More on "Forget-Me-Not"

I decided to write a blogpost going into more detail about my novel for those of you who still don't know. Below is the blurb that will go on the back of the book. Drum roll please....

Forget-Me-Not

"Cole Dyami is a mysterious boy with a dangerous secret. Adeline Jasely is a typical teenage girl. Living in the seemingly normal small town of Great Falls Montana, Adeline is confronted with everyday teenage problems by a not so normal beautiful boy. As Adeline and Cole’s worlds collide, the line between illusion and reality is blurred. According to a tribal legend, Adeline and Cole are no longer two friends, but two pieces in a complicated mystery. Suddenly, Adeline finds herself in a world she never knew existed. Along side Cole, she attempts to unravel the mysteries of the small Chippewa tribe in order to not only find out who Cole Dyami truly is, but who she is as well. As Cole and Adeline begin to uncover the secrets behind the legends of the Chippewa tribe, illusion slowly unravels into reality and friendship gradually melts into a mutual need of survival."

So, that is the basic premise of the novel. My two main characters, Cole and Adeline, come from two different worlds and cultures. Together, they have to come to terms with where they came from and what their futures hold. Forget-Me-Not is a coming of age story for two people who are falling in love. Yet, this isn't just a love story. Forget-Me-Not is a young adult paranormal romance meaning outside forces (and yes, they are paranormal) threaten not only Cole and Adeline's friendship, but their lives as well.

Well, I hope that helps explain, in a bit more detail, the book itself. And I really hope you buy it and love it. That would be awesome. 

Pretty much explains Adeline and Cole. 

Website, Editors, And All That Jazz

My official website has finally been launched! How great is that! This post will be short because everyone should go from here to my lovely website. The link is below!

Allison's beautiful, magnificent website you should tell everyone about

In other fabulous news, my editor emailed me the first edits to "Forget-Me-Not"! (insert scream of joy here) And do you know what that means my lovely readers? It means the release date is getting closer and closer. And before you ask, no we still don't have the "official" release date yet, but once I know I will sing it from the mountaintops!

Ok, just kidding. I won't actually sing, but I most likely will put the release information on my blog, website, Facebook, twitter, etc. The internet will be screaming it from the mountaintops for me.

So, writing "Morning Glory" had to be put on hold while I went through the edits, but now today I am really hoping to get some serious writing done. My hands have been twitching from the lack of writing.

But then it will have to be put on hold once more because I move back to college in 4 days, 13 hours, 38 minutes, and 50, 49, 48 seconds....

And I still have to pack. Yeah, about that.

But other than all that business and craziness, I wanted to thank all my lovely readers who have been so patient with me. It means the world. I also am so thankful to my God who has blessed me beyond anything I could imagine from signing a publishing contract to meeting (via internet) my favorite author who I now call my friend. I have so much to be thankful for.

I also want to say that all of my prayers are with the people who were affected by the horrible tragedy in Colorado. Please keep the victims and their families in your prayers!

I will continue to keep everyone updated on "Forget-Me-Not" and the series in general. I am so excited for everyone to read my debut novel. Hopefully, all of you will love reading it as I did writing it!

I will leave you with this photo I found on Pinterest  (I told you I'm addicted). It made me laugh and I thought I'd share. Until next time!

Why yes, I do write novels about those feelings.

Character Deaths and all the Therapy I'm Going to Have to Go Through

Yes, there comes a time in each writer's life where they must do the inevitable: kill some people.

Now, before you call the cops or have me committed, I don't mean "real" people. I'm talking about the characters writers work so hard to develop, bring to life, and then very quickly end their short fictional lives (It's like ripping off a bandaid).

I am currently writing the sequel to Forget-Me-Not, Morning Glory and I realized pretty early on that some characters wouldn't make it. Of course, I'm not going to name names or even give tiny, little hints. Trust me, my mother has tried and I have refused. (Finally the tables have turned and I feel like I know where the Christmas presents are hidden and my mother is begging for a clue.)

But, just so you all know, I am not a heartless writer, thriving over the complete control of fictitious lives. On the contrary, I know I will cry when I must write future character death scenes (Yep, there is more than one). I don't think readers quite understand that it hurts the author just as much as the reader.

Of course, I would love to have a perfect world where everyone lives happily ever after. Unfortunately, life is not like that and I strive to make my writing as true to life as possible. I want the reader to hurt with my characters, laugh, cry, share all their emotions. I would be lying if I didn't say this was every author's wish.

So, as I continue to write and finish the sequel to Forget-Me-Not, I must constantly keep in mind the effect that this book will have. When I was writing my first novel, my audience was pretty easy to please: me. And even though Forget-Me-Not is not out in the world quite yet (the time is coming soon!), I am already considering how my future readers will not only react to my debut novel, but to the entire series in general. I have broad ideas of how this saga will end, but I'm not completely 100% sure yet. However, I will not lie to you. The following books after Forget-Me-Not are sad, tragic even.

I would not be doing my characters or the story line any justice if I refused to allow real life to occur and real life includes real death. I know first hand the consequences and effects of death and trust me, it's not pretty. But I want to dig deep into that with my second and third books. I want readers, who maybe know exactly what my characters are going through or don't even have the slightest idea (you are truly blessed if you don't), to have to deal with the harsh reality, even in fiction, of the tragedies life can throw your way.

However, I also want my readers to understand the beauty of life: hope and love. It's a hard balance, but one I am trying to master.

So, as I continue to write and expand my knowledge of both my characters (whom I love, trust me. It literally breaks my heart when I think of the tragedy they will have to encounter) and fiction in general, I am left with the satisfying feeling that everything is happening as it should. I came across a beautiful quote on Pinterest (I actually have a board dedicated to my series. Please follow me! I'll leave the link here: http://pinterest.com/lafleur1218/the-forget-me-not-series/).

I will leave you with this quote. It is something I strive for as a writer and hopefully, I will succeed. This would be my top advice to any aspiring writers: Don't be afraid of writing the truth, even if it breaks your heart in the process.