19 October 2018

The Collective Season 2 Book Tour!


The Collective Season 2
New Release - October 18th

Eight outstanding authors celebrate the release of The Collective Season Two. Eight standalone novels that interconnect and weave together taking readers on a thrill ride of deceit and deception. 

Are you ready to find out what all the buzz is about?

We’ve set the stage, created the characters, and fashioned a world full of twists and turns. Now it’s your turn to sit back and immerse yourself in this incredible series. Each episode weaves the characters and storylines of our standalone novels together to give you an epic crossover series.

No one is safe as corrupt politicians and dirty cops rule the street. A child’s death puts targets on the backs of those in law enforcement and sets two cities ablaze with riots. When the police chief’s daughter is kidnapped amid the chaos, will the Collective solve the case and rescue her in time?
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Absolution: The Collective Season Two, Episode One
Author: B.R. Bradley
Genre: Mafia Romance
124 pages






Makenna

Four years ago, the man I loved was murdered in cold blood right before my eyes. The moment his heart stopped beating mine did too. 

Until Callisto Suppato came along, and a whole new world began to unravel. 

In his arms I found comfort in the darkness I used to run from. The future we both always dreamed of is finally within reach.

All we have to do is let go of our past...


Callisto

For seven years, I loved Makenna from the shadows. It was the only way to keep her safe. In my world, love is a death sentence. But I couldn't stay away. 

Now here she is, walking through Hell with the devil as her guide. 

Just when our life is starting to feel normal, my best friend's sister is kidnapped and Makenna could be next. 

I promised her no more secrets, but I have to keep her safe. 

She thinks she knows me. 

She thinks she loves me. 

She's about to find out who I really am…


Universal Amazon Link:
http://geni.us/jeYhBVa
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Ensnared: The Collective Season Two, Episode 2
Author: Leona Windwalker
Genre: Male/Male BDSM Romance
198 pages




“To My Soul Mate On Our Anniversary”

It was a beautiful card. The problem was Hisoka wasn’t celebrating. It was another unwanted token from the Dom who’d trained him in the fine art of Shibari and to understand and appreciate the gift of submission. Hisoka knew things had to change as Jeff had become too fixated with having his former apprentice on his knees for him.

Moving to San Francisco should have been a fresh start—a new city, a new job, new friends, and a new club. And, best of all, a new sub. Danilo looked simply gorgeous wearing his Master’s knot work. However, things aren’t going as smoothly as Hisoka had hoped. Family issues, city-wide riots, and a stalker have complicated his life, but he’s determined to stand his ground for one reason—Danilo. The sub is worth it. Will Hisoka keep the best thing that’s ever happened to him or will outside forces destroy everything?



Universal buy link for the entire series: mybook.to/Collectiveseason2

Universal link to my Amazon author page: author.to/LeonaWindwalker






Leona is an Army Brat and veteran as well as a longtime staunch supporter of human rights and environmental causes. Her favourite genre to read is M/M fiction and she particularly enjoys the science fiction, fantasy, and action/suspense subgenres--especially if they have a nice seasoning of romance and at least a hint of kink. She has far too many books on her Kindle, has overloaded her phone with even more and, when not reading, writing, being driven to distraction by her children, or being overlorded by her seven(!) cats and two Newfoundland dogs, can be found trying to locate the portal that the sock monster uses to steal socks from her dryer. That is, when she’s not run off on another adventure while holing up in her beloved caravan.


Social media links:






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Gravity: The Collective Season Two - Episode 3
Author: J. L. Leslie
Genre: MC Romance
149 pages



Remy…

As a rehabilitation therapist for the California State Prison, I look for the best in people. Sometimes, it’s hard for me to find the best in myself though. I only wanted an escape. That’s all I have ever wanted. I walked into that bar and found my escape in a man I had no intentions of seeing again. 

I didn’t have any expectations from the stranger from the bar. I didn’t expect him to save me from a riot that broke out in the city. I certainly didn’t expect to feel this unexplainable pull to him. But I do. And now I know who he is. He’s a member of the Iron Claw MC.


Riggers…

She was supposed to be a one-time thing. Neither of us wanted more. Instead, she turned my world upside down. I don’t know who I am when I’m with her. A good guy, or the guy I have always been? The guy who follows orders from my president. No matter the cost.

