Authors, Big News, Books, Fantasy, For Readers, KINGDOM OF THE WICKED, Little Brown, Publishing, Release Day, Ya, ya books, Young Adult Novels

KINGDOM OF THE WICKED is now OUT!!!!

Happy birthday, little book. It’s been a wildly strange year full of ups and downs and stress and joy and every emotion in between, but we made it to publication day!!! I started an early draft of this story back in 2015 and put it on hold when the STALKING JACK THE RIPPER series sold,… Continue reading KINGDOM OF THE WICKED is now OUT!!!!

Big News, Capturing the Devil, ESCAPING FROM HOUDINI, For Readers, Hunting Prince Dracula, Inspiration, Jimmy Patterson Books, Pictures worth a thousand words, Publishing, STALKING JACK THE RIPPER

Behind the scenes with CAPTURING THE DEVIL part 2: the importance of diversity

i’m so excited to share the second behind the scenes video of CAPTURING THE DEVIL that i shot with JIMMY Patterson Books and my editor, Jenny Bak! this one is dear to my heart because Audrey Rose isn't able-bodied and it means the world to see a character like me on shelves. part two: "the… Continue reading Behind the scenes with CAPTURING THE DEVIL part 2: the importance of diversity

Authors, Books, ESCAPING FROM HOUDINI, For Readers, Happy Things, Hearts and Hearts, Hunting Prince Dracula, Jimmy Patterson Books, Little Brown, Publishing, Release Day, STALKING JACK THE RIPPER, Writing Life, Ya, ya books, Young Adult Novels

ESCAPING FROM HOUDINI is now available everywhere!

dear readers, for someone who works with words on a daily basis, i'm finding it EXTREMELY difficult to express how excited i am that ESCAPING FROM HOUDINI is in stores TODAY!!! this whole publishing journey has felt like a wonderful dream, and it's totally surreal that my THIRD book is now in the world. i… Continue reading ESCAPING FROM HOUDINI is now available everywhere!

Creepy Stories, For Readers, Happy Things, Hunting Prince Dracula, Jimmy Patterson Books, Little Brown, Publishing, Reading, Release Day, Sparkly Things, STALKING JACK THE RIPPER, Ya, ya books, Young Adult Novels

One day left for preorder prizes!

AND TWO DAYS LEFT UNTIL PUBLICATION DAY OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. in other non-freakout news, there’s only one more day left to snag your copy of MEETING THOMAS CRESSWELL before the preorder incentive disappears like Cinderella at midnight. (September 18th going into the 19th.) if you’d like to get a copy, please take a screen shot of your… Continue reading One day left for preorder prizes!

beautiful life, Creepy Stories, Debut Novels, Dreams, Happy Things, Jimmy Patterson Books, Little Brown, Pictures worth a thousand words, Publishing, STALKING JACK THE RIPPER, Uncategorized

pre-pub: Stalking Jack the Ripper updates

Five days left until publication….Honestly, I don’t know how it’s possible. I’m excited. I’m nervous. I’m thrilled. I’m hyperventilating. I’m so ready for it and so terrified. I never knew it was possible to have so many emotions all happening simultaneously. That laughing and crying and being anxious could all intermingle at once. That something… Continue reading pre-pub: Stalking Jack the Ripper updates

Agents, Authors, Books, Critiques, For Writers, Literary Agents, Manuscript Requests, Publishing, Query Letter, Writing, Writing Life, Young Adult Novels

Query Letter Critique (YA Contemporary)

Original Query: Almost fainting onstage should be a foolproof way to lose a battle of the bands. But seventeen-year-old singer Charlie’s sabotage backfires, and her all-girl band the Wretched Gretchens takes first place anyway. Cue the sappy “Hallelujah” music. It’s not that Charlie wants her band to break up—she’s just sick of her stage persona… Continue reading Query Letter Critique (YA Contemporary)

Agents, Authors, Critiques, For Writers, Literary Agents, Manuscript Requests, Publishing, Query Letter, Writing, Writing Life

Query Critique (Non-fiction)

The Original Query: Address Address Address To Whom This May Concern, GO BLOG YOURSELF! What better way to showcase concrete research on blogging as a legit form of writing for students then to place it next to blog entries from the researcher, and teacher, herself? My book, GO BLOG YOURSELF, would include entries from two of… Continue reading Query Critique (Non-fiction)

Agents, Authors, Critiques, For Writers, Happy Things, Hearts and Hearts, Publishing, Query Letter, Writing, Writing Life, Young Adult Novels

Query Critique

Original Query: Dear (Agent), Small-time thief, big-time troublemaker, Tristan Storey has been accused of a murder he didn’t commit. And is going to hang for it. With a rope squeezed tightly around his neck, Tristan knows it’s the end, but just as his consciousness flickers, lightning tears down from the sky. It smashes the gallows, freeing the thief.… Continue reading Query Critique

Authors, beautiful life, Critiques, For Writers, Getting Started, Happy Things, Publishing, Query Letter, Revisions, Smiles Are Free, Writing, Writing Life, Young Adult Novels

The Girl with the Green Pen

I know I said I’d post a query critique each Wednesday, but this week I’m bumping it out to Friday (sorry!) to share some news with you. One of my dear friends (and the person I often refer to as “Critique Goddess”) is launching a new website for writers, and I cannot say enough about… Continue reading The Girl with the Green Pen

Authors, Critiques, For Writers, Getting Started, Happy Things, Manuscript Requests, Publishing, Query Letter, Writing, Writing Life

Query Critique

The Original Query: THE LOST STORY, completed at 80,000 words, is the tragic and triumphant story of Danielle (Dani) Caldwell, an American girl who meets a Cuban boy and falls in love, only to find their world-views divided over the Cuban Revolution. The story opens in 1980.  Dani's walking through the streets of Manhattan when… Continue reading Query Critique