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Crystal Crawford, Author of Clean Young Adult Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, & YA Romance...and some other things.
C. Crawford writing:
Curiously creating worlds.
Find out more about my books and series:
WAIT!
Do you love reading clean young adult fiction?
Me too! (And I love writing it!)
Did you know I have my own subscribers-only reading portal, where you can get immediate access to all my published, clean YA fiction in one place—plus clean YA stories from my friend and fellow indie author, M.J. Padgett, bonus content, & more?
I do! 🙌️🎉📚
Find out more here!
(Okay, carry on... 😉)
Catch the latest updates on my blog!
![By the time I sank into Collin’s passenger seat with my warm egg sandwich and thermos of hot coffee in hand, I was starting to doubt my plan. Word about Chloe had to have gotten around by now. People would probably ask me about her. They’d for sure spread rumors about what they thought “really” happened. Everyone knew I was her best friend. Could I face all the looks and questions, again, like what happened with Emery?
I suddenly felt sick.
Collin glanced over at me while he drove. “Oh, cheese. You’re green. Are you gonna puke in the car?” He looked genuinely worried. “Do you need me to pull over?”
I set the sandwich down on my lap and drew a deep breath. “No. I’m just—”
He hesitated a moment, then reached for my hand.
I tensed as his fingers found mine, but I didn’t pull away.
“You’re scared,” he said gently, glancing between me and the road. “I get it. Do you want me to take you back home?”
I looked over at him, and the compassion in his expression nearly undid me.
“No, I… I need a moment.” I forced myself to meet his eyes. “I won’t puke in your car.”
He squeezed my fingers, then moved his hand back to the steering wheel. “Well, if you change your mind, let me know. I don’t mind.” He smiled at me. “About taking you home, I mean. I kinda would mind if you puked in my car.”
A small chuckle escaped me. “Noted.”
***
[excerpt from Aubrey Lance, S.S., Season 1 - episode 9]
***
If you love young adult mystery, MAGIC (this is a fantasy-mystery!), puzzles, twists, sweet moments, tight-knit families, and strong friendships, you'll love my new serial, Aubrey Lance, S.S. (Supernatural Sleuth)!
Read Aubrey Lance, S.S. -- Season 1: The Vanishings, for FREE on my website! New episodes post daily Monday-Saturday until the story is completed.
Link in bio!](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/484470307_1210310247764472_2114712627307587521_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=LGn8iIScuQQQ7kNvgFGrU-t&_nc_oc=AdlG2htXpvrFQK6ST0n1H_v6k9mzLPQ27Weyy7lmWpDKPZuxVFJXBzS4v1ZtvGZVAF8&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=5OnmuIi-NZ0ISDmHPZ4edA&oh=00_AYGFw6h_tzOSNGq5NbBhXdoRtAHESAs9dvGll-aFfjE4Rw&oe=67F3DDA2)
![I was right in the middle of one of the strangest dreams I’d ever had — Chloe was standing in the ice cream shop, smiling at Devin, who was holding two ice cream cones that were literally on fire while a screaming hawk flew circles around his feet — when the sound of the front door shutting woke me, and I heard my mom call up.
“Aubrey, are you here?”
I sat up, disoriented. The light coming in from the windows was dim, like it was dusk outside. How long had I slept?
I heard Mom drop her keys and purse on the counter, then her footsteps hurried up the stairs. “Aubrey?”
Only then did the tone of her voice hit me. Something wasn’t right.
I threw back the covers as she pushed open my bedroom door. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
As soon as she saw me, her hand flew to her chest and she heaved a breath of relief. “Oh, thank goodness. When you didn’t answer—” Her eyes were still wild and worried, though, and it sent my heart racing. She glanced around my room, and her face fell. “You’re here alone?”
“Yesss,” I said, confused. Why wouldn’t I be? My chest tightened. “What’s going on, Mom?”
The worry in her eyes deepened. “Did you just wake up? Have you heard from Chloe?”
Chloe? My heart rose into my throat. I grabbed my phone from my nightstand. The time was nearly 8PM. I had been asleep for a while—several hours. I tapped to open my messages, then shook my head. “Not since earlier, when she said she was going to the ice cream place.” I looked up at my Mom. “Why?”
She leveled a heartbroken gaze at me. “I got stuck at work late, but Mary called me as I was leaving.”
