Good Morning! It is time again for Selma’s Monthly News!
Have you touched base with your teen? Ask them if they need help with anything. It will show that you are interested and want to engage with them. Talking to them will also give you some insight into how they are feeling and what they may be struggling with. It is important for all of us to check in with each other.
Teen Homelessness and Addiction Month
As Mentoring a Dream continues its quarterly focus on Teen Mental Health through June, this month’s theme will be on Teen Homelessness and Addiction. Here is a link to learn more about this month’s theme and Mentoring A Dream.
According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, approximately 30% of the people experiencing homelessness are under the age of 24. This is a rapidly growing part of the homeless population and studies show that even a small time of homelessness has shown to have a major effect on future development. Homelessness and addiction sometimes go hand in hand as teens can become homeless because of their addictions to drugs or alcohol.
Our featured author this month is Travis Sackett. He overcame an abusive childhood and went on to study criminal justice in hopes of making a difference. While in training, he suffered some injuries in a motorcycle accident which led to an addiction to opioids. His book, Life with Karma, talks about his journey through addiction and how help from others helped him to become sober.
My Journey
Even though my journey started out as an author, it is not only about the series. It has evolved into sharing my story about how my passion made a series of books and a platform that helps parents engage with their teens and young adults. Click on the link and learn more about that side of my dream. Mentoring A Dream.
Writing Updates
Here is the monthly news from the writing side
Happy Birthday to Shawn’s Way!
Today is the day! Today we celebrate the 2nd publishing anniversary of Shawn’s Way! It is such an exciting milestone for me.
As a gift to you, we are offering a free copy of the ebook today and tomorrow. Here is the link to the books page Selma’s Books. When you get there, click on the purchase link for Shawn’s Way and it will take you to Amazon to get your free copy.
Josh’s Story is back from my editor
Last month we revealed the cover for the companion short story to The Way Series called Josh’s Story. It is a story about one of the characters from the series, Josh Alberts, who becomes one who bullies. This story focuses on what happened from his side, a side we don’t hear a lot about.
The second round of edits came back this past weekend from my editor, Michelle Morgan of Fiction Edit. So, I am looking forward to working through those this week to move this story closer to publishing. Michelle is also the one who edited the first two books in The Way Series and will be the editor for the second two.
My cover designer, Jennifer Givner, designed the covers for all of the books in The Way Series. She will also be creating the one for book four, the final book in the series, which is due to publish in 2025.
And, a very special gift for you, my readers, followers and supporters was announced with last month’s cover reveal on social media. A free copy of this short story will be sent out to all of the people on my email list or who sign up by June 10th. So, if you aren’t on my email list yet, this may be a great reason to do so.
The Way Series storyline continues…
In 2023, I have two main writing projects that I am working on completing and publishing this year.
Josh’s Story – Summer 2023
Josh’s Story is about how Josh Alberts becomes one who bullies. The manuscript is coming together as I am working with my editor with editing this month. I look forward to sharing his story with you early this summer.
The Street’s Way – November 2023
Another big writing project on the docket is getting The Street’s Way ready for editing! Be ready for the continuing story of all of The Way Series characters in The Street’s Way, coming your way in late 2023!
Have you started reading The Way Series yet?
Are you looking for a couple of good teen coming-of-age reads focusing on teen challenges? Check out The Way Series.
Book #1 – The Hard Way – is the story of Paul Jones and his starting his freshman year of high school and how he must navigate dealing with pressure from his peers to do things to fit in.
Book #2 – Shawn’s Way – is a continuation of Paul’s journey from The Hard Way but now we meet a new freshman, Shawn Townson, who is forced to navigate being the target of a bully. An upperclassman at his school is taking out his frustration on Shawn.
Book #3 – The Street’s Way, is a continuation of The Way Series and introduces Mikala Kalani to the storyline as a runaway and homeless teen. To be released in late 2023!
Follow this link to my books tab to learn more about the series and to pick up your copies! You still have time to get caught up on the story line before the release of The Street’s Way later this year.
Have a great week!
