YASH Fall Scavenger Hunt October 1, 2018 172 Comments [ssba] Welcome to the YA Scavenger Hunt! Hi! I’m Amy Fellner Dominy and I’m super excited to be hosting this section of the hunt. GO TEAM RED! In case you’re new to all of this—WELCOME! You’re going to be so glad you discovered YASH. 🙂 This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! On this hunt, you’ll get access to exclusive content from each author, and you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for the grand prize–one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours! Below you’ll find everything you need to know, along with some very cool bonus material from an author I’m about to introduce you to. But first, for those of you new to my site: This is me. And here are a few things about me: I write contemporary YA, middle grade, and picture books. I love bubble baths, red wine, and apple fritters. I’m a cat person but I have a dog. I’m always cold. (Probably from living in the Arizona desert.) My newest YA novel is The FALL of GRACE. Somewhere on this blog hop, I’ve shared some quotes that inspired me as I wrote the book. Quotes about betrayal. Trust. Forgiveness. Quotes that I hope will touch your heart the way they did mine! One last thing before we get started: BONUS GIVEAWAY In addition to all the books you can win on the HUNT, I’m giving away THREE! autographed hardcover copies of The FALL of GRACE. It’s suspense, adventure, romance and a road-trip all rolled into one fast read. Since you’re here because you love YA, I’d love for you to have a copy. Enter by leaving a comment at the end of the post. Since the book will take you to one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been (the mountains of Colorado), tell me a beautiful place that you’ve been. More about that below! So let’s get started: You are currently hunting on TEAM RED. SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE RULES DIRECTIONS: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed my favorite number (in red!) Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on TEAM RED, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator.) ENTRY FORM: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify. RULES: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by October 8th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered. There are SEVEN contests going on simultaneously and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the RED TEAM but there is also a GOLD TEAM, BLUE TEAM, ORANGE TEAM, PURPLE TEAM, PINK TEAM & GREEN TEAM! Check out each team for a chance to win different sets of signed books! Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to learn more about the hunt, including links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs. Also, find all the books on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/128072.YASH_Fall_2018 Now that all the technical stuff is out of the way, I’m so excited to introduce you to the author I’m hosting on this hunt: Paula Stokes! About Paula: Paula Stokes is the author of several novels, included three YA thrillers which have all received starred reviews. Her writing has been translated into eleven foreign languages. Paula loves kayaking, hiking, reading, and seeking out new adventures in faraway lands. She also loves interacting with readers. Find her online at authorpaulastokes.com or on Twitter and Instagram as @pstokesbooks. The book Paula is showcasing is HIDDEN PIECES ABOUT THE BOOK Embry Woods has secrets. Small ones about her past. Bigger ones about her relationship with town hero Luke and her feelings for someone new. But the biggest secret she carries with her is about what happened that night at the Sea Cliff Inn. The fire. The homeless guy. Everyone thinks Embry is a hero, too, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Embry thinks she’ll have to take the secret to her grave, until she receives an anonymous note—someone else knows the truth. Next comes a series of threatening messages, asking Embry to make impossible choices, forcing her to put her loved ones at risk. Someone is playing a high stakes game where no one in Embry’s life is safe. And their last move … is murder. TOP SECRET BONUS MATERIAL! And now, from Paula herself: I actually have over 200 pages of deleted scenes from HIDDEN PIECES, but as you can imagine, a lot of them are spoilery when it comes to the mystery and a lot of them are scenes with the same bones as what’s in the final book where I just rewrote passages or switched some important things around. I decided to share this deleted scene for YASH because there’s nothing like it in the finished book, and I’m proud of the low-income portrayal in the book and the dynamics between my main character and her mother. If the two women seem closer than most mothers and daughters, it’s partially because Embry’s mom is newly recovered from breast cancer and Embry is very protective of her. It’s also because Embry has spent her whole life feeling like she wrecked her mom’s life just by being born. Why? If you want to know more, you’ll have to read the book 😉 At this point in the novel, Embry has accidentally started a fire at a local hotel (that was not in use at the time) while hooking up with a boy and has received multiple threatening messages from a stranger who is blackmailing her. Embry and her mom were already struggling to make ends meet before her mom got swamped with medical bills, and Embry knows if she confesses to her role in the fire and is held responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages, that she and her mom could lose both their house and their small family business, the Oregon Coast Café. Her family’s precarious financial situation plays into many of the decisions she makes in HIDDEN PIECES. Here she is at home, making dinner for her mom: The front door swings open and my mom enters the house. She’s got a brown paper bag clutched under her arm. “Hey, Emb. I tried a new recipe today. You want to be my guinea pig?” She sets the bag down on the kitchen table with an impressive thunk. “I don’t know,” I say, slipping my phone into my pocket. “That sounds like one big bagel. Either that or a bag of rocks?” “Ha ha,” Mom says. “I actually tried my hand at making savory scones today. I’ve had a couple of people request them.” My mom is a great manager, motivator, and barista, but when it comes to cooking, she’s been known to get distracted mid-recipe and forget an important ingredient, like eggs or baking soda. Either that or pop something in the oven and forget about it until the whole café starts to fill with smoke. “Let’s see what you got.” I pull three large scones out of the paper bag. They’re pretty hard, but I think I can resurrect them. “I ate with Julia, but I’ll definitely try one. Let me see if I can soften them up a bit. You want me to make you some dinner?” “Do we actually have anything to make for dinner?” “I think there’s some soup in the pantry. Might be good with these.” I gesture at the scones. “Go relax. Let me work my magic.” “Okay. Surprise me.” Mom heads for the living room. “Actually,” she calls from the next room, “I think I’m going to take a quick bath if that’s all right.” “Sure. Take a slow bath if you want.” I root through our small pantry until I find a can of tomato soup. I heat the soup on low and then slice one of the scones into sections, spraying each piece with some butter-flavored pan coating (gross, I know, but it’s all we have) and topping them with a small handful of shredded cheese. I turn a second scone into two thick pieces of garlic bread, spraying it with the pan coating and then sprinkling garlic salt and Italian spices on it. I fill a small