Spunky Heroine

 Welcome to Spunky Heroine!

Thanks for stopping by to check out me & my work.  You can call me Aubri for now (nom de plume to be decided at a later date!) and I would appreciate any comments - positive or constructive that you would care to send me.  Just check out the Contact Us page for more info!

WHY Young Adult?

My aim in writing for young adult readers is to provide exciting adventures with heroines (and sometimes heroes too!) that are realistic and coping with the usual pitfalls of growing up, but who are also filled with hope and strive to be the best person she (or he) can be.  I find it to be a big responsibility - with a lot of competition - but it is one I hold dear and I hope my young fans (there's thinking positive for you!) will find themselves caught up in the tales I weave!

However, for you not-as-young adults out there, please don't be put off by the genre.  I think you will find the stories interesting and characters engaging enough at any age.  Millions of Harry Potter fans can't be wrong, can they? 

What's New?

12/29/09 - Winter Update

Well, it seems like there hasn't been much to report since the last time I checked in here.  NaNoWriMo was a dismal failure for me as I got less than 5,000 words written.  However, I never had a clear idea of what I wanted to work on this year.  The story I had in my head would require just too much research before starting it, and I have plenty of other work staring me down to get mixed up in that!  lol!

Christmas was joyous and fun for my family, and I hope all have had a lovely holiday!  New Year's Eve is in just a few days and I'm pondering some "resolutions."  I try to keep them simple and attainable, but they rarely last more than a month.  Still, it's in the effort that we succeed!!

The winter months and spring and even summer are already busy and my calendar is quickly becoming crowded with deadlines and travel.  However, one of my resolutions is to get here reguarly with some decent updates.  If it seems like a long time since you've seen any new content, drop me a line and give me a poke to get busy!

Wishing everyone all good things in the new year and beyond!

10/16/09 - Autumn Returns Quickly

Hard to believe it, but autumn has already returned and the seasons changed decidedly for the cooler!  Summer was uneventful.  I got some good work done on "Kingdom" and "Marian" both, and I made time for some relaxation too, traveling to Shaker Village in Harrodsburg, KY and also St. Louis, MO.  My garden also looked the best it ever has because we had simply the loveliest weather I can ever remember for a summer!

No great plans for the next few months as the holidays will come fast and furious.  NaNoWriMo will start in a few weeks and I'm getting my research and materials together to start that project, which at this point is going to be non-fiction -- a first for me!  I'm also ready to start sending out queries to agents again for "Kingdom," but first I need to work on my letter in hopes that it will spark some interest!

Hope you all like the new look of the site!

6/12/09 - Happy Summer!

Well, it's not officially here for a few more days, but I'm guessing everyone is out of school.  Wish I could be too!  Hope everyone had a blessed Easter or Passover.  This weekend is Flag Day -- to find out more about the adoption of the US flag, check out this link at Wikipedia:  http://tinyurl.com/22ljsa

3/10/09 - Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It seems I missed wishing everyone a Happy New Year and Happy Valentine's Day!

12/24/08 - Merry Christmas!

Wishing one and all a blessed holiday and a joyous new year! 

11/1/08 - NaNoWriMo has Begun Again!

Yep, I'm a glutton for punishment -- I've begun a new YA novel for November's National Novel Writing Month contest.  Check out my Mini-Blog to find out more about "The Twelfth Princess." 

10/27/08 - Aubri's Birthday!

Yep, my birthday is rolling around once again!  My family tends to celebrate all month, so October will be like one long party!  :-) 

10/18/08 - Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

This will be my second year participating in this event.  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I currently have two friends battling the disease!

9/25-28/08 - A Long Expected Party

I attended a Lord of the Rings weekend to celebrate hobbits Bilbo & Frodo Baggins' birthdays at Shaker Village, KY -- and had a fantastic weekend.  Look for a few pix on the About Us page! 

9/12/08 - NaNoWriMo 2008

This year's National Novel Writing Month is coming up in a little over a month.  I've got an idea percolating and I hope I make it to 50,000 words this year! 

