Today I have the pleasure to announce an amazing book for a blog tour. It will be released on June 7th, by an amazing publisher Inkspell Publishing. The company logo is to Be Enchanted by their books, and from the few I have had the pleasure of purchasing and reading, I was not disappointed. They have published some of the most amazing books, and more releasing this summer.
Want is a Young Adult Contemporary novel. It really is a wonderful contemporary read. If you or your daughter is a fan of Sarah Dessen, Sarah Mlynowski, or Maureen Johnson, you will find yourself going through the pages of this book and never putting it down, that is how amazing this book is and the author did such an amazing job writing this.
Author Bio
After collecting a couple English degrees in the Midwest, Stephanie Lawton suddenly awoke in the deepest reaches of the Deep South. Culture shock inspired her to write about Mobile, Alabama, her adopted city, and all the ways Southern culture, history and attitudes seduce the unsuspecting.
A lover of all things gothic, she can often be spotted photographing old cemeteries, historic buildings and, ironically, the beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast. She also has a tendency to psychoanalyze people, which comes in handy when creating character profiles.
On her thirtieth birthday, she mourned (okay bawled) the fact that in no way could she still be considered a “young adult,” so she rebelled by picking up Twilight and promptly fell in love with Young Adult literature.
She has a love/hate relationship with Mardi Gras –where does all that money come from?–and can sneeze 18 times in a row
I got the opportunity interview Stephanie about her book and I learned so much about her and what inspired her to write Want.
Interview
How long have you been writing?
I've been writing nonfiction (for TV news, newspapers, academics, etc.) for years. Want was my first stab at novel-length creative fiction, and it took me about two years, off and on, to write and revise.
Who is your writing inspirations?
I'm amazed at Jennifer Donnelly and Maggie Stiefvater for their lyrical styles; I adore Cassandra Clare for her plot and characters. Becca Fitzpatrick does "steamy" really well; but most of all, I adore Jane Austen for her clever turns of phrase and sharp wit.
What is your writing space? Office? Outside? In the basement away from the kids? Music in the background?
I write at our little kitchen table. That way, I can cook dinner and see into the living room to make sure the kids aren't killing each other. :) I can't write with music on -- I wish I could, but I always end up singing along and not concentrating on what I'm writing. I do, however, make playlists that I listen to constantly when not writing--in the car, while showering, etc.
What inspired you to write Want? Was it from personal experience? A story you wanted to tell the world?
Want was inspired by a really snooty lady at a Mardi Gras parade a couple years ago. It almost never gets cold enough in Mobile, Alabama, to wear a fur coat, but there she was in heels and a full-length fur. She made it clear she was superior to the rest of us commoners, so I started wondering what it must be like to keep up that kind of pretense all day every day. I wondered what it would be like to be her daughter and under that pressure. That's where Julianne came from.
What made you decide to add in issues that dealt with the everyday teen problem?
I love YA. I read YA. I live YA. There's no way I couldn't write YA, though I think Want is definitely upper YA with crossover appeal. In many ways, adulthood is so much better than being a teen, but unfortunately, the issues you have during those years follow you. They don't automatically disappear when you turn 20 ... or 30, etc. I think we're all constantly working through the crap that happened when we were teens.
What made you decide to write about a Music Institute?
I really don't remember making that decision. It's going to sound corny, but I think Juli "told" me herself. I had thought about being a music major at one time, but I didn't have quite enough talent to make it in such a competitive field.
Did you ever play an instrument?
Yes, I took 10 years of piano lessons and 8 years of French horn. I also attempted the violin in high school, but that was a disaster! Oh, I also made a half-hearted attempt at bagpipes, but I think that lasted maybe a month.
How significant was writing this story for you?
This was a big step for a number of reasons. It was my first attempt at fiction and I learned more than I ever thought I would. The story isn't autobiographical (my parents are really cool!) but I think we subconsciously put ourselves into all our characters.
Why is Isaac so mysterious?
Isaac's a tough nut to crack. I think in so many books, it's clear who's the good guy and who's the bad guy, but life isn't like that. So many things can be rationalized, and nobody's perfect
How exciting was it to write this love triangle?
It wasn't meant to be a love triangle. Without being spoilery, one of the characters was just meant to be a really good friend, and he is. But then he kinda took over and ... well. It's still not exactly a love triangle.
What are your future goals for writing and publishing?
I'm taking it one day at a time. I'm still writing, but I'm not sure where I'll go from there.
What's your advice to aspiring writers?
Find a critique group -- or at least a partner. There's nothing better that quality feedback from other writers you respect and trust to tell you the truth.
Julianne counts the days until she can pack her bags and leave her old-money, tradition-bound Southern town where appearance is everything and secrecy is a way of life. A piano virtuoso, she dreams of attending a prestigious music school in Boston. Failure is not an option, so she enlists the help of New England Conservatory graduate Isaac Laroche to help her.
She can’t understand why he suddenly gave up Boston’s music scene to return to the South. He doesn’t know her life depends on escaping it. Julianne must face down madness from without, just as it threatens from within. Isaac must resist an inappropriate attraction, but an indiscretion at a Mardi Gras ball—the pinnacle event for Mobile’s elite—forces their present wants and needs to collide with sins of the past.
I read the book and honestly, no words could express how much I loved this book! It's a masterpiece of contemporary literature, and it relates to everyday lives of teenagers. Mothers should buy this book for their daughters it's genius work!
Julianne did whatever she had to in order to escape the abuse of her southern home. Isaac was a mystery throughout the book. Dave was absolutely sweet. But the drama in this novel was addicting and unable to take your eyes away from reading it.
I held a personal connection to the book. I mastered four instruments and minored in Music Education. But I also related to Julianne, I grew up in an army base and I always felt like the gates that were surrounding the base, made me feel like I was in a prison ready to just leave, which was why I worked so hard to go to school.
Want has it all, sweet love, challenges growing up, tough decisions, and coming of age. If you have the time, buy this book, it's a purchase you will never regret.
Julianne did whatever she had to in order to escape the abuse of her southern home. Isaac was a mystery throughout the book. Dave was absolutely sweet. But the drama in this novel was addicting and unable to take your eyes away from reading it.
I held a personal connection to the book. I mastered four instruments and minored in Music Education. But I also related to Julianne, I grew up in an army base and I always felt like the gates that were surrounding the base, made me feel like I was in a prison ready to just leave, which was why I worked so hard to go to school.
Want has it all, sweet love, challenges growing up, tough decisions, and coming of age. If you have the time, buy this book, it's a purchase you will never regret.
Preorder your copies from Barnes and Noble or order directly from the publisher itself so you don't miss out on an amazing read anybody can enjoy.
