Check out the blurb from my upcoming young adult book, Dating the It Guy, coming March 21, 2017 in ebook and paperback from Clean Reads.

Emme is a sophomore in high school who starts dating, Brendon Agretti, the popular senior who happens to be a senator's son and well-known for his good looks. Emme feels out of her comfort zone in Brendon's world and it doesn't help that his picture perfect ex, Lauren, seems determined to get back into his life, along with every other girl who wants to be the future Mrs. Agretti. Emme is already conflicted due to the fact her last boyfriend cheated on her and her whole world is off kilter with her family issues. Life suddenly seems easier keeping Brendon away and relying on her crystals and horoscopes to guide her. Emme soon starts to realize she needs to focus less on the stars and more on her senses. Can Emme get over her insecurities and make her relationship work? Life sure is complicated when you're dating the it guy.

Blurb:
Girl moves to new town.
Girl meets Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome.
Cue Happily Ever After.
That’s how the story goes, right?
 
Except this is Lucy. The same Lucy whose stellar driving skills single-handedly wiped out both of her parents, leaving her with nothing but the suitcase in her hand and the screws in her skull. Not to mention that Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome—AKA Oliver—is just as annoyingly bossy as he is hot. According to Oliver, Lucy’s not safe in her new hometown, but he refuses to say why. He just gives her some lame warning about not going out after dark, like that’ll stop her.
 
When several townspeople vanish, the lethargic community springs to life, fearful of the danger lurking among them. The problem is that Lucy’s the last person to have seen any of the missing. Doesn’t exactly qualify her for the Neighbor of the Year Award.
 
Lucy’s already given up on Happily Ever After, but now she has two choices left: find out what’s happening in her new home, or become the next victim.
 
Excerpt
 “Do you trust me?” he asks. He’s closer to me.
 
“Do I have a choice?”
 
“Not really. We’ve got to get you back to the mansion before . . .” His voice trails off. I want to slug him in the arm for being spooky again, but I’d have to find his arm first.
 
He swoops in without warning, whisking me from my feet. Again, I cry out. He sucks in a sharp breath that catches between his teeth. “Lucy, I’m not kidding—stop making noise.”
 
My blood simmers beneath my skin. “Warn me next time you’re planning on picking me up, then.”
 
“Sorry,” he fires back, his mouth too close to my ear.
 
I want nothing more than for the strength in my legs to return so I can get away from him and his nerve, but Oliver is in control now and holds me pressed unnecessarily tightly to his body. Turning my head from him is my only means of escape. I’d shown him, all right.
 
With a little more energy than necessary, he heaves me up into the blackness. My bottom connects to something soft yet solid—Jasper’s back—and pain spikes down my spine. I gasp as my body starts to curl in on itself.
 
“Okay,” Oliver says. “Slide your right leg over to the other side. I’ll keep you steady.”
My mouth flops open and I wonder if he can see the ever-growing whites of my eyes. Or maybe he’s picked up on the stampede going on between the valves of my heart, because he softens. “Lucy, I’m not going to let you fall. Trust me.”
 
“The only people I’ve ever trusted are dead,” I shoot down to him as I claw around for something, anything, to keep me from falling on my face.
 
Oliver snorts, which sends me over the edge.
 
“What? You think that’s funny?” I challenge him, no longer concerned about keeping quiet. His hand clamps on my leg in piercing reproof. I’ll have bruises there tomorrow, for sure. Through locked teeth, I order, “Let. Go.”
 
“Please stop,” he says. “I’m trying to keep you sa—”
 
A rumble beyond us, where the orchard fades into the rest of the forest, interrupts his plea. Even though I sit astride stoic Jasper, I can feel the ground vibrating beneath us.
 
“What in the—?” I cry, whipping my head in the direction of the growing commotion.
 
“Slide back,” Oliver commands. I know better than to take offense at his bossy tone. I’d made a big mistake, one he’d been trying to protect me from. The fear of horses leaves my body, only to be replaced by the fear of the unknown. Ignoring the bite of pain in my hip, I throw my leg over Jasper’s withers and shove myself backward, using my palms for leverage. A second later, Oliver sweeps himself upward and in front of me on his horse’s back.
 
