Out of Tune

Out of Tune is a fabulous new adult novel written by Michelle Argyle, a very talented author and a dear friend of mine. This book holds a special place in my heart. Michelle told me the story idea before she ever set pen to paper (or hands to keys), and I was lucky enough to read an early draft.

Michelle always writes cleanly and beautifully, but this book blew me away. It's my absolute favorite piece of her writing. I was so drawn in to this story of Maggie, a young woman trying to find her place in the world--whether that's in or out of the shadow of her famous country star parents, whether it's singing with her own out-of-tune voice or writing lyrics for others, or whether it's in the arms of her best friend (and of-and-on-again boyfriend) or her new voice teacher.

I play guitar and sing, and I was amazed at how authentically Michelle captured the feel and art and detailed intricacy of these things. And I'm a huge fan of romance, and this book definitely had me swooning. I'm so proud of Michelle and this story and can't wait for it to be released on December 3rd so everyone else can join in the fun of reading it, too!

On a very cool and special note, Michelle surprised me with copy of the book the other day, and she dedicated it to me! It was a totally surreal moment that made me cry. Thank you, Michelle!

So, without further gushing (because I could do that forever), here's more about Out of Tune, including an awesome book trailer below.


Twenty-year-old Maggie Roads’ parents are legendary in the country music world. She wants nothing more than to follow in their footsteps, but the limelight isn’t reserved for singers who can’t carry a tune, let alone keep a rhythm.

When her parents tell her they’re getting divorced, Maggie decides it’s time to leave home and take her future into her own hands. Moving in with Cole, her best friend and sometimes boyfriend, might not be the best of ideas, but she’s got to start somewhere. Their off-and-on romance gets even more complicated when Maggie crushes on her new voice teacher, Nathan, who unlocks her stunning potential. A sensational music career of her own is finally within reach, but Maggie might need more than perfect pitch to find what she’s really looking for.

Official Release Date: December 3, 2013
Available Formats: all eBook formats and Print
Available Where: Everywhere online books are sold, as well as ordering from bookstores
Publisher: MDA Books
Official Book Page with Links: http://michelledargyle.com/books-2/out-of-tune/

Let's Hear it for the Boys

Little me

For a Christmas present to our distant relatives one year, my parents made an audio recording of our family talking and singing carols. My siblings and I took turns answering questions about our interests and what we'd been up to lately. When it  was my turn, my parents asked me, "Katie, what would you like to say to everybody?" I replied in a mischievous voice, "I like boys." I was all of two years old. I have no memory of this, but the old cassette tape I still have is tangible proof.

In the sixth grade, I started writing in a journal and was an avid journal-writer by high school. What did 99% of my journal entries have in common? You guessed it. Boys.

Some things never change.

Now as a happily-married thirty-four-year old, I am still boy crazy, but the boys I am crushing on (besides my husband!) are the ones I find in well-written novels. And I should take a moment to broaden my definition here: it's the romance, really, that compels me in a book--whether the narrator be a boy or a girl. I rarely read a book without romance that captivates me. Does that make me shallow? I don't think so. I think wanting to love and be loved is a fundamental and universal desire--one I want to share in as I take a journey with a character in a novel.

My favorite book genre is YA. Why, you ask? Boys. Ha! Well, more or less anyway. YA books often deal with first love and first heartbreaks...and when I read them I find that little girl within me still obsessing over boys.

Here are some YA novels that contain my favorite romances:

• Fire, by Kristin Cashore
• The Dead, Tossed Waves, by Carrie Ryan
• Matched, by Ally Condie
• Poison Study, by Maria V. Snyder
• Impossible, by Nancy Werlin
• The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
• City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare
• Unearthly, by Cynthia Hand
• Paranormalcy, by Kiersten White

You may have also noticed that these YA books are also fantastical in nature, but that is the subject of another blog entry!