Blue is also for Dreaming

To celebrate the 20 th anniversary of Blue is for Nightmares, check out Blue is also for Dreaming, a companion novella to the series. Blue is also for Dreaming flashes us forward 20 years, returning us to Hillcrest Prep, where we meet Stacey’s daughter, Anna LeBlanc. The companion novella is currently available as an e-book, wherever you buy your e-books. Someone’s watching you . . .

The nightmares are back. Only it’s twenty years later, and Stacey Brown’s daughter, Anna LeBlanc, is experiencing haunting dreams that keep her awake at night. The dreams involve Madeleine, a fellow student at Hillcrest Prep, the same boarding school that Stacey and friends attended all those years ago. In her dreams, Anna sees Madeleine trapped in a closet with a blood-stained note at her feet. As the nightmares get progressively detailed and disturbing, Anna remains in denial, keeping the dreams a secret. She doesn’t want to believe they could be prophetic, like her mother’s, nor does she want to feel responsible for someone else’s life—even if that someone is a close friend.

If only Anna could embrace the power of magic to help her cope. But Anna hates all things magical, despite having been raised on moon-bathed milk, lavender-sprinkled bedsheets, and crystals. After all, magic wasn’t able to save her father, so what good is it? But as eerie things start happening in Madeleine’s life—creepy notes, menacing phone calls, and a mysterious person lurking—Anna can’t deny it: her premonitions are real, and if she doesn’t embrace her abilities and use them to help her friend, Madeleine might just wind up dead.

Excerpt:

The nightmares are back. Only it’s twenty years later, and Stacey Brown’s daughter, Anna LeBlanc, is experiencing haunting dreams that keep her awake at night. The dreams involve Madeleine, a fellow student at Hillcrest Prep, the same boarding school that Stacey and friends attended all those years ago. In her dreams, Anna sees Madeleine trapped in a closet with a blood-stained note at her feet. As the nightmares get progressively detailed and disturbing, Anna remains in denial, keeping the dreams a secret. She doesn’t want to believe they could be prophetic, like her mother’s, nor does she want to feel responsible for someone else’s life—even if that someone is a close friend.

Blue is for Nightmares

"I Know Your Secret . . ."

Nightmares, Dark Secrets, Premonitions of Death.

Welcome to Stacey's World!
Over 500k copies sold, worldwide

Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers List
Top Ten Teen Pick List
Popular Paperback List

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Stacey's junior year at boarding school isn't easy. She's not the most popular girl at school, or the smartest, or the prettiest. She's got a crush on her best friend's boyfriend, and an even darker secret that threatens to ruin her friendships for good. And now she's having nightmares again. Not just any nightmares – these dreams are too real to ignore, like she did three years ago. The last time she ignored them, a little girl died. This time they're about Drea, her best friend who's become the target of one seriously psycho stalker. It started with weird e-mails and freaky phone calls. Now someone's leaving Drea white lilies – the same death lilies that have been showing up in Stacey's dreams. Everybody thinks it's just a twisted game . . . until another girl at school is brutally murdered. There are no witnesses. Worst of all, no one has a perfect alibi. With everyone as a potential suspect, Stacey turns to the one secret weapon she can trust – the folk magic taught to her by her grandmother. Will Stacey's magic be strong enough to expose the true killer, or will the killer make her darkest nightmares come true?

Now available as a special edition, including series-inspired poetry and spells written by the fans themselves.

The Blue is for Nightmares series titles have been translated worldwide, including in the following languages: Chinese Simplified, Chinese Complex, Brazilian, Dutch, Korean, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Thai, Somalian, Taiwanese, Turkish, Polish, Spanish, and Indonesian.

Published:

Bleed

Ten teens, one unforgettable day

Book Cover: Bleed
Editions:Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0786838547
Paperback
ISBN: 978-0786838554

“A funny, yet poignant book of interconnecting short stories in which the lives of 10 teens are seamlessly woven together.” – School Library Journal

Over the course of a single day, the lives of ten teenagers will intersect in powerful and unexpected ways.

Among them are Nicole, whose decision to betray her best friend will shock everyone, most of all herself; Kelly, who meets the convicted felon she’s been writing to for years; and Maria, whose definition of a true friend is someone who will cut her. Derik discovers his usual good looks and charm won’t help him get the girl he really wants, while Joy, a fifteen year old waitress, hoping for true intimacy, narrowly escapes a very dark fate.

