Life in the Passenger Seat

Coming in JUNE 2025 - a NEW Contemporary YA novel from Amanda Zieba

Life for Shelby Morris has been one giant road trip, but not the good kind. After a series of evictions, her free-spirited, classic-Mustang-driving mother Gina has decided to move them to Michigan to put her passion for cars to work at the Ford Factory.

Just when their aimless wandering finally has a direction, they run out of gas and cash to buy more. What looks like a dead end may be the jump start Shelby needs for a normal life. While they earn their keep cleaning motel rooms, Shelby gets to go to school and finally, her true heart’s desire, compete on a gymnastics team. But when her mother, who doesn’t like to be reminded that she is in fact a mom, takes off, things get complicated. Shelby turns to school for help and is placed in foster care with her coach and his wife.

In many ways, life has never been so good for Shelby. Coach feels like the father she never had, she’s making friends, and things in the gym are better than ever. For the first time in her life, Shelby’s greatest concern is where she’ll land in the line up. But everything could change if Gina comes back. Even when she’s not around, Gina’s in charge of the map, directing the route of Shelby’s life, pushing her to wonder, what would life feel like if she were in the driver’s seat. This twist on the underdog sports story will speed straight into the hearts of readers.

The book will be released in June, but if you’d like to pre-order your copy now, you can! Buy one for yourself, for you and a teen/teacher/gymnast/Little Free Library in your life, or for a group! Email Amanda with requests of bulk orders larger than 10 books. (wordnerd@amandazieba.com)

If you’d like to partner with Amanda to spread the word about this book including bulk purchases, event planning, podcast/news interviews, collaborations, social media tours, bookstore events or other promotional efforts, please reach out to her via email: wordnerd@amandazieba.com. Amanda is especially interested in events and efforts that will uplift and support gymnasts, mental health in sports, and foster care.

This book is being published through Beaver’s Pond Press and sponsored in part by the Ingold Family Foundation.

The Ingold Family Foundation was started by NFL Miami Dolphin (former Wisconsin Badger!) Fullback, Alec Ingold, in an effort to empower underserved youth through accessible and impactful learning experiences. The foundation focuses on financial, mental, and physical health, inspired by the lessons learned in sports. If you’d like to make a donation to the Ingold Family Foundation to support their work with foster care organizations, click here or use the QR code to the right. To learn more about Alec and the Ingold Family Foundation, click here.