An interview with J. Sterling and Win a SIGNED paperback of THE PERFECT GAME

**PLEASE NOTE: This giveaway is now over and the winner has been contacted.  The name of the winner is show in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of the post.  Thanks to all who entered!**

I love signed books.

You love signed books.

WE ALL LOVE SIGNED BOOKS!!!!

Sorry to yell...but signed books get me really excited. And when I get to giveaway a signed book, I get even more excited. And when that signed book is by the fabulous J. Sterling, well I pretty much run around like a crazy person, flailing my arms and screaming at the top of my lungs.

That's right! I get to give away a SIGNED copy of J. Sterling's newest book THE PERFECT GAME. [commence screaming here]

First, I must gush about this book. Have you read it? If not, you must! There is baseball, a hot guy, a girl with trust issues, a fabulous best friend, a hot guy, angst, love, a hot guy, an "incident" that will have you gritting your teeth trying to avoid throwing the book (or in my case, my Kindle) across the room.  Wait...did I mention there was a hot guy?

Okay, so that doesn't really tell you much about what it is actually about so if the mention of a hot guy doesn't make you want to read it, click HERE to see a synopsis of the book and to read my review.

Now, on to that signed book...

Jenn Sterling was very generous in agreeing to my request to offer a signed book and to do an interview. Isn't she wonderful? So...interview first...signed book second...

ME: The Perfect Game is different from your other two books in that you strayed from the YA genre and more into the Mature YA/New Adult genre and included a couple sex scenes in the mix (which I am completely happy about). What made you decide to write a book for a little more mature audience and was this an easy transition for you?

JENN: It was more that this particular story needed to feel more raw… more loose with my language, etc. I didn’t intend to write sex at first, but once I started to tell this story, Jack DEMANDED that I did not fade to black! Typical male. lol

ME: So it's obvious from the cover, anyone can see that this book is about baseball. Out of all the sports with hot guys, why did you decide to base this one on baseball?

JENN: Because I love baseball!! And this book incorporates a lot of my very real past, so writing about a baseball player working toward the goal of getting drafted and exactly what that takes and entails, was easy for me... I’ve lived through it.

ME: You've mentioned that some parts of the book are based on events and people from your past...some happy...some not so happy. Was it hard to write those not-so-happy parts since writing them meant reliving them?

JENN: No. Actually, it was really easy. The scene where Cassie gets the crap beat out of her and all the guys run really happened to me. I wrote that scene exactly how I still remember it happening (minus the theft). It was emotional for me to write it, but it wasn’t really difficult…probably because I’m over it for the most part, you know?

ME: And the real life "Jack"...does he know about the book?

JENN: He not only knows, he is reading it as we speak.

ME: There are some chapters in the book that are written from Jack's perspective. Do you find it hard to write from a male's POV?

JENN: Actually, I sort of find it easier. And I’m not sure why that is. But when I’m writing from the guy’s point of view, things seem to flow almost more naturally for me. Maybe it’s because I’ve been a tomboy my whole life and always been “one of the guys”… The only part I got nervous about was the sex scene from Jack’s point of view… I was like, how the hell am I gonna pull this off?!

ME: The Perfect Game is currently sitting at #14 in the Amazon top 100 Kindle books and was on the USA Today Bestseller's list. Did you ever, in your wildest dreams, imagine the book to be this successful?

JENN: NO! Hoped, strived and worked toward it every.single.day… but expect or truly imagine? Not at all. It’s mind blowing to me. But I’m so freaking thankful and appreciative, you have no idea! It also makes me feel like “YES! FINALLY! I’ve done something right!!” as far as my books go. lol


ME: Many people have compared The Perfect Game to Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. Have you read Beautiful Disaster? And how does it make you feel to know your book is compared to such a phenomenal book?

JENN: I have not read Beautiful Disaster yet but I have heard the most amazing things about that book! And honestly, I’m sort of scared to read it now with all the comparisons. It feels incredible and I’m beyond honored to have people say that they loved TPG and flattered when they compare it to BD in a positive way. Unfortunately, not all the comparisons are positive. Comments saying I’ve straight up copied BD sting and are truly hurtful. Mostly because I consider myself a professional author and I would never intentionally copy another author’s work. I am definitely a “do unto others” type of person.

ME: So, what's next? Will there be more Jack and Cassie or are you giving them a break and working on something else?

JENN: I really would love to write more about Jack & Cassie to tell you the truth, but I just don’t have a story forming yet and I absolutely refuse to force it. I think I will start back on Before the Dreams, which is the follow up book to In Dreams (although each can be read as stand alones). I owe it to all the fans of that book to finish what I originally promised them… which was MORE of those characters.