Seamlessly woven together, this collection of interconnected short stories paints an authentic portrait of today’s teen experience that is at once funny, moving, and often very haunting.

Published:
Publisher: Hyperion
Reviews:Anne Keller on RandomReads wrote:

"Stolarz expertly weaves a combination of stories the reader will remember for a long while."

Teenreads.com wrote:

"The reader is swept along in this masterful plotting of characters as their lives intertwine in most unexpected ways. Laurie Faria Stolarz has captured perfectly the angst and folly of the teenage world. BLEED will be a wonderful addition to high school and public library short story collections."

School Library Journal wrote:

“...a funny, yet poignant book of interconnecting short stories in which the lives of 10 teenagers are seamlessly woven together.... The author demonstrates the ability to identify with today’s teen experience, and she portrays the accompanying behavior and language realistically.”

Teensreadtoo wrote:

"Its deep messages and risqué language will make the reader feel pain, sorrow, and happiness for the characters, which are all well-developed. Readers will be pulled into every story....”

The Bulletin of Children’s Literature wrote:

"At times funny and touching…these stories provide a glimpse into the lives of today's teens."

VOYA wrote:

“…the narrators' stories and viewpoints stand well clarified and unique, with the building tensions among them creating a unifying force…. Plot and character are equally important here, and the author is clever enough to keep the story arcs braided rather than tangled….motives and emotions are credible and each (character) has at least one sympathetic facet.”


Deadly Little Lessons

Camelia Hammond's trying junior year of high school is finally over...but her troubles aren't. After she discovers a painful truth about her family, she escapes to a summer arts program in Rhode Island. Determined to put family - and boyfriend - drama behind her, she throws herself into her artwork.

At the arts school, she gets caught up in the case of Sasha Beckerman, a local girl who is missing. Even though all signs suggest that the teen ran away, Camelia senses otherwise. Eager to help the girl, she launches her own investigation. She finds a blog by someone named Neal Moche, a psychometric who might have clues to Sasha's whereabouts. There is something familiar about Neal, and Camelia realizes how much she misses Ben, despite being committed to Adam.

But time is running out for Sasha, and Camelia will have to trust her powers if she's to save her. Will the lessons Camelia has learned in the past give her the strength to do so?

 

Published:
Publisher: Hyperion
Reviews:Teenreads.com wrote:

"Laurie Faria Stolarz’s Touch series continues to thrill and entertain. The pages fly by with a terrifying mystery, spicy romance and paranormal intrigue. As with her past books, Stolarz uses the clever technique of interspersing chapters from others' viewpoints in addition to Camelia's. She also weaves in a wonderful message of the importance of being true to oneself, showing this in Camelia’s aunt's struggles with mental health issues, Wes' fight against his father’s mission to change him into someone he’s not, and of course, Camelia’s journey toward accepting herself as the wonderfully unique person she is."


Deadly Little Secret

Some secrets shouldn't be kept...

Awarded Texas Tayshas List, 2010

Until three months ago, everything about sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at an art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes far from ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe he's trouble, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead she's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help – but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something...but he's not the only one with a secret.

 

Missed the Barnes & Noble exclusive editions of Deadly Little Secret and Deadly Little Lies? I'm now on Wattpad (so come follow me) and I'm releasing Ben's, Kimmie's, and Wes's bonus pages as well as some fun Stacey-and-the-gang pieces. Click here to check it out!

Awards

Popular Paperback Nominee, 2012, American Library Association
Reluctant Reader Quick Pick Nominee, 2010, American Library Association
Teens@Random, Favorite Book of 2009

Published:
Publisher: Hyperion
Reviews:Kelly Parra, author of INVISIBLE TOUCH wrote:

"A boy to admire from afar, a girl you want to befriend, a novel to
keep you turning the pages because you won't know who to trust. Laurie Faria Stolarz's DEADLY LITTLE SECRET is a blend of mystery, chills, and forbidden touches--one captivating story you have to experience."

