by R.A. Smyth

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services

Release Date: July 7th 2021

Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Reverse Harem, High School

This book is a reverse harem, meaning the FMC will have three or more love interests.
The book also has trigger warnings for emotional/physical bullying, abuse, violent scenes, reference to self-harm and mature content/swearing, so please do not read if you are easily offended or have the mentioned triggers.
This book is intended for 18+

*********************************************

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Historical Fiction

Michaela Dunn, living on present day Cape Cod, dreams of getting into an art school, something her family just doesn't understand. When her stepfather refuses to fund a trip for a poetry workshop, Michaela finds the answer in a local contest searching for a poet to write the dedication plaque for a statue honoring Captain Benjamin Churchill, a whaler who died at sea 100 years ago.

She struggles to understand why her town venerates Churchill, an almost mythical figure whose name adorns the school team and various tourist traps. When she discovers the 1862 diary of Leta Townsend, however, she gets a glimpse of Churchill that she didn't quite anticipate. In 1862, Leta Townsend writes poetry under the name Benjamin Churchill, a boy who left for sea to hunt whales. Leta is astonished when Captain Churchill returns after his rumored death. She quickly falls for him. But is she falling for the actual captain or the boy she constructed in her imagination?

So I would say that WORDS COMPOSED OF SEA AND SKY is a contemporary YA romance with historical elements about Michaela, living on modern day Cape Cod, who is desperate to go to a poetry workshop at her dream college, but her stepdad won’t fund the trip. Instead, she decides she’s going to enter her town’s contest to write the poem for the dedication plaque for local legend, Captain Benjamin Churchill, a whaler who died at sea over one hundred years ago. But when Michaela starts to research him, she discovers the diary of Leta Townsend, a girl who lived in her town in 1862 who wrote poetry under the name Benjamin Churchill, thinking him dead. In 1862, Leta is astonished when Captain Churchill returns, his death just a rumor, and she quickly falls for him. She’s just not sure if she’s falling for the real Benjamin Churchill or the boy she constructed in her imagination.

I love emojis, so that would be a yes. 🌈🎣🥙🚤🐚🐋💏🏊‍♂️

My favorite characters are pretty much the same throughout. But this is an unexpectedly difficult question! I think every author puts a piece of themselves into each character, but I absolutely loved writing Mellie, the main character’s little sister. She’s spunky and sassy; she cracked me up. I also really love Leta. She’s so strong despite everything that’s launched at her.

Believe it or not, elements of the story came to me when I was in 8th grade! Over time, the story and the characters evolved, and I knew that I wanted to write a book weaving the past and the present and including all of the things that I love about Cape Cod—the history, nature, whales, baseball. And it all just came together for me.

I love making Spotify playlists for every book that I’m working on, and for WORDS, I kept playing “The Lament of Eustace Scrubb” by the Oh Hellos. I feel like it captured the vibe

For an adult beverage, I think the obvious choice would be a Cape Codder! Cranberries are definitely a thing there. But in general, this book feels like a nice, cozy cup of tea on a rainy day. A little oat milk, a little sugar, and you’re set!

For YA novels that with that historical element, I would recommend REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly and THE PAPER GIRL OF PARIS by Jordyn Taylor.

For more YA novels set on Cape Cod and the islands, definitely check out THE WIDE STARLIGHT by Nicole Lesperance and THE SUMMER OF LOST LETTERS by Hannah Reynolds. And keep an eye out for my second YA novel, THE EDGE OF SUMMER, which also takes place on Cape Cod, hitting shelves summer of 2022!

Oh, it’s the first draft, for sure. Brainstorming and outlining are amazing because you have this shiny new idea, and you can’t wait to get started. But once you get to the first draft, you start to see the plot holes, the character issues. But I always try to get the words down, because I know I can fix any issues in revisions!

I’m almost finished with revisions for my second YA novel, THE EDGE OF SUMMER which comes out with Little, Brown BFYR in June of 2022. It follows Coriander Cabot the summer before her senior year as she attempts to complete a marine biology internship in Provincetown, MA all while dealing with her grief over the unexpected death of her best friend, her developing feelings for a cute lifeguard named Mannix, and disentangling a humpback whale from fishing gear.

Erica George is a writer of young adult fiction. She is a graduate of The College of New Jersey with degrees in both English and education, and is currently an MFA student at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She resides in scenic northern New Jersey, but spends her summers soaking up the salty sea air on Cape Cod.

