Young Adult Archives - Page 2 of 2

Is This Our New Normal?

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Jennifer Gregson

I’ve been quiet. I’ve retreated into old favorite TV shows, cuddles with my kid and Skype dates with my Mom. I’ve hidden away because I wasn’t sure what to say.

How should I deal with the new normal? How should I react to the fact that our Disney vacation (the one I’ve been planning for a year, and looking forward to for at least 2) is now canceled? How should I handle the fact that my son and husband and both home and we are dealing with online school? Can I be stressed out and grateful? Can I still be entertaining while also being a little scared?

Is it okay to be funny? Is it okay to tell stories? What is my role now? How do I reach the people that need to be reached? What does that even mean?

So, instead, I did nothing. I sat with these questions hoping an answer would magically appear, but instead I was just left with more questions. And I figure that’s how most of the country and the world is right now and you know what? That’s okay!

My big reason for telling coming of age stories is to share with young adults (and anyone that loves a good YA story) that they are not alone. That other people have embarrassing things happen, issues with their parents, problems at school, fights with their friends, first loves and dreams for the future. Right now, almost the whole world is going through the same thing – fear, worry, and hope. Dreams for the future and aspirations for what comes next.

Will I say the right thing? Who knows. Will this message make someone feel better? I hope so. It’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to not know. It’s all okay. It’s okay to have a million projects going, or flop on the couch with a cup of coffee and the TV remote. It’s really all okay.

I’m here to tell you that even us adults have no idea what we’re doing most days and even more so right now while we try to figure out day jobs, goals, kids, spouses, parents, shopping, and surviving while also laughing at an old comedy, or the joke your 8-year-old tells, or something funny your Mom says on Skype. It’s okay.

If you are feeling lonely and scared, reach out. Comment below and just say HEY…let me know what’s going on in your tiny corner of the world. Are you staying in? Reading more? Watching that favorite TV show for the 10th time? This week it was Psych for me because Shawn and Gus always make me laugh! I would love to hear your story and hopefully, soon I’ll find the words to share mine again.

Stay safe,
Jennifer

The Art of Lying is NOW Available!!!!

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Jennifer Gregson

Someone pinch me because I’m not quite sure this is really happening right now – my book, this labor of love, is available for people to actually buy on Amazon, right now! What?!?! I checked my notes and I’ve been working on this baby since 2011, that was the same year my son was born and he’s SIX! What??!?!

Life has a funny habit of getting in the way, but I always came back – more determined and more capable with each derailment. I had freak outs and false starts. I had mini-breakdowns and crying fits. But I loved this book, I loved this main character – I mean, she wouldn’t leave me alone – I loved writing so I kept coming back and little by little I finished. I wrote a full first draft, I edited this thing twice on my own, then searched for an editor (I found an amazing one by the way- if you need an editor, check out The Bookish Fox – Sarah is the best!), she went through it twice with me fixing things in between. I found a cover designer (did you see that cover?!? She totally rocked – Mariah Sinclair for the win, people!) and a Self-Publishing 101 course that helped me figure out the ins and outs of indie publishing and Amazon and keywords and…well, you get the picture. It was a lot of work, but I’m so proud of myself and this book.

The Art of Lying has been an amazing ride and I’m so, so glad I get to finally share it with you, my lovely readers. To read more about the book, head to my new Books page HERE and to purchase (thank you!) head to my Amazon Author page HERE.

I have had some twisty turns the last few years, but I now know that I am a Writer and that I’m meant to write Young Adult books – to connect with teens and young adults, to entertain them, to help them through this awkward phase and show them that they are not alone. If you have a teen or young adult in your life that loves books by Rainbow Rowell, Julie Murphy, or John Green then send them here because they will love The Art of Lying! Thanks!

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Rachel’s Painting Playlist

Posted on April 10, 2018 by Jennifer Gregson

When I write, I need music so I assume that my Main Character, Rachel – in The Art of Lying (available starting April 17^th on Amazon) also needs music to create. She’s a painter and getting ready for her own solo art gallery show and is working on her final painting. She loves pop music, alternative, music her parents listened to the house and car (they’re from New Jersey – so think Bruce and Bon Jovi!), and crazy random girls rock type songs (Cyndi and Beyonce!). Below is the link to my Amazon playlist that I first used to write and edit my novel, but I’ve since also added some songs that I thought Rachel would listen while painting – some Belle and Sebastian, Paramore, and Arcade Fire.

