CAPTURE THE MOMENT: Riveting YA Novel

Called "the Judy Blume of this generation," Cynthia Toney broaches delicate issues in this her second of the Bird Face series. With 4.7 Stars, this book is a steal at only 99¢ - TODAY ONLY!

Get 10 STEPS TO GIRLFRIEND STATUS!

"Without knowing or caring where I'd wind up, I sneaked out of the house and took off running." 

Wendy Robichaud is on schedule to have everything she wants in high school: two loyal best friends, a complete and happy family, and a hunky boyfriend she's had a crush on since eighth grade--until she and Mrs. Villaturo look at old photo albums together. That's when Mrs. V sees her dead husband and hints at a 1960s scandal down in Cajun country. Faster than you can say "crawdad," Wendy digs into the scandal and into trouble. She risks losing boyfriend David by befriending Mrs. V's cute hearing-impaired grandson, alienates stepsister Alice by having a boyfriend in the first place, and upsets her friend Gayle without knowing why. 

Will Wendy be able to prevent Mrs. V from being taken thousands of miles away? And will she lose all the friends she's fought so hard to gain?

This story addresses first innocent romance, a blended family, friendship with an Alzheimer's victim, and an ancestral interracial relationship.

Here's what readers have said about 10 STEPS TO GIRLFRIEND STATUS:

A Judy Blume for this generation. With refreshing candidness, the author lets us see through Wendy's eyes as she navigates her first crush, her first heartbreak, her first dealings with mortality, and the difficulties in blending a family and learning about dark family secrets.


This is another winner for Cynthia Toney. I loved Bird Face, the first in the series. However, 10 Steps to Girlfriend Status can be read without reading Bird Face as it is a stand alone novel, but I highly recommend you don't miss out on either one. These are great coming of age stories for young people. So insightful. I wish I had been able to read these books when I was growing up. Do yourself a favor and read these two novels, and then give them as a gift to some young people you know, because they have something to offer everyone.


Cynthia Toney's attention to detail makes this book outstanding. And Wendy's unique voice is still spot on. Cynthia has a knack for active use of verbs, no passive writing from this author. Cynthia kept my attention through the whole book, especially when Wendy set out to discover what happened to a relative of the past. I found the relationship between Wendy and her boyfriend sweet, and very clean. Nice going!


If only I had read a book like this when I was in junior high! Wendy is so much like I was, but I didn't figure out the 10th step until way past high school.
Cynthia Toney brings back to my mind all those horrible insecurities of the teen years, and weaves a story of wise advice against the background of our nation's history in race relations.

This book won't be on sale again this year, so don't miss your opportunity to get it at 75% off!

And while you're in the mood to get a good deal on a great book, pre-order THE SECRET HEART by Marie Wells Coutu (the 3rd stand-alone story in her Mended Vessels series) for only $2.99 - a 40% discount! AND get a free book - THE DIVIDED HEART - a prequel to her third story. (Send your Amazon confirmation to freebookforpreorder@gmail.com.)

Special News Bulletin!

We interrupt this program for a special alert ... We realize that readers are poised for another Christmas memory article from one of our outstanding authors. They will resume tomorrow, although any comments left today will also go toward entry for our contest! So leave some love!

Today is the release day of

6 DATES TO DISASTER

Cynthia Toney's first two books of the Bird Face series have earned high praise such as:

… most emotionally moving … it's never easy to see someone you love lose their grip on life. Cynthia Toney does a lovely job handling this difficult topic [in 10 Steps to Girlfriend Status].”

 ~A.J. Cattapan, author of Angelhood and Seven Riddles to Nowhere

Cynthia T. Toney’s Bird Face series captures the young teenage years well. Toney weaves serious issues in with humor, mystery, and interesting storylines, making these books hard to put down. The challenges and surprises faced by the characters, especially Wendy Robichaud, help them grow and also bring to light issues relevant to today’s teens.

~Theresa Linden, author of Battle for His Soul, Life-Changing Love, and Roland West, Loner.

Book Three follows right along with the first two, giving insight into a teens life with both poignancy and humor. 

Here is the Amazon link.

