FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alissa Arford
Red Hill Creek Enterprises, LLC
alissa@alissaarford.com

Alissa Arford Returns to Ocean City, Maryland, in
“Back to Seagull Street,” Coming September 1, 2026

The second novel in the Ocean City Seagull Series blends a contemporary coastal story with Senior Week memories from 1989.

MARYLAND — July 28, 2026 — Maryland author Alissa Arford will release Back to Seagull Street: Senior Week in Ocean City, Maryland, on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. The new contemporary coastal novel is the second installment in Arford’s Ocean City Seagull Series.

Moving between the present day and Ocean City’s Senior Week in 1989, Back to Seagull Street explores how the friendships, romances and questionable decisions of one unforgettable summer can continue to shape lives decades later.

The novel centers on Jack Michaels, the uncle of returning character Evan Michaels, and Juni Rydell, a new addition to the Seagull Street world. Their story brings a retro layer to the series, revisiting the Ocean City of 1989—complete with New Kids on the Block songs, Ferris Bueller quotes, and the freedom of Senior Week—while remaining grounded in a contemporary narrative.

“Senior Week is such a distinctive part of the Ocean City experience, and the memories people make there often stay with them for the rest of their lives,” said Arford. “I wanted to explore the distance between who we were at eighteen and who we become—and what happens when the past is not as far away as we thought.”

The book combines 1980s nostalgia, second chances, romance, and Maryland beach-town atmosphere. Like the first book in the series, it is inspired by the people, places and traditions that make Ocean City memorable to generations of visitors.

The book features original cover artwork by Ocean City artist and editorial cartoonist Marc Emond of Stinky Beach Studio, whose distinctive style captures the color, character and nostalgia of Maryland’s beloved beach town. Emond also created the artwork for Welcome to Seagull Street, giving the series a cohesive visual identity as recognizable as its seaside setting.

Returning to Seagull Street

Arford introduced the series in her debut novel, Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland, published in May 2025. The contemporary coastal story follows three people whose lives become unexpectedly intertwined over the summer of 2023 in Ocean City.

The novel reached Amazon’s Top 50 in Contemporary American Fiction, with its Kindle edition reaching No. 11 in the category. Readers have praised its recognizable Ocean City setting, relatable characters, unexpected twists and blend of friendship, romance, mystery, and second chances.

Back to Seagull Street expands that world by connecting the contemporary lives of its characters with an earlier generation and an Ocean City summer they never forgot.

Publication Details:

Title: Back to Seagull Street
Subtitle: Senior Week in Ocean City, Maryland
Author: Alissa Arford
Series: Ocean City Seagull Series, Book Two
Publisher: Red Hill Creek Enterprises, LLC
Publication date: September 1, 2026
Genre: Contemporary coastal fiction, second-chance romance
Formats: [Paperback, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited]
Price: $19.99 (paperback); $9.99 (Kindle)
Kindle Preorder Link

Advance review copies, interviews, cover artwork and additional media materials are available upon request.

About Alissa Arford

Alissa Arford is a Maryland-based author, marketing strategist and lifelong storyteller. A third-generation University of Maryland graduate, she holds a journalism degree and an executive MBA from the university.
Arford is the author of the Ocean City Seagull Series, contemporary coastal fiction inspired by the people, places and traditions of Ocean City, Maryland. Her stories blend nostalgia, friendship, romance, community and a touch of mystery.

Every novel by Arford is written by the author, edited by professional human editors and features original cover design created by human artists and designers.

Learn more at AlissaArford.com or follow @AlissaArfordAuthor on social media.

Media Contact
Alissa Arford
Red Hill Creek Enterprises, LLC
alissa@alissaarford.com

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.

Follow Alissa wherever you engage on social media:

Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Bluesky | Threads | LinkedIn