Book Addicts!
Welcome to another of our Fantastic Flying Book Club event. This month we have the wonderful Robin Constantine with her debut novel: The Promise Of Amazing.
We wanted to share this new YA story with you, and to get the know the author, too. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did with her novel.
The Promise of Amazingby Robin Constantine
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: December 31st 2013
Synopsis:
Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.
Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.
One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.
Robin Constantine is a born and bred Jersey girl who moved down South so she could wear flip-flops year round. She spends her days dreaming up stories where love conquers all, well, eventually but not without a lot of peril, angst and the occasional kissing scene.
Her YA debut, THE PROMISE OF AMAZING, will be released in 2014 by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
When you look up and see you’ve been writing for hours and it only feels like minutes. (it’s rare, but nice!!)
The Vampire Diaries
You’ve Got Mail
One with absolutely no commitments or deadlines. Then, anything goes!
Comfortable – John Mayer
Naked Burritos
Joe Fontaine from Jandy Nelson’s The Sky is Everywhere. Green eyes and chocolate croissant for breakfast? Yes, please.
Magic
Contemporary (with paranormal thriller a close second)
“Well behaved women seldom make history” – Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
Oh, lots!! TV characters, books & authors and music mostly!
Specifically, I love TVD & The Originals. And there are certain authors I’m sure I’d be rendered speechless around, but I won’t name them!! And I’m really excited that the Winter Olympics are coming up!
Ernest Hemingway during his ‘Moveable Feast’ days in Paris.
Sarah Dessen – to have eleven (incredible) books under your belt and still be so humble and relatable, I think is an amazing thing. I also love her Good Morning America fangirl tweets!!
Love Story – Taylor Swift
Thank you for indulging in your love of books. (I share your passion!) Reading has been such a huge part of my life, and it’s so wonderful to connect to like-minded individuals in such a fun, spirited community. And if you’re even considering spending some of your downtime with Wren and Grayson and The Promise of Amazing, I’m so honored. Thanks for stopping by!!
Hi Robin! We’re really excited to host this blog tour. We loved The Promise of Amazing and we wanted to share Wren and Grayson’s story with our Book Addicts.
TPofA is a story very close to my heart. For me, it’s a story about believing in a person, and seeing the best in them, even when they don’t see it in themselves. The book begins when Wren saves Grayson’s life and how it changes the both of them as they come together and fall in love. It’s also a book about how our families and friends shape us. Oh, and there’s kissing.
I started scribbling the first lines of TPofA in jury duty! And I actually did have a guidance counselor tell my class that “None of you are going to Harvard”, so that was the starting point. It was always Wren’s story. Originally, it was going to be about a quiet girl who saves the life of a local celebrity and how she changes after being thrust into the spotlight. Then Grayson showed up. I loved the idea of Wren saving someone who might not seem worthy of it and how a moment like that can change a person’s perspective. Some of the elements in the story, like Wren’s school Sacred Heart and The Camelot catering hall are inspired by actual places.
Grayson is tall, dark-haired and has a killer smile but he’s not nearly as confident as he appears. His parent’s break-up and getting kicked out of school hurt him much more than even he realizes. As the story opens he’s kind of coming to grips with getting kicked out of school and figuring out what he’s going to do with his life. He also knows he’s let a lot of people down through his actions, and he hates that, so he is trying to go the straight and narrow route, but of course there are a few snags. And on a purely fun note, he’s also that guy who always knows where the party is.
Wren is the sort of girl you might not notice at first, but when you do, she’s hard to forget. She’s more comfortable in a ponytail and jeans but can be a complete knockout when she wants to be. She’s quiet, but it’s not because she doesn’t have anything to say. She chooses her words carefully. She’s a fierce friend and loves her family, but is trying to get beyond the role she feels pigeonholed in as the ‘quiet one’. As the story opens, she’s struggling with how her teachers and family perceive her and how she can break out of that role and find her own way. And on a purely fun note, she also loves to get goofy with her best friends Madison and Jazz.
Wren and Grayson are the kind of couple that really compliments each other. Aside from being physically attracted to each other, I think they are both seeking in themselves what they see in each other. Grayson is attracted to Wren because of her calm, kindness and the way she thinks before she speaks. Wren is attracted to Grayson because of his confidence, his desire to be a better person and his ability to make her laugh at herself. They also have a lot of fun together.
