of your oil collection and wish list?

Have the need to organize the natural solutions you've discovered?

Are you getting started with essential oils and want to keep track of the oils you use and take note of their benefits? Do you have a huge collection of essential oils and want to record the various ways you use them? Are you having a hard time finding the little notes where you jotted your recipes? Do you want to keep track of the oils you share with family & friends along with your wish list? Need to organize the natural solutions you've discovered? My Essential Oils Journal has you covered. Inside, you'll find pages to make note of the top oils and blends you use for your health priorities and wellness lifestyle. Plus, additional pages to record other oils and how they work for you personally, make note of your recipes, and essential oils you'd like to add to your collection. There's also a section to list the oils shared with friends & family along with their feedback, and pages for notes. This is the perfect gift for the oiler in your life, for general and holiday gift giving, for your team members, and of course, for you!
Spiral Bound // Etsy Digital Download // Paperback 

Newsletter & FAQ

To join my author newsletter please click here
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Miscellaneous Author News
On being a hybrid author: indie & trad at Forever Young Adult 
A live interview discussing SUGAR & more with Book Circle Online from YALLWest PEARL. noteworthy
Commentary from Kirkus. 
The School Library Journal previews Pearl.
Guesting on Hypable, why I wrote Pearl.
Pearl made Voya's Perfect Tens 2016 List!
Exclusive interview at Fangirlish on Pearl & the hard-edged aspects of life.
From the April Issue of VOYA: “Sometimes a book touches readers so deeply that it stands apart. Top-notch writing, excellent characterization, and a plot that illustrates but never preaches puts Pearl at the top of the stack. Heartbreaking, gritty, and absolutely unforgettable, Pearl belongs in every teen library.” —VOYA Magazine
Pearl mention on YALSA.
Author Cheyanne Young talks about rooting for Pearl. 
Interview at Spare Time Book Blog & the time I "pantsed" it. 
Nino from Enchanted Readers really gets PEARL. 
My YA Book picks worthy of a place in your heart over on the Children's Book Review. 
PEARL, the book of the month on Lily Bloom Books and a thorough, "loved it" review.
Puppies + Books + Bookcovers featuring PEARL on Beauty and the Bookshelf.
10 YA Books that tackle tough subjects on Parent.co
Pearl, a celebration story at the Confetti Bar 
Jackie shares a review and favorite quotes over at the Bookish Coffee Blog
Vlogger Krissy reviews Pearl. *Spoiler free and awesome! 
"This would probably be the only book I've ever read that I will read over and over again. It was that good." -The Review Room.  SUGAR. noteworthy
Interview & review on Hypable.
Sugar, eating disorders & teens in the Denver Post.
An interview about Sugar, the novel, with one of my favorite authors and friends: Cheyenne Young.
Understanding SUGAR with the Sci-Fi-fantasy Lit Chick.
An interview and more over at Icey Books.
A conversation with me on Two Women & a Book Review 
The delights & plights of writing on Land of Books.
Sweety High's choice stars cast for Sugar & Even.
10 Sweet things about Sugar on the Authorteers.
On getting Sugar with Fangirlish.
An interview with Sugar on GrownupFanGal.
Author Q&A at Book Stop Corner. 
Read about why Claudia from My Soul Called Life called Sugar a top 10 of 2015
The *blogcritics review of Sugar.
Yara from Once Upon a Twilight says, "This book is definitely a treat." Find out more here.
An interview over at Fiktshun.
The 6 things Czai over at the Blacksheep Project loved about Sugar.
5 Questions & 5 Answers over at Sassy & Dangerous. 
A day with Sugar over at Papercuts Podcast.
An interview, my "just one more syndrome" & the advice I'd give to my teenage self. Book Worms & Night Owls (Dontcha love that name of Lauren's blog?!) 
"Our worth isn't measured by the opinions of others." Aimee-Leigh @ In Between the Covers.
"Reading this book took me on an emotional journey that felt deeply personal and brought some very real tears to my eyes." -Bookish Devices

