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YA Author Rendezvous

Creativity Unleashed: Books for the young and the young at heart

Month

February 2018

January-March 2018 New Releases

Thanks to all of you for patiently waiting for a new blog entry!  Take a look at some of these fantastic title that will be coming out soon! (And some already are!)

 

 

beyond magic1/23 – Beyond Magic: The Hybrid Trilogy Book 3
by G.K. DeRosa 

Being a witch-vampire hybrid isn’t as awesome as it sounds.  

All Aria ever wanted was to find her family and discover who she really was. So far, it’s been more trouble than it’s worth. On top of uncovering the truth about her magical hybrid heritage, her possibly evil half-brother, Alek, has appeared. There’s nothing she wants more than to trust him, but after all the horrible things he’s done, how can she?

As if dealing with her crazy family and learning to control powerful new abilities weren’t enough, the immortal Venator are getting stronger and nearly impossible to kill. The High Priestess wants her dead, the vampires want her powers and all Aria wants is a normal life. And maybe a hot guy or a vampire on her arm. The problem is, she doesn’t know if she’ll even live long enough to choose.

Don’t miss the epic conclusion to the bestselling Hybrid Trilogy!

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Download Beyond Magic HERE


 

 

soraya1/29 – Soraya: A Wielders of Arantha Prequel
by Patrick Hodges

On the planet Elystra, the all-female Ixtrayu tribe have thrived, hidden from their world’s male-dominated societies for eight centuries. Thirty-five generations of Protectresses have safeguarded their sisters from the men who would destroy them for the Elemental power they wield. But how did it all begin? .

Seeking riches and power, a band of vicious slavers steal twenty girls from their homes, as well as the Agrusian Stone, long fabled for its beauty and pricelessness. Among the abducted is Sahria, an eighteen-year-old novice, determined to free herself and return home. When the Stone unexpectedly imbues her with her god’s divine power, she realizes freedom for herself and her sisters is within her grasp … but to save them all would mean leaving behind everything she’s ever known.

With a slaver’s market looming, Sahria must make a choice: escape and return to the safety of her Order, or embark on a far more dangerous path, one where mere survival is only the beginning.

Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Purchase Soraya HERE


 

the siren2/9 – The Gay Teen’s Guide to Defeating a Siren Book 2: The Siren
by Cody Wagner

 After months of hiding from the evil Siren, Blaize Trales returns to Sanctuary Preparatory Academy for answers.

Some things at Sanctuary haven’t changed. It’s still a secret high school for gay teens. Healing Hamburgers still taste like overcooked charcoal. And it’s still Blaize’s favorite place in the world.

Other things on campus will never be the same. The loss of a friend at the hands of the Siren haunts Sanctuary. The struggle to hide a newfound power sucks. And fumbling through a crush makes Blaize’s life even crazier.

The line between relationship and duty is wrecked when government agents, under the Siren’s control, invade Sanctuary. Blaize will have to choose between protecting himself and rescuing those he cares about.

Lucky for Blaize, he wields the ultimate weapon—being gay. And he’s still pretty good at it.

Genre: YA/Paranormal

Download The Siren HERE


 

me + you2/9 – Me + You (Senior Semester Series Book 4)
by Gina Azzi

Eager for a career in government and excited to explore a new city, Emma Stanton is thrilled to accept an internship on Capitol Hill for the fall semester of her senior year of college. When unexpected financial difficulties arise, she trades happy hours with colleagues for a second job, serving at D.C. restaurant Barracuda. Prepared for a semester of long hours and little fun, Emma’s outlook brightens after meeting her boss, Luke Harrington.

Luke has worked toward one goal his whole life: becoming a professional boxer. On the brink of his title shot, he inherits his late uncle’s restaurant and hires Emma on the spot. When she proves to be more than just an employee, Luke struggles to balance his business, his boxing, and his desire to win Emma’s heart.

Coming from two different worlds, Emma and Luke skirt around their mutual attraction, certain they can’t fit into each other’s futures. But what kind of idealist doesn’t chase her dreams? And what kind of boxer doesn’t fight for what he wants? As their hearts collide, so do their worlds… even the dark parts that threaten to keep them apart.

Genre: NA/Contemporary/Romance

Download Me + You HERE

 

 


 

slayer2/12 – Slayer (Dragon Tamer Book 1)
by J.A. Culican and J.A. Armitage

Destined to Slay.

In the small homestead of Dronias, where monsters terrorize people daily, young Julianna is a dragon slayer – destined to be one of the greats. On the day of her eighteenth birthday, Goblin sword in hand, she embarks on a journey that will change her future forever.

