THE SEER, GOTH AND DEAD GIRL (Author Linda Joy Singleton)

POPULAR MUCH??

2011-12-20T08:28:00.000-08:00

Doesn't it feel great when you're talking about music-tv-movies-books to someone and find out you have the same taste? "I love it too" -- four words that connect us with each other. Having something in common is a unversal Superglue that unites people.

Not having anything in common can be interesting, too, and sometimes you can convince a friend to try something new. Or by liking something unique, you feel unique, too.

So I thought I'd share my list of things I like that are POPULAR or SHOULD BE.

THINGS I LIKE THAT ARE TRENDING IN POPULARITY:

BOOKS MADE INTO MOVIES:
Girl with Dragon Tattoo (Swedish translated to English) plus upcoming movie
The Help
HUGO
TWILIGHT

TV SHOWS
Terra Nova (not sure if this is popular or not!)
Glee
Two Broke Girls
Survivor, Amazing Race, Project Runway,Big Brother

MEGA-STAR BOOKS
Harry Popular...I mean...Potter
Twilight -- yeah, I liked them which is less popular now than last year
Hunger Games-soon to be as popular as Twilight once the movie comes out

BOOKS THAT ARE GAINING POPULARITY AND IF THEY AREN'T THEY SHOULD BE:
Ruby Red
Emerald Atlas
Liesl and Po
Drizzle
The Future of Us
Terrier trilogy by Tamora Pierce

And a picture book called PIRATE NAP by Danna Smith which is so fun to read that kids will beg "Again!"

Under the topic of "chocolate"...I love chocolate which is always popular especially at holidays.

Cats. Writers and cats, we just understand each other.

Music -- I have an odd mx of popular (Katy & GaGa) & Coldplay) and vintage (Beach Boys, Abba) on my Pandora app.

And I love musicals -- already have tickets for my family to go to see WICKED in June -- with a great song called "Popular."

A CHRISTMAS BOOK GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.....

2011-12-04T08:59:00.000-08:00

A CHRISTMAS GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING....

A book, of course. But add a childhood story to the book and it becomes more than a book; it becomes a never-ending story (which was an amazing movie of the same title by the way...but I degress....)

The story of this Christmas-theme book begins when I was 13 years old. I was shy, unpopular, insecure and bursting with creativity that often came out in the inventive crafts and games my best friend and I created (but that's another story). When I couldn't hang out with my best friend Lori, I spent time with my other best friend: books. I loved reading so much and had discovered girl mystery books. My favorites were the Nancy Drew and Judy Bolton series (rivals in publishing, but best friends on my bookshelves). So I wrote two fan letters--the first went to Carolyn Keene care of Grosset & Dunlap. I never received a reply (ghosts can't write fan letters after all). So I wrote a letter to my other favorite author, Margaret Sutton, original creator and author of 38 Judy Bolton mystery novels. And Margaret wrote back.

I was SO thrilled to have a letter from my favorite author. I showed it off at school the next day and will never forget that thrill, especially when I get the opportunity to give the same thrill to a fan of my books. Well, my relationship with Margaret didn't end there. She recognized something in me, maybe passion for writing, and we kept sharing letters. I met her in person at my high school graduation party (just my family in the kitchen, with Margaret as the celebrity guest).

PHOTO: Linda (age 17) Margaret (age 71)

As adults Margaret and I kept in touch mostly through holiday cards but when she moved to Berkeley, just an hour away, I visited her. On one visit she gave me the address for a group of her fans who had started a newsletter, The Whispered Watchword. Meeting other Judy Bolton fans was amazing. Even more amazing, through serendipity, one of the other fans has been given the beginning chapters of a new Judy Bolton mystery by Margaret and told she could do whatever she wanted with it. She gave it to me.

Now to understand how HUGE this was, imagine your favorite series and how you felt when it ended. I'd read all 38 Judy Bolton mysteries many times and longed for more. Just one more mystery, I wished. And now I had the opportunity to make it happen. But I had no synopsis or outline to go by, only 3 chapters that ended dramatically with a ambulance siren. I knew these books so well, better than I knew my own writing style. And I was thrilled for the chance to finish this book. So I reread Judy's and studied the style. I typed like I was possessed, and in three weeks had finished the book which Margaret titled THE TALKING SNOWMAN.

Several months later, I met Margaret along with some of her fans in Pennsylvania at a Judy Bolton reunion. I showed Margaret the manuscript, and while she pointed out things that would need to be edited, she was very positive, even impressed that I came up with solutions to the mystery and also guessed much of what she had planned. Of course, I couldn't include her trademark "something that really happened to the author" so she took the manuscript from me and added this scene herself, making editing marks and returning it to me for completion. And years later, I self-published THE TALKING SNOWMAN, a new Judy Bolton mystery co-written by Margaret Sutton and me.

Fans were so thrilled to have this book that I didn't need to advertise. Word spread and they found me. It didn't feel right to profit from a work of love, so I priced the book low; enough to cover my expenses. The first 500 books sold out so next time I printed 1,000. And I continue to sell these books to fans who stumble upon the www.Judybolton.com website and are stunned to find there are more than 38 books.

I wrote an introduction to SNOWMAN which begins: THIS BOOK IS A GIFT.

THE TALKING SNOWMAN is a Christmas story that keeps on giving to readers who love Judy Bolton; the girl heroine who wasn't perfect like Nancy Drew which endeared her to readers like me who watched her age from 15 to mid-20's; a teen to a young married woman.

And the 38 books of the original series have all been reprinted by Applewood Books so new readers can fall in love with Judy, too. Go online and search for Applewood's reprint of the first Judy Bolton book: THE VANISHING SHADOW, based on a real flood.

WIN A BOOK!
Make a comment on this blog and I'll randomly pick a winner who can choose one of my books as a prize. I have copies of my SEER, DEAD GIRL, STRANGE ENCOUNTERS series, as well as TALKING SNOWMAN to choose from.

FOR KID-MYSTERY BOOK LOVERS

2011-11-25T08:41:00.000-08:00

I have over 5,000 books in my (mostly girl mystery) series collection.

I love to find current books, aside from vintage titles like Anne of Green Gables, Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden and Judy Bolton. Of course, Judy just came back in print in affordable paperback editions for a new generation of readers (and book collectors).

So here are some you may want to check out.

1. The JUDY BOLTON mysteries (38+ extras) are back in print from Applewood.
These are the mysteries that inspired my childhood love of books and my ambition to write.
Begin with THE VANISHING SHADOW and HAUNTED ATTIC: http://www.amazon.com/Vanishing-Shadow-Judy-Bolton-Mysteries/dp/1429090219/ref=sr_1_12_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322238698&sr=1-12

I probably should add that I co-wrote another Judy, TALKING SNOWMAN, with Margaret Sutton before she died a decade ago, which I self-published for fans. (No Kindle on this one -- paper books only).

2. Not a series but a gem of a middle grade which I loved:
FROZEN IN TIME by Ali Sparkes. Time travel & mystery

3. TOMORROW GIRLS by Eva Gray
Paperback series for those who liked Hunger Games but hunger for younger with a cast of girl characters.
In this series, US is at war with Canada and girls are shipped off to a secret boarding school.

4. BUDDY FILES by Dori H. Butler
Very young chapter book series for starting kids/grandkids off with mystery.
For a short book, these are surprisingly well-crafted with building mystery & animal fun.

5. SAMMY KEYES -- This (Trixie Belden-like) series has gone from midgrade to young YA
with about a dozen titles. I consider it a must-have for any girl series collection, and I
buy them new. Love the "clue-styled" dust jacket.

6. EMERALD ATLAS by John Stephens. Sort of Harry Potter-Narnia mix. One of my
favorite books of 2011, and I'm very eager for the next one.

7. RUBY RED by Kierstin Gier-- this one is my favorite of 2011. Time travel with a clever, interesting heroine.

8. WHITE CAT/RED GLOVE by Holly Black - mysterious, magical, intriguing. Feels like a detective novel in style.

9. POISON STUDY/MAGIC STUDY...everything by Maria V. Snyder

10. THE AGENCY, historical girl spy mystery by Y.S. Lee

Linda Joy Singleton www.LindaJoySingleton.com & www.facebook.com/lindajoysingleton
#1. DEAD GIRL WALKING/DEAD GIRL DANCING/DEAD GIRL IN LOVE (Flux/) YALSA Popular Paperback
Ghosts Whisper to Psychic Sabine in THE SEER series (Flux)
THE SEER #6 MAGICIAN'S MUSE (Flux)
BURIED - A Goth Girl Mystery March 2012 (Flux)
Follow me : www.twitter.com/LindaJoySinglet

I poster my first ever video on YouTube

2011-11-21T07:44:00.000-08:00

With my iPod I've been playing around taking a few mini videos of mostly family.
This weekend I went to a retreat and had a wonderful sharing, encouraging time with 16 other authors. We did a few fun activities aside from writerly conversTions. We enjoyed a word game and also a few of us got crafty with collages.

So I filmed the collage fun and experimented with YouTube and it actually worked. Not great filmi,ing, I'm still figuring this stuff out. But it's fun and only 2 minutes. If youre in SCBWI you may recognize a few of us.

Check it out here: http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?feature=mhee&v=Lfr-LjVHgcs

Or just under my full name on you tube...still figuring this stuff out.

Win a free Don't Die Dragonfly and article on Ebooks

2011-09-12T06:41:00.000-07:00

http://theelectricalbookcafe.blogspot.com/2011/09/bb-guest-post-contest-linda-joy.html

A decade of ebooks. Win a free book!

Reading a really cool fantasy

2011-05-27T19:58:00.000-07:00

I'm reading ENCHANTED IVY by Sarah Beth Durst and loving it. It's set at Princeton University. It's cool how the author used the real setting yet turned it into a fantastical place where gargoyles and a key opens into a parallel world. Totally recommended!

Will Book Collecting Survive E-Books?

2011-04-11T07:45:00.000-07:00

As an author whose books are selling more e-reader copies than paper copies, I wonder about the future of book collecting. Downloading a book doesn’t mean you own it. You can’t loan it to a friend. You can’t display it on a shelf. And how reliable are reading devices for protecting your e-library?

Read more here and see a photo of my vintage girl-series book library!
http://thespectacleblog.wordpress.com/

Why I don't post here more often

2011-03-28T13:50:00.000-07:00

I would love to use this blog more, but even though I've had this blog for many years, I only have 48 followers, while on Facebook I have around 2,000.

But I will post when I have something to share.

Here's what's been happening lately. The biggest news is that I saw the cover for my next book. This book, BURIED, is a spin-off from THE SEER series starring Thorn. She moves to Nevada after her family loses their house. KC moves with her family and gets a job. Thorn meets a dangerous guy with a big secret who intrigues her. She has contact with Sabine by phone. And she solves a murder mystery. The cover is classy with a rusty background and the frame of a portrait with a Goth girl peeking out. I'll share it when I get permission.

I'm writing a futuristic book and am around 200 pages into it; 2/3rds finished.

Come back in May -- I'm going to announce which of my books will be a free Amazon download for the month of May.

Cloaked The Trailer.mov

2011-01-28T06:59:00.000-08:00

FREE BOOK!!!

2011-01-01T10:30:00.001-08:00

It's available! NOW! I have been hoping so much this would really happen -- a way to reintroduce my THE SEER series to readers.

THE SEER #1, DON'T DIE DRAGONFLY is a one-month-only FREE download from Amazon/Kindle.

And the cool thing is you don't even need a Kindle -- I downloaded the free app to my I-Phone. Lots of devices can get a free Kindle device. And for January, readers can get my book too -- the first book where Sabine is introduced, she rescues Josh, sees ghosts, talks to her spirit guide and meets Dominic.

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Die-Dragonfly-ebook/dp/B001KYEZRE/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

I would really appreciate it if you could repost this to your blogs. Thank you.

CSLA (CA Library Conference) Panel

2010-11-14T08:57:00.000-08:00

CSLA (CA Library Conference) Panel

CROSSROADS TOUR goes on till Halloween - prizes!

2010-10-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

A tour of blogs with clues hidden that can win you prizes.

http://judithgraves.com/events/the-crossroads-tour/

Lots of fun with interviews, too! I share secrets behind all of my books including the newly released, #6 THE SEER, MAGICIAN'S MUSE.

Want to win LOTS of book stuff?

2010-10-14T05:42:00.000-07:00

What do 16 paranormal YA authors X 16 days mean for you? SWAG!: http://bit.ly/cBw36D

It's like a Halloween scavenger hunt online with MEGA prizes!!!

Interviewed by a cat!

2010-10-02T16:12:00.000-07:00

http://petsandauthors.blogspot.com/

I've done many different types of interviews, but this is a FIRST where my cat interviews me!! Do NOT believe everything Snowy says!

MM & M (MAGICIAN'S MUSE & MOCKINGJAY both!) BOOK GIVEAWAY

2010-09-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

M&MM (MAGICIAN'S MUSE & MOCKINGJAY) BOOK GIVEWAY!

WIN A COPY OF MAGICIAN'S MUSE!
Also a copy of MOCKINGJAY!

MAGICIAN'S MUSE, 6th THE SEER, finds Sabine haunted by the ghost of a century old woman stage magician while struggling to keep Dominic from leaving forever.

For each repost of this message on a blog, Facebook page, retweet on Twitter or review of a SEER book..., you win an entry in a drawing for MAGICIAN'S MUSE & MOCKINGJAY.

Leave your post info at ljscheer@yahoo.com and a winner will be drawn within a week.

ENTER SOON and OFTEN!

PICK A PAGE FROM MAGICIAN'S MUSE & I'LL SHARE IT HERE

2010-08-18T19:19:00.000-07:00

With just a little over a month before MAGICIAN'S MUSE comes out (it's usually out earlier than the Oct. 1st pub date for pre-orders), I want to share something with fans.

The book has almost 300 pages but I don't want to give away the ending, so pick between pages 1-250 and the first two people who respond, I'll copy those pages to share here.

The opening of MAGICIAN'S MUSE has already been posted on this blog if you look back several posts.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738719579/ref=nosim/theplanningsh-20

DEAD GIRL Trilogy is being optioned for TV

2010-07-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

DEAD GIRL WALKING, DEAD GIRL DANCING & DEAD GIRL IN LOVE have been optioned for television. More news as it develops.

My trilogy is about a girl who jumps into different bodies while being stalked by dangerous energy-stealing Dark Lifers.

If you haven't read the trilogy yet, the first chapter is up at www.LindaJoySingleton.com (under books).

GH News: Betsy Franco, Bruce Davison headed to GH | General Hospital @ soapcentral.com

2010-06-23T13:01:00.000-07:00

Talented writer and friend, Betsy Franco, will be on TV -- playing herself (sort of).

GH News: Betsy Franco, Bruce Davison headed to GH | General Hospital @ soapcentral.com

Win an ARC of #6 THE SEER Magician's Muse

2010-06-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

It's been nearly 3 years since the last THE SEER book came out (FATAL CHARM). That was the longest of all books -- before my pubisher limited my word count to around 60,000 words. I crammed a lot of characters and plot into FATAL CHARM because I thought it would be the end of THE SEER series.

