Teen X: Teen Summit 2018

Hosted by the Massachusetts Library System, the Teen Summit draws teen and young adult librarians from all over the state. To celebrate the Summit’s tenth anniversary, the wonderful folks who organize this lively lit fest dubbed the event Teen X, and invited me to be one of the key note speakers.

It was an honor to talk to, and meet, so many fantastic librarians. I had a great time sharing my thoughts regarding libraries; the power they have, and their role in shaping young minds.

Teen X

Photo Credit: Mirasol Murray

Here are a few pics:

Teen X

Photo Credit: Mirasol Murray

Teen X

Photo Credit: Mirasol Murray

Teen X

Photo Credit: Mirasol Murray

Teen X

Photo Credit: Mirasol Murray

How I Researched My Irish Heritage for Heart to Heart: Book Two in the Angelica Brown Series

How I Researched My Irish HeritageUnderstanding My Irish Heritage

I’ve been researching the history of Britain’s Irish ethnic cleansing for historical accuracy in my novels, particularly the Angelica Brown Series, and to understand my Irish heritage.

As a Caribbean-American, I mine all of my ancestral origins for inspiration–whether African, Panamanian, Carib Indian or Irish. Unfortunately, there was very little information that could help me to paint an accurate picture of Irish-Caribbean history outside of the usual St. Patrick Day rhetoric and Irish-American rah-rah.

Fortunately, while milling around the South End branch of the Boston Public Library, I found To Hell or Barbados: The ethnic cleansing of Ireland. The author, Sean O’Callaghan, was a former member of the Irish Republican Army and highly qualified to render a reliable account of Oliver Cromwell’s invasion of Ireland.

Along with extensive internet research, this book shed light on how Irish Catholics were stripped of their livelihoods, dignity and property and shipped off to be slaves. I was shocked to learn that Irish slaves in Barbados were considered less valuable than their African counterparts. It was also disheartening to think about the many stories connected to these events that will never be told.

Nevertheless, Heart to Heart explores this part of history through the story of Charles Wright, a 19th century descendant of Barbadian Irish slaves who forms intricate ties with Angel’s family.

Heart to Heart

Heart To Heart: Book Two in the Angelica Brown Series

It felt pretty cool to weave this barely-discussed part of Irish history with the story of West African slavery in Barbados, and create a memorable character in the series.

The human experience of the Irish-Caribbean is not something typically portrayed in school “his story” books. However, very much like the atrocities of the African genocide, this is a part of our collective history that deserves to be honored and understood.

How I Researched My Irish Heritage for Heart to Heart: Book Two in the Angelica Brown Series

Heart To Heart Top 10 Video Playlist

Heart To Heart Top 10 Video Playlist

Heart To Heart Top 10 Video Playlist

Heart To Heart Top 10 Video Playlist

Like the Top 10 Audio list, this video list offers the top songs from the Heart To Heart Official Playlist, the sixty songs I played religiously over the roughly year and a half that it took to write and edit (and edit, and edit) Heart To Heart. There are also a few other songs from the official list that are thrown in here, just for fun.

Unfortunately, not every song has an official video, some are simply fan-made such as the Dark Shadows tune, “Go All The Way,” which was never officially released.

Artists on this video list include Lorde, Ellie Goulding, Santigold, Icona Pop, Florence + the Machine, and more.

Also check out the Official Blood To Blood Playlist so see what I listened to while writing the first book in the Angelica Brown Series, Blood To Blood.

Heart To Heart Top Ten Audio Playlist

Heart To Heart Top Ten Audio Playlist

If you read my last post, you’ll know I had sixty songs on constant rotation while writing Heart To Heart. Like Blood To Blood‘s playlist, the compilation of songs reflect my obsession with always playing music while writing or doing anything in general.

Some of the songs were played more than others, and I always like to check out the “Number of Plays” column in iTunes to get a glance at which tunes I played more than others. Most of this list features female artists that I pretty much wrote to non-stop. The wildcard in the bunch is a song from the Johnny Depp starrer Dark Shadows that was never even released (don’t ask me how it got it in my playlist, I’ll plead the fifth if you do). The only other soundtrack song comes from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire; Santigold’s goose pimple-inducing “Shooting Arrows At The Sky.”

This audio playlist features the Top 10 of the list in order of plays, starting with the most played. For the entire official list check here. Enjoy the tunes!

Heart To Heart Top Ten Audio Playlist

Heart To Heart Official Playlist

Blood To Blood Official Playlist

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 15

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 15

This quote and others like it are pulled from Heart To Heart, the sequel to Blood To Blood. The young adult paranormal romance DROPPED TODAY (yay!) and I can’t wait for you all to read it.

