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PRESS KIT
AUTHOR BIO
Irene Te is an award-winning author of contemporary fiction. Her critically acclaimed debut, This Place is Magic, received the Grand Prize at the 2024 Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards and was chosen by librarians as the best entry in Contemporary Fiction for the 2024 Indie Author Project competition. Irene and her books have appeared in Writer's Digest and Library Journal. She lives in Houston with her husband and son.
Find her on Instagram: @irenewritesthings
AUTHOR PHOTOS
Photo Credit: Irene Te
CONTACT
Website: www.irenete.com
Email: irenetebooks@gmail.com
Instagram: @irenewritesthings
THIS PLACE IS MAGIC (Book 1)
★★★ WINNER ★★★
Grand Prize
2024 Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards
★★★ WINNER ★★★
Best in Contemporary / General Fiction
2024 Indie Author Project Competition
GENRE: Contemporary Fiction
ISBN: 979-8-9900566-0-2
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG #: 2024904080
PAGES: 328
FORMATS: eBook, Paperback, Special Edition Hardcover
AUDIENCE: Ages 14 and up
AVAILABILITY: All major retailers
What if running away is what brings you home?
After missing his flight back to Seoul, a disillusioned K-pop idol finds love, acceptance, and the strength to fight for his own happiness at last.
As a member of the internationally beloved K-pop group Apollo, Eunjae has learned firsthand that fame and fortune come at a steep price. But leaving it all behind is easier said than done, and it seems Eunjae has no choice but to continue… until he steps through the orange door at Wanna Waffle on the way to the airport, fails to catch his plane to Seoul, and upends his entire existence.
Jiyeon and her family don’t know the truth about this quiet, handsome stranger who stumbled into their restaurant. Regardless, it’s clear that he needs them. And the longer he stays, the more Eunjae realizes that he might just be willing to trade the adoration of millions for home, family, and even one chance at true love. But his powerful entertainment agency will never let him go without a fight, and Apollo’s fate hangs in the balance along with his own. If Eunjae hopes to win, he must stand his ground and fight back — not only for himself, but for the brothers who have loved and supported him all this time.
Brimming with warmth, waffles, and too many brothers, This Place is Magic will resonate with any reader searching for a comforting escape. Debut author Irene Te delivers a cozy contemporary read interwoven with found family and gentle romance. Step through that orange door for a heartfelt, hilarious, and irrepressibly hopeful journey of self-discovery, perfect for fans of Axie Oh and Jenny Han.
THIS SONG IS OURS (Book 1.5)
About the book:
GENRE: Contemporary Fiction
ISBN: 979-8-9900566-4-0
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG #: 2024922409
PAGES: 268
FORMATS: eBook, Paperback, Special Edition Hardcover
AUDIENCE: Ages 14 and up
AVAILABILITY: All major retailers
Synopsis:
For everyone who found comfort, laughter, and warmth within the pages of This Place is Magic, this collection offers a chance to step beyond that orange door and stay a little longer.
Through eight interconnected stories, each told from the perspective of a different character, spend more time with Eunjae, Jiyeon, and the members of Apollo while they face the choices they’ve made and the future that awaits them. Hear all the gossip. Spy on the group chat. Lounge by the pool with some K-pop idols hiding from the public eye. In every story, discover what happened over the course of a summer filled with new experiences and shifting relationships.
A continuing exploration of brotherhood, family, and fame, This Song is Ours expands a beloved world while also serving as a bridge to the duology’s forthcoming conclusion. Award-winning author Irene Te returns with the humor and heart that captivated readers of her debut novel, inviting them to linger in the cozy booths at Wanna Waffle, stroll along sun-soaked suburban streets, and shout from the balconies of grand seaside hotels. Enjoy a front row seat as loyalties are tested, love endures… and one impulsive revenge plot changes everything.
THIS PLACE IS HOME (Book 2)
About the book:
GENRE: Contemporary Fiction
ISBN: 979-8-9900566-8-8
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG #: 2025923316
PAGES: 386
FORMATS: eBook, Paperback, Special Edition Hardcover
AUDIENCE: Ages 14 and up
AVAILABILITY: All major retailers
Synopsis:
In this sequel to the critically acclaimed This Place is Magic, holding onto one another might mean letting go of dreams old and new.
One missed flight was enough to change everything for Eunjae. After almost a decade in the K-pop industry, he’s won the chance to pursue happiness and chart a different course. Unfortunately, it won’t be easy. At every turn, he’s reminded that idols are supposed to belong to their fans, their agency, their fellow members. Hiding his relationship with Jiyeon feels nonnegotiable. And with Apollo on the verge of signing a new contract, Eunjae’s hard-won choice carries more weight than ever.
Jiyeon has been focused on the same goal since she was only eight years old: opening her own salon. Falling for Eunjae isn’t the first detour she’s ever taken along the way; she didn’t expect to be back at Wanna Waffle full time, either. Being with him could drag her back into the harsh glare of the spotlight, threatening the quieter life she’s chosen and the dream she’s been chasing for so long. Still, she’s determined to make it work.
There’s no question that what they have is worth the risk. But when an unexpected development shoves Eunjae and Jiyeon in front of the cameras, past traumas collide with the uncertainties of the future. Pretending they’re not in love becomes a performance played out for a global audience. And as paths begin to diverge, Apollo must decide which direction to take, together and apart.
Step through the orange door one more time as award-winning author Irene Te brings this duology to a close, examining the price of fame, the complexities of family, and the resilience of love. Luminous and heartfelt, it’s the perfect read for K-pop fans, K-drama enthusiasts, and anyone who has ever longed for a place that feels like home.
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