Unable to deliver the final blow to the dragon, Julianna finds herself no longer staring down the emerald eyes of a dragon. Instead, a handsome young dragon shifter named Ash lies in the scaled beasts place, perplexed at Julianna’s hesitancy to end his existence.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Pre-Order Slayer HERE


 

art of the swap2/13 – The Art of the Swap
by Kristine Carlton Asselin and Jen Malone

Freaky Friday meets Downton Abbey in this middle grade mystery that features a modern day twelve-year-old switching bodies with a Gilded Age heiress in order to solve a famous art heist.

Hannah Jordan lives in a museum…well, sort of. She is the daughter of the caretaker for mansion-turned-museum The Elms in Newport, Rhode Island. Hannah’s captivated by stories of The Elms’s original occupants, especially Maggie Dunlap, the tween heiress subject of a painting that went missing during a legendary art heist in 1905.

But when a mysterious mirror allows Hannah and Maggie to switch places in time, suddenly Hannah is racing to stop the heist from happening, while Maggie gets an introduction to iPhones, soccer (which girls can play!), and freedoms like exploring without supervision. Not to mention the best invention of all: sweatpants (so long, corsets!).

As the hours tick off to the art heist, something’s not adding up. Can the girls work together against time—and across it—to set things right? Or will their temporary swap become a permanent trade?

Genre: MG/Science Fiction

Pre-Order Art of the Swap HERE


 

the crowns accord

2/28 – Keeper of Dragons: The Crowns’ Accord
by J.A. Culican

A Time of Fear.

The world has begun to die and the dragons are disappearing. With the Fairies divided, the Trolls and Elves in mourning and the Mermaids nowhere to be found, faith in the Keeper of Dragons is dwindling.
Death and Betrayal.

The Earth begins to die around Paraiso and the remaining Trolls are unable to keep the land alive. Cole is lost and confused as the pressure to save everyone threatens to suffocate him. No one is safe and no one can be trusted as King Eldrick of the Eldens remains missing. His Darkness is spreading and there may be no stopping it.

One Last Battle.
The strength of all magic still runs through Coles veins. It is a magic he still struggles to control, but he will fight.

Until his final breath.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Pre-Order The Crowns’ Accord HERE


 

 

heart of tyr2/28 – Heart of Tyr (Book Two of The Heart of the Citadel)
by Susan Faw

In a world where magic is forbidden, twenty children are given twin crystal heart pendants. Heirs of magic, the necklaces are not just a pretty baubles but indicative of forbidden magical blood. Heart bearer Elissa scoffed at her brother’s belief in dragons. That is until one abducted her on her eleventh birthday. Flown to the isle of Jintessa in its claws, Elissa discovers that not only are dragons real, but also the shapeshifters of legend.

Bonded telepathically to a Djinn Dragonmerger named Druzy and his dragon Mysty, Elissa is given a mission to return to Tyr and free her home from the tyranny of an emperor determined to control all magic. Hunted by her magically enslaved brother, can Elissa free her people and bring down the barrier, without destroying Ellas, in the process?

The battle for ultimate control of magic has begun.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Pre-Order Heart of Tyr HERE


 

warrior3/5 – Warrior (Dragon Tamer Book 1)
by J.A. Culican and J.A. Armitage

Free the dragons? Piece of cake.

Julianna never thought that going after her first dragon after years of dreaming to be a Slayer would result in saving one, but now she’s determined to not only keep Ash safe, but help him free the dragons trapped in the Slayer’s swords.
The only way to free them requires a visit to the Goblins who created the swords in the first place. Not so easy a task when Dronias is divided by war. Getting answers is only half the battle, and danger is creeping closer as Ash and Julianna search for every last sword created.
With the help of an unlikely ally long believed dead, Julianna and Ash will stop at nothing to free those enslaved. As Julianna risks more and more of herself to keep her promise, will Ash be able to keep her safe? Or will her sacrifice be her undoing?

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Pre-Order Slayer HERE


 

trail rules3/9 – The Trail Rules (The Rules Series Book 1)
by Melanie Hooyenga

Junior year’s looking up for sixteen-year old Mike. Her new BFF isn’t a sadistic control freak, her boyfriend adores her, and she’s learning to bike in the mountains without decapitating herself on a tree.

Well, almost.

When she meets a group of riders who welcome her into their pack, she feels like she’s finally found where she belongs. One particular rider—a boy with an amazing smile and an even more amazing ability to see what she’s truly capable of—gives her the confidence to go after what she wants: her own life with her own rules.

