Book Title: Life After Juliet
Author: Shannon Lee Alexander
Release Date: July 5, 2016
Genre: Contemporary YA
Becca Hanson was never able
to make sense of the real world. When her best friend Charlotte died, she gave
up on it altogether. Fortunately, Becca can count on her books to escape—to
other times, other places, other people...
Until she meets Max Herrera.
He’s experienced loss, too, and his gorgeous, dark eyes see Becca the way no
one else in school can.
As it turns out, kissing is a
lot better in real life than on a page. But love and life are a lot more
complicated in the real world...and happy endings aren't always guaranteed.
The companion novel to Love
and Other Unknown Variables is an exploration of loss and regret, of kissing
and love, and most importantly, a celebration of hope and discovering a life
worth living again.
Excerpt:
I’m not sure how long I’ve been back in school. I
don’t really do days anymore. Time is measured in pages. I’ve read 3,718 pages
since Dad dropped me off on the first day. It’s been 108,023 pages since
Charlotte died. I’ve read 150 pages since I stepped on the bus this morning.
It’s been ten pages since I thought of Charlotte.
She’s not coming back, and I don’t know what else
to do, so I keep turning the pages.
However long I’ve been back at Sandstone High, the
advanced literature and composition teacher, Mrs. Jonah, informed me yesterday
that I am no longer allowed to “sit like a bump on a log, reading books” in her
class. I find this strange, but then, I don’t understand the real world. I’ve
given up trying to make any kind of sense of it. Today in class, I am sitting
like a bump on a log, staring out the window.
Sandstone is a typical high school, unlike the
fancy math and science school on the other side of town that Charlie graduated
from last spring. It’s the kind of building that’s been pieced together—add a
wing here, convert a gym there, dump mobile units here—throughout the decades
as the town’s population grew and it had to be quickly expanded. There’s no one
defining style. It’s a mishmash. The kids who go here are also diverse, so it’s
not hard for me to fade into the background.
Lit and Comp is a junior course. The guidance
counselor signed me up for it at the end of last year. She described it as a
lively class full of opportunities for personal and artistic growth. In other
words, it’s my worst nightmare. I’ve decided growth is overrated.
Mrs. Jonah’s classroom is long and narrow, with a
wall of windows down the side. She’s decorated the wide windowsill with spindly
spider plants, stacks of books, empty vintage Coke bottles that catch the sunlight,
and a bust of Sir Isaac Newton, which is strange since she’s not a science
teacher.
Mrs. Jonah raps on her desk now to get our
attention. She stands and brushes invisible lint off her black pencil skirt.
Tall and unafraid of wearing high heels, she towers over everyone in the
school, even the basketball coach. Her pixie haircut and makeup are always
perfect. She’s the most with it human I’ve ever seen.
“Time’s up,” she says. “Please, pass your quizzes
forward.”
I’ve been done with my quiz for what would have
been about twenty pages, if reading were still allowed in Lit class. I pass my
paper to the boy in front of me. He runs his hand through his choppy black hair
and smiles. His lips are chapped, and the smiling pulls the raw skin too tight.
It makes me wince. I instantly feel bad, because I remember this guy.
Max. He was in Mr. Bunting’s World History class
with Charlotte and me last year. He was the only student at Sandstone who spoke
directly to me after Charlotte died. He came right up to me in history, cleared
his throat so I’d look up from my book and said, “Sorry for your loss.”
I remember I got up and left the room. It was
either that or start crying.
He’s still looking at me now. I should say
something, something nice, like “Thank you for your condolences.” Instead, I
look out the window again.
Max sighs, soft like the
riffle of book pages, as he turns around and passes our quizzes forward. I’m
used to that sound. It’s the sound of my father when I refuse to put my book
down and come join my mother and him. The sound of my mother when she realizes
I’ve been listening to the book characters in my head instead of her. Lately,
I’m really only safe lost in the pages of a book. Outside, in the real world,
it’s like I’m walking around with no skin. Everything hurts.
Author Interview:
What inspired you to write LIFE AFTER
JULIET?
I hadn’t planned on
writing a companion to LOVE AND OTHER UNKNOWN VARIABLES, until my editor asked,
“What happens to Becca?” I knew I had to find out. So I began thinking about
her life and what it would look like once Charlie left for college. I played
around with a few ideas, thinking it’d be fun to get her involved in the
theatre program at her school. I knew she’d make a great backstage crew member.
What I didn’t expect was for her to accidentally audition and catch the eye of
the director. And I never would have imagined when I started wondering about
what happens next in Becca’s life for her to end up playing Juliet.
When or at what age did you know you
wanted to be a writer?
I’ve always written for
myself, but I decided to finish a novel and try to get it published when I was
thirty. I had a good friend who taught me how to be brave. LOVE AND OTHER
UNKNOWN VARIABLES is dedicated to her. And LIFE AFTER JULIET was greatly
influenced by the impact she’d made in my life both before and after she passed
away.