pot with water to heat for tea. The warmth emanating from the stovetop is heavenly. Mom says she’s going to fix the furnace after the holidays, but what we really need is a new one, and that’s way outside of our current reality. My eyes flick to a clock on the wall that also reads the temperature. It’s sixty-two degrees in here. Sometimes in the mornings it gets down in the mid-fifties. It’s a wonder neither one of us have caught a cold. Mom reappears in about fifteen minutes, dressed in flannel pajama pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt from a half-marathon she did back when I was in middle school. She’s wearing fuzzy pink slippers on her feet. I set a bowl of soup in front of her along with a garlic scone and a couple slices of cheesy bread. “Wow,” she says. “This looks great. Maybe I’m wasting your talents using you as a cashier and barista.” “Well, Adele and Lourdes rave about my drink-making skills,” I say with a grin. “But I can always pick up some back of those house shifts if you ever need. I’m pretty sure I can follow the recipes. I’ve even got some ideas of my own for new soups or sandwiches we could serve.” I pour each of us a cup of green tea. “Oh, do you now? I suppose it has been forever since we updated the menu. I’d love to hear your thoughts, just maybe not right this second. The monthly figures are still swimming around in my head and I want to forget about work completely.” Mom sits in her usual chair and I sit across from her. Betsy does her standard lap past both of us in case we’re in an overly charitable mood. When we both tell her to lie down she stretches out at my feet so she’ll be in prime position to snarf up any scraps we drop. With one finger, I trace the network of lines someone carved into the top of our kitchen table, probably with a pocketknife. Whoever owned this table before us had turned it into a makeshift chess board. When Mom saw it at Goodwill she said it would add character to our house. I don’t know about all that, but it beats having dinner on the sofa in the living room, balancing plates on our laps while we use one hand to eat and the other to shoo the dog away. “How’s school?” Mom holds a spoonful of soup in front of her lips and blows on it. She sips cautiously and then swallows. “I feel like I haven’t talked to you in days.” If she’s heard about the sexting scandal, she’s not going to mention it. “It’s fine.” I wrap both hands around my mug of tea. Mom takes a bite of cheesy scone. “This is really good. Especially considering what you had to work with.” She chews slowly and then pops the rest of the slice in her mouth. “Are you still thinking you want to go to TCC next year instead of somewhere bigger? Your dad would probably chip in a little extra if you wanted to apply to a four-year college.” “Yep.” If I had “applied myself more” as my guidance counselor likes to say, I probably could’ve gotten at least a partial scholarship to a four-year school, but that would’ve meant not being able to help out at the café after classes and I won’t do that to my mom. Plus, like I told Holden, I’m not ready to leave her. My eyes flick up to her head, where her hair is only just starting to grow back after her chemo. She wears a wig to work but never around the house because she says they’re itchy. It’s incredible to me how well she adjusted to having breast cancer. She’s the one who almost died, so why am I the one who’s constantly falling apart? “All right. But once you get some gen eds out of the way, we’ll take a look at finishing up someplace bigger if you want.” She dips her “garlic bread” into her tomato soup. I nod. “Sure, Mom. It might make sense once I figure out what I want to do with my life. Right now I’m happy the way things are.” Mom smiles at me. I sip my tea and watch as she finishes all but one slice of her scone and most of her soup. “You ate something at work too, right?” I ask, as she pushes her chair back from the table. “Otherwise that’s not very much.” “Yes, Mom,” she quips. “I had a Sally Struthers for lunch.” All of our sandwiches are named after famous Oregonians. The Sally Struthers is our gourmet grilled cheese—cheddar, provolone, and gouda from the local Tillamook dairy on buttered Texas toast. My mouth waters a little just thinking about it. Mom brings her plate and bowl to the sink and then returns to ruffle my hair. “You’re a good kid, Embry,” she says. “Thank you for dinner.” I like it when she calls me a good kid. I liked it even more when it was true. Do you want to read more of HIDDEN PIECES? Check out the first three chapters on my website. You can also watch the OFFICIAL BOOK TRAILER here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sloUrBj8yCs The book sounds amazing, doesn’t it? Join me in adding it to your TBR list on Goodreads! Where can you buy this book, like, ten minutes ago? HERE! Check out more on Paula’s Website, Twitter, or Instagram . What should you do now? Enter the YASH contest and my bonus contest! Because…who doesn’t want a boatload of free books? 🙂 Just check out all these books on TEAM RED. To enter, you need to write down my favorite number which is 29 and find all the other numbers on TEAM RED, add them up, and you’ll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize! To enter my BONUS contest, leave a comment on my blog telling me a beautiful place that you’ve visited. It’s that easy! THREE winners (randomly selected) will receive autographed & personalized copies of The FALL of GRACE. Good luck everyone! Winners will be announced after YASH ends. (US and Canada only) Ready to move on to the next link in the hunt? Head over to visit author Wendy Higgins! LINK TO NEXT BLOG Tags: Amy Fellner Dominy, Paula Stokes, YASH, YASH18 Comments Liz Kubat I love going to my local hiking paths and seeing the beautiful trees and plants.October 2, 2018 at 11:55 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I'm a hiker so that's one of my favorite things to do, too! <3October 2, 2018 at 1:32 pm · Reply Lauren Bodiford I love the mountains in Tennessee ❤️October 2, 2018 at 12:47 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I've never been to Tennessee but you're not the first to tell me it's beautiful country--gotta visit! :) Thx!October 2, 2018 at 1:32 pm · Reply KM I once visited a sunflower garden, and everything was blooming. I loved it. Thank you for the giveaway!October 2, 2018 at 12:55 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I've never been to a sunflower garden but can imagine how pretty it must have been! <3 Thx!October 2, 2018 at 1:33 pm · Reply Auburn The most beautiful place would have to be Sonora Desert Museum. <3October 2, 2018 at 1:17 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Yes! I was there a long time ago and it was beautiful! <3 Thx!October 2, 2018 at 1:34 pm · Reply Jamie Hannegan I just recently went to Fayetteville, Ar. Mountains were just beautifulOctober 2, 2018 at 1:25 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I'm a sucker for mountains! :) Thx!October 2, 2018 at 1:36 pm · Reply Megan S. I went to upstate New York over the summer and it was so so beautiful. I loved it. Thank you for the giveaway <3October 2, 2018 at 1:43 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I love all things New York, and I love how New York has all things--from city to beautiful countryside upstate. :) Thx!October 2, 2018 at 2:35 pm · Reply Kirsten Tattersall I love walking through Devil's Hopyard in Connecticut. It's such a beautiful place.October 2, 2018 at 2:19 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy That sounds like a cool place! Had to look it up and it's beautiful. Would definitely love to hike