Beth Ellyn Summer's Blog
February 9, 2017
AT FIRST BLUSH Pre-Order offer is LIVE!!!
Soooo it's been a long time coming but AT FIRST BLUSH debuts in less than two months!! My book will be available 4-4, and I have a fun pre-order offer!! Details here:
December 6, 2016
ALTERATIONS is here!!!
Alterations
by Stephanie Scott
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Release Date: December 6th 2016
Bloomsbury Spark
Summary from Goodreads:
If anyone saw the prom boards Amelia Blanco makes on her favorite fashion app, they'd think Ethan Laurenti was her boyfriend. They wouldn't know that all the plans she's made for them are just dreams, and that she's the girl who watches him from the kitchen while her parents cook for his famous family.
When Amelia's abuelita enrolls her in a month-long fashion internship in NYC, Amelia can't imagine leaving Miami--and Ethan--for that long. As soon as she gets to New York, however, she finds a bigger world and new possibilities. She meets people her own age who can actually carry on a conversation about stitching and design. Her pin boards become less about prom with Ethan and more about creating her own style. By the time she returns to Miami, Amelia feels like she can accomplish anything, and surprises herself by agreeing to help Ethan's awkward, Steve-Jobs-wannabe brother, Liam, create his own fashion app.
As Liam and Amelia get closer, Ethan realizes that this newly confident, stylish girl may be the one for him after all . . . even though he has a reality TV star girlfriend he conveniently keeps forgetting about. The "new and improved" Amelia soon finds herself in between two brothers, a whole lot of drama, and choice she never dreamed she'd have to make.
Buy Links:
https://www.amazon.com/Alterations-Stephanie-Scott-ebook/dp/B01M59LROR/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alterations-stephanie-scott/1124822027
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/alterations-2
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/alterations/id1166705649?mt=11
https://play.google.com/store/search?q=9781681191928
About the Author
Hello! I write Young Adult stories about teens who put their passions first. I'm an active member of Romance Writers of America and its online YA chapter YARWA, and I mentor writers in online pitch contests. I love dance fitness and cat memes, and Pinterest is driving me broke. I live outside of Chicago with my tech-of-all-trades husband. You can find me most often online on twitter and Instagram at @StephScottYA. My debut ALTERATIONS about a fashion-obsessed loner who reinvents herself releases 12/6/16 from Bloomsbury Spark, and I'm a contributor to the young adult short story anthology WELCOME HOME out in spring 2017.
Author Links:
GIVEAWAY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
November 20, 2016
Catalyst Is HERE!!!
Kristin Smith's debut novel, Catalyst, releases today!
Catalyst
Kristin Smith
(The Deception Game, #1)
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: November 21st 2016
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult
Too pretty.
Too smart.
Too perfect.
In a crumbling, futuristic Las Vegas where the wealthy choose the characteristics of their children like ordering off a drive-thru menu, seventeen-year-old Sienna Preston doesn’t fit in. As a normal girl surrounded by genetically modified teenagers, all of her imperfections are on display. But after the death of her father, everything she’s ever known and loved changes in an instant.
With little skills to help provide for her family, Sienna clings to the two things that come easily—lying and stealing. But not all thief-for-hire assignments go as planned. When a covert exchange of a
stolen computer chip is intercepted, she becomes entangled with a corrupt government official who uses her thieving past as leverage, her mother as collateral, and the genetically modified poster boy she’s falling for as bait.
In order to rescue her mother, there may only be one option—joining forces with the Fringe, an extremist group, and their young leader who’s too hot to be bad. Problem is, these revolutionaries aren’t what they seem, and the secrets they’re hiding could be more dangerous than Sienna is prepared for. In the end, she must be willing to risk everything to save the one thing that matters most.
Catalyst is a thrilling adventure of danger, romance, intrigue, and deception.
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo
**Look for Catalyst on the shelves of Barnes and Noble stores nationwide, coming in December!**
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Interview with Kristin Smith (Questions from her critique partner, Leandra Wallace)
What inspired the story of Catalyst?
