FREE YA Sampler Book

Get a taste of my young adult works with my FREE YA sampler. No newsletter list to join, just simply download the eBook from Bookfunnel.

The sampler, KISS AND (NEVER) TELL, includes the first few chapters of:

1) VIGILANTE NIGHTS
2) DRAGONFLY NIGHTMARE
3) BITTERSWEET WRECKAGE (extended sample)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

A Character is Born

"Organization is the key to success."

Usually when my muse kicks around book ideas, it’s due to a character plaguing my head, i.e. a psychic, an emotionally scarred boy, a telekinetic. A story forms around them in the most high level way. But as we all know, everyone has a history, emotions, flaws, and physical attributes that must be developed in order to birth that character into a multi-dimensional being readers will care about or sympathize with.

Read more from my article on how I bring a character to life at the UnCommonYA blog.

The Stars Aligning in VIGILANTE NIGHTS

Every book needs a little romance—at least in all the books I read and write! Today, I wanted to tease you with the first meet scene between the main character Lucas and his love interest, Tara.

Third period delivered a text from Mom. She needed me home at lunch to meet the tow truck. An emergency at work, she’d texted. Someone must’ve broken a stem on a flower. Seriously. That’s how important her event manager’s job was to her. Okay by me. I wanted to ensure I hadn’t hallucinated the girl next door. Like I sort of did with Silver.

Read more at the UnCommonYA Blog!

The Novel of My Writerly Dreams!

As an avid reader from the time I learned to read my first word, I was never without a book in hand. I’d spend my summers reading and penning my own short stories, never dreaming I’d become an author myself. My most memorable childhood favorites are Charlotte’s Web, The Secret Garden, Watership Down, The Outsiders, The Hobbit, and Gone With the Wind. They all provided inspiration for my childhood writerly ramblings in one form or another!

Read more at the UncommonYA Blog.

Haunting VIGILANTE NIGHTS, or Not?

To ghost or not to ghost? 

I’m a paranormal writer and reader at heart. Ever since my childhood Ouija board days, scaring myself and my siblings to death, everything about the paranormal fascinates me, whether I believe in it or not.

Yet when I conceived the idea for Vigilante Nights, there was no ghost, no paranormal element whatsoever...

Read further how Vigilante Nights ended up with a ghost in it:  UnCommonYA Blog.

FREE via Kindle Unlimited

“If you or your teen like action-packed, suspense with twists and turns this might be the very book for you.” ~Just Us Girls 

"Both poignant and endearing, a tale of struggling through life after a loss. Lucas starts out as a brother, looking out for his sister and ends with having to grow up faster than he wants or needs to, but with that growth, he becomes a stronger person. I would definitely recommend this one, it grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go.” ~Dottie/Tink’s Place, Amazon 5-Star Review 

"Red herrings throw suspicion on various characters until the action culminates in a page-turning climax ... A multifaceted story of revenge, violence, romance--and a touch of the paranormal--that will appeal to a broad audience." ~School Library Journal

Vigilante Nights - First Kiss Excerpt

July 18 marks the one-year anniversary of the official release of my young adult suspense novel Vigilante Nights! Woohoo! To celebrate I’m giving you the first kiss excerpt!

Setting up the first kiss: Lucas rescues his next door neighbor, Tara, from her bad date at the first dance of the school year and drives her home. But he has more on his mind…

Excerpt:

I couldn’t stop staring at the opening of her blouse, the creamy upper swell of her breasts. “I wanted to take you to the dance.” I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans.

“There’ll be other times, right?” she said softly, shyly, too freaking cute.

Endorphins sprang to life. “Definitely.” Side by side, we walked up to her porch. Landscape lights radiated yellow beams across the walkway and newly filled planters of funky tall grasses and late-blooming flowers. “Tell Denny, case he forgets, we’re not meeting tomorrow.”

“Sure. Alyssa told me you’re all going on a yacht trip in the Bay, an annual thing your father’s law firm does. Sounds fun.”

“Doubt it. But my parents insist we go as a family,” I mocked with no real conviction. “I’ll be hard pressed to keep my mind off tonight.” I slanted toward her. “Or off you,” I whispered in her ear, inhaling her tropical fruit shampoo into my senses, willing it to drown out the lousy night.

The length of her quaked against me. “Try. They have no proof.”

“I feel guilty. And I don’t even know what was taken.” My lips toured her silky neck, along her jaw line toward her mouth.

“Dalton made you feel that way.” Tara made a clicking sound in her throat. “I . . . believe you.”

I touched my lips to hers, firm, soft, tasting spearmint. “Thanks,” I said against her lips. Drawing closer, I kissed her gently. Her mouth parted slightly, her tongue darted out then hid from me as if afraid. A hot stream of desire fed my blood, and I was useless to cut it short. Easing away before I turned her off, I released her hand.

