Kelly(Lynn)Parra Kelly(Lynn)Parra Official Author Website
 
 
For Teens Kelly’s Invisible Touch Excerpt... I stepped out into the early evening light. The sun, still shining, had sunk lower in the sky. It had been hot all afternoon and now and early evening breeze cooled me. He leaned across his seat and shoved open the passenger door, then settled back. I touched the frame of the car door and hesitated. Cars drove by, radios blared, brakes squeaked. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. No sensations. No signs. I didn't know a thing about this mystery guy. Not even his name. I only knew that he'd kept me from getting hurt at the arcade. Somehow it was a comfort that he didn't know anything about me, my past, or my secrets--and that I didn't know his. I told myself I was just following the signs, keeping my eyes open for anything that could help solve my newest puzzle, but the truth was I wanted to know more about him. I couldn't deny there were aspects beyond the signs that drew me to him. The way he seemed to know what went on around him. The way he watched me so intensely. It should've scared me, and maybe it did a little. I couldn't tell the future, yet I had a feeling something about mine involved him. The reasoning was just unclear. I slid into his car and sat in the warm vinyl seat. The hood spread wide before me. It felt as if I were sitting in a tank. "What's your name?" I finally asked. "Anthony." "I'm Kara." His hand rested on the small padded steering wheel. "You want to go for a drive...Kara?" I nodded. "Okay." He slipped on the black shades, turned the ignition, and the car rumbled to life--like a gigantic, angry bear--giving me a little jolt. Rap music pulsed through the speakers. I set my tote purse on the floor, between my feet and looked around for a seatbelt. Anthony reached across me and my stomach fluttered. I could smell that nice cologne on him as he pulled an old, bulky seat belt from the car floor and straightened it across my lap to secure me in. His fingers brushed my thigh. All I could do was sit quietly as he tightened the strap to fit me. "All right?" he asked. I swallowed and nodded. He offered another half smile before he pulled out of the parking space. That was when I noticed one faint dimple in his right cheek. The car windows were midway down. Wind brushed my hair away from my face. Out of habit, I scanned the tall, ancient Eucalyptus trees I'd seen all my life. The trees lined a large park and field. Long strips of tree bark scattered the ground. During winter, the West Coast was hit with harsh storms and reports of fallen trees traveled around town. Not long ago, a woman had been sitting in her car when a Eucalyptus tree had fallen on the car. She'd died instantly. Danger lurked everywhere… As if someone tapped me on the shoulder to turn and look, I spotted the man with the feather hat, walking along the sidewalk. His mouth was shaped as if he whistled a tune. My fingers gripped the side of the seat. Just like the trees, the Feather Man had been part of my childhood. I only knew about him what I’d seen with my own eyes. That he usually wore cut-off shorts, cowboy boots, and a navy blue blazer. His skin was brown and aged, an overgrown black and gray beard and mustache covered most of his lower face. The cowboy hat was graced with a handful of various bird feathers…a turkey's, black bird’s, possibly a sea gull's. He was the "Feather Man" who haunted me every time I saw him walk the Valdez streets. My oldest unsolved mystery. I turned forward and glanced at Anthony. Now I had two of them. The Story... Do You Believe In Fate? Kara Martinez has been trying to be "normal" ever since the accident that took her father's life when she was eleven years old. She's buried the caliente side of her Mexican heritage with her father and tried to be the girl her rigid mother wants her to be--compliant and dressed in pink, and certainly not acting out like her older brother Jason. Not even Danielle, her best friend at Valdez High, has seen the real Kara; only those who read her anonymous blog know the deepest secrets of the sign seer. Because Kara has a gift--one that often feels like a curse. She sees signs, visions that are clues to a person's fate, if she can put together the pieces of the puzzle in time. So far, she's been able to solve the clues and avert disaster for those she's been warned about--until she sees the flash of a gun on a fellow classmate, and the stakes are raised higher than ever before. Kara does her best to follow the signs, but it's her heart that wanders into new territory when she falls for a mysterious guy from the wrong side of town, taking her closer to answers she may not be able to handle. Will her forbidden romance help her solve the deadly puzzle before it's too late...or lead her even further into danger?
Book Buzz... >> “A magical blending of mystery, romance, and deep and dangerous secrets. Kelly Parra’s Invisible Touch is an action-packed coming-of-age novel, sure to keep readers turning pages and begging for a sequel." 

