A huge THANK YOU to readers

I want to extend my thanks to the wonderful readers out there who have kept JUST YOU and SOMEONE ELSE on the Amazon.com Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Romance Best Sellers list for the past month. You all rock.

New Looks for 2014!

My first two books, JUST YOU and SOMEONE ELSE have been outfitted with fresh, brand new covers. Also, both books have new and edited content, including new scenes, revised scenes, and a few detail changes. Print versions for both books are also in the works.

In other news, there will be a THIRD (and final) book in the Just You series coming later this year, so stay tuned for news and details about that.

Have a wonderful 2014, everyone!

Best Reads of 2013

I've read 108 books this year. Yes, you read that right. And there were SO MANY good ones, I actually have to break my favorites into categories.

Here are my 5 Star, Everyone-Should-Read-This, Will-Never-Forget, Best Reads of 2013 (not necessarily published this year, just read this year). These are in no particular order:


TOP 3 OF 2013

11/22/63 by Stephen King
ME BEFORE YOU by Jojo Moyes
DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver


Others I loved:


YOUNG ADULT FICTION

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT by Colleen Clayton
SPLIT by Swati Avasthi
ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell
AMY AND ROGER'S EPIC DETOUR by Morgan Matson
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US by Kasie West
DANGEROUS GIRLS by Abigail Haas
PANDEMONIUM by Lauren Oliver
GATED by Amy Christine Parker
CITY OF BONES by Cassandra Clare
CLOCKWORK PRINCESS by Cassandra Clare


ADULT FICTION

THE STORYTELLER by Jodi Picoult
SHIFT OMNIBUS by Hugh Howey
DUST by Hugh Howey
JOYLAND by Stephen King
THE HUSBAND'S SECRET by Liane Moriarty


HONORABLE MENTIONS 

REMEMBER WHEN by T. Torrest
THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS by M.L. Stedman
JUST ONE DAY by Gayle Forman
THE 5TH WAVE by Rick Yancey
FOREVER, INTERRUPTED by Taylor Jenkins Reid
WE ARE WATER by Wally Lamb
AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED by Khaled Hosseini


Which books knocked your socks off this year?

How NaNoWriMo Lit a Fire Under My Butt

This is my first year participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and let me tell you, it's been an experience so far. I started a little late, on November 3rd, and have missed four or five days of writing due to busyness and/or migraines. I'm not racking up the word count by 3-4k a day like some others, but I'm WRITING AGAIN. And that's the most important thing.

After approximately 17 total writing days, I have written 28,000 words. I have never written so much so fast in my life. NaNo has taught me to get out of my own head and let the characters' voices take over. No editing, no back-tracking, no overthinking. It's been amazing, not to mention a learning experience for me. I know now, more than ever, that writing is what I'm meant to do. I love every minute of my job and I'm so grateful I get to devote my days to something that fulfills me and makes me so happy.

As for the novel itself, I'm thoroughly enjoying it. The more books I write, the easier the words flow. The book is rough right now, and I may not love everything I've written, but the bones are there. This one is different from anything I've ever done and includes a particular element that I've never seen before in contemporary (or any) YA. This is the part I think I'm having the most fun creating. I also love my protagonist, who is outgoing, extroverted, unique, and a little nutty. It's fun writing someone who is SO unlike me (except for the nutty part).

Only a week to go before NaNo ends. I probably won't reach the 50k goal, but that's okay. The way I'm going, it's possible I might finish this before Christmas. For someone who usually takes about 6-10 months to write a first draft, completing one in two months would be quite the accomplishment.

Thanks for the kick-start, NaNo. I think I may see you again next year.

OUT OF NOWHERE is now available in paperback!

  Buy the paperback at Amazon.com