About
I'm a writer, illustrator, comedy guru, and geek goddess. I've been an editorial cartoonist, a consumer columnist, an arts & entertainment writer, and a comics editor. Today I write and illustrate books for children and teens. So far I've indie published two of my books: the humorous middle-grade novel, Dan Quixote: Boy of Nuevo Jersey; and the YA fantasy, Toren the Teller's Tale. I plan to indie publish three more of my books in 2012. In 2006, I won 3rd place for Ride of Your Life, a YA romantic ghost story, in SmartWriter's Write It Now contest in the YA category, which was judged by Alex Flinn, the author of Beastly and Cloaked. In 2010, I was an ABNA quarter-finalist for Why My Love Life Sucks: The Legend of Gilbert the Fixer. Aside from writing and illustrating, my favorite thing in the world is making someone laugh. I also love geek culture in all its forms. After Amazon, ThinkGeek is my favorite online store.
Divided against Yourselves (Spell Weaver)
Description
<h2>Taliesin Weaver thought that he had saved himself and his friends when he defeated the witch Ceridwen. He was wrong.</h2><h3><i>He always thought of evil as embodied in external threats that he could overcome in combat. Soon he will discover that the worst evil has been inside of him all along....</i></h3><p>Tal’s girlfriend is in a coma for which he holds himself responsible. A close friend, suffering from a past-life memory trauma similar to Tal's, is getting worse, not better. Morgan Le Fay is still lurking around and has an agenda Tal can’t figure out. Supernatural interruptions in his life are becoming more frequent, not less so, despite his expectations. In fact, Tal learns that something about his unique nature amplifies otherworldly forces in ways he never imagined were possible, ways that place at risk everyone close to him.</p><p>Tal and his allies must face everything from dead armies to dragons. As soon as they overcome one menace, another one is waiting for them. More people are depending on Tal than ever; he carries burdens few adults could face, let alone a sixteen-year-old like himself. Yet somehow Tal at first manages to handle everything the universe throws at him.</p><p>What Tal can’t handle is the discovery that a best friend, almost a brother, betrayed him, damaging Tal’s life beyond repair. For the first time, Tal feels a darkness within him, a darkness which he can only barely control...assuming he wants to. He’s no longer sure. Maybe there is something to be said for revenge, and even more to be said for taking what he wants. After all, he has the power...</p><p> </p><h2><u>Can Tal stop himself before he destroys everyone he has sworn he will protect? Scroll up to buy a copy and find out!</u></h2>
Story Behind The Book
Ride of Your Life is a bittersweet, romantic, YA ghost story that was inspired by a true event: the Great Adventure Haunted Castle fire, which killed eight teenagers in 1984. It is a fantasy novel about undying love, and it won third-place in Smart Writer’s Write It Now (W.I.N.) contest in the YA category, which was judged by Alex Flinn, the author ofBeastly and Cloaked.
Reviews
Marissa A: "
<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;line-height:19px;">Wow, this was a fantastic story! I really enjoyed it; the concept was compelling. The writing was very, very good; it all flowed well. There was good development within the characters, and I thought they were pretty much all likable. Tracy and Mack have been gone for thirty years, but still are connected to the Amusement Park, where they past on, but you read their reasons for staying. Josh and Ashley are the new ones at the Park, after they lose their lives, but something about them makes Tracy change, and you'll see if its for the best or not. What I thought was sweet, was the building of an instant attraction or longing that Tracy and Josh have for one another. Tracy tries all she can to resist this connection they seem to have, but Josh won't let her. What I also really liked, were the fun looking illustrations that greeted us into each new chapter, looking at an illustration of some ride at the Park. With reading this whole story,<strong> it definitely gave me the urge to want to go to an Amusement Park with friends, and it will do the same for you, and oh eat some delicious food :) </strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;line-height:19px;">I don't know what else to say, but I left this story with a good feeling, and I think you will to, so do read this novel; it's a <strong>perfect Summer Read!</strong></span>"
