Can faith and reason co-exist? Every day, teenagers are faced with difficult situations that challenge their faith and moral compass. The Aftermath follows a group of students from Montgomery Lake High School, specifically Jason Davids and Jessie Robins. At age fifteen, Jason appears to have it all together: high grades, popular friends, a beautiful girlfriend, and any drug that promises enjoyment at his disposal. Despite this, there is a persistent emptiness inside his heart. After attempting to fill the void with achievements, relationships, and illicit substances, Jason finds himself intrigued by Jessie, a quiet and rather plain girl, who is the daughter of a local pastor. How is it possible that she stands for everything Jason opposes yet possesses the one thing he has been searching for all along?
Author Archives: Author Stacy A. Padula
Q&A with Stacy Padula on Writing Part 2
In preparation for an upcoming interview with Doug Llewelyn – Why do you feel your books are necessary for young adults to read? My books share the raw truth about opioid addiction, as well as other substances, in a realistic and relatable way. Drugs pose an empty promise for fulfillment, which often leads to self-destruction and hurts many others in the process. I want to help kids avoid the heartache that goes along with substance abuse and find positive/beneficial outlets for their energy. There is an immense amount of social pressure on teens today. Between social media and technology, they are constantly connected and can easily lose touch with themselves. They face enormous pressure to fit in with their peers and often lose themselves in the process…
Q&A with Stacy Padula on Writing Part 1
Can faith and reason co-exist? Every day, teenagers are faced with difficult situations that challenge their faith and moral compass. The Aftermath follows a group of students from Montgomery Lake High School, specifically Jason Davids and Jessie Robins. At age fifteen, Jason appears to have it all together: high grades, popular friends, a beautiful girlfriend, and every drug that promises enjoyment at his disposal. Despite this, there is a persistent emptiness inside his heart. After attempting to fill the void with achievements, relationships, and illicit substances, Jason finds himself drawn to Jessie, a quiet and rather plain girl whom he has never before noticed. He cannot understand the sudden attraction he feels nor the force that is drawing him toward her. How is it possible that she stands for everything he opposes yet possesses the one thing he has been searching for this entire time?
Q&A on Book #1: The Right Person
Q&A with Kelly Mitchell |
Kelly is a very insightful teenager, who has a knack for perceiving underlying meanings and concepts within works of literature. As an author, I am truly blessed to have her on staff as an intern. Kelly is applying to many prestigious colleges this year, and while I will be sad to lose her, I could not be more proud of her. Below is a short series of questions I asked her to complete about Book #1 “The Right Person.”
A Senior in High School Reviews “The Right Person” by Stacy A. Padula
This book depicts the struggles many kids encounter during their high school years through the eyes of compelling characters. I recommend this book to both students currently in high school and middle schoolers preparing for these tricky years. It is a reminder of God’s presence in our lives and the importance of seeking strength through him in times of uncertainty.
A Teenage Synopsis of When Darkness Tries to Hide
The second book in the Montgomery Lake High Series, When Darkness Tries to Hide, continues the journey of the students at MLH as they venture further into the depths of high school. After following the stories of Chris and Courtney in The Right Person, the focus shifts to Chris’s wayward, childhood best-friend of almost a decade: Jason Davids.
A Teen’s Critique of MLH #1 by Stacy Padula
I think many high schoolers, especially those feeling consumed by the constant social pressure, will be able to relate to the ups and downs the characters in The Right Person face. Their struggles with the sudden prevalence of drugs and alcohol in Montgomery Lake is very real to new high schoolers suddenly faced with these difficult choices. I would recommend this book to all teenagers, but especially those struggling with drug or alcohol abuse or those who feel they might be at risk of future abuse.
Put Politics Aside & Fight Against Terror
I feel compelled to write on this issue because I am sickened that people are trying to use the horrific Vegas massacre as a platform for political agenda. Until our political leaders stop blaming the other side of the aisle and look at this objectively, nothing is going to get better. I tend to lean more right, but WHO CARES. This isn’t about party! It’s about trying to work together to save lives!
The Forces Within: an Amazon Best Seller
On September 5, 2017, The Forces Within by Stacy Padula rose to the #3 best selling spot on Amazon Kindle for teen books that address substance abuse. This paranormal thriller is the 5th book in the Montgomery Lake High book series. https://youtu.be/DrBsvyQdcxc?t=8s Synopsis After being trapped inside his own body, unable to communicate with anyone butContinueContinue reading “The Forces Within: an Amazon Best Seller”
An ENTP’s Experience with Spirituality & Religion
I am an ENTP and a Christian. I was initially raised Catholic but drifted away from the religion to go off and explore my own theories on life around age 17. At age 21, I attended a non-denominational Christian church with my mother and was pleasantly surprised by the message—it was so different from whatContinueContinue reading “An ENTP’s Experience with Spirituality & Religion”
The Reviews Are In!