“Hold on,” he yells over the thunder moving our direction.
 
Purchase Links:
Amazon (www.amazon.com/Middle-S-J-Henderson-ebook/dp/B01MS38HH5/)
Tiny Fox Press (http://tinyfoxpress.com/product/in-the-middle/)
 
 
Author Bio
 

 
S. J. Henderson is the founder of the Kid Authors Project, as well as a published author of the DANIEL THE DRAW-ER series. Now that she's published IN THE MIDDLE, she'll start working on the next big thing.
 
S. J. lives on a farm with her husband, four boys, two dogs, and cat. When she’s not writing, you can usually find her riding one of her family’s three horses. She loves to sing and is slowly learning to play the ukulele.
 
Social Media Links
Website (www.sjhenderson.net)
Facebook (www.facebook.com/authorsunnyhenderson)
Goodreads (www.goodreads.com/SunnyHenderson)
Twitter (www.twitter.com/SunnyJHenderson)
 
 

​
How Writing This Book Kept Me Sane
By Darlene Foster
The latest adventure in the Amanda Travels series, Amanda on The Danube – The Sounds of Music was released October 1, 2016. In this book, Amanda Ross finds herself on an elegant riverboat with her bestie, Leah, cruising down the beautiful Danube, passing medieval castles, luscious green valleys and charming villages. When she is entrusted with a valuable violin by a young, homeless musician during a stop in Germany, a mean boy immediately attempts to take it from her. Back on their cruise, Amanda struggles to keep the precious violin safe for the poor prodigy. Along the way, she encounters a mysterious monk, a Santa Claus look-alike, and the same nasty boy. Follow Amanda down the Danube, through Germany, Austria and Hungary, as she enjoys the enchanting sounds of music everywhere she goes. She remains on the lookout, wondering just who she can trust.

A question I am often asked is where I get ideas for my books.  In this case, I was fortunate to go on a fabulous river cruise down the Danube with my hubby and some good friends four years ago. We had a fabulous time and everywhere we visited I thought, Amanda would love this place. I took notes and tons of pictures. For a writer, your characters are always on your mind and you never really take a holiday from writing. I had just published Amanda in England and was working on Amanda in Alberta at the time.

When I eventually started to write Amanda on the Danube, I was in the midst of a huge transition in my life. I had just retired from my day job after 48 years of working. Then my husband and I sold, gave away and threw out seventy-five percent of our belongings, packed the rest and moved to Spain to start a new life. I couldn´t see how I would manage to get any writing time in and I was sure I had forgotten most of my trip. But I managed to sneak in some writing whenever I had a few spare minutes, as writers do. Thankfully I had my photographs and journal entries to remind myself of the exciting places I wanted to write about. The rest of the adventure just came to me as I wrote.
Somehow, and I´m still not sure how, I completed Amanda on the Danube, three years after my trip. I honestly feel that writing the story helped relieve the stress of moving and reconstructing my life. I guess I can thank Amanda for keeping me sane. 
​
I hope everyone enjoys travelling with Amanda. This is what mother/daughter reader had to say:
"A mysterious travel adventure with a brave, inquisitive, compassionate heroine. This is a fast-paced, fun read! Amanda will take you on a wonderful, visual, descriptive adventure." —PJ Sarah Collins, author, Sam & Nate and Elena Collins
 
Social Media links
Buy the book https://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Danube-Sounds-Darlene-Foster/dp/1771681020/
Amazon author page https://www.amazon.com/DarleneFoster/e/B003XGQPHA/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
Goodreads author page
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3156908.Darlene_Foster
Website  http://www.darlenefoster.ca
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DarleneFosterWriter/
Twitter https://twitter.com/supermegawoman

BLURB: Twelve year old Amanda Ross finds herself on an elegant riverboat with her bestie, Leah, cruising down the beautiful Danube, passing medieval castles, luscious green valleys and charming villages. When she is entrusted with a valuable violin by a young, homeless musician during a stop in Germany, a mean boy immediately tries to take it from her. Back on their cruise, Amanda struggles to keep the precious violin safe for the poor prodigy. Along the way, she meets a mysterious monk, a Santa Claus look-alike, and the same nasty boy. Follow Amanda down the Danube, through Germany, Austria and Hungary, as she enjoys the enchanting sounds of music everywhere she goes. She remains on the lookout though, wondering just who she can trust.

