I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young woman struggling internally as she is caught between her family, the man she’s sure she’s meant to marry and her career finds new life in unexpected ways in author Jessica Leed’s novel “Nine Years”.
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The Synopsis
An emotional, captivating tale about the complexity of relationships, self-discovery and long-lost love. Perfect for fans of Nicholas Sparks, Kristin Hannah and Jane Green.
You would think Sienna Henderson had the perfect life. She has a successful career, a loving family and is engaged to be married. From the outside she appears to have it all together, yet on the inside she is coming undone.
Caught inside a dysfunctional relationship and with her work environment intolerable, she finds herself slipping further from the life she has envisioned.
After reuniting with a man from her past, Sienna’s life is turned upside down in a way that has her questioning everything she has ever known.
The Review
An emotional, well plotted and character driven narrative, Nine Years hits every emotional beat that a good drama/romance genre novel should. Highlighting the struggle that comes from trying to make a strained relationship work, the author does an amazing job of showcasing how those types of relationships and how a life that has gone down a road not thought possible can impact a person mentally and emotionally.
Sienna is a relatable, honest and heartbreaking character that readers will instantly connect with. Like many people before her, Sienna finds herself fighting to keep a relationship alive despite a complete lack of effort from the other half of that relationship. Showcasing the struggles she undertakes with that effort and highlighting how the protagonist is affected in her career, her personal life and her romantic life after an old friend with deep emotional roots in her heart comes back into her life suddenly, this novel produces a narrative many people are familiar with, but yet still remains relevant and engaging with readers everywhere.
The Verdict
This is a a must read novel for anyone who enjoys a good romance/drama book. The author does an excellent job of creating an ending that can easily lead into further books along the way, and showcases how often life is more complex than the fairytale romances other novels often portray. Those novels are an escape from reality, giving life to the hopes we all have in our hearts, yet the author creates a realistic and personal story that many can relate to, and a protagonist fans can not only root for but can identify with easily, making for an engaging read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy of “Nine Years” by Jessica Leed today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Jessica is a 30-year-old school teacher, former fitness professional and dancer. She was born and raised in Bendigo, Victoria before moving to Melbourne in 2008. For as long as she can remember she has had a passion for storytelling—in all forms.
From writing countless short stories as a child to later completing a creative writing course, written by her favourite and best-selling author, Karen Kingsbury, Jessica was adamant to become a published author. NINE YEARS is the first book in the two-part series BENEATH THE CLOUDS.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A small town drama unfolding in the New Mexico countryside blends with a sci-fi mystery as a small time writer finds his creations taking a life of their own in author R. Douglas Clark’s novel “Welcome To Maravilla”.
The tiny hamlet of Maravilla, New Mexico is not immune to modern-day problems. But the citizens of Maravilla have their own special problems, as well:
A developer wants to build a Christian-themed amusement park next to Maravilla’s historic church.
The county line runs right through the town, splitting it in two.
And the government is threatening to close their post office!
Into this muddle steps Jake Epstein, a young writer from the big city. Jake is seeking peace and quiet to finish his current project: a science fiction story in which adventuress Tai-Keiko must deliver the secret formula for Zeton-9—with the evil Krossarians in hot pursuit.
But then reality and science fiction converge—and Tai-Keiko finds herself in present-day Maravilla, face to face with a gobsmacked Jake.
Join Jake on this comic run along the dusty roads of Maravilla, and find out who won the fight between Father Ignatius and the heathen pig farmer. How a basketball game changed the fate of the town. And was that white flash in the sky a UFO?
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The Review
This novel expertly crafts a personal, everyday drama filled story that fuses elements of sci-fi into the narrative. The majority of the novel focuses on the people of Maravilla and the individuals who hold special places within the community, as they struggle with their own personal lives while the threat of the government shutting down the town’s only post office looms overhead, leading to a lengthy court battle that could determine the fate of the entire town.
Meanwhile author Jake finds himself searching for the perfect place to write out his next story, facing a slew of deadlines that he hopes to meet before his publisher pulls the rug out from under him. However not only does his growing love for the small town keep him invested in real life, but his story begins to unfold in ways he never expected, as one of his own characters finds life in the real world, bringing attention to the town no one could have imagined. It’s a creative world and perfect way to blend science fiction naturally into the narrative of this drama filled story, but the biggest focus of the novel has to be on the author’s amazing character development. The characters all felt real, allowing the reader to not only relate to them but to feel their own internal struggles and emotions as the events around them unfolded.