Still I didn't want my SEER series to end and had this feeling it might continue. So I left the plot about Josh wanting to join a secret magician's cult open plus there are unanswered questions about Dominic's violent past.

I was soooo happy when my publisher Flux asked me to write one more THE SEER book. Yay! Finally I could really tie up all loose ends. And even better -- some characters will continue on in a spin-off book about Goth Girl Thorn probably called GRAVE SECRETS (2011 release).

HERE'S THE CONTEST:
I have one -- ONLY ONE -- advance reading copy of #6 THE SEER, MAGICIAN'S MUSE that I can give away.

To win this book and read MAGICIAN'S MUSE before the Oct. 1st release, all you have to do is guess which character is going to die. Yup. A teen character who has been in at least two books is going to be killed in the 6th book.

Which THE SEER character do you think is going to die?
I'll draw a winner from the correct answers.
Email ljscheer@yahoo.com with your guess for one entry.

BONUS ENTRY:
Reprint this contest blurb onto a blog or any other public online location (like Facebook or MySpace) for one extra entry.
Then email ljscheer@yahoo.com the URL where you've reprinted this contest information. For each URL this contest is reprinted, you will get an extra entry. More chances to win!!

COPY AND PASTE THIS CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT. PASS IT ON!

ARTICLE UP ON SPECTACLE BLOG about dystopian book comparisons

2010-06-01T10:23:00.000-07:00

http://thespectacleblog.wordpress.com/2010/05/31/trapped-inside-the-future/ ARTICLE comparing INCARCERON, INSIDE OUT & BIRTHMARKED.

I recently read these dytopian books and found their differences and similarities wonderfully intriguing. Check it out!

New interivew on blogspot!

2010-05-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

Check out Elizabeth's blog for my new interview:
http://elizabethvaradansfourthwish.blogspot.com/2010/05/interview-with-linda-joy-singleton.html

Also don't forget you have just over a week to enter my contest to win DEAD GIRL and THE SEER autographed series plus if you're a writer, a critique of a first chapter.

SNEAK PREVIEW FOR THE SEER fans

2010-03-29T19:43:00.000-07:00

Openin scene of MAGICIAN'S MUSE

Hey SEER fans -- want to read the first few pages?
I may only keep these posted for a few days so enjoy now!
And don't forget you can pre-order now at Amazon or
by asking your local bookstore for #6 SEER MAGICIAN'S MUSE.

MAGICIAN'S MUSE
Chapter One

The phone was going to ring.

I knew this for a fact; the way you see dark clouds in the sky and know it’s going to rain. Premonitions were no big deal to me. But the flash of fear that came with this sudden knowing was scary. Someone was going to call and I wouldn’t like what they told me. It could change my life. Not in a good way.

My cell phone sat on my desk beside my keyboard. Only a few feet away. But I didn’t move from my bed where I sat cross-legged in a festive jumble of wrapping paper, tape and ribbons. Seconds ago I’d been humming to my holiday playlist while transforming gift-wrapping into art with glitter, foil paper and miniature golden angels. Now my holiday spirit was dead.

Usually my psychic vibes clued me in on who was calling and I often made a game of caller-guessing. I tried to guess now; closing my eyes to concentrate, picking up a masculine vibe. Someone close to my age and to my heart. Immediately I thought of Dominic. Oh, no, please, not him! Since breaking up with my last boyfriend, everything had been made of awesome with Dominic. We talked endlessly about hopes, dreams and our future together. But what if something bad happened to him?

My cell phone rang.

I jumped, knocking a roll of wrapping paper onto the floor. Then I stiffened like a statue; cold and frozen inside and couldn’t bring myself to answer.

Finally by the fifth ring, I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed the phone and flipped it open—stunned to read the Caller I.D.

Josh DeMarco. My ex-boyfriend.

Only when I flipped open the phone, it wasn’t Josh. It was his mother.

“Sabine?” Mrs. DeMarco asked in an odd anxious voice. “Are you there?”
“Yeah,” I managed through surprise. My phone vibes usually weren’t this far off.

“Sorry to call you so early,” she told me.

“No problem. I’m an early riser.” A million questions slammed into my head but I focused on the most important one. “Um…how is Josh?”

“I-I don’t know.” She spoke so softly, her voice edged in sadness. “I was hoping you could tell me.”

“What do you mean? I haven’t seen him at school and heard he was out sick with a bad virus.” The timing of his virus and our breakup was too coincidental. I’d suspected he was faking an “illness” to avoid seeing me. I mean, our breakup had been that bad. Worse than bad: apocalyptic.

“You’re into the occult, the work of the devil,” he’d accused after catching me summoning ghosts in a séance. “I can never forgive that.”

That was over three weeks ago. When Josh walked out that day, I knew it was really over for us. I should have felt sad…but I didn’t. Instead I was relieved and hopeful we’d both be happier now. Josh would hook up with a nice normal girl who applauded his magic tricks and didn’t see ghosts or have telepathic conversations with her spirit guide. And finally, I was free to give my heart to Dominic.

Still our break-up left me with an unfinished feeling, like walking out of a movie before the final scene. I wanted to explain to Josh that being psychic was an important part of me and had nothing to do with black magic. But he hadn’t returned any of my messages.

And now his mother was calling…..

“Josh isn’t sick—at least I hope not. He’s…he’s-” Mrs. DeMarco cut off with a sob. “Gone.”

“Gone?” I tensed. “For how long?”

“Over a week. He left a note telling us not to worry but there’s no word from him and I-” Her voice broke. “I-I don’t know what to do.”

“What about the police?”

“They wouldn’t even put out one of those missing kids alerts for him because he left a note. They say he’s a runaway.”

“Not Josh. He’s one of the most responsible, reliable people I know.”

“That’s what I told the police. But even my husband wants to wait for Josh to come home on his own. Only what if he’s hurt or sick and needs help? I’ve waited long enough. I have to try to find him so I’m calling his friends.”

As I wondered if Josh’s disappearance could somehow be my fault, I realized there was silence on Mrs. DeMarco’s end. Thinking I’d lost the connection—and feeling a teensy bit glad to bring this awkward conversation to an end—I was about to hang up when Mrs. DeMarco suddenly blurted out, “I-I understand you and Josh broke up.”

“Uh, yeah,” I replied cautiously. How much did she know? Had Josh told his mother I worshipped the devil and practiced black magic? I knew, from past experience, that some people weren’t cool with paranormal stuff.

“He didn’t say why,” Josh’s mother replied. “I-I realize this is none of my business, but was he upset when you broke up? Upset enough to-to hurt himself or--”

“Oh, my god, no! Josh would never do anything like that,” I insisted. Josh has been upset, all right, but he wasn’t suicidal. Especially since he’d been the one to dump me; not the other way around. Yet why did I feel so guilty?

“If you have any information at all, you must tell me,” Josh’s mother said firmly, almost as if she were the psychic one. “Even if things between you and my son ended badly, I know, deep down, you still care about him.”

“I swear I’d tell you if I knew anything.”

“You may know more than you realize. Would you come over so we can talk in person?”

“You mean…now?”

“If you don’t mind. Besides it’ll do Horse good to see you. That impossible dog won’t eat since Josh left. I’ve tried four vets and none of them have helped. Horse is always so excited to see you. Maybe you can convince him to eat.”

“He’s a great dog,” I admitted. “I’ve missed him.”

“So you’ll come over right away?” she asked hopefully.

“Well…okay.” A thought came to me. “I have this friend who is really amazing with animals and might be able to help Horse. Is it okay if I bring him?”

“Of course. Is he a vet?”

“No. But he understands animals so well that you’d think he was actually talking to them.”

Then I hung up, and went to find Dominic.

THE SEER #6 coming Oct. 1, 2010 -- preorder available on Amazon or ask your bookstore. By pre-ordering you stand a chance of getting the book in August.

Stay Tuned for COntest

2010-03-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

For SEER fans who have been waiting nearly 3 years for a 6th THE SEER, MAGICIAN'S MUSE will be released Oct. 1st.

It's already available for preorder (which looks great to my publisher) from
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738719579/ref=nosim/theplanningsh-20 (or request preorder from any bookstore).

I'm planning a release celebration contest soon. Stay tuned!

SABINE MEETS DEAD GIRL - Complete Story!

2009-09-12T21:08:00.000-07:00

Here it is!! The short story where THE SEER's Sabine Rose meets DEAD GIRL Amber Borden. Eventually I'll delete this and move the entire story over to my www.LindaJoySingleton.com site. Enjoy! I wrote this just for fans!!!
(PS -- This format wouldn't let me indent properly)

SABINE MEETS DEAD GIRL
For readers who want more of THE SEER & DEAD GIRL series
By Linda Joy Singleton

“Party of two: top deck,” Dominic says with a seductive tip of his pirate hat.
I lean against a rail on the Delta Diva, staring down at the silvery moon reflecting off the Sacramento River. “It’s so beautiful and peaceful. I could stay here forever.”
Dominic nods. A guy of few words, Dominic’s deep gaze says so much and promises more. We’ve been through a lot together--danger, grief and ghosts--to reach this moment. And he looks wicked sexy in the pirate costume I convinced him to wear: black buccaneer jacket over a long-sleeved silky shirt and a gleaming cutlass tucked in his wide black belt. With the bad stuff behind us, everything is perfect.
“We have to get back to the party,” I remind him.
“Sure about that?”
When he grins at me like this, teasing yet sincere, my heart goes a little crazy. I’m tempted to skip the party. But I can’t let my best friend Penny-Love and the other cheerleaders down. They spent weeks planning the Pirate Booty Bash fundraiser, and as the unofficial mascot for the squad, they count on my support.
So I stay strong and point to the exit door. My plastic sword, tucked at my side, tap-taps on the wall as I walk down the narrow stairwell. As I reach for the door, I hear shouts and screams.
Dominic and I rush into the room. Party-goers are frozen in horror, staring at a spiked-haired guy, probably in his thirties, his muscular arm pinning my friend Jill to his chest, a knife pressed to her throat.
“Jill!” I cry, starting for my sword until I remember it’s only plastic. I’m a trained fencer and wish so much my sword was real.
“Stay back!” Spiked-Hair warns the crowd, his expression dark and dangerous. “Anyone moves---she’s dead.”
No one moves, but beside me Dominic tenses.
“Tell me how to find Vance!” Spiked-Hair growls at Jill. His aura, glowing gray bleeding with dark hues, sizzles with menace.
“I don’t know! I already told you that!” Tears stream down Jill’s face and onto the lace collar of her sexy pirate maiden costume.
“You were at his house today!”
“No, I wasn’t! I’ve been working on this party all day! I don’t know anyone named Vance!” Sobbing, Jill looks around the room desperately. Do something! her gaze begs. But the crowd is too shock-still to move.
The only thing I can think to do is send a mental SOS to my spirit guide but before I can close my eyes, Dominic lunges forward. Flying through the air, he tackles Spiked Hair. He kicks at the knife which sails so high it splashes down in a punch bowl. Dominic shouts for Jill to get away.
My boyfriend holds his own, landing a gut punch. Spiked Hair groans but recovers fast, hooking back a leg and tripping Dominic. Both guys tumble around, arms flying, grunting and shouting. When they stop, Spiked Hair grips Dominic in a vicious choke hold.
Someone screams, “Help him!” and I realize it’s me.
Some of the school jocks rush forward. Only before they reach Dominic, there’s a blinding silver-white light flash and a wave of energy rocks the room like an explosion. Dizzy, I stumble back, my knees buckle. When my vision clears, others are rubbing their eyes, staggering in confusion. Penny-Love has comforting arms around Jill and other cheerleaders begin to crowd around them. But I don’t see Jill’s attacker or Dominic.
A door bangs.
Swiveling around, I glimpse Dominic disappearing through a back door. I hurry after him. I call his name but he keeps running. Finally he stops at the main deck, scowling at the spiked-hair figure running down the gang plank.
“He’s getting away!” I grasp Dominic’s arm. “Come on! We can still catch him!”
“He’s not important.” Dominic shrugs.
“How can you say that? He nearly killed Jill! Hurry!”
But Dominic doesn’t move. Instead he murmurs something about his “truck” then reaches into his pocket, pulling out car keys and his wallet. He flips through the wallet, his lips curving in an odd smile.
I stare at him, puzzled. “Are you all right?”
Dominic studies his arms with a thoughtful expression as if checking for cuts and bruises. “I’m better than all right.”
Then he starts down the gang plank.
“Wait! Dominic!” I catch up with him, grabbing his arm. “I’m going with you.”
He shakes me off. “Go party with your friends.”
“You’re the only friend I want to be with.” I point to his hands which shimmer with a bruised shade of gray. “You are hurt!”
“Back off! I told you I was okay.”
“But I want to help.”
“I don’t want your help.” He shoves me away, scowling. “Get lost.”
“Dominic!” Tears sting my eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Shut up! I’ve got to find him and you’re wasting my time! Leave me alone!” Glaring, he stomps off to the parking lot.
Stunned, I watch him click a remote. Red lights flash on his red truck then he climbs inside and drives away.
I can’t believe it.
He’s gone.
* * *
My friend and school newspaper editor, Manny DeVries, drives me home since my boyfriend ditched me. Manny tries to get me to talk, but I’m so miserable, I know I’ll cry, which would be too embarrassing. So I smile and pretend everything is fine. Dominic will be at my grandmother’s farm, waiting for me, I assure Manny.
Only Dominic isn’t there.
And the next morning, his truck is still missing from its usual spot by the barn. He works as a handyman for my grandmother and stays in a loft room in the barn. That room is empty, too—the bed never slept in. And when I see Dominic’s falcon Dagger fluttering by an open window, making shrieking noises as if he’s trying to tell me something, I shiver with a knowing of something terribly wrong.
“Nona!” I burst into the kitchen minutes later. “Dominic never came home!”
I quickly fill my grandmother in on everything that happened last night. “Dominic was so brave but the other guy was bigger. Then there were these weird flashes like an electric surge or maybe earthquake…I don’t know. All I know is that afterwards Dominic yelled at me to leave him alone then he-” My voice cracks. “-he left me.”
Nona looks up from her tea, her forehead creasing with worry. “Don’t take it personally, Sabine. If he went after the attacker, he probably thought you’d be safer staying on the ship.”
“But it was more than that…almost like he hated me.”
“I’ve seen the way Dominic looks at you. It’s obvious he loves you.”
“Not last night.” Fighting tears, I shake my head. “I just don’t understand.”
“Understanding will come later. For now, you need to trust him.” Nona sips her herbal tea. “Doesn’t he have a test in his farrier class on Friday?”
I nod. “Yeah, he’s been studying hard, too. He’s eager to start his own horse-shoeing business.”
“He’d never miss that test. He’ll be back soon,” Nona points out. “Count on it.”
I hold on to that hope the rest of the day. But that night when Dominic is still gone and he hasn’t returned my texts, I know he’s in trouble.
What should I do? I worry as I lie in bed, abandoning any hope for sleep.
You could expand your queries to the other side and invite answers from your eloquent and insightful spirit guide, a sassy voice speaks in my head. And when I close my eyes tight, I can see my spirit guide Opal; black hair coiled high on her head like a crown and a regal lift of her chin.
“Opal, can you help?” I ask in my thoughts. “Do you know where Dominic is? I’m so worried.”
As you well should be considering the dire circumstances of his disappearance.
“Where is he?”
Lost to the whims of darkness. Violence threatens his future and he may turn on himself with disastrous consequences unless the darkness is disposed to its rightful place.
“Opal, you’re confusing and scaring me. Just tell me where he is.”
I cannot speak of the workings of worlds beyond your knowledge. But there is one who can give you answers and aid your journey. “Who?”
One who crosses both worlds and has connections above my own. She is of an age similar to your own and attends an educational facility called Halsey High. “Halsey High? I’ve heard of it. About an hour away.”
Go there in the morning, Opal tells me. And find Amber Borden.

