My Writing

2025: My current MG WIP, LOCALS ONLY, is a contemporary story that can be comped as Malibu Rescue meets The Vanderbeekers.

It’s the summer before sixth grade, and Tessa Reed has one month to ditch her landlocked Colorado roots and become a local—before her family officially moves to La Serena, a fictional beach town inspired by North County San Diego. With a spot in the Junior Lifeguard program and her twin California cousins as her guides (sort of), Tessa’s determined to prove she belongs.

Armed with a list on how to become a local, Tessa is forced to face her own insecurities and expectations of what life in California will be like, especially when confronted by those who tell her outright she doesn’t belong. While preparing for the Junior Lifeguards competition day and exploring her new community, Tessa navigates the complexities of old and new friendships, discovers some amazing local food, and is surprised by the antics of an unhinged sea lion. Then there’s the Summer Festival project—which Tessa hopes will earn her some cred as a local—and the mysterious arrival of thousands of Velella velella (aka weird jelly-like sea creatures) on the shoreline that just might bring her the key to finally feeling at home.

2024: I serially published a YA serial novel (contemporary speculative romance), TIMING IS EVERYTHING, in my Substack newsletter.

When seventeen-year old Mae Walker finds a box of old 90s mixtapes and a long-forgotten cassette player, she also discovers an unlikely way to travel back in time. By accessing her mom’s memories through the songs they’re tied to, Mae is suddenly able to unravel the complicated story that her mom, who had Mae at eighteen, has been so reluctant to tell. And while watching scenes from her young parents’ high school history and love story unfold before her eyes, Mae finally gets some glimpses of the dad she never really knew. With her best friend across the ocean for the school year, Mae finds an unexpected friend in classmate Javi Gutierrez, a boy who’s dealing with some family drama of his own. As Mae explores her mom’s past, she is shocked when the mixtape memories show her the truths that her mom has kept hidden, and along the way, she finds herself inexplicably linked to Javi, in more ways— and times— than one. Perfect for fans of Throwback by Maurene Goo, Better Than the Movies & The Do-Over by Lynn Painter, books by Morgan Matson and Jenna Evans Welch, and the movie About Time.

Previously queried: YA light fantasy. The first chapter of PIERCE THE GLOWING SEA was long-listed in Voyage’s First Chapters contest of 2020.

TO BEST THE BOYS x THE SCORPIO RACES in a world inspired by 1900s Greece:

With her home and future dreams on the line, Kassia, 17, teams up (read: fake betrothal!) with a boy from the upper class to compete in a cliff diving competition that’s normally only for boys. Amidst island politics, curfews & high taxes, family drama, a sea that glows, and the discovery of a secret society, they must learn to live out their island’s mantra—courage and grace— to win the competition and redefine the future for themselves and their island, and must maybe, fall in love along the way.

Previously queried: YA contemporary rom com.

SKY FULL OF STARS is a dual-POV YA romantic comedy complete at 78,000 words that will appeal to fans of TWEET CUTE, WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU, and STAY SWEET. All’s fair in romance and real estate in this gender-swapped YA retelling of You’ve Got Mail, where one summer at the lake has lasting effect on future plans, friendship, and first love for two teens.

My short story, The Follow-Back was published online on Voyage YA Literary Journal.