Sunday, June 25, 2017

It's Time To Meet SEBASTIAN ALVAREZ!

The time has come...

For you to meet  the other 1/2 of my dynamic duo...

Are you ready?

...ARE YOU READYYYYY?

K...

We're ONE month from the pub date for my debut YA novel, THE INEVITABLE COLLISION OF BIRDIE & BASH! This is one of your last two chances to get to know the characters before you read! You can also check out the 1st 2 chapters on griffinteen.com!

Author's note: My book contains heavy language in parts! My characters are seniors in high school! If you're thinking of gifting to a younger teen or middle schooler, take a peek for yourself, first!

Today's Character Study Focuses on: Sebastian Alvarez

SEBASTIAN ALVAREZ in a nutshell: Bash may not always make the best decisions at the time, but he always has good intentions. He's a loyal friend (to the bitter end), and his Ma's reason for everything—though, he may not actually be all the things he tells her he is. Why crush a dying woman's view of her only son?

Why you'll root for him: Bash means well (really, he does). It just doesn't always go as planned. He's always struggled with his place in the world. Having never met his father, then enduring his Ma's abusive relationship through his early teen years, he may have gotten into trouble for a bit, but he has dreams and he'll find a way to live them.

Favorite Bash moment: When he comforts his Ma in the nursing home.

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned for my Release Day party on July 25th! There *may* even be prizes involved!

You can pre-order Birdie & Bash as part of your Christmas-in-July shopping!

Preorder on Amazon

Preorder on Barnes & Noble

Preorder on IndieBound

And check out my website for other cool links

Clickety clickety click everywhere! And exclamation points, too!!!

Now that you know all my characters, who are you most like?

<3

Candyland. OUT.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

It's Time to Meet BIRDIE PAXTON...

The time has come...

For you to meet 1/2 of my dynamic duo...

Are you ready?

...ARE YOU READYYYYY?

K...

We're 2 months from the pub date for my debut YA novel, THE INEVITABLE COLLISION OF BIRDIE & BASH! This is one of your last two chances to get to know the characters before you read! You can also check out the 1st 2 chapters on griffinteen.com!

Author's note: My book contains heavy language in parts! My characters are seniors in high school! If you're thinking of gifting to a younger teen or middle schooler, take a peek for yourself, first!

Today's Character Study Focuses on: Birdie Paxton

BIRDIE PAXTON in a nutshell: It's hard to boil Birdie down, because she's soooo complex. A girl after my own heart, she doesn't completely believe in love (except for her Nan and Sarge's example), she thinks too much using facts and logic, and doesn't rely on what the heart wants. She'd leave home for the college of her dreams without looking back (and has a thorough plan to do so) because life is nothing without a plan. But when her family's thrown into tragedy, her plan changes. Growth and evolution are inevitable—just like falling for someone she shouldn't—but the question is (the one we all ask ourselves, I think), will she fight it or let it change her?

Why you'll root for her: Birdie's all the parts of me that need stability to stay afloat. She has a plan for her future, she's worked hard to get where she is, and despite the setbacks, continues to dream big no matter what's happening around her (and it's a lot). Even when her life is disrupted, this tough girl tries (and fails) to hold onto the facts to ground her. Without facts, she believes in nothing, but sometimes, facts aren't as important as hope—no matter how small the chances are that everything will be OK.

Favorite Birdie moment: When she finally lets go.

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned for the next Character Study the 25th of June 2017, which will be a full-length feature of the second half of my couple (and my main man), SEBASTIAN ALVAREZ! 

You can pre-order Birdie & Bash as part of your pre-Christmas-in-July shopping!

Preorder on Amazon

Preorder on Barnes & Noble

Preorder on IndieBound

And check out my website for other cool links

Clickety clickety click everywhere! And exclamation points, too!!!

In the meantime tell me, do you consider yourself a Birdie?

<3

Candyland. OUT.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Birdie & Bash Character Study #6!

Hello, hello!

