From time to time I’ll branch out and include Colorado authors who write something other than mystery and suspense. Today I’ve chosen Amy Kathleen Ryan, author of Vibes, a Young Adult novel about a girl who can read minds. That’s how she knows everyone in her high school thinks she’s fat and disgusting, even Gusty, the popular boy she likes. If that wasn’t enough, she’s had to deal with her father moving out a couple of years earlier.
“Soon, a school project brings her together with Gusty, her father comes home and drops a bombshell, and a friend comes out of the closet, and suddenly she is left doubting that she can read people at all.” …..From Amy’s website
Released in October 2008 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Vibes received excellent reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, and BookList. You can read the praise about this book at Barnes & Noble Online. This is Amy’s second novel.
Amy Kathleen Ryan has an M.A. in English Literature and is active in program planning for Northern Colorado Writers. She does a wonderful job of keeping a low profile, so let’s surprise her by suddenly growing her Twitter following. She is @AmyKathleenRyan.
Oooh! Sounds like a good one to check out – I like to keep up with the YA novels! Heading over to check out her site now. Thanks for sharing this!
Nancy, from Realms of Thought…
I’ve read Amy’s book and it was a great read. I highly recommend it to anyone. We may not be young adults anymore–but we’ve all been there and the characters Amy created were believable and intriguing.
The book sounds like a real winner. I have ordered it and can’t wait to read it. It was an honor to meet Amy at a recent (quite excellent) editing seminar taught by Patricia. I am grateful to have the opportunity to learn from such talented and generous people!
I love it when my featured author shows up and leaves a comment. This is so much fun.
Aw, shucks, guys. Thanks so much for the support!
Sounds very interesting – and those are great sites to get reviews from. I just signed up to follow her on Twitter.
Helen
Straight From Hel
I read Amy’s book after taking a YA course from her. Both the course and book were excellent.
Like most highschool girls don’t have enough insecurities as it is without reading minds! Sounds like a good book for any age.
This is cool! I like surprising authors 🙂
YA novels are a mystery to me.(Ha.) Not much experience with them. This one has an interesting premise for any genre. What a great storyline. Of course, the deal-sealer is the reviews from the big shots. Perhaps, more important than those, however, are what real-world readers think. 21 reviews from everyday people netting out at 4.5 stars…very impressive. Gotta be a good book.
Best regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
Patricia,
It’s such a wonderful thing you do for Colorado authors.
Karen
Sounds like a really interesting book. I can’t imagine being at such a sensitive age and be able to know what everyone thinks about you. May have to get that one for my son…
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder