Last night, I had the thrill of attending a book signing at my local Barnes & Noble. This was no ordinary signing. The event marked the first sell date of Kasie West’s debut novel Pivot Point. The place was packed. They sold out all the copies in stock and took orders for more.

I’ve known Kasie for four and a half years. We’ve been in three critique groups together. In many ways, she’s my mentor. She’s certainly my biggest cheerleader. And now it’s her well-deserved turn to shine.

I whole-heartedly recommend you read Pivot Point—and I’m not just saying that because she’s my friend. I don’t usually read YA books, but I loved this one. Kasie’s writing sparkles as brightly as she does! Here’s the description:

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with–her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school–but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through…and who she can’t live without.

Kasie’s been writing for eight years, and she writes fast, so she probably has hundreds of novels stored away somewhere. She set her sights on getting her work published and never gave up that dream. Harper Collins was smart to recognize her talent and contract four of her books. Like the title of this post says, Kasie West is my hero!

So, read Pivot Point and go visit her blog. Tell her Linda sent you. BTW, pronounce her name correctly—KAY-see—and she’ll be ever so grateful.