Turning the page to 2023

As usual, 2022 ended with busy holiday revelry and fun family time. In the past, transitions to a new year hadn’t phased me beyond having to remember what date to write on my checks. But welcoming 2023 felt different.

This is the year I turn 50. The number doesn’t scare me, but it does offer an opportunity for reflection on the past decade — as it was the decade author JD Spero came to be!

I published my first book, Catcher’s Keeper, at 41. Self-pubbed through much trial and error at a time when self-publishing was still new and shrouded in skepticism. It’s one of my proudest achievements. Soon after, I signed Forte (2015) and then Concerto (2017). Then, I felt I finally “made it,” signing with Immortal Works Press to publish my long love, small town mystery Boy on Hold (2019) and then Boy Released (2021).

Last year, I signed with Darkstroke Books to release The Secret Cure the day after my 49th birthday, which became an Amazon bestseller and logged its 100th review on New Year’s Eve.

I’m thrilled to distract from my ominous half-century birthday with TWO new releases in 2023! In March, you will see The Muse Next Door hit the proverbial shelves. It’s a feel-good, small town, enemies-to-lovers romance with a bit of a twist. Perfect to take on your next vacation, tucked into your beach bag. Stay tuned, cover reveal is coming soooooooon! (I’ve seen a few iterations and it’s gorgeous!) This is brought to you by Winding Road Stories, a new publisher I’m excited to work with.

My “mood board” for MUSE I used to pitch the story idea…

And then in August comes Hack Ware, a fast paced cyber thriller that will zoom you into a dystopian New York City where half the human population are droids and a computer virus threatens to obliterate them. This is one of a two-part series and is another gem from Immortal Works Press. For this, we’re already deep in the editing process and it’s coming along great. Buckle your seatbelts for this one. It is a thrill!

Mood board for HACK WARE

People often ask if I’m writing another book. The answer is YES! My favorite part of the writing process is creating something from nothing and I always try to have a fresh story going at all times. My current WIP is an erotic romantic suspense based on a sweetheart scam with an unexpected twist. You’ll have to wait to hear details, but hopefully that will release sometime in 2024!

Thank you to all my readers. Having books published means nothing if no one reads them…

Launch Day!

The highly anticipated follow up to award-winning Boy on Hold, BOY RELEASED, is finally available for purchase at your favorite online bookstore!

Already, it’s getting rave reviews. 9 out of 10 ARC reviewers have given FIVE STAR reviews on Goodreads. The best part? It can absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone if you haven’t gotten to Boy on Hold yet!

Some Q&A about launch day

What happens on launch day?

Basically, on launch day, the book is available for purchase on Amazon or wherever you buy your books. The date is set by my awesome publisher, Immortal Works. And although the book has been ready for a few months now, gearing up for launch day includes plans for marketing and publicity to help make a splash at launch.

There may also be live launch events where you can meet the author and get your book signed. This is usually a separate date from the official launch day.

Are there any launch events planned for BOY RELEASED?

Yes! Mark your calendars:

August 12 8pm – virtual launch party – sign up via FB

August 14 3pm – launch party at The Book Cabin in Lake George on the Bolton Road

August 26 5pm – book reading and signing at Mountain Gallery in downtown Glens Falls

How to best buy your book?

The other day, my friend asked me, “Where should I buy your book so that it benefits you MOST?”

This is such a good question! The answer? Buy the book TODAY on release day. Ideally, the Kindle version from Amazon. If the book takes off with a good sales rank on the first day, Amazon will continue to push the product.

Is there anything else we readers could do to help?

Why, yes! Posting a review helps an author more than you could ever know. Reviews are GOLD. And it doesn’t have to be a five-star. It’s the amount of reviews that matter. For instance, a book with 30+ reviews within a month or so of launch will continue to be pushed by Amazon.

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I’m so excited to continue the Trout family saga with you — ten years after tragedy uprooted their lives. And the setting? Right smack in the village of Lake George, where I went to school and worked my first job and spent every weekend of my teenage life.

I promise it will not disappoint. Here’s a bit about the story:

Official blurb

In a popular resort town in the Adirondacks, the busy summer season has just begun when an unwelcome visitor arrives at Marcella Trout’s new venture—Blue Palms Motel.

Tyler alone witnesses her brutal attack. Soon, he becomes the only suspect. As the investigation tries to unlock the secrets tangled in Tyler’s troubled mind, the Trouts must confront the disturbing reality of his mental illness. Is Tyler once again a criminal, or will he become a hero?

In this thrilling follow up to award-winning Boy on Hold, ten years have passed since the horrific murder of Sally Hubbard. Tyler is released from psychiatric rehab and Hen, now seventeen, will soon inherit the wealthy Hubbard estate. But just as the Trouts look toward a brighter future, tragedy knocks on their door…

Cover Reveal–Boy Released

The long-awaited sequel to BOY ON HOLD drops August 3, 2021. BOY RELEASED follows the story of the Trout family, ten years after tragedy changed their lives forever–when Tyler is released from rehab and Hen is about to inherit millions from Miss Sally’s estate.

A thrilling mystery that definitely can be enjoyed on its own, I started writing the sequel six months after Boy on Hold launched. I can’t wait to share this story with you!

I tell students when I visit schools that before books become books, they’re just really long documents. Like, a big stack of paper. Seeing cover art for the first time always makes it feel real. And closer to that gratifying feeling of holding that book in my hands.

For this book, I tried something different for its cover reveal. In hopes to generate excitement, I phased out posts to engage my readers in a fun way.

First, people guessed what color the cover would be.

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BLACK got the most votes by far, with BLUE a close second.

But the winning color is RED.
Hmmmm. That made me wonder.
Do readers hope it’s black?
Is red too aggressive?

Next, I posted various “puzzle pieces” of the cover, giving a teaser sneak peek. Did it work or just annoy people, who knows?

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Okay, okay. Enough nonsense. It’s only fun until it’s not anymore. Here’s the whole shebang, folks. Hope it was worth the wait. (I, for one, am psyched about the design!)

BOY RELEASED by JD Spero launches August 3!

OFFICIAL BLURB

In a popular resort town in the Adirondacks, the busy summer season has just begun when an unwelcome visitor arrives at Marcella Trout’s new venture—Blue Palms Motel.

Tyler alone witnesses her brutal attack. Soon, he becomes the only suspect. As the investigation tries to unlock the secrets tangled in Tyler’s troubled mind, the Trouts must confront the disturbing reality of his mental illness. Is Tyler once again a criminal, or will he become a hero?

In this thrilling follow up to award-winning Boy on Hold, ten years have passed since the horrific murder of Sally Hubbard. Tyler is released from psychiatric rehab and Hen, now seventeen, will soon inherit the wealthy Hubbard estate. But just as the Trouts look toward a brighter future, tragedy knocks on their door…

Killer Blonde: Author Q&A

Today I’m talking with a fellow Immortal Works author, Allan Evans, about his brand new release, a crime thriller titled KILLER BLONDE.

Every serial killer has a type.
But what if that type is part of a larger, more dangerous agenda?

This tagline alone hints at layers and complexities beyond the typical crime thriller. I, for one, am super excited to read it. Let’s hear what Allan has to say about it.

Your new thriller, Killer Blonde, is a departure from your debut genre. How was writing an adult thriller different from your middle grade horror, Abnormally Abbey? 

It may have been easier, actually. I’ve grown up reading thrillers and I find the pacing and plotting to be a lot of fun. There’s a perverse sense of satisfaction pitting your main character against a killer who’s either unable or unwilling to follow society’s rules—and knowing their struggle pulls the hero uncomfortably close to crossing the line.

When plotting a thriller, do you complete a full outline beforehand or do you let the characters take you on a surprise journey?