The premise of Catalyst actually came to me in a dream (boy, does that sound cliché or what?!). But in my dream, it was the story of a man who was a matchmaker by profession in a society where everyone is matched. (No, I had not heard of Matched by Ally Condie at the time). He had a horrible dilemma because he was in love with a woman he wasn't matched to. Gradually, that idea evolved into a society where the wealthy choose genetic matchmaking and modification for their children. And the main character became a "normal" girl who has red hair and freckles.
How would you describe your writing process?
Eclectic. Lol. No, seriously, I wish I could say that I sit down and outline every detail of the novel before I begin, but the truth is, I pretty much wing it. Even when I do try to write an outline, I tend to stray from it. I draw inspiration from everything around me, whether it's music, books, movies, or nature. When I'm writing, the scenes come into my mind like a movie reel, and I try to describe what I'm seeing, feeling, hearing, smelling, etc. so the reader can be immersed in the moment and feel like they are a part of the story.
If you're in the candy aisle at the store, what calls your name the loudest?
Oh, hello, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Where have you been hiding?
Having written a dystopian novel yourself, what are some of your favorite dystopian novels?
Ooh, this is a tough one! I have so many favorites! But I have to say that hands down, The Hunger Games is my all-time favorite. Suzanne Collins broke the ceiling when she wrote that series, and she left a high mark for other authors to live up to.
The second runner-up would have to be Divergent. I absolutely loved the first book, especially Four. :)
And I can't forget about The Selection Series, which I believe I devoured all of those books in the space of two days. (Sorry, my children! That's why I was MIA during that time period!)
Your main character, Sienna, is a red-head (and has a sassy 'tude to match). Did she spring from your imagination as a red-head, or did that come later?
As soon as I imagined her, she had red hair, green eyes, and rode a Harley. It's funny because in the book, Sienna is so critical of how she looks. She's surrounded by gorgeous genetically modified people and all she can see are her "imperfections", but her features are actually what make her stunning and unique. I hope that girls who read this book will catch that message. They are beautiful and unique, and they need to stop comparing themselves to others.
What are three things in Catalyst that you think people will enjoy the most?
Can I really only pick 3? Well, I think they'll enjoy all of it, but if I HAVE to narrow it down...
1) Zane and Trey, who in my opinion, are both yummy!
2) The kissing.
3) Sienna's experience in the underground Compound.
If you could go on a writing retreat with one other author (dead or alive), who would it be?
My first thought was to pick an author I greatly admire like J.K. Rowling, Kiera Cass, Sarah Dessen, or Veronica Roth, but there's really only one person I'd like to go on a writing retreat with: my critique partner, Leandra Wallace. We'd have so much fun eating junk, talking books, and bouncing ideas off of each other!
What is a piece of writing advice that has been most beneficial to you?
Don't give up. This business is hard to break into, but you can't let it break you. Know that failure is necessary to experience success.
As all writers typically need 'refuel' days, what do you find fills back up your creative well?
For me, binge-watching Netflix or reading a good book helps to get the creative juices flowing again. Oh, that and about a pound of chocolate.
Lastly, where is the best place to get ice cream in North Carolina?
Well, I'm more of a gelato fan (love me some gelato!), but if I had to choose, I'd say the tiny little walk-up shop called Bruster's. They make the BEST sundaes with brownies and ice cream and fudge sauce and whipped cream. YUM!
Author Bio:
Kristin Smith writes young adult contemporary and science fiction novels. When she’s not writing, you can find her dreaming about the beach, beating her boys at Just Dance, or belting out karaoke (from the comfort of her own home). Kristin currently resides in the middle-of-nowhere North Carolina with her husband and five incredibly loud but extremely cute boys. To read more about her obsession with YA novels or her addiction to chocolate, you can visit her at kristinsmithbooks.com.
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Blog
Enter the Giveaway to win a Clean Teen Publishing Mystery Box!
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August 24, 2016
Guest Post by Stephanie Faris!