8/8/08 - 8/24/08 Beijing Summer Olympic Games  One World One Dream

I'm not an athlete by any stretch of the imagination, but I find the Olympics irresistible whether it's the Summer or Winter games.  Highlights so far have been the incredible Opening Ceremony, the US Men's Gymnastics Team winning the Bronze for the team competition (when they weren't expected to come close to medal-ing) and Michael Phelps domination at the Water Cube -- at last count he's won 5 Gold medals during these Games!  Three more to go!

5/19/08 The Wayne Township Relay For Life a Huge Success!

This was my 3rd year participating in this particular event -- and my first on the committee.  The Relay not only met, but exceeded our $40,000 goal!!  Check out a Relay in your community -- better yet, get involved!

5/6/08  Indiana Primary Big News!

Today is the Presidential Primary in Indiana, which is big news for those of us who live here since usually by this time all the candidates are pretty much set.  The state has an opportunity for the first time in over 40 years to make a difference -- we're pretty psyched!  I'll be off to vote this afternoon! 

4/13/08  Fun Facts page added!

Look for the WOTW over on the new Fun Facts page.  Here you will find vocabulary, as well as some history or literary notes to help young readers get a better sense of the story.

4/6/08  Look for the new Word of the Week!

I've added a WOTW on the NOVELS page towards the bottom.  Each week I'll update it with a new word that may be unfamiliar to younger readers.  Find a word that you don't know?  Send me an email, and I may feature it!

3/14/08 Getting work done on Bookshop Kids

Thanks to my good friend Betty, I've been getting some good writing done this past month.  We've set up writing "appointments" over the weekends where we write and then IM to check on each other's work.  I'm looking forward to trying this particular book out on my niece and young friends to see how they like it!

2/14/08  Considering new avenues of publishing
I've had several requests for and opportunities to look at self-publishing "Kingdom," which I'm looking very seriously at doing.  It was good enough for Jane Austen, right? 

1/20/08  Check out the NEW Excerpts!

I had a request  for excerpts from my various projects.  I won't be able to put full chapters up since I want to be able to protect the integrity of each work, but I think I can give a couple of sneak peeks!  Click on the NOVELS page to see them - and do send me an email to tell me what you think! 

I've been contemplating another new work (as if I needed ANOTHER one!), but I guess that means I've got my creative juices working, so I'll run with it!  Be on the look-out for more info on The Twelfth Princess as it becomes available! 

12/17/07 Rest in Peace Good & Faithful Servant

I was saddened to read that one of my favorite singer-songwriters, Dan Fogelberg, passed away from prostate cancer over the weekend.  He was 56. 

11/9/07 "The Bookshop Kids Mysteries"

I've begun this new (planned) series of stories thanks to 2007 NaNoWriMo.  The Bookshop Kids are led by Darcy Gregory, a 15 year old girl who loves books and writing.  She's joined by her sister & (grudgingly) her younger brother.  They meet up with the twins across the slip and soon an adventure ensues involving pirates, ren-faires and a mysterious corpse!  Check over in the About Us section about my NaNo progress!

9/10/07  "Alas, Wherefore a Kingdom" back in limbo.

Unfortunately the online publisher who contracted to print my first YA manuscript decided to close their YA line of books before my novel could be released (original release date was scheduled for October 27, 2007).  Subsequent word is that the publisher is now filing for bankruptcy.  I think I dodged the proverbial bullet there!  I did receive an offer from the cover artist who designed the stunning cover to purchase the image when I have a new home for the manuscript!

I'm currently working on new query letters for several other online publishers - it's almost back to square one for me and Larkin!

9/10/07  "Marian of Huntingdon"

"Marian" is still a work in progress, but is nearing completion.  I feel certain that I could have the rough draft done by the beginning of the new year if someone would lock me away for a few weeks!   ;-)

9/10/07  "The Enchanted Lute"

I wouldn't say "Lute" is languishing, but with all my focus being on "Kingdom" and my creative juices also being pulled for "Marian," Devon and the gang are sitting on the back burner for a bit.  I've almost finished the Lute's first ballad though, so it could take off at any moment!

9/10/07  The Godsend Series

Julia, Aidan & Ciaran are more romance characters than YA, but they could certainly fit the bill nonetheless.  These stories are particular favorites of mine; however, the first volume has some plot problems I haven't been able to resolve as yet so I'm at a bit of a standstill with the others until I get that worked out.