Interview and Giveaway with Marie Landry & Spotlight on her latest release, Something in the Air!

I am so happy to have one of my dearest friends and fellow author Marie Landry on the blog today. She and I chatted a little bit about her latest book, Something in the Air, and some other fun things...

Interview with Marie Landry

Jessica: Hi! Welcome to Thoughts! I'm so happy to have you on the blog to talk about your books. First off, tell us a little bit about Something in the Air.

Marie: Thank you for having me, Jess! Something in the Air is a coming of age story that focuses on self-discovery, friendship, love, and the importance of pursuing your dreams. Plus there's a hot, sweet Irishman as the love interest that I'm quite fond of. ;-)

Jessica: Speaking of that hot, sweet Irishman, I have to say that you really captured Declan's accent/manner of speaking perfectly in the novel. Did you have to do some research for that?

Marie: Thank you, I'm glad you think so! I'm mostly Irish on my mum's side, so I've been fascinated by Ireland and Irish people for as long as I can remember. I've always had an ear for accents, cadence, and phrasing, so while I've picked a lot up from listening to people, I did do some research - common Irish phrases and wording especially. I dated someone who's Irish, so that's where I picked up the Gaelic terms of endearment Declan uses with Rose...and trust me, they really are as swoonworthy as they sound!

Jessica: I believe it! Were there any challenges that you faced while writing this book?

Marie: This was actually one of the most challenging books I've written. I started writing it in the summer of 2013 and got stuck around 50,000 words so I set it aside. It took about a year and a half for me to get back to it, and I don't think I would have gotten past my mental block with the story without the help of my amazing critique partner. She read what I'd written so far, gave me feedback, and helped me brainstorm until I finally knew where I wanted the story to go.

Jessica: Now that it's November, a lot of writers are participating in NaNoWriMo, including you. What are you working on for it?

Marie: I'm doing NaNoWriMo in an unconventional way. I'm starting out by writing a short holiday story that's a follow-up to Something in the Air. Once that's done, I'll be working on a contemporary YA project that I started a few years ago and never finished.

Jessica: Have any of the stories you wrote during NaNoWriMo been published?

Marie: For 2013's NaNoWriMo I wrote the second book in my Angel Island companion series, After the Storm.

Jessica: You had the amazing opportunity to go to Europe this summer with your friend Krista. You've been sharing some pretty awesome pictures on your blog for Wanderlust Wednesday. Will you be using some of that trip in future stories?

Marie: Definitely! I'm working on a short story right now that's a follow-up to Something in the Air, and it's set in London. I also have several other story ideas that involve travel in the UK and Europe. I fell completely in love with London and Rome in particular on my travels.

Jessica: Something I've always admired about you is how you champion diversity not only in the books you write but the books you read as well. What are some books that have especially touched you that you think everyone needs to read?

Marie: Thank you! I really do think diversity in all forms is so important. Everyone deserves to see themselves reflected on the page. A few of my favourites are Trust the Focus by Megan Erickson (LGBTQ romance), The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler (POC main character with a disability), Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone (the main character has OCD), Dumplin' by Julie Murphy (deals with weight and body issues), and Simon Vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (LGBTQ YA). These are just a few of my favourites, but you can see a more comprehensive list on my blog.

Jessica: It's almost been four years since you published your first book, Blue Sky Days. What have you learned from this journey as an author?

Marie: I've learned so much. With the help of a great critique partner, beta readers, and editor, I feel like I've grown a lot as a writer. I've also learned how invaluable the writing and book blogging community is. Their passion and dedication still amazes me.

Jessica: I agree! Thank you so much for stopping by Thoughts to chat with me! Could you tell my readers where they can follow you and learn more about your books?

Marie: Thank you for having me! I'm available pretty much everywhere online - I have a blog, plus I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can learn more about my books on my blog and from GoodReads.

About the Book

| Amazon US | Amazon CAN | Amazon UK |
| B&N | Kobo | iBooks | Smashwords |
Add to your Goodreads shelf

Her life hasn't gone as planned, but she's about to realize that sometimes the best things happen when you stop expecting life to be a certain way...

When Rose Morgan put off her college plans to help her mother through a difficult time, she thought it would just be a bump in the road of her journey. She got a job to help pay the bills and started picking up the slack at home. But three years later, her bumpy ride hasn’t smoothed out yet, and Rose feels stuck. She’s working at a job she hates and living with a manipulative mother. She’s tired of feeling like her life has stalled, tired of the resentment and anger building inside her with each passing day.