In the meantime, enjoy another snippet and a quick excerpt below!

Heart To Heart

Here’s a quick excerpt:

Soon we were in front of a burger place where at least twenty racing bikes were parked along with a group of bikers.

Markus whispered in my ear as we rolled to a stop. “All weres, most immortal Trads.”

One girl eagle-eyed me before shepherding her mohawk-wearing boyfriend’s gaze in my direction. In a husky Mexican accent, she introduced herself as Storm, from the all-female biker group Pink Mist, while her boyfriend and Markus slapped hands. I looked around at some of the other bikers and was met with more open stares. I asked Markus if they were Kat Trio fans. Storm answered my inquiry. “We don’t care what you do in the mortal world. It’s our world that counts. And we know who you are.” Her smile was full of glistening teeth. “You’re danger. You belong with us.”

“Let’s call her that,” her boyfriend, Shank, said with a smile. “Danger.” The bikers who stared nodded in agreement.

They were different from the majority of immortals I’d run into since my Mahá. Instead of cringing away from me, they welcomed me into their group. It was nice to be surrounded by people who were acquainted with me, but not afraid to look me in the eyes.

Markus handed me a clove cigarette. After a brief pause, I took it, and he lit it for me.

“You’re a bad influence, Markus Seymour.”

“Now that’s what I want to hear.” His grin stretched expansively between his ears. “Live a little, Beacon Hill princess.”

He howled, and the biker crowd response-howled as smoke from various types of cigarettes rose up to waft and hover briefly above our heads before being dissipated by the breeze sweeping the twilight sky.

Bikes continued to line up along the curb until the gleam from their collective chrome rivaled the glare from the streetlights and illuminated storefronts. Leather was everywhere. Rap music blared from the bike of a Japanese werewolf named Black Mayhem, while rock flowed from another, and dubstep blasted from a third. Mortals wanting to be a part of the action rolled up on their bikes, too, while locals gingerly waded through the frenetic energy on their way to dinner. Tourists attempted to blend in, even as they stood gawking at the Hollywood wildlife.

Want to see more quotes like this?

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 15

Heart To Heart: First Chapter

Heart To Heart: First Chapter

The light of the full moon disappeared as he closed the front door. Darkness enveloped us, and soon his arms encircled me in an arc of coolness.

Heart To Heart: First Chapter

Heart To Heart: First Chapter

“Angel Brown.” He whispered my name fervently, like a prayer…and I wanted him more than almost anything: more than sunlight, more than even music.

But despite the intensity of my love for him, there was still one thing I wanted more than Sawyer Creed.

Blood.

“Getting thirsty again,” I whispered, trying not to breathe in his mouth-watering fragrance.

He picked me up and cradled me in his arms. “Let’s take care of that.” I relished the haven created by his lean, muscular chest as his long legs moved a few strides to the Grand Room, named for, and host of, the two grand pianos we’d played endlessly over the past six months.

He touched me as if I were the most fragile thing on earth, as if I’d break from the slightest movement of air. But I was Shimshana—a newborn immortal blood drinker from the ancient race that had sired vampires. And he was mortal—a novice wizard and medium just coming to grips with his magical abilities after a lifetime of being kept in the dark about who and what he was.

We’d just said good-bye to the last of our session guests after spending the past ten hours recording tracks. Included in the crowd were the other members of my girl group Kat Trio—Julietta and LaLa; guest musicians and rappers; our group’s manager, Nina; and various people from our Boston record label, House Quake.

“I’m glad we finished recording all of our songs with you today,” I said while stroking his five-o’clock shadow. “But I thought they’d never leave.”

“Been wanting to do this all day.” His raspy voice was next to my ear. “Get you alone.”

Shimshana is what we are and what we have—an unraveling intestinal tube that extends up through the throat and out of the mouth to draw blood from people or animals. It shivered in my stomach as he gently set me down on the piano bench.

Unlike my heart, which banged against my ribs, his heartbeat was as steady as it always was. But the glint in his emerald-green eyes gave away his excitement.

At six foot four, he was a full foot taller than me, but was able to pick me up only when I lightened my body weight. I could easily overpower and crush him with the smallest amount of applied pressure. And right now the sound and smell of the blood coursing through his body almost drowned the sounds of my own heavy breathing.

Read the rest of Chapter One

Heart To Heart: First Chapter

Release date: November 3

Available on Amazon

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 14

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 14

This quote and others like it are pulled from Heart To Heart, the sequel to Blood To Blood. The young adult paranormal romance is scheduled to be released on November 3 and I can’t wait for you all to read it.

