Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Deviant Blog Tour: Character Profile + Giveaway


Today I'm excited to welcome author Helen FitzGerald to the blog as part of the promotional tour hosted by Precious Gem Book Tours for the release of her newest book, Deviant. Helen is here to share some insight into main character Abigail, and don't forget to check the bottom of the post for the full list of participating blogs and all the giveaway details!

My main character is Abigail. She started life on a hippy commune in Western Scotland. She was happy in her caravan by the loch (Lake in Scottish!), alongside the other anti-nuclear protestors and the wonderful Nieve, who’d cared for her since her Mum abandoned her.

At the age of nine, Nieve dies and Abigail is taken into care. For the next seven years, she’s in and out of children’s homes, and shunted from foster carer to foster carer. She’s had to learn how to survive on her own: being ready to adapt to new environments, and never getting too close to anyone.

So when, at the age of sixteen, she discovers that her mother has just died, leaving her a letter which says she has a father and a sister who live in LA, Abigail puts up her usual defences. She’ll fly to America to check them her new family, but she won’t get too excited, and she won’t let her guard down.

All good strategies, as it turns out. Because what she finds is far more sinister than the constant rain and intermittent foster carers of Glasgow.

I loved writing Abigail. She comes across as serious, organised, and icy, but in fact she’s a very kind girl. She’s never hurt anyone, or done anything she’d be ashamed of. She’s also awkward and funny – characteristics I’m drawn to in a friend!  If I needed someone’s help, I’d ask Abigail.

Another character I loved writing was Billy. I knew someone like him when I worked at a hostel for homeless young women in Glasgow. He’d visit the new arrivals, befriend them, show them a good time, and buy them things. Then he’d offer them drugs, get them hooked, and set them to work on the streets. In the book, this is exactly what Billy does at Abigail’s hostel, where she lives at the start of the story. He’s an ugly character – heartless and dangerous. Luckily, he’s no match for Abigail.

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DEVIANT


When 16-year-old Abigail's mother dies in Scotland--leaving a faded photo, a weirdly cryptic letter, and a one-way ticket to America--she feels nothing. Why should she? Her mother gave her away when she was a baby, leaving her to grow up on an anti-nuclear commune and then in ugly foster homes. But the letter is a surprise in more ways than one: Her father is living in California. What's more, Abigail discovers she has an eighteen-year-old sister, Becky. And the two are expecting Abigail to move in with them.

After struggling to overcome her natural suspicions of a note from beyond the grave (not to mention anything positive) Abigail grows close to her newfound sister. But then Becky is found dead, the accidental victim of an apparent drug overdose. As Abigail wrestles with her feelings and compiles a "Book of Remembrance" of her sister's short life, she uncovers a horrifying global plot aimed at controlling teen behavior: one that took her sister's and mother's lives, with vast implications.



• • • • • • • • • • 

HELEN FITZGERALD


Helen FitzGerald is the second youngest of thirteen children. She grew up in the small town of Kilmore, Victoria, Australia, and studied English and History at the University of Melbourne. Via India and London, Helen came to Glasgow University where she completed a Diploma and Masters in Social Work. She worked as a probation and parole officer for ten years. She’s married to screenwriter Sergio Casci, and they have two children.

WebsiteTwitterGoodreads

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BLOG TOUR + GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Week 1: 
June 10: Hafsah at Icey Books--Guest Post 
June 11: Ruby at Ruby's Reads--Guest Post
June 12: Jess @ Jessabella Reads--Author Interview
June 13: Stephanie @ Bookworm 1858--Review
June 14: Lisa @ Dizneeee's World of Books--Guest Post
Week 2:  
June 17: Mary @ The Book Swarm--Review 
June 18: Jenny @ Supernatural Snark--Character Profile  
June 19: Jessie @ Jessie's Book Place--Review 
June 20: Ash @ Smash Attack Reads--Guest Post 
June 21: Jess @ Gone with the Words--Review

32 comments:

  1. Very interesting post. Billy doesn't sound like a character I would want to meet! So many things caught my attention especially a hippie commune in Scotland!Sounds like a very interesting read!