there. Thx!October 2, 2018 at 2:33 pm · Reply Tashia Jennings Most beautiful place I have been is Alaska!! Lived there for 10 years and absolutely loved it. Being from a small hick town then able to experience such beauty and tranquility was beyond anything I could ever hope or dream for. I exolored every chance I got. Lived outside the entire summer for sure. I thanked God daily for allowing me to see his wondrous works in action. Loved the glaciers, waterfalls, and all the abundant wildlife. Thank you for this most excellent chance.October 2, 2018 at 2:28 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Sounds amazing! Alaska is one of the places on my bucket list. I want to cruise to all the hard-to-reach places and visits the glaciers and do some hiking and...well, I could go on and on. :) Thanks!October 2, 2018 at 2:31 pm · Reply Liliana A while back when we were visiting family in Mexico, we took a trip down to Uruapan to a... I guess it's a national park, and it was absolutely beautiful!! I just had to look it up, and I believe it is called Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park in Uruapan and you just have to look it up! It's gorgeous! It's been like a million years since I was there and looking at those pictures makes me want to go back! I was a moody teenager back and I don't think I appreciated it much. Lol.October 2, 2018 at 2:55 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I did look it up. Looks gorgeous with all the waterfalls! I've never even heard of the area (which is why I love asking this question--I get new ideas for trips!) Thanks for sharing! Oh--and I had to laugh about your comment of being a moody teenager. I was like that the first time we went to the Grand Canyon.October 2, 2018 at 4:24 pm · Reply Kaliisha Cole I love this scavenger hunt!October 2, 2018 at 4:26 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy <3!October 2, 2018 at 4:32 pm · Reply Lindsey Keefer One of my favorite places is the Japanese Garden in Portland! It's so peaceful, and it's supposedly one of the most authentic Japanese Gardens outside of Japan <3October 2, 2018 at 4:28 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Ooh, never heard of that. But I do occasionally get to Portland so I'll keep that in the back of my head. Thx! <3October 2, 2018 at 4:33 pm · Reply Stephanie avans A beautiful place to me is my home of East Tennessee!!October 2, 2018 at 5:55 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy That's two people now who have said Tennessee. Never been but definitely need to work on that! :) Thx.October 2, 2018 at 10:18 pm · Reply Bella Paris. Croatia. Biltmore in Asheville NC. The mountains of NC in the fall. Anywhere covered in snow. Christmas trees lit up jsut right. THere's a lot of beautiful things in this world, even in our own backyards. We just gotta look. (and the weather has to be just right ;) ).October 2, 2018 at 6:55 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Yes! Agree with you so much about all the beauty around us. I'm not sure about the snow though. I do enjoy it from afar. :) Thx!October 2, 2018 at 10:20 pm · Reply Alisa Harrison The most beautiful place I have ever been has been in Utah, more northern utah in the spring time because thats when all the flowers and trees are blooming.October 2, 2018 at 7:06 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Utah IS beautiful. Just went to Zion and Bryce last year and loved the hiking. Thx <3October 2, 2018 at 10:21 pm · Reply Nicole Buchholz When I was younger, I spent most of my summers traveling in a car around the United States on vacations with my families. I've been to Keystone, South Dakota, Yellowstone, Seattle, Maine, and everything in between. Honestly, my favorite places are places that I got to spend with my family and see nature in all its glory (though to be honest, Glacier National Park is gorgeous!!!)October 2, 2018 at 7:13 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Love your answer--you're very lucky to have traveled so much as a kid. I'm making up for lost time now and Glacier is on the short list for the next year. Thx. <3October 2, 2018 at 10:23 pm · Reply Aisha This last summer, I went to a resort in Cuba, and the beach was absolutely beautiful. The water was so clear and warm. I can't wait to go back.October 2, 2018 at 8:24 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I've only met a couple of people who have been to Cuba but they both wanted to go back, too! Thanks for sharing!October 2, 2018 at 10:24 pm · Reply Kimie Dougherty I live in Alaska so I’m always surround by beauty but I was in Nome Alaska one year for the dog race and it was so cold out that the Northern Lights were so bright and vibrant. It was soo gorgeous.October 2, 2018 at 9:06 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I can't think of Nome without flashing on the movie Balto--watched that a hundred times with my kids when they were little.:) Northern Lights are also on my wish list. Thx!October 2, 2018 at 10:27 pm · Reply Zairah Divino I've only ever traveled to some places here in the Philippines, and my favorite is Vigan City in Ilocos Sur. <3 Hopefully I'll get to travel more because there are so many beautiful places here!October 3, 2018 at 12:53 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I've never been to your part of the world! So many places to see there--my daughter keeps trying to convince me to go to Thailand with her so that might happen. At least I'd be getting close to the Phillipines. :) Thx!October 3, 2018 at 7:27 am · Reply Sofia Vulgari I love the Falasarna beach in Creta Greece! So dreamy, i wish i could stay there forever...October 3, 2018 at 3:58 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Greece is another place on my bucket list! I'm jealous--sounds like a beautiful place. <3 Thx!October 3, 2018 at 7:28 am · Reply Olivia F. Greece!October 3, 2018 at 9:10 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Another vote for Greece--knew there was a reason I wanted to visit there. :) Thx!October 3, 2018 at 12:38 pm · Reply Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) I haven't been much out of the US, but the one time I did, it was to Mexico and we went to see the Tulum ruins which are right on the ocean. It was very beautiful!October 3, 2018 at 9:38 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Very cool! I love ruins (is that weird?) but haven't been there. <3 Thx.October 3, 2018 at 12:38 pm · Reply Christina I haven't traveled much but the garden at my local zoo is amazing! I also once went to the top of the Sears Tower in Chicago at night and it was stunning to see the city at night.October 3, 2018 at 9:40 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Those definitely count! I was just in Chicago a couple of weeks ago and the city is beautiful at night even from street level when you can see the lake. :) Thx!October 3, 2018 at 12:39 pm · Reply Jennifer Elise The most beautiful place I've been to is the Bahamas, specifically the Atlantis at Paradise Island. The water is gorgeous and it is so relaxing there, but the hidden gem I discovered while being there was the beautiful library inside the Atlantis, which was my favorite. I spent time there reading a great YA book! Definitely memorable as a reader!October 3, 2018 at 10:05 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy How cool! I think I was there years ago as part of a cruise ship and the water was amazing, but I missed out on a library! <3 Thx.October 3, 2018 at 12:41 pm · Reply nancy Living in Florida I am surrounded by beautiful places. Homassas Springs it one! I got up close with manatees. its truely amazing