Operation Awesome is proud of having been the blog home of the following alumni.
Click for further information on operatives from 2015 and later:
Angelica R. Jackson |
Karen McCoy |
Wendy Nikel |
S. L. Saboviec |
Donelle Lacy |
Melinda Friesen |
Leandra Wallace |
 Jaime Olin |
 Kara Reynolds |
Karis Rogerson |
Nathaniel Glanzman |  Amren Ortega |
And in years previous:
Katrina Lantz is alive in spite of an airplane crash over Texas when she was two. She conquered her fear of flying on a commercial flight to D.C. when she was sixteen. She conquered everyone else's fears of sky diving at the SkyDive Ranch in Canada when she was nineteen. She has yet to conquer her fear of airports.
She grew up in sunny Arizona, saw snow fall for the first time when she was eighteen, and discovered the land of endless winter from Narnia actually exists. It's just called Michigan now. She's back in the West, living in sunny southern California with her husband and three sons. She's been writing seriously for about four years. Prior to that, she made a living as a lifeguard, a candy counter cashier, a wilderness therapy guide, a live-in nanny, and a quotes processor. Now she lives and breathes literature and loves it.
She is an editorial assistant for Month9Books, a publisher of awesome MG/YA paranormal, speculative fiction, and fantasy.
When not writing and avoiding her school work, Aimee enjoys reading, singing, and acting at her school’s theater department. She is also a lover of anime and all things Disney.
Her area of specialty is fantasy of all sorts but she dabbles in many genres— whatever she feels compelled to write at the moment. The plot bunnies are never ending but, luckily, so are the words!
blog - twitter - facebook
TONI KERR
Hello Operation Awesome Readers!
First, I'd like to thank the writers at OA for all the time and commitment they've put into making this place such an incredible resource for writers. I've learned many great tips for editing, revising, and writing tighter, and I've been inspired by personal experiences that cheer me up, or remind me to keep going. We all know this isn't an easy field to thrive in, but it's a heck of a lot more enjoyable (and downright hilarious at times) with a crew like this! So, while I don't consider myself an expert, I'm happy to poke fun at myself and share the things that took me years to figure out.
Unleashed (Makai Series #2) published June 2014 by Featherfoot Teen
Dragonfire (Makai Series #3) published July 2015 by Featherfoot Teen
blog - facebook
LINDSAY SCOTT’s early years were spent performing renditions of Mary Poppins on her grandparent’s coffee table, drawing, and asking for “one more story” before bed.
Despite her love for creativity she spent years ignoring the voices in her head, screaming for their stories be told. Whilst some parents would have their daughter committed, Lindsay’s told her to write. So she did. The characters are much happier now, even if they do wake her up in the middle of the night. She lives in the North of England, close to her understanding family and friends who share her with her fictional friends, chocolate, and a never ending "to be read" pile.
website - twitter
tumblr - twitter - goodreads
JESSICA BROOKS resides with her husband of sixteen years, three awesome daughters, and a plethora of pets in Central California, where fog, frost, triple-digit heat and various items of produce arrive bountifully, depending on the season. She has an affinity for both coffee and owls, and loves to connect with other readers and writers whenever possible.
Jessica writes YA and adult fiction. She shares reviews of her favorite books on Afterglow Book Reviews, and spreads the writing and author love for independently published authors at Indie Ignites.
PITY ISN'T AN OPTION, a young adult near-future dystopian novel about a guy and girl finding something they thought they'd long lost, is her debut novel.
blog - twitter - facebook - goodreads
WESLEY CHU
Hello, I write, and on the side I work for the Death Star. I didn't originally want to be an author, nor a Death Star Laser Technician. If it was up to me, I'd be a NFL punter, a heir to a family fortune, or maybe just professionally beautiful.
But I'm a writer, or at least I try to be. I can't help but write for some strange reason (anyone else feel that way?). I'm currently represented by Russell Galen of Scovil Galen Ghosh with two books coming out this year: my debut, The Lives of Tao (April 30th 2013, Angry Robot Books) and its sequel (The Deaths of Tao, published October 2013)
So, um...let's do it. I'll bring the scotch.
KELLIE DuBAY GILLIS
Writing reminds me of riding my favorite purple tandem bike. You can do it alone, but it’s more fun with someone along for the ride. That’s why sharing the ups and downs of my writing journey with on-line communities like Operation Awesome have been so important. My first love is the picture book and, because I’ll forever be 11, middle grade novels are near and dear to my heart. I’m pedaling along in my ride to becoming a better writer in each genre. When I’m not blogging here, you can catch me over at Verla Kay’s Blueboards or on Twitter as part of the weekly #mglitchat hostess team. My lucky number is 13 and I feel very lucky to start 2013 as a part of team Operation Awesome.
ALUMNUS MAX GLADSTONE
I met my agent at an Operation Awesome contest, sold my debut novel soon after, and feel that Operation Awesome does exactly what it says on the tin. In various lives I've been an EFL teacher, researcher, tour guide, translator, smart grid analyst / cube operator, and an editor. These days, when I'm not making up stories about necromancers, I'm hunting my manuscripts for errant semicolons. I just deleted one from this paragraph!
My blog: Max Gladstone - Myths for Hire
My twitter: @maxgladstone
PK HREZO is the author of the Butterman Time Travel series, and
writes everything from sci-fi to contemporary to non-fiction, and reads
everything in between as well. She has an affinity for quirky characters
and prefers to spin her tales around the quirkiest ones she can dream
up. PK is also the artist and creator of PK's Pixies, freelance Story
Scientist, part time airline agent, mom of two, wife of a firefighter,
and best bud to a big dog named Ripley. Once she realized she was
narrating her walks to and from the elementary school bus stop, she knew
she was meant to be a writer. Other passions include music, dance,
nature, art, and travel.
