America’s 250th – A Brand Inflection Point
From a brand strategist’s lens, the health of any institution depends on alignment between promise and practice. When that alignment falters, trust follows. And without trust, no brand — not even a 250-year-old one — endures.
Why the World Feels Heavier If You’re Empathetic
Not everyone experiences the world this way, and that matters. Some people can witness injustice without feeling it lodge in their bodies, and that doesn’t make them uncaring. But for those of us who do feel it deeply, there’s often an innate reason we take these moments so seriously. Sensitivity isn’t something we decided to…
It’s Hard to Be Creative When Reality Feels Like Fiction
It’s hard to be creative when reality keeps demanding vigilance. When your mind keeps scanning for danger, injustice, or the next breaking story.
Simply Written Here: The Valentine’s Day Edition
Following the success of previous events, Simply Written Here: The Valentine’s Day Edition brings readers and authors together for a cozy, creative celebration just in time for Valentine’s Day. This special pop-up will feature a thoughtfully curated group of local Maryland authors, with a focus on romance.
2025: The Year of the Seagull
What a year! When Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland officially launched on May 24 and I had no idea what kind of whirlwind 2025 would become but you all made it unforgettable. Book Launch & First Readers Welcome to Seagull Street took flight in the spring and from the very…
SEAsons Greetings from Seagull Street!
Order Your Seagull Street Holiday Book Package Now!
Each limited-edition Seagull Street Holiday Package includes:
A signed and personalized copy of Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland, by Alissa Arford
A custom postcard featuring the cover artwork by Ocean City artist Marc Emond
A 2025 “Seagull Street” sand dollar holiday ornament
A…
Celebrate Local Authors at the Carroll County Farmers Market, Nov 1!
Celebrate Maryland’s creative community at the 2025 Local Authors Day in Westminster! Meet local writers, explore handmade crafts, and enjoy the charm of the Carroll County Farmers Market — plus get your signed copy of Welcome to Seagull Street by Alissa Arford.
Local Book Festival Brings Together Maryland Authors for a Holiday Celebration
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 15, 2025, when 18 local authors will gather in the heart of Catonsville, Maryland, for a cozy, book-lover’s celebration to celebrate the upcoming holiday season.
Perspectives: Why We Love the Books We Love
Have you ever struggled to finish a book that a friend guaranteed you’d love, and wondered if you even read the same story? Psychologists often describe our preferences as mirrors. The stories we love reflect parts of ourselves—our fears, hopes, memories, and beliefs. We see ourselves in the characters we cheer for (or against), in…
The Longest Table: Breaking Bread, Building Connection
On Saturday, October 4, 2025, I attended The Longest Table, a community dinner hosted by the Howard County Library System in partnership with Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland. The concept was simple but powerful: gather with neighbors, share a meal, and engage in meaningful conversation with people you’ve never met before.
Recap of 2025 Oceans Calling Music Festival
The third annual Oceans Calling Music Festival lit up the Ocean City Boardwalk from September 26–28, 2025, drawing nearly 55,000 fans each day to the beach for three unforgettable days of music and memories in Ocean City, Maryland.
The Soundtrack of Welcome to Seagull Street
In Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland, music runs through the lives of two characters in particular: Olivia and Evan. Their playlists couldn’t be more different, but both remind us that songs can shape the way we see the world, and ourselves.
With the Oceans Calling Music Festival happening next weekend…
From Seagull Street to a New Chapter: Kindle Unlimited
Whether you’re a paperback-in-the-sand kind of reader, an audiobook-on-the-go listener, or someone who swipes through pages on your Kindle, Seagull Street is ready for you!
Kindle Unlimited Is Coming Soon!
When Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City Maryland, first launched, I decided to keep it “wide,” meaning readers could buy the ebook on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and other platforms. But this September, I’ll be trying something new: putting the ebook into Kindle Unlimited (KU) through Amazon’s KDP Select program.
Simply Written Here: A Maryland Authors Event, Sept 6, 2025
Join us for Simply Written Here: A Maryland Authors Event on Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Simply Made Here (2302 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD). This free book festival brings together more than a dozen local authors from Maryland, offering readers the chance to discover new books, enjoy author signings,…
Welcome to Seagull Street — Now in Audiobook!
