Friday, August 30, 2013

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Writing difficult scenes


Available on Amazon
In “The Yearbook Series: Gina and Mike” there’s a brutal rape scene. After reading the scene, a reader contacted me, wanting to make sure that what she was reading was fiction. I assured her that it was.

But it got me thinking about that scene. Was it too raw? Should I tone it down? To be honest, after I wrote it I was shocked that something so horrible came out of my mind. I was also a bit embarrassed. And yet, writing it was easier than writing the romantic scenes. To me, it seems like it should have been the opposite, but it wasn’t.

In the end, I felt the rape scene needed to be what it was. It was the moment that changed Gina’s life – her relationship with Mike, her career path, etc.

I’ve always been amazed by how one moment can change a person’s life forever. They stop instead of go, turn right instead of left, say yes instead of no. 

And it’s how we react to these moments that determine the future. In this case, Gina’s silence affects not only her life but also the lives of others.


One reader told me that after reading the scene, she had to take a deep breath and pause before reading on. After I wrote it, I had to pause, too. 





Monday, August 26, 2013

Several books coming out this fall

I stared at the computer screen.  My heart fluttered and my throat tightened. I was happy and anxious. Happy that I was sharing my debut novel with the world but anxious about what the world would think of it. Would they love it? Hate it? Or, worse yet, not read it at all.

Buy now on Amazon 
For me, writing has never been about making money. Sure, it would be great to make some money. I’d be lying if I said otherwise. But the real reason I write is because I have no choice. I’d die if I didn’t. It’s who I am, how I’m wired. Whether it’s middle grade or young adult or women’s fiction, I have stories that I long to share with the world.

So here’s what’s coming up this fall and in 2014 for me:


Book blurb:

Gina McKenzie is a cheerleader with a super hot boyfriend who kisses like you wouldn't believe...

She's looking forward to the prom, then graduation and senior week at the shore. The only thing she isn't looking forward to is the start of college, because it means she won't be near Mike. They are attending schools on opposite sides of the state. 

But Gina's normal teen life ends the night she is brutally raped by her math teacher and Mike's baseball coach. Coach Smith threatens to destroy Mike's promising baseball career if Gina tells anyone what happened. To protect Mike, Gina keeps quiet and eventually, unable to deal with the effects of the rape, breaks up with Mike. 

They reconnect at their 20th high school reunion where the past catches up with them and Mike learns the truth about what happened 20 years ago.

Check out some of the reviews of Gina and Mike and The Yearbook Series Pinterest board dedicated to the series. 

The Moment Keeper (coming from Carina UK in November)
As a Moment Keeper records the moments of her charge's life, she comes to see how life is an intricate tapestry of which we are threads woven together in ways we have never anticipated or imagined. The charge learns that a second can change a life forever and that it's what we do with the moments that count.

The Christmas Violin (coming from Carina UK in December)
Written like a violin concerto in three movements, this novella tells the story of three people who have one thing in common -- the cemetery. It is a beautiful story about love and loss and the enormous power of the human spirit.

The Lion Awakens (coming from Prism Book Group 2014)
Two 17-year-olds find information hidden in anonymous gifts that leads them to a parallel universe and an enemy hell-bent on taking over their world.

Ella’s Rain (coming from Prism Book Group 2014)
A young girl learns to live again when her grandma, who dies, leaves her 365 notes, one for every day of the coming year.


Saturday, August 24, 2013

The Yearbook Series: Gina and Mike reviews

First book in The Yearbook Series now available

Some reviews of The Yearbook Series: Gina and Mike:

"Wonderfully relatable characters who's lives are forever altered by the choice of silence. A story of friendship, love and redemption, this book will grab you from the beginning and leave you wanting more. I can't wait to read more from this author!"


...

"I loved this book! After tragedies and heartache, Gina and Mike try to rekindle their love after 20 years apart. The highs and lows keep you reading and anxious to see what's next. Great story!"


...

"What an amazing and wonderful novel! Be prepared to experience a plethora of feelings as Buffy Andrews grips your heart within the first few pages. You will become intensely drawn into the lives of Gina and Mike and experience their lives through their points of view. It really is an amazing perspective to be in the mind of each character and feel what they feel, see what they see. The book is riveting and engaging as vivid memories of high-school and first love spill off the pages and into your soul. You will quickly turn the pages in anticipation as their journey unfolds.
It is an experience that you will feel a part of and it will leave a tremendous lasting impression. I loved it!"



...

