For the Love of Books Giveaway Hop!

I really want to thank Jessica from Thoughts at One in the Morning for asking me to be a part of this fun giveaway hop!  I'll be picking three winners to win TWO of the following books listed. The giveaway is international and you can enter via the Rafflecopter below!

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Interview with Samantha Durante

Samantha Durante lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. The Stitch Trilogy is her debut series.

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Thank you so much for joining me, Samantha! I’m so excited to be a part of the SHUDDER blog tour!

I’m very excited to be joining you, Komal, thanks so much for hosting me!

For those unfamiliar with the Stitch trilogy, could you briefly tell us a bit about it?

Sure!  Stitch starts out seeming like a college ghost romance, but it’s got a big sci-fi twist that lands the characters in a disturbing future dystopia.  The second book, Shudder, is more grounded in dystopian territory, but it’s got some interesting paranormal additions to keep it fresh and different.  And I can’t tell you much about the third book, because I haven’t written it yet!

Stitch was a skillful cross between the paranormal, science fiction, and dystopian genres. I expected Shudder to solely focus on Dystopian, but was surprised when it drifted into the paranormal genre once again. What is your favourite part about crossing genres in this unique way?

Blending genres for me is a way to bring something different to the table.  I LOVE dystopian books, but let’s face it – there are a lot of popular ones out there right now, and the last thing I wanted to do with Shudder was rehash the same old tropes and storylines.  I thought the additional of some paranormal elements would help the book to be unique and hold readers’ interest, even if they’re burned out on straight-up dystopian reads.

Stitch had a huge twist towards the end that no one saw coming. When you went into writing Shudder, did you have any idea how you were going to outdo the twist in the first book?

That had to be the hardest thing about writing Shudder – how was I EVER going to outdo the genre-bending twist in Stitch??  In the end, I couldn’t think of a way to do it without going off the deep end and turning the series into like a cowboy space opera or something ridiculous, so I decided instead to just focus on making Shudder a really strong story and trying to avoid the dreaded “second book syndrome.”  I wanted to use this book to expand upon the foundations that were laid in Stitch, answer readers’ questions about the world-building, and continue to develop the characters, with a healthy dose of action and romance thrown in to keep the story moving.  I was able to bring in a *few* big twists this time (my favorite being the jaw-dropper in Alessa’s last chapter – sorry, I’m a sucker for cliffhangers!), so hopefully those will tide readers over until we can really kick things up in the conclusion of the series.

You presented many interesting ideas in Shudder, but what really resonated with me were your views on over-population. What were you hoping that your readers would take away from the story?

You know, I don’t really have a good answer on how to address the issue of over-population (and being someone who would eventually like to have 4 kids, I’m certainly in no position to preach to anyone to about population control!  lol).  But I can very easily see our world going the same route as the one in Stitch, where eventually just too many people competing for resources is going to have massive, planet-threatening consequences, and it’s really scary to think about that happening.  I guess the message here is that we all need to take a collective step back and look at what we’re doing and try to come up with some solutions, rather than forging blindly ahead until it’s too late (much like we’ve done with global warming…).

Could you tell us something about Stuck, the final book in the trilogy?

Things are going to get shaken up in a massive way for Alessa and the gang, and they’re going to have to find a different way of accomplishing their goals than they originally thought.  That’s all I’m going to say for now.  :-)

What was it like writing a sequel? Was it easier or harder than writing book one?

I thought writing Shudder was actually a lot easier than writing Stitch.  All of the hard parts – the backstory, the character introductions, the world building – are out of the way, so you can really focus on the fun parts and on making the world you created richer.  It was great to just set Isaac and Alessa loose and see where things went.

How much planning do you do before you write your novel? Or do you just go with it and see where the story takes you?

I do a TON of planning.  I literally do not write even a sentence until I have the entire story plotted out and a completed chapter-by-chapter outline that I feel fairly satisfied is 90% of the way there.  The remaining 10% I allow to develop as I’m writing, since sometimes ideas will occur to me or I’ll begin to see a development in a character that I didn’t notice before which is worth expanding on.  But in general, writing is the easy part – when I sit down to write, I already know where the story is going, so I just need to get the words out and try not to make too many typos along the way!

What are you currently reading?