PART TWO!
* * *
The next morning I ask Nona to borrow her car. Squeezing keys in my palm, I pause to stare at the empty spot where Dominic usually parks his truck.
Armed with a Google map, I drive to Halsey High. It’s early and school hasn’t started yet, so I slip in like I belong. I only have to ask two people about Amber before finding her at a locker. I get the impression she’s kind of a school celebrity, which is surprising because she’s really ordinary with an average figure and too-curly reddish-brown hair. She has a really sweet smile, though, like someone you know you can trust.
But can I convince her to trust me without revealing too much? I mean, I can’t go up to a stranger and say, “Hi. My spirit guide sent me.”
Amber squints at me like she’s trying to remember if we’ve met before. I save her the trouble by admitting we’ve never met.
“I’m Sabine,” I add. “I was told you could help me.”
“Are you new?” Her aura brightens like flowers blossoming in spring. “I’m president of the Halsey Hospitality Club and will be happy to show you around.”
“Cool…but I’m not a student…at least not here. Um….does the name Opal mean anything to you?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “So how do you know me?”
“I’m…um…psychic.” I cross my arms over my chest, braving myself for laughter or scorn.
But Amber grins. “Cool! And who’s Opal? A ghost?”
“No, she’s my spirit guide.” I glance around to make sure no one else is listening. “Opal is over 300 years old and she’s always bossing me around, but she knows stuff and tries to help me out. See my boyfriend is missing and in trouble. I don’t know how to help him, but Opal says you do.”
“Wow!” Amber’s eyes widen. “I read this book once called A Guide to Spiritual Beings and there was a chapter on spirit guides. I’ve never met one but I’m sure my grandmother knows lots of them.”
“Your grandmother talks to the other side?” I ask, pleased that Amber and I both have intuitive grandmothers.
“Actually,” Amber says. “She works there.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Easy. My grandmother’s dead.”
Then Amber does this really strange thing. She touches a woven rainbow bracelet on her wrist, turns it back and forth and whispers something I can’t hear. She brings her wrist up to kiss the bracelet.
“What are you-” I start to ask but she shushes me.
Before I can finish I hear a bark and look up to see a chocolate-brown furry dog scampering toward us. He launches himself into Amber’s arms, licking her face.
But it’s the dog’s collar that fascinates me. It’s glowing and spinning with flickering colors, shooting off energy that sizzles the hairs on my skin.
“What’s kind of dog collar is that?” I ask.
“A Duty Director. Most people can’t see the collar or Cola.” Some kids cross the hall near us without even glancing at the dog. Amber leans close to whisper in my ear. “He’s not a normal dog.”
“Yeah, I kind of guessed that.”
“He was my best friend when I was little—until he died. He visits whenever he can to relay messages from my grandmother. I know this sounds strange but it’s true. He’s telling me that you see visions and have the mark of a seer.”
I touch the black streak in my blond hair. “What’s he saying now?”
Cola sniffs then barks.
“Don’t take this the wrong way.” Amber flushes. “But Cola says you stink.”
“Excuse me!” I snap.
“Not you personally,” Amber says in an apologetic tone. “He says you smell like you’ve been in contact with a Dark Lifer.”
“A Dark what?”
“Dark Lifer. They’re people who have--” The ringing school bell interrupts and around us kids hurry to class. But Amber doesn’t join them. Instead she puts her arm around my shoulder and says we need to talk somewhere private.
“I thought my being psychic would freak you out,” I admit. “But talking to a dead dog is way over the freak-factor.”
Amber laughs. “It’s not something I usually tell anyone, but since you see ghosts and chat with a spirit guide, I knew you’d understand.”
Cola nudges her knee and Amber translates that he has to go return to her grandmother. After he leaves, I offer to drive and Amber directs me to a nearby cemetery (after telling me two wrong turns). A locked gate bars entry to a cemetery that’s covered in weeds, broken concrete and crumbling ghostly gravestones.
We stay in the car, slipping off seat belts, and face each other.
“I don’t understand anything since my boyfriend left,” I admit, sighing. “I want to learn, though, anything you can tell me.”
So she tells me how a near-death experience took her to the other side where she reunited with a beloved grandmother and Cola. “Then I accidentally became a Temp Lifer—too complicated to explain now. Short version: a Temp Lifer is someone who goes into different bodies so troubled souls can take a rest. But some Temp Lifers go bad and steal into bodies without permission. Those disturbed souls become Dark Lifers.”
When Amber finishes, I tell her how being psychic runs in my family. “At first it scared me and I shut out ghostly visions. But now I realize it’s a gift that can help people. Unfortunately it’s not something I can control so I can’t help the people I love,” I add. Then I tell her what happened with Dominic.
Amber frowns. “When he yelled at you did you notice his hands?”
“Yeah, they were in bad shape--bruised so badly they looked gray.”
“Did they glow?”
I stare at her, my heart tightening. Then I nod. “How’d you know?”
“I’m so sorry, Sabine,” Amber reaches across the car seat to touch my arm. “But a Dark Lifer has stolen Dominic’s body.”
******************
NEW PART ADDED SEPTEMBER 29th!!! READ ON
**************************
* * *
Some creepy dark entity is living in Dominic’s body? I want to go after that body-thief right now and make him return Dominic! But Amber says that’s the job of the DDT (Dark Disposal Team). She assures me that Dominic will be fine and return when the Dark Lifer is captured.
Here’s the problem—we can’t contact the DDT without finding Dominic’s body.
I check my phone again but no messages from Dominic. Of course not, since he’s not himself. Literally. Ohmygod! How can I help him? I lean back in the car seat, closing my eyes to summon a vision of Dominic. But I get nothing.
Facing Amber across the seat, I frown. “I have no clue where Dominic is.”
“There are always clues,” she insists. “We just have to find them. What did he say to you?”
“Dominic yelled to leave him alone then he drove off in his truck.”
“Did he say anything before he stole your boyfriend’s body?”
“Huh? Oh, you mean the guy who threatened Jill?”
“Not just any guy—a Dark Lifer,” Amber says ominously.
“He held a knife to Jill and ordered her to tell him how to find someone named Vance. But Jill didn’t know anything.”
“Are you sure? Or could she have been protecting someone?”
“Jill had a knife to her throat—she wasn’t lying.”
But I wonder--what if Jill knows more? With Dominic’s life at stake, I immediately send her a text asking her to call me. A minute later, she does. Without wasting time on explanations, I bluntly ask if she was being honest when she told the attacker she didn’t know Vance.
“That monster had the wrong girl,” Jill answers. “He said he saw me at Vance’s house yesterday, but that’s impossible.”
“You weren’t anywhere except your house and the Delta Diva?” I ask.
“Yeah—except I’m not staying at my home. I’m house-sitting for a cute couple on their honeymoon. Before you ask, they’re Jessica and Mitch Barnett—not Vance.”
“But they might know Vance,” I suggest.
“Then it’s not over.” Jill gasps. “He might come back! And I have to stay there tonight—alone.”
“No you don’t,” I glance over at Amber and she nods like maybe she’s a little psychic, too.
By the time I hang up, we have a plan for tonight.
Amber and I are house-sitting.
* * *
When I introduce Jill to Amber, I can tell they like each other. But I notice crimson fear in Jill’s aura and thumbprint bruises on her neck. After she gives us a tour of the Barnett house, I tell her to go home, that Amber and I will stay. She argues but not that much; it’s obvious she can’t wait to get out of here.
There are reminder notes everywhere: Feed the fish. Turn off lights. Water plants. There are so many potted plants that the three-bedroom house reminds me of a jungle. One wall displays a collage of photographs. There are many showing a young black-haired girl embracing a husky shaved-head guy with a shy smile. In a large family photo there are a dozen smiling faces: siblings, parents, grandparents and even a wrinkled guy who looks over a hundred.
Nothing suspicious.
When Jill’s gone, Amber whispers, “You shared your secret with me, now I’ll share one with you.” Then she shows me a small red book titled simply: GEM. When she opens it, all I see are blank pages. She explains that GEM stands for Guidance Evaluation Manual. It offers advice and can report seeing a Dark Lifer to the Dark Disposal Team.
Amber speaks to the book. “Where is the Dark Lifer?”
To my surprise, a word curls across the paper: Nearby.
Shivers creep through me.
“What is he doing?” Amber asks.
Dark squiggles worm across the page. “Watching you.”
We both jump up and spend the next ten minutes rushing around to close curtains and check that doors are locked. When we’re done, I feel safe…almost.
We return to the GEM and ask it why the Dark Lifer searching for Vance.
“Revenge,” the book spells out.
Amber asks the book where Vance is but the pages stay blank. Amber shakes the book and demands that it answer her. In reply, the GEM flips shut like a slap.
“I don’t need you, Stupid Book,” Amber says. “Dustin can find out more anyway.” She tosses the GEM aside and grabs her phone.
Amber tells me that Dustin Cole, her second best friend, is a computer genius. “He has so many computers in his bedroom, there’s no room for a bed and he uses a sleeping bag. He already knows about Dark Lifers so he’ll understand what’s going on.”
She only talks a few minutes and he promises to call back soon.
We heat up a frozen pizza and watch a movie but it’s impossible to relax. I jump when the wind whines or a branch creaks. I sense the Dark Lifer soul nearby, stalking us. Knowing he’s in Dominic body makes me want to rush to him. But I don’t because my head knows he’s not really Dominic. I only pick at my pizza, hurting too much to enjoy food.
Tired of thinking and feeling so much, I curl up with a pillow on the couch and shut my eyes. Dark-cloud thoughts drift storms through my mind but I push them away. And I tumble, down, deep into darkness….

“Look what I nicked?” A tow-headed teen brags, holding tight to a brown bag.
“What you got there, Randy?” This boy is taller, almost a man with stubble on his chin. Both wear overalls and faded cotton shirts.
“Firecrackers.” Randy grins. “They’re beauts, Vance, and I got me a doozy of an idea how to use them. It’ll serve old Jenkins for saying I wasn’t good enough for Sarah Anne and threatening to shoot me if I didn’t get off his property. Well, I’m on his property now and he ain’t gonna find out till it’s too late.”
“Don’t do nothin’ dumb,” Vance warns “Or I’ll-”
“You’ll what?” Randy says with a fierce glare. “You gotta snitch on me?”
“I’d never do that. We’re pals.”
“Swear on your life you’ll stick by me. No matter what.”
Vance hesitates then nods. “I swear.”
Randy leads his friend to a barn, creeping between shadowy old cars. Randy says he’s going to set off the fireworks by Jenkins’ prized cow. “But she won’t be such a prize after I spook her.” Randy asks Vance to stand watch outside.
“I’ll warn you if Old Jenkins come round,” Vance promises.
Then Randy goes inside the barn and lights a match. Smoke sputters as colorful flame explodes. A cow kicks a wall, mooing. Randy flicks the lighter flame again, only a spark flies and a bale of hay crackles on fire. Randy laughs, pleased in his revenge and not caring if the whole barn burns down. But when he tries to open the door, his laughter dies. It’s latched from the outside. He shouts for Vance to open the door, over and over, till his words become coughs and bloody hands fall from the door…
Rap music shrieks.

My eyes snap open and I sit up from the couch.
“Sorry! Didn’t mean to wake you.” Amber picks up her cell. “But it’s Dustin.”
I take deep breaths to clear smoky fear from my mind. Amber is talking excitedly, writing fast on a notepad. When she hangs up, she gestures to the family photos on the wall. “Dustin didn’t have much to go on so he ran a search the Barnetts. Jessica’s maiden name is Vance. Her father is James Alexander Vance the Third.”
“Vance!” I exclaim. “So the Dark Lifer did have the right house!”
“Almost. The house has been in Jessica’s family for generations. But her father moved out after his wife died, giving the house to Jessica and moving to a condo downtown.” Amber shows me a yellow Post-It with the address.
I quickly tell Amber about my dream then grab her arm. “We need to go now!” I say. “And warn Mr. Vance.”
“It’s too late tonight.” Amber shakes her curly head. “But we’ll go early tomorrow. And we’ll finally find out why the Dark Lifer is after Mr. Vance.”
“I think I already know. I just had a dream—more than a dream. A vision from the past about the Dark Lifer before he died,” I say, shivering. “I saw him burn to death.”
* * *
PART FOUR (only one part left till The End!)

