The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club: realistic fiction

Showing posts with label realistic fiction. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Interview with Sonia Hartl for Have a Little Faith in Me

Have a Little Faith in Me

by Sonia Hartl
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Release Date: September 3rd 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, Religion, Realistic Fiction

Synopsis:

"Saved!" meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that takes a meaningful look at consent and what it means to give it.

When CeCe’s born-again ex-boyfriend dumps her after they have sex, she follows him to Jesus camp in order to win him back. Problem: She knows nothing about Jesus. But her best friend Paul does. He accompanies CeCe to camp, and the plan—God’s or CeCe’s—goes immediately awry when her ex shows up with a new girlfriend, a True Believer at that.

Scrambling to save face, CeCe ropes Paul into faking a relationship. But as deceptions stack up, she questions whether her ex is really the nice guy he seemed. And what about her strange new feelings for Paul—is this love, lust, or an illusion born of heartbreak? To figure it out, she’ll have to confront the reasons she chased her ex to camp in the first place, including the truth about the night she lost her virginity.

Can you briefly describe HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME and the characters?

HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME is about a girl named CeCe who comes up with a plan to win back her born-again ex by pretending to be a Christian. With the help of her BFF, Paul, she enrols in a Christian summer camp, despite knowing nothing about it. When her ex shows up to camp with a new girlfriend, CeCe ropes Paul into faking a relationship to save face, and ends up confronting all the reasons why she chased her ex to camp in the first place.

Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?

I would have to say my favorite character is my main character, CeCe. She has a lot of heart, and makes a lot of mistakes, but she’s also incredibly vulnerable and open to viewing herself through an honest lens. She confronts a lot of things I wish I’d been brave enough to tackle as a teen, and she has one of the most rewarding character arcs I’ve ever written.

How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?

I tend to spend most Decembers elbow deep in cake and Hallmark movies, and one thing that always stuck out to me in these ‘wholesome’ Hallmark movies was how much girl-hate they have going on. The ex is always the evil roadblock on the path to ‘true love’, and I really wanted to flip that outdated notion on its head. I wanted to write a story where girls are supportive of each other, where they can share their fears and their hopes with each other without judgement, where they can lean on each other when things get hard. Girls who are like the ones I know in real life. This story became my love letter to female friendship.

If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?

Is it too on-the-nose to pick HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME by John Hiatt? I’m going to pick it anyway, the lyrics fit well with the romance.

If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?

I’ve always pictured CeCe to look a bit like Joey King and I think Noah Centineo would be the perfect Paul.

Summer is still here and we love to go out and enjoy the sun. What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?

HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME is very much a beach read, and since it’s set at a summer camp, next to a bonfire would also be ideal. To be enjoyed with a tall glass of homemade lemonade.

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME?

FIRSTS by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE by Jenny Han

CHERRY by Lindsey Rosin

HERETICS ANOYMOUS by Katie Henry

ALWAYS NEVER YOURS by Austin Siegemund-Broka and Emily Wibberley

TODAY TONIGHT TOMORROW by Rachel Lynn Solomon

STARRY EYES by Jenn Bennett

HOT DOG GIRL by Jennifer Dugan

What’s next for you?

My next book, still untitled, will be coming out in Fall 2020 with Page Street! It’s about a YouTuber named Macy Evans who is doxed after the woman sitting behind her at a baseball game tweets about her supposed romance with a boy she stumbled into, vaulting her into a whirlwind fake relationship and driving a wedge between her and the quiet, small-town boy she really likes.

Sonia Hartl is a YA author who calls Michigan home, even though she’s lived in several different states. Her debut novel, HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME is forthcoming from Page Street Publishing. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s enjoying pub trivia, marathoning Disney movies, or taking a walk outside in the fall. She’s a member of SCBWI and the communications director for Pitch Wars. She has been published in The Writers Post Journal and Boston Literary Magazine. She lives in Grand Rapids with her husband and two daughters.

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Interview with Lori Goldstein for Screen Queens

Screen Queens

by Lori Goldstein
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: June 11th 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction

Synopsis:

The Bold Type meets The Social Network when three girls vying for prestigious summer internships through a startup incubator program uncover the truth about what it means to succeed in the male-dominated world of tech.

This summer Silicon Valley is a girls' club.

Three thousand applicants. An acceptance rate of two percent. A dream internship for the winning team. ValleyStart is the most prestigious high school tech incubator competition in the country. Lucy Katz, Maddie Li, and Delia Meyer have secured their spots. And they've come to win.

Meet the Screen Queens.

Lucy Katz was born and raised in Palo Alto, so tech, well, it runs in her blood. A social butterfly and CEO in-the-making, Lucy is ready to win and party.

East Coast designer, Maddie Li left her home and small business behind for a summer at ValleyStart. Maddie thinks she's only there to bolster her graphic design portfolio, not to make friends.

