We are proud to announce that “Felony Melanie in Pageant Pandemonium,” a Sweet Home Alabama prequel novel, has been released!

Before Melanie Smooter became hot fashion designer Melanie Carmichael, she was known as Felony Melanie, the teenage troublemaker of Pigeon Creek, Alabama. Aching to escape the boredom of small-town life, she gets into many reckless adventures. Her boyfriend, Jake, is always by her side – and the local sheriff is usually close behind.

When Melanie qualifies for the Miss Alabama Princess Pageant Southern Regional, the first prize scholarship could be her ticket out of Pigeon Creek. But can a "trailer trash" girl outshine the snooty debutantes? Meanwhile, Jake and his friends suspect someone is sabotaging the pageant. They try to follow the clues, but it isn't easy when everyone dismisses you as redneck kids.

Melanie needs to prove herself on stage. Jake and the gang need to make sure she gets the chance. Can they show they're more than what people see on the surface?

Get it from Amazon US, other e-book retailers, or in Paperback:

We did a live virtual book launch party with guests from the movie!

Photo: Courtney Gains (Wade from the movie) during the launch party.

The host for the event is Gaby Mendez. Participants include authors Douglas Eboch and Kris Bock, Courtney Gains (Wade from the movie), and Fleet Cooper (Clinton from the movie). In addition, the video features three short readings with the help of Lana Ford, Alicia Wheeler, and Helen Yoeman-Shaw.

You can watch the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_8ZlPohypU

Trivia: How well do you know the movie? Here are five trivia questions for fans of the movie. Answers at the end of this newsletter.

1. According to Jake, what trouble DIDN’T Melanie get into when she was younger?

a) Shoplifting Steaks

b) Blowing up a bank

c) Breaking into the post office

d) Tipping a cow

2. Sheriff Wade got married to…

a) Dorothea

b) Lurlynn

c) Tabatha

d) Pearl

3. What did Melanie NOT replace when she redecorated Jake’s house?

a) Stove

b) Bed

c) Refrigerator magnets

d) Beer

4. Who were Jake’s coon dogs were named after?

a) Melanie’s parents

b) Members of Lynyrd Skynyrd

c) Southern food

d) A football coach

5. What did Bobby Ray put on top of Jake and Melanie’s wedding cake?

a) Barbie and Ken

b) Chess pieces

c) Rock ‘em Sock ‘em robots

d) Toy soldiers

Answers below.

Romance is in the Air: From sweet to spicy, you'll find all kinds of romance short stories, novellas, and novels, all FREE! (Including our Felony Melanie preview, Felony Melanie and the Moonshiner's Cabin, if you don’t already have that. It’s the first two chapters of Pageant Pandemonium, which stand alone as a short story so you can see if this novel is for you - or tell a friend!)

See all the free stories here: https://storyoriginapp.com/to/eZzcg66

Trivia Answers: 1-c, 2-a, 3-b, 4-d, 5-c