Ink Spells doesn’t normally review young adult (teen) books …
… BUT …
I wrote this one. π
I am so excited to announce that my first novel, Life, Liberty, and Pursuit, has been released by Omnific Publishing!
*jumps around spastically*
*hopes the blinds are closed*
Life, Liberty, and Pursuit is a teen love story about a college bound girl who falls in a pool, the navy recruit that saves her, and their struggle to choose between following their dreams and daring to love.
This obviously isn’t a review. However, Ink Spells is all about content ratings, and if I were reviewing Life, Liberty, and Pursuit, it would earn a PG-13 rating for lots of kissing (no sex). This is a book written for teens – in fact, I wrote it originally for my niece, who was 14 at the time. I never expected to publish this book, but life has a funny way of taking turns when you least expect it.
In celebration of the release of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit, I will be posting every day this week to talk about my adventures through the publishing process. AND I’m hosting Ink Spells’ very first CONTEST!
*balloons* *streamers*
Prizes: Books!
First, a copy of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit – for you, or to give away to your favorite teen (if you’re not so much into the romance). Second, a book of your choice. It’s that simple.
To Enter: Just leave a comment below. You can double your chances by recommending another YA book in the comments. Because I’m all about support for writers and finding good books here on Ink Spells.
That’s all that’s required. Of course, if you’d like to Tweet, Facebook, blog or shout out the window about the contest (and the book!) I would appreciate it. Extra karma points for any teen readers you reach, or moms who love romance, or anyone who enjoys a love story.
Contest is open until Friday June 25th, 12:00 pm EST, at which point I will select (randomly, with my eyes closed, in some mathematically complicated fashion) a winner.
Life, Liberty, and Pursuit is available now for purchase on at the Omnific site, in both e-book and print. It will be available on Kindle and print at Amazon.com in a few days.
Find out more at the book website: http://www.LifeLibertyandPursuit.com/
Tomorrow: Adventures in Publishing: Choosing a Small Press – Part One of a series where I will talk about the road to getting published and take questions for future blog posts!
Okay, if I don't win (crosses fingers) I'll buy this book and do a review on my blog. I've never done it before, and I think it would be cool because your so fantastic!
~JD
@Justine THANK YOU! That would be awesome! And thank you for your sweet words. π
Congratulations, Susan, I bet you're thrilled! Good luck, I hope everything goes well.
And one of my current favorite YA books is The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson. I'd highly recommend it!
I just bought a copy!
YAY!!! Congrats, Susan!! I'm so excited for you! I wrote a blog post for your book (which also goes to facebook and twitter) http://bit.ly/9gxG4R so hopefully you'll get some press! I can't wait to read it!
I did a vlog recently on my favorite YA books I've read this year. You can check it out here http://bit.ly/94kIk9 But if I had to pick one, and it's totally clean, I think I would pick Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken! Or maybe The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan! Both awesome!
I'm with Justine! Either way, I'll read and review it. *crosses fingers for the win*
Congratulations, Susan! I am so excited for you, and I can't wait to hear more this week about your journey. π
So, I've just said it and I'll say it again, well done to you. It's a long road to publishing and you've made it! Congratulations.
Yay! Congratulations Susan! π Will post about the release at some point today or tomorrow. Wishing you all the best!
My recent fav read (YA) was Nightshade by Andrea Cremer.
@Shallee Thanks! I started out having goosebumps this morning and they just keep going! π I've heard of The Adoration before – I'll have to put that on the TBR.
@Vicki YOU ROCK! Thanks so much. π
@Andye OMG – a post on Reading Teen?? Yay!! And you have the BEST recs – I'll have to check that posting out. Thanks!!
@Shannon Yay! A review on your blog would be SUPER awesome! π And I can't wait to share my journey this week. Thanks again!
@Carol Thanks for stopping by!! I'm glad, so I can enter you in the contest! Anytime you want to chat about the journey (the one YOU'RE on) just let me know. π
@Em Thanks so much for posting and spreading the word!! Nightshade is new to me – thanks for the rec! π
I'm definitely still planning to BUY my copy, but I wouldn't mind winning an extra one to give as a gift.
I'm doing shout outs wherever I can. So excited for you.
erynnnewman.blogspot.com
Congrats on the release!
A YA book that I really enjoyed was Intertwined by Gena Showalter.
SO cool Susan π Congrats!
If I had to recommend another YA, I'd say HEX HALL is a good one out for teens right now.
@Erynn I would love it if you won – you've been such an awesome support all the way along! (but I promise random mathmematical fairness, people! Promise!) π
@haze Thanks so much! Ooh…haven't heard of Intertwined before. Thanks for the rec!
@LT Thanks!! Hex Hall – sounds like witches? I'll have to check it out! π
SKQ – very cool. How'd you keep this on the down low for so long?
Congratulations Susan! What great news.
Wow! How exciting! I guess you know how to keep a secret. I had no idea! Congrats!
Super cool! I never knew… Congrats!
Congratulations! Very exciting. I'm glad to enter the contest.
I'd recommend YA author Suzanne Collins. I loved The Hunger Games.
@Bane I'm sneaky that way. Actually, I'm REALLY not – it was all I could do to not talk about it, so I'm really glad that now I can!
@Matthew Thanks! Kinda floating on a little cloud right now, just like the Ink Spells background.
@Sherrie My lovely publisher wanted to keep it under wraps until we were ready to go – which I totally respect but MAN it was hard to do. So much happier I get to talk about it now – as I will be doing ALL WEEK! So come back for the Adventures in Publishing series. π
Aw, HUGE congrats. That's awesome!
I'd love to be entered in the contest, and a YA book I'd recommend is Eye Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev. Her writing makes me green with envy. π
@JJ Thanks! So, so happy. π
@Theresa Thanks! Boy, Hunger Games has been on my list for SO long, I really, really need to read it. But I've heard it's such a cliff hanger, maybe I should wait until she finishes the series. π
@Shannon Thanks!! I saw Eyes Like Stars on your blog – it looks like a winner! One more for the TBR list. π
Congrats, Susan! I know you are thrilled!
I'm not usually one for strict romance, but yours looks amazing! It's really nice to see a nice, clean (er… no more than kissing, as you say!) YA romance out there.
I saw that you were publishing a book through Reading Teens post, and then went down a few post things and saw this! I'm very excited to read it! I hope the library has it (or will soon)…
@Cynthia Am I starting to shake the internet with my excited jumping up and down? I hope not. That would be embarassing. π Thanks!
@Anne I'm so excited that YOU'RE excited! Seriously, that's the best thing in the world for an author!! And this is a love story – a rather epic one at that – but it also has cool Navy stuff, the odd-kidnapping, and other non-romance things. I can't wait to hear what you think of it! π
Susan, many pompom cheers!!! Yay! So happy for you. I can't wait to read it. I'll be chatting with you soon!
I'll recommend my current read, Radiant Shadows. Awesome. ";-)
@Sheri I think I remember you talking about Radiant Shadows on your blog – another one for the TBR! Thanks!!
Susan, congratulations! I hope to win, but if I don't, I'll get my hands on a copy.
@Catherine Thanks!! I appreciate it more than you know. π
Hooray, yipee, congratulations!!
Way to go, Sue!
Wishing you much success.
Sweet! Congratulations Sue! Your book sounds fab ~ can't wait to read it! As for a teen read recommend? Hmm. I liked The Secret Year.
@Mudita Thanks! And thanks for all your support along the way, in so many ways! π
@ali Thanks! I hope you will like it!! The Secret Year – I've read so much about that on Nathan's blog, I can't believe I don't already have it on my TBR – thanks for the rec!
Count me in.
There are a lot of YA books I could recommend. My favorite is Hunger Games. Another I liked is Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon.
@Adam And you're in! (I didn't make it too complicated, just for you!) And double points for Silver Phoenix – I hadn't heard of that one! π
Hi, Susan! What a fun blog, and congrats on your new book! I was wondering if it "starred" your 14 year-old niece. (How fun for her if so! :o)
Umm… Book recs. I'm playing catchup, so–just finished Perfect Chemistry and liked it… didn't care much for Bree Tanner, but I haven't seen a lot of feedback on it. Wondering if I'm the only SM fan who felt that way.
NEway, look forward to getting to know you @yalitchat~ All the best, :o)
@LTM Thanks for popping over from yalitchat!! Although I wrote it with my neice in mind, the MC is 18 and very different from her. So, no, not a "starring role." (But now that you've said that, she may want one of those next!) I was trying to write a good, clean, love story that I could share with her – and now she gets to hold it in her hands. It feels all kinds of cool. π
I'm still planning to buy a copy at the conference so you can sign it for me. π
Can't wait to meet you in person, Susan. (Can't wait to read the book, either)
I have something on my blog for you today. π
Many congrats and best wishes for the success of your book!!
@Stina I can't wait to meet you too! And now I have justification for toting all those books to the conference! π
@KarenG Thanks!! This feels like "The End" but it's really just the beginning (of selling the book), I know! Such a crazy business we're in! π
Congratulations, Susan–so happy to hear your great news!
@Ruth Thanks!! π
Great! If I win, I'll read it and pass it on.
A YA I'd recommend? There's so many. Hard to choose. I love Ally Carter's books. Def. fun reads.
Congratulations on your first (of many, hopefully) published book! It sounds like a fun read.
My recs:
Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman – a light-hearted high-school romance…it's really cute!
The Falconer's Knot by Mary Hoffman – medieval murder mystery with a little romance on the side.
@Laura Thanks for the rec!
@teachergirl Thanks!! Another two I haven't heard of – I'm going to have to make a rec-list when this is done! π
How did I miss this happy post? Congrats again!
HOORAY! I love the title, Sue! Looking forward to reading it.
For a YA recommendation, how about "The Princess and the Hound" By Mette Ivie Harrison. Very nice fantasy/romance.
@Myrna Thanks!! π
@Rebecca Yay! I can't wait to see what you think of it. π Another YA title I haven't heard of – I think I'm going to have to have a post of "Greatest YA titles you've never heard of" – or maybe it's just me. π
Congrats Susan! Count me in for the contest. I'm so excited to hear about your book release!
Thanks!! AND you're IN! π
Your book sounds awesome. Congrats on the release!
A YA book I loved is Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. The story & the characters are amazing!
@Spav Thanks for the rec! And the congrats!! It's still kinda sinking in that the book is out…such a strange feeling. Good. But strange. π
Susan
How wonderful for you, and what a dream come true. I haven't read your book, but I am looking forward to reading it.. (Your mom can't stop smiling, she is so proud)..
As for YA books, I highly recommed "Beautiful Creatures" By Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Good luck with everything
Diane Chardon
Yay, Diane! I'm so glad you stopped by! I'll have to add "Beautiful Creatures" to my TBR list – thanks for the recommendation! And for entering the contest!! π
Congratulations, Susan! This is very exciting news. I'm excited to check out your book! I'd recommend anything by Laurie Halse Anderson, as well as Matt De La Pena's Mexican White Boy.
Best of luck with your book release!!
Oh, I adore your cover! I'd recommend Scarred (Willow in the USA) by Julia Hoban, or MT Anderson's work.
@cannon Thanks so much! Another rec I haven't heard of – I'm going to have quite a list! Thanks for stopping by! π
@Step Thanks so much! And I've heard great things about MT Anderson – thanks for stopping by!!
Congrats on the release of your book! It looks gorgeous and I'm adding it to my list! π
@Elana Elana visited my blog!! *really resisting the urge to squee* Thanks so much, and I'm excited silly that I'm on your TBR!!
OK, I'm late to the game, but that doesn't diminish my enthusiasm for your success. Congrats!
What a thrill! I just read your post at my place. Too amazing. Congrats.
Susan,
Congrats on the book. I look forward to reading it. As to a young YA book, I hate to be cliche, but I love the first Harry Potter book. Very imaginative.
@Rick Thanks!! (and you had a pretty good excuse!)
@Caroline Still getting daily thrills! Kinda wondering how long my heart can take it. π Thanks!!
@thomreese Hey! Thanks for stopping by! You're not the target audience for this book, Thom, but I would still love it if you read it! π And Harry Potter is, of course, the best! Only a master storyteller could get me to read a stack of books nearly a foot tall! π Thanks again!
Congratulations!!! How exciting to see your baby on book store shelves. π
@Kathi Thanks! Each time I think about it, I still get a mini-thrill! I'm wondering when that's going to finally wear off. π