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In-person events can be an important tool for authors to connect with readers and readers a chance to discover new authors. They also allow readers a chance to chat with the person who wrote a book that they love or are very excited to read. Unfortunately, most events were cancelled in 2020 to keep us all healthy, but there’s a bright side! Many authors have found a great alternative: livestreaming. While different from in-person events, using a livestreaming service like can actually offer authors more opportunities to connect with readers.

Announce a new book
Instead of simply plastering a book announcement over social media, you can hop on a livestream and show your audience just how excited you are about a new, upcoming novel. The smiles and excitement in your voice will be contagious, getting readers hyped up for your new adventure.Cover Reveal

Ready to show the world a sparkly new cover? Go live! A book really is judged by its cover a lot of the time so connect with readers while unveiling it. Let them ask questions, talk about why you chose certain elements for the cover, and swoon together.

Launch party

Strap on your party hat and throw up some streamers! This is my personal favorite use for livestreaming. Instead of booking a venue and paying big bucks to cater it when only local readers can attend, throw a free shindig for everyone. Play games, do a reading from the book, host contests, and toast to your new book baby, all in real time. If you’re anything like me, release day can get a little intense. Going live not only welcomes your readers in, but gives the author a moment to enjoy their accomplishment!

Live reading
Fans like to hear authors read their work, which I know can feel awkward for a lot of authors. Luckily, with livestreaming, you get the perk of doing the reading from wherever you feel most comfortable. It also comes with the perk of not having a room full of people staring at you—at least that you can see—so it’s much less intimidating.Q&A
Let’s be honest—contacting an author is intimidating (sometimes even for other authors). All those burning questions your readers have could go unasked because they’re too shy to reach out. Setting up a live Q&A is the perfect solution. When the author opens up a path for readers to ask those questions, it takes away the worry that the author is being bothered. Having a casual conversation and connecting with the people who love your work is always a fun time. Plus, who doesn’t like to chat with people who love something as much as they do?

Whatever reason you decide to livestream, have fun with it! This is your chance to connect on a personal level with your readers. (Make sure you save the stream to post for those who couldn’t make it.) So bust out your comfiest pants, grab your favorite drink, and get chatting!

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! On 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 receiveÌýone book from each author on the hunt in my team!ÌýBut play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours!

PLEASE NOTE: Due to Covid-19, all books will be in ebook format for this hunt.

Go to the 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 BLUE TEAM–but there is also a red team, a gold team, and a purple team with a chance to win a whole different set of books!

If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Ìý
Directions:ÌýBelow, you’ll notice that I’ve listed myÌýfavorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the blue team, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).

Entry Form:ÌýOnce you’ve added up all the numbers, . Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules:ÌýOpen 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 by April 5th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST

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Today, I am hosting Patty Blount on my website for the YA Scavenger Hunt!

Patty Blount grew up quiet and invisible in Queens, NY, but found her superpower writing smart and strong characters willing to fight for what’s right. Today, she’s the award-winning author of edgy, emotional contemporary romance. Powered by way too much chocolate, Patty gives a voice to characters society would prefer to ignore…characters facing situations like rape (SOME BOYS, 2014, SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW, 2018), bullying (SEND, 2012), and grief (NOTHING LEFT TO BURN, 2015). She enjoys hearing from her readers so visit her website or follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Read…roar!…revel.

Find out more information by checking out the or by following her on social media: Ìý
Find more about the author’s book !

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

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It’s been two years since the night that changed Ashley’s life. Two years since she was raped by her brother’s teammate. And a year since she sat in a court and watched as he was given a slap-on-the-wrist sentence. But the years have done nothing to stop the pain or lessen the crippling panic attacks that make her feel like she’s living a half-life.

It’s been two years of hell for Derek. His family is totally messed up and he and his sister are barely speaking. He knows she partially blames him for what happened, and totally blames him for how he handled the aftermath. Now at college, he has to come to terms with what happened, and the rape culture that he was inadvertently a part of that destroyed his sister’s life.