Then Declan Connelly appears in her life, and even though the hot Irishman is seriously tempting, Rose is determined not to let him in. She’s afraid to suck anyone into her bizarre life, especially someone who seems too charming for his own good. She soon learns there’s more to Declan than his sexy accent and charismatic personality, though. He’s a good man, and he wants Rose in his life, baggage and all. He’s got his own, and he isn’t scared away like she originally feared he would be.

Everything in Rose’s life is changing quickly. It’s finally her time--time to figure out what she wants and what her future holds. Time to get swept off her feet and not fight it. But when her plans might take her away from all the amazing new things in her life, including Declan, Rose has to make a choice. Is she willing to chase her dreams, even if it means letting go of love?

About the Author

Marie has the best job in the world—one where she gets to make stuff up for a living and shamelessly eavesdrop on everyone around her. She writes happily ever afters while dreaming about the day she’ll have her own epic love story to tell. Most days you can find her writing, reading, fantasizing about traveling the world, listening to U2, watching copious amounts of TV on DVD, or having grand adventures with her nephews and niece.

| Facebook | Twitter | tsu | Goodreads | Pinterest |
| Instagram | Author Site | Book Blog |

Check out Marie's other books:

| Blue Sky Days | The Game Changer | The Most Wonderful Time of the Year |
| Waiting for the Storm | After the Storm | Take Them by Storm |

Giveaway

Win an awesome Something in the Air prize pack that I put together to celebrate the release! You'll receive:

• a journal
• a variety of tea
• Something in the Air swag
• and butterscotch candies

Giveaway ends 11/30/15 at midnight.
Must be 16 or older to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Hal Eisenberg is here to talk about Overnight Sensation and music + GIVEAWAY!

The cool Hal Eisenberg is here today to tell us more about his novel Overnight Sensation. You can check out my review of this fun book. Since music is a central element to this novel, he's also talking about music too. Plus, he's got a nice giveaway for you guys today. So, join me in welcoming Hal Eisenberg to Thoughts At One In The Morning!

~*~

T@1AM:  Where did you first come up with the idea for this story?

Hal:  I started writing Overnight Sensation about seven years ago. I’ve always been fascinated by one-­hit-­wonder groups. You know, those bands or solo artists that top the charts with a mega hit and then completely disappear for whatever reason. In addition, I’ve always been a huge fan of the ‘70s rock era and have played in bands for years, so the idea for Jonah’s dad sort of evolved from those experiences. As to Jonah’s dad’s career debacle, this idea actually sprung from a real life experience of someone close to me who played in bands as well. Some of the other ideas came from the world’s seemingly endless fascination with fame and in particular, sudden fame from shows like American Idol and The Voice, as well as instant YouTube created stars. I wondered, what would happen if that sudden fame wasn’t really deserved? What would you do if you suddenly became famous for talents that weren’t really yours? Would you try to hold on to that fame? Or, would you come admit that you didn’t deserve it?

T@1AM:  Overnight Sensation focuses on music from the seventies. What are your favorite songs from that decade?

Hal:  Wow, that’s a tough question because there are so many. However -­‐ since you asked, here’s a few: Sister Golden Hair by America, Cut The Cake by the Average White Band, Sail On Sailor by the Beach Boys, Down On My Knees by Bread, Helen Wheels by Paul McCartney (and everything else by Macca), Nobody Knows by the Raspberries (love this band!), Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) by Sly and the Family Stone (yes, that’s how it’s really spelled), My Old School by Steely Dan, Out In The Country by Three Dog Night, Couldn’t I Just Tell You by Todd Rundgren, Say Goodbye To Hollywood by Billy Joel... I could fill this entire blog, so I’ll stop here! Many of my faves are from well known artists, but the songs might not have been top ten hits. If you’re a fan of ‘70s music and you’ve not heard some of these, I urge you to Google/YouTube them and send me a list of your faves as well to my website (www.hal-­eisenberg.com)!

T@1AM:  Do you have any other stories in the works? What can you tell us about them?

Hal:   Yes I do! And this time, the protagonist is girl :) Here’s the premise: After 16 year-­‐old Casey discovers her grandfather murdered at his landscape business, she begins uncovering clues leading to his killers, as well as the fact that he wasn’t her real grandfather, and how a box of old love letters, a ‘60s rock star, and a cache of stolen Russian diamonds may all be involved. The tentative title: Number One, With a Bullet. You knew there had to be rock and roll involved in some way...