I’m actually knee-deep in parenting/pregnancy/birthing books, since I’m six months along with my first, and (like with my writing…) I like to be prepared and have some plans in place before I jump into things.  But once I finish those off, I have a list of great new sci-fi books plus a few compelling YA/NA contemporaries – many of which are from other awesome indie writers (cough, Falling for Hadie, cough, cough) – that I’m dying to crack open.  :-)

Do you have any other projects in the works? What can we expect from you after the conclusion of the Stitch trilogy?

Nothing in the works right now beyond Book 3 (besides this baby, haha!), but once the Stitch Trilogy is released, I do have a bunch of ideas for potential stand-alone YA/NA sci-fi novels that I’m really excited about!  I’ll be sure to keep readers up-to-date on my blog/social media as plans cement…

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

THANK YOU for all of your enthusiastic support of the Stitch Trilogy!  I never expected people to be so receptive to my work, and I feel enormously grateful for each and every person who’s picked up one of my books.  :-)  Also, stay tuned tomorrow on the Shudder tour for more BAD GUY WEEK and themed posts about your favorite Stitch villains!

Thank you for your time, Samantha!

Thanks again for having me, Komal!

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If you haven't read Book 1 in the Stitch trilogy, Stitch is currently 99 cents on Amazon!

You can find out more about Samantha and her books on the following sites:

www.samanthadurante.com

Facebook

Goodreads

Twitter - @SamanthaDurante

Wrong Side of Town Cover Reveal!!

Wrong Side of Town, the third book in my With Me series just got a new cover! It was designed by the super talented Eden Crane. I love this cover!

You don’t realize someone was missing from your life until the moment they enter it.

Estella Markson is a good girl. She studies hard, stays out of trouble, and is struggling to hold together her family that is falling apart because of her alcoholic father.

Vincent Madden is the guy your mother warned you to stay away from. He doesn’t follow the rules, is in a notorious motorcycle gang, and doesn’t care if he breaks the law or someone’s bones.

After a chance encounter, Vincent starts to take an interest in the innocent girl who is so different to him. Despite Vincent’s infamous reputation, Estella is also intrigued by him. There is something about this bad boy that gives her an escape from her world of problems, and she can’t stay away.

Even as they struggle with the problems in their lives, Vincent and Estella soon find that trying to forget is easier with someone by your side.

Add it on Goodreads!

Top 5 Memorable Moments from Falling for Hadie

Hadie: That’s a pretty tough question. There are some pretty awesome, memorable moments in Falling for Hadie. What are you going to say?

Komal: I guess I could talk about memorable moments revolving around certain characters and scenes. Do you think that would be fun?

Hadie: Super fun!

Komal: Well, in that case, why don’t we start with you, Hadie.

#5 – When Hadie Swinton and Lincoln Bracks meet for the first time

                    

“Watch where you’re going!” she snapped.

I was taken aback by the hostility in her tone and stepped back, folding my arms across my chest. “You’re the one who knocked into me. Do you need your eyes checked or something?”

Her lips gave an angry twitch. “What sane person walks backwards? Maybe you need your legs checked.”

I couldn’t help but smirk. “You wanna check them for me?”

Hadie: That was not cool! He was so rude to me!

Komal: You were pretty rude to him!

Hadie: Yeah, I guess I did overreact a little. So, what’s next?

#4 – When Eddie writes a song for Hadie

Komal: Let me give you guys some back story. Eddie likes Hadie. Hadie dates Bennett. Hadie and Bennett break up. Eddie still likes Hadie. Hadie dates Lincoln.

Hadie: Do you have to talk about my love life in such literal terms? It’s so weird!

Komal: I figured that if I was more literal, it would get through to you a bit better. Anyway, so in this scene, Eddie isn’t aware that Hadie and Lincoln are dating. Eddie’s in a band, so he writes a song and has the lead singer perform it when Hadie comes to the gig. I thought it was a really cute scene.

#3 – When Lincoln makes Hadie scream profanity into the darkness

“…Shit happens, Hadie. Life happens. If we sat around trying to figure out why things happen to us then we’d get absolutely nowhere. Sometimes it’s just best to accept the things that happen and move on. Give life the middle finger…”

Hadie: I will never forget those words. Everything that Lincoln said to me that night was the absolute truth.

