Today I'm pleased to welcome young adult author Sarah Guillory to the blog as part of the promotional tour for her new contemporary release, Reclaimed. Sarah's going to talk a little bit about why she writes and about Reclaimed in particular, and don't forget to check the bottom of the post for the full list of tour stops for more guest posts, reviews, and interviews!
WHY I WRITE
Reclaimed is a story I am proud of. And while it is my best work right now, I hope it is not my best work ever. I want the next book, and the one after that, to be even better. I want to excel at my craft, and the only way to do that is to learn, listen, practice, and grow. I want to improve not just with each and every book, but with each and every day.
Reclaimed will hit shelves on October 15th. OCTOBER 15TH! And I really only have one hope for this book – I want it to speak to readers the way other books have spoken to me. I write because I love books. And I can’t even imagine how it might feel to have someone else connect to my book the way I have with so many others. It is why I faced my fears and put my work out there.
Sending Reclaimed out into the world is scary. It’s there for the world to pick apart. To interpret how they see fit. And while it will always be my book, once it’s out there, it will also belong to readers. There’s nothing more exhilarating or terrifying than that.
I write because I can’t NOT do it. Believe me, I’ve thought about it. Why in the world would I want to pour my soul into something that others might rip to shreds? Why would I want to put myself out there like that? The whole world will be able to see me fail, fall, fumble.
But writing is something I have to do. Even if I’m not writing, I’m thinking about it. I imagine scenes, stories, conversations, whole worlds. I take words and phrases and sentences and tumble them over in my head until they are polished and smooth.
Writing is stressful and takes up a lot of my time, time that I don’t really have. I’m a full-time teacher, which is more than a full-time job in and of itself. I run marathons. I have a husband, a dog, parents and a sister, nieces and nephews, friends. I would probably be much more relaxed if I didn’t write. I could read more, learn languages, cook, maybe even get my house back in order.
And I would probably be happy. But I wouldn’t be fulfilled. I wouldn’t be complete. I wouldn’t be the me I’m supposed to be.
Because I’m a writer. A storyteller. A lover of words.
I’ve been asked whether the stress and worry and hard work is worth it.
On October 15th, the dream I’ve had since I was a child will come true.
Believe me, it’s worth it.
• • • • • • • • • •
SARAH GUILLORY
Sarah Guillory is a YA author. In addition, she teaches sophomore English and loves that they pay her to fan girl over books and authors and to watch her students fall in love with the written word. Sarah lives in Louisiana with her husband and ridiculously spoiled bloodhound. RECLAIMED is her debut novel.
• • • • • • • • • •
RECLAIMED
Jenna Oliver doesn’t have time to get involved with one boy, let alone two.
All Jenna wants is to escape her evaporating small town and her alcoholic mother. She's determined she'll go to college and find a life that is wholly hers—one that isn't tainted by her family's past. But when the McAlister twins move to town and Jenna gets involved with both of them, she learns the life she planned may not be the one she gets.
Ian McAlister doesn't want to start over; he wants to remember.
Ian can’t recall a single thing from the last three months—and he seems to be losing more memories every day. His family knows the truth, but no one will tell him what really happened before he lost his memory. When he meets Jenna, Ian believes that he can be normal again because she makes not remembering something he can handle.
The secret Ian can’t remember is the one Luke McAlister can’t forget.
Luke has always lived in the shadow of his twin brother until Jenna stumbles into his life. She sees past who he’s supposed to be, and her kiss brings back the spark that life stole. Even though Luke feels like his brother deserves her more, Luke can’t resist Jenna—which is the trigger that makes Ian's memory return.
Jenna, Ian, & Luke are about to learn there are only so many secrets you can keep before the truth comes to reclaim you.
All Jenna wants is to escape her evaporating small town and her alcoholic mother. She's determined she'll go to college and find a life that is wholly hers—one that isn't tainted by her family's past. But when the McAlister twins move to town and Jenna gets involved with both of them, she learns the life she planned may not be the one she gets.
Ian McAlister doesn't want to start over; he wants to remember.
Ian can’t recall a single thing from the last three months—and he seems to be losing more memories every day. His family knows the truth, but no one will tell him what really happened before he lost his memory. When he meets Jenna, Ian believes that he can be normal again because she makes not remembering something he can handle.
