My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Firebreather’s Curse is another epic adventure in this urban fantasy series which has me hooked! This is the second book in the Talismans of Teregrin series. It brings us in shortly after the first book left off with the two MC’s – Oliver and Gemma – and their…
Valentine 451
If you’re looking for a little extra love this Valentine’s Day, check out my YA contemporary flash fiction! I submitted the following to a Valentine-themed contest hosted by Manuscript Academy and judged by literary agent, Taj McCoy. The contest specified these were to be meet-cute flash pieces with a word count of 300 words and…
Book Spotlight: Dead Girl by Kerrie Faye
My rating: 5 of 5 stars In Dead Girl, people aren’t always what they seem. Sometimes, they’re not even entirely human! With a clever premise that plays off of Stephen King’s Carrie, Dead Girl opens with Ember, a bullied teen who has unique abilities, like seeing colors related to people’s emotions and having ultra sharp…
My Reading List of Middle Grade and Young Adult Books for 2023
While 2023 may have had some ups and downs, it was a great reading year for me. Along with beta reading, reading ARC’s (Advanced Reader Copies) and indulging in the occasional romance or adult sci-fi, I also read some fantastic middle grade and young adult books. Since the book I drafted this year is a…
Book Spotlight: Karma Moon: Ghost Hunter by Melissa Savage
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Karma Moon: Ghost Hunter is an engaging middle grade read filled with quirky characters and hilarious banter between Karma and her best friend, Mags. When Karma’s dad lands the job of lifetime – a documentary series with Netflix – he and Karma have to pack up for spring break…
Book Spotlight: Ravenfall by Kalyn Josephson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars I read Ravenfall twice this year. The first time I read it because the story looked spooky and fun. The second time, I read the book with my boys because I thought they would enjoy it. They did, and I enjoyed it just as much the second time through….
“Midnight Echoes” featured in The Burgeon Zine
A touch of good news at the end of 2023: My short story, “Midnight Echoes” is featured in the first issue of The Burgeon Zine, a selection of excerpts and short stories from the cohort of The Burgeon Mastermind 2023! For those Only You fans out there (yes, the 1994 film with Marisa Tomei and…
My #FallWritingFrenzy submission – Scared A Latte
#FallWritingFrenzy is a free writing contest for kidlit writers hosted by literary agent, Kaitlyn Sanchez, and supported by an amazing list of prize donors. The writing challenge is to pen a 200-word poem or flash fiction for any kidlit age, inspired by one of the photos on Kaitlyn’s blog. Scared A Latte is a middle…
Book Spotlight: The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten by Krista Van Dolzer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars The premise for The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten is both intriguing and humorous – what if you are heading to an art summer camp but end up at a math summer camp instead? A rainstorm lands Esther and her stepdad, Toby, at summer camp full of math nerds,…
Book Spotlight: The Talismans of Teregrin by Katy Metzger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars What a fantastic start to this series! The Talismans of Teregrin has all the elements of an engaging, adventurous fantasy with grounded characters and a touch of romance. I love stories set on islands because the geography of the island becomes part of the story. There’s also a growing…
Christine Letizia 