Amber and I talked for hours about my dream. We still don’t know much but suspect the Dark Lifer (Randy) blames Mr. Vance for his death. Could his revenge involve fire and death? Finally we’re so tired, we head to the guest bedroom.
I’m reaching for my pajamas when I hear a rattling sound—like someone’s trying to force open a door.
I glance over at Amber and put my finger to my lips. I mouth, “Where’s your GEM?” She mouths back, “Living room.”
I groan. My phone is there, too. And I don’t see one in our room.
A thump from outside…then silence.
“We have to find out!” Amber whispers. Then she jumps up and out of the room,
When I start after her, a voice hisses in my head, “Trouble awaits! Don’t go!” I recognize Opal. But I keep running.
When I reach the living room, it’s too late.
Trouble has grabbed Amber—and he’s wearing Dominic’s body.
For a crazy moment, my heart soars and I almost fling myself into Dominic’s arms. But the strange twist of lips that I have kissed and the hands which have held me gently now glow with an eerie grayness. And I can see an unearthly gray aura that sickens my soul. There’s no doubt this is the Dark Lifer: AKA Randy.
“Let her go,” I say as calm as possible.
“Why should I?” Randy taunts in Dominic’s voice. “A scrawny thing like you can’t hurt me.”
Now I’m just getting mad. I look around for something—anything!—to use against him. I spot a letter opener on a desk and dive for it. Waving it like a sword, unfortunately a very short one, I say, “I’ll use this if I have to.”
Randy laughs, but when I parry and then thrust forward, the letter opener’s sharp blade barely misses him and he stops laughing. I’m shocked to see real fear on his face.
“Cut his…his hands!” Amber rasps. “He…He’ll be…be ejected from…body.”
I don’t understand but it sounds like a plan. If all I have to do is cut him and he’ll leave Dominic’s body, I’d use every skill I ever learned in fencing class (even some of the dirty tricks we’re told not to do).
But as I lunge forward, Randy shoves Amber’s between us. “Go ahead—but you’ll cut her. Not me. Now drop that stupid toy,” he snaps.
I hesitate. He presses his hands tightly around Amber’s neck and she cries out in pain. I drop the blade.
“Stop!” Amber moans, flailing like a rag dog. “Your hands… burning me.”
“And why is that?” He stares down at her curiously. “Earthbounders shouldn’t have such delicious energy. Have you’ve been in contact with the other side recently? Is that why your energy feels so sweet? Who are you?”
Amber pants for breath, and her aura flickers with scarlet pain. The more she struggles, the more energy flows from her and into the Dark Lifer. I’ve never seen anything like it and guess this has to do with Amber’s work as a Temp Lifer. I look around the room for the GEM—it’s lying on the coffee table.
“Stop! Let her go!” I cry, inching toward the GEM. “I’ll tell you everything!”
“What do you know?” he demands.
“Where Vance is.”
He loosens his grip on Amber. She slumps to the carpet, unconscious.
I start for Amber but he grabs my arm. His touch is rough but doesn’t burn me like it did Amber.
“Where’s Vance!” he demands.
I’m so close to him now that my heart dies; the face I love staring down on me with hatred. Not my Dominic, I remind myself. But I can’t help but wonder--where is Dominic? If I call out to him, will he hear me? Oh, Dominic, if you’re here in any form, please come back. I need you.
“TELL ME!” Randy squeezes my arm viciously. “Where is he?”
“I-I can’t talk when you’re hurting me!”
He eases his grip and I take the chance to dive for the GEM. I grasp the cover but before I can flip it open, Randy slams into me. The book flies from my fingers and I’m tossed to the floor. My knee bangs into the coffee table. Pain shoots through me.
“Damned GEM!” Randy roars as he scoops the small book in Dominic’s calloused hands. “You think I didn’t know what this was? I was a Temp Lifer, before I went rogue. Since GEMs are freaking indestructible I’ll dump it later. First you’re gonna tell me how to find Vance.”
“I’m not telling you anything!”
“Your friend is a Temp Lifer, isn’t she? That’s why her energy is so sweet. Do what I say or I’ll absorb so much of her glowing energy that she’ll grow weak until she stops breathing.”
“No! Leave her alone!” I rush to Amber’s side, terrified because she’s so lifeless.
“She’ll die if you don’t tell me where Vance is.”
I don’t know what to say, staring down at Amber’s pale, still body. She doesn’t move.
The Dark Lifer advances and I try to protect Amber but he’s pushes me aside. He reaches his glowing hands for Amber. “I’ll finish her off now,” he threatens.
“Okay…okay!” I grab the yellow Post-It note off a counter and toss it to him. “That’s Mr. Vance’s address. Get out of here! Leave us alone!”
“Now that’s more like it.” He reads the note, grinning. But instead of leaving he grabs me by the hair. I cry out as he yanks me to my feet. “You’re coming with me.”
Then he half-drags me outside, shoves me into Dominic’s truck, and we drive off.

CPART 5 - the FINALE!

* * *
Being in Dominic’s truck brings back so many memories: his boyish grin when he showed off his new truck, the key ring shaped like a falcon I’d given him, and the wintry night when we were trapped in a snow storm, snuggling to stay warm.
But the Dominic beside me is only a physical shell. The soul inside is dark and deadly, hell-bent on murder. Call it intuition or a psychic vision, but I know he’s planning to kill Vance. No compassion, only vengeance.
And if I die, too, well that’s not his problem.
My best hope lies in the GEM. I watched carefully when he tossed it on top of Dominic’s black leather jacket in the back seat. But there’s no way I can reach it from the front seat.
The truck slams to a stop in front of dust-brown rows of condos. Randy jumps out and is at my door, dragging me out. He finds a bungee cord in the truck and wraps it around my wrists then pushes me in front of him. I notice a glint of silver from his shirt pocket. At first I think it’s a knife but up close I can see it’s a metal lighter.
Hot with terror, I mentally cry out for Opal’s help. I’m swept along like a brittle leaf in a wildfire. Everything happens too fast. Randy attacks the door with a metal lock pick, jiggling until there’s a click. When the door falls open, he warns, “Make a sound and you’re dead.” I believe him.
Stumbling down a hall, sounds of a TV intensify. We turn into a living room and I see him—a middle-aged man at a table, piecing together a puzzle. His aura is green and yellow; a gentle soul. His dark hair is receding and he’s pudgy with the pale complexion of a couch potato. I’ve seen his face before in the Barnett’s family photo: Jessica’s father.
A puzzle piece falls from his fingers as he gasps at us. “Who are you?”
“Don’t you recognize me, Vance?” the Dark Lifer mocks.
“I’ve never seen you before!”
“Admittedly, I do look different. But I’ll make sure you remember.”
“You’re no friend of mine!” Vance argues, his voice quavering. “And why are that girl’s hands tied? Get out of my-”
The Dark Lifer cuts off Vance with a slap and I’m shoved aside. I stumble backwards, falling awkwardly to the carpet.
“The last time we were together you promised to watch out for me,” Randy says accusingly. “We were closer than brothers but you betrayed me!”
“You’re crazy! I don’t know you!” Vance pulls a wallet from his pocket. “Take my money then get out. I don’t want any trouble.”
“Why didn’t you think of that in the barn?” Randy ignores the wallet and whips out a knife from his back pocket. “You locked the door and left me to burn.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about!” the man insists.
“You killed me and now you owe me!”
I struggle to push myself off the floor, tugging at the cord tying my hands behind my back. I want to help Jessica’s father but I can’t even help myself.
“A life for a life,” the Dark Lifer says ominously to Vance, shoving a knife in his face with one hand and whipping rope around his hands with the other. “I won’t gag you because I want to hear your screams. Just like you heard mine.”
“I don’t even know you! Please…don’t do this!”
He sounds so convincing that I feel in my gut he’s telling the truth. But if he’s telling the truth, does that mean the Dark Lifer is lying? I think back to my dream; remember the old-fashioned way the boys spoke and dressed. Vance should be much older than this man—if he was still alive.
I’m overcome by an eerie chill—then I see the ghost.
At first it’s only a golden glimmer from the ceiling but then it grows and forms into a shape of a man. The face flickers from smooth to wrinkled, so I can’t tell if this ghost is young or old. Somehow he’s both—and I recognize him.
“It’s him!” I cry out. “The real Vance!”
All eyes turn toward me; both human and spectral.
“What are you staring at?” Dark Lifer Randy demands.
“Don’t you see him?” I point at the ghost who has grown young before my eyes, now looking exactly like the boy from my vision.
“What sort of con are you pulling?” Randy’s gaze sweeps the room. “There’s only you, me and Vance.”
“He’s not the right Vance!” I tell Randy. “He doesn’t know anything about the fire in the barn.”
“He knows all right! He locked the door and left me to die!”
The ghost shakes his head. “Tell him that ain’t what happened. It was Old Jenkins—he smacked me with a bat and I didn’t know nothing till I smelled smoke.”
“Jenkins locked him in?” I guess.
Randy stares at me. “What do you know about Old Man Jenkins?”
“Not me. Him.” I point. “Vance is a ghost. You have the wrong man.”
“Impossible. You’re trying to trick me. I don’t see any ghost.”
“He can’t see me while in an earthbounder body,” Vance-the-Ghost says. “He always did leap before he looked--like when he went joy-riding in my dad’s truck on a frozen pond and the ice cracked—he was lucky I was close by to pull him out.”
“You saved Randy from the ice?” I ask.
“We were pals. Ain’t nothing I wouldn’t do for him. That’s why I’m here now, trying to save him before it’s really too late. If the Dark Disposal Team catches him in that stolen body, his soul is doomed forever. But if he can’t see me, it’s hopeless.”
“I’ll tell him.” I turn to Randy. “Vance is here to help you.”
“Stop saying there’s a ghost! That’s Vance.” He points to the frightened man sitting in a chair with his hands tied.
“No!” I gesture to the ghost then repeat everything he told me. When I get to the part about the truck on ice, I can tell Randy is beginning to believe me so I keep talking. “Vance isn’t the one who left you to die—it was Sarah Ann’s father.”
“Vance promised to watch out for me. Why didn’t he open the door?”
I turn to Ghost-Vance then repeat what he tells me. “Jenkins knocked him out and when he came to the fire was burning. He tried to run in but Jenkins aimed a shotgun at him and told him to get out and never tell anyone or he’d kill him, too.”
“If Vance is a ghost, who’s this guy?” Randy points to his trembling captive.
“I think his son,” I say. “Didn’t you ever add up the years? You died decades ago. Vance passed on, too, and it took a lot of effort for him to come here now. But he did it because he’s your friend.”
“I-I don’t believe it. If he’s here, I should be able to see him.”
“You’re in a stolen body.” I speak calmly yet my words tremble when I say “body” because I’m fighting for Dominic.
“I’m not falling for your lies.”
“If I’m lying,” I say as I listen to the ghost. “Then there’s no way I could know about the time you kissed Sarah Anne in the hayloft or the poem you copied from a book and told Sarah Anne you wrote just for her.”
Randy narrows his gaze at me. “If you know so much, where was Vance’s and my secret hideout?”
“In a wood shack that used to be a chicken coop.”
His jaw drops. Then he lifts his arms and shouts, ““Show yourself, Vance. If you’re really here, let me see you!”
“You can’t when you’re blocked by that body,” I tell him. “And Vance says he has to leave soon. He wants to talk to you but he’s fading….”
I hold my breath, waiting. Then an electric current sizzles through the room. I stumble to the floor, my bound arms twisting painfully. But I ignore the pain and stare at a swirl of silvery mist rising from Dominic’s body. The mist solidifies to a gray figure with dark hair and a youthful face. “Vance!” he cries, reaching for his childhood pal.
Only before the old friends can unite, there’s a blinding light. Three figures in dark business suits appear: a woman with her hair pulled back in a bun and the two blond men with ordinary, forgettable faces. But the silver whips they all carry are far from ordinary, snapping like snakes, wrapping around Randy. The Dark Disposal Team, I realize, and I want to beg them to give us more time; that Randy wasn’t such a bad guy after all—only I hear someone call my name.
And I look into Dominic’s loving blue eyes.
He’s back.
* * *
The next evening my eyes are blindfolded and I’m being led up narrow stairs by Dominic’s strong yet gentle hands. It’s supposed to be a surprise but I can hear the soft lap of waves and feel the sway beneath my feet. A door creaks and a whoosh of sweet sultry air caresses me, and my guess is confirmed. We’re on the Delta Diva.
“Surprise,” Dominic says.
“Oooh,” I say, delighted by the covered table set for two and twinkling lights strung like Christmas. I’m so touched I can’t find the words to tell Dominic how much I appreciate this, knowing he’s done all this for me.
“Do you like it?” he asks as he very gentlemanly pulls out a chair for me. He’s cleaned up from his usual outdoor clothes, looking handsome in a sky-blue shirt and midnight-black slacks.
“It’s all so amazing,” I say in breathless joy. “I can’t believe you arranged all this for me.”
“It’s the first half of your surprise.”
“What’s the second half?”
“After our romantic deck-top dinner, we’ll go downstairs to hang out with some special friends.”
“Who?”
“Ah, but that’s a surprise. Just wait to find out.”
I stare into his blue eyes and instead of my own reflection, I see a flash of two faces close together: a girl slightly older than me with curly dark-auburn hair and a medium-height and friendly looking guy. Amber and Eli. And I know they’re waiting downstairs, enjoying their own romantic dinner.
But I hate to spoil my own surprise so I shake my head. “I can’t wait,” I say softly. “But you didn’t need to plan any surprise. I’m just happy being here with you.”
“You deserve much more,” he says with a catch in his throat. “You rescued me from doing horrible things. I don't remember much but I’m sorry for everything I did.”
“You didn’t do anything—it was the Dark Lifer,” I remind him for the zillionth time. “But Randy won’t bother us ever again. He’s getting a second chance on the other side. So everything’s great.”
“Better than great.” Dominic comes up and slips his arm around me, pulling me close to him.
“What about our meal?” I ask with a flirty smile.
“It can wait. But this can’t.” He whispers kisses across my cheek until they settle sweet and wonderfully on my lips.
I sigh happily, holding his body tight against mine.
Dominic and I are back where we belong.
Together.
The End.

SABINE MEETS DEAD GIRL coming soon!

2009-09-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

SEER and DEAD GIRL fans -- check this blog soon for a short story uniting Sabine from THE SEER and Amber from DEAD GIRL (plus Dominic and a Dark Lifer). It'll be posted on this blog in five parts. This story was written for fans so it's free. After all five parts are concluded, the short story will move to my website.

CHECK BACK HERE SOON!

20 years to publication

2009-08-11T20:12:00.001-07:00

DEAD GIRL WALKING: 20 YEARS TO PUBLICATION

By Linda Joy Singleton (in celebration of the release of DEAD GIRL IN LOVE)

Would you stick with a book if you knew it would take 20 years from idea to publication? In 1988 I wrote TURN LEFT AT THE MILKY WAY. Every few years I would rewrite and submit again. In 2007, I changed the title to DEAD GIRL WALKING. Here are author-editor emails that followed:

June 22, 2007 (8:30AM): Emailing my Flux editor, Andrew Karre, on another project, I added:

I also recently reworked my YA suicide/switched body story, DEAD GIRL WALKING, if you wanted to look at it.

June 22, 2007 (10:30AM): From my editor:

If you d like to send DEAD GIRL WALKING (email, please), I d have a look, of course.

July 3, 2007 (2PM): From my editor:

Are you going to around on Thursday or Friday? If you are, I’d like to chat with you about this project. Let me know when you’ll have some time.

July 3, 2007 (3:07PM) To my editor:

I'd love to talk with you on Thursday.

July 5, 2007 (1:47PM) From my editor:

It was good to talk, as always. I’m attaching my markup of the ms (notes in the right margin), but it’s mostly what I said on the phone. I m excited to see how this develops. I m sure you’ll surprise me.

July 5, 2007: (2:03PM) To my editor:

I've been thinking it over and see the arc of at least 3 books, following her as she tries to go back to her own body. I'll work on it more and send you a basic description of the three books.

I'm playing with titles and have these ideas so far:

DEAD GIRL DANCING and DEAD GIRL IN LOVE

I think the DANCING one could stem from her desire to be an entertainment agent. I'm seeing Amber as someone who can't figure out who she is and envies others, wishing she could have their life because it seems easier or more glamorous. Getting lost, finding herself...themes I'm working on.

July 9, 2007 (10:47AM): To my editor:

I expect to send you revised chapters and a new synopsis later this week. I am very excited about your idea of a possible short DEAD GIRL series.

July 11, 2007 (10:40AM) From my editor:

I read your new draft, and I think it is much improved. This is much closer to what I was picturing, and I feel like you’ve started out on the right foot with your protagonist. I like this Amber a lot more, and I want to know what happens to her. Of course, I have comments and I’ll pass them along in a bit, but in the main this is what I was hoping you d do. Bravo!

July 11, 2007 (11:05AM): To my editor:

I'll start plotting the additional books and get this to you within a few days. By the way, I love your ideas about other people being like Amber--very cool! My brain wheels are churning.

July 16, 2007 (3:38PM) From my editor:

I will be pitching the series to the committee on Thursday, so expect to hear from me on Thursday or more likely Friday.

July 16, 2007 (4:00PM) To my editor:

Great! Thursday I'll be home but Friday I'll be camping.