"I had the pleasure of getting a sneak peek into Gina and Mike's story as Buffy wrote it. I love how she wove the story together. The characters are believable and poignant. They make tough decisions, grapple with regret and try to make the most of their situations. And, as someone happily married to my high school sweetheart, I love how it shows first loves can last a lifetime."


...

What a lovely story about life and great loves.

Gina and Mike were the golden couple of their high school. He was a star baseball player and she was a cheerleader. They are madly in love and looking ahead to graduation and all that life had to offer them.

Unfortunately what life had to offer was a brutal attack on Gina which sent her reeling, and as a result, her relationship with Mike began to unravel.

Twenty years later and they reconnect at their high school reunion, where old feelings resurface.

This is a great story about the vagaries of life, but also about the redemptive and healing power of love.

If you love a romance about second chances, with characters that will break your heart only to put it back together again. . .pick up a copy of "Gina and Mike" from the Yearbook Series.



...

This book made me feel like I was back in high school re-living my youth through the characters. I would recommend this book to my friends.
...

This was so awesome. Can't wait for the rest of the series to come out. It took me back to my high school years. The characters were very real.
...

I look forward to each new book in this series. What a clever idea to take a year book and form stories around students and what happened to them and who they became. Buffy Andrews's works are worth taking a look at! What a great storyteller! I can't help but wish I would have thought of her idea. :)
I'm a Buffy fan!


Buy book

Check out Pinterest board

Friday, August 23, 2013

The Yearbook Series: Gina and Mike released

I'm on my way to take my baby to college, but I wanted to post this before I leave. Wish I had time to write more, but this all happened so fast. I hope you read the book and I'd love to know your thoughts.


Purchase here.

Gina McKenzie is a cheerleader with a super hot boyfriend who kisses like you wouldn't believe...

She's looking forward to the prom, then graduation and senior week at the shore. The only thing she isn't looking forward to is the start of college, because it means she won't be near Mike. They are attending schools on opposite sides of the state.

But Gina's normal teen life ends the night she is brutally raped by her math teacher and Mike's baseball coach. Coach Smith threatens to destroy Mike's promising baseball career if Gina tells anyone what happened. To protect Mike, Gina keeps quiet and eventually, unable to deal with the effects of the rape, breaks up with Mike.

They reconnect at their 20th high school reunion where the past catches up with them and Mike learns the truth about what happened 20 years ago.



Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Another book contract from Prism Book Group

Prism Book Group, who will be publishing "The Lion Awakens" in 2014 will also be publishing "Ella's Rain." I'm so excited. 

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE  

The Yearbook Series RELEASED ON AMAZON
1st book: Gina and Mike
A romance series that begins with Gina and Mike, high school sweethearts that reconnect 20 years later when the past catches up and turns their worlds inside out. 

Consecutive books in series focus on another member of the high school class. 

The Christmas Violin COMING from Carina UK fall 2013
Written like a violin concerto in three movements, this novella tells the story of three people who have one thing in common -- the cemetery. It is a beautiful story about love and loss and the enormous power of the human spirit.


YOUNG ADULT/CROSSOVER

Ella's Rain COMING from Prism Books 2014
A young girl learns to live again when her grandma, who dies, leaves her 365 notes, one for every day of the coming year.
     
The Moment Keeper COMING from Carina UK fall 2013
As a Moment Keeper records the moments of her charge's life, she comes to see how life is a intricate tapestry of which we are threads woven together in ways we have never anticipated or imagined. The charge learns that a second can change a life forever and that it's what we do with the moments that count.


YOUNG ADULT

The Lion Awakens COMING from Prism Books 2014
Two 17-year-olds find information hidden in anonymous gifts that leads them to a parallel universe and an enemy hell-bent on taking over their world.

That leaves me with my middle-grades to sell:

MIDDLE GRADE 

Freaky Frank
Humorous middle-grade for boys about a telepathic middle-schooler who battles bullies along with his rag-tag friends. 
     
High Street Dares/Locket of Doom
Five middle-schoolers double dared to walk through the cemetery at midnight and perform a spell that will make a particular stone statue cry must solve a mystery involving the statue, an old lady and a shrinking locket before it’s too late. Book ends with a dare setting the next book up in the series.

High Street Dares/Ghostly Connection (second book in series)

Will, Middle Name Trouble
12-year-old Will Moran is always getting in trouble. But this time Will, who cleans and cooks and takes care of his younger twin sisters while his mom (a single parent) works, didn’t do what he is accused of doing. Through an eclectic group of friends comes redemption and the true meaning of friendship.


Free books from Limitless Publishing

Here's a freebie alert from Limitless Publishing . Download these books and not pay a cent on the following dates. 

