Guys! I’m thrilled to announce that two of my YA novels, Bittersweet and The Book of Broken Hearts, are now available in eBook format — for the very first time — in the UK, Australia, and lots of other places through Amazon, iBooks, and Kobo!
So many people have emailed me about this over the years, and I’m over the moon that it’s finally official. #scandal and The Summer of Chasing Mermaids will follow in mid-April.
New Covers
Even more exciting? The books have brand new, special edition covers, and I’ve been dying to show them off. What do you think?
I’m pretty much in love with them, truth be told. 🙂
* Amazon US links are only available to customers who are located outside North America but who purchase books through the Amazon US site.
Spread the Word
Since this is the first time the eBooks will be available in the UK and Australia (and many other countries), it’s almost like a new release! I would be so grateful if you’d help spread the word, especially if you’ve got any YA-book-lovin’ friends across the pond(s). Just hit the share button below if you’re in a sharing mood… easy peasy!
And if you’re a YA book blogger or booktuber in the UK or Australia, and you’d like to review either or both titles, please let me know!
So that’s the big news! Thank you guys so much for your ongoing enthusiasm and support, no matter where in the world you’re reading. It means so much to me, and I’m so happy that I can finally share these eBooks with you! ❤
I’m so excited to welcome my latest YA novel, THE SUMMER OF CHASING MERMAIDS, to the shelves today!
This marks my sixth novel, which in publishing years kind of makes me an old veteran. Almost six years ago to the date—June 1, 2009—my very first novel was published: Twenty Boy Summer. It really does seem like only yesterday…
*Cue the sappy music*
Okay, I’ll spare you the teary-eyed flashback scene. But in some ways, The Summer of Chasing Mermaids really does mark a return to the classic summer love style of my first book—something I’d been missing. Fans of Twenty Boy Summer will appreciate the coastal Pacific Ocean setting, the sea glass, snuggling up near a beach bonfire on those chilly summer nights, and a girl with so much passion inside her she might just burst. Like Anna in TBS, Elyse in TSOCM is struggling to find her footing after a tragedy that turned her life upside down.
But unlike Anna, Elyse isn’t keeping secrets… She literally can’t even speak.
About The Summer of Chasing Mermaids
The youngest of six talented sisters, Elyse d’Abreau was destined for stardom—until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, the most beautiful singer in Tobago can’t sing. She can’t even speak.
Seeking quiet solitude, Elyse accepts a friend’s invitation to Atargatis Cove. Named for the mythical first mermaid, the Oregon seaside town is everything Elyse’s home in the Caribbean isn’t: an ocean too cold for swimming, parties too tame for singing, and people too polite to pry—except for one.
Christian Kane is a notorious playboy—insolent, arrogant, and completely charming. He’s also the only person in Atargatis Cove who doesn’t treat Elyse like a glass statue. He challenges her to express herself, and he admires the way she treats his younger brother, Sebastian, who believes Elyse is the legendary mermaid come to life.
When Christian needs a first mate for the Cove’s high-stakes Pirate Regatta, Elyse reluctantly stows her fear of the sea and climbs aboard. The ocean isn’t the only thing making waves, though—swept up in Christian’s seductive tide and entranced by the Cove’s charms, Elyse begins to wonder if a life of solitude isn’t what she needs. But changing course again means facing her past. It means finding her inner voice. And scariest of all, it means opening her heart to a boy who’s best known for breaking them…
Writing Elyse’s story was both heartbreaking and hopeful, and one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my career. I can’t wait for you to meet her and the other residents of Atargatis Cove, Oregon—like some of the best and most supportive friends a girl could ever ask for, an adorable little boy obsessed with mermaids, a practicing witch whose healing powers go well beyond her herbal remedies, and of course, a swoon-worthy sailor who may or may not have been loosely (mostly) (okay fine, totally) inspired by Dean Winchester…
I’m sorry. Who are you people? What were we talking about again?
Oh! Right. Mermaids. Ahem.
So, um… yes. If you’d you’d like to meet Elyse and her family, and all of the people she comes to know and love during her summer at the Cove, you should definitely check out the book. Because even more than a love story, even more than a beach read, even more than a fairy tale re-imagined, The Summer of Chasing Mermaids is an empowering story about finding your voice, even when it feels like you’ve got nothing left to say, or no way to say it…
…and it’s about reclaiming the music of our hearts…
…and it’s about second chances—especially (and perhaps most importantly) the kinds we have to give ourselves.
