Author Interview & #Giveaway RACE GIRL by Leigh Hutton @XpressoTours

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Race Girl by Leigh Hutton
(The Go Girls Chronicles #3)
Publication date: April 3rd 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Fresh on the heels of Michelle Payne’s historic Melbourne Cup win, comes a blockbuster Australian story about a Queensland girl and the ‘race that stops a nation’ . . .
Tully Athens has always dreamed of following in the footsteps of her hero Michelle Payne. Of living up to the Athens name and becoming the third generation of women from her family to rule the track. But Tully’s never been sure she’s got the nerve, and when her mother is killed in a racing accident, her whole world is shattered.
Six months later, in the heat of a Queensland summer, sixteen-year-old Tully is ready to face her fears. But getting back in the saddle leads to a whole lot more than she bargained for, with an out of control crush on the boy from their rival thoroughbred farm – the gorgeous but cocky larrikin Brandon Weston – and a forgotten filly with stardom in her eyes . . .
When faced with the most difficult decision of her life, will Tully choose to train and race her new filly in Melbourne? Or will she sacrifice it all to fight for love on the land that feeds her soul?
It’s only when tragedy rips everything from her that Tully finds a strength and courage she never knew she had, in this action-packed novel of passion, adventure and determination.
RACE GIRL is the highly anticipated third book in The Go Girls Chronicles – bestselling stories of gutsy girls in action sports, by Leigh Hutton!

*A PORTION OF EVERY #RaceGirl book sold goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions, and to horse-welfare charity, Equine Action Qld*

 

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/race-girl/id1099017067?mt=11

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Hi, Leigh! Welcome to We Do Write. Tell us a bit about yourself.  

Thanks so much for having me!

My name is Leigh Hutton, I'm a former Courier-Mail journalist, dirt bike racer and horse show jumper. I was born in Canada and live on rural property in southeast Queensland, Australia, with my husband and three young children. When I'm not writing, managing the relocation and restoration of historic 'Queenslander' homes, wrangling the kids or swilling coffee, I love to read, watch smart TV and movies, ride my motorbike and daydream about gorgeous horses. My family spells racehorses at our property and making friends with each one is also a favourite pastime of the children and I. I'm also especially passionate about promoting the growing number of girls and women in all action and equestrian sports, and I'm thrilled to be drawing on my experiences to bring you the exciting novels of The Go Girls Chronicles . . .

Tell our readers a bit about RACE GIRL. What’s the story about?

Tully Athens has always dreamed of following in the footsteps of her hero Michelle Payne. Of living up to the Athens name and becoming the third generation of women from her family to rule the track. But Tully's never been sure she's got the nerve, and when her mother is killed in a horse racing accident, her whole world is shattered. Six months later, in the heat of a Queensland summer, sixteen-year-old Tully is ready to face her fears. But getting back in the saddle leads to a whole lot more than she bargained for, with an out of control crush on the boy from their rival thoroughbred farm - the gorgeous but cocky larrikin Brandon Weston - and a forgotten filly with stardom in her eyes ...

How did the idea of the story come to you?

The book was inspired by the incredible female jockeys risking their lives every day for the horses and the sport they love. Also the beautiful valley we live in near Dayboro, Queensland (Australia) and the gorgeous thoroughbred farms near Beaudesert - we pass them often when travelling down to northern NSW and I've always wanted to set a story there.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Plotter all the way.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Making the time!

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

A device connected to the internet. For research of course *lol*

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Supreme foresight.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

OMG . . .

Probably what a concussion feels like (research for Race Girl)

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ...

Hanging with our kids and my hubby, or digging through a demolition yard searching for bits and pieces for the old Queenslander homes we renovate.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

My awesome family.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog!