More Supreme Awesomeness Coming Soon! 
FAQ 
To me it's mostly silly and limiting and downright difficult to have one favorite of anything, ya know? But for now, and since you may have asked, here are a few of my favorite things. Some of them make me laugh, cry, or otherwise jump up and down, making a fool of myself as my bangs fly around, while I chant, "That's my fave!" And then it changes ten minutes or ten days later. I can be rahhhther fickle, but for for now...a few of my favorite things...
*An aside: Also, I'm a big fan of the Proust Questionnaire, so you may see a few PQ-esque responses to various "asks" here too.
Word(s): Purple and as of recently, pilcrow. ¶ In case you were wondering what a pilcrow looks like. (Kinda like a wonky candy cane if you ask me.) I encourage you to say these words out loud, feeling them on your tongue.
Author(s): I could write a book in response, but I'll try to keep it short. The following authors I admire, enjoy their writing style and story craft, imagine we may have hung out together in college, or otherwise simply enjoy what they do with words and storytelling.  
The J's: J.K Rowling & J.R.R. Tolkien (Fantasy. Because, duh.) Along with Maggie Stiefvater, Jandy Nelson, Autumn Doughton, Rainbow Rowell, Jessica Park, Robin Schneider, Natalie Lloyd, Elizabeth Gilbert... 
Book(s): Ditto above, but here are a few that I'll admit to reading more than once, which is a rarity around this parts because TIME:
The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienAll of the Harry Potter books by J.K RowlingI'll Meet you There by Heather DemetriosThe Sky is Everywhere by Jandy NelsonThe Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Social Media: Twitter. It was my first. To me, the platform is intuitive and because I tend to be long winded, it's a daily exercise in keeping my thoughts concise and brief (which incidentally, works as both a time saver and a drill of sorts when it comes to writing fiction.)
Quote: I have TONS, but this one makes my heart tick faster: 
"What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?" 
For more on my love of words and quotes, my Pinterest Board, WORD, is chock full. 
Surfboard: Long, I usually ride an 8, sometimes 9.
Food: I have a variety of food allergies, so my version of the dishes below might not look like the kind your mom cooks, unless of course, I'm your mom or you share the "quirk" that prevents you from eating sugar and gluten. Pizza. Chips, guacamole, and salsa. Smoothies. Sometimes all at the same time. No, I don't mean a pizza smoothie, but a smoothie with a slice of pizza. Oh and my toppings vary from Margarita style to onions, sage, butternut squash, and arugula. The possibilities are extensive, despite the fact that my father thinks the only things left for me to eat is that "Stuff called hummus." He worries about my diet and health worse than my Italian Nana. Also, I'm a vegetarian so you can imagine I'm a real joy to dine with. 
Server: "Can I take your order, Ma'am?"Me: "Sure, but first I have a few questions..."Server: *Stiffens with fright/Or rolls eyes at me* "Okay...:"Me: *Launches into 100-and-one Q's about ingredients...* Server: "Sorry I asked. I quit." *Tosses apron on table.*
Kidding. It isn't that bad, and I tip well. I've been on the other side of the four-top, so I know all about the "dread food-sensitive diner." 
Also, read an outstanding treatise by none other than the illustrious Maggie Stiefvater on owning/embracing our health, food sensitivities, and choices. (If the thought harvesters from the Unicorn planet Zorb have anything to do with this, I'll... I won't say it, I won't even think it! If that makes no sense to you, good ;-) 
What TV shows do you like? I've watched all nine seasons of Seinfeld in their entirety, if that tells you anything. But to tell you the truth, I rarely veer from PBS; Downton Abbey is top notch and I really enjoy cooking and travel shows, which they do brilliantly. I also loved Freaks & Geeks during its run. So sad to see that one go. Other than that, I'm a books and movies kinda gal. 

Women's Fiction

  Check out my Amazon Author Page for all the books! Scroll down for a free book!
About Love, Hate, and Other Lies We Told  
Let go from her job and feeling lost, Navy Carrington takes a position as coffee-girl at a publicity firm. Their newest client is Carrick Kennely, the former love of her life and her fiercest adversary. She thought she'd let go of the past by playing it safe with book boyfriends—and avoiding frustratingly sexy guys like Carrick.
When Navy's roommate finds the Boyfriend Book, a silly relic leftover from Navy's teens, it prompts a dare; Navy is to go on five dates and pick one to be her Valentine. Despite her reservations, she can't say no, especially if it means proving to herself and Carrick that she can move on.
Navy chronicles her brief romantic entanglements with the Hottie in 7G, the Man-Bun-Barista, the Gym Stud, and the Book Boyfriend who turns out to be a toad—not the kind that when kissed turns into a prince—, on The Boyfriend Book Blog. She doesn't want to let her readers or herself down, but as Valentine's Day nears, none of the guys comes close to being her one true love.
Except Carrick. He’s infuriating, attractive, confusing, catnip…and it turns out he has a secret.
With a love letter and a plane ticket in hand, Navy leaves her baggage behind and must decide between love, hate, and the lies she told to protect her fragile heart.
Told with humor and heart, Love, Hate, and Other Lies We Told may appeal to readers who enjoy Alice Clayton, Sally Thorne, and Emily Giffin's work. 
 UK // US //  Australia < all other digital stores >Audiobook coming soon!
If you read Love, Hate, and Other Lies We Told & like it, hugs for a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Thank you!
About the companion novella, How Not to Fall in Love
Katya's middle name may be Aphrodite, but she has no interest in relationships. In fact, she has three rules she lives by:
1. Never spend the night.2. Never sleep with the same guy twice.3. Never fall in love.Oh, and number 3.1 is never order the same coffee two days in a row.
That's a lot of nevers, but when she repeatedly breaks every single one of them (her undoing was a vanilla latte with a heart in the foam, BTW), she begins to wonder…
Actually, it was a batch of chocolate chip cookies that started her downward spiral. Never mind, scratch that, it was Spencer—her neighbor. He's also a banker, a player, and seems to know just what Kat wants, which isn't love.
Until they start to spend a lot of time together…
Until she finds one of his socks at her place...
Until they go to a ski resort for a long weekend…
Until he has a snowboarding injury…
As Kat struggles with the part of her that wants to be strong, single, and on the scene and the mushy, melty, romantic within, she tries desperately not to fall in love. But what's wrong with falling if you have someone with dark tousled hair, refined yet ruggedly handsome features, and chiseled abs to catch you?
Nothing. Nothing at all.
This can be read as a standalone, but reading Love, Hate, and Other Lies We Told first will provide a richer reading experience. 
UK // US // AU<All other digital stores>Audiobook coming soon!
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Thank you!


