Coleen Murtagh Paratore

Twelve-year-old Willa Havisham is a classics reader, a cherry-cordial eater, and quite possibly the world's worst wisher. But when she and her glamorous single mother, Stella, move to Bramble, Cape Cod, Willa's wishes begin to come true: She makes her first-ever best friend, Tina. She bonds with her hip, candy-making Nana. And best of all, steely Stella is falling for Willa's English teacher, Sam -- he's perfect dad material! But before Willa can marry off her mother, or dance with her adorable crush, Joseph, a pit gets stuck in the wishing well.... Can Willa undo the damage before Stella misses her chance to say "I do"?

The Wedding Planner's Daughter

This family business is for life... In the small town of Clover, when you die, you are put to rest by Campbell and Sons Funeral Home. Unfortunately twelve-year-old Kip Campbell happens to be the only "son" in that title. And that's a problem for him since the funeral home business is the last thing he wants to inherit, even if he has a "gift" for it. See, it just so happens that Kip can talk to the dead. Well, they talk to him, really. They tell him what they need in order to move on to the great beyond. Kip wants to move too. Straight out of Clover. He's about to give notice -- he's done helping the dead -- when he's offered a surprising deal: Find out the secret that is holding back old Billy Blye, and Kip will receive his weight in gold. That would be enough to take him far away from Clover, and Campbell and Sons Funeral Home.

The Funeral Director's Son

"From the first line, Coleen pulled me in, inspired me, took my hand. She got me thinking like a writer again." Kathleen Elken, Editor "Reading DEAR WRITER gave me the courage and audacity to call myself an author." Mindy Miner Holland, Librarian & Aspiring Author"Authentic, concise, and moving, DEAR WRITER unearthed and then fertilized my need to create." Ellen Laird, Professor of English"If you're looking for a guide to get you started on the writer's path, look no more. Prolific author Coleen Paratore [...] shows how to capture firefly sparks."Rose Kent, Author of Rocky Road"Few teachers can combine practical and inspiring instruction as Paratore does in this letter to writers." Gladys Craig, Ph.D."This book is like having your own personal writing coach beside you. Coleen gives guidance, encouragement, and permission to love the unique writer you are. This book is a gift for all who want to write or become better writers." Virginia L. Cuddihy, Aspiring NovelistColeen Murtagh Paratore is the award-winning, best-selling author of 22 books across multiple genres, with giant houses Simon & Schuster and Scholastic, and respected indies Charlesbridge and Sourcebooks. A beloved writing teacher, book coach, and inspirational speaker, the author lives in Troy, NY. www.coleenparatore.com

Inspiration and Advice on Writing

Dear Writer,

It's a surprising, sparkling summer for Willa! It's August on Cape Cod and Willa has a lot to look forward to. Soon, JFK will return home from baseball camp, and Willa has an idea for an exciting new project that will challenge her to dream big! But life throws Willa some unexpected twists and turns: Ruby has bad news, a beloved friend leaves, a dear friend returns, her brother Will has something he does't want to talk about, and of course, there's a wedding to plan! There's also a cute boy who likes Willa . . . a lot, and Willa thinks she might like him too. It's a summer full of romance and surprises!

From Willa, With Love

Kip Campbell is still living in the town of Clover, still working in his family’s funeral home, and yes, still speaking to the dead. Those souls who have passed on but aren’t yet able to go to “the good” because something in their life was never resolved ask Kip for his help. As if these two jobs weren’t enough, Kip also has to deal with girls and bullies. Now Kip is fed up and wants to quit talking to the dead, but can someone quit a job they never applied for?

Kip Campbell's Gift

Here is the first book in a three-book series featuring Willa Havisham, the beloved character first introduced in Coleen Murtagh Paratore s The Wedding Planner s Daughter series of middle grade novels. Little Pickle Press will publish the second and third books in May 2016 and September 2016, respectively."

Roar Like a Girl

High school freshman Willa holds fundraising events at her family's Cape Cod inn to save the local library and to hook up romantically with JFK (Joseph Frances Kennelly).

The Cupid Chronicles

It's a sparkling, magical summer for Willa!It's July on Cape Cod, and Willa Havisham isn't so happy about her boyfriend, JFK, being away all summer at baseball training camp. With best-friend Tina and Ruby edging her out lately, Willa wonders what the summer will bring. It turns out there are plenty of surprises in store! For one, there's been a mermaid sighting. There's also a boy named Will who claims to be her long-lost brother. He shares Willa's sea-blue eyes, but Willa wonders what secrets he's hiding and what this news will mean for her famous wedding planner mother. It's going to be a summer filled with fireworks for sure!

Wish I Might

Coleen Paratore

Willa returns in this new stand-alone novel in the WEDDING PLANNER'S DAUGHTER series.Willa returns in this new adventure for the tween set! It is summer on Cape Cod, where Willa Havisham and Joey Kennelly are enjoying their status as most compatible couple. What does the summer hold? New friends, more books, lazy afternoons, and of course Willa will be busy planning more weddings with her mother, Stella Havisham, the Cape's most famous wedding planner to date!

Forget Me Not: From the Life of Willa Havisham

Willa Havisham is a firm believer in Cupid and the goosebumps and heart-thumps of his lightning bolts from the blue! But now two of her biggest loves have got her in a swizzle. First Willa learns that her beloved Bramble library is about to be shut down, and then it looks like JFK, Willa's heart's desire, has fallen for someone else. Maybe Cupid isn't as dependable as Willa first thought . . . ? 'A fun, frothy confection that made me laugh out loud' Meg Cabot, author of THE PRINCESS DIARIES

Playing Cupid

A powerful, radiant story about a girl who wears her dreams on her sleeve . . . Aislinn is a girl with a lot of dreams, but due to family issues (caused mostly by her hard-drinking father), there's a lot standing in her way. While she should be enjoying the summer with friends, Aislinn is kept under lock and key and put in charge of her younger siblings. The average girl might give up, but not Aislinn. A person, she says, should write their dreams on their sleeve, putting them out there for the world to see, because there's a good chance that someone might come along and help you make your dream come true. What begins as a plea for help for her father to stop drinking, turns into a spark that has the whole community making their own dreamsleeves. At times heartbreaking, DREAMSLEEVES is also surprising, powerful, and luminously hopeful. Everyone will see a little of themselves in Aislinn, a girl with talent, ambition, and big dreams.

Coleen Murtagh Paratore

Books

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