Today, Lindsey Gray is stopping by to talk about her new book Fireworks, and I'm sharing my review of the book below. And we also have an awesome giveaway: a signed copy of Lies Inside (U.S. residents only). The Rafflecopter is at the end of the post. Enjoy!
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Genre: Contemporary Romance
Goodreads
Summary:
Sophie McKibbin finds herself back in Sam Crawford’s life after ten years. Unfortunately, Sam is dating Lola, Sophie’s high school nemesis. Lola dumps Sam the day before he was supposed to introduce his mystery girlfriend to his family over the Fourth of July holiday. With the looming fear of disappointing his mother once again and his long held feelings for Sophie, he asks her to take Lola’s place. With family feuds, an old flame, and feelings that have been locked away for a decade, there is bound to be some fireworks.
Fireworks is a novella, approximately 22,000 words.
Purchase Links:
Smashwords
Amazon
My review:
Lindsey Gray's Fireworks begins to sizzle from the moment Sam and Sophie are reunited after a long separation. As a teenager, Sophie had fallen deeply in love with Sam, but circumstance (and certain people) had pulled them apart, and their lives took different directions.
When they meet again, the spark is immediate. But even though the fuse has been lit, there are challenges ahead. Sophia has to resolve some of the terrible wrongs done to her in her last relationship, and Sam has to confront the issues of the past that kept them apart and altered the course his life might have taken.
When Sam breaks up with his girlfriend, whom he was building up to introduce to his parents over the Fourth of July weekend, he asks Sophia to step in and pretend to be his girlfriend for the day, but it's not long before the pretense is dropped. As Independence Day approaches, there will be fireworks for certain!
A Chat with Lindsey
Lissa: Your story is about re-uniting
and new beginnings. What drew you to that particular theme?
Lindsey: I’ve always been a sucker for a
reunion story. I love the way characters share part of their lives but still
have so much to discover. For Sam and Sophie, their story was interrupted. I
show how much power one conversation can have and effect the rest of a person’s
life.
Lissa: Tell us about your writing
process. What time of the day do you do your best work?
Lindsey: I usually just write when I can.
Sometimes, I will spend days working a chapter out in my head so when I sit
down to write, it all flows out easily. It still never comes out the way I
envisioned it, but most of the time it is much better.
Lissa: What has been the best thing about
being a writer?
Lindsey: Creating the stories! I love
thinking up crazy or offbeat scenarios. I am the kind of reader who hates to
predict a storyline while I’m reading it. That is how I write. I think about
what is the most logical way for the story to go and do something different.
Lissa: Fireworks has multiple
perspectives. Do you find that to be a challenging style, being in so many
different heads?
Lindsey: I write in third person because so
many characters talk to me at once. For Fireworks, it was my intention to keep
it just Sophie and Sam. It didn’t turn out that way. I had to add a bit of
Drew, Sophie’s cousin, because that is such an important relationship for
Sophie and I needed to explain his feelings. I also included a conversation
between Sam’s parents. Sam’s mother, Virginia, has a skewed view of how her
children should lead their lives. I wanted to show a bit of her realization
that the world does not in fact revolve around her.
Lissa: Sam is an artist. Have you ever
done any visual arts? I can't even draw a stick figure; any talent I have is
for the written word. Do you have any other artistic abilities, such as music
or crafting?
Lindsey: Can I draw, not very well. My
ex-husband is an artist and a photographer. I would spend hours watching him
paint and developed a great appreciation for anyone with that kind of talent. I
believe my best artistic ability to be my voice. I can sing, pick up accents
very easily, and can change my voice. I might start dabbling in voice over work
and I plan on starting a podcast in the future, so everyone can judge for
themselves. I probably won’t be singing for you though.
Lissa: You've self-published Fireworks.
Did that decision present any special challenges?
