Fire! Yeah, Yeah!

Are you a Pyro?

If you don't know what that means, the answer is "no." What is a Pyro? A pyromaniac, or someone who plays with fire.

I'm a Pyro.

My dad dragged us kids up, through, and into the heart of the outdoors. Knowing how to build a fire was MANDATORY. (Like knowing how to tie your shoes.) I spent way too much time poking at the flames, learning the fine art of marshmallow roasting, and warming myself, mesmerized by the flickers of light. BUT, I also learned to be cautious of this hungry beauty. Part of our education included knowing where it was safe to build a fire so we didn't accidentally set the forest aflame, the proper tools to use, how to douse the coals so it would die, and recognizing when it was safe to walk away.

I think relationships are like a fire. They have to be built, and when first started, the flame is tenuous and needs to be sheltered. The fire grows only if it's fed, and you can't feed it too much an once, or you'll smother it. Eventually you'll have a roaring bonfire, but it too will die if not continuously fed. It provides incredible warmth, beauty and can be utilized to help you survive. Unlike a physical fire, there may never be a need to walk away, but if there is, those coals stay warm long after the flame has disappeared.

With that said, today I have the privilege of sharing my good friend, Julie Musil's brand spakin' new cover!

Manny O’Donnell revels in his status at the top of his high school food chain. He and his friends party in the mountains on a blustery night, sharing liquor and lame ghost stories around a campfire. The next morning, as a wild fire rages in those same mountains, Manny experiences doubt. He was the last of the drunken crew to leave the cave, and he’s uncertain if he extinguished the flames. Within hours, he becomes the number one arson suspect.

Santa Ana winds + matches = disaster. You’d think he would've learned that the first time he started a fire.

As he evades a determined arson investigator, Manny, a modern-day Scrooge, is visited by ghosts of the past, present, and future. He’s forced to witness the fate of his inadvertent victims, including Abigail, the scarred beauty who softens his heart. Manny must choose between turning around his callous, self-centered attitude, or protecting his own skin at the expense of anyone who gets in his way.

Julie Musil, author of YA fiction, is a chocoholic and obsessive reader. As the mother of three teen boys, she’s immersed in teen speak, drama, and gym socks. She loves to chat! Connect with her on her blog, Twitter, or Facebook. 

Awesome, right? I'm looking forward to this book sometime in early 2014. So are you a Pyro? Do you spaz out about flames? Have you ever accidentally set something on fire?