​Welcome to my first installment of Who's Who Wednesday. Twice a month, I'll introduce you to some of the great people I've met through writing. I'll ask the same five questions and let you know how we're connected. Connections are an essential part of staying strong on the path to publishing. Having people who understand what you're going through and have been through it themselves is a huge support when you're feeling unsure, need a boost, or want to share something awesome. I'm very lucky to have so many great writing friends and I hope that I'm able to give back even a portion of the support others have given to me. 

​What you write:
 
I enjoy writing both Young Adult and Middle Grade, and with the exception of strictly contemporary, I write all subgenres. I’ve written fantasy, urban fantasy, and science fiction. I’m even hoping to explore historical fiction in both YA and MG in the future.
 
What I really love doing recently is crossing genres. For instance, I have a middle grade book that is technically sci-fi, but could just as easily be categorized as a mystery or a sports book since the world, plot, and characters have aspects of all three.
 
I’ve never tried to write for adults because, frankly, the thought terrifies me. Apart from the occasional thriller and high-fantasy, I don’t read many adult novels, but I read TONS of young adult and middle grade books. And of course, what I read influences what I write and how I write it.
 
Influences:
 
So. Many. Things. Being a huge NERD, I derive almost all my stories from a random mash-up of books, cartoons, TV series, movies, video games, and comics.
 
I could literally go on and on about what show has given me an idea for what story, but instead I’ll try and be concise and just list them out:

• Percy Jackson
• Sailor Moon
• Harry Potter
• Danny Phantom
• Justice League/DC shows
• Avatar: the Last Airbender
• Spirited Away
• Alex Rider
• The Lunar Chronicles
• Red Rising trilogy
• [Insert Disney Movie here]

 
Favorite writing snack and beverage:
 
I don’t usually eat when I’m writing unless it’s candy or something I can easily pop in my mouth and forget about. All of my favorite snacks make my fingers messy—not great for typing on a keyboard.
 
Almost all my writing sessions start with a cup of tea. Lots and lots of tea. I’m not a coffee drinker, so I make sure at least half the tea in my cabinet has caffeine. Some of my favorite tea blends are: African Autumn, Jade Citrus Mint, Youthberry & Indonesian Gold, Ginger Lemon Mint, Turkish Apple, and Japanese Cherry.
 
My all time favorite drink while writing is a Starbuck’s Green Tea Frappuccino made with soy milk. I get one every Sunday at Barnes and Nobles when I’m writing or editing. Because they’re $5, I only allow myself one a week. I look forward to it as much as I do writing—it’s like my special treat for making it through the week.
 
Hardest thing about writing:
 
There are a lot of things about writing that are difficult, like developmental edits where you worry about one change affecting almost everything else in the book, or pushing through the block you’re having just so you can finally finish that first draft. But I’d say the hardest thing is that writing is, by nature, a solitary activity. 
 
Don’t get me wrong, I love putting in my earphones and banging away at my keyboard with zero human interaction for like three hours…if I’m on a roll. But if I’m not? Well, it helps to overcome that writer’s block, or talk about your edits, or your book cover, or your marketing plan, with someone who understands where you’re coming from. It’s hard to want to go on and on about your book when you might not have anyone available to listen or help you. Which, of course, is why critique partners and beta readers are so critical. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without them. If only just so I can randomly text them and say, “I’m obsessing over my new character. He needs a name. HALP.” And they’re there with a list of names we can go through together. After all, it’s FUN to talk about your story, and it’s hard when there’s no one there to help.
 
What you’re working on now:
 
Typically I have two projects that I work on at a time: one that I’m editing and one that I’m drafting.
 
The one I’m editing is another middle grade book and that crosses genres. It’s about a brother and sister team who are phantoms sent from the Netherworld to steal artwork in post-Victorian London. So it’s a little bit historical, fantasy, paranormal, with a touch of horror.
 
I’m drafting a YA paranormal romance dealing with nature spirits set in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee. I’m only a quarter of the way through, and have a very rough outline, so by the time my draft is done, it could be a completely different book.
 
…And separate of these independent projects I’m also working with my editor, Lydia Sharp, on my debut novel that’s coming out Summer 2018 with Entangled Teen. My book is a YA Fantasy in which a princess, trained to use her kiss as only a magic-enhancing weapon, must fight evil alongside a prince who is determined to prove that love isn’t just a fairytale.
 
If you’re interested how this book came to publication, you can check out my blog post about it here.
 
Also, follow me on twitter and instagram!
 
Thanks for having me, Jody!

​Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, Lindsey. I look forward to reading your debut from Entangled. 

Every book I write matters to me. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know that I'll get to share this many of them with all of you. I'm grateful to both Entangled Publishing and to Penner Publishing for believing in my work. I'm very grateful to my agent, Fran, for believing in me. And I'm extremely grateful to all of the people that help me and support me by forgiving me when I'm late or forget things, read my work-- some repeatedly, talk down my uncertainty, let me bounce ideas off of them endlessly, share in my enthusiasm when things are great and stand by me when they aren't. 