Each of the 7 books in the Follow your Bliss series can be read in succession or read on their own. They're linked, but stand alone and don't have to be read in order! Start wherever you like!


     About Through the Jungle a  FREE  Follow your Bliss prequel-sequel novelette
This novelette is smaller than a novel and tinier than a novella; it’s a bite sized, single serving of reading. Through the Jungle captures six snapshots of your favorite Follow your Bliss characters before they step on the road to bliss and then glimpses into their lives, after...
Before: There’s Kira in her little white dress, and then Ian, who realizes sandy feet and cold feet are synonymous. Brighton careens recklessly from bachelorette party to torn bridesmaid’s dress pre-wedding march, and Alex finds himself drunk at the altar, in Vegas. Baskia, not sure marriage will ever be in her future, gets okay with uncertainty, despite how fabulous she looks in a gown…and then there’s Trace, who, after a long and winding path, finds himself saying all the right things to the one.
After: With a wedding planned in Hawaii, the events during the days leading up to the I dos are a gloriously tangled mess of lives overlapping, past loves reappearing, and drama igniting. Engagements, rehearsal dinners, wedding ceremonies, and an escape to the jungle brings everyone right to the edge, discovering happiness is imperfect, then sends them over, whooping and laughing into the pool of bliss below.
The first several chapters are a prequel to the Follow your Bliss series and the subsequent chapters follow-up, uniting the characters on an island in paradise. Told from the unique perspectives of the main protagonists from each of the Follow your Bliss books, readers get to dive more deeply into the sometimes chaotic, messy, and always wildly flawed lives they’ve followed from tragedy and confusion to bliss.   Top of Form
Now you can get all six Follow your Bliss books in one place! Click for your iBooks, Nook, Kobo, or other digital reader copy or continue to scroll down to read about each book individually. 
Bottom of Form

To the Seabook oneKindle // Paperback  

Fresh out of college and newly married, twenty-something Kira plans the perfect future with a house in the suburbs, ski getaways, and fancy dinners. When her husband Jeremy dies in a car accident, loss casts her adrift, but her heart cracks wide open when she uncovers the secrets he left behind.
Despite her dislike for the ocean with the whipping wind and itchy sand, Kira seeks solace in salt: tears, sweat, and the sea, helping her move beyond the myth of perfection, and guiding her toward the truth of who she really is.
She takes surf lessons to overcome her fear of the water and her well of grief. In the local surf scene, she meets sultry Jamie, with a hot Australian accent. He’s eager to spend time with her, but mostly between the sheets. Then there’s soulful Ian, her surf instructor, who helps her get on her feet and ride the waves.

During a transformative trip to South Africa on surfari, she learns the best way to be loved, yet when she returns to the shores of New England, grief continues to haunt her. She must let go, but how? Torn between the tides, Kira discovers strength and courage, navigates loss, lust, and love, taking readers along for the plunge.
Surfaced
book 2 (To the Sea companion novella)Kindle // Paperback 

By eighteen, Jamie Burke was a pro surfer capturing the hearts of surf fans everywhere. 

By twenty, he broke just as many hearts trading his prowess on the waves for sultry nights spent between the sheets. 

By twenty-two, he lamented losing the woman who changed him. Then he disappeared. 