Thanks so much for having me!! xx

AUTHOR BIO:

Leigh Hutton is a former Courier-Mail journalist, dirt bike racer and horse show jumper. Leigh was born in Canada and lives on rural property in southeast Queensland, Australia, with her husband and three young children. When she isn’t writing, managing the relocation and restoration of historic ‘Queenslander’ homes, wrangling the kids or swilling coffee, she loves to read, watch smart TV and movies, ride her motorbike and daydream about gorgeous horses. Her family spell racehorses at their property and making friends with each one is also a favourite pastime of Leigh and her children. Leigh is especially passionate about promoting the growing number of girls and women in all action and equestrian sports, and is thrilled to be drawing on her experiences to bring you the exciting novels of The Go Girls Chronicles . . .

Book one, REV GIRL, OUT NOW!

Book two, JUMP GIRL, OUT NOW!

Book three, RACE GIRL, out April 3rd, 2016!

Giveaway:

Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)

• $20 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the rest of the tour here:

 

Author Interview with Allison Whitmore #Giveaway

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Book & Author Details:

Forget Me Not by Allison Whitmore

Publication date: September 14th 2015

Genres: Historical, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Theodora “Teddi” Donovan and Calvin Wynne have always hated each other. They didn’t have a choice after Teddi’s bootlegger father killed Calvin’s and left them both orphaned. The scandal has fueled gossip in quiet, quaint Brookhurst, New York, for over a decade. 

When a friendship develops between them as teenagers, they are ridiculed and shunned by the strict society that dictates life in their town. As they grow older, friendship turns into love, and Teddi and Calvin have to choose between their future and the scepter of their past. 

Spanning continents and decades, Forget Me Not is a coming-of-age story about truth, self-reliance, and the freeing power of love.

 

Hi, Allison! Welcome to We Do Write. 

Tell our readers a bit about FORGET ME NOT. What’s the story about?

It’s essentially a star-crossed lovers’ story set in the 1930s and 1940s. It is about the main characters journey into adulthood as well as the secrets of their families’ pasts they unearth. In the end, the secrets lead them to understand a great deal about the world and each other.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

I wanted to write a story about a hypocritical town and two people caught in the middle of that.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I am a plotter who turns into a pantser as soon as I start writing. The story just goes its own way. I do plot because I will write myself into a wall. However, I end up just letting the story flow, and feel it’s good to have some direction to reign myself in. I definitely started out as a pantser only when I first started writing.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

When I am not writing as much as I’d like to on a scheduled day. It gets frustrating. Once, I am writing, then it’s great.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Other than the internet open for research and YouTube playing (seventy-five percent of the time), I like to have books around me. Notes, not as much. I usually write them and only pull them out when I’m trying to get going or revising.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

It used to be teleporting, but now I’m going to say super speed. It would be great to be able to get a lot of stuff done very fast.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

I don’t know. Maybe a cat fashion show when I was laughing at that scene in Anchorman and wondering if people really did those. They do. LOL!

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably thinking about ...

writing or fangirling about Arrow...

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

Thank you to my family, Erin Virginia and Grace Arden (writing partners and friends), Kenya Cooper (publicist), Rachel Miller (editor), and Amalia Chitulescu (cover designer)

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog!

AUTHOR BIO:

Allison Whitmore started her first novel, Forget Me Not, one icy morning in her dorm room in Southampton, NY. After many years of teaching high school English, she came back to the novel to rewrite it. Allison comes from a family who loves history and enjoyed immersing herself in the research that brought Teddi and Calvin’s world to life. She lives in her hometown, Los Angeles, California. You can find her on Twitter @alli_whitmore and her website: allisonwhitmore.com.

    

 

Giveaway:

Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)

• $40 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the rest of the tour here:

Author Interview: Caroline A. Gill #blogtour #giveaway

Flying Blind
Caroline A. Gill
(The Flykeeper Chronicles, #2)
Publication date: May 21st 2016
Genres: Dystopia, Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:

In a broken America, seventeen-year old Iolani Bearse encounters a world full of wonder and danger.
Lani discovers a secret: houseflies have magic.
Stealers have no mercy.
Armed with memory-draining lanterns, the stone-cold hunters relentlessly follow catastrophes, laying traps, preying on the weak.
Together with her father, Eleanor, Sam, and Mango, her beloved pinto mare, Lani rescues victims from the grasp of Memory Stealers. One by one, she saves whomever she can, looking for any path that leads to safety. When her family’s farmhouse is attacked, Lani must act quickly to save those she loves.
Can Lani unmask their powerful, hidden enemies before the flies’ magic fails and everything burns to ashes?
Will the loss of one of her greatest friends become her downfall?
Can Lani overcome the evil that is tearing her world apart, flying blind?