I am so happy to have my friend Stephanie join us today on the blog! She has two brand new books out, her first two in the Piper Morgan series, and I can't WAIT to read them! Congrats Stephanie, and now here is her guest post! <3
Conquering FOMO in Your Writing Career
by Stephanie Faris
You’re sitting at home on a Saturday morning, scrolling through your Twitter feed, only to see it filled with updates from the latest big conference. A group of authors who write for your publisher are scrunched together, smiling for the camera. Or a fellow author is showing off all the books she bought from the conference bookstore. Or maybe you’re forced to scroll through update after update about all of the great workshops.
We’ve all been there. Even if we had a big, fat bank account and could attend a conference every week, eventually we’d miss one and it would seem like the best conference ever. We’d be sure we’re missing out on the one opportunity that could make all of our dreams come true, all because we’re sitting at home.
Social media does this to us. No matter what’s going on in our own lives, there’s always someone who seems to have it better. When you look at your social media accounts as a whole, it’s easy to feel like every other author on the planet is either doing a book signing or conference workshop all the time. That isn’t the case, of course. If you select one author and watch her updates, you’d likely find most of the time she’s sitting at home in her sweats, feeling the same FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) you are. But she doesn’t post that. Instead, she only shares when she’s out there being a true author.
For those who aren’t yet published, FOMO can be huge. It’s easy to feel like everyone is landing an agent or publishing deal. It’s also easy to worry that you’re the only one not spending every extra dime on conferences where you can hone your craft and pitch agents. Not true at all. Interestingly, Imposter Syndrome plays into this quite a bit, too. Every ambitious person feels as though we’re not worthy of anything good we’ve received. Any minute now, the world is going to figure that out and we’ll be banned from ever calling ourselves “writers” again! Trust me, some of the most talented writers out there admit to suffering from Imposter Syndrome from time to time.
The next time you feel FOMO, take a look at your own social media account. See it through the eyes of someone who has accomplished much less than you have. If you think “everyone else” is doing more than you are, take a look at one author’s account. Note the large gaps of time between those conferences, bookstore events, and publishing deal announcements. Chances are, she suffers from FOMO on a regular basis, too.
Blurbs:
When Piper Morgan has to move to a new town, she is sad to leave behind her friends, but excited for a new adventure. She is determined to have fun, be brave and find new friends.
In Piper Morgan Joins the Circus, Piper learns her mom’s new job will be with the Big Top Circus. She can’t wait to learn all about life under the big top, see all the cool animals, and meet the Little Explorers, the other kids who travel with the show. She’s even more excited to learn that she gets to be a part of the Little Explorers and help them end each show with a routine to get the audience on their feet and dancing along!
In Piper Morgan in Charge, Piper’s mom takes a job in the local elementary school principal’s office. Piper is excited for a new school and new friends—and is thrilled when she is made an “office helper.” But there is one girl who seems determined to prove she is a better helper—and she just so happens to be the principal’s daughter. Can Piper figure out how to handle being the new girl in town once more?
Bio:
Stephanie Faris knew she wanted to be an author from a very young age. In fact, her mother often told her to stop reading so much and go outside and play with the other kids. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in broadcast journalism, she somehow found herself working in information technology. But she never stopped writing.
Stephanie is the Simon & Schuster author of 30 Days of No Gossip and 25 Roses. When she isn’t crafting fiction, she writes for a variety of online websites on the topics of business, technology, and her favorite subject of all—fashion. She lives in Nashville with her husband, a sales executive.
Links:
June 8, 2016
AT FIRST BLUSH COVER REVEAL!!!
I am SO EXCITED to finally share with you all the cover to my debut YA novel, AT FIRST BLUSH, coming out with Bloomsbury Spark later this summer!
So! Without further ado....
Well. Let's do the blurb first. ;)
******************************
Lacey Robbins has one goal for the summer: hit one million subscribers on her YouTube beauty channel. Working as an On Trend magazine video blogger is just the platform she needs to get there, but falling for the cover boy, rock star Tyler Lance, was not part of her plan--especially since his dating history is longer than her Sephora wishlist.