Lindsey: It is very different from going the
traditional route. I have published three novels and one short story with The
Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House. They have developed a very good process,
but since I was doing this one solo I had to develop one all on my own. I am
very fortunate to have made some great connections over the past few years that
made it easier. Lisa Bilbrey is a godsend as an editor. I was so lucky she had
the time to work with me on this. Also, she didn’t make me want to tear my hair
out with every note so that was very helpful. LOL. I LOVE my cover immensely. I had a picture in mind and tried to do it
myself, but I just couldn’t bring it together. I worked with L. J. at Mayhem
Cover Creations with the idea. The first mock up she sent me is pretty close to
the final version. We just changed the font a little and it was perfect. The
most trouble I had was making sure the format was P-E-R-F-E-C-T for the
Smashwords acceptance process. I had never dealt with Smashwords before and had
no idea how one small glitch could cause a problem. After about the tenth time
uploading, it finally went through without any errors. It was a problem with
the wording and format of the copyright page and not the work itself. I’m just
happy it is all taken care of and out to the world to enjoy in time for the
Fourth of July holiday.
Lissa: The publishing world is changing
rapidly. What do you think of the "ebook revolution?"
Lindsey: I know the love of a printed book.
The smells, texture, and just having the weight of it in your hands. In this
economy, it is all about cost. I admit, my reading habits have skyrocketed
since discovering ebooks. I have my favorites on the shelf, but I can’t afford
to buy everything I want in print.
Lissa: What's up next for you? Do you
have another book in mind?
Lindsey: I have several things I’m working
on at the moment. I have a Christmas novella that still doesn’t have a title so
I’m a bit frustrated with it at the moment. I am working on wrapping up TheRedemption Series with the third and final book, Resolution. I am working on
a series of fairytales, “Tales from the Land of Grimm”. Each of those stories
might be released as individual novellas or (depending on the total length) I
might release the three stories in one. I have a stand-alone romance that comes
at me in spurts entitled “God Help Us All”. Finally, I have a new adult novel,
possible series, picking at my brain. It’s in the very early stages, but I
think it has a lot of potential.
Lissa: If you could be one author's
version of a supernatural creature, what would it be?
Lindsey: I think I would be one of my own creations, a Shadow
Walker. My character from The Redemption Series, Abe North, is a Shadow Walker.
Basically he can transport himself and others if he touches them within a
shadow. It would be nice to be able to travel like that and help people in
danger. The possibilities are endless.
Author Bio:
Lindsey Gray dreamed of being several different things as a child such as a doctor, an actress, and a chef, but none held her attention like putting pen to paper and creating her own world through words. She has written three full-length novels and one short story for The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House and is now taking the self-publishing leap with her novella, "Fireworks".A mid-west native, Lindsey enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, reading almost anything she can get her hands on, and making life interesting at each and every turn.
Contact Links:
Blog
Amazon Author Page
Other titles by Lindsey Gray available through The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House
The blog tour continues!
Blog Tour Stops
July 1st
Lisa Bilbrey
Ali’s Bookshelf
July 2nd
L.V. Lewis
July 3rd
Hook Me Up Book Blog
R. E. Hargrave
Offbeat Vagabond
July 4th
N. K. Smith
Mich’s Book Reviews
Shawna’s Survey
And now, the giveaway!
How do you say goodbye to the love of your life when you are only twelve years old? Finn O’Malley and Lucy Butler had to figure out how to do just that as Finn left his home in Clarkstown, New York for Two Roads School of Music in California. Being a young talented musician, Finn thought it best for his future but wasn’t sure about leaving Lucy behind.Now, just one semester short of graduation and a promising future at UCLA, he throws it all away to return home. This leaves his family and friends questioning why.
The Finn that has returned home is not the same boy who left. He’s broken and withdrawn. Lucy and his sister Rylan want nothing more than to bring back the Finn they know and love.
From the moment Finn reconnects with Lucy, he feels the one thing he hasn’t felt in years—hope. As Lucy starts to bring him out of his shell, Finn begins to realize what real love really is.
When his past collides with his future, how will Finn deal with the love he needs and the love he despises? Can Lucy help heal what lies inside?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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