Character Interview: Featuring Chase from To Be Honest

Character Interview: Featuring Chase from To Be Honest

  I’m excited to share an interview with Chase McFall, a seventeen year old boy who works his way into Starla Emerson’s heart from my new young adult novel, To Be Honest.

Where do you go to school and what is your favorite subject?

  I’m a junior at Centerville High School in Indiana. My favorite subject is English because I sit with Star in that class.  She rocks at figuring out the meaning behind the book quotes our teacher gives us. She’s smart and pretty.

What hobbies or interests do you have?

 I compete in extreme sports. BMX competitions are my favorite. My brother is my biggest fan and coach. He has cerebral palsy so he can’t compete himself. I ride for him. He’s my hero.

Who do you most admire?

 That’s hard. I admire three people really. My mom. She raised my brother and me on her own. My dad couldn’t handle having a handicapped son so he took off when we were younger.

 My brother. He doesn’t let his condition stop him from lovin’ life. He smiles more than anyone I know. He’s pretty awesome.

 Starla. She’s the prettiest and sweetest girl I’ve ever met. She doesn’t hide her hand anymore. Even after being bullied about it, she’s not ashamed of being different. I admire that in her. She’s my brave girl.

Do you believe in God?

Yes, I do. He brought Starla into my life and gave me the best mom and brother anyone could’ve asked for.

Do you have a motto?

 No Fear. I have it tattooed here on my arm. That’s our motto, my brother and me. We face life head on with no fear. We won’t be cowards like my dad.

I hope you enjoyed getting to know a little bit about Chase. I think he’s a pretty cool guy and I had fun creating his character. He’s perfect for Starla.

Too Be Honest Playlist

Steal My Girl by One Direction

Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey

Heroes by Alesso and Tove Lo

Fight Song by Rachel Platten

 Learn more about To Be Honest

http://cleanreads.com/index.php/young-adult/romance/to-be-honest.html

RRBC Book & Blog Block Party

Hello everyone! This is my stop on the RRBC Back to School Block Party. The prize I'm giving away is one ecopy of my new young adult novel, To Be Honest. 

           

I’m a mom of three teens and an elementary teacher, so back to school time hit me fast! Participating in this event is a fun break for me.

  I’d like to introduce you to the main character of my new young adult novel, To Be Honest. I enjoyed getting this character interview ready and hope you like it.

To Be Honest made it to number 2 on the Hot New Releases for Teen/Young Adult Fiction in the topic of bullying. 

Character Interview: Starla Emerson

Where do you go to school and what is your favorite subject?

  I’m a junior at Centerville High School in Indiana. Being a new girl that is different from everyone else hasn’t been easy. Luckily, I’ve made some new friends.

My favorite subject is English. I love classic literature and my partner in that class is a pretty amazing guy.  

What hobbies or interests do you have?

 Photography. I like to find the beauty in things that are easily overlooked and capture it. I also collect memories and keep them inside my memory boxes in my room.

Who do you most admire?

 My new friend Chase. He adores his handicap brother, devoting his time and talents to help him. My sister and I watched him perform in a BMX competition to raise money for Cerebral Palsy research. He rocked that competition!

 He also got me to step out of my fear and play the piano again despite not having all of my fingers on my right hand. I couldn’t have performed a piano solo in front of the whole school if it wasn’t for him. He believed in me.

Do you believe in God?

Yes, I do. He brought the right people into my life during a time I needed support the most. I thank him every day for them all…my family, friends, and Chase.

Do you have a motto?

 Be Brave. Chase and his brother have drilled this into me. They told me I was brave over and over until I actually started believing it. Chase gave me a bracelet with the word engraved on it. I also wrote a poem about my new motto that I read in English class.

 I made it through a lot in my life. Losing my fingers, moving away from my friends and to a new school where I was a target of a bully online. I had to be brave.

I hope you enjoyed getting to know a little bit about Starla. I think she’s a strong girl and I had fun creating her character.  

To Be Honest Book Trailer

 Too Be Honest Playlist

Steal My Girl by One Direction

Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey

Heroes by Alesso and Tove Lo

Fight Song by Rachel Platten

Journey to Her Dreams

It's my pleasure to host fellow Clean Reads author, Iris Blobel, on my blog today.

