Cici Reno AND Cotton Candy Wishes up for PRE-ORDER!

Both the Cici Reno paperback and Cotton Candy Wishes are now available for pre-order! Click on the covers to go to the buy page.

Head to #Goodreads to Win one of 10 ARCs of Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker!

Head over to Goodreads for a chance to win one of 10 advanced copies of Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker!

#FREE #YA Box Set! 9/23 -9/24

For the first time, my young adult contemporary box set (Just Your Average Princess, Just Your Average Geek, and Just Your Average Celebrity) is FREE! 9/23 and 9/24.

And it's already hit #1 in Top Free Teen and Young Adult Humorous Books (and before two of James Patterson's books?!!!)

Spring 2016 Sneak Previews

It's coming!! Spring 2016 Sneak Previews...

Exciting Book News!

I'm sooooooooooo excited to share some GREAT news! I sold a new book!

From Publisher's Weekly:

Brett Duquette at Sterling Children's Books has acquired Cici Reno Knows it All, first in the middle-grade Yoga Girls series by Kristina Springer. It follows a pre-teen yoga enthusiast who helps her best friend get a crush's attention by impersonating her on Twitter, but a friendly favor turns into a social media love triangle. Publication is slated for spring 2016; Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger negotiated the deal for world rights.

I love this book so much!! Middle grade readers are the best and ever since writing My Fake Boyfriend is Better than Yours I'd been itching to get back to this wonderful age group. And a series!! I can't believe I'll get to stay in Cici's world longer and write about this kick-butt yoga loving kid.

Many thanks to my wonderful agent Andrea and my new editor Brett! Sterling Children's is a phenomenal publisher and I can't wait to work with them!

CART PRINCESS ~ read for FREE

Want to try a free sample of my writing? My young adult short story, Cart Princess, is free today. Check it out and leave a review. :-)

2014 Writing Life Highlights

Happy New Year's Friends!! Is it really 2015 tomorrow?

It's time for my yearly review in all things writing for me this year and I waited too long to get to it today! There are little people all looking at me, waiting for the New Year's Eve party to get going. So, instead of the monthly breakdown of 2014, here's my fave moments:

2014 was SO great! This past fall all of my kids were finally in school full day which meant so much more writing time for me! This year I wrote two middle grade novels that I adore so much. I can't wait for you all to read them. I sketched out an adult romance series (under a pen name) and wrote half of book one. I'm plotting out 2015 now and have so much more I want to work on. So excited!! Here's the rest of the year in bullet points:

• I signed with a new literary agent in the spring, Andrea Somberg from Harvey Klinger Inc. She is so awesome and a total joy to work with.
• I had fun author visits.

• I attended the Anderson's Children's Literary Breakfast and met tons of cool teachers and librarians. And Henry Winkler!

• THE ESPRESSOLOGIST was chosen as a 2014 Illinois Reads book! I got to go to a cool ceremony at the Illinois Reading Council Conference in Springfield, IL. Signed loads of books, met other great authors, and did my first radio interview.

• Went to probably the best writing retreat ever. 21 authors, one literary agent, and one editor in a cabin in Michigan for three days. So much fun and learned so, so much!

• I did a really fun YA author panel in Chicago.

• And some local literary fests.

It was a great year and I know 2015 will be even better! 

xo,

Kristina

Some December Updates

My poor blog, I've neglected you so! If you ever come to my blog and it looks like I've been gone for awhile, find me on twitter or facebook because I'm on there all day. With tiny spurts of work here and there. ;-)

I actually have been getting lots of work done when my new puppy, Java the Mutt, isn't driving me crazy. Here she is when we first got her 6 weeks ago:

And here she is last week:

She was 12 pounds when we got her and now is 29 and growing fast! Java is a giant schnoodle (mom a giant schnauzer and dad a standard poodle) so we expect her to be a big girl! If she could just stop hurling herself at me and trying to climb over my head every time I sit down on the couch with my laptop to write things would be great.

I've been enjoying all of my free time now that the kiddos have been in school for awhile. Getting lots of writing in and finished another middle grade. I love writing for this age group! I'm editing and tweaking that now. I've also been working on an adult romance series for fun breaks in between middle grade books. Who knows if and when it will ever come out (or under what name for that matter) but it's just fun to try something new.

What else have I been up to aside from writing? Ummm, lots of reading, yoga, coffee drinking, addictive Hallmark Christmas movie watching, Christmas shopping, binge-watching episodes of Impractical Jokers (if you haven't seen this show yet you MUST watch!), and I even got to see my four boyfriends, who don't know I exist, last weekend at their show in Indiana.

