Happy to have author Darlene Foster back on the blog today with a guest post. She writes the  Amanda Travels adventure series and today Darlene is here to talk about something I do so, so often--daydreaming! 


Daydream Believer by Darlene Foster
 
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt
 
As long as I can remember I have been a daydreamer. Daydreaming has kept me from being bored, lonely and unhappy. It has also been responsible for me accomplishing many of my goals. Many of them started as a daydream.
 
Being around people energizes and inspires me. If there don’t happen to be any people around, I make some up. This began when I was a little girl living on a ranch in the Canadian prairies. Surrounded by never-ending sunshine, a huge blue sky and tons of wide-open spaces, it was a wonderful life. However, I lacked people to talk to. My parents were busy, working hard to earn a living, and my little brothers were only babies. So, I gave my teddy bears names and personalities. I created many adventures for Ted, Teddy, Toostie and Elvis. It wasn’t long until I began to make up other imaginary characters and situations. My parents called me a daydreamer, and they were right! 
 
Once I learned to read, I felt like I had reached nirvana. In between the pages of each book lived new worlds and people for me to meet. I read everything I could get my hands on. I would beg my hardworking dad to stop what he was doing and take me to the library in the city, thirty miles away, to get more books. I made up continuations of the story after I closed the book and created alternative endings. I dreamt about the characters and the places they had been.
 
My grade three teacher recognized my thirst for knowledge and adventure, and my ability to make up stories. She encouraged me to read at higher levels, to write my stories down and to travel to other countries someday. She read The Bobbsey Twins adventure books out loud to us and I loved them. I so wanted to be like them and travel all over the world. She presented me with a copy of The Bobbsey Twins in Mexico at the end of the school year for being an outstanding student. I treasured that book and still have it!
 
Not surprising, years later as an adult, I did travel to interesting places and eventually wrote down some of my stories. My writing took me back to my early days wandering around my dad’s ranch, sitting on a large stone in the middle of the prairies, making up characters in my head and giving them problems to solve and adventures to experience. I thought I had a boring life back then, but now I realize those where the seeds planted that eventually helped me become a published author. The opportunity to daydream was actually a gift.
 
Do I believe in daydreams? You bet! I don’t think anything has changed. Kids, and adults, still need time to daydream in order to exercise their mind and create. And they need to be surrounded by books, lots of books. My hope is that some will read my books and become inspired to travel the world and write stories.
 
“As an author, I’ve never forgotten how to daydream.” ― Neil Gaiman  
 
Thanks so much for inviting me to be a guest on your blog, Krysten.
 
*Always a pleasure to have you on!-KLH
 
 Bio
 
Brought up on a ranch in Alberta, Canada, Darlene dreamt of travelling the world and meeting interesting people. She always loved to tell stories and was encouraged by her grade three teacher to write them down. She is the author of the exciting Amanda Travels adventure series featuring 12-year-old Amanda Ross who loves to travel. Readers of all ages enjoy travelling with Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Spain, England, Germany, Holland and her own country, Canada. When not travelling herself, Darlene divides her time between the sunny Costa Blanca of Spain and the west coast of Canada. Darlene still finds time to daydream!
 
Her latest book, Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action was released September 2019.Her books are read the world over. They are available on all Amazon sites and wherever good books are sold.
 
Amazon author page https://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Foster/e/B003XGQPHA
 
Some links where you can find out more about Darlene and connect with her
 
Website: http://www.darlenefoster.ca/
Blog: https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarleneFosterWriter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/supermegawoman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlene6490/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3156908.Darlene_Foster 

I’m working on another book for the Cecily Taylor Series and since it's a series about a girl who loves music, I have been trying to listen to some new music for inspiration. As you know, I’ve been inspired by so many great artists for the past two books, so I thought I’d share what’s been inspiring the scenes for the new Cecily Taylor book. These songs relate to both the Cecily character and Andrew Holiday (the indie pop star character) as well.

First, the new Mac Miller album was JUST released and what I’ve heard so far is really moving. I was actually going over interviews he did for inspiration the very week he died. I got inspiration from him (and George Michael—among others) when creating the Andrew Holiday character. I still remember someone messaged me that he had passed and I literally had three tabs open on my computer with interviews of him. It hit me like a truck. Honestly, I haven’t been able to listen to much of his music since then because that was pretty jarring, but today I went on YouTube to listen to some of the new stuff and “Circles” is amazing.