Enjoy the first scene: 

People will hide just about anything inside a jewelry box—especially a secret.

As a kid, I tried saving a hard-boiled Easter egg in mine. But during a warm Louisiana spring, it doesn’t take long for that secret to get out.

Two hours on a Saturday afternoon at the biggest flea market in the parish, and I hadn’t found a single jewelry box.

My stepsister, Alice, and I hoofed from table to table, covering territory as quickly as possible. Wearing shorts … in February.

If it hadn’t been for the merchants’ canopies, we would’ve sunburned. A little more air between my body and the one standing next to me would’ve been nice, but the place was too crowded with shoppers.

“How adorable!” A lady at the next booth squealed over a wooden Easter bunny yard ornament that could be personalized with her child’s name.

I crossed my eyes. Even as a six-year-old, I wouldn’t have wanted anything in front of my house to read “Wendy.”

Enough distractions. Back to the day’s goal. Finding a jewelry box for Mom among thousands of items scattered across a hundred folding tables might be harder than I thought.

“There’s too much junk in this flea market.” I rolled my shoulders and sighed.

The booth owner stared daggers at me.

“Haven’t you spent enough time looking? Why don’t you just buy her a new one?” Alice flicked perspiration from above her lip with a fingertip. Her strawberry-blonde hair had begun to frizz, and she lifted it off her neck, fanning it behind her.

I shook my head, ponytail slapping my jaw. “Anyone can go to a store and do that. It’ll mean more to Mom if the jewelry box has history—or at least some character. I know the right one is here somewhere.”

Alice shrugged. “You should know. She’s been your mom longer than she’s been mine.” She picked up a dingy-white crocheted vest and held it against her front.

Mom and Papa D—short for Daniel—had been married almost six months. In the four months between the end of eighth grade and my first semester at LeMoyne High School, Alice had gone from being a classmate I hardly knew to being both my running buddy and my sister. We suffered through our share of quarrels, but living with each other had become easier since Christmas. And it was nice having a sister to go with me on errands. If only she would focus.

Alice sniffed the vest under the armholes. She slid her hands through the openings and shrugged the vest onto her shoulders.

My gaze traveled two booths down toward a collection of antique-looking tabletop accessories. “I’ll be over there.” I pointed.

“I’m coming.” Alice slipped out of the garment and followed me.

Rusted and tarnished items cluttered the table. A pair of wrought-iron candlesticks towered above the rest of the display.

I gasped. Beneath the candlesticks sat a large mahogany box almost the same color as our hair—Mom’s and mine.

Hands shaking, I moved the candlesticks aside and lifted the box. It contained three drawers with brass pulls. The sides and hinged top showed only a few scratches. I set the box back down and opened one of the drawers.

“See?” I whispered as though in the presence of a holy relic. “This is what I’m talking about.” I glanced at Alice to make sure she was paying attention. “Made of solid wood with red velvet inside. You can even see impressions in the velvet where bangle bracelets were stored. This is all real.”

Alice rolled her blue eyes but grinned.

“It’s the right size, too—much bigger than her old one. It should hold all her jewelry and Grand-mère Robichaud’s antique pieces. She won’t need those cardboard boxes anymore. She’ll love it.”

“Then let’s get it.” Alice reached inside her pocket for some money, which she’d never lacked since I’d known her. As part of the Rend family, Mom and I were still getting used to having extra money for luxury items.

Alice and I split the cost fifty-fifty, and I bagged the box. I’d never spent that much on a gift before, but Mom was worth it.

Alice phoned Papa D that we’d meet him and my little stepbrother, Adam, at the car. They’d found gifts for Mom, too.

This was going to be her best birthday ever.

12 Books of Christmas: 

The first book in Cynthia's Bird Face series, 8 NOTES TO A NOBODY, is part of our 12 Books of Christmas contest. Leave a comment below with your email address (US residents only). Your email address will also be added to our monthly newsletter list. (Unsubscribe anytime.) While you're commenting, share your favorite book from your high school years.

