I'm happy to welcome you to today's stop of the Letters to Nowhere blog tour by Julie Cross. You might know Julie Cross as the author of the bestselling TEMPEST series, a time travel trilogy (and one of my absolute favourites). On August 1st 2013 Julie released her mature young adult contemporary novel Letters to Nowhere which has 360 pages and is self-published. Enjoy an excerpt of Letters to Nowhere, five facts about it and enter the giveaway below.
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Letters to Nowhere by Julie Cross
Her family may be shattered, but her dreams aren't... From the International Bestselling Author of the Tempest series
A Mature YA contemporary set in the tough world of Elite Gymnastics. Grief, love and pursuing dreams are at the forefront of this emotionally powerful coming-of-age story.
Seventeen year old Karen Campbell has just lost both her parents in a tragic car accident. Grief stricken and alone, her gymnastics coach opens his home to Karen, providing her a place to live while she continues to train, working toward a spot on the world championship team.
Coach Bentley’s only child, seventeen year old Jordan is good-looking and charming enough to scare away a girl like Karen—someone who has spent ten times more hours on balance beams and uneven bars than talking or even thinking about boys. But the two teens share a special connection almost immediately. It turns out Jordan has a tragic past of his own, grief buried for years.
As Karen’s gymnastics career soars, her nightmares and visions of the horrible accident grow in strength. She can only avoid facing her grief for so long before it begins to surface and ultimately spin out of control in a very dangerous way. Can discovering love and lust (simultaneously) help with the grieving process or will it only provide a temporary distraction while waiting for reality to hit full force.
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5 Facts About Letters to Nowhere
Excerpt
1) Since I started writing the book I've envisioned my main character, Karen, as a red-headed McKayla Maroney even though I tried my best not to picture her as anyone specific.
2) I've been around the world of competitive gymnastics for at least 15 years and therefore have depicted elite level gymnastics as true-to-life as possible in this book.
3) The romance in LtN is not your typical for YA, "insta-love" or "fall in love then break up" format. This will please some and disappoint others.
4) My main character, Karen, has just lost both her parents in a tragic car accident prior to the book's opening however, I don't consider this a typical book about death either because there are so many other elements intertwined and Karen is a fighter, she's constantly driven by one goal or another. It's about rising up after a fall.
5) LtN is truly the book of my heart because I wanted, for so long, to find a way to combine by two greatest passions - YA Literature and Gymnastics.
2) I've been around the world of competitive gymnastics for at least 15 years and therefore have depicted elite level gymnastics as true-to-life as possible in this book.
3) The romance in LtN is not your typical for YA, "insta-love" or "fall in love then break up" format. This will please some and disappoint others.
4) My main character, Karen, has just lost both her parents in a tragic car accident prior to the book's opening however, I don't consider this a typical book about death either because there are so many other elements intertwined and Karen is a fighter, she's constantly driven by one goal or another. It's about rising up after a fall.
5) LtN is truly the book of my heart because I wanted, for so long, to find a way to combine by two greatest passions - YA Literature and Gymnastics.
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Excerpt
Stevie and I finished our cool-down stretches quietly, listening in on the discussions around us. It was decided that Ellen, who was running a fever of a hundred and three, would be sent to bed with fluids and Tylenol. Then they spent several minutes deciding to put Ellen in her own room so she wouldn’t infect any of the others. Blair was checked out by the team doctor next and restricted to only bars and beam—no tumbling, vault, or dismounts for the entire weekend. Needless to say, none of us were in good spirits by the time we headed to our rooms.
But I was pleasantly surprised to have a text from Jordan waiting for me on my cell phone. This led to a long exchange over the next several hours between dinner, showering, bringing Ellen my fuzzy slippers, and a team meeting.
Jordan: Mrs. Garrett’s teeth are soaking in a glass on the kitchen counter . . . can you pls break your ankle or something and come home early?
Me: Omg! Ew. I’ll try to help you help out. Maybe I’ll throw a triple back on floor tomorrow
Jordan: Thanks! How’s camp so far? Do they really have llamas there?
Me: Yep. There’s a llama and a few bulls and some chickens. I think it’s gonna be a rough weekend. Ellen’s sick. Blair might have a stress fracture . . . Stevie’s under way too much pressure
Jordan: Stevie’s a pro. Don’t worry about her. She’ll come through. Besides, I thought we were feeling sorry for me right now. Not you. What do you think Mrs. Garrett wears to bed? It’s gonna be scary, isn’t it? Me: Right. I apologize for not focusing 100% on Jordan Bentley’s problems
Jordan: Apology accepted
Me: Can I ask you something?
Jordan: Sure . . .
Me: You go to Catholic school, right? You have church or mass or religion class or whatever?
Jordan: All of the above
Me: This is a stupid question, so don’t answer it if you don’t want to . . . but what do you believe? As far as afterlife goes? I know it’s stupid. You can ignore me.
My phone rang about thirty seconds after I sent the last text. I answered it with a pounding heart. I had gone too far this time. Jordan would probably tell me I needed professional help, though technically I was already getting help.
“Hey,” I said after the third ring.
“Hey,” Jordan said and just the sound of his voice put butterflies in my stomach. “It’s not a stupid question, I just didn’t want to answer it by text.”
“I’m not pondering over this twenty-four-seven or anything, it’s just . . . sometimes . . .”
“You think about it,” he finished for me.
“Yeah.”
“I don’t know, Karen.” He sighed. “I’m not sure what I believe. I want to think about my family in Heaven, but it’s so out there. So much fantasy and not enough reality. Hell seems more believable than pearly gates and angels floating around in clouds.”
“That’s my problem, too.” I slid under the covers and pulled the blanket up to my chin.