T@1AM:  The song that is the focal point of the story, "Every Little Bit Hurts", is not only a real song, but also part of a contest. Tell us about it!

Hal:  First of all, thanks for the compliment on the song in your review! And let me just add, I had nothing to do with it! When I began writing the book, I had this song in my head and yes, it’s a real song entitled, Every Little Bit Hurts, written and recorded by some friends of mine in a band called the Raves. I’ve always thought it should have been a hit, so, I decided to take matters in my own hands and make it the song Jonah’s dad’s band records in their basement that creates all the buzz. For the contest on my website, I’m inviting teen bands or solo acts to record their own take on the song, and download it to the site. Anyone who does this is going to receive a signed copy of the book along with some great swag like guitar pics and book marks and in addition, I’m working on some other cool prizes to give away like music store gift certificates. It’s a great way for upcoming teen bands to showcase their talent as well as a fun way to promote the book. I’ll also be having local teen bands perform at some of my book signings around the country. You don't need any fancy equipment, just your talent and computer or cell phone will work! In fact recently, I had a submission from a band that I’ll be posting on my site soon – it’s a really cool version!

Thanks for reading this and a HUGE thank you to Jessica for my interview!

Thank you Hal for coming by and for the generous giveaway!

~*~

Hal Eisenberg

I'm a writer of young adult novels with a background in advertising. You know those commercials you sometimes laugh at? Those are (hopefully) mine.

My first YA book, Overnight Sensation, surrounds an average teen named Jonah who accidentally becomes a rock star in the most unusual way. And I managed to write it without including any vampires, wizards, demons, shifters, or dragons. Amazing, I know! There are however, a couple of Elvis jumpsuits in the mix.

I enjoy classic rock as well as a bunch of current groups and singers, playing drums, singing, Coke Zero, Marvel movies, and homemade macaroni and cheese - and not in that order. I can't stand beets, brussel sprouts, and waiting...for anything.

Find him on ~Goodreads~

Overnight Sensation

Fifteen year-old Jonah Levine is practically invisible at Applecrest High. His Facebook page is pathetic, his baseball skills are mediocre at best, and his IQ seems to drop 50 points when talking to girls. But everything changes when his rock band, Hitstreak, becomes the hottest teen sensation in the country. And now they’re about to perform in front of 15,000 screaming fans.

So why isn’t he jumping for joy?


Well, for starters, that hit on the radio wasn’t really recorded by his band. In fact, six months ago, he and his friends could barely play a note between them. And now they’re about to perform in front of 15,000 screaming fans. What begins as a mindless prank quickly spins out of control, involving his father’s secret past as a 70’s rocker, a high school bully who wants in on the action, and a powerful, ruthless, media mogul who will stop at nothing to claim the band as his own. Will Jonah prevail? Or will he and his band go down in flames and become the biggest farce in pop music history?

Add it on ~Goodreads~
Buy it on ~Amazon~ and ~Barnes & Noble~

Watch the book trailer...

~*~

GIVEAWAY!!!

Hal has generously offered an awesome giveaway prize for you guys... Here's a picture:

This is what you will receive if you win: one signed copy of the book, four signed book marks, and 3 pearlized, colored guitar pics.

Doesn't that sound like an amazing prize? I thought so. ;)

Rules:
1. You must be a follower.
2. You must be over 15 years old.
3. This is for US/CAN residents ONLY.
4. You can earn an extra entry by answering the question provided on Rafflecopter in the comments below.
4. This contest runs from September 26th to October 3rd.
6. Winner will be selected on October 4th and notified via blog post announcement and email.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for reading, following, and entering!

Author Stephanie Parent is here to talk about Defy the Stars and Poetry + GIVEAWAY!

When Stephanie approached me about her novel in verse I had a feeling it would be a great story. And it was! Check out my review from yesterday to see what I thought. The awesome Stephanie Parent is here today to talk about Defy the Stars and more. She has also offered a great giveaway for you as well, which is awesome for you guys.

So, please join me in welcoming the lovely and gracious Stephanie Parent to Thoughts At One In The Morning!

~*~

T@1AM:  What inspired you to write Defy the Stars?

