Category: YA


Jun
2016

It’s Giveaway Time!

categories: Adorkable, debut, doing what you love, fun, giveaway, YA

Today is the 3 Month Anniversary of ADORKABLE‘s release!!!  I really can’t believe my debut novel has been out in the world for three whole months.  Sally and Becks are out there, being discovered by readers.  The book has ratings and reviews and people who actually enjoyed it.

That is just…incredible :).

It has been a while since I’ve done a giveaway.  So, since today is a very special day, let’s celebrate!

The ADORKABLE 3 Month Anniversary Giveaway is open to anyone and everyone in the U.S. and internationally.  The prize up for grabs is a $30 Amazon Gift Card.  The giveaway will run from June 30 (midnight) till July 21 (midnight) at which time the winner will be announced.  There are several ways to enter, so what are you waiting for?  Check out the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to everyone who has supported my little YA romance.  Whether you’ve read the book, reviewed or offered an encouraging word, I am so grateful!  Good luck with the giveaway, and I hope everyone is having a great summer!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Jun
2016

Sally & Becks

categories: Adorkable, book cast, casting call, debut, doing what you love, fun, Uncategorized, YA

The time has come!  I got a couple of great suggestions for the ADORKABLE cast (from a family member lol), and I liked all of her picks.  Well, I didn’t like the person she picked for Sally because she chose a picture of me.  Ugh!  Even though we are very much soul sisters, I do not physically resemble Sally at all.  If Sally was a real person, however, we would totally be friends, twinning in our Gryffindor jerseys :).

I had fun looking through pictures of actors, models, athletes etc.  Trying to figure out the right search terms to get exactly what I wanted was…interesting.  Yes, you detected a hint of sarcasm there, but it’s all good.  Google and I became very close frenemies during this time.

Luckily, I ended up finding some great choices for Sally and Becks <3.

Here are my picks:

Sally

Beautiful inside and out, Emma Watson would make an awesome Sally Spitz.  And no, I didn’t just pick her because she played Hermione :).

Sally2

Another great choice for Sally, I think Abigail Breslin is blonde now, but she’ll always remind me of Olive, the underdog in Little Miss Sunshine.

Sally3

And another great choice.  After seeing her as Alex Dunphy on Modern Family, I think Ariel Winters could definitely be Sally.

So, those are my girls!  Each one is adorkable in her own way, each somewhat Sally-esque.  I really could see any of them playing her.  Annnd without further ado, here are my guys:

Allow me to introuce Yoann Gourcuff, a real live French soccer player.  Yes, I’ve also developed a sudden interest in French soccer lol!  But seriously, this guy could totally be Becks <3.

Becks3

Liam Hemsworth.  No explanation needed.

Becks4

Gorgeous and giving off some serious smoulder, I think Tyler Hoechlin would make a great Becks.  Yes, I’m a fan of Teen Wolf, and yes, I am patiently waiting for Derek to rejoin the show :).

That’s my ADORKABLE dream cast!  It took me forever to find Sally and Becks, so I guess all of the other characters will just have to remain in my imagination for now.  Did you like my picks?  Do you have some of your own?  If you do, I’d love to hear about them!

It’s been a while since I’ve done a giveaway, and I’m going to try and set one up for tomorrow.  It’s to celebrate ADORAKBLE‘s 3 Month Anniversary!!!  As long as I can figure out Rafflecopter and how to get that setup, we’ll be good to go.  Wish me luck lol.

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Jun
2016

My Favorite Things

categories: Adorkable, debut, doing what you love, writing, YA

I wasn’t sure what to write this week, so I decided to share a bit about my writing process.  Boring, you say?  No way!  Okay, okay, it may be boring, but I’m going to try and make it as interesting as possible lol :).  Here it goes.

A few of my favorite things (to write) are:

1) Dialogue:  I love, love, love writing these scenes!  There’s nothing I love more than when characters talk to each other.  The banter, jokes, back and forth, the flirting, those scenes are my favorites.