 Another song on repeat right now is from Lana Del Rey. I always loved the “Young and Beautiful” song from “The Great Gatsby” movie and I happened to be reading the blog by a girl who  mentioned an album by Lana she loved so I put I went over to find a couple of the songs on YouTube and it's so mellow that it's completely chilled me out—and you know that's quite a feat for me! I’m a little ball of anxiety trying to pass as a person. “13 Beaches” is the song that I keep listening and it's inspiring me right now with a scene I’m writing this series. It’s a song that I can see from the point of view of both Cecily and Andrew, so it’s really motivating me right now with this new chapter in the book.

I’m also listening to a lot of Matt Pokora as he’s become a new influence for the series (spoiler alert: there might be a new character coming…ahem…) Okay fine, there’s a new character coming and that’s all I’m saying (You guys are going to freak out when you read this next—no, no! No more spoilers!) Just stay tuned…

Moving on…I’m loving some of the new Selena Gomez album (haven’t listened to it all yet tho). It’s very raw and honest and I love vulnerability in music. “Rare” is so good.

I also love the new one from MaRina, called, “News.” You guys might remember that her “Flesh and Bone” song inspired me in writing parts of, In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety, as we have Cecily dealing with the glare of the new spotlight on her after being in a music video and with her new modeling career as well as what the other more seasoned models (Scarlett and Neneh) go through. I really love this song.

George Michael has always been a major inspiration for this series, so I’m always playing something of his. There’s also some Lauren Daigle on here and Taylor Swift and Shawn Mendes.

If you have any song recommendations you think fit the series then put them in the comments because I’d love to check them out!

Anyway, here’s a sample of the playlist for book three for you guys to check out as I’m working on it. Check out my Cecily Taylor Series playlist here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5KrzuYCNQlb0nrWzF3AI3f
 
Find the series here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0832XD65B

Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/author/Krysten-Lindsay-Hager
 
 

I have a new interview after winning the Literary Classics award for Landry in Like. You can find the interview here: 
clcreviews.blogspot.com/2020/01/author-spotlight-krysten-lindsay-hager.html

And see the book review here: clcreviews.blogspot.com/2018/11/landry-in-like-earns-literary-classics.html

If you like adorable book boyfriends, and teen drama, then you’ll love this YA romance!

My publisher decided to make Competing with the Star free for the first time ever for a limited time! It will be free from December 23-27th only, so make sure to pick this one up. You can find it on sale at all the Amazon international sites.

Find it here:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CQ47Z2S

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01CQ47Z2S

Amazon Canada:
https://www.amazon.ca/Competing-Star-Book-2-ebook/dp/B01CQ47Z2S

Amazon Germany: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B01CQ47Z2S

Amazon India: https://www.amazon.in/Competing-Star-Book-2-ebook/dp/B01CQ47Z2S

Amazon Italy:
https://www.amazon.it/Competing-Star-Book-English-ebook/dp/B01CQ47Z2S

Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Competing-Star-Book-2-ebook/dp/B01CQ47Z2S

Amazon Japan:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/Competing-Star-Book-English-ebook/dp/B01CQ47Z2S

Amazon Netherlands:
https://www.amazon.nl/Competing-Star-Book-English-ebook/dp/B01CQ47Z2S

Hadley has found her soulmate in her high school boyfriend. Problem is the teen TV star at their school likes him, too. Love, betrayal, friendship...who needs soap opera drama when you're busy competing with a star?
 
The perfect guy, the perfect location. What could go wrong?

Hadley Daniels’s life seems perfect…

Before the beginning of sophomore year of high school, Hadley and her family move to a beautiful beach town, where she makes amazing new friends and lands the boyfriend of her dreams—Nick Jenkins. He’s the kind of guy every girl swoons over, and it isn’t long until Hadley discovers some are still swooning.

A famous ex-girlfriend makes matters more complicated…

After some time dating, Hadley and Nick form a deep bond. But insecurity sets in when Hadley discovers her boyfriend once had a huge crush on her friend—who just happens to be the beautiful former teen TV star, Simone Hendrickson.

The past is the past—or so they say…

Hadley confronts Nick, who confesses about his history with Simone. Though he claims to only have eyes for Hadley now, it’s hard to believe—especially when she’s blindsided with the news that Nick and Simone kissed after school.

Now Hadley must determine who is telling the truth. Love, betrayal, friendship…who needs soap opera drama when you’re busy competing with a star?

