Category: Adorkable


Jan
2019

Hello 2019

categories: Adorkable, doing what you love, Happy Holidays, Nindzsalany, Ninja Girl, Romance, self-publishing, The Unbelievable Inconceivable Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder, writing, YA, YA mystery

Hello 2019, how are you doing? 🙂

It’s a new year, you guys, and I’m hoping for good things. For you, for myself and for every bookworm in the universe!

2018 brought some hard times, some difficult, sad times, and I’m still so thankful to all of you for being kind and awesome throughout everything <3. The lemons were definitely there but so was the lemonade. Case in point…

2018 also brought a whole bunch of bookish awesomeness: ADORKABLE was included as a Bookbub Featured Deal; I published book baby #3 The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder (in ebook & paperback); the Hungarian version of NINJA GIRL was released; I got to attend a royal wedding (okay, so I watched from home, but Harry & Meghan looked just as beautiful on screen, and the tea was still wonderful!); I got to write the foreword for a YA romance anthology (thanks, Kelsie!); ADORKABLE came out as an audiobook; I participated in KM Shea’s summer reading event (thanks, Kitty!); ADORKABLE was included in a Top Ten list on Bustle; ADORKABLE was in The Bookworm Box for November; and I did my first Facebook Live video ever for an author takeover of The Bookworm Box FB page.

Some writing goals I hope to accomplish in 2019 are: Publish a book. Figure out how to market/promote better. Create a newsletter, and grow a mailing list. Increase social media presence (possibly start an Instagram account). Write a book. Write more. Write better. Attend a conference and/or event.

My #1 goal from the beginning to now remains the same: To get my books into the hands and hearts of the readers who will love them <3.

I also have some personal goals, but those are the same every year. I hope to help others, make someone’s life better, spread kindness and love, be a better person, renew/restore my faith, and figure out what I should do with my life.

On December 31st, I completed my latest book, yayyy, and I hope to release it this year!!! I am absolutely in love with this story, and I hope you will love it, too! So so excited about this!

Thank you so much for all of your support in the ups and downs of this writing/publishing journey! Happy New Year, readers, and I hope 2019 is awesome for you!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman



Dec
2018

Happiest of Holidays to You

categories: Adorkable, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Ninja Girl, Romance, The Unbelievable Inconceivable Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder, YA, YA mystery

Merry Christmas, bookworms!!!

I just wanted to say that I hope you have an awesome holiday. May it be filled will love, happiness, hope, wonderful times with family & friends, and of course, books. 🙂

Thank you so much for your support through all of the ups and downs of this writing/publishing journey. I appreciate you, and I hope you get everything you wished for this year! Wishing you the happiest of holidays!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Dec
2018

Holiday Cheer

categories: Adorkable, author takeover, giveaway, Happy Holidays, Happy Holidays Giveaway, Romance, The Bookworm Box, YA

The Happy Holidays Giveaway is over, and that means it’s time to announce some winners! Yay!!!  Thank you so much to everyone who entered!  All winners were randomly selected, and they are…

Alyssa — $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Becca— ADORKABLE Bookmark & Stickers!

Stephanie— ADORKABLE Bookmark & Stickers!

Tawnya— ADORKABLE Bookmark & Stickers!

Amber— ADORKABLE Bookmark & Stickers!

Cassie— ADORKABLE Bookmark & Stickers!

Jennifer— ADORKABLE Bookmark & Stickers!

Kaitlynne— ADORKABLE Bookmark & Stickers!

Victoria— ADORKABLE Bookmark & Stickers!

Irma— ADORKABLE Bookmark & Stickers!

Nina— ADORKABLE Bookmark & Stickers!

Jessica — YA Bookworm Box!

Congratulations, everyone!  Thank you so much again for entering.  Your  prizes will be on their way shortly, and I hope they give you tons of holiday cheer! 🙂

Also, a huge THANK YOU to anyone who tuned in to watch the author takeover I did of The Bookworm Box Facebook page!