When it all comes to a head at Thanksgiving, Derek and Ashley have to decide if their relationship is able to be saved. And if their family can ever be whole again.

Hi!

Patty Blount here, author of SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW. I’m delighted to be here on Amber Duell’s blog for the YA SCAVENGER HUNT. This novel carries a trigger warning: Boys will be boys. In fact, that was its original title.

It’s been two years since the day that changed Ashley Lawrence’s life, two years since her brother’s teammate raped her. Her family is totally messed up and she and her brother are barely speaking. Each blames the other for what happened that day and when Derek goes off to college, things get worse, not better. When Derek returns for the Thanksgiving holiday, Ashley must find a way to forgive him � and he must find a way to apologize.

When I was writing the novel, there were a few songs that always struck emotional chords in me. Without further ado, here is the SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW playlist.

Though this is a break-up song, I always felt it captured Derek’s emotions over that Thanksgiving holiday.

Say Something � A Great Big World:

I asked some readers what songs they pick for this book. Reader Jasmine C. says Nightmares by Ellise and wow, those lyrics could be Ashley’s.

New friend and fellow author Gloria Geiger sent me this list:Ìý·

Only for the Brave Louis Tomlinson ·
Head Above Water Avril Lavigne ·
Into Dust Mazzy Starr ·
Walking in My Shoes Depeche Mode ·
Sympathy � Too Close To Touch ·
So Far So Gone � Thousand Foot Krutch

Instagram follower a.rusydramlanjaafar says July by Noah Cyrus :
Grand Piano by Nikki Minaj.

Friend and fan Ellyn F. says Til It Happens To You by Lady Gaga.ÌýÌýTRIGGER WARNING ON THIS VIDEO:

One song I think screams Derek, especially in the flashback scenes of the book is Nirvana’s All Apologies. It’s always struck me as insincere and that’s definitely Derek for the beginning of the book.

Swallow My Pride � Ramones � there’s a lyric in the song about going on two years � which I always thought was perfect for this story, since it’s told in present day and two year-old flashbacks.

And one of my favorites is Lynzy Lab and her in-your-face It’s a Scary Time (For Boys) that just drips with the same kind of sarcasm Ashley wraps herself in.

That’s it from me. If you’ve read my book, what songs would you pick? I’d love to hear about it so leave comments!

***

Don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of books by me, Patty Blount, and many more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 27. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the blue team and you’ll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!
CONTINUE THE HUNT
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To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author, !



PERSONAL GIVEAWAY




For a chance to win one (1) of my novels in ebook format (winner’s choice), click .

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Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! 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! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!

Go to the 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 (which happens to be my favorite color!)–but there is also a gold team, a red team, and a blue team for a chance to win a whole different set of books!

If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
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Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the blue team, and then add them up.

Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, . 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 by April 7th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST

Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Sarah Jude, author of THE MAY QUEEN MURDERS!

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Sarah Jude is the author of the YA Ozarks horror novel THE MAY QUEEN MURDERS (HMH). When she’s not writing, she is working in her art studio. She lives in Missouri with her family and her dogs.

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Find out more on Sarah’s website:

You can follow her on social media at these links:

And just LOOK at this beautiful cover!!

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Two girls: one with a secret, one with a promise that she’d uncover it.

Welcome to Rowan’s Glen—a place full of old fashioned superstition and secrets. Twenty-five years back, a teenage girl was murdered after being crowned queen at the Glen’s May Day celebration, and outsiders have regarded the isolated farming community with suspicion ever since.

But that was before Ivy Templeton was even born. She’s lived in Rowan’s Glen for all of her sixteen years, and feels safe there with the company of her free-spirited cousin Heather, and their friend, Rook, son of the sheriff.

When Heather is elected queen of the May Day celebration then goes missing, Ivy must come to terms with the fact that she never knew her beloved cousin—or Rowan’s Glen—as well as she thought she did.

If you want to snap up your own copy of THE MAY QUEEN MURDERS, click !