When Jamie surfaces in his hometown in Australia, he discovers his high school sweetheart has moved on, but that doesn’t stop him from believing that she’s the one. He’ll do whatever is necessary to win her back, even compete in a surf-off against tough Mik Tanaka, aka Tank.
Awash on the shore, Jamie also finds pieces of his broken family—a father who took off, his disappointed mother, and a brother who has a secret—and it’s up to him to help put them back together. As he reunites with familiar faces, rallying around him, he might just have to redefine what family means.
Jamie spent years chasing a dream all over the world and doesn’t expect the waves to carry him right back to where he started. Only he can claim the treasures his return home by the sea offers: love, family, and truth. But as he fights temptation, sinks to the depths of despair, and struggles to open up, his biggest adventure will be dropping anchor.
This fresh follow-up novella, for the new adult novel To the Sea, takes readers back to the beach with Kira’s hot fling, Jamie. Book Two in the Follow your Bliss Series, Surfaced can be read after To the Sea, or as a stand-alone, quick beach read filled with romance, surfing, and transformation. 
If you read Surfaced & like it, I would totally appreciate a review on  Amazon  or  Goodreads . Thank you!
In the Desert
book threeKindle // Paperback
Twenty-year-old fiery film student Brighton Holmes knows exactly what she wants: an epic adventure on the open road in her late father’s 1969 Chevelle, alone. Her quest is to visit all fifty states and find a place to call home. 
When a family friend asks for a favor, UK rocker in recovery, Alex Stihl, joins her on the road trip, stirring up trouble; the last thing she needs. It doesn’t help that he has a mob of fans and a crazy ex-girlfriend tailing his every move.

Brighton and Alex clash as they cruise out of New York, she grows resigned in the rolling hills of Amish country, and he crashes hard in a hotel on the edge of the Smoky Mountains. While Brighton seeks a place to wash her mind of the past, Alex dodges reminders of heartbreak.  
They both try to escape everything they have in common: heartache, loss, and confusion about what’s next. But the magic of New Orleans unites Brighton and Alex as they fight desperately for the other until the desert leads them to discover exactly what they’re resisting and missing.

When they reach the Oregon coast, Brighton uncovers her musical talent, bringing them closer together and helping her reconcile losing her father. But the trip comes to an end when they arrive in Los Angeles. Real life intervenes, splitting them apart; she moves into her new off-campus apartment and he has to return to his band.

After the semester begins, Brighton tries to shake her mind loose from Alex, but the memory of his sexy voice, rainy day eyes, and the miles they shared lingers like a song stuck in her head. Six months later, when his band returns to Los Angeles for a concert, the compass of her heart finally leads her home. 
If you read In the Desert & like it, a review on Amazon or Goodreads would be super. Thank you!  Mirrored
book four (In the Desert companion novella)Kindle //Paperback


Alex Stihl, notorious rocker, known for food fights, guitar wars, and riots, found love on the road with wild-child Brighton Holmes, eventually calming his alcohol-infused mayhem.
At the end of his band’s summer tour, he wants nothing more than to spend a few quiet weeks by the sea with his guitar and his girl.
When he discovers her reluctance to visit is because her mom faces a health crisis, his attention turns to his own mother who split when he was born, leaving him cracked with insecurity and anger. 
After Brighton relents and books a ticket to the UK, Alex gives her a tour of the London her late father knew, splintering her old grief. Their trip to see his grave brings relief, and a week spent in Alex’s hometown in Scotland, draws out mischief.
All the while, paparazzi harass them, culminating in a frenzied night when Alex says goodbye to his dying mother, an impromptu performance at a rock club, and band-member Finn revealing he’s taken up with Alex’s crazy ex-girlfriend, and then quits the band.
When Brighton discovers film, photos, and articles intended to grind up Alex’s reputation in the industry fame machine, chaos ensues on the damp streets of Glasgow. If he can tear himself from the madness, his biggest hit will include a sunset in the sand and a duet with his girl.
This follow-up novella for the contemporary romance, In the Desert, brings readers back to Brighton and Alex’s rock-and-roll world. Book Four in the Follow your Bliss Series, Mirrored can be read after In the Desert, or as a stand-alone, short story filled with love, music, betrayal, and forgiveness.
If you enjoy Mirrored, a review would be smashing! Thanks! On the Mountain book fiveKindle // Paperback 
Modeling contract? Check.
New Louboutins? Check.
Drinking and dancing at the hottest NYC clubs? Check.
Friends with benefits? Check.
An unsettled feeling about the future? Um, check.

Pressure to begin college and an epic blowout with her best friend, turns Baskia Benedict’s party life toxic. Late nights bubble with drama, her relationship with her “not-boyfriend” fizzles, and failing to meet her parents’ expectations results in an escape to the family cabin in the mountains.

Unexpectedly, her brother’s friend Trace appears, seeking refuge from his own obscure problems at the rural hideaway. All Baskia needs are a few days to get her head clear, but Trace distracts her with his smile—always on the edge of amusement—and infuriates her with his seductive charm. When the rumble of his motorcycle fades, Baskia focuses on figuring out her future and nursing a not-so-healthy crush on Trace.

