For several years now, I've had this cover design concept in mind for Book 3 in the Montrose Paranormal Academy series ...

And it looks BETTER than the image I had in my head!

I'm still in the tweaking stages, so if you have any suggestions feel free to give me an email shout!

For instance, I just added the extra GLOW to our main girl's outline because the original looked too dark in the thumbnail version. (Designers can definitely be picky! ;)

More good news ...

The pre-order of Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 3: The European Conspiracy is now live on Amazon...

The new book is set to drop on Monday, October 5, 2020!

My editor raves that it's my best book yet. I hope you guys agree!

Book 3 will be on sale for 99cents for the first two weeks of release. Make sure to grab your copy during the sale window!

But no worries, I'll be emailing you next week when Book 3 finally releases! Can't wait!!

Writing Update:
The Montrose Academy relaunch is still booming! As soon as I put the final touches on Book 3, I'll get cracking on the first draft of Book 4.

I hope to have Book 4 ready for you by the end of the year! :::Fingers Crossed:::

Also, I've definitely decided to add a Book 5 to the series, since people seem to be enjoying all the books so far.

Thank you my loyal readers!

It takes readers like you for a book to have any success at all. Thank you for being a loyal reader of my books. Your support helps me write the next book.

And I love writing books for you!

>>>Check out Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 3: The European Conspiracy on Pre-order for 99cents!<<<


BTW:
LAUNCH TEAM SPOTS NOW OPEN:
Have you already read the first two books in the Montrose Paranormal Academy series? If so, all you have to do is leave a review and you can get the next book free!

Check out all the details here: Montrose Paranormal Academy Launch Team

Drumroll please ...

Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 2: Crossing Nexis went live yesterday  with 50 pre-orders!

Can you believe it?!

I'm SO EXCITED that Book 2 in the new and improved Montrose Paranormal Academy series is out!! I hope you are too.

Everything is happening so fast. One happy launch team member emailed me about her review this morning before I even woke up. Go early risers!

If you read the original version of this book when it was simply titled Crossing Nexis, you'll notice a few minor changes.

1. Lucy has some cool new powers.
2. She's a little more badass and take charge
3. Plus, I've amped up a few scenes in the middle and especially at the end.

But other than that, everything else is much is the same as the original version that released in November 2019.

I hope this version is just a little more polished. After all, an author always wants to improve their craft. Especially this writer chick!

Most importantly, Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 2: Crossing Nexis is pivotal for setting up the rest of the series ...

Whether I end up writing a 4 or 5 book series, only time will tell. Or the number of readers clambering for more! ;)

If you're a loyal reader of the old version of this series, I hope you love this updated installment. If you're new to the Montrose Paranormal Academy universe, I hope you love this gripping sequel.

Is there anything you love or hate or want to add to the series? Comment below with your thoughts!


P.S. I'm working on Book 3 right now. I hope to have it ready for you in October. But sshhh, don't tell. ;)

Yesterday, I had a call with my writing mentor.

He was SO impressed with the numbers for Book 1 that he advised me to release Book 2 ...

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

I was stunned!

But the numbers don't lie. Readers are responding to Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 1 in a big way!

All it took was some major updates, a new title, and a new cover ...

Plus a brand new marketing strategy. (Which I'm still learning.)

Who knew?

If you've been a long time Nexis fan, you know that I released the first version of Book 2 back in November as Crossing Nexis. Don't worry, I'll keep that as the book's subtitle.

Luckily, I already sent Book 2 to my editor to review the updates I added for this relaunch.

The next two weeks will be a little crazy as I update Book 2, design the cover, and put the new book up for pre-order.

Unfortunately, that means Book 3 will have to be pushed aside for a week or two.

But I hope you'll agree that in the end, it'll all be worth it!

Honestly guys, my head is spinning right now. I'm still trying to figure out pre-order and release dates.

Right now, I have a TON of work to do to get everything ready in time.

My mentor warned me about this.

He said if Book 1 was uber successful, then I'd need to release Book 2 right away.

I just never thought it'd really happen!

Underneath the shock and awe, I'm ecstatic right now. And SO VERY GRATEFUL for all of your support.

