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 shows them you are interested in who they are and what they are doing. In addition, talking to them will give you insight into how they are feeling and what they may be struggling with. It is so important for all of us to check in with each other.
Resisting Peer Pressure
As Mentoring a Dream winds down on our third quarter theme of peer pressure, and since our teens are heading back to school, the topic for September is teen cliques. Here is a link to learn more about this month’s theme and Mentoring A Dream.
There is no getting around it, peer pressure is a normal part of many young adults’ and teenagers’ formative years. Teen cliques play a big role in our teen’s relationships at school. Not only does it affect how they fit in with the social hierarchy, it also affects how they treat others. Throughout the third quarter of 2023, we will be discussing peer pressure and various ways you can support your teen to stand up to it!
Each of the books in The Way Series focuses on a teen challenge. Did you know that The Hard Way’s teen challenge focus is peer pressure? Paul Jones found himself in a situation where he had to make a choice, do something wrong and please his friends? Or chose not to do it and make them mad. Pick up a copy of the book to find out what choice he ultimately made (see link below).
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
The Street’s Way is in final self editing phase
It has been a bit of a struggle with the final self editing phase for The Street’s Way, book #3 of The Way Series. What are self edits? They are the final phase of rewriting and editing I do myself before the manuscript goes to my editor Michelle.
How is the editing going? I am currently working through the manuscript to make sure I am not missing anything. Because while I was writing and editing “Josh’s Story”, I stumbled onto some changes that I wanted to make in The Street’s Way. Even though these changes created some interesting ideas, it has made the editing not so easy. These are the challenges that an author faces to create a novel. And, I can’t wait to share the story with you when it is ready.
My cover designer, Jennifer Givner, designed the covers for all of the books in The Way Series. In addition, she will also be creating the one for book four, the final book in the series, which is due to publish in 2025.
Be ready to find out more about 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 – although it is a continuation of Paul’s journey from The Hard Way, we meet a new freshman, Shawn Townson, who is forced to navigate being the target of a bully. Because an upperclassman at his school is taking out his frustration on him.
Book #3 – The Street’s Way – is a continuation of The Way Series which introduces Mikala Kalani to the storyline as a runaway and homeless teen. To be released in late 2023!
So, click on link below to my books page to learn more about the series! And be sure to pick up your copies soon, so you can get caught up on the story line before the release of The Street’s Way later this year.
What events are coming up for The Way Series?
Next month, I will be participating in two events to promote The Way Series
Deep Valley Book Festival – October 7th
First, I am participating in the Deep Valley Book Festival in Mankato again this year. It is a one day event on Saturday, October 7th at the Country Inn and Suites in Mankato, MN. For those of you in the area, it is a great way to meet me, learn more about the series, and what is happening with Mentoring A Dream. I will be there from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Books are available for purchase at this event and it is a great opportunity to get signed copies. For more information, please check out their website Deep Valley Book Festival
Come Meet the Author Series
And, I am invited to participate in a local author series through the cities of New Hope, Robbinsdale, and Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. The event will be at the City of Crystal Crystal Community Center on Thursday, October 26th from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. I am excited for this opportunity to share my story about how the series came to be an answer questions about my writing process and the books themselves. Books are available for purchase at this event and the attendees can have their copies signed by me.
