Monday, August 22, 2016

Blog Tour + #Giveaway: Polaris by Beth Bowland @BethBowland @chapterxchapter @TantrumBooks







Polaris by Beth Bowland
Release Date: August 16, 2016
Publisher:  Month9Books


Bixie, Montana, is in the middle of nowhere, not connected to any place, and not used as a pass through to get anywhere. But one snowy evening, a lone visitor walking down an old country road changes 13-year-old Aaron Martin’s life forever. Aaron thinks he’s being a Good Samaritan by inviting the nearly-frozen visitor into his home, but he’s unwittingly initiated The Game. A group of Elders, known as the Council of the Legend, come together from time to time to enjoy a rousing event they playfully call “The Game.” Now, Aaron’s town is the playing board and he and his fellow townspeople are the players. The rules are simple. Win. Because if Aaron loses, he won’t just lose his family . . . he’ll lose his very identity.




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Author Interview:


1.What inspired you to write Polaris?

A few years ago, while flipping through a Christmas card catalog. I came across a photo of an old country farmhouse with a snowy background. On the card there were kids playing outside and a horse and carriage in the background, all decorated for Christmas. I didn’t give it much thought at first and continued flipping through the catalog, but something made me flip back and look at it again. This time, in my mind, I saw the same farm house, but the kids, horse, and carriage were gone as were the Christmas decorations. In its place was crisp black sky, with the ground heavily covered in snow, and one young teen boy walking toward this house in the snow, as a meteor streaked through the sky. I stared at that one picture for the longest time and knew it was the opening for Polaris. This, along with my love for conspiracy theories and planets gave me the inspiration to write the story.


2. When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve been making up stories since I was old enough to read. I’d tell my older sister a new storyline every night before we went to sleep. Most of them were retellings of stories I’d read and I’d always have some sort of weird twist in it.

3. What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?  

I’ve always loved to read.  In elementary school, I would always get the books that were for the older kids. I was a fast reader and by the time I was in the 3rd grade, I would just pick out the thickest book they had and read it. One in particular was in the 5th grade, I read All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot and fell in love. I loved the characters. There are so many that I loved.


4. What genre of books do you enjoy reading?

I love anything funny or quirky. I go through phases of what I like.

5. What is your favorite book?  

That’s a hard question. Since I’m a children’s author I will name a few of  my favorite children’s books.  The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, and I grew up on all the Judy Blume books, love them!

6. You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?

Just like my favorite books, my favorite authors change. However, right now I love Trenton Lee Stewart. His books are fun and quirky.

7. If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?

Washington, D.C., August 28th, 1963 to hear Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in person. I get chills just watching it via video, I can’t imagine what it was like to be there.

8. When writing a book do you find that writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task?

The creating part is easy. The editing is the difficult part.

9. Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets?

I have a Shiranian. He’s a Shih Tzu/Pomeranian mix named Manny.  

10. What is your "to die for", favorite food/foods to eat?  

Crab legs and spaghetti, but not together J

11. Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author?

Keep writing! Don’t give up! Stay away from the naysayers. Don’t follow trends. Write what you want no matter how quirky it is. Tell the story you want to tell. The story will find its audience. When you get rejections, have some chocolate, watch some HGTV, then print out the rejections and turn them into pieces of origami art!



Beth Bowland, a native Ohioan, has always enjoyed reading and creating stories of her own. As a child she devoured every book she could get her hands on and spent numerous hours at the library each week. She loves writing stories for tweens and young teens and her characters are often described as quirky and fun, but always relatable. When she’s not writing, she loves watching HGTV. She has one daughter and resides in Arlington, Texas with her husband, Phillip.




Giveaway Information:  Contest ends September 2, 2016

·        One (1) winner will receive a scrabble tile book cover charm (US ONLY)
·        Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Polaris by Beth Bowland (INT)


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