Happy August!
I feel like I am running exclusively on coffee. It has been a hard month. I got the back-to-school cold (and it was EXTRA gross this year), heat exhaustion, and a fibro flare-up, so my body has decided it hates back-to-school season. But it’s okay, wanna know why? Because we are DAYS AWAY from I Love You, It’s Ruining My Life coming out!!!
What Have I Been Up To In August?
I have been drowning in lesson plans and Canva templates – and sometimes it’s at the same time! Back to School season is always busy for me, but in the meantime I decided to try something new: working on two books at once. And it’s gone well!!
That’s right, I am working on RaineFall 2 and Sidekicks 2 at the same time: I have them divided as a “weekend book” and a “weekday book,” and I’ve found it actually helps my process a lot. It’s a top priority for me for both of these books to come out in 2027 and I think I found a way to make sure I can manage it for both!
I Love You, It’s Ruining My Life Preorder Incentive Update:
We are SO CLOSE to unlocking that deleted scene of Nalini and her besties having a sleepover. And I will be honest, cutting that scene hurt. I loved it; it was so much fun…but it dragged the plot and was too repetitive to keep. So I had to cut it. BUT 8 MORE PREORDERS AND YOU’LL GET TO SEE THAT CUTE LITTLE SCENE YOURSELF. So…ya know… wanna preorder and get it?
Juliet Pictures of the Month
Juliet got put to work this month. And she is NOT a fan. But it’s not my fault that people are more likely to look at pupper pictures than they are to pictures of me. She’s a much better spokespup for my book, and while she’s not a fan of earning her treats, she did at least do a great job of being adorable (as always).
Book I Loved This Month:
How My Fake Alien Boyfriend Learned to Cook and Saved the Family Business by Lacey Hawthorne
THIS IS THE CUTEST BOOK EVER, AND I NEED EVERYONE TO READ IT ASAP.
Kal and Lola had adorable chemistry, and I loved how they slowly came together. The way they worked together was magic. Kal’s determination to prove himself combined with Lola having to learn how to ask for help was both perfect and timely, and I will be gushing about this book forever.
If you don’t know the backstory of how this book came into existence, I highly recommend checking out Lacey Hawthorn’s social media, as the book itself is a form of protest against AI. It’s a reminder that the best books come from human minds and emotions, and a machine could never write a book as good as this one.
How My Fake Alien Boyfriend Learned to Cook and Saved the Family Business comes out on August 31st and is available for preorder!!
Book Spotlight: I Love You, It’s Ruining My Life
IT’S ALMOST HEREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nalini
Fifteen years ago, Nalini Rana became an infamous media sensation overnight when RaineFall’s breakout hit was named after her. Known for breaking Jack Raine’s heart, she was demonized by the tabloids and fangirls alike, while she wished her best friend (and Jack’s twin) Kameron would use his newfound fame to make the craziness stop. Instead, he ghosted her, leaving her alone as she gave up her dreams one by one in the name of safety.
Now, Nalini’s a burned-out high school teacher doing her best to hide from her past. Which has gotten a lot harder now that Kameron Raine has moved back to town, complete with his stupid smile and an adorable daughter Nalini can’t help but love.
Kameron
Fifteen years ago, Kameron left the sleepy town of Briar Hill behind for bigger and better things. As one-third of the boyband RaineFall, fame literally came overnight when the performance of their song “Nalini” went viral. But his new fame came with a choice: his best friend or his twin brother — and while family bonds were supposed to win out, it was something he immediately regretted.
Now, Kameron’s widowed, bandless, and in need of a fresh start. Moving back to Briar Hill seemed like the most logical (and budget-friendly) solution, though his daughter Cassidy would disagree. But coming back home came with more animosity than he expected, especially from Nalini, who he had thought moved on to bigger and better things than this small town.
As the two of them are forced to confront what happened years ago, surprising sparks start to fly, forcing them to ask the question: Is it possible RaineFall not only ruined their lives, but also ruined their future?
Upcoming Events:
Books In Bloom (Today!)
- Hosted by Desert Bloom Books
- August 29th from 10 AM – 2 PM at the Red Mountain Ranch Country Club
- Free to the Public
Pride Book Fair
- Hosted by The Girlhood Co.
- October 10th from 12-3 PM at Beanchain Coffee, Mesa AZ
- Free to the Public
Once Upon a Carnival
- Hosted by Not Your Average Bookclub
- November 5th at the Arizona Athletic Grounds, Mesa, AZ
- Tickets on sale soon!
Snowed In
- Hosted by Tea & Tropes
- December 4th and 5th at the Mesa Convention Center, Mesa AZ
- It’s on my Birthday!!!!!
- Tickets on Sale!
Sloth Fact of the Month:
Sloths are blind in bright daylight. They have a very rare condition called rod monochromacy, which means that they completely lack cone cells in their eyes. As a result, sloth eyes are colour-blind. They can only see poorly in dim light and are completely blind in bright daylight
September is release month and I CANNOT WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO GET A CHANCE TO READ THIS STORY!!!!!!
XOXO ~ Ash
Ashley Skolrud 
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