 And as bonus good news, this morning I was notified that my books, Falling for Home and Damaged were nominated for the Summer Indie Book Awards for 2016! Voting takes place between September 1-11, 2016. 

Brenda Corey Dunne is a writer, physiotherapist, military spouse, and mom. Her life is never dull. Especially when there's coffee. She is the author of DEPENDENT and TREASURE IN THE FLAME. Her newest novel is titled SKIN. 

With a name like Ocean, you’d think moving to Prince Edward Island would be simple. But since she crossed that huge bridge to the land of red sand, Ocean’s life has been far from normal—it’s been downright dangerous. Trouble seems to follow her, and she’s got the bruises to prove it. ​
And then there’s her mysterious neighbour, Sam...who seems to know more about her history than she does herself. When Ocean finally steps into the salty waves with Sam, she realizes that her life has been based on a lie, and that she is missing something...something she never knew existed. 
Her skin.
​​

 We crest a small hill and I forget all about being sulky. I forget about Seth. Because suddenly it’s there in all of its brilliant, sparkling glory in front of us—the ocean.
The Ocean.
I’ve seen it before, but I can’t remember. I was a baby when my parents were here last. But wow. It’s…real. Just the sight of it makes my skin feel tight and my webbed toes curl.
Frank parks, and I jump out of the van like it’s on fire. I look at mom to see if she’s remembering—thinking of Dad and the happiness that they shared here but she’s gathering her things and talking to Frank about lawyers’ appointments and keys. It’s as if she doesn’t want to look, like she’s purposefully avoiding the view. I feel a rush of anger at her pointed lack of interest. Couldn’t she just look at it and remember? At least pretend like she cares?
Whatever. Mom has her own issues and she can deal with them herself. With just a few deep breaths of fresh salty air, I feel human for the first time since I was unceremoniously told we were leaving the city. I shrug and turn away from Mom and Frank and my zig-zagging little brother to drink in the view of the rolling waves and shining beauty. It’s so…huge. There is nothing beyond the horizon but more water. No islands, no boats, no other shore across a bridge… no anything.
I need to run, so I yell that I’ll be right back and then sprint for the dunes while they sort out less important things like keys and payment. The sand flies and I actually laugh out loud as I cover the hundred or so yards of beach blankets and umbrellas to the edge of the water, where I stop—two feet above the dark line of wet sand—and take a deep breath that would make any yoga master proud.
My name is Ocean.
I’ve always loved my name. The ‘shuh’ sound in the middle, the way it looks on the page and the pictures it creates in your mind. You’d think with a name like Ocean, I would practically live at the beach. But until now, standing here with my feet on the red Prince Edward Island sand, I’ve never really seen it. I’ve never looked out to nothing but seemingly infinite waves and sky. Miles and miles of liquid life.
I slowly notice that it’s crowded here in front of the resort, and I recognize the sounds of whining kids and laughing teens beyond the wind. There are too many people building castles and getting sunburned for me to really experience the waves as they slide across the sand. So I stop short...I hold myself back from my overwhelming urge to run and throw myself into the water.  The need to jump in is almost a physical feeling, a drawing, pulling feeling—like a Neptunian tractor-beam, but I ignore the pull. I’m not ready yet, I guess. I turn back to the resort and drag my webbed toes through the sand as I walk up the path. And then I follow my mother—who still hasn’t looked—into our rental cottage, shutting the whispering waves out with the slam of the screen door.
​

They can pretend they’re fine…

Moving to NYC is supposed to be the fresh start Kristy Andrews so desperately needs, but she can't seem to shake the after-effects of having been kidnapped last year.

Detective Jackson Reed never meant to kill an innocent man, but knowing that doesn’t change the guilt he lives with every single day. 

But they can’t hide forever…

When Kirsty and Jackson meet, the connection is instantaneous, but neither is ready to open up about their pasts. Can love and trust conquer their demons?

In order to have a future, they’ll have to face their past… 

When Kristy starts receiving threatening messages, her anxiety kicks into overdrive, but the last thing she wants is Jackson worrying about her.

Jackson may doubt his ability to return to active duty, but he has no doubts about his instincts concerning Kristy. Someone is trying to hurt her, and he refuses to let that happen, even if it means going back to work; something he wasn’t sure he’d do. 

As the threats increase, Jackson shows Kristy that strength doesn’t mean facing her fears alone, and Kristy shows Jackson that forgiveness starts from within. Can they save each other before it’s too late? Or will the past come back to haunt them? 

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The below giveaway is sponsored solely by Jody Holford and Kara Leigh Miller and 
is in no way sponsored by Anaiah Press, LLC. Furthermore, all prizes will be awarded 
by the authors directly to the chosen winners. The giveaway starts today and will end 
on Sunday, December 20, 2015. Winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter and will be 
notified by email no later than Monday, December 21, 2015.

Have you read DANGEROUS LOVE? That's where you'll first meet Kristy Andrews.