 

Author Interview

Hi, Caroline! Welcome to We Do Write. Tell us a bit about yourself.  

Thanks for having me here! I am a novelist and I say that proudly, it’s been quite a journey to get here. Growing up in southern California, Florida, and Utah gave me a perspective on what it means to be American. There are so many ways we are all different, but we are still the same. I met the love of my life at UCLA, and married him nine years later. We have four sons and a daughter who rules us all and now live up in the midst of the sequoias of northern California. Trained as a fine artist, I received an MFA in printmaking and metalsmithing, and a Masters in Art History. I love teaching but for now that skill is limited to the small copies of myself running around the house. I started writing to keep myself sane. The kids can mess up a room in five seconds flat, but what I write or draw stays safely tucked away. At the end of each day, I know I accomplished a measurable thing. It makes the weirdness of kids’ messes tolerable. Dishes are dishes. They never end. But page by page, a novel is written.

Tell our readers a bit about FLYING BLIND. What’s the story about?

Flying Blind is the second book in the Flykeeper Chronicles. It is the continuation of Iolani and Malcolm’s journey.

Flying Away started when Lani was fourteen. She is sixteen when Flying Blind begins, living on her family’s farm, saving people when she can. She sees the danger around her and feels that it is her responsibility to fight what others cannot. Using flymagic, she watches the memory stealers arrive at emergencies in fake ambulances and use the disorder of disaster to empty the minds of stragglers and other abandoned people. Lani fights to save whomever she can.

And then, she is betrayed. Her farmhouse is attacked and Lani must flee for her life, saving all those who are precious to her with the flysight and hope.

She tries to find safety only to be turned away and imprisoned.

Now, Lani must bargain for her life in order to escape a lifetime of slavery and misery. Can one girl outsmart the traps laid all around her? Can Lani save those she loves, flying blind?

How did the idea of the story come to you?

I wrote Flying Away two years ago as part of National Write a Novel in the month of November. I had these ideas of an orphaned girl staring out the window, lost in sorrow and of the houseflies that flew around her. And I thought, “Why can’t there be magic?” Magic comes from wonder and belief. Magic is found in the simplest of things. Even unattractive objects become beautiful when they are loved. That is what houseflies are, for me: pests who hide a wild, unknown magic that can save the world.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

The characters are pantsed. They write themselves for the most part. But I sketch a skeleton of a story frame, following a plot line and interacting surprises. I feel like that is the only way to write: I have to know where I am going to find my path there.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Quiet.

In a household full of children, there is only so much ps3 or Disney I can absorb before I can’t concentrate. Ear plugs are my friends. With them, I can hear what is happening but the shrieking is more of a soft lullabye ;)

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

A brilliant light, a leather chair, some sunshine, dark chocolate, a Monster drink, and a cuppa.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Stopping Time. It marches on, so quickly, so relentlessly. It really is true: we are all dust in the wind. Seize the day, my friends, and hold on tight.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

What are the symbols and meandings of the words written on the carpet in the Oval Office?

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably …

Sitting at a park, drawing or napping whilst madly planning the next chapter.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

I really appreciate you taking the time to support Flying Away and Flying Blind. Writing a novel about something as pest-y as flies has meant getting down and dirty in so many ways.

Giselle at Xpresso Book Tours has been really helpful to me. SASS has promoted my work and cheered me on with enthusiasm. Thank you, Mel, Julie, Sabrina, Gaynor, Stacie, Jo, and Casey.