For Sarah Jude’s exclusive content, she’s sharing a behind the scenes look at how the cover was made:

“For this year’s YA Scavenger Hunt, here’s some behind-the-scenes information about how the cover of THE MAY QUEEN MURDERS came to be! Authors don’t often get much say in their books covers, so I feel incredibly lucky that my publisher allowed me quite a bit of input.

I’m an extremely visual person and am an artist in addition to my writing, so I love creating mood boards for the projects I’m working on. Over a year before THE MAY QUEEN MURDERS was published, my editor asked about my ideas for the book’s cover art. I sent her a link to a Pinterest mood board I’d created, and little did I know, she passed the link over to the publisher’s art department! Of all the images on the Pinterest board, one caught their eye enough that they contacted the artist who created it, a young Polish photographer named Marcin Ngraba (his work is stunning!). To go from being an, “Oh, that’s a cool inspiration piece� while I was drafting the manuscript to it actually becoming the finished book’s cover is wild.

Once the rights to the image were secured, my publisher’s art department added text, tweaking the colors and handlettering the font for the title. Book covers are so critical because they are the first impression readers have of a book, but with even the earliest cover concept for THE MAY QUEEN MURDERS, everyone involved knew it perfectly evoked the eerie, backwoods atmosphere of the story!�

***

Don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of books by me, Sarah Jude, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 45. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the blue team and you’ll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

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CONTINUE THE HUNT
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author, ! (*fangirling*)

For my personal giveaway, I’m gifting an ebook of DREAM KEEPER and an eARC of the sequel, DARK CONSORT. The Dark Dreamer trilogy is a YA Dark Fantasy published with The Parliament House about a girl and the Sandman. To enter, visit my .

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! 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! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!

Go to the page to find out all about the hunt. There are FIVE contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the BLUE TEAM–but there is also a gold team, a green team, a red team, and a purple team for a chance to win a whole different set of books!

If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Ìý
Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the blue team, and then add them up.

Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, . 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 by April 7th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST

Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Robin D. Mahle on my website for the YA Scavenger Hunt!


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Robin D. Mahle is a newbie indie author team. When we aren’t writing or playing video games and pretending it’s market research, we spend our free time spoiling our portly chinchilla, Mantequilla, and the rest of our home menagerie.

Find out more information by checking out the or find more about the author’s book here! You can also find her on Twitter (), , and Instagram ().




EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

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When Princess Charlie’s fiance is stolen the morning of her wedding, she refuses to play the damsel in distress. With the fate of two kingdoms on her shoulders, Charlie leaves everything she has ever known behind. Will the secrets and conspiracies unravel her before she has a chance to find her love?


If you’re interested in grabbing your own copy of Winter’s Captive, just click !

Now for an exclusive playlist from Robin D. Mahle!






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***


Don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of books by me, Robin D. Mahle, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 25. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the blue 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, !

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PERSONAL GIVEAWAY



You can win your choice of a Dream Keeper or Fragile Chaos paperback! Head over to the to enter & GOOD LUCK!

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Well, hi there, you brave, beautiful soul! I’m so glad you’re thinking about entering WriteMentor! It takes a lot of courage to put yourself and your work out there, but the fact that you’re here proves how passionate you are.

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Want to win $100 Amazon gift card?

Of course you do!

Hey everyone! Today I have something different to share with you. K.M. Robinson, my good friend & fellow author, has stopped by to answer a few questions about her upcoming Jack Frost retelling!

The Revolution of Jack Frost releases on November 6, 2018![image error]

You can add it to your Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ list or grab your own copy on

So, without further ado!

1) First, can you tell us a little about your upcoming book, The Revolution of Jack Frost?

The Revolution of Jack Frost tells the true story of Jack Frost and how he became a legend. It focuses on Jack and his girlfriend, Genesis, as they fight to survive inside the Globe against harsh weather and short seasons that consist of a few days of each. When the weather machine controlling the experiment that are unknowingly a part of is damaged and spins out of control, only one person can save them all—Jack. There’s also quite a bit of kissing and betrayal happening, wink wink.

