Young adult author Stephanie Rowe’s series, A Girlfriend’s Guide to Boys, was originally published in 2004, but recently the author breathed new life into the highly addictive “Girl Power” books. Below, Stephanie shares details on her series and digital publishing journey.

What did you do to reinvigorate the series for today’s teens?

STEPHANIE: When I reread the books after not having looked at them for six years, I was amazed at how relevant they still were. There were a few dated cultural references that I updated, but for the most part, the feelings, experiences and emotions of the girls were still as beautiful and authentic as they had been six years ago. I did a fair amount of editing, but those were updates designed to enrich the story and provide more depth, emotion, and romance.

What are some of the most important lessons you hope teen girls, in particular, gain from reading the series?

STEPHANIE: I call this series my Girl Power books. The four girls in this series are best friends, and their loyalty to each other transcends all the external pressures and influences of high school. All the girls deal with having to choose between following the trend and being true to themselves, choices that aren’t always easy. In the end, these girls all learn that they are most powerful, most gorgeous and most amazing when they stick to who they are and stand up for themselves. It’s an important message for us all to learn, even adults, that we never have to sacrifice who we are or what we want to make our dreams come true.

Which girl’s storyline was the most fun to write, and why?

STEPHANIE: Definitely, Allie in WHO NEEDS BOYS. Her story was the most challenging to write, and her growth was the most powerful for me. Allie is the girl that everyone loves to hate: she’s gorgeous, her parents toss money at her, and all the boys love her. There’s no way to hate her, however, because she is the most loyal and true friend there is, despite the fact that she is carrying a huge, huge weight in her heart. Allie’s story shows how sometimes the most popular kids are hurting the most inside. Allie’s journey to healing is very powerful and poignant, and I think a lot of teens will find hope in their own lives after seeing Allie triumph.

This series is all about the sparking romance for teen girls and boys, did you have any memorable romances when you were a teenager?

STEPHANIE: How could I forget my first kiss? Our seventh grade class dance. The last slow song of the night. Dancing in the arms of a very cute boy while Stairway to Heaven filled the gym, and the mirror ball flashed disco lights over all of us.  It was a perfect moment!

To learn more about Stephanie, visit www.StephanieRowe.com.