Character Interview + Giveaway: Mike Woods and Catching Jordan

Today I'm hugely excited to welcome Jordan's brother, Mike Woods, to the blog as part of the promotional tour through Teen Book Scene. Mike was nice enough to answer a few questions for me about growing up with Jordan as well as playing football, and it's possible I unintentionally got him to share a bit of personal information as well (go me!). If you have yet to read Catching Jordan, I hope you make time in the near future as it was one of my favorite books of the year (you can read my full review here)!

If you could sit your dad down and talk to him about Jordan knowing he would actually listen to you, what would you most like to say?

She’s as strong as me and has just as much heart. Jordan and I aren’t that different.

What was the very first thing to come out of the mouth of Jake Reynolds when you introduced him to Jordan?

“I know you’re from Tennessee because you’re the only ten I see.” And yes, then I punched Jake in the face. But that’s par for the course with Jake. People are always slapping him.

*Jenny falls down dead laughing* I think I love Jake a little bit ;-)

Do you have a favorite family football moment between you and Jordan, or between you, your dad, and Jordan?

One year when I was nine and Jordan was six, when Dad was still playing for the Cowboys, his team didn’t make it to the Super Bowl and he decided to stay home with us and watch it in front of the TV. Our TV was tiny then, only like 32 inches, and Dad kept complaining about how small the screen was and maybe we should’ve gone to the game in Los Angeles, and Mom kept smacking his hand and telling him to shush. During the halftime show, there was a performance by Bon Jovi that was also broadcast in 3D. Mom had picked up the special 3D glasses for us at the grocery store, and we all put them on, even Dad. He looked damned ridiculous. And Jordan and I laughed and made fun of him for hours and he kept wrestling us to the floor. Yes, he was still wearing those 3D glasses when he put me in the headlock.

You excel at talking to people and chatting them up. Who would you say you’ve had the most fun schmoozing in recent history?

Most people only think of me as the quarterback of the Tennessee Vols. Sometimes I wonder if people even know I have a life beyond football. I’m majoring in business (bet you didn’t know that!), and well, at the beginning of the school year, the university had the gall to put me in an 8:00 a.m. class. I just don’t do 8:00 a.m. And that means I certainly don’t do class at 8:00 a.m. I’m not like my sister, Jordan – she’s a morning person. So I was desperate to get out of this class (International Econ), so I went to see my advisor. I had never been to see her before, as the school had never made such an egregious error with my schedule. Turns out my advisor, Jackie, is insanely attractive, and she was having none of my “8:00 a.m. and I just don’t get along!” talk. I told her that I needed my beauty sleep. She just stared at me and crossed her mile-long legs and my heart flew up into my throat. After twenty minutes of me pleading, Jackie yawned and told me to grow up and get out of bed like everyone else. Needless to say, my schmoozing didn’t work and I’m reminded of that three times a week at 8:00 a.m. during International Econ.

I am going to ask Jackie on a date as soon as I get the nerve. Would I get in trouble for dating my college advisor? I should ask Dad’s lawyer.

Do you still worry about whether or not people will compare your football career to your dad’s or have you been playing long enough that you no longer feel you’re in his shadow?

I worry about that every day. Every time I fumble or throw an interception. But regardless, I love the game, and that’s what matters, not me trying to live up to something I could never compete with. Besides, if I don’t make it in the NFL, I’ll try to buy a franchise one day. (As soon as I save up the money and have the credit to get the loans.)

How much do we love Mike? I believe there are two scheduled companion novels for Catching Jordan scheduled for 2012 and 2013 (cannot wait!), so you can find more information on those, Miranda, and Catching Jordan here:

Website
Twitter

GIVEAWAY

Kari over at A Good Addiction is hosting a giveaway for a very cool marked up, one of a kind copy of Catching Jordan with additional entries for all of you who are following the tour. You can find the form and all the information including a list of the tour stops HERE. Commenting on this post will grant you one extra entry.

CATCHING JORDAN

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.