![\"Divine](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.everywritersresource.com\/selfpublished\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/DBCover1.jpg?resize=370%2C510\" "\\"Divine")
Author<\/h2>\nChristina Surretsky<\/p>\n
Christina Surretsky did not actually want to be a writer when she grew up. No, she wanted to be Wonder Woman, Princess Leia or one of Charlie\u2019s Angels. After the realization that none of these would pan out, she decided to pursue a career in business, getting her undergraduate degree in Marketing from St. John\u2019s University and her MBA from New York University. After a career first in advertising (which she\u2019s sad to say is nothing like \u201cBewitched\u201d or \u201cMelrose Place\u201d) and then a gig as a mother (a field in which she currently still dabbles), she eventually heard the siren’s call of the pen (or, really, the computer) and began her career as a writer. She can currently be found writing for local journals and blogging for different sites (jerseymomsblogs.com, montclair.mommies247.com, and the soon to launch moxyandmain.com), as well as writing about writing at her own website, ChristinaSurretsky.com. Finally, she is thrilled to introduce her first novel, “Divine Bloodlines,” a funny, contemporary, teenage-angst filled entry into the YA paranormal romance genre. She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and her two sons, one of whom read her book and proclaimed it \u201cthe best book I\u2019ve ever read and I\u2019m not just saying that because you\u2019re my mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the recipe for a good book? Take a funny, cynical heroine; add the teenage-angst, hunky guys and romantic love triangle that made Twilight a must read; subtract the vampires (but keep the special powers); add a large dollop of wit and sarcasm; fold in an assortment of crazy supporting characters; mix with a contemporary flavor and you\u2019ll get Divine Bloodlines, the debut YA novel from author Christina Surretsky.<\/p>\n
Sixteen-year-old Zoey Chase is just your average-teenage girl whose social life isn\u2019t exactly what you would call \u201cthriving.\u201d Her social circle consists primarily of Alex, her gay best friend, who\u2019s hoping to finally find a boyfriend this year; Nina, her health nut mother, who tortures Zoey with her sugar-free, fat-free, organic household; Nona, her off the wall grandmother, who wants to write erotic books for senior citizens; and Tony, her grandmother\u2019s transvestite health aide, who enjoys dressing like Cher. And, mostly, that\u2019s the way Zoey likes it.<\/p>\n
However, Zoey has a secret that even those closest to her don\u2019t know: she can heal people by touching them. She discovered this power at a young age, but before she could ask her parents about it, her father died, and she was too late to help. How could Zoey possibly tell her mother about her ability to heal when she didn\u2019t save her father?<\/p>\n
Between her guilt, and her realization that if her power became public knowledge her life would spiral out of control and no longer be her own, Zoey has managed to keep her secret under wraps by keeping her distance from most people. However, all that changes when she meets the hot, handsome Mason brothers.<\/p>\n
When twins Asher and Levi move to town, they shake up more than Zoey\u2019s social life. Surprised by golden-boy Asher\u2019s interest, she agrees to go on a date. However, things don\u2019t go quite as planned and Zoey ends up stranded. Needing to find a way home, it\u2019s Asher\u2019s much despised, menacing, hulk of a brother Levi, who comes to her rescue.<\/p>\n
As Zoey grows closer to both brothers, she risks revealing her secret\u2014but in the process she may just discover they have some secrets of their own . . .<\/p>\n
An hour later, I looked like I was ready for the Vegas stage. I was wearing Tony\u2019s long, dark Cher wig, a ton of makeup, big hoop earrings, and a dress that my mother must have had for a hundred years. It was a low-cut, black, sequined number. \u201cYour father and I took a trip to Las Vegas. And you know what they say, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Well, except for that dress. It came home with me from Vegas.\u201d<\/p>\n
The dress actually fit me really well. It just hit the floor, giving it the look of a gown, which was perfect for the costume. And it had a long slit up the side.<\/p>\n
\u201cI cannot believe you guys did this to me. Will anyone even know who I\u2019m supposed to be?\u201d I asked Alex.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe gay ones will,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n
Tony scoffed as he fussed with my wig. \u201cCher is timeless. She\u2019s an icon. Everyone knows who Cher is. You\u2019ll be a hit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you say so.\u201d<\/p>\n
As out of character as it was for me\u00ac\u2014the sequins, the shoes, the makeup\u00ac\u2014I had to admit, I did look pretty hot. Definitely not like me. More like a movie star version of myself. Well, dressed as Cher.<\/p>\n
Alex ran upstairs to get ready as well. When he came down I was shocked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you were a member of StAB?\u201d I asked. That was my affectionate acronym for the Students Against Bullying club.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am,\u201d he replied, confused.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell then why are you dressed like that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike you want to get your ass kicked. You might as well wear a sign that says, \u2018Beat Me Up, Please.\u2019\u201d Alex was dressed as a mime.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not that bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, it is. Everyone hates mimes!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I don\u2019t and neither does Bobby. He\u2019s going as a mime, too. We\u2019re going as Shields and Yarnell.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShields and Yarnell. They are a famous mime duo from the 1970s.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you think anyone will know this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey don\u2019t have to know. We\u2019ll know. We\u2019re here. We\u2019re mimes. Get used to it!\u201d<\/p>\n
I rolled my eyes and gave up. \u201cFine. Whatever. It\u2019s your funeral.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alex mimed digging a hole, and then laid down and crossed his hands over his chest.
\n\u201cOh, for God\u2019s sake. Are you going to be doing this all night?\u201d<\/p>\n
He stood up, nodded and gave me a thumbs up sign.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just may have to beat you up myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
We left the house after posing for the requisite combination of pictures my mother insisted on taking, followed by my having her swear not to put any of them on Facebook. I\u2019m pretty sure she was lying to me, but what was I going to do? Mrs. Budnicki was outside smoking on her porch. She just looked at us and shook her head. Alex and I both waved at her, and then we burst out laughing as soon as we got into the car.<\/p>\n
http:\/\/christinasurretsky.com<\/a><\/p>\nBest place to buy your book<\/h2>\n