The Verdict
This is a must read novel. Filled with amazing stories of community, inspiration and even love, this fairly quick read will instantly engage with readers and creates a story unique to the drama genre. Heartfelt, real and engaging, this is a story not to be missed, so be sure to grab your copy of “Welcome to Maravilla” by R. Douglas Clark today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
R. Douglas Clark was born in Vermont, grew up in Colorado, attended college in Chicago, and received a Master’s degree in music from Brown University. Seeing no future for himself in academia, he spent a year in the Oregon woods, living in a primitive cabin, writing music reviews and cultural commentary for magazines and newspapers. Next stop, Eugene, Oregon where he spent 20 damp years as a bootstrap businessman, father and musician. On a vacation trip, he and his wife, Shelley, fell in love with sunny northern New Mexico and subsequently moved there. After four years running Boys and Girls Clubs in Chimayó and Abiquiú–and another four, running a U-pick raspberry farm–he retired to write fiction full time.
What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Join us as we celebrate the launch the blog tour for author R. Douglas Clark’s book Welcome to Maravilla. Read an interview with the author and win a copy of the book.
Middle Schooler Carmen Otto reviews R. Douglas Clark’s Welcome to Maravilla and explains to her friends why this is a great book for even young readers.
Nicole Pyles reviews Welcome to Maravilla by R. Douglas Clark and delights readers at World of My Imagination with an opportunity to learn more about this fast-paced sci-fi novel!
Today’s guest author at Memoir Writer’s Journey is R. Douglas Clark with an article about _________. Join Kathleen Pooler’s audience as they learn more about Clark and his latest book Welcome to Maravilla.
Sreevarsha reviews Welcome to Maravilla by R. Douglas Clarks and delights readers at To Write or Not To Write with her thoughts about this excellent novel!
Learn more about R. Douglas Clark and his new book Welcome to Maravilla as he shares a few thoughts in an interesting interview with Nicole Pyles at World of My Imagination.
Today’s Book Spotlight at Breakeven Books is Welcome to Maravilla by R. Douglas Clark – don’t miss this great opportunity to add this lovely new novel to your collection!
October 28th @ Lisa Haselton Reviews and Interviews
Lisa Haselton interviews R. Douglas Clark about his latest novel Welcome to Maravilla . Readers will delight in learning more about this science fiction story with it’s courageous characters!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A series of short stories illustrate the world people thought they knew is not what it appeared in author L.M. Brown’s novel “Were We Awake.”
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The Synopsis
In each story of this collection, events make the characters understand that their world is not as it seemed.
In Hidden, the discovery of an affair between her father and aunt is only the start of finding hidden secrets for Hazel.
What it Means to Be Empty-Handed is narrated by a fourteen–year-old daughter of an alcoholic. Her denial and elaborate imagination starts to disintegrate when she lies to the wrong person.
In Crashing, a middle-aged woman lives a life of servitude until she hits teenage boy with her car.
A thirty-year-old murder takes its toll on the victim’s family in Walking A Country Road.
The stories are set in Boston and Ireland.
The Review
Author L.M. Brown does it again, creating a wonderful collection of stories that are both connected and illustrate the way life constantly throws people curve balls, turning the world they knew into a completely new one. A collection that showcases that things are never simple or what they appear.
One of the truly engaging stories of the collection has to be Hidden, which delves into the complex family life of Hazel when she discovers her father and aunt are having an affair. Yet as her family life implodes, new secrets reveal that things are not as simple as they first appeared. The story is a prime example of how life is often lived in shades of grey, with people often living complicated lives in an attempt to find peace and happiness. The author beautifully illustrates the pain, the shock and the confusion that comes from having a person’s world turned upside down, and perfectly taps into the emotion and complexity of humanity as a whole.
