Guest Post + Giveaway: Tracy Deebs and Tempest Rising

Today I'd like to extend a warm Supernatural Snark welcome to Tracy Deebs, author of the upcoming young adult novel Tempest Rising (releases May 10th). She was nice enough to take a little time to give us a few fun facts about herself so we can get to know her better, and be sure to follow her book tour through Teen Book Scene to read all the author interviews, character interviews and reviews!

Hi, everyone. First off, I want to thank Jenny for having me here today—I really appreciate it, and the chance to talk a little bit about Tempest Rising, my debut YA novel. Now, to be completely honest, I get a little antsy when someone asks me to write a bio of myself, because I never have a clue what to include (and what to leave out). But I’ll give it my best shot.

I love lipstick, books and fancy earrings (though not necessarily in that order).

I love to travel, but absolutely refuse to set foot in a tent.

I love dancing, reading poetry (the Beats are my favorite), swimming and trying new recipes.

I’m addicted to chocolate, pickles and strawberry-banana smoothies (though not at the same time).

I love thunderstorms, unexpected downpours, and walking in the rain, but hate the feel of wet clothes against my skin when the storm is over.

When I was young, I watched the Hans Christian Anderson version of The Little Mermaid at least once a day for three years. And though my mermaid obsession eventually gave way to a love of all things Wonder Woman, my interest in mermaids never went completely away (obviously).

My favorite book of all time is Ayn Rand’s Anthem, while my least favorite book of all time is John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath.

My favorite book that I’ve read in the last year is Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother.

One summer, I went to every major amusement park in America. Another summer, I ran away with band.

Two of my closest friends and I wrote a book called The International Kissing Club, about four girls who travel internationally and start a Facebook page to keep track of the points they get from kissing boys. It comes out in January 2012.

I’ve climbed the Pyramids in Egypt, walked on the banks of the Red Sea, kissed a boy in front of the Eiffel Tower, gotten soaked at Cleopatra’s favorite bathing spot and surfed Diamondhead Bay in Hawaii. I’ve also skydived over New Mexico and stood at the Cave of the Winds in Niagara Falls.

Despite my love of the water, I have a deep-seated fear of sharks. A serious, awful, unbelievable terror of sharks.

I came up with the idea for Tempest Rising when my agent asked me “So, how do you feel about mermaids …”

I set Tempest Rising on the beaches I used to hang out at, swim in and surf when I was her age.

At seventeen, there was nothing quite like a midnight ride out to La Jolla and a long walk on the beach.

To this day, my favorite thing to do is to curl up with a cup of tea and a book as I listen to the rain hit against the window.

And last but not least, I’m part of the Chills and Thrills Teen Book Tour, which will be visiting all the major cities in Texas in the next month. Check out our website to see the other authors on the tour: http://chillsandthrillsteenbooktour.wordpress.com/whos-who/

So, tell me one cool thing about you and be entered to win a copy of Tempest Rising.

Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing all those fun tidbits Tracy! I have to say I too am addicted to chocolate, refuse to set foot in a tent, and harbor a spectacular fear of sharks. Clearly, we both rock ;-) To be entered in the giveaway please just leave a comment answering Tracy's prompt and include an email address so I can contact you if you win. This contest is open to US residents only and will run through midnight EST on May 8th. Good luck everyone!

TEMPEST RISING (from Goodreads):

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her—and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.