YA Scavenger Hunt & COVER REVEAL for my new book!

Thanks for stopping by for the YA Scavenger Hunt! Today is exciting. Not only is it the hunt, but I'm revealing the cover of my new book, THE MERCENARY'S DAUGHTER! I hope you like it.

★★★★★ 

"One of the coolest and downright fun books I’ve read in a while."

–Tommy Wirkola, writer/director of “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” and “Dead Snow.” 

★★★★★ 

"A hugely entertaining novel. It pulls you in and doesn’t let you go."

–Tom O’Conner, screenwriter of “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” and “Ironbark.”

★★★★★ 

"Big action. Tons of heart. I was hooked from page one."

– Matt Lieberman, screenwriter of “The Christmas Chronicles, “The Adam’s Family,” and “Free Guy.”

★★★★★ 

"Completely compelling. The pages might rip from turning them so fast."

–Neil Tolkin, screenwriter of “License to Drive” and “The Emperor's Club.”

BONUS GIVEAWAY

**scroll down for YASH info**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team!

Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are FOUR contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the PURPLE TEAM--but there are three other teams for a chance to win a whole different set of books!

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the purple team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!). 

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST

Today, I am hosting Eric Lindtrom on my website for the YA Scavenger Hunt! 

Eric Lindstrom enjoys writing Young Adult novels, including his debut novel NOT IF I SEE YOU FIRST followed by A TRAGIC KIND OF WONDERFUL. He also raised children, which led to becoming first a school volunteer, then a substitute teacher, then a part time kindergarten teacher, then getting a credential to teach elementary school, and most importantly the discovery that Young Adult books are awesome. It’s pretty much all he ever reads, and now writes, in his house near the beach on the west coast, with his wife and, yes, cats.

Find out more information by checking out the author website or find more about the author's book here! www.ericlindstrombooks.com

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

For sixteen-year-old Mel Hannigan, bipolar disorder makes life unpredictable. Her latest struggle is balancing her growing feelings in a new relationship with her instinct to conceal her diagnosis by keeping everyone at arm’s length. But when a former friend confronts Mel with the truth about the way their relationship ended, deeply buried secrets threaten to come out and upend her shaky equilibrium. As the walls of Mel’s compartmentalized world crumble, she fears the worst—that no one will accept her if they discover what she’s been hiding. But would her friends really abandon her if they learned the truth? More importantly, can Mel bring herself to risk everything to find out?

Many Goodreads reviews for A TRAGIC KIND OF WONDERFUL have wished there were more scenes with Aunt Joan, aka Hurricane Joan, aka HJ. Mel has bipolar disorder with most of her time spent in depression, while her aunt’s type is mostly hypomanic, making her energetic, impulsive, obsessive, opinionated, and volatile. My early drafts did have more scenes with HJ, but she was taking over too much of Mel’s story so many got cut. But for those who’ve read the book, here’s a scene with HJ that didn’t make the final draft; and for those who haven’t read, this is as good an introduction as any. The title of the book actually comes from a scene where Mel watches HJ get ready to go out on a Friday night, thinking the spectacle is both wonderful and tragic, and this scene below takes place the following morning...

Aunt Joan isn’t home yet when I get back to the house around ten. Mom’s in her room, probably because she was up late with my boyfriend, Netflix. Maybe she’s cocooned in her bed for the same reasons I wish I were in mine—it’s hereditary—but I can’t do it. It won’t feel good to lie in bed, eyes wide open, with the Ritalin running my Hamster in its wheel in my head.
          Sometimes I miss when my meds weren’t so well tuned. I wonder if sober alcoholics miss how it feels being drunk. These are the times I miss Nolan most. My onset happened after he’d gone so I never got a chance to tell him I finally understand what it’s like, being him.
          I strip and climb into the shower.
          The bathroom door opens. I’ve been standing for some unknown length of time facing away from the hot spray, hands cupped by my collarbone to direct half the water down my chest while the rest hits my neck and runs down my back.
          Porcelain clanks. I know it’s HJ from how she barged into the bathroom with me in it, from how hard she landed on the toilet seat, from the insane power of her morning urine blasting into the water. If that weren’t proof enough, she pisses in Morse code, never passing up a chance to practice her Kegels…
          …pss, pss, pss…pss…pssssshhh, pss, pss, pssssshhh…
          I taught myself Morse code last year just to decipher HJ’s toilet monologues. Over time I discovered I didn’t need to; she only used the same three letters, in the same order, over and over. It used to make me smile to hear it, and I didn’t mind memorizing Morse code for nothing—I wasn’t sleeping much at the time anyway. It’s true all she ever thinks about is S-E-X, but once I understood that she can’t help it, and can’t stop it, it stopped being funny.
          I turn off the shower and stand a moment, dripping, chilling, and waiting. Not for HJ to leave because I’m modest, but to gauge her mood. Mornings after her late nights out are always the most unpredictable. If she tosses my towel over the curtain, it’s safe to talk.
          The TP roll spins hard. The toilet flushes. The sink does not turn on. The door opens and doesn’t close.
          Not safe. I climb out and grab my towel. Before I’ve wrapped up, the door to HJ’s room slams shut.

