Another Introduction...

Hello All!  So many introductions over the past few days your heads are probably spinning! Its all good, I promise. Just think of all the blog posts you'll be reading by so many YA authors in the next few months. I have a feeling we'll have lots to say!

My name is Ella Jade (totally not my real name but I thought it sounded nice) and I'm a relatively new author. I've been a writer for as long as I can remember but I never had the courage to do anything about it. Let me just say inspiration comes in strange places. If you would've asked me three years ago if I'd ever be a published author of YA fiction I would've said, "Um, no..."

Let me explain...

Christmas 2008

My husband stuck a copy of Twilight in my stocking. I'd always been an avid reader of horror and vamps are my weakness so he thought it was weird that I hadn't read the book yet. He said if I didn't want to read it, it was no big deal, he saw it in the store for like $2.99 and just picked it up to help fill my stocking. The book sat on my nightstand until about mid-January because I thought it was a "tween" novel and didn't think it would be for me. One night nothing was on TV and my kids were asleep so I picked the book up and never put it down. Seriously, I wanted to take it in the car and read it at stop signs (I didn't go that

far!).

I read all four books within days, went to the theater to catch the first film because I didn't think Robert Pattinson was Edward. I was wrong...he's Edward. And, my obsession for all things Twilight was born.  My kids are mortified when I go to the premiere of the movies at midnight by myself, but hey we didn't have this kind of hysteria when I was growing up!

Anyway...I googled "obsessed with Twilight" and stumbled onto this Fan Fiction website. I had no idea anything like this existed. I read some incredible takes on the original stories for weeks but that wasn't enough. I had to give it a try. I never thought anyone would read one word I had to say but here I am almost three years later and I continue to upload a chapter a week of my versions of how I would've played it.

So, back to the topic of inspiration...

Had it not been for the series or that Fan Fiction website, I never would've had the courage to submit my own stories for publication. Writing in that forum fueled my own creativity and here I am sharing my original stories with all of you.

My first YA story Jocelyn's Choice is a coming of age tale of innocence lost. I had to dig deep and go back to my inner eighteen year old when creating Jocelyn but it was such a great journey. I had fun reliving all those first moments of young love. These characters stayed with me long after I put the pen down.

Blurb...

Jocelyn Andrews, a shy, awkward, high school senior, has never even been on a date until she meets Alex Jordon, the older, more experienced brother of her best friend Evan. Jocelyn falls hard for the charming player and wants to explore all of the “firsts” that go along with young love. Alex has no problem showing her what she’s been missing.

Alex is captivated by young, innocent Jocelyn and to his own surprise, only has eyes for her.  One night of careless passion leads to a life-altering dilemma. Alex must head back to Yale to finish an internship, having no idea what he’s left behind. Jocelyn must decide what to do on her own, forcing her to grow up much faster than she anticipated.

Reality sets in, decisions are made and Jocelyn has to live with her choices. Alex returns home to more than he ever bargained for.  Young love has never been more complicated as they deal with a teen pregnancy, social barriers, and concerned family members. Life sometimes throws a curve ball, but the unexpected isn’t always bad.

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Thanks for letting me share. Until next time...

Stay Inspired!

Ella