As days turn into months, Baskia stubbornly remains at the cabin, determined to find her purpose and secretly hoping for mysterious Trace to return. After she meets locals—including getting snowed in with her cute neighbor—learns how to cook, and mends past relationships, she discovers the simple life might just save her from herself. Although Baskia transforms and gains independence, Trace returns and stirs up trouble, challenging her to follow her ultimate bliss.

On the Mountain, is book five in the Follow your Bliss series. It can be read chronologically, or as a stand-alone story, filled with seduction, transformation, and love. 
If you like On the Mountain, leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads will help other readers discover the novel. Thank you! Kindledbook six (On the Mountain companion novella)Kindle // Paperback
A car accident rips the Carter family apart, leaving Wes to struggle through the loss of his parents and landing his sister, Maisy, in a coma. He waits and waits, putting his life on hold as he clings, desperately to hope. When she wakes, it appears as if she’ll make a quick recovery allowing him to return to school.

When Wes visits Maisy over holiday break from college, he learns she’s vanishing into the void of grief. Despite the long phone calls at odd hours, the support, and near-constant attention, nothing he’d done to help—that ate up his sleep, social life, and study hours — was enough to save her.

On Christmas Eve, the surrogate family who carried Wes through the months of uncertainty gathers to celebrate. Mellie, the girl Wes would like to call his sweetheart is there with a demure smile that knocks him off his feet. But Maisy’s presence is like a blemish, a reminder of how broken the Carter siblings are.

An unexpected guest appears and shakes things up, exposing a secret that prompts Wes to question his sister’s integrity. He seeks an escape, but the snow falls fast and he can’t outpace the frigid thoughts blanketing his mind. Through the night, he struggles to make sense of how difficult it is to heal after loss.

Christmas morning brings blue skies and a renewed perspective for Wes. He presents a colossal gift to the group and something extra special for Mellie. He hopes to win her heart, mend his relationship with his sister, and find his way back to bliss. 
If you enjoyed Kindled, I'd love to hear what you think! Please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Thank you!