Cheer Papworth has been a HUGE help as has Amy Bartelloni, Audrey Southwick, and Jennifer Long. There have been so many times when I was frustrated with the book’s cover, and all of them were so patient with me as I finessed the final design. Kate Corcino has had my back almost daily as I work through plot and marketing challenges. Maria Pease has been an absolute joy to work with as an editor. I really value both her insights and her enthusiasm. Mostly, I really want to thank Lathe Gill, my husband who shares his life with me, through thick and thin. You are my anchor, baby.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog!

About the Author

Unusual stories attract me, ones in which the reader cannot easily see the ending or most of the journey. Visiting Rome during university studies, I found a simple truth sitting on buses, traveling all over the ancient city: the joy is in the Journey, in the people I meet, not in the destination. So, I write for you. I write for sanity. I write for chocolate and really good pizza.

Author Links:

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway:
Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)
$10 Amazon Gift Card + signed copy of Flying Blind


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the rest of the tour clicking the link below:

Author Interview with K.L. Hallam

Title: The Unmoving Sky
Author: K.L. Hallam
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller
Publisher: Leap Books: Shine
Release Date: May 16, 2016

There is nothing darker than the woods, until you meet your worst fear.

Jackson Bower has a lot on his mind lately. His younger brother hasn’t been the same since his mother’s death. His father’s drinking is out of control. Then there’s Jackson’s girlfriend and the grief that ties them together even as it threatens to drive them apart.

He distances himself, hoping for a little perspective at the family lodge. But when their father gets drunk and dangerous, he and his brother escape into the woods.

Night creeps in, and the rains come fast. Artie slips down a ravine. He’s wounded and the brothers seek shelter in a cave, only to find someone else already taking refuge there.

A desperate man with plans to destroy their town.

Jackson must get him and his wounded brother out of the cave and over the mountain to warn everyone in time. Without getting them both killed first.

Goodreads ~ Smashwords ~ Amazon

Interview:

Hi, and welcome to We Do Write!  

Hello, thank you for having me here. 

How did the idea of the story come to you?

The brothers, Jackson and Artie, are very loosely based on my own two sons. The idea was that of a protective older brother, and I wanted to see if he’d come through the story as the rescuer, or if he’d need rescuing himself. 

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Mostly a panster, I find it’s a lot more fun this way. I sing jazz so I’m pretty used to improvising. Though when I get stuck, or the pace drags, I’ll outline a few worst-case scenarios (a loose outline) and go from there.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing? 

Coffee!! But I’ve had to cut back, so I chase it with fresh squeezed lemon water. But I also need either a pen and paper, or my laptop to write.  J

If you could have any super power, what would it be? 

To be Bewitched, you know the ancient TV show.  I‘ve always wanted to wiggle my nose and have my apartment magically clean itself. No such luck.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... 

... drawing or painting, and singing or riding my bike, and or reading freaky news articles for story treasures! 

Meet the Author:
K.L. Hallam, an air force brat as a young child, who moved around to more schools than she can list, gathering the stories that would connect to her heart. She writes MG, YA, and short fiction, or anything she hasn’t tried, a member of SCBWI, a singer and songwriter, illustrator and mother of two teenagers. She lives in New York City and spends her mornings writing in a Jazz club.

Follow K.L. Hallam on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and her website.

Book Trailer:

Giveaway:

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Author Interview with Kathleen Groger @XpressoTours

The Colony by Kathleen Groger
(A Rasper Novel, #1)
Publication date: April 5th 2016
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Trust no one.
Never go out in the dark.
Always have a weapon.
Sixteen-year-old Val lives by these three rules etched on her arm. Her rules and her gun are the only things standing between her and assimilation by hordes of human-looking aliens she calls Raspers.
By day, Val gathers supplies. By night, she hides and wishes she could go back in time…before her family died…before the annihilation…before the Raspers began stalking her and demanding she join their collective.
But when the Raspers attack in broad daylight, the truth becomes startlingly clear.
They’re evolving.
A fellow survivor crashes into Val’s life. Adam’s full of charm and promises—like rumors of a safe haven—but there’s something wrong. He’s survived with no supplies, no weapons…no plans. Time is running out. With the formula for survival shifting around her, Val must decide how many rules she’s willing to break to escape the Colony.