AUTHOR: Brought up on a ranch in southern Alberta, Darlene Foster dreamt of writing, travelling the world and meeting interesting people. She also believes everyone is capable of making their dreams come true. It’s no surprise that she’s now the award-winning author of a children's adventure series about a travelling twelve year-old girl. A world traveller herself, Darlene spends her time in Vancouver, Canada and Costa Blanca, in Spain.

​PRAISE FOR AMANDA ON THE DANUBE “A charming and fast-paced story that will delight its young audience as Amanda and Leah travel along the historic Danube River to deliver a very unique and mysterious violin." ~ Suzanne de Montigny, Award-winning author, Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy “This fast-paced mystery will keep readers guessing until the very last chapter.” ~ Jan L. Coates, Children’s Author, Finalist Governor General’s Literary Awards "A mysterious violin case, two boys and other intriguing characters among ancient castles make this a page turning adventure for young readers.” ~ Margriet Ruurs, Author of My Librarian is a Camel "A mysterious travel adventure with a brave, inquisitive, compassionate heroine. This is a fast-paced, fun read! Amanda will take you on a wonderful, visual, descriptive adventure." ~ PJ Sarah Collins, Author, and Elena Collins, aged 11

Very excited to welcome my friend Angela Crook to the blog today. She's smart, funny, and I love the post she wrote for us today about her journey as a writer. 

When I was a young girl, my older sister gave me a Harlequin romance by Penny Jordan. I was far too young for a romance novel, but it didn’t stop me from falling in love. Not with the handsome guy determined to win the heart of the beautiful young virgin, but with reading. In the years that followed I read everything I could lay my hands on, from the classics, to Greek mythology, fantasy, sci-fi, and even horror, the longer the story the better. Yet, in all my reading it never occurred that I had my own stories to tell, not until much later, that is. One night feeling overwhelmed and miserable after a break up with the guy who was supposed to be the One, I just sat down and started to write. That story became my first novel. Over the years, I attended writer’s conferences, almost gave up many times, but always continued writing and learning. No matter if I’m writing a dark thriller or a family drama, love is always at the heart of each story, same as in life. If I had to give any advice to readers, I would say, be bold. Try stories about unfamiliar people and places.  I would say the same to new writers. Gone are the days that you must wait to be chosen, write from your heart and consider all your options, and write. Just keep writing. 

Check out Angela's book, Fat Chance, here:

Belinda “Bebe” Jones thinks she has it all. After years of hard work and even harder choices, she has worked her way out of the hood, and into Cleveland’s middle class. She has a successful career, a devoted son, and enough money in the bank to ensure that her son will never know her struggles firsthand. But now she realizes that somewhere along the way the girl who set out to conquer the world has chosen to eat it instead. When she looks in the mirror, instead of seeing the svelte girl she remembers, it looks as if a fat stranger has swallowed her whole, leaving only her familiar eyes to peer out from inside. For longer than she cares to think about, Bebe has been ignoring her own needs while she has taken care of her son, looked out for her sister Maria, who is always involved in one drama after another, and served as a sounding board for her best friend, Navah. When Bebe receives an email from her first love, her secret loneliness is revealed and she, with a little help from Navah and Maria, set out to reclaim her life, along with her body, as she searches for the one thing that money can’t buy----love.

Can be purchased:
Amazon in paperback or Kindle:
 https://www.amazon.com/Fat-Chance-Angela-Crook/dp/1517212405

Loganberry Books
​13015 Larchmere Blvd, Shaker Hts., OH 44120
Park Road Bookstore 4139 Park Rd Charlotte, NC 28209
twitter @navah74
facebook @AngelaCrookAuthor
Instagram Angela__Crook

Welcome J.E. Irvin back to the blog. We met when we were both speaking at a writing event. She's passionate about her writing and her latest book is out now. 