YA Books

About SUGAR
I’m the fat Puerto Rican–Polish girl who doesn’t feel like she belongs in her skin, or anywhere else for that matter. I’ve always been too much and yet not enough.
Sugar Legowski-Gracia wasn’t always fat, but fat is what she is now at age seventeen. Not as fat as her mama, who is so big she hasn’t gotten out of bed in months. Not as heavy as her brother, Skunk, who has more meanness in him than fat, which is saying something. But she’s large enough to be the object of ridicule wherever she is: at the grocery store, walking down the street, at school. Sugar’s life is dictated by taking care of Mama in their run-down home—cooking, shopping, and, well, eating. A lot of eating, which Sugar hates as much as she loves.
When Sugar meets Even (not Evan—his nearly illiterate father misspelled his name on the birth certificate), she has the new experience of someone seeing her and not her body. As their unlikely friendship builds, Sugar allows herself to think about the future for the first time, a future not weighed down by her body or her mother.
Soon Sugar will have to decide whether to become the girl that Even helps her to see beyond the mirror or to sink into the darkness of the skin-deep role her family and her life have created for her.
Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Book Depository  IndieBound // Wherever books are sold About Pearl
Run fast and run far, unless you’re fearless. Unless you’re courageous. I’m not, but I’d like to be.
Pearl Jaeger is seventeen and homeless after drugs, poverty, and addiction unraveled the life she shared with JJ, her formerly glamorous rock star mother.
This moment of happiness is fleeting; someone will take it from me.
When tragedy brings a chance to start over at an elite boarding school, she doesn’t hesitate. Yet the only salvation comes from an art teacher as troubled as Pearl, and she faces the stark reality that what she thought she wanted isn’t straightforward.
I trace the outline of my reflection in a window. I am no more than a replica of my mother. This is not the self-portrait I want to paint.
Through the friendships she forms at school—especially with Grant, a boy who shows Pearl what it means to trust and forgive—she begins to see a path not defined by her past. But when confronted with the decision to be courageous or to take the easy way forged by her mother’s failures, which direction will Pearl choose?
Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Book Depository Indie Bound // Wherever Books are Sold About CHASING DAYS
Two-weeks until Willa Wohlbreuk graduates.
Fourteen-days left for exams and senior pranks.
Three hundred-thirty-six-hours for friendships to unravel and to fall in and out of love.
Twenty thousand-one-hundred-sixty-minutes left to go wild and grow up.
And one million two-hundred-nine-thousand-six-hundred-seconds to figure out what freedom really means.
Willa faces her best friend Teddy—Theo now—as he defies his parents and reveals something about himself she never expected. Joss appears with blue hair and stirs things up. And Grady, finally, after four years, suddenly knows Willa’s name. Meanwhile, the undercurrent of uncertainty about the future dredges up the possibility that Willa isn’t even sure who she is. All she knows is life is about to change, epically.
A story of identity and fitting in, friendship and love, living with uncertainty and sexual awakening for fans of Keeping you a Secret by Julie Anne Peters, Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour, Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson, and I'll Give you the Sun by Jandy Nelson.
Amazon // iBooks, Nook, Kobo & Other Platforms// Audiobook coming soon!  
 About SPENT
Rule #1 Never get caught.
Rule #2 Never admit to anything.
Rule #3 Never get involved with boys.
It's not until Ru Rocklin is caught shoplifting that she considers exactly what has been taken from her. For sixteen years, she's lived on the fringe and in isolation with her older sister, Silky, a master thief who doubles as Ru's guardian—lying and thieving is the family biz.
After she's given the ultimatum to go to school or kick it in jail, Ru meets Julian Freese, and finally feels, well, normal. At least until the shame of her not-so-normal life pushes them apart. 
But when he reveals his own secrets, she realizes love is one con she can't pull.When tragedy exposes the mystery of Ru's past, she's determined to finish the job Silky groomed her for: stealing the famed golden dragon, Mǔ long, from the Institute of Fine Art. It’s a heist she can't do alone so she gathers a crack team of liars and thieves to help.
As she tries to avoid the attention of the authorities, the crew embarks upon a wild game of give and take, bluffs and blunders, and twists and turns. Though it felt like the perfect plan, the dragon only leads to more questions. Ru will have to break every rule she knows to find the answers to Silky’s finely-woven lies and get her life back, or make a new one.
With Romeo and Juliet inspired romance and a caper with Ocean's 11 tension and thrills, fans of Heist Society by Ally Carter will enjoy this story of thieves and thugs, love and loss, and high-stakes action.
 Amazon // iBooks, Nook, Kobo & Other Platforms // Audiobook coming soon! About TIDEBook 1 in the Sea & Sand Series
Never trust a mermaid's kiss.
Tyler McColdrum has a bright future on the professional surfing circuit until his father tragically dies at sea. Unable to pay the bills, Tyler and his mother leave California and move to his late grandfather's cottage in Land's End, Maine—a world away from the life he's known. 
Not even the stormy Atlantic can douse Tyler's surf stoke, but when mariners go missing off the coast, legends as old as the sea itself suggest something lurks beneath the surface. As the police investigate, his friend Kiwa—the only female surfer for miles—indicates there's more to the McColdrum family history than blood and bone.
Amara is a beautiful mermaid, a mero, who wants a life on land away from her sinister sisters. As charming as mero are, with musical voices and a tempting gaze, they're also brutal and cruel, stealing the souls of sailors. As Initiation nears, Amara learns Poseidon selected her as consort and her desperation for freedom increases. 
When Tyler encounters Amara, he falls hard for her. The ocean is no longer safe for him, but he trusts their love can overcome her mero nature. As locals and officials wage war against the sea, trying to keep mariners safe, Tyler and Amara struggle with how to protect each other.
With one foot in the sand and the other in the sea, Tyler must choose love or the surf as the tide quickly rises.
 Amazon // iBooks, Nook, Kobo & Other Platforms // Audiobook coming soon! ANCHOREDBook 2 in the Sand & Sea Series
As men continue to succumb to the sea, Tyler fears for the safety of the people in Land's End and struggles to maintain the secrecy of the underwater world, including the origins of his girlfriend, Amara, former mero, aka mermaid.                                             But the biggest mystery of all is his connection to the ocean.
After Tyler's aunt passes away, he puts pieces of his genealogy together when she leaves him and Kiwa, a local girl and surfer, her house and maritime legacy. The ex-friends are at odds after she deceived him, yet she has answers.
However, Kiwa's gone missing.
Going on information gathered about the history of the mero, Tyler and Amara travel from Atlantic to Pacific. There, they make a startling discovery about ghost pirates, an angry sea king, unrequited love, and an ancient curse.
However, everything they're looking for is a lot closer than they realize.
Clues and sea relics lead Tyler to the Magna Maris, an ancient document outlining how to break the curse and reunite the inhabitants of the sea and put an end to the theft of the souls of men.
Unfortunately, Amara believes she's the curse breaker.
Tyler has to convince Amara they can be together while fighting an epic battle for life on land and the ocean below, along with grappling with the truth of who he really is.
Amazon // iBooks, Nook, Kobo, and other platforms // Audiobook coming soon! FIREBIRD BORNBook 1 in the Fight Camp Series
When government officials recruit sixteen-year-old Aran Fenn to summer camp, she leaves her idyllic home in Domain AL and crashes into a violent reality of aggressive campers and ultimate fight training. As she struggles to trust her bunkmate—who knocks her out on the first night—and Cal—who helps heal her wounds in secret—, she quickly realizes telling the counselors that she wants to go home isn’t an option.

