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Maryland Author Launches Ocean City-Based Summer Novel

Ellicott City, MD – May 20, 2025 — Red Hill Creek Enterprises proudly announces the launch of Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland, the debut novel by local author Alissa Arford on May 24, 2025. Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of Ocean City, Maryland, the novel blends romance, mystery, and slice-of-life storytelling in a heartfelt portrayal of friendship, second chances, and coastal living.

Welcome to Seagull Street follows three strangers whose lives intersect on a quiet bayside street during one unforgettable summer. Ray Anders is a reclusive cybersecurity analyst seeking solitude after personal loss. Olivia McNalley, a third-grade teacher fleeing the aftermath of a messy divorce, moves in next door. And Evan Michaels, a weekend surfer with a complicated past, is trying to figure out what’s next. As the summer unfolds, old secrets resurface, new bonds form, and not everything is as peaceful as it seems—especially under the watchful eyes of two quirky local seagulls.

“This book is a love letter to Ocean City, Maryland — and to anyone who’s ever needed a summer to start over,” says Arford, a Maryland native and marketing communications strategist. “It’s contemporary, character-driven fiction with a slow burn: part meet-cute romance, part mystery, and full of messy, meaningful moments. Written with a pop-culture lens and a post-pandemic perspective, it’s for readers who crave relatable stories and the kind of friendships that feel like found family. It’s slice-of-life storytelling that captures a snapshot of the summer of 2023.”

The book will be available May 24, 2025, in paperback and Kindle formats on Amazon and widely distributed to bookstores and libraries through IngramSpark and for customers via POD.

Arford will be appearing at book events across Maryland this summer. She’ll be in Ocean City on Saturday, May 31, and at Second Edition Books in Columbia, Maryland, on Saturday, June 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

About the Author

Alissa Arford is a writer and marketing consultant based in Ellicott City, Maryland. She is the founder of Red Hill Creek Enterprises, LLC, and holds a degree in journalism and an executive MBA from the University of Maryland. Welcome to Seagull Street is her first novel. Visit www.alissaarford.com for details.

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