The secret Ian can’t remember is the one Luke McAlister can’t forget.
Luke has always lived in the shadow of his twin brother until Jenna stumbles into his life. She sees past who he’s supposed to be, and her kiss brings back the spark that life stole. Even though Luke feels like his brother deserves her more, Luke can’t resist Jenna—which is the trigger that makes Ian's memory return.
Jenna, Ian, & Luke are about to learn there are only so many secrets you can keep before the truth comes to reclaim you.
• • • • • • • • • •
BLOG TOUR
October 1 - Jenuine Cupcake
October 4 - K-Books
October 5 - A Dream Within A Dream
October 6 - Wastepaper Prose
October 7 - Supernatural Snark
October 8 - A Book and a Latte
October 9 - Fiction Fare
October 10 - Met In Eleven
October 11 - Book Savvy
October 12 - Reading Lark
October 13 - Portrait of a Book
October 14 - Swoony Boys Podcast
Imagining stories is one thing and while I do this constantly, I am just not cut being a writer. So I admire everyone who sits down and just writes and writes until there is a story you just have to share!
ReplyDeleteYour book sounds great!!:-))
I'm not cut out for it either Danny! I can write reviews well enough, but creative writing is just not in my repertoire:)
DeleteGreat guest post. I love that this is just something she has to do. I don't think I would be cut out to be a writer either. Such hard work!!
ReplyDeleteSo true. Definitely a hard industry to get into and actually earn a living from, but I'm so grateful for Sarah and all the authors who do so because I get to experience what their brilliant minds create:)
DeleteI imagine, I just do not write...I should, it seems fun
ReplyDeleteI imagine as well, but don't write either:) Maybe you'll write something someday!
DeleteI can only imagine how it feels for authors to publish their books. I'm so glad that writing means that much to her. Great guest post Jenny :)
ReplyDeleteMe too, it's always fun to see an author's excitement about their book, it just makes me all the more excited to read it!
DeleteAhh, I love this cover! Also, such a sweet post about an author's love for writing! Thanks for sharing, Jenny!(:
ReplyDeleteIsn't it pretty? I really like it as well:)
DeleteGreat cover & I love the author's passion for her writing and for her teaching.
ReplyDeleteYES! She's adorable I think:)
DeleteThe author seems like she's super excited about her book being released and I love how enthusiastic she seems.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I'm not usually a fan of love triangles, but this one sounds really interesting. I can't wait to find out what's the deal with these twins.
Thanks for sharing, Jenny!
I'm with you on love triangles Nick, but I'm intrigued by this one as well. For some reason brothers falling for the same girl seems more plausible to me than the resident hot jock and new bad boy doing so:)
DeleteThis sounds like a great book! I'm totally going to add it to my tbr pile.
ReplyDeleteYay! Hope you love it Savy!
DeleteI love, love, love this cover. I also love this book because it remembers the place where we got it. And how much fun was had by all. :D
ReplyDeletePlease let that same fun repeat next year:) Minus the walking 800 blocks in search of a cab. That I can do without.
DeleteI love the author's passion for her writing and for willingness to learn and grow. The book's got a great cover too.
ReplyDeleteI admire Sarah for working so hard on improving herself and her stories! That's really awesome! So many authors out there seem to think that if their first book was a huge success then they're just perfect the way they are and they don't even bother thinking about excelling or reaching higher.
ReplyDeleteReclaimed sounds really interesting :) I'm glad I stopped by your blog today, Jenny, as this is the first time I'm hearing about this book - I definitely will be adding it to my TBR tho! :) Thanks for sharing!
I love that she says she writes because she can't NOT do it. I think that's why I write haha even if I suck, it can only get better, right? I admire people that always improve their craft, too :) great feature, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good book. I also enjoyed the post.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm guessing that writing is stressful but a good stress... :) All creative activity is like that. :D
Reclaimed sounds great and congrats to the author for getting it out there! I agree, each book should just get better and better, but you have to remember that opinions on that will vary and you can't let it get you down!
ReplyDeleteIt always makes me happy to hear from authors that have such passion.
ReplyDeleteThe cover to this book is absolutely gorgeous.
I really do admire people who can't NOT write, because it really is a passion for them. Wonderful guest post! This sounds like a cool story, and I hadn't heard of it yet, so thanks for putting it on my radar!
ReplyDelete