In honor of the Christmas season (and my love of holiday movies), I thought I would share this scene I wrote in In Over Her Head Lights, Camera, Anxiety. It's a funny scene where Cecily and Andrew joke about those cutesy Christmas movies she loves to watch each year. Hope you enjoy the scene! (It's in chapter 6).

“What do you watch—besides mystery shows that were canceled almost two decades ago about old ladies who solve mysteries?” Andrew asked.

“I like those cutesy TV movies. My favorite storyline is the big city girl who winds up in small town, finds love with an unlikely match.”

“My mom watches those. There’s always some girl who has given up because her last relationship was terrible or she's a workaholic with big city ways. She meets some, like, sheepherder or Christmas tree farmer, he saves her. The end.”

“I seriously think I saw that one,” I said. He laughed.  “And there's a kid who tries to show her the true meaning of Christmas. She also needs to tell a co-worker for no good reason why she hates Christmas,” I said.

“Oh yeah, she has to hate Christmas and then learn the true meaning of it, which always upset my grandpa because they never get into the religious side of it—oh, my grandpa’s a preacher—not the one who’s been married a ton—my other grandpa.”

I almost said, “I know,” but managed to stop from revealing I had watched his bio at least a million times. I’d be mortified if he ever found that out. “Don’t forget that all cars must break down in small towns where they don't like big city values,” I said.

“Okay, don’t laugh, but that scenario is super close to a plotline in a movie my manager wanted me to do,” he said. “But I passed on it since I’m not looking to act right now.”

It was at that moment I realized exactly how different our lives were: I was talking about the movies I watch to escape, and he was being recruited to act in them.

“Oh wow,” was the best I could manage. Then I tried to act like it was no big deal and play it off. “And here I was writing one of those movies for you. Guess I’ll have to throw out my script.”

“Well, that’s different. I’d do yours,” he said giving me that slow smile that melted me every time—only this time I wasn’t seeing it on my laptop and it was actually directed at me. 

I cleared my throat and tried to focus and not swoon. “Do you mind traveling to a small town? That’s where it’s set.”

“Not at all, but they better shut up about my big city attitude.”

“Remember to tell random strangers how much you hate Christmas and be closed off to love because you’ve been hurt,” I said.

“Just be myself then?”

“You hate Christmas?” I asked.

“Yeah, because I’m always traveling and there’s a lot of divorce on one side of my family so it’s always awkward. But you’re fine with the fact I’m closed off to relationships?”

My face felt warm. “Oh? Um…” 

“But you’re winning me over with your super original screenplay,” he said smiling.

“Too bad I don’t own a Christmas tree farm—then we’d have the perfect TV movie relationship.”

 “You always do that.” He shook his head.

What did I do wrong? “What do you mean?”

“You change the subject when things get serious. In fact, your whole movie thing was to distract me from the fact you were obviously crying when I called.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Would you have told me if I were some guy from your high school?”

“If you were some guy from my high school you wouldn’t have noticed I was upset and if you did, you definitely wouldn’t have asked me about it,” I said.

“Unless you were trying to get my guard down and then you’d try to get out of the friend zone.”

“So that’s the real side of high school dating?”

 “Afraid so.”

“Then I’ll be original. Tell me what’s bothering you. Maybe it’ll give me song inspiration. You can be my muse.” He winked and my heart flipped. 

                                                ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Book Depository: www.bookdepository.com/author/Krysten-Lindsay-Hager
Amazon US:
 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VRYS65N/
Amazon UK:
 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VRYS65N
Amazon Canada:
 https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07VRYS65N
Amazon Japan:
​ https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07VRYS65N
Amazon IN: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07VRYS65N
Amazon Italy: www.amazon.it/Over-Her-Head-Anxiety-English-ebook/dp/B07VRYS65N
Amazon Germany: www.amazon.de/Krysten-Lindsay-Hager/e/B00L2JC9P2?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1571828220&sr=8-1
​
Barnes & Noble

So happy to have author Jennifer Froelich back on the blog today with this fun holiday interview!

What is your favorite part about the holidays?

Decorating! I love trying to make my house look like the set of a Hallmark Christmas movie.
​
What about your least favorite part?

Whatever is hurting people I love. There’s always something – a health concern, heartbreak, etc. Those issues just feel amplified when it’s Christmas time.

Do you take writing breaks during the holidays?