Delia Meyer taught herself how to code on a hand-me-down computer in her tiny Midwestern town. Now, it's time for the big leagues--ValleyStart--but super shy Delia isn't sure if she can hack it (pun intended).

When the competition kicks off, Lucy, Maddie, and Delia realize just how challenging the next five weeks will be. As if there wasn't enough pressure already, the girls learn that they would be the only all-female team to win ever. Add in one first love, a two-faced mentor, and an ex-boyfriend turned nemesis and things get...complicated.

Filled with humor, heart, and a whole lot of girl power, Screen Queens is perfect for fans of Morgan Matson, Jenny Han, and The Bold Type.

Can you briefly describe SCREEN QUEENS and their main characters?

SCREEN QUEENS follows three high school graduates as they enter a technology competition in Silicon Valley in hopes of winning a prestigious internship at the hottest social media company in the world. But this being male-dominated Silicon Valley, they’re not just battling their fellow contenders but a culture of discrimination and harassment that forces them to bond together personally and professionally. Ambitious and driven Lucy grew up in Silicon Valley and lives in the shadow of her successful mom who has high expectations Lucy never seems able to meet. Sarcastic and aloof Maddie from Boston is a talented designer who enters the competition solely to boost her resume and has every intention of returning home to her little brother, the only person in her life she can open herself up to emotionally. Finally, shy and loyal Delia is a coding genius attending on a scholarship, desperate to have a future in the tech world, but whose lack of confidence makes her constantly compare herself to others and feel like she never measures up.

Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?

There’s no way to claim a favorite! This was my first time writing multiple points of view and I loved the experience, partly because I was able to find something in each girl that intrigued me and I loved the storytelling experience of seeing this competition from three very different perspectives. I love how genuine Delia is and how she looks to find the best in everyone around her. I admire Lucy’s no-holds-barred drive and total confidence in herself. And Maddie’s history of not quite fitting in and being wary of trusting others is something I think we can all relate to. Together they complement one another and create a strong foundation for their friendship.

How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?

I’m inspired by real life most of the time and that’s no different here. One of my favorite podcasts is called StartUp by Gimlet Media, which chronicles the issues faced by new businesses, especially tech-based ones. The second season centered on two women trying to grow their dating app. The struggles they encountered as female founders, things their male counterparts didn’t have to, affected me. Such as offers of funding from venture capitalists coming with the strings of dinner, drinks, or more attached. This led me to books like Brotopia by Emily Chang and articles in places like The Atlantic that offered deep insights into what it’s like to be a woman in the field of tech. The harassment and discrimination is a big part of the reason women leave the industry, which happened to a very good friend of mine who left her career as a coder. And it is also a barrier—among many barriers—for women entering the field. We all know that jobs in the future will be those related to tech, and we need to encourage more young women to consider this option from a young age, something I never did.

If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?

I think it would have to be Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You” as much for the song as for the great video for it. A runner up has to be Beyonce’s “Run the World,” name-checked in the book.

If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?

First it would be super fun to see SCREEN QUEENS as a movie, wouldn’t it? As a huge Game of Thrones fan, I think Maisie Williams would make a great Lucy. I could see Janel Parrish from To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and Pretty Little Liars as Maddie, and for Delia, Abigail Breslin (and not just because she was in the aptly named SCREAM Queens!).

Summer is coming and we love to go out and enjoy the sun. What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?

The girls head into San Francisco a couple of times, which is a city of hills. It makes for a tough workout, but you are constantly rewarded with amazing views. The perfect location is any spot that takes some climbing to lead you to a great vista, be it a city skyline, a water view, or mountaintop. The best drink would match the cover . . . maybe an ice-cold mango smoothie with a twist of lime!

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish SCREEN QUEENS?

If you are looking for another great book set in the summer with a female lead struggling to determine her future (with a good dash of swoony romance), I can recommend the YA contemporary NIGHT MUSIC by Jenn Marie Thorne. If you are looking for some more female empowerment and #metoo, then the adult WHISPER NETWORK by Chandler Baker, out July 2 is for you. Kelly Loy Gilbert’s PICTURE US IN THE LIGHT is a beautiful book showcasing Gilbert’s impeccable writing, and for a great mystery, TWO CAN KEEP A SECRET by Karen McManus.

What’s next for you?

While I can’t give details, I am working on another YA novel with a timely spin on what’s going on in our country with respect to politics and the media.

Author of SCREEN QUEENS, coming from Razorbill, June 11, 2019, and available for preorder now (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound) about three teen girls who attend a startup incubator in Silicon Valley and learn what it means to compete in the male-dominated world of tech.

My Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy series Becoming Jinn and Circle of Jinn is a modern spin on the traditional tale of wish-granting genies (Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan).

Obsessed with books, beach, and Game of Thrones, Find me at @loriagoldstein and follow my blog and sign up for my newsletter at www.lorigoldsteinbooks.com, my Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/lorigoldstei... and my Tumblr at http://lorigoldsteinbooks.tumblr.com.

