FFBC: Welcome to the club, The Heir and the Spare by Emily Albright

The Heir and the Spare
by Emily Albright
Publisher: Merit Press
Release Date: January 18th 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Chick Lit, British Literature, New Adult

Synopsis:

Family can be complicated. Especially when skeletons from the past pop up unexpectedly. For American Evie Gray, finding out her deceased mother had a secret identity, and not one of the caped crusader variety, was quite the surprise. Evie’s mom had a secret life before she was even born, one that involved tiaras.

In this modern day fairytale, Evie is on a path to figure out who her mom really was, while discovering for herself what the future will hold. Charged with her late mother’s letters, Evie embarks on a quest into her past. The first item on the list is to attend Oxford, her mom’s alma mater. There, Evie stumbles upon a real life prince charming, Edmund Stuart the second Prince of England, who is all too happy to be the counterpart to her damsel in distress.

Evie can’t resist her growing attraction to Edmund as they spend more time together trying to unravel the clues her mother left behind. But, when doubts arise as to whether or not Edmund could ever be with an untitled American, what really ends up unraveling is Evie’s heart. When Evie uncovers all the facts about her mom’s former life, she realizes her mom’s past can open doors she never dreamed possible, doors that can help her be with Edmund. But, with everything now unveiled, Evie starts to crack under the pressure of new family responsibilities and the realization that her perfect prince may want her for all the wrong reasons.

Hello Emily! Welcome to the FFBC ! We are super excited to have you in our FFBC tours! 

Thanks for having me! 

Could you tell our Book Addicts a little bit about The Heir and the Spare?

The Heir and the Spare follows American Evie Gray on a quest throughout England as she discovers the true identity of her deceased mother. On her journey Evie uncovers a long lost family member, a strength she never knew she had, and a love she never expected. I like to think of it as a modern day fairytale and I’m so excited to share Evie and Edmund with readers.

If you had to pick one adjective to describe Evie and Edmund what would you choose?

Sweet

How did you come up with the story? Did you find inspiration in any other story/movie/show and how has this affected your writing?

When Prince William married Kate Middleton it sparked an idea. I wondered about Prince Harry and how his life might differ from his brother’s, especially in the romance arena. Once that little seed got planted, everything else fell right into place.

What is your favorite quote from the book?

“It was like Emily Post on crack meets Martha Stewart on acid.”

Is there a specific scene that you had the most fun to write?

That’s got to be the Eiffel Tower scene. :) 

Was there anything you had to research for this book, that you would be worried if someone found in your browser history?

I did quite a bit for this book. I researched Oxford, London, Paris, the different aristocratic titles and their proper forms of address, art history, and lots of other little bits and pieces. There were things that I wanted to use, but ultimately couldn’t, so I had to take some liberties. But it was all fascinating. There really wasn’t anything I researched that’d make me cringe if someone saw my history. Then again, I’m not someone who gets easily embarrassed. 

What authors are auto-buys for you? 

Diana Gabaldon, Cassandra Clare, Richelle Mead

What you would you say is harder to write: The first sentence of a story or the last?

Both. If pressed I’d probably have to go with the first sentence. 

What do you find yourself fangirl-ing over?

Right now, Downton Abbey and Outlander. I’m so bummed it’s Downton’s last season. But I’m eagerly awaiting season two of Outlander this spring. 

What is your favorite snack/drink to eat when you read?

I have to have my iced peppermint tea, but that’s about it. I don’t usually snack when I’m reading. I’m afraid I’ll get food on my books or e-reader.

Favorite book of 2015? 

Ugh, I’ve gotten so little reading done this year (which makes me so sad!) and my TBR list is a gazillion miles long. I haven’t even caught up with all the series I read that had new releases this year. They’re all just sitting on my Nook, waiting for me. (Bet you guys can guess one of my New Year’s resolutions.) Most of the reading I did in 2015 was for books that are coming out this year. I’ve got a great list for 2016 though! ;) 

If you could pick one author dead or alive to have a drink with who would you choose and why?

Hmm, that’s tough. I’d probably say Jane Austen. I’ve loved all her books and I’d love to ask her more about her own life and maybe even get a closer look at her writing process. It’d be fascinating to pick her brain for a while. 

Thank you so much for everything, Emily!

Anytime! Thanks again for letting me be here today.

Follow the The Heir and the Spare by Emily Albright Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

Emily Albright's debut novel, THE HEIR AND THE SPARE, is releasing January 18, 2016 from Merit Press.

She's a writer, a major bookworm, a lover of romantic movies, a wife, a mother, an owner of one adorable (yet slightly insane) cockapoo, and uses way too many :).

