Tammy’s Two Cents Interview and Review
Jamie McGuire Author of Beautiful Disaster
And the Providence series
**For mature readers. Contains sexual situations and strong language**
The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn't drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend America, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.
Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs--and wants--to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the charming college co-ed. Intrigued by Abby's resistance to his charms, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis' apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.
The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn't drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend America, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.
Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs--and wants--to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the charming college co-ed. Intrigued by Abby's resistance to his charms, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis' apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.
This is one of my favorite books ever! I could not get enough of Travis and Abby!! Abby Abernathy is trying to escape and overcome her past, the last thing she wants Is to attract the attention of the school playboy. Some things in life are unavoidable though, and so begins their raw, emotional, rollercoaster ride of a relationship. I would relate this book slightly to a modern day take on “Beauty and the Beast” although Travis is FAR from a beast, unless we are talking about between the sheets! The sexual tension between Travis and Abby was off the chain; and at times unbearable.
I love that Jamie has stayed true to the Teenage drama, everything about their relationship was drama, drama, drama.. and she tapped into that beautifully. Abby and Travis along with her best friend America, and America’s boyfriend Sheply (who is also Travis’s roommate) will take you for a wild ride in the life of 4 College kids growing up, growing togather, making mistakes and falling in love! The title of the book is the most accurate I’ve ever read, it really is a Beautifully Disastrous story.
My Rating:
And now, on the the good part!! Jamie has graciously answered some questions for me to share with everybody here on the blog; I will also be giving away a free ebook copy of Beautiful Disaster to 1 lucky winner (details to follow the interview).
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| Jamie McGuire |
*Tell me a bit about yourself. I'm 33. I have two children, and one on the way. I am addicted to cereal, I hate being tickled, and I refuse to eat left overs. I graduated in 1997 from Blackwell High School in a class of 114, where I was voted class flirt. It was the sole most embarrassing moment of my life. I wrote Providence in 11 weeks, Beautiful Disaster in 7 weeks, and I'll probably never write that fast again. I'm a registered X-Ray tech, and I wrote Providence in X-Ray school when I was supposed to be taking notes. My instructor knew it, and she hated it. My favorite color is orange, I'm a steak and potatoes girl, and I'm married to a real live cowboy.
*Where were you born and where do you call home? Tulsa, OK in St. Francis hospital. I reside in Enid, OK.
*What was your inspiration for Beautiful Disaster? Many of my real college experiences during my stint at the University of Central Oklahoma are included in this book. Travis was inspired from a guy I had a huge crush on, and Shepley is also someone I went to college with. Of course, I added quite a bit of fictional flair, but too many of the scenes derived from things that actually transpired.
*Was there a particular person that was the inspiration for Travis or Abby? Travis, yes. Abby, no. I just knew I wanted her to strong, conflicted, and stubborn.
*What are some of the struggles you've experienced while getting your books out to the masses? I've been very lucky in that my readers love gushing about Beautiful Disaster. I've been very unlucky in that those that passionately despise Beautiful Disaster tend to make it personal.
*What are some of the Pro's and Con's to being an Indie Author? There are so many Pro's. I listen to traditionally published talk about the stress of deadlines, how much their stories or voice are changed, and being unhappy with covers, titles, or the way their books or marketed (or not marketed at all), or how small their royalties are, and I don't deal with any of that. I can't imagine doing it any other way. Of course, the publishing industry is changing, and doing so dramatically, but just three years ago, self-publishing was thought to be something authors without talent had to do. It's easier to get print books on shelves when traditionally published, and recently I went to a state library conference. The other three women on my panel were traditionally published, and they signed books afterward and just walked away. I had to pack up my unsold books and tug them back to my Jeep. The publishing industry is the only retail industry that allows unsold merchandise to be returned. Many book retailers won't purchase my print books because I don't allow the option for buy back. I believe this will all change in the coming years, though.
*Whom in your life would you say has influenced you the most? My mother. I know that's a pretty standard-issue answer, but my mother was a single parent with no outside help. She worked three jobs and went to college full time. If there was a problem, she solved it. That lesson has been invaluable to me in every aspect of my life.
*What has been the most interesting comment (or review) about your books? The reviews I read telling stories of women going through chemo, and they thank me for helping them to escape real life for a while, or that the reader was going through a struggle, and reading my book helped them to forget. Those reviews get me every time, and I take them very seriously. I may just provide entertainment, but the mind is a powerful thing, and when reading, it's so easy to get lost in the world you're imagining. I want to keep doing that for people.
