The Yearbook Series: Gina and Mike released

I'm on my way to take my baby to college, but I wanted to post this before I leave. Wish I had time to write more, but this all happened so fast. I hope you read the book and I'd love to know your thoughts.

Purchase here.

Gina McKenzie is a cheerleader with a super hot boyfriend who kisses like you wouldn't believe...

She's looking forward to the prom, then graduation and senior week at the shore. The only thing she isn't looking forward to is the start of college, because it means she won't be near Mike. They are attending schools on opposite sides of the state.

But Gina's normal teen life ends the night she is brutally raped by her math teacher and Mike's baseball coach. Coach Smith threatens to destroy Mike's promising baseball career if Gina tells anyone what happened. To protect Mike, Gina keeps quiet and eventually, unable to deal with the effects of the rape, breaks up with Mike.

They reconnect at their 20th high school reunion where the past catches up with them and Mike learns the truth about what happened 20 years ago.

Another book contract from Prism Book Group

Prism Book Group, who will be publishing "The Lion Awakens" in 2014 will also be publishing "Ella's Rain." I'm so excited. 

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE  

The Yearbook Series RELEASED ON AMAZON

1st book: Gina and Mike

A romance series that begins with Gina and Mike, high school sweethearts that reconnect 20 years later when the past catches up and turns their worlds inside out. 

Consecutive books in series focus on another member of the high school class. 

The Christmas Violin COMING from Carina UK fall 2013

Written like a violin concerto in three movements, this novella tells the story of three people who have one thing in common -- the cemetery. It is a beautiful story about love and loss and the enormous power of the human spirit.

YOUNG ADULT/CROSSOVER

Ella's Rain COMING from Prism Books 2014

A young girl learns to live again when her grandma, who dies, leaves her 365 notes, one for every day of the coming year.

     

The Moment Keeper COMING from Carina UK fall 2013
As a Moment Keeper records the moments of her charge's life, she comes to see how life is a intricate tapestry of which we are threads woven together in ways we have never anticipated or imagined. The charge learns that a second can change a life forever and that it's what we do with the moments that count.

YOUNG ADULT

The Lion Awakens COMING from Prism Books 2014

Two 17-year-olds find information hidden in anonymous gifts that leads them to a parallel universe and an enemy hell-bent on taking over their world.

That leaves me with my middle-grades to sell:

MIDDLE GRADE 

Freaky Frank
Humorous middle-grade for boys about a telepathic middle-schooler who battles bullies along with his rag-tag friends. 

     

High Street Dares/Locket of Doom

Five middle-schoolers double dared to walk through the cemetery at midnight and perform a spell that will make a particular stone statue cry must solve a mystery involving the statue, an old lady and a shrinking locket before it’s too late. Book ends with a dare setting the next book up in the series.

High Street Dares/Ghostly Connection (second book in series)

Will, Middle Name Trouble

12-year-old Will Moran is always getting in trouble. But this time Will, who cleans and cooks and takes care of his younger twin sisters while his mom (a single parent) works, didn’t do what he is accused of doing. Through an eclectic group of friends comes redemption and the true meaning of friendship.

Free books from Limitless Publishing

Here's a freebie alert from Limitless Publishing . Download these books and not pay a cent on the following dates. 

"The Beast Within" - Aug. 9-10 
"Keeper of the Lost Souls" - Aug. 10-11
"Revenge of the Taken" - Aug. 13-14
"Your Guardian Angel" - Aug. 15-16
"Soul Ties" - Aug. 16-17
"Legacy Rising" - Aug. 19-20
"Wanted" - Aug. 20-21

In case you missed it, I signed with Limitless for The Yearbook Series.  I'll post details as I have them. 

A sign from God and another book contract

Funny thing happened yesterday. I'd been praying that "The Lion Awakens" find the right home. I signed the contract with Prism Book Group and sent it on Saturday, hoping that I had made the right decision for the work. Other publishers were interested and I pulled it, feeling as though God was leading me in this direction.

Anyway, I went to church on Sunday and there was special music. A soloist sang Brad Paisely's song, "When I Get Where I'm Going." And when I heard the lyrics, I knew it was God telling me I had made the right choice: "I'm gonna land beside a lion and run my fingers through his mane."

It gave me chill bumps because I had been praying that God send me a sign that I had made the right choice with this book. It's a YA and full of religious imagery. When I heard the song and those words it honestly brought tears to my eyes. Wow.

God is great.

As of now, it looks like "The Yearbook Series Book 1" (Limitless Publishing) will be out in September, "The Moment Keeper" (UK Carina) on Nov. 1 and "The Christmas Violin" (UK Carina) on Dec. 2. I will keep you up to date if these dates change.

Here's the skinny on "The Lion Awakens"

The Lion Awakens 

Two 17-year-olds find information hidden in anonymous gifts that leads them to a parallel universe and an enemy hell-bent on taking over their world.

Also, read about the other two contracts I signed for "The Yearbook Series," "The Moment Keeper" and "The Christmas Violin."

Just signed two-book contract with Carina UK

More great news! I've just finalized the contract with Carina UK for a two-book deal for "The Moment Keeper" and "The Christmas Violin."

 I'm super excited that I will be sharing these two books, along with "The Yearbook Series" being published my Limitless Publishing, with you.

 If you missed my earlier news about the Limitless contract, read it now. Here's the post from Limitless about "The Yearbook Series." I'm currently writing book 2 of this series. What fun!