Over the next few weeks, stay tuned for the Book 2 cover reveal, pre-order announcement and release dates.

Who can't wait for the next book? Comment below and tell me all about it.

My new book Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 1: The Nexis Secret is now LIVE on Amazon ...

... and it's already trending in Hot New Releases!

Bonus ... it's only 99cents through July 31st! (Or FREE on Kindle Unlimited)

>>>Check out Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 1: The Nexis Secret at 99cents!<<<

So many things have changed about this book from the original story I wrote 5 years ago.

If you read my first novel, The Nexis Secret, you'll notice that I updated a few things:

1. Lucy's quest to find her brother is more prominent thanks to a postcard she receives in the prologue.
2. A big revelation comes in Chapter 2 that was originally in the middle of the book.
3. From the get-go you'll learn more about the secret societies, and their agendas for our heroine.
4. Lucy gets some cool new, and amped up, powers!!!
5. Lucy has her own agenda and makes her own choices in this book. Especially in the souped up ending where her new powers are on full display!

Plus, I made this new map of Montrose Paranormal Academy. Check it out:
 
Obviously, I don't want to spoil too much for you, my loyal and faithful readers.

But since you've been with me from the beginning, I think you deserve the inside scoop.

I REALLY hope you enjoy the new book!

I can't wait to hear your thoughts on all the changes.

I'm hoping to release the rest of the series THIS FALL. Don't worry, I'll keep you posted as always.

Thanks again for your AMAZING support of my new book!

>>>Check out Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 1: The Nexis Secret at 99cents!<<<

Lucy enrolls at a paranormal academy to find her missing brother, but ends up discovering powers she never knew about ...

The Three Societies that govern the academy want to use her gifts ...

And she's about to find out why they call her the Seer.

Montrose Paranormal Academy is a Clean Paranormal YA series full of slow burn romance, snarky dialogue, and urban fantasy adventure set in New York City.

BTW: Looking for more 99cent books? Check out the SciFi/Fantasy 99cent Sale through 7/26.

Late last night I put the final touches on my BRAND NEW cover!

Are you ready to see the cover for Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 1: The Nexis Secret?

Drumroll please ...

I designed this cover myself and it took FOREVER! There's a reason I've always paid for cover designs in the past.

Even though I'm a graphic designer, it probably took me two weeks to tweak this cover until it was just right.

I had to find the perfect font ...

And make our snarky heroine glow like lightning ...

And make the smoke look magical ...

The list goes on!

Thank goodness for Google and YouTube tutorials. I actually learned a TON about Photoshop. Plus, I have a cover that I can model the rest of the series after...

I'm SO much happier with this cover than the previous two. I guess it was all worth it!

July 14 is only two weeks away. The new book, with its BRAND NEW cover will be LIVE in 14 days!!!

For release week I'll be having a 99cent sale July 14 - 18th. But don't worry, I'll email you a reminder.

Do you like the new cover? Are you excited for launch day? I’d love to hear all about it.

Two weeks ago when I was first furloughed from my day job due to COVID, I was super bummed. :(

But, after I applied for unemployment (which took several days and the search for a landline), I finally relaxed and decided to use my time wisely.

That's when I started the Rough Draft Writing Blitz! I vowed to finish the rough draft for book 3 in 30 days.

To date, I've written through Chapter 17 in The Nexis Conspiracy.

Then something unexpected happened.

I signed up for a self publishing course and had my first call with my writing coach. And he gave me some unexpected new direction for my series.

First, he told me to stop writing the rough draft of book 3. Whaaaa?

Then he said that I needed to fix 5 key things in book 1, The Nexis Secret, if I want to target the new genre of Academy Fiction. Which I do.

So ... after much internal debate, screaming into pillows, and pulling out my hair, I figured out a new direction for the Nexis series.

Here are the 5 key things my writing coach told me to fix:

1. Lucy, as the main character, needs to be the architect of her own destiny.
2. She needs a quest, which means Lucy will amp up the search for her brother.
3. Her powers need to be introduced sooner. Here, I'm thinking paranormal classes are just the ticket!
4. Define her powers. That means Lucy will not only learn her powers, but get to play around with them, too. Win, win.
5. Change the ending so she rescues herself. I've got some pretty cool ideas for this one, but I won't spoil things for you.

