Book News
My latest book is A Posse of princesses which is set in Wren's world--the world I made up in high school, a kind of "S-d Lite" suitable for publishers and those overseeing 'proper' tropes in YA. That was an issue when I first began writing and sending stuff out. Isn't now, of course.
Posse grabbed me a couple years ago when I had a classroom full of reading girls in junior high. They all wanted to read about romance. No, craved it, really, but several of them, especially girls new to this country from more protective environments elsewhere, hit pretty hard against some of the newer YA tropes which are just perfect for a more sophisticated reader, and for high school and above. I wondered if I could write a romantic fantasy that didn't have sexual content, but still stayed true to ideas about love, attraction, friendship, etc. that curious kids could grasp.
Then, I wanted to play with some of the assumed tropes. What if you're not a "chosen one"--that is, you've got innate talent, but you haven't worked at it. And the Great Whangdoodle is in your hands--but you don't change the world or become queen of the universe? Can life still be good?
Well, I had a lot of fun writing it, though the girls who sparked the idea are now high schoolers, and those I stay in contact with are reading Holly Black and Cassandra Clare and Maureen Johnson on my recco.
The blurb for the book is on the website link above. I don't know how it reads, of course--it's just out and no reviews. I hope it entertains!
Here's why I wanted to post: my publisher is the new kid on the block. She's a one woman publishing company, with all kinds of great ideas and projects. Take a look at her catalog. So the big guns in the distribution world haven't noticed her yet. She, and I, depend on word of mouth to get the books out. If you like any of them, just let people know! (And if not, well, let people know anyway, of course, as censorship is bad.)
Posse grabbed me a couple years ago when I had a classroom full of reading girls in junior high. They all wanted to read about romance. No, craved it, really, but several of them, especially girls new to this country from more protective environments elsewhere, hit pretty hard against some of the newer YA tropes which are just perfect for a more sophisticated reader, and for high school and above. I wondered if I could write a romantic fantasy that didn't have sexual content, but still stayed true to ideas about love, attraction, friendship, etc. that curious kids could grasp.
Then, I wanted to play with some of the assumed tropes. What if you're not a "chosen one"--that is, you've got innate talent, but you haven't worked at it. And the Great Whangdoodle is in your hands--but you don't change the world or become queen of the universe? Can life still be good?
Well, I had a lot of fun writing it, though the girls who sparked the idea are now high schoolers, and those I stay in contact with are reading Holly Black and Cassandra Clare and Maureen Johnson on my recco.
The blurb for the book is on the website link above. I don't know how it reads, of course--it's just out and no reviews. I hope it entertains!
Here's why I wanted to post: my publisher is the new kid on the block. She's a one woman publishing company, with all kinds of great ideas and projects. Take a look at her catalog. So the big guns in the distribution world haven't noticed her yet. She, and I, depend on word of mouth to get the books out. If you like any of them, just let people know! (And if not, well, let people know anyway, of course, as censorship is bad.)