Authors, Kai Strand & LA Dragoni

I'm so excited for the official release of WORTH THE EFFORT: AYDEN'S STORY, the novella duet to ELLA'S STORY . Seventeen-year-old Ayden Worth shouldn’t have to seek peace of mind in the streets. But as family pressures mount, his anxieties increase, and he turns his back on comfort for a life in homeless camps and back alleys. Then one fateful day he runs into the only person he ever wanted to know better. Ella Jones. His memories paint her as kind and undemanding, and it seems the years haven’t changed her. Her simple expectations draw him to her. Against all odds, a relationship buds and grows. Yet, as Ayden repairs his life, Ella suggests he help others who also struggle. Will Ella turn out to be just like his dad, expecting more from him than he can give? Or will he prove that he is worth the effort? *** What do I mean by novella duet? Each story is told in the main character's point of view. Ella kicked it off by explaining to us what it was like to ...

My sister-in-law approached me a while back to ask if I'd help her spread the word about a project she is involved in. She knew I might be interested, because the project benefits homeless youth, a subject I address in my Worth the Effort series.  One of the reasons I chose to tell Ayden's Story is because I feel it is VERY important to 1) expose people (especially teens) to the fact that there are homeless kids and 2) let people know there are so many different reasons kids end up on the streets. The underage homeless population is exceptionally vulnerable and really flies under the radar. So when Dianne approached me, I jumped on the chance. I'll repeat: There are so many reasons kids end up on the streets. Dianne Hartsock is here to share some with you, along with the anthology project she's a part of. Since it is RELEASE DAY for the anthology, we're among the first to hear about it. Take it away, Dianne. *** Thank you Kai for having me over! I wanted ...