She Got the Gold!
I can’t believe two whole months have passed since my last blog post. Well, I kinda can. I submitted the developmental edit on my 2nd novel on October 31st, and it was basically a full re-write, so I’ve spent every free minute working on that for months!
I’m also running a photography business and dealing with general everyday life, so two months flew by in a blur. Still, I have no shortage of exciting updates to share!
The most recent of which is perhaps my favorite. Let me catch you up on everything…
Soulmatch was just named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection!!! I’m SO incredibly honored to receive this distinction. Soulmatch was also added to their High Demand High Plus category, which only 14 books are chosen for annually. These are titles “designed to captivate even the most hesitant readers. With high-interest themes, fast-paced storytelling, and relatable topics, these selections rarely stay on the shelf.”
Wowwwwwwwwwww. As their December pick for this category, my novel will ship to hundreds of libraries nationwide!!
2. I was on a panel at New York Comic Con!!! This was my first time attending a comic con, and it was SO MUCH FUN! The costumes! The excitement! The bookish love!! On Thursday, I was on a panel with bestselling authors Chloe Gong and Joelle Wellington, and I was so nervous, I had to sit on my hands to stop them from shaking!. The next day, I visited Books of Wonder with Leah from YA Book Chat on Instagram. She’s so fun! And I can’t visit NYC without seeing at least one Broadway show. We saw the Stranger Things play! So flipping incredible (and incredibly creepy)!!
3. I attended my very first Soulmatch bookclub! When I moved to my neighborhood 13 years ago, one of my neighbors and I started a book club. It all came full circle when she hosted last month’s book club featuring Soulmatch! I was so overwhelmed and appreciative of the neighbors and friends who read my book and listened to me blabber on about writing it! I loved FINALLY being able to talk about the many plot twists in Soulmatch!
4. Soulmatch was chosen as the December Sci-fi and Fantasy selection for the RVA Readers! I’ll be heading down to my hometown on December 13th for that meet up!
5. I hit my goal of 100 Amazon reviews!! As of this writing, I’m up to 118. You know what that means, right? Time to increase the goal! I’m now hoping to get to 200. 🤗 If you’ve read Soulmatch, please leave a review! It only takes a second, and you can review on Amazon even if you purchased the book elsewhere. More reviews = more credibility!
6. Speaking of Amazon, they’ve started including Soulmatch in seasonal sales! It’s been discounted to $16.99 since publication, but check for coupon codes for even more savings! Or spend a little extra to support local bookstores by purchasing your copy from Bookshop.org.
7. The Soulmatch paperback won’t release until August, but retailers have started taking preorders for it! Here are some I’ve found: Target, Walmart, Amazon, Bookshop.org (<—shop local!)
8. I’ve scheduled three visits to local high schools and middle schools! If your students, creative writing classes, or library book club would like to bring me in, please reach out! I’d love to stop by and chat with your students about publishing and Soulmatch!!!
9. My agent sold world Spanish rights for Soulmatch! Now it’ll be published in THREE languages! German, Spanish, and English! Woo hoo!!
10. NO WAY!!! That’s my book inside Meijer grocery store!!! My book… for sale… at a GROCERY STORE!!! WHAT IS HAPPENING?!!!!!!
What’s next?
This will be my Yallfest outfit. Come find me for free Soulmatch swag! (Will likely have curly hair.)
I’m heading to Yallfest next weekend (November 14th/15th), not as a panelist but as a superfan. I will be at the SimonTeen booth for about 15 minutes to record some content and sign a giveaway book on Saturday at 2:15pm. Otherwise, I’ll be hanging out with friends and getting autographs. If you see me wandering about (I’ll be dressed like Where’s Waldo), ask me for a fortune cookie and Soulmatch swag! I’d be happy to sign your copy of Soulmatch, too!
2. In early December, I’ll be one of 20 YA authors at the St. Louis Teen Book Festival. Yep, that’s me beside bestselling author Soman Chainani (School for Good & Evil). My husband (the far more extroverted one of the two of us) isn’t attending this event with me, so I won’t be able to rely on his natural ability to strike up conversations. Please send me all the “don’t be awkward” and “you’ve got this” vibes!
3. Relaxation!!! Ha! Not sure I know what that word means, but after being on a deadline for four months, I’m ready for a break. Hoping to get in more hikes and spend a LOT more time with friends and family. This past Saturday (the day after I turned in Predestined revisions) we celebrated by hiking to Raven Rocks in Bluemont, Virginia. This overlook and hike are featured in Predestined!! It was strenuous and gorgeous, and I loved every minute of it!
What I’m Reading
Y’all, my TBR is long and wide!! I fear I’ll never read all the books I want to digest, most of which are from my INCREDIBLE debut class.
I’m currently devouring TO CAGE A WILD BIRD by Brooke Fast, which is an adult dystopian romance where the wealthy can pay to hunt down inmates in a Hunger-Games-esque arena for sport. Loving it!
Next up, FOR NO MORTAL CREATURE by Keshe Chow. I loved her debut, THE GIRL WITH NO REFLECTION, and her second novel is about a girl who can travel into the spirit realm, which is so up my alley! I can’t wait!
Also on deck is NOT TODAY, SATAN by Samantha Joyce A YA romcom where the MC’s dad is the devil.
And I’m torn between LOVE CANTER ACTION by Katie Gilbert, THE GOOD VAMPIRE’S GUIDE TO BLOOD AND BOYFRIENDS and DEADLY EVER AFTER by Brittany Johnson for my upcoming vacation. I own all three, just can’t decide which one to pack!!! Suggestions???!
