“Streaks of Blue” sells 100th copy: $158.95 raised for Newtown Memorial Fund

Thanks to my readers for getting this indie author to 100 copies of “Streaks of Blue” sold since its release on Sept. 27th! In the process, we’ve raised $158.95 so far for Newtown families. And with the recent shootings in New Mexico, Colorado and Philadelphia, among others, this book and this topic continue to be extremely relevant.

A special shout-out to Christina Jackson of Shawneetown, Illinois, who won the Christmas giveaway contest on Goodreads. She said she adored the book and has loaned it to a friend. She said she was inspired by the novel and the fact that I once lived in Freeport, Illinois. Go Pretzels! Thanks also to the 690 other Goodreads members who have added “Streaks of Blue” to their shelves!

“Streaks of Blue” feeling the love from the U.K. … “Such a touching and monumental story”

UK book blogger Georgina Robinson’s 5-star review of “Streaks of Blue” today. Awesome!

 

http://www.whatshereads.co.uk/

 

Oh my, where do I begin. With literally seconds of finishing this book while it is still fresh in my mind I had to write my review. Such a touching and monumental story. Chaucer has really broached the subject at a cool and calm pace with added anxiety when needed. When I first picked up this book I wasn’t quite sure it was something I would enjoy, given that it was YA and picked up on a rather sore subject I thought i’d give it a chance, and oh my, aren’t I glad i did. Streaks of Blue was such a powerful tale of a young girl named Nicole Janicek who saved the lives of her fellow classmates.

 

Nicole “Nikki” Janicek and her best friend Candace decided to go on a hike just before their senior year starts, during their nights sleep Nikki has a dream about a girl named Star, and in the dream there was a warning from the Angels of the Newtown school shooting. Recognising the classmate she used to know when she was in elementary school she puts the pieces together from the dream, she needs to befriend him again before he commits a mass murder on her and her classmates.

Adam Upton is nothing but a delinquent, constantly getting in trouble along with his friend Thomas “Lee” Harvey, together they have a plan. To kill everyone in the school. But then Adam gets sidetracked with a girl he barely remembers who wants to be his friend. Can Nikki save herself and everyone else in time?

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Chaucer’s story telling was truly intoxicating, never leaving any of us in the dark. Creating such awesome and fluid characters. No matter who you are there was someone you are able to relate to. Nicole was a great main character, she truly felt that the everyone should be treated equal. She really was the hero in my eyes, she stood up for what she believed even if it did get her into trouble.

Adam was an interesting character, I immediately fell in love with him. He was the notorious bad boy. When I was first introduced to him it was very clear their was some issues with him and his household. He was labelled at school and had no friends because of where he lived, this was his weakness. Then we are introduced to his friend Thomas “Lee” Harvey, cleverly named himself after the sniper Lee Harvey Oswald who killed John F. Kennedy. With not being given any background information on him we are less attached to his character making me instantly dislike him.

The story was a truly great one, the pace was quick but i never felt too rushed. The story was original and creative, what I also liked that there was no real romance, *shock horror* I liked a book without an intense romance plot. It was rather refreshing, Nikki just stuck to her original plan to make friends with Adam even though a few times I thought there could’ve been a love plot but I knew deep down it would have ruin the story.

What was truly amazing was the dedication, the US has managed to see some terrible gun crimes including school shoots outs, most of us will remember the Columbine school shooting and of course just last year the Newtown shooting in which this story is dedicated too. Even more amazing the author is sharing half the proceeds of this book to the Newtown Memorial Fund. 

 

 

 

 

COVER ART

 

  

The cover is beautiful, it really captured Nikki and who she is. The cover photo has a porcelain effect making her look rather angelic.

Cover reveal for “Streaks of Blue”!!!

South African designer Damon Za has produced this stunner of a cover for my next novel, which will be published this fall.