Sterling Author Pens Novel About Teen Love, YouTube and Stardom

Go figure that a Loudoun resident would write a novel that involves the Internet. 

Sterling resident Linda Budzinski’s first novel The Funeral Singer – released Sept. 24 on e-book by Swoon Romance (www.myswoonromance.com). – focuses on a teenage girl’s whirlwind stardom after a video of her singing at a funeral goes viral.

"We live in a world today where people can become instant stars, instant heroes," Budzinski said in a press release. "And just as quickly, with one wrong move in the public eye, they can become 'failures.' The recent stories surrounding Miley Cyrus' performance at the Video Music Awards are a good example. She went from Disney darling to public pariah. But who is she really? Do we know?"

In the novel – which earned praise on USA Today’s romance blog as "a completely fresh take on rock 'n' roll romance and YouTube superstardom" – Melanie Martin’s graveside rendition of “Amazing Grace” wins millions of fans on YouTube and rock star boyfriend. But fame is not all Melanie finds.

Budzinski is currently working on a second young adult romance novel. Learn more about her online at www.lindabudzinski.com.

Budzinski works in nonprofit communications and marketing, including 18 years at an association in the funeral service industry, and volunteers as an adviser for the Sterling United Methodist Church youth group.