BECKY MAHONEY
I am a longtime Operation Awesome fangirl, and I am super excited to join the big leagues and become part of this amazing blog. I am an unassuming admin by day and a young adult writer by night, represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger Inc. My preferred genre trifecta is fantasy, mystery, and horror. I am a lover of good food, awesome fashion, and any and all things creepy.
blog - twitter
MICHELLE McLEAN grew up in California and has lived everywhere from the deserts of Utah to the tropical beaches of Hawaii to the gorgeous forests of the east coast. The oldest of five children, she is generally an organized mess with slight Obsessive Compulsive tendencies. She has a B.S. in History, a M.A. in English, an insatiable love of books, and more weird quirks than you can shake a stick at.
She is the author of Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers, (Career Press Jan 2011), To Trust a Thief (Entangled Scandalous Jan 2013), a historical romance trilogy Blood Blade Sisters (the first book will release from Entangled Scandalous March 2013), and a zombie fairy tale retelling Wish Upon a Star (Entangled Ever After Oct 2013). In addition to her novels and non-fiction work, she writes the occasional picture book and a bit of poetry. If she's not editing, reading, or chasing her kids around, she can usually be found in a quiet corner working on her next book.
She currently resides in Pennsylvania with her husband and two young children, an insanely hyper dog, and two very spoiled cats.
AMPARO ORTIZ was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where she still resides (and eats All The Yummy Things). She's a proud Whedonite and a Whovian-in-progress. Amparo speaks two and a half languages (Spanish, English, and sort of Italian), watches way too much TV, and often indulges in planning trips around the world she can't afford. At seventeen, Amparo wrote Suckiest YA Novel Ever, and has worked hard to make up for it since. At twenty-six, she's getting her Master's degree in Literature. She writes YA fantasy (epic + urban) and contemporary novels. She plans to publish said YA novels somewhere down the road.
Dean Winchester would be proud of her.
Maybe.
website
R. R. RUSSELL's middle grade debut, Wonder Light: Unicorns of the Mist released from Sourcebooks May 1 2013. She also writes a YA crossover series, the Venture books, as R.H. Russell.
KRISTAL SHAFF grew up with books (and used to drive her mom crazy when she wouldn't leave the library). The first book she read on her own was Dr. Seuss, though she can't remember exactly which one. Even when she got older, her first job was shelving books at the public library. She went to college and studied Music Education, but in the end, the world of creativity and make-believe was her first love.Kristal met her husband in college and their first date was at a Renaissance Faire (Huzzah!) He was also the one to introduce her to The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, which led her to her love of fantasy fiction. Kristal resides in Iowa with her farmer husband, 3 awesome kids, and numerous pets. When she isn’t writing, she is a mom and a professional face painter who enjoys making children smile.
DELANCEY STEWART is not big on labels, but there are a few that fit (not necessarily in this order. Or maybe in this order):
- wine drinker (and wine geek)
- mother of small boys
- military spouse
- writer
- ballet dancer
- chocolate eater
She has written the Wine Country Romance Series, which ties her love of wine to her love of falling in love... and the Girlfriends of Gotham series, which began publishing with Swoon Romance in December 2013. She has another series called The Company, which focuses on the drama and intrigue behind the scenes at a ballet company (also a romance), and has a two book deal with Carina for a New Adult historical romance series, which will begin publishing in January 2015.
She also loves short stories, and her themed collection (all set in the same NYC brownstone across the span of a century) published in 2012.
blog - twitter - facebook
blog - twitter - facebook
ANGELA TOWNSEND was born in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Missoula, Montana. As a child, Angela grew up listening to stories told by her grandparents, ancient tales and legends of faraway places. Influenced by her Irish and Scottish heritage, Angela became an avid research historian, specializing in Celtic mythology. Her gift for storytelling finally led her to a full time career in historical research and writing. A writer in local community circulations, Angela is also a published genealogical and historical resource writer who has taught numerous research seminars. Currently, Angela divides her time between writing, playing Celtic music on her fiddle, and Irish dancing. She resides on a ranch, in rural Northwestern Montana, with her two children Levi and Grant. blog.
AMY TRUEBLOOD has spent her life surrounded by books. As a child, her fondest memories are of following her mother and four siblings to the library every week to check out spectacular new adventures penned by the likes of Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary and C.S. Lewis. After college, she worked in the entertainment business in Los Angeles and eventually ended up surrounded by books again at Ingram Book Group in Tennessee.
Now a writer living in Arizona, she spends her time doing freelance public relations work and promoting her favorite non-profit event, The Cinderella Affair (www.cinderellaaffair.org).
Her short stories, “Emanate,” and "Unearthed," are part of The Fall and Summer's Edge anthologies published by Elephant’s Bookshelf Press. Her writing has also appeared in Liquid Imagination. When not “chasing the crazy” dream of being published, she feeds her addictions to good TV (Bones, Castle & Fringe), Barnes & Noble and mango ice tea.
blog - twitter
I am mom to three brilliant and talented kids. No bias there. ;) I write YA sci-fi and speculative fiction. My day job is in numbers (yes, I’m one of those weirdos who enjoys math), but I love words and writing. Taking beautiful writing and making visual art is one of my favorite things to do. Photoshop is a great procrastination tool. :) And I have a tendency to overuse smilies and the word awesome.
blog - twitter
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