We’ve come to the end…

…of 2018!  It has been quite the year, hasn’t it?  Here’s hoping you’ve come out unscathed!  Highlights of my year include the 2018 NoVa Teen Book Festival, Apollycon, publishing my second novel, driving cross county to speak at the RWA national conference, getting to do two events with my critique partner Katherine Locke, and winning the 2018 YAVA award. 

My heart is full and I am grateful to every reader, librarian, English teacher, and book seller who has come to an event, bought my books, shared my books in their classroom, told a friend about my books, read and wrote a review.  You are my people and I couldn’t do this without you. 

Still looking for holiday gift ideas?  I love sending gifts that are also gifts for others!  My favorites include making donations to First Book, the ACLU, LottoLove, The Adventure Project, and Together We Bake (amazing chocolate chip cookies).

Might I also suggest these lovely books by moi?    If you’ve got someone in your life who enjoys fairy tales, kids with secrets, complicated family dynamics, music, dance, art, a little romance, strong friendships, coming-of-age tales, and finding your path, please check them out!  Readers from 4th grade to adult have enjoyed them.

AND if you purchase a copy for yourself, your favorite reader or your classroom, I would be thrilled to make the gift a little sweeter by sending a personalized bookplate and signed bookmark.  If this sounds good to you, please email christinajuneya@gmail.com and let me know where to send!  

Want to include a preorder of NO PLACE LIKE HERE?  I’ve got bookplates for that one as well!  Preorders are excellent because it’s just like getting a gift twice.  And don’t all three look pretty together? 

Looking for some books to read during winter break?  Here are my favorites from this year:

– Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
– This Will Only Hurt A Little by Busy Philipps
– Vox by Christina Dalcher
– The Spy With the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke
– The Impossibility of Us by Katy Upperman
– I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
– The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
– The Leading Edge of Now by Marci Lyn Curtis
– The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
– The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller
– Front Desk by Kelly Yang


Books to look forward to in 2019:

– The Birds, The Bees, and You and Me by Olivia Hinebaugh
– Our Year of Maybe by Rachel Lynn Soloman
– All the Walls of Belfast by Sarah Carlson
– How the Light Gets In by Katy Upperman

So what’s coming up next year?  I’m looking forward to kicking 2019 off with a trip to Disney World, a visit to the Richmond Public Library to facilitate a teen writing workshop, TomeCon, NoVaTeen Book Festival, and the publication of book baby number 3.  

Wishing you a restful holiday season full of peace and the very best new year!