Meet Amanda Alberson and hear about her book “Losing Connor”

First off thank you Lisa for having me on your page! It is an honor. I am in the insane process of self publishing my first novelette, “Losing Connor”. It will be available August 20, 2012 through Amazon. There will be a Face book release day party that day from 5pm central until 9pm, filled with fun games and prizes. Technology is just amazing, now if we could only send cake and drinks out like emails! You have CAKE!

Here’s the cover!

You can check it out at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/events/435941933123077/437937909590146/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity
Excerpts and works in progress of mine can be found on my author website at http://rayneedazewriting.weebly.com/

I have several things lined up once I get “Connor” off the ground and running. This has been such a long and fantastic journey to publish my first work, and I hope to continue writing for many years to come.
The idea for this particular story came to mind several years ago when my daughter became ill. All of the early symptoms pointed to Leukemia and I was devastated. I found solace in the fact that my husband, her stepfather, is a strong and uplifting man and I was able to lean on him. After several tests and a slew of doctors, she was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, which was a bitter sweet ending to the mystery. After everything settled down many thoughts that had plagued me while we were testing for Leukemia stuck with me and just grew into “Losing Connor.”
It’s a story of courage and love that slips back and forth between main characters’ past and present. Cassandra Coven is faced with a difficult decision when she finds herself pregnant at 17. Cassie must choose what’s best for the baby, even if it means losing everything, including the man she loves, Declan.
Years later when the child she gave away needs, her she will come face to face with all her past regrets. Will she fall under the emotional tidal wave of having Connor and Declan thrust back into her life? Or will she stand strong as she did before and do what’s right?

I’m such a hermit writer; I had to look up the term pantser after seeing it on Twitter one day! I felt like my dad googling ‘hip’ terms kids use all the time. I am a complete pantser, I start with a blank word doc, an idea and sometimes a name and it all grows from there. I’ve had stories change completely half way through and had to rewrite everything, but I love every minute of it! I’ve written stories for as long as I can remember. I would spend summers at my grandmother’s house typing them up on an old antique typewriter. Stories about anything that made me smile or brought tears to my eyes were always my favorite.

Growing up I read every book I could get my hands on. I was a Stephen King expert when I was 9. I could recite the first few pages of “The Outsiders” by: S.E. Hinton years before we read it in junior high, and I still read “Where the Red Fern Grows” by: Wilson Rawls every few years.

The explosion in “indie” writing has blown the doors open and flooded the world with amazing stories. Once I decided to start writing things for everyone to read, I got on Twitter to see what I could learn about indie authors and books. Not only did I find a million fantastic books to read; I made so many new friends.

Everyone in the “indie” community has been open armed and welcomed to me. Their advice and critique of my work has made not only my story better, but molded me into a better writer. “Losing Connor” would never have made it out into the world without all the help and kindness I have found. I would thank them all right here, but that would take up far too much space. They know who they are and hopefully they know what their help means to me!
Again Lisa thank you so much for taking a chance on an unpublished new writer, you are one of the many that I appreciate so much. I hope everyone enjoys this post and will check out my first book “Losing Connor” when it comes out on August 20th!

Thanks Mandy for being a guest today and I can’t wait until August 20th! Your book is definitely on my TBR pile!