The Rules of the Game
By J.E. Irvin,
$3.99 ebook, $15.95 paperback
 
When teacher Cammie Rose finds an old photograph hidden in her father's den, she begins to question her family history and the truth about all the men in her life, including the one who is stalking her. Soon, she begins a deadly game of cat and mouse with the mystery figure. As the ghosts of the past rise, Cammie races to discover the identity of her tormentor before she becomes his next victim. In this return to Hopewell, the setting of her award-winning The Dark End of the Rainbow, J. E. Irvin introduces a compelling new cast of characters, a decades-old secret, and a killer.
~ ~ ~
This terrific new title is available as an instantly downloadable ebooks for only $3.99 each. Simply click HERE to go to the Absolutely Amazing eBooks online bookstore and choose an ebook for the ereader device of your choice (Kindle, Nook, iPad, etc.).
Or go directly to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, KoboBooks, Apple iTunes, Smashwords. Or your other favorite online venue.
Also, 6" x 9" trade paperback editions are available for $14.95 each.

Bio: J. E. Irvin, author of the award-winning novel The Dark End of the Rainbow, has published her second mystery novel - The Rules of the Game. In this return to the setting of her first mystery, Irvin introduces a new cast of characters, a compelling mystery and a villain determined to break all the rules. Irvin's works have appeared in a variety of print and on-line journals, including Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, SPARK a creative anthology, Nexus Literary Journal and The Zodiac Review. An avid hiker and canoeist, she lives in Ohio on the edge of a nature park.
You may contact her at janetirvin.wordpress.com or facebook.com/darkendoftherainbow.

​Blurb:
Three small-town young women face big-time battles. 

After suffering a heart-aching breakup, Marissa retreats into herself, over-exercising and depriving herself of food. When she takes on an acting role portraying a mysterious woman named Poppy, she realizes that to find joy again, she must fight for it.

Still reeling from the void left after her father died, Elise fills the space with short-lived thrills and flings, each leaving her lonelier than before. But when she meets Brady Bradshaw, the lead actor in a movie being filmed in her hometown of Bluebonnet, she finds herself drawn to something more than his charm and good looks.

The honeymoon phase ended long ago for Charlotte and her husband, who pays more attention to his phone and sports than to her. After meeting handsome, blue-eyed Wes, her imagination shifts from the fantasy world of her romance novels to reality. Will she strive to save her marriage, or will lust and apathy undermine what she knows is right?

Poppy McAdams calls these women the Orchids. Despite barely knowing them, this sage older woman assigns each a particular species of orchid, one that reveals what they struggle against and how to fight back victoriously. Her own life has been rife with hardship and heartache, but it serves the Orchids well as they learn to trust in God’s work.

A story of hope, inspiration, and life-changing belief.
 
Excerpt:
Two weeks. That was it. Two weeks to sulk, to sob, to replay the final conversation over and over again while reading old text messages, listening to old voicemails, and staring through tear-stung eyes at the tan line left by the engagement ring.
“After two weeks, it’ll be time to get on with your life. Then you will get back to work and get your mind off of him…”
The words of her mother rang in Marissa’s head as her alarm clock beeped and buzzed. She rolled onto her side and groaned at the sight of “11:00 a.m.” flashing before her, then pounded the snooze button and pressed her phone awake. But nothing was waiting there for her. Day Fourteen was here, and still no message or call from Jack.
Marissa’s finger circled over her phone’s Facebook icon, tempted to touch it and see what her ex was up to, who he was hanging out with and where, but she’d made a vow to herself on Day One not to resort to stalking.
“Don’t be creepy, Marissa. Whatever you do, do not be creepy,” she whispered to herself. She set down her phone and shut her eyes, repeating the mantra in her mind, a discipline that had become a daily practice.
“Marissa! Honey, are you still asleep?” The voice belonged to Marissa’s mother, Teresa, the only other person who had a key to her apartment now that Jack had returned his.
“I brought coffee!” Teresa announced. “And bagels!”
Marissa didn’t budge. There was no use trying to look put together or feign cheerfulness. And even if she did try, her mother would see right through the act and ask her whom she thought she was fooling.
Marissa heard her mother simultaneously knock on the bedroom door and turn the knob.
“Marissa Grace Bryant, it’s eleven o’clock!” Teresa said, tugging on her daughter’s big toe peeping out of the lavender duvet cover.
Marissa gave a sigh of surrender and forced herself to a sitting position.
“Good morning, Mom,” she muttered, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
“Guess what day it is, sweetheart,” Teresa said with a high, melodic voice.
“You say it like it’s Christmas morning, or my wedding day,” Marissa answered, her eyes dropping to her naked left hand.
“Stop that, Marissa. No more moping or feeling sorry for yourself. You promised me that after two weeks, you’d start moving on and forget about what’s-his-name.”
 