Komal: That scene was so powerful. It’s amazing what Lincoln taught you.

#2 – Hadie’s parents

Hadie: *face palms* Oh, God. Like Dad needs a boost to his ego.

Komal: Hey! Your parents are the bomb!

Hadie: Never say that word again. Please.

Komal: The bomb! The bomb!

When I walked into the kitchen to grab my dog’s leash, I found my parents kissing.

“Ew!” I cried, shielding my eyes with a hand. “Don’t you two have a room where you can do that?”

Dad turned to me, his brown eyes twinkling. “We need to tie a collar with a bell around her neck so we know when she’s coming. Don’t you think, Susanne?” He glanced at Mom.

“Oh, that’s a great idea,” Mom said as she gave me a teasing smile. “I can get her a name tag too. I’m always forgetting her name. What was it again?”

Dad scratched his head as he studied me. “It’s H-something. Hannah, wasn’t it?”

“No, Henrietta?”

“Harrison?” Dad slapped his palm against the side of his head as if it had suddenly dawned on him. “I remember now. It’s Hadassah!”

Hadie: That was gross! I don’t want to see my parents kissing!

Komal: Wait, there’s one more scene that I loved that they were in.

Dad raised an eyebrow. “Will there be boys where you’re going.”

“Probably, Dad.”

“And alcohol?”

“You know I don’t drink.”

“Do you want to borrow my pepper spray?” Mom quizzed as I sat down at the table and pulled on a pair of ankle boots.

My brow furrowed at her question. “Mom, why do you have pepper spray? You’re a secretary. What’s the worst that could happen to you?”

“Sometimes your dad gets handsy at work,” Mom said, wiggling her eyebrows up and down. “I need something to keep him at bay.”

Dad winked at her. “You know it, Sugar Pops.”

Hadie: Well, that settles it. I have the world’s grossest parents. Please tell me the #1 most memorable moment is something less vomit-inducing and doesn’t revolve around my parents.

Komal: There’s nothing to worry about—

Bennett: Say it. You’re #1 memorable moment revolves around me.

Komal: *in disbelief* Why would it have anything to do with you, creep?

Bennett: Because I’m just that awesome.

Komal: You’ve got to be joking. You’re a total jerk and—

Hadie: Let me handle this. You go ahead and share your most memorable moment. Bennett and I have some things to talk about.

Komal: *mouth drops open* Some things? Like what? What are you discussing that I don’t know about?

Hadie: That’s another story for another day.

Komal: This doesn’t sound good. *composes self* Sorry to keep y’all waiting! My #1 most memorable moment is pretty special and is actually the entire epilogue. I can’t share all of it due to spoilers, but here’s a few lines from it. Thank you for reading along! <3

#1 – Epilogue

Cherish every second you have. Hold the ones you love close to you.  Sing, even when you don’t know the words to the song. Smile when the sun shines on your face. Dance in the rain.

STITCH by Samantha Durante is free!!!

Stitch by Samantha Durante is FREE on Kindle this Friday (June 7th) to Tuesday (June 11th)

A college ghost romance with a SURPRISING dystopian sci-fi twist, Part 1 of this trilogy is sure to keep you on your toes!  (And better yet, Part 2 - Shudder - launches on the 15th!)  You definitely don't want to miss this innovative debut novel that will appeal to fans of the YA and New Adult genres - check out my review here!

Stitch (Stitch Trilogy, Book 1)

by Samantha Durante

Genre: YA/NA Dystopian/Paranormal Romance

Synopsis: see Amazon or Goodreads

Rating: 4.3 stars (100+ reviews)

Get Your FREE Kindle Copy Today!  Limited Time ONLY (June 7-11th):

http://www.amazon.com/Stitch-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B008RC3NAM/

Share the news for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!  (Open Internationally)

Enter the $25 Amazon GC Giveaway HERE!!!

Summer Kindle Giveaway!

I'm really excited to take part in the Summer Kindle Giveaway! If you're stopping by here for the scavenger word, then it is: SURF.

Next, here's a bit about my book which is featured in the giveaway, along with a lot of other amazing authors and books!

