Girlfriend Sara Hantz stopped by to talk
about her newest book, IN THE BLOOD.
About
the book:
For seventeen years, Jed Franklin’s life
was normal. Then his father was charged with the abuse and murder of four young
boys and normal became a nightmare.
His mom’s practically a walking zombie,
he’s lost most of his friends, and the press camps out on his lawn. The only
things that keep him sane are his little sis; his best friend and dream girl,
Summer; and the alcohol he stashes in his room. But after Jed wakes up from a
total blackout to discover a local kid has gone missing—a kid he was last seen
talking to—he’s forced to face his greatest fear: that he could somehow be
responsible.
In a life that’s spiraled out of control,
Jed must decide if he chooses his own destiny with Summer by his side or if the
violent urges that plagued his father are truly in the blood…
What
they are saying:
“Sara Hantz doesn't pull any punches
shaping this story of one of the toughest, most complicated family situations
that a teen could face. Jed's emotions are raw and real. I ached and raged with
him and frantically turned pages to see where he would end up.” Stephanie Kuehnert, author of Ballads of
Suburbia and I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone
“In The Blood is a gut-wrenching look
inside the mind of a young man living with a nightmare. Jared has to learn to
face life after his father is accused of an unspeakable crime. A
ripped-from-the-headlines story that illustrates the power of unconditional
love.” B. A. Binns author of PULL, and
Being God
"A dark and deliciously tense story
that will make you wonder how alike our parents we can be." Kelley York author of Hushed.
Our
Interview:
Kristina:
How did you get the idea for In the Blood?
Sara: If ever I read or watched about some
horrific crime committed I would always wonder how it affected the
perpetrator’s family and what happened to them. The idea for my book just grew
from that.
Kristina:
If your book was made into a movie, who would star as your main character?
Sara: Jed: Paul Wesley (although he’s maybe
a bit too old), Summer: Ellen Page
Kristina:
Do you prefer reading on an ereader or book in hand?
Sara: Ereader – once I got my Kindle I was
a total convert.
Kristina:
Who is the Young Adult author that turns you into a fangirl?
Sara: Barry Lyga
Kristina:
Would you ever try writing in another genre?
Sara: Yes, I’ve just sold a romantic
suspense to Entangled and I’m also working on a New Adult book.
Links:
Bio:
Sara Hantz originally comes from the UK and
is one of four children, having three younger brothers. Although she was an
avid reader from a very early age, she didn't get the writing bug until much
later in life, though English was always one of her stronger subjects. She's an
avid sun chaser and now lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Australia (via
10 years in New Zealand). Sara lectured for many years before deciding to
devote more time to her writing and working in the family hospitality business.
She has two grown-up children and when not writing, working, or online with her
friends, she spends more time than most people she knows watching TV - in fact
if TV watching was an Olympic sport she'd win gold. Sara’s books: In The Blood,
The Second Virginity of Suzy Green and Will The Real Abi Saunders Please Stand
Up (due out May 2014).