To kick off the countdown to July 25th, 2017 (I know, it seems far away but it's really only 3 months away—whaaaaa???!!!), I'll be showcasing a different character from my debut YA novel—THE INEVITABLE COLLISION OF BIRDIE & BASH—until release! This is your chance to get to know everyone before you read! You can also check out the 1st 2 chapters on griffinteen.com!

Author's note: My book contains heavy language in parts! My characters are seniors in high school! If you're thinking of gifting to a younger teen, take a peek for yourself, first (but know they speak this way because of how they were raised).

Today's Character Study Focuses on: Wild Kyle

WILD KYLE in a nutshell: Legit the worst kind of friend. Selfish AF, conceited, and the type who buys his way out of trouble. He's the actual worst so hopefully you'll root for his demise, too.

Why he's important to the story: Kyle reflects Bash's bad choices back onto him. He's the antagonist needed to push Bash into good (or bad) and without his presence, Bash would probably have an okay life. Unfortunately, he's a necessary evil to help my sweet B grow into the man I know he can be.

Favorite Wild Kyle moment: I wrote him and hate him, so, finding a fav anything about WK is tricky. If I tell you my favorite part involving him, it'll give things away so you'll have to read to find out! I know—that was lame city. But I bet you're curious now!

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned for the next Character Study the 25th of May 2017, which will be a full-length feature of my main girl, BIRDIE PAXTON!

You can pre-order Birdie & Bash as part of your post-Christmas shopping (use those amazon gift cards on ME)!

Preorder on Amazon

Preorder on Barnes & Noble

Preorder on IndieBound

And check out my website for other cool links

Clickety clickety click everywhere! And exclamation points, too!!!

In the meantime tell me, do you know a d-bag like Wild Kyle?

<3

Candyland. OUT.

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Birdie & Bash Character Study #5!

Hello, hello!

To kick off the countdown to July 25th, 2017 (I know, it seems far away but it's really only 4 months away—whaaaaa???!!!), I'll be showcasing a different character from my debut YA novel—THE INEVITABLE COLLISION OF BIRDIE & BASH—until release! This is your chance to get to know everyone before you read! You can also check out the 1st 2 chapters on griffinteen.com!

Today's Character Study Focuses on: BESS & BROOKS PAXTON (Birdie's parents)

BESS & BROOKS in a nutshell: This longtime couple have had their hardships and even as they struggle to make it work for their children, there's always the lingering question "Is love really enough?" With Brooks working all the time (and still not making enough) and Bess having "thrown away" the life she wanted to be a mother, a lot of Birdie's reasoning and drive comes from not wanting to turn out like her parents.

Why they're important to the story: Marriage is complicated enough without tragedy. While they're the foundation for Birdie's story, a lot of their individual struggles apply to anyone who's ever been in love, or experienced loss. Bess is the dreamer, comparable to Birdie's crush, Bash, while Brooks is the practical one—more like Birdie herself. They ground her; cement her into what's important, just as everything else feels lost.

Favorite BESS & BROOKS non-dialogue actions: While awaiting news of their youngest son in the hospital—whether he will live or die—Bess insists on staying at her son's side while Brooks returns home to carefully pack clothes and things that might comfort his grieving wife. These actions are small in excitement but bit in meaning as they've had such difficulty staying afloat already and now here they are, holding onto whatever they can so not to fall apart.

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned for the next Character Study the 25th of April 2017!

You can pre-order Birdie & Bash as part of your post-Christmas shopping (use those amazon gift cards on ME)!

Preorder on Amazon

Preorder on Barnes & Noble

Preorder on IndieBound

And check out my website for other cool links

Clickety clickety click everywhere! And exclamation points, too!!!

In the meantime tell me, do you know a couple like Bess & Brooks?

<3

Candyland. OUT.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Birdie & Bash Character Study #4

Oh, hey! How you doin'?

To kick off the countdown to July 25th, 2017 (I know, it seems far away but it's really only 5 months from tomorrow—whaaaaa???!!!), I'll be showcasing a different character from my debut YA novel—THE INEVITABLE COLLISION OF BIRDIE & BASH—until release! This is your chance to get to know everyone before you read! You can also check out the 1st 2 chapters on griffinteen.com!

Today's Character Study Focuses on: VIOLET

VIOLET in a nutshell: You know that friend who believes in positive thinking, silver linings, and literally everything a horoscope says? Violet not only has an acupuncturist, iridologist, and actually has a book of silver linings, she's Birdie's BFF through everything—except for this one major secret between them—Bash.

Why she's important to the story: Everyone needs that person who lifts them up when everything goes to the crapper. Violet is Birdie's silver lining, personified.

Favorite VIOLET line: "Bitches be trippin'."

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned for the next Character Study the 25th of March 2017! EEK! It's getting closer :D

You can pre-order Birdie & Bash as part of your post-Christmas shopping (use those amazon gift cards on ME)!

Preorder on Amazon

Preorder on Barnes & Noble

Preorder on IndieBound

And check out my website for other cool links

Clickety clickety click everywhere! And exclamation points, too!!!

In the meantime tell me, who is YOUR Violet?

<3

Candyland. OUT.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Birdie & Bash Character Study #3

HAP HAP HAPPY NEW [dumpster fire start of a] YEAR!

To kick off the countdown to July 25th, 2017 (I know, it seems far away but it's really only 6 months from tomorrow—whaaaaa???!!!), I'll be showcasing a different character from my debut YA novel—THE INEVITABLE COLLISION OF BIRDIE & BASH—until release! This is your chance to get to know everyone before you read! You can also check out the 1st 2 chapters on griffinteen.com!

Today's Character Study Focuses on: CAMILLA

CAMILLA in a nutshell: Camilla is as tough as they get. Hard-ass worker, takes no bull, will do anything for the love of her life (Bash) kind of mother. Even in fighting cancer, it's apparent the hardest thing she's ever done has nothing to do with the above. It's leaving Bash.

Why she's important to the story: Everything Bash is, and does, is a direct result of his beloved, Ma. 

Favorite CAMILLA line: (On why she thinks fate is a man) "Only a man would be cocky enough to decide the huge responsibility of destiny." (<--right?!)

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned for the next Character Study the 25th of February 2017!

You can pre-order Birdie & Bash as part of your post-Christmas shopping (use those amazon gift cards on ME)!

Preorder on Amazon

Preorder on Barnes & Noble

Preorder on IndieBound

And check out my website for other cool links

Clickety clickety click everywhere! And exclamation points, too!!!

In the meantime tell me, who is YOUR Camilla?

<3

Candyland. OUT.

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Birdie & Bash Character Study #2!

MERRY CHRISTMAS (or whatever it is you celebrate)!

To kick off the countdown to July 25th, 2017 (I know, it seems far away but it's really not), I'll be showcasing a different character from my debut YA novel—THE INEVITABLE COLLISION OF BIRDIE & BASH—until release! This is your chance to get to know everyone before you read!

Today's Character Study Focuses on: BRYNN

BRYNN in a nutshell: Brynn is the younger sibling a lot of us have grown up with. She's bratty, entitled, and really really annoying to overachieving older sis, Birdie. But, their love for each other is obvious, however nuanced in nitpicking and miscellaneous arguments. It helps them find a calm within their family's storm. It's too bad things may have spiraled "the night of" because of Brynn's threats in the first place. Afterall, someone has to announce Birdie's mistakes and she's the first volunteer to do it. Unfortunately, the damage has been done.

Why she's important to the story: Brynn contradicts Birdie in nearly every way. Her presence forces Birdie to see the bigger picture, even when all seems lost.

Favorite BRYNN line: "No. You’re more than the melody—you’re the whole song that plays on the radio over and over until people get sick of it. You’re, like, everything."

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned for the next Character Study the 25th of January 2017 (which I hope to be a better year than the last *groans*).

You can pre-order Birdie & Bash as part of your post-Christmas shopping (use those amazon gift cards on ME)!

Preorder on Amazon

Preorder on Barnes & Noble

Preorder on IndieBound

And check out my website for other cool links

Clickety clickety click everywhere! And exclamation points, too!!!

In the meantime tell me, who is YOUR Brynn?

<3

Candyland. OUT.