Thursday, July 19, 2007: From Linda Joy Singleton’s journal:

At 9AM the phone rang. Editor Andrew...

I sucked in deep breaths and kind of stammered something like "Hi...gasp." He chuckled and said he had good news. Then he offered me a 3-book contract with DEAD GIRL WALKING; DEAD GIRL DANCING and DEAD GIRL IN LOVE. YAY!!!!!

DEAD GIRL IN LOVE is now available -- completing the trilogy about love, loss, best friends and body-swapping.

Contest ends - 1 week! New book trailer!

2009-07-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

Contest for ages 9-19 ends July 31st. Rules in previous post here. $100 prize!

Also check out my cool new book trailer for DON'T DIE DRAGONFLY -- a teen created it for me and didn't she do a great job???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVtIerHabRo

Kid Writing Contest ends in a month!

2009-06-21T08:35:00.000-07:00

"THE BODY SWAP WRITING CONTEST" for young writers!

Young writers have been asking for a writing contest -- and here it is!

Official Rules (feel free to share this on your favorite blogs & with friends)

In DEAD GIRL WALKING, DEAD GIRL DANCING and DEAD GIRL IN LOVE, 17 year old Amber swaps bodies with Ms. Popularity, Ms. College-Girl and her very own best friend.

Question: If you could temporarily trade bodies with anyone, who would you choose? Why? And what do you think the experience would be like?

Answer this question in 300 words or less, then submit your entry to: lindajoysingleton@yahoo.com, stating that this is your original writing and that you have permission from your parents/guardian to enter and share your work on this author's blogs.

Include you age, full name, and contact information (email/address).

Contest ends on July 31st. First place & honorable mention winners will be announced in August on this blog.

1st place: $100 plus autographed book!

Five honorable mentions will win either a free DEAD GIRL, THE SEER or STRANGE ENCOUNTERS book of their choice, autographed by Linda Joy Singleton. And the winning entries will be posted on LJS's blog(s).

A panel of published authors will select the winning entries.

Entrants must be between ages 9 to 19. One entry per person.

Please share this announcement with librarians, teachers, parents and any young writers you know. If you have questions, email lindajoysingleton@yahoo.com

Gothic Girls in Savannah

2009-06-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

I went on a retreat with 8 other YA authors and blogged about it here -- including some pictures. While there, we acted out a hand-puppet show to promote our books with attacking zombies and menacing bunnies. Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQcIvAz59fI

Showcasing DEAD GIRL trailer...

2009-05-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

My book trailer for DEAD GIRL WALKING is Blazing new Trails here: http://www.blazingtrailers.com/show.php?title=462

Afterwards: SCBWI Davis

2009-05-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

I am no longer a power point virgin.

Yesterday I gave my power point present on BLOGGING TO PROMOTE in Davis for the annual Spring SCBWI conference. With only one glitch (I hit a wrong button) it went really well and afterwards many nice people came up to thank me for the workshop.

My biggest tip about whether or not to blog: even if you aren't sure you want to sign up for major blogs like Twitter and Facebook, register your name so that no one else will beat you to it. If I hadn't signed early, I might not have gotten my own name since I have had email from a few other Linda Singleton's and even one Linda Joy Singleton.

The other speakers at the conference -- Diane Muldrow, Chris Eboch, Sara Kahn, Kendra Levin and Nathan Bransford -- were all so interesting! Loved listening to Diane talk on Golden Book history, Chris explain how to give Skype talks, Sara talked about childrens' book in Europe, Kendra give editor/writing advice and Nathan discuss being an agent. "Voice" in books was a hot topic that Kendra, Diane and Nathan all offered professional insights on.

I had hoped to read from a letter I received about how a ghost used one of my SEER books to deliver a message. If you want to read about it, I posted it on the wordpress.com spectacle blog here:
http://thespectacleblog.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/the-seer-ghosts/

Interview with Linda Joy Singleton

2009-04-27T09:01:00.000-07:00

http://theelectricalbookcafe.blogspot.com/

I'm the first author interview for this blogger! Cool! So I told her all my deep, dark secrets (well not all of them ).

CONTEST FOR YOUNG WRITERS!

2009-04-20T07:39:00.000-07:00

ANNOUNCING "THE BODY SWAP WRITING CONTEST" for young writers!

Young writers have been asking for a writing contest -- and here it is!

Official Rules (feel free to share this on your favorite blogs & with friends)

In DEAD GIRL WALKING, DEAD GIRL DANCING and DEAD GIRL IN LOVE, 17 year old Amber swaps bodies with Ms. Popularity, Ms. College-Girl and her very own best friend.

Question: If you could temporarily trade bodies with anyone, who would you choose? Why? And what do you think the experience would be like?

Answer this question in 300 words or less, then submit your entry to: lindajoysingleton@yahoo.com, stating that this is your original writing and that you have permission from your parents/guardian to enter and share your work on this author's blogs.

Include you age, full name, and contact information (email/address).

Contest begins now and ends on July 31st. First place & honorable mention winners will be announced in August on this blog.

1st place: $100 plus autographed book!

Five honorable mentions will win either a free DEAD GIRL, THE SEER or STRANGE ENCOUNTERS book of their choice, autographed by Linda Joy Singleton. And the winning entries will be posted on LJS's blog(s).

A panel of published authors will select the winning entries.

Entrants must be between ages 9 to 19. One entry per person.

Please share this announcement with librarians, teachers, parents and any young writers you know. If you have questions, email lindajoysingleton@yahoo.com

LJ Smith is a fan of MY book!

2009-03-16T16:33:00.000-07:00

It's really cool when authors find out that OTHER AUTHORS are their fans.

LJ Smith, author of VAMPIRE DIARIES and other popular YA thrillers, read my THE SEER and DEAD GIRL books then wrote to me with this review:

I have a few favorites in modern middle grade and YA fiction, and those I have, I cherish. Linda Joy Singleton (same initials as me, but not a pseudonym, I promise) is at the front of the list. I can pick up a book by Singleton and know that it will have an interesting and accessible heroine, a super plot with a mystery always included--and many unexpected twists and turns--and down-to-earth teen language that will never offend me or make me blush. Singleton's supporting characters generally deserve series of their own; they are not only fascinating but they hold to the tenet of "show the world who you really are." But perhaps the best thing is that there is an indefinable feeling of family in the books. Even though modern families are portrayed realistically, with all their complex difficulties, there is still a feeling of love that pervades the books. Love of friends, love of doing the right thing, and in the YA series a romance that rings true. That doesn't mean the books aren't scary--they are. But there is always an emotionally safe ground to return to. That, to me, is just as important as the thrills.

Paper or Electronic Text?

2009-03-10T10:31:00.000-07:00

I posted at my Livejournal account under LindaJSingleton about how a trip to a castle led to my selling ebooks.

Read here: http://lindajsingleton.livejournal.com/114829.html

CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT - DEAD GIRL DANCE

2009-02-22T07:13:00.000-08:00

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DEAD GIRL DANCE contest!
Okay, here's the contest announcement.

Introducing a new contest to make your own DEAD GIRL DANCING video!

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DEAD GIRL DANCE is a contest to celebrate the release of Linda Joy Singleton's new book, DEAD GIRL DANCING. To enter simply create a video of your creative idea of what a "Dead Girl Dance" should look like. You can film yourself, your friends, your pets, dress up in costumes or whatever you want. Just be sure to follow the rules below.

Here are the rules and prizes:

1. To quality, the video's title must include: www.lindajoysingleton.com "Dead Girl Dancing Contest?. I prefer you post it on You-Tube but other sites are okay.

2. Keep it PG -- no swearing, nudity, crudeness or violence.

3. Since this contest is to celebrate the new book, DEAD GIRL DANCING (Flux Books), including the book cover or references to the series in the video would improve chances to win.

4. Once you've created a video, email ljscheer@yahoo.com with the URL and your contact information in case you are chosen as a winner. By entering, you claim you are the creator and owner of this video.

5. Just have fun and dance like a "Dead Girl."
Contest ends March 31st and the winners will be emailed (so include your contact information).

A panel of authors will choose the winning video. The most fun, original, creative video that's shows the spirit of the DEAD GIRL series will receive:

1st place: * DEAD GIRL WALKING and DEAD GIRL DANCING (autographed) books
* Your name on the dedication page of a future Linda Joy Singleton book.
* Your video link featured on the author's blogs.
2nd place: * A book of choice by Linda Joy Singleton

Please pass this around on your blogs and start the contest NOW!

FYI -- For ideas check YouTube DGW book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8VUQmv2c2I

SERIES BOOKS UNDER GLASS

2009-02-20T15:28:00.001-08:00

Today I was visited by Diane from the Galt (CA) library. I stop in there about every other week and recommend my favorite books to Diane, rent books & audio books, and share my latest publishing news. Yesterday I had a new book to show off -- DEAD GIRL DANCING which I donated to the Galt Library.

I lived in Galt for 16 years and I continue to do a writing contest for kids (with writer Danna Smith) at an elementery school. Even though I moved further into the foothills, I still have very fond feelings toward Galt, so I enjoy coming back for book-related events.

My upcoming event will be on March 14th at the library. I'm going to give an overhead picture presentation of "Girl Power Through Ages and Pages," showing book covers from the late 1800's through present, and sharing how books inspired girls to dream and achieve. For instance, THE AIRPLANE GIRLS, published in 1911, featured adventrous girls flying planes and solving mysteries before women could wear pants or vote.

I've only given this presentation a few times and it's always so fun. With a personal library of over 5,000 mostly series books, I have plenty of beautiful, dramatic, amazing artistic book covers to show. Plus the stories offer many surprises. I share series gossip like:

* What girl series sweetheart had an inappropriate relationship with her father?
* Which 1980's girl heroine was the first to discuss having to go pee while kidnapped for hours (not Nancy Drew who had several-day bladder)?
* And what vintage girl series was actually written by a famous male author?

Guess even one of those and I'll mail you a signed bookmark.

I offered to donate some of my collection to display in the Galt Library's glass case. So Librarian Diane was here today choosing what to use. I had more Nancy Drew items than anything else (1957 game, lunchbox, diary, T-shirt, MadLibs, doll, etc) so she decided to use mostly Nancy items. We added some books from other series, too, like Penny Parker, Judy Bolton and Kay Tracey.

My series book collection will be on display during March. I've never done this before and am looking forward to sharing my favorite things.

How to Finish a Book

2009-02-11T19:23:00.001-08:00

Advice I just gave a teen who posted on my MySpace page:

HOW TO FINISH A BOOK:

* Write a page or two every day.
* After a month, you have a chapter or more.
* By a year there's a book taking shape, if not finished.
* Then you go back and rewrite so it sparkles and shines.
* Rewrite some more.
* Repeat.

It's work. Hard work -- but so enjoyable it feels like play

COUNTDOWN to DEAD GIRL DANCING

2009-02-10T17:37:00.000-08:00

DEAD GIRL DANCING will be published in: 19 Days!!!

DEAD GIRL DANCING continues the story of high school Amber Borden who's bad sense of direction landed her in the wrong body. Now due to an impulsive promise to her dead grandmother, Amber is back to her body-switching adventures.

Here's the opening page:
Chapter One

I could not believe I was in the wrong body—again!

Memo to self: Never make a promise to a dead grandmother.

Yesterday when I’d talked to Grammy Greta via an out-of-body-experience, she’d said I had a talent for helping people and I’d make a good Temp Lifer. On the other side my grandmother has this important job of Earthbounder Counselor where she gives humans in crisis a time-out from their lives by sending in temporary replacements. I was so flattered by her praise that I’d promised to help her any time. But I hadn’t expected to switch me into someone else’s body right away—especially the body of my boyfriend’s sister Sharayah.

Standing in front of a full length mirror, I stared at shoulder-length dark hair, curved cheek bones, an eyebrow ring and shocked eyes. Transforming from a high schooler to a college girl didn’t sound bad in theory; being mature and of legal age for a few days could be a cool experience. But being my boyfriend’s sister was sooo going to ruin my love life. Eli and I hadn’t seriously kissed yet--and now even thinking about kissing him was illegal and immoral.

I mean, how could I make out with my boyfriend when I was his sister?

Blog Girl Interviews ME

2009-02-04T16:54:00.000-08:00

Check out the interview where I reveal all my deep, dark secrets.....The URL is http://thebookgirlreviews.blogspot.com

DEAD GIRL DANCING reviewed!

2009-01-28T09:09:00.000-08:00

In today's SLJ email, there's a teen review of DEAD GIRL DANCING:
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/eNewsletter/CA6632510/4302.html

I don't know how long that will stay posted so I'll share it here:
The plot of this book is very original. You don't often read books about people switching into someone else’s body for a living! Dead Girl Dancing is a more modern day version of Freaky Friday, with a spin on it.
The cover did tempt me a bit to pick up the book, but it was more the fact that it was a book from the Dead Girl series that made me it up than the cover. While the cover did reflect the contents of the book, I think they could have come up with something more original that reflected Sharayah's character.
The best part of the book is how Amber, as a character, stays true to herself and the plot line, and stays true to herself during any situation. I also liked how she always somehow refers to a book she read during any possible situation to herself.
The book was good, but I was hoping for Amber to stay herself and how she's getting used to her daily life again. I also wanted to know how she feels now towards both Sharayah and Leah after she was their ‘Temp Lifer’. – Sabrina K., age 14

--

What's nice is that the things Sabrina says she wants to know moer about are answered in the final DEAD GIRL book, DEAD GIRL IN LOVE. So she should enjoy that one, too, when it comes out in the Fall.

Why I won't read the 2nd book in this trilogy....

2009-01-22T16:39:00.000-08:00

I posted this on my LJ but throught I'd share it here, too:

I just finished reading the first book in a YA novel that won a big award. I won't name this book because of "spoilers". The reason I'm writing this is because the things listed below have happened in other books, too. I liked many things about this book.

The opening line was great, I sympathized with the main character, I loved his two companions and I was intrigued at the other-world setting and mystery. The writing was powerful with great pacing and original language. I wanted to love this book--and I did up until the second half which took a different turn.

Disclaimer: The following is only my opinion, and I'm soft-hearted in my reading taste. Obviously many people loved this book enough to give it an award. The reasons I will NOT read the next book in this trilogy are:

1. The loyal pet died. Do not kill pets. When I remember the book, I will mostly remember the dead pet.

2. Too many terrible things happened without moments of humor, success, joy or fun. Which is NO fun.

3. It grew increasingly violent, frequent beatings and bloody battles.I'd rather see solid plotting than books filled with a series of horrific events -- as if shocking and horrifying readers will built a plot.

4. The hero turned violent, killing someone innocent which made me lose respect for the hero.

5. The bad guys constantly prevailed and beat the hero. I want the hero to win, at least a few times.

6. Everyone who was kind to the hero was killed. Too grim. Not balanced with good moments.

7. And my biggest complaint -- the book DID not end.It stopped at a terrible situation, abruptly, and teased that it would be continued in book 2. A good trilogy will have at least one major plot for each book, creating reader satisfaction in each book while carrying a plot arc of a bigger story throughout the trilogy. It's like cheating to stop abruplty and write: "End of Book One."

I will not be reading Book Two.

