Bluff
Julie Dill
Publication date: February 7th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Seventeen-year-old Chelsea Knowles is surrounded by the privileged. Michael Kors gym bags and designer shoes are part of her daily scene, but the talented cheerleader has a secret: she and her dad can barely pay the bills. Broken by his wife walking out on their family, Chelsea’s father ignores his responsibilities. Between cheer costs, grocery bills, electricity, and other regular financial burdens, it’s no surprise when a cut-off notice arrives in the mail. Chelsea knows it’ll be up to her to keep the lights on.
With the deck stacked against her, Chelsea decides to bet their future on the dubious poker knowledge she learned from her father before he gave up on parenting. Nervous but determined, Chelsea heads to a casino with very little security and wins big. Thrilled by her win, she’s quickly drawn to the casino again and again. She risks it all, especially when the attractive, young pit boss takes an interest in her.
Chelsea’s life, no longer filled with cheerleading, school, and hanging out with her friends, is now consumed by smoky casino floors and the ups and downs of a gambler’s life. True gamblers know when to fold, but Chelsea keeps betting long after her needs are met. The complicated web of lies soon begins to spin out of control, threatening to expose everything. Will someone see through her bluff?
Interview
with Julie Dill
What inspired you to write Bluff?
I was inspired
by actual experiences I had as a young poker player. Although I wasn’t underage, I was only 21 the
first time I entered a poker room at the casino. I like intriguing characters that break
stereotypes or the norm. I think a 17
year old female poker player does that, and that’s where I started with the
story idea.
Can
you tell us a little bit about the next books in Bluff or what you have planned
for the future?
I do have lots of ideas swimming around
my head for a Bluff sequel, although I’ve only drafted a scene or two. I’m currently working on a historical picture
book project with a friend of mine. It’s
about the Civil Rights Movement that took place in Oklahoma City in the late
fifties. I think it’s an important story
that the world needs to hear.
Can
you tell us a little bit about the characters in Bluff?
Chelsea is a hard knocks teenager. She’s got some grit about her. She doesn’t dwell on her circumstances;
rather, she is self-reliant and tries her best to make things happen.
You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your
favorite author and why?
Billie
Letts. If you’re a writer in need of a
quick lesson on characterization, do yourself a favor and pick up one of her
books.
If you could time-travel would you travel to the future or
the past? Where would you like to go and why would you like to visit this
particular time period?
I would travel
to the past, probably the forties. I
would spy on my grandmother as a young child or teenager and see what kind of
trouble she was into.
Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat?
Or any pets?
Yes, I have a little
dog, Pete. He is a thorn in my side, but
he loves me unconditionally so I love him back.
Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit
with us today.
Author Bio:
Julie Dill lives in Oklahoma City where the wind always comes sweeping down the plains—literally.
As a young girl she always wanted to be a teacher, so she went on to receive her Bachelor’s of Science in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and taught in elementary schools for ten years. Currently, she serves as an adjunct professor and loves helping students achieve success. One of her greatest professional accomplishments is earning her National Board Certification.
She holds a Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Oklahoma City University and continues to work on various writing projects. From hiking in Colorado, to playing poker in Vegas, she’s always up for a new challenge. Julie is a busy mom of two teenage daughters, and any extra time that she may carve out is spent reading, writing, and rooting for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Her debut novel, Bluff, is scheduled to be released on February 7th, 2017.
3 comments:
Thanks for hosting today, Nancy! :)
A great interview.
Sounds so cool! I'm excited to read it.
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