Author Interview & Giveaway: Christina June
We're exited to welcome author, Christina June, to Reading Lark today. She's here to answer a few questions about her newest novel, Everywhere You Want to Be.
Andrea @ Reading Lark: What made you want to use "Little Red Riding Hood" as your inspiration?
Christina: I was with Lisa Maxwell in New York when she was doing her initial research for The Last Magician and decided I needed to write a NYC book too. The idea of swapping the dark forest for the skyscrapers of New York intrigued me and the story just built from there.
Andrea @ Reading Lark: How did you choose your setting?
Christina: New York is one of my very favorite places. I could spend days just wandering through neighborhoods, eating and people watching, which Tilly does a lot of in the book. It's such a vibrant place and everyone seems to have a different reaction to it when they visit for the first time. It just made sense for Tilly, a girl who is struggling to find her place.
(Photo Credit: Nout Gons, Pexels)
Andrea @ Reading Lark: What was your favorite part of writing this novel?
Christina: I really enjoyed the research, not only about New York, but about dance. I got to interview a teen dancer and she was so full of insight and joy for her art. I also loved writing the characters from my first book, IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE, through a different lens. Tilly's mother, in particular, was fun because she's the "evil stepmother" when Tatum tells her story but to Tilly, she's Mom and her flaws are visible on a totally different place.
Andrea @ Reading Lark: What would be Tilly's theme song?
Christina: When she's going to meet Paolo on The Highline, she's listening to music as she walks. It got cut from the final version, but she's singing along to Rabbit Heart by Florence + The Machine, which I think is a perfect theme song for her entire journey. She has to learn to be brave and have a lion's heart instead.
Andrea @ Reading Lark: If this novel was an ice cream flavor, what would it be?
Christina: Definitely salted caramel--sweet but with surprising depth.
Andrea @ Reading Lark: This is our tradition. What is your favorite bird?
Christina: I'd have to go with the peacock. So gorgeous!
Thanks for hosting me!
(Photo Credit: www.flickr.com)
From author Christina June comes Everywhere You Want to Be, a modern tale inspired by the classic Red Riding Hood.
Matilda Castillo has always done what she was told, but when she gets injured senior years, she watches her dreams of becoming a contemporary dancer slip away. So when Tilly gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend the summer with a New York dance troupe, nothing can stop her from saying yes--not her mother, not her fears of the big city, and not the commitment she made to Georgetown. Tilly's mother allows her to go on two conditions: one, Tilly will regularly visit her abuela in New Jersey, and two, after the summer, she'll give up dancing and go off to college.
Armed with her red vintage sunglasses and her pros and cons lists, Tilly strikes out, determined to turn a summer job into a career. Along the way she meets new friends ... and new enemies. Tilly isn't the only one desperate to dance, and fellow troupe member Sabrina Wolfrik intends to succeed at any cost. But despite dodging sabotage and blackmail attempts from Sabrina, Tilly can't help but fall in love with the city, especially since Paolo, a handsome musician from her past, is also calling New York home for the summer.
As the weeks wind down and the competition with Sabrina heats up, Tilly's future is on the line. She must decide whether to follow her mother's path to Georgetown or leap into the unknown to pursue her own dreams.
We have ONE copy of Everywhere You Want to Be up for grabs. This giveaway is open to US residents. You must be 13+ years of age to win. If you're under 18, you must have parental permission to enter. Reading Lark is not responsible for lost or damaged prizes. The publicist will be responsible for prize delivery.
The giveaway runs from August 13-20. Winner will be notified via email on August 21.
Rapunzel is probably my favorite fairy tale.
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