2) Character names:  What can I say?  I love naming my characters.  I have a lot of fun with this (maybe too much fun) and even write it down when I hear a great name.  No really, I have a list.  Some of my favorite authors come up with the best character names.  Gail Carriger, Suzanne Collins and J.K. Rowling come to mind.

3) Titles:  I’ve read that a lot of authors have trouble with this.  Believe it or not, this is usually the first thing I come up with.  Even before I have a concrete idea for the story itself, the title just pops into my head and stays there.  Typically, the title informs me what the book should be about, and I take it from there.  (Note: ADORKABLE has always been the title for Sally and Becks’s story.  It started that way and never changed <3).

4) Kissing scenes:  A great kiss can make or break a book for me.  I love reading them.  I used to be hesitant about writing them, but now, I just try and let the characters have their moment.  First kisses in particular can be earth-shattering.  The kiss factor is very important in any romance, and I will continue to work hard to deliver the swoon.

5) The Real:  I love it when characters show their true colors.  Whether it’s geeking out, freaking out, having a good cry or confessing their love for the first time, I love being there with my characters when things get real.

And there you have it, a few of my favorite things!

Writing can be frustrating at times, but these are parts of the process I really enjoy.  Also, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who helped me get the word out last week!  Thank you for the support and for making the ADORKABLE Kindle Countdown Deal a success.  I truly appreciate it and hope you all have a great weekend!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Jun
2016

So…I did it!

categories: Adorkable, debut, doing what you love, Kindle Countdown Deal, promotion, YA

Hi everyone,

So…I did it!  I was able to set up the Kindle Countdown Deal, and it was actually easier than I thought it would be.  You may be asking yourself, “What’s a Kindle Countdown Deal?”  This was me about a week ago.  It means that ADORKABLE, my debut YA romance, will be available at a deeply discounted price for a limited time.

Starting tomorrow, you or your bookish friends can purchase ADORKABLE for just $0.99 cents!!!

The deal will run from June 7 at 8:00 am PST until June 13 at 12:00 am PST.

If you’re friends with a bookworm you think would enjoy the book and would like to gift it to them, please take advantage of this promotion!  If you’d like to help me spread the word about this deal, I’d definitely appreciate your help!  I would love for readers to benefit from this limited time deal, so the more people who share, tweet, facebook about it, the better.  I still don’t know how to do those pre-made tweets or I would post some here.  But if you wouldn’t mind, I’d love your help in sharing this news.

Again, thank you to all of the readers who have already read ADORKABLE and to those who will read it in the future!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Jun
2016

The Next Step

categories: Adorkable, debut, doing what you love, writing, YA

Here’s a secret: I don’t really know what the next step is.

That’s probably normal (I hope).  I definitely shouldn’t stress about it, and I’m not…much.  Everyone’s journey to publication is different.  I have been trying to post on my blog every week–and yes, I missed one week, but I’ve stayed pretty true to that goal…even though sometimes I ramble…like now lol :-).

I know that you’re supposed to be constantly writing/working on your next novel.  Actually, the novel I’m currently writing is my next-next novel.  In other words, the novel I will release after ADORKABLE is actually complete and undergoing edits.  Yay!  I still have to work on formatting, cover, making absolutely sure everything is as good as it can possibly be before it’s ready to be published.

But I am excited because a lot of readers seemed to like Ash.

And I love him :).

I am currently trying to figure out how to set up a Kindle Countdown Deal.  It seems like an awesome opportunity to thank people for reading my book and also to make the book available to more people because it would be even more affordable.

Also, in case you didn’t know, you can read ADORKABLE for free if you have Kindle Unlimited!

I’d like for the deal to run next week, and I just need to figure out how to set it up and then how to promote it so that readers can know about and benefit from the deal.

Sounds easy, right?