The Verdict
A fairly average length read with completely dynamic characters and stories that feel both personal and connected, this collection of stories is truly unique and wonderfully captures the author’s unique writing style and voice. A collection that honestly showcases the ever changing landscape of the world we live in, both the world at large and the world we create for ourselves. A dramatic journey through life’s greatest challenges, this is a fantastic collection readers will not want to miss, so be sure to grab their copy of Were We Awake by L.M. Brown today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
L.M Brown is the author of the novel Debris. Her stories have appeared in numerous literary magazines. She grew up in Sligo. Ireland, but now resides in Massachusetts with her husband, three daughters, a dog and a bearded dragon.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
One many faces the most painful and difficult challenge of his life as he balances family, career and life in author James F. Rosenberg’s novel “The Jersey”.
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The Synopsis
Dan West wonders which is more important to him: Helping his long-time friend win back his business after being accused of stealing money from the company or coaching his eleven-year-old son’s soccer team trying to win an improbable championship.
Money and prestige don’t motivate Dan. Rather, family, work and coaching soccer are the underpinnings of his life. He revels in the simple joys like hanging out with his wife Jill, mentoring a young lawyer at his firm and watching the boys connect on three passes before drilling the ball into the back of the net.
Dan always knew to keep it steady—not to get too high or he might get knocked off of his perch. And he did, until he, and the boys’ soccer team, achieved unimagined success. Before he can grasp how good he has it, tragedy rips a hole in his family.
James Rosenberg, author of the bestseller Legal Reserves, strikes a new chord in his exploration of what makes a life and how to put it back together after it is shattered.
The Jersey is a beautifully written, profoundly touching, and relatable story of love, loss and the redemptive power of a group of motivated eleven-year-old kids.
The Review
This was a beautifully written, powerful and emotional read. A steady read that draws readers into the life of protagonist Dan, readers are left reeling as much as Dan himself after the tragic event that tears his family apart. The author does an excellent job of showcasing a detailed backstory and delving fully into Dan’s career as an attorney with a healthy balance of family life leading up to the tragedy.
What really is captured is the raw pain that comes with tragic events and loss of any kind. The author delves into the grieving process and challenges the reader to find a way to overcome that grief, vowing to live life in the face of great tragedy and heartbreak. This is a story that is fueled by powerful character development that readers can instantly connect to and most readers will be hard pressed not to have a tear in their eye as the story progresses.
The Verdict
Emotional, heartbreaking and real, author James F. Rosenberg has written another smash hit that is engaging and evenly paced throughout the entirety of the novel. Showcasing the painful process of loss and grief and searching for a way to overcome them both, the author does an amazing job of creating a protagonist and narrative that readers can engage with and care for greatly. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy of “The Jersey” by James F. Rosenberg today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
James Rosenberg has tried cases for the almost three decades. He has learned that every case is unique and has compelling storylines. He weaves his novels with morsels from his legal career and makes trials come to life. He started writing legal thrillers as a stress reducer and finds that having control over what his characters are going to do is easier than controlling his own clients.
When he is not in court, he hangs with his family watching his boys play soccer or his girl dance. He and his wife try to have a little free time but whenever the kids leave them alone, the dog wants more attention.
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If you had the power to see what life would have been like had you made a different choice in your life, would you use that power? That is the question for Erin as chaotic life gets turned upside down in author Melanie Murphy’s novel “If Only”.
The Synopsis
Erin is about to turn thirty and her life is definitely not where she thought it would be. She hates her job, she’s jealous of her perfect flatmate – and she has just called off her wedding.
A trip home to Ireland to celebrate her birthday with her beloved grandmother is exactly what Erin needs, and she’s spent days preparing herself to break the news about her broken engagement.
What she’s not prepared for is the gift she receives: a secret family heirloom that will change everything.
Could this be the answer Erin has been looking for – the key to the happy life she’s always dreamed of? Only time will tell…
The Review
Wow, what an incredible read. I had to get that out there right away. While author Melanie Murphy has received wide acclaim on my website for her first novel Fully Functioning Human (Almost), the author’s second novel and debut fiction book was a massive success in every way.
The author does a masterful job of creating a cast of characters readers can relate to. From protagonist Erin and her journey of self-discovery while dealing with the struggles of life, to her core group of friend she rallies behind when dealing with these struggles, all the while trying to manage their own lives and issues, each character brings an important element into Erin’s story and makes the reader truly care about these fictitious people.
