Lucy Richardson by Eva Gates

The beach is my happy place. I love the beach at any time, but never more than today, because today my family, friends, and co-workers from the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library are throwing me an engagement party. Yes, I’m engaged! Sometimes I’m so happy, I simply...

Jessie Cameron D.V.M. by Annette Dashofy

Yesterday, three of my patients tried to bite me. Four tried to scratch me. One succeeded and I’ll have the scar to prove it. Another one tried to crush me against a wall and two very nearly kicked me. Such is the life of a veterinarian. I’m Jessie Cameron, and along...

Clare Carlson by R.G. Belsky

My name is Clare Carlson, and I’m the news director of Channel 10 News in New York City. Running a big city newsroom is a pretty cool job. But I’m really just a journalist at heart. A reporter first and foremost. Always have been. Always will be. There’s nothing I...

Lila Macapagal by Mia P. Manansala

Hey everyone! I’m Lila Macapagal (LEE-la to my family, LY-la to everyone else). I thought I was living every girl’s rom-com dream: I had escaped my tiny, ridiculously named town of Shady Palms, Illinois, to go and thrive in Chicago. Honestly, if you had Googled...

Emma Lawson by Kris Calvin

Yes, I’m Emma Lawson. Time to chat? Sure, I guess so. We’ll have to be quick. I’ve got to get to work, but if you don’t mind walking with me we can talk. Though I have to warn you I’m not used to managing two dogs. Fox, stop it. Careful, the little one, Fox, will have...

Tilly Lockhart by Beth Prentice

If you’d asked me a year ago what I would be doing for my birthday I never would have guessed it would have entailed standing in the middle of a dirt filled paddock attempting to catch a chicken. But here I am, out in the middle of nowhere, sweat dripping down my back...