Wickednormal Stories

Wouldn't it be nice to know what everyone is really thinking? What's truly important to them? Who they like? Who they don't? What's true and what's not? Who they are when nobody's watching? Their deepest, darkest secrets? Wicked Confessions provides its readers with exactly that - an abundance of transparency and insight into Persephone Smith's family, friends, fair-weather friends, and even foes. It picks up her story about a year after Wicked Dramatic ends, when the innocence of Diversity Middle School is only a distant memory. Sophomore year at Red Clover High School brings a whole new set of predicaments, dangers, heartbreaks, decisions, and jubilations. Some of the kids begin to drive, reach the age when their friendships are more valued than their families, embark on secret and not-so-secret romances, and occasionally, discover that the line between life and death gets blurry at times. Join fourteen-year-old Persephone Smith and the people who know her best as they share their wicked confessions (colorful language included) and say farewell forever to - not one, but - two of their Wicked Normal loved ones. Wicked Confessions is the long-awaited, fifth book in the Persephone Smith series by author Lauren Courcelle and marks the first young adult novel in the coming-of-age, realistic, paranormal, fantasy series. It was selected to be on the Wattys 2018 Longlist.

My first book, "Wicked Normal," kicks off my Persephone Smith series. I have heard feedback on Wattpad that folks would like to see where the characters started... so I'm giving my Wattpad readers a taste. Note: some don't show up until later books, but this is where it all started... Growing up with a unique quality, one assumes that everyone else does, too. Persephone Smith, the self-confident, fifth grade, narrating protagonist of "Wicked Normal," innocently views herself as "wicked normal," believing that everyone has the natural powers to have psychic visions, precognitive dreams, see ghosts, and make actions occur by speaking them. "Wicked Normal" chronicles the year when she discovers power in her natural abilities and realizes that not everyone has run-ins with fairies or communicates with ghosts. In many ways, her life is perfectly ordinary. She is the only child of Wally and Demi Smith, who provide her with a strong moral fiber, a very clear sense of right and wrong, and safety from the world. Although she describes her life as the "happily ever after," this year is full of complicated situations and shows her happiness exists solely because her parents love her, and each other, unconditionally. Despite a strong vocabulary and advanced maturity, Persephone is not perfect, making impulsive, innocently naïve choices with consequences. Her peers include: Gabby, the whiny tattle-tale at day camp; Coral, Persephone's "best friend" who throws temper tantrums if she doesn't get her way; Charles, the quintessential sci-fi/fantasy pre-teen geek; Joey, Persephone's blue-eyed, dimpled, crush; along with Seth, Jade, and others. "Wicked Normal" is intended for ages 9 and up. The real-life Vermont setting, lovable characters, and realistic fifth grade predicaments blend with the fantasy element of extraordinary powers to create an escape from reality for any "wicked normal" readers.