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FFBC: Welcome to the club, Identity Crisis by Melissa Schorr

Identity Crisis
by Melissa Schorr
Publisher: Merit Press
Release Date: January 18th 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Synopsis:

When curvaceous Annalise Bradley’s scandalous freshman year hookup sparks the anger of her female classmates, three of them decide to get her back by "catfishing" her, creating a fake online profile of the perfect boy to toy with her affections.

Against her better nature, introverted Noelle Spiers, goes along with her friends’ plan, hoping to distract Annalise from dreamy Cooper Franklin, her lifelong crush who has fallen for Annalise instead.

As Annalise discovers she is being played and seeks revenge, Noelle increasingly regrets her role in the cruel hoax and tries to salvage their relationship.

Told in alternative perspectives, IDENTITY CRISIS covers romance, betrayal, and timeless friendship in the age of modern technology.

Hello Melissa! We're super happy to have you in our FFBC Tours.

Thanks for having me on the Fantastic Flying Book Club blog tour!

Could you tell our Book Addicts a little bit about Identity Crisis?

What would you do if your new online romance turned out to be your worst enemy? That’s the story of IDENTITY CRISIS. It’s about Annalise, whose scandalous freshman year hookup sparks the anger of three of her female classmates who decide to get her back by "catfishing" her, creating a fake online profile of the perfect boy to toy with her affections. But the book is also told from the perspective of one of the perpetrators, Noelle, who starts connecting with Annalise and regretting her part in the scam.

If you had to pick 1 adjective to describe your main characters what would you choose? 

Faking — because both girls aren’t being true to how they really feel. Noelle doesn’t have the strength to stand up to her friends, and Annalise has let the whole school believe something about her that’s not true. 

How did you come up with the story? Did you find inspiration in any other story/movie/show and how has this affected your writing?

Yes! There had been some catfishing stories in the news, like Notre Dame football player Manti Te’o, and tragic ones like Megan Meier, and then of course, the MTV show Catfish. They made me wonder, how can someone let themselves get duped? But also, what motivates someone to do that? 

What is your favorite quote from the book?

What Eva says to Noelle about why Annalise will fall for their scheme. “She’ll keep believing because she wants to believe.” It’s that so true? How often do we keep believing something, even though we know in our heart it’s not true, but we just wish it were so? 

Is there a specific scene that you had the most fun to write? 

My favorite scene is when the girls all end up at the Prudential Center for the concert ticket giveaway. All sorts of things go wrong for Annalise: her fake boyfriend stands her up, she doesn’t win tickets to the show, she collides with the band manager and makes him think she’s a stalker. 

Was there anything you had to research or this book, that you would be worried if someone found in your browser history?

To make sure everything was logistically accurate, I called the Agganis Arena in Boston, the stadium where the final concert scene takes place, and asked the man in the ticket office a hundred random questions about the arena. I’m sure he started worrying I was up to no good, so I made sure to tell him it was just research for a novel I was writing. 

What authors are auto-buys for you? 

E. Lockhart, Sarah Darer Littman, Meg Wolitzer.

What you would you say is harder to write: The first sentence of a story or the last?

Once I really know the voice of the main character, the first sentences of my books generally pop into my head. The last is generally a little more tricky for me. 

What do you find yourself fangirl-ing over?

I’m a total podcast junkie: Serial, This American Life, Slate’s Double X, Political Gabfest, Longform. I’m always looking for a new one to add. 

What is your favorite snack/drink to eat when you read? 

Cheek-Its

If you could pick one author dead or alive to have a drink with who would you choose and why? 

Judy Blume, because her books covered every childhood touchstones, from puberty with Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret to first learning about S-E-X in Forever. I hear she now lives in Key West, so maybe we could sip something tropical, like Pina Coladas or mojitos.

What is next for you?

I started a new YA contemporary during NaNoWriMo that I’m really excited about, but for now, I’m keeping it under wraps. So stay tuned!

Follow the Identity Crisis by Melissa Schorr Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

Melissa Schorr is the YA author of GOY CRAZY (Hyperion 2006) and IDENTITY CRISIS (forthcoming, Merit Press 2016), and a contributor to the YA anthology DEAR BULLY.

She is currently a contributing writer/editor to the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. Her freelance work has appeared in numerous publications, including GQ, People, Self, San Francisco magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. 

Melissa currently lives in Boston with her husband, her daughters, and her dog, Bailey.