ME: What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

JENN: Boxers or briefs, dur? To which I’d get to say NEITHER! ha

Isn't she wonderful? And if that doesn't make you want a copy of TPG with her cute bubbly signature on it, I'm not sure what would. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter for a SIGNED paperback copy of The Perfect Game by J. Sterling. 

The fine print:
*Must be 18 or older. 
*Open internationally.
*The winning entry will be verified. For example, if the entry that won was for a blog comment, it will be verified that a blog comment was left from that participant. If the entry cannot be verified, a new winner will be chosen.
*Any receipts for the book sent as a entry to the contest, must be from a new purchase with the date on the receipt being October 31 or later.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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An Interview with Author Lindsay Paige

Today Lindsay Paige has asked me to be a part of  her fantastic blog tour to promote her new book, Whatever it Takes, the third book in the Bold as Love series. 

Whatever it Takes:

Their first year of college isn’t what they expected. Emily is still struggling with the loss of her baby, while Jake seems to have no trouble with it at all. Emily is so conflicted about how to deal with the miscarriage. On top of that, she’s having nightmares.

Can Jake help his Sweetness? Will she allow him? Their relationship is suffering and Jake is determined to do whatever Emily asks of him. But when Emily makes a suggestion that she feels will help with her grief, could it tear the couple apart forever?

Whatever it takes is scheduled to be released June 13, 2012.  Add it to your Goodreads list today!
 

About Lindsay Paige:

Lindsay Paige is a young adult romance author from North Carolina. Most of what Lindsay writes are her daydreams in lavish details. (Please excuse that fact when you read one of her future works about a girl who sleeps around.;)) When not writing, she is working to complete her final year of high school.

Lindsay loves to read, listen to music, watch and play tennis, along with watching her favorite hockey team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Lindsay is a big fan of Sidney Crosby (87) and buys Penguins merchandise whenever she can.

Lindsay loves to be around her family and best friends. One summer after viewing a video of Nicholas Sparks' house, Lindsay's mother made the comment that she should write a bestselling novel since she "reads so much", that way they could have a beautiful house as well. Lindsay took her comment to heart. She began working on Sweetness. A year later, the novel was complete.

Many of the aspects of the characters in Sweetness were inspired by Lindsay's own struggles, such as a recovering alcoholic father and the anxiety Emily suffers because of her past.

The Interview: 

Did you always dream of becoming an author? 
Not at all. It never even crossed my mind. I'd write a little here and there, but that was it. I have my anxiety to think for being an author. Last year was extremely hard for me and writing because an escape after a daydream that wouldn't go away. I needed to daydream in order to fall asleep instead of focusing on my anxiety and the Bold As Love series is a result of that.

How you find time to write and also enjoy your last year of high school?
I'm homebound, which is like homeschool except all my work comes through my school. Therefore, I don't really enjoy high school because I'm not there. I absolutely do not have a problem with that either. With working and doing schoolwork, writing usually comes during the wee hours of the night before I fall asleep.

Do you plan to attend college after high school? And if so, what will be your major?
I do plan on going to college after high school. I'm going to go to a community college for my first two years so I don't overwhelm myself with anxiety. Then I plan to transfer to UNC Chapel Hill to major in creative writing.

What have you found to be your biggest challenge with being such a young author? 
Believing in my work is the biggest challenge. Thankfully, I have some awesome fans who are always there for support during those rough patches.

What inspired you to write the Bold as Love series? 
As I said, it was a daydream that wouldn't stop playing in my head.

Was there a person in real life that inspired each of the characters? 
There are bits and pieces of old crushes in Jake. Part of Jake's feelings for his father comes from myself. Part of Emily's personality comes myself as well.

What are your favorite authors/books? 
Jessica Park (Flat-Out Love), Jodi Picoult, Nicholas Sparks, Erica O'Rourke (Torn Trilogy), Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie's Wicked series, and so much more. You can see all my favorite books at this link: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2323502-lindsay-paige?format=html&shelf=favorites
 

Links:

Buy Sweetness (Bolds as Love #1) on Amazon
Buy I'm Yours (Bold as Love #2)  on Amazon
Visit Lindsay Paige's website
Like Lindsay Paige on Facebook

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An interview with Colleen Hoover

If you are connected to me in anyway socially, whether it be Facebook, Twitter, my blog, or even in real life  you probably know that I have been obsessed lately over the Slammed series by Colleen Hoover.  I have been recommending these books to everyone and anyone that will listen.

These books are the hot diggity! 
Off the Richter! 
The best thing since indoor plumbing!

