Melanie Hooyenga

Going Confidently Into the New Year

Going Confidently Into the New Year

This year marks ten years since I became a published author, and I have accomplished a lot. But the discipline I once had has slipped. A lot of people tell me I’m prolific, dedicated, and a lot of other nice words. They say I inspire them to reach for their goals. It’s wonderful to hear, believe me, but I feel like a fraud. My writing time is every morning before work, but more often than not, by the time I let the dog out and get my tea and check my email and oh maybe check my social notifications, that turns into 30 minutes. Thirty minutes each day is not enough time to run a business as an author, and it’s definitely not enough time to elevate my career to where I want it to be. To where I almost was a few years ago.

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Getting to Know J.R. Roper

Getting to Know J.R. Roper

J.R. Roper is the author of the Morus Chronicles, a fantasy series for middle grade readers. The Hunter Awakens, The Spirit of Steel, The Tower Below, and The Silver Spear are now available along with a collection of short stories titled Mel & the Black Rider. Roper’s work has appeared in ChildGood Magazine, Families First Monthly, and in anthologies by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing, Horrified Press, and Thirteen O’Clock Press. His essay, Over The Edge, was published in Imagine This! An ArtPrize Anthology Volume 3, and nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

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NaNoWheeeeeeeeeeMo

NaNoWheeeeeeeeeeMo

While I’ve participated in NaNoWriMo NINE times, over the past couple years I’ve decided it’s no longer useful for me. Well. Once again, my publishing schedule has led me to start writing a new book in November, so it seems silly to not at least attempt the international month-long challenge of writing a book in thirty days.

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Getting to Know Joey Paul

Getting to Know Joey Paul

Joey is 39, disabled, a multi-award-winning indie author and a graduate with a BA (Hons) in Health & Social Care. She loves to write and is at the moment working on her next two books, as well as preparing her next two books for publication. She started writing when she was medically retired from her job at the age of 19. Her first book was released in 2005 and after a brief time away, her second one was released in 2011. In addition to writing books, she also enjoys reading them and can often be found resting in bed with a good book, with a cat or two on her lap.

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Embracing Fall, aka Farewell Summer of Upheaval

Embracing Fall, aka Farewell Summer of Upheaval

The past few years have felt like a roller coaster that keeps going faster and faster until there’s no way to climb off, I just have to hold on tight and hope I’m not flung into the ether, never to be seen again. (Although some days, that seemed like a nice alternative.) Some things were within my control, others were not, but all of them culminated this summer and I’m really really glad to have it all behind me. I’ve alternated between feeling like I’m failing at everything, to not caring that I’m failing at everything, to wishing I could just press pause on life and catch my breath.

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Getting to Know Brandy Woods Snow

Getting to Know Brandy Woods Snow

Brandy Woods Snow is an author and journalist born, raised, and currently living in beautiful Upstate South Carolina. She earned a BA in English/Writing from Clemson University and worked in corporate communications and the media for nearly two decades before pursuing her true passion of writing novels brimming with Southern culture, twisted family dynamics, young love, and deep-diving emotions.

When Brandy’s not writing, reading, spending time with her husband or driving carpool for her three kids, she enjoys kayaking, family hikes, yelling “Go Tigers!” as loud as she can, playing the piano, and taking “naked” Jeep Wrangler cruises on country roads.

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Chasing the Stars is Now Available!

Chasing the Stars is Now Available!

Chasing the Stars is now available at all online booksellers, reviewers are already loving it, and I’m celebrating IN PERSON at the Bookman in Grand Haven on 9/21 at 5:30pm!

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Getting to Know Tracy Lawson

Getting to Know Tracy Lawson

Tracy Lawson’s passion for storytelling led her first into the world of dance and educational theater. In a career that has spanned nearly three decades, she has been a dance teacher, a studio owner, and to date has choreographed thirty-two musicals for middle- and high school students. When faced with a mid-life career change spurred by a cross-country move for her husband’s job, Tracy adopted the motto, ‘have laptop, will travel.’ Within a few years, she had achieved a lifelong goal and published her first book, based on the 1838 travel journal of her great-great-great grandfather.

A series of post-apocalyptic novels aimed at young adults and a companion volume to her first nonfiction book followed. Currently Tracy has tapped into another family story for her debut historical fiction. While her body of work may seem varied, the common thread that connects all her books is her characters’ pursuit of individual liberty.

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Getting to Know Adam Sass

Getting to Know Adam Sass

Adam Sass began writing books in Sharpie on the backs of Starbucks pastry bags. (He’s sorry it distracted him from making your latte.) His debut YA novel, Surrender Your Sons, was named a best book of the year by Kirkus and Foreword INDIES, best first novel for young readers by ALA Booklist, and won the Gold Medal for YA Fiction at the IPPY Awards. He even collaborated with Born Perfect, the leading organization fighting conversion therapy, which promoted Surrender Your Sons to raise money for LGBTQ causes. He lives in North Carolina with his husband and dogs.

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Selling Books in the Rain

Selling Books in the Rain

Over the weekend, I sold books at my first in-person event in almost two years. (#ThanksCovid) I’ve been fully vaccinated for almost two months, so I loaded my car with plenty of books and hand sanitizer, snacks for the long day, and the blurb for my newest book tripping through my head. Despite being out of practice telling people about my book, I was excited. Never mind the torrential rain forecasted for the weekend — I was going to SELL BOOKS!

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