She can't avoid him for long though, not when it's her job to film vlogs with him. As Lacey and Tyler grow closer on and off camera, her channel becomes popular for all the wrong reasons, and the two YouTubers she's working with officially hate her. Lacey's only solace is spending time with Kendall Wynn, On Trend's resident makeup artist. Kendall's scattered, care-free approach to makeup reminds Lacey why she ever picked up a tube of lipstick in the first place.
Nothing about this summer is going according to Lacey's perfect plan, and pretty soon she learns that filming makeup tutorials is easy. It's real life that could use some editing.
*************
And here....it...is!!!
ISN'T IT AMAZING?? It's so "me." and I know Lacey would approve! I adore everything, from the bold black font against all the girliness, to how clean and bright everything is. And I love all the little details, like the adorable, sparkly kiss print, and the fall-out from the shadow swatches that have the brushes in them.
Huge, gigantic, massive thank you to the ridiculously talented Jenny Zemanek who designed this beauty, and my fantastic editor, Meredith Rich, for her incredible insights and for bringing me along for the ride. To be able to say you're in love with your first cover is a really thrilling thing, and I consider myself EXTREMELY lucky. :)
If you haven't already and you'd like to, you can add AT FIRST BLUSH on Goodreads !
Thank you so much to Leandra, Stephanie, Kelly, Kristin, Medeia, Chrys, Adriana and S. Katherine for shouting out the AFB love with me from the rooftops, and showing it off on their blogs/SM! Make sure you go over and say hi throughout the day/week to these awesome girls!!
Today:
June 9th:
June 10th:
June 13th:
May 31, 2016
COMING SOON...COVER REVEAL FOR AT FIRST BLUSH!!!!!!
Check back next Wednesday, June 8th, at noon for the cover reveal for AT FIRST BLUSH!!! Any guesses as to my cover's prominent color???? Post your guesses in the comment section!
I'll also be partying it up over at the following blogs between June 8th and June 13th:
I hope you'll all join me next week! <3
May 16, 2016
Visit from Chrys Fey (and a Giveaway!!)
I'm so thrilled to have Chrys Fey on the blog today!! She's such a great blog friend and her posts are SO informative and fun. Take it away, Chrys!!
Profile of a Detective – THORN
Josh Duhamel
Name: Thorn
Occupation: Detective
Character Type: Good Guy
Location: Orlando, Florida
Likes: Flirting with Beth to spite Donovan
Dislikes: Criminals and dirty cops
Favorite Movie: WANTED
Favorite TV Show: Person of Interest
EXCERPT:
Even though he knew Thorn was concerned for Beth, Donovan didn’t like the tenderness in his eyes.
“Get your damn hands off my girlfriend.”
Thorn looked at him and arched a brow. “Or what?” He turned to Beth, pulled her face to his, and laid his mouth over hers in an elaborate kiss that ended with a loud smacking sound. When he stepped back, he dipped his hands in his pockets, and gave Donovan a devilish grin.
Seeing Thorn’s mouth on Beth’s sent Donovan’s blood roaring through his veins like a volcanic eruption. “You’re lucky I can’t get out of this bed, or you’d be on the floor with your own black eye.”
Beth shoved Thorn’s shoulder. “Don’t tempt him. He already tried to get up to avenge my honor.”
Title: Seismic Crimes
Author: Chrys Fey
Series: Disaster Crimes Series (Book Two)
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Format: Digital and Print
Page Count: 282
DIGITAL LINKS:
Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA
NOOK / KOBO / All Romance eBooks
PRINT LINKS:
Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA
The Wild Rose Press
BLURB:
An Internal Affairs Investigator was murdered and his brother, Donovan Goldwyn, was framed. Now Donovan is desperate to prove his innocence. And the one person who can do that is the woman who saved him from a deadly hurricane—Beth Kennedy. From the moment their fates intertwined, passion consumed him. He wants her in his arms. More, he wants her by his side in his darkest moments.
Beth Kennedy may not know everything about Donovan, but she can’t deny what she feels for him. It’s her love for him that pushes her to do whatever she has to do to help him get justice, including putting herself in a criminal’s crosshairs.
