Great news! “Super Me” is now available at the Dexter District Library, in Dexter, Michigan!
I stopped by yesterday and snapped a few photos.
Don’t mind me, fellow library patrons…. just over here taking selfies with my book.
Pretty exciting to see it on the shelf and available for check out!
If you are in the area, and haven’t yet read “Super Me,” you can now literally check it out in the teen section.
I’m past due announcing that Twenty-Five Hundred is now available on Amazon!
Paperback $4.99 and Kindle/Ebook 1.99
Also available on Kindle Unlimited.
20 short stories, 500 words each. A fun mix of humor, contemporary, fantasy, and magic.
These stories have been a work in progress for the last few years. I have loved the challenge of making them exactly 500 words and am so thrilled to have them available. If you haven’t gotten your copy yet, head on over and snag one!
In other news, I’ve reached the final month with baby #3 and am just so excited over here, it’s pretty much all I can think about.
Last week, I went to my 36 week appointment and confirmed that baby is head down. They had a little handheld ultrasound unit to check and we got to see his little profile (both my girls got to go with me!) I’m just so anxious to meet our little guy and can’t believe it’s going to be so very soon! Time to pack the hospital bag…
In the meantime, I’ve been working on getting to the end of the first draft in my middle grade adventure book, Marigold and Nox. I’d hoped to get this draft finished before baby gets here and I’m still hanging onto that–fitting in time here and there and when I can to try to make that happen. The story is progressing nicely, and I’m simply loving getting to know the characters, Marigold and kitty Nox as they go on their adventure together. The friendship that they create is really special to me, as is the fun characters they meet along the way. It’s been such a blast to write and I can’t wait to see it through to the end.
One last bit of news . . .
Sale coming up for Super Me! The majority of the story happens leading up to, and on, Valentine’s Day. So what better time to hold a book sale?
If you haven’t yet read Super Me, now’s your chance! Just .99 for the kindle version, starting Feb 14th and running for one week only.
So, what’s happening with the zombie book I’ve been talking about? Is it done yet?
It’s time for an UPDATE!
I posted a few months back about “Run” my young adult zombie novel. I’m excited to announce that I finished the first draft near the end of June! The manuscript is currently simmering on the back burner, waiting to be molded into a second draft and reworked until it’s ready for publishing. The story is in three parts and, once it’s finished, the parts will be available for download in electronic (kindle) format and sold all together as a physical book as well. I’m pleased with how the story turned out! There’s action, suspense, a bit of romance… and of course zombies. And not the lumbering slow kind. Watch out, ’cause these zombies RUN.
Once the first draft of “Run” was completed, I immediately jumped into work on a new project that has been floating around my head for quite some time. This is a middle grade novel, meaning it’s geared toward the 8-12 year old range–between chapter books and young adult. The book will be part of a series called, “Marigold and Nox: The Magical Adventures of a Girl and Her Cat”. I am about a third of the way through the first draft of the first book, entitled “The Wishing Well”. In it, ten-year-old Marigold moves from the city to the country, where she meets Nox, the mysterious black cat, and discovers a magical doorway in her new bedroom. Adventure awaits.
I’m not sure how much I’m ready to talk about this yet, as it’s pretty new still. But I can say that this sweet and fun series was inspired by the strong bond between my nine-year-old daughter and her kitty, Mischief, a cat true to his name.
There will definitely be more on “Marigold and Nox” coming later.
In other not-related-to-writing news…
Yep, that’s a baby in there!
After six or more grueling weeks of all day morning sickness, I’ve finally made it to the second trimester and am beginning to feel better. THANK GOODNESS. Now I can get back to making paleo goodies!
And now that my oldest is back in school, that means my toddler’s nap time is all about writing time for me.
Have a great week!
A week before publishing Super Me, I had a brand new story come at me. Full. Force. I was in the car–on my way to take my youngest to her one-year check-up and that’s when the story first hit me. I furiously typed notes into my phone at stop lights and every chance I had. By the time we got back home, I had a rough, but solid, idea a new story–including the title, main characters, setting, first lines, basic plot line, and even a possible ending.
The next day, we took off for Breckenridge, CO for a few days on a little family vacation. I spent the whole time writing down flashes of scenes as they came to me and making notes and plans for this new story. It seemed like the craziest time to start a new project. Super Me would be released in just days! I had the sequel, Super Us close-ish to completion and the third in the series in progress (also some novella ideas I’ve been playing around with).
But, for whatever reason, my mind was spinning with zombies. So, I put aside A Super Series, temporarily, and focused on the project at hand.
It has been such a fun adventure! Writing zombie-fighting action scenes wasn’t something I thought I would be tackling and is so different than what I’ve written before. But I am loving getting to know these know these characters and figuring out how the story will unfold and piece together.
I’m also trying something new and writing this draft from two different character’s points of view–from the perspective of a girl… and a guy too. Will it work out? Who knows! But I’m willing to give it a try because writing the story this way and switching between the two viewpoints, seems to be what fits best right now.
I’ve been swapping first draft chapters with my friend, former critique partner, and talented writer, Kathy Drazsnzak (check out her blog, it’s fantastic). And of course, I’m also sending the chapters to my husband, Mike–he’s always up for reading whatever I come up with (even the random stories that pop up out of my prompt writing. I looooove writing from prompts!)