Mary was Chloe’s mom.
I braced for something bad—I could feel it coming.
***
[excerpt from Aubrey Lance, S.S., Season 1 - episode 4]
***
If you love young adult mystery, MAGIC (this is a fantasy-mystery!), puzzles, twists, sweet moments, tight-knit families, and strong friendships, you'll love my new serial, Aubrey Lance, S.S. (Supernatural Sleuth)!
Read Aubrey Lance, S.S. -- Season 1: The Vanishings, for FREE in the forum on my website! New episodes post daily Monday-Saturday until the story is completed.
Link is in my bio!](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/485185882_1210308291098001_9078788692558419251_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=-iPQZSBxgm8Q7kNvgEkJGEO&_nc_oc=AdmltvzzUEW-Fp4QqWI-SvwhHBnfdkYeOep9UYVZDwndDmeM8c3_W05dPAlol_QTMoA&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=5OnmuIi-NZ0ISDmHPZ4edA&oh=00_AYG9V8Qdkmfl_CoTrokr92xYPFMK18P_9D5acBaNPBJj-g&oe=67F3C034)
![I was right in the middle of one of the strangest dreams I’d ever had — Chloe was standing in the ice cream shop, smiling at Devin, who was holding two ice cream cones that were literally on fire while a screaming hawk flew circles around his feet — when the sound of the front door shutting woke me, and I heard my mom call up.
“Aubrey, are you here?”
I sat up, disoriented. The light coming in from the windows was dim, like it was dusk outside. How long had I slept?
I heard Mom drop her keys and purse on the counter, then her footsteps hurried up the stairs. “Aubrey?”
Only then did the tone of her voice hit me. Something wasn’t right.
I threw back the covers as she pushed open my bedroom door. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
As soon as she saw me, her hand flew to her chest and she heaved a breath of relief. “Oh, thank goodness. When you didn’t answer—” Her eyes were still wild and worried, though, and it sent my heart racing. She glanced around my room, and her face fell. “You’re here alone?”
“Yesss,” I said, confused. Why wouldn’t I be? My chest tightened. “What’s going on, Mom?”
The worry in her eyes deepened. “Did you just wake up? Have you heard from Chloe?”
Chloe? My heart rose into my throat. I grabbed my phone from my nightstand. The time was nearly 8PM. I had been asleep for a while—several hours. I tapped to open my messages, then shook my head. “Not since earlier, when she said she was going to the ice cream place.” I looked up at my Mom. “Why?”
She leveled a heartbroken gaze at me. “I got stuck at work late, but Mary called me as I was leaving.”
Mary was Chloe’s mom.
I braced for something bad—I could feel it coming.
***
[excerpt from Aubrey Lance, S.S., Season 1 - episode 4]
***
If you love *clean* young adult mystery, MAGIC (this is a fantasy-mystery!), puzzles, twists, sweet moments, tight-knit families, and strong friendships, you'll love my new serial, Aubrey Lance, S.S. (Supernatural Sleuth)!
Read Aubrey Lance, S.S. -- Season 1: The Vanishings, for FREE in the forum on my website! New episodes post daily Monday-Saturday until the story is completed.
Link in bio!
#yafantasy #yamystery #youngadultfiction #cleanyareads](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/485495326_18376573486189552_6027985622774116682_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=uzR8l-LjlBQQ7kNvgF1g6cl&_nc_oc=AdmZv42bwiBZ6yjUo5wNh2XwjDJtnzr35ZTm-zMdOtm4cNoqovazV3NWX8VoMKbBHzY&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=5OnmuIi-NZ0ISDmHPZ4edA&oh=00_AYEigdBMw3W19iUTYTRmVraOslp4nSNMYLDi5lACAq0_FQ&oe=67F3CEAE)
![Lockley’s brother, Collin, was my age and in my grade, but I honestly hadn’t spent much time with him until recently. He’d been at some swanky prep school his first two years of high school, and had transferred to our area’s public school a couple weeks ago, even though it was halfway through his junior year. I didn’t know why—Lockley had said he just wasn’t happy at the prep school anymore.
From how I could see it, though, Collin wasn’t happy anywhere.
Today, he was scowling at me from the backseat as I climbed into the front passenger side of Lockley’s car, but I wasn’t about to complain. Without Lockley giving me a ride, I’d be catching the 5AM school bus.
