📚I signed a publishing contract! 😆✨The Balter of Ashton Harper is officially coming to you through Bandersnatch Books in 2023!
Naturally, my family went out to celebrate with hibachi and ice cream. And I even got (most of) them to take a picture with me for Instagram! XD
I am so excited to work with Bandersnatch! Their mission is to find quality books off the beaten path and make them accessible to everyone, which I love. It feels like the perfect home for Balter!
I actually submitted the concept of Balter to them over a year ago, long before Balter was finished. They got back to me, told me that they liked what they read, and said I should send them the final draft when it was complete. So a couple of months ago I did… and here we are today!
This is my first time publishing a book with a company, but I can already tell it will be a lot less work for me than self-publishing. It’s definitely freed up some time for me to focus on writing my other projects while I wait to hear back on edits, and I’m very excited to collaborate with Carolyn, Annie Beth, and Rachel on bringing The Balter of Ashton Harper to all of you!
Thank you, Bandersnatch for believing in Ashton and his story! And thank YOU, my wonderful readers, for your endless encouragement! You’re the best.💛
I didn’t participate this year, but NaNoWriMo has always held a very, very special place in my heart. It was in NaNoWriMo 2016 that I pushed myself to write the first draft of my debut novel, Honey Butter, which was published nine months later in August 2017.
13-year-old me holding my NaNoWriMo certificate for finishing the first draft of Honey Butter
Pictured is a 13-year-old me holding my official NaNo certificate. I was crying just before this, and anyone who has read the ending of Honey Butter will know why. That story was a tearjerker from the beginning.
I’ve come a long way since this photo was taken, and I have a long way to go still in my career and life in general, but I don’t ever want to forget my beginnings. I don’t ever want to forget that early morning on November 30th, whipping tears away as I typed the words THE END and thinking: “This is the best story I have ever written… I’m going to research publishing, tomorrow.”
Do you guys remember that book I published when I was thirteen years old? Honey Butter? A sweet summer contemporary novella about sibling relationships and finding joy in everyday life? With a protagonist who collects paint cards??
What if I told you that you could read it right now FOR FREE.
I’m not a huge ebook fan, so I wanted to include something for the audiobook lovers out there too!
(If you’re already signed up, you just got an email with your copies.)
I know I’m going to write and publish many more books in the future, but Honey Butter will always hold a very special place in my heart. I hope all of you enjoy it!
