Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Big F by Maggie Ann Martin (Playlist + Giveaway)

Hello, guys! For #CelebratingDebutantes2017 today, we are featuring a playlist made and explained by Maggie Ann Martin for her debut, The Big F! She will take over the blog in a little while.
I hope you guys stick around for the music, the background and the international giveaway at the end!


The Music Behind THE BIG F

Music, for me, is my biggest source of inspiration while I’m writing. I like to find a song that fits a certain scene, and listen to it on repeat until I’m finished writing that scene. Songs set the tone for me while I’m drafting and editing, and I’m always on the hunt for my next inspirational song.
My playlist for THE BIG F (out August 29!) is one that I’ve had for many years. I’ve added to it since my first draft I wrote in 2012 to editing it in 2016. Though it’s grown over the years, there are some key songs that have pushed me through the writing process for this book.

SONG HIGHLIGHTS:

The Deep End by Hannah Georgas I call this the song that started it all. I found this song through the MTV show Awkward and slowly became obsessed. The lyrics “who’s gonna hold your breath when you’re diving off the deep end?” really resonated with me and remind me of Danielle, who is essentially diving off the deep end into this uncharted territory, and she has to do it on her own.

Clean by The Japanese House I’m pretty sure I completely edited THE BIG F to the tune of this song. It’s mellow, calming, but has an emotional edge that guided me through some of the more serious parts of the book.

The Way to the Future by Katie Herzig If THE BIG F had a theme song, I’m pretty sure this song would be it. Danielle is so unsure about her future at the beginning of the book, and by the end, she’s charging head first at a future that she believes in. This song completely sums that up.

Even if It Kills Me by Motion City Soundtrack One of my all-time favorite songs by one of my all-time favorite bands. I think this song could apply to both Danielle and Porter, especially the line “For the first time in a long time, I can say that I’m gonna try, to be better and overcome each moment in my own way.” They are each trying to live a better, happier life and letting the people around them lift them up, rather than pull them down. Plus, I had to sneak a little Motion City Soundtrack on here.

All of the other songs on this playlist were either listened to on repeat when I was writing a particular scene, or I felt like applied to any one of the characters in THE BIG F. Let me know in the comments if you can guess which other songs might correspond with a certain scene or character!

Thank you, Maggie!

About the Author:

Maggie Ann Martin hails from Iowa City, Iowa but moonlights as a New Yorker. She has a shiny new BA in English and Journalism from the University of Iowa, the most welcoming literary community in the world. When she is not writing, you can find her binge watching TV shows or passionately fangirling over fictional characters on the Internet. The Big F is her debut novel.

Find Maggie: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Book Description:

THE BIG F
Paperback, 304 pages
Published August 29 2017 by Swoon Reads
Danielle effed up. Big time.

Danielle's plans for the future were pretty easy to figure out... until she failed senior English and her single college application was denied. Suddenly she's in hot water with very few options, because honestly who applies to a safety school when their mom is a semi-famous "college psychic"?!

Determined to get her life back on track, Danielle enrolls in her hometown community college with a plan: pass her English class and get back into Ohio State and her mother's good graces. Romance isn't on her radar... until she reconnects with her childhood crush and golden-boy-next-door, Luke.

Between family drama, first love and finding her own way, Danielle can't help but feel a little overwhelmed. Thankfully she has her friendship with the snarky and frustratingly attractive Porter, her coworker at the campus bookstore, to push her to experience new things and help keep her afloat.

One thing's for sure: This time, failure's not an option.

Giveaway

Thanks to Maggie for sponsoring this giveaway!
What's up for grabs: Pre-order of The Big F from the Book Depository! BookDepo needs to ship to your country.
Scope: International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get your daily dose of YA and MG debut goodness in #CelebratingDebutantes2017! 

Click the button above to be redirected to the main page where you can browse the list of novels and authors that we are featuring.

Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Dear Martin by Nic Stone (Playlist + Giveaway)

Hi guys! Sorry for the silence - I've been swallowed up by work - but I'm now back full force! Today I'm featuring one of the most anticipated debuts for 2017 - Dear Martin by Nic Stone! Nic is going to share with us her playlist for her debut. Stick around for the music and the giveaway!


For seventeen year old Justyce McAllister—and many of the real life African American young men (and ladies) like him—life isn’t always easy. This playlist includes everything from songs that would get him and his best friend Manny feeling good about themselves (see: Classic Man and The Man) to heavier songs that highlight the need for change (Everything Must Change; Fight the Power) to songs that convey hope for a better future (A Change is Gonna Come; Glory) to even a couple of unexpected tracks you’d likely hear on one of Manny’s random playlists (Somethin Bad; A World Alone). Taken together, they represent the message of DEAR MARTIN to a tee: life and people are complex, and it’s perfectly fine to feel, but at the end of the day, it’s up to us to offer the world our very best.


Thank you, Nic!

