Tuesday, October 14, 2014

*Reality Natalie* Teaser #3

Here's your last teaser for Reality Natalie, released tomorrow!!

Teaser #3:

“Drum roll, please!” Chloe said. The entire audience buzzed. 

I sucked in my breath. Please, please let me be the next Kidz Konnection guest talk show host! I know I would do the best job EVER. Maybe better than Oprah (that’s a very big maybe, though). I promise I will be funny and very nice to all guests.

Allie took a bright red envelope from Chloe. She looked up and smiled at the audience.

I will try not to trip or air burp on TV. And with enough practice, my Fake Shakes will disappear, poof! 

Like magic. 

She slid her finger through the top of the envelope.

“And the winner is....”

Closing my eyes and wrapping my fingers over my acorn necklace, I sent up a silent prayer, hoping the Talk Show Goddesses had all ears open.

*Reality Natalie* Teaser #2

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY!! Reality Natalie will FINALLY be released! Both eBook and print will be available to order!

Teaser #2:

“I have an announcement to make,” I said loudly. “You’ve decided to become the next president?” Dad piped up, walking back into the room. “I always thought President Greyson had a nice ring to it.”

“Actually no. But personally, I think my news is just as cool, if not better.” I nodded for emphasis.

Mom shooed Chase and Sydney toward the stairs. “Go put your clothes in the hamper. I’ll be up in a second to give you guys a bath.”

“Me first!” Sydney squealed, running after Chase. With the twins finally gone, I cleared my throat and took a deep breath. “I have decided to try out to become a guest talk show host.”

“Have you?” Dad asked. I pulled out the announcement from the Kidz Konnection website I had printed off earlier. “Remember? Channel 10 is holding a contest to find a Kidz Konnection guest host.” 

Mom adjusted her glasses and looked over Dad’s shoulder, her lips slightly moving as she skimmed the article. She raised her eyebrows the way she does whenever she is about to say absolutely not. I took a deep breath and cracked my knuckles. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the microwave clock tick over to 6:58.

6:59.

“Well,” Dad said after what felt like an eternity.

“Hmm,” Mom said.

These were not encouraging sounds. The last time my parents said back-to-back words of “well” and “hmm”, I was forced to keep an eye on Chase and Sydney for an entire afternoon while Mom watched “The Sound of Music” in the family room and Dad went golfing. 


Every time a song came on, Mom would sing at the top of her lungs. If the “hills came alive” once more, I was going to puke. I drummed my fingers on the table, glancing at Mom and Dad as they perused the piece of paper. Maybe if I stared long and hard enough, I could somehow use mind control to force them to say “yes”.

But, mind control is not one of my talents.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

*Reality Natalie* Teaser #1

As promised, several teasers of my upcoming middle grade novel, Reality Natalie, will be featured on my blog.  I will not be announcing these days, so please make sure to come back and check for more!

Also, be sure to check out www.katie-sparks.com/in-a-nat-shell.html for posts from Natalie herself!!

Teaser #1:

3:57.

If I didn’t hurry, it would start. Without me.

My legs burned and cramped as I sped up. I winced in pain. Don’t slow down. Bursting through the front door, I dropped my backpack and sweater to the floor. I paused for a millisecond as I passed the kitchen.

No time for a snack. I’d rather starve than miss this surprise announcement. I half-sprinted/half-hobbled through the hallway and into the family room.

“HeyMomHeyDadSchoolWasGreatThanks,” I said in one big rush. I grabbed the remote and clicked the ON button. The TV screen lit up before me. 

There they were.

REALITY NATALIE is being published!

Reality Natalie, my middle grade novel, is FINALLY being published!  I am excited and proud to announce that on October 15, 2014, Natalie Greyson and her quest to become the next guest host on her favorite kids show, Kidz Konnection, will finally become a reality!

Here's the cover of the upcoming novel:


Synopsis: CAMERAS ROLLING...ACTION! The most popular kid's TV show, Kidz Konnection, decides to hold auditions for a guest host spot, and the show's BIGGEST fan decides to audition.

                               [Cue Natalie Greyson]

Eleven-year-old Natalie is determined to overcome her habit of turning into a tongue-tied, air ball burping, runny-nose disaster whenever something embarrassing happens in front of an audience so she can audition for the coveted role. As the show’s biggest fan, no one could possibly deserve it more than her. Except a giant obstacle stands in her way: her parents, who deny her permission, think she is too young to be on TV. To make matters even worse, Natalie's naturally talented best friend, Kailyn, decides to audition too, and will stop at nothing to win – like lying during a practice session and tearing up their friendship pact. 

With their friendship suddenly in question, Natalie turns to her blog, In A “Nat” Shell, to vent her frustrations about Kailyn's spiteful actions, but Natalie’s emotional outpouring and lies only creates more anxiety for herself. With the stakes high, Natalie goes against her parent’s wishes and decides to audition, but Kailyn has her own secret plan to be Number One, even if it means doing so at the expense of her best friend. Can Natalie find a way out of the drama and into the spotlight? Or will the competitive pressure cause her to lose her ultimate dream along with her best friend?

Want to add Reality Natalie to your collection? Pre-order your Kindle copy now! Print and all eBook formats available on October 15, 2014.

Publisher: Firedrake Books, LLC