Snippet Sunday 4/6: Excerpt from Andrea & the 5-Day Challenge (YA romance)

I'm participating in Snippet Sunday this week. Visit their Facebook page.

In this excerpt, Andrea is sitting with the object of her desire at a football pep-rally (It's spirit week and today is Dress as Your Favorite Superhero Day) and has just experienced a painfully awkward conversation through the throng of the crowd. To learn more about this title, read the previous post with blurb and cover art. Coming out this Fall from Pelican Book Group.

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I leaned in near Luke, and he smelled really great—like something fresh and clean. He looked incredibly good in a suit and tie and I almost couldn’t speak. “I…I think I’m going to go back inside before the crowd converges.”

“Sure, OK.”

I’d assumed that to be the end of our conversation, but he turned his gaze to mine and smiled. “I’ll go with you.” Then he stood with me and took my hand to help me down the unsteady bleacher.

I thought I might just die then and there. Who was this guy? He was a seventeen-year-old gentleman. Did they even come like that these days? He was supposed to wear baggy shorts and have scraggly hair while he grunted rather than spoke to a girl, but instead this one had politely helped this girl down out of the football stands and planned to escort her back to her locker. Well, knock me over with a leaf blower.

Cover Reveal for my new YA Romance

In my years as an author, I've probably received 15 or so covers for my novels, novellas and stories. And I have to tell you that they are always exciting. It never gets old. Finally there is a 'face' (so to speak) for the novel you've poured your heart and soul into. This past week I received the cover art for my latest novel--coming later this Fall.

Isn't it gorgeous! I made the graphic extra large because I just love looking at it.

With every title, I have to fill out a cover art worksheet to assist the cover artist in creating the most representative cover for the book. I have never had a specific, concrete idea for any of mine until this book. I had this great idea about a girl holding a prayer journal on the cover, and I wanted a logo for the Aubrey Christian Academy series. Well, that's exactly what I got. And each of the subsequent titles in the series will be similar.

I'm incredibly excited about the release of this book. It's been over three years since I've had a title out and even longer since I've had a new novel. This is also a special book. I dedicated it to all the teenagers I've taught over the years. They have all inspired me and I pray and hope I have inspired them too.

Here is the unedited blurb for the book:

Dear Lord, 
I need Your help and sooner would be better than later. Wouldn't you know it, just as soon as I decided to attempt the youth group 5-Day Bible Study Challenge, my parents start acting stranger than ever and heaping on loads of pressure all to get me into Julliard. My friend Amy isn't any better, urging me to ask Luke Ryan to homecoming. As if the cute, transfer jock would actually go out with me. I mean, we're kinda friends, and I've enjoyed our Geometry study sessions, but in case she hasn't noticed, I'm the invisible one at Aubrey Christian Academy and I like it that way. On top of that, I have a feeling Luke's concealing something troubling behind those chocolate-brown eyes of his. I know I can be self-centered and a bit melodramatic, but I really do want to seek Your will for my life. Then maybe I'll even figure out which direction points up. 

Sincerely, 
Andrea Jamison
High School Junior, Change-o-phobic & Complete Neurotic