Stephanie:  I had written a previous novel in verse and received feedback from editors that it wasn’t “edgy” or dramatic enough for today’s YA market, so I knew I needed to go further in my next novel. Someone in the publishing industry actually suggested the idea of a modern Romeo and Juliet story involving drug addiction. At first I wasn’t sure about it, but then I reread the play and was struck by how well the “poison” in the original play correlated with modern drug use. I was also frustrated with several recent YA books that I think portray Romeo and Juliet in an overly simple, one-sided way, and I wanted to explore Shakespeare’s work in a deeper way.

T@1AM:  Since your novel is written in verse, I'm curious to know if you also enjoy poetry. What are your favorite poets/poems?

Stephanie:  I do love poetry! My first love has always been fiction because of my deep appreciation for story and character, but I’m also very drawn to the emotional, intimate experience poetry often provides. I actually find my experience of poetry and music (both with and without lyrics) very similar—both of them seem to bypass logic and narrative to get to the real emotional core of an experience. I will say that, like many people, I can become frustrated by complex poetry when I feel like I just don’t “get it.”

As for my favorite poets, I absolutely love Emily Dickinson. She was actually one of those poets I felt I didn’t quite “get” when I studied her in high school and college, but the older I get, the more I appreciate her poems. I love her simple, dark, insightful words and her uses of dashes to create such a sense of movement in her poems. A more contemporary poet I really love is Louise Gluck. I love the way she reworks classic myths and fairy tales in her poems, and how quietly heartbreaking so much of her writing is. Her take on Hansel and Gretel, “Gretel in Darkness,” is stunning and unsettling.

T@1AM:  I read in another interview how you love free verse novels. Could you tell us your favorites?

Stephanie:  It’s so hard to pick! One absolutely amazing, completely original verse novel I have to mention is Martine Leavitt’s My Book of Life by Angel, which was just released on September 4th. This is the gritty, uncompromising story of a teenage prostitute on the streets of Vancouver, and the author was inspired by the real-life disappearance of a number of prostitutes in the Vancouver area. The poetry format works perfectly to illustrate Angel’s broken psyche and her broken world, and Leavitt works in excerpts and themes from Paradise Lost to stunning effect.

Another verse novel I really love, which I think definitely deserves more recognition, is Dead on Town Line by Leslie Connor. At less than 10000 words, this book is short even by verse standards, but the author manages to tell a complete, moving, satisfying story that somehow feels more like a novel than a short story or novella. Sort of a YA version of The Lovely Bones, this book is dark and sad, yet ultimately hopeful.
On a lighter note, I absolutely love Sonya Sones’ companion verse novels, What My Mother Doesn’t Know and What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know. Sones is one of those authors who just makes it look so easy—her verse is deceptively simple but so clever, elegant and charming, it will definitely leave a smile on your face.

T@1AM:  What do you want readers to take away from this story?

Stephanie:  I don’t want to get too specific, because one of the things I love most about literature is that everyone gets something different out of a story based on their own experiences and viewpoint. I do hope that Defy the Stars makes people think about their own assumptions—whether they be about love at first sight, fate, crime, loss, drug use, or any other aspect of the story—and perhaps look at their beliefs from a new perspective.

Thank you so much for coming by to chat Stephanie!

 ~*~

Stephanie Parent

Stephanie Parent is a YA author repped by Brenda Bowen of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. She is a graduate of the Master of Professional Writing program at USC and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts as a piano major.

~Find Stephanie on her Blog, Goodreads, and on Twitter~

Defy the Stars

Julia Cape: A dedicated classical piano student just trying to get through her last semester of high school while waiting to hear from music conservatories.

Reed MacAllister: A slacker more likely to be found by the stoners’ tree than in class.

Julia and Reed might have graduated high school without ever speaking to each other…until, during a class discussion of Romeo and Juliet, Julia scoffs at the play’s theme of love at first sight, and Reed responds by arguing that feelings don’t always have to make sense. Julia tries to shake off Reed’s comment and forget about this boy who hangs with the stoner crowd—and who happens to have breathtaking blue eyes—but fate seems to bring the two together again and again. After they share an impulsive, passionate kiss, neither one can deny the chemistry between them. Yet as Julia gets closer to Reed, she also finds herself drawn into his dark world of drugs and violence. Then a horrific tragedy forces Julia’s and Reed’s families even farther apart…and Julia must decide whether she’s willing to give up everything for love.