how big they areOctober 3, 2018 at 10:18 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I would be afraid! Though once I swam with dolphins and that was cool. :) Thx!October 3, 2018 at 12:42 pm · Reply Vanessa Montreal, Quebec. It is beautiful and full of history. Definitely one if the most wonderful places I've visited!October 3, 2018 at 10:19 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Another place I'd love to visit. I could even break out my high school French. ;) Thx!October 3, 2018 at 12:43 pm · Reply misty One of the most prettiest places I have been is Pigeon Forge TN and Saint Andrews park in FloridaOctober 3, 2018 at 11:03 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Two more places I've never been or even heard of. TN is getting a lot of love so I'm adding it to the bucket list. Thx!October 3, 2018 at 12:44 pm · Reply Melissa Paschal Anywhere in Austria is absolutely beautiful. Also the outback in Australia is peaceful and really gorgeous. The people are so kind as well. Thanks for the chance!October 3, 2018 at 11:22 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I'm going to ditto you on Austria--I was there once and loved it. I've never been to Australia but went to New Zealand which was spectacular--imagining they're similar. Thanks so much for the comment (and good luck!) :)October 3, 2018 at 12:45 pm · Reply Melissa Paschal Anywhere in Austria is absolutely beautiful. Also the outback in Australia is peaceful and really gorgeous. The people are so kind as well. Thanks for the chance!October 3, 2018 at 11:22 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Can't argue with you about Austria, and really really want to make it to Australia. Watching Crocadile Dundee is the closest I've come. ;) Thx!October 4, 2018 at 12:13 pm · Reply Kassie Voigt I had a chance to visit Guatemala and one of the most beautiful places we visited was Tikal. The ruins were amazing.October 3, 2018 at 11:47 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Another country I've never been, but I love love love to visit ruins. Every time I see one, I want to write a mysterious historical novel. :) Thx!October 3, 2018 at 12:47 pm · Reply Ashley C One of the most beautiful places I have been would be the Adirondacks in the fall. Taking a hike on one of the many trails and climbing the mountains will bring you to amazing views. It is so peaceful and wonderful!October 3, 2018 at 12:24 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I've never been but I've seen incredible pictures. I know I'd love the hiking...I do have two Adirondack chairs so maybe I can settle in one and imagine I'm there. :) Thx!October 3, 2018 at 12:49 pm · Reply Alaina Evans I went to Cuba a few years ago and they had some beautiful places!October 3, 2018 at 1:00 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Another vote for Cuba! :) Thx!October 3, 2018 at 6:57 pm · Reply Sara Willden I absolutely love the Columbia River Gorge area in Oregon/Washington. All time favorite place to go when I'm in the areaOctober 3, 2018 at 1:04 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy That's an area I'd love to get to. Columbia River and the Rogue River in Oregon--heard that's amazing, too. Thx! <3October 3, 2018 at 6:58 pm · Reply Tiffany R I really love waterfalls. I went to Niagara Falls and it was breathtaking.October 3, 2018 at 1:19 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I went to Niagara this year for the first time! It was amazing, wasn't it? Much bigger than I expected. Thanks!October 3, 2018 at 6:59 pm · Reply Rhi The most beautiful place I’ve been to is the Grand Canyon. Just gorgeous.October 3, 2018 at 2:55 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy YES! I love that it's only a few hours from me. It never gets any less spectacular.<3 Thx!October 3, 2018 at 7:00 pm · Reply wendy r Ireland was a very beautiful place that I had the pleasure of working and living in for a bit.October 3, 2018 at 4:24 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Ahh, I'm jealous you got to live there. :) Thx!October 3, 2018 at 7:02 pm · Reply Emily H Probably one of the most beautiful places I've been to is Alaska. I went during the summer and you could still see snow on the mountain tops. I love being outdoors and was able to walk on a glacier which was really cool. The wildlife over there are so amazing and everything is gorgeous.October 3, 2018 at 5:01 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I'm an outdoor person, too, and it sounds like there's so much to see and do in Alaska. The more I hear about it, the more I want to go! :) Thx!October 3, 2018 at 7:03 pm · Reply Courtney Pierce I haven't been anywhere too terribly beautiful, but I would love to go to Ireland. I have always been fond of the culture, the fiddles, and the sights. I'm sure it would be absolutely stunning to go there!October 3, 2018 at 5:54 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I hope you get a chance to travel! And Ireland would be an amazing place to visit for all the reasons you said. <3 Thx!October 3, 2018 at 7:04 pm · Reply Stephanie Ward The most beautiful place I've been is the ocean. It doesn't matter what ocean or where exactly, just that it's on the coast. It's so calming and the view is always beautiful!October 3, 2018 at 6:08 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Yes! My favorite thing about the ocean is the sound of it. It's such a massive, powerful thing yet the sound is so restful. :) Thx!October 3, 2018 at 7:05 pm · Reply Paige O Yosemite and Grand Teton National Park are definitely two of the most beautiful places I've been.October 3, 2018 at 7:16 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Yes!!! Though...I'm wondering now if I've been to Yosemite? I've been to Yellowstone...I guess it's a good problem to have. So many beautiful places I get them confused. :) Thx!October 4, 2018 at 12:10 pm · Reply Elisa I went to Iguacu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil and it was amazing! Niagara Falls is basically a trickle compared to the Iguacu. It's crazy how beautiful something naturally occurring can be.October 3, 2018 at 7:19 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy What? A trickle???? OK, now I've got to look into that because I've been to Niagara. :) My hubby took a trip to Argentina years ago and still raves about it so I need to explore it for myself. Thx!October 4, 2018 at 12:09 pm · Reply Katherine Paschal Ireland has been the most gorgeous place that I have ever been, I would love to go back and see all the wonderful shades of greenOctober 3, 2018 at 8:03 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Ireland is on my list...love how you put it: "shades of green." :) Thx!October 4, 2018 at 12:08 pm · Reply Kecia I would have to say home - we have an awesome view, especially in fall with the gorgeous colors and winter with the snow!October 3, 2018 at 8:14 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy That makes you extra lucky to live in a place that speaks to you. One thing I really miss from living in the desert...no fall colors! :( Thx!October 4, 2018 at 12:07 pm · Reply Keshia Mahi Japan was pretty! especially during cherry blossom seasonOctober 3, 2018 at 8:18 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I've heard about the cherry blossoms there, can't remember where...now I'm going to have to search for some pictures! :) Thx!October 4, 2018 at 12:06 pm · Reply Allie The most beautiful place I've ever visited was Paris at New Year's. It was snowing, and I just wandered the city for hours every day.October 3, 2018 at 8:36 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Paris