"The Beast Within" - Aug. 9-10 
"Keeper of the Lost Souls" - Aug. 10-11
"Revenge of the Taken" - Aug. 13-14
"Your Guardian Angel" - Aug. 15-16
"Soul Ties" - Aug. 16-17
"Legacy Rising" - Aug. 19-20
"Wanted" - Aug. 20-21


In case you missed it, I signed with Limitless for The Yearbook Series.  I'll post details as I have them. 

A sign from God and another book contract

Funny thing happened yesterday. I'd been praying that "The Lion Awakens" find the right home. I signed the contract with Prism Book Group and sent it on Saturday, hoping that I had made the right decision for the work. Other publishers were interested and I pulled it, feeling as though God was leading me in this direction.

Anyway, I went to church on Sunday and there was special music. A soloist sang Brad Paisely's song, "When I Get Where I'm Going." And when I heard the lyrics, I knew it was God telling me I had made the right choice: "I'm gonna land beside a lion and run my fingers through his mane."

It gave me chill bumps because I had been praying that God send me a sign that I had made the right choice with this book. It's a YA and full of religious imagery. When I heard the song and those words it honestly brought tears to my eyes. Wow.

God is great.

As of now, it looks like "The Yearbook Series Book 1" (Limitless Publishing) will be out in September, "The Moment Keeper" (UK Carina) on Nov. 1 and "The Christmas Violin" (UK Carina) on Dec. 2. I will keep you up to date if these dates change.


Here's the skinny on "The Lion Awakens"



The Lion Awakens 


Two 17-year-olds find information hidden in anonymous gifts that leads them to a parallel universe and an enemy hell-bent on taking over their world.

Also, read about the other two contracts I signed for "The Yearbook Series," "The Moment Keeper" and "The Christmas Violin."

Just signed two-book contract with Carina UK

More great news! I've just finalized the contract with Carina UK for a two-book deal for "The Moment Keeper" and "The Christmas Violin."

 I'm super excited that I will be sharing these two books, along with "The Yearbook Series" being published my Limitless Publishing, with you.

 If you missed my earlier news about the Limitless contract, read it now. Here's the post from Limitless about "The Yearbook Series." I'm currently writing book 2 of this series. What fun!

I have some other books that I am trying to place as well and I'll let you know if/when that happens. Here are the deets on these two Carina books and here is the other work I'm trying to place. 

"The Moment Keeper"
As a Moment Keeper records the moments of her charge's life, she comes to see how life is a intricate tapestry of which we are threads woven together in ways we have never anticipated or imagined. The charge learns that a second can change a life forever and that it's what we do with the moments that count.


"The Christmas Violin"
Written like a violin concerto in three movements, this novella tells the story of three people who have one thing in common -- the cemetery. It is a beautiful story about love and loss and the enormous power of the human spirit.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Check Publishers Lunch Job Board

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Meet Katie Lee and check out her 'What Endures'

I'm super excited to share Katie Lee's new novel, "What Endures." I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of Katie's book and loved it. You will, too. 

I asked Katie if I could feature her on my blog today, which just happens to be the launch date for "What Endures." Here's the skinny on Katie and her book. Be sure to buy it and read it. You won't be sorry.

Author: Katie Lee

Lives in: Maryland

Day job: I was an attorney (technically I still am) but I don't currently practice law in my government job

Book title: "What Endures"

Summary:   Jason Kincaid is young, hot and successful.
An All-Star outfielder for the Seattle Mariners, he finally had everything he ever wanted, including a second chance with his high school sweetheart, Megan Williams.

But their hopes for a ‘happily-ever-after’ are dashed by tragedy.

A horrific car accident wipes out most of Jason's memories. Unable to recall anything from the last fifteen years of his life, Jason is suddenly adrift, his once charmed life now in ruins.

Megan finds herself in the untenable position of having to deal with the fact that the man she’s helping to rebuild his life may look, and even act, like her beloved fiancĂ©, but in reality, isn’t any longer.

Trying to protect herself, as well as Jason, Megan fights the attraction between them. . .to no avail. As their potent connection inevitably draws them closer, Megan wonders,

With the memories of their relationship gone, can love endure?


Release date: August 1, 2013.

To buy:  Paperback and Kindle ebook

Twitter:  @KatieLeeAuthor


Inspiration behind the book: I was watching a program on Alzheimer's and remember being so moved by stories about how even as one partner was losing his/her grasp on reality and their memories, that connection between the two remained. I thought, "Hmm. . .what would it be like if the couple was young and one had amnesia?"