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    1. Right? Me either! So glad this one caught your interest Heidi:)

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  2. I read a review of this one and it sounds great. Plus I'm really wanting to see this hippie commune in Scotland! I'm also curious about these characters, I want to meet them!

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    1. That does seem to be one of the main draws for everyone, me included:)

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  3. Abigail really sounds like a resilient character, it sounds like she's had so much already to deal with from such a young age, but I like how she decides to take more on by going to meet her family she doesn't know about in California. Deviant sounds like a really interesting read Jenny, thanks for putting it on my radar!

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    1. You're welcome Jasprit, glad I was able to do so!

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  4. The anti-nuclear commune alone sounds interesting enough, but I actually like the direction this took. From a contemporary-ish family drama to a (I assume) murder mystery... that's what I love to read!
    And the Scotland bits are very interesting, I'm fascinated by them. One of my best friends moved there a few years back and his experiences are amazing.
    Thanks for sharing, Jenny!

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    1. I've only been to Scotland once for a few short days, but I loved every minute I was there and would love to go back:)

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  5. I haven't heard of this book before but I must say it sounds really good. I like the idea of the story it sounds really emotional. Great post! Thanks for sharing Jenny! :)

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  6. So cool she used her real experiences in this!! This sounds like an awesome thriller:))

    Thank you:)

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  7. I haven't heard of this one, but I'm curious now. Thanks for sharing, Jenny!

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  8. I do like an awkward character. There's something very endearing about them (if written correctly, that is!).

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    1. I agree Mary. I'm awkward, so I can always relate to characters who are as well:)

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  9. It sounds like Abigail has a good head on her shoulders, I always appreciate that in YA novels. I've seen a few reviews for this one already and people seem to be loving it. I will have to meet Abigail one day!

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    1. Yay, I'm glad to hear it! I'm excited to give this one a try:)

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  10. I love that you're always introducing me to books I don't know, Jenny! It's so hard to keep up with every book being published and I inevitably miss some - like this series! It sounds really good!

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    1. I do try Hannah, and you do the same for me:)

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  11. Wow. Abigail seems like a very strong character. I think I'm going to like her when I read this book. Her circumstances too is a little complex and I'm curious as to what will happen to her. I'm definitely going to add this on my tbr. Great post, Jenny! :)

    Eunice @ Book Overdose

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  12. This sounds interesting and I am curious about what she finds in the states!

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  13. I haven't had the best of luck with Scottish characters or Scotland reads unless you consider On Dublin Street which I adored. This seems like a different kind of read and I like that she's a European exploring America. That's what I'd like to do someday ;) Heh. I didn't know absolutely anything about this one so yay for introducing it to me:) Thanks Jenny!

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  14. This does sound like an interesting book. I haven't heard much about it.

    I've been misreading your posts today. I read a comment you made on Mary's blog as "Happy tails" instead of "happy trails." And on this post, I first read "Hippo commune" instead of "hippie commune." And while hippie communes are always interesting, I'm a little disappointed that I'm not going to experience a hippo commune.

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  15. I like the mix of real experiences with fiction. It adds a nice layer of believability. :) :) :)

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  16. I've never heard of this book before, but I'm intrigued. It actually sounds like something I might enjoy. Umm hello! Hippie commune? Hard to resist when there are words like that.
    Abigail sounds like a complex character. Definitely need to meet this girl.
    Thanks for sharing, Jenny!

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  17. You had me all on the edge of my seat wondering... WHAT DID SHE FIND OUT! Oh you know how to make me want to read it. :) Also, am curious about the hippy community near a loch.

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  18. Thanks for the giveaway and the nice post. I loved learning about Abigail. She sounds like my kind of gal.

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  19. It does make me wonder what she will do

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  20. That's a beautiful cover - love the art. It's graffiti like and also very telling about the tone of the book.

    Lovely guest post:))

    Thank you:)

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  21. Love the settings of the novel and this sounds really creepy!

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  22. Uh oh...I guess the description must really oversell the Scottish hippie commune because we never actually visit it in the book. I hope no one's disappointed!

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  23. Billy was right horrible! I think I ended up being most fascinated by stepmother Melanie-her Stepford Wife attitude made for a great read.

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