*****(You can skip this next part if you like, just a rundown of my experience.  Which was rough…no seriously, skip this part…then start again at the starred part…no?  Okay, well, you’ve been warned)*****

My nerves/stress/awkward self was on full display.  It was fun, but it was also stressful–especially after I botched the first attempt at a live video.  Ugh.  Apparently, I was sideways…then upside down.  This was even after I watched several videos on how to: 1) Turn the phone sideways before you start so it’ll be in landscape mode because 2) you can’t turn it after you’ve started a video.  3) Use the tool to flip the screen horizontally, so people watching can read the book titles.  4)  Seriously, make sure you turn the phone sideways first because it’s the sign of a complete newbie if you record vertically (like you’d take a selfie) and end up having a video with those weird lines on the side because FB squares off the video (whatever that means).  Well, after freaking out a bit about trying all that then having it be sideways/upside down anyway, guess who had to do a 2nd attempt, ended up recording vertically, trying very hard not to think about how she was broadcasting to everyone that she was a complete newbie???  LOL!  Oh well, I guess that’s just how it goes.  P.S. My mom (who is awesome) even bought me a tripod to keep the video steady–but I ended up having to hold it in my hand bc…yeah, I’m tech challenged :/.

Thank you anyway, Mom!  I love you!!!  And thank you to my students who tuned in; it was such an awesome surprise to see you girls there!  And to any of you who watched, thank you so much!  I apologize for the awkwardness lol.

Also, I forgot to mention several of my favorite authors: Rainbow Rowell (I can’t believe I didn’t say her!), Katie McGarry, Tammara Webber, Abbi Glines, Gail Carriger, Tahereh Mafi, Julia Quinn!!!, Jane Austen (though my love of Austen really comes from the movies, especially the BBC version of P&P *sigh*), Elizabeth Gaskell, Elizabeth Scott, Meg Cabot, Courtney Milan and on the urban fantasy side: Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, J.R. Ward (warning: not suitable for younger readers!).  Forgot to say ANY of them, and I love ALL of them and even more authors!

On a positive note, my book covers looked awesome–but I forgot to mention Stephanie Mooney, the cover designer, who deserves so much credit and love for her incredible talent!!!  Stephanie, you’re awesome!

*****Okay, if you skipped all that please start again here lol.*****

The Bookworm Box and the people there are so wonderful.  Their mission to use something we all love (books) to give back to charity is amazing.  And they were so nice to have me on!

I hope you’re all well and having a great time leading up to the holidays!  I’ll try to do another post before Christmas, but until then, stay awesome :).

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Dec
2018

You’re Invited!

categories: Adorkable, author takeover, fun, giveaway, Romance, The Bookworm Box, YA

Hi everyone!

I hope you’re having a great week and are done Christmas shopping (unlike yours truly lol).  ICYMI, my debut, ADORKABLE, was included in the Young Adult Bookworm Box for November.  The Bookworm Box is a non-profit subscription service founded by superstar author Colleen Hoover where each month different books and bookish goodies are sent to subscribers, and 100% of proceeds benefit various charities.  I was so honored to be a part of this, and I’d like to officially invite you to an event this Saturday!

Who: Cookie O’Gorman (aka me)

What: Author Takeover (aka live Facebook video)

When: Saturday, December 15th @ 7:00pm CST (8:00pm ET)

Where: The Bookworm Box Facebook page

Ahhh, I’m so nervous/excited!  Honestly, I didn’t even know what an author takeover was until now, and I definitely don’t know how one of the most introverted of introverts (aka me) is going to get through it without making an absolute fool of myself.  Case in point:

Fact 1) I’ve never done a Facebook live video.  Fact 2) I’m okay at public speaking–but again, never done a live video.  Fact 3) Technology hates me.  Fact 4) I don’t even like having my picture taken…

…but I love Sally and Becks.

Fact 5) I love my book(s) and try very hard to know and accept the good things.  Even if they are kinda scary.

So, if you liked ADORKABLE (or any of my books) or if you just want to be there for moral support, please come to The Bookworm Box Facebook page on Saturday, December 15th @ 7:00pm CST (8:00pm ET)!!!  There will be giveaways and fun times involved!

