Backstage Pass Tour With Ali Novak and Miranda Kenneally
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 Bookhounds YA to give readers ‘backstage pass’ to get to know their musical heroes. Read on to find out who Oliver, the lead singer of the Heartbreakers from Ali’s book, and Nashville heartthrob Jesse from Miranda’s newest release travel with when they are on the road.
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’s tour “entourage” includes his manager, Brad, and his voice coach, Holly.
As an author, my entourage includes my husband, Don, and our cat, Brady, who helps by climbing all over my laptop and typing random gibberish. There’s also my online author friend Trish Doller, and the Washington D.C. writing crew: authors Robin Talley, Jessica Spotswood, Lindsay Smith, Caroline Richmond, and Andrea Lynn Colt.
Ali: The Heartbreakers follows the story of Stella Samuel, an aspiring photographer and triplet who will do anything for her sick sister, Cara. Even though she dislikes their music, Stella road trips to Chicago in order to get an autographed Heartbreakers’ CD for Cara’s birthday gift. While there, she meets a gorgeous stranger who takes an interest in her photography. What Stella doesn’t realize is that the cute boy is actually Oliver Perry, lead singer for the Heartbreakers.
Besides being an extraordinary musician, Oliver Perry is a talented cook and a master prankster. He considers the band—Alec Williams, JJ Morris, and Xander Jones—his family, and isn’t afraid to admit he’d be lost without them. There are many other people who travel with Oliver on tour, all of whom he considers his extended family: Courtney Stiller, the band’s manager; Paul Baxter, the band’s publicist; Aaron, head of security; Julie and Ken, the band’s makeup artist and hairstylist; and last but not least, Smiley, the concert stage manager.
As an author, I too have an “extended family” surrounding me, and they help me write. First and foremost is my younger sister—she’s a writer too, so we’re always bouncing ideas off each other and editing one another’s work. I’ve also made a ton of wonderful writing friends on the website Wattpad, and we often beta read each other’s work. Finally there is my husband, Jared, who has always been so incredibly supportive of my writing career.
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.novak.908.
About THE HEARTBREAKERS
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?
THE HEARTBREAKERS Buy Links
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1JwsPYv
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1CUnxJn
iBooks: http://apple.co/1DtobIH
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!
About JESSE’S GIRL
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?
JESSE’S GIRL Buy Links
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1hczpN4
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1KI1cSi
iBooks: http://apple.co/1DjuML7
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