Kirkus Reviews wrote:

"...lively first-person narrative.... CW-worthy dialogue, quirky secondary characters, romance and suspense: a winning combination"

Teens Read Too wrote:

“The book was full of shocking surprises and revelations, earning the book five stars. This is a must-read for fans of romance, suspense, and mystery because it won't disappoint.”


Enter the Dark House

Enter the Dark House is the heart-stopping bind-up of books one and two in the DARK HOUSE series, sure to leave you itching to turn the lights on.

What's your worst nightmare?

For Ivy Jensen, it's the eyes of a killer that haunt her nights. For Parker Bradley, it's bloodthirsty sea serpents that slither in his dreams.

And for seven essay contestants, it's their worst nightmares that win them an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at director Justin Blake's latest, confidential project. Ivy doesn't even like scary movies, but she's ready to face her real-world fears. Parker's sympathetic words and perfect smile help keep her spirits up. . . at least for now.

Not everyone is so charming, though. Horror-film fanatic Garth Vader wants to stir up trouble. It's bad enough he has to stay in the middle of nowhere with this group-the girl who locks herself in her room; the know-it-all roommate; "Mister Sensitive"; and the one who's too cheery for her own good. Someone has to make things interesting.

Except, things are already a little weird. The hostess is a serial-killer look-alike, the dream-stealing Nightmare Elf is lurking about, and the seventh member of the group is missing.

By the time Ivy and Parker realize what's really at stake, it's too late to wake up and run.

Published:

Jane Anonymous

Some truths you can never escape.

 

  • TLA 2021 TAYSHAS 
  • KIRKUS, Best Books of 2020, Young Adult, Mental Health
  • New England Book Award Nominee, 2020
  • YALSA 2021 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers 
  • YALSA 2021 Best Fiction for Young Adults Nominee
  • YALSA 2021 Amazing Audiobook Nominee
  • EPIC READS, Shimmy Award Nominee, 2020
  • South Carolina Book Award Nominee, 2021
  • Missouri Gateway Readers Award Finalist, 2022
  • Cybils Award Nominee, 2020
  • Must Read Contemporary, 2020, Nerd Daily  
  • Amazon Editors' Pick, 2020 & Top 10 Pick, January 2020

Jane Anonymous is a revelatory confessional of a seventeen-year-old girl’s fight to escape a kidnapper—and her struggles to connect with loved ones and a life that no longer exists.    

 

Seven months. That’s how long I was kept captive. Locked in a room with a bed, refrigerator, and adjoining bathroom, I was instructed to eat, bathe, and behave. I received meals, laundered clothes, and toiletries through a cat door, never knowing if it was day or night. The last time I saw the face of my abductor was when he dragged me fighting from the trunk of his car. And when I finally escaped, I prayed I’d never see him again.

 

Now that I’m home, my parents and friends want everything to be like it was before I left. But they don’t understand that dining out and shopping trips can’t heal what’s broken inside me. I barely leave my bedroom. Therapists are clueless and condescending. So I start my own form of therapy—but writing about my experience awakens uncomfortable memories, ones that should’ve stayed buried. How far will I have to go to uncover the truth of what happened—and will it break me forever?

Read an excerpt of Jane Anonymous here.

 

Jane Anonymous will be available in Russian and Turkish in 2021.

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Praise for Jane Anonymous:

"Stolarz ups the psychological ante...the depth of psychological intrigue is absorbing, and the twist on Stockholm syndrome disturbing...this novel is a testament to how the mind can reshape reality in order to survive...Powerfully graphic." - Kirkus, Starred Review

 

“A story about lingering trauma, loss, and the journey toward healing, this gripping crime novel could be a documentary from the Investigation Discovery channel. A must-read.” - School Library Journal

 

“Nervy and suspenseful…with poignant authenticity. This engrossing confessional is both heartbreaking and hopeful." - Booklist

 

"A timely, suspenseful tale of trauma and its aftereffects – of how you can never go home again and how the things you remember are just as important as those you don’t. Readers will devour each page like a trail of breadcrumbs, all the way up until the book’s twisty end. There is nothing anonymous about Jane – she is all of us." — Tonya Hurley, New York Times bestselling author of the Ghostgirl series and The Blessed trilogy

 

“Equal parts terrifying and heartbreaking. I’m STILL thinking about it.”Stacey Kade, author of Finding Felicity

