Taking Back Your Power

I love chatting about my life outside of writing here, but since today is launch day for my new tween novel, Stealing Popular, I thought I'd deviate and share a bit about the book.

The story revolves around 12 year-old Coco Sherwood, a Navy brat who’s seen the inside of many schools in a short amount of time. She notices that at each school she attends the social pattern always seems to be the same: a small group of popular kids dictating the rules for everyone else. When Coco’s first real friends fall victim to this same oppression, she decides to take matters into her own hands, taking from the “Somebodies” to give to the “Nobodies.”

Suffice to say, I was not among the popular set when I was in middle school. I had big glasses, bigger hair, and was the class brain. What I wouldn’t have given for good vision, straight hair, and a spot on the cheer squad. Sigh! Yet, looking back, I realize I had witty, supportive, loving friends, as opposed to the popular girls, who not only were unkind to kids outside of their circle, but were also mean to one another. It does amaze me how easily we give away our power to others. I hope readers see that fame is fleeting. I am still close to my best friend from the sixth grade, but ask me who the most popular girl was in my class that year and I honestly couldn’t tell you.

Here in the Pacific Northwest where I live, it’s the first day of school for many students. The timing couldn’t be more perfect for the release of the book, because Stealing Popular also begins on the first day of school. So good luck, middle schoolers out there. Work hard, do your best, and have fun. Most of all, be kind and compassionate to one another. It could make all the difference in your life and more important, in the life of someone else.