2) What drew you to write a Jack Frost retelling?

I might have had a huge crush on Jack Frost in the Rankin/Bass stop motion animated movie when I was a kid. I was so mad at Elise for marrying the golden knight instead of Jack. I’ve always had a little bit of an obsession over his story…but the media turns him into a villain so often and it broke my heart. I always knew Jack Frost had another story to tell and once I jumped into the world of retellings, his story was pretty high on my list because no one else was telling in the YA world.

3) You’ve written a lot of fairy tale retellings. What is your favorite fairy tale that you haven’t retold?

When I write, I lean toward the fairytales people overlook, like Goldilocks or Little Miss Muffet. I won’t write the popular stories unless I have a major twist, like locking Sleeping Beauty in a Virtual Reality game she can’t “wake up� from. I’ve currently written major twists on a few of the biggest and most popular stories, but one I haven’t attempted yet is Beauty and the Beast—I still haven’t found a massive twist to it…although, my fans thing my Jaded Duology has some major Beauty and the Beast vibes happening and I can’t say I disagree, even though it’s clearly not a retelling.

4) What’s your favorite retelling that you haven’t written?

Asking me to choose a favorite is like asking me to pick a favorite book that I’ve written! Let’s just say if I’m recommending some author friends who do retellings, take a look at Annie Sullivan, J.M. Sullivan, Elle Beaumont, and Constance Roberts. Of course, if we’re talking about the one that influences me the most, it would have to be The True Story

of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Sciezka. It’s a picture book my class read when I was in elementary school and it introduced me to the world of twisted retellings and the fact that the “villains� might not actually be villains at all. It truly started me down this path to my dark, twisted retellings.

5) Thanksgiving is almost upon us in the US. Who would Jack invite to his Thanksgiving dinner that isn’t from The Revolution of Jack Frost?

Ooo, I love this one! I’ll stick to my other book characters so the list doesn’t get too long! Jack would definitely invite Dov and Auluria from Golden, as well as Jade and Roan from The Jaded Duology. I’m pretty sure he’d get along with Royce from Virtually Sleeping Beauty pretty well too, so I’m sure Royce and Rora would be on the guest list. I’m pretty sure Spider and Muffet from Along Came a Spider would be more Genesisâ€� speed, so Jack wouldn’t have a choice there. I’m also thinking Gen would make sure Hansel and Annika from Sugarcoated were seated at the table. I feel like they’d also invite Celena and Merrick form The Siren Wars Saga, but it will have to be a sea-side dinner since it’s aÌý little hard for mermaids to come on land for meals. Of course, once you read the book, you’ll understand why this is such an interesting collection of people and you’ll know why there will likely be a bit of drama at this table *evil grin*

6) In The Revolution of Jack Frost, the weather changes all the time. What’s your favorite sort of weather?

Warm. Lovely. I don’t do cold weather. I only want to see a light snow on Christmas day and then not again until the following Christmas. Give me tropical and I’ll be a happhy lady!

7) Is anyone in The Revolution of Jack Frost based off someone you know in real life?

I tend to be very careful to avoid writing people I know into my books. I also had to be super careful not to let my two favorite movie versions of Jack Frost influence MY Jack Frost. I’m a big fan of Jack Frost (Rankin/Bass) and The Rise of the Guardians. My Jack does share some characteristics, but he’s also entirely his own…and has his own secrets.

8) If you could create your own snow globe to live in, what would be in there with you?

I’d like to take the advice of Flynn Rider from Tangled on this one: an island that I own, tanned and rested and alone, surrounded…by enough money to live comfortably, I don’t need a million piles of money hahaha But seriously, if I got to create my own little world, I’d want my social media, some books, tropical weather, a place to swim, some fun animals (my dogs�.also maybe some horses and dolphins and other cute, friendly creatures) and my camera. And places to do my photo shoots, as well as fabric to create

amazing costumes for my photo shoots. That would be the life!

