Alana Siegel
Alana Siegel is the author of the Olivia Hart and the Gifted Program fantasy YA series. She was raised on Long Island, New York. She was the valedictorian of Plainedge High School and graduated with a B.A. and double major in Finance and Accounting from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University. Since early childhood she has loved to read fantasy books. Add a little romance and a happy ending and in her eyes you have a perfect afternoon of reading.
The Charm
THE CHARM is a young adult fantasy novel and book #1 in the Olivia Hart and the Gifted Program series.
The Charm on Amazon
The Charm Trailer
Description
THE CHARM is a young adult fantasy novel and book #1 in the Olivia Hart and the Gifted Program series.
When shy, sixteen year old, Olivia Hart, witnesses the actual rainstorm her ex-boyfriend, Max Smarr, creates in her high school cafeteria, she's convinced she's lost her mind. Nothing will prepare her, however, for the discovery of her own special Gift.
Olivia Hart has always been satisfied living in the shadows of her peers, and so high school doesn't get any easier when her charismatic brother goes off to college and her relationship with her edgy boyfriend comes to an end. When she comes across an antique charm, she finds out that she can compel people with her mind and hiding is no longer an option. With the help of her friends in the Gifted Program and each of their special Gifts, what happens next in this young love and coming of age story will force Olivia into the spotlight, test her friendships, and cause her to question her role in a society.
Book #2 in the Olivia Hart and the Gifted Program series will be available summer 2012!
The Retreat
THE RETREAT is a young adult fantasy novel and book #2 in the Olivia Hart and the Gifted Program series.
The Retreat on Amazon
The Retreat Trailer
Description
Just a few months ago, Olivia Hart and Jaime Forte were shy girls, entering another high school year with apprehension. Discovering their special Gifts changes everything. They approach the spring of their junior year more confidently, as independent and self-sufficient young adults. Olivia has even managed to snag Justin Benz as a secret boyfriend.
The kids in the Gifted Program quickly realize there were many things their ex-teacher, Ms. Magos, wasn't completely honest about. With no one left to answer their questions, Jaime speculates that a relative chooses the most worthy descendant to pass on their Gift. She convinces her friends that her great Aunt Evelyn can reveal the details of their jewelry’s past and teach them about their Gifts. Olivia's insecurities have her wondering why a relative from the charming Elste family would pick her to receive a Gift instead of her charismatic brother. Then she learns the immense strength of her Gift. Once again, Prometheus will force this tight-knit group of exceptional teenagers to face their true feelings about themselves and each other.
Dedication
I would like to thank my family; Renee, Roger, and Jesse Siegel, for your unrelenting support for all my ideas and for reminding me that you are proud of anything and everything that I accomplish, especially if it follows rules one, six, and seven (have fun!). Furthermore, to Stefan Mag, thank you for inspiring me with your own dedication and passion for projects and for stepping out of your comfort zone to read my novel simply because you love me.
A special thank you to my PR and editing teams for taking a break from your day jobs to lend your creativity and advice, inspiring my dynamic characters, and enduring the countless hours I talked about the book. Sarah Moeller, Emily Dolan, Meg Costello, Kelly Garone, and Isabel Conde, thank you for your unconditional and endless support, whether it was responding to emails about nitty gritty details, texting me when you read my book on vacation, or instant messaging me to discuss superpowers. Dahlia Dressler and Maayan Shemesh, thank you for the chapter by chapter analysis, your fresh perspective on my plot, and for sharing a love of books and reality TV. Ashlee Licitra and Jennifer Pitera, both of you saw the book at completely different stages and knew exactly the type of feedback I needed. Thank you for sharing my excitement. Your attention to detail was appreciated. Matthew Rao and Anthony Amoruso, thank you for humoring my request to read my book. I am grateful for your friendship, encouragement, and thoughtful feedback.
A loving thank you to my family and relatives who helped me build this dream book into a reality. A very special thank you to my Uncle, Gary Levine, who went above and beyond with his help, advice, and connections to create my beautiful cover. Thank you, Glenn Goldberg and Lynda Lupino, for sharing your expertise on the publishing industry. Amy Kenigsberg, Fabiola Edouard, Rich Costello, Elin Strong, and Carolyn Torsiello, thank you for sharing your marketing knowledge and guiding me through the scary jungle of social media.
