1.Where did the idea for your book come from?
I obviously didn’t develop the story of the bad boy falling for the perfect girl,
but that doesn’t mean it can’t be retold well and in a different way. I write
about things I like as a reader. With Going Under, I thought a lot about what
high school was like for me. (And no...I won’t say how long ago that has
been.) The brainstorming process involved remembering what life was like
in high school. What can I say? I was into a bad boy. I had experiences
quite similar to Claire’s in Going Under, but my bad boy didn’t turn out the
way Jessie did. (And he wasn’t as hot.) Basically, I used my experiences
and modernized them with a happy outcome.
2.Tell us something people would find surprising about you.
I’m a huge music head and I love to stalk musicians after concerts. I find
their tour buses and wait for them so I can get autographs and pictures. I’m
always shocked at how easy it is.
3.What is your favorite genre to read?
Simple. I will read basically anything that falls under the YA Romance
Category. I’m not limited to Independent authors, but I tend to gravitate
toward them because there are so many fabulous writers that are
publishing their own works and are simply undiscovered.
4.How did you get into writing?
Initially, I began writing when I was in High School. I had a very interesting
teacher, much like Mrs. Tanner in Going Under, that encouraged our
Advanced Placement class to be creative with writing.
I always though about writing, but I didn’t become serious about it until
about 3 years ago. I brainstormed for about 18 months, jotting ideas down
as they came to me. Almost 2 years in, I decided I had to make myself
sit down and commit to characters and plot if I was ever going to make a
go with writing. I threw away a dozen drafts before I finally started rolling
with my first book, Blood of Anteros, Book 1 in The Vampire Agápe Series.
I published it in September of 2011 and I haven’t looked back. I’m only
looking forward to the things ahead of me as a writer.
5.What has been the most challenging part of writing for you?
Time Management. I’m a wife, mother and Registered Nurse. I’m trying
to do away with the nurse part, but the wife and mother part aren’t going
anywhere. I try to squeeze in writing every opportunity I can, but it’s not
easy because I have so many people depending on me for something.
6.What’s next for you?
My current project is Blood Jewel. It’s tentative release date will be some
time in late May. (Fingers crossed.) It’s Book 2 in The Vampire Agápe
Series.
I’m beginning to see that there are no limits. I’m an Indie author and I
don’t answer to an editor or a publisher. I have the ability to make my own
decisions and I work when I want to. (I do answer to my readers and they
seem to want me writing all of the time.) I’m good with that.
I began writing in the paranormal genre, then tried my hand at non-
paranormal teen romance. I have enjoyed both and I’m quite open to trying
a different genre in the future. Simply put? I’m willing to go anywhere my
writing and readers lead me.
Thanks so much for sharing with us today Georgia! As promised, here is a blurb and then an excerpt for Going Under. The cover for this book is so beautiful don't you think?
Jessie Boone is a self proclaimed bad boy and
doesn’t march to the beat of anyone’s drum,
but his own. Growing up in less than
desirable circumstances has made him no
stranger to the hard knock life and his
determination to leave it behind is fierce.
When he finds himself transferred to East
Franklin High School, he sees his opportunity
to use his athletic ability to snag a college
football scholarship, but Forbes Henderson, the player Jessie means to replace
isn’t giving up his spot willingly. In fact, Forbes is willing to go to extreme
measures to retain his place as first string quarterback. When Forbes’ malicious
plan to injure his replacement fails, Jessie is furious and determined to show him
he messed with the wrong person; not only is he going to take the position of first
string quarterback, he’s going to take his girl, too.
Claire Deveraux is perfection at it’s best. She is beautiful, intelligent and unaware
she just became Jessie Boone’s conquest as revenge against her boyfriend, Forbes
Henderson. Like her flawless performance as the perfect daughter and student,
Claire’s production of being the perfect girlfriend has everyone fooled, except
Jessie Boone, and she fears this tattooed bad boy will see her secret desire to
explore his crude threats and promises to rock her perfect world. If she decides to
give in to one uninhibited moment with Jessie, will she learn too late that it was all
an act of vengeance or will Jessie learn the taste of first love is sweeter than that of
revenge?