Defy the Stars is written in an edgy free-verse style that will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins and Lisa Schroeder; however, the writing is accessible enough to speak to non-verse fans as well. The novel’s combination of steamy romance and raw emotion will appeal to fans of Gayle Forman, Simone Elkeles, Jennifer Echols, and Tammara Webber. With a story, language and form that both pay homage to and subvert Shakespeare’s play, Defy the Stars is much more than just another Romeo and Juliet story.

Add it to your Goodreads shelf
Buy it on Amazon

~*~

GIVEAWAY!!!

Stephanie has generously offered a e-copy of Defy the Stars for you, along with a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card!

Rules:
1. You must be a follower.
2. You must be over 15 years old.
3. This is open internationally.
4. You can earn extra entries by answering the question provided on Rafflecopter in the comments below and following Stephanie on Twitter.
4. This contest runs from September 19th to 26th.
6. Winner will be selected on September 27th and notified via blog post announcement and email.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for reading, following, and entering!

Author Holly Cupala tells us more about Don't Breathe A Word + GIVEAWAY!

After reading the awesome book Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala (my review was posted just a minute before this, check it out!), I had to get in touch with her to see if she could tell us more about it. She was most kind in answering a few questions for me. She is also sharing some original illustrations done by her friend Realm Lovejoy for the DBAW book trailer. Not only that, but she also offered a free book to give away to one of my followers! Talk about wonderful bonuses. ^_^

So, please join me in welcoming the lovely and gracious Holly Cupala to Thoughts At One In The Morning!

~*~

T@1AM: There is a lot to Don't Breathe a Word: a main character with asthma and a bad relationship, plus the things that make up the background of and current predicament her street friends are in. What do you want these intense situations to do for the reader? 

Holly: On the surface, I want to tell a good story and make readers care about the characters and feel their emotions. At a deeper level, the characters uncover their own personal resources through the difficulties they face, and I hope readers will do the same. Also, I can’t seem to write a straightforward story! I like a lot of things to be going on at once.

T@1AM: Why did you make your protagonist asthmatic?

Holly: That was the last piece of DBAW to fall into place. In my earliest drafts, Joy was going to leave home for completely different reasons, but then Asher entered the story. I realized she left because of him and wrote that whole backstory. But then my editor asked why a girl like her (with good parents, good background, etc.) would get involved with a guy like him. The parents in my first novel, Tell Me a Secret, were so intense and horrible—I didn’t want to write another family like that. Joy’s parents were good. Too good. That’s when her asthma came to me, and how she felt so suffocated that a boyfriend like Asher would seem like an escape.

T@1AM: The characters in your novel appear very true to life. How were you able to make such realistic characters?

Holly: Thank you! I love those characters. Some of them came fully formed, like May and Santos. I had such a clear picture of who they were from the get go. Then others had to be drawn out a little at a time. Asher showed up and wouldn’t leave. Joy came layer by layer as I discovered her story. Creed—I’ve always been in love with Creed! Maybe part of making them realistic was letting them unfold and even surprise me sometimes. A lot of the time, actually.

T@1AM: Tell us about your charity, why you chose it, and how we can help.

Holly: I give ten percent of my author proceeds to World Vision’s Hope for Sexually Exploited Girls. Even though my books aren’t necessarily about sexual exploitation, they touch on women and secrets and shame, and I felt there was a connection there. I’ve been really excited to be able to be able to tie two of my passions together and give back in some way.

Thank you so much for coming by and telling us more about your book!

~*~

Aren't these pictures totally cool?

See the book trailer by visiting this link!

~*~

Holly Cupala

Holly Cupala wrote teen romance novels before she ever actually experienced teen romance. When she did, it became all about tragic poetry and slightly less tragic novels. When she isn't making art and writing, she spends time with her husband and children in Seattle, Washington. These days, her writing is less about tragedy and more about hope.

Where you can find Holly:
~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~

Don't Breathe A Word

Joy Delamere is suffocating...

From asthma, which has nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From delectably dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out.

Joy can take his words—tender words, cruel words—until the night they go too far.

Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe... if only she can get to Creed before it’s too late.

Set against the gritty backdrop of Seattle’s streets and a cast of characters with secrets of their own, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the meaning of love, and how far a girl will go to discover her own strength.

Add it to your Goodreads shelf
Buy: Barnes & Noble ~ Amazon
Two chapter sneak preview: http://www.dontbreatheaword.com/dbaw-preview.pdf

GIVEAWAY!!!