See what readers are saying about the Montgomery Lake High book series on Amazon! 1. TO’Halloran reviewed When Darkness Tries to Hide (Montgomery Lake High Book 2) 1 of 1 people found the following helpful A must read! March 5, 2017 Well written with well developed characters – this book is just as good asContinueContinue reading “The Reviews Are In!”
July Special!
Friday night–a night that marks the start of the weekend, a night to party in Montgomery. Chris Dunkin and his closest friends are no strangers to the party scene. They have the in with the seniors, and they know all the best party spots in town. This Friday night appears to be no different until Chris makes a decision that will change the course of his life forever.
The Right Person is the debut novel in The Montgomery Lake High Book Series, which follows a large cast of personalities as they navigate the social waters of high school.
A Teen’s Take on the MLH Characters
Written by Elizabeth Harvey of Needham, MA (Class of 2017) Chris: Chris is a compassionate young man, but has always been an unintentional troublemaker since the 7th grade. Chris’s parents both work a lot and frequently travel, leaving Chris in the care of his older cousins who love to party. Because of his parents absenceContinueContinue reading “A Teen’s Take on the MLH Characters”
The Spiritual Battle in “The Aftermath”
Written by Elizabeth Harvey of Needham, MA Jason has been at war with himself for a long time. He has such a strong void in his life and he knows that something is missing and he hates that feeling. Jason relies on drugs and alcohol to cope with the missing piece in his life: God.ContinueContinue reading “The Spiritual Battle in “The Aftermath””
Spiritual Warfare in The Forces Within
Montgomery Lake High #5: The Forces Within After being trapped inside his own body, unable to communicate with anyone but his own thoughts, Andy Rosetti finally wakes up from the coma that controlled his life for one month. But upon awakening, Andy finds himself and his friends in an unfamiliar setting: a mansion riddled with secretContinueContinue reading “Spiritual Warfare in The Forces Within”
A Teen’s Review of The Forces Within by Stacy Padula
Written by Elizabeth Harvey, Dana Hall Class of 2017 The Forces Within is a story that explores the power of spirituality and the battle that many teenagers go through when faced with tough decisions. The story focuses on life after Andy Rossetti wakes up from his coma and what his recovery process looks like, includingContinueContinue reading “A Teen’s Review of The Forces Within by Stacy Padula”
New Video: “The Right Person” by Stacy Padula (Montgomery Lake High #1)
Friday night–a night that marks the beginning of the weekend and the long awaited break from the monotonous daily grind of high school–is otherwise known as a night to party. Chris Dunkin and his friends have been involved in the party scene since middle school, and at the start of their high school careers, they have no intention of stopping. At first, this particular night appears to be no different. However, Chris is struggling to maintain his “bad-boy” reputation once he begins to realize how damaging his lifestyle is to not only himself, but also the people around him. Courtney, the Mayor’s daughter, has always avoided the party scene, but her desire to rebel is growing, as she becomes infatuated with Chris and his friend’s reckless lifestyle. On this seemingly normal Friday night, an important choice must be made: one that could change the course of someone’s life forever.
A Teen’s Q&A about Montgomery Lake High #1 “The Right Person”
The fact that this is a universal story is the most appealing thing about the book. It also focuses on teenage relationships which are very appealing to middle school and high school aged students. Teenagers often look to movies, tv, and books and apply the lessons or stories they see to their own lives. This book focuses on a love story and various relationships which makes it a very entertaining, yet still educational read, including elements of both drama and comedy which grasp the attention of the target audience. The character development is also very appealing and creates a story that is able to resonate to teenagers.
A Teenager’s Review of “The Aftermath”
I recommend The Aftermath to all teenagers, especially those who are currently or have in the past dealt with difficult times or struggled with drugs or alcohol. It is not necessary to read the other books in the MLH series to understand the story. It is very inspiring to read about a teenager that everyone can relate to who deals with societal and personal issues on their path to find God.
The Right Person: an Amazon Best Seller in Multiple Categories
The Right Person is the debut novel in The Montgomery Lake High Book Series, which follows a large cast of personalities as they navigate through the social waters of high school. Characters include Chantal and Cathy Kagelli, identical twins whose similarities stop at face value (think good vs. evil, naive vs. manipulative); Chris Dunkin, a talented football player whose success is threatened by alcohol and drug abuse; Courtney Angeletti, the mayor’s straightedge daughter who cannot deny her attraction to Chris’ life of the party reputation; and Bryan Sartelli, Courtney’s loyal longterm boyfriend who happens to be best friends with Chris. Whether reading this novel as a teen or an adult, readers will be entertained, intrigued, and inspired by its dynamic array of characters.
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