J. Andersen's Blog

It’s been way too long since I’ve done anything related to writing.

The main reason is I started a new job. No excuse, I know, but when the creative mind only works for me at certain hours of the day and I’m at work during those times, it does make writing challenging. But…I have a new story brewing, so I’m working to get back at it.

You will see some changes coming to the website. It’s time for a new look and updated pictures. I mean, seriously, my son is turning 19 soon but the pic I have of him is when he was about 11.

I can’t guarantee you’ll see a book any time soon. It takes a while for the writing, editing, submitting process, but I’m preparing and that’s a start.

During her junior year, sixteen-year-old Maggie Reynolds expected to shop for prom dresses not maternity clothes. Now, instead of studying for the SATs, she’s reading, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Maggie’s ‘Mother Dearest’ lives in fear that Maggie will somehow taint the family name, so Maggie can’t turn to her for help. Meanwhile, her father is oblivious to anything but his 9-9 job. And her boyfriend, Justin? She’s pretty sure he’ll stay by her side.

While Maggie wrestles with her options, Justin offers a solution: abortion. It would solve all her problems quickly, easily, and effectively. And her parents would never know, which means they won’t throw her out and cut her off like they’d always threatened if she got herself knocked up. But an easy decision becomes difficult when Maggie’s aunt discovers her secret and sets out on a mission to stop the abortion, putting a kink in Maggie’s plan. Now Maggie must decide which choice she can live with: abortion or teenage motherhood. Either way, it’ll be a tough road to travel.

At What Cost is a Young Adult RONE finalist award
and the USA Best Book Award finalist in Youth Issues.
Click here to get your copy!



















“I could tell Ms. Andersen put her heart and soul into this book.”

 

 

“… a book every teenage girl should read.”





“Should be in school libraries… might change a lot of young lives!”

It’s one thing to use scientific experimentation for the good of the people; it’s another to be the experiment.

During a routine doctor’s visit, Emma Bolding finds herself at the center of The Institute’s latest step in the journey toward genetic perfection, a place that’s not only dangerous, but unethical. Maybe she should have looked the other way, but The Institute chose to cross the line and make it personal.

Fighting back was never Emma’s thing, but she soon discovers she’s not the person she once was. Perhaps she’s destined for greater things.

“J. Andersen’s best book so far…”

“J. Andersen really knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat…”

“This is a must read!”

Reckless Destiny  is the second book in the Destiny by Design series. To view all books in the series, click here.

Kate’s genes say she’s a rebel; will her heart tell her the same?

Katherine Dennard was supposed to go back to a perfect life in The Institute with her fiancé, Saul Goodman, but her amnesia is making that wonderful life harder than she hoped. When that crazy guy, Micah Pennington shows up and tells her everything she knows is a lie, she doesn’t know who to trust, but one thing’s for sure: it isn’t Micah. The thing is, Micah might be crazy, but Saul is definitely hiding something.

Kate must sift through the mysteries of her past to uncover who she is, but unraveling the truth unearths secrets that threaten to destroy the only life she can remember. If Kate can’t remember who she was, how can she figure out who she’s supposed to be?

Legacy’s Impact is the third book in the Destiny by Design series.

To find out more about the author, click here.

Seventeen-year-old Katherine Dennard will risk the freedom she fought so hard to gain to rescue the man she loves, even if it means making an unthinkable deal with Saul, a high-ranking military officer determined to capture her and destroy all Natural-Born rebels. But the arrangement may forever strip her of the quiet life she desires with Micah and her newborn son and thrust her back into the dangerous world of The Institute — where only perfect, genetically-modified babies are allowed to survive.
Natural-Born rebel, Micah Pennington, will die in prison before he gives up information that would put Kate and her child in danger or reveal the secrets of the Hidden City. And if by some miracle he does escape, he must find a way to obliterate The Institute and their genetic engineering practices once and for all.
Saul Goodman fosters trust with the rebels in order to infiltrate their society, reveal intel, and devise a way to eliminate them. Kate holds the key to the downfall of The Institute, and Saul will use her baby against her, stopping at nothing to protect The Institute’s future.
Will Kate choose to save Micah even if it means placing the life of her baby in Saul’s hands?

Click here to get your own copy today!

out of 5 stars!







To learn more about the author, click here!

When Katherine Dennard is selected to become a “Creation Specialist” in Sector 4, the opportunity sounds like a dream come true. But Kate soon discovers the darker side of her profession – the disposal of fetal organs and destruction of human life. It makes sense, really. In a society where disease and malformations don’t exist, human perfection demands that no genetic “mutants” be allowed to live. For Sector 4, “survival of the fittest” is not just a theory – it’s The Institute’s main mission. 

When Kate discovers that The Institute is using her DNA to create new life, her work gets personal. In order to save her unviable son, she’ll have to trust Micah and his band of underground Natural Born Rebels. The problem is, if The Institute discovers her betrayal, the next body tossed in the trash could be hers. 