Inevitably, I do. But I don’t specifically plan to. If I can even sneak in a dozen words here or there, I feel better than taking a week or two off.

What was the highlight of 2019 for you?

Publishing Weeping Justice.

Did you have a particular book or books that you enjoyed this year?

I read the Cruel Prince series by Holly Black and enjoyed them so much.

Do you make New Year’s resolutions or do anything special for the New Year?

No resolutions, but I do stop and think about my overall goals and reassess how well I’m doing. Last year I organized a healthy New Year’s challenge for all my friends. It was Harry Potter themed. We broke into four houses and competed with each other every week with health goals. It was so much fun, so we are doing it again this year, with a Marvel comics theme.
​
Favorite song of 2019?

Adore you by Harry Styles, Beautiful People by Ed Sheeran
 
Jennifer's website:
jenniferfroelich.wordpress.com

Find her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenfroelich

Order her new book here:
www.amazon.com/dp/B07X9WX638/

Happy to have bestselling author Ayden K. Morgen back on the blog to share some holiday memories with us today!

What is your favorite part about the holidays?

I really love finding the perfect gifts for the people closest to me. It's always so much fun to find unique items that fit who they are to me. It's also a ton of fun to see how excited they get.

What about your least favorite part?

Christmas music. I'm sorry! We have a station here that starts playing nothing but Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving. It drives me insane.

Do you take writing breaks during the holidays?

I may take a break for a day or two, but otherwise, I try to keep writing through the holidays. It's the only way I stay on schedule and get things done!

What was the highlight of 2019 for you?

Getting a 4th supervisor at work. I've been the only supervisor in our 911 Communication Center on the 2 night shifts for the last two years. I spent the first six months of the year working 60 hours a week. We finally got another supervisor this September to help and it has been SO NICE to have more free time to spend with my husband.

Did you have a particular book or books that you enjoyed this year?

I discovered Ella Goode this year. I've really enjoyed some of her titles. I also re-read the Tairen Soul series by C.L. Wilson and fell in love all over again. It's such an incredible series.

Do you make New Year’s resolutions or do anything special for the New Year?

I usually don't make New Year's resolutions. I set goals for the year and try to ensure I accomplish as many as possible.

Favorite song of 2019?

Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi. It's such a powerful song!

What was your best moment as a writer this year?

I've had some really great moments this year. I republished my very first title with a new publisher. I finished a series I started several years ago. I wrote a new series. But I think my best moment was finally getting to write and publish Fight for You after waiting nine years. The story holds such a special place in my heart. I really love that I got to share it with the world this year.
 
Summary:

What do you do when you realize nothing in your life is what you’ve believed it to be?

When Arionna Jacobs loses her mother in a tragic accident, her world is turned upside down. She’s forced to leave her old life behind and move in with her father. Dace Matthews, a teaching assistant at her new college, is torn in two, unable to communicate with the feral wolf caged inside him.

When they meet, everything they thought they knew about life unravels. Dace has intimate access to Arionna’s mind, and something deep within her fights to rise to the surface. They don't understand what's happening to them or why, and they're running out of time to sort out the strange occurrences around them.

Their meeting sets an ancient Norse prophesy of destruction in motion, and what destiny has in store for them is bigger than either could have ever imagined. Unless they learn to trust themselves and one another, they may never resolve the mystery surrounding who they are to one another, and what that means for the world.
 
Amazon | Smashwords | Apple | Kobo | Nook
Universal Book Link
  
Author Bio
 
Ayden K. Morgen is the Amazon Bestselling author of the Ragnarök Prophesies series. She lives in the heart of Arkansas with her childhood sweetheart/husband of fifteen years, and their furry minions. When not writing, she spends her time hiking, reading, volunteering, causing mischief, and building a Spork army.
She graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology in 2009 before going on to complete her graduate degree in CJ and Law.

She puts her education to use as a 911 Dispatch Supervisor, where she's responsible for leading a team of dispatchers as they watch over police, EMS, and firefighters for her county. Her books feature law enforcement officers, the women who love them, and the difficult cases that drive them.
Ayden also writes New Adult fantasy under the penname A.K. Morgen.
You can learn more about her and her writing at http://akmorgen.com or by following her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also sign up for her newsletter to receive access to exclusive excerpts and outtakes, member-only giveaways, first looks at covers and release dates, and more! Even better, all new subscribers receive a free book!
 
 
 
 

I'm excited to have award winning author Joey Paul back on the blog today to answer some fun holiday questions!

