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I’ve created a guided journal for those who’d like to teach themselves to find the good in each day. Each two-page spread has lines for three daily good things, plus a space for the three highlights for the week. There are no dates—only lines to fill in what week it is—because you shouldn’t wait for the beginning of the year to start a journal.
In the past when I’ve finished a book, I’ve given myself a week or two to catch up on writing-related things like updating my website, then I dive into the next project. But it never felt like enough. This year has been different.
A writer brave enough to write powerful stories for today’s young adults and their adults, Kristine E. Brickey was born and raised in Michigan and has always loved the power of words. An award-winning, retired teacher of 30 years, Brickey has an understanding that allows the creation of true characters and situations that strike the hearts of others. In addition to her art, Brickey spends time traveling, riding the forests and trails of Michigan on her horse, and participating in many ‘artsy/wordy’ groups and activities. Achieving her life dream of seeing her novels in the hands of others and on bookstore shelves has only increased her passion for reading and writing.
Sarah Patt refers to Landmark School as her second home—never taking for granted, the short commute, brisk salt air, and the devoted faculty, staff, and students who help make her work inspirational and rewarding. Because of Savannah is her first novel, and she has two more in the works!
As most of you know, for the past ten months I’ve been working on a book that is bigger and darker and twistier than anything I’ve ever written. It deals with mental illness and self-sacrifice and took more out of me than I could have imagined. And now it’s done!
Except it’s not.
Erica M. Chapman is a young adult author who writes dark, emotional novels with bursts of humor, and lighter contemporaries with smart-ass protagonists. Her debut novel, Teach Me to Forget (Simon Pulse) is out now. She’s a member of SCBWI and a lifetime Detroit Lions and Michigan football fan who loves alternative music. She tweets, and watches various CW & Freeform shows while typing her next story on her MacBook.
My latest novel has been the most difficult thing I’ve written to date, combined with other struggles in my personal life, and “You got this Travis” has become our mantra. It’s from a Vine video that my friend shared with me and it’s a simple encouragement that also makes me smile.
Keep reading to see the video.
Debbie Manber Kupfer is the author of the young adult fantasy series P.A.W.S., which features a secret institute of shapeshifters hidden deep beneath the Jewel Box in Forest Park, St. Louis. In addition she has stories in several anthologies including Fauxpocalypse, Stardust, Always, Winter Wishes, Sins of The Past and Sins of the Future and is the editor of the Sins of Time anthology series. She has also published a book of puzzles, Paws 4 Logic, with her son Joey. She believes that with enough tea and dark chocolate you can achieve anything!
S.M. James is an author of YA romance, who unapologetically dishes out happily ever afters for LGBT+ characters. When not writing, SM survives on a sustainable diet of coffee and chocolate, while watching absolute trash TV. Her latest book, Not Gonna Lie, is the SEVENTH in a series and I’m super excited to have her here during Pride Month!
Writing contemporary romance, I don’t spend a lot of time creating a world like you would with fantasy or science fiction, but I do try to bring the environment to life. The three books in the Rules Series take place in and around Boulder, Colorado, and there’s a mix of real and made-up places throughout the stories.