Review: DRIVE by Stephanie Fournet
I have loved everything I’ve read from Stephanie Fournet, and DRIVE did not disa[...]
There is just something about a musician that is irresistible. The fame, the fans, the talent! So it is no wonder that more and more teen musicians are showing up in Young Adult novels. Two authors with recent music-themed books are Ali Novak and Miranda Kenneally. Today the authors visit A Book and a Latte to give readers ‘backstage pass’ to get to know their musical heroes. Read on to learn about what types of music that Oliver, the lead singer of the Heartbreakers from Ali’s book, and Nashville heartthrob Jesse from Miranda’s newest release play for their fans.
Miranda: My new book Jesse’s Girl is about a girl named Maya who, for her school’s career day, gets to spend a day shadowing teen country music superstar Jesse Scott. Jesse Scott plays country and country pop. He’s a good ole country boy. One of his biggest hits is called “Fireflies.” It’s a song about camping; here is a lyric:
“Gimme fireflies, gimme trout, gimme burning logs, hell—gimme a mosquito, but keep your damned electricity.”
Songs that inspire Jesse include Garth Brooks’ “The Dance” and “Everywhere” by Tim McGraw. He also has a secret crush on Taylor Swift and wishes she were still part of the country music scene.
As for my inspiration, this is probably weird, but the band that I listened to while writing Jesse’s Girl was Green Day.
About Miranda Kenneally
Miranda Kenneally enjoys reading and writing young adult literature, and loves Star Trek, music, sports, Mexican food, Twitter, coffee, and her husband. She is from Tennessee but now lives and works in Washington, D.C. Visit www.mirandakenneally.com and www.dearteenme.com!
JESSE’S GIRL by Miranda Kenneally
Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow the Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol.
But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart-and go solo?
Ali: My story The Heartbreakers centers around eighteen-year-old Stella Samuel—an aspiring photographer—and the adventures she has while on tour with the world famous boy band the Heartbreakers. While traveling with the Heartbreakers, Stella falls for Oliver Perry, the lead singer. Oliver plays pop punk music, and is heavily influenced by famous punk rock bands like the Ramones and the Misfits. He writes all of the band’s music, and here is a small snippet of a song he wrote for Stella:
Early-morning coffee
The first time that we met:
Remember the picture you took of me?
That close-up-style vignette.
My world was blurry before you;
I was too scared to see.
But slowly the picture’s developing,
And I know what’s happening to me.
While I was writing The Heartbreakers, I mainly listened to pop rock bands like The Cab, Boys Like Girls, Hedley, and We the Kings.
About Ali Novak
Ali Novak writes contemporary young adult romance and is a recent graduate of the University of Madison Wisconsin’s creative writing program. She wrote her first full length novel, My Life with the Walter Boys, at the age of fifteen. Since posting the story online, it has received more than 33 million reads and is now published by Sourcebooks Fire. Readers can connect with Ali on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ali.
HEARTBREAKERS by Ali Novak
Stella will do anything for her sick sister, Cara—even stand in line for an autographed Heartbreakers CD…for four hours. She’s totally winning best birthday gift this year. At least she met a cute boy with soft brown hair and gorgeous blue eyes while getting her caffeine fix. Too bad she’ll never see him again.
Except, Stella’s life has suddenly turned into a cheesy love song. Because Starbucks Boy is Oliver Perry – lead singer for the Heartbreakers. And even after she calls his music crap, Oliver still gives Stella his phone number. And whispers quotes from her favorite Disney movie in her ear. OMG, what is her life?
But how can Stella even think about being with Oliver – dating and laughing and pulling pranks with the band – when her sister could be dying of cancer?
Many thanks to Ali and Miranda for visiting today to give us a backstage pass! Readers, be sure to enter the giveaway below!
