A couple of months ago, I sat down to write the next book in the Hartfield Chronicles series. I was excited to write about the main characters separating for their summer vacations. I may even end up writing more POVs than just Melinda and Pat.
However, something life-altering is going to happen to one of the characters. That person will lose a loved one. But it didn't quite make sense for the two to meet at the beginning of the summer. In order for this death to have such an impact, they needed to have a history. They needed to already know each other before the story begins.
They needed to meet during spring break.
Three books ago, I wrote a novella sharing Pat and Melinda's spring break adventure. It was the perfect opportunity to go back and introduce the character who will die in my new story.
So, on the last day of March, I decided to do Camp NaNoWriMo for the month of April. As usual, I promised myself I had to finish one project before starting NaNo, so I had a late start. That's more or less how I do NaNo lately.
My goal was to add about 40,000 words. But, not filler. I wanted this new character to make at least a subtle impact. To become a character everyone loves. (Yes, I still plan on killing said character in the new book.)
But beyond introducing a new character, I wanted the spring break book to tell a story. I wanted to learn more about my characters. In fact, one of the new subplots is Melinda learning enough about Pat to give him a nickname.
And that's where I am getting stuck. Pat has a beautiful nickname for Melinda. He always has. (In the current season of Hartfield Chronicles, it will change. But the new one is even better.) But Melinda doesn't really have one for Pat.
So, that is my question this week. What term of endearment would you recommend a teenage girl use with her boyfriend?
Hartfield Chronicles
Season 4 of Hartfield Chronicles has arrived!
When Melinda is invited to join a new dance class, she sees this as her big break, a chance to advance her skills. Before she can accept, however, another kind of break stops her in her tracks.
Pat wants to be the supportive boyfriend, but his efforts seem to be making Melinda uncomfortable. He can’t go to his own friends for advice, because they can’t understand.
After Melinda calls for another type of break, she and Pat must examine their relationship to determine whether they are meant for each other.
Hartfield Chronicles follows the lives of Melinda, Pat, and their friends as they navigate their way through boarding school life. Each episode features two stories, one from Melinda's point of view and one from Pat's, along with an excerpt from Melinda's writing journal. New episodes are published every Friday.
The vampires think they've won the war. The truth is, it hasn't even started.
There’s a vampire war on, and it’s time to choose sides.
Cassie doesn’t know why she fainted on stage, or why she woke up with a two-hour hole in her memory. She doesn’t understand the twin puncture marks on her neck, and can’t comprehend why she’s suddenly terrified of being in the spotlight. All she knows is that her ordinary life has completely changed…for the worse.
Then she meets Isaiah, a mysterious man with a dark past. He has answers to her questions, but he’s reluctant to give them and put her in more danger. Only when Cassie proves herself does he trust her with what he knows: there’s a vampire war in Detroit, and those who don’t take sides will be caught in the crossfire.
Now, it’s up to Cassie and Isaiah to put a stop to things before the warring vampires claim more victims. Falling in love isn’t part of the plan, of course, but some things can’t be helped.
Hash Browns and Homicide
A fun cozy mystery adventure with savory recipes
Going undercover just got complicated... What could go wrong on her first secret assignment? A lot, as it turns out.
Piper Sandstone, a newly promoted detective on the Chicago police force, is dressed to kill. And bad things are about to go down.
When three dirty cops are suspected of a crime, Piper finds herself going undercover to get intel to put them behind bars.
How will she lure the officers in and get them to talk? And what is the connection between the recent murder of a drug dealer and these suspects?
To get the answers she needs, Piper must trade in her jiu-jitsu gi and Doc Martens for a pair of high heels and a killer dress. But will her disguise help her or usher in the fate that awaits if she blows this assignment?
Now, Piper’s skills will be stretched to the limit as she and a forensic specialist race to connect all the dots and expose the cops before this cat and mouse chase turns deadly.
Would you like a free book in exchange for an honest review?
Defining Life
A sweet young adult romance novella
Two teenage cancer survivors are on a quest to define life, because if they don't, they might as well fail their class project entirely.
At sixteen, Heather is a cancer survivor. At ten years old, diagnosed with a fatal disease, she became inseparable with Aaron, a boy with cancer who seemed to have abandoned her after remission. Now Heather is a junior in high school, and Aaron is the school’s golden boy. It's as if the two have never met, and neither Heather or Aaron have spared a glance in each other’s direction.
Until the day their English teacher assigns the class's final project of the year. Follow Heather and Aaron on their quest to define life in this sweet young adult romance.
Please be aware that this is a novella of about 30,000 words.
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They Came from the Trees
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Lovestruck teens fight to stay alive during an apocalyptic alien invasion.
The invaders need the mentally strong and the physically able—the rest of the human population are simply landfill. Who are these creatures and what are their intentions? Sheldon, a fifteen-year-old high school dropout, has no interest in finding out—at least not yet. Instead, he fights for his life as these ruthless aliens take over the little town of Hidden Trail. Sheldon takes refuge in an abandoned school with a beautiful girl named Cara and a couple of kids who happen to have profound ideas about the motives of the alien invasion. The group is soon picked up by some edgy teenagers who are preparing to escape to the water. However, when Cara goes missing, Sheldon deviates from the plans and discovers more about the rapidly evolving aliens and their horrifying yet curious vision. The lovestruck teen soon questions the morality of the human spirit, and wonders what it might be like to submit to the utopian idealisms of this new alien race.
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Family Secrets Book 1
Kevin
I need someone to help me with Tyler, a six-year-old boy, who was brought to my doorstep. I was told that I was his father and that he needed to be taken care of. I don’t know the first thing about being a father. I don’t know anything at all. When my brother, Jonathan, suggests Shelly, our sister, Jenny’s best friend, as a caregiver for Tyler, I begin to think that maybe she could also be my companion. However, will she run if she discovers even a little of the truth about my family? That’s a chance I’m going to have to take.
There’s no way that I can keep quiet – I must warn her about my father.
Shelly
Jenny and I are best friends, however I’ve never met her parents, and I’ve only met one of her brothers, Jonathan. After all these years, I’m finally going meet Kevin Adams, and possibly work for him. But, why am I only setting foot inside their family’s home for the first time, now. The story behind Tyler is a mystery, too. Maybe if I can at least get him to like me, he might open up. I’ve been told he’s a quiet child, but that’s alright – I’ve dealt with quiet kids before. I’m eager to have the dinner interview that Kevin has set up, and while Jenny is more than happy about this opportunity, there’s a mystery surrounding her parents? Why are they in the house and what’s their little secret?
Everyone has skeletons in their closets – even little ones.
Madam Mom
Attorney Sam resents having a spoiled, rich-bitch heiress dropped onto his plate. Tisha believes the sexy, blonde male at the airport is an intrusive butt-in-ski, but decides to share a wild, one-time fling with the appealing stranger.
Sam and Tisha unravel a sordid deception and form a special bond, but Tisha’s been betrayed by men before. A killer targets her.
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