is pretty incredible on its own, but at New Years? Bet is was magical. <3 Thx!October 4, 2018 at 12:05 pm · Reply Misty Handa Hi i would love to enter. The most beautiful place i have visited are rhe wonderous mountains of my home state MontanaOctober 3, 2018 at 10:01 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Love Montana. When I got a chance to visit, I was in awe of all the vast open spaces and a horizon that never ended. <3 Thx!October 4, 2018 at 12:04 pm · Reply Pam Mandigo I haven't been to a lot of places but I always love going to the Smokey Mountains.October 4, 2018 at 3:59 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I've seen pictures of the mountains so I can understand why you'd love to go there. Beautiful! Thx!!October 4, 2018 at 12:03 pm · Reply Candice A beautiful place that I visited is Cave of the Mounds in Wisconsin. The rock formations inside the cave are really stunning.October 4, 2018 at 5:09 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Wow--never heard of that! Sounds really cool. I'd work past my claustrophobia to see that. :) Thx!October 4, 2018 at 12:02 pm · Reply Rebecca June We took a cross-country trip with my family back when I was a kid and my favorite memory was getting to see the canyons--specifically the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon.October 4, 2018 at 6:52 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Have to agree with you--the canyons are amazing. I'm lucky to have the Grand Canyon just a few hours away, but I just went to Bryce last year for the first time and it was awesome, too. Thx!October 4, 2018 at 12:01 pm · Reply Jeanette Jackson I have been to several places that are beautiful but for me the most beautiful is where my parents came from and that is Denmark.October 4, 2018 at 8:34 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Very cool! And makes a place more special when you have a connection to it. <3 Thx!October 4, 2018 at 11:59 am · Reply Sara Willden I absolutely love the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon/Washington. Such a gorgeous area from the wooded river banks to the waterfallsOctober 4, 2018 at 8:37 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I've researched that area before and now I'm determined to go. You're not the only one to mention it here. :) Thx!October 4, 2018 at 11:59 am · Reply Cathy Mason I have always loved the mountains of West Virginia and now that I live here, I get to hike them! On one hike, we came across a gorgeous cavern with a waterfall right in front of it. It was almost magical.October 4, 2018 at 9:53 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy That sounds amazing! Hiking is one of my favorite things and finding a waterfall always does feel magical. Thanks! <3October 4, 2018 at 12:11 pm · Reply Adreanna Puerto Rico, The rainforest is stunning.October 4, 2018 at 9:59 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy The only rainforest I've been to was in Costa Rica and it was incredible. I'd love to visit another one again. Thx!October 4, 2018 at 11:58 am · Reply Cortney The Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg are gorgeous!October 4, 2018 at 10:25 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Never been but you had me at "mountains." Thx!October 4, 2018 at 11:57 am · Reply Beth Cohen I loved sailing down the fjords in Norway, with bright sunlight on the water and snow and fog at the tops of the mountains!October 4, 2018 at 11:16 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Oh my gosh--that sounds like heaven. <3! Thx.October 4, 2018 at 11:56 am · Reply Gabriela I recently came to Texas for a move from CaliforniaOctober 4, 2018 at 12:42 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy <3!October 4, 2018 at 2:39 pm · Reply Stephanie H. The ocean views along the coast of Maine has always been a favorite place of mine.October 4, 2018 at 1:26 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Hard to argue with coast line--always something so beautiful about the water! <3 Thx.October 4, 2018 at 2:40 pm · Reply Jessica Cashen Cocoa Beach Florida...it was pretty. Also Myrtle Beach S. CarolinaOctober 4, 2018 at 1:32 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I've never been to either! Having so much fun hearing about new places. Thx!October 4, 2018 at 2:41 pm · Reply Megan Coppadge I live in North Carolina right between the ocean and mountains and each are beautiful in their own ways. Also I spent a couple of days in Evergreen, Colorado and it was GORGEOUS there!October 4, 2018 at 6:26 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Wow, you sound like you have the best of both worlds! I'd love to visit North Carolina one day. And yay for Evergreen! It is beautiful. <3 Thx!October 5, 2018 at 6:20 am · Reply Debra Branigan There are so many beautiful places in this country and around the world. Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon are astounding works of nature. The Badlands are gorgeous as is the Oregon Coast, and the Columbia River Gorge. In Autumn, you have to drive Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive. That's just the beginning... Would love to visit the Colorado Mountains-my great-great-grandfather mined there.October 4, 2018 at 6:42 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy You name so many incredible places! I've got Columbia River and Blue Ridge Parkway on my Wish List. THE FALL OF GRACE takes place near Ouray Colorado where there was a lot of mining done in the old days--and still today. How cool if your great-great-grandfather mined near there! Thx.October 5, 2018 at 6:19 am · Reply Julia My parents liked to take the family traveling all over the place during summer vacations, so it's difficult to pick which place to describe, they're all beautiful. I think my favorite place is the Oregon Coast. A particular place that comes to mind is The Devils Punchbowl; the name may not sound appealing but it was a gorgeous area! I loved the look of the water crashing in and out of the rocks and rolling back into the ocean. It was a sunny day when I went and there was beautiful nature all around the walkway and so many different types of birds and other wildlife.October 4, 2018 at 8:36 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Love how you describe it! The Devils Punchbowl sounds like an amazing setting for a novel. Even that name suggests lots of potential drama. :) Thx!October 5, 2018 at 6:16 am · Reply Ariana Velasquez A beautiful place I have been to was the Blue Ridge Parkway! I can't believe that I lived near such a beautiful park! It only took me 18 years but at least I have expereienced it!!!October 4, 2018 at 9:18 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy LOL! Sometimes we luck out and end up close to something that people are willing to travel across the world to see. (I'm not far from the Grand Canyon.) Thx!October 5, 2018 at 6:14 am · Reply bn100 HawaiiOctober 4, 2018 at 10:01 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Yes! What I loved the one time I went to Maui was how warm and clear the water was. Nothing like the Pacific which is the ocean closest to me. Thx!October 5, 2018 at 6:17 am · Reply Nikki Oregon! It's so beautiful there. Can't wait to eventually move back.October 5, 2018 at 6:11 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I think Oregon may be leading as many people's favorites. I've only been once and need to go back! :) Thx!October 5, 2018 at 6:13 am · Reply Jennifer Scarpa Watkins Glen is pretty, but that's not really Travel for me. Ithaca Commons is gorgeous, but also not much of a trip. Idk I've been a lot of places