Author Tip from Amber Morrell + News

Author Tip from Amber Morrell + News ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌

NEWS

IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS by TJ Klune is a May 2023 Indie Next pick and one of Apple Books’ Best Books of April. It was also featured in Cosmopolitan UK’s best new books out in April 2023 list. Finally, it received a wonderful review from The Nerd Daily, which called it “a masterpiece that will make you question what it means to be human.”

WE COULD BE SO GOOD by Cat Sebastian received a starred review from Publishers Weekly.

BuzzFeed's list of “14 Books So Good People Found It Physically Impossible To Put Them Down” included THE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINGDOMS by N.K. Jemisin.

Goodreads’ list of 105 New Mysteries & Thrillers by Authors of Color included DEAD DEAD GIRLS by Nekesa Afia, THE BLUE BAR by Damyanti Biswas, WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING by Alyssa Cole, and QUIET IN HER BONES by Nalini Singh.

Library Journal gave THE ONLY PURPLE HOUSE IN TOWN by Ann Aguirre a great review.

RETURN TO HUMMINGBIRD WAY by Reese Ryan appeared on Book Riot’s list of anticipated April romance releases, and Reese was also featured in The Image of the Day in Shelf Awareness’s newsletter.

25 Best LGBT Fantasy Books according to The Uncorked Librarian included THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA by TJ Klune.

AUTHOR TIP OF THE MONTH

Amber Morrell is a writer and librarian based in Orange County, California, and an alumna of Idyllwild Arts Academy, where she studied creative writing. She then received her BA in English Literature from California State University, Fullerton. THE ALCHEMY OF LETTING GO is her debut novel.

As someone who mostly writes in first person, my ideas always start with the main character. I have to live inside their mind in order to write an entire book from their perspective. But the other characters often don’t get the same care and attention.

Filtered through lenses tinted by the protagonist, the light of my side characters doesn’t always shine through. If the allies and sidekicks of my story are sounding a little dull, here’s what I do: I set aside the main character and give my secondary characters the spotlight by writing from their perspective.

I open a new document and start at the beginning. Who are they? Why are they here in the story, at this moment? And most importantly, what do they want? I don’t answer these questions like a survey; I want to hear it from their perspective. How they talk about their life can reveal a chip on their shoulder I didn’t know they had. What they obfuscate can expose secrets I didn’t know they held.

These passages are usually only a few paragraphs long, and they rarely make it into the final draft, but they’re vital for fleshing out my story with strong and distinct personalities. Some of my favorite characters are side characters—I don’t want them falling flat.

RECENT DEALS

- Kelley Armstrong's books three and four in the A Rip Through Time series, to Kelley Ragland at Minotaur in a good two-book deal, by Lucienne Diver

- Karen Chance's TIME'S FOOL, FORTUNE'S BLADE, and JUNK MAGIC, to Daniel Totten at Tantor Media in a nice three-book deal, by Lucienne Diver

- N.K. Jemisin's THE FIFTH SEASON, to Studio of A (Bulgaria) in a nice deal, by Mira Droumeva at Andrew Nurnberg Associates, on behalf of Lucienne Diver

- N.K. Jemisin's THE FIFTH SEASON, THE OBELISK GATE, and THE STONE SKY, to Prometejs (Latvia), in a nice three-book deal, by Paulina Machnik at Graal on behalf of Lucienne Diver

- Ann Marie Walker's BLACK TIE OPTIONAL, ICING ON THE CAKE, and SAVE THE DATE, to Michael Olah at Dreamscape Media in a nice three-book deal on an exclusive submission, by Pamela Harty

- Maggie Black's book four in the newest K-9 continuity series, to Katie Gowrie at Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense, by Melissa Jeglinski

- Annabel Paulsen and Lydia Wang's HOPELESSLY DEVOTED, a lesbian romcom in which two contestants on a popular dating show fall for each other instead of the leading man, to Jess Verdi at Alcove Press, by Kristy Hunter

- Lucy Parker's untitled book, in which an unexpected chemistry develops between two long-time feuding actors on a popular British TV show after their characters are given a romance arc, to Karen Yates at Audible Originals Australia, by Elaine Spencer

-Kelley Armstrong's A STITCH IN TIME, A TWIST OF FATE, and A TURN OF THE TIDE, to Bookmark (France), in a nice three-book deal, by Sarah Dray at Anna Jarota Agency on behalf of Lucienne Diver

-Vaishnavi Patel's KAIKEYI, to Orange Books (Bulgaria) in a nice deal, by Mira Droumeva at Andrew Nurnberg Associates on behalf of Lucienne Diver

-Hailey Edwards's GRAY COURT, GRAY SEAS, untitled BLACK HAT BUREAU book 9, and BLACK SOUL, WHITE HEART, to Kim Budnick at Tantor Media in a nice four-book deal, by Lucienne Diver

NEW RELEASES

IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS by TJ Klune

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In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots—fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They’re a family, hidden and safe.

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled “HAP,” he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio–a past spent hunting humans.

SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING by Kelley Armstrong

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Their lives are a lie. Their memories may not be real. A new young adult psychological thriller by #1 NYT bestselling author, Kelley Armstrong.

Blythe and her friends — Gabrielle, and brother and sister Tucker and Tanya — have always been a tight friend group, attending a local high school and falling in and out of love with each other. But an act of violence has caused a rift between Blythe and Tucker . . . and unexpected bursts of aggression and disturbing nightmares have started to become more frequent in their lives.