Wish me luck, bookworms!  If you’d like to say a little prayer for awkward introverts everywhere, please do lol.  Thank you in advance, and I hope December is treating you well! 🙂

Happy Reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

P.S. Thank you so much to Amy for creating that awesome graphic! <3  It is awesome, and so are you!!! 🙂


Dec
2018

Happy Holidays Giveaway!

categories: Adorkable, giveaway, Happy Holidays, Happy Holidays Giveaway, Merry Christmas, Romance, The Bookworm Box, The Unbelievable Inconceivable Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder, YA, YA mystery

So, I have a new paperback release this week!  The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder is coming out in paperback this Thursday (Dec. 06, 2018)!!! That’s in two days, you guys!  Yayyyyyyy, hooray, woohoo!

Also, I will be doing an Author Takeover on The Bookworm Box Facebook page Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 at 7:00pm CST!  No, I’m not nervous at all LOL.  Why do you ask?  But seriously, I’m super nervous…and excited–and I’m trying to focus on that ha!  More on this later!

Also, also, I just got back from a trip to Ireland (aka the most beautiful place in the world) <3.  Managed to write a bit on the plane–a first for me–which wasn’t easy because the guy in front of me had his seat reclined, so I couldn’t fully open my laptop :/.  But Ireland was so beautiful, you guys!  I really love it there and recommend going to anyone/everyone.

The holidays are right around the corner…and this definitely calls for a giveaway :).

Please help me celebrate all of the awesome, and enter using the rafflecopter below!  There are so many ways to win!  Here are the prizes: a $20 Amazon Gift Card, ADORKABLE bookmarks and stickers, and a Young Adult Bookworm Box generously provided by The Bookworm Box! 😀

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Happy Holidays Giveaway will run from Dec. 4 until Dec. 17, 2018, and there will be several winners!  Good luck, happy holidays, and I hope you’re having a great week so far!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

P.S. I’ll do another post on the day, but again: The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder comes out in paperback this Thursday!  Ahhh, I’m so excited!!!


Nov
2018

You’ve Got Mail!

categories: Adorkable, doing what you love, fun, Romance, The Bookworm Box, The Unbelievable Inconceivable Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder, YA

Okay everyone, several really awesome bookish things have been happening, and I’m so excited to share them with you!!!

Awesome thing #1: The Bookworm Box!

About a month ago, I was contacted by The Bookworm Box!  What is The Bookworm Box, you ask?  Well, it’s a subscription service founded by superstar author Colleen Hoover that features a different signed book (or books) by different authors each month as well as other awesome bookish goodies.  The best part about it is that the funds they raise go to charity!  They’ve actually already given over 1 million dollars to various charities, hence the slogan: Good deeds to Great reads :).  Ah, it is so awesome, you guys.  Their mission really spoke to me because I have always wanted to give back.  I think we all do.  My books have allowed me to do this (through a charity event that I founded last year to help children with cancer and now through this book box!), and I am so very thankful!

They asked if I’d like to have one of my books featured in their YA box–and of course, I said YES!!!

I got to sign lots of these beauties (each box has a signed book, remember?), and they sent some of the cutest Bookworm Box swag (which I appreciated because even after I sent the pages back, it let me know this wasn’t just a dream lol!).

I told no one besides my family.  Half the fun of receiving a box each month is the surprise, the mystery, which I totally understand!  You know the little mystery boxes near checkout at B&N? Yeah well, I get excited over those, so I could only imagine the excitement of a whole box with a mystery book inside, eep!  So yes, I told no one, but I also ordered my mom and Aunt Colleen boxes–because hello, it’s for charity :).

And last week they were sent out, sigh <3 <3 <3.

Mom and my Aunt Colleen loved their boxes!

I hope everyone else who got one loved it, too–and that they fall in love with ADORKABLE!!! <3  The Bookworm Box is amazing, you guys, and I’m so grateful to them for this opportunity and for everything they do!

Also, full disclosure, I added the flowers because I thought they’d look nice in the pic lol.

