Tuesday saw the release of A FAREWELL TO CHARMS, the last Princess for Hire book. Yes, the last book. I’m still not sure how I feel about that, to be honest. When I started the first book, the main thing I knew was how I wanted the book to end. But then when Disney offered me a three-book-deal, I tweaked that ending and saved that scene for the third book. I started Princess for Hire in summer of ’05, so really, it’s been a seven year build up. SEVEN YEARS. I can’t believe I even typed that. There is a part of me that feels like these books were an inevitability, that this idea was a gift. Another part still can not, CAN NOT, believe that I wrote these 3 sparkly books and someone wanted to publish them.

This series has been called a romp, a breeze, fluff, fun, silly, sweet. I hope it is all these things. I hope that the readers are entertained, that they are able to relax and let their imaginations go. But as the author, these books were not always a breeze. Far from fun. Sometimes, I wanted to punch these books in the spine because they were HARD.

Each book had its own challenges. Book one was my debut, the first time I’d gone through the editorial processs, the first time my work was reviewed. The Royal Treatment, well, that one I actually wrote then completely rewrote from scratch. No lie. A romp it was not. The challenge with A FAREWELL TO CHARMS was tying everything up and letting go. There were times when writing this final book that I started to think there was no way I could finish. That I would have to write another book, and another, and spend the rest of my life on this series because there was no end in sight. There were other times when I couldn’t possibly get my brain to conjure up a new idea, when I stared at the screen screaming the word princess like it was a swear word. But there was also that moment when I wrote the last scene, the scene I was always writing towards, and the tape snapped as I crossed the victorious finish line. I can’t even express what that moment was like.

This series is always going to be special to me because it launched my career, a career I hope will include many more books, more series even. Thanks for following along with Desi as she grew from a slightly self-absorbed, timid teen to a girl who is able to take on the most powerful organization in the world (it is! Just because you haven’t heard of FACADE, doesn’t mean it’s not real, kids)

Come help me celebrate the release of A FAREWELL TO CHARMS at the following events:

Friday, June 29: Release party! Las Vegas. Rainbow Barnes and Noble. 5-7. Come dressed as your favorite princess. Treats and fun and all books on sale!

Wednesday, July 18: Provo City Library. Reading, signing, questions, mayhem. 7 pm Books for sale

Thursday, July 19: Salt Lake City, UT. The King’s English Bookshop. My favorite bookstore in the world, a charming place for the charms book. 7pm.

Tentative events in August as well. Check events page next month for more information