We’re doing Amity for Day 7’s MC introduction on #authorlifemonth, because I love Amity and I don’t get to talk about her enough. . If you’ve read Eliza and Her Monsters, you know Amity is the main character in the story I’ve been working on for most of my life, Monstrous Sea. She agreed to host a super-powerful being, the Watcher, in order to save the life of her best friend and only family, Faren. But now world powers are trying to use her for their own ends, and Amity has to be strong enough not to lose herself in the tides of Orcus. . Like all my main characters, Amity is truly the heart of Monstrous Sea. Without her, the story would not exist. . #monstroussea #thisstoryhasmonsters #authorsofinstagram #authorsofig #authorlifemonth2021 https://www.instagram.com/p/CNaZuzOrWG6/?igshid=7ym0w5bte4us

Author Life Month 2021 Day 30: Up Next Sometimes a story consumes everything within me, especially if I’m back to writing historical. Over the last six months, I’ve spent countless hours poring over books about the Edwardian period as I write my newest WIP. It’s the quickest book I’ve ever drafted (12 weeks) and touches on all the things I love in YA books - mistaken identity, forbidden love, a secret that keeps two lovers apart, and, of course, a ballroom scene where the love interests touch for the first time!!!! I really hope this book finds a home one day because to me it feels like pure magic. #authorlifemonth2021 #authorlifemonth #yawriter #yalit #storyteller #storytelling #yahistorical #sinkintoshadow #yahistoricalfiction #yawriter #yawritingcommunity #yabooks #iwriteya #historicalfiction #historicalromance #historicalresearch #edwardianNYC #yalit #youngadultbooks #youngadultfiction #kidlit #yawritersofig #yaauthorsofig #yaauthorsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/COS5E-KrnxJ/?igshid=1cj6p2uddtvk9

Author Life Month 2021 Day 29: Acknowledgments Consider this a CP and Beta Reader appreciation post. Without incredible friends and readers like @michelleimason, @meganwritenow, and @kimwritesbooks, I would be totally lost. Their incredible feedback always makes my books a 1000x better. They are all amazing writers too, and I’m always humbled by the fact that they take time out of their busy schedules to read for me. Thank you to each of you for being so supportive and giving me the push I need to keep working. Also, a special shout-out to my pal @kellydevos who has been swapping chapters with me since practically the beginning of my writing career. Your insight and friendship keeps me going on my hardest days! ❤️ #authorlifemonth2021 #authorlifemonth #yawriter #yalit #storyteller #storytelling #writeracknowledgments #bookpals #bookfriends #bookfriendsarethebestfriends #yawritingpals #yawritersofinstagram #yawritinglife #yawritingcommunity #betareaders #critiquepartners #bookfeedback #writingfeedback #writershelpingwriters #writersden #yawritersofig #yawritersofinsta #yalit #kidlit #youngadultbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/COQgc1Pr1qX/?igshid=1tibpe93s2u2b

Author Life Month 2021 Day 28: Dedication I think one of the coolest things about getting to do this job is interacting with readers. In several of the school visits I’ve done, I’ve had girls of varying age come up to me and say they really liked my dedication because it made them feel empowered. To a writer like me who often struggled to find her place in this world, that is music to my ears. It’s what pushes me to keep creating worlds where young women struggle but keep fighting to chase their dreams.💛 #girlpower #daredevilgirls #authorlifemonth2021 #authorlifemonth #yawriter #yalit #storyteller #storytelling #bookdedication #yabookdedication #yahistoricalfiction #iwriteya #kidlit #kidsbooks #yawritingcommunity #yawriterlife #yabooklove #yawritersofig https://www.instagram.com/p/COOCQzSr1bg/?igshid=1gjyl46e4bbxr

#AuthorLifeMonth2021 Day 25: Treat yourself! I’ve taken to rewarding myself with art. For the two trilogies I completed, JANE COLT and STARSWEPT, I commissioned character art after the third book was done. I tell myself it’s for marketing but really it’s for me ☺️ Jane Colt character art by @fauzy_zulvikar Starswept character art by @niru.sky Covers by Streetlight Graphics https://www.instagram.com/p/COGWmgKrYCI/?igshid=1ojtgmd65hmxm

Author Life Month 2021 Day 25: Treat Yourself I’m a big believer in signs from the universe. When I’m working on a book and I see a T-shirt, or a piece of artwork, or a coffee cup with a saying that somehow touches on an element of my books, I buy it. For me it’s like a talisman. A good reminder that the book has purpose and meaning. When I was creating my office last year, I scoured the internet for artwork that I wanted to hang on the walls. I couldn’t find anything that spoke to me. Then one day I went into my local home store and this picture was up on the wall, beaming in a bright ray of light. I knew it was waiting for me to take it home. It was like a symbol, nudging at me, forcing me to remember that hard work and perseverance do indeed pay off! Now when I go into my office and I’m unmotivated to write I stare at this picture. It reminds me of what can become of a simple dream and a flicker of a story idea in my head. 💛 #authorlifemonth2021 #igauthors #yahistoricalfiction #yahistoricalwriter #yawriter #yawriterlife #iwriteya #iloveya #yabooknerd #yabooklove #writinglife #writingcommunity #yawritingcommunity #storyteller #storytelling #storytellerlife #signseverywhere #booklife #yaauthorsofinstagram #yaauthorlife https://www.instagram.com/p/COGVqI0rEqi/?igshid=1taqam1e3j0b

#AuthorLifeMonth2021 Day 22: Other fave media. I cannot express how much I miss live performances 😭. Musicals, concerts (of both the rock and classical varieties), ballets, operas, plays... when theaters open back up, that screaming noise you hear will be me running to the box office waving all the money I saved during lockdown... https://www.instagram.com/p/CN_OPM5Lf14/?igshid=c867jk7lfxgc