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FFBC: Welcome to the club, Half in Love with Death by Emily Ross

Half in Love with Death
by Emily Ross
Publisher: Merit Press
Release Date: December 18th 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

It's the era of peace and love in the 1960s, but nothing is peaceful in Caroline's life. Since her beautiful older sister disappeared, fifteen-year-old Caroline might as well have disappeared too. She's invisible to her parents, who can't stop blaming each other. The police keep following up on leads even Caroline knows are foolish. The only one who seems to care about her is Tony, her sister's older boyfriend, who soothes Caroline's desperate heart every time he turns his magical blue eyes on her. 

Tony is convinced that the answer to Jess's disappearance is in California, the land of endless summer, among the runaways and flower children. Come with me, Tony says to Caroline, and we'll find her together. Tony is so loving, and all he cares about is bringing Jess home. And so Caroline follows, and closes a door behind her that may never open again.

Inspired by the disturbing case of Charles Schmid, ‘the Pied Piper of Tucson’, Half in Love with Death is a heartfelt thriller that never lets up.

Hello Emily! We are super excited to host you in our FFBC. 

Favorite Book?

I have so many it’s hard to choose, but Mystic River by Dennis Lehane is one of my all time favorites. It’s so sad and dark with such moving and unforgettable characters. And it’s also a tight page turning mystery.

Favorite TV show? 

Mad Men. I’m really bummed that the series ended.

Favorite movie?

It’s a tie between Edward Scissorhands and Silver Linings Playbook.

Your Favorite Song?

The Water (Johnny Flynn and Laura Marling)

Favorite Food?

Mac and cheese, preferably with Buffalo Chicken.

Who is your perfect fictional boyfriend? 

I hate to admit this but it’s Heathcliff, even though I also kind of hate him. 

Favorite Quote?

“To hell with tomorrow. To hell with all problems and barriers. Nothing matters but the Spectacular Now.”  ― Tim Tharp, The Spectacular Now 

What do you find yourself “Fangirling” over?

Kit Harrington. Jon Snow can’t be dead! 

If you could meet one author, dead or alive, who would it be?

I would love to meet F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Great Gatsby was one of the first books that made me realize I wanted to me a writer. Something about Fitzgerald’s lyrical style makes me want to put words on a page, and I bet he was a really cool dude.

What authors are auto-buys for you? 

I’ll buy anything by Gillian Flynn or Tana French. 

For those who have read not the book yet, can you tell us a little about Half In Love With Death? 

Half in Love with Death is a young adult thriller that takes place in Tucson in 1965. It’s the time of peace and love, but nothing is peaceful in fifteen-year-old Caroline's life. Since her beautiful older sister Jess disappeared, Caroline might as well have disappeared too. She's invisible to her parents, who can't stop blaming each other. The police keep following up on foolish leads and assume Jess is a runaway. The only person who pays any attention to her is Jess’s boyfriend Tony. Every time she turns around, he’s looking at her with startling blue eyes, telling her how they can find Jess together, how anything is possible if you believe it. 

Tony is convinced that the answer to Jess's disappearance is in California, the land of endless summer, among the runaways and flower children. Come with me, Tony says to Caroline, and we'll find her together. Tony is so loving, and all he cares about is bringing Jess home. And so Caroline follows, and by the time she learns the difference between truth and illusion, it may be too late.

Half in Love with Death is inspired by the case of Charles Schmid, ‘the Pied Piper of Tucson’.

If you could describe Caroline in 5 words, what would they be? 

Intelligent, curious, romantic, lovely, idealistic 

Is there a specific scene that you had the most fun to write? 

I really liked writing the scene where Caroline is in the car with Tony and Debbie Frank for the first time. Debbie’s snarky dialogue with Tony in this scene came very easily. I just had to step back and let her talk. And I had fun with Caroline as she sort of fumbles with her notes and tries to be a detective. 

What was more difficult to write, the historical aspects or the mystery? 

The mystery was much harder for me than the historical aspects. I had fun researching sixties references and looking at fashion and listening to the music from that era. But figuring out the mystery, planting clues, and figuring out the ending was a challenge. In fact I resisted working out the ending for a long time, and until I did that I couldn’t really make the mystery work. After I finally wrote the end, I had to go back to plant clues and to make sure all the threads hung together. It’s not the ideal way to write a mystery, and the next time I write one I will do more planning up front.

Follow the Half In Love With Death by Emily Ross Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

Emily Ross's YA mystery/thriller HALF IN LOVE WITH DEATH is forthcoming from Merit Press(12/2015). She received a 2014 MCC Artist Fellowship finalist award for fiction, and is a graduate of Grub Street's Novel Incubator program. When not writing she works as a web developer and is the mother of two millennials. Find out more at http://www.emilyrosswrites.com/ or https://twitter.com/emilyross816.

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