About the Author:

Nic Stone was born and raised in a suburb of Atlanta, GA, and the only thing she loves more than an adventure is a good story about one. After graduating from Spelman College, she worked extensively in teen mentoring and lived in Israel for a few years before returning to the US to write full-time. Growing up with a wide range of cultures, religions, and backgrounds, Stone strives to bring these diverse voices and stories to her work.

Stone lives in Atlanta with her husband and two sons. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @getnicced or on her website nicstone.info.

Find Nic: Website | Twitter | Instagram| Goodreads

Book Description:

Hardcover, 224 pages
Expected publication: October 17th 2017 by Crown Books for Young Readers

Justyce McAllister is top of his class, captain of the debate team, and set for the Ivy League next year—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. He is eventually released without charges (or an apology), but the incident has Justyce spooked. Despite leaving his rough neighborhood, he can’t seem to escape the scorn of his former peers or the attitude of his prep school classmates. The only exception: Sarah Jane, Justyce’s gorgeous—and white—debate partner he wishes he didn’t have a thing for.

Struggling to cope with it all, Justyce starts a journal to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But do Dr. King’s teachings hold up in the modern world? Justyce isn’t so sure.

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up. Way up. Much to the fury of the white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. And Justyce and Manny get caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack. The truth of what happened that night—some would kill to know. Justyce is dying to forget.

Giveaway

Thanks to Nic for sponsoring this giveaway!
What's up for grabs: Signed Personalized Hardcover and bookmark
Scope: US only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get your daily dose of YA and MG debut goodness in #CelebratingDebutantes2017! 

Click the button above to be redirected to the main page where you can browse the list of novels and authors that we are featuring.

Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Flight Risk by Jennifer Fenn (Playlist + Giveaway)

Hi guys! Are you interested in reading a story about antiheroes, stealing planes and flying? Then this debut is for you. It is reviewed and described as unique, original and surprisingly unexpected.

Today, we are featuring your next best read: Flight Risk by Jennifer Fenn! Jennifer will be talking about her playlist and how each note is related to her writing and the story. Stick around for a special giveaway at the end! ;) Jennifer will take it from here.



I always listen to music while I write. I usually create soundtracks to match my ideas very early in the writing process, to capture a particular mood or voice. For “Flight Risk,” I listened to these songs and many more to create Robert Jackson Kelly’s world as he surfs, steals and runs from the law.

“Immortal” Kid Cudi
The lyrics of this song could have been pulled straight from my protagonist Robert Jackson Kelly’s thoughts. I listened to it constantly while writing “Flight Risk.” The humming at the beginning even reminds me of the sound of a plane taking off.
“I’m living my life as if I’ve got powers/And tonight I feel immortal.”

“King of the Beach” Waaves
In the story’s first half, Robert receives a used surfboard for his birthday and starts spending his days at the beach, practicing his surf technique. He’s determined to learn how to catch a wave and the beach provides an escape from his less-than-ideal home life. This song perfectly captures the mood of those scenes!
“Never gonna stop me/You’re never gonna stop me/King of the beach!”

“Mama Told Me Not to Come” Three Dog Night
Yannatok’s Sheriff Holt is a classic-rock fan. I imagine this song playing in his cruiser as he drives around the island hunting for Robert. The lyrics also allude to Robert’s complicated relationship with his mother.
“Mama told me not to come/She said, that ain’t the way to have fun, son!”

“Frontier Psychiatrist” Avalanches
I played this song often when I wrote the scenes I consider Robert’s ‘origin story,’ or the events that led up to him actually stealing a plane and becoming a notorious outlaw or hero, depending on your point of view.
“That boy needs therapy!”

“The Trees” Richard Cheese
Here’s a fun cover of a song originally performed by Rush. My brother discovered this song and included it on one of several “Flight Risk” mixes he made for me. Many scenes in “Flight Risk” depict “unrest in the forest”: plane crashes, bears, police chases . . . .

“There is unrest in the forest!”

“Everybody Get Dangerous!” Weezer
I love this song’s fun mood. Robert’s plane thefts are definitely dangerous, but he’s also having the adventure of his life when he takes to the sky.

“Everybody get dangerous!”

“Who Wrote Holden Caulfield?” Green Day
These lyrics seemed to describe Robert’s school situation and struggle with ADHD perfectly.
“There’s a body who fogs his world and now he’s getting lazy/There’s no motivation and frustration makes him crazy/He makes a plan to stand but always ends up sitting/Someone help him up or he’s gonna end up quitting.”

“Bad Moon Rising” Lagwagon
This song is actually featured in the book; Robert’s father is singing it when the reader first encounters him. Robert Senior is in and out of his son’s life, and a secret from his past is revealed in the second half of “Flight Risk.” I like the sense of foreboding in this song’s lyrics, and this sped-up cover version is a fun update on a classic song.
“Don’t go out tonight/It’s bound to take your life/There’s a bad moon on the rise”

“I Believe I Can Fly” Me First and the Gimmee Gimmees

Of course, R Kelly wasn’t singing about actual flight in the original version of this song, but I can’t help but think that the lyrics mirror Robert’s obsession with planes.

