Also, see the Back to Seagull Street News Release from Red Hill Creek Enterprises.
Three Months After Knee Replacement: Getting Back to Normal, One Step at a Time
Three months after my partial knee replacement, life is finally starting to feel a little more normal.
Happening Now: Welcome to Seagull Street Is Just $0.99 on Kindle!
A little beach escape for less than a dollar? Yes, please! From October 9–13, 2026, the Kindle edition of my first novel, Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland, is just $0.99 on Amazon. As fall settles in, I’m inviting you back to summer in Ocean City,…
Power to the People: Music That Moves Us to Make a Difference
Music can bring people together. Sometimes, it can also remind us of what we’re capable of doing together.
That spirit ran through the Power to the People Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion on October 3, 2026, about 30 miles north of Washington, D.C. Curated by Tom Morello, the day brought…
LAST WEEKEND, I GOT OVER 1 MILLION VIEWS
Over a Million Views, Hundreds of New Followers … and No Change in Book Sales Last week (September 24, 2026), I went to Ocean City, Maryland, for the Oceans Calling Music Festival. Instead, a nor’easter moved through, the festival ended up getting canceled, and my social media posts about the…
Maryland State Fair Adds a “No AI” Photography Rule for 2027
For anyone looking for the newly released Maryland State Fair 2027 photography categories and rules, I’m happy to say that the rules and regulations now explicitly prohibit AI. I’m sharing a photo below, with the new policy in Rule 8. 8. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is prohibited. This…
Tips for Oceans Calling Music Festival 2026
What I’ve Learned After Three Years of Oceans Calling Oceans Calling is almost here, September 25-27, 2026, in Ocean City, Maryland! It’s time to start listening to the bands, studying the schedule, checking the weather way too often, and making some very difficult decisions about overlapping sets. After attending Oceans…
Celebrate “Back to Seagull Street” at Three Maryland Book Launch Events
Meet Maryland author Alissa Arford at September 2026 launch events for Back to Seagull Street: Senior Week in Ocean City, Maryland, a second-chance romance.
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…
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