What the Reviewers are Saying
“A sweet summer romance, Sarah Ockler’s newest book sings with mermaid lore and characters you wish you could spend your summer with. This look at finding your voice is the perfect poolside read.” —Justine Magazine
“Elyse’s journey and struggles to assimilate her disability—portrayed with compassion and insight—are compelling and original. A beach read with depth that will keep readers engaged.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Ockler dives beneath the surface in writing about her characters’ emotions and family relationships, and writes sensuously about love and desire. This is a good choice for older teens looking for a well-written romance.” —VOYA Magazine
“…another fantastic summer story by Twenty Boy Summer’s Sarah Ockler… Aside from having probably the best summer cover ever, The Summer of Chasing Mermaids will totally capture your summer spirit this June.” —Bustle
“Ockler’s poetic writing captivates from the outset (“My first breath outside my mother’s body was salt water; the Caribbean Sea lay claim to my soul the moment it took hers”), and Elyse’s backstory—including the mystery of exactly how she lost her voice—is inventive and well-drawn.” —Publishers Weekly
“Despite being unable to speak, Elyse’s lyrical and authentic voice shines through. Teens will relate to her struggle to find her place in a complicated world and applaud her efforts to fight back against the heartless powerbrokers threatening to destroy the Cove.” —School Library Journal
Thank You, Readers!
Finally, I just wanted to send a big ginormous THANK YOU to everyone who’s already read and loved The Summer of Chasing Mermaids, and to everyone who’s emailed, blogged, Tumbld, Tweeted, fangirled, left reviews, and otherwise shouted it from the rooftops. Your support always means so much to me, and I’m honored to share these stories with you. No matter how many books I write, this part never gets any less exciting and humbling. I wouldn’t be here if not for you, dear readers. You guys rock.
Here’s to a summer of amazing adventures, on and off the page!
Good morning, my loyal readers and long lost friends! I know, I know. It’s not you, it’s totally me. I’ve been hiding out in the writing cave forever. But all that hard work is paying off, because guess what happens today? My latest YA release, #scandal, hits the shelves!
This book is a bit different from my previous novels, which is one reason I had so much fun hiding out and writing it—I loved changing up my style! It’s much more satirical and snarky, with a large and quirky cast of characters, including a horse named Prince Freckles, who, let’s face it, is pretty damn loveable. The narrator, Lucy Vacarro, deals with her situation with a dark sense of humor (she reminds me of someone… who is it… oh yeah… teen me!). It’s also chock full of fun pop-culture references to fan favorites like Veronica Mars, Buffy, and The Walking Dead. Despite the different approach, readers who’ve enjoyed my other stories will still find familiar Ockler dynamics in #scandal. The story features teens dealing with challenges like best friend breakups, epic screw-ups, family secrets, school drama, and of course—falling in love. 🙂 All the things I love writing about! I hope you’ll give it a chance, and I hope you’ll have as much fun reading it as I had writing it.
About #scandal
Lucy’s learned some important lessons from tabloid darling Jayla Heart’s all-too-public blunders: Avoid the spotlight, don’t feed the Internet trolls, and keep your secrets secret. The policy has served Lucy well all through high school, so when her best friend Ellie gets sick before prom and begs her to step in as Cole’s date, she accepts with a smile, silencing about ten different reservations. Like the one where she’d rather stay home shredding online zombies. And the one where she hates playing dress-up. And especially the one where she’s been secretly in love with Cole since the dawn of time.
When Cole surprises her at the after party with a kiss under the stars, it’s everything Lucy has ever dreamed of… and the biggest BFF deal-breaker ever. Despite Cole’s lingering sweetness, Lucy knows they’ll have to ’fess up to Ellie. But before they get the chance, Lucy’s own Facebook profile mysteriously explodes with compromising pics of her and Cole, along with tons of other students’ party indiscretions. Tagged. Liked. And furiously viral.
By Monday morning, Lucy’s been branded a slut, a backstabber, and a narc, mired in a tabloid-worthy scandal just weeks before graduation.
Lucy’s been battling undead masses online long enough to know there’s only one way to survive a disaster of this magnitude: Stand up and fight. Game plan? Uncover and expose the Facebook hacker, win back her best friend’s trust, and graduate with a clean slate.
There’s just one snag—Cole. Turns out Lucy’s not the only one who’s been harboring unrequited love…
California Fans: I’m Coming Your Way!
If you live in or around Los Angeles or San Francisco, I’d love to meet you during the Summer Lovin’ Tour! From June 22-27, I’ll be visiting bookstores and libraries with fellow YA authors C.J. Flood, Jody Casella, and Suzanne Young. Come see us and get the inside scoop!