“I believe I can fly/I believe I can touch the sky/I think about it every night and day’Spread my wings and fly away”

“Police on My Back” The Clash
Once Robert steals his first plane, he’s on the run, trying to escape Sheriff Holt, the media, and everyone else’s expectations of him.
“Well, I'm running/Police on my back/I've been hiding/Police on my back”

“Lollipop” Ben Kweller
The candy found at the scene of Robert’s first plane crash lead the media to portray him as a criminal mastermind intentionally taunting the police. He’s even nicknamed “The Lollipop Kid.”
“Lollipop, lollipop/Oh, lolly lollipop!”

“My Old Man Had a Pistol” The New Amsterdams
This song’s lyrics seem to be about trying to escape a troubled family history, which is one of the issues at the heart of “Flight Risk.”
“I pray take me far away/From everything that I am”


Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your playlist!

About the Author:

Young adult author Jennifer Fenn has been filling notebooks since she was in elementary school. She’s never without a book! Fenn is terrified of corn fields but has jumped out of a plane, eats her cereal without milk, and has run a marathon.

She is a graduate of Lycoming College and Rosemont College’s MFA program. Jennifer lives with her husband, daughter and Scottish terrier in Downingtown, PA.

Find Jennifer: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Book Description:

Hardcover, 256 pages
Expected publication: July 18th 2017 by Roaring Brook Press

A debut novel inspired by true events, about a teenage boy who has stolen―and crashed―not one, but three airplanes. And each time he’s walked away unscathed.

Who is Robert Jackson Kelly? Is he a juvenile delinquent? A criminal mastermind? A folk hero? One thing is clear: Robert always defies what people think of him. And now, the kid who failed at school, relationships, and almost everything in life, is determined to successfully steal and land a plane.

Told as an investigation into Robert’s psyche, the narrative includes multiple points of view as well as documentary elements like emails, official records, and interviews with people who knew Robert. Ultimately, Flight Risk is a thrilling story about one teenager who is determined to find a moment of transcendence after everyone else has written him off as lost.

"Teens will love the documentary-style narrative and will root for underdog antihero Robert." --Donald Peebles, School Library Journal

"Fenn's ambitious debut novel is part oral history, part tall tale, and part suspense story . . . Inspired by real events (the life of Colton Harris-Moore, aka the Barefoot Bandit), Fenn has penned an original, thrilling tale with wide appeal, including for older reluctant readers."
​
-- Caitlin Kling, Booklist

Giveaway

Thanks to Jennifer for sponsoring this giveaway!
What's up for grabs: ARC of Flight Risk
Scope: US/CA
*If you have a mailing address in US/CA, you may also join

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get your daily dose of YA and MG debut goodness in #CelebratingDebutantes2017! 

Click the button above to be redirected to the main page where you can browse the list of novels and authors that we are featuring.

Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Gravedigger's Son by Patrick Moody

Hi guys! I hope you're enjoying Father's Day so far - to the ones with countries celebrating it this Sunday, at least. So when I first started blogging, my genre was paranormal. I read everything paranormal - vampires, werewolves, ghosts, etc. Currently, I am swimming in a fantasy ocean. It is refreshing to encounter an MG paranormal book that is rooted in the traditional act of burying the dead and creating this story.

Before we start with that, I'd like to remind you that we have several giveaways on going both in Fragments of Life and in Blackplume. Please click the event button on the right sidebar and you'll be directed to the list of features and giveaways!

Today, Patrick is going to show you his playlist for The Gravedigger's Son and briefly explain each song and how it is related to the book. Hope you enjoy the music! I like Deep in the Woods!



The Bats-"Boogeyman": This song is basically the theme to the entire story. Playful, poppy, and insightful, with just a hint of spookiness. The boogeyman is coming for you...or is it all in your head?

Calamine-"Horse and Carriage": Perfectly sums up the relationship between Ian, the MC, and Fiona, his best friend. They understand one another's personal struggles, and both try to push the other to achieve their dreams.

Mac Demarco-"Blue Boy": While Calamine's "Horse and Carriage" is an uplifting, hopeful song, Demarco's "Blue Boy" is a more accurate portrayal of Ian's personality. Unsure of himself and more than a little blue. But what eleven year old Gravedigger in training isn't?

Men at Work-"Overkill": "Ghosts appear and fade away." I feel like Men at Work captured a very specific emotion, here: the anxiety we all feel fretting about the future, while constantly replaying events from our past. It's a strange middle ground that stops us from enjoying the present. For Ian, this is all too common...constantly worrying about his path in life, trying to break ancient tradition and carve out his own future. Every choice is difficult. The weight of our own history can be a crippling thing.

My Morning Jacket-"Only Memories Remain": This haunting, melancholy tune about love and loss is a perfect fit for Ian's father, Isaac. The current Gravedigger of House Fossor is trapped in the past, forever brooding and mourning the loss of his wife, taken too soon by an evil magic.