I can’t expect Remy to be part of my world. She’s heaven and I’m hell. It doesn’t matter that gravity continues to pull us to each other. I can’t drag her down with me, especially when the things I do for the club will forever change her life.

**This book contains adult content, graphic language, violence, and sexual situations. It is intended for mature readers only.**



Universal Amazon Buy Link:
http://geni.us/uvNIe









I am a happily married mother of three (two boys and one girl). I live in a very small town in Alabama. Never lived anywhere else. I’ve been writing since my early twenties, but I couldn’t seem to finish a book. I started self-publishing with the encouragement from my mom. Without her encouragement, I don’t think I would’ve done it!

I get my inspiration from life experiences, movies, television, other authors, and music. Music is definitely a big influence on my writing. I can hear a song and it can inspire an entire book for me. I listen to it while I’m driving or before I start writing and it keeps me inspired. I like to put music in my books, even if it’s just one song the characters listen to or hear at some point. Sometimes music has gotten me through the really tough times in my life and that’s why it inspires me.

I like to write fast-paced, steamy romance reads. I like for my males to be alpha-males and my heroines to be strong, but both need to have one weakness- each other. I am an avid reader. I absolutely love romance books!

Social Media Links: 

You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, and Amazon!


Fan group/reader group, J.L. Leslie’s Lovelies: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1120018351380810/

Street Team, J.L. Leslie’s Pimpin’ Peeps:


Exclusive Author Group, Sexy Kissaways Book Club:


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Swayed: The Collective Season Two, Episode 4
Author: Erin Trejo
Genre: Mafia Romance
126 pages




I wanted to be on top. I vowed to make all the things my father wronged right. Arranged marriages have been happening in our family for a very long time and I was no different. I took it in stride with the mindset that my father had instilled in me. I could rule her as well as this family. Sadly, that was my first mistake.

Are you ready to find out what all the buzz is about?

We’ve set the stage, created the characters, and fashioned a world full of twists and turns. Now it’s your turn to sit back and immerse yourself in this incredible series. Each episode weaves the characters and storylines of our standalone novels together to give you an epic crossover series.

No one is safe as corrupt politicians and dirty cops rule the street. A child’s death puts targets on the backs of those in law enforcement and sets two cities ablaze with riots. When the police chief’s daughter is kidnapped amid the chaos, will the Collective solve the case and rescue her in time?



Universal Amazon Link:






I am an author that doesn't fit well into any category. The books I write have romance in them but they are not your typical read. Not all fairytales have a happy ending and in my books, it is always hard for the characters to stay together. They really have to work for it. There is usually a lot of drama and/or suspense also.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:







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Flawed: The Collective Season Two, Episode 5
Author: Jade Royal
Genre: Multicultural Romance
Pages




Him 

After a horrible breakup, Donovan swore off women and focused on his dream of building a web design empire. Family and one-night stands had to be enough to cure his broken heart or at least distract him from the pain. All love wanted to do was string you along and make false promises. Who needs that? All was well without that. Then he saw HER.


Her 

Kayleena is called home from college because things are falling apart without her. She only has one semester left at school before she’s done but it doesn’t look to be in her near future. Covered in flour and icing, she never expected to see HIM. She’d put enough distance between them so that she would never have to deal with being just friends. Her heart has always craved forever with him, but he proposed to another. Now he’s back in her life and dead set on them being friends. Will she have the power to walk away again or should she settle for his friendship?




Universal Amazon Buy Link:




When the voices begin to speak, Jade Royal sits down in her lab to write the tale. The story unfolds with each keystroke as she listens to her instincts bring the words to life. For as long as she can remember, Jade has always expressed her creative nature artistically, especially by writing. She refers to herself as “Slave to the Pen” because it’s difficult for her to resist the call to write.

Jade resides in Cincinnati, Ohio where she was born and raised. She has many siblings and is very family oriented. She spends Sunday evenings eating dinner with them keeping the bond between family nice and strong.

Jade Royal is the author of the series Limits of Love. The series focuses on love, romance, and the eroticism of the two combined. The first book was released in December of 2016.

As an author, Jade hopes to pull in her readers to experience a community of stories that they can relate to on various levels. The emotional roller coaster that is bestowed will hopefully make her readers stalk her words and provide literate entertainment.

For more information on Jade Royal, follow her on her website and social media avenues.

Stalk Jade Royal’s Seductive Words… 
She writes just for you.












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Trust: The Collective Season Two, Episode 6
Author: Riley Edwards
Genre: Detective Suspense Thriller
224 pages



I have a million reasons to keep running—and one to stay.

I’m a dead woman walking; there’s a target on my back and a million-dollar price tag on my head. I shouldn’t have fallen in love, not if I wanted to stay alive. I’m a liar, a con, I’ve changed my name so many times I can barely remember who I am.

They’ve found me and I have to leave. I keep telling myself it’s better this way. He’s too good for me. The detective and the mafia princess, can you image?

She ran like a thief in the night taking my heart with her. The city I’ve sworn to protect is in chaos; buildings are burning and there are riots in the streets. Innocent people are being killed and all I can think about is her. 

I’ve uncovered her secrets. Now all I have to do is find her and convince her I can keep her safe. 

Easier said than done—the woman has trust issues. 



Universal Amazon Buy Link:





Hey everyone. *waves*...For those of you who are new to me, my name is Riley Edwards. My debut novel Nightstalker released in July. It's a Military Thriller romance. With a badass female lead! Of Course, there is plenty of smoking hot sexiness sprinkled throughout a storyline that will keep you guessing! What is a romance novel without a sexy alpha male that challenges his woman in and out of the sack?
Anyway....back to me. :) I tried to come up with some interesting stuff about myself you would like to know. You know some witty funny stuff that would make me sound 
fab-u-lous, but alas I am boring as hell. Just an FYI, nothing will depress you faster than that realization.

 A close friend recently described me as, and I quote "You are annoying, brash, sexy, loud, boobed, beautiful, needy, supportive, wonderful, interesting, aggressive, and fun. All to varying degrees throughout each and every day."

 And that about sums me up.

Social Media Links:



Email - thecollectivenovels@gmail.com

Newsletter sign up - http://eepurl.com/cxCJFb
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Angst: The Collective Season Two, Episode 7
Author: Samantha A. Cole
Genre: Male/Male BDSM Romantic Thriller




Quinn and Carson’s long-term D/s relationship is on the rocks. Between Quinn’s job as a US Marshal and Carson’s as the Head of anesthesiology at San Francisco’s only trauma center, they haven’t had much time together lately. Quinn’s aversion to discussing what’s bothering him doesn’t help matters. 

When all hell breaks loose in the city, riots, dirty cops, and a missing woman put Quinn and others in danger. Carson discovers trying to get his lover to open up to him might be the least of his worries. Before he can salvage their relationship, will he lose the love of his life forever?



Universal Amazon Link:






USA Today Bestselling Author and Award-Winning Author Samantha A. Cole is a retired police officer and paramedic. She's lived her entire life in the suburbs of New York City and is looking forward to becoming a snow-bird between New York and Florida someday. Her two fur-babies, Jinx and Bella, keep her company and remind their mom to take a break from writing every once in a while to go for a walk, which is the best way to deal with a stubborn case of writer’s block.

An avid reader since childhood, Samantha was often found with a book in hand and sometimes one in each. After being gifted with a stack of romance novels from her grandmother, her love affair with the genre began in her teens. Many years later, she discovered her love for writing stories was just as strong. Taking her life experiences and training, she strives to find the perfect mix of suspense and romance for her readers to enjoy.

Her standalone novel, The Friar, won the silver medal in the 2017 Readers' Favorite Awards in the Contemporary Romance genre out of more than 1000 entries. 

While the original planned stories for the Trident Security series have been completed, they have brought many opportunities for Samantha to spread her wings and bring her readers more characters and stories to love. Look for her new Hazard Falls series, the Trident Security Omega Team series, the Doms of The Covenant series, the Blackhawk Security series, and more from the Malone Brothers series, in addition to several standalone projects.

 Social Media Links:
Sexy Six-Pack’s Sirens Group—


Subscribe to my newsletter—www.smarturl.it/SSPNL












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Redemption: The Collective Season Two, Episode 8
Author: Ellie Masters
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages


Jennifer:

Our city is in flames.

Crooked cops and corrupt politicians rule the streets. 

All it took was the murder of an innocent to ignite a firestorm and set two cities ablaze. 

While our cities burn, I face the devastation on the streets, saving lives while my marriage falls apart. I once thought Patton and I could survive anything, but we’re not coming out of this unscathed. We’ve lost too much and our love is stretched beyond the breaking point.

The choices I make aren’t easy, but at the end of a long and brutal night, I’ll see what remains of both my city and the love of the man I can’t live without. 