I chose to get my morning entertainment by acting outrageously cheerful. “Good morning!” I grinned at Collin.
He looked taken aback by my obnoxious perkiness. His scowl deepened. “Is it?” he muttered, then buried his face in his phone.
***
[excerpt from Aubrey Lance, S.S., Season 1 - episode 2]
***
If you love young adult mystery, MAGIC (this is a fantasy-mystery!), puzzles, twists, sweet moments, tight-knit families, and strong friendships, you'll love my new serial, Aubrey Lance, S.S. (Supernatural Sleuth)!
Read Aubrey Lance, S.S. -- Season 1: The Vanishings, for FREE in the forum on my website! New episodes post daily Monday-Saturday until the story is completed.
Link in bio!](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/480546944_1185500376912126_327070734765465981_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=UtbP2mxUbl4Q7kNvgFP8ARO&_nc_oc=AdnS64c5UYkuSQr0bfFJk2kh7LVbECaY-agBjOFjf-Pnns6dYh-69AwH45G2kDsIass&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=5OnmuIi-NZ0ISDmHPZ4edA&oh=00_AYEGjs2ID6gt7lmJtSDiOv3EoJBTZmOkeIPJDd_njBqO4w&oe=67F3B2A2)
![Episode 1, 2, & 3 of my brand-new serial, Aubrey Lance, Season 1: The Vanishings, are available in my forum (FREE TO READ!), and episodes 4-6 also go up this week!
This new serial uses a LOT of literature references from some of my favorite works, and clues/puzzles the main character has to solve based on them... so I thought it would be fun to make some posts similar to that for social media! :)
This particular one is based on part of a quote I memorized and recited for extra credit in my AP English class in high school... and also one of the works of literature referenced in Aubrey Lance!
See if you can identify where the quote is from, and fill in the missing words. The indicated letters of each word will create a passphrase that some of you can probably relate with. 😅
[HINT FOR THE BLANKS: Shakespeare! If you need more help solving it, DM me and I'll tell you what Shakespeare work it's from!]
Comment "I solved it!" here when you get the answer... please don't post the answer itself, so you don't spoil the fun for others! 💖
See my blog for the latest posting schedule for the Aubrey Lance serial... or hop over to my Aubrey Lance serial forum and start reading! Link to both is in my bio!](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/480301325_1185497683579062_2716163131920235093_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=f6aobt-fcccQ7kNvgHxVify&_nc_oc=AdmLBeuac0imIG7ZIwdPZNG-8X5MudVwnm3p3k3Fu8S8ptU5GzdAUeIrQ5JfN8jduyU&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=5OnmuIi-NZ0ISDmHPZ4edA&oh=00_AYEYiGMHOwb74AQncVmSbERW5U1yZhEt_318tfVhttDDKw&oe=67F3D982)
![My brand-new serial, Aubrey Lance, S.S. (Supernatural Sleuth) is finally up and running! ️️🙌️🎉
This is a young adult fantasy-mystery serial with LOADS of literature references, puzzles, and riddles to solve within the story. I'm curious to see whether my readers can solve them before the characters do!
If you love mysteries, magic, literature, tight-knit families, and strong friendships, I think you'll really love this serial!
I plan to post episodes DAILY Monday-Saturday until all 67 episodes are posted. 🎉
Episodes will post each night around 9:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time).
**Read it now at the link in my bio!**
[Note: This one gets a little heavy in places, dealing with grief and loss... but there's ALWAYS hope in the end!]
To read the blurb and see the more info about the posting schedule, check out the pinned blog post at ccrawfordwriting.com/blog... the link to my blog is also in my bio!](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/480208890_1185496170245880_919388678065434145_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=1D0WoePCRUAQ7kNvgHuvuVc&_nc_oc=Adkv5hXTlqFVz5ynWKzk9VKVQXRwgTWY6TDgMlGkcS77ohIApqMnOGDUsJt4r2xobuw&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=5OnmuIi-NZ0ISDmHPZ4edA&oh=00_AYE8kamwnN3kfYFwWLJT46yazaqWVAZQA10ZjGYefpqvjA&oe=67F3DE23)
You can also find me on:
CCrawfordWritinG: Home of Crystal Crawford, Author of Clean Young Adult Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and YA Romance...and some other things.
Find out more about who I am, what I write, and why I write on my About page!
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