If I decide to make these changes, that means I will re-release Books 1 and 2 in the series. I might even change the title of the series to Montrose Paranormal Academy, which the original book titles as subtitles. Such as:

• Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 1: The Nexis Secret
• Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 1.5: The Nexis Awakening
• Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 2: Crossing Nexis

 If I do revamp the series, that means you insiders will have the chance to be on the launch team! If you're already on my Nexis Street Team, I'll just transfer you to the launch team.

If you want to join the Montrose Paranormal Academy Launch team, click the link to submit your email.

What do you think? Comment below  to let me know your thoughts on all of these changes.
I start rearranging scenes tomorrow!!!

I'm really getting into Academy books lately and I found a new series that is definitely worth a read. Recently, I stumbled onto Firstborn Academy by Isla Frost. This series is definitely worth a read.

There's 3 things I absolutely LOVE about this series. But first, how about a little background?

Firstborn Academy is set in a dystopian world where the first born child of every family is sent to the Walkers as a tribute, of sorts, to provide food and protection for the entire family.

World Walkers, that is. Wooo, sounds intriguing, right?

The Walkers have fun but scary magical abilities that turn living things into mythical monsters.

And the plot thickens ...

The only difference between this and Hunger Games is that there is no choice involved. The first born child, of any gender, MUST go through the portal as the sacrificial lamb. Their sacrifice provides food and protections for their whole family.

That's the agreement with the Walkers. Thanks, guys.

There is an unexpected magical twist, where the firstborns learn about magic. Which makes it more of a Harry Potter meets Hunger Games kind of story.

Without further ado, here are my three favorite things about Firstborn Academy.

1. The Main Character is Sacrificial
Lena knew her fate as a child. She grew up knowing she only had 18 years with her family. That definitely wreaks havoc on the family dynamics, but what a great twist!

2. The World Building is Unique
For you academy fiction fans, the academy theme is the main world the main character lives in. But it's a magical academy.

As you read each book, this dystopian but magical world gets more and more interesting. Layer upon layer of nuance is added as the author reveals the world slowly.

There are post-war ruins, magical creatures, and mythical beings on this dystopian earth.

But I won't spoil it for you!

3. There are Great Examples of Overcoming Prejudice.
The beings in charge are the Walkers. Humans don't know much about them, except that they're gorgeous. But mean.

Walkers are more powerful than humans, so they naturally look down on them. No surprise, there's a lot of prejudice between both sides.

Firstborn Academy does a good job of showing the prejudice, and finds small ways to overcome it. At least for the main character.

It's not a treatise on overcoming stereotypes and prejudice. But it's a start.

The only disappointing bit in this series is that there's no predominant love story.

Don't worry, it's there in the background. But this book is more about survival and saving the planet. Cool themes, too.

Overall, Firstborn Academy is a great read for YA Academy readers who also like dystopian and magical themes. There are enough unique elements and twists to keep avid YA readers entertained for the entire series.

Luckily, this series is free on Kindle Unlimited.
​
What YA books are you reading?
Leave a comment below to tell me all about it.

Maybe I'll review it next month. I always need new books to read.

It's finally here! Announcing the Montrose Academy VIP Readers Club!

I’m trying something new and different to get to know my readers and find out what they want. Are you up for a change of pace? I’m rolling out an all-new Facebook readers group where you can join Montrose Academy!

Want to share your ideas for the next books in the series?
Want the behind-the-scenes scoop on how the secret societies formed or how Montrose Academy started?

Now’s your chance!

Join the Montrose Academy VIP Readers Group to immerse yourself in all things Nexis. Plus you'll get to know the author and get your voice heard.

Here are all the exclusive things you’ll have access to when you join the club:

1.  Deleted scenes from all the Nexis books.
   
2.  Sneak peaks from the next book in the series.
   
3.  Behind-the-scenes backstory on all things Nexis.
   
4.  VIP Suggestion Box: Tell the author what you want to see next in the series.
   
5.  Team Will or Team Bryan? Polls and quizzes about your fave Montrose Academy characters and plot twists.
   
6.  Monthly contests, freebies, and giveaways!
   

I’ve been writing and building the world of Nexis and Montrose Academy for four years. But sometimes it’s a lonely task. I’d love to throw open the doors and hear what you really think about the characters, academy, and secret societies I created.