And don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of books by me, Jessica Therrien, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 846. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the purple team and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

CONTINUE THE HUNT

To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author! http://www.heatherlreid.com

New Book Announcement!

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT!

.................................................

I'm releasing a new book on March 31, 2020 

THE MERCENARY'S DAUGHTER

I had an incredible opportunity to work with screenwriter Joe Gazzam (who is currently writing for Magnum P.I. on CBS).

The book is complete and cover design is in the works!! 🥳

Follow me on Instagram for more details

@AuthorJessicaTherrien

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When Special Ops recruit, Tara Kafee is dishonorably discharged, there’s only one place to go—Home. 

But there’s more waiting for her there than she’s ready for.

It’s been four years since she’s been back and ten since her mother walked out on the family never to be heard of again.

She’s determined to rekindle things with her father and keep him close. That is, until he goes missing.

Soon after stumbling upon a safe room full of weapons, fake passports, and a mission’s dossier marking a target in Cuba, she reluctantly accepts the help of her angsty teenage brother. He’s the only one she can trust, so together, the two set out for Havana.

Tara is determined to get her father back, whatever it takes, but things are never easy when you’re the mercenary’s daughter.

Life With Three Kids - Welcome Home Annabelle Rose!

It's been almost six weeks since we welcomed our third child, little Annabelle Rose, into the world. Life has been crazy...as is expected with three, but we're so blessed and happy to have her here.

The third baby is easier in some ways. I feel like I know what I'm doing, and caring for a newborn is something I've done twice before so there is a level of confidence. In other ways it's harder. With the first and second I didn't have any older kids in school. Meaning we could all sleep in until 10am to catch up on the hours missed throughout the night. It also meant I didn't have to worry about any older kids bringing home colds or the flu from school.

Having my oldest in Kindergarten has me up at 6am to make lunch and hustle him to class no matter how rough the night was, and I've had constant stress that he's going to bring home the flu...I'm not ready to deal with a newborn and a house full of sickies just yet...

Despite the new challenges, Annabelle is an easy, happy baby, so I got very lucky there. My boys are just as in love as we are, and I realized on one of her panic-crying car rides on our way to school, that having siblings is teaching my children to care for others. As Annabelle cried, my oldest hushed her, speaking with a comforting voice, telling her it would all be all right. Her sobs quieted and she fell asleep to his "Shh shh shh" sound. Moments like that help remind me that even though my time and attention is spread thin and divided by three, they will (hopefully) find companionship in each other and be better people for having to care for and share with their siblings.

Life with three is fun and crazy and chaotic. I'm a mess most of the time, but learning and loving it all the time...even when it's hard (which is often).

Well, back to juggling babies, books, and business... wish me luck people ;)

MY PUBLISHING JOURNEY: Author PJ Colando

Have you ever wondered how authors get their start?
How do they get agents?
How do they get published?
Is it luck? Talent? Drive?

This segment is an attempt to satisfy my immense curiosity...to answer the one question I'm dying to ask every author out there: How did your book become a book?

Visit the full catalogue of "My Publishing Journey" interviews HERE.

Today's Featured Author

PJ Colando
www.pjcolando.com

Author of

The Winner's Circle

RELEASING TODAY!
2-1-19

FAITH… FAMILY… FRENZY!

Life in rural small town can dull the senses. A trio of gal pals—mired in middle age, Middle America, and other people’s problems—long to escape.

When Bonnie wins the Boffo Lotto, her circle of friends urge her to lawyer up, invest, and sequester herself. 

But secrets are inconceivable in small towns, so Bonnie and Carl invite close friends to witness their Vegas wedding and honeymoon in Hawaii with endless vagabond beyond. The sky’s the limit!

