Hello folks!
The end of the year is near – very near – and what a better gift to make than a free ebook that has gathered a bunch of 5 star reviews so far! I’m very happy everyone is enjoying the story, and feels so touched by it. The ebook will be free on Amazon on December 24 and December 25.
For those who have showed so much love and support during this wonderful year, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. It was a dream to write, but this dream has become my reality for the past few years, and working on this book made me realize how much in love I am with words and great storytelling. I wouldn’t have published, and marketed this book without the help of a few folks I’d like to thank personally:
First, my dear author friend Minnie Lahongrais @Lahongrais, whose books are available on Amazon. Check her website here if you’d like to learn more about her work. Minnie is a truly gifted writer, and an amazing person to know.
Second, my editor Philip Newey @All_read_E, who gave me great advice and guided me in the right direction. His professionalism is outstanding. If you’re interested in hiring his editing services, you can check his website here.
Third, I’d like to thank author C.L. Schneider @cl_schneider for her amazing support on the Twittersphere. She has released a great fantasy book I’m currently reading, The Crown of Stones. My review of the book will be published within the next few weeks. She’s a wonderful wordsmith. Check her work on Amazon!
Last but not least, I’d like to thank Courtney Whittamore @CourtneysMorals for her amazing PR skills; the Masquerade Crew for their promotional campaigns; Debdatta D.Sahay for running her book blasts and book tours so efficiently (access her website here); all the retweets from fellow authors; the great reviews on Amazon US and UK by Brigitte @bluebirdbrige, John @John_KENWORTHY, and Melissa @Melissa_Author, and Randy @Randy77.
All my thanks to everyone for purchasing the book during the Black Friday free deal, and making 32 Seconds a bestseller (in the top 20!!).
I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year 2015 with more writing, more reading, and more marketing!!
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32 Seconds by Johanna K. Pitcairn – YA Psychological and Paranormal Thriller
To the average onlooker, the city of Los Angeles represents glitz, glamour, and the celebrity lifestyle. But to seventeen-year-old Julie Jones, the city is a vast host of problems she’s longing to get away from. The latest? An unfortunate disagreement with her ex-boyfriend Mark—one that could land her in some serious hot water.
So rather than face the troubles that torment her, Julie decides to run away from her old life and start fresh somewhere new. But her parents aren’t on board with the plan, and she soon finds her bank accounts frozen and her wallet empty.
With just seventy-five dollars and a full tank of gas, the troubled teen is far too stubborn to turn around and head home. So what’s a girl to do?
What Julie doesn’t know is that her travels are about to take her somewhere unexpected—a place where she’ll be forced to come face to face with the ghosts of her past in order to secure her future.
A tale of redemption, hope, and freedom lost and found, 32 Seconds is a thought-provoking exploration into the human spirit and the nature of forgiveness.
Click here to access the ebook. Happy reading!
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A small excerpt from 32 Seconds:
A sudden shower pelted my windshield, reducing the visibility to almost nothing, but I maintained my speed. The black asphalt licked the bottom of my tires, striking every inch of the rubber, hungry to swallow me whole and transport me to my next destination. And at this point, I could go anywhere. Eager to get out, I didn’t even care whether I died in a car-crash. After what had happened between Mark and me earlier today, it truly was my way or the highway.
Planning my escape wisely hadn’t crossed my mind when I ignited the V8 turbo engine and dashed out of the school parking lot like a hoodlum in panic of being chased and caught by a platoon of law enforcement officials, after an unsuccessful bank heist. Like I said, I wanted out. And whatever I wanted, I achieved by any means necessary.
Running away brought me closer to freedom. No consequences for my actions. No guilt. No pain.
As my foot pressed harder on the gas pedal, I listened to the roar of the engine, which threatened to remind me of the overbearing loneliness I continued to ignore. My hand reached for the radio and I turned the volume to high. My head needed that noise to overwrite any internal monologues. Relentless, like waves on the shore, my thoughts wouldn’t stop crashing inside my brain, giving rise to a series of hot and cold sweats, while my inner self kept screaming the same question.
Why did I always have to run?
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And some highlights from reviewers on Amazon:
By Randy: The imagery of words will stay with me for a long time. “Cluster flying load of monkey bananas. I was about to be crisped to crumbles,” was another example. The physiological roller coasters of emotions took me higher than high and lower than low. I laughed. I cried. I was grossed out and I loved it. I think I understand teens a little more after reading this book. It’s twisted but the message is straight. Every teen and parent should read this book. “32 Seconds” teaches how to win. I give this book a 5 star rating.
By Melissa: I was given this book for an honest review. I struggled with the words that would do this book justice. Books are not only created to entertain us, uplift us, but to transform and touch us. This book does this. Johanna Pitcairn’s 32 Seconds is a wonderful book. She has created an uneasy, thoughtful, and profound story. You follow Julie the main character, a teenager, on a journey of emotional struggle. Ms. Pitcairn delves into the dark recesses of Julie’s mind and follows her as she fights her inner demons. I found the unfolding of Julie’s story moving and gut-wrenching. I believe it’s a worthy book and should be read by many. There’s a strong possibility this book can reach out to many that are in similar situations and give them hope. I found Ms. Pitcairn’s story effective in portraying Julie’s breakdown in spirit and how she finds the strength within herself to overcome what is pushing her down. I would recommend that all read this. I cannot wait to read another of Ms. Pitcairn’s work.
By John: In some ways, “32 Seconds” can be read as a post-modern memoir steeped in a sort of Dante-cum-Freud way. But in others, it stands alone as simply a story. A darned relevant one. Not merely for teens, but for all of us who have once been a teen.
Unlike that of her peers (does she truly have any?) who adorn their work with ego-centric verbal decorations for the sake of showing off their literary prowess, Pitcairn’s elegance is absolutely essential to the story being told. Integral. Resonant. Profound. She is a writer with a deep and abiding gift. One who must be read. Again and again.
By Brigitte: The journey isn’t an easy one. It’s very emotional and shows the drive and determination needed for her to be able to overcome the obstacles in her way in order to face up to the truth. This story could apply to many teens and would benefit young adults and parents alike. It’s written in such a way that I felt I was there with Julie throughout the whole journey. It’s definitely worth reading and to me fully deserves a five star rating.
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Happy holidays to all!
The Manicheans 
You are most welcome, my friend. It was so sweet of you to mention me! It has been my pleasure to help and I am thrilled to have connected with you. Let’s make the coming year even better!