Many themes in Erica’s writing rotate around environmental activism and helping young people find their voice. When she’s not writing, you can find her exploring river towns, whale watching, or engrossed in quality British drama with her dog at her side.

Publisher: Swoon Reads

Release Date: May 25th 2021

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology

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Galene, daughter of Poseidon, desperately wants to earn her place among the gods. But when a violent attack leaves Mount Olympus in chaos and ruins, she is accused of the crime. Banished from Olympus, Galene sets out to prove her innocence and discovers a more deadly plot—one that threatens even the oldest of Immortals.

Fortunately, she has allies who willingly join her in exile:

A lifelong friend who commands the wind.

A defiant warrior with deadly skill.

A fire-wielder with a hero’s heart.

A mastermind who plays life like a game.

All-out war is knocking at the gates. Galene and her friends are the only ones who can tip the scales toward justice, but their choices could save Olympus from total annihilation, or be the doom of them all.

We feel like the jacket copy does it well! But put in different words, The Immortal Game follows young, still unknown gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus. Galene, our foremost protagonist, is the daughter of Poseidon, with power over the tides. She is accused of a crime and banished from Olympus, and has to fight to clear her name and save her home. She does so alongside four comrades:

Iyana, Galene’s best friend and passionate daughter of Zeus.

Kostas, the newly established God of Games, who can feel and see emotions.

Braxtus, son of Apollo, a loyal friend who wields fire.

Demitri, an intense, attractive son of Ares, whose fighting skills are unmatched.

Talia: Iyana. When we first started writing her, I put a lot of my own insecurities on the page, into her character. I related so much to her that I grew very, very proud of her when we shaped her story into an empowering arc of learning and strength. She’s sweet and fun, but she has an indomitable courage and fierceness to her spirit. I adore her. I want to be her friend in real life. :)

Ash: Kostas! He’s been through a lot of re-writes and changes. I really miss some aspects of who he was before our final draft, but he’s still amazing. He’s brave, loyal, kind, determined, and he values knowledge and thinking outside the box. In my mind, he is an example of what all humans should aspire to be like. He definitely inspires me.

We were inspired at the age of 13, at a sleepover! We’d been close friends since the fifth grade, but we’d finally outgrown make-believe games. So, instead of play-acting, we decided to write down a story instead! Driven by our passion for mythology (largely sparked by the Percy Jackson series), we created characters and a world among the Greek pantheon, and with that, The Immortal Game was born. :) We found inspiration in other books, movies, and ultimately, each other, as we talked through some of the most epic ideas we had.

Talia: This one is difficult for me—but I might go with Speechless by Naomi Scott (written for the live action Aladdin). The whole song is about finding your voice in a world that is trying to drown you out, and that’s exactly what Galene and our other characters are fighting for. Even the first lines hauntingly allude to the ocean in a metaphor about exactly that: Here comes a wave meant to wash me away, a tide that is taking me under. Swallowing sand, left with nothing to say, my voice drowned out in the thunder.

Ash: Head Above Water, by Avril Lavigne - This song makes me think of Galene and all her struggles through this book, how much she’s fighting and how much she’s dependent on her friends to help her. The general feel of the song fits the more desperate elements of this story which is a big part of the novel haha.

Talia: Right by the Aegean sea. And while I’ve never tried it, I’ve heard the Greek drink Soumada is delicious! I’d love to sit on the sand before the Aegean sea with this book and a new and exotic almond drink in my hand—the full Greecian experience.

Ash: I have to agree with the beach. And I would say a sprite (fresh and tasty with some bubbly excitement—just like TIG)

Talia: The most difficult part for me is getting that first draft out, and having to cut things you love before you see the better, cleaner picture of a later draft.

The best thing about having a coauthor is getting a built-in cheerleader, a partner in crime who GETS the story, who you can pass off the scenes you’re struggling with to when you need a break. :)

Ash: Difficult — Plotting and outlining. Crafting a seamless story that connects subplots and character arcs and smoothing out all the wrinkles before you can even start! Best — Talia kind of covered it. It’s also great getting help with plotting and coming up with an exciting timeline together.

Talia: We’re still writing! I have finished my next novel and first solo project, another YA Fantasy, the first in an intended series (working title The Cobra’s Heir). I’m about to start a new project as I work toward deals on that book. Meanwhile I’m a stay-at-home mom, with a darling 3-year-old girl and another little girl on the way.

