Please join us in congratulating the runner-up in Page Turner Magazine’s third flash fiction contest: Monsters! Brittani Jenee’ Cal wrote a spine-tingling tale of youthful optimism with an ending that delivers a twist to the hopeful soul. It is with the greatest sense of terror that we present to you, “The Girl in the Tower.”
A must have summer read that you won’t want to put down, For Vacation Only, by Mila Nicks, explores love and self-exploration through the eyes of someone rich and someone creative, showing us that we’re all not so different when it comes to wanting to be loved and accepted. —Camia Rhodes
We’re delighted to have had the chance to interview contemporary Southern fiction novelist Sally Kilpatrick this week. Sally’s an award-winning, USA Today best-selling author of numerous novels and novellas, including the recently released sixth book in her An Ellery Novel series, Much Ado About Barbecue (NYLA, out September 2), centered around two warring BBQ houses and the sizzling love-hate relationship between former childhood frenemies.
Sally—a former high school teacher who grew up in Tennessee, but now lives in Georgia—gave us the scoop on her path to becoming a published author and also shared tips about methods that have helped her writing process, including the art of “redrafting,” how she prepares her manuscripts for publication, and why being part of a writing organization was so beneficial in launching her career as a novelist. —Maxine Shen
When I first saw Lindsey Roth Culli’s young adult novel, Say Yes Summer, I figured it was going to be something akin to Shonda Rhimes’ memoir, The Year of Yes, which encourages you to say “yes” to opportunity when it comes knocking. I could tell that Say Yes Summer would be predictable, but in a good way—sometimes you just want to read a feel-good, summer-y novel. And, I’m happy to report that Say Yes Summer is a book you should say “yes” to. It’s an excellent summer read that takes you back to high school without actually having to go back to high school.
—Camia Rhodes
Say Yes Summer centers around Rachel Walls, a girl who’s spent her entire life striving to achieve three goals: getting straight A’s, getting into the college of her dream, and getting an academic scholarship. In pursuit of these goals, she’s spent her whole high school existence saying “no” to everything: no dances, no parties, no boys, no anything fun. We meet Rachel on the night of her graduation and follow along as she celebrates this achievement by spending the summer before college, saying “yes” to everything that comes her way…including unexpected romance.
Read More »Say Yes Summer by Lindsey Roth Culli
Farrah Rochon’s The Boyfriend Project felt like home to me. We’ve all been there. No matter how smart or how successful we women get, we somehow have all dated a two- timer. And for what? Just so we can say that we have a man? This book will definitely make you want to have a night out or in with just your girlfriends.
—Camia Rhodes