Jillian Dodd Has Got It Goin' On!

I first heard of and came to know Jillian Dodd in an on-line book club. She seemed so genuine, fresh, energetic and down to earth that I very quickly became enamored of her, as do most people who've had the pleasure of meeting her. (Although now that you've seen that picture of me with Jillian you can tell both that I'm totally smitten with her, and why!) And then I started reading her books!

The first one I read, That Boy, was so charming and cleverly written (love how the narrator's voice and perspective change as she grows up!), that I was immediately hooked, and from then on couldn't get enough.


But her awesome books (and gorgeous looks!) aren't the only reason I became and remain infatuated with Jillian, or the only thing about her that I want to talk about. Because another cool thing (cool almost to the point of intimidating!) is her energy, and her generosity of spirit (okay, that's two things, sue me!). For example, earlier this month (December 21st, right in the middle of Christmas preparation, which is no small undertaking in the Dodd household) Jillian launched a major marketing initiative - 99 authors, 99 EBooks for 99 cents - an idea she hatched while chatting to other writers about the best way to bring their books to the attention of the reading public.

Remember that General Waverly guy, from White Christmas?

Just like him, Jill assembled the troops, issued clear step-by-step instructions on what they needed to do, and how and when to do it. And just like in the movie, she was indefatigable in her support and her relentlessness: "We ate, and then she ate. We slept, then she slept. And when she woke up nobody slept for forty-eight hours!" (Okay, paraphrasing for rhetorical effect, but wow, she rocked - hard!) And the beautiful thing (from both an author and a reader point of view?) It worked! At the end of the 21st December, ten of the authors were in the top 100 in the Kindle store. (By this time Amazon had leapt aboard to assist in the 24hr price drop, and helped out with the Kindle Daily Deal). The majority of the authors saw their rankings soar. Many sold hundreds of books. Many were in the top five of their specific category genres! Readers were ecstatic, authors were excited and Jillian stayed up with virtually no sleep for forty-eight hours (Remember that General Waverly guy? That part I wasn't kidding about!) to make sure the whole thing went smoothly and to keep a cute and steady eye on the numbers.

So this post is partly in recognition and celebration of that event, and Jillian's amazing contribution to it.

But it's also about letting you in on Jillian's new series, The Keatyn Chronicles, an awesome reading experience I just don't want you to miss out on! What's up with that, you say?

Well, remember that first season of Gossip Girl, back when it was fun? Or Beverly Hills 90210, again in those glorious early days?

Well, if you got a kick out of those, you’re going to love the steamy Keatyn Chronicles. Readers have gone wild for Keatyn and her complicated life, never mind her even more complex love life.

Jillian’s ability to write such a fabulously drawn character has readers coming back for more again and again. Keatyn is rich, smexy and an awesome dresser and shoe-holic, who may look as if she has it all. But she's got her share of issues, too, one of which is a big ole scary stalker who haunts our girl thoughout Book One of the series, Stalk Me! It’s the sign of a great author when he/she deals honestly with a protagonist’s flaws, but still leaves us loving her. And while Keatyn has probs aplenty, she also has smarts, sex appeal (did I mention that?) and the ability to make a reader laugh out loud at times, and bring a lump to your throat, as well.

The secondary characters too, are beautifully and vividly brought to life, especially the guys. I'm lucky enough to be in a group where girls find these guys so droolworthy, that they're posting and rabidly commenting on pics of who they'd cast as these competitors for Keatyn's heart (and panties!) But don't take my word alone, Stalk Me has garnered over 138 five star reviews. That is a crapload of amazeballs right there, my friends!

Curious now? Here’s the blurb for Stalk Me:

Gossip Girl meets Hollywood in this steamy new series by That Boy author, Jillian Dodd.

Keatyn has everything she ever dreamed. Her life is following the script she wrote for the perfect high school experience. She's popular, goes to the best parties, dates the hottest guy, and sits at the most-coveted lunch table.

She's just not sure she wants it anymore.

Because, really, things aren't all that perfect.
Her best friend is threatening to tell everyone her perfect relationship is a scam.
Her perfect boyfriend gets drunk at every party they go to.
It's exhausting always trying to look and act perfect.
And, deep down, she isn't sure if she has any true friends.

To add to the drama, her movie star mom has a creepy stalker.
A hot, older man flirts with her and tells her they should make a movie together.
And she's crushing on an adorable surfer. Dating him would mean committing social suicide.

So she writes a new script. One where all the pieces of her life will come together in perfect harmony.
But little does she know, there's someone who will do anything to make sure that doesn't happen.



Book two of The Keatyn Chronicles is titled Kiss Me. Since it’s release on the 26th of November, it has 157 five star reviews. And look at that cover model! If I ever get the chance, it will be super hard not to take her up on the invitation of this title, right? Who could blame me!

Here’s its blurb:

I’ve always written scripts for my perfect life.
But no way could I have ever scripted this.
My life is so far from perfect, it’s not even funny.
All because of a stalker.

I’m at a boarding school, where I have to lie about who I am.
I can’t see my family.
I’m tutoring a hottie god that tortures me with his smile.
The most popular girl already hates me.
But there’s this boy.
This hot, sweet, sexy boy.
So I’m going to stop trying to script my life and just live it.
Because who knows how long I have left.


Thanks to awesome author CC MacKenzie, for helping me with this post (although any errors are certainly mine!) And a further mega-tip of the old chapeau to extraordinary author and friend Charles Sheehan-Miles, who came with the idea for this burst of blog-thusiasm for Jillian!

Check out Jillian's wonderful books at these links!

Kiss Me

Stalk Me

Jillian Dodd's Author Website

Jillian Dodd facebook page

Jillian Dodd Goodreads page