Awesome thing #2: Ethan Wilder!

Last Saturday, I got the proofs for the paperback of The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder! *__*  This is the first time I’ve used KDP Publishing vs. Createspace.  And maybe it’s just me, but the guy on the cover still looks awesome even with the line over his mouth lol.  That being said, the line is only for the proofs and will NOT be on the acutal paperbacks ;).

Sigh, it’s been a long time coming, but Ethan Wilder should be out in paperback later next week, just in time for the holidays!  I don’t know about you, but I’m so excited to add the book to my shelves! 😀

And as I said in the last post, I’ve been writing.  It’s been going well so far (knock on wood).  I’m at about 54,000+ words and still hoping to finish before the end of the year.  I’ll be posting more soon, will definitely have to do a giveaway to celebrate all this awesomeness.  Did you guys get any awesome mail recently?  Were there books involved? 🙂  Have you ever subscribed to a monthly book box?  I’d love to hear all about it, and I hope you are all well!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Nov
2018

So Thankful

categories: Adorkable, Happy Holidays, Ninja Girl, self-publishing, The Unbelievable Inconceivable Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder, writing, YA

Does anyone else feel slightly discombobulated lol?   I can’t believe Thanksgiving is this week!  It’s super early this year, and in addition to that, Christmas is going up everywhere I turn.  Not that I’m complaining, ha!  It’s all good :).

I love the changing leaves, the beautiful weather (when it stays cool here in the south), the time spent with family.

Just a look around reminds me: There’s so much to be thankful for.

And I am.

There are too many to name them all, but here are a few things I’m feeling extra thankful for this Thanksgiving:

  1.  My family and friends.  They are always first in my heart, and though their numbers are few, I couldn’t be more thankful for all of the good times, good laughs, and good memories with my people.  They are the best of the best.  I love them the most, and I hope they all know that.
  2.  Good health.  Currently fighting off a cold, but I’m so grateful for my health and that of the people I love.  The breath in my lungs, the ability to move freely, I’m truly grateful for all of it.
  3.  Good food.  Green bean casserole tomorrow, whoop!  I basically wait all year for this lol.
  4.  Good music.  Music just makes life better.
  5.  Dogs.  Dogs make life better, too.
  6.  Dance.  Dance is one of the great loves of my life, and I’m so thankful for my job, my students that inspire me and the ability to create to music that moves my soul.
  7.  Books, Readers, and the ability to Write.  Books are magic.  Readers rock (especially all of the lovely people I’ve met through this journey <3).  Writing is a gift.  I still can’t believe I have three books out there: ADORKABLE, NINJA GIRL, and The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder.  I’m thankful every day when I think about how I almost never published a word.  So very thankful.

So yeah, there is a lot to be thankful for :).

If you’re curious about my writing, yesterday, I finally reached 50,000+ words on my current WIP! *__*  Yayyy, hooray, woohoo!!!!  My goal is and has been to finish this book before the end of the year (which is coming soon, eep…).  I’m hoping to publish it in 2019.  I’m truly enjoying writing this book, and what’s even better?  I love the story and am SO excited to share it with readers once it’s finished!

If you’re reading this, just know I’m thankful for you, too.  So thankful.  I wish you all the best books, the best times with your family and those you love, and of course, a great heaping portion of super-delicious green bean casserole :).

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

P.S. I’m also thankful that ADORKABLE is #1 on Amazon for one of its categories!  How awesome is that?  Thank you so much again, bookworms!


Oct
2018

If You Liked This, Then You’ll Like That

categories: Adorkable, Be Yourself, doing what you love, fun, nice surprise, Romance, YA

A while ago, I mentioned something about ADORKABLE being an if-you-liked-this-then-you’ll-like-that book.  You’re probably thinking, “What the heck does that mean?”  Well…although I’m a little uncomfortable comparing my books to others, I noticed a few times where people have mentioned my debut/me in connection to other books! 🙂  It was surprising and actually pretty sweet.  I just love seeing my books mentioned; I think it’s an author thing.  No, you say?  It’s just you and your weirdness lol?  Well okay, I’ll own it then.  I love seeing people mention my books–when it’s something nice, of course ;).