I’m a hybrid. I create a rough outline of where I want the story to go, but at times the characters have their own say! Especially when I’m writing dialogue, things can so often head in different directions. 

You’re a fan of John Sanford, Stephen King, and Orson Scott Card. Who is your favorite character created by these greats? 

Who doesn’t love Ender Wiggan! What a great character from Ender’s Game. For Stephen King, forget Pennywise the clown, it has to be the characters of the Loser’s Club from It: Beverly Marsh, Bill Denbrough, Ben Hanscom, Stanley Uris and Richie Tozier, Eddie Kaspbrak and Mike Hanlon. King detailed their younger and older lives so well; you couldn’t help but care for them. Author John Sandford has created a character of such depth and likability in Lucas Davenport that I will never miss one of his Prey series—even after 31 books.

In your opinion, what makes a successful thriller — a twisty plot, a shocking ending, or unreliable characters?

There are several things that make for a great thriller: It’s the counterpoint between unreliable characters and the reliable ones. Also, an epic ending never hurts either. But, for me, it’s the breakneck speed of the twisty plot as protagonist and antagonist race to thwart each other that is so vital. Unlike a mystery, thrillers are not about solving a puzzle, but rather about the pressure of high-stakes scenarios as good and evil battle it out. A thriller like Killer Blonde works because of the sense of dread as the killer searches for his next victim while Cade Dawkins races to stop him. In this case, the serial killer has a thing for knockout blondes.

What skills as a copywriter have translated into your novel writing? 

Copywriting has taught me to write memorable copy that reaches out and grabs the reader. It’s knowing who your audience is, so you craft a message that resonates with them. It’s also taught me that writing that incorporates emotion and humor captivates people more than simply trying to be clever or informative. Using those skills in novel writing has made my writing stand out.

More about Killer Blonde

Every serial killer has a type. But what if that type is part of a larger, more dangerous agenda?
With virtually identical women being murdered in Minnesota, panic is causing huge political pressure to get the killer off the streets. Celebrated investigator Cade Dawkins is given the hot potato case and hopes to get it wrapped up before the governor has his head. But the killer has his own agenda—one that goes beyond simply murdering knockout blondes. As it becomes a cat and mouse game between killer and investigator, Dawkins begins to realize he just may be the mouse.

About Allan Evans

Although Allan Evans has made his career as an advertising copywriter, he’s been finding publishing success as of late. His debut YA novel, ABNORMALLY ABBEY, was published in September. A short story, SILENT NIGHT, is in the Haunted Yuletide anthology published in December and a serial killer thriller set in the Twin Cities, KILLER BLONDE, is publishing in early 2021. All are from Immortal Works Press. Evans lives in the Twin Cities of Minnesota with his family and unusually cute puppy, Tucker.

Signed the sequel!

I’m thrilled to announce, this week I signed a publishing contract for BOY RELEASED, the thrilling follow up to Boy on Hold.

What’s it about? Well, no spoilers allowed. But here is a teaser.

Ten years after the horrific murder of Sally Hubbard, Tyler Trout is released from psychiatric rehab and Hen, now seventeen, will soon inherit the wealthy Hubbard estate. But all the money in the world won’t fix the Trout family problems. As Marcella continues to fight blindly for her children, Bernie has to calm his own inner demons in order to accept Tyler into his home.

While Tyler struggles to reintegrate into the community, he becomes entangled in another violent crime—this one hitting closer to home. Marcella seems to be the target and, although initial evidence points to Tyler, the true culprit is exposed in the most astonishing way.

Aren’t you dying to know what happens?

Boy on Hold was meant to be a stand-alone book. A complete story in itself, I never thought it could have a part two. Yet, on Christmas Eve 2019, nearly five months after its release, an idea came to me in the middle of the night for a sequel. It hit like a bolt of lightning!

Knowing the next morning would be chock-full of merry-making with the family, I hopped out of bed at 3am and furiously sketched out a rough outline in my journal. A few weeks later, I reached out to Immortal Works to feel out whether they liked the concept. After getting an enthusiastic thumbs up, I put aside my current WIP and started writing on January 20, 2020.