Tennis-"Deep in the Woods": Something is lurking in the woods bordering the cemetery. Ian reluctantly enters. What will he and Fiona find? Rumor has it, a coven of dark-magic witches live somewhere in the depths of the forest, waiting for someone to enter...


Thank you, Patrick!

About the Author:

Patrick Moody is a middle school custodian who draws inspiration from the spooky night-time halls. He lives in Connecticut. The Gravedigger's Son is his first novel.

Find Patrick: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Book Description:

Hardcover, 304 pages
Expected publication: August 1st 2017 by Sky Pony Press

“A Digger must not refuse a request from the Dead." —Rule Five of the Gravedigger’s Code

Ian Fossor is last in a long line of Gravediggers. It’s his family’s job to bury the dead and then, when Called by the dearly departed, to help settle the worries that linger beyond the grave so spirits can find peace in the Beyond.

But Ian doesn’t want to help the dead—he wants to be a Healer and help the living. Such a wish is, of course, selfish and impossible. Fossors are Gravediggers. So he reluctantly continues his training under the careful watch of his undead mentor, hoping every day that he’s never Called and carefully avoiding the path that leads into the forbidden woods bordering the cemetery.

Just as Ian’s friend, Fiona, convinces him to talk to his father, they’re lured into the woods by a risen corpse that doesn’t want to play by the rules. There, the two are captured by a coven of Weavers, dark magic witches who want only two thing—to escape the murky woods where they’ve been banished, and to raise the dead and shift the balance of power back to themselves.

Only Ian can stop them. With a little help from his friends. And his long-dead ancestors.

Equal parts spooky and melancholy, funny and heartfelt, The Gravedigger’s Son is a gorgeous debut that will long sit beside Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book and Jonathan Auxier's The Night Gardener.

Giveaway

Thanks to Patrick for sponsoring this giveaway!
What's up for grabs: Signed ARC of The Gravedigger's Son
Scope: International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get your daily dose of YA and MG debut goodness in #CelebratingDebutantes2017! 

Click the button above to be redirected to the main page where you can browse the list of novels and authors that we are featuring.

Playlist: Karmic Hearts by Jhing Bautista

Hi guys! Today I'm featuring a playlist for Karmic Hearts! Bautista chose the songs well and handpicked some of my favorite songs, such as Down from the Vampire Diaries OST.

Maricar from Blackplume described Karmic Hearts as " a light read that is perfect for those who love cute romance. It is delightful, romantic and heartwarming. Something every romance lovers will surely enjoy reading."

Here is a quote from the book that I like: “If everything is unfair in this world, then doesn’t that make it fair?”

I think that it makes perfect sense. :) Are you ready to experience Karmic Hearts?

Matchmaker by AJ Rafael



Heaven Can Wait by We The Kings



Down by Jason Walker



Her Love Is My Religion by The Cab



Ever Enough by A Rocket To The Moon



Stupid Love Letter by The Friday Night Boys



I Should Go by Levi Kreis



Beautiful Excuses by Rixton



Scars by James Bay

Book Description:

Paperback, 241 pages
Published 2017 by Summit Books, Pop Fiction

Love. Magic. Fate. Best-selling romance novel author Karmina Joan writes about these things. She believes that every person has a purpose, that every soul has a destiny to fulfill. She thought hers was simply sharing her stories.

Her story unfolds with Cupid, the Angel of Love himself. He brings with him a mysterious vessel and a message from on high. It turns out Karmina has a bigger purpose after all—a mission that will make or break humanity as we know it.

As Cupid teaches her the tricks of his trade, Karmina unknowingly gives him something unexpected in return— something the angel of love will find oddly familiar. This may become the one flaw in an otherwise perfect plan that destiny had in store for them.

Does love truly conquer all or are there limits to what humanity can do in the name of love? Witness as Karmina struggles to find the answers before time runs out on true love.

Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Post-High School Reality Quest by Meg Eden

Hi guys! I'm featuring the first playlist on Fragments of Life for #CelebratingDebutantes2017. Post High School Reality Quest is one of a kind. It is one of the most original debuts for 2017, based on what I've heard and read so far. So it's an honor to present this unique book to you guys, today. Stick around for a special giveaway at the end.

Meg is going to explain to us how the songs in her playlist is related to Post-High School Reality Quest. I hope you guys enjoy the music! Meg, you can take it from here. :)


Avicii vs Nicky Romero - I Could Be The One – When I first heard this song, I totally thought about Buffy’s crush on Tristan—it totally captures her thoughts for him, and even sounds like her voice!

Cazzette: Eject – I always listened to this album while writing and editing, so it’s forever linked to PHSRQ to me. Every time I hear the song “On the Road” now my body’s conditioned for writing and for Buffy’s surreal text adventure college world.