Dazed, I strolled home. Another seed of life sprouted in my barren soul, replicating as fast as those dragsters had snuffed out my light. For the first time since the Summer of Delirium, I felt like I might be okay one day. For real.

Praise for Vigilante Nights:

Red herrings throw suspicion on various characters until the action culminates in a page-turning climax … A multifaceted story of revenge, violence, romance–and a touch of the paranormal–that will appeal to a broad audience. ~School Library Journal

VIGILANTE NIGHTS is brilliant for a Young Adult book. It faces the pressure and craziness of teenagers in horrible areas. It's a mystery book with twist and turns at every path. The ending was amazing. It was beautiful… Let just say it involves peace. ~Alice/KittiKat Reviews

The premise of VIGILANTE NIGHTS is absolutely fascinating. It's part contemporary urban street gang, part ghost story, part haunting journey from grief to hope. An action-packed second half should appeal to readers who enjoy urban thrillers with a hint of supernatural. ~YA Books Central

Buy Links:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million
Powell's
The Book Depository

Path to Publication - Vigilante Nights

For years, I’d heard that boy point of view (POV) books were a hard sell. Statistically proven, females are the majority readers and they read a lot of books from the female point of view. I’m not saying that females don’t read books written in a male POV or that they don’t sell. Look at John Green, Chris Crutcher, or Merit’s own Steven Parlato, among many other authors who write young adult novels in a male POV. They exist and they appeal to both male and female readers. I kept hearing that editors wanted “boy” books, yet there were so few slots for them on a publisher’s list. None of this stopped me from writing Vigilante Nights, because it needed to be written! I just figured I’d have a harder time landing a publisher.

I queried a lot of agents, and came close to an offer of representation a couple of times, but they already had a client with a boy book they were trying to sell. Just as I was ready to start querying publishers on my own, I read about F+W Media’s new imprint Merit Press and how they wanted to publish contemporary novels and no paranormal creatures or SF&F. My editor at another F+W Media imprint was able to get me an early copy of the submission guidelines. As soon as I read them, my stomach did somersaults, literally. I thought Vigilante Nights was perfect for Merit Press, and Merit seemed okay with books that had a light supernatural element. Even though it appeared Merit primarily wanted books written from a girl’s POV, they were open to books from a boy’s POV, too! My second thought was….I’m going to submit ASAP before there were no more slots for a “boy” book. Paranoid much? Yes!

Merit’s editor, Jackie Mitchard, fell in love with Vigilante Nights, and I had an offer in hand within three months.

I can’t help but think timing had a little to do with selling Vigilante Nights. :) But what really sold it was finding an editor and publishing house that loved it as much as I did. This is what Jackie had to say when she offered to publish Vigilante Nights: “Everyone is excited about VIGILANTE NIGHTS, and about the comparisons it offers with classics such as ‘The Outsiders.’ We love this book. It's just exactly the book that Merit Press was founded to publish -- with a great deal of heart, pure, strong characters, and even a hint of magical realism.”

People in the publishing business say it only takes one editor to love your book. I’m happy it was Jackie and Merit Press, and they took a chance on me and Vigilante Nights.

Read more about Merit Press books and authors at:

Merit Press Facebook

Merit Press Website

UncommonYA Website & Blog (unofficial author site)

Great Deals & Giveaways!

There's so much going on right now that I wanted to pull it all together in one blog post.

The Lucky13s New Year's Bash massive giveaway is still going on. You can win books, autographed swag, critiques and more! Easy entry, just *like* our Facebook pages! Today and the next couple days, you can enter to win an autographed copy of VIGILANTE NIGHTS (US only or eBook for international winner). Lots more prizes to win too. 

Enter here:  http://www.facebook.com/groups/NewYearsBash/
Learn more about the Lucky13s at:  http://thelucky13s.blogspot.com/


All Merit Press titles are on sale for $1.99 Kindle version, including VIGILANTE NIGHTS! If you've been waiting to buy some YA realistic fiction, now's your chance to get one or all of Merit Press's books at 80% off the original Kindle price. 

Amazon link to all Merit Press books 
Amazon link to VIGILANTE NIGHTS 
Learn more about Merit Press at:  https://www.facebook.com/MeritPressYABooks
Merit Press authors hang out at UnCommon YA


Finally, my adult/new adult novel, WICKED PARADISE, is still on sale for $.99. Get it before the price increases at end of January! I'm also thrilled to say that WICKED PARADISE is an ARe and Amazon category bestseller!