What is your favorite part about the holidays?

I love the family aspect, I love giving gifts, and I love the community aspect.  I really enjoy having time to spend with my loved ones, and seeing their faces when they open the presents. I also love decorating the house, and my office for Christmas!

What about your least favorite part?

I guess I would say the stress and worry that my body will flare during the holiday period. I have lung issues so the cold is never good for me. On top of that my birthday is just after Christmas so I have that feeling of, if I get sick I'll have to be sick on my birthday!

Do you take writing breaks during the holidays?

I do take time off for Christmas, for Boxing Day and a few days around New Year too. I am planning to have at least a week off dotted through the month and the holiday period.

What was the highlight of 2019 for you?

Hmm... I think winning awards is a good highlight, but personal life, I guess I would say that a lot of 2019 hasn't been good for me. My health has been particularly bad, and it's had a knock on effect. But I did release three books this year and finally have the whole of Dying Thoughts series out for readers!

Did you have a particular book or books that you enjoyed this year?

I really enjoyed a lot of the books I picked up to review on my blog. I found some nice hidden gems there, but I couldn't really pick a favourite, I read over 200 books this year and I've loved them all to some extent!

Do you make New Year’s resolutions or do anything special for the New Year?

I do make yearly goals on my Youtube channel (Find it here:)
 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoLY_2z60ip93GKmCGcb4Fw  and I do a check-in after six months to see how I'm doing, but those are all writing related. I don't always make personal goals, but if I do, I don't really share them, but have them on a private blog.

As far as the New Year goes, I normally spend the night chatting with a friend in Finland and then see the New Year in, but for the past year I've been really struggling with my sleep, so I foresee that this year I'll be fast asleep long before 2020 begins!

Favorite song of 2019?

It Happens by Busted on their 2019 album Half-Way There!

There were two moment of this for me, when I won my first two book awards in February and then a third in September! I was over the moon, and shocked and just very excited about the whole thing! The awards were Solo Medalist in Lesbian/Gay/Bi/Trans category for It's Not Always Rainbows. Official Selection in YA Mystery/Thriller for Walk A Mile. And then finally Official Selection in YA Sci-fi/Horror for Lights Out.

LIGHTS OUT BLURB: Ever since the war ended, the United English Cityships have had equality. The rules are clear. You are born, you live and the day following your sixtieth birthday, you are sent off for your final sleep.

 Lock is a firm believer in the system. It means that everyone is truly treated equally. It’s only when she checks in an attendee who claims to be younger than her chip says that Lock starts to realise there may be someone gaming the system.

The problem is the corruption goes higher than Lock could even begin to imagine. As her belief in the world she lives in starts to crumble, Lock finds herself wanting justice for those who have gone before their time.

 Can she do it? Or will they silence her before she can get the word out?

BUY LINKS: Universal ebook link: http://www.books2read.com/LOUT
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1724658352/
BARNES & NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lights-out-joey-paul/1131528867?ean=9781724658357
BOOK DEPOSITORY: https://www.bookdepository.com/Lights-Out-Joey-Paul/9781724658357?ref=grid-view&qid=1562735792503&sr=1-1
INDIE BOUND: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781724658357

BIO: Joey Paul is an award-winning indie author, exploring the young adult genre. She has released fifteen books in total so far, with the sixteenth due out in 2019. Her current works include the "Dying Thoughts" series, which is eight books and the "Lights Out" trilogy, as well as several standalone novels. She writes across genres, with crime, mystery, paranormal, sci-fi and dystopian being the ones most frequently on her list. She is writing her next two books at the moment, having recently finished her last two.

 Joey is disabled and a graduate from The Open University with a BA (Hons) in Health & Social Care. When not reading medical textbooks, she enjoys reading crime novels, medical dramas and young adult novels. When she's out and about, she likes looking for Tupperware in the woods with GPS satellites, otherwise known as geocaching. And when she's not doing THAT, she's sleeping! She's 37 and has been writing since she was retired from her job on medical grounds at the age of 19. She plans to write for as long as she has ideas or until someone tells her to stop!

 AUTHOR LINKS:
BLOG: www.joeypaulonline.com/
TUMBLR: authorjoeypaul.tumblr.com
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/JoeyPaulOnline
TWITTER: twitter.com/MsJoeyBug
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/authorjoeypaul
GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/1UcS61E
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoLY_2z60ip93GKmCGcb4Fw