“This is a powerful story about the meaning and value of life–we don’t have enough of those.” ~ Terry Trueman, Printz Honor author, Stuck in Neutral

Click on the image of the book cover to get your own copy of The Breeding Tree!

It’s one thing to use scientific experimentation for the good of the people; it’s another to be the experiment. 

During a routine doctor’s visit, Emma Bolding finds herself at the center of The Institute’s latest step in the journey toward genetic perfection, a place that’s not only dangerous, but unethical. Maybe she should have looked the other way, but The Institute chose to cross the line and make it personal.

Fighting back was never Emma’s thing, but she soon discovers she’s not the person she once was. Perhaps she’s destined for greater things. 

J. Andersen likes to write books for teens but doing so means slaying the dragons of procrastination  while trudging through piles of laundry to make it to the computer. This mom may be a story engineer  by day and a world builder by night, but that doesn’t mean she can ignore making dinner or bringing her  kids to sports practices or music lessons.

Never fear, a coffee in one hand and a pen in the other allows  her to write whenever inspiration hits, and her work with the School of the Arts, a youth band and music
program, gives her plenty of fodder for story ideas.

Reckless Destiny is Book 0 of the Destiny by Design series. To get your own copy, click this link.

Kate’s genes say she’s a rebel; will her heart tell her the same?

Katherine Dennard was supposed to go back to a perfect life in The Institute with her fiancé, Saul Goodman, but her amnesia is making that wonderful life harder than she hoped. When that crazy guy, Micah Pennington shows up and tells her everything she knows is a lie, she doesn’t know who to trust, but one thing’s for sure: it isn’t Micah. The thing is, Micah might be crazy, but Saul is definitely hiding something. 

Kate must sift through the mysteries of her past to uncover who she is, but unraveling the truth unearths secrets that threaten to destroy the only life she can remember. If Kate can’t remember who she was, how can she figure out who she’s supposed to be?

Click this link to get your own copy today!

J. Andersen likes to write books, but doing so means slaying the dragons of procrastination while trudging through piles of laundry to make it to the computer. This small town, stay at home mom and former English teacher may be a world builder by day and a superhero by night, but that doesn’t mean she can ignore making dinner or driving the kids to music lessons.

Seventeen-year-old Katherine Dennard will risk the freedom she fought so hard to gain to rescue the man she loves, even if it means making an unthinkable deal with Saul, a high-ranking military officer determined to capture her and destroy all Natural-Born rebels. But the arrangement may forever strip her of the quiet life she desires with Micah and her newborn son and thrust her back into the dangerous world of The Institute — where only perfect, genetically-modified babies are allowed to survive.
Natural-Born rebel, Micah Pennington, will die in prison before he gives up information that would put Kate and her child in danger or reveal the secrets of the Hidden City. And if by some miracle he does escape, he must find a way to obliterate The Institute and their genetic engineering practices once and for all.
Saul Goodman fosters trust with the rebels in order to infiltrate their society, reveal intel, and devise a way to eliminate them. Kate holds the key to the downfall of The Institute, and Saul will use her baby against her, stopping at nothing to protect The Institute’s future.
Will Kate choose to save Micah even if it means placing the life of her baby in Saul’s hands?

“My only complaint- too short!”
“If you haven’t read the first in series, The Breeding Tree, get both today!”














Click here to buy your own copy!

J. Andersen likes to write books for teens but doing so means slaying the dragons of procrastination
while trudging through piles of laundry to make it to the computer. This mom may be a story engineer
by day and a world builder by night, but that doesn’t mean she can ignore making dinner or bringing her
kids to sports practices or music lessons. Never fear, a coffee in one hand and a pen in the other allows
her to write whenever inspiration hits, and her work with the School of the Arts, a youth band and music
program, gives her plenty of fodder for story ideas.

Find out more at www.jandersenbooks.com, www.facebook.com/jandersenbooks, www.instagram.com/jandersenbooks, or www.twitter.com/jvdlandersen. 

When Katherine Dennard is selected to become a “Creation Specialist” in Sector 4, the opportunity sounds like a dream come true. But Kate soon discovers the darker side of her profession – the disposal of fetal organs and destruction of human life. It makes sense, really. In a society where disease and malformations don’t exist, human perfection demands that no genetic “mutants” be allowed to live. For Sector 4, “survival of the fittest” is not just a theory – it’s The Institute’s main mission. 

When Kate discovers that The Institute is using her DNA to create new life, her work gets personal. In order to save her unviable son, she’ll have to trust Micah and his band of underground Natural Born Rebels. The problem is, if The Institute discovers her betrayal, the next body tossed in the trash could be hers.

“If you like action/adventure with a little romance on the side, or even dystopian literature, ‎I would recommend The Breeding Tree. ‎”

                                                                                                                                                                                                   – Kim Kasch

To purchase your own copy, click here. To learn more about the author, click here.