Michele Kwasniewski

Burning Bright by Michele Kwasniewski

You fell in love with Dani in book one, and you’ve been waiting to see what comes next for our Rising Star. The wait is over! Introducing BURNING BRIGHT, the next title in the exciting young adult series, The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart!

FictionFresh off the debut of her EP, sixteen-year-old Dani Truehart is flying high on a string of number one hits. After locking down her first full-length album in record time and furiously preparing for her world tour, Dani is torn between leaving her loved ones behind and embracing her burgeoning stardom. Dani's fame and fortune explode as her tour moves across the globe. Elated when two of Hollywood's hottest young actors, Kayla Spencer and Trey Connors, befriend her, Dani finds herself living life in the fast lane and recording her second album as she tours. Constantly dogged by the paparazzi, Dani basks in the adoration of The TrueHart Nation, her loyal super-fans who are ready to follow her around the world and go to war with anyone who dares dis their favorite pop star, whom they've dubbed "The Queen of Harts." With her ego growing as fast has her fame and fortune, a string of platinum hits and her jealous mother desperate for a piece of her wealth, sixteen-year-old pop sensation Dani Truehart navigates the glamor and perils of stardom as scandal threatens to ruin her and everyone who helped make her a star.

“Burning Bright is the second book in The Rise And Fall Of Dani Truehart Series by Michele Kwasniewski. Sixteen-year-old teen pop sensation Dani Truehart finds herself free of her mother's greedy clutches when her mentor Martin Fox assumes control of her guardianship. After topping the Billboard charts with her debut album, Dani embarks on a lengthy tour traversing multiple continents. However, when a rare night out with Hollywood stars Kayla Spencer and Trey Connors doesn't go according to plan, Dani slowly begins to understand the downside of being a celebrity. Additionally, her mother is hell-bent on using her daughter's fame for her own benefit. A busy touring schedule and the pressure of being a celebrity soon take a toll on Dani, and she finds herself feeling more lost than ever. Burning Bright is a cautionary tale about the ills of fame where young talented artists get routinely exploited by everyone around them to satisfy their own insatiable greed, leaving the artists to become a shell of themselves. Author Michele Kwasniewski perfectly captures the headspace of a young teenage pop sensation who, underneath all the glitz and glamour, is still a child seeking love and approval but finds herself feeling alone and vulnerable all the time. The narrative deals with the exploitation of young artists who struggle to deal with their fame and are in no position to shrug off the people in their lives who try to take advantage of their talents. There are a lot of similarities between Dani and real-life pop star Britney Spears. Highly recommended.” Review by P. Deka for Readers' Favorite

“Book two: Burning Bright is bringing full momentum to this amazing adventure we find our protagonist Dani Trueheart on. As Kwasniewski pulls you into the excitement of pop-stardom with her vivid and fanciful illustrations of Dani's newly found elaborate and often risky lifestyle, she effectively imparts her wisdom and her clever sense of humor. This installation leaves me feeling upset for Dani and at her, given her regrettable decisions and I am super eager to know how or if she will recover!” Amazon Review

“A fantastic read right from the beginning! In book one, Rising Star, we meet Dani Truehart and follow her journey into the world of pop star fame. Book two, Burning Bright, continues that journey showing us the highs and lows, the good and the bad of that fame. You'll be holding your breath as Dani navigates through her new stardom, making decisions and choices only a naive teenage girl can make. And the ending - Wow! Can't wait to see what happens next!” Amazon Review

“Loved the second novel in this series and seeing Dani’s life evolve. Michele writes beautifully making you feel like your backstage with Dani and in her world! Can’t wait to see what’s next for Dani!” Amazon Review

I love this book. Great storyline told from a different point of view. Trials & Tribulations of young stardom.” Amazon Review

After graduating from Loyola Marymount University with a BA in Technical Theater, Michele Kwasniewski spent over fifteen years in film and television production. Starting out as a film set assistant on movies such as INDEPENDENCE DAY, FACE/OFF, PRIMAL FEAR, and EVITA, she worked her way up to production manager on TV shows including BIG BROTHER, ADOPTION STORIES, EXTRAYARDAGE and MEET THE PANDAS. She is also a proud member of the Producers Guild of America. Michele's colorful experiences in the industry inspired her to write THE RISE AND FALL OF DANI TRUEHART series. Michele lives in San Clemente, California with her husband, their son, and their disobedient dachshund.

RISING STAR was awarded Finalist for FICTION: YOUNG ADULT category for the 2021 BEST BOOK AWARDS sponsored by American Book Fest.