SECRETS....MYSTERY...and MORE...

Teens have so many emotional issues in our turbulent times. No longer are our children's lives simple, uncomplicated, safe...

We try to protect them. Keep them happy...healthy...emotionally stable. 

But...

Life happens... 

one Secret

Cleo has struggled to heal after her baby sister’s death, but the flashbacks to the accident won’t go away. With the move, she vows to keep her tragedy a secret and avoid pitying looks.

one Mystery

Something’s strange about the abandoned house across the street—flashes of light late at night and small flickers of movement that only someone looking for them would see. 

Everyone says the house is deserted, but Cleo is sure it isn’t, and she’s sure whoever is inside is watching her.

another Secret

In one night, Belleza’s life changes forever. So famous, her only choice is to hide her secret from the world so she can silence small town bigotry. 

Then Cleo happens.

You don't want to miss Lee's newest novel. What an intriguing beginning. I know I'm hooked. It will definitely be the next book I read. 

CONGRATS LEE! All the best!

YOU CAN FIND C. LEE ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK OR VISIT HER WEBSITE. SHE BLOGS AT THE WRITE GAME. See all of her book titles HERE. 

KINDLE PRINT EVERNIGHT TEEN

HAVE  a terrific weekend everyone! Don't forget to put Lee's book on you TBR list. It certainly will be a great weekend read. Especially for those of us FROZEN in the north.

Take care everyone!

BOOK II'S A HIT....THE INQUISITOR'S MARK DEFINITELY MARKS THE SPOT!....

Hi, All!

Today marks the first book I have read this year! I had promised myself last year to read more and sadly I came very short. But I am HAPPY to say I am starting off the new year right! It is important for us as writers to READ. I never knew how much until I stopped reading almost entirely. I hate admitting to this, but it's true. I may have read only three books last year, where once I was an avid book a week reader. What happened?

Writing. The moment I became a writer, I diminished as a reader. Aweful. Isn't it? How do you all do it? Read, write, work, family? It amazes me how so many of you balance your lives so effortlessly. I respect you more than you could EVER imagine. Give yourselves a MUCH DESERVED pat on the back!

I don't usually do many reviews. I mostly introduce new and exciting books on my blog. Many of you know this and have always enjoyed my unique play on plots, characters, etc. But today I am reviewing. SO no splashy intro here. NOT that this book doesn't deserve the best I can do, BUT today is the Dianne Salerni's day to shine.

I have been an admirer of her work from almost the beginning of her career. I think I missed her first novel. When I read the Caged Graves, I was instantly intrigued. Although written in a genre I generally don't read, I enjoyed her story tremendously. THEN... I had asked to read the proof of her next book. The EIGHTH DAY... I was hooked! Written in my favorite genre, middle grade fantasy, I jumped on it. Here's the link to my review if you'd like to read it. It's a nice introduction to her world.

A few months ago I was sent the continuation of Jax's story in The Inquisitor's Mark. With the JOYS of MOVING and the holidays tumbling into the foray of my life, I hadn't had the chance to read it. Until NOW... What a wonderful start of year present.

The Eight day has been threatened. And only thirteen-year-old Jax, his guardian, Riley, and Evangeline, one of two links to keeping the eighth day in tact, are destined to save their unique and mysterious world.

Who would ever want to destroy a magical eighth day? you ask. The answer will astound you. Could it be Jax's long lost biological family behind all the disappearances, murder, and theft. Or, the rivals of the magical descendants of Riley's family?

Jax is once again thrust into the eight day world. Not prepared for the answers. But this time he has more on his plate besides saving the world of the eight day. His best friend has been kidnapped. A normal. An innocent bystander. Why was he taken? And by whom?

Jax wants answers. And gets them. But, are they the right ones? Now he has to deal with who he is and who is real family is...

Deception, trickery, loyalty, oaths, AND sometime shocking revelations, leak into Jax's seven day world. Will he be able to hold onto his liege lady(Evangeline) and keep his loyalty to his family?

Time will tell. And even that can be altered.

Not since Harry Potter hit the scenes in the late 90's have we seen a new and intriguing world full of memorable characters, amazing chemistry between those characters, and a journey into a world similar, yet different, from our own.

