Please read and follow the sign-up instructions outlined below so you sign onto the list correctly! Her books include 18 Things and 18 Truths. She lives in southwest Florida with her husband and two daughters. Jamie Ayres writes young adult love stories by night and teaches young adults as a middle school teacher by day. With the lessons the 18 Things life list taught her engraved on her heart, Olga embarks on a new adventure as a spirit guide, but nothing prepares her for the chilling truths she’s learning along the way.Īdd 18 Truths at Goodreads and watch the trailer on YouTube we just have to remember our failures still serve our purpose in life.ĭo you agree the “tough stuff” produces something shiny in the end we can chase? But hey, everybody has a little Darth Vader and Anakin in them. She has many “EPIC FAIL” moments in the second book. The same goes for my heroine in 18 Truths. I can’t deny the ugly stuff in life made me the person I am today, set me on the path I was meant to take. We’re all created equal (unless you’re a Jedi, then you’re more equal than the rest of us), and we all have a destiny to fulfill.

I don’t know most of you, but I can tell you no matter what happens in your life, the universe isn’t done with you yet. Thanks, Alex!) Okay, ready now for the most super BIG TRUTH ever? Our destinies aren’t thwarted by failures. Or drink coffee and eat chocolate! Trust me, I’m a doctor (not really, but I thought I’d say that just once while I have a captive audience. I’ve good news for you! Everyone loves good news, right? If you don’t, then slap yourself. George Lucas said, “Even when Anakin became Darth Vader, he was still the chosen one.” Spoiler Alert! Anakin was manipulated his whole life by the emperor, but somehow, he redeemed himself in the end. Many times our failures are rooted in pride, just like mine, just like my heroine, and just like Anakin. You’re probably wondering why I did such a thing in the first place? HA! I could’ve died! But instead of ending up on Jay Leno’s stupid headlines (“5-year-old Girl Willingly Jumps Into A Pile of Poop and Suffocates to Death”), I got to use it as a funny anecdote in 18 Things instead, the first installment of my trilogy. Can you say gold star? That’s why Mama’s always said I’m full of crap. In 1984, my cousin dared me to jump in our ruptured septic tank on the farm, and I did. I don’t claim to be an expert on much (okay, I do, but pretty much all writers are pathological liars), but I know how to fail. But when we’re hit with bad stuff, remember something beautiful can come out of it. We all have, “Luke, I am your father,” moments.

Tempting Clover by Decadent Kane