A novel by Victoria Day Najjar
Three sisters. One family.
“Najjar proceeds from a fascinating premise in a sprawling inventive family drama.”— Kirkus ReviewsBuy the book
English & Mandarin · E-book & audiobook
English print edition coming soon
Welcome to my bookshelf
A story can change the way
we see the world.
I’m Vicki—an author, poet, and former English teacher. Here you’ll find the stories I’ve written, the books that stay with me, and a little of what I’ve learned along the way.
A little more about me ↘Family. Secrets. Second chances.
Meet characters with something to lose—and something worth fighting for.
A family drama with a dangerous secret
In 1980s China, a family makes a choice no one should ever have to make—and three sisters pay the price. Bound by blood but divided by secrets, they are torn apart before they ever understand what was taken from them.
Decades later and an ocean away in America, the past refuses to stay buried. As the sisters’ lives collide again, old wounds reopen, loyalty turns dangerous, and love becomes a weapon. Someone is determined to keep the truth hidden—no matter who has to disappear.
What did that family really sacrifice all those years ago?
And who is willing to kill to keep it secret?
English print edition coming soon.
Prefer to listen? Thanks to the team at Mitchell Logic, you can hear the story unfold on Apple Books, Google Play, and more.
Picked by Goodreads for Summer Reading
Some people can make it, and Connie Mitchell is one of those people. Leaving behind the back-street drug deals and prostitution she practiced in Clearwater, Florida, Connie cleans up and creates a new life in an idyllic town called Safety Harbor.
Her next-door neighbor, Salli, suggests she join a local poetry group. It is within this group that Connie makes her best friends and her worst enemy: a psychotic woman named Sharon Fuller.
And Sharon is not alone. She has an accomplice, a highly influential man with a past to hide. It is he who decides Connie must die.
Why?
Join the conversation on Goodreads ↗What readers are saying about Tampa Bay Runaway
“I stayed up way too late to read this book from start to finish. I simply could not put it down until it was completed. The author is a great story teller and her characters jump off the page. I loved it!”
“Well written. The author really brings the reader into the story. It is one of those books you will not put down. If you are looking for a fabulous novel, look no further. Total enjoyment.”
“Expect great characterization and an exciting story. This novel has unforgettable characters, some of for whom you will root, Connie and Kali, and a couple who will definitely scare you, especially Sharon. I enjoyed reading the book because the storyline contained a variety of tension, recovery and the importance of friendship and trust.”
For the young—and the young at heart
Poems to spark curiosity, invite a laugh, and see familiar things in a surprising way.
Stomp. Roar. Rhyme.
Prehistoric creatures come to life through playful, rhythmic verse. This imaginative collection blends humor, heart, and dino-facts to spark curiosity in children and adults alike.
Twelve research-based poems explore the lives, struggles, and extraordinary world of the dinosaurs, inviting readers ages 8–18 to look a little closer.
“Najjar’s poetry resonates and deserves to be widely shared.”— Lee Bennett Hopkins
Hopkins, a celebrated champion of children’s poetry, curated hundreds of anthologies and helped shape the field of children’s literature. His praise is a meaningful nod to the warmth and lyrical quality of these poems.
Read on Kindle ↗Poems by Vicki—yours to enjoy
A collection of children’s poetry
Written during my years as a teacher, these poems wander through nature, childhood, the circus, the world of Oz, and flights of fantasy. I hope they give you a reason to laugh, dream, and look at the world with fresh eyes.
Celebrated by children’s author Nancy Willard, Poetry Day captures a child’s voice with humor, warmth, and imagination.
Read the collection for free ↗Opens a PDF · Read or save a copy
Listen to Dinosaur Days Poems
Enjoy two audio samples from the collection.
Hello, I’m Vicki.Author · Poet · Former English teacher
I studied English at the University of Michigan, taught high school English and journalism in Bloomfield Hills, and earned a master’s in counseling. Books, people, and the way we see the world have always interested me.