Ash: Moving to Massachusetts this summer for my husband’s dream job and quitting teaching to become a full-time writer! I’m on my final draft of my next novel, soon to be submitted to publishers, and crafting a new YA story to dive into as well. I’m excited to work on personal side projects and hopefully be able to get out and experience new things and new places in New England!

Ashleigh Harvey is teaching high school physics and bringing her writing dreams to life. English-born and world-traveled, she loves filling her life with new adventures, such as visiting a new country or exploring the Wild West with her husband. She also finds escape in movies, music, literature, and yearly comic conventions. The Immortal Game is her debut novel, created alongside Talia Rothschild, her close friend.

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by Heather Frost

Release Date: May 20th 2021

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

A DECOY recruited to be a spy.

A PRINCE compelled to become an assassin.

A SERJAH pressured by an unwanted crown.

A WORLD covered in shadows.

Mere months ago, Clare was just a kitchen maid. Now, she is a decoy for Princess Serene and a novice spy, caught in the royal family's web of secrets. While journeying to Mortise to finalize the princess’s betrothal to Serjah Desfan, Clare lives for the stolen moments she has with Bennick, the bodyguard who is quickly claiming her heart. But when a notorious assassin is hired to kill her, Clare’s life and the alliance hang in the balance.

In Ryden, Grayson prepares to leave for Mortise with his brother, Liam. Their orders are to ignite a war between their enemies, and Grayson has been tasked with assassinating Princess Serene. It may cost his soul, but he is ready to comply, as long as he gets something in return: freedom for Mia, the girl he loves. But the more time he spends with his brother, the more he begins to wonder if Liam is what Grayson wishes he had the courage to be . . . a traitor.

Desfan feels trapped. By his disapproving council, his impending marriage to a stranger, and the imminent arrival of enemy princes who may not want the peace they profess. When a dangerous drug threatens his people, Desfan jumps at the chance to rely on his swords instead of politics. But his investigation uncovers more than he bargained for--a plot that may destroy Mortise from within.

Eyrinthia hovers on the edge of war. Spies. Rebels. Traitors. All must choose a side.

The series starts with Clare Ellington, a kitchen maid who is in the wrong place at the wrong time and is blackmailed into becoming the princess’s decoy. Bennick, her bodyguard, is there to keep her safe, but Clare has had some close calls, and she’s been pulled into some twisted plots and court politics. She’s also fallen hard for her guard. In Royal Spy, Clare is on her way to Mortise, a neighboring kingdom, where she is to solidify the princess’s betrothal to Desfan, a prince with plenty of troubles of his own. Meanwhile, on the fringes we have Prince Grayson, the youngest Kaelin prince. He’s been raised by evil parents who want to conquer all the kingdoms of Eyrinthia, and all Grayson wants to do is keep Mia, the girl he loves, safe. But he’s forced to go to Mortise and assassinate a certain princess . . .

Basically, if you love romance, twisty plots, layered characters, suspense balanced with humor, and a vast world to explore, you’ll love this series!

🙂😍😘😲😬🥺️😵😉😆🤗❤️️😦🤔🤯😱😭

This story really just unfolded naturally from the first book. The characters knew where they needed to go, and I just went along for the ride. I spent a lot of time revising and polishing to make sure the pacing was spot-on, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out.

It’s hard to pick just one when you have multiple POVs going on, haha! But I think a song that captures Clare and Bennick in this book is Tenerife Sea, by Ed Sheeran.

I’m going to recommend a cozy corner seat (so you won’t worry about people sneaking up on you during those suspenseful moments!) and maybe have a glass of strawberry lemonade, because Royal Spy is a wild ride that includes sweetness as well as an exciting bite!

You could totally check out my other series, Seers. It's a YA paranormal romance, about a girl who can see auras as well as guardians and demons, immortal beings who are locked in an eternal battle--and both sides want her. (Patrick is an Irish hottie, so, swoon!)

If you’re looking for other books that have a similar feel to Royal Decoy, I would suggest Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson, as well as the spin-off, Dance of Thieves. Many readers have compared Royal Decoy to Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, so you could check those out as well!

When it comes to a sequel, I think there’s some anxiety, because you’re worried it won’t live up to the first one. What if it falls flat? What if readers don’t like the direction the story takes? What if they get bored with the characters? It can be hard to shut out those worries and just focus on the story the characters need to tell. But I am very proud of Royal Spy, and I think readers will be delighted with it!