so the prettiest would be hard to choose. That said I really liked Charlotteville VA where they host the VA Festival of the Book. I'm a sucker for brick walkway roads with street art and entertainers.October 5, 2018 at 7:37 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy A book festival? I'm a sucker for all of that, too. :) It sounds like you live near lots of beautiful places. Thx!October 5, 2018 at 4:31 pm · Reply Ryan A. Franklin As a Navy brat I have been privileged to live in many beautiful places. One of my favorites was Guam. It was over 30 years ago but things were still raw and natural. The base had the most beautiful private beach and once a year the sea urchins would swarm and mate. There were so many it would change the color of the ocean from blue to red or deep purple/black.October 5, 2018 at 8:45 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Wow--that sounds so cool about the sea urchins. What an amazing thing to get to see. Thx for sharing1 <3October 5, 2018 at 4:32 pm · Reply Penny Olson The Northern California coast is a beautiful place. Thanks.October 5, 2018 at 9:33 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I can't argue with you there! I was actually born in Northern California but my parents moved when I was only a few months old, darn them! I would have loved growing up in the Redwood forest. :) Thx!October 5, 2018 at 4:34 pm · Reply Rachel I love going to Hilton Head, SC. It feels like home.October 5, 2018 at 2:30 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I've heard so many wonderful things about that area! :) Thx!October 5, 2018 at 4:33 pm · Reply Leona Tobermory! I went this summer and it was just so beautiful and peaceful!October 5, 2018 at 4:44 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I've never heard of that--had to Google it. Looks beautiful!! I was just in other parts of Ontario this summer for the first time and it was spectacular.October 6, 2018 at 1:15 pm · Reply Angie The most beautiful place I've visited is the Great Barrier Reef. I was in Australia for 4 weeks on a volunteer program. I'm afraid of open water, but I sucked it up to go snorkeling on the GBR. It was so beautiful and definitely a once in a lifetime experience. It's dying at a rapid pace so I highly recommend seeing it before it's gone forever.October 6, 2018 at 7:52 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I'm so sad about what's happening with some of the world's most amazing places! I would love to visit the GBR--now even more. Thx!!October 6, 2018 at 1:11 pm · Reply Jenna Kilgore I live in a small town called Wise is Virginia. One of the most beautiful places I have visited is a local hiking trail that leads to a place called Devil's Bathtub. It's a naturally made bathtub in the mountains. Everything about it is wonderful!October 6, 2018 at 8:15 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I feel like I've heard of that, but I'm not sure why. Sounds perfect for a hiker like me!! I've been to Virginia and remember countryside and rolling hills. If I get back there, I'll have to check that out. Thx!October 6, 2018 at 1:12 pm · Reply Katy My family vacations in Hilton Head almost every year. We go biking everywhere and it's so pretty. We even bike on the beach sometimes which is so cool!October 6, 2018 at 1:09 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Hilton Head is getting a lot of love here! Makes me want to visit even more. Thx!October 6, 2018 at 1:13 pm · Reply Anne A place I love and actually went to a few weeks ago is the Isle of Arran in Scotland (sorry maybe a bit far way). It's an absolutely beautiful place to go hiking or even cycling. If you're ever in the area I recommend visiting there, there is actually a little souvenir shop in Brodich called the Red Door, which just has the cutest things ever :D Also looking forward to reading your book, I never heard of it before but it sounds intriguing. PS. I'm from EU, I just wanted to share this, so not for the giveaway.October 6, 2018 at 2:43 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Hey Anne. Thanks for sharing even though you're too far to ship. I LOVE Scotland. I visited a couple years ago, hit the major spots in Edinburgh and did a tour through Isle of Skye. It was awesome--wish I'd had a chance to hike there. I didn't go to Isle of Arran, but would really love to! Thx.October 7, 2018 at 10:18 am · Reply Karen DeVaney One beautiful place that I have visited is Cape Disappointment State Park in Ilwaco, WA. I love the views of the Pacific Ocean from the lighthouse.October 6, 2018 at 3:10 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy That sounds amazing! I've never heard of it, but love the name. And lighthouses seem so romantic to me. <3 thx!October 7, 2018 at 10:19 am · Reply Suzanne The most beautiful place I have ever been was Croatia...I can not spell the name of the lakes, but truely the most beautiful lakes with the clearest, turquoise waters and waterfalls xOctober 6, 2018 at 3:23 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy That sounds amazing. Waterfalls get me every time. I've actually heard a lot about Croatia and hubby and I keep talking about a visit. I hope we get there!! Thx.<3October 7, 2018 at 10:18 am · Reply Brianna Clay One of the most beautiful places I have ever been is in the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. My brother lives there, and I remember how amazing the view was when we hiked up one of the mountains in Chugach State Park. I remember looking out over the Kenai River and being surrounded by several snow-capped mountains. It was so beautiful!October 6, 2018 at 3:32 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy You've sold me! I need to get to Alaska--sounds like there are so many beautiful places there. It also feels like awesome setting for a book. :) Thx!October 7, 2018 at 10:21 am · Reply Ashley The Amalfi Coast in Italy is GORGEOUS :DOctober 6, 2018 at 4:18 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Next summer I hope! I've been to Italy a couple of times (Pompeii was a setting in my book DIE FOR YOU), and hoping to make it to the Amalfi Coast next year. Fingers crossed. Thx!October 7, 2018 at 10:23 am · Reply Jessica My favorite place that I have visited is the Split Rock Lighthouse in Duluth Minnesota!October 6, 2018 at 6:09 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy What a cool name! I do have a thing for lighthouses though I don't think I've ever seen one in person. I would love to! Thx for sharing. :)October 7, 2018 at 10:23 am · Reply Carie Too many beautiful places to choose from! Utah is awesome - love the mountains and amazing national parks. Hawaii is also gorgeous - I visited the big island a few years back and loved all the variety :)October 6, 2018 at 7:09 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy You're right! Lots of beautiful places in this country alone. Never been to the Big Island, but agree that Utah is spectacular! <3 Thx!October 7, 2018 at 10:26 am · Reply Jennifer The most beautiful place is probably the Yosemite. It is such an awe-inspiring place.October 6, 2018 at 9:18 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I hate to admit it, but even though it's the next state over from me, I've never been. Will have to fix that!! <3 Thx!October 7, 2018 at 10:27 am · Reply Debi I spent a semester of school studying abroad all over the British Isles. I love the entire trip and would love to live over there.October 7, 2018 at 12:29 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy That sounds awesome! My daughter studied a semester in Scotland and I was so jealous. :) Thx!October 7, 2018 at 10:27 am · Reply Beverly Gordon The Hollars of Kentucky I have never been to Kentucky so the state its self was beautiful the inner parts were amazingOctober 7, 2018 at 2:09 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I've never been to Kentucky! Love hearing about the places there--hope I'll get to the Hollars one day. :) Thx!!October 7, 2018 at 10:29 am · Reply Melissa I think one of the most beautiful places I've been was when I stayed in a cabin in the Adirondack Mountains in a snow storm. The snow was like 3 ft deep and it was shining during the day. It was really beautiful.October 7, 2018 at 8:09 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy That sounds so cool (and so cold.) :) Can picture it from your description--beautiful. <3 Thx!October 7, 2018 at 10:31 am · Reply Melissa I think one of the most beautiful places I've been was when I stayed in a cabin in the Adirondack Mountains in a snow storm. The snow was like 3 ft deep and it was shining during the day. It was really beautiful.October 7, 2018 at 8:09 am · Reply Theresa Snyder The Michigan's Upper Peninsula in the fall!!!!!October 7, 2018 at 8:20 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy Another place I've never been, but I love to see fall colors. We don't get that in Phoenix! Thx. :)October 7, 2018 at 10:33 am · Reply Sharon Berge Hands down, the Grand Canyon. I am not a fan of the cold, certainly not 10 below zero, but I was captivated by the beauty and grandeur when we visited over Christmas break.October 7, 2018 at 8:22 am · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy I can't argue. I've never been there over Christmas but any time when it isn't over 110 degrees, it's incredible. Thx! <3October 7, 2018 at 10:34 am · Reply Theresa Michigan's Upper Peninsula in the fall!October 7, 2018 at 8:24 am · Reply Adrianna DiSario One of my favorite places I actually discovered this year on a family camping trip for easter. Red Top Mountain state park in Georgia. The camp grounds were beautiful and there were plenty of hiking trails, we went on two, only one of them was on the map, but my cousin has been there a lot that he knew of another one. My favorite was kayaking all afternoon, then laying in the hammock to watch the sunset. It was one of the best long weekend trips I've been on. When we went it was definitely cold in the early morning and at night, but being on the lake during the day was the warmest part. I highly recommend a visit there.October 9, 2018 at 9:17 pm · Reply Amy Fellner Dominy That sounds amazing! Kind of a morning-to-night perfect all around place. <3 Thanks for sharing though I'm sorry it was too late to enter in the contest.October 10, 2018 at 8:33 am · Reply Click here to cancel reply. Add a comment Δ
This is me. And here are a few things about me: I write contemporary YA, middle grade, and picture books. I love bubble baths, red wine, and apple fritters. I’m a cat person but I have a dog. I’m always cold. (Probably from living in the Arizona desert.) My newest YA novel is The FALL of GRACE. Somewhere on this blog hop, I’ve shared some quotes that inspired me as I wrote the book. Quotes about betrayal. Trust. Forgiveness. Quotes that I hope will touch your heart the way they did mine! One last thing before we get started: BONUS GIVEAWAY In addition to all the books you can win on the HUNT, I’m giving away THREE! autographed hardcover copies of The FALL of GRACE. It’s suspense, adventure, romance and a road-trip all rolled into one fast read. Since you’re here because you love YA, I’d love for you to have a copy. Enter by leaving a comment at the end of the post. Since the book will take you to one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been (the mountains of Colorado), tell me a beautiful place that you’ve been. More about that below! So let’s get started: You are currently hunting on TEAM RED. SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE RULES DIRECTIONS: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed my favorite number (in red!) Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on TEAM RED, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator.) ENTRY FORM: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify. RULES: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by October 8th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered. There are SEVEN contests going on simultaneously and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the RED TEAM but there is also a GOLD TEAM, BLUE TEAM, ORANGE TEAM, PURPLE TEAM, PINK TEAM & GREEN TEAM! Check out each team for a chance to win different sets of signed books! Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to learn more about the hunt, including links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs. Also, find all the books on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/128072.YASH_Fall_2018 Now that all the technical stuff is out of the way, I’m so excited to introduce you to the author I’m hosting on this hunt: Paula Stokes! About Paula: Paula Stokes is the author of several novels, included three YA thrillers which have all received starred reviews. Her writing has been translated into eleven foreign languages. Paula loves kayaking, hiking, reading, and seeking out new adventures in faraway lands. She also loves interacting with readers. Find her online at authorpaulastokes.com or on Twitter and Instagram as @pstokesbooks. The book Paula is showcasing is HIDDEN PIECES ABOUT THE BOOK Embry Woods has secrets. Small ones about her past. Bigger ones about her relationship with town hero Luke and her feelings for someone new. But the biggest secret she carries with her is about what happened that night at the Sea Cliff Inn. The fire. The homeless guy. Everyone thinks Embry is a hero, too, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Embry thinks she’ll have to take the secret to her grave, until she receives an anonymous note—someone else knows the truth. Next comes a series of threatening messages, asking Embry to make impossible choices, forcing her to put her loved ones at risk. Someone is playing a high stakes game where no one in Embry’s life is safe. And their last move … is murder. TOP SECRET BONUS MATERIAL! And now, from Paula herself: I actually have over 200 pages of deleted scenes from HIDDEN PIECES, but as you can imagine, a lot of them are spoilery when it comes to the mystery and a lot of them are scenes with the same bones as what’s in the final book where I just rewrote passages or switched some important things around. I decided to share this deleted scene for YASH because there’s nothing like it in the finished book, and I’m proud of the low-income portrayal in the book and the dynamics between my main character and her mother. If the two women seem closer than most mothers and daughters, it’s partially because Embry’s mom is newly recovered from breast cancer and Embry is very protective of her. It’s also because Embry has spent her whole life feeling like she wrecked her mom’s life just by being born. Why? If you want to know more, you’ll have to read the book 😉 At this point in the novel, Embry has accidentally started a fire at a local hotel (that was not in use at the time) while hooking up with a boy and has received multiple threatening messages from a stranger who is blackmailing her. Embry and her mom were already struggling to make ends meet before her mom got swamped with medical bills, and Embry knows if she confesses to her role in the fire and is held responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages, that she and her mom could lose both their house and their small family business, the Oregon Coast Café. Her