Teens Tread the Muddy Waters of Honesty by YA Author Cynthia T. Toney

Remember the first time a child looked you in the eye and asked why someone lied? If you were that someone and you’re like me, the answer was tough to give.

Grandma and Grandpa didn’t know you smoked. You couldn’t tell Aunt Marie you threw out the casserole she made. You didn’t want to go to that birthday party, so you pretended you were sick.

Young children most often view situations and reactions to them as black or white, bad or good, wrong or right.

Discernment is more difficult for teens. Most think of themselves as honest and don’t want to lie, but sometimes they are confused. Teens see and hear lies being told all around them, probably every day. On television, in movies, and in real life. And when lies don’t seem to do any measurable harm, it’s easy for teens to enter a gray, muddy area. There they may not be able to determine when a lie or withholding of the truth is just plain wrong.

They may think lying is sometimes necessary. When is a lie necessary? Only to save a life—or simply to spare someone’s feelings?

Cynthia's newest book,
6 DATES TO DISASTER,
releases 12/6! 

You or I may have years of experience in avoiding a direct answer that would hurt someone’s feelings. We may answer with a compliment about something else in order to save a relationship. Teens may not have practiced this art. And it is an art of deception, if we’re honest with ourselves.

Of all things important to teens, relationships are way up high on the list. And that’s the point we can use to guide them regarding their honesty.

Just as brutal honesty can sometimes damage relationships, dishonesty is certain to ruin them. Dishonesty with parents, teachers, friends, employers, coworkers. Teens may not consider how a lie about the car, schoolwork, tardiness, keeping a date, or numerous other seemingly small lies can affect the trust they receive from others in the future. And the future of relationships they need, whether they recognize their importance now or not.

To start a conversation with your teen about honesty, something fun to do is to take an honesty quiz such as this

Christian Teen Honesty Quiz: How Truthful Are You?
http://christianteens.about.com/od/christianliving/a/honestyquiz.htm

The introduction states that about 83% of teens believe that moral truth depends on a particular situation. As a family member of a teen, how do you feel about honesty and what do you expect from your teen? Now is the time to talk about it.

Interesting survey statistics about teens lying, cheating, and stealing can be found in
5 Things to Do When You Know Your Teen Is Lying on Crosswalk.com.
http://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/the-rising-tide-of-teen-dishonesty-11623353.html

Statistics particular to academic dishonesty can be found in Teen Dishonesty at TeenHelp.com.https://www.teenhelp.com/teen-issues/teen-dishonesty/

We can sometimes reach our teens through fiction that addresses issues of our concern. A novel can demonstrate how teens handle situations that are muddy regarding honesty.

The third book of my Bird Face series, 6 Dates to Disaster, tackles the subject of dishonesty in school and withholding truth from parents.

When the main character’s family faces financial hardship, she must find a way to earn money to fly to Alaska to see her surrogate grandmother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. Wendy has only a few months to acquire enough money for her fare. What seems like the perfect opportunity to achieve her goal presents itself, but she handles the situation badly and risks permanent damage to her relationships and her future.

Learn more about Cynthia and all of her books at her author page at WriteIntegrity.com

Dog Daze of Summer Sale!

The "dog days of summer" are upon us, so what better way to get through them than a book sale!

The Dog Daze of Summer Sale!

For the next month - July 18 through August 19 - we're celebrating in three ways:

• With eight 99 cent Kindle books! (Yes, 8!)

and

• With New Releases! 

and

• With Coming Soon Releases!

The eight Kindle books on sale for 99 cents are:

Imperfect Wings

Book One in the Imperfect Series

by Elizabeth Noyes

Amelia’s Legacy

Book One in the Legacy Series

by Betty Thomason Owens

For Such a Moment

Book One in the Mended Vessels Series by

Marie Wells Coutu

Saving Eric

Book One in the Redeemed Side of Broken Series by

Joan Deneve

8 Notes to a Nobody

Book One in the Bird Face Series by

Cynthia T. Toney

This Dance

Book One in the Sisters Redeemed Series by

Jerusha Agen

Charisse

Book One in the Ties that Bind Series by

Fay Lamb

The Extraordinary Presence of God

by Ann White Knowles