Italobrothers - Love is on fire (Rob & Chris Radio Edit) - This is another song that I feel like perfectly captures Buffy’s crush on Tristan. I listened to this song a lot early on to start imagining what Buffy would look like and how to develop her.

Italobrothers - Summer Air (Original Mix) - There’s definitely a nostalgic air to this song, and the lyrics: “Why don’t we just go back” makes me think of Buffy going back in time to old save slots, and when she’s in her relationship with Tristan.

Lady GaGa - Alejandro (Bimbo Jones Club Mix) - The energy in this song definitely helped me in writing tense scenes, so I listen to this and think about the emotional conflict between Buffy and Merrill, Merrill and Tristan, and Tristan and Buffy.

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 'Thunderstruck' [Windmill Hut] by Big Giant Circles – If PHSRQ was condensed into an AMV, this is probably the song that would be playing the background.

Tetris (GB) 'Thirty-Plus Mix' [B-Type] by R3FORGED – The fast pace of this song gets me thinking about Buffy’s state of mind and anxiety.

Final Fantasy X 'Endless Skies' [Auron's Theme] by PrototypeRaptor – This song makes me think of “What ifs,” of which there are a lot in PHSRQ. I mainly think about what Buffy and Merrill might have had if things had been different—an idea that never really interested me until the last couple drafts of the novel.

Star Fox 'Barrel Roll' [BGM (CORNERIA)] by PrototypeRaptor – When I was sick with strep/writing a lot of PHSRQ, I played a bit of StarFox 64 on an emulator on my computer. I added this detail in for Buffy as well. When I listen to this, I like to imagine Buffy in her dorm room, flying the Arwing between classes.

Dj CUTMAN - Powerglove ft. Ben Briggs (Shane Mesa Remix) – For some reason, I totally think of Sephora whenever I play this song. But I see her very clearly every time I listen to this.

Power-Pill - Pacman (Power-Pill Mix) - I'd listen to this song to think about/develop the group of friends and invoke that basement man cave gaming den feeling. Every time I listen to this, I feel that nostalgic thrill of playing Pacman on an arcade cabinet.

Thank you, Meg!

About the Author:

Meg Eden's work has been published in various magazines, including Rattle, Drunken Boat, Poet Lore, and Gargoyle. She teaches at the University of Maryland. She has four poetry chapbooks, and her novel "Post-High School Reality Quest" is forthcoming from California Coldblood, an imprint of Rare Bird Lit.

Find Meg: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Book Description:

320 pages
Published by California Coldblood

Buffy is playing a game. However, the game is her life, and there are no instructions or cheat codes on how to win.

After graduating high school, a voice called “the text parser” emerges in Buffy’s head, narrating her life as a classic text adventure game. Buffy figures this is just a manifestation of her shy, awkward, nerdy nature—until the voice doesn’t go away, and instead begins to dominate her thoughts, telling her how to live her life. Though Buffy tries to beat the game, crash it, and even restart it, it becomes clear that this game is not something she can simply “shut off” or beat without the text parser’s help.

While the text parser tries to give Buffy advice on how “to win the game,” Buffy decides to pursue her own game-plan: start over, make new friends, and win her long-time crush Tristan’s heart. But even when Buffy gets the guy of her dreams, the game doesn’t stop. In fact, it gets worse than she could’ve ever imagined: her crumbling group of friends fall apart, her roommate turns against her, and Buffy finds herself trying to survive in a game built off her greatest nightmares.

Giveaway

Thanks to Meg for sponsoring this giveaway!
What's up for grabs: Ebook of Post-High School Reality Quest by Meg Eden and Post-High School Reality Quest narwhal tote
Scope: International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get your daily dose of YA and MG debut goodness in #CelebratingDebutantes2017! 

Click the button above to be redirected to the main page where you can browse the list of novels and authors that we are featuring.

Celebrating Debutantes 2016: The Cat King of Havana by Tom Crosshill (Playlist + Giveaway)

Hi guys! Today, we are featuring a playlist for The Cat King of Havana. It is related to cats, the harmless kind, and Cuba, a spanish-speaking country, which I also like. I am so excited to see how the book will turn out.

Tom set out to make a playlist for you guys. An important thing of interest: he is a salsa dancer and trainer. You will find lots of videos on his website here.


Here is a sample of Tom's videos on his website. Hope you like it!




Thank you, Tom!

About the Author:

Tom Crosshill is an award-winning author, public speaker, and salsa teacher. Originally from Latvia, he moved to the United States as a teen and now lives wherever his adventures take him. A black belt in aikido, he has operated a nuclear reactor, worked on Wall Street, and toiled in a Japanese zinc mine, among other things. On a chance trip to Havana, Tom fell in love with salsa. After years of study with the world's top dancers and several long stays in Cuba, he wrote THE CAT KING OF HAVANA. You can visit Tom and find out more about CAT KING at http://www.catotrope.com

Find Tom: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Author Website

Book Description:

Hardcover, 368 pages
Published September 6th 2016 by Katherine Tegen Books

Rick Gutierrez is . . . the Cat King of Havana! A cat-video tycoon turned salsa-dancer extraordinaire, he’ll take Cuba by storm, romance the girl of his dreams, and ignite a lolcat revolution!

