GCC Spotlight on: SUCH A RUSH by Jennifer Echols

Today's touring girlfriend is Jennifer Echols! She's here with her latest book, SUCH A RUSH. Isn't the cover gorgeous?!

About the Book:

High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever.

But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business--until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers--and the consequences could be deadly.

Engrossing and intense, SUCH A RUSH is a captivating adventure that is sure to keep readers soaring.

Our Interview:

KRISTINA:      Would you ever try writing in another genre?

JENNIFER: Besides YA romantic dramas like this one, I also write YA romantic comedies. I’ve published five of those already, with three more forthcoming from Simon Pulse in 2014 and 2015. I also have my first adult romantic comedy, Star Crossed, coming out with Simon & Schuster on February 26.

KRISTINA:   Who is (or who are) the Young Adult author that turns you into a fangirl?

JENNIFER: I am a huge fan of the hilarious and brilliant Rosemary Clement-Moore, and especially her latest novel, Texas Gothic. A related novel is coming out soon and I simply can’t wait.

KRISTINA:   Are you on twitter? Where can we follow you?

JENNIFER: Yes! Please follow me at @JenniferEchols.

KRISTINA:   What are you working on now?

JENNIFER: I’m so excited to be writing another YA romantic drama for MTV Books called Dirty Little Secret, which will be in stores this time next year.

KRISTINA:  Do you prefer reading on an ereader or book in hand?

JENNIFER: I’m so appreciative of all the people who have purchased my novels as e-books, but I just can’t get used to the e-reader. I buy e-books only if a book isn’t available in print.

About the Author:

Jennifer Echols is the award-winning author of multiple romantic dramas and romantic comedies for teens. She lives in Birmingham, Alabama.

GCC Spotlight on: NEVER ENOUGH by Denise Jaden

Today’s visiting girlfriend is Denise Jaden with her latest book, NEVER ENOUGH.

About the Book:

Loann’s always wanted to be popular and pretty like her sister, Claire. So when Claire’s ex-boyfriend starts flirting with her, Loann is willing to do whatever it takes to feel special…even if that means betraying her sister.

But as Loann slips inside Claire’s world, she discovers that everything is not as it seems. Claire’s quest for perfection is all-consuming, and comes at a dangerous price. And Loann is frightened she could lose the sister she’s always idolized.

As Claire increasingly withdraws from friends and family, Loann struggles to understand her and make amends. Can she heal their relationship—and her sister—before it’s too late?

Our Interview:

KRISTINA: How did you get the idea for Never Enough?

DENISE: At the time, I had a close friend who was struggling with a severe eating disorder. I started writing the book mostly so I could understand my friend and her struggles more.

KRISTINA: If your book was made into a movie, who would star as your main character?

DENISE: If Kat Dennings was a little younger, she would make a perfect Loann.

KRISTINA: Would you ever try writing in another genre?

DENISE: Maybe dystopian, but I’m a YA Contemp girl at heart.

KRISTINA: Who is the Young Adult author that turns you into a fangirl?

DENISE: Laurie Halse Anderson

KRISTINA: What is your most favorite (or, weirdest, craziest, funniest, most touching etc.) comment you’ve received from a fan?

DENISE: My favorite comment is that my writing voice reminded her of Laurie Halse Anderson

KRISTINA: Are you on twitter? Where can we follow you?

DENISE: Yes! I LOVE Twitter. I’m at @denisejaden and, sadly, you can find me there at most times of the day.

KRISTINA: What are you working on now?

DENISE: I’m working on another YA contemporary novel, this one a romance/mystery. It’s called FOREIGN EXCHANGE, and is about a girl who sneaks away from her class trip in Europe, along with her crush, to find her missing best friend.

KRISTINA: Do you prefer reading on an ereader or book in hand?

DENISE: I prefer a hard book, but I do have two ereaders, and they’re certainly convenient for taking work or reading with me.

About Denise:

Denise Jaden spent her high school lunch hours trying to tame her frizzy/curly hair in the bathroom, or playing freeze tag in the drama room. She attended the theatre program at college, and then enjoyed a variety of occupations, including stage production, mushroom farming, and Polynesian dancing. The first draft of her debut novel, Losing Faith, was written in 21 days during National Novel Writing Month. This is her second novel. She lives just outside Vancouver, Canada with her husband and son. Find out more online at http://www.denisejaden.comor on Twitter: @denisejaden

Check out Denise’s CONTEST!

GCC Spotlight on: 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER by Jessica Brody

Jessica Brody stop by the blog to talk about her new book, 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER.

About the Book:

Being America’s favorite heiress is a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it.