Here are some if-this-then-that things I thought were cool and thought you might like, too.

This first one is from a blog called Bookcrushin’ posted by Kelli Spear.  She basically says that if you liked Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, you may like ADORKABLE.  What I found so freakin’ hilarious was that she hoped she wouldn’t “catch heat,” hoped it wasn’t “sacrilegious” to say such a thing–and those were my thoughts exactly LOL!!!  I love Rainbow Rowell.  She’s one of my all-time favorite authors.  And while I admit I haven’t read all of the other books in this post (yet), I have read Fangirl.  And yeah…that is a high bar right there.  I’m not even touching that lol!  But I gotta say…I love her for saying it! <3  Thank you so much Kelli for even mentioning ADORKABLE in connection with anything Rainbow Rowell-related.  You’re lovely!

This next one is from a review written by Jen from Star-Crossed Book Blog about a book called Glitter and Sparkle by Shari L. Tapscott.  Jenn writes, “If you’re a fan of Cookie O’Gorman, or even the feelings you got while watching the movie Clueless, then you definitely have to give this one a try!” First off, Jen rocks.  Second, she has great taste in books, and I’ve found several through her awesome reviews.  Then she had to go and mention Clueless, which made my heart go gooey.  I love Clueless, and I love that Jen thought of me when writing a review for a book she loved!  It was such an awesome suprise–and Glitter and Sparkle is definitely now on my TBR list!

The third screenshot is from the blurb for a book called My Fake Valentine by Kellie McAllen.  This is the first (and only) time I’ve ever seen another author say if you liked ADORKABLE, you’ll like my book, too.  And it was so cool!  Now, I haven’t read this book, but it was still all kinds of fantastic to see that someone thought ADORKABLE was worth a mention :).

And lastly, of course, I have to include this amazing article written by Kerri Jarema from Bustle called 10 Rom-Com Novels With Fake Relationships That Will Give You Serious Lara Jean & Peter Kavinsky Vibes.  Okay, so I don’t know Kerri.  I have no idea how she found ADORKABLE.  I do know that several readers compared it to Jenny Han’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, and that that is what drove me to read the book last year.  Having ADORKABLE mentioned on Bustle (Bustle, you guys!) in the same post as this awesome book right around the time the awesome Netflix movie was released?  My mind was officially blown.  But one of the best parts about it?  My Aunt Pat, who I love so much and miss every single day, used to LOVE Jennifer Crusie–and one of Crusie’s books, Strange Bedpersons, is right above ADORKABLE.  I really think Pat would’ve liked that.

So yeah, apparently ADORKABLE is an if-you-liked-this-then-you’ll-like-that book.  Who knew? 🙂  I hope you’re all doing well and having a great fall so far!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Oct
2018

Congrats, Thank You & A “Cruel” Book Recommendation

categories: Adorkable, book recommendation, doing what you love, giveaway, Ninja Girl, Romance, YA

Hi everyone!  I’m sorry this is a bit late, but I wanted to say thank you so much to everyone who entered the NINJA GIRL Reader Giveaway!  Again, I was never sure NINJA GIRL would reach 1,000+ readers/ratings on Goodreads, so it was definitely a milestone/goal/amazing piece of awesome when it did :).  Thank you to all of the readers who helped get it there!  You ninjas are adorkable and unbelievable ;).

Without further ado, the winner is…

Stephanie!!!

Congratulations, Stephanie, and thank you so much for entering!  Your $25 Amazon gift card is on the way (in fact, it should be there already by the time I post this lol).  Congrats again, and I hope you enjoy your gift card!

I also wanted to say a heartfelt, infinite THANK YOU to everyone who reached out to me after my last post.  You did not have to do that.  It was very unexpected and yet so appreciated.  Like everyone, feelings, especially the unhappy ones, are something I struggle with.  I only have maybe one or two people I can share/talk about it with when I am feeling down.  And I’ve always thought my readers are awesome, not just awesome bookworms but awesome people, but then, they go out and prove it by sending such amazing comments and emails of support.  Each one was read, each one was taken to heart, and each one helped me in some way.  So again, thank you all so so much.

