Every once in awhile we achieve something huge on our personal bucket list …

In addition to working for Russell Gearhart Photography, I (Ingrid) also write young adult novels. And last week my debut novel ALL WE LEFT BEHIND hit the bookshelves! The novel is published by Simon Pulse (the teen imprint of Simon and Schuster) and is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, your local bookstore, and even Walmart.

Holy moly!

Yup, we’re pretty dang excited over here at the Gearhart household!

School Library Journal says ALL WE LEFT BEHIND is “a poetic and tumultuous tale of love and loss that will appeal to fans of both realistic fiction and romance.” The story focuses on teen couple Marion and Kurt, who’s every kiss unravels memories they would both rather forget, and long-buried secrets threaten to tear them apart. Explosive together and hollow apart, Marion and Kurt may be totally wrong for each other – or more right than they ever thought possible.

Thanks for letting me geek-out and share this exciting life achievement here on the blog! Russell has been an incredible support during this whole process. He’s also pretty excited to finally get to read the book. Yes … he’s had to wait with everyone else to get his hands on the book.

ALL WE LEFT BEHIND Synopsis:

For fans of Simone Elkeles and Courtney Summers, this haunting debut novel is about two teenagers battling their inner demons as they fall in love for the first time.

When shy bookworm Marion Taylor meets sexy soccer captain Kurt Medford at a party, what seems like a sure thing turns into a total mess. One minute they’re alone in the middle of the lake, igniting sparks of electricity. And the next they’re on dry land, pretending they don’t even know each other. But rather than the end, that night is the beginning of something. Something real and terrifying and unforgettable.

As Marion and Kurt struggle to build the fragile pieces of a relationship, every kiss uncovers memories both of them would rather stay buried. Marion desperately wants to trust him, to share the one secret she’s never told anyone – but some truths aren’t meant to be spoken aloud. While Kurt is still haunted by his mother’s death, by the people he hurt, and by the mistakes he can never take back. Explosive together and hollow apart, Marion and Kurt may be totally wrong for each other – or more right than they ever thought possible.

For ages 14+

Read the first chapter of the book here: All We Left Behind Chapter One

Thank you for your support! Happy reading everyone.