I’m working on book three, as well as some other projects I hope to share soon :)

by Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Orion Children's

Release Date: April 2021

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, High Fantasy, Adventure

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

Shadow and Bone is the first installment in Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy.

by Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Orion Children's Books

Release Date: April 2021

Published by: Roaring Brook Press

Publication date: May 4th 2021

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Perfect for fans of Rick Yancey and Marie Lu, The Ones We’re Meant to Find is a sci-fi fantasy with mind-blowing twists, ready to burst onto the YA scene, from the critically-acclaimed Descendant of the Crane author, Joan He.

Cee awoke on an abandoned island three years ago. With no idea of how she was marooned, she only has a rickety house, an old android, and a single memory: she has a sister, and Cee needs to find her.

STEM prodigy Kasey wants escape from the science and home she once trusted. The Metropolis—Earth’s last unpolluted place—is meant to be sanctuary for those committed to planetary protection, but it’s populated by people willing to do anything for refuge, even lie. Now, she’ll have to decide if she’s ready to use science to help humanity, even though it failed the people who mattered most.

THE ONES WE’RE MEANT TO FIND is a scifi-fantasy about two sisters, Cee and Kasey. Cee has been stuck on an abandoned island for just over three years. Kasey is stuck too; it’s been three months since her sister went missing from their home, a technologically advanced floating city that protects its populace from a polluted, climate-change wrecked outside world. Of the pair, Cee is much more of a social butterfly whereas Kasey is introverted and makes decisions based off of logic rather than emotions.

🌊 🚣‍♀️ 🌎 🧪️🤯 💔 ⏳ 🛁

The initial idea came to me in a dream: I had a very vivid image of a girl diving to the bottom of a sea, in search of something or someone. As I tried to figure out the “what”, my mind went back to the books I was reading as a teen. Some of my favorites at the time were YA Dystopias such as The Hunger Games and Legend. They left a deep impression on me, particularly in how they signalled the relatability of their main characters. A single scene with a younger sibling, for example, could frame a protagonist as human and vulnerable before they went on to topple dictatorships or save the world. I wanted to subvert that. What if, I wondered, the girl in my dream is searching for her younger sister, but that sister is more than a storytelling device? And so came the heart of the story.

This is hard! I listened to a lot of music while writing this book, including many instrumental tracks and some songs in Chinese. A song with English lyrics that encapsulates the book would be THE NIGHT WE MET by Lord Huron.

I have to pick the obvious here: the beach (not a tropical one), with a tumbler of hot tea.

If you love twists and questions of mortality, I’d recommend:

The hardest part of writing any book, but especially a second book, is silencing the noise. You always have your inner critic that will give you a hard time, but with each book, you also start hearing the voices of readers, your publisher, etc. The fear of disappointing people mounts. But to write, you really have to filter all of that out.

I just turned in a book that’s code named “mountain book” (TOWMTF was called “ocean book”). I’d also love to get back into Chinese fantasy sometime soon J

Joan was born and raised in Philadelphia but still will, on occasion, lose her way. At a young age, she received classical instruction in oil painting before discovering that stories were her favorite kind of art. She studied psychology and Chinese history at the University of Pennsylvania and currently writes from a desk overlooking the city

waterfront. Descendant of the Crane is her young adult debut.

For updates, please sign up for her newsletter: http://eepurl.com/c5rvdL. For business related inquiries, please contact her literary agent, John Cusick of Folio Lit.

Charity is a fairy godmother. She doesn’t wear a poofy dress or go around waving a wand, but she does make sure the deepest desires of the student population at Jack London High School come true. And she knows what they want even better than they do because she can glimpse their perfect futures.

But when Charity fulfills a glimpse that gets Vibha crowned homecoming queen, it ends in disaster. Suddenly, every wish Charity has ever granted is called into question. Has she really been helping people? Where do these glimpses come from, anyway? What if she’s not getting the whole picture?

Making this existential crisis way worse is Noah—the adorkable and (in Charity’s opinion) diabolical ex of one of her past clients—who blames her for sabotaging his prom plans and claims her interventions are doing more harm than good. He demands that she stop granting wishes and help him get his girl back. At first, Charity has no choice but to play along. But soon, Noah becomes an unexpected ally in getting to the bottom of the glimpses. Before long, Charity dares to call him her friend…and even starts to wish he were something more. But can the fairy godmother ever get the happily ever after?

