New YA Release Connects with Rural Teens

    ALBUQUERQUE, NM, May 04, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Progressive Rising Phoenix Press is pleased to announce the release of Diamonds at Dusk by Catalina Claussen. Claussen's debut novel is a young adult romantic adventure set in southwestern New Mexico. She was inspired to write a book that portrayed the lives of adolescent teens that live in rural areas. Noting many books available in the YA genre about teens and their experiences in urban areas, an experience that her adolescent daughter is unfamiliar with living in the Mimbres Valley, she specifically set about to write Diamonds at Dusk in her town setting.

"There are so many rural teens out there who search for literature that reflects their experiences, living down dusty dirt roads, surrounded by wild things." - Catalina Claussen.

About the book:
It's hard to miss Cascade Rose Jennings. She's the one in cowgirl boots who up until this morning wasn't interested in boys. But, on the eve of her sixteenth birthday something inside her knocks loose. His name is Chadwick Dean Holbrook, a college prep school boy from Albuquerque and Cassie's long-time "fair weather" friend. Every year, at summer's end he disappears from her Grandpa Norm's high desert ranch in southwestern New Mexico. This time, he promises to stay for Cassie's birthday. Just when Cassie thinks she can count on him, Chad breaks his promise. He leaves behind an endearing, flirtatious treasure hunt. Cassie, filled with renewed hope, stifles a pang of jealousy when she discovers, her best friend, Ahzi Toadlena, is in on it. To make things worse, Cassie meets Maverick Britton, a charming misfit who threatens to steal her heart and the gold her Grandpa has kept quiet about all these years. Maverick has a dark secret that unwittingly draws Cassie and Ahzi into his perilous world. Chad, protective of his childhood friends, knows Maverick's kind. He returns in time to rescue Ahzi and help Cassie win back the gold. In the end, Cassie realizes that her friendships, her family, and deep connection to the land mean more to her than any romance.

About the author:
Catalina Claussen is a founding English teacher at Aldo Leopold Charter School in Silver City, NM. She is a graduate of Reed College, Prescott College, and Western New Mexico University and long-time resident of the Mimbres Valley. She writes poetry, short story, and YA novel.

To learn more about Catalina Claussen, go to her blog at:
https://catalinaclaussen.wordpress.com/

Diamonds at Dusk
ISBN 9781944277154
$12.95
This title is available for significant discounts to schools, libraries, non-profits, retailers, and vendors through Progressive Rising Phoenix Press or Ingram/LSI. For media requests or event bookings, please contact publisher at [email protected]

Review copies and author interviews available upon request. Authors work available where books are sold including Amazon, Barnes and Noble.com Ingram Catalog, and the Publisher.
Publishers Website

Progressive Rising Phoenix Press is building a select list. For this reason, we do not solicit authors, but do accept submissions. For a full explanation of our program prior to submitting please contact us.

All of our titles are available for significant discounts to schools, libraries, non-profits, retailers, and vendors through Progressive Rising Phoenix Press or Ingram/LSI. For media requests or event bookings, please contact publisher at [email protected]

# # #