Kellye Crocker: Hi, my name is Kellye Crocker and I'm the author of Dad's Girlfriend and Other Anxieties. This is a story about 12 year old Ava who lives in rural Iowa and was recently diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Ava does not want to go to Colorado and meet her dad's long distance girlfriend and the girlfriend's daughter Z, who's also 12, but Ava doesn't really have a choice. I've been a writer for many years, but this is my first book that is getting published, so I'm very excited about it. It was inspired by my move to Colorado. My husband received a surprise job offer here, and we had lived in Iowa for about 100 years or so, almost. And I was excited for this new adventure in Colorado, and at the same time, it made my anxiety ramp up to overload. I was diagnosed with anxiety in the late 1990s when I was an adult.

I realized that was in the last century, but I think that I always had it even when I was young. And for many years it had been pretty well under control. But when we got to Colorado, I think there were so many changes that it just made my anxiety come out. And I didn't set out to write about anxiety, but it just snuck into my writing. It was already in there without me trying to do anything about it. So then I worked with that. My favorite part about writing the book was that I fell in love with Colorado, and I think almost everyone who comes here does. It's a beautiful state and the people are friendly, and it was very fun for me to write Ava's view because Ava is trying to hate everything about Colorado. But she just really feels strongly that if her dad is going to make her come, she's not going to enjoy herself.

I hope that readers, first of all just enjoy this story for being a good story. There's a lot of humor in it, and I hope it's an entertaining read. I also hope it touches your heart in some way. Ava is shy and quiet, and she's also strong and brave. And I wanted to make sure that people understood that there are lots of ways to be strong and brave, and whatever is your way is absolutely perfect.

I'm going to read a little bit now from Dad's Girlfriend and Other Anxieties. This is right after the girlfriend and her daughter Z have picked up Dad and Ava at the airport, and now they've gotten to their house.

"Before you two run off," the girlfriend said, "Why don't we get to know each other a little." "Great idea," Dad said. Ava's stomach knotted. It felt as if the girlfriend had pulled out a pop quiz, plus it seemed like Dad would've said great idea, even if she'd suggested murdering baby bunnies. "I'm so happy to finally meet you, Ava," the girlfriend, said, patting the sofa cushion beside her. "Sit here." Dad sat on the girlfriend's other side. In fact, he sat too close, invading her personal space. "She doesn't talk much," Z said. A flash of alarm zipped through Ava. It was the Jeep conversation again, but now Dad and the girlfriend were in on it. Their eyes like burning spotlights. "I talk," Ava said. "Ava's a little shy," Dad said as if she weren't right there. "She'll warm up." Ava wished the sofa had a trap door that could swallow her or Dad. The knot in Ava's stomach pulled tighter. Did they know about what happened at field day?