Like my author page on Facebook for fun book-related photos, tidbits, and happenings as well as news on upcoming releases.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, June 6, 2016

FFBC: Welcome to the club, Autofocus by Lauren Gibaldi

Autofocus
by Lauren Gibaldi
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: June 14th 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Adoption, Coming of Age, Family

Synopsis:

Family.

It’s always been a loaded word for Maude. And when she is given a senior photography assignment—to create a portfolio that shows the meaning of family—she doesn’t quite know where to begin. But she knows one thing: without the story of her birth mother, who died when Maude was born, her project will be incomplete.

So Maude decides to visit her best friend, Treena, at college in Tallahassee, Florida, where Maude’s birth mother once lived. But when Maude arrives, she quickly discovers that Treena has changed. With a new boyfriend and a packed social calendar, Treena doesn’t seem to have time for Maude—or helping Maude in her search.

Enter Bennett, a cute guy who lives in Treena’s dorm. He understands Maude’s need to find her mother. And as Bennett helps Maude in her search, she starts to find that her mother’s past doesn’t have to define her own future.

Lauren Gibaldi has crafted a beautiful and timely coming-of-age story that poses the question: Is who we are determined at birth, or can we change as we grow?

Hello Lauren! We are super excited to have you in our FFBC tours.

Could you tell our Book Addicts a little bit about Autofocus?

Sure! AUTOFOCUS follows Maude as she searches for information on her deceased birth mother. She’s never known her, and doesn’t have much information, so she goes to Tallahassee, Florida, to try to track down old friends. While there, she stays with her best friend, Treena, who’s changed a bit since graduating high school, and meets Bennett, a boy who helps her on her quest.

Can you tell us a bit more about Maude and her personality? And what about Bennett?

Maude is artistic. She’s a photographer and loves seeing things through the lens. She always wants to find the perfect shot, and the perfect view of a person. She’s a bit single-minded, but aren’t we all at one point? And she’s very determined to figure out more about her mother, and how her mother’s life may relate to her own. Bennett is a boy who’s friends with Maude’s best friend Treena. He’s into Star Wars and Doctor Who and wants to be an animator for Pixar. He’s kind of dorky, super understanding, and really just wants to find good in everyone.

So, as a personal opinion, do you think that we are determined at birth? Why?

Yes and no. I think some things—physical things, of course and some personality traits. I see this every day raising my own daughter. But I think other people around you, that aren’t family, also shape you. I think you become the person you want to be, and only some of it is from birth. (It’s why I like writing YA—it’s that stage where you’re figuring out who you are, and what you want to do with that.)

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?

I thought of the place first, actually. I love Tallahassee, and starting thinking about why someone would visit. I wanted the person to be on a quest, be trying to find something, or in this case, someone. And then I thought of a girl trying to find herself and everything kind of fell into place.

Tell us your favorite quote from Autofocus.

I actually just made a graphic to go with it! “I'm a blur. I'm not clear and crisp like some people; instead I'm messy on the edges and not quite formed. I'm many pieces all put into one, and one day I'll figure them all out.” I think that sums up the book nicely.

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

Two. There’s a scene at Lichgate that was super fun to write. It’s a real place, so it was fun, for me, to revisit it in writing. And it’s a sweet scene. The Pineview scene (which includes a possibly haunted building) was the hardest to write because I’m not good at writing anything scary, apparently. Ha!

If you had to pick one song to be the Theme Song for Autofocus – Which one would you pick?

I don’t know! I really like “Photograph” by Ed Sheeran, but not for Maude and Bennett, but for Maude and Treena. Strip the romance love out of it, and instead think of it as that strong best friendship love that grows and changes and becomes complicated but always lovely. I think that’s them.

Imagine that we get to see your book on the big screen (how awesome would that be?). Who would you pick to play your characters?

I’m SO not good at this question. For my last book, bloggers always had better responses to this than me, so I’m going to go with…who do YOU think?

Is there any recommendations you could give your readers to be in the “perfect mood” to read Autofocus (specific music, snacks…)?

Hmm. I can’t read with music on, so I’d say no music. I think you need a nice cup of tea (for relaxation, of course), or some ice cream (because ice cream means friendship in my opinion). The girls in enjoy both in the book.

What’s next for you?

I have a third book coming out with HarperTeen / HarperCollins coming out in 2017, titled THIS TINY PERFECT WORLD. It deals with an acting camp, and I’m so excited to share it with everyone!

Thank you so much for everything, Lauren!

Follow the Autofocus by Lauren Gibaldi Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

Public librarian and author of THE NIGHT WE SAID YES, MATT'S STORY (a Night We Said Yes novella), and AUTOFOCUS (out 6/14/16), all with HarperTeen / HarperCollins. Fan of dinosaurs and cheesy jokes. And you.