The author’s ability to create such descriptive atmospheres truly immerses the reader into the settings of this novel, from the bustling streets of London to the cosy warmth of the Irish countryside and small town villages, readers will instantly fall in love with this novel at every turn. For me personally as a reader, I instantly connected with Erin and her relationship with her grandmother.
For some of you who know this already, this year hasn’t been easy as I lost my own grandmother in early January. She was one of my best friends and truest supporters, and not a day goes by where I don’t miss her. Reading this story and the close relationship Erin had with her grandmother made me instantly feel closer to my own, bringing a small bit of tears of joy to my eyes as the author’s characterization of the protagonist brought fresh memories into this reader’s mind.
The Verdict
This is a must read novel of the year. A top contender for contemporary romance of the year, Melanie Murphy has cemented herself as a not only entertaining author but a writer who creates characters readers will instantly connect with and be entertained by. What the author does best in this novel is use the more supernatural elements of the other lives that could have been lived sparsely, focusing more on the lessons learned from these trips and the life Erin is constructing for herself. It is a fantastic novel that everyone should check out, so be sure to grab your copy of “If Only” by Melanie Murphy today!
After reading a book that deals so much with relationships and finding the right person for you, one starts to think about their own relationships and keeping it healthy and maintained. In that regard, sites like Regain have the resources to help those seeking counseling or advice. Click this link https://www.regain.us/advice/counseling/ to learn more.
About the Author
Melanie Murphy is an author and online content creator from a small village in Dublin.
Her YouTube videos have amassed more than sixty million views online, reaching people with warm personality and her life lessons as well as her views on divisive topics such as sexuality, women’s rights, health and relationships. Also some silly fun stuff, just ’cause.
In 2017, Melanie published her first non-fiction book, “Fully Functioning Human (Almost)” which sold thousands of copies, received many positive reviews and topped the Irish book charts. Her debut novel, ‘If Only’, was released in the summer of 2019. It spent weeks in the Irish fiction chart and was chosen as one of the Diet Coke Book Club summer reads!
She lives in her home country of Ireland with her pilot partner, Thomas, her modern family and her two glorious rescue kitties, Bilbo and Molly Weasley. Her BSc (hons) degree in education & training from DCU catches dust above the fireplace as she writes books and uploads random videos to the internet for a living.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
An ex war reporter falls into a coma, and brings the son he never knew and the woman he left behind together in a struggle to understand who this man was in author Nina George’s novel “The Book of Dreams”.
Henri Skinner is a hardened ex-war reporter on the run from his past. On his way to see his son, Sam, for the first time in years, Henri steps into the road without looking and collides with oncoming traffic. He is rushed to a nearby hospital where he floats, comatose, between dreams, reliving the fairytales of his childhood and the secrets that made him run away in the first place.
After the accident, Sam–a thirteen-year old synesthete with an IQ of 144 and an appetite for science fiction–waits by his father’s bedside every day. There he meets Eddie Tomlin, a woman forced to confront her love for Henri after all these years, and twelve-year old Madelyn Zeidler, a coma patient like Henri and the sole survivor of a traffic accident that killed her family. As these four very different individuals fight–for hope, for patience, for life–they are bound together inextricably, facing the ravages of loss and first love side by side.
A revelatory, urgently human story that examines what we consider serious and painful alongside light and whimsy, The Book of Dreams is a tender meditation on memory, liminality, and empathy, asking with grace and gravitas what we will truly find meaningful in our lives once we are gone.
The Review
This is a truly emotional story. Exploring the lives of four people who find themselves tied together by unforeseen circumstances. The author’s exploration of life’s deepest struggles and the emotional and mental impact of the relationships we often make in life help bring this novel a sense of familiarity and connection between the reader and the narrative.
The author’s exploration of the intricacies of life and the universe, and exploring the almost otherworldly struggle of those struggling for acceptance and forgiveness creates an emotional gut punch with every chapter, making the reader feel deeply and emotionally invested in this novel.
The Verdict
A fantastic and heart-wrenching story filled with tears, emotional bonds and an ending readers may not see coming, this book was evenly paced and took the readers on an eloquent journey through some of life’s hardest struggles. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy of “The Book of Dreams” by Nina George today!