Here’s hoping I can figure it out in time and spread the word.  Wish me luck, and I hope you have a great weekend!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


May
2016

Crazy Amazing Stats

categories: Adorkable, debut, doing what you love, Goodreads, writing, YA

If you’ve found this page, I think you probably already know this, but ADORKABLE is my debut novel.  It is the first book I’ve ever published.  When I hit the publish button, I hoped there would be readers.  I hoped there would be people out there who loved Sally and Becks as much as I do.  But I never thought that in almost two months so many readers would have already found it!

Now, to some authors, these stats may not seem that great.  There may be people who hit it out of the park every time they release a book.  But I’m a debut author with little to no social skills and an introverted-ness that nice people would call “awkward” and others would just call “weird.”  Self-publishing for the first time was scary.  My deepest fear was that no one would read my book, that it would be lost in Amazon oblivion.  I’ve heard that this happens a lot.  I’m still afraid it may happen to my book(s)–but right now, I’m amazed by how well my little debut has done, and I thought I’d share some stats with you :).

ADORKABLE was released on March 31, 2016.

As of right now, it has:

91 reviews on Amazon

Reached #1 in three of its categories on Amazon.

141 reviews on Goodreads

706 people rated it on Goodreads.

1,529 people added the book on Goodreads.

Over 1 million pages have been read this month.

The book is even doing pretty well in Canada and Australia!  Again, it may not seem like much, and I may be making something out of nothing.  I really have no comparison.  But to me, these are some crazy amazing stats!  I am very thankful to every reader who has given ADORKABLE a chance and to those who liked it enough to tell their friends.  I can’t tell you what it means to me to hear that someone read and loved the book.

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

 

 


May
2016

ADORKABLE Book Playlist

categories: Adorkable, book playlist, debut, doing what you love, fun, YA

I love music.  I really, really do.  So, of course, I make a book playlist for each of my books.  Typically, this is a cumulative process, and I add songs as I’m writing as well as after I’ve reached the end.  Some songs represent a character and their feelings; others represent a scene (some fit so perfectly in my head that it’s crazy).  ADORKABLE‘s Book Playlist had several of my all-time favorites.  I’ve included a few music videos and what the songs represent to me.  Hope you enjoy!

“Sweet Disposition” by The Temper Trap is truly one of my favorite songs.  It represents Sally and this book and how Sally feels about Becks and how Becks feels about Sally…sigh.  It represents ADORKABLE in all ways :).

“Can You Tell” by Ra Ra Riot is so Becks it’s not even funny.  These lyrics: Oh have I been too discreet?  How long am I supposed to wait?  Absolutely, totally Becks–and he would have gladly waited as long as he needed to for Sally…and she would have waited for him.

This is the song I picture playing at the party during the shaving scene (which btw is one of my most favorite scenes!) <3.

The breakup scene :(.  Tegan & Sara do heartache/breakup/yearning songs like no one else.  “Call It Off” has exactly the right feel.

Annnd the happily-ever-after :).  Just being honest–and maybe this makes me a total girl–but DMB’s “Crash Into Me” is perfect for just about every love story ever.  This version of the song, though, I think is perfect for Sally and Becks.

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

THE ADORKABLE BOOK PLAYLIST

  1. “Sweet Disposition” by The Temper Trap
  2. “Can You Tell” by Ra Ra Riot
  3. “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson
  4. “July Flame” by Laura Veirs
  5. “So Insane” by Discovery
  6. “The Trial of the Century” by French Kicks
  7. “Hysteric” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
  8. “Powerful Stuff” by Sean Hayes
  9. “Call It Off” by Tegan and Sara
  10. “Your Song” by Kate Walsh
  11. “Nicest Thing” by Kate Nash
  12. “Hyperballad” by Whitley
  13. “Syrup & Honey” by Duffy
  14. “Oh Boy” by Duffy
  15. “She’s Got You High” by Mumm-Ra
  16. “Heart Skipped a Beat” by The XX
  17. “Tessellate” by Tokyo Police Club
  18. “I’m With You” by The Stills
  19. “Crash Into Me” by Dave Matthews Band (Live at Folsom Field, Boulder Colorado)