9) Did you have to do any specific research for this book?

Yes, actually, I did have to do some research. My dad always liked watching those survival shows, so when I was younger, I was exposed to a lot of that which really helped while writing this story…a good chunk of it is about surviving out in the wild with only the resources they can find around them. Unfortunately, my dad’s random survival information, his own training (he’s not a survivalist, but he knows quite a bit about it) and the tv shows I used to hear in the background while do other things were not

enough to complete this book. I definitely had to do some studying, observing, and yes, I even had to ask my dad some questions to make sure I got everything right in the story. I feel like I know more than I ever wanted to know about surviving in harsh weather at this point haha

10) Who would be your best friend in The Revolution of Jack Frost?

Genesis and I would get along really well. We both have a sarcastic sense of humor, we take risks we probably shouldn’t so others don’t have to, and we’d totally explore the forbidden sectors together, even if Jack wants us to be all responsible and safe.

Thanks for stopping by to answer some questions, K.M.!

Make sure to check our her website and follow her on social media! She has a ton of unique stories!

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K.M. Robinson is a best selling storyteller who creates new worlds both in her writing and in her fine arts conceptual photography. She is a marketing, branding and social media strategy educator who is recognized at first sight by her very long hair. She is a creative who focuses on photography, videography, couture dress making, and writing to express the stories she needs to tell. She almost always has a camera within reach.

Get free books at and check out her website

Connect with her on social media at @kmrobinsonbooks on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. You can view videos and live replays on Youtube too.

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! 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! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!

Go to the page to find out all about the hunt. There are SEVEN contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the BLUE TEAM–but there is also a gold team, a green team, an orange team, a pink team, a red team, and a purple team for a chance to win a whole different set of books!

If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Ìý
Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the blue team, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).
Ìý
Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, . 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 by October 7th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST

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Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Michele Bacon on my website for the YA Scavenger Hunt!

Michele Bacon’s work focuses on families, friends, and the complicated relationships therein. When she’s not writing, Michele loves skiing, playing tabletop games, traveling, and *dreaming* of travel. She’s visited all 50 states and dozens of countries, always eager to hear people’s stories and immerse herself in other cultures. Wherever she goes, Michele enjoys helping young writers find their voices. And she loves coming home to Seattle, where she lives with her partner and three young children.
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Find out more information by checking out the or find more about the author’s book here! You can also find her on Twitter (@michelebacon) and Instagram (@writermichelebacon).

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
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Erin Cerise, an ambitious American teen, is forced to study abroad in New Zealand to improve her Ivy League prospects. Erin finds that when life turns her world upside down and she’s far from home, every move takes her closer to where she came from.

If you’re interested in grabbing your own copy of Antipodes, just click !

Now for an intro from Michele Bacon & deleted scene!

***

In my second novel,Antipodes, Erin Cerise is forced to study abroad in New Zealand to augment her flagging Ivy League prospects. In early drafts, however, Erin chose to study abroad as a means of escaping her public embarrassment and the end of an unhealthy relationship.

This scene shows Erin adeptly manipulating her busy, wealthy parents. While no longer germane to the plot, her character still shines through.

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Foreign Exchange required a lot of paperwork. I rearranged the pamphlets and applications on the kitchen table one final time as my parents pulled into the driveway. I had completed everything including the excruciating student visa application. All they needed to do was sign a waiver.

Dad checked the mail while Mom clambered up the back steps. The tone of her greeting suggested I wait until she had changed her clothes.

“Hey, Erin,� Dad said. “Are those college applications?�

“Something better. After considerable thought, I have decided to become a foreign exchange student. That is all the paperwork and applications required.�

“This is way out of left field.�

After an entire day of forms and plans, I was prepared to deliver my planned remarks. “I told Mom about this weeks ago,� I lied.

“Claire,� he yelled in the general direction of the stairs.

“I’ll be down. In a minute.� Mom’s shouts came from just above our head.

I could almost see Dad’s lawyer wheels spinning as he perused my application.

I said, “I have an appointment for Dr. Tan to complete the required medical exam Saturday after orchestra.�

Mom sauntered in and poked through the fridge. “What did you eat, Erin?�

“Leftover lasagna. Third shelf.�

Dad said, “Claire, Erin wants to go to New Zealand?�

Her eyes suggested disappointment before she stuck her head back into the fridge. “I thought we would go to Paris or Barcelona. Doesn’t it take a whole day to get to New Zealand? I can’t say I’m excited about spending half our trip on a plane.�

She thinks I’m talking about my birthday present—the trip for the two of us to go anywhere in the world.

Dad scooped up the papers and held the bouquet toward her. “Erin wants to go to New Zealand for school.�

My mother had this way of laughing—throwing back her head in a guffaw half the neighborhood could hear—which always made me feel like I had said something stupid. “They don’t have Ivies in New Zealand. They have sheep.�

Careful not to cross my arms or slouch, I projected the perfect neutral façade. “As an exchange student. I want to go for next semester.�

“This is way out of left field,� she said.

Dad said, “That’s what I said.�

Mom hated to be wrong. She would never admit to making a bad decision. I could scarcely count all the times I slid an unpopular idea under her nose when she was deep in thought or her own paperwork. That’s how I got to spend spring break in Cabo. This was just one step further. I could push it just one more tiny step.

I lied again: “I told you about this weeks ago. You said, ‘what about swimming,� so I dropped it. But when I got kicked off of varsity last week, I asked again and you said, ‘uhn huh.� So I did all this work, filled out all this paperwork, and now I need you to sign it.�

I had her. “Mom? Don’t you remember this?� My eyes said Mom, haven’t you been paying attention to your only child?

Usually when this happened, she would remember me popping into her study or ringing her at work, and she often retrofitted the permission to that conversation, remembering what I had asked only after I had done it. This time, she was racking her brain about whether she had ever heard the words foreign exchange or New Zealand out of my mouth.

My mother did not like to be wrong, and she really did not appreciate someone expecting her to change her opinion or set aside her decisions.

The microwave spun her lasagna, ticking down the seconds until the room was quiet again and she had to answer for herself. We stood in defiant silence until the bell indicated time was up.

She said, “Well, then, it’s finally time for a proper conversation about this.�

Going through the motions was a lot easier once I knew I had won. I had fabricated her approval, so she wanted to be on my side.

“We need to discuss this,� Dad said, but he did not usher me out of the kitchen.

Theirs was a practiced debate 20 years in the making. Dad, the dissenter, was on his back foot the whole way, a fact Mom attributed to his mourning my grandfather’s death.

That hurt so much I had to point the conversation elsewhere. “You know, Cornell has that note about lopsided candidates with unusual personal experiences. How many people do you think spend a semester abroad? Let alone abroad on an island in the Pacific Ocean.�

“Lopsided candidates,� Mom said, her eyes shining. “We were shooting for well rounded, but you could be a very unique candidate who is both.�

She pulled my application toward her. I’d won.

***

And don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of books by me, Michele Bacon, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 46. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the blue team and you’ll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!


CONTINUE THE HUNT
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To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author, !



PERSONAL GIVEAWAY

I’m giving away an eARC (mobi or ePub) of Dream Keeper!
If you’re interested, click on to enter!

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The time has come!

Dream Keeper (Dark Dreamer, book 1) is up for pre-order!

Quick links, in case you need them:



I’ll update with the paperback link on the Parliament House website when I get it.

Now for the reason you’re here! GOODIES!

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As my thank you for pre-ordering, you will receive:

1 Dream Keeper bookmark

3 Dream Keeper character cards

1 bottle of the Sandman’s sand (It’s glitter–please don’t put it in your eyes!)

1 packet of custom-made Sandman wax melts

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(I know the bottle is empty right now but, once I open the glitter, it’s going to be everywhere.