Glimpsed is a charming, sparkly rom-com that follows a wish-granting teen forced to question if she’s really doing good—and if she has the power to make her own dreams come true. It’s got geeky fandom, enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, and a hint of magic!

A Few of the Main Characters:

Charity – seventeen, has some abandonment issues, is juggling a lot at school, and is a fairy godmother.

Noah – another student at Charity’s high school and a diehard Trekkie; nursing a broken heart from getting suddenly and thoroughly dumped a hot minute before junior prom.

Vindhya ­­– Charity’s current Cinderella (Cindy); currently in robotics club and soon-to-be (if everything goes to plan) Homecoming Queen.

Sean – a former Cindy; currently a male ballet dancer and school It Boy.

Memom – Charity’s grandmother, also a fairy godmother.

Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?

I love them all, but Noah is my favourite. I love his confident nerdiness, his unabashed passion for Star Trek, and his determination to remain completely himself even when that isn’t winning him popularity points. I love that he is able to admit (eventually) when he’s wrong. He’s smart, funny, and shamelessly in-touch with his inner child. And, quoting Charity, “he looks like Ross Lynch.” (Not waxed-chest, bleached-hair, cool guy Ross Lynch. More like “Harvey Kinkle” Ross Lynch.)

How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?

Even though I know that most people, if they’re talking about a problem, just want a sympathetic ear…even though I’ve seen that episode of Parks & Rec…I still can’t help myself. There’s something inside me that says all problems must have solutions. The words come unbidden out of my mouth, “Have you tried—?" I guess what I’m trying to say is that it came pretty naturally for me to write a book about a girl who legitimately believes it’s her job to fix everyone else’s stuff. And I loved exploring—in a really whimsical way—the question of: “What does it mean to truly help others? How do we engage with people who are struggling without imposing our own will on them or diminishing their dignity?”

If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?

Maybe Problem by Ariana Grande. As a fairy godmother, Charity is fixing A LOT of problems in Glimpsed—her own and other people’s—and she’s pretty convinced that if she could just get Noah off her back, that would be one less problem for her to deal with.

If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?

Noah is the easiest to cast—we’d need Ross Lynch, obviously. For Charity, how about Mary Mouser (Sam Larusso in Cobra Kai)? I’m not even going to try to cast the rest! There is practically a cast of thousands in Glimpsed. JLHS is a very diverse school, and—sad to say—there seems to be a really limited number of teen Japanese, Latinx, and Indian actors. So lots of the cast will have to be new up-and-coming actors that I can’t wait to meet! But if you guys have ideas, send them to Netflix with the subject line “please make a Glimpsed movie” (copy me, please, because I’d love to know too)! 😉

What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?

There is kind of a lot of eating in Glimpsed, so there are a few different ways you could go with this:

- You could have a cozy night at home with Star Trek themed foods like Romulan Ale and the Klingon delicacy gladst. (You can easily find recipes for these and more on line. The Star Trek fandom is legit.)

OR

- You could order some Thai take-out. Pad Thai is always a great choice.

OR

- Head to a coffee shop or bakery that has good cream cheese croissants. Wash them down with tea or orange juice. (But definitely don’t order coffee. Charity would not approve.)

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish GLIMPSED?

For contemporary romance with snarky, fast-paced dialogue, try Abigail Johnson’s books, especially If I Fix You and Every Other Weekend.

For a book that will make you laugh out loud, try Gloria Chao’s Rent a Boyfriend.

For a good enemies-to-lovers story, I enjoyed Tweet Cute by Emma Lord.

What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book?

Before getting published, I would have said, “Nothing! It’s all fun, and I enjoy creating every step of the way!” Now that I’m published, to be honest, I would say, “EVERYTHING! It’s all hard!” There are lots of other people invested now who are looking over my shoulder with certain expectations…and that creates some pressure that I never had to worry about before. Will Smith once said that success is the enemy of creativity. Not that I will ever have anywhere near the talent or success of Will Smith, but I have to agree that the hardest part of creating something new is trying to figure out how to step out of the shadow of what you’ve done before.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a fun new romcom with a little bit of magic! I can’t talk too much about it because it’s not sold yet and is still very much a work in progress. But if you want updates about that and future books, you can subscribe to my “sporadic news” on my website gfmiller.com and follow me on Instagram @author.gfmiller. See you there!