Author fair!

I've been given the honor of being invited to participate in an author panel.

Monday, October 20, 2014 6:30-8:30pm at Homer Public Library in Homer Glen, IL!

I'll have copies of all my books available for sale.  Hope to see you there!

AUTHOR FAIR   
   Contact: Heather Colby   708-301-7908   heather@homerlibrary.org
  
Spend an evening with published authors at our 7th annual Author Fair! This free event will feature book signings, panel discussions, raffles, and refreshments. Participating authors (of both adult and children’s books) include Helen Osterman, Deanna Shelby, Deborah Roach, Gary Yambor, Donna Zadunajsky, Casey Ziemiarski, and more!

  

Rarity s live!!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N72V77I

Ready to download the ebook of Rarity??  It's ready! Please be sure to leave a review on goodreads and/or amazon.

Submitted and soon to release!

Rarity pre-order will be available 9/4/14 via amazon. The official release date is 9/12/14.   It will be available as paperback and ebook.  Here's is the cover art and the blurb about the book.  It's a young adult romance and I'm excited about this story because it includes a young man who's recently diagnosed with a rare disorder.  It effects his life on so many levels. 

Being diagnosed with a rare disorder is incredibly frustrating.  Local doctors often have minimal knowledge of how to care for you and as a patient, or parent of the patient, you must learn all you can and teach the local doctors.  Unfortunately some doctors are not open to information or suggestions put forward by their patients. 

Rare disease research also doesn't have very much finanacial support. I will donate a portion of my book sales to fund the research of vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.  Thank you to all who purchase my book, countless families ,as well as my own, are grateful for the support.

It's her junior year at Stanton High.  Brogen, an empathic teen, is looking forward to another uneventful year with her buddy Meg at her side.  Meg and Brogen are not in the in-crowd, actually, they aren't in any crowd.  They are content keeping a low profile and doing their own thing.  

But the first day of school brings Becca, the blonde babe, and Jay, the charismatic guy who doesn't fit any stereotype.  These two new students pull Brogen out of her comfort zone and  into a new social situation.    And with the good parts of this new situation...comes the bad. 

Becca is attracted to Jay and is prepared to stomp on the competition when it comes to making Jay her boyfriend.  Brogen wants no part of any high school drama, but life...or fate keeps putting Jay and Brogen on a path together.  This puts a target on Brogen's back and she's not sure Jay is worth the wrath of Becca. 

As they journey through their school year, several life changing events alter the relationship between Jay and Brogen.  But the question remains, should they give in to fate and give love a chance? Or fight it and take the easy road?

Working on the Cover

Brogen's nightly art journal

She has the gift, or curse, of being empathic.  Some days the emotions of others are enough to send her in a deep depression.  Until she can learn to shield herself she copes by drawing in a journal on a nightly basis, running, and meditating.  I tried to capture what I thought a page from her journal would look like.  It's not done.. just a sneak peek but I'm hoping to use it for the cover art. Enjoy!  Hoping to release Rarity the first part of September.

Support this rare disease and save lives

http://www.gofundme.com/ce5xd4

Throwing rocks in the pond

Well...

If you throw a handful of rocks in the pond, you hope to make a few ripples.  I contacted 3 book agents about Rarity.  You pretty much give them a short blurb about yourself and your story and hope they ask for more.  I know I need to contact about 200 more because most authors get tons of rejects.  I'm not looking to sign on for life...I would just like a professional push for Rarity, especially since a large portion of the profits will be donated to vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome research. http://www.ehlersdanlosnetwork.org/donations.html  The more money it makes, the bigger donation. It's hard for me to try this new route of distribution...I want to release Rarity TODAY!  But if I am shopping book agents...I need to wait.  From what I read...most publishers don't look at a book unless it's presented to them by a book agent. 

In other exciting news, the library in my childhood hometown invited me and 11 other authors to speak on an author panel and sell our books at the library.  I was honored to receive this invitation and will be attending in October.  It's strange going from "stay at home mom" to an author that presents to students occasionally and being invited to be on a panel.  Strange but exciting.

On the fence

So new things are daunting because of the unknown.  I am mentally and emotionally debating whether to try to get a literary agent and try to get Rarity published the old fashioned way.  Doing this would give it greater exposure which I so desperately want...it's a topic dear to my heart and raising awareness about it is essential.  BUT,  I have never gone down that path.  I have not pursued others...I've just created and put it out there for any and all to try.  What if no one wants it?  What if they want it and want more from me and I find myself stuck in contracts and facing timelines???  I'm envious of authors like Jessica Sorenson who seem to put out new stories every month.  It takes me a little while to settle upon something worth talking about, and some more time to let the story grow around those ideas.  Nothing fast here.  I guess it's worth a try, and if all else fails I'll pursue self-publishing as I have in the past.

Inconsequential is free for download 6/26/2014.
http://amzn.com/B00HWGR7KG

Trusting Strangers is free for download 6/26-27/2014
amzn.com/ B00AQB2S6W