In the meantime, enjoy the snippets and a quick excerpt below!

Heart To Heart Character Quotes

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 14

Here’s a quick excerpt:

Soon we were in front of a burger place where at least twenty racing bikes were parked along with a group of bikers of various ethnicities.

Markus whispered in my ear as we rolled to a stop. “All weres, most immortal Trads.”

One girl eagle-eyed me before shepherding her mohawk-wearing boyfriend’s gaze in my direction. In a husky Mexican accent, she introduced herself as Storm, from the all-female biker group Pink Mist, while her boyfriend and Markus slapped hands. I looked around at some of the other bikers and was met with more open stares. I asked Markus if they were Kat Trio fans. Storm answered my inquiry. “We don’t care what you do in the mortal world. It’s our world that counts. And we know who you are.” Her smile was full of glistening teeth. “You are danger. You belong with us.”

“Let’s call her that,” her boyfriend, Shank, said with a smile. “Danger.” The bikers who stared nodded in agreement.

They were different from the majority of immortals I’d run into since my Mahá. Instead of cringing away from me, they welcomed me into their group. It was nice to be surrounded by people who were acquainted with me, but not afraid to look me in the eyes.

Markus handed me a clove cigarette. After a brief pause, I took it, and he lit it for me.

“You’re a bad influence, Markus Seymour.”

“Now that’s what I want to hear.” His grin stretched expansively between his ears. “Live a little, Beacon Hill princess.”

He howled, and the biker crowd response-howled as smoke from various types of cigarettes rose up to waft and hover briefly above our heads before being dissipated by the breeze sweeping the twilight sky.

Bikes continued to line up along the curb until the gleam from their collective chrome rivaled the glare from the streetlights and illuminated storefronts. Leather was everywhere. Rap music blared from the bike of a Japanese werewolf named Black Mayhem, while rock flowed from another, and dubstep blasted from a third. Mortals wanting to be a part of the action rolled up on their bikes, too, while locals gingerly waded through the frenetic energy on their way to dinner. Tourists attempted to blend in, even as they stood gawking at the Hollywood wildlife.

Want to see more quotes like this?

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 14

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 13

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 13

This quote and others like it are pulled from Heart To Heart, the sequel to Blood To Blood. The young adult paranormal romance is scheduled to be released on November 3 and I can’t wait for you all to read it.

In the meantime, enjoy the snippets and a quick excerpt below!

Heart To Heart Character Quotes

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 13

Here’s a quick excerpt:

Soon we were in front of a burger place where at least twenty racing bikes were parked along with a group of bikers of various ethnicities.

Markus whispered in my ear as we rolled to a stop. “All weres, most immortal Trads.”

One girl eagle-eyed me before shepherding her mohawk-wearing boyfriend’s gaze in my direction. In a husky Mexican accent, she introduced herself as Storm, from the all-female biker group Pink Mist, while her boyfriend and Markus slapped hands. I looked around at some of the other bikers and was met with more open stares. I asked Markus if they were Kat Trio fans. Storm answered my inquiry. “We don’t care what you do in the mortal world. It’s our world that counts. And we know who you are.” Her smile was full of glistening teeth. “You are danger. You belong with us.”

“Let’s call her that,” her boyfriend, Shank, said with a smile. “Danger.” The bikers who stared nodded in agreement.

They were different from the majority of immortals I’d run into since my Mahá. Instead of cringing away from me, they welcomed me into their group. It was nice to be surrounded by people who were acquainted with me, but not afraid to look me in the eyes.

Markus handed me a clove cigarette. After a brief pause, I took it, and he lit it for me.

“You’re a bad influence, Markus Seymour.”

“Now that’s what I want to hear.” His grin stretched expansively between his ears. “Live a little, Beacon Hill princess.”

He howled, and the biker crowd response-howled as smoke from various types of cigarettes rose up to waft and hover briefly above our heads before being dissipated by the breeze sweeping the twilight sky.

Bikes continued to line up along the curb until the gleam from their collective chrome rivaled the glare from the streetlights and illuminated storefronts. Leather was everywhere. Rap music blared from the bike of a Japanese werewolf named Black Mayhem, while rock flowed from another, and dubstep blasted from a third. Mortals wanting to be a part of the action rolled up on their bikes, too, while locals gingerly waded through the frenetic energy on their way to dinner. Tourists attempted to blend in, even as they stood gawking at the Hollywood wildlife.

Want to see more quotes like this?