Patton:

Overcome with grief, I walked away from the love of my life. Jen is on the streets, doing what she does best. She’s saving lives while I watch the city burn.

But, when she goes missing in the middle of the riots, I can no longer ignore the truth. She’s my wife. My love. She's my life. I’ll do whatever it takes to find her and beg for forgiveness.

I’m not sure if I’m strong enough or worthy of such redemption, but I will bring my wife home.



Universal Amazon Buy Link:


ELLIE MASTERS is a multi-genre author, writing the stories she loves to read. These are dark erotic tales. Or maybe sweet contemporary stories. How about a romantic thriller to whet your appetite? Ellie writes it all. Want to read passionate poems and sensual secrets? She does that too. Dip into the eclectic mind of Ellie Masters, spend time exploring the sensual realm where she breathes life into her characters and brings them from her mind to the page and into the heart of her readers every day.

When not writing, Ellie can be found outside, where her passion for all things outdoor reigns supreme: ATV-ing, scuba diving, hiking, and breathing fresh air are top on her list. Ellie's favorite way to spend an evening is curled up on a couch, laptop in place, watching a fire, drinking a good wine, and bringing forth all the characters from her Mind-to-the-Page and eventually into the hearts of her readers.

Social Media Links:






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Monster Mash Countdown Blitz and Giveaway! Day 5!






Ann Swann was born in the small West Texas town of Lamesa. She grew up much like Stevie-girl in The Phantoms series, though she never got up the nerve to enter the haunted house. 

Ann has done everything from answering 911 Emergency calls to teaching elementary school. She lives in Texas with her husband, Dude, a rescue cat named Oscar, and a part-time box turtle named Piggy. 

When she’s not writing, Ann is reading. Her to-be-read list has grown so large it has taken on a life of its own. She calls it Herman.

~ Facebook ~ Blog ~ 
~ Amazon ~
~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~




Stevie asks Jase to help her find out why the ghost of a girl keeps appearing in her mirror. They think it has something to do with the new student at their school, a boy who has Tourette syndrome. Both the boy and the phantom seem to need some kind of help. All is revealed when the new kid falls prey to the school bullies. 

Will Stevie and Jase be too late, or will a tragic moment in their school's history be repeated on Halloween night?




Snippet:

            Mrs. Flint took a deep breath.  She’d tried to prepare us, but maybe that was part of the problem.  We could sense her uncertainty and it transferred to us as if by electrical current.  “Class,” she said.  “This is Derol Pavey.  He is the new student I told you about from The Philippines.” 
            Ahhh, so that explained it.   Not only did the kid suffer from something called Tourette syndrome, he also suffered the dreaded curse of being from “somewhere else.”  His skin was a dusky bronze color and his night-black hair was shiny and razor-straight.
            He peered at us from eyes almost as black as his hair and then the oddest thing happened.  His left arm flew up and he barked like a hoarse dog.  Rarf.  Rarf.
            Mrs. Flint grabbed his arm as if to hold it in place, but that only made his other arm fly up.  His notebook hit the floor and popped open scattering loose-leaf paper everywhere.
            Susan Jansen and Juanita Silva were in their customary front row seats.  They immediately jumped up and began to gather the paper.  They attempted to stuff it back into the sprung clasps of the blue canvas-covered notebook, but Derol, still barking, suddenly began to pirouette like a stout canine ballerina.  Mrs. Flint was dragged around in a circle a time or two before she got wise and turned loose of his arm, but it was too late.  The class was in tatters, some giggled, others gasped in shock, and some of us simply sat in stunned and silent disbelief.
           




 To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 





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Murder in the Museum: An Edmund DeCleryk Mystery by Karen Shughart Book Tour! with Recipe and Giveaway!