“It’s not the money that makes you rich. It’s the knowledge

that the other person loves you and is always there for you, no

matter what. That makes you content and, therefore, rich.”

 

 

Journey to Her Dreams

by Iris Blobel

 

I'm excited to tell you all about the re-release of JOURNEY TO HER DREAMS,

which I suppose was the start of my journey to my dreams as well.

Honestly, yes I was nervous going back re-visiting the story, nervous about the editing process for the new edition.  I can't believe how much I've learnt and how much I've -hopefully- grown as a writer.

JOURNEY TO HER DREAMS has enjoyed another full edit and an awesome new cover.

I hope you'll give Hollie and Sam's story a chance.

THANK YOU

 

 

♥♦♥  ~  OUT NOW  ~  ♥♦♥ 

 

 

AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/1UbJqZ8

AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/1LUz251

AMAZON AU: http://bit.ly/1JVfTeM

 

 

♥♦♥  SYNOPSIS ♥♦♥ 

 

Would you travel around the world to uncover the reason for your dreams? 

Hollie Anderson does.

A young woman from Tasmania who lives on a farm just outside Launceston, she has got good looks, likes her job and loves to hang out with her friends. She should be happy, right?

But it’s a recurrent dream that throws her daily life into chaos and takes her on a journey to Ireland. While on her quest for answers she meets Sam in Dublin under unusual circumstances and both women, so different in many ways, find out they have one thing in common - and it changes their lives forever.

♥♦♥ MEET THE AUTHOR ♥♦♥

IRIS BLOBEL

 

 

Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London as well as Canada where she her husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only emerged recently, but now her laptop is a constant companion.

Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her two beautiful daughters.

Next to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.

 

 

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IrisBlobel

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_iris_b

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4067254.Iris_Blobel

 

 

Devon's Choice

I'd like to welcome fellow Ohioan and Clean Reads author, Catherine Bennett, to A Writer's Devotion today. Join me to learn more about Catherine and her contemporary romance, Devon's Choice.

Faith, love and a cup of coffee, can change everything.



Life holds no surprises for Devon Murphy. Her life consists of keeping tabs on her aging Irish father, working part time at a coffee shop, and building her online graphics design business. Devon’s only tricky situation is a shallow relationship with the pampered and affluent Michael Turner, who sees her as just another woman to conquer. 

Following his father’s death, Brandon’s only goal is to expand the family business and live life on his own terms. That is, until he walks into the coffee shop one snowy evening and meets the enchanting, red-haired barista behind the counter. But can Devon and Brandon’s attraction for each other be strong enough to help erase their deepest disappointments and renew their faith in God?



Excerpt:

 

Once they got to the park, Devon unhooked his leash.  The dog ran in the snow and stopping abruptly, he turned, tongue out and ears perked.  Brandon reached down and patted snow into a ball and threw it far beyond Bubby, who took off after it.  After a few more throws, they left the dog to himself and walked along the brick path to a bench.  Brandon brushed the snow off with his gloved hand and they sat down.  Bubby played some more, then lay with his head up and ears alert.

    

“I’m curious,” Brandon said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.  “I may be out of line to ask you, but what kind of relationship do you have with this Michael guy?”  He looked sideways to see her worrying her bottom lip and hoped he was going to get a truthful statement.                                                 

    

“It’s pretty shallow, really.  We’ve never discussed being an exclusive couple. He travels a lot with his company and I figure he probably goes out with other women, and not just for business if you know what I mean.  Once he practically admitted to it.”

    

“What kind of job does he have?”    

    

Devon, who’d been watching the dog, turned to look at him.  “He’s the Executive Vice President for Turner Construction.  His father owns the company.”    

    

Brandon drew himself back.  “Turner Construction!  That’s the largest construction company in the Midwest.”    

    

“So, you’ve heard of it?”    

    

“Yes, my dad had some experience with them.”       

    

“So was it a good experience?”    

    

Brandon shrugged.  “I really couldn’t say.”  Then, hoping to refocus her attention, he asked,  “How’d you ever meet him anyway?” 

    

“He hit my car in a parking lot.  Not very romantic.”

