This book is bargain priced from 01/18/2014 until 01/21/2014

Fourteen year-old Aubree is an award-aholic, winning everything from a coveted spot on the cheerleading squad to the most prestigious academic award. So what if she’s practically allergic to sharing the spotlight, and is too busy to make close friends? It’s all in the name of winning!

But everything changes when Aubree moves to Chicago and starts classes at a super-competitive school. Suddenly, she faces contests she can’t win, and has to deal with mean girls and a brutal piano teacher. She also must compete against her crush, Noah, in a high-pressure piano audition.

Aubree finds a place to shine on the struggling dance squad. As preparations for the dance competition and piano auditions heat up, Aubree faces perplexing dilemmas. Will her ruthlessness sabotage her newfound relationships? Can she put aside her ego to save everything she has worked for?

Targeted Age Group: 10-15

Book Price: 0.99
Link To Buy Bargain Book

How is Writing In Your Genre Different from Others?
My writing is different from others in my genre because I am focused on creating well-developed characters with unique voices. I love bringing my characters to life through dialogue and description, and I feel that even my minor characters sizzle with vitality.

Many YA books, especially for teens and tweens in the younger end of the YA spectrum, are more focused on events than character development. I am fascinated by people — their triumphs, their strengths, and their flaws — and I love to incorporate those elements into my books.

What Advice Would You Give Aspiring Writers?
Stick with it, don’t doubt yourself, and follow your passion. Don’t just hold on tight to your dreams, actualize them.

That being said, make sure your craft is as honed as possible. Don’t sit on your manuscript for ten years, but do make sure it’s polished and professionally-edited before you self-publish or submit it to agents and/or editors!

Author Bio:
Kristina Ludwig is a retired pharmacist turned full-time YA fiction author and blogger. She wrote her first short story in kindergarten, and has been addicted to writing ever since. Her first publication was in the Anthology of Poetry of Young Americans at age 11. She is an avid reader of YA fiction, but will read basically anything in sight!

Kristina is passionate about the fine arts, and is classically trained in piano, flute, and voice. In her free time, Kristina enjoys cooking exotic recipes, exercising, drawing, shopping, and traveling to tropical destinations.

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I was inspired to write “Winner” by my previous experiences as an “award-aholic.” The main character, Aubree, is an overachiever who’s addicted to winning and is used to being on the top, but a move forces her to start at the bottom.

I had similar experiences when I transitioned from middle school to high school, and again from high school to college. I feel that the book is very relatable because we’re constantly undergoing life changes that force us to start all over, and that’s very hard for an award-aholic. However, it’s all about finding a balance, and that’s what inspired me to create Aubree and make her achieve that in the book.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy Winner: Confessions of an Award-aholic

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