Born 1973 in Bielefeld, Germany, Nina George is a prize-winning and bestselling author (“Das Lavendelzimmer” – “The Little Paris Bookshop”) and freelance journalist since 1992, who has published 26 books (novels, mysteries and non-fiction) as well as over hundred short stories and more than 600 columns. George has worked as a cop reporter, columnist and managing editor for a wide range of publications, including Hamburger Abendblatt, Die Welt, Der Hamburger, “politik und kultur” as well as TV Movie and Federwelt. Georges writes also under three pen-names, for ex “Jean Bagnol”, a double-andronym for provence-based mystery novels.
In 2012 and 2013 she won the DeLiA and the Glauser-Prize. In 2013 she had her first bestselling book “Das Lavendelzimmer”, translated in 27 langues and sold more than 500.000 copies.
In November 2011, Nina George established the “JA zum Urheberrecht” (YES on Author’s Rights) initiative, which supports the rights of authors, artists and entertainers and is dedicated to resolving issues within the literary community as well as establishing fair and practical rights-license models for the web-distribution. 14 writers’ associations and 27 publishing partners have since joined the JA…-Initiative. George supports the “Initiative Urheberrecht” (Author’s Rights Initiative—www.urheber.info) as well as the “gib 8 aufs Wort”-campaign of the VG Wort.
In August 2014 George initiated the Amazon-protest in Germany www.fairer-buchmarkt.de, where overs 2000 germanspeaking authors – Nobelprizewinnig Elfriede Jelinek or Bestsellingauthor Nele Neuhaus – sign an open letter to Jeff Bezos and Amazon, protesting against the banned-book-methods of the giant retailer in the Hachette/Bonnier-dispute.
In 2015 George is the founder of the Initiative Fairer Buchmarkt e.V., which supports questions of law in daily business of authors – for ex in contracts, fees or author’s rights and e-Business.
George is Member to PEN, Das Syndikat (association of German-language crime writers), the Association of German Authors (VS), the Hamburg Authors’ Association (HAV), BücherFrauen (Women in Publishing), the IACW/AIEP (International Association of Crime Writers), the GEDOK (Association of female artists in Germany), PRO QUOTE and Lean In. Nina George sits on the board of the Three Seas Writers’ and Translaters’ Council (TSWTC), whose members come from 16 different countries.
Nina George teaches writing at Literaturbüro Unna, Alsterdamm Kunstschule, Wilhelmsburger Honigfabrik, where she coaches young people, adults and professional authors.
George also moderates (bilingual) readings and works as a speaker.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A group of teens struggling to define themselves and their generation face life head on and deal with the unexpected loss of iconic singer and musician Kurt Cobain in author Will Link’s novel, “Crazy About Kurt”.
Crazy About Kurt takes place over one night in the dirtbag suburbs of Long Island, and follows four friends who struggle with sex, identity and the inevitability of adulthood, all against the backdrop of Kurt Cobain’s suicide. In the vein of American Graffiti or Dazed and Confused, it is a meditation on a generation at a very specific time and place. It is steeped in pop culture, told with humor, emotion and nostalgia. This isn’t just a story for those 90’s kids who grew up on Tori Amos, Jurassic Park and The X-Files – it’s a story for anyone who’s ever been a teenager.
The Review
This novel will instantly speak to anyone who lived as a teen in the 90’s. While the premise of the story revolves around the way Kurt Cobain’s death impacted the very generation that identified with him, the narrative dives so much more into the questions his death inspired. What makes a person the voice of a generation? Why do celebrities’s deaths have such a deep impact on us all? Most of all, how can one singer become the voice of a generation when most teens are still struggling to define themselves?
A story filled with humor, intimate connections and teenage angst, the author does a great job of creating an ensemble cast of characters that you either identify with or can connect with through personal experiences shared with them. The author also captures perfectly the mixed bag of emotions and reactions that come from a high profile death like Kurt Cobain’s was, and showcases how these events can force a generation to grow up much faster than they anticipated, forced to face life’s challenges head on in a way that most never experience.
The Verdict
This was a fantastic book that deserves to be read. Filled with teenage drama, emotional events anyone who’s lived through their teenage years can attest to, and a theme revolving around identity and defining your own life instead of letting others define it for you, this was a book that quickly became the voice of a generation all on it’s own, brimming with nostalgia and memories for anyone who lived through the 90’s. If you haven’t yet, grab your copy of this amazing drama “Crazy About Kurt” by Will Link today!
