Will You Like My Books?

I think it's high-time I answered this question. My books aren't for everyone, so you shouldn't waste your money if you're not going to like them.

My books are all about a spunky sense of fun. If you like strong, smart heroines (or characters that are so dumb, you laugh at them and wish they'd bite the dust already), you'll probably like my books.

If you like fantasy and magic, but done in a new way, you'll like my books.

You'll like Ivy Thorn (The Fairy Tale Trap, The Fairy Tale Twist) if you're looking for a light, fun read that will keep you rooting for a character in an impossible situation. If you like fairy tales, and modern, relatable characters, Ivy's books are for you. The Ivy Thorn series is quick-paced and funny, with a nice helping of fairy tale magic.

You won't like the Ivy Thorn series if you're looking for great literature with complete grammatical perfection. Also, you should know that the series is written in first-person present, which irks some people (though I have converted a few). If you like stories that take their time and explore various aspects of life, this series isn't for you. Also, you should know that these stories (like fairy tales) don't have many subplots.


Fairy Tales and Zombies (Snow White and Zombies, Cinderella and Zombies) are short novels, with a very different style from Ivy. Since everything takes place in the 16th century, the language is a little more adult. But that's okay, because the themes have more of a grown-up feel to them. These stories have death and zombie slaying with a touch of humor and a dash of fairy dust.
These books are for you if you 1) love zombies 2) Want face-paced action and 3) Want to see a fairy tale in a completely different light.

You won't like my Fairy Tales and Zombies books if you're expecting the constant quick, witty reparte that Ivy brings to the table. There's some humor, and the characters will banter, but that's not the focus of the book. If you hate reading about castles and knights and princesses in ballgowns, you probably won't like these books. (Of course, the princesses will often slay zombies, so that might make things more interesting.)

Runners Love Crappy Weather

The sky was overcast, grey, and what most people would call dismal. It was sprinkling rain off and on all morning, and there was a chill breeze. With that much humidity, you could practically drink the air.

I got to the track for a speed workout. Lane 1 had a few puddles. Not a big deal, considering lanes 1-4 are reserved for FSU's track team anyway.

As I set my things down and got my stopwatch ready, a guy walked onto the track. You know the type: shirtless, young, and muscled. Clearly an athlete, a gym rat, or both, but not a runner. He gave an exasperated look, made some comment about the weather, and left!

But I stayed. I'd driven all the way out to the track, someone else was watching the kids, and I only have so much time per week to do what I want.

By the time I finished my warm-up the drizzle felt pretty good. It wasn't even enough to soak my clothes. The wind was refreshing and felt especially nice on my back. I would rank today as one of the top 5 best runs of my life. And this guy went home.

Sometimes Ivy gets thrown into crappy situations. What does she do? Well, she doesn't smile happily and make lemonade and all that stuff. (Does anybody REALLY do that?) She takes that crappy situation and knees it in the groin. She fights back and she enjoys it. Ivy doesn't always make the smartest decisions, but the thing I love about her is her tenacity. And that she makes me laugh in the middle of horrible situations.
So here's to crappy conditions. May you knee the next one right where it counts.

Last Stop! (Blog Tour)

This blog tour has been ... fun. Enlightening. Exhausting. And now it's over.

The end of the line is Sally Stephenson's blog. Good times, everyone.

Wacky Author Interview

Okay, so some people have a slightly different way of looking at the world. The Sarcasm Goddess is one of these people. It made for a fun, and very wacky, author interview.