SO thrilled to say that my second spooky book baby is out in the world! You can purchase THE COLLECTORS from any bookseller, but signed copies are available at RJ Julia Booksellers (while supplies last.)

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey. I just finished up FRIGHT WATCH 3: UNMASKED, and I can't wait to share more scary stories. Stay tuned for a cover reveal in the coming months!

Looking for a signed FRIGHT WATCH book? Order through RJ Julia Independent Booksellers. They are located in CT, but ship nationwide. If you order online, just add in the notes that you would like it signed. 

I hope to see you at my book launch on August 31st! 

The Stitchers is now available in paperback! And they have the snazzy updated cover that matches the title of The Collectors! Find a copy wherever books are sold. 

Don't forget to check out the Middle Ground Book Fest this weekend, August 7-8th! I'm one of the four founders, and all panels will be posted to our YouTube channel throughout the weekend. These videos are PERFECT to use in the classroom, so teacher friends - don't miss out. Some of the topics include witches, folklore, crushes, book covers - and so much more. We're also doing a bunch of giveaways for books and Owl Crate Jr. box subscriptions. Stock up those libraries! 

Hi friends! Can you believe it's almost the end of July?? I hope you're having a lovely summer!

I want to take a second and chat about the importance of scary books. 

You may know that I'm one of the founders of the Middle Ground Book Fest, a virtual, free literary festival that focuses on the 8-14 year old reader. We recently recorded a panel devoted to scary books, and one of the discussions was about why scary books are incredibly valuable to have in the classroom. As a middle school Language Arts teacher, I think about this topic A LOT. I've heard many English teachers say that they only want "important" books in their classrooms. This is usually code for contemporary realistic fiction. Books with buzz and a shiny sticker on the cover. And while I also love these kinds of books, it's a disservice to kids if we don't open their eyes to ALL kinds of literature - including the scary stuff. 

Middle grade horror books can often times be the key to getting reluctant readers to WANT to go to the library. An important goal for all teachers is to foster a love of reading. Genre fiction can be an integral part of this. I had a Language Arts teacher in fifth grade who had a CABINET dedicated to RL Stine books. She would read Goosebumps to us for read-alouds. Even kids who claimed they "hated" to read were begging her to keep turning the page. It was magic. It brought us all together, kind of like the campfire effect. 

The benefit of scary stories doesn't stop there. They are also great for model lessons on the mechanics of plot, pacing, building suspense, and crafting vivid descriptions. They can also be used to teach kids how to make inferences. 

So if you're an educator or parent and feeling a bit nervous about giving scary stories to your child, give it a try! And be sure to check out the Middle Ground Book Fest panel on August 8th at 2pm EST; they'll be chatting more about this topic, and it's a great way to discover more spooky reads! 

​Hi friends! 

I'm currently running a multiple book giveaway this week on my socials. If you don't follow me on Twitter or Instagram, then you can enter here by using the CONTACT page of this website. 

Tuesday's prize: a new paperback copy of THE STITCHERS.
Wednesday's prize: an annotated hardcover copy of THE STITCHERS.
Thursday's prize: a pre-ordered hardcover of THE COLLETORS.
Friday's prize: a paperback copy of THE STITCHERS. AND!! a hardcover of THE COLLETORS: both books! 

Winners will be announced on Sunday, July 11th. 

Happy haunting!
​Lorien

It's finally summer! If you've read my bio, you probably already know that I'm a middle school English teacher. Today we finally said goodbye to this disjointed, stressful schoolyear. Now that I'll have more time, I hope to update this page a little more often, including details about my recent projects, giveaways for THE COLLECTORS, and much more. Stay tuned!

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If you've been following me on social media, you probably already know this BUT!!!
FRIGHT WATCH is getting a third installment! 
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I hope you all had a safe and peaceful holiday season. I can't believe we're almost to 2021! This year has been awful in so many ways, and amazing in others. I mean, MY BOOK CAME OUT! Seeing THE STITCHERS on shelves has been a lifelong dream realized. I've made such amazing friends in my debut group, and I've had the please of speaking with readers, teachers, librarians, and other authors. 

And the sequel, THE COLLETORS, is almost done! So much of my heart went into this book, and I can't wait to share it with all of you. Look for it in fall 2021 (actual date TBD). And keep checking back here: I'll be sharing the cover soon! 

Until then, have a happy and healthy beginning of 2021!