Wednesday, January 7, 2015

[Year-Round YA and NA Guide: A List of My Most Anticipated 2015 Releases] Q & A with Lisa Aldin, Author of One of the Guys + US ONLY GIVEAWAY



Title: ONE OF THE GUYS 
Author: Lisa Aldin (Website | Twitter
Publication Date: February 10, 2015
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

SYNOPSIS 

Tomboy to the core, Toni Valentine understands guys. She'll take horror movies, monster hunts and burping contests over manicures. So Toni is horrified when she's sent to the Winston Academy for Girls, where she has to wear a skirt and learn to be a "lady" while the guys move on without her. Then Toni meets Emma Elizabeth, a girl at school with boy troubles, and she volunteers one of her friends as a pretend date. Word spreads of Toni s connections with boys, and she discovers that her new wealthy female classmates will pay big money for fake dates. Looking for a way to connect her old best friends with her new life at school, Toni and Emma start up Toni Valentine s Rent-A-Gent Service. But the business meets a scandal when Toni falls for one of her friends--the same guy who happens to be the most sought-after date. With everything she's built on the line, Toni has to decide if she wants to save the business and her old life, or let go of being one of the guys for a chance at love."

Why is this book included on my list? It feels and sounds like that it's just something that I would have fun reading.

Pre-order links: Amazon | B&N



Hi Ms. Lisa! I’m really thrilled to have you and your book featured on my blog. Before I proceed in asking questions about your upcoming book, One of the Guys, I shall ask you first a little bit something about yourself. What’s your favourite food? Favourite color? Favorite TV show? Pet peeve/s?

A: Thanks, Amanda! Thanks for interviewing me!! Favorite food: Pizza. Favorite color:  purples and blues and sometimes greens. Favorite TV show: Gilmore Girls. Pet Peeve: When the person next to me on an airplane decides to BURP the entire flight. Not cool.

Q: Who’s your favourite author/s and what is your favourite book/s? How did this particular author/s and book/s influence you as a person and as a writer?

A: Tough one. Changes all the time, it seems. But I’d say my favorite book right now is THE DOGS OF BABEL by Carolyn Parkhurst. It moves me every time I read it.

My favorite YA novel is THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater--such a magical experience to read. I’m also a huge fan of Stephanie Perkins because she is hilarious and recognizes interesting things.  A.S. King is brilliant. Rainbow Rowell’s FANGIRL is also one of my recent favorites. So many wonderful books and writers!

Q: Have you really dreamed of becoming a writer? Who or what inspired you to become one?

A: I was in high school the first time I sat down to really write something. It was actually a play for a theater class. I just loved the process. It was work, yeah, but I wanted to work on it. I looked forward to sitting down and working! So I think it was that feeling, the love of the creative process, that got me hooked.

Q: When you aren’t writing, where would we most likely find you? What are your hobbies aside from writing?

A: These days, that would be taking care of my 14 month old daughter. But I also love walking my dogs, cuddling with my cats, watching movies.



Q: One of the Guys. The title of your book initially caught my attention and so I read the blurb. Then when I was reading it I was like, “Wait. Whoa there. This book has an interesting premise.” How did you come up with that premise? Was it inspired by someone/an event or was it just a random thought that popped into your mind?

A: The idea for One of the Guys began as a title, which was: RENT-A-BOY. That was the seed from which everything else grew!

Q: What’s your favourite and least favourite part of the writing process for One of the Guys?

A: I think I hate second drafts, when I need to go back and start fixing so many things. The first draft is fun because it’s a form of exploration, discovering the characters, the stories. I also like line editing, picking at the little things!

Q: Is there a character in One of the Guys that’s based on someone you know or loosely based on yourself? Are there certain scenes in the book that’s based on your experiences or of your friends?

A:  There are parts of Toni I can relate to. I love junk food, like she does. I also love monster and horror movies. There is a certain scene in the book (the ski trip and what is in the red cooler) that is loosely based on a real event!

Q: Horror movies or chick flicks? Burping contests or manicures? Are you more of a Toni or an Emma? Why do you feel more connected to that character than the other?

A: Both. I love horror and chick flicks! Just depends on my mood.

Q: Can you give us a teaser on Toni’s guy friends? Do you have an actor/model in mind in place of these guys?

A: Here’s a quick rundown of the boys:

Loch: Toni’s neighbor. He’s an optimistic explorer, believed in myths.

Ollie: Snowboarder, immature, a bit of a prankster.

Cowboy: Shy, anxious, super smart. 

As of right now, I don’t have an actor or model in mind for any of them, but I wouldn’t mind hearing suggestions!! Sometimes the imagination can be more powerful!


Q: Do you have a playlist that you’ve been listening to while you were writing One of the Guys? If so, can you share it to us? But if you don’t have a playlist, could you think of a song/s that would best fit the mood and feel of One of the Guys?

A: Not a complete playlist, there was a song that I listened to a lot, especially toward the end, that I think fits the story well. One Republic’s ALL THIS TIME.



Q: Please leave a message to the entire Philippine book community. Invite them in to check out your book!

A: Thank you for reading this! I hope you get the chance to read ONE OF THE GUYS when it’s released in the Philippines!! If you have any more questions for me, you can find me on Twitter at @LisaAldin. Happy Reading!!



[US ONLY] 

Ms. Lisa Aldin is very generous and would love to GIVEAWAY a SIGNED ARC of ONE OF THE GUYS! Just leave a comment below answering this question: "WHY DO YOU LOVE TO WIN AN ARC OF ONE OF THE GUYS?" Follow this blog, Ms Lisa over Twitter and leave your contact information (Name, Twitter and Email Address) on the comments section! 

She'll be randomly choosing the winner on January 10th! Good luck everyone! <3 





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