 

“A brave and bold piece of fiction. Riveting. It will scare you, intrigue you, and keep you up reading way too late.”—C.C. Hunter, bestselling author

 

“A taut, potent page-turner, replete with shivers and plenty of twists. Ratchets up the tension and digs deep, offering the reader a nuanced reflection on identity, memory, and intimacy that grabs hold and doesn’t let go.”—Micol Ostow, bestselling author of Riverdale

 

"Jane Anonymous is a haunting, horrifying tale I won't soon forget. Jane grabbed me from the first page and still refuses to let go."  —Cyn Balog, Author of Alone and That Night

 

“Thrilling, captivating, and compulsively readable.”—Leila Sales, author of This Song Will Save Your Life

 

"An engrossingly tense yet tender story that digs deep. Jane Anonymous isn't your average thriller, it's full of heart and determination." —Tiffany D. Jackson, author of Let Me Hear a Rhyme and Monday's Not Coming
Published:

The Last Secret You’ll Ever Keep

Sometimes the biggest lies are the ones we tell ourselves.

Four days…
Trapped in a well, surrounded by dirt, scratching at the walls trying to find a way out.
Four days of a thirst so strong, that when it finally rains, I drink as much as possible from the dripping walls, not even caring how much dirt comes with it.

Six months…
Since my escape. Since no one believed I was taken to begin with – from my own bed, after a party, when no one else was home… Six months of trying to find answers and being told instead that I made the whole incident up.

One month…
Since I logged on to the Jane Anonymous site for the first time and found a community of survivors who listen without judgment, provide advice, and console each other when needed.  A month of chatting with a survivor whose story eerily mirrors my own: a girl who’s been receiving triggering clues, just like me, and who could help me find the answers I’m searching for.

Three days…
Since she mysteriously disappears, and since I’m forced to ask the questions: will my chance to find out what happened to me vanish with her? And will I be next?

 

Praise for The Last Secret You'll Ever Keep

"Effective and memorable…the bleak, soul-crushing terror of being surrounded by folks who don’t believe your trauma exists is the truest horror Stolarz explores.” - Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books

 

"The Last Secret You’ll Ever Keep is a frank, often searing look into the trauma that survivors of violence are forced to endure and overcome, and how that’s exacerbated when important people in their lives refuse to believe them. Palpable and authentic. I loved it." - Criminal Elements

 

"Stolarz’s ability to tap into a deeply emotional and authentic place gives victims a voice, while also opening up the door for understanding. This book will leave readers emotionally raw but also unable to put it down. Stolarz promises to deliver her stories in the most honest and demanding way possible, emotionally haunting her readers, while leaving them to linger deep within the pages of the story long after closing the book." - Dixon Independent Voice

 

Published:

White is for Magic

"I'm Watching You . . ."

One year later. It's happening again. Seventeen-year-old Stacey Brown is once again having nightmares – disturbing dreams haunted by the ghosts of people who have been brutally murdered. It's her senior year at boarding school, and what Stacey should really be focusing on are her classes and getting into college – not to mention the rocky path her love life has been taking lately. But even if she could ignore the dreams, Stacey can't ignore the strange letters that she's been receiving. No return address, no signature - and the same cryptic messages she's been hearing in her nightmares. What's worse is that Stacey's not the only one having nightmares. Jacob, a transfer student, claims that he's been having nightly premonitions of Stacey's death for months, dreams so realistic that he transferred schools to find her and stop the killer. It doesn't help that she's starting to have feelings for him even though she already has a boyfriend. But can she trust Jacob? Or will both their darkest dreams come true?

Published:

Love is Hell

Sure, love is hell. But it's totally worth it. Authors Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely), Scott Westerfeld (Specials), Justine Larbalestier (Magic or Madness), and Gabrielle Zevin (Elsewhere) join me in this compilation of supernatural love stories, where love may be twisted and turned around, but it's more potent than ever on its quest to conquer all. My story "Sleeping with the Spirit" is in here. You think you have love-life troubles? Try falling in love with a ghost who's using you to communicate with the living so that he may pass on.

Published:

Read my article, “Six Novels Exploring How (and How Long) We Process Trauma” on CrimeReads here.

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