Now an EXCELLENT example of a fantastic first book in a trilogy is HUNGER GAMES. Even though it had bloody violence, the scenes were balanced by humor, wonderful secondary characters and a main character with intelligence, skill and compassion. Even when the heroine was forced to kill, she remained sympathetic. She also prevailed enough through the story, keeping the action balanced. And when the book was over, this book was satisfying with the main plots finished, offering sadness but hope, too, and leaving it open for the next challenge in book #2.

I will be reading Book Two of HUNGER GAMES trilogy (Sept. 09). I can't wait!

A "Purr-fect" DEAD GIRL review

2009-01-19T07:24:00.001-08:00

A wonderful book review site on Blogger has given my book, DEAD GIRL WALKING, 5 "purrs" -- check it out here:
http://sharonlovesbooksandcats.blogspot.com/2009/01/dead-girl-walking.html

A TWO-BOOK DEAL -- for SEER & SPINOFF

2009-01-15T08:30:00.001-08:00

I'm happy to announce that my agent Jennifer with ABLA has negotiated a 2-book deal with Flux for a 6th THE SEER tenatively titled MAGICIAN'S MUSE and a spin-off book called THE FINDER, featuring my favorite psychic goth, Thorn.

I'm currently writing #6 and hope to finish it before summer. Then it will be published over a year later -- in 2010.

Stay tuned to my www.myspace.com/LindaJoySingleton blog and also my more active www.livejournal.com/users/LindaJSingleton blog for the latest news!

NEWSLETTER from THE SEER Author to Fans

2008-10-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

Hi! From Linda Joy Singleton

BIG NEWS: The first book in my new DEAD GIRL series came out September 1st. Finally it's out!!! I'm so excited!See the cover & review at: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Dead-Girl-Walking/Linda-Joy-Singleton/e/9780738714059/?itm=7 (Barnes & Noble stores haven't been stocking my book, so please ask them to carry it if you get the chance)

MORE DETAILS: DEAD GIRL WALKING, the first DEAD GIRL title, is a paranormal dramedy about 17 year old Amber who has such a bad sense of direction, that when she had an out-of-body experience, she lands in the wrong body -- of a popular, gorgeous, rich girl who just committed suicide. Then Amber has to race against time to return to her body before it's donated for organs. Along the way, she gets kissed, is stalked by a Dark Lifer, witnesses a miracle, hangs out with the popular group and falls in love.

DEAD GIRL TWO: I've already written the second book in the DEAD GIRL series, titled DEAD GIRL DANCING, which finds Amber once again in the wrong body, but this time being stalked by a Dark Lifer while she goes on a road trip and gets wild on spring break. I'm currently writing the third book, DEAD GIRL IN LOVE.MORE SEER NEWS: If you're a fan of THE SEER series, stay turned to my MySpace blog for an announcement of where you can read a short story I wrote called DOMINIC'S VOLCANO, which goes back into Dominic's mysterious past and explains how he learned to communicate with animals, found his falcon and met Sabine's grandmother. I posted the opening paragraph on www.myspace.com/LindaJoySingleton .

EVEN MORE SEER NEWS: Summer of 2009, Llewellyn/Flux will rerelease all five THE SEER books in a larger, dramatic format. And in the reprinted DON'T DIE DRAGONFLY, the short story DOMINIC'S VOLCANO will be an added bonus. With this new format, the odds of my being asked to write a 6th book increase. So fingers crossed!WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW: If you have any questions about my books, my pets, my speaking engagements, or writing in general, just ask! I love hearing from readers.

Linda Joy Singleton www.LindaJoySingleton.com http://www.myspace.com/lindajoysingletonGhosts Whisper to Psychic Medium, Sabine , in THE SEER series:#1. DON'T DIE, DRAGONFLY #2. LAST DANCE#3. WITCH BALL #4. SWORD PLAY #5. FATAL CHARM DEAD GIRL series: #1. DEAD GIRL WALKING - NOW OUT! #2. DEAD GIRL DANCING - Spring 2009/Flux

New Book, DEAD GIRL WALKING, is out!!!

2008-08-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

Amber has such a bad sense of direction that after an out of body experience, she makes a wrong turn and lands in the body of the most popular, gorgeous, rich girl at school -- who just committed suicide. Then it's a race against time for Amber to return to her own body before her organs are donated.

DEAD GIRL WALKING is the first book in the DEAD GIRL series from Flux -- and I'm excited that it's finally out! It's already available on Amazon and will soon show up in bookstores. To read the first chapter check out the "Book" link of my website www.LindaJoySingleton.com .

Read the first chapter of DEAD GIRL WALKING

2008-04-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

DEAD GIRL WALKING, the first book in my Flux DEAD GIRL series comes out September 2008.

It's about Amber, an over-achieving high school senior with such a bad sense of direction that when she has an out-of-body experience she lands in the wrong body.

There will be three books in this series. DEAD GIRL GONE WILD will be out summer 2009.

Also in summer of 2009, THE SEER series gets a new look! The five books will be rereleased in a larger trade format. Yay!

For a sneak preview of the first chapter of DEAD GIRL WALKING go to my main website http://www.lindajoysingleton.com/ and click on BOOKS.

Enjoy!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

2007-04-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

There's an interview up about my path to becoming an author on: http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/

Also I share a lot of news with fans on MySpace: www.myspace.com/lindajoysingleton

COUNTDOWN TO FATAL CHARM:

113 DAYS

(from May 10 till August 1st)

THE SEER 5 BOOK COVER!

2006-10-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

THE SEER #5 is called FATAL CHARM and will be out summer 07.

You can see the cover and read a blurb at:
www.LindaJoySingleton.com
click on the BOOKS link

Hope you enjoy the new cover! I love it!

LJS

THE SEER #5 COMING IN 2007

2006-08-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

Llewellyn is contracting a 5th THE SEER and I'm currently writing this book which may be titled FATAL CHARM or FINAL CHARM. The title I chose was KISS N' KILL, but the publisher want "charm" in the title.

I update more often on Live Journal and I also have a blog at MySpace under my full name. Links on my website at: www.LindaJoySingleton.com

Have fun reading!! I sure do (g).

Linda

To Fans of The Seer

2006-04-18T07:06:00.000-07:00

I've been getting some questions from fans about the next The Seer book and wanted to let anyone interested know what's going on.

Sword Play just came out and I'm happy to hear that many readers have enjoyed it.

No news yet on a 5th book, but I've been in touch with my editor who is trying to convince the publishers to contract another book. The title would probably be KISS AND KILL and solve Nona's problems plus heat up the growing romance between Dominic and Sabine. Lots of favorite characters will be back, adding to conflict on a weekend horseback camping trip. I just hope Llewellyn asks me to write this book.

Fans can let Llewellyn Worldwide in Minnesota know they'd like anotherbook -- that might help.

While you're waiting look for my cloning mysteries, Regeneration and my alternate-world mystery DOUBLE VISION. Most of my books can be ordered online or ask your local bookstore.

Linda Joy Singleton
www.lindajoysingleton.com
www.livejournal.com/users/lindajsingleton

SWORD PLAY IS OUT!

2006-04-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

The fourth THE SEER is out early! SWORD PLAY opens with a ghost and ends with a deadly battle. Check out Amazon or B/N to see the cover and description.

By the way, I post more often on my Live Journal site at www.LiveJournal.com/users/LindaJSingleton

See you there. Linda

RULES FOR WRITING FOR KIDS

2006-03-11T06:54:00.000-08:00

Want to know the secret of writing middle-grade novels?

Here's advice from over a dozen published authors:
http://www.cynthialord.com/pdf/author_writing_rules.pdf

Magic Under the Sea contest results

2006-01-11T18:53:00.000-08:00

My 2nd essay contest for kids has ended. The topic was MAGIC UNDER THE SEA and 8-12 year olds were invited to mail in essays 250 words or less. The entries were all very creative! Magical mermaids, sea turtle riding and dangerous sharks. I was very impressed with all the essays and wish to thank everyone who entered for your hard work. I was only going to award five Honorable Mentions, but they were so good I added two more.
Here are the results:
$100 First Place: The Adventures of Porpoise Pete by John-Paul Heil (PA)$50
Second Place: Sparkels Are Forever by Niveditha Raghavan (CA)
$25 Third Place: Cassie and Roxi Find the Most Beautiful Treasure of All! by Cassandra Rozinsky (TX)

Honorable Mentions (free autographed book prizes):The Finding by William Kikoski (Arizona)
Trouble Underwater by Adam Calindo (TX)
A Dream Under the Sea, or Not by Trinity Noble (NE)
The Day I Traveled Under Water by Johnathan Graves (SC)
Elephant Heaven by Drake Winn (SC)
Under Water Magic by Margaret Anne Christie (SC)
The Magical Sand Dollar by Jonathan Melchiorre (NJ)

Congratulations! I'll mail prizes soon.
www.LindaJoySingleton.com

MAGIC CONTEST RESULTS COMING SOON

2006-01-09T06:57:00.000-08:00

MAGIC UNDER THE SEA essay contest for kids has ended and results will be posted to this blog and my LiveJournal blog this week. So stay tuned!

Also, the 3rd THE SEER book, WITCH BALL, is out. I haven't seen it in stores yet. If you see it in a store, post where and how many copies. Thanks!

THE SEER #4 is finished!

2005-10-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

Totally nearly 200 pages, with lots of danger, changing friendships, romance and ghosts, the 4th book in my psychic YA series, THE SEER, is finished! SWORD PLAY has a cool cover which can be seen at www.LindaJoySingleton.com .

Now I'm plotting the 5th book which I hope Llewellyn wants. I can't decide between these two titles: KISS AND KILL or SHADOW SPELL. What do you prefer?

More updates on my other site.

Link to a Katrina Refuge's Blog

2005-09-02T07:39:00.000-07:00

Dianne de Las Casas, a friend of mine who is a talented storyteller and writer, has been sharing her Katrina refuge experiences on her blog www.storyconnection.blogspot.com/

People have been reaching out to her and her daughters with amazing kindness. I now read her blog every day. Check it out.

ANNOUNCING A NEW ESSAY CONTEST

2005-08-29T16:36:00.000-07:00

My first contest for kids (ages 8-12) went so well, I'm starting a new one
with $100 for the first place winner. It's an essay contest with a 250
word maximum.

The first contest's topic was ALIEN PETS to celebrate my midgrade
adventure OH, NO! UFO. This time the topic is magic under the sea to
celebrate my just released mermaid mixup, SEA SWITCH.

For more information go to my website and click on essay contest:
www.LindaJoySingleton.com

Look for SEA SWITCH soon!

2005-08-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

My publisher sent an advance copy of the third STRANGE ENCOUNTERS book, SEA SWITCH, and I read through it right away. It's about a wicked mermaid who tricks Cassie and switches places with her - leaving Cassie in trouble under water and sentenced to a mermaid jail. Lots of fun and surprises.

I'm still writing the 4th THE SEER book, SWORD PLAY. Should hit the 100 page mark today if I get busy writing.

A week ago I had a great time at an annual children's writing conference in Los Angeles. I talked to many writers and attended workshops with editors, agents and a few famous authors (like Rosemary Wells and Bruce Coville). They had an American Idol type competition where instead of singing, entrants performed their book-related school talks -- and my own roommate Verla Kay was a finalist. A new friend Dianne de Las Casas was also a finalist.

Next month I'll announce a new writing contest for kids titled "Magic Under the Sea" because SEA SWITCH takes place in a magical world under the sea. I may allow 250 words instead of 200 this time, and I plan to add a 3rd place award also. It'll run from Sept. to January, so there will be plenty of time to send in entries.

Check back here for more contest news.

ALIEN PET ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS

2005-06-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

Before I announce the winners, I want to say that choosing them was SO difficult because there were around 300 entries.

The essays were well-written, funny and wonderful. If you didn't win this time, enter my "MAGIC UNDER THE SEA" essay contest in the Fall to celebrate the release of Strange Encounters #3: SEA SWITCH, where a wicked mermaid turns Cassie Strange into a mermaid. Check www.LindaJoySingleton.com in August for details.

I'd like to thank my co-judges, picture book authors Verla Kay and Dana Kessimakis Smith. It was a big job to choose winners among so many fantastic essays. In fact, choosing was so difficult, instead of 5 third place winners, I picked 12. Also there was a tie for second place, so two entrants will receive $50. I plan to contact the winners by mail or phone soon. Then with their permission, I'll post a few here.

Here are the winning essays:
FIRST PlACE: My Alien Week by Kimberly Paquette

SECOND PLACE: (A tie!) My Alien Pet by Jori Silber & My Astonishing Alien by Michelle Vaisman

THIRD PLACE:
Chub by Erin Anderson
The Adventures of a Boy and His Pet Max by Kortney Walton
My Alien Pet by Sydney Ippolito
Morpha Ova by Maria L. Hodge
My New Alien Pet by Rachael Eberle
My Alien Adventures by Jackie Thelen
Star Surfer by Emily Ann Smith
Describe an Alien Pet by Kayla Gibbs
Jig My Alien Pet by Rebecca Tracy,
My Alien Pet by Timothy Brown Jr.
Koalaroo by Amriz Molina
Alien Pet by Jonathan Melchiorre

Congratulations to everyone who entered! You're amazing writers!

Alien Essay Contest Update

2005-06-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

Hi!

I've now had a chance to read all the (approx. 300) entries and am waiting on the final judging decision of my two assistant judges, Verla Kay and Dana Kessimakis Smith. The entries were ALL so creative and wonderful, picking a few dozen for this final round was very difficult. I am very impressed with the writing of all entrants. Amazing!

Since the entries were SO well-written, I'm increasing the number of third prizes from five to ten.

Also I've decided to offer another essay contest this Fall to celebrate the September release of my mermaid fantasy-adventure, SEA SWITCH, where Cassie Strange goes on a quest for mermaids and becomes one. The theme will be "Magic Under the Sea." I'll post the info on my website in August.

Don't forget I also have an ongoing contest on my website which only has about a dozen entrants for the July 4th book giveaway. All you have to do is send an email to enter this raffle contest.

Thanks again to everyone who entered. I'll post contest results as soon as I get them.

At long last .... LAST DANCE!

2005-05-26T18:03:00.000-07:00

It's out!!!

Did I mention, it's out?!!

The second installment in the psychic saga of Sabine Rose, THE SEER series, has been published. If you liked DON'T DIE DRAGONFLY, you should enjoy LAST DANCE (at least I hope you do!)

LAST DANCE has lots of mystery, adventure, danger and romance. Readers will discover Thorn's real name and secrets about a 50-year old ghost. And when it's all over, someone may die....

THE SEER #2: LAST DANCE is available at booksellers everywhere. And if your local store doesn't have it, just ask them to order it. Or check Amazon and Barnes and Noble online.

Happy reading!

NEXT THE SEER

2005-04-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

I'm close to being offered a contract for SWORD PLAY, #4 in THE SEER series.

If you want to read more about Sabine, Dominic, Josh, Penny-Love, Nona and Thorn, cross your fingers for me. I've had fun writing THE SEER series and hope to keep doing it for a long time.

Well I'm off to appear at Galt High's career day. I'm going to have a raffle for a free book and ask each entrant to write down their favorite word.

What's your favorite word??

