I’m excited to be a part of this hop along with 59 other debut authors. We all had the thrill of seeing our first books published in 2014.

I had two books published by two different publishers, both in the same month of July.

I’m so excited to have finally made it to “published author,” but my road to publication has been a long one, and I want to tell any aspiring writers out there, or anyone working toward a dream, to Never Give Up. Though this might be a cliché and something you’ve heard many times before, I really mean it. I’ve gone through the tears and depression of rejection, of setbacks, of all sorts of bumps in the road. But I kept at it. I never gave up.

Whatever your dream is, don’t let go of your passion. Keep it fired within and you’ll find your dream will come true!

Many of you who follow my blog are familiar with my books, but for the newcomers, I’d like to tell you a bit about my books. The first is Yakimali’s Gift.

This is a young adult historical romance that takes place in 1775 Mexico, New Spain. 15-year-old Fernanda Marquina, of Spanish and Pima Indian ancestry, can’t seem to fit into the limited female roles of her culture. She grabs any opportunity to ride the horses she loves, dreaming of adventure in faraway lands. But when a tragic accident presents her with the adventure she longed for, it’s at a greater price than she could ever have imagined. With her family, Fernanda joins Juan Bautista de Anza’s historic colonization expedition to California.

On the four-month journey, Fernanda makes friends with Feliciana, the young widow Fernanda entrust with her deepest thoughts; Gloria, who becomes the sister Fernanda always wished for; and Gloria’s seductive brother Miguel, gentle one moment, angry the next and, like Fernanda, a mestizo—half Indian and half Spanish. As Fernanda penetrates Miguel’s layers of hidden feelings, she’s torn between him and Nicolas, the handsome soldier pursuing her.

But propelling Fernanda along the journey is her search for Mama’s Pima Indian past, a past Mama refused to talk about, a past with secrets that Fernanda is determined to learn. The truths she discovers will change the way she sees her ancestry, her family, and herself.

The other book is The Castle Blues Quake, a ghost story with a strong theme of friendship for readers 8-13.

Unknown to 12-year-old Pepper Connelly, her new friend, Corey Ballentine, is a ghost. Pepper is lonely after leaving her best friend behind in New York City when her parents move the family to Santa Cruz, CA. She discovers Corey hiding out in the backyard shed of their “house of horror” (according to Pepper).  Corey is waiting to make contact with his beloved grandfather, Boppie, one last time before he crosses over. He tells Pepper he needs to find Boppie before Social Services puts him in a foster home. Pepper agrees to help.

Others help her on her quest: new classmate Ally Cressman, who dresses in an odd-ball non-mall style; Sawtooth Sam, the mysterious saw-playing street musician; and Madame Mchumba, who performs her psychic readings at the Boardwalk amusement park.

Earthquakes, haunted house rides, poltergeist activity, and crystal ball readings propel her toward the shocking conclusion of her search, and an understanding of what it means to be a true friend.

You can read an excerpts and reviews, see the trailers and other info for both books on my website. Both books are available in ebook format and in paperback.

I’d love to hear what your dream is if you want to leave a comment!

To see the list of other bloggers participating in the hop, and enter to win an ebook copy of Yakimali’s Gift and The Castle Blues Quake, please follow this link!