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 13

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 12

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 12

This quote and others like it are pulled from Heart To Heart, the sequel to Blood To Blood. The young adult paranormal romance is scheduled to be released on November 3 and I can’t wait for you all to read it.

In the meantime, enjoy the snippets and a quick excerpt below!

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 12

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 12

Here’s a quick excerpt:

Soon we were in front of a burger place where at least twenty racing bikes were parked along with a group of bikers of various ethnicities.

Markus whispered in my ear as we rolled to a stop. “All weres, most immortal Trads.”

One girl eagle-eyed me before shepherding her mohawk-wearing boyfriend’s gaze in my direction. In a husky Mexican accent, she introduced herself as Storm, from the all-female biker group Pink Mist, while her boyfriend and Markus slapped hands. I looked around at some of the other bikers and was met with more open stares. I asked Markus if they were Kat Trio fans. Storm answered my inquiry. “We don’t care what you do in the mortal world. It’s our world that counts. And we know who you are.” Her smile was full of glistening teeth. “You are danger. You belong with us.”

“Let’s call her that,” her boyfriend, Shank, said with a smile. “Danger.” The bikers who stared nodded in agreement.

They were different from the majority of immortals I’d run into since my Mahá. Instead of cringing away from me, they welcomed me into their group. It was nice to be surrounded by people who were acquainted with me, but not afraid to look me in the eyes.

Markus handed me a clove cigarette. After a brief pause, I took it, and he lit it for me.

“You’re a bad influence, Markus Seymour.”

“Now that’s what I want to hear.” His grin stretched expansively between his ears. “Live a little, Beacon Hill princess.”

He howled, and the biker crowd response-howled as smoke from various types of cigarettes rose up to waft and hover briefly above our heads before being dissipated by the breeze sweeping the twilight sky.

Bikes continued to line up along the curb until the gleam from their collective chrome rivaled the glare from the streetlights and illuminated storefronts. Leather was everywhere. Rap music blared from the bike of a Japanese werewolf named Black Mayhem, while rock flowed from another, and dubstep blasted from a third. Mortals wanting to be a part of the action rolled up on their bikes, too, while locals gingerly waded through the frenetic energy on their way to dinner. Tourists attempted to blend in, even as they stood gawking at the Hollywood wildlife.

Want to see more quotes like this?

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 12

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 11

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 11

This quote and others like it are pulled from Heart To Heart, the sequel to Blood To Blood. The young adult paranormal romance is scheduled to be released on November 3 and I can’t wait for you all to read it.

In the meantime, enjoy the snippets and a quick excerpt below!

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 11

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 11

Here’s a quick excerpt:

Soon we were in front of a burger place where at least twenty racing bikes were parked along with a group of bikers of various ethnicities.

Markus whispered in my ear as we rolled to a stop. “All weres, most immortal Trads.”

One girl eagle-eyed me before shepherding her mohawk-wearing boyfriend’s gaze in my direction. In a husky Mexican accent, she introduced herself as Storm, from the all-female biker group Pink Mist, while her boyfriend and Markus slapped hands. I looked around at some of the other bikers and was met with more open stares. I asked Markus if they were Kat Trio fans. Storm answered my inquiry. “We don’t care what you do in the mortal world. It’s our world that counts. And we know who you are.” Her smile was full of glistening teeth. “You are danger. You belong with us.”

“Let’s call her that,” her boyfriend, Shank, said with a smile. “Danger.” The bikers who stared nodded in agreement.

They were different from the majority of immortals I’d run into since my Mahá. Instead of cringing away from me, they welcomed me into their group. It was nice to be surrounded by people who were acquainted with me, but not afraid to look me in the eyes.

Markus handed me a clove cigarette. After a brief pause, I took it, and he lit it for me.

“You’re a bad influence, Markus Seymour.”

“Now that’s what I want to hear.” His grin stretched expansively between his ears. “Live a little, Beacon Hill princess.”

He howled, and the biker crowd response-howled as smoke from various types of cigarettes rose up to waft and hover briefly above our heads before being dissipated by the breeze sweeping the twilight sky.

Bikes continued to line up along the curb until the gleam from their collective chrome rivaled the glare from the streetlights and illuminated storefronts. Leather was everywhere. Rap music blared from the bike of a Japanese werewolf named Black Mayhem, while rock flowed from another, and dubstep blasted from a third. Mortals wanting to be a part of the action rolled up on their bikes, too, while locals gingerly waded through the frenetic energy on their way to dinner. Tourists attempted to blend in, even as they stood gawking at the Hollywood wildlife.

Want to see more quotes like this?

Heart To Heart Character Quote No. 11