family’s precarious financial situation plays into many of the decisions she makes in HIDDEN PIECES. Here she is at home, making dinner for her mom: The front door swings open and my mom enters the house. She’s got a brown paper bag clutched under her arm. “Hey, Emb. I tried a new recipe today. You want to be my guinea pig?” She sets the bag down on the kitchen table with an impressive thunk. “I don’t know,” I say, slipping my phone into my pocket. “That sounds like one big bagel. Either that or a bag of rocks?” “Ha ha,” Mom says. “I actually tried my hand at making savory scones today. I’ve had a couple of people request them.” My mom is a great manager, motivator, and barista, but when it comes to cooking, she’s been known to get distracted mid-recipe and forget an important ingredient, like eggs or baking soda. Either that or pop something in the oven and forget about it until the whole café starts to fill with smoke. “Let’s see what you got.” I pull three large scones out of the paper bag. They’re pretty hard, but I think I can resurrect them. “I ate with Julia, but I’ll definitely try one. Let me see if I can soften them up a bit. You want me to make you some dinner?” “Do we actually have anything to make for dinner?” “I think there’s some soup in the pantry. Might be good with these.” I gesture at the scones. “Go relax. Let me work my magic.” “Okay. Surprise me.” Mom heads for the living room. “Actually,” she calls from the next room, “I think I’m going to take a quick bath if that’s all right.” “Sure. Take a slow bath if you want.” I root through our small pantry until I find a can of tomato soup. I heat the soup on low and then slice one of the scones into sections, spraying each piece with some butter-flavored pan coating (gross, I know, but it’s all we have) and topping them with a small handful of shredded cheese. I turn a second scone into two thick pieces of garlic bread, spraying it with the pan coating and then sprinkling garlic salt and Italian spices on it. I fill a small pot with water to heat for tea. The warmth emanating from the stovetop is heavenly. Mom says she’s going to fix the furnace after the holidays, but what we really need is a new one, and that’s way outside of our current reality. My eyes flick to a clock on the wall that also reads the temperature. It’s sixty-two degrees in here. Sometimes in the mornings it gets down in the mid-fifties. It’s a wonder neither one of us have caught a cold. Mom reappears in about fifteen minutes, dressed in flannel pajama pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt from a half-marathon she did back when I was in middle school. She’s wearing fuzzy pink slippers on her feet. I set a bowl of soup in front of her along with a garlic scone and a couple slices of cheesy bread. “Wow,” she says. “This looks great. Maybe I’m wasting your talents using you as a cashier and barista.” “Well, Adele and Lourdes rave about my drink-making skills,” I say with a grin. “But I can always pick up some back of those house shifts if you ever need. I’m pretty sure I can follow the recipes. I’ve even got some ideas of my own for new soups or sandwiches we could serve.” I pour each of us a cup of green tea. “Oh, do you now? I suppose it has been forever since we updated the menu. I’d love to hear your thoughts, just maybe not right this second. The monthly figures are still swimming around in my head and I want to forget about work completely.” Mom sits in her usual chair and I sit across from her. Betsy does her standard lap past both of us in case we’re in an overly charitable mood. When we both tell her to lie down she stretches out at my feet so she’ll be in prime position to snarf up any scraps we drop. With one finger, I trace the network of lines someone carved into the top of our kitchen table, probably with a pocketknife. Whoever owned this table before us had turned it into a makeshift chess board. When Mom saw it at Goodwill she said it would add character to our house. I don’t know about all that, but it beats having dinner on the sofa in the living room, balancing plates on our laps while we use one hand to eat and the other to shoo the dog away. “How’s school?” Mom holds a spoonful of soup in front of her lips and blows on it. She sips cautiously and then swallows. “I feel like I haven’t talked to you in days.” If she’s heard about the sexting scandal, she’s not going to mention it. “It’s fine.” I wrap both hands around my mug of tea. Mom takes a bite of cheesy scone. “This is really good. Especially considering what you had to work with.” She chews slowly and then pops the rest of the slice in her mouth. “Are you still thinking you want to go to TCC next year instead of somewhere bigger? Your dad would probably chip in a little extra if you wanted to apply to a four-year college.” “Yep.” If I had “applied myself more” as my guidance counselor likes to say, I probably could’ve gotten at least a partial scholarship to a four-year school, but that would’ve meant not being able to help out at the café after classes and I won’t do that to my mom. Plus, like I told Holden, I’m not ready to leave her. My eyes flick up to her head, where her hair is only just starting to grow back after her chemo. She wears a wig to work but never around the house because she says they’re itchy. It’s incredible to me how well she adjusted to having breast cancer. She’s the one who almost died, so why am I the one who’s constantly falling apart? “All right. But once you get some gen eds out of the way, we’ll take a look at finishing up someplace bigger if you want.” She dips her “garlic bread” into her tomato soup. I nod. “Sure, Mom. It might make sense once I figure out what I want to do with my life. Right now I’m happy the way things are.” Mom smiles at me. I sip my tea and watch as she finishes all but one slice of her scone and most of her soup. “You ate something at work too, right?” I ask, as she pushes her chair back from the table. “Otherwise that’s not very much.” “Yes, Mom,” she quips. “I had a Sally Struthers for lunch.” All of our sandwiches are named after famous Oregonians. The Sally Struthers is our gourmet grilled cheese—cheddar, provolone, and gouda from the local Tillamook dairy on buttered Texas toast. My mouth waters a little just thinking about it. Mom brings her plate and bowl to the sink and then returns to ruffle my hair. “You’re a good kid, Embry,” she says. “Thank you for dinner.” I like it when she calls me a good kid. I liked it even more when it was true. Do you want to read more of HIDDEN PIECES? Check out the first three chapters on my website. You can also watch the OFFICIAL BOOK TRAILER here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sloUrBj8yCs The book sounds amazing, doesn’t it? Join me in adding it to your TBR list on Goodreads! Where can you buy this book, like, ten minutes ago? HERE! Check out more on Paula’s Website, Twitter, or Instagram . What should you do now? Enter the YASH contest and my bonus contest! Because…who doesn’t want a boatload of free books? 🙂 Just check out all these books on TEAM RED. To enter, you need to write down my favorite number which is 29 and find all the other numbers on TEAM RED, add them up, and you’ll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize! To enter my BONUS contest, leave a comment on my blog telling me a beautiful place that you’ve visited. It’s that easy! THREE winners (randomly selected) will receive autographed & personalized copies of The FALL of GRACE. Good luck everyone! Winners will be announced after YASH ends. (US and Canada only)
Ready to move on to the next link in the hunt? Head over to visit author Wendy Higgins! LINK TO NEXT BLOG