Murder in the Museum: An Edmund DeCleryk Mystery by Karen Shughart

About the Book

 
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 
Cozy Cat Press (February 13, 2018) 
Paperback: 266 pages 
ISBN-10: 1946063509 
ISBN-13: 978-1946063502 Digital 
ASIN: B07CF74JHQ 
Early one gray November morning, retired Lighthouse Cove, NY police chief, Edmund DeCleryk, finds Emily Bradford's body on the beach at the base of the bluff where the local museum and historical society stands. At the same time, a break-in has been reported at the museum, and Emily's coat and purse are found hanging on a peg in the museum's gift shop where she worked. Was her death the result of a burglary gone bad or something more sinister?
When the police chief is called out of town for a family emergency, he hires Ed, now working as a criminal consultant, to assist deputy police chief, Carrie Ramos, with the murder investigation. After several leads don't pan out, the chief, now back in Lighthouse Cove, decides to close the case. Confident that with more time the murder can be solved, Ed is determined to continue investigating on his own, with encouragement from his wife, Annie the museum's executive director.
One morning while in the basement of the museum, the couple discovers a copy of a map dated 1785, and Ed's instincts tell him it may be connected to Emily's death. On a hunch, he and Annie travel to Toronto, Canada, where he learns of the original map and a manuscript written in 1847 that were unearthed during an archaeological dig. The manuscript contains information about a ship that capsized during a fierce storm on Lake Ontario -- in 1785. Now Ed has clues as to why the murder occurred, but he still doesn't know who committed the crime. Or does he?
 As you may have noticed, Annie DeCleryk likes to cook. She graciously shared with us one of her recipes.

FABULOUS CARAMELIZED VIDALIA ONION
DIP

2 T. butter (use real stick butter and not margarine)
3 large Vidalia or other sweet onions thinly sliced
1 8 oz. package cream cheese softened (can use light or regular)
8 oz. swiss cheese, shredded (can use reduced fat)
1 C. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 C. regular or light mayonnaise
Sweet potato chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add sliced onions. Cook, stirring often, about 30-45 minutes or until onions are caramel-colored.
Combine onions with remaining ingredients, except sweet potato chips, and spoon into a lightly greased 1 ½ to 2-cup round baking dish. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until dip is golden and bubbly. Serve with sweet potato chips. Yields about 4 cups (enough for a group of six to ten depending on whether or not you are serving other hors’ d’oeuvres).
Make ahead: Prepare dip a day ahead but do not bake. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake uncovered.

About the Author

 
Karen Shughart received a B.A. in Comprehensive Literature from the University of Pittsburgh and completed graduate courses in English at Shippensburg University. She is the author of two non-fiction books and has worked as an editor, publicist, photographer, journalist, teacher and non-profit executive. 
A Murder in the Museum: An Edmund DeCleryk Mystery is her first work of fiction. Before moving to a small village on the shores of Lake Ontario in upstate New York, she and her husband resided in south central Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg, PA. 
For more information, visit her website: 
www.karenshughart.com. 
Author Links: 
Website: https://www.karenshughart.com 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenshughartauthor/ 
Blog: https://ladiesofmystery.com/karenshughart 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2094018.Karen_Shughart 

 Hometown Reads/Rochester Reads: https://hometownreads.com/books/murder-in-the-museum 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-shughart-738970161/ 
Purchase Link - Amazon 
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 10 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW
October 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
October 11 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 12 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, RECIPE
October 13 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
October 14 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
October 15 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 16 – Here’s How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT
October 17 – Varietats – REVIEW
October 18 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 19 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 19 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE 
October 20 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
October 21 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST
October 22 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
October 23 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 23 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

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Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!

 

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Till It Stops Beating by Hannah R. Goodman Blog Tour!


Till It Stops Beating

Seventeen-year-old Maddie Hickman’s senior year begins with the good (the reemergence of The One That Got Away), the bad (a cancer diagnosis, not hers, but it might as well be) and the WTF (an anxiety attack that renders her writhing on the floor like an upside down crab). 

Adding to her spiraling anxiety is Senior Project, in the form of I’ve Decided To Write A Book about The Other One That Got Away (And Crushed My Heart). Compounding it all is applying to college and keeping up with her friends. The ever mounting stress eventually rips her tight grip on all that she holds dear. 

Her break down leads to an unexpected road trip where she is forced to listen to her wildly beating heart. It is only in the back of a convertible with pop music blasting, that she discovers she must risk everything in order to really live.