PIECES OF ME by Kate McLaughlin

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When eighteen-year-old Dylan wakes up, she’s in an apartment she doesn’t recognize. The other people there seem to know her, but she doesn't know them – not even the pretty, chiseled boy who tells her his name is Connor. A voice inside her head keeps saying that everything is okay, but Dylan can’t help but freak out. Especially when she borrows Connor’s phone to call home and realizes she’s been missing for three days.

Dylan has lost time before, but never like this.

DIAMOND RING by KD Casey

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Jake Fischer has been here before: pitching for the Oakland Elephants, hiding his worries behind a smile, hoping to win it all. Ten years ago, it didn’t turn out the way he wanted. Nothing in his life did. But now he’s back—and so is the one teammate tied inexorably to his past.

It doesn’t matter how many times catcher Alex Angelides replays that moment during the Fall Classic over in his mind, the outcome never changes. He’s not sure what happened to make that pitch glance off his glove, or what happened with his relationship with Jake—and he’s not going to be the one to ask.

JOYFULL: 365 DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR WOMEN by Lydia McLaughlin

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Lead a life of joy.

Our culture encourages instant gratification, promoting must-have brands, conveniences, and luxuries, but dissatisfaction often results. True, lasting contentment cannot be found in worldly things. Jesus wants our hearts to overflow with joy, and he offers it freely.
Join Lydia McLaughlin in JoyFull as she shares the power of God’s Word, teaching you how to apply it and live joyfully—just as God intends.

Return to Hummingbird Way: Includes a bonus novella (Holly Grove Island Book 2)

RETURN TO HUMMINGBIRD WAY by Reese Ryan

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In this heartwarming small‑town romance, can three months, two planning projects, and a meddling grandmother finally make two high school hate crushes see just how right they are for each other?

Ambitious real estate agent Sinclair Buchanan is ecstatic to be her best friend’s maid-of-honor—until she discovers the best man is Garrett Davenport. Sin and Rett’s mutual hate crush ignited when they were teens and hasn’t let up since . . . except for that one extremely hot (and extremely regrettable) night they shared five years ago.

THE ALCHEMY OF LETTING GO by Amber Morrell

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A young scientist finds a magical way to escape death, but can't escape her emotions.

Twelve-year-old Juniper Edwards can’t stop chasing the endangered butterfly her sister died trying to catch. In her grief, Juniper finds comfort in her family’s study of insects, because science is based on logic, order, and control. But then Juniper’s search for the butterfly nearly kills her, too, and when she wakes up with newfound abilities, she discovers that the line between science and magic—and life and death—is not as solid as she thought. With the help of her mysterious neighbors, Juniper tries an experiment to change things back to the way they were. Its result will force her to face the fact that some things are way beyond her control.

A Charming Single Dad (Charming, Texas Book 4)

A CHARMING SINGLE DAD by Heatherly Bell

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Reunited—as wedding guests.

Are they finally ready for their own second chance?

Jordan Del Toro’s dreams of happily-ever-after were shattered when the man she loved married someone else. Coming face-to-face with Rafe Reyes again—back in Charming to be best man at her brother’s wedding—is Jordan’s greatest test. A lot has changed. Rafe has a young daughter and Jordan will soon be planning her own wedding. But she can’t ignore the emotions Rafe is reawakening. Is the single father still the best man for her?

SAVED BY THE TEXAS COWBOY by Karen Whiddon

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His return means a second chance

Or a threat to her life…

Marissa Noll has built a good life for herself since Jared Miller left her for the rodeo circuit. When he returns to their hometown injured from a bad bull ride, her desire for him sparks back to life—and she realizes that she’s being stalked. Is the timing just a coincidence, or is she a fool to trust a man who’s already hurt her once?

One Stormy Night: A Passionate Stranded Together Romance (Business and Babies Book 2)

ONE STORMY NIGHT by Jules Bennett

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All the rules change once the lights go out…

Up-and-coming plus-size model Mila Hale couldn’t chance another scandal ruining her newest job. That means keeping her eyes and hands off billionaire playboy—and her potential boss—Cruz Westbrook. Until a storm traps Mila and Cruz at his palatial estate. Now all bets are off. Their chemistry ignites into a whirlwind fling…but what will they do once the lights come back on?

COLD CASE CHASE by Maggie K. Black

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A woman falsely accused. A lawman out for justice.

Sergeant Anthony Jones never expected the most challenging fugitive he’d ever have to track down would be his childhood sweetheart, Tessa Watson. She’s accused of a cold case murder, but she claims she’s being framed for a crime she didn’t commit. Now Tessa wants Anthony’s help to clear her name. But the clock is ticking, because armed assailants will do anything to keep them from uncovering long-buried secrets.

Colton's Undercover Seduction (The Coltons of New York Book 4)

COLTON'S UNDERCOVER SEDUCTION by Beth Cornelison

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When working undercover takes on a whole new meaning.

This assignment could finally give rookie cop Eva Colton the opportunity to prove herself—to her squad and her family. But it meant partnering with Carmine DiRico…as his wife. The handsome detective was a thorn in Eva’s side and a temptation she dare not act upon. Sharing such close quarters with Carmine, even if it was their only chance to bring down a murderer, was a risk that would change everything.

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