Holly has generously offered a copy of Don't Breathe A Word for you! This is a US ONLY giveaway.

Rules:
1. You must be a follower.
2. You must be over 15 years old.
3. This is open to US residents ONLY.
4. You can earn extra entries by liking this blog on Facebook, liking Holly Cupala on Facebook, following me on Twitter, and following Holly Cupala on Twitter.
4. This contest runs from August 4th to 11th.
6. Winner will be selected on August 12th and notified via blog post announcement and email.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Thank you so much for reading, following, and entering!

Author Keary Taylor talks about What I Didn't Say

After I read the wonderfulness that is the book What I Didn't Say, I had to get in touch with Keary and see if she would be able to tell us more about the story. I personally believe it is an important story to read and highly recommend it to all of my followers. You can see what I thought of it in my review. The story surrounds Jake, who suddenly finds himself unable to speak ever again. For him to communicate with people, he had to learn sign language. Before I read it, I knew there was an important lesson to be learned.

Keary Taylor was more than happy to oblige my request. So, without further adieu, please welcome Keary to Thoughts At One In The Morning!

~*~

T@1AM: What I Didn't Say is more than just a story you wanted to tell. At the end of the book, you disclose how close it is to you personally. What made you decide to write a story that is extremely personal?

 

Keary: It was difficult book to write because it was so personal, but there were a few things I had to say that I wanted to say to young adults.  I wanted to give a message of hope and to let people know that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.  You have the power to turn your life into something great.

T@1AM: How much of a parallel is it to real life?

Keary: There is so much in this book that is based on real life.  The hardships were based on my own as well as a few other people I know in my life.  The island is the island I actually live on.  The issues in the book are issues that pretty much every teenager deals with.

T@1AM: Why did you choose to tell the story from a male character's point of view?

Keary: At lot of it was just to do something different.  I wanted the challenge.  And when I pictured this character who could no longer talk, it was always a guy.  Jake really turned out to be a character who is very dear to me.

T@1AM: What are you hoping your readers take away from this story?

Keary: I hope that they can realize that there are always people out there who have things so much worse then they do.  When you're in the teenage years everything feels so dire.  I remember feeling like that.  But things can always get better.  Sometimes you have to make them get better, not just sit around and wait for them to get better.  If you’ve never heard the song “Somebody Wishes They Were You” by Adelita’s Way I encourage you to go listen to it.  I consider it to be the theme song to What I Didn’t Say.

~ Thank you so much for telling us more about your book Keary! ~

~*~

Keary Taylor

About The Author:

Keary Taylor grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now resides on a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two young children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night. She is the author of the FALL OF ANGELS trilogy, EDEN, and WHAT I DIDN'T SAY.

Where you can find Keary Taylor:

~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~

~*~

What I Didn't Say

Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat.

His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again.

When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn’t the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it.

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Amazon ~
...

Interview With Geek Girl Author Cindy C. Bennett!

I am pleased to welcome my guest, Cindy C. Bennett to Thoughts At One In The Morning. As part of her Geek Girl Blog Tour, I did an interview with Cindy to find out more about her new book, Geek Girl, and other things.

~.'.~*~.'.~

What inspired your book Geek Girl?

I write this story originally as a short story (1500 words) for a contest. We’ve all seen movies or read books where a popular kid decides they can turn some wallflower or nerd into a popular person. I wanted to take the same idea and turn it on its head, where someone on the fringes, someone edgy and not popular in the least, decides to turn someone their way. So I came up with Jen, an angry, bitter, bored girl who’s been dealt a bad hand in life. I wanted her to decide on someone not popular, but someone who would be considered really good who she tries to make bad. After I wrote the short story, I couldn’t get Jen & Trev out of my mind. They really wanted their whole story to be told. So I obliged.

What do you like most about Geek Girl?

I like the idea of someone who appears to be one thing, who is judged on that appearance, and show that she has layers and depth, that she has a goodness within her as I believe that everyone does. I like that she finds it for herself as she spends time with someone who doesn’t judge her on appearance only.

What music did you listen to while writing it?

Depending on the mood in the current scene I’m writing will depend on the music I listen to. If it’s a heavy, sad scene I try to find a song that reflects that. If it’s a love scene, obviously I’m listening to a love song. If it’s a scene where she’s discovering something about herself, or where Trevor is trying to point out something good about her, I listen to something uplifting. I don’t listen to music the entire time I’m writing because I don’t want it to influence what I’m writing unless I want something specific.

