I’m so excited to announce I have a new Young Adult book coming out next May from Turner Publishing Company.

Everything’s Not Fine is about seventeen-year-old Rose Hemmersbach, who aspires to break out of small town Sparta, Wisconsin and achieve her artistic dreams at Belwyn School for the Arts. Painting is Rose’s escape from her annoying younger siblings and her family’s one rule: ignore the elephant in the room, because talking about it makes it real.

That is, until Rose finds her mother dying of a heroin overdose. Kneeling beside her, Rose pleads with the universe to find a heartbeat. She does – but when her mother is taken to the hospital, the troubles are just beginning. Rose and her dad are left to pick up the pieces. Now Rose doesn’t have room for schoolwork, let alone to pick up a paintbrush. Until she’s forced to do the homecoming mural with Rafa, a new senior at Sparta High. Rose and Rafa don’t have an ounce of school spirit between them, but Rose discovers her brain still has room to paint, and, as Rafa starts opening up to her, that she can open up to him too.

But as Rose fights to hold everything together, and her dreams of the future start to slip from her grasp, she must face the question of what happens when – if – her mom comes home again. And, deep down, if Rose even wants her to.

I wrote Everything’s Not Fine to celebrate a teen discovering her own resilience after experiencing a life-shattering traumatic event. Professionally, I’ve been a school psychologist for twelve years. The biggest issues I see kids and teens facing are situations beyond their control. I wrote this book for them.

Stay tuned for the cover reveal and pre-order links!