If you have ever wondered if online psychiatry is effective, then please check out this wonderful link from my friends at BetterHelp and read for yourself.
Will Link was born and raised on Long Island before moving to Los Angeles in 2005. He has been a filmmaker, screenwriter, essayist, critic, podcaster and performer. Crazy About Kurt is his first novel.
A young boy’s struggles against an abusive father and a mother struggling to care for herself and him in WWII era America takes center stage in author Rath Dalton’s short story, “The Gravedigger”.
The Synopsis
A German boy, Dirk Armen Bohler, vies with his father during the depression years. Squeezed between poverty and a failed father figure, he struggles to find his place.
In just a few pages, the author does a magnificent job of highlighting the struggles of women and children during a WWII era, especially those with absent or abusive fathers who sought only to take and never provide for their family. Mirroring the sudden encounter with a gravedigger, the young boy’s journey into adulthood and finding his place in the world is highlighted by his struggle to protect himself and his mother from their father, and to be the opposite of his father in every way.
Between his father issues and the poverty that took many during the war by surprise, especially when rationing began, makes this quite an engaging read that feels like a personal character study of a young man that often went unnoticed in those days, and became quite heroes in their own right.
The Verdict
This is a powerful and emotional tale told in a very short amount of time. For a reasonable price, readers are treated to a period drama like no other, capturing the raw vulnerability of those struggling back home during the WWII years while also showcasing a unique coming of age tale that highlights the strength and sacrifice many made during that tumultuous time. If you haven’t yet, be sure to pick up your copy of author Rath Dalton’s short story, “The Gravedigger”, today!
Hello, if you read some of my work and enjoyed it, you might try posting a review on Amazon.com. Positive reviews help independent authors greatly. If you didn’t like what you read, feel free to email me at rathdalton@gmail.com and tell me where the holes are. It’s always good to get feedback. Thanks for being a reader.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I’ve been writing little stories since I was little. I then started writing poetry at 15. I wrote and completed my first novel at 17. I’m the type of person that always wants to be writing because if I’m not, then I feel like I’m the noun of the word writer instead of verb. I feel like a fake. I also create my own deadlines because I like to get distracted very easily. I’m twenty-nine, I currently live in Chicago with my boyfriend. I’m the general manager of a bar, and yes, my true love is Jameson.
2) What inspired you to write your book?
I had been writing these depressing. coming-of-age books for five years, and I just wanted to write a good ole fashion bitch book. I love the idea of scandal, backstabbing, and lying. it’s probably why I won biggest gossip in high school.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
I think to not care what people think about you, and not to rely on your mask you show the world too much. I think life truly begins for anyone when they are their true selves. It happened to me when I came out at 23.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
I think high school is interesting time period. People think it’s the end all be all for them. I look back at high school, I loved my time there, but it wasn’t my ground breaking moment. High School is supposed to be happy memories, not define you as a human.
5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
I think Danielle. I think she’s the only one that to me is interesting. I feel like some of the other characters make stupid choices, and I’m like why. Danielle makes mistakes, but she owns them. She’s also a ruthless girl, and I feel like she would be fun to have a conversation with. I think I would ask her if she regretted anything she did in the whole book series.
6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
I would like to say Instagram, but I feel that’s a lie. I get likes on likes. I don’t think people are ready to read my stuff. I think social media isn’t a great place to get readers, or maybe it’s just me. I feel my sales haven’t changed when I post anything.
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
I think you need to be delusional obsessed with your book, but be open to take criticism. I think it’s sad when you’re not passionate about your novel. You have to annoy your friends with it. You need to be willing for criticism because that’s how you grow. That’s how you’re able to make this book you’re in love with better.
8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I just finished another coming-of-age novel. I’ll be editing that soon, but I’ll be actually writing a spinoff series to The High School Queens trilogy. You’re the first person I’ve told. I don’t think my publisher knows yet, either.
Zachary Ryan grew up in a black-and-white box in Maryland, before moving to Chicago to start a new life. There, he found that he was accepted for his misfit status—and learned that it’s perfectly normal to spend your twenties feeling lost and confused.
After a disastrous sexual encounter, Ryan stumbled on a group of true friends, or “soul cluster,” that he connected with. Through his writing, he hopes to help other broken souls out there find comfort amid the chaos.
