Monday, June 3, 2019

Book Tour with Loads of Extras & Giveaway: High Sierra by Adrienne Quintana





When Jasmine Fuentes finds herself thousands of miles from home, forced to hike around in the wilderness of California with a bunch of juvenile delinquents, she’s convinced she doesn’t belong. 

Forage for food, build shelter, make fire—Jasmine sets out to learn what she needs to do to ace the program so she can go home and salvage her summer vacation. But the more she tries to prove she doesn’t need wilderness therapy, the more desperate her situation becomes. Confronted with life and death, she comes face to face with her past and her imperfections. Will Jasmine ask for help before it’s too late? 







http://www.goodreads.com





Adrienne Quintana is the author of Eruption as well as several children's books. When she isn't writing, Adrienne enjoys running, hiking, and matchmaking (Are you single? She probably knows someone perfect for you.) 

She lives in Arizona with her husband and four children, who give her love, support, and plenty of good material for Instagram.   












Interview with author Adrienne Quintana

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in a geodesic dome house in Burley, Idaho.  I'm the second of nine kids, and my dad is a professional artist.  We didn't have much growing up, but my parents provided us plenty of love, and an environment that sparked my active imagination.

What do you do besides writing?

First and foremost, I'm a mom to four amazing kids. So that also makes me a cook, a maid, and an Uber driver.  In my spare time, I love to run and hike.

Do you have images you can share that come close to how you picture your characters? Do you like to find visual inspiration for your characters before or during your writing process?

Yes. Visualizing my characters and fleshing out their personalities is one of the first things I do before beginning to draft. I don't outline when I write. I like to start with a concept, imagine my characters, and see where they take me.

 Jasmine Fuentes

 Bryce Talmage (Abercrombie) & Monica Clark (Backwoods Barbie)


 Stormi Summers (Emphysema) & Dave (Good Soaring Raven)
 
What are some songs that you listened to or inspired you while writing your book?

I played  "Somewhere Only We Know," by Keane and "Collide," by Howie Day on repeat all during the creative process on this.  The inspiration for this book came during a two-week long hike with my husband and our two oldest children. There's nothing like being unplugged and out in nature to help focus your mind on what's really important. I still get misty eyed when I hear either of these songs.

What message would you like readers to ultimately take away from the book?

You aren't your mistakes.  You are a child of God.

What can we look forward to coming from you in the future? 

I'm currently working on a YA techno-thriller about a teenager who has to hunt down her missing brother when he doesn't come home from a gaming conference.  It's Nerve meets the Da Vinci Code, but with dyslexia.


Top Ten List

10.  I’m the 2nd of 9 kids.
9. I served as missionary for my church in Montreal.
8. I can whistle underwater.
7. My big toes are HUGE. Like, ridiculously big. At least two shoe sizes larger than the others.
6. Doris Day is my homegirl.
5. As a teenager I couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded, but I’ve completed two marathons as an adult.
4. Doritos are my kryptonite (nacho cheese flavor).
3. I know how to say “I’m going to bloody your nose” in Samoan.
2. I believe that drinking water can cure any ailment, including broken limbs.
1. I fall asleep in the movie theater unless I’m eating popcorn.