My novels, China Doll Dynasty and Tampa Bay Runaway, explore family, danger, resilience, and second chances. My poetry makes room for curiosity and imagination.
I’m still writing, still researching, and still learning. On YouTube and Facebook, I share the books that move me and what I’ve discovered about bringing a story to life. I’d love to have you along.
Follow my writing journey ↗Notes from the writing life
Writing your first book isn’t easy. These are a few things I’ve learned from my own experience that may help you start strong and publish with confidence.
▶ Watch on YouTubeI drew from real people and powerful moments to shape characters that feel honest and alive.
▶ Watch on YouTubeOutlining is not the only way. Try timelines, boards, or paper strips. Messy can still work.
▶ Watch on YouTubeNot sure where to start? Begin with a big change in your character’s life. Trust yourself and see where it goes.
▶ Watch on YouTubeDon’t edit what you just wrote. Let your creative mind do its thing—then edit it the next day. That’ll get your brain going.
▶ Watch on YouTubeDialogue giving you trouble? Shift the angle or add an eavesdropper. Drafts are for discovery.
▶ Watch on YouTubeOne detail can ignite a whole story. Nothing is too small—it might fuel your story.
▶ Watch on YouTubeStrong characters come from real human traits—faith, doubt, risk-taking, caution.
▶ Watch on YouTubeGive your characters something to overcome. Let’s talk about what keeps a reader turning pages.
▶ Watch on YouTubeStop writing “on the nose” dialogue. Give your characters a conversation that feels alive.
Pull up a chair
Some stories stay with you long after the last page. Here are a few that made me think, feel, and want to talk about them.
▶ Watch on YouTubeAbsolutely gripping. Not one boring page.
This book will take you to Alaska’s brutal wilderness, where one family fights freezing temperatures, starvation, and the demons of PTSD.
Leni Albright is thirteen when her Vietnam veteran father impulsively moves them to a tiny cabin on the Kenai Peninsula. They’re unprepared, freezing, and facing something even more dangerous than the Alaskan winter—the violence brewing inside their own home.
Hannah lived in Alaska as a teen, and you can feel it in every stunning description of the landscape and the raw survival story. If you love intense family dramas, survival stories, and books that make you feel everything, this is your next read. Have you read it? What did you think?
▶ Watch on YouTubeTwo authors, side by side.
In The Four Winds, Hannah gives us a heroine whose family sees her as a mousy, weak nothing. Her sisters shun her, as do her parents. One day, Elsa walks to town, buys red satin fabric, and sews herself a dress. She dresses up and meets a man. From there, the story heats up.
This book will truly rock your world as the ghastly struggle to survive is punctuated by the Dust Bowl agony and the starvation and futility of the Great Depression. Our heroine shows incredible strength and perseverance fighting the odds. Captivating.
Kristin Hannah is a master at historical fiction. You will taste that horrible dust in your mouth endlessly, as did Elsa. Your stomach will writhe in pain from hunger and your heart will break with hers as she struggles to feed her children. But there are wins. She finds love, and she is strong both emotionally and physically. In the shanty camp, Elsa finds a friend—the first in her life.
▶ Watch on YouTubeEast of Eden & Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
Two unforgettable stories explore just how deep sibling rivalry can cut: Henry Farrell’s Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and John Steinbeck’s masterpiece East of Eden.
Both works show how jealousy, resentment, and family conflict can twist lives in chilling ways. From the eerie tension of Blanche and Jane to the generational struggles of Cal and Aron, these stories reveal the damage rivalry can do.
If you’ve only seen the films, you’re missing the true depth of the books.
A conversation at the Xemplar Club
I joined the Xemplar Club in Farmington with my Mitchell Logic team to share my journey from teaching English and journalism to writing novels.
In the full talk, I discuss the heartbreaking true story that inspired Tampa Bay Runaway, along with China Doll Dynasty and my upcoming book, Murder at Devlin High.
Keep the conversation going
Have a question about a book, or simply want to say hello?
I’d love to hear from you.
