Blurb:
Mia's first
reaction is outright disbelief. Obviously, a mistake has been made.
Sixteen-year-old girls don't die. But, when the diagnosis is confirmed, she
dives headlong into anger. If she has to die, why should it be of cancer? In
fact, anything would be preferable to cancer. Better for her to say when,
where, and especially how. Determined to meet death on her own terms, Mia
devises scheme after scheme to get the job done. A “fall” down the basement
stairs, driving her car off a bridge, and even a dance with a train all end in
her survival. And through it all, Mia keeps her family and friends at arms'
length with her destructive and hurtful behavior. With each failed suicide
attempt and burned relationship, she slowly realizes that it’s not the dying
that she’s afraid of, but the life she’ll be leaving behind. Now, that life is
in a shambles. As time begins to slip through her fingers and death is upon
her, Mia fights to rebuild the bridges she has destroyed, but can she do it
before the clock runs out?
INTERVIEW:
INTERVIEW:
About the Book:
Give
me the blurb for the book in 140 characters or less:
A moving story of a young girl facing mortality and her struggle to take control and make meaning of her life.
A moving story of a young girl facing mortality and her struggle to take control and make meaning of her life.
Do
you have a favorite character? Why is he/she/it your favorite?
Horcrux! (Mia’s morbidly obese yet very nimble and hilariously evil cat) He was modeled after my own sweet little kitteh Quinn (appropriately named after Tarquinn Blackwood, a character from Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles)
Horcrux! (Mia’s morbidly obese yet very nimble and hilariously evil cat) He was modeled after my own sweet little kitteh Quinn (appropriately named after Tarquinn Blackwood, a character from Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles)
What
do you hope readers will get from your book?
That no matter how bad things are, you are never alone. Family and friends are so important and shouldn’t be pushed away, even if you think you’re helping them by doing so. Mia has to learn that lesson the hard way in ALWAYS AND FOREVER, but eventually, she does.
That no matter how bad things are, you are never alone. Family and friends are so important and shouldn’t be pushed away, even if you think you’re helping them by doing so. Mia has to learn that lesson the hard way in ALWAYS AND FOREVER, but eventually, she does.
About
the Author:
What/Who
inspires you?
I’m a huge documentary nut. I could marathon NatGeo, History Channel, and Discovery Health without ever getting bored. 90% of all my writing inspiration comes from that. The other 10% must be attributed to a little band by the name of Seether. Their lyrics = muse-ilciousness
I’m a huge documentary nut. I could marathon NatGeo, History Channel, and Discovery Health without ever getting bored. 90% of all my writing inspiration comes from that. The other 10% must be attributed to a little band by the name of Seether. Their lyrics = muse-ilciousness
Hardest
aspect of writing? Best/Easiest?
The hardest would have to be the end. I hate saying goodbye to my characters! While writing the final scene for A&F, I really got emotional, like ugly, snotty tears choked up. It was brutal. And the best would, of course, be the beginning. There’s nothing like the feeling you get when your characters first pop into your head and introduce themselves. It’s kind of like falling in love…only with imaginary people.
The hardest would have to be the end. I hate saying goodbye to my characters! While writing the final scene for A&F, I really got emotional, like ugly, snotty tears choked up. It was brutal. And the best would, of course, be the beginning. There’s nothing like the feeling you get when your characters first pop into your head and introduce themselves. It’s kind of like falling in love…only with imaginary people.
Who
is your writing hero?
I have to pick just one? If I can only pick just one, I’d have to give top honors to Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice is one of my all-time faves. I just love how strong and smart and sassy Elizabeth is.
I have to pick just one? If I can only pick just one, I’d have to give top honors to Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice is one of my all-time faves. I just love how strong and smart and sassy Elizabeth is.
About
the Future:
What’s
next for you?
I’m gearing up for the holidays and visiting the fam. I haven’t been back home in YEARS, so I’m super excited about seeing everyone. The one thing I’m not too thrilled about: the bitter winter. BRRRR!
I’m gearing up for the holidays and visiting the fam. I haven’t been back home in YEARS, so I’m super excited about seeing everyone. The one thing I’m not too thrilled about: the bitter winter. BRRRR!
One
outrageous goal for the future?
Find buried treasure. Forget the lottery. I will scour the earth in search of hidden pirate booty. Although, knowing my luck, it’ll be cursed treasure, and my nose will fall off or some other fate worse than death.
Find buried treasure. Forget the lottery. I will scour the earth in search of hidden pirate booty. Although, knowing my luck, it’ll be cursed treasure, and my nose will fall off or some other fate worse than death.
Do
you have any advice you'd like to share with other aspiring writers?
Write. Write. Write. I know everyone says this, but it’s the plain and simple truth. Don’t give up, even when you’re staring down the dread chunk of cement that is the Writer’s Block. Power through, and keep on keepin’ on.
Write. Write. Write. I know everyone says this, but it’s the plain and simple truth. Don’t give up, even when you’re staring down the dread chunk of cement that is the Writer’s Block. Power through, and keep on keepin’ on.
Randomness:
Sweet
or salty? Sweet
Beach,
plains or mountains? Mountains! I live near the beach and grew up in the
Midwest, which is pretty flat. But, I’ve
never been in the mountains. I think it’d be a great adventure.
Online,
letters or in person? Online. I’ve met
so many great writer friends on the internet whom I would’ve not met otherwise.
Ebook
or print? Both. I love everything
about books. The way they look on your shelf. The sound they make when you
crack the binding for the first time. The smell of an old leatherbound volume.
BUT! Ebooks are soooo easy to get, inexpensive, and you can travel with 100
books without weighing yourself down.
About Karla J. Nellenbach
Karla J. Nellenbach divides her time between dayjobbing, writing, and indulging in her Winchester obsession. The rest of her day is spent playing butler to a cranky old man masquerading as a housecat and two rambunctious puppies that closely resemble small horses.
Born
and raised in the wilds of Michigan, she knows two immutable facts: (1) it is
entirely possible to live in a thumb, and (2) you definitely can go home
again...you just might not survive the winter. Having resided in the sunscape
of Florida for the last decade, she's still on a quest to see a real live
alligator outside of the "petting" zoo.
Buy Links:
Media Links:
Tour Schedule:
12/3/2012 The Cover (And Everything In Between)
12/4/2012 Splash Of Our Worlds
12/5/2012 Young Adult Book Addict
12/6/2012 Pink Polka Dot Book Blog
12/7/2012 My Miscellaneous Book Shelf
12/8/2012 Book Worms Avenue
12/8/2012 Student Sply Glass
12/9/2012 Moosubi
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