May
2016

And the winners are…

categories: Adorkable, Adorkable Book Blitz, debut, fun, giveaway, The ADORKABLE Challenge, YA, YA Bound Book Tours

The time has finally come!  I’m amazed at how many people decided to participate in both the ADORKABLE Blog Tour Giveaway and the Book Blitz (aka The ADORKABLE Challenge) Giveaway.  Thank you for helping me spread the word about my book.  It was so fun seeing all of the pictures, and I laughed out loud at several of them :).  Thank you YA Bound Book Tours for helping organize everything and for making this possible!  Thank you to everyone who participated, followed, tweeted, posted etc.  All winners were chosen randomly–thank goodness because you are all truly adorkable!!!

And the winners are…

ADORKABLE Blog Tour winner ($25 Amazon gift card) = Karen!

The #AdorkableChallenge Champion winner ($50 Amazon gift card) = Linda!

3 Runner up winners ($10 Amazon gift card) = Nikolina, Gina and Kristy!

CONGRATULATIONS, everyone!  You will be receiving an email from me shortly including your prize.  Thank you so much again to all who entered and to everyone who has given ADORKABLE a chance.

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Apr
2016

The ADORKABLE Challenge

categories: Adorkable, Adorkable Book Blitz, debut, Harry Potter, Release Day, The ADORKABLE Challenge, YA

Gryffindor jersey

Yes, that’s me in my Gryffindor jersey and Lily & Snape earrings <3.  The Adorkable Book Blitz is this week, and with the posts, you’ll notice a special giveaway!!!  The ADORKABLE Challenge is a go, and I hope you all enter for a chance to win!

I wanted to do something special and fun to celebrate the release of my debut novel ADORKABLE.  Since the book is all about the dorky, the awkward, and embracing your inner-nerd, I came up with the ADORKABLE Challenge!

Here’s how it works:

1) Take a picture of yourself being adorkable.

2) Post that picture on social media (facebook, twitter, instagram etc.) with the hashtag #AdorkableChallenge.

3) Enter the link to your picture in the Rafflecopter and earn as many extra entries as you can.

4) Sit back and relax while 4 adorably dorky winners are randomly chosen :).

3 winning runners up will each receive: $10 Amazon gift card.

The ADORKABLE Challenge Champion will receive: $50 Amazon gift card.

And that’s it!  If you’re adorkable and you know it, this is your time to shine.  I can’t wait to check out all of your pictures.  Now, show me your ADORKABLE!

Cookie O’Gorman


Apr
2016

Lemons & Lemonade

categories: Adorkable, debut, doing what you love, Uncategorized, writing, YA

Confession: I am a lemons kind of person.  This is according to my family who claims that I tend to focus on the negative versus the positive.  The opposite, of course, and what they say I should do is make “lemonade.”  Be happy; look on the bright side.  Lemonade, lemonade, lemonade.

The last post was about all the sparkly (aka the nice things people had to say about ADORKABLE), and I kind of glossed over the not-so-great things.  Well, to be honest, I pay attention to the bad reviews.  I pay A LOT of attention. I’d previously read several articles from other authors that said: Whatever you do, DO NOT read your reviews!  It will only cause you heartache.  And it’s true.

These past couple weeks have been like a rollercoaster of ups and downs, flying and falling within literally minutes, and yes…lemons and lemonade.

Everyone is free to have their own opinions.  There are people who hate some of the books that I absolutely love.  There are people who love the books that I don’t enjoy.  And that is okay.  No one is right or wrong.  If a book sounds good to someone, she or he must decide to read or not and then make up her or his own mind about it.

So here is what I’ve learned: I need to stop obsessively reading the reviews and checking Amazon and Goodreads every five minutes.  I shouldn’t focus on the negative reviews more than the positive–or doubt the positive by saying “Maybe they were just being nice…”  I should realize that it is okay to believe the good.  I love reading.  I love writing.  And, despite any positive or negative reviews, I really do still love my book.

See that family who I know are going to read this post?  There is your lemonade :).

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

P.S. Be on the lookout next week for a very fun challenge and giveaway!