Amazon Music Playlist

Do you need music to create? Or do you like silence, letting the muse speak to you? What do you think? Does this random playlist get you ready to read my book? Are you getting a better idea of who Rachel might be? Come back next week and find out!

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Visualization Inspiration for The Art of Lying

Posted on April 4, 2018April 4, 2018 by Jennifer Gregson

Guess what? My debut novel is almost ready to launch! That’s right, The Art of Lying will be available for purchase on Amazon (eBook and Paperback) on Tuesday, April 17^th — whoohoo!!!!

To get you lovely readers in the mood, I thought I would share some of the visualization inspiration that I used when writing my characters. I have a whole Pinterest board about my book with everything from art pieces that remind me of my main character’s work, to art studios, to actors that I used for the cast. That’s what I thought I would share with you today.

Rachel

My main character. An artist with short, spiky black hair; extremely pale skin; and light blue eyes. For Rachel, I used Elvis’ granddaughter, who is a model. She looked perfect – she even had the right attitude!

Mom – Veronica

If you joined my Reader’s Group and downloaded The Hit Parade, my short story anthology (and if you haven’t – you should! You can add your email down below) then you read Papa Don’t Preach which was all about my Mom and Dad character finding out they were pregnant at 17! For my Mom’s visual representation I kept thinking of Mila Kunis or Katie Holmes. Brown hair, tan skin, young and fun!

Dad – Michael

Michael is New Jersey tough! He’s young but started balding so he shaved his head. I kept picturing a young Bruce Willis but with his older bald head look. It worked for me and now that’s all I see when I think of my main character’s Dad.

Noah – the mysterious boy

I used Matt Bomer (from White Collar) because he was perfect – a little older than Noah’s character – sure, but totally cute, business suits, gorgeous eyes, and a killer smile – yes!

Mystery Woman

I know…fun, a mystery woman! For this character I kept thinking about Lauren Graham (Lorelei from Gilmore Girls) who just looked perfect – but the first season of GG as she’s a bit too old for the part now – hey, that’s the beauty of Dream Cast! They can be any age, from any time/movie/TV – whatever helps when you write and work on characters.

I have a few other smaller characters, but I didn’t use actors for those – just some random images from Pinterest. Here’s an example I used for Cassandra, another artist, and a friend of Rachel:

What do you think? Are you falling in love with my cast yet? Because I sure did and I can’t wait for everyone to read and get immersed in Rachel’s story! Next week, I’m going to share Rachel’s playlist that I used when writing (and what I imagined she used when she was painting) and will give you more details about Launch day!!!

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Reader's Group is now OPEN - join today to receive The Hit Parade, a short story anthology, for FREE!

My Reader’s Group is officially OPEN!!

Posted on March 1, 2018February 28, 2018 by Jennifer Gregson

Announcement time!!! My Reader’s Group is officially open and when you join you’ll get my short story anthology, The Hit Parade, for FREE….yup, three short Young Adult coming of age stories totally free!! These stories all feature characters from the YA novels that I am currently writing or will be writing in the near future – so click here to join and start reading!

Send in the Clowns tells the tragic yet romantic story of a famous clown family – how they got started in the circus way back when and what made them decide to join the circus.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame shows Joe Marretti’s journey from promising pro-ball pitcher to back home in St. Louis nursing a broken heart and finding true love along the way.

Papa Don’t Preach is about Veronica and Michael’s unexpected teen pregnancy, family drama, and how love can overcome all obstacles. The companion novel, The Art of Lying, will be available in Spring 2018 – more details coming soon!

I loved writing these stories and am so excited to offer them to you – as my gift – to you, my lovely readers. By joining my reader’s group you will get insider info, sneak peeks into my book launches, freebies, and more! If you love Young Adult novels and free stuff – join today!

Thanks….and share with your friends.

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