Book Deal!!!

Yup. It's true.

THE ASP is going to be a real book on a real bookshelf in a real bookstore.

Read the press release here!

Fierce Ink Press is dedicated to producing high quality books of fiction and short non-fiction pieces by Canadian authors who write for young adults. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to publish with them and I'm certain Terry's fate couldn't be in better hands.

Coming from Fierce Ink Press in June 2015...



Not the real cover, but fun to look at while we wait for next year!

Still recovering from the accident that killed her mother a year ago and left her with a disfigured leg, sixteen-year-old Terry Hughes limps through a new high school, wishing she was invisible. Recently relocated back to America with her archaeologist father, Terry wants nothing more than to leave the secrets of ancient Egypt buried and forgotten.

When the editor of the school newspaper, swoon-worthy Fraser Lucas, asks for an interview about her father's upcoming exhibit at the museum, Terry is skeptical. Why would a guy with so much swag be interested in a bunch of dusty artifacts? She rebuffs his questions, secretly suspicious her father's latest discovery is more than just another crumbling sarcophagus. Her paranoia increases when Fraser hands over a newspaper article from fifty years ago, detailing the unsolved case of a girl who visited the museum on a class trip and was never seen again.

After Terry's father succumbs to a mysterious illness, she delves back into the world of ancient Egyptology, curses and all. Terry will need Fraser's help to uncover the museum's macabre agenda, and hopefully her father's cure. But her detective work may prove lethal when she discovers the sarcophagus is not only the key to her fate, but to the missing girl’s as well.

THE ASP, a YA mystery with magical realism, is Veronica Mars meets Indiana Jones in the style of Stan Lee.

Add it on Goodreads here!

 

BONUS!!!

 

For character pictures, quotes, a playlist and various other inspirational bits, check out the Pinterest board for THE ASP here.

 

 

 

 

My Open Letter to Book Reviewers

authorpublishingservices.com

I recently I saw a tweet in which a book blogger was hesitant to write a poor review based on her dislike of the novel.

The reason?

She didn't want to upset the author.


Let me ask this...

Who is the real audience?

Yup, that's right, the readers. Not the author.

Book reviews are for people who may consider buying/reading the book. The author has already read the book—probably a hundred times.

Here are the three top reasons I will never read reviews of my books.

#1. It won't improve my writing. That's why critique partners and editors exist.

#2. It could be filled with accolades and only one complaint, but that negative comment would stick with me. The last thing any writer needs is more self doubt.

#3. Time spent in front of the computer searching for reviews of my books is a waste of my time. Instead, I should be working on my blog, answering e-mails, paying bills, surfing Pinterest, or how about this one...writing.

I have a ton of respect and admiration for people who review books. It's hard work I tell you. HARD WORK. I hated doing book reports in school. But these 'consumers of all things written' do it because they LOVE it...and for FREE.

There's this girl, Amy Mathers, and she's doing something above and beyond.

She's embarking on a journey to read one Canadian-authored book every day of the year. She'll be reading teen fiction books from every province and territory, exploring Canada and promoting Canadian teen authors and books by finishing a book a day for each day of 2014. She will write a review for each book she reads, and invites people to share their thoughts on the books she reads too.

Amy's marathon will raise money for the The Canadian Children's Book Centre in order to endow a Canadian teen book award to be presented at the yearly Canadian Children’s Literature Awards gala.
That's 365 book reviews, people! Anne Shirley would be ever so impressed!

In advance of my YA novel, Busgirl Blues, coming out this fall, I want to thank bloggers out there who will read my book. I won't read your review, but I thank you for taking the time.

Now go follow Amy on twitter, facebook and check out her website.

And here's some advice on how to handle a snarky review.

Congratulations! You made it to the end of the post. As a reward, please enjoy this Gravity Falls short!