“Maybe I believe in ghosts . . . not that I have any evidence or proof, but it seems a lot more possible than Heaven or Hell.”
“Memories are like ghosts for me,” I said.
But I was pleasantly surprised to have a text from Jordan waiting for me on my cell phone. This led to a long exchange over the next several hours between dinner, showering, bringing Ellen my fuzzy slippers, and a team meeting.
Jordan: Mrs. Garrett’s teeth are soaking in a glass on the kitchen counter . . . can you pls break your ankle or something and come home early?
Me: Omg! Ew. I’ll try to help you help out. Maybe I’ll throw a triple back on floor tomorrow
Jordan: Thanks! How’s camp so far? Do they really have llamas there?
Me: Yep. There’s a llama and a few bulls and some chickens. I think it’s gonna be a rough weekend. Ellen’s sick. Blair might have a stress fracture . . . Stevie’s under way too much pressure
Jordan: Stevie’s a pro. Don’t worry about her. She’ll come through. Besides, I thought we were feeling sorry for me right now. Not you. What do you think Mrs. Garrett wears to bed? It’s gonna be scary, isn’t it? Me: Right. I apologize for not focusing 100% on Jordan Bentley’s problems
Jordan: Apology accepted
Me: Can I ask you something?
Jordan: Sure . . .
Me: You go to Catholic school, right? You have church or mass or religion class or whatever?
Jordan: All of the above
Me: This is a stupid question, so don’t answer it if you don’t want to . . . but what do you believe? As far as afterlife goes? I know it’s stupid. You can ignore me.
My phone rang about thirty seconds after I sent the last text. I answered it with a pounding heart. I had gone too far this time. Jordan would probably tell me I needed professional help, though technically I was already getting help.
“Hey,” I said after the third ring.
“Hey,” Jordan said and just the sound of his voice put butterflies in my stomach. “It’s not a stupid question, I just didn’t want to answer it by text.”
“I’m not pondering over this twenty-four-seven or anything, it’s just . . . sometimes . . .”
“You think about it,” he finished for me.
“Yeah.”
“I don’t know, Karen.” He sighed. “I’m not sure what I believe. I want to think about my family in Heaven, but it’s so out there. So much fantasy and not enough reality. Hell seems more believable than pearly gates and angels floating around in clouds.”
“That’s my problem, too.” I slid under the covers and pulled the blanket up to my chin.
“Maybe I believe in ghosts . . . not that I have any evidence or proof, but it seems a lot more possible than Heaven or Hell.”
“Memories are like ghosts for me,” I said.
This is part 1 of the excerpt. Part 2 will be posted on www.oopsireadabookagain.blogspot.gr
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I live in central Illinois with my wonderful husband and three kids currently between the ages of 7 and 12 (the kids not the husband). My writing journey began in May, 2009 with a short story in a notebook.
Within a year, I had written seven (some good some God-awful) young adult novels. Not being a college graduate and having spent the previous fifteen years teaching gymnastics and working as a YMCA Program Director for Recreational Gymnastics, professional writing wasn't in my plans. Not even close. But ever since the day I started that short story, I haven't been able to stop. It was love at first sight.
After about a year of writing, I had a three book deal with St. Martin's Press, and a film option with Summit Entertainment. Crazy, right? I know. It wasn't until August of 2011 that I quit working full time in order to be at home with my kids more and of course, write more. My young adult time travel debut novel, Tempest, released on January 17, 2012. The rest of my personal story remains unwritten.
Within a year, I had written seven (some good some God-awful) young adult novels. Not being a college graduate and having spent the previous fifteen years teaching gymnastics and working as a YMCA Program Director for Recreational Gymnastics, professional writing wasn't in my plans. Not even close. But ever since the day I started that short story, I haven't been able to stop. It was love at first sight.
After about a year of writing, I had a three book deal with St. Martin's Press, and a film option with Summit Entertainment. Crazy, right? I know. It wasn't until August of 2011 that I quit working full time in order to be at home with my kids more and of course, write more. My young adult time travel debut novel, Tempest, released on January 17, 2012. The rest of my personal story remains unwritten.
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Blog Tour Schedule
August 5th
Anastasia @ Living in a Bookworld - Review
John @ Dreaming In Books - Excerpt
August 6th
Shannelle @ Vade Mecum:Blog Tours - Excerpt
Heather @ Buried in Books - Review
August 7th
Adrianne @ My Bookmark Blog - Review
Orchita @ If The Book Fits - Review/Character Interview
Kate @ Reading Under The Willow Tree - Review
August 8th
Angelica @ Paperback Princess - Review
Nicky @ Pink Fluffy Hearts - Review
August 9th
Sarah @ Miss Page-Turner's City of Books - 5 Facts About Letters To Nowhere/Excerpt
Dianne @ Oops! I Read A Book Again - Letters To Nowhere:The Playlist/Excerpt
August 10th
Brittany @ Spare Time Book Blog - Review
Sophia @ Sophia Bleu - Guest Post
August 11th
Ashley @ Book-Marks The Spot - Interview
Kari @ A Good Addiction - Excerpt
August 12th
Mary @ Bookhounds - Review
Emily @ Falling For YA - Guest Post
August 13th
Gina @ Behind A Million And One Pages - Interview/Bookmarks
August 14th
Anna @ Literary Exploration - Guest Post
Kristy @ A Little Shelf Of Heaven - Review
August 15th
Sarah @ Literary Meanderings - Interview
Krista @ Nawanda Files - Review/Excerpt
August 16th
Sarah @ Sarah Elizabeth's Bookshelf - Review/Excerpt
Heather @ Heather Anastasiu - Review
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