As one of my friends stated in her review, "Slammed is one of those books that screws it up for ALL of the other books you read after it. Everything else seems to pale in comparison and your left wanting, needing, desiring something more and more and more. You keep picking up a new book here and there in the hopes that it will ignite your heart in the same way and it just doesn't."

But behind every great book is a great author and great describes Colleen Hoover to a T.  Not only is she a fantastic writer (a.k.a. the creator of swoon worthy Will Cooper) but she is super nice and super funny.

But I am a curious (nosey) person and I wanted to know more.  I went and did some Colleen Hoover research...ehem...stalking and found out that, although she loves to write, it is not her profession.  (At least not yet.  I predict that she will have so much success that she will be able to quit her job and write full time.)  She is married and has three boys...God help her having to live with all that testosterone!  She loves the Avett Brothers and Diet Pepsi, despises Nickelback, and it is rumored that she is a retired ninja.

But online stalking can only get me so far and I wanted to know the story behind Slammed and what inspired her to write such an addicting piece of literary art.  So I politely asked if I could interview her for my blog and she said yes!  *fist pump*  It probably has to do with that fact that she is just so darn nice but I kinda wonder if she secretly hopes I stop stalking her after this.  Sorry Colleen - you can't get rid of me that easily!

Me: What inspired you to write Slammed?
Colleen: It was a culmination of things, really.  It was December when I got the idea for it.  My 8 year old was in a community theater play and I would sit in the auditorium for a few hours each night, so I would read on my Kindle.  I was searching for a book one evening and wanted to read something about slam poetry.  I've always loved to watch slam poetry on YouTube, so I thought it would be cool to read about a character that slammed.  I couldn't find one.  I started thinking of ways I could incorporate it into a book and started making character notes that night.  I practically didn't stop writing until it was done.  I wrote all day every day (and night) for a month solid.

Me: What is your favorite part of Slammed?
Colleen: My favorite part of the book is probably the scene where Lake is avoiding talking to her mother and she's at Will's house cleaning. I love it when Will tries to calm her down and throws her in the shower.

Me: What was the hardest part to write? 
Collen: On an emotional aspect, I don't think any of it was hard to write.  I'm not a very emotional person, which may be why I was able to write an emotional book.  As far as the actual writing, I loved every second of it and never thought of it as 'hard' or 'work.'  It was a blast!

Me: How did you name your characters?
Colleen: Hmmm.  Layken would have been my daughter's name had I not had three boys. LOL.  Eddie was my fathers name.  I always thought Eddie would have been a cute name for a girl, but again I had all boys so I never got to use it.  Kel is actually a play on one of my own children's names, "Cale."  I was writing in Caulder's character and opened up a baby book, pointed to the page and it landed on Caulder.  I thought it was fitting, so I used it.  I've always loved the name "Will" so that was a given for him.  Gavin was actually the name of a young man who was in the community theater with my son.  He was sitting next to me when I was writing in his character, so I used his name.  Gavin's brother who was also in the play, Reece, got a name in Point of Retreat.  Their mother picks awesome names for her kids.  I should let her name all the characters in my next novel! ;)

Me: Was there a person in real life that inspired each of the characters?
Colleen: No, not really.  I didn't have anyone in mind while writing their characters.  Well...Kel is pretty much a spitting image of my son, "Cale."  Definitely marches to the beat of his own drum, but in the best way!  I actually got the idea for the snowman scene because my boys did that last winter!

Me: What are your favorite authors/books?
Colleen: Honestly, I don't read a whole lot at all.  In fact, until this month I've never even read a romance novel! lol.  I've got a few books going right now that people have been raving about.  I just finished Liz Reinhardt's "Double Clutch" and I've got Stephanie Campbell's "Grounding Quin" on my tbr pile.  Also on my tbr pile are Tammara Webber's "Between the lines" series and Laura Rede's "Darkride."   Unfortunately, my tbr pile just keeps getting bigger.  I'm trying to focus on my third book right now, so it's taking up all my free time.

Me: What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
Collen: I'd love to be asked this question. "Do you have anything to say to the readers?"

I would answer:

I...Freaking...Love...You!!!  I love the time you take to create such beautiful reviews.  I love the emails and Facebook messages explaining what the books mean to you.  I LOVE the reviews that were fashioned into slam poems themselves.  I love the way you spread the word about the books.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!  I...freaking...love...you!!!



See, I told you she was nice!  Thanks Colleen for taking the time to answer my questions.

But this leaves me with one question.  My 10 yr old son loves Nickelback but there are lots of people, Colleen included, that don't like them.  I want to know where you stand.  Leave me a note in the comments and let me know if you are Yay or Nay for Nickelback.  Explanations are not necessary but if you care to share, I would be curious as to your reasons.

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