Here's the excerpt :)
I watched a cigarette butt fly out of the new guy’s driver’s side window, then his door swung
open in front of me, preventing my escape. He stepped out of his truck, looked down at me and
grinned as he said, “Pardon me, Princess. I didn’t mean to block your way.”
His voice was velvety smooth, but I didn’t mistake it’s coolness as his tone conveyed his
contempt for me. His unmistakable dislike of me immediately raised my hellcat flag because he
had nothing to base his aversion on since he didn’t know me.
This was our first time face to face and up close. The other times I saw him was when I stole
a few glances during cheerleading practice over the last two weeks during the times I was certain
Forbes wasn’t watching me.
I realized he was so much more handsome than I originally thought now that his face mask
wasn’t obstructing my view. His hair was as black as I expected, and spikey, and his pale blue
eyes were piercing. The contrast of their paleness against his dark hair was almost shocking and I
had to force myself to not become lost.
I was angry with him for making assumptions about me, but I was furious with myself for
finding him so captivating. I tasted my bitter reaction as it formed on my tongue, but couldn’t
stop myself from blurting out, “Asshole.”
He placed his hand over the left side of his chest where his heart would be and said, “I felt
that straight through my heart. That’s definitely going to leave a mark.”
I watched him shut his door while he waited for my counterattack and I pushed past him as I
said, “Screw you and my name is not Princess. It’s Claire, so if you’re going to insult me, at least
have the decency to get my name right.”
“Hmm, I think I’ll stick with Princess. It seems to suit you better,” he said to my back as I
walked away.
I couldn’t be certain there weren’t flames coming off the heels of my boots as I practically
ran away, but Payton managed to catch up with me and said, “I’m totally disgusted by you,
Claire.”
“And why would that be?” I almost yelled.
“That was one of the best displays of underthinking I’ve ever seen. He bested you and I know
I taught you better than that. You basically rolled over. How can I call you my best friend when
you caved so easily? And by the way, you’ve got something on your ass.”
I spun around to look at the back of my dress as I pulled the skirt part around to look and
said, “What is it?”
“Hot New Guy’s eyes.” She died out laughing and said, “Sorry, Claire, but you walked right
into that one.”
I narrowed my eyes and pursed my lips as I said, “Maybe you’re the bigger asshole of the
two of you. You should definitely be a couple.”
“That lacked creativity and it’s insulting to me as your slander master. We have to work on
your comebacks because you are seriously letting me down,” she said, then added, “I wish you
could see your face right now. Whatever he just did to you has you clueless. You can’t decide if
you should be pissed off at him or hot for him.”
I turned to look at this crazy person I called a bestie standing next to me. “I’m jealous of
whatever are you smoking because it has you completely reality challenged.”
“He got it all wrong when he called you Princess. He should have called you Queen of
Denial because you’ll never admit what’s going on here,” she accused.
It was just like Payton to draw a conclusion with no real evidence to support her theory. “I
have no idea what kind of nonsense you’re talking about.”
“I hope he got plenty of rest last night because his legs are gonna be really tired after he runs
through your mind all day,” she laughed and joked, making me livid.
“You must have taken your sleeping pill this morning instead of last night because you are
dreaming.”
“When you look back on this moment months from now, don’t forget the one word I’m about
to say to you, Claire Deveraux. Foreplay.”
About the author:
I reside in rural Mississippi with my wonderful husband, Jeff, and our two beautiful
daughters.
I spent thirteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before I decided to pursue
my dream of becoming an author.
Blood of Anteros, Book One in The Vampire Agápe Series, was my first novel and it was
released in September 2011.
I decided to step away from the paranormal genre to try my hand at a young adult romance and I loved
it. It was so much fun, I plan to do it again in the near future.
Links
http://georgiacates.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Georgia-Cates/213130102082500
http://twitter.com/#!/GeorgiaCates
Thank you for your interview and for having me as a guest on your blog. Best of luck with your writing. Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome :)
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