So What's It About?

Publication announcements are a little like Twitter - short and sweet. Many people have sent me emails and asked in person to expand on the description of DESTINED that appeared in Publisher's Weekly. After tweaking it to make it spoiler-free, here is the longer version of DESTINED's synopsis:

Destined
Book One of the Keepers Series

She’s always done what’s expected of her, but sixteen year old cello prodigy Cole Ryan often feels like her destiny is just a straightjacket. Having spent her entire life working toward something she’s no longer sure she wants, Cole starts questioning everything, especially the feelings of déjà vu that have gotten stronger and more frequent in recent months. She afraid she’s losing her mind as visions of other lifetimes in other places begin interrupting her days. A visit to the Tower of London brings on an overwhelmingly real vision of a beheading that took place on that very spot centuries before, leaving her weak and disoriented. A seemingly chance meeting with intriguing and slightly mysterious Griffon Hall begins to shed light on all she’s been experiencing.

Although she can’t bring herself to believe him at first, Griffon immediately senses that Cole is becoming like him —a Keeper. People who can remember all of their past lives. Keepers like Cole and Griffon hold onto their memories of past experiences in order to use them in this life. With kept memories come enhanced mental and physical abilities that must be put to use for the good of the world at large. Many Keepers work behind the scenes advising the leaders of major countries on everything from human rights to environmental issues.

But not all Keepers want to improve the world. Rogue Keepers like Cole’s cello student Veronique are out to avenge the wrongs that were done to them in the past, and Griffon knows that Cole isn’t safe with her. As Cole struggles to believe what Griffon says, their relationship deepens despite a nagging sense that he isn’t telling her the complete truth about their connection. As they become physically closer, defenses are lowered and Cole finally recognizes the essence in Griffon’s eyes – and he is not who she expected him to be.

In her panic and confusion, Cole’s sense of loyalty is shaken. Is it truly Veronique she should be afraid of, or has Griffon been hiding something even more dangerous? As she wrestles with the questions of who she should believe, her own enhanced abilities of connection are awakened. Despite her doubts, she must use these abilities to save both of them from mortal danger even as she struggles to find her true destiny in this ever-expanding world.

Some of my friends are reminding me that I swore that I'd never write paranormal romance. Yeah. Just goes to show that you should never say never. I'm not ashamed to say that I LOVE this book, the characters and the story. DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS was a bit heavy to write (to say the least) and while DESTINED does have some larger themes like the purpose of life and questions of destiny, there is a lot in it that made it a blast to write. At the same time, I'm also working on another contemporary YA about race and identity and another one lined up in the queue after that, so I haven't gone completely over to the dark side.

I'm a big believer in things in the universe falling into place as they will. As we were finalizing the deal for DESTINED, I took myself on a two-day writer's retreat (also known as the hubby is home for three weeks, so this is my opportunity to get the heck out of here). On the way out of town, I stopped at a coffee shop. As I was waiting, I perused the rack of sale stuff, and there, on the clearance shelf, I found this:



Spooky, no?

On this date: In 1960, John F. Kennedy is elected President.