When a tip reveals the killer's location, they travel to California, but then an earthquake of catastrophic proportions separates them. As aftershocks roll the land, Beth and Donovan have to endure dangerous conditions while trying to find their way back to one another. Will they reunite and find the killer, or will they lose everything?
HURRICANE CRIMES 99¢ SALE!
DIGITAL LINKS:
Amazon US / Amazon UK
Amazon CA / NOOK / KOBO
All Romance eBooks
The Wild Rose Press
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February 13, 2016
I have a newsletter!!
I've finally done it!! I've got myself a newsletter. Big giant thank you to Leandra Wallace who's been helping me get the newsletter vibe for months now ;) and my brother Scott who has helped me figure out Mail Chimp lol. I've been reading and subscribing to so many and think I've finally found my newsletter "voice." So excited to be doing this and I hope you guys will sign up! <3
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February 3, 2016
The Secret to Letting Go Book Blast!
I'm so excited for my agent sis, Katherine Fleet, on her YA contemporary debut, THE SECRET TO LETTING GO.
When my agent blogged about signing Katherine a while back I knew her novel sounded like something I'd love.
I was right. I started reading this two days ago and I cannot put it down. It's exactly my kind of read. The writing flows so beautifully and the story is addictive.
And, um, how gorgeous is this cover???
Book Synopsis:
One summer can change everything...
Haunted with guilt after his girlfriend’s death, Daniel Hudson has no interest in committing to anyone. At the end of the summer, he’ll be leaving Florida for a new start in college. If only he could avoid the mysterious new girl in town, who seems every bit as naive and eccentric as she looks. Trouble is, she’s hard to ignore, with her beautiful piercing eyes, pitiful-looking dog, and unsettling tendency of finding trouble.
Clover Scott lived her whole life off the grid and arrives on the Gulf coast in search of her grandparents. She never expected to nearly drown, or get caught in a hurricane, or fall in love with the boy who rescues her. Now, she has a chance to rewrite her life’s story, to finally fit in somewhere, but Daniel wants answers about her past. When the police start asking questions about the disappearance of her parents, she must make a choice: go to jail or confess her secrets—even if they might destroy her chance at a happily-ever-after.
Goodreads Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26877648-the-secret-to-letting-go
Amazon Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1682810704
Barnes & Noble Buy Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-secret-to-letting-go-kathleen-fleet/1123170247
iTunes Buy Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-secret-to-letting-go/id1073591332
Kobo Buy Link: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-secret-to-letting-go
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Letting-Go-Katherine-Fleet/dp/1682810704
Amazon.ca: http://www.amazon.ca/Secret-Letting-Go-Katherine-Fleet/dp/1682810704
Entangled Page: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-secret-to-letting-go/
Author Website: www.KatherineFleet.com
Author Twitter:@KatherineFleet
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKatherineFleet/
Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14439407.Katherine_Fleet
Author Instagram: @Katherine_Fleet
Newsletter: www.KatherineFleet.com
Author Bio:
Originally from Newfoundland, Katherine Fleet gave up the cold winters of Eastern Canada for the year round warmth of the Caribbean. The slower pace of island life has given her time to pursue a long-time goal—becoming an author. When she’s not writing, she spends her time baking, chauffeuring her three amazing, talented kids around, and having sun-filled adventures with her husband and wonderful friends in Curaçao. She is also a very thankful breast cancer survivor. In 2007, she joined RWA and has enjoyed the support and camaraderie of the YARWA and OIRWA writing communities. She’s participated in NaNoWriMo since 2012 and is an active supporter of the associated Young Writers Program. She is represented by super-agent Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency. The Secret to Letting Go is her debut novel. You can connect with her atwww.KatherineFleet.com.
Congrats, Katherine!!! I can't recommend this book enough. THE SECRET TO LETTING GO is a winner!! <3
February 1, 2016
Hi There!
Hey everyone! Remember me??
So I spent the last couple of months buried in revisions, then of course I go and get a cold right after.
Leaving the house officially feels like this:
How has everyone been???
