Also, see the Back to Seagull Street News Release from Red Hill Creek Enterprises.
Reflections: No Longer a Debut Author
With my second book, Back to Seagull Street, coming out this week, I can no longer call myself a debut author!
Let’s Go Back to Seagull Street!
The wait is almost over! Back to Seagull Street, the second book in the Ocean City Seagull Series, will be available on Amazon beginning September 1, 2026. Note that there may be a delay in ordering on IngramSpark due to a technical glitch with the “on sale date.” Details to…
Two Months After Knee Surgery
It has now been exactly two months since my partial knee replacement, and this stage of recovery feels like a mixture of real progress and continuing limitations. The biggest improvement is that I can now walk (almost) normally without a cane. That feels like an important milestone and has given…
Q&A with Alissa Arford About Her Next Book
QUESTION 1: First, what is the title of the new book, and when will it be available? ANSWER: The new book is Back to Seagull Street: Senior Week in Ocean City, Maryland. It will be released on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. It’s the second book in the Seagull Street series,…
What I Wish I Knew Before Knee Replacement Surgery
My First Two Weeks of Recovery Two weeks ago, I had a partial knee replacement. If you’ve ever gone through a joint replacement, hats off to you. This recovery has been far more painful and exhausting than I ever imagined. I’m still very early in the recovery process, but I’ve…
Meet Me at Bethany Beach Books, June 24, 2026!
On Wednesday, June 24, 2026 (6:30-8 p.m.), I’ll be signing copies of Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland, at Bethany Beach Books in Bethany Beach, Delaware. If you’ve spent any time in Bethany, you probably already know the bookstore. It’s one of those places that feels…
Now Available as an eBook in Your Library!
I’m excited to share that Welcome to Seagull Street is now part of Draft2Digital’s new library-only ebook distribution program. The ebook is available for library acquisition through OverDrive/Libby, cloudLibrary, and BorrowBox, with hoopla expected to follow soon.
Author Talk at Queen Takes Book, June 10!
I’m excited to be heading to Columbia, Maryland, for a book talk and signing at Queen Takes Book on Wednesday, June 10, at 7-8:30PM/ET.
Simply Written Here: Vacation Edition Features Maryland Authors on May 30
Readers and writers are coming together again this spring for another Simply Written Here event at Simply Made Here in Catonsville, Maryland, on Saturday, May 30, 2026. Following the success of past gatherings, Simply Written Here: Vacation Edition is the perfect place to find your next beach read and kick…
One Year on Seagull Street
To celebrate both Memorial Day weekend and the book’s one-year anniversary, the Kindle edition of Welcome to Seagull Street is available for a limited time for just $0.99, through May 27, 2026.
Willkommen in der Möwenstraße & Bienvenidos a Calle Gaviota
My debut novel has been run through Amazon’s AI-powered translation engine and is now available in both German and Spanish. Seeing the titles Willkommen in der Möwenstraße and Bienvenidos a Calle Gaviota is a little surreal. It’s one of those “wow, this is really happening” author moments!
2026 Book Tour
When Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland, launched on May 24, 2025, it was too late to register for book signings. So this year I’m making up for it with a bunch of in-person book signing events! I’m so excited to get out there, meet readers,…
What Changes When You Write Your Second Novel
Stories tend to take the time they need, and part of the process is learning to respect that. In the meantime, I’m enjoying the strange and wonderful experience of living inside the next chapter of Seagull Street.
The Season Before the Dream
Dreams don’t disappear just because they’re postponed. Sometimes they’re quietly gathering strength, waiting for their runway. I always wanted to write a novel. I just couldn’t afford to for many years. Not because I lacked ideas. Not because I lacked discipline. Not because I didn’t care enough. I couldn’t afford…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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)…
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…
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…
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…
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Alissa Arford 