Lexington Larrabee has never to work a day in her life. After all, she’s the heiress to the multi-billion-dollar Larrabee Media empire. And heiresses are not supposed to work. But then again, they’re not supposed to crash brand new Mercedes convertibles into convenience stores on Sunset Blvd either.


Which is why, on Lexi’s eighteenth birthday, her ever-absent, tycoon father decides to take a more proactive approach to her wayward life. Every week for the next year, she will have to take on a different low-wage job if she ever wants to receive her beloved trust fund. But if there’s anything worse than working as a maid, a dishwasher, and a fast-food restaurant employee, it’s dealing with Luke, the arrogant, albeit moderately attractive, college intern her father has assigned to keep tabs on her.


In a hilarious “comedy of heiress” about family, forgiveness, good intentions, and best of all, second chances, Lexi learns that love can be unconditional, money can be immaterial, and, regardless of age, everyone needs a little saving. And although she might have 52 reasons to hate her father, she only needs one reason to love him.

Our Interview:

KRISTINA: How did you get the idea for 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER?

JESSICA:  Actually it’s kind of a funny story. I was sitting in my car, watching a meter maid write someone a parking ticket and I thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun to be a meter maid? But only for like a week. Just to see what it was like.” Then I start to brainstorm all these other jobs I’d like to do for one week. And I decided, “Well, I’m too busy writing novels to actually do all these jobs, so I guess I’ll just have to write a book about someone else who does them.” And then I tried to think of the funniest character to put in that kind of situation and the answer was instant: a spoiled heiress who has never had to work a day in her life. And alas, Lexington Larrabee was born. But really the joke’s on me, because in researching the story, I actually did take on some of the jobs that are in the book! My favorite was working the drive-thru at a fast food restaurant. Those head-sets you have to wear are like something out of Star Trek!

KRISTINA: If your book was made into a movie, who would star as your main character?

JESSICA: This is always a really tough question for me. Actually, the book has been optioned for film and we’ve had some early interest from Victoria Justice (from the show Victorious on Nickelodeon) to star in the film. Nothing has been officially decided yet but I think she would be totally perfect for the part! She definitely looks like how I imagined Lexi to look.

KRISTINA:  Would you ever try writing in another genre?

JESSICA: Funny you should ask! Last year I signed a deal with my publisher for a young adult sci-fi trilogy. I just finished revising the first book called UNREMEMBERED which releases in March 2013. It’s about a sixteen year old girl who wakes up amongst the wreckage of a devastating plane crash with no memories, she's forced to piece together her forgotten past with only one clue to her identity— a mysterious boy who claims she was part of a top-secret science experiment.

KRISTINA: Who is the Young Adult author that turns you into a fangirl?

JESSICA: Suzanne Collins! Totally! I LOVE her books! I saw the Hunger Games movie like 5 times in the theatre. I was there at midnight for the opening. I can’t wait for the next movie!

KRISTINA: Do you prefer reading on an ereader or book in hand?

JESSICA: I can only read non-fiction on my ereader. It’s weird. With fiction, I have to have the book in my hand. I think it’s because I really love looking at the cover as I read the book. I like how covers can change the more you get into the story. 

KRISTINA: Are you on Twitter? Can we follow you?

JESSICA: Please do! www.twitter.com/jessicabrody

Author Bio:

Jessica Brody is the bestselling author of The Karma Club and My Life Undecided, as well as two books for adults: The Fidelity Files and Love Under Cover. In researching this book, she took on several minimum wage jobs, her favorite of which was working the drive-thru at a fast food restaurant. She splits her time between California and Colorado. Visit her online at: www.jessicabrody.com

Stocking Up on Experiences

*cross-posted from author2author*


This week my son had a boy scout field trip to a rock quarry. I could have just dropped him off with the other scouts and picked him up two hours later. After all, it was freaking hot out (104 degrees according to my car) and I had my other three kids with me too. But I thought hmm, I've never been in a quarry. What if I can use this in a book someday? You never know. I can have a scene where my main character has to sneak into a quarry to meet a mysterious guy. Or hide a body. Whatever. :-) So I decided we should all stay and take the tour with them. And it was so cool! We took a bus down into the quarry, saw the massive trucks hauling limestone, saw the machines shooting the stone up from underground (they're mining underground now), fed the huge catfish in their lake, and picked up pretty crystal rocks. It was basically awesome and I'm so happy we decided to stay. 

What about you guys? Do you ever make yourself do something thinking you might someday use it in a book?

Below are some pics from the day.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!! And also, Happy INDIE-pendence Day! From July 2nd through July 5th, the Indelibles are having an INDIE-pendence celebration over at their blog. Click through the list of participating blogs and learn about great Indie authors and have a chance of winning some cool prizes.