*Tell us your latest news. EDEN, the third and final installment of the Providence series will release May 1. Sometime after, I will release the title and cover of Travis' POV of Beautiful Disaster.
*What book are YOU currently reading? I just finished reading On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Gravis for the second time. My next books will be Grounding Quinn by Stephanie Campbell, Predestined by Abbi Glines, Good for You by Tammara Webber, and Liz Reinhardt's Slow Twitch - in that order.
*Where were you born and where do you call home? Tulsa, OK in St. Francis hospital. I reside in Enid, OK.
*What was your inspiration for Beautiful Disaster? Many of my real college experiences during my stint at the University of Central Oklahoma are included in this book. Travis was inspired from a guy I had a huge crush on, and Shepley is also someone I went to college with. Of course, I added quite a bit of fictional flair, but too many of the scenes derived from things that actually transpired.
*Was there a particular person that was the inspiration for Travis or Abby? Travis, yes. Abby, no. I just knew I wanted her to strong, conflicted, and stubborn.
*What are some of the struggles you've experienced while getting your books out to the masses? I've been very lucky in that my readers love gushing about Beautiful Disaster. I've been very unlucky in that those that passionately despise Beautiful Disaster tend to make it personal.
*What are some of the Pro's and Con's to being an Indie Author? There are so many Pro's. I listen to traditionally published talk about the stress of deadlines, how much their stories or voice are changed, and being unhappy with covers, titles, or the way their books or marketed (or not marketed at all), or how small their royalties are, and I don't deal with any of that. I can't imagine doing it any other way. Of course, the publishing industry is changing, and doing so dramatically, but just three years ago, self-publishing was thought to be something authors without talent had to do. It's easier to get print books on shelves when traditionally published, and recently I went to a state library conference. The other three women on my panel were traditionally published, and they signed books afterward and just walked away. I had to pack up my unsold books and tug them back to my Jeep. The publishing industry is the only retail industry that allows unsold merchandise to be returned. Many book retailers won't purchase my print books because I don't allow the option for buy back. I believe this will all change in the coming years, though.
*Whom in your life would you say has influenced you the most? My mother. I know that's a pretty standard-issue answer, but my mother was a single parent with no outside help. She worked three jobs and went to college full time. If there was a problem, she solved it. That lesson has been invaluable to me in every aspect of my life.
*What has been the most interesting comment (or review) about your books? The reviews I read telling stories of women going through chemo, and they thank me for helping them to escape real life for a while, or that the reader was going through a struggle, and reading my book helped them to forget. Those reviews get me every time, and I take them very seriously. I may just provide entertainment, but the mind is a powerful thing, and when reading, it's so easy to get lost in the world you're imagining. I want to keep doing that for people.
*Tell us your latest news. EDEN, the third and final installment of the Providence series will release May 1. Sometime after, I will release the title and cover of Travis' POV of Beautiful Disaster.
*What book are YOU currently reading? I just finished reading On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Gravis for the second time. My next books will be Grounding Quinn by Stephanie Campbell, Predestined by Abbi Glines, Good for You by Tammara Webber, and Liz Reinhardt's Slow Twitch - in that order.
Entry requirements for the Giveaway
1.Like Mel’s Book Blog on facebook
2. Follow the Blog
3. Like Beautiful Disaster fan page on facebook
4. Leave a comment below; what’s your definition of a Beautiful Disaster?
Good luck everybody, and thanks to Jamie for such a fabulous interview!
Great interview Tammy!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interview!!! Beautiful Disaster is actually one of the Kindle books I've had my eye on! It sounds like something that I would read :D
ReplyDeleteThanks again!!!
Alyssa Susanna
lilleetleet@verizon.net
OMG OMG OMG I am like so in love with this book I think and I know ppl will hate me but its my TOP 2 book of ever, even before some other ones we know we all love. Travis omg omg he is the MAN!! What i think of this book...well lets say its the one book I cried,smiled, giggled and was breathless at points in, never in any other book have I felt all that!;)
ReplyDeleteI fallow everyhting needed:) and THANKS a million for this as well as I love the BLOG and the questions! Thanks to you both!;)
Bella;)
coastiecolellas@hotmail.com
Did all requirements FB Heather Baker Schrock
ReplyDeletegfc red headed bookworm
I don't really know what my definition would be.
Thanks for the giveaway! I really want to read this book!
redheaded.bookworm at yahoo dot com
* * CONTEST ENDED * *
ReplyDelete