Well, that would be lovely! I have such an image in my mind of Wren and Grayson that it was a little difficult figuring out who I would cast because no one quite fits my exact vision!! But for the sake of our interview…hmm…
Steven R. McQueen – I love Steven as Jeremy on TVD, and I think he could bring the right mix of cockiness and vulnerability to Grayson. And of course there’s his swoonability factor.
Anna Sophia Robb – She is so adorable as Carrie Bradshaw on The Carrie Diaries! She can be sweet but strong and definitely fits the bill of someone who can be a knockout!
Lacrosse
She makes me feel really chill, and her smile.
My mother’s homemade cinnamon rolls.
Aside from hanging with Grayson…just chilling with my friends and watching movies.
I love his sense of humor and his eyes…sigh.
Right now I’m working on a companion novel to The Promise of Amazing featuring Wren’s best friend Madison and a new boy. The story takes place a few months after TPofA and is an entirely new story. Wren, Jazz and Grayson appear in it too! It’s been really fun to see the world through Madison’s eyes because she’s so different from Wren.
Thank you for having me!!!
DECEMBER 8th
The UnofficialAddiction Book Fan Club & A Reading Nurse -> Welcome to the Fantastic Flying Book Club!
DECEMBER 9th
Some Like It Paranormal -> Review
Reader Rising -> Review + Interview
Addicted 2 Novels -> Review + Excerpt
YA Midnight Reads -> Promo Post
DECEMBER 10th
The Life & Times of a Book Addict -> Review
[B.O.O.K.L.I.F.E] -> Review + Dream Cast
Emilie's Book World -> Review + Favorite Quote
Nick's Book Blog -> Review
DECEMBER 11th
Paper Cuts -> Review + Guest Post
Lisa Likes Books -> Review
Bookcase to Heaven™ -> Review + Dream Cast + Playlist
Istyria Book Blog -> Promo Post + Excerpt
Wicca Witch 4 Book Blog -> Review
DECEMBER 12th
Tressa's Wishful Endings -> Review + Favorite Quote
Between the Pages -> Promo Post
DECEMBER 13th
In the Best Worlds -> Review + Dream Cast + Playlist
Looking for the Panacea -> Review
DECEMBER 14th
Boricuan Bookworms -> Review + Favorite Quote
Oops! I Read A Book Again -> Review
The Demon Librarian -> Review + Excerpt
DECEMBER 15th
Divergent Gryffindor -> Promo Post
Sweet Southern Home -> Review + Playlist
Bookish Things & More -> Review + Guest Post + Playlist
The UnofficialAddiction Book Fan Club & A Reading Nurse -> Reviews
- There will be ONE winner
- You must be 13 or older to enter this giveaway
- It's an INTERNATIONAL giveaway.
- Each day there will be available a #QOD (question of the day) in each participant blog. You can earn more points by answering the answers.
- For those who don't know how this works, the winners will be those who have participated the most. Meaning, the winners will be those who have more points. No Rafflecopter luck this time, Book Addicts. This is all on you now! If there's a draw, then the odds will decide and this time the Rafflecopter luck would be a major factor deciding if you win or not.
Win (1) signed copy of The Promise Of Amazing by Robin Constantine + swag (INT)
1) Tell us something about yourself like Robin did.
2) What do you think about Robin's Dream Cast? And about Wren & Grayson?
Thank you to our beloved team for making this event possible.
Awesome Post :) I loved the interviews! Thanks for hosting!!!
ReplyDelete-Emily @ Reader Rising
Thank you Emily. So happy you liked the post ^^
DeleteI have not read the book, but if that's what Grayson is like... Yes, I'll be reading this(:
ReplyDeleteThis was such a great interview! I want to read this even more than I did before!
Joanna V
Oh! Something about myself? Well.... I fangirl over books. But I think that's obvious. I fangirl over The Legend of Korra, Austin and Ally (I know I'm too old for that, but I can't help it), my own characters when I discover something interesting about them.
DeleteI totally admire Sarah Dessen for that reason too. I may not have *loved* every single one of those books, but I still enjoyed them. I guess I'd say that I admire Stephen King as well. He's written sooooo many books. I have only read a few of them, but I definitely want to read more.
Some say that Grayson is kind of childish, but Wren is more mature. So she balances their relationship ;)
DeleteThank you for sharing something about yourself. I have to confess that I also fangirl over Austin & Ally. They are so funny and so meant to be together...!!!! hahaha
I completely agree about Sarah Dessen and I haven't had the chance to read any of Stephen King's books :S
Thank you for stopping by! :)
This book was so beautiful, and Joe Fontaine was so amazingly adorable.
ReplyDelete