I’m a Gen-Xer!
I came of age in the 80s. A thoroughly dual-edged sword of existence. Party central, bright colors and fake smiles of white teeth without perfect selfies! Supposedly, this was the better of the decade. But this was also a time of sheer chaos with the cold war, Satanic Panic and serial killers.
My new project is a New Adult Thriller set in the summer of 1985. The main character is a flawed and self-destructive eighteen-year-old, and she is on a spiral of partying, drugs, and alcohol. This book is not for the feint of heart, but that directive is so very subjective.
Here is a taste of the book’s direction:
A vivid, gripping coming-of-age thriller that plunges readers straight into the chaotic, gritty soul of a California summer in 1985. It follows Brynn, a restless eighteen-year-old caught between the thrills of rebellious heavy metal, frequent partying, illicit drugs, and a passionate but toxic romance with Drew. Around her are the creeping dangers of the real world, with serial killers and Satanic Panic dominating the local news and everyday predators lurking in the shadows.
What starts as a carefree night of raising hell with her best friend Shawna, gradually darkens into a nightmare of bad choices, near-misses with violence, and a final turning point that forces Brynn to confront her self-destructive spiral.
This is a compelling, heartfelt novel about surviving your own inner demons in a world full of real monsters. It’s dark without being hopeless, nostalgic without being sentimental, and Brynn’s transformation from angry, lost girl to young woman finding her footing leaves you rooting for her long after the last page.
(Not quite Brynn, but pretty close!)