WAITING FOR THE LAST DANCE

2005-04-10T07:20:00.000-07:00

Just two months away before THE SEER #2 LAST DANCE comes out.

It's always so hard to wait. I want the book out yesterday. Or even tomorrow. But it's not scheduled until June. I don't even have an advance copy of it -- and my publisher sent some out to select reviewers. I had an email from a bookstore owner who had read one of these advance copies and she loved the book. I wanted to scream, "How come you have a copy and I don't?" But I restrained myself. "Be patient," I told myself.

Then I did an online search and found a copy of LAST DANCE for sale from a secondhand store. Quick as a keystroke, I dashed off my credit card and info and ordered the book....only to get an email a short while later that they didn't have the book after all.

So it's back to waiting. WAITING!! I really hate it!

Oh well...I'll be busy next week since I'm doing Galt High's career day on Friday. Next talk is June 15th at Lodi Writers. Then nothing in July except that on July 16th the Harry Potter #6 comes out. I can't wait! (Geez...I hate waiting).

Classroom Visit

2005-04-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

Today I gave an author talk to a class of 4th graders. The class had just finished reading my book, OH, NO! UFO and they were full of questions about writing and aliens. I showed them overhead pictures and did a worksheet called CREATE YOUR OWN ALIEN PLANET.

In closing, I read two chapters from my upcoming third book in the STRANGE ENCOUNTERS series, SEA SWITCH, the part where Cassie discovers what pet her sister Amber has hidden and then later when Cassie meets a wicked mermaid. I can't wait for this book to come out in September!

SHE GETS IT

2005-03-31T07:26:00.000-08:00

I just had an email from a writer friend, Kim R., who figured out some of the hidden meanings in my OH, NO! UFO book. Woo hoo, Kim!

Here's what she said-
I just finished reading Oh No UFO and Don't Die Dragonfly.
I thought they were great! I particularly liked the backwards
names hidden in Vee's alien language in Oh No UFO, and
Sabine's reluctance to use her gift in Dragonfly.

To undercover secrets behind STRANGE ENCOUNTERS and THE SEER series, read some of the articles at Llewellyn's site that they asked me to write to share some real stories that happened to me while writing.

Nothing Much

2005-03-30T17:18:00.000-08:00

Today is my husband's birthday. We already celebrated last weekend with a small party, but I'm also going to bake him some Rice Crispie treats.

I've started a new blog more writing focused at www.LiveJournal.com/users/LindaJSingleton so if you're interested in writing, check it out. I didn't post today though because nothing much is going on. I didn't even write. Some days are like that.

The sun is shining. My heart is breaking. A favorite pet has died and I'm in mourning.

DRIVING FOR DRAGONS

2005-03-12T19:52:00.000-08:00

Ever read DRAGON RIDER by Cornelia Funke?
Or INKHEART? Or THIEF LORD?

If you have then you know why I drove over 2 hours last night to get books signed by German author, Cornelia Funke. The signing was held at Hicklebee's in San Jose and it was CROWDED! I got there early so I could buy a book and get assigned my place in line. I was #25 of over #150.

Kids swarmed around Cornelia and grew silent when she began to read from her wonderful fantasy novel, DRAGON RIDER. Although German is her language, she spoke perfect English. After reading, she answered questions revealing that INKHEART's sequel which is titled INKBLOOD in German will be called INKSPELL when it's translated in English. And it's coming out in October! I'm as eager to read this book as I am the 6th Harry Potter coming out on July 16th.

It took 2 hours before I got my books signed. And I took this chance to ask Cornelia, "What can you tell me about INKSPELL?" She answered that Dustfinger will return to the book and others will follow ... but not Eleanor. And that's all I know...have to wait till October to find out more.

Also she said that THIEF LORD has been filmed with British actors, but she doesn't know it the movie will be shown in the US. And her other books will probably end up as movies, too.

Another surprising thing she revealed is that she's been famous in Germany for a long time--and has 42 books published there. But only 3 so far in America. Fans (like me!) have a lot to look forward to.

When she signed my copy of DRAGON RIDER, she drew a small picture of a dragon's head. Way cool!

KIDS ESSAY CONTEST

2005-03-05T08:08:00.000-08:00

Between March and June, I will be holding an essay contest for kids from 8-12 years old (in 2005) to write about the alien pet they'd like to have.

The winning entry will receive $100.
Second place will receive $50.

There is no entry fee and the entry form can be copied from my website www.LindaJoySingleton.com .

Pass this information on to any kids, teachers, parents and librarians you think might be interested.

BAD NEWS

2005-03-03T10:30:00.000-08:00

Well the good news is that THE SEER psychic mystery series is selling well.

But the bad news is that it's doing better than my STRANGE ENCOUNTERS series...so yesterday my editor asked me to stop writing STRANGE and work only on THE SEER.

So I won't be able to write GHOST BRIDGE, which really disappoints me. It would have been a wonderful story. Sigh.

Instead I guess I'm going to start a new THE SEER book. Fortunately I have some ideas, involving Sabine moving back in with her parents and being haunted (literally) by an old tragedy. My working title at the moment is SWORD PLAY. That should give the artist a chance to come up with a really amazing silver sword cover.

Check back here soon for a BIG announcement about a writing contest for kids with a first prize of $100.....

Bridge to Magic

2005-02-25T06:49:00.000-08:00

The good news is that my editor read my manuscript for the 3rd THE SEER, WITCH BALL, and she loved it. Big relief! When I turned in the 2nd THE SEER, she wasn't excited at first and I had to do a lot of revisions. The revisions really improved the story and readers should really love all the magic, ghosts and romance when it comes out in June.

Now back to writing the STRANGE ENCOUNTERS series....
I've started to write the 4th book. My title (unless the publisher changes it) will be GHOST BRIDGE.

Here's how I describe the book:
A bridge to magic blasts Cassie back in time – to the 1970’s!
London Bridge is falling down again--and Cassie Strange is swept up in a magical mystery involving a bunny, a missing girl and TIME TRAVEL!

Here's the opening line so far:
When I saw the purple envelope, I knew something exciting was going to happen.

I only have six pages written, but it's a good start.

As I type this morning, my lovely white cat Lily is curled and purring on my lap. There's a picture of her on my website www.LindaJoySingleton.com if you jump around to find the "Linda Facts" link.

Well I'm off in a few hours to enjoy sun, surf and WRITERS. I'm going to a writing conference near Monterey where I'll listen to talks from editors, agents and famous mystery author Nancy Werlin. Her books BLACK MIRROR and DOUBLE HELIX are great!

Sisters In Crime and Fairsite School

2005-02-19T07:44:00.000-08:00

I'm going to a Sisters-In-Crime meeting this afternoon. I've been reading mysteries since my first Judy Bolton and Nancy Drew as a kid, and continue to love this genre. The Sacramento Sisters-In-Crime group is great and we've had some fantastic speakers, like detectives, crime scene investigators, fire inspectors and many authors (including me). Today we're going to talk about publishing and submitting manuscripts.

Yesterday I spoke at Fairsite School in Galt to 4th graders about the writing contest I'm judging. This will be my 10th year with this contest, and this year my co-judge is Dana K. Smith who has a wonderful picture book out from Hyperion about a boy pretending to be a cowboy. She spoke to 3rd graders and read them an advance copy of her next book with the same little boy blasting off into space. Afterwards Dana, her daughter Olivia, the librarian Mrs. Sweeny and I went out to lunch.

One of the questions the kids asked during the Q&A was, "What's it like to be an author?"
The answer is, "Fun!"

FREE DRAGONFLY SCREEN SAVER!!

2005-02-15T17:04:00.000-08:00

I checked out my publisher Llewellyn's Tween-Teen page and was pleased tofind they're offering free screen savers from book covers - - including the cover for my book DON'T DIE DRAGONFLY. I downloaded and now have my own shimmery purple cover as a screensaver. What fun for an author!!

Also there's an article I wrote called HOLLYWOOD SEES GHOSTS -- part promotion, part speculation about trends on TV and in books. Anyone curious can check it out at: http://teen.llewellyn.com/

Valentine's Day Contest Winner

2005-02-14T18:19:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Kim C. for being chosen to win one of my books in my tri-annual website contest. Thanks to the others who entered, and be sure to enter again as a new contest starts now.

Arizona and Oedipus

2005-02-12T19:29:00.000-08:00

Things have been busy lately.

Last week I spoke to a great school in Arizona called Topock Elementary.

After an introduction from the Principal and a teacher named Angel, I started off with overhead pictures for about 25 minutes, then showed stories I wrote as a kid and answered questions. I talked about the upcoming #3 Strange Encounters, SEA SWITCH, and showed the class a rough sketch of the future book cover. Then I read the chapter where Cassie meets a mermaid. Afterwards, I signed books, answered more questions and talked to four more classes. I had a great time!!

Then a few days ago I went to college with my son Andy. He had a part in a "reader's theater" of the Greek tragedy Oedipus (a really gruesome, sad story). Soon the teacher announced that their "Star" who played Oedipus wasn't there. Next thing I know, my son is taking that part and reading it with great dramatic ability. After about 20 minutes, the "Star" showed up, so my son switched back to his regular role. I was really proud of Andy.

MOOD: Itchy cause I have an allergic reaction to scorpion weed (like poison oak)
BOOK I JUST READ: See You Down the Road by Kim Ablon Whitney
BOOK I'LL READ NEXT: Eragon by Christopher Paolini

FAVORITE FIRST TEEN NOVEL LINES

2005-01-19T17:49:00.000-08:00

THESE ARE SOME GREAT OPENINGS TO GRAB READERS OF TEEN NOVELS.

IF YOU HAVE A FAVORITE OPENING LINE, ADD IT AS A COMMENT!

I saw the assassin before she saw me. (Singing the Dogstar Blues by Alison Goodman)

Things had been getting a little better until I got a letter from my dead sister. That more or less ruined my day. (Dead Girls Don’t Write Letters by Gail Giles)

12th Day of September. I am commanded to write an account of my days: I am bit by fleas and plagued by family. That is all there is to say. (Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman)

Once upon a time there was a pair of pants. (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares)

Henry got up early on the day that changed his life.(Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan)

My name is Salmon, like the fish, first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973. (The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold)

When summer comes to the North Woods, time slows down. And some days it stops altogether. (A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly)

We cut ourselves. Not by accident, we do it purposely-and regularly-because physical pain is comforting, and because now it has become a habit. Like the drugs. (Crosses by Shelly Stoher)

It all happened because I had to pee.(L.O.S.T. by Debbie Federucci and Susan Vaught)

"Oh, Man!" David had thought he might be dying as he looked past his chest and saw his intestines splayed before him. (David V. God by Mary Pearson)

"Simon Glass was easy to hate." (Shattering Glass by Gail Giles)

"Which would you rather be, fat or dead?" (Life in the Fat Lane by Cherie Bennett)

And I can’t resist adding one of my own:
I could feel the eyes. Watching me. (Double Vision by Linda Joy Singleton)

So what's YOUR favorite opening?

SAMMY HAND PEOPLE STAR TAYLOR

2005-01-03T19:38:00.000-08:00

So here's what been going on--

* I passed the 100 page mark writing THE SEER #3. WITCH BALL.
* Added Kid Writer Advice on my website: www.LindaJoySingleton.com
* Currently reading a YA science fiction novel called WILDSIDE by Gould.
* Went square dancing New Years Eve where I ran into two childhood friends.

At the beginning of every year, I make a list of some favorite books I read.
Here are five favorite juvenile mysteries of 2004:

* SAMMY KEYES AND THE ART OF DECEPTION by Wendelin Van Draanen - funny, clever mysteries with characters kids and adults will love.

* HAND OF FATE (Fortune Tellers Club) by Dotti Enderle - Spooky, fun for young girls who love a bit of magic with their mysteries.

* PEOPLE OF SPARKS by Jeanne DuPrau -- A fantastic futuristic mystery for all ages. The long awaited sequal to CITY OF EMBER.

* STAR OF KAZAN by Eva Ibbotson - Reminds me a bit of Dorothy Gilman mysteries, with intriguing settings, clever characters and lots of atmospheric fun.

* TAYLOR FIVE by Ann Halam - A topic I enjoy, cloning, with a survival adventure plot.

A HARRY CHRISTMAS

2004-12-21T08:40:00.000-08:00

It's almost Christmas and today J.K. Rowling announced that her 6th book will be released on July 16, 2005. This news is like an early Christmas present. I can't wait!

So far these are some things I'm looking forward to in 2005:

* February 4th -- I'm speaking at a school in Topock, AZ
* February 25th - Attending SCBWI writer's conference at Asilomar
* March - Attending SCBWI conference in Davis, CA
* March - Annual Family Easter Party
* May 7 - My daughter Melissa's wedding day
* May - Family cruise to Mexico
* July 16 - Will begin reading the 6th Harry Potter....
* August - National SCBWI conference in Los Angeles
* Sept. 10 - Speaking in Idaho at SCBWI conference
* Oct - May attend a Nancy Drew conference in Arizona

And somewhere between all those events, I'll continue writing on THE SEER and STRANGE ENCOUNTERS series.

Currently writing: THE SEER #3. WITCH BALL ... Up to Page 84

Happy Holidays!

SHAMROCKED!

2004-12-10T07:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had a surprise package from UPS -- two advance copies of the second title my STRANGE ENCOUNTERS series, SHAMROCKED.

The book is a pretty shade of green and I love it! It's my tradition to read a new book right away, pretending like I'm a reader who doesn't know the story. So I read it last night and I think it's better than the first book in the series. The magical world inside Mount Shasta was fun to create.

Now I'm eager for the book to show up in stores -- probably in January. Although last time I had advance copies the actual book showed up in stores just a week or two later.

This means the contest in the back of STRANGE ENCOUNTERS #1. OH, NO! UFO will end January 1st, so anyone who wants to enter needs to do it soon. Ten winners will receive free copies of SHAMROCKED. There's also an ongoing contest on my website and the last winner, Shirley from VA, was given a free copy of DON'T DIE DRAGONFLY.

Happy holidays!

PUBLISHING SECRET REVEALED

2004-11-18T17:53:00.000-08:00

I have decided to reveal a deep dark publishing secret.
Unfortunately, because of a secrecy clause I signed when I joined The Royal
Order of Butt in Chair Obsessive Writers, I can't write this secret down.
So I have hidden the secret in one of my books.

Here are the clues to discovering the ONE THING that I do every day that resulted in my selling over 25 books:

* Look inside my purple book with a winged bug cover.
* Flip to Page 24.
* Go to Paragraph 8.
* The third word.

Once you know this secret, you will be a member of the ROBICOW Club.
Go forward and share your words with the world.
Stay tuned for the secret ROBICOW initiation test.

FAN LETTER

2004-11-10T19:26:00.000-08:00

You know the only bad part of getting an email fan letter?
When I can't write back because the fan's email address didn't work.

That just happened to me. I had a wonderful fan letter from a reader
who enjoyed THE SEER #1. DON'T DIE DRAGONFLY. I emailed
back a long reply, only the email bounced. So I can't answer this letter.

So I guess I'll answer it here. The reader asked when THE SEER, #2.
LAST DANCE, will be released. It'll be out next June.
The cover of this book and a short excerpt is on my website,
www.LindaJoySingleton.com .

