A'Mused A DARK SECRET, GODS ON OLYMPUS, CASTLES IN THE SKY - "A compelling story, great characters, and tight action make this book a wonderful read for both children and adults." Shallot Public School has a secret - a dark secret that 12-year-old Annie is about to step right into. The eighth grade should be easy for her. She's smart, a big-hearted dreamer and hopeful writer, but dreams and passion can't possibly prepare her for what she encounters when she enters Miss Henshaw's class on the first day of school. Miss Henshaw, her favorite teacher, has been replaced by a new teacher, the evil Miss Grundy, who takes an immediate disliking to Annie. She spends the rest of the semester destroying Annie's image, her friendships, and her inspiration. Soon after Annie's friends don't trust her, her family is upset with her, and she doesn't have the inspiration to write anymore. Just when Annie has lost all and doesn't know what to do, she encounters a very special mystical creature called a muse, who has a secret of her own. Tammy with her long green hair and mesmerizing purple eyes is an actual muse a daughter of Olympus who comes to earth against her fathers wishes to warn Annie about Ms. Grundy's real identity. She is a gorgon, a malicious she-demon with plans to steal humanity's creativity, taking away their hope and turning them into her willing slaves. She knows that only Annie with her incredible imagination can stop Ms. Grundy, but she can't do it alone. To save her loved ones, Annie must find her courage, unite a disparate school against the darkness that is Ms. Grundy and, in the end, save Tammy from the wrath of the gods.
Sandy Coccia began writing poetry and short stories at an early age. As a young mother she took a different career path and never tried writing as an occupation. She went on to create successful businesses and a personal consulting career. However, she found herself being inspired by helping thousands of professionals, including many artists, through her consulting company. She realized the impact on the world an artist can make. Sandy returned to her writing to tell her parents' World War II love story as well as turning it into an award winning short film, Yours Truly. After spending a decade producing on various film sets for short films, commercials and feature films, Sandy realized how she could use her knowledge in business including her many real estate projects to help develop, finance and produce full features. The idea that sparked the series Annie and her Muse, came from her own life as a child growing up in a small town outside of Chicago, Illinois and attending a Catholic grade school. Being left-handed she had a difficult time sitting in the old fashioned, one-sided desks. Sandy would write poetry when she was uncomfortable and her mind wandered off. The older nun at the school who was the principal would often reprimand and criticize her but she was encouraged by her favorite Nun who taught her to appreciate the arts and pursue her dreams. Sandy lives in Southern California with her husband and celebrating life often with her grown children, grandchild, great-grandson and siblings.