If that sounds like something you’d be down for, click below to check out the Montrose Academy VIP Readers Club.
I can’t want to meet you and invite you into the world of the Nexis Society, the Guardians and the Watchers.

Don't worry, that doesn't mean I won't share lots of goodies from the readers group on my blog, too!

Whether you join the readers group or not, let me know what you think. What would you like to learn more about in the world of Nexis?

A few days ago, I had an amazing coaching session with author Jami Albright. She’s a best-selling Kindle romance author who writes a book a year. Today’s popular indie wisdom proclaims, “Write a book a month, or at least every three months to keep the Amazon algorithm primed.” But what about those of us who can’t write a book a month? Where does that leave us?

I stumbled upon a YouTube video in my indie author’s Facebook group of Jami speaking at the 20 Books to 50k conference. Jami’s talk was so inspiring that I decided to try a coaching session with her. It was amazing! She gave me a TON of personal feedback in our one-hour call. She also told me I needed to make a few changes—some of them big. One that hurts, too.

Right out of the gate Jami asked, “Why aren’t you marketing your books as Academy books?” Sure, my Nexis Angel series takes place at Montrose Academy. Apparently, that’s a whole genre now! Funny story—I’m currently reading several academy books on Kindle Unlimited to educate myself on my competitors, ahem comparable authors. ;) I just hadn’t put two-and-two together that my books were actually “Academy Books.” Three cheers for an outsider’s fresh perspective!

More good news, my brand new covers and my professionally edited books are both up to snuff. But there are some tweaks I need to make to my blurbs, my categories, and my keywords, which she personally helped me upgrade. There are several other minor updates I’ll need to make behind the scenes (I won’t bore you with the details). However, there are two major changes I’ve been advised to make—one good and one bittersweet.

Good news first. How would you feel if I added a Facebook Readers group? It would be exclusively for Nexis Angel series readers and fans to discuss the books. I’d be there to add insight, give extra feedback, and maybe even a sneak peak at some deleted scenes and such. I hope to make that available ASAP. If you’re interested, check my FB author page for all the latest.

Now we come to the bittersweet change I alluded to earlier. I’ve been advised to take my prequel off of Amazon. That means The Nexis Awakening will no longer be available for sale or on Kindle Unlimited. Instead, it will be an exclusive freebie to readers who join my email newsletter list. Jami and I discussed how I might write another free reader magnet to entice readers to join my mailing list, but in the end it’s just easier to use a novella I’ve already written. Especially one that contains spoilers for Book 1 in the series, The Nexis Secret.

So, it is with a heavy heart that I will be removing The Nexis Awakening from Amazon on December 8, 2019. If you haven’t read it yet, you still have time to download a copy here.

To be honest, I love the new cover of The Nexis Awakening so much that I want to write more about Lucy’s brother, James. When I first saw the cover model I said, “Oh, there he is. Nice to meet you, James.” My cover designer found the PERFECT face for James. Now I’m imagining what he’s been up to in Europe since his disappearance. Wouldn’t that make a good story? Needless to say, a version of James and his story may reappear in the near future. So don’t despair too much. ;)

I’m hoping that these changes will help my books reach more readers—and help me serve my current readers better. If you’re reading this, that means YOU. I want to interact with you more. I want to know what you think. Maybe I’ll even let your feedback shape the course of the next two books in the series! Mostly, I just want to know what you like and what you don’t like.

I’m not like some authors who just write for themselves or for the love of writing. I write for the people like you who read my books. Not because you have to, but because you want to.

I want to know why you read—and why you read my books. Are you like me as a teen, looking to escape a troubling home life? Or just escape in general? Or are you the kind of reader who wants to learn something new when you read? Maybe it’s a combination of the two, or another option I hadn’t thought of. Either way, I want to know!

So tell me, why do you love to read? What are your favorite kinds of books?