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
All Romance eBooks

iTunes

If you purchase the print edition of WICKED PARADISE at Amazon,
you get the Kindle edition for FREE.

Awesome Christmas Giveaway!

We are a collective of YA authors who have come together to spread the word about the newest, bold, gritty fiction. Our genres include realistic, contemporary, historical, magical realism, and paranormal--with a healthy dose of suspense woven through all of them.

For an early Christmas gift Uncommon YA is offering YOU the chance to choose your prize. Click on the titles below to learn more about each one.

You can add it to your Goodreads shelf while you're there!

WARNING. It will be a tough choice choosing just one to win!

ENTER NOW!

 *NEW RELEASES*

ENTER NOW!

6 people will win their choice of the selected titles.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

What's on Your Keeper Shelf?

I'm not sure if I mentioned this yet, but I'm now part of a lovely group of authors we call The Keeper Shelf. We've come together for our love of books, not just for reading, but writing them. First and foremost, we came together from our love of romance novels. Yet, we write all kinds of stories from young adult, to new adult, to historical, contemporary, paranormal, suspense romance, SF&F, and even non-fiction. We're scattered across the globe in the United States, Australia and even New Zealand.

I'm honored to be part of this fantastic group of authors and I hope you'll share in our endeavor.  We're planning all kinds of goodies for you, from our insightful and fun blog posts, book reviews, giveaways, guest posts, book and cover releases. We'd love it if you follow our blog, like us on Facebook, and stalk us on Twitter! Tell us what's on your keeper shelf.

The Keeper Shelf:

Website/Blog

Facebook

Twitter

My first post on The Keeper Shelf blog runs today. The Inspiration Behind Vigilante Nights.

Meet Lucas, the MC of VIGILANTE NIGHTS

Although he was the class clown, high school senior Lucas had charm, looks, athletic prowess, and a scholarship that meant a bright future. That is, until the night he and his beloved twin, Silver, drive into the middle of a gang ritual on a California beach road. When Lucas awakens from a coma, he learns that Silver is dead, he can no longer play football and the vintage Camaro he prized is trashed. With all his hopes and dreams shattered, Lucas turns to revenge…or justice.

Suffering through his grief and anger, Lucas forms a vigilante club with his small circle of close friends. In his path to discover who killed his sister, he and his gang crazily target one of the town’s most fearsome gangs. He becomes somewhat cynical to hide his grief and the emotions threatening to unseat him, and it affects his judgment as he winds through his new life. A life he thought devoid of his twin sister.

Then, Silver appears, crossing the line between life and death to try to save him. Lucas meets the new girl next door, Tara, and suddenly life doesn’t seem so hopeless. Tara can see Silver too, and shares her fears. But their love isn’t enough to stop Lucas’s posse of “vigilantes” from an act of stunning violence that marks him for murder. Can Lucas face the truth about what he’s become, or is it too late? Can Tara save Lucas from the darkness?

What others have said about Lucas:

“I loved the juxtaposition of a rich, privileged boy running a gang on the streets because his grief and rage drove him to do things he wouldn't have ordinarily done.” ~YA Books Central

“Lucas Alexander: The twin brother of Silver Alexander. An ex-quarterback. Intelligent. Sherlock Holmes. Ruined by a car accident. The same car accident which took the life of his beloved sister. Like a good brother, he is protective of Silver. He has this anger inside of him. With the support and love from Tara, he semi-heals, but the ghost of Silver still haunts him. Lucas goes through this character change. From a bad boy, in the beginning, to the protector of the weak, in the end. It was a spectacular change to see.” ~Alice of Wonderland

“Lucas and Silver were inseparable. Their bond as twins connected them throughout their lives and, when tragedy strikes, the bond seems to endure past the grave. Lucas should have enough on his plate to deal with - needed to heal, recover and grieve the death of his sister, but something...or someone...is holding him back. Lucas swears he can see and hear Silver everywhere. She is always there, and she seems to be trying to tell him something. And so, he resolves to do just one thing, even if it's the last thing he does. He'll avenge Silver's death at all costs.

Have you ever felt a sort of innate connection with someone that seems to know no bounds? Vigilante Nights is a unique novel that explores this phenomenon in a gut-wrenching, emotionally turbulent manner. Author, Erin Richards, writes in a powerful manner, exposing her characters - flaws and all - for the readers to see. By baring the soul of both the characters and the plot, Vigilante Nights thrusts readers headlong into a powerful journey for redemption, revenge and, ultimately, peace.” ~ Melissa @ I Swim for Oceans

SPECIAL PRICE: VIGILANTE NIGHTS is an Amazon Big Deal eBook through 10/27/13. It’s your chance to get the Kindle version at $1.99 (that’s 80% off the original price)! Click to buy.