The Book of Broken Hearts officially hit the shelves on May 21st, which is, like, YAY! But it hasn’t hit all the shelves. Which is, you know, BOO! I’ve been debating whether to blog about this situation, hoping against all odds that it would resolve itself. But it hasn’t, and now that I’ve officially heard from readers who’ve had trouble finding the book at Barnes & Noble, I wanted to let you know what’s going on.
The Situation (super short version of a boring tale of corporate woe)
Just because a book is published doesn’t guarantee it a spot on the store shelves (even if the stores have successfully sold an author’s previous books). B&N, like all brick and mortar book stores, decides which books to shelve in its physical locations–sometimes nationally, sometimes on a store by store basis–and they order those titles directly from publishers. Additionally, publishers pay for premium placement of books–those “Summer Reads” end cap displays and colorfully arranged stacks on the tables are all sponsored by publishers (it’s called “co-op”), and the rates and terms are negotiated, like so many things in the book biz.
My publisher for The Book of Broken Hearts is currently in negotiations with B&N, the nature of which I don’t fully understand–it’s too crazy-making to follow, especially when I need to be working on the next book! But the bottom line and bummer of it all is that they’ve yet to reach an agreement. As a result, B&N has cut orders drastically on many of my publisher’s titles, including mine. So, unlike all of my previous novels… super sadface… The Book of Broken Hearts won’t be available in many B&N stores.
It’s a difficult situation. As an author who’s still trying to connect with new fans, I rely on the only remaining national chain bookstore to help grab the attention of random browsers, people who’d only discover The Book of Broken Hearts by seeing it on the shelves, picking it up, and giving it a chance. Now, I’ve lost the opportunity to connect with some of those new readers. And longtime fans who walk into a Barnes & Noble specifically looking for a copy might be disappointed to learn it’s not in stock.
Many of my author friends are in the same boat, and we’re all just trying to support one another and keep our chins up. It’s one of those tough breaks in a business that’s full of constant ups and downs, good news and bad. It’s one of the many reasons writers consume so much chocolate and wine. 🙂
But before you join me in the group ugly cry, wait! All is not lost, because…
Dear Readers and Friends, You Can Help!
If you’re interested in reading The Book of Broken Hearts (or any S&S title affected by this situation), there are still lots of ways you can get your hands on a copy and help support your favorite authors:
Shop indie. Independent bookstores rock. They’re super supportive of authors, passionate about the books they carry, boosters of the local economy, curators of local literary events, and they’re eager to help you find exactly what you’re looking for (and maybe some stuff you didn’t even know you were looking for). My favorite indie is Tattered Cover here in Denver, but you can find a store close to you on IndieBound.
If B&N is your store for all things bookish, and your local B&N doesn’t have The Book of Broken Hearts on the shelves, ask them to order a copy for you.
Order a copy on Amazon.com or BN.com (the online site should always have copies available, regardless of in-store stock)
Purchase it online as an ebook
If you’ve already read the book (thank you!), and you want to be especially awesome and earn lots of virtual hugs and chocolate-covered gratitude, there are a few other ways to show the love:
Post a review on Amazon.com or BN.com. This is hugely helpful. Like spotting new books on the store shelves, honest reader reviews help other readers with similar tastes discover new books. Plus, as a book earns more reviews online, it tends to show up more often in search results and in “readers who liked this book also liked that one” promos.
Ask your library to order a copy for their collection. Libraries are another local resource for readers and authors alike, and they’re a great way to help readers discover new books.
Tell a friend. If you’ve got a reader friend who might enjoy the book, tell her about it! Better yet, get her a copy as a gift! (wink wink)
Encourage reader friends to lather, rinse, repeat on some or all of the above. 🙂
Did Someone Say Chocolate?
You guys have already been so supportive and amazing–from those first joyful days of seeing Twenty Boy Summer on the shelves in 2009, to every new book release since. I mean it when I say that I wouldn’t survive this career if not for you. Seriously. Without readers and fans, I wouldn’t be a writer. I’d be a person who hangs out in PJs all day entertaining the voices in her head, wondering who ate all the chocolate. So to all of you, whether you’re longtime fans or family members who are forced to be fans, whether you’re a teen or just a young adult at heart, whether you’re a librarian or a blogger or a bookseller or a publisher or a fellow author, THANK YOU. For reading, for sharing your love of books with the world. For being such awesome and supportive bookworms. For giving me the honor of telling stories for a living, no matter how hard the business side of it gets. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Sarah Ockler 