 

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Hi, Kathleen! Welcome to We Do Write. Tell us a bit about yourself.  

Thank you so much for having me. I live in Ohio with my husband, two sons, and two dogs. I have an irrational fear of driving in the snow (not good when I live where I do) and have been enjoying a long-term love affair with dark chocolate. And I have absolutely no sense of direction. I served a fifteen year sentence in retail management before I started writing full-time. The Colony is my debut novel and the first two books in my Seam Stalkers series will release in September. I hope to have the second book in the Rasper series out in early 2017.

Tell our readers a bit about THE COLONY. What's the story about?

It’s a sci-fi book about Val, a sixteen year old girl, left alone after an alien apocalypse. She doesn’t know what caused every person in her town to die or turn into creatures she calls Raspers. They look human except for their shallow breathing and yellow-tinged skin. She knows they’re not zombies. They’re something more terrifying because they have a high intelligence and hunt for her at night. She creates three rules to keep herself alive, writing them on her arm to remember. Trust no one. Never go out in the dark. Always have a weapon.

She’s survived on her own for four months by following her rules, then one night, another person sneaks into her hideout. Adam’s her age, full of charm, and ideas of safe communities, but he has no answers or weapons or plans. The Raspers start to evolve and change their attack, leaving Val with no option but to join Adam on his quest to find safety. With the world destroyed, no electricity, or visible human life, Val will have to choose how many of her rules she’s willing to break to escape the Colony.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

My older brother was into aliens when I was a kid. He always talked about them and how it would be cool if he got to go to their planet with them. The thought of aliens scared me and I spent a number of years worried that aliens would abduct me and turn me into one of them. I came up with the idea for The Colony by flipping my fear of abduction into how a teen could survive if the aliens took over Earth.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m a bit of both - a planser. Before I start a story, I know my main characters, the setting, the conflict, and the ending. Everything else comes as I work through the story, which in some cases leads to lots of editing.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Not giving into my inner editor who wants to make every word perfect as I write the first draft.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

I have to have a mug of scalding-hot, black tea and music.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

I would want to be invisible. Then I could go anywhere, see and hear anything. I love to think about all the story ideas I could come up with if I was invisible!

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Top secret underground facilities. It’s amazing how many there are. I love reading articles and books, and watching shows on conspiracy theories. I recently read a theory that there is a high-speed mag-type train that runs across the United States. I’m working on a way to add that into the next book in the Rasper series, but who knows if I will. :)

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ...

reading, cooking, spending time with my family and my dogs, or photographing abandoned buildings.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

So many people have supported and helped me on my journey to publication. I couldn’t have done it without my family, my local critique partners, the ladies of Readerlicious (We are eleven women rocking the writing world. One word at a time, one day at a time, sometimes....one letter at a time. www.readerlicious.com), my beta readers, and the teachings of Margie Lawson has elevated my writing. Thank you all for everything!

Thanks for stopping by the blog!

Thank you for having me and letting me chat!

Author Bio:

Kathleen wrote her first story in elementary school about a pegasus named Sir Lancelot. It had no plot or conflict, but it sparked a dream. After serving a fifteen-year sentence in retail management, the bulk in big box bookstores, she turned her love of reading into a full-time career writing dark and haunting characters and stories.

She lives by the mantra that a day is not complete without tea. Lots of tea. Kathleen lives in Ohio with her husband, two boys, and two attention-demanding dogs. When not writing or editing or revising, you can find her reading, cooking, spending time with her family, or photographing abandoned buildings.

 Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Giveaway:

Tour-wide giveaway (US/CAN)

• 5x print copies of The Colony

a Rafflecopter giveaway