  ~ Laurie Faria Stolarz, Bestselling author of Deadly Little Secret >> "Invisible Touch is a fast-paced, gripping book full of teenage secrets, alienation and hidden pain. It’s also incredibly tender and full of hope and made me stay up all night to finish it. Read this book, you won’t be disappointed" 
   ~ Amanda Ashby, author of You Had Me At Halo & Zombie Queen of Newbury High http://www.lauriestolarz.com/http://www.amandaashby.com/shapeimage_11_link_0shapeimage_11_link_1
>> "17 year-old Kara Martinez sees signs. Of impending danger, like pieces to a puzzle leading to inevitable disasters that only she can prevent--if she can interpret the signs in time. As it turns out, I see signs, too. On every page of Invisible Touch. That tell me that readers are going to delight in this fast-paced, gripping story, and be kept spellbound until its surprising finish." 
  ~ Tina Ferraro, author of How To Hook A Hottiehttp://www.tinaferraro.com/shapeimage_12_link_0
 
>> "Invisible Touch is the kind of book you'll stay up way too late to finish and then wake up the next morning hungry for a sequel. Kelly Parra combines elements of mystery, romance, and the supernatural that will keep readers turning pages and ultimately leaves them with a story that rings true for anyone who felt like they had to hide their real feelings in high school." 
   ~ Stephanie Kuehnert, author of I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone >>  “The Gold Award of Excellence! This book will have readers flipping the pages as fast as they can to find out the next step in the puzzle, as well as the search to find out more about Kara. This book shows that when you're always looking to the future, you often forget to deal with the past. An amazing, touching novel that deals with big issues in an original context." 
   ~ TeensReadToo, Reviewer Lauren Ashley >> "Kara's voice and situation is so compelling, and the mystery behind the signs will propel any reader through the novel, wanting to figure out how it will end. And the ending is completely riveting, and a total shock-- this is a simply fantastic book, and one that everyone should check out." 
  ~ Book Chic, Myspace Reviewer http://www.stephaniekuehnert.com/http://www.teensreadtoo.com/InvisibleTouch.htmlhttp://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=205076665&blogID=410711499shapeimage_13_link_0shapeimage_13_link_1shapeimage_13_link_2
FRESH FACT... FRESH FACT...
* Scroll Down for more Invisible TOuch 411!
Behind the Scenes... >> I wrote INVISIBLE TOUCH through the holidays, which was a little tough with jingle bells ringing around me. (haha.) But being a writer with a deadline you have to do your best to focus and write the best story you can. >> As with GRAFFITI GIRL there were a lot of late nights and--this time--hot cups of SWISS WHITE CHOCOLATE to keep me awake. Yum! >> The title was selected by my editor’s assistant who had tickets to a Phil Collins’s (The artist who sings the song Invisible Touch) concert! >> Since Invisible Touch is a mystery, it was especially tough to keep plot lines straight! Above is a Fresh Fact picture of the plot board I used to keep me from losing my mind. haha! Invisible Touch was recommended for Hispanic Heritage Month Reading by Color On-Line
 
Kelly created a detailed plot board to help her keep track of the mystery and story threads within Invisible Touch
 
Next...
Check out Graffiti Girl!
 
October 2008
MTV/Pocket Books
isbn.1416563377
For ages 12 + Up
“Bold & Fresh Fiction for Teens and Adults...” Bio+ Events Contact Graffiti Girl Invisible Touch Criminal Instinct