Purchase Link:
Author Bio

Often referred to as “the teenage whisperer”, Hannah R. Goodman’s twenty-year career working with teenagers includes the titles teacher, tutor, coach, and, more recently, mental health counselor. Hannah has written essays about mental health for various online publications. Her work has appeared on MindBodyGreen, OC87 Recovery Diaries,  Zencare.co, and The Mighty. Though she has previously earned the title author with her first three books, the last was released in 2009 and all were self-published. This time around, indie publisher Black Rose Writing released her novel Till It Stops Beating this summer.
Hannah's  first YA novel, My Sister’s Wedding, won the first place award for The Writer’s Digest International Self-Publishing Contest, 2004, children’s book division. She published the follow-up, My Summer Vacation, in May 2006, which went on to win a bronze IPPY in 2007. The third Maddie book, Fear of Falling, was released in the fall of 2009 and was praised by teachers and readers for tackling subjects like homophobia and coming out. She’s published young adult short stories on Amazon’s Shorts, in an anthology entitled Bound Is The Bewitching Lilith, and in the journal Balancing The Tides. She also has written columns for The Jewish Voice & Herald. Recent, previous projects include Sucker Literary, which features emerging YA authors and All The Way YA, a group blog of writers telling the real deal about writing and publishing YA fiction. 

Hannah is a member of  ARIA  (Association of Rhode Island Authors) as well as a graduate of Pine Manor College's Solstice Program in Creative Writing where she earned an MFA in Writing For Young People. She resides in Bristol, RI with her husband, two daughters, and black and white cat named Zoe
Social Media Links
You can find Hannah:
Twitter: @hannahrgoodman
Maddie, Me, and Mental Meltdowns

Hannah R. Goodman

The main character in my newly published novel, Till It Stops Beating, Maddie Hickman age 17, has an anxiety disorder. I, Hannah Goodman age 43, have an anxiety disorder. In the book, it's Maddie's senior year of high school and just a few chapters in, she has a "mental meltdown" as she refers to it. In my senior year of high school, only two months into the school year, I, too, had a mental meltdown.
Though my life and my senior year inspired Till It Stops Beating, the parallels between Maddie's life and mine begin and end with her anxiety disorder.

Maddie and I are different not only in terms of the events of our lives—and you will have to read the book to find out more about that—but also in one particularly significant way: she doesn't carry the burden of shame that I did about having an anxiety disorder. Her friends, family, boyfriend (s), and teachers know she is struggling with anxiety. While, for me, when I had my meltdown senior year, I didn't tell anyone. It's not that I denied it or confirmed it, it just wasn't discussed. I got the proper treatment, and my parents were hugely instrumental in my recovery (like Maddie's parents are). However, my parents didn't widen the circle beyond our immediate family and friends. I also always felt self-conscious about my anxiety, and when I would tell someone, I feared rejection and judgment.  
Maddie is growing up in a different time period where anxiety and depression are discussed widely in the media, in schools, and even in the workplace. So, it felt natural and comfortable to portray her experience differently from mine.
When Maddie has her first major panic attack in the novel, her parents label it immediately as such and quickly set out to get her some help. She balks a little at telling her friends and at going back into therapy, but these things are not a big deal and not the focus of the entire novel. In fact, that first panic attack scene, while it is a serious moment, it's also intentionally funny. Maddie describes feeling like she is dying but also like an upside-down crab writhing in confusion. On the other hand, my first major panic attack involved a midnight trip to the ER followed by my mother giving me valium for the next few days while I refused to leave my room. Though ultimately both Maddie and I got the proper treatment, the difference is that during her senior year, Maddie lives her life while having anxiety, and for my senior year I spent a lot of time living my life while trying to hide my anxiety (and failing for the most part).
Interestingly, Maddie's ability to live her life with anxiety and not trying to hide it has been inspirational to me now as an adult.
Back in early 2016, my writing career was at an all-time low after parting ways with my second agent. I was embarrassed and filled with shame, which only triggered my then-dormant anxiety disorder. As I began to struggle with symptoms that I hadn't felt in decades, I did what any writer does when they feel like a mess, I wrote about it.

In late 2016, with truly nothing to lose anymore, I submitted those writings to a number of mental health publications. Success! Several of those pieces got published (and another is forthcoming in January 2019!).

Maddie inspired me throughout this whole ordeal. I really thought to myself WWMD? And what would she do as an adult if all this had happened to her (and it might because she wants to be a writer when she grows up!).  In TISB, she writes a book, drives across the country and makes major life decisions about her future, all while struggle with debilitating anxiety, and when she does collapse into a writhing upside-down crab, she flips over and keeps going. Whatever shame or embarrassment she feels, it's doesn't cripple her.  
So, when my agent and I parted ways and it looked like my writing career was dead before take-off, I too collapsed into an upside writing crab…but I channeled Maddie, and I flipped over, dusted off the embarrassment and shame and continued to crawl along my way.

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