At least that’s the plan.

It all starts when his girlfriend dumps Rick on his sixteenth birthday for uploading cat videos from his bedroom when he should be out experiencing the real world. Known as “That Cat Guy” at school, Rick isn’t cool and he knows it. He realizes it’s time for a change.

Rick decides joining a salsa class is the answer . . . because of a girl, of course. Ana Cabrera is smart, friendly, and smooth on the dance floor. Rick might be half-Cuban, but he dances like a drunk hippo. Desperate to impress Ana, he invites her to spend the summer in Havana. The official reason: learning to dance. The hidden agenda: romance under the palm trees.

Except Cuba isn’t all sun, salsa, and music. There’s a darker side to the island. As Rick and Ana meet his family and investigate the reason why his mother left Cuba decades ago, they learn that politics isn’t just something that happens to other people. And when they find romance, it’s got sharp edges.

Buy Links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound | iTunes | Kobo

Giveaway

Thanks to Tom for sponsoring this giveaway!
What's up for grabs: ARC of The Cat King of Havana
Scope: US + CA!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Treat yourself to a complete #CelebratingDebutantes2016 experience. Click the image below for the full schedule and links to the posts!

Celebrating Debutantes 2016: Cherry by Lindsey Rosin (Author Interview + Playlist + Giveaway)

Hi guys! It's been a rainy week here in Manila. I hope the weather is better there, wherever you are on Earth. Today, I'm thrilled to feature Cherry by Lindsey Rosin! I like the simple white and pink cover. Don't you? Lindsey is visiting the blog to share a playlist and to answer some questions for an interview. Ready? 

***

First off, the playlist! It's called Zoe Got Some and is related to Cherry.


What or who inspired you to write Cherry?
I’m inspired by anything that moves me emotionally. High school friendships and relationships are incredibly emotional. I think it’s something about that time of life and all the new experiences and how it feels like it’s the beginning and end of everything all at once. I also like to say that my spirit animal is a teenage girl, so I’m always looking for opportunities to tell teenage stories and female stories – and anything about frozen yogurt. Cherry is sort of the perfect storm of all of that. I also drew a lot on my personal experiences while writing the book, my relationships with my best girl friends and the boys in my life and the awesome/awkward/awful sexual experiences I’ve had along the way.

Could you tell us about the background behind the title of the book, Cherry?
Yes! So, I absolutely love the title, but I have to give credit to my good friend, sometimes writing partner and YA author, Aaron Karo for coming up with it. He’s incredibly good at coming up with titles – for books, movies, TV shows; it’s really a gift. When I first told him about the book proposal I was working on, I knew I wanted the title to be something fun and simple that could capture the mood of the book. Aaron said Cherry and the rest is history. I think it’s perfect.

Do you have a writing ritual that you do before/after writing?
I do not have a writing ritual. I wish I did because maybe it would help me start writing quicker and be less distracted. I really do believe that writing is 3% writing and 97% not being distracted by the Internet. Two unusual things about my writing process are that 1) I tend to write a lot by hand. I’ll write my first drafts in notebooks or just on lined pads of paper before typing them into the computer. I find it feels less permanent to just write it by hand as opposed to seeing it in black and white on the screen so it allows me to push through the shitty first drafts much faster. And then 2) my favorite time to write is between midnight and five or six in the morning. I love that the world is quiet and no one is distracting me (haha, not even the internet.) I’ve always been a night owl, so I think my brain just works better during that time.

How different was the initial manuscript of the book from the final manuscript? What changed?
The initial manuscript is probably about 60% the same as the final draft. I had fabulous editors at Simon Pulse – hi Jen and Sarah! – who really helped me find the pace and rhythm of the story. I’d only written plays and screenplays before Cherry, so I trusted their notes and guidance quite a bit throughout the process. One big change that I can talk about without giving away any spoilers has to do with the POV of the book. It’s written in third person and the narrator is sort of omniscient, all-knowing, but we do get to go inside the heads of the four girls. Originally, we were going inside the heads of a lot of the other characters and the boys they interact with, but it was a lot of people’s thoughts and feelings to keep track of, so I’m glad we trimmed it back to just the four girls.

Which character is your favorite? Why?
Ah! There’s a little bit of me, and bits of a lot of people I love, and a whole lot of my imagination mixed into all four of the main characters, Layla, Zoe, Emma and Alex. It’d be impossible to pick just one. Who’s your favorite? I’m hoping people can relate a little bit to all of them, but also maybe find one that they identify with most.

Thank you, Lindsey!

About the Author:

Photo Credit: Claire Leahy

LINDSEY ROSIN is a professional writer/director/producer and fourth generation Los Angeles native. In the past year, she has written television pilots for Lionsgate, CBS Studios, Sony, MTV, CBS, and NBC. Most recently she co-executive produced the “Cruel Intentions” television pilot (for NBC), which she also wrote along with Roger Kumble (the writer/director of the original film) and Jordan Ross.