What is the earliest age you remember
reading your first book?
It was before Kindergarten. I remember, vividly, waiting for my parents to wake up one morning so I could show off my superb reading skills by “reading” Dr. Seuss’s ABC book. Trouble was, I didn’t fully know how to read, but they’d read it to me enough that I had it memorized. When I got flustered because I couldn’t remember one part and started to cry, my dad helped me sound out the words.
What genre of books do you enjoy
reading?
I love contemporary
fiction. But I’m also a sucker for fantasy and sci-fi. I mostly read YA fiction
these days. Every once in a while my husband will convince me to read a
“grown-up” book that he’s just finished.
What is your favorite book?
Nope. Too many to choose! But as a writer, I was influenced by Harper Lee, Alice Walker, the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen, and even Shakespeare.
You know I think we all have a
favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?
Again, I have too many to
choose from! But my friends and family know that I’m a HUGE Rainbow Rowell fan.
HUGE. I love everything she’s written (both YA and adult). I love the way she
can make me laugh, think, and cry all in one page. Her dialogue is brilliant
and her characters are the kind that stay with me long after I’ve finished
reading.
If you could travel back in time here
on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?
I actually don’t want to go anywhere. I like where I am now, which isn’t to say there are lots of things we need to improve on in the world right now, but I’m just not a big time traveler, I guess. Living in the past doesn’t sound like much fun to me (I’m spoiled by technology and comforts like indoor plumbing). And I’d be afraid I’d see something in the future that would totally depress me! So, I’ll stay right where I am and leave the time travel to the Doctor.
When writing a book do you find that
writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task?
Writing a first draft is
easy because there is no filter. I just write and enjoy the exploration. My
first drafts are always too long and very messy! Revising, now that’s hard
work. And unfortunately, 99% of writing is revising!
Do you have any little fuzzy friends?
Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets?
I do! I have a yellow,
terrier mutt named Harriet Potter that I adore. She’s a rescue from the animal
shelter, but she definitely saved me. When we first moved to Indianapolis, I
didn’t know anyone. Our previous furbaby, Boo Radley, had passed away just before
we moved. I barely survived my first Midwestern winter (seven months of gray
skies!!!) and told my husband I NEEDED a new furbaby immediately. We adopted
her in March, 2012. She’s my writing buddy, hanging out with me wherever I’m
writing, but also reminding me to take breaks.
What is your "to die for",
favorite food/foods to eat?
Coffee. That’s not a
food, but I live and die for coffee.
Do you have any advice for anyone
that would like to be an author?
Finish what you start.
You can’t edit a story that isn’t written. Know that it’s okay to write that
crappy story because you can always make it better. I’d also suggest joining a
great critique group. Joining mine was the single most important thing I did to
become a professional writer.
Author Bio:
Shannon Lee Alexander is a
wife and mother (of two kids and one yellow terrier named Harriet Potter). She
is passionate about coffee, books, and cancer research. She spent most of her
time in high school hiding out in the theater with the drammies and techies.
Math still makes her break out in a sweat. She currently lives in Indianapolis
with her family.
Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook
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Giveaway Information: Contest
ends July 15, 2016
Open internationally, but prize packs ship only to US. International
winners will receive Amazon gift cards (listed below).*
·
Grand prize: Hyperboles are the best EVER! tote bag, a 4oz. Novelly
Yours Antique Books candle, Toe-meo and Juliet Shakespearean socks, Life after
Juliet poison and dagger necklace, Velveteen Rabbit note card, signed Life
after Juliet bookmark and bookplate*
·
1st Runner Up: Hyperboles are the best EVER! tote bag, a 4 oz. Novelly
Yours Antique Books candle, Toe-meo and Juliet Shakespearean socks, Life after
Juliet dagger earrings, signed Life after Juliet bookmark and bookplate*
·
2nd Runner Up: 2oz. Novelly Yours Antique Books candle, Life after
Juliet dagger earrings, Velveteen Rabbit note card, signed Life after Juliet
bookmark and bookplate*
·
3rd Runner Up: 2oz. Novelly Yours Antique Books candle, Life after
Juliet dagger earrings, signed Life after Juliet bookmark and bookplate*
*All contests are open internationally, but international winners will
receive the following:
·
Grand prize: $25 Amazon gift card, signed signed Life after Juliet
bookmark and bookplate
·
1st Runner Up: $20 Amazon gift card, signed Life after Juliet bookmark
and bookplate
·
2nd runner up: $15 Amazon gift card, signed Life after Juliet bookmark
and bookplate
·
3rd runner up: $10 Amazon gift card, signed Life after Juliet bookmark
and bookplate
1 comments:
Thanks for hosting me, today!
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