What People Are Saying
 
“Armor for Orchids is my favorite book for 2016. The characters come to life so you feel like they are a best friend or a neighbor you know. The storylines are riddled with humor, everyday drama and unexpected twists. I literally laughed out loud at times! It is a page-turner that you can't put down and look forward to getting back to. This book can help young women who struggle with some of the issues these characters struggled with. However, women of all ages will love Orchids.”
 
Buy Links:
https://www.amazon.com/Armor-Orchids-Diana-Anderson-Tyler/dp/1630991074/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
https://www.amazon.com/Armor-Orchids-Diana-Anderson-Tyler-ebook/dp/B01N0CRGVH/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
 
Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/dianafit4faith/
https://www.twitter.com/dandersontyler
https://www.dianaandersontyler.com
https://www.instagram.com/authordianatyler
https://www.pinterest.com/dandersontyler
 

I'm excited to have Abigail Shepherd on the blog today! I enjoy her posts on Instagram and think you'll love her, too. And a big thank you to her for how patient she was as we worked to get my website back on track this week! Welcome, Abi!

​From Abigail Shepherd:

Growing up, I was never made to feel that there was anything I couldn't do because of being a girl. My dad taught me his trade of window cleaning and I joined him in that as soon as I left school. So it was a bit of a surprise to find that most people considered it 'sweet' that I was accompanying him on his rounds. To my mind, I was just as much a professional window cleaner as he was. But most people didn't see it that way. 
 
 I'm still a window cleaner now, only Dad's retired and I work with my husband instead. Now that I'm 29, people don't think it's 'sweet' anymore. Instead, they usually assume that I'm my husband's assistant and sometimes, that I'm too stupid to get another job. Because window cleaning isn't considered women's work. 

 So ultimately, I think that's why I wrote a story about a young girl trying to be a farmer. Because I wanted to show teen girls that they can do whatever they want to do for a career, even if that's something traditionally done by males. Sadly, not everyone will agree with them on that. As in my character Victoria's case, there will be times when they aren't taken seriously, times when people try to hold them back. Sometimes they'll even manage it. Because, in essentials, this hasn't changed much since Victorian times. But I hope my book will show them that they can succeed anyway. And that the more opposition they face, the bigger the victory when they win through. 

Bio: Abigail Shepherd is the 29-year-old author of teen historical fiction novel Victoria’s Victorian Victory. Her other work has most recently been published by The Flash Fiction Press, and Mystery Weekly, and she has a regency romance series, Ask Me No Secrets, on channillo.com She’s hoping her upcoming novel will encourage teenage girls to think about their futures, set goals for themselves, and insist on being treated with the respect they deserve. Her hobbies include fishing, napping, and drinking exceptionally good wine. She blogs at bewritingblog.wordpress.com 

Link to buy my book: https://rainydayreadspublishing.com/buy-links/victorias-victorian-victory-fiction/
Link to sign up for my newsletter: https://bewritingblog.wordpress.com/contact/ All subscribers in January get a free prequel short story.