Ashton Summers is on her way to becoming the most popular girl in school and nothing—or no one—is going to stand in her way. Especially not Luca Byron, her freak neighbor, with his tattoos, loud music, and distracting green eyes.

Luca Byron has three goals in life: get through high school with a low profile, make sure his garage band becomes something more than a hobby, and try to forget about his insufferable ex-best friend, Ashton, who he can’t get out of his mind.

The last thing Ashton and Luca want to do is rekindle their friendship, but when Ashton takes a tumble down the social ladder, Luca—with his new makeover—is the only one who can help her rise up again by pretending to be her boyfriend. At first, being together is unbearable and annoying, but things start to change as Ashton and Luca discover the real reasons they drifted apart seven years ago.

Now, keeping their hands off each other seems impossible.

Purchase Impossible for your Kindle, here.

It’s that time of year again – SUMMER.

Shorts, flip flops, and sunglasses.

While the ice cream is thawing, the sun is rising, and that summer heat is blazing, I say it’s about high time for a giveaway! Wouldn’t you say?

And what better way to enjoy the beginning of your summer than with a little reading? How about doing that reading on a new Kindle HD?

This summer kindle giveaway is brought to you by an amazing group of Indie authors who’ve decided to start your break off with a kick. Follow the giveaway everyday of this month and collect your summer words as you go. Submit them in the end and earn yourself more points towards the grand prize! Complete the rafflecopter and you’re set.

Today's summer word is: [insert your word]

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Ends June 30th – 12:00 AM EST

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The truth about Falling for Hadie

I'm going to be straight with you. I haven't talked much about Falling for Hadie since it released--mainly because I've been trying to recover from it, but also because I didn't want to get overly emotional about it. Eventually, I realised that sometimes it's okay to be a little emotional.

That's why I want to put this out there because it's been running through my mind a lot the last couple of days: Falling for Hadie means so much to me. It means the world to me. I didn't realise how much this book meant to me until two days ago.

I cry every time someone sends me a message telling me how much they loved it, or when they say that it is one of their favourite books or that Hadie and Lincoln are their favourite characters, or today when I was on Goodreads and I saw someone had made a quiz for the book! Yes, I cried because someone made a freaking quiz! I have no words. I am not a crier, but you guys make me cry.

Life is not easy, but we have to carry on and keep living. I wrote this book because I know that sometimes in life you go through extremely difficult situations. And, you know what the worst part is? The worst part is that life doesn't stop just because you experienced devastation. Life keeps going. And the traumatic event that we experienced is already in the past, and it's a past that we have to move on from.

In a way, I guess the worst part about life is also the best part. It's the best part because regardless of loss, death, and grief, there is still life, birth, and love for us to experience. There are still things to look forward to. There is still a chance to live and to breathe and to learn. Your life doesn't have to end just because someone else's did.

We don't have to forget, but we have to keep on living. Falling for Hadie is based on reality. I didn't lose the love of my life, but I lost someone I loved. The characters in this story--Mrs. Bracks, Becky, Kance--are people I have met in my life. Mrs. Bracks and Becky aren't figments of my imagination; they really did react that way in the exact same situation.

I am still young--I'm only 22--but I have been through things that I will never forget. I have experienced things that have broken me down. I have struggled and given up hope.

But Falling for Hadie isn't about losing hope; it's about finding hope, even when you feel like there's nothing left to live for anymore. It's about finding hope even when you think no one cares about you and that you're all alone. It's about finding hope even when you've been through something that has torn your life apart.

Hold onto that hope--a dream, a reality, a loved one--and never let it go.

"The difficult things we go through are the things that make us stronger."

Here's a final truth: I cry uncontrollably each and every time I read Lincoln's letter. Without fail.

<3

Interview: Melissa Pearl

Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan... not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. "Best. Year. Ever!!" 

She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has produced four more books and has a YA fantasy trilogy coming out this year.

"I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love."

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Hi, Melissa! Thanks so much for joining me today! I’m really excited to get to know more about you and your books!

Let’s get to know a bit about you first:

How would you describe yourself in one word?

A dreamer

How did you get your start in writing? Was it a childhood hobby or something you became interested in recently?