Lindsey’s debut novel Cherry, a story about four teenage girls who make a pact to lose their virginity before high school graduation, will be published by Simon & Schuster’s YA Imprint, Simon Pulse, on 08/16/16 and Hot Key Books in The U.K. on 08/25/16.

Under her Sucker Love Productions banner, Lindsey directed and co-developed Cruel Intentions: The Musical, which enjoyed a sold-out run in Los Angeles in the spring and summer of 2015, and is currently working to bring the production to an off-Broadway venue in New York City. Lindsey also directed The Unauthorized O.C. Musical, a sold-out, one-night only event in August 2015, and will be directing The Unauthorized Friday Night Lights Musical sometime in 2016.

Lindsey graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania as an English Major with a concentration in dramatic writing. While at Penn, Lindsey won the University’s Judy Lee Award for Dramatic Writing for three consecutive years (2005-2007) and was the winner of a senior capstone award for her writing achievements. Additionally, Lindsey is an alumnus of The Excelano Project, Penn’s premiere spoken word poetry group. Under her direction, the group took first place at the National Collegiate Poetry Slam in 2007. Lindsey began her writing career as a playwright, having won numerous statewide and nationwide playwriting competitions, and continues to be a mentor and judge for the Harvard-Westlake One-Act play festival, happily supporting her alma mater.

Lindsey drinks vanilla lattes, wears Converse tennis shoes and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Josh, and their adorable poodle mix named Dodger. She is repped by ICM, Underground Films and Management, Foundry Literary and Media and Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown.


Find Lindsey: Website| Twitter 

Book Description:

Expected publication: August 16th 2016 by Simon Pulse

In this honest, frank, and funny debut novel, four best friends make a pact during their senior year of high school to lose their virginities—and end up finding friendship, love, and self-discovery along the way.

To be honest, the sex pact wasn’t always part of the plan.

Layla started it. She announced it super casually to the rest of the girls between bites of frozen yogurt, as if it was just simply another addition to her massive, ever-evolving To Do List. She is determined to have sex for the first time before the end of high school. Initially, the rest of the crew is scandalized, but, once they all admit to wanting to lose their v-cards too, they embark on a quest to do the deed together... separately.

Layla’s got it in the bag. Her serious boyfriend, Logan, has been asking for months.

Alex has already done it. Or so she says.

Emma doesn’t know what the fuss is all about, but sure, she’ll give it a shot.

And Zoe, well, Zoe can’t even say the o word without bursting into giggles.

Will everything go according to plan? Probably not. But at least the girls have each other every hilarious, heart-warming, cringe-inducing step of the way.

From debut author Lindsey Rosin, Cherry is a coming-of-age, laugh-out-loud tale of first times, last chances, and the enduring friendships that make it all worthwhile.

Giveaway

Thanks to Lindsey for this giveaway!
What's up for grabs: Copy of Cherry

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Treat yourself to a complete #CelebratingDebutantes2016 experience. Click the image below for the full schedule and links to the posts!

Playlist + Giveaway: A Fierce and Subtle Poison by Samantha Mabry

Hi guys! I miss you and I miss blogging. But things have been busy in real life. I just had my third anniversary at work (I feel so Adult). I started taking Japanese classes every weekend. I also had a bit of an accident with a street cat. But all things considered, I think I'm doing good. I slid back to my blogger mode last weekend when I met the author of All the Bright Places. I have giveaways coming up soon, watch out for them. But for the meantime, I want to treat you to this special feature for one of the debut authors that I wasn't able to include in Celebrating Debutantes due to the time frame.

A Fierce and Subtle Poison Annotated Playlist by Samantha Mabry

“Separation Anxiety” by Faith No More
The album that this song is on, Sol Invictus, came out last year, which was well after I’d finished the bulk of A Fierce and Subtle Poison. Still, this song has relevance to the story. It sort of starts off and grabs you, and gets more and more intense as it brings you into some spiraling breakdown. My main character, Lucas, gets broken down, broken down, built up, broken down, so, in a way, it reflects his state of mind. Also, Faith No More was my absolute favorite band when I was his age, so there’s that.

“My Mathematical Mind” by Spoon
This is another song that descends into chaos as it nears its end. I do like how the lyrics have to do with a mathematical mind (maybe, sort of, there’s also stuff about the apocalypse in there), which is supposed to be tidy and systematic, but the music eventually gets weird and discordant. There are several things in A Fierce and Subtle Poison that are supposed to be tidy and straightforward that end up being a big messes.

“Disparate Youth” by Santigold
There’s a good portion of the novel that takes place on a scooter on rural Puerto Rican roads. This song is the soundtrack for those scenes. It sounds to me like movement and sun and anticipation.