They were so, so funny! Aside from that, I'm also thinking of trying to train the dog to do yoga with me. She already has downward dog nailed. If I could just get her to sit next to me instead of standing with her giant paws on my face  we would be so cool.

Ah, someday.

xo,

Kristina

#BoySwap #FREE #Kindle

Boys, Band Nerds, and Backstabbers. BOY SWAP is FREE today on Amazon.

Author Panel in Chicago Friday night

Looking for something fun to do next Friday night? I'm doing a panel at 57th Street Books in Chicago with YA authors: Christa Desir, Elizabeth Fama, and Philip Siegel. We will be divulging ALL of the writer secrets. Details here- http://www.semcoop.com/event/scbwi-panel-57th-street-books

The Espressologist is an ILLINOIS READS book!

Ahhh! One of my books was chosen for the Illinois Reads program and they want me to come to a ceremony in Springfield! So cool!!

"Congratulations! Your book, The Espressologist, has been chosen as one of the books for the annual ILLINOIS READS program.

Under the auspices of the Illinois Reading Council, ILLINOIS READS is an annual statewide project to promote reading for all Illinois citizens. The thirty-six titles chosen, from birth to adult, will be introduced into classrooms, public health facilities, public and school libraries, and bookstores. The website,www.illinoisreads.org, will allow adults and students (above age 13) to post book reviews, book trailers, artwork, and discussions about the books. We will be printing bookmarks, posters, public service announcements, television interviews, and more to promote the program. We will also want to link to your website, as well as offering additional activities to accompany your book.

The program will be formally launched on March 12, 2014 at the Illinois Reading Council Conference in Springfield, Illinois. We hope that you can join us for the ceremony at the Old State Capitol, along with a host of state and local officials."

2013 Writing Life Highlights

You know how you do something and then you do it the next year and then again the following year and now it's a habit? Well, I tend to review my writing year every December 31st and though I'm not really in the mood today, I gotta do it! Just like I have to work out and start my diet tomorrow morning. Ah, tradition. :-) Okay, let's see what happened in 2013.

JANUARY
In January, The Paparazzi Project went to #1 in free teen romance ebooks.

FEBRUARY, MARCH, and APRIL
From February through April I busted my butt cleaning, selling, and packing up our house and we moved to our beautiful new home. When I wasn't doing that I was busily writing and editing, writing and editing, writing and editing, getting ready for a future release.

MAY
In May, Alloy Digital announced the web series, Espressologist, at Digital Content Newsfronts, which was SO cool!. You can read about that here. They included some new details about the script:

"Based on the popular book by Kristina Springer, The Espressologist mixes one part Central Perk from Friends with a splash of Jane Austin’s Emma to create a series brimming with humor and heart.

Working at her neighborhood coffee shop as a barista, twenty-something Chelsea has a front-row seat to people and their crazy, entertaining lives. Always an astute observer of human nature, Chelsea stumbles upon a methodology that makes a love connection between her customers’ personalities and their drink orders. This comedic series follows Chelsea as the stakes are raised and her bizarre dating formula leads to more people (namely friends and co-workers) looking for Chelsea to replicate her success. But will she ever make a match for herself?"

Here's the trailer they presented:

Espressologist Trailer from Defy Media on Vimeo.

JUNE
In June, I started work on my new *shiny* middle grade book. I'm still working on it and I love it so. :-) I also worked on putting together my library in the new house.

JULY
In July, I went on a writing retreat with the fabulous Author2Author girls to Dublin, OH. So much fun!

AUGUST
In August my friend Deena Lipomi's first published book, BLACK OUT released. (Details here). Not my writing news but Deena and I have been critique partners since 2006 so I was way excited for her!. Check it out on Amazon if you haven't yet.

SEPTEMBER
In September I was a promo queen, getting ready for a new release. Answering a gazillion interviews for a blog tour and ordering promo stuff like these bookmarks.

I'm always willing to send them (and any of my other bookmarks) to readers, libraries etc. so hit me up here or on twitter (@TinaSpringer) and I'll send you some.

OCTOBER
In October, my fifth book BOY SWAP went on sale.

NOVEMBER
In November My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours was still making the rounds at Scholastic Book Fairs. Do you guys know how much I LOVE Scholastic Book Fairs? I so want to get another middle grade with Scholastic. One of my 2014 goals!

The German edition of My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours also came out. Funny enough, the translation of the title is: My totally fictional dream prince is but sweeter than yours.

DECEMBER
In December the paperback of My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours came out and it's sooooo cute!