I always had stories floating around in my brain as a kid, but I never thought being an author would be an option. I wrote a few stories for fun, but never took it seriously until I was in my early 20s. My friend, who was the only person I told my stories too, told me she wanted to read one of them and asked me to write the one I'd just told her. I decided to give it a go and immediately fell in love. When she read it and loved it, I decided to get serious and took a two-year writing course and started learning about this awesome craft.

Are you self-published or traditionally published? What made you choose that particular path for yourself?

I am an indie author and very happy to be that way. I love having control over my writing career. I was initially looking at traditionally publishing and spent two years looking for an agent. I was also completing my writing course during this time and realized I had a lot to learn before my work was ready to publish. When I finally got to the point of having publish-worthy work, I was so sick of getting rejected by agents. I mentioned this to my brother and he told me about Amanda Hocking. I immediately looked her up and then started researching the self-publishing movement. I knew it was the right path for me and I haven't looked back. I love being an indie :)

Let’s talk about your books: What was the first novel you published and can you tell us a bit about it?

My first published novel was Golden Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #1), which is currently free in digital format. It is about a girl who can travel through time. Noone but her family knows this. She falls for a boy she is not allowed to be with. He discovered her secret and so begins a forbidden love affair. It follows their fight to be together. It is the first in a three book series.

What genre do you write in? What do you love most about that genre?

I write in a few different genres - all YA at this stage although I'd like to try my hand at NA at some point. I have written an Urban Fantasy trilogy, a contemporary romance with a paranormal twist, a contemporary romance/thriller and I am about to release an epic fantasy trilogy. All I can guarantee is that my novels will always have a really strong romance in them. I'm a sucker for love :) I love writing YA. Teenagers are the coolest characters to write. I have so much fun.

You have published five books since 2011. Who is your favourite character out of all your books?

Ooooo - tough question. How do I choose? LOL :)

The first one to pop into my mind is a character called Gabe. He is not an MC, but actually a key minor character in my Time Spirit Trilogy. He was so great to write. I really loved him.

I also loved writing Nicole from Betwixt. She can be quite misunderstood, but I love how complex she is. She has a really sharp tongue too and would say stuff I would never dream of saying.

Oh yeah - and I can't forget Mica. She is my MC from Forbidden Territory. She makes me laugh and I'm SO in love with her boyfriend, Eli :)

Can you tell us a bit about the inspiration for your novels?

I get inspired from so many things in my life, but my main themes probably come from a faith I have grown up with. It's such a strong part of who I am, it's hard to not to let it come through in my writing.

What are you currently working on, and what was your latest release?

I have just spent the last 6 months working on The Elements Trilogy. This is a trilogy set in a fantasy world. It is based around an ancient prophecy and two seekers who leave home to find, and resurrect, the light so they can save the earth from darkness.

Unknown will be released on June 13th. Unseen is due for release mid-July and Unleasehd, mid-August. Once that is done I will be working on two novellas - a prequel and a sequel to Betwixt. I have a plethora of novels iined up. 2014 is already full. LOL :D

What’s one piece of advice that you have learned on your writing journey that you can share with aspiring authors?

Take the time to study the craft of writing. It's so important to know the basics of story structure and understand the elements needed for a good novel. If you want to produce quality, then learn the craft and pay an editor to help you refine your work so that it shines.

Last question: What do you love most about being an author?

Living in my imaginary worlds. I love walking the journeys with these characters. I laugh with them, cry with them, live these exciting adventures with them. I don't even have the words to describe how incredibly cool it is.

Thank you so much for joining me today, Melissa! I really appreciate it!

Thank you SO much for having me, Komal :) xx

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To find out more about Melissa Pearl and her wonderful books, please visit her on the following links below.

Facebook Author Page

Twitter

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads Author Page

Smashwords Author Page

Website

Cover Reveal: Losing Francesca by J.A. Huss

I'm so excited to share the cover reveal of J.A. Huss' new book with you guys! Losing Francesca looks like a must-read and the cover is gorgeous!

Francesca Sabatini came to America to take in the sights, celebrate her high school graduation, and have fun wasting time before college starts in the fall.

That’s not what happens.

Fresh off the plane and barely on American soil more than a handful of minutes, Francesca’s face is recognized by TSA scanners to be a match for a child who was kidnapped twelve years ago.