I have some other books that I am trying to place as well and I'll let you know if/when that happens. Here are the deets on these two Carina books and here is the other work I'm trying to place. 

"The Moment Keeper"
As a Moment Keeper records the moments of her charge's life, she comes to see how life is a intricate tapestry of which we are threads woven together in ways we have never anticipated or imagined. The charge learns that a second can change a life forever and that it's what we do with the moments that count.


"The Christmas Violin"
Written like a violin concerto in three movements, this novella tells the story of three people who have one thing in common -- the cemetery. It is a beautiful story about love and loss and the enormous power of the human spirit.

Check Publishers Lunch Job Board

Meet Katie Lee and check out her 'What Endures'

I'm super excited to share Katie Lee's new novel, "What Endures." I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of Katie's book and loved it. You will, too. 

I asked Katie if I could feature her on my blog today, which just happens to be the launch date for "What Endures." Here's the skinny on Katie and her book. Be sure to buy it and read it. You won't be sorry.

Author: Katie Lee

Lives in: Maryland

Day job: I was an attorney (technically I still am) but I don't currently practice law in my government job

Book title: "What Endures"

Summary:   Jason Kincaid is young, hot and successful.

An All-Star outfielder for the Seattle Mariners, he finally had everything he ever wanted, including a second chance with his high school sweetheart, Megan Williams.

But their hopes for a ‘happily-ever-after’ are dashed by tragedy.

A horrific car accident wipes out most of Jason's memories. Unable to recall anything from the last fifteen years of his life, Jason is suddenly adrift, his once charmed life now in ruins.

Megan finds herself in the untenable position of having to deal with the fact that the man she’s helping to rebuild his life may look, and even act, like her beloved fiancé, but in reality, isn’t any longer.

Trying to protect herself, as well as Jason, Megan fights the attraction between them. . .to no avail. As their potent connection inevitably draws them closer, Megan wonders,

With the memories of their relationship gone, can love endure?

Release date: August 1, 2013.

To buy:  Paperback and Kindle ebook

Twitter:  @KatieLeeAuthor

Facebook: Katie Lee Author

Inspiration behind the book: I was watching a program on Alzheimer's and remember being so moved by stories about how even as one partner was losing his/her grasp on reality and their memories, that connection between the two remained. I thought, "Hmm. . .what would it be like if the couple was young and one had amnesia?"

Agents, editors use #MSWL to broadcast wish lists

I recently came across the hashtag #MSWL on Twitter. It stands for Manuscript Wish List. It turns out that literary agents and editors use this hashtag to convey what's on their wish lists. If you're an author, search for this hashtag on Twitter and comb the posts. It might be you have something they are looking for. And here's more on #MSWL.

A children's story using Tapestry

So I was exploring this new app that a colleague told me about. It's called Tapestry. I could have added photos and jazzed it up a bit -- but ran out of time. Hope you enjoy it! Just tap to read the story:)

What's on your summer bucket list?

So, it's almost mid-July. The summer is speeding by. What's left on your bucket list for the summer? Here's some of mine.

Disney World (Check)
Writing (Check)
More writing
Read
Key West
Golf
Spend time on patio
Sell my books (Check)
Sell more books
Spend more time with friends
More reading
Spend more time with family

I'm not doing too well with my bucket list. How about you?

Minute list: Civil War re-enactment in Gettysburg

To tie in with the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, let's do a minute list. You know the drill. I give you a word and you describe the word. Here's the list. My answers are in ( )'s. Copy and past your's in comments. For some inspiration, here are some awesome photos taken by the staff at the York Daily Record/Sunday News.

Soldier (tired)

Flag (torn)

Bullet (embedded)

Ground (bloody)

Hat (dirty)

Cup (tin)

Canteen (empty)

Rifle musket (long)

Shelter half (white)

Haversack (stained)

Here is a NewHive expression of all of the slideshows I've done this week while curating Gettysburg 150th content. Here is another NewHive expression with lots of Gettysburg links.   And here is my RebelMouse Gettysburg 150 page. 

Literary Rejections great resource for authors

I came across Literary Rejections on Twitter recently. What a helpful account for struggling authors. It links to agents open to queries, writing contests and so much more. Do yourself a favor and check it out.  Here are just a few of its recent tweets:

Women Writers Needed for New Digital Publishers | @Novelicious Books | Novels & Novellas | Submit: http://t.co/HbAma3oOU8 | #writing

— Literary Rejections (@LitRejections) July 3, 2013

Lit Agent @SaraDEmic Open to Queries | Fiction, YA, Non-Fiction | http://t.co/2e7d8HokMQ | Interview: http://t.co/HPq24682RZ | #submissions

— Literary Rejections (@LitRejections) July 3, 2013

Literary Agent Alice Williams is Open to Queries | Children's Books, YA | http://t.co/g8POIGmBTh | #submissions

— Literary Rejections (@LitRejections) July 3, 2013

Lit Agent @jawlitagent is Open to Queries | Commercial, Women's, Romance, Thrillers, MG, NA, YA | http://t.co/RfdnZF8RSw | #submissions

— Literary Rejections (@LitRejections) July 3, 2013

Literary Agent @AlisonFargis of @StonesongNYC is Open to Queries | Fiction, Children's, Non-Fiction | http://t.co/TQZ8SQtzC9 | #submissions

— Literary Rejections (@LitRejections) July 3, 2013