Excerpt

When we stopped in front of the Curry Village Pizza Patio, I didn’t want to get off with everyone else. How much community service would I be sentenced to if I hijacked the bus?
“C’mon, guys,” Pizza Face called, “real food.”
It was no use. I had to go. The court had already given me my freebee. A hijacking would definitely go on my permanent record. But standing up wasn’t as easy as you’d think. My legs were shaky, and my pack felt like it was full of boulders.
Because it was, actually.
The chain gang had almost reached a set of stairs on the side of the building when I was just barely stepping off the bus. A sign pointed customers of the Pizza Patio up the stairs. I didn’t think I could eat due to my depressing life, but the smell of fresh bread and Italian seasoning changed my mind.
“The restrooms are down here,” Backwoods Barbie said, looking directly at me. “Why don’t we go wash up? Whoever gets done first can order. What do you guys like? A combo?”
“No mushrooms,” Emphysema said.
“Or olives,” Michaela added.
“Or green peppers,” said Quiet Wolf.
“So just pepperoni?” Abercrombie laughed. “Sounds good. I’ll get us a table.”
We followed Backwoods Barbie inside, dropping our packs next to hers in a narrow hallway outside the restroom. I guess she wasn’t worried someone would steal them. I shrugged. If somebody was stupid enough to want them, they deserved what they got.
I barely recognized myself in the tiny bathroom mirror. My face was pretty clean, but dirt covered my bare neck and the front of my shirt. I felt strangely sentimental about the existence of paper towels, as I did the best I could to clean myself off. And running water. How could I have taken it for granted? It was so beautiful.
Michaela and Emphysema went to join the boys upstairs before I was finished, but Backwoods Barbie stayed behind with me.
“Can you believe you’ve hiked over fourteen miles in the last three days?” she asked. “Doesn’t it feel amazing?”
I glared at her out of the corner of my eyes. Was she saying that because she thought I’d never done anything physically hard before? Okay, maybe I hadn’t hiked like this, but it wasn’t like I’d just been sitting at home on the couch.
“How are you feeling?” she asked when I didn’t respond to her first stab at conversation. “You’ve been so quiet all afternoon.”
“I don’t have anything to say,” I told her. The paper towel I’d been using to scrub fell apart, so I took another from the dispenser.
“You’ve had a tough day,” she said, “but I’m impressed. You never complain, and you really pushed through, even after you fell.”
I stopped scrubbing at the dirt on my arm.
Glad you brought that up. Just in case I’d forgotten. I blew out a breath and started scrubbing again. Couldn’t she just go away and leave me alone?
“You’re the only one who decided to carry your rocks all the way down, you know.” she continued.
So we were going to talk about the rocks. Now I understood. She wanted to know why I hadn’t given them away.
“Firewalker said we could give them to him whenever we wanted…” I shut the sink off. “I didn’t want to.”
“Fair enough,” she said, smoothing her ponytail. “I just wonder why anyone would want to carry around extra weight when it’s so easy to give it up.”
Why couldn’t she just leave me alone? I knew what she was thinking. She was thinking I was too self-righteous to admit I had problems. Wadding up the paper towel, I threw it in the trash with a vengeance.
“Carrying extra weight is what I do.” I charged past her, through the door. “Skinny people rarely understand.” Slamming my hands against the door, I stormed out. But the door didn’t swing closed behind me as I’d expected.
“Jasmine,” Backwoods Barbie called, following me into the hallway, “wait.”
Ignoring her, I pushed open the glass door.
“You’re forgetting something,” she said.
 Forgetting what? Was she going to pass on some annoying Miwok wisdom? Or maybe she wanted to apologize for being skinny. I didn’t really care.
This day just needs to be over. I continued on up the stairs without looking back.
Customers stood in line under the green and white striped awning, waiting to order at the window. Others sat at hexagon shaped picnic tables with green umbrellas. My group took up two tables in a corner near a tall tree. Its branches pushed over the railing, encroaching on the umbrella’s space.
“Where’s Monica?” Pizza Face asked, before I even sat down.
I shrugged and sat at the other table, next to Noah.
“Look at that,” Quiet Wolf said, nodding toward a family that was just pulling apart a large Hawaiian. My mouth began to water as soon as I saw the stringy cheese. The sight and smell of it temporarily erased my disgruntled attitude toward life while the primeval desire to eat real food consumed me.
“How long until ours will be ready?” I asked.
“They said fifteen minutes, but that was about ten minutes ago,” Pizza Face answered.
I expected someone to acknowledge Backwoods Barbie when she came up the stairs. She should have been right behind me. What was taking her so long?
I was starting to get nervous about what she might be doing. Did it have something to do with me? My question was answered all too soon.
“Monica?” Michaela stood up and looked from the stairs to me and back again. Everyone else stood too, except Noah. We both turned around to look at the same time.
Backwoods Barbie trudged up the stairs sandwiched between two packs—hers slung over her shoulders and mine in front with her arms wrapped around it like a jumbo paper grocery bag. Abercrombie rushed over to meet her, taking my pack. Everyone else turned their stink eyes on me. I wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
 





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Saturday, June 1, 2019

Book Tour Grand Finale: No Place Like Here by Christina June #NPLHBT


On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Book Tour Grand Finale for
No Place Like Here
By Christina June

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you'll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch - Note from the Author

. . . It's about a girl struggling to make peace with her family, and also learning that her voice has value and power. NPLH is also filled with quotations, moonlight kisses, a sarcastic cousin, gingerbread houses, hiking, ziplines, and new beginnings. My hope is that readers will connect with Ashlyn's journey and maybe even feel inspired to speak up more often in their own lives.

Cheers,
Christina June


There is never a good way to find out your father is going to prison. Some are worse than others, though. For example, learning that your father has committed tax evasion via a social media post is on the top five worst ways list.

I might have missed it, if I hadn’t logged on to see if my best friend, Tatum, had posted any new messages for me. We’d spent the last school year apart—me at boarding school in the Shenandoah Valley and her at home, just south of Washington, DC—and we had been making plans for not only my big return home, but for the upcoming school year. Not that I’d actually asked my parents if I could come back for senior year yet. But I would. Soon.


I swallowed the lump in the back of my throat and shut my laptop harder than I meant to. There was no way. Right? My dad going to jail? I scoffed aloud. No chance. It was a misprint. Had to be. There was no way my parents would keep something like Dad committing white collar crime a secret from me. Was there?

I felt around in my backpack for my phone. I’ll just call home and clear it up. Easy.

I dialed my mother but got her voicemail.


"I loved that while this was an overall light read, the author was not afraid to delve into deep themes that gave No Place Like Here a layered meaning. No Place Like Here also held the timeless elements of friendship, the dynamics of family, and finding the courage to make your voice heard that will make for the perfect summer read!"

Wishful Endings - Review

"I really enjoyed reading this! It was interesting seeing how the classic Hansel and Gretel fairy tale was twisted into this contemporary story. The author made it her own and created a story easy to relate to, handling some difficult subjects, and creating a likable protagonist and some fun side characters. Recommended to contemporaneity YA fans, especially those who like their stories light on the romance."


“Call Dad,” I said into the phone. It practically slipped from my sweaty palm. It rang once. Twice. Three times. I was about to slam the phone down on my bed when my dad answered.

“Hello?” Dad’s voice was gruff. Short. Like he didn’t have time for this.

“Hi, Dad.” My voice quavered. “It’s me.”

“Ashlyn, hi. How are you? Getting ready for exams, I hope.” Did I hear him take a deep breath? Was it fear or relief? Regardless, here he was, still managing to tell me what he thought I should be doing. Classic.

I gritted my teeth. “Of course. You know me.” And the kicker was, he didn’t. But that was neither here nor there.


"Author Christina June has written a deep, powerful, and heart-wrenching story in her novel, No Place Like Here. . . . Teens and adults alike will be drawn to this tender and emotional story. This is one of those stories that gives readers all the feels. Readers will absolutely not want to put down this novel. . ."

Bookish Looks - Excerpt

I pursed my lips. “I’m sorry I was shocked by the fact that you didn’t tell me before the internet did.” As soon as I said it, my stomach dropped like I was on a roller coaster. Clapping back at him never went over well.

My father exhaled into the receiver. “Unhelpful, Ashlyn. This is a very difficult time for me right now. It is certainly not the time to be disrespectful. You were not raised to act this way.”

My chest tightened the way it always did when he criticized me. I wanted to tell my dad it was a very difficult time for all of us right now. Because of him. I wanted to tell him I was angry something catastrophic was happening to our family. Because of him. I wanted to tell him I felt embarrassed and ashamed. Because of him. I wanted to tell him that despite my anger, I was scared. Because of him, and for him as well. But I said none of those things.

Remembrancy - Review

"A story about the longing for home even when it’s not perfect or you don’t feel worthy of it, No Place Like Here is a poignant and moving story. . . . Using touches from Hansel and Gretel, Christina June gives readers another engaging book with a young heroine whose journey to obtain her deepest with, to go home again, finds her strength and individualism. Young readers will enjoy this summer read with a memorable setting, plenty of conflict, and an ending that offers the promise of wishes realized."


"No Place Like Here is a thought-provoking coming of age story of finding your path in life when your parents want you to be something that you’re not. . . . was a story that made me laugh and cry at times and I hope everyone gets a chance to read this beautifully written story."

JeanBookNerd - Guest Post

RANDOM FACTS ABOUT NO PLACE LIKE HERE

1. When I was in 5th grade, my whole class went to a team-building camp overnight. Sweetwater Overlook in the book was inspired by that trip.
2. Ashyn collects quotes and so do I. I've had a quote journal since I was 14. . .


"I do love to read coming-of-age YA novels, so I was intrigued by the blurb to this book. I was also intrigued by the idea of it being related to the tale of Hansel and Gretel. I have to admit that I had a hard time following that parallel, but it has been years since I last read that. But I didn't need the connection to appreciate this book and inhale it in one sitting. . . . As expected, Ashlyn goes through incredible growth and discovers so much about herself and her strengths. She develops incredible leadership skills and forges relationships with some people she may not have otherwise. I love watching her journey and how she grows."


"No Place Like Here was so much more than I expected! I went into it thinking I was getting a somewhat fluffy summer camp novel (at only 272 pages I finished it in half a shift at work – yes, my job is that slow). While there were fluffy aspects, it was so much deeper and touched my heart in ways I was completely surprised by."


Heidi Reads... - Review

"I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book after reading on a different review that there's not a big focus on romance. The author dealt so well with the themes and I was captivated as I read about Ashlyn's journey that was at times difficult, uncomfortable, healing, and empowering. . . . A lovely story of becoming self-aware and choosing to be strong in the circumstances we are given."

onemused - Review

"Overall, this was a really fun YA contemporary about being yourself that could appeal to a wide audience (I think even older middle grade readers would enjoy this one). There are some fantastic themes/messages herein, and this would be a wonderful book to grab on the way to the beach this summer!"


“So, it’s all decided.”

“All decided,” I echoed with zero enthusiasm. I knew better than to complain further. The sureness in his voice and the fact that he wasn’t trying to convince me that spending my summer in the middle of the woods was a good idea just proved how much he was still in charge. Even when he was about to be locked up.

“You’ll have fun, Ashlyn. This place looks like a stand-up operation. You’ll love it. Hannah wouldn’t go back for a second year if it wasn’t great.”

Hannah and I are not the same kind of girl, I didn’t say. But for my father to know that, he would’ve had to have read the annual holiday newsletter and I would’ve bet my college fund that he hadn’t taken the time to read it further than to confirm that his brother and his family were alive and kicking. He would also have had to pay attention to me beyond making sure my report card was flawless, my clothes were acceptable, and my posture was straight.


"Ashlyn’s journey from a quiet, apathetic girl to someone brave enough to speak up for others was excellently executed. The subtle arc was just enough to show change, without making her instantly turn around like some books I’ve read. Change is a slow process, one foot at a time, and No Place Like Here shows that perfectly.

Overall, I enjoyed the book immensely, and now I’m adding Christina June to my list of favorite authors!"

Hallie Reads - Excerpt

“Bad news travels at the speed of light around here, I guess,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

On a scale from one to ten, my year at Blue Valley Academy earned a five. I’d managed to get good grades and do well in activities, but I hadn’t really made friends. Plenty of acquaintances, but not friends. I wasn’t surprised. The other girls were mostly from small towns nearby, while I was the “city snob,” as I’d overheard one girl saying in the hallway. No one had been rude to my face, and some had been pleasant—Cassie was on the nicer side, for sure—but I wasn’t invited on weekend trips home and no one decorated my door on my birthday. I couldn’t really blame them. Trying to break into any clique during junior year, when everyone else had known each other since birth, was nearly impossible.

“So, it’s true?”

“It seems that way.” My face was blank. I didn’t know Cassie well enough to trust her with the fear and confusion that was hiding behind my emotionless mask.


". . . I loved the characters and I especially loved the setting!! . . . I enjoyed this story and I strongly recommend it."

Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post, if you haven't already...

https://amzn.to/2QCPRt4No Place Like Here
By Christina June
Young Adult Contemporary
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 288 Pages
May 21st 2019 by Blink

From Christina June, author of It Started with Goodbye and Everywhere You Want to Be, comes No Place Like Here, a modern twist on Hansel and Gretel.

Ashlyn Zanotti has big plans for the summer. She's just spent a year at boarding school and can't wait to get home. But when Ashlyn's father is arrested for tax evasion and her mother enters a rehab facility for "exhaustion," a.k.a. depression, her life is turned upside down.

The cherry on top? Ashlyn's father sends her to work with a cousin she doesn't even know at a rustic team-building retreat center in the middle of nowhere. A self-proclaimed "indoor girl," not even Ash's habit of leaving breadcrumb quotes--inspirational sayings she scribbles everywhere--can help her cope.

With a dangerously careless camp manager doling out grunt work, an overbearing father trying to control her even from prison, and more than a little boy drama to struggle with, the summer is full of challenges. And Ashlyn must make the toughest decision of her life: keep quiet and follow her dad's marching orders, or find the courage to finally stand up to her father to have any hope of finding her way back home.

Fans looking for stories with elements of drama, romance, friendship, and an unflinching look into navigating and improving even the most difficult parent-teen relationships need look no further.


Bookstagram Tour

Other Books by the Author


About the Author


Christina June writes young adult contemporary fiction when she’s not writing college recommendation letters during her day job as a school counselor. She loves the little moments in life that help someone discover who they’re meant to become – whether it’s her students or her characters. Christina is a voracious reader, loves to travel, and hopes to one day be bicoastal – the east coast of the US and the east coast of Scotland. She lives in Virginia with her husband and daughter. She is the author of IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE, EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE, and NO PLACE LIKE HERE.

Tour Giveaway


1 winner will receive a print copy of NO PLACE LIKE HERE, a poster, and a book plate
US only
Ends June 5, 2019

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