Brody Mason remembers the day Fiona Sullivan went missing during a family vacation in Italy and it’s haunted him his whole life. So when Francesca shows up at the Sullivan farm down the road, he’s compelled to figure out if this girl really is his long lost friend.

But Francesca knows she’s not Fiona Sullivan. She knows exactly who she is. At least she thinks she knows – until Brody Mason relentlessly pursues her and she begins to have feelings for him. Maybe being Fiona isn’t so bad?

Reality becomes blurred, secrets are revealed, and life will never be the same when the final questions are answered: Is she Francesca or Fiona? And where does she really belong?


Add Losing Francesca on Goodreads!

Interview with Autumn Doughton!!

Currently, Autumn lives in Gainesville, Florida with her two daughters, two dogs, two cats, two rabbits, three ducks and one lovely husband. She writes books. Fun books for you, and your sister, and your best friend, and your hair dresser, etc. She thinks of writing as a sort of therapy, and the results tend to be feel-good odes to her lost youth, which is exactly how she likes it.

When Autumn isn't working or looking for recipes that include avocado as a key ingredient, she can be found skulking around the movie theater or local bookseller. Generally with chocolate somewhere on her person because she never leaves home without a treat.

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I’m having a HUGE fan girl moment right now. I love your books! I read ON AN EDGE OF GLASS and loved it so much that I immediately went and bought your other book I’LL BE HERE. Okay, so this isn’t really a question, so I better stop fan girling and get on with the interview!

On an Edge of Glass is the BEST book I’ve read all year. I loved every second of it. Could you give us a brief summary of what the story is about?

First of all… THANK YOU! I love, love, LOVE your books and am basically in awe of you. I laughed and cried and swooned during FALLING FOR HADIE and I can’t wait for your next release, so to get a good review from you is incredible!

Now, back to the question. ON AN EDGE OF GLASS centers around college senior, Ellie Glass. Ellie is your typical Type A personality who has her whole life planned out. One afternoon she’s sitting in a coffee shop and has a chance encounter with a scruffy, downright sexy musician. Over the next few days she can’t get him out of her head, and when fate intervenes and the two are thrown together, Ellie gets more than she bargained for. Pretty soon she finds herself feeling and doing things that she never thought were possible.

I'm so glad you enjoyed Falling for Hadie! Coming from you, that is a huge compliment!

Reading your book was like poetry for me. Each word, each bit of description was so meaningful and beautiful. Where did you pick up this style of writing? Is it something that will be present in each of your books?

I get a lot of inspiration from music and the lyrics, so I suppose that has a lot to do with the “poetic” descriptions. Sometimes I struggle because I worry that I’ve gotten too flowery with my words and other days I feel like everything I write is a complete bore and I have to go back and make it more descriptive. It’s a tough balance to find and I hope that with each book I get a little better.

On an Edge of Glass is a story about love and misunderstandings. Did you draw from any real life experiences? Are Ben and Ellie characters that you can relate you?

The story behind ON AN EDGE OF GLASS is sort of an embarrassing one. It begins on the day that the Avett Brothers (my favorite band) were coming to Gainesville for a concert. I was walking my dog on the UF campus (like I do almost every day) and I was jamming out to their latest album getting ready for the show that night and thinking, "Wow, wouldn't it be unreal if Bob, Scott, Joe, or Seth were on campus RIGHT NOW and I caught a glimpse??"

Well... who do you think I look up and see jogging straight at me? Seth freaking Avett. My heart may have actually stopped beating. So, there I was--all sweaty and gross and (because I'm a good pet owner) holding a bag of dog poop. A BAG OF DOG POOP. Basically, the story goes that every single part of me froze up and I said absolutely nothing and before my brain cells could manage to reboot, the moment had passed and I was left standing like a moron staring at Seth Avett's back wondering if I should chase him down like a lunatic stalker and ask for an autograph. I didn't go after him. What I did was walk home on shaky legs with my head lost in a cloud of misery as I relived the moment on an endless cycle of what-ifs that all boiled down to: what if I were less of a dolt?

A few days later, Ellie and Ben just popped in my head and I knew that I wanted to write a love story about a chance encounter and a missed opportunity.