Are any of the characters in your books based on people you know?

Not specifically. Trevor is very loosely based on a boy who my daughter knew. He was Trevor-esque in that he was tall, good looking, but definitely a geek, who played the piano and sang beautifully. Beyond that he’s entirely my imagination. Jen isn’t based on anyone I know (other than her looks which are like my daughter—who is not Goth, by the way). Her backstory is based on the real life story of a boy I saw on TV a while back who really lived what she did as a child. The difference is that he let life get him down, and he was being interviewed from prison. My heart broke listening to his story.

The characters in your books deal with some really intense issues. What made you decide that your character will face these issues?

I’ve always respected people who have these really rough childhoods, where things that happen are beyond their control, and yet manage to rise above those circumstances. I think people choose how to deal with what life throws at you, and those who (to coin a cliché) take lemons and make lemonade are to me just so admirable. So I enjoy writing about those types of people.

Your books are so clean (compared to most YA) as far as content goes. What made you choose to write this way?

YA readers tend to be girls as young as ten and as old as . . . well, grandmas. I feel that if someone picks up a YA book, they are expecting content that is appropriate for young adults. If they wanted a book with adult content, they would pick up an adult book. I’m amazed at how many emails I get from teens to grandmas who are appreciative of the fact that my books are clean, while still dealing with some tough, real issues, and that they feel they can pass the books on to their friend/sister/daughter/grandma and not worry about them being offended by what they might read. It’s clear that there is a genuine desire out there for even more good, well-written, clean books.

What would be your dream job if you didn’t write?

That’s a tough one because truly, this is my dream job. This is the thing I’ve always wanted to do more than anything. I suppose if I had to pick a different job, I’d probably want to work as a nurse in a children’s hospital. I spent some time at one when my daughter was diagnosed with diabetes, and it’s amazing the courage that so many of those children display on a daily basis.

Do you have any hobbies outside of writing?

I like to scrapbook (digitally) and I ride my Harley quite a bit. I’d love to have more time to read as that was my favorite thing to do before I began writing in earnest. I prefer to spend time with my family more than anything, and I could probably become obsessed with computer games if I let myself.

What is your favorite book so far this year?

Another tough one. There are so many good books to choose from. I suppose of the books I’ve read this year only, one that really stands out is Sophie & Carter by Chelsea Fine. I’ve just recently finished this book, and wow, it’s a heartbreaker. I think I cried from almost the beginning. It’s one of those books you just can’t stop thinking after the last page. My only complaint is that it was short, and I definitely wanted more of both Sophie and Carter. I’ve read many good books this year, this one may stand out the most simply because it’s the last book I read, but even at that I think it would probably be in my top twenty all-time favorite books.

What writing project are you working on next?

I’m nearly finished with my next novel called Immortal Mine, which I hope is published by the time this interview is published. I had hoped to have it out before now, but life happens, and I wasn’t able to finish it when I planned to. It’s a little out of my usual writing as it has a small element of the supernatural in it, but at heart it’s about the love story of the two main characters. I’m a total sucker for romance, so I suspect my books will always be about the love story, whatever else is happening.

Where can we keep up with you online?

Find me at www.cindycbennett.com

Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/authorcindycbennett

Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/cinbennett
Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4116333.Cindy_C_Bennett

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Thank you so much Cindy for the interview and opportunity to be a stop along the blog tour!

"Think I can turn that boy bad?" 17-year-old Jen turns her life upside down when, out of boredom, she makes a bet that she can turn school geek Trevor into someone like her. Instead, the goth girl finds herself sucked into his world of sci-fi movies, charity work, and even-ugh!-bowling. To truly belong with him-and with her new foster family-she must first come to terms with her violent past.

Be sure to get a copy of Geek Girl on December 28th 2011 (You can pre-order on Barnes & Noble and Amazon--just click the links on the site name). Add it on Goodreads. You can read my review of Geek Girl here.

Also, don't forget to check out Heart On A Chain, which is available now on Barnes & Noble and Amazon in e-book and paperback. You can read my review of Heart On A Chain here.

Check out the stops on the whole tour here.
Check out Cindy's blog here.
Check out the official Geek Girl FB page here.
Also check out Cedar Fort Books on their Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads pages.

~Jessica