IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE: Purple Omega Crag Release Events New Nominations Title Release My Personal Gossip |
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I decided purple is the signature color for the Zahra of the Uwharries series. The title on the cover art for the first book is purple. Zahra's eyes are purple. Amethyst, which plays a big role in the series, is purple. And while each book has its own color theme, purple flows through the entire series. In recognition of the signature color, my event tent is purple! |
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Omega Crag was released on May 14, 2024 by Level Elevate, an imprint of Level Best Books. Zahra isn’t just any fairy. She’s The Convener who, at age 12, must bring together the Trilaterian—three special fairies who were born to save the future of scraebins. When ground-dwelling Rain Flowers throw her off track, jeopardize her life, and displace the Birkhead Wilderness Colony of scraebins—including her own family—she must find a way to reset the balance of nature with help from Sentinelia, other fairies, and her heart animals. Set in the Birkhead Wilderness of the Uwharrie Mountains in central North Carolina, Omega Crag is the third book in the award-winning Zahra of the Uwharries series that chronicles Zahra’s unique and critical role in saving her species. |
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To celebrate the release of Omega Crag and introduce more readers to the Zahra of the Uwharries series, author events are planned for summer and fall. This year, I've also teamed up with fellow Level Elevate author Sandra Rathbone for several events. Sandra is the author of the Skelee Boy series. Here are a few upcoming events. Check my website and Facebook page regularly for event updates! |
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In 2022, Society of the Sentinelia won the AAUW NC Young People's Literature Award. In 2023, Blind Fairy won the same award. This year, the North Carolina Literary Review has taken over the NC Young People's Literature Award competition. |
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Omega Crag was submitted to the NC Literary Review. I'm pleased to announce it has been accepted as a nominee for the 2024 NC Young People's Literature Award. I'm also thrilled to share that my Level Bestie and event partner Sandra Rathbone's Skelee Boy and the Demon King was also accepted as a nominee for the 2024 award! |
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Omega Crag was also accepted by the National Council of Teachers of English as a nominee for the 2025 Charlotte Huck Award. This award recognizes fiction that has the potential to transform children’s lives by inviting compassion, imagination, and wonder. |
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Omega Crag was also accepted as a nominee for The Golden Wizard Book Prize. This is an international recognition. Based in the UK, this award supports "talented authors who possess the ability to weave words into spells, creating stories that inspire and uplift young readers." |
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And finally, I found out as I was writing this newsletter Omega Crag has been accepted as an approved fiction entry for the Pulitzer Prize. Yes, it's a long shot, but as Wayne Gretzky so eloquently put it ... |
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"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." |
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Now that Omega Crag is out in the world, my work in progress (WIP) is book four in the Zahra of the Uwharries series. Titles for books usually come to me when I'm at least two-thirds of the way through drafting a manuscript. I'm not two-thirds through book four. However, I do have a title for you. |
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Book four in the Zahra of the Uwharries series is KIMIMILA RETURNS. Look for it in May of 2025! |
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It is done. I completed all of the requirements for my Master of Arts in Teaching. Once the paperwork is processed, I'll receive my diploma in the mail. After all that work, I absolutely plan to head to Raleigh to participate in the graduation ceremony in December. |
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In the meantime, I plan to spend more time writing, editing, revising, and marketing. Oh, and there's that teaching gig during the school year, too! A big, heartfelt, warm thank you goes out to my hubby for keeping everything going during the past two years. His support and willingness to cook, clean, and cheer me on made it possible for me to reach for the stars–and touch a few! |
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Online options for purchasing the award-winning middle-grade Zahra of the Uwharries series books for your 8-12-year-old readers! |
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