I love that the Meg Cabot blurb is on the front cover and that there is a good long interview with me in the back (where I tell way too much info) and the first chapter of Just Your Average Princess follows. I'm hosting a release contest on my blog until 1/15/14 here. Lots of goodies, so check it out!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
That's it for 2013. I'm looking forward to a writing-filled 2014, with hopes of completing two middle grade books and a new YA ebook. Wishing you a happy, healthy, & productive new year!

My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours Release Contest!

MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS paperback will be released on 12/31/13! Pre-order from Amazon now for $6.29 or pick-up in bookstores at the end of the month.

To celebrate I'm having a Fake Boyfriend Release Contest which will run until January 15th. One lucky winner (U.S. only) will win:

• A $20 gift card (Starbucks or Amazon, your choice!), 
• Autographed copy of My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours, 
• Fake Boyfriend Emergency Kit, and a 
• Variety of bookmarks/stickers from all of my books

What's a Fake Boyfriend Emergency Kit you ask? Well, it's a handy kit to keep on you in case you're about to be found out that your boyfriend is fake. Inside are things like the locket he gave you, rose petals from the flowers he sent, and ticket stubs from the movie you went to on your first date. ;-)

Enter on the rafflecopter below and please spread the word about the contest and the paperback release of My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Books to Movies Giveaway Hop: THE ESPRESSOLOGIST

Thanks for stopping by my blog during the Bookhounds & I Am a Reader, Not a Writer Books to Movies Giveaway Hop!

If you're new to me and my books I'm a young adult/middle grade author and I write mostly fun, light, contemporary books. You can find out more about me here. My newest young adult book, BOY SWAP, comes out October 16th. If you're a regular to my blog you know that I sold film rights to THE ESPRESSOLOGIST last year. So exciting! In May, Alloy Digital announced the web series, Espressologist, at Digital Content Newsfronts, which was SO cool! You can read about that here and here. They said it's slotted to release this holiday season. And they included new details on the script:

"Based on the popular book by Kristina Springer, The Espressologist mixes one part Central Perk from Friends with a splash of Jane Austin’s Emma to create a series brimming with humor and heart.

Working at her neighborhood coffee shop as a barista, twenty-something Chelsea has a front-row seat to people and their crazy, entertaining lives. Always an astute observer of human nature, Chelsea stumbles upon a methodology that makes a love connection between her customers’ personalities and their drink orders. This comedic series follows Chelsea as the stakes are raised and her bizarre dating formula leads to more people (namely friends and co-workers) looking for Chelsea to replicate her success. But will she ever make a match for herself?"

If you've read the book you'll notice Jane is now Chelsea and she's aged a bit. I can't wait to see what else is new! I'm so excited to see the book come to life!

If you want a chance to read the book before the series premieres, I'm giving away an autographed hard cover copy of THE ESPRESSOLOGIST (with bookmarks/stickers) to one lucky winner (US only).

About the book:

What’s your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you’re lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it’s a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie. Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it’s not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane’s Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She’s the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right?

***

And if you want a chance to win even more books, follow the list below my Rafflecopter form to go to other great websites on the blog hop!

Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book News! New YA Release Coming this Fall!

COMING THIS FALL...

Boy Swap: The secret to sisterly love and scholarly bliss.

Research shows that seven out of ten girl fights are over a guy. The Boy Swap Club fixes all that. In an effort to spread around male cuteness and minimize fights and backstabbing, they just share boyfriends. And Brooke Thomas, consummate band member, has been asked to join the super secret club because the president of the club has the hots for her guy.

Brooke doesn’t want to share her boyfriend. I mean, who does? But how can she say no? She, a second chair flutist in the school band, finds herself sitting between the Varsity Cheerleader Captain and the Homecoming Queen at the first meeting. Her friends will never believe this in a million years.  Too bad she can’t tell them. But she knows. This one event can change her entire life. What if she becomes actual friends with one of these girls? It might be worth sharing her boyfriend. 

Besides, he'll always love her best, right?

---

"So freaking funny! You will cry because you're laughing so hard. Seriously. Rivers of tears."

-Megg Jensen, bestselling author of Shucked

My Favorite Room (and update on Espressologist the web series + awesome sales on my books!)

*cross-posted from Author2Author.com

I've been MIA for quite awhile. It seems I can't to do too many things at once. We moved in mid-April and the process of getting all of the stuff for 6 people packed and moved was enormous for me! I barely got any writing done. Ok, I didn't write at all during that process. But we're all moved in and I'm getting back to work now. I've been working on the first book in a middle grade series, making notes on a new middle grade book that I'm super excited about, and starting edits on a young adult book. And of course enjoying summer with the kids.

I wanted to share my favorite room in our new house: the library. I've always wanted a library! And this one comes with a coffee bar so I'm hooked (ok, they used it as a library/wine room, but you know me: coffee, coffee, coffee!). Anyway, it's a little room right off of the family room and the kids (and me) love to go in here to read. Here are some pics.

  

(looking in)

 

(the coffee bar)

(cute window to sit by)

(kids fave place to read)

(up close of the books. Still a work in progress as I keep finding boxes of books in the house)

In other updates, in May Alloy Digital announced the web series, Espressologist, at Digital Content Newsfronts, which was SO cool!. You can read about that here. They included some new details about the script:

"Based on the popular book by Kristina Springer, The Espressologist mixes one part Central Perk from Friends with a splash of Jane Austin’s Emma to create a series brimming with humor and heart.

Working at her neighborhood coffee shop as a barista, twenty-something Chelsea has a front-row seat to people and their crazy, entertaining lives. Always an astute observer of human nature, Chelsea stumbles upon a methodology that makes a love connection between her customers’ personalities and their drink orders. This comedic series follows Chelsea as the stakes are raised and her bizarre dating formula leads to more people (namely friends and co-workers) looking for Chelsea to replicate her success. But will she ever make a match for herself?"

So excited to see the book come to life! (Notice how Jane is now Chelsea and she aged a bit? Can't wait to see what else is new!)

There is also some great sales on my books this week. On Amazon, the paperback of The Espressologist is only $3.60. Just Your Average Princess in hard cover is $6.40. And The Paparazzi Project is on sale for 99 cents at B&N and Amazon.

Thanks for reading all the way through this lengthy post. More soon from me, I promise!

Young Adult Giveaway Hop!

Thanks for stopping by my blog during the I Am a Reader, Not a Writer & BookLove101's, Young Adult Giveaway Hop!

If you're new to me and my books I'm a young adult/middle grade author and I write mostly fun, light, contemporary books. My newest YA, THE PAPARAZZI PROJECT, just came out on kindle last month and I'm giving away FIVE copies of it for this hop! Five lucky winners will be chosen! Remember, if you don't have a kindle you can download the free app for your iphone, ipad, or PC.

About the book:

Livvie Peterson thought taking Interpersonal Communications her junior year would be an easy A. But when the first assignment is given, her world flips upside down. Here’s the deal: the class is assigned a six-week project and is split into three groups— Paparazzi, Tabloid, and Celebrities. The Paparazzi follow around the Celebrities taking pictures and grabbing any kind of quotes they can. The Celebrities try to navigate being tailed on a daily basis. And the Tabloid receives all the information collected by the Paparazzi and decides what makes the weekly summary report. Sounds harmless…and it’s all just pretend anyway, right?

Livvie is assigned as Paparazzi and when she is matched up with the über -cute Chas Montgomery as her Tabloid boss she’s pretty sure things couldn’t get much better. Livvie’s uncanny ability to capture the Celebrities in compromising photos matched with Chas’s skill of exaggerating captions and editing the photos make them an unstoppable team. And the long hours working side by side with Chas aren’t a bad bonus. 

Livvie simultaneously launches an anonymous blog, leaking the class’ photos and stories on the Internet. Her rising follower number quickly becomes addicting and she possibly spills too much information online. Once she finds her own celebrity will she be able to give it back? And will Chas be gone before she ever has the chance to find out?

THE PAPARAZZI PROJECT is an approximately 50,000 word young adult novel, written by the author of THE ESPRESSOLOGIST and the best-selling MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS.

***

And if you want a chance to win even more books, follow the list below my Rafflecopter form to go to other great websites on the blog hop!

Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop!

Thanks for stopping by my blog during the I Am a Reader, Not a Writer's, Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop!

If you're new to me and my books I'm a young adult/middle grade author and I write mostly fun, light, contemporary books. My newest YA, THE PAPARAZZI PROJECT, just came out on kindle three weeks ago.

I'm so excited for this hop! My shelves are overflowing with young adult books and I've got a stack to giveaway! (shipping in the US only) Click on the title link to read more about each book:

The Au Pairs by Melissa De La Cruz

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer (and I'll sign it to you!)

And if you want a chance to win even more books, follow the list below my Rafflecopter form to go to other great websites on the blog hop!

Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read "Cart Princess" on Wattpad

Guys, I put my YA Contemp short story, "Cart Princess" up on wattpad today! Check it out and comment!