The allure of travel is fun for a while—hilarious, in fact. But when the husbands are jailed, wanderlust is no longer a romp and things get complicated when you’re halfway round the world, untethered from all you know and love. 

Life has its consequences… and there’s no place like home.

Hello PJ! Thanks for agreeing to share your publishing journey. First, please give us a brief summary of how you got where you are and why you chose this path.

I was a speech-language pathologist for many years. I wrote thousands and thousands of clinical reports – and some of them contained fabulous fiction (wink-wink). 

It was a career I adored, but it was time to ease into retirement, which my husband and I had promised we’d achieve by age 55. Writing creatively has freedom, fulfillment, and leisure-pleasure, as well as compassion for characters, a feeling that carries forward from my work with patients and their parents. I adore my encore career of writing as much as my former career as a speech-language pathologist! I call my genre ‘loose-with-the-truth.’ It’s fun to fictionalize!

HYBRID PUBLISHER

How did you find Acorn Publishing? And what made you decide to go with Acorn?
I consider it a ‘co-find process.’ One of my best decisions ever! (after deciding to marry my husband) I feel blessed. It’s an important relationship. I am more than pleased to be shepherded and guided within the ACORN Publishing team.   

What do you like about hybrid publishing?
My decisions are independent yet fostered within a framework of choices based upon the hybrid publishers’ prior experiences. There’s less scatter of my efforts and attention, less hunt-and-peck. I feel as if ACORN is funneling me into success and I am glad to be on their path.

Which formats (hardcover, e-book, paperback, audio) are you putting out and why?
Hardcover – my first time! – because I love my book, The Winner’s Circle, cover and I want my book in libraries. eBook and paperback will also be released because these are more affordable options for my family and friends to buy. You, too, blog reader!

Did you choose to do everything yourself (such as website design, formatting, etc.) or did you hire out?
Because I am Boomer-aged and less technologically savvy than the present generation of writers, I enlisted the services of others with these skill sets. The best service delivery model for me and my age and stage of life.

MARKETING

What marketing tactics did you focus on and why?
Because I’d been involved with my local – and densely-populated – writing scene for many years, I chose to rely upon personal relationships and interactions to market my book, The Winner’s Circle. I like connections and look forward to Book Club conversations. Bring ‘em on!

Thirty years ago, I’d built a highly-successful private practice in speech-language pathology with steadfast work and initiative, so I had a well-honed paradigm for achievement: provide quality service to meet others’ needs and they reward you with loyalty, blowing your horn for you. 

I call myself a plodder, neither a plotter or a pantser when I write, and the term applies to my marketing non-tactics. I believe that’s called ‘organic reach’ nowadays.

Do you have any advice given your experience marketing your past books?
Stay abreast of current best-practices for book publishing-and-marketing by following blogs. As with all aspects of life, the thing that is changing the fastest is change. Conversely, don’t adhere to fads and formulas, but rely on your own instincts and style.

ADVICE

What lessons have you learned? Any advice for those about to go down your path?
While indie publishing worked for me, hybrid publishing is better because you have a team to rely on. 

Life Update - Baby #3 Coming Soon!

Hey All! It's been 8 MONTHS since I last posted...wow! A LOT has happened since then. Baby #3 is expected in about 2 weeks. We have two amazing boys already and this little bun in the oven is a GIRL (yes...I am extremely excited to get girly in the coming years).

But even amidst all the MOM chaos that has consumed my life (in a good way) I've managed to write another book with the amazing screenwriter, Joe Gazzam. It's done, but he's shopping it around to agents. We'll see...If it gets picked up it could be a while before it's published. If we get impatient, we will probably publish it through Acorn Publishing.

Which brings me to the other baby in my life...my business. Acorn Publishing has taken off like I never imagined. Hybrid Publishing is an amazing option for so many authors out there. Those who have the talent, but not the luck to land an agent, those who have been traditionally published but don't like the slow pace that comes with that route, or those self-published authors who are looking for support, community, and guidance. It's been so much fun to watch our authors and the company grow and succeed.

WWW.ACORNPUBLISHINGLLC.COM

So, from one busy mom, author, business owner, life-juggler to another...

Merry Christmas, Joyful Holidays, and Happy New Year!! 

May the blessings keep coming :)

WISH ME LUCK!!!!

2018 LA Times Festival of Books

I always have such a great time at this festival. Not only are there books EVERYWHERE, but I get to meet fans and hang out with friends/fellow authors. Here are a few pics/videos from the weekend. Can't wait for next year!