Um, wow. That is super awkward! But at least we got Ellie and Ben from that experience! =)

Can you share your favourite scene or quote from On an Edge of Glass?

I love Ellie’s best friend Mark so much, and I think I enjoyed writing the scenes with him in it the most. He’s actually based on a friend of mine so it was easy to imagine what he would say and what he would do. My favorite line is when Mark tells Ellie: “Happiness isn't something that you plan for. It comes knocking unexpectedly, just like opportunity. And it's up to you to answer the door and invite it inside.” That isn’t just something that I wrote. It’s something that I truly believe.

My favorite scene is when Ellie and Ben have their first date and he brings her the Gummi Bear bouquet. I just loved the idea of that so much and that he was nervous and a little shy about it.

I really loved Mark, too! And that scene between Ellie and Ben was adorable!

I’ll Be Here was an excellent read too. I found myself swooning over Alex and hoping that things would work out for Willow. The way you described Willow’s heartbreak was so real and it really affected me. How did you manage to make her emotions so real?

I tried to write those scenes from experience. I know exactly what it’s like to be seventeen and tied up in knots and have your heart ache over a boy who is all wrong for you because I’ve been there.  

Before I wrote the break-up scene between Willow and Dustin, I looked through my high school yearbook to get back into the teenage girl mindset. By the time I was done writing it, I was actually a little sick to my stomach and I felt like looking up my ex-boyfriend on Facebook to thank him for breaking my heart back then so that I could channel the emotions.

What was your favourite part about writing I’ll Be Here? What made you want to write this story?

When I started writing, I actually didn’t have a clear direction. I had Willow’s voice in my head and I knew that I wanted to bring her to life and that her message was about learning to pick yourself up after falling flat on your face. I played around with some ideas and none of them seemed to be right. Then I was at a restaurant and there was a teenage girl next to me and she was telling her friend about her break-up and a light went off in my head. The rest of the characters just came to me and I went from there.

You have a knack for writing swoon-worthy men. Even now, I can’t decide if I’m more in love with Ben or Alex. What’s your secret to writing men that make us weak at the knees?

I don’t want his ego to get too bloated, but I have to say that my husband is a pretty spectacular guy and there are big pieces of him in both Alex and Ben. And I drew inspiration for those characters from other men in my life—real and fictional, past and present. I’m a complete romantic and it’s easy for me to get caught up in the romance so I often times have to give myself a reality check to keep those characters grounded in real life.

What have you loved the most about your journey as an author?

Well, I have to admit that getting to work in my pajamas is pretty awesome. But, honestly, it’s the connections that I’ve made. Connections with other authors like yourself, and with readers. Every time someone emails me and tells me that they enjoyed the book or that they related to Ellie or Willow, it makes my world brighter.

FUN FACTS

Pen or keyboard?

A little bit of both actually. I like to keep a notepad on me and play around with ideas using pen and paper. I’ll write lines, or sketch something, or simply one word that I know I want to use. I glance at the notepad for inspiration when I’m writing on my laptop.

Amazon or bookstore?

This is a hard one. I am a bookstore junkie. I love real books—the smell, the feel, the way they look on my shelves, but the kindle has changed my world. With the kindle, I can take an entire library with me wherever I go. And I’m infamously impatient so I love the fact that with Amazon, if it’s two in the morning and I read a review for a book that I think I might like, I can download it in seconds rather than having to wait for the bookstore to open.  That being said, I hope that brick and mortar bookstores stick around. There are certain times I just want to browse real books. I think of it as watching a movie from home or going to the movie theater. Being at home is convenient and wonderful and I’m glad that I can pause the movie when I have to pee and don’t run the risk of getting a seat next to a smelly guy, but there’s something special about going to the movies. It’s an “event.”

Are you more like Willow or Ellie?

I think there are parts of myself in every character that I write. I’m definitely neurotic and insecure like Willow, but I put pressure on myself the way that Ellie does.

Alex or Ben?

Though I love Alex, I have to say Ben. I LOVED writing him. It was hard to finish the book and move onto something new because I missed Ben so much.

Team Damon or Team Stefan?

Team Damon all the way, baby!

Thank you so much for your time, Autumn! You’re the best!

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Find out more about Autumn on her Facebook page or her official website.