“Willow” by Israel Nash
This song is also pretty recent and was released on last year’s Silver Season. But it’s been one of my favorite songs ever since I first heard it. Like “Disparate Youth,” it reminds me of being outside. The tempo and steel also give it a bittersweet, yearning tone, so typical of really good alt-country. And that chorus is so soaring and sad and lovely, which I think is what good magical realism does, too: soar while hitting a bittersweet, yearning tone.

“I’m Afraid of Americans” by David Bowie
Right from the start of A Fierce and Subtle Poison there’s an obvious tension I tried to establish between native Puerto Ricans and “invaders.” Some of that tension is underlying, but a lot of it is overt. This song captures that very overt wariness (to put it mildly) that the people of San Juan in my story have toward Lucas, his dad, and Dr. Ford.

“Future Starts Slow” by The Kills
The chunky, delay-heavy guitar in this song just knocks me flat. And there’s just something so dark, gloomy, and groovy about this song that syncs up with the moody, gloomy, mysterious but also very powerful nature of the character of Isabel. And then this line: “If I ever give you up, my heart will surely fail.” Just reading that, it may seem overwrought, but in the context of the song it’s perfect. Like the stagger-stutter chug of the guitar is an irregular heartbeat. I have no idea if that’s what The Kills intended, but it would be cool if the lyrics reflected the music that way.

“Use Once and Destroy” by Hole
This song came out on the album Celebrity Skin, which was released when I was a senior high school. Like “Future Starts Slow,” it’s also very groovy and chuggy and rhythm heavy, which I love, probably because I played the bass when I was in high school and have always kept an ear for that. Lines in the chorus are perfect for A Fierce and Subtle Poison. Like, there’s this rough-as-all-hell journey to rescue someone (in the song, it’s just “you”), and I imagine the “rescuer” kicking through brambles and clawing through mud to get to the person, despite all the pain it might cause. And that’s Lucas.

“Bodysnatchers” by Radiohead
Sort of like the Faith No More song listed above, “Bodysnatchers” has that frenetic pace going on and that sense of things coming undone (so much distortion!). There’s also that line, “I’ve no idea what you are talking about,” which matches up with a lot of what Lucas’ relationship is like with Isabel. Lucas really wants to understand Isabel –what caused her to be the way she is, what makes her tick –but she doesn’t make it easy for him. This song (the melody) also just sounds like someone trying desperately to tear of his or her own skin, which I think parallels Isabel’s frustration with her body.

“Strange Pleasures” by Still Corners
The first time I heard this song was at the movies. I was at the Alamo Drafthouse here in Dallas, and they were using it to promote a month of programming made up of Steven Spielberg films. So, along with this song were clips of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park, and E.T. All of movies are so otherworldly, about our world and something out of our world colliding in beautiful and/or frightening ways. This song is so entrancing; has that lovely, otherworldly quality. And I’ve so hoped in my book to capture that collision point between our world as we know it and something out of our world.

“Peace in the Valley” by Dawes
This song is beautiful, but at the same time, to me, it’s another song about frustration, about a frustrated young man. The last line is, “If I don’t find peace in the valley, then I’ve got no place else to look.” Like, he’s hoping that this one place will bring him comfort and solace, but he’s very uncertain if that will be the case. Lucas shares that same sense of uncertainty and restlessness. It’s like, he loves Puerto Rico and feels most at home there, but –even despite that –the island doesn’t love him as much as he loves it. It won’t give up its secrets. Until the end. When maybe it does. A little.

Thank you for sharing, Samantha!

About the Author:

Samantha was born four days before the death of John Lennon. She grew up in dallas, playing bass guitar along to vinyl records in her bedroom after school, writing fan letters to rock stars, doodling song lyrics into notebooks, and reading big, big books.

She spends as much time as possible in the west texas desert.

A FIERCE AND SUBTLE POISON (Algonquin Young Readers, spring 2016) is her first novel.


Follow Emily: Website | Goodreads | Twitter 

Book Description:

Hardcover, 288 pages
Published April 12th 2016 by Algonquin Young Readers

Everyone knows the legends about the cursed girl--Isabel, the one the señoras whisper about. They say she has green skin and grass for hair, and she feeds on the poisonous plants that fill her family’s Caribbean island garden. Some say she can grant wishes; some say her touch can kill.

Seventeen-year-old Lucas lives on the mainland most of the year but spends summers with his hotel-developer father in Puerto Rico. He’s grown up hearing stories about the cursed girl, and he wants to believe in Isabel and her magic. When letters from Isabel begin mysteriously appearing in his room the same day his new girlfriend disappears, Lucas turns to Isabel for answers--and finds himself lured into her strange and enchanted world. But time is running out for the girl filled with poison, and the more entangled Lucas becomes with Isabel, the less certain he is of escaping with his own life.

Giveaway
Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers and Jacquelynn for this giveaway!
What's up for grabs: 3 copies of A Fierce and Subtle Poison
Scope: USA

a Rafflecopter giveaway