Just like with the Potter books, I find myself loving each new adventure. Jax is funny, smart, and so beautifully naive, yet his strength, loyalty, and love for his friends overpowers any shortcomings in his personalty. What teenage boy doesn't have shortcomings... right? lol.

Dianne Salerni's, Inquisitor's Mark, definitely marks high in my opinion. I anxiously await book III! Just like I did when Rowling was writing HP. My favorite in her series was book III and I have a sneaking suspicion it will be the same with this series.

ALL the best Dianne! Put me on the list for your next proof... I'll be waiting!!!! Hopefully not to long.

Here's the Amazon link: A GREAT WEEKEND READ! ENJOY! Have a great weekend everyone!

A NEW YEAR...INSECURE?...MAY YOUR DREAMS/GOALS FOR 2015 BECOME REALITY!...

Hi, All!

HAPPY 2015! A week already has passed in the new year and life is still a whirlwind for many of us!

I hope you enjoyed he holidays and are now fresh for an EXCITING and MOMENTOUS Year!

I know I am. Once I put away all the Christmas decorations this weekend, I plan to JUMP back into my writing. I need to prepare for the SCBWI conference in NYC! 

But first, Alex has asked us to write a short bio about us... Okay... if I must. LOL. Currently I am an interior designer by trade, but last year I had started a new online business of creating blurbs, creative editing, and COVER design. I am happy to say several of you had contacted me and I LOVED working with you, creating the write blurb or cover for your new works. I'll be continuing to do more of that this year. 

I have written two novels and several shorts. I have several published blurbs, illustrations, an cover designs. In 2015 I hope to add my novel to this list.

I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to dust off my second novel and take a fresh look at it. A blogger pal has just finished the latest version and she loved all the new edits. So now I am ready to present it the masses at the conference. I also opted for the Friday special critique of my first few pages. I am nervous and excited about the reaction of the group and the agent who will be hosting it. This conference is amazing. I had attended a few years back and had THE TIME of my life. I had presented the same novel then, but in all honesty it wasn't nearly as polished as it is now. I had done a MAJOR edit, changed, the tense from first/past to first/present. I killed off a main character and added another to fill in the gap. I softened some of the edges on the MC and fleshed ALL the characters out. It took over six months. Longer than writing the actual story, which only took six weeks. And this is what I'd like to talk about today.

No matter how polished we think our MS is we still need to continue. I had written this novel four years ago and now I finally feel it is ready. Giving your story a time to "ferment" is a good thing. I had left mine for months at a time. Then I picked it up again and revised and rewrote. It all happened when I had submitted to a small publisher. It was turned down by two out of the three editors. BUT the one who LOVED it, contacted me and offered her help. She actually became my editor and helped me focus on many different variables to make this story even better. She was amazing. THANK YOU, Mary Waibel! You are the best!

I plan to go through my novel one more time before the conference. I am SURE there will be things to tweak here and there. As we all ask ourselves, "Will it ever be ready?" I also realize once an agent/publisher gets there hands on it, I will need more revisions. SO REMEMBER THIS...

I am toying with the idea of turning my novel from a strictly male POV into dual. It seems that male POV is not very sellable in the Y/A market and a very close blogger buddy of mine has just sent me a new novel written by a bestselling author WHO just happened to have written in a dual POV. Her style, according to my friend, is very similar to mine, so I may have to do this to sell my book. I plan on reading this novel and waiting until after the conference to see what happens there. Thank you, Donna for thinking of me and sending this book to me. I really appreciate it!

So as you can see, I have my insecurities in check. At least for now. Next month may be another story.  The conference is on the Friday the 6th. On Wed. the 4th I may be a nervous wreck! Hopefully I will still have it together then for that post. LOL.

In the meantime. I wish all of you a very happy, healthy, prosperous, loving, successful, and CREATIVE year. As in the past years we, as a community, have always been there for each other and I see a stronger and more amazing community emerging for this year. More novels than EVER are being published and I wish all of you the very best with them. I hope mine will join the masses soon. It is time. As I always say. In Time...

Have a glorious day everyone and DON'T FORGET to drop by the other members' posts. Thanks again, Alex for creating this wonderful group! And thanks to this month's hosts Elizabeth Beckman, Lisa Buie Collard,  Chrys Fey, Michelle Wallace, AND the regulars at the IWSG Facebook page!