• Join the March Book Madness

    March is here, and we’re going “mad” for books. The countdown for the release of The Revolutionary (The Rogues, Bk 2) has begun, and in the meantime, you can take part in the pre-launch festivities. When The Revisionary released last year, you learned that my heroine Portia shares a name with my favorite Shakespearian character. Well, this famous playwright had his share to say about madness. If you’d like to help spread the word about The Revolutionary, please share any of the memes in this post. You can pre-order The Rogues, book 2 on Amazon now (in Kindle format). On March 20 (release day), both paperback and Kindle formats will be available.…

  • Holiday Book Specials

    Happy December! With Christmas a few short weeks away, I want to share some holiday book specials with you. This month, all of my Kindle books are on sale, but you’ll want to mark your calendars for the dates. Wings of the Dawn Trilogy My first three young adult suspense books are $.99 on these dates: Friday, Dec. 1 – Captive Beneath the Bahamian Sky (book one) Friday, Dec. 8 – Secrets Beyond Lake Winona’s Shore (book two) Friday, Dec. 15 – Awakening Sun (book three) The Revisionary My latest release, the first book in The Rogues trilogy, is available for $.99 (Kindle version) on the first day of winter, Dec. 21. For…

  • 2 Realities of Reaching Worthy Goals

    I’m convinced that anything worthwhile involves sacrifice. To reach a great goal, you have to give up good things. Take sleep, for example. For the last two Saturdays, when many people enjoyed the chance to catch some extra Zs, I set my alarm early to go for a long run. Granted, I enjoyed the morning with some amazing running partners, but I had to sacrifice sleep, embrace sweat, and push through fatigue (and dewy cobwebs along the trail). But I’ll never be ready for my half marathon in November if I don’t. As I type those words, I laugh, because not many years ago, I couldn’t even run a mile.…

  • AOA Teacher Authors Message of Hope

    The following article was featured in my school’s company newsletter, and the editor who conducted the interview graciously gave me permission to share it here with you. I’m so blessed to work at a place that supports my writing!  *** The genre of dystopian young adult fiction has become highly popularized in recent years with blockbuster novels like The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Giver; however, Alpha Omega Academy teacher Kristen Hogrefe knew she wanted the genre to offer more than just entertainment. “I wanted to offer hope,” the first-year AOA teacher said in a phone interview from her home in Spring Hill, Florida. “Dystopian novels are oftentimes so bleak.…

  • A Cord of Three Strands

    If you follow me on social media, you’ve probably seen the rescue kitten that now runs my house (only partially joking there). Good news is that low-to-no budget toys are often what makes kitty happiest. The other day, Mom gifted my little Ness with a red crochet strand with a jingle bell at the end. Turns out, it once belonged to some Christmas socks my great-aunt made me … a long time ago. Despite the years, those three strands remain tightly knit together, at least until my kitten gets the best of them. In the Bible, Solomon uses the visual of a three-strand cord to visualize why we need strong…

  • 3 Reasons to Thank Dad on Father’s Day

    To most, the man across the table from me is nothing but an old broken Tooler with knobby fingers and dirty nails. To me, he is everything left that’s kind and lovely in the world. – Portia, The Revisionary At the beginning of The Revisionary, Portia and her father Abram Abernathy only have each other, but she’s made a plan to get back her lost brother. She thinks that if she can earn a Revisionary seat in the ruling Dome, she can rescue him from the satellite where the ASU government banished him. Although her father calls her plan “a fool’s errand,” she is sure of one thing: he loves her,…

  • The Revisionary – New YA Novel Now Available!

    Hello, friends! I’m thrilled to share The Revisionary with you. It is now available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats. I want to invite you to celebrate with me this week! On Tuesday, June 6 (release day), you’re invited to listen in on a radio interview I’ll be doing on Blog Talk Radio. Tonight at 7 pm (Correction: Central Time), I’ll be chatting with Write Integrity Editor Marji Laine Clubine on her Publishing Laine program. We’ll be talking about the popularity of dystopian books, world-building, and perspective. Click here to listen in on Tuesday at 7 pm CST/8 EST. Then, on Thursday, June 8, join me for a…

  • Heritage in American History: Jefferson Memorial

    A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of chaperoning Alpha Omega Academy’s first field trip to Washington, D.C. Students from the states and abroad converged at Dulles and Reagan airports to start a week-long tour of our nation’s capital. Never having been to D.C., I soaked up the history and culture like a sponge. Day after day, I witnessed landmarks that revealed our country’s faith-based heritage and the wisdom of our early leaders. Blessed. That’s how this trip made me feel. Not only was I thrilled to explore “history” with an amazing group of students and chaperones, but I also felt as though God had given me a gift, an affirmation…

  • Announcing the Flag Design Contest Winner!

    Congratulations to Brianna Ford for her winning entry of the fictitious ASU flag, which will be featured in The Revisionary. I want to thank all the participants for their outstanding designs. It was an honor to share your creativity with my website readers. Here’s some extra exciting news! My editor and I were so impressed with the submissions that we’re going to publish the runners-up in a special spread in the back of the book. All participants will have their names and designs in print. Having these Alpha Omega Academy students be part of my book makes it all the more special to me. Thank you again to all who submitted…

  • Pre-Order The Revisionary, and Receive a Special Gift!

    The Revisionary for Kindle is now available to pre-order for a limited time. When you pre-order on Amazon.com, you’ll receive the e-book at a discounted price and an opportunity to receive a free bonus feature, a prequel of Portia’s story called A Cord of Three Strands. To receive your copy, forward your Amazon order confirmation to freebookforpreorder@gmail.com. Your Kindle copy of The Revisionary will be delivered on June 6. At that time, the print version will also be available for purchase. Art  Contest Winner – To Be Announced! I’ll be announcing the winner of the Alpha Omega Academy art contest tomorrow. Tonight is the last day for voting, so if you haven’t voted yet,…