Sixteen-year-old artist, Erin Van Horn, doesn’t know an Unagi Roll from a Kaiser Roll. But on a dare from her best friend, she wins a coveted spot as an exchange student at a prestigious Tokyo high school. Once in the land of the rising sun, Erin struggles to learn the culture and deal with a host family from hell.

But Erin has a bigger problem when she faces the ultimate dare from Linda—a to-do list. All she has to do is find a rock star boyfriend, (sure, there’s one on every street corner), apprentice under a famous Japanese artist, (no problem, they’ll be listed in the Tokyo Yellow Pages) and visit Linda’s long lost relatives to find out what’s hidden in the family closet. So what if she only knows five words of Japanese. How hard could it be?

CJ, thanks so much for running this contest!

Country-singing superstar, Clint Walker, is traveling incognito while on a personal mission. Artist Hallie Griffin is using another’s name as a shield. Thrown together on an isolated, mountainous farm, they each have a hidden agenda concerning the farm’s elderly owner, a woman who holds the keys to Clint’s past—and Hallie’s future.

Through a series of songs, Clint regains his past as he opens Hallie’s bruised and shuttered heart. Through a series of portraits, Hallie peels away the protective layers hiding the man underneath—and finds herself.

Art reveals the truth, but can this relationship survive the truth?

Heather Hiestand
halala@comcast.net

The Emerald Talisman is a 93,000 word YA completed fantasy.

Julia Parker, a sixteen-year old with the paranormal ability to read people’s emotions, is rescued from a vampire attack by the beguiling half-vampire Nicholas, whose mission is to protect Julia and eradicate vampires. When Julia is chosen to be the love interest of a recently immortalized vampire she must rely on her psychic abilities to help her decide who to trust and in the process unravel the secrets behind her mother’s disappearance ten years before.

Second, I hope to meet Ms. Poelle next weekend at Crime Bake.

Third, today’s my birthday, so I’m feeling lucky.

Here goes:

Melissa F. Miller
melissa@melissafmiller.com

THE POISONOUS TREE is a 60,000 word mystery.

Trial attorney Grace Jacks spent a decade working at a large Philadelphia law firm but has recently moved with her husband and two young sons to rural Pennsylvania. The plan is to slow down, raise her children, and maybe even take up a hobby.

Things don’t go exactly as planned.

In short order, Grace infiltrates the Aryan Motherhood, a local white supremacy group. Then, when Grace’s neighbor turns up dead, everyone assumes the young wife and mother committed suicide, but Grace knows better.

As Grace digs to uncover the truth about her neighbor’s death and the identity of the leader of Aryan Motherhood, she finds that just about everyone in the picturesque community has secrets they’d prefer to keep buried. And she’s no exception.

Seventeen-year-old David can’t wipe out the memory of the night when he failed to keep his father from murdering his mother. When he departs the elite Grogan Hills Academy and enters a new school in Chicago’s inner city, he assumes a secret identity in hopes of a quiet senior year. He’s prepared to give up sports, friends, and his desire for independence to care for his younger sisters.
His quest for anonymity is shattered when he’s obliged to rescue one sister from an attack by a group of mean girls led by “The Dare,” the acknowledged school slut.

David is ready for the school psychologist’s attempt to force him out of the shell he’s drawn around himself. But he’s not prepared for the way guilt makes him lash out at the people he loves, forcing him to confront the fear that he’ll follow in his father’s destructive footsteps. Nor is he prepared for his growing attraction to The Dare, a girl hiding a secret shame more destructive than his own.

As an aside, I met you earlier this year, CJ, and I have both your books autographed. I’m looking forward tot he new one.

In my mystery — PRO BONO, ambitious and award-winning local TV feature reporter, Quindley E. Dempsy, is stuck at a third rate station and her career is being torpedoed by the station’s lard ass news director who wouldn’t know a lead if one bit him in the sporting goods section.

Thanks for the opportunity!!
Wendy G.

BTW, just purchased your 1st 3 books, even won a second copy of Urgent Care only to have Mom take one look at them all and say: These are MINE, kiddo! Guess I’m going to have to wait in line LOL

Jeannie B.