    

Brandon looked over at her neutral expression.  Whatever kind of relationship she had with Michael Turner didn’t seem to be making her happy.  At that moment, all he wanted to do was to make her forget all about the jerk.

    

As if sensing him watching her, Devon turned her head enough to make eye contact with him.  The faint, milky glow from the streetlight showed enough of her features for him to see a soft blush warm her cheeks.  Under her dark lashes, he watched her sea green eyes glint invitingly as her soft lips turned up at the corners.  In that moment, his resolve to keep the date on a friendly level came crashing down.

Author Bio:

                                                                                                   

I grew up in Ohio where I currently live with my husband and our two rescue Labradors. Some of my favorite things include reading, shopping, pepperoni pizza, Hershey bars and hanging out with my two grown sons. I also love dogs, so going to the dog park is cheap entertainment for my husband and I!

Growing up an only child, I had many imaginary friends. I believe this - and a love of books - fueled my desire to write. It was many years later that my dream of becoming a published author came true.

Social Media Links:

Website: www.catherinebennett.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCatherineBennett

Twitter: www.twitter@author_cbennett

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/authorcbennett/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5990135.Catherine_Bennett

Book Trailer on You Tube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPBc1jGurlQ

I Tunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/devons-choice/id957904945?mt=11

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1AMhNfY

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1xkWZaw

Smashwords: www.smashwords.com/books/view/510322

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/devon-s-choice

Brave Bailee



Those of you who have read  To Be Honest know that Chase gives Star a bracelet engraved with the word brave to signify how she faces diversity and overcomes the many obstacles in her life. Even though I love my characters and the story line, the fact is they are fictional characters.




 I want to tell you about a real life brave little girl named Bailee. She is eight years old and recently diagnosed with leukemia. Bailee faces treatments beginning next week. I'm posting links below to order a Be Brave bracelet as well as other fundraiser links to help the family with medical costs.


Please support  her and keep brave little Bailee in your prayers.


$10 from every item sold will go directly to Bailee and her medical expenses
https://www.bravelets.com/bravepage/like-brave-bailee


https://www.booster.com/nlvfdbaileebrave

http://www.gofundme.com/zqj3jc

To Be Honest Book Release

 Today is the day! I'm so excited about the release of my first teen/ya adult novel, To Be Honest. You finally get to meet Star and Chase.  To celebrate the release, Lola Blog Tours organized a week long Book Blitz and Giveaway.  You may enter below to win a signed digital copy of the story or an Amazon gift card. The full blitz schedule can be found on Lola's Website.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spolight Author Gwendolyn M Plano

  You have asked me, "Who or what inspires me?"

  May Angelou will always hold a special place in my heart, because she gave me permission to write about the struggles that I held secretly within my soul. She opened the doors behind which sexual abuse and domestic violence thrive, and with her courage she paved a path of monumental change. Though I was not fortunate to meet her, she will always be my mentor.

  Poet Mary Oliver's verses speak to my spirit. Her ponderings draw me into mystery, where I am brought to a deeper level of understanding. Inevitably her choice of words guides my own. For instance this comment left me speechless: "Someone I once loved gave me a boxful of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift." How extraordinary!

   Oriah Mountain's Dreamers is of similar quality to that of Mary Oliver--it is honest, pure. loving, and transformative. She knows pain and sorrow and yet found joy. She is like the sister I have never met, a friend who by her life teaches me how to live.

    In addition to the works of the authors mentioned above, there are many other writers who are  part of my life. Authors Nonnie Jules, Nicholas Rossis, and Robin Chambers are just few of who crowd my bookcases and inspire me to write. They open the doors of the heart through their choice of words and their characters. And, they help to reframe the worlds both seen and unseen.



 Author Bio

Gwendolyn M Plano spent her professional life in higher education. She taught and served as an administrator in colleges in New York, Connecticut and California. She has multiple academic degrees, including on in Theology, and one in Counseling. Recently Gwen retired, and she now devotes herself to writing, travel, her volunteer work, and her beautiful grandchildren.

Book Link

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K7WYTW6/
Gwen online!
Twitter: @gmplano
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/GwendolynMPlano
Website: www.gwenplano.com