Weeks pass and Aran prepares for the trials, including a high voltage tug of war, crossing a bed of hot coals, and enduring ten minutes in the Cage. She learns she's supposed to be at a different camp to exploit her intelligence, but fight camp is supposedly the better of the two. She's also told her green eyes are a life-threatening liability and finds out that after the Last War the Regime isolated the people to create a stronger army, rendering her life a science experiment.
Aran doesn't want to fight, but rather get home to her family even if that means letting go of her budding romance with Cal. However, when she learns the reality of her world, she's willing to put her life on the line and do whatever it takes to gain freedom.
Amazon // Wherever Books are Sold FIREBIRD BORNBook 2 in the Fight Camp Series
When Aran Fenn goes to summer camp, she doesn't expect days spent training and nights spent fighting, and she certainly doesn't think she'll fall in love with the tough, but irresistible Cal. However, she does all of the above and more. For the last trial, she enters the Cage to clinch her position as a Delta, while he's leveling up to Alpha—meaning he'll move off the base. 
She can't imagine enduring camp without him, but her goal of going home also means separation, possibly forever.
Aran learns of her link to the legend of the Firebird Born, whom the people hope will unite them and bring change. Seeking answers and desperate to be free, Aran escapes camp. 
The Regime hunts her in a high stakes game of survival of the fittest. When they capture her, science and story merge: the Regime's leader believes she's the key to developing a serum to bring everlasting life and create an undefeatable army of super soldiers. Now, not only does she have to fight physically, but mentally too.

It’s in Aran's blood to resist and rise, but her family—and Cal—claim her heart, prompting her to choose between what's right: overthrowing the Regime and finding her way home, and what's easy: the tempting offer of a new life on the mainland.Amazon // Wherever books are sold

Under Construction...

Please pardon the website'sappearance while it undergoes a makeover! 
*Enjoy these pics of my purries while things get changed up and the blog will soon be back and better than ever!* 

Announcing YASH Fall 2017!

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, fall has arrived, and like the good little squirrels we are, it's time to start collecting books to read this winter. The Young Adult Scavenger hunt is coming October 3rd! If you've never heard of it, the hunt runs every fall and spring. It's a huge showcase of new and upcoming YA releases, with loads of opportunities to win prizes, and check  out special bonus material from your favorite authors.
Sound better than collecting acorns?

The details:
Goes from 10/3-10/8
There are seven teams. I'm on the green team. 
Don't forget to vote for TIDE, my mermaid YA novel, over on the YASH Goodreads Listopia!


YASH works like a blog hop, with one author site linking to the next. It's easy to play. Be sure to check the secret numbers & read the exclusive content!
Start here: YASH
There you'll find a list of participating authors, an answer sheet, and more. There, you'll also find all the teams, books, and authors.
Don't forget to tell your friends!
Only 10 days until the @YAScavengerHunt begins. Are you ready? http://bit.ly/yashunt

Let me know if you'll be joining in the fun!

High School Magical Announcement

I have exciting, special, and magical news!

 On the first of each month for the next TEN months (yes, you read that right!), I'll publish a short story that's part of a larger, ongoing series over on Wattpad (raw, relatively unedited so readers there get a sneak peek) and then the polished version will be available on Amazon on the 15th of each month.

*You may remember my post about publishing ten books in ten months, well, I'm not stopping! Check out the post here. Yeah, I might be a little nuts.

I'm thinking of it as episodes. Like instead of a sitcom, it's a lit-com, or if you prefer, installments, contributing to a larger story.
So what's High School Magical about? Magic. Mayhem. And... kissing, of course.
Here's the description: 


Maija Wessels, a high school junior, is confident, clever, and insightful. She hangs out at the beach with her besties, loves S'mores, and has a major crush on Carter Miller.She's also a witch. At least, that's what the Certified Witch Caretakers tell her when they show up with a letter from Applemoor Academy for the Magically Talented.She's also in the first graduating class after Applemoor opened its doors to all magical beings: unicorns, elves, vampires, and more. However, not everything is fluffy bunnies, apple pie, and rainbows. There are boys too: the mysterious and brooding JJ who appears after she sees her name in the stars. Then Bobby Gold whose smile could melt any girls' heart. As she tries to balance her old life with her supposed newfound abilities (not to mention the homework and spellwork), she can't use her cellphone, her roommate won't talk to her, she gets locked in a classroom, and tension among the magical beings on campus mounts. And everyone keeps saying she looks exactly like Imogen Hawkes, the subject of the last great prophecy. Meanwhile, she's just trying to get through the day without turning anyone into a toad.

***
Read the first installment of the ten-part series HERE, with each story published on Wattpad on the first of the month and on Amazon on the fifteenth, which you can check out HERE.
Join my newsletter and hang out with me on Instagram & Facebook to keep up with all my magical hijinks. 

Fight Camp: Firebird Rising Release!

The wait is over. Though admittedly it wasn't a very long wait as far as books go. Just a month after the release of the action-adventure-dystopian-romance follow up to Fight Camp: Firebird Born you get book two, Fight Camp: Firebird Rising.  We pick up where the first left off (with a cliffy // sorry not sorry!) and dive right into a high stakes game of survival of the fittest with Aran in the Cage!


Cover by Nova Book Covers
When Aran Fenn goes to summer camp, she doesn't expect days spent training and nights spent fighting, and she certainly doesn't think she'll fall in love with the tough, but irresistible Cal. However, she does all of the above and more. For the last trial, she enters the Cage to clinch her position as a Delta, while he's leveling up to Alpha—meaning he'll move off the base. She can't imagine enduring camp without him, but her goal of going home also means separation, possibly forever.
Aran learns of her link to the legend of the Firebird Born, whom the people hope will unite them and bring change. Seeking answers and desperate to be free, Aran escapes camp. The Regime hunts her in a high stakes game of survival of the fittest. When they capture her, science and story merge: the Regime's leader believes she's the key to developing a serum to bring everlasting life and create an undefeatable army of super soldiers. Now, not only does she have to fight physically, but mentally too.
It’s in Aran's blood to resist and rise, but her family—and Cal—claim her heart, prompting her to choose between what's right: overthrowing the Regime and finding her way home, and what's easy: the tempting offer of a new life on the mainland.
*Will she win her freedom? Will she fight for family? For love? For the people?
Get your copy and find out!
US // UK // AUGoodreads
* 
You can also enter to win digital copies of both books:Fight Camp: Firebird BornFight Camp: Firebird Rising 

Enter here 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

This marks book 8 of my 10 books in 10 months challenge. I'm kind of spinning, but in a good way. And I'm spinning so fast, I'm not stopping. I'll be back soon with an exciting, confetti-worthy special announcement!!!

Fight Camp: Firebird Rising Cover Reveal

Ready to see the cover for the follow up to book I from the Fight Camp duology? 
This one is called Fight Camp: Firebird Rising, and it's pretty fierce! Thanks to Nova Book Covers for the designs!
Want to have a look?
***Are you ready?
Are you set?
Go!
*
*
*

When Aran Fenn goes to summer camp, she doesn't expect days spent training and nights spent fighting, and she certainly doesn't think she'll fall in love with the tough, but irresistible Cal. However, she does all of the above and more. For the last trial, she enters the Cage to clinch her position as a Delta, while he's leveling up to Alpha—meaning he'll move off the base. She can't imagine enduring camp without him, but her goal of going home also means separation, possibly forever.
Aran learns of her link to the legend of the Firebird Born, whom the people hope will unite them and bring change. Seeking answers and desperate to be free, Aran escapes camp. The Regime hunts her in a high stakes game of survival of the fittest. When they capture her, science and story merge: the Regime's leader believes she's the key to developing a serum to bring everlasting life and create an undefeatable army of super soldiers. Now, not only does she have to fight physically, but mentally too.
It’s in Aran's blood to resist and rise, but her family—and Cal—claim her heart, prompting her to choose between what's right: overthrowing the Regime and finding her way home, and what's easy: the tempting offer of a new life on the mainland.
*Pre order your copy here UK // AU
Goodreads
*I'd love if you share the fight-tastic fanfare with your friends. (Sorry, that was really cheesy alliteration, but when it comes to me, I can't resist.)
Copy & Paste to Twitter:When summer camp meets boot camp, it's time to fight for freedom and for love. Fight Camp: Firebird Rising  #youngadult  #dystopian available 8/15 https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Camp-Dei...
Copy & Paste to Facebook:
Growing up in a privileged Domain, sixteen-year-old Aran believes she's going to summer camp for the smart and privileged. Instead, she enters a high stakes game of survival of the fittest. She must choose between what's right and what is easy—along with fighting for freedom and fighting for love—and stop the Regime from creating an undefeatable army.
https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Camp-Dei...

I'm not sorry I left Book #1 on a cliffhanger, but thankfully you don't have to wait long to find out what happens! Fight Camp: Firebird Rising releases 8/15. 
Woot woot and a whoop whoop!

Mega YA Dystopian Giveaway!

Did you attend the YA Dystopian Extravaganza release party last week on Facebook? It was a blast! There were exclusive excerpts, Q&A, games, and prizes. But that wasn't all! The fun continues with another giveaway! 
Enter below to win signed copies of these five books! 
Fight Camp: Firebird Born by me!Untamed by Madeline DyerThe Syndicate by Sophie DavisConfigured by Jenetta Penner The 13th Continuum by Jennifer Brody
CLICK HERE TO ENTER! 
Tell me if you've read Fight Camp and who you'd cast as Aran in the movie!