I completed the first draft at the end of April. (Yes, in only 3 months. And yes, quarantine helped my writing productivity.)

After two months of revision, I sent it off to Immortal Works and crossed my fingers they’d like it. Not only did they like it, they “adored” it. And thought it was “beautiful.”

I’m SO excited. In some ways, the sequel is even better than the first. I can’t wait to share it with you all.

Look for it in 2021!

IPPY Gold Winner!

In May, I got word that Boy on Hold won IPPY Gold for Best Mystery/Thriller ebook!

A rare and prestigious honor, IPPY typically holds a gala in NYC for their award-winners. But alas, with all other public events in the spring of 2020, it went virtual. And though I planned to do a red carpet vlog in heels with my husband popping champagne by my side, summer came and the sunshine ate up all my grand plans. Now, with July in full swing and with it all my boys’ birthdays, I wanted to post before too much time passed.

An at-home celebration in lieu of the NYC gala. Still an honor!

Press Release from IPPY

(May 13, 2020 – Traverse City, MI)  – Jenkins Group and IndependentPublisher.com are proud to announce the medalists in the 24th Annual Independent Publisher Book Awards. Conducted each year to honor the year’s best independently published books, the “IPPY” Awards recognize excellence in a broad range of styles and subjects. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the gala award ceremony in New York is cancelled. Winners will instead use #IPPY2020 to post acceptance speeches and related award content.

From last year’s IPPY gala in NYC. Sad it had to be cancelled in 2020.

All 419 of this year’s IPPY Award gold, silver and bronze medal-winning books have something to offer readers. This year’s contest drew 4,750 entries, and medals will go to independent authors and publishers from 44 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and Guam, 7 Canadian provinces, and 15 countries overseas.

“A book is a lifeline that can help us through all kinds of difficulties,” says Jim Barnes, director of the Awards. “These medal-winning books epitomize how we humans share our stories and help each other solve problems. Each new book you open offers the promise of a new day with new possibilities.”

Congratulations to all this year’s IPPY Award medalists for their independent spirit and dedication to making the world a better place! See the official award listing here.

A bit about IPPY

The Independent Publisher Book Awards were conceived in 1996 as a broad-based, unaffiliated awards program open to all members of the independent publishing industry. The awards are intended to bring increased recognition to the thousands of exemplary independent, university, and self-published titles produced each year, and reward those who exhibit the courage, innovation, and creativity to bring about change in the world of publishing.

What’s your Cabbage Night story?

Not only is Halloween just days away, so is CABBAGE NIGHT!

What is Cabbage Night?

The night before Halloween, the traditional night of pranks. The night of the inciting, tragic event in BOY ON HOLD. Outside of upstate New York, it may go by a different name…or it may not exist at all.

In my hometown, Cabbage Night was more popular than Halloween. One neighborhood in particular got extra special “attention.” All innocent fun, no damage done…but we sure made a lot of noise.

A little context from the book

Chapter 2, Marcella Trout to her son, Tyler: “The night before Halloween…I know that’s when you teenagers do all those pranks. I hope you weren’t egging people’s cars or toilet papering trees. What do you call it–the night before Halloween?”

“Cabbage Night.”

At this line, during my reading at the official launch party at Northshire Bookshop in Saratoga for BOY ON HOLD, the crowd erupted in applause.

BOY ON HOLD launch party at Northshire Bookshop

But what happens on Cabbage Night changes Tyler’s family forever.

Cabbage Night, 1991. The traditional night of pranks takes a disturbing turn when a violent crime rocks a small Adirondack town. Even more so when the only witness is a seven-year-old boy… 

What’s your Cabbage Night story?

I want to hear from you! It doesn’t have to be long, just a few lines or even a phrase. Like, “Knock, knock, ginger” (Unfamiliar? Google it.)

