If you’re a writer you know it. It’s in your blood. In your DNA. You see stories everywhere. You live in a world of words. I meet writers all the time who say, “Well, I’m trying to be a writer.” Or “I’m an aspiring writer.” That’s like saying, “I’m an aspiring human being.” If you’ve  … Read more

  YOU GUYSSSSS!!! Guess what!!!! I’m going to be writing another sci-fi series!!!! I teamed up with one of my best friends and an amazing writer named Joanne Rendell and we recently sold a new sci-fi series to Simon Pulse (who is also publishing my upcoming contemporary novel, THE CHAOS OF STANDING STILL). The series  … Read more

Hey all! I’m super excited to announce that I’ll be releasing another middle grade novel for readers 10 and up! Coming in Fall 2018, look for…. BETTER YOU THAN ME The cover will be revealed very soon (and spoiler alert: it’s pretty much the cutest thing I’ve ever seen like EVER!) In the meantime, here  … Read more

Hey Disney Descendants fans! So I’ve just emerged from the writing cave after finishing off book 4 of the School of Secrets series (WOOT!) And I discovered that (OMG!) Book 3’s release is right around the corner (on 2/28/17!) I was also ecstatic to discover that Disney had just revealed the AMAZING cover!!! As you might  … Read more

Writers, take heed! All three of my online, self-paced writing workshops are now up to 70% off! This is a very limited time, deep discount offer, so take advantage of it while you can! Whether your goal is to get published, write more, brainstorm blockbuster ideas, or just learn the basics of writing great fiction, there’s  … Read more

Happy New Year everyone! To help you achieve those writing-related new year’s resolutions, today I’m sharing with you my 5 tips for improving your fiction writing…instantly! These are tips and tricks you can implement today, on the very next scene you write and it will instantly improve your writing. So let’s get into it.    … Read more

  Happy Holidays everyone! It’s that time of year again! Lots of food, lots of family, and lots of gifts! So what better gift than a set of SCHOOL OF SECRETS books, signed by the author, yours truly?! I’m giving away 5 autographed sets of CJ’S TREASURE CHASE and FREDDIE’S SHADOW CARDS. That’s right TWO books  … Read more

Anyone who knows me knows I am an eternal optimist. On the night of the election, I tweeted, “I side with hope.” And I meant it. I’d always rather deal with disappointment later, then live without hope now. Which is why, like so many people, I never, in a million years, believed that America would  … Read more

HOORAH! I’m so excited to announce I’ve sold TWO more young adult books to Simon & Schuster (the publisher of BOYS OF SUMMER)! Both books will be contemporary standalone titles and the first has already been announced and is releasing in Fall 2017! Just around the corner! It’s called THE CHAOS OF STANDING STILL and  … Read more

Woo hoo! It’s almost NaNoWriMo time! For those of you who don’t know, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month and it’s a great event that happens every November where novelists around the world take on the challenge of writing a novel (equivalent to 50,000 words or more) in one month. As someone who writes four  … Read more

Edited 10/10/16 – This hunt has ended. Thanks for participating! Welcome to the Fall 2016 YA Scavenger Hunt! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive  … Read more

A WEEK OF MONDAYS, my new young adult novel is out in the world! Hoorah! The book is about sixteen-year-old Ellie Sparks who finds herself reliving the same horrible Monday over and over again, in which her boyfriend breaks up with her. And although yes, that does sound horrific, it’s actually a comedy! Click here  … Read more

ELLISON “ELLIE” SPARKS: An idealistic, ambitious sixteen-year-old junior with a lot on her plate. Those were the first words I ever wrote about Ellie Sparks. They were written in a synopsis for my publisher when I was first trying to sell them on the idea for a book called A WEEK OF MONDAYS. Of course,  … Read more

I can’t believe this is actually happening! I’ve been in talks with the lovely people at Blake Snyder Enterprises for over TWO years about writing an installment in the Save the Cat! series geared exclusively toward novelists, and now it’s FINALLY real! Last month, we sold SAVE THE CAT! WRITES A NOVEL to the amazing  … Read more

YOU GUYS! I’m so so so excited to announce that I’m writing a brand new original series for Disney Press based on the hit Disney Channel movie, DESCENDANTS! If you know me, you know I’m a HUGE Disney fan (see photo evidence below). So this opportunity was literally a dream come true. The series will  … Read more

My new book, A WEEK OF MONDAYS, hits stores on August 2 (WOOT!) and to celebrate, every Monday leading up to release week, I’ll be unveiling one of Ellie’s 7 different “looks” from the story! When Ellie Sparks realizes she’s reliving the same horrible Monday over and over again (in which her boyfriend breaks up with her), she decides  … Read more

Hey fellow writers! HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU COULD: Write twice as much as you do now…in half the time? Get into the “writing zone” effortlessly every single day? Feel inspired to write every time you sit down? Easily meet all of your writing deadlines? Write more books per year? I used to struggle to  … Read more

For years, I’ve been dreaming of writing a middle grade (tween) novel and last year, that dream finally came true. I sold my first middle grade novel, ADDIE BELL’S SHORTCUT TO GROWING UP, to the lovely people at Delacorte/Random House. And now I’m thrilled to share the first ever peek at the amazing cover (plus  … Read more

Edited 4/4/16 – This hunt has ended. Thanks for participating! Welcome to the Spring 2016 YA Scavenger Hunt! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive  … Read more

I’m currently reading and absolutely loving BIG MAGIC by Elizabeth Gilbert. I’m always dazzled by her books, but this one especially is resonating with me. I love the way she demystifies the mysteries of the creative process while at the same time paying homage to them and embracing the fact that sometimes the art of  … Read more