On Sunday, I spent all day reading.  Like literally, it was one of those days when you do nothing else but seclude yourself in a room, bury your head between the pages of a great book and don’t come up until…well, the last page.  It was, in a word, glorious :).  A much needed escape, and I wanted to share that book with you.

The Cruel Prince is most definitely the best book I have read in some time, possibly/probably my favorite book of the year.  This is a YA fantasy romance that revolves around a girl named Jude and her twin Taryn, both mortals, who have been taken to live in Faerie.  Now, I will say I love fairies.  The courts, the intrigues, the deceptive beauty, the secrets, and the thought of mortals living alongside immortals, all of it is interesting to me.  But no one writes fairies better than Holly Black.   The characters were amazing (I loved Jude so freaking much!).  The world was so well-drawn and picturesque.  I loved the dialogue, pacing, side characters (each one had their own agenda and goals, and they were all just so interesting), the plot twists, and yes, the amazing ending.  I didn’t know at first, but The Cruel Prince is the first book in a trilogy–something I usually avoid until at least two of the books are out–but Book 2 comes out in early January, so at least, the wait won’t be too long lol.  The romance was just right, in my opinion.  And Prince Cardan, youngest of six in the royal family, Jude’s nemesis, too beautiful to be real, uncaring, unfeeling, arrogant, clever, cruel…but possibly still likeable?  Ah, I loved him.  Cardan was terrible and wonderful, and I love it when an author can pull off a character like this.  Loved Cardan, loved Jude, loved Holly Black’s writing, and definitely loved this book!

I’d recommend The Cruel Prince to anyone and everyone <3.  I hope it brings you as much entertainment/escapism/joy as it did me.

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

P.S.  ADORKABLE reached 500 reviews on Amazon!!!  This is another thing I never thought would happen (because I always doubt and with Amazon’s disappearing reviews etc.), but it finally did–and I took a screenshot to prove it lol.  I just want to say again: Thank you so much readers!  You guys are amazing!!!

 


Oct
2018

Honestly

categories: Adorkable, giveaway, Ninja Girl, the pit of despair, YA

To the four or five people who read my posts, I’m sorry for the short hiatus lol.  I’m also sorry for how dreary this is about to be.  My life hasn’t been all roses and happiness recently, and I was trying to wait until it got a bit better…

…but you know how that goes.

Maybe it’s because I use a pen name, or maybe it’s because I really don’t think many people read my blog, but sometimes I feel I can be more honest here.  And honestly?  Despite a lot of good things happening–and there have been several really awesome, wonderful things–I have been feeling…sad.  “Down” would probably be a better word.  And since I’m writing the truth here and am a big fan of using movie references, “the Pit of Despair” would probably be the most accurate.

I’ve been in the Pit of Despair for a while now, and it’s awful how I can’t seem to shake it.  So many great things are happening, in my life and in other people’s lives.  I should feel happy, but somehow I feel separate from the good.  Sigh.

Again, to be honest, this time of year always gets me down.  It probably always will because my best friend isn’t here, and September-December is always a giant reminder (as if I could forget).  Let’s just be honest: I am aware of this all year, every day, every second, but it hits me hard sometimes.

I wish that the wonderful things felt better.  I wish I felt like everything mattered.  I wish I wasn’t such a downer and could just get over it.  And I think I will soon.  Hope so anyway.

In bookish news, I’m hoping to get some bookmarks made and will have a pretty awesome surprise to share with you in November.  If you’d like to enter the NINJA GIRL Reader Giveaway, there’s still time!  Some people have said ADORKABLE made them happy (which makes my heart glad), so possibly Sally & Becks could lift my spirits as well <3.  Maybe I’ll even watch The Princess Bride again while I’m at it :).

Anyway, I hope you are all doing well–definitely not in the Pit of Despair and are instead reading awesome books!  I hope it’s been a great October for you so far!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman