Okay, so I know I haven't been around much, especially here on this blog. I had so much going on over the summer, from hitting the USA Today bestseller list and trying to keep up with my insane pen name publication schedule.
But somehow, during everything, I managed to get a couple of YA contemporary romances written and edited and ready for publication!
The first is called JUST FRIENDS and it's coming out on December 12. The second TO BE YOURS, will be out on January 16. I'm getting the cover finalized with my designer right now, but it should be up for sale soon!
About JUST FRIENDS: High school senior, Mitch Houser, is thrilled to have multiple colleges recruiting him because of his record-breaking times on the track, but Mitch hasn’t told anyone the real reason he’s been setting records.
He’s trying to outrun his girl problems.
It’s bad when his friend starts dating his younger, freshman sister. It gets worse when his best friend from childhood, Holly Isaacson, pulls away from Mitch. They used to switch phones during AP History and type each other random notes throughout the day, but lately, Mitch has been keeping his phone safely in his own pocket.
Lance, Mitch’s only competition on the track and good friend, tells Mitch over and over that Holly isn’t ten years old anymore, that she’s worth taking a second look at. Mitch rolls his eyes and tells his friend to shut up, the way he has for years.
And worst of all is the idea of Holly becoming buddy-buddy with Jade Montgomery, who is Mitch’s latest crush. He wants to move Jade from a girl he invites to eat dinner with his family to a girl he takes out to dinner—and maybe kisses afterward. Mitch, who isn’t a great conversationalist, struggles to find the right way to ask Jade out and explain his “just friends” status with Holly.
So Mitch runs, and he runs fast. Things progress with Jade at the same rate they fall apart with Holly. Mitch is under pressure from his parents to fill out his college applications. He’s unsure what to do about Holly. He argues constantly with his sister about her boyfriend. And Lance’s voice about Holly refuses to be silenced.
Most days, Mitch can’t change into his running clothes fast enough. But running from his problems isn’t a good solution, and Mitch has to face both Jade and Holly—and decide which one of them to put into the “just friends” category.
I hope you'll get a copy today! Available in Kindle Unlimited or for $2.99.
Okay, so I've been stewing a lot about YA contemporary novels lately. I don't naturally gravitate toward them, but then when I read one, I'm amazed. And I've heard that you're supposed to read widely as an author, and well, I don't really do that.
I do remember reading LOVE YOU, HATE YOU, MISS YOU by Elizabeth Scott. Windy Aphayrath recommended her to me, and boy was she right on. I immediately followed that novel with LIVING DEAD GIRL. Wow.
I haven't read every one of Elizabeth Scott's novels, but I have PERFECT YOU waiting in the wings. And she has a new book coming out TODAY, and since I'm lucky enough to be on the Girlfriend Circuit with Elizabeth, she's here to answer some questions about her newest novel, BETWEEN HERE AND FOREVER.
The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less: Small towns, secrets, family, learning to be who you are, falling in love (Wow, she's good. There are 67 characters left!)
About THE AUTHOR:
Have you always wanted to be a writer? No--I started writing fiction on a sheer fluke when I was 27. (!)
What made you decide to go that “extra step” and seek publication? My friends, who kept telling me to go for it.
Quick! You’ve been chosen to go on Survivor. What luxury item do you take? My husband and dog. :-) (Finally, someone who knows what Survivor is! Win.)
And the most important of all: bacon or chocolate? I'm actually
allergic to both, so neither! (*gasp!*)
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Thanks, Elizabeth! If you haven't read one of her novels, yet, please do yourself a favor. Get one. Read it. You can also follow Elizabeth's blog here.
So I've resolved to keep track of the contemporary novels I read this year. Do you read widely? Or do you find yourself stuck in the same genre?
*cue music*
You know the kind. Darth Vader's kind.
Okay, so I went to a writing party on Friday. It was all kinds of amazing and awesome and uber-fun. And now, apparently, I'm the Sith Lord. I've been luring writers to the dark side for months now.
Who knew?
And just what is the dark side? Paranormal. Yeah, I luvz it. So I guess I've been "encouraging" my contemporary writerly friends that they should write paranormal.
And now I've decided to go contemporary. I can't remember who it was that said I was "enticing" the competition to my side just so I could run a coup on contemporary.
But I'll find out. Oh, yes. The Force is strong with me. I'll find out.
*/end music*
So the party was awesomesauce. We sat around and talked about what we write. So, dear friends, what do you write and why? What genres do you find yourself gravitating toward? What's easy? What's harder?
And do you think I'd look good in a hood? (lol!)