Dig into that memory bank. I’m sure we all have some repressed (or not so repressed) memories of Cabbage Night from our teen years. Not that Marcella’s description had anything to do with my experience. *mischievous smile*

COVER REVEAL!

I’m beyond thrilled to share the amazing cover design for my upcoming book, Boy on Hold, which releases August 13, 2019 by Immortal Works Press!

Here’s the teaser…

Cabbage Night, 1991. The traditional night of pranks takes a disturbing turn when a violent crime rocks a small Adirondack town. Even more so when the only witness is a seven-year-old boy. Hen Trout, who had hoped to catch a pet hedgehog that night, instead sees his beloved Miss Sally become a victim.

Single mom Marcella Trout is blindsided when Tyler, her seventeen-year-old, is arrested for the very crime Hen witnessed. Now Tyler’s eerie mood swings seem dark and frightening and rooted in a family history Marcella has desperately tried to bury. As the criminal investigation churns on, the tenuous fabric of the Trout family begins to unravel…and even Hen begins to question the truth.

 

New Book Deal Alert!

Five years ago, I got a story idea that stubbornly clung to my psyche until I unleashed it onto the page. It became a true labor of love, as it was inspired by my then-6 y/o. When my husband read the first draft he said, “This book will change your life.” It’s my favorite thing I’ve ever written. Today, I’m signing a publishing contract with Immortal Works that will help get this very story — BOY ON HOLD — out into the world.

Pop the bubbly! Cue the fireworks! Woo-hoo!

Yes, this is a new publisher. Lots of people ask me about the publishing process. How I found this publisher is, in itself, an interesting story.

Back in March, I took part in a Twitter pitch contest called #PitMad. Basically, you pitch your story using hashtags to indicate genre and theme. If an agent “likes” your Tweet, it’s a request to see more. It’s a fun way to query a bunch of agents at once — and practice the art of a the modern-day elevator pitch. (Note to writers: the next #PitMad is September 6, 2018! Get your pitches ready!)

Here was my pitch.

Some pitches got lots of likes. The most I saw on one pitch was 17 likes.

Me? My pitch for Boy on Hold got one like. ONE.

Blugh. My first thought: “Well, that was a waste of time. I’m never doing that pitch contest again.”

That one like was from Immortal Works. Not an agent but a publisher. They requested the first page.

Blugh. My next thought: “Only one page? This was seriously a waste of time.”

So I sent the first page and didn’t give it much thought.

Almost 3 months later — (yes, 3 whole months) — Immortal Works got back to me, complimenting the quality of my writing . . . and asked to read the entire manuscript.

That made me sit up a little straighter. My next thought: “Oh! Okay, let’s see where this goes.”

As I sent them the MS, I also sent it to my Kindle since it had been a year (or two) since I read it through myself. While on vacation with my family, I read it on my iPhone, highlighting all the parts that I thought needed work. I couldn’t help but get excited about the story all over again. When I got home, I got to revising right away with renewed energy.

Then, a surprise. An email from an assistant editor at Immortal Works saying she “loved it.” That she “totally cried” at the ending. She said it reminded her of To Kill a Mockingbird but with schizophrenia instead of racism (Whoa — !!). And she wanted to recommend it for publication.

My thought at this time? Let’s just say, I was jumping-out-of-my-chair psyched. I had to hold back not to tell everyone — even strangers in the grocery line. Instead, I settled for a celebratory happy dance with my husband and kids.

About a month later, they officially requested to publish my book. The contract was in my inbox the very next day. Today, I signed!

Now, I’m beyond stoked. I’m FLOORED. I can’t tell you how gratifying this is. To have a publisher as excited as I am about my story. That’s when you know you’ve found the right match. They LOVE the book. And “totally cried” at the ending. Her last email to me said that she got “chills” thinking about it as she ran errands. Squeeeeeeeeee!

Writer friends who are slogging through the noise to get your work noticed, keep up the good fight! Keep querying! Keep pitching! Remember this: it only takes one like.