We are so excited to celebrate a plethora of awesome reads coming your way throughout this year, from both past Wordsmith attendees and also our very own Cristin Terrill, the brains behind the operation (this is coming from Beth, whose recent deadline left her brainless and is content to be nothing more than the face).
First up, Cristin’s latest YA science fiction, The Stars Between Us:
There’s always been a mystery to Vika Hale’s life. Ever since she was a child, she’s had an unknown benefactor providing for her and her family, making sure that Vika and her sister received the best education they could. Now, Vika longs for a bigger life than one as a poor barmaid on a struggling planet, but those dreams feel out of reach. Until one day Vika learns that her benefactor was a billionaire magnate who recently died under suspicious circumstances, and Vika has shockingly been included in his will. Invited to live on a glittering neighboring planet, Vika steps into a world she can hardly believe is real.
The only blight on Vika's lavish new life is the constant presence of Sky Foster, a mysterious young man from Vika's past who works for her benefactors. She doesn't like or trust Sky, but when she narrowly escapes an explosion and realizes someone is targeting the will's heirs, Vika knows Sky is the only one who can help her discover the identity of the bomber before she becomes their next victim. As Vika and Sky delve into the truth of the attacks, they uncover a web of secrets, murder, and an underground rebellion who may hold the answers they've been looking for. But Sky isn't who he seems to be, and Vika may not escape this new life unscathed.
In The Stars Between Us, Cristin Terrill sweeps readers away to a Dickensian-inspired world where secrets are currency and love is the most dangerous risk of all.
The Stars Between Us is hitting shelves August 2! Pre-order it now!
Next, join us in celebrating past-attendee Rosiee Thor’s next YA fantasy, Fire Becomes Her!
In Rosiee Thor's lavish fantasy novel with a Jazz Age spark, a politically savvy teen must weigh her desire to climb the social ladder against her heart in a world where magic buys votes.
Flare is power.
With only a drop of flare, one can light the night sky with fireworks . . . or burn a building to the ground -- and seventeen-year-old Ingrid Ellis wants her fair share.
Ingrid doesn't have a family fortune, monetary or magical, but at least she has a plan: Rise to the top on the arm of Linden Holt, heir to a hefty political legacy and the largest fortune of flare in all of Candesce. Her only obstacle is Linden's father who refuses to acknowledge her.
So when Senator Holt announces his run for president, Ingrid uses the situation to her advantage. She strikes a deal to spy on the senator’s opposition in exchange for his approval and the status she so desperately craves. But the longer Ingrid wears two masks, the more she questions where her true allegiances lie.
Will she stand with the Holts, or will she forge her own path?
Fire Becomes Her is available February 1—so soon!—so make sure you grab it quick! Plus, Rosiee is offering some fantastic pre-order swag, so don’t miss out
Jocelyn Rish attended our very first Wordsmith Workshop, and we are so eager to help her celebrate her picture book debut, Battle of the Butts!
Did you know manatees swim using farts? Or that herrings communicate by passing gas?
Butts are used for breathing, eating, swimming, talking, and even killing in the animal kingdom. Focusing on ten different animals and their derrières, and offering fun facts about their origin, habitat, and "posterior power," this hilarious book captures the wonder of our ecosystem. Which animal has the coolest butt power? That's up to you to decide!
This fun picture book is available right now!
Susan Crispell was also at our very first Wordsmith Retreat, and her next book, a romantic YA with a twist, is coming out in June!
When your kiss is good luck, the wrong kiss could change everything...
During the kissing season, one kiss from Remy or her older sister Maggie will give the boy—or girl—good luck. Or so it has been for all the Holloway girls before. But this year, Remy's first season, she doesn't follow the rules, dooming the boy she kisses to bad luck that almost kills him and leaving Remy with a cursed kissing season.
Now Remy is adamant about keeping her lips to herself. But the new boy in town is making it hard to keep her promise. Especially because he seems to really want to get to know her, and isn't just using her for the Holloway luck. But before she can even think about kissing someone else, she'll have to find a way to fix the curse, or else her family's legacy will be tainted forever.
Pre-order this book now for its June release!
And finally in book news, Beth (hi, it’s me!) has launched a brand-new interactive serial novel on Patreon, coming to Amazon on February 1st. The Museum of Magic is a totally interactive writing venture, written one chapter at a time with YOUR input.
Every Tuesday, Beth posts a video detailing the events of the next chapter. At each choice-making juncture, Beth either draws a tarot card, rolls some Dungeons and Dragons dice, pulls choices from a hat, or uses other methods of chance to determine what will happen to the main character and what choices she makes. Each video ends with one major decision left open. Readers then have until Saturday to vote for how they think the story should go, and the new chapter with the final choices is uploaded on Sunday.
This highly interactive method of story telling has been a fun peek behind the curtain to show you exactly how plotting a novel can work in a new and fun way, plus there are weekly for-writers posts each Thursday. The chapters will start rolling out on Kindle Vella starting February 1, and you can join Beth’s Crown Club for weekly updates (and giveaways).
Word Lab: Feburary
Join us as we continue writing into the new year with Word Lab in Feburary! We started off with a bang, and we’re eager to help you write more words and reach your goals. Word Lab is a fun, productive group that consistently writes on target and gets more words down with each session. Sign up here, or contact us with questions!
Behind the scenes, we are hard at work finding new ways to help best serve you and your writing career. Never hesitate to let us know what programs you’re looking for and what else you’d like to see from us.