I’m so excited to share that Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland, is now available in audiobook format! Perfect for road trips, commutes, beach walks, or while you’re soaking up the last of summer. You can get the audiobook version on Amazon or Audible and if you already own the Kindle…
Signed Copies of Welcome to Seagull Street
Wherever and however you buy it, thank you for reading and for cheering on this seagull-sized dream! If you have read the book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads, which is the most helpful thing readers can do for me as an indie author. There’s no spin machine. It’s just me praying…
White Marlin Open: Living the OCMD Summer of 2023 Right Now in 2025
One of the things I loved most while writing Welcome to Seagull Street was staying true to the real summer rhythm of Ocean City, Maryland, in 2023. I wanted readers to feel like they were really there, sweating in the salt air, walking down the Boardwalk, and enjoying their favorite beachy food, drinks, and activities.
Let’s Talk Seagull Street: Discussion Ideas for Your Book Club
One of my favorite things about writing Welcome to Seagull Street has been hearing how it sparks conversation about the unexpected twists life throws our way. Whether you’re in a long-standing book club or just getting a few friends together over coffee (or cocktails), here are some questions and topics to explore after reading to…
Two Months Since Launch… Feels Like Forever!
It’s been two whole months since Welcome to Seagull Street officially launched on May 24 and if you had told me on release day how much would happen in just eight weeks, I wouldn’t have believed you!
Rethinking What It Means to Be a Reader in 2025
The more time I spend in the book world of 2025, the more I realize how much it’s evolved and how much I’ve changed with it. What started as a weekly visit to the library and a simple love of stories in my childhood has become something bigger, more communal, and sometimes more complicated.
Building Something from Scratch
Indie publishing isn’t just writing a book. It’s ordering ISBNs and barcodes, wrangling metadata, applying for sales tax IDs, calculating shipping fees, adjusting printer margins, Googling how to send a 1099 to your editor ASAP because you had no clue, and answering emails like, “Your barcode placement is not up to spec,” at 1:27 a.m.—when…
2025 Summer Reading List for the Beach
There’s nothing better than getting lost in a great book on a summer day, whether you’re reading with your toes in the sand, relaxing by the pool, or just curled up on the deck with a cold drink. I love making myself a fun summer TBR list each year, mixing new releases with a few…
Ocean City Air Show Weekend: Where Real Life Meets Fiction on Seagull Street
Every June (well, most years), the Ocean City Air Show brings thunder to the skies above Maryland’s iconic Boardwalk. With fighter jets slicing through the clouds, beachgoers gazing skyward, and patriotic music blasting from balconies, it’s one of the most unforgettable weekends of the summer. It’s also the backdrop for one of my favorite sections…
7 Things I’ve Learned in My First 2 Weeks as a Published Author
Publishing a novel is deeply personal, but as someone who has worked in marketing for years, I approached the launch of Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland, like any of my new product launches. The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of fulfillment, feedback, and spreadsheets. Here’s what I’ve learned…
Paperback Price Rising
I didn’t want to write this post. But here we are. After running the numbers (and re-running them several times), I’ve made the decision to raise the paperback price of Welcome to Seagull Street starting June 10. Until then, it will remain at the current price of $14.99. Here’s why:As an indie author, I’m responsible…
Beach Book Launch Weekend
One Week After Launch: The Stories Behind the Seagulls It’s been about a week since Welcome to Seagull Street officially launched, and I’m still catching my breath, in the best possible way. I had a busy weekend (May 30-June 1) of book drops and surprise moments in Ocean City, Maryland! Signed Copies Available (In-Store &…
Welcome to Seagull Street… and My Backyard
On May 24, 2025, the official release day for Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland, I hosted a private book launch party at my house, and I’m still feeling all the warm, sunny, bookish feelings.
Real Places, Real Memories: A Love Letter to OCMD
When I started writing Welcome to Seagull Street, I knew I wanted Ocean City, Maryland, to feel like a character all its own. That meant weaving in the places so many of us know and love, whether it’s the scent of Fisher’s Popcorn on the Boardwalk, a sunset dinner at Fish Tales, or that first…
Welcome to Seagull Street is Available via POD at IngramSpark
Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean Ci …. Arford, Alissa A Buy Now Get It First: Welcome to Seagull Street Now Available in Print! A special early offer for my inner circle! I’m so excited to share that Welcome to Seagull Street is now available in paperback and you can order it directly…
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