I'm currently writing the 3rd book in THE SEER series. It'll either be
titled PREDICTIONITIS or WITCH BALL.

Which title do you prefer?

Halloween Party

2004-10-23T06:22:00.000-07:00

Tonight my family is having our annual Halloween-Birthday party.
I wasn't going to dress up, but found a purple skirt and glittery purple jacket in my closet and have decided to go as a fortune teller. My best friend, Lori, who shares my birthday will be there with her family. I'm eager to see her new granddaughter, Olivia.

I've started to write the third THE SEER book. It'll either be titled WITCH BALL or PREDICTION-ITIS. I'll let my editor decide (since they often change my titles anyway!). It's going to involve a carnival fundraiser, deadly predictions, romantic complications and the continued search for missing charms.

I posted a new picture of myself on my old website www.LJSingleton.com under Linda Facts. It shows a glimpse of my future home during construction. It'll be a two-story home with an office and library on the top floor. The view is fabulous. I hope we can move in by next March.

Halloween has always been a favorite holiday.
When we were young, Lori and I used to love going trick-or-treating. We always made our own wild costumes and carried our candy in pillow cases. A few times, we took our wrapped candy and hid it all around our bedrooms, so that we wouldn't eat it too fast. It was fun to discover a piece of candy in a drawer, pocket or shelf months later. Luckily we didn't have an ant problem in our homes.

Happy Halloween everyone!

OFF IN THE MAIL!

2004-10-12T10:38:00.000-07:00

The third book in the STRANGE ENCOUNTERS series, SEA SWITCH, is finished!

I ran off a copy last night after reading and editing the whole book. It came to 140 pages.

SEA SWITCH will feature a villain named Sebastian Mooncraft. He's a rival of Cassie's father, and he has a sleezy cable show called MOONCRAFT'S MIRACLES. This is how I describe Mooncraft: He was way tall, over six-five, and wore a formal black suit and yellow tie. He had heavy eyebrows, a shaved head and a gold hoop in one ear. Sort of a cross between a basketball star and a pirate.

I had lots of fun writing about mermaids, mer-guys and other strange creatures under the sea.

Here are some of the chapter titles for SEA SWITCH:

A Glimmer of Magic
Giggling Eels
Magic Alive!
A Brave New Vision
Politeness Counts
Prehistoric Poop
Switcheroo #2

Now I'm off to the post office to mail SEA SWITCH to my editor.

ALIEN PARTY

2004-09-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

Around 30 kids showed up last night for my "Alien Party" at the Galt Library -- including Emily and Brittany from the reading club I had at my house. They're in 8th grade now and very pretty, mature girls. And they were REALLY helpful when I needed assistants for the activities at the library. While I showed little kids how to bend pipe cleaners into alien antennas, they helped older kids fill out a fun "Create Your Own Planet" worksheet.

This event went really well! I raffled off three free books and the young boy who won a copy of OH, NO! UFO was so excited he jumped up and hugged the book. Wish I'd had a picture of that!

Another cool thing -- a newspaper reporter showed up at the library. She took pictures and plans on doing an article in the Galt Herald.

Well I better go write on SEA SWITCH. Over 100 pages now.

WHAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY IN 1984 & 1994

2004-09-24T06:42:00.000-07:00

Currently Reading: ABARAT by Clive Barker

Last night I watched the latest episode of Survivor and Apprentice.
I also made up a "Create Your Own Alien World" worksheet to
hand out to kids at a library talk I'm doing in Galt on Tuesday.

Not much going on today. So checking my journals, here's what
happened to me on this date 10 and 20 years ago.

Sept. 24, 1984 - Monday (Weather: 80's)
I hope the weather stays this way.
All the sudden, today, Melissa is close to being potty trained.
She even pooped in the potty. She has made a game of going
pee all day. I have only used a diaper once, and that was
during her nap.

Sept. 24, 1994 - Saturday (at Series Book Conference)
5:30PM - In Beuna Park Hotel, Los Angeles, getting ready
for informal banquet. Kids are swimming. Hoping to get
David a ticket into the banquet.
6:00PM - David got into nice buffet banquet ($25 ticket).
I couldn't talk much (sore throat), but still did. They had
an auction of books, signed author letters and pictures.
Hope my signed letters and unpublished stories or
manuscripts are of interest to collectors someday.

Life sure changes in ten years!
Wonder what today will bring.

P.S. The answer to the Tri-Bond question
in my last post is:
Radio station
Gas station
Station wagon

TRI-BOND ?

2004-09-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

Have you ever played that game Tri-Bond? Where you take three words and guess what they all have in common.

My favorite Tri-Bond question is: Superman, Moses and Cabbage Patch Dolls.
Can you guess what they have in common?

Anyway, I was driving today and thought of some words with something in common, so I made up a new Tri-Bond question.

Gas
Radio
Wagon

Did you guess yet?

Well the answer to the Superman -Moses-Cabbage Patch Tri-Bond is: They're all adopted.

And I'll share the answer to the gas-radio-wagon one in my next entry. Hint: each one goes together with the same word.

And aside from play word games today, I did write. I added two more pages of SEA SWITCH.

BOOK BABY IS BORN!

2004-09-09T07:45:00.000-07:00

For the last few days I've been waiting for my copies of THE SEER #1. DON'T DIE, DRAGONFLY. I knew it was coming by UPS. But days passed without a delivery.

Yesterday I had to leave for my mom's house in Sacramento, but told my son to call if the books arrived. He called at 5PM. I was going to see a sister-in-law at 6:30 at a bunko game in Sacramento, so my son drove to her house FAST to give her my books, which she delivered to me.And while everyone else at bunko oohed and ahhed over Mandy's newborn baby (Elsie is very cute), I admired my new book.

I knew what the cover of DON'T DIE, DRAGONFLY looked like, but I hadn't seen the spine or back. It's shiny and pretty and I love it.

I have a reading ritual with my books. Usually it's so long since I last read them, I can read them anew when they come out. So after bunko (I came in 4th place), I stayed up till almost midnight reading my book; pretending I'm a fresh reader, trying to imagine how others will see it, and what sort of things readers/reviewers will like or dislike (I found a few typos the copywriters missed). The pacing is really fast with lots of conflicts and paranormal elements. I'm proud of my new baby and hope readers treat her well. She can be seen on my website with her future sister (#2. LAST DANCE) at www.LindaJoySingleton.com under books link.

LAST DANCE

2004-09-07T18:39:00.000-07:00

Today I got the cover for THE SEER #2. LAST DANCE in the mail. It's done in the same style as DON'T DIE, DRAGONFLY, but with a gold wedding ring instead of a dragonfly.

I was surprised my publisher decided to use the wedding ring for the cover as that's a very small scene in the book. But when I think about the plot, that ring led to a girl's death and a ghostly haunting which psychic Sabine Rose investigates.

I'm going bowling tonight and am at my daughter's place right now. There are peacocks strutting outside, four dogs and a barn with around 40 pigs. Our own future home is in the early construction stage and just a short walk up a nearby hill. When our house is finished next year I'll have a 2nd story office with a view of a distant lake, hundreds of oak trees and my favorite towing pine tree I named Big Red.

I'll be posting the new cover to my website. Let me know if you like it.

Best Friend & Baby

2004-09-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

My best friend Lori became a grandmother today. Little Olivia Ann Craine was born 10:37am, weighing 6 lbs 8 ozs. Lori and I used to do things together when we were kids, but she beat me on this one. My daughter is engaged, but doesn't plan to get married till next May and then wait a few years to have kids.

Yesterday my daughter and I had a good time seeing PRINCESS DIARIES #2. It was fluffy and fun. Then we celebrated her birthday more that evening with dinner out. We started our bowling league in Stockton. My average is only 130, but I had one game of 180. I've still NEVER gotten a 200 game.

I was asked for an interview by kidmagwriters.com . I agreed and will answer the questions soon.

I'm reading a REALLY good book called PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. It answers the question: How did Peter Pan meet Captain Hook? And so far it's fast-paced, creative, exciting and FUN.

Birthday Girl

2004-08-31T08:28:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to my daughter, Melissa.

To celebrate, I'm taking her to see the movie, Princess Diaries #2. When I was at Book Expo in June, I got to meet Meg Cabot and have her sign the latest Princess Diaries book. She wore a sparkling pink gown and glittering tiara.

Tonight we're all going out to dinner for Melissa's birthday. So I'm not writing much today.

Good and Bad List for Today

2004-08-27T23:04:00.000-07:00

Good things that happened today:

* I wrote a new chapter on SEA SWITCH
* My writer friend Verla is visiting
* I'm reading a fun book, HATCHING MAGIC
* I got flyers for MISTLETOE MADNESS by Miriam Hees
in the mail -- I have a story called
STALKING SNOWMAN in this anthology.
More on this as: www.bloomingtreepress.com

Bad things that happened today:

* I ate too much chocolate
* I lost at Up & Down card Game ...
not that I care, but I needed
something else for this list.
* It was very hot -- almost 100 degrees...
which would have been good news if
I'd been near a lake or pool.
But I wasn't.

Good things that I'm looking forward to:

* I'll write more and finish SEA SWITCH.
* My best frriend's daughter Nicole is
going to have a baby girl anyday now.
* I can't wait to get copies of my next
book, DON'T DIE, DRAGONFLY in the mail.
* Getting fan letters for my two new series.

PROCRASTINATION

2004-08-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

I've been up for two hours already and haven't written yet. Instead I've been procrastinating.

My hands-down obsessively favorite procrastination is...EMAIL! And I get a lot of email since I belong to a bunch of writing listservs. And I also post a lot on Verla Kay's bulletin board and hang out in her chatroom with other writers.

Procrastination should be a FOUR-LETTER word...instead it has so many letters than I can procrastinate just by writing "procrastinate" -- playing with the letters to make words like satin, stain and opera. Ah--a
new form of procrastination! Wonder how many words I can make....

Hey, I did do something constructive this morning. I mentally worked on my book while in the shower. I came up with an idea for a buck-tooth mermaid who has a pet sea dragon. I get lots of ideas while in the shower.

Well I should be writing on #3 STRANGE ENCOUNTERS, SEA SWITCH right now...got to stop procrastinating and write....

Mermaid's Spell

2004-08-17T10:50:00.000-07:00

I've been writing on the third STRANGE ENCOUNTERS book, tenatively titled SEA SWITCH. I've learned to discipline myself and write almost every weekday. A few pages add up to a few chapters, which eventually adds up to a finished book. It takes me 3-6 months to complete a book.

Today I'm making up a spell for the wicked mermaid to say when she transforms my character Cassie into a mermaid. This is what I have so far, but it will probably change in the final rewrite:

Mystic spirits of the deep,
bound forever secrets keep.
Burning fire under sea,
summon magick destiny.
Stormy tides of moon and night,
bid my call, let dark ignite
Powers old, from depths that dwell,
let souls exchange -- cast sea switch spell.

My picture book author friend, Verla Kay, helped me with the last lines.

I still may need to rewrite...but then I totally believe the famous saying about good books not being written, but REwritten. (Sigh...I do a lot of rewriting.)

Back to work...

AUTHOR QUOTES

2004-08-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

Just back from a conference with over 1,000 childrens' writers. It was amazing and we even had celebrity author Henry Winkler (The Fonz) at our BIG booksigning.

Here are some quotes from some of the wonderful authors I heard speak in Los Angeles:

* "God made man because he loves stories." KAREN CUSHMAN (author of Midwive's Apprentice)
* "Follow the feeling." LIBBA BRAY (author of GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY)
* "We are in an age where teen lit is being embraced." DAVID LEVITHAN (author of BOY MEETS BOY)
* "I am not in the mob." GORDON KORMAN (author of SON OF THE MOB)
* "Take someone you like and get them in trouble." Fantasy-author BRUCE COVILLE's recipe for a great story.
* "Let the crud come together." Stinky Cheese Man Author Jon Scheszka on thinking up stories.
* "Reading is eavesdropping on more interesting lives." RICHARD PECK (Newbery winning author)

CLONE ZONE

2004-08-11T08:32:00.000-07:00

While on the plane to Los Angeles to attend the 33rd SCBWI (Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators) Conference, I read a really fascinating YA novel that involved cloning. It's called TAYLOR FIVE.

I researched cloning when I wrote five YA mysteries for my REGENERATION series. So the topic is one I continue to find fascinating. And TAYLOR FIVE handled it in a very different way; a girl discovering herself while surviving war with the help of a gorilla. When I reached the end, I literally had goosebumps ... it was THAT good.

So here's a list of three favorite, fantastic, suspenseful cloning novels:
1. TAYLOR FIVE by Ann Halam
2. DOUBLE HELIX by Nancy Werlin
3. THE HOUSE OF SCORPIO by Nancy Farmer

CONFERENCE BOUND

2004-08-04T06:52:00.000-07:00

Yoo hoo! I'm packed and almost ready to Los Angeles for the SCBWI National Conference.

Last Day Schedule:
7-9AM - Work on SEA SWITCH my new book. I'm up to page 36 and Cassie has just met a mermaid.
9AM - Exercise at Curves
9:45 - Get fingernails done, pedicure and eyebrows waxed (the whole works!)
Noon - Drive to my parents' house in Sacramento
2PM - Mom and I will turn in some books for credit at Bookworm .
Evening -- Stay night so my parents can drop me off at the Sacramento Airport early Thursday.
8AM -- In the air and on the way to LA!

Now to go write on my WIP (work in progress)....

Good Fortune in the Mail

2004-08-03T14:39:00.000-07:00

One of the cool things about being an author is getting to know other authors. And today I received a signed book in the mail from my friend, Dotti Enderle, author of THE FORTUNE TELLER'S CLUB mysteries. Her new book, MIRROR MIRROR, looks great! Dotti and I have the same publisher, but we haven't met in person yet since she lives in Texas and I'm in CA.

Countdown: Two days till I leave for on a trip to Los Angeles to attend the Society of Children's Writers & Illustrators National conference. SCBWI is a great group for anyone interesting in writing for kids www.scbwi.org/ and usually about a thousand writers attend this conference. One of my roommates will be Verla Kay, who writes really fun historial rhyming picture books.

I have to finish packing....

Welcome to Linda Joy Singleton's Blog!

2004-08-02T20:52:00.000-07:00

This is my first time to do a blog and I'm not really sure what to say. I used to keep diaries as a kid, which I still have, and back then they were pretty boring. Here's a sample from November 1971: Went to school. Did tumbling and beam. Played with Lori. Watched TV. Not too exciting, huh? Lori is still my best friend, by the way.

I think I'll start off this by talking about books since I love reading, writing and collecting them.

I just finished reading a really great kid's book by Cornelia Funke called DRAGON RIDER. I've already read her THIEF LORD and INKHEART, so knew I'd love this book, too. I liked that it ended with a hint of more adventure to come, so I bet there's a sequel.

I love series and sequels because when you read about characters you enjoy it's fun to see what happens next. That's why I write series books, too. I just got a great evaluation today from a 15 year old reviewer who said the first book in my THE SEER series was exciting and a page-turner. I sure hope other readers feel that way, too.

Well that's all for today. It's late and I have to decide what book to read next.....