Live YOUR Adventure

Have you ever wondered why I emphasize “YOUR” in my tagline? It’s not just stylistic — it’s a promise.

Today, I want to share with you the story behind “Live YOUR Adventure” and why it means so much to me both as a writer and as a fellow reader.

You know that feeling when you open a book and the rest of the world just… fades away? That moment when you’re no longer sitting in your favorite reading chair but walking the streets of a romantic European village or solving mysteries in a cozy small town?

That’s not just reading — that’s magic.

I discovered this magic early in my life. If you’ve read my About pages, you know my childhood was kinda, well, crappy. So I looked for any opportunity to escape into a world that was far better.

And I found that escape in books.

Books became my gateway to countless lives and adventures. They still are. And I bet they are for you, too.

When I chose “Live YOUR Adventure” as my tagline, I wasn’t just crafting a catchy phrase. I was making a promise to you, my reader. The “YOUR” is capitalized because it’s all about your choice, your journey, your personal adventure.

Some days you might want to be the small-town girl who catches the eye of a visiting billionaire. Other days, you might prefer to be the confident CEO who finds love when she least expects it. Or maybe you’re in the mood to solve a mystery while romance blooms in the background.

That’s the beauty of reading — you get to reinvent yourself, becoming an entirely new person, someone you’ve always wanted to be, and you get to choose a new adventure… every single time you open a book.

In writing fiction, there’s something called “The Hero’s Journey.” Simply put, it’s the formula for writing a compelling story where the good guy goes on a quest to save the day.

Well, as far as I’m concerned, just as there’s The Hero’s Journey, there’s also something called The Reader’s Journey, and it’s just as important a recipe for an epic adventure story.

Because it’s your epic adventure story.

As a writer, I create the roadmap, but you, dear reader, are the one who truly brings the story to life. You bring your experiences, your dreams, your interpretation to every page. That’s why no two readers ever experience a story exactly the same way.

And that’s exactly how it should be.

When you pick up one of my books, you’re not just reading my story — you’re living YOUR version of it. Every character you connect with, every scene you visualize, every emotion you feel, every hero you fall for… that’s uniquely yours.

I write under different pen names because I understand that different days call for different adventures.

Sometimes you want the sweet, clean romance of an Alicia Jane novel. Other times, you’re in the mood for the more complex, real-world stories of A.J. Strickland.

That’s why the “YOUR” in my tagline is so important. It’s about giving you options, letting you choose the perfect escape for any moment.

Here’s something I love about being both a writer and a reader: I get to experience this magic from both sides. I know the thrill of creating these worlds, but I also know the joy of getting lost in someone else’s creation.

And you know what? Sometimes I read my own books just to experience them as a reader would. (Is that weird? Maybe. But I own it!)

So here’s my invitation to you: Make these stories yours. Whether you’re reading one of my books or another author’s work, remember that this is YOUR adventure. You get to decide how deeply you want to dive in, which character you most relate to, what scenes you want to replay in your mind.

Because at the end of the day, that’s what “Live YOUR Adventure” is all about — giving you the freedom to escape, explore, and experience stories in your own unique way.

What’s your favorite way to escape into a story? Share your perfect reading adventure in the comments below!