There’s only one problem—he’s not her boyfriend.

Just as things seem to be falling into place, her parents put on the pressure to figure out her future—one that doesn’t include riding. Mike soon realizes that having everything isn’t that great when she’s not the one choosing it. She needs to decide if she’s going to continue to be a follower or step out of the shadows and find her own trail.

Genre: YA/Contemporary

Pre-Order The Trail Rules HERE


 

arcadia3/26 – Arcadia (Secrets of Aurora Book 3)
by L.J. Higgins

Aurora knows the truth about who she is, but her father’s final secret could change everything. Seth is her twin brother – and it’s the one secret she’s not sure she wanted to uncover.

Just as she has barely processed the revelation, she’s awoken at gunpoint by the very boy who has thrown her entire world off kilter. He’s unpredictable and dangerous, and her group of rebels can’t let him go now. Their priority is seeking the final piece of the pendant, hoping that the one who holds it can tell them what comes next.

Aurora doesn’t believe she can see her brother as anything other than cruel and malicious, but she soon learns there’s more to Seth than meets the eye.

When confronted with someone from his past, Aurora knows her fate rests in his hands. When allegiances are tested, can Aurora trust that blood is thicker than water?

 Genre: YA/Dystopian

Pre-Order Arcadia HERE

I’ve Started Writing Again – Beating Writer’s Block

I’ve Started Writing Again – Beating Writer’s Block by Author Lauren Mayhew

How to Break Writers BlockThere’s nothing worse than writer’s block, especially when you’re between projects. I know what I’m supposed to be doing, I’m just finding it hard getting round to doing it. I have so many projects in my head, but I don’t want to start too many. If I do, I’ll never complete any of them, I’ll just keep starting new ones.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve slowly been reading through the book that I wrote for NaNoWriMo. It’s got a Working Title – Cycles of War. This is what it’s been called for about ten years now, though I didn’t properly start writing it until November 2016. I finished reading the other day, adjusting a few things here and there, but not really editing properly yet. I just wanted to slowly get my way back into the world that I created. It was very eye-opening actually, as the book isn’t nearly as finished as I thought it was.

Chapter six is literally just that. The word ‘SIX’. I decided to skip that chapter when I was writing it, as I didn’t want to slow the flow. (That rhymed!) I know what I want to put in there, I just need to write it and make sure it’s relevant to the rest of the book. I also haven’t written the ending yet. You know, the chapter that comes after the real ending? The chapter that ties everything up and lets you know what happened to the characters that you loved. At least I know where I want that chapter to go, unlike six.

There were also a few moments when characters referenced something that I hadn’t written yet. For example, someone asks the main character, Bri, if the events that are unrolling in real-time, are the same as the dream he had the night before. I didn’t write a dream. That really confused me when I read it.

I need to add a little more character development too. Unlike the Liliana trilogy, this book has a lot more characters in it. Each of them needs to have their own story and their own reasons for being there. At the moment, they’re just there. I think I’ll enjoy adding more in about them.

It’s the little things like this that I’ve forgotten after leaving the book alone for over a year. It’s good, because they stand out more than they would have done if the story was more familiar to me, but it also means there’s a lot more to do than I initially intended.

I wrote this book without a plan, and it’s turned out pretty well if I’m honest. There aren’t any plot holes as far as I can see, just a lot of vague details. It’s around 51,000 words at the moment, but I’m hoping to get it towards 60,000, if not 70,000 by the time it’s finished. I may have to change the confrontation at the end to make this happen. At the moment it’s quite Stephanie Meyer-esque. I may need to kill a few more people – how terrible does that sound?

When I wrote this book, I’d never written a proper battle scene before, so I wrote a confrontation that didn’t involve a lot of fighting. It kind of goes with all the themes in the book, but it’s not ‘real’ enough. ‘Eternity Begins’, the third book in the Liliana trilogy, has a massive battle at the end. About a third of the book, I believe. Now that I’ve written that, and had positive feedback from it, I’m more confident that I can write something bigger and better. It’ll help increase the word count too!

I intend to query this one, not self-publish. It’s a bigger story than my trilogy and it feels relevant to the events happening around the world today. There’s still a long way to go, with many rounds of edits, and lots of Beta readers if possible too. I’m feeling confident that I can do it. I just need to start.


Want more from Lauren? You can check out her books on Goodreads HERE.

Find Lauren on the YA Author Rendezvous site HERE.

This was posted by Lauren Mayhew.

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