MY PUBLISHING JOURNEY: Author Bethany Lopez

Have you ever wondered how authors get their start?
How do they get agents?
How do they get published?
Is it luck? Talent? Drive?

This segment is an attempt to satisfy my immense curiosity...to answer the one question I'm dying to ask every author out there: How did your book become a book?

Visit the full catalogue of "My Publishing Journey" interviews HERE.

Today's Featured Author

Bethany Lopez
www.bethanylopezauthor.com

Author of

Time for Love Series &
Three Sisters Catering Novels &
A TON of other books!!

AGENTS

Do you have an agent?
I did have an agent for a while, but am no longer represented.
  

How many queries did you send?
I sent out probably over a hundred, and that did not end up being how I met my agent. I met her organically, at an event, and spoke with her in person.

If you don't have an agent, is it by choice?
Yes, it is by choice.

If represented, how long did it take to get your agent?
I had actually met her about two years before she became my agent.

 

SELF-PUBLISHING

What made you decide to self publish?
It was 2011, and after the over a hundred queries were sent out, I heard about self publishing and looked into it. Almost seven years later, I have over thirty titles available and they were all published independently.

Did you do everything yourself (such as cover design, formatting, etc.) or did you hire out?
I have a cover designer, formatter, editor, proofreader, and a part time PR person.

Which platform (such as Createspace) do you self-publish through?
Createspace, KDP (Amazon), Nook Press, Kobo, Smashwords (for iBooks mostly).
 
Have you researched or considered getting a hardcover printed of your book? What about audio?

I did use Barnes & Noble to do one of my books in hardcover. I’m still learning that process. Almost all of my books (minus the short stories) are either already available in audio or in production.

What do you like about self-publishing?
I love the autonomy. I’m a bit of a control freak, so I like being able to choose who I work with, and make all of the decisions concerning my books.

What do you dislike about self-publishing?
Funding everything yourself can be difficult, especially initially, but once you get an account set up with a dedicated writing fund, things will get easier. It teaches you how to be the manager, marketer, accountant, etc… of your business.

MARKETING

What marketing tactics worked for you?
I think I’ve tried everything at least once. Bookbub is always the best choice, but it’s very hard to get accepted. It sometimes feels like winning the lottery. I also found bookboxes to be very successful, but also very costly. Newsletter marketing is great, and I’m still trying to navigate through FB and AMS Ads. I still like Blog Tours, Cover Reveals, and Review Tours, which are set up through my PR company.
 

ADVICE

Looking back would you do anything differently?
Not really. Maybe now spend money on services that I eventually learned didn’t work out. And certain writing choices. Like, stick to one series, complete it, then move on to another series, lol. I currently have four series that are incomplete, and a fifth that, although complete, I keep writing novellas for. I tend to skip around to keep myself engaged, but I think I would see better results monetarily, if I’d stick to one and complete it. Some readers do not like to be kept waiting.

What lessons have you learned? Any advice for those about to go down your path?
I have learned that networking is one of the most important factors in your career. That self-doubt is a constant killer of inspiration, but you must fight back. And that, although writing can be a lonely career path, there is nothing like the feeling of being in a room full of readers, authors, and other people who love this industry. As far as advice, I’d say put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid to reach out, but always do you research. Find out the correct way to approach, and follow guidelines when necessary. Keep writing. Every day if possible.

Can you provide names and/or contacts for the following?

Agent: N/A

Publisher: N/A

Formatter: Type A Formatting

Cover Designer: Makeready Designs

Audiobook: ACX

Hardcover printer: Barnes & Noble

Promotion and/or marketing: Inkslinger PR

Blog Tour Organizer, etc.: Inkslinger PR

 

 Is eight weeks enough time to earn back the love of someone you've betrayed...the only one you've ever loved?

Shelly has been in love with Cal since they started dating in eleventh grade. Despite everyone saying that the odds were against them, they got married after graduation and built a life together. Now, six years later, she is faced with the ultimate betrayal. Devastated, her first instinct is to call it quits…

After a drunken binge at his best friends’ bachelor party, Cal betrays the one person who has always been there for him, his wife, Shelly. Terrified and realizing she might divorce him, Cal must come up with a way to prove to her that his love is true…

Cal asks Shelly for eight weeks. Eight weeks to convince her that their marriage is worth the fight. Will Shelly be able to trust him again, or will their marriage end the way many others do when faced with opposition… In divorce?

This story is meant for readers 18 and older.

BETHANY LOPEZ BOOKS ON AMAZON

 BUY ON AMAZON