And now I’m getting close-ish to the end of the first draft of my newest novel…
The description (so far) goes:
The virus has been released and few remain. The undead have taken over and those who are left must find a way to survive. Kaylie was weeks away from graduating high school when the virus ripped her future away. She is suddenly alone, afraid, and surrounded by monsters. Hunter’s whole world crashed in a tragic accident long before the dead swarmed the Earth. Now, with nothing left to lose, he heads out into the unknown seeking revenge. Neither are prepared for what’s coming… in a world that wants them dead.
Sometimes a story comes at you and you just have to write it.
Sometimes a story comes at you and you just have to RUN with it.
My good friend, Amy Giaquinto, is an award winning filmmaker and screen writer. When she approached me about doing an interview on local TV channel 8 about writing and publishing Super Me, I thought it sounded like an amazing opportunity! I also was wary–was this something I could actually do? It was definitely outside my comfort zone…. I’m so much more comfortable writing than I am speaking!
Well, we did it. I took a big ‘ol step outside of my zone and went for it.
This morning, we filmed the interview at Channel 8.
Amy produced and directed. She asked me questions and I did my best to answer cohesively! I also read the end of chapter one of Super Me–the awkward-funny and devastating scene in the coffee shop where Faye’s journey begins.
Here I am… on set! I *think* it went pretty well. Of course, I haven’t watched it yet…
During the interview I had a BIG announcement and I’m just bursting to share the news!
I’m working with another talented friend of mine–local artist, Laura Somers, to put together a picture book. I wrote the manuscript several years ago and she is currently working on illustrations. Berries for Bruno is about a bear who’s stuck in his ways and is forced to step out of his comfort zone and try new things. (I guess that’s the current theme, isn’t it?)
We will be publishing Berries for Bruno this year. I can’t wait!
Check out Amy’s facebook page, Guiaquinto Productions, and catch her new trailer for her hilarious short film, “Date Night In”. And stay tuned for book release news!
So I got the email from the Longmont Library the other day.
Yep, that thing I’ve been waiting for has finally happened.
They have catalogued Super Me!
I had to rush over and see for myself.
Sure enough, my book is now on the shelves of a PUBLIC LIBRARY in Longmont, Colorado.
You can find Super Me in TEEN NEW FICTION.
This is the kind of stuff dreams are made of.
Last month was my first book signing!
I did a post a few weeks ago about how much I was looking forward to this event.
The Used Book Emporium on Main Street (who is selling Super Me!) invited me to set up a “Meet the Author” table during Longmont’s Art Walk on September 15th.
My husband and daughters came to support me and a few familiar faces stopped by to say hello. The Art Walk was in full swing and there was a ton of foot traffic.
Like a lot of writers, I would not label myself as outgoing. And, frankly, the idea of talking to random passersby about my novel made me a bit uncomfortable. But I’m glad I put myself out there anyway. It was an amazing experience and it ended up being so much fun. I met a lot of people, sold a few paperbacks and handed out a ton of business cards. I had lots of practice answering the question “What is your book about?” A simple question, but one that I’ve struggled a bit with–it’s difficult to sum up the story without giving too much away. This is why writing the book description was such a challenge! The experience actually led me to a redo of Super Me’s description and I think that it is much more clear now.
And a clear idea of what a book is about is important when you’re trying to decide if you want to read it!
My favorite part of this event was when people walked up and asked if I wrote this book.
And I could answer, “Yes, I did!”
This is the Used Book Emporium.
It is a pretty great little bookstore on Main Street in downtown Longmont, Colorado. It is also the first brick and mortar store to officially sell Super Me in paperback!
A few days after leaving copies of my book with them, a friend of mine happened to stop by the store.
She sent me this photo:
And my jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe it. That’s my book being displayed in the store’s window. Meaning, people walking along downtown Longmont could just glance over and see the book that I wrote in the window of a bookstore.
But wait, there’s more.
The owners of the Used Book Emporium have asked me to do a “Meet the Author” table next Saturday during some events going on in Downtown Longmont. The last Artwalk of the season is happening that evening (local artists, live music, and family-friendly fun) as well as a “Word Walk” where word-related fun is to be had at various downtown locations such as a story times, riddles and word games, etc. as well as calligraphy bookmark crafting at the Used Book Emporium. I will have a table set up outside of the bookstore for a couple of hours that evening with copies of my novel to sell and to sign.
This is my first book signing! I’m thrilled. And nervous. But mostly thrilled. My husband Mike, always having my back, always believing in me, created a poster to display at the event (it stands on an easel and it looks pretty darn amazing), as well as business cards that I can’t wait to hand out.
The business cards alone are worth celebrating. These little slips of paper hold so much meaning for me. On them, I declare myself an author. And I declare my writing a business. This, seemingly small thing matters so much. It is taking myself seriously as a writer. It is saying that I believe in this. That I can do this. These are all big steps and I am excited about embracing them.
It’s finally here… Release Day!
My young adult contemporary supernatural novel, Super Me, Book I in A Super Series, is now available on Amazon in both electronic and physical versions.
Also, as a fun sneak peek, you can find the first chapter of Super Us, A Super Series Book II, at the end!
I hope you enjoy reading Faye’s story. It’s been a long journey and I’m so excited to finally share it with you.
At its core, this is a story of self-acceptance–with a bit of love, a bit of magic, a little mystery, and hopefully some smiles along the way.
In case you missed it, you can read the book description here and sneak peek the first chapter here.
And don’t forget, you can find Super Me on Goodreads and follow me on Facebook.
When you sit down to enjoy a book… which version do you prefer, Kindle or paperback?
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© 2024 Jessica Dazzo
