Friday, September 5, 2014

Interview + Giveaway: Joy N. Hensley and Rites of Passage


I couldn't be more excited today to welcome author Joy Hensley to the blog to answer a few questions about her debut YA novel, Rites of Passage. As you guys already know, this book is one that made me rage and cry and want to scream at the top of my lungs at the unfairness of it all, but I loved every single second of it. Protagonist Sam proved herself to be stronger than those around her mentally when she simply couldn't be so physically, and I may or may not have hugged the book to my chest and imagined she might take some comfort from it. I think it's fairly obvious from my gushing this week and last that Rites of Passage has my highest recommendation, so I hope everyone picks up a copy next Tuesday when it releases!

Like Sam, you ended up at a military school on a dare. Can you tell us what you dared the other person to do in return?

Man, I wish I had some epic dare to give back, like swimming with sharks with fish strapped to your body or something like that. The truth is, I don’t think there was a return dare. I was struggling. I hated college, wanted to join the military, and my friend said, “Hey, I’ll give you $25 bucks if you last a year at military school.” Here’s a not-so-secret secret: I survived the year, but never got my $25. Believe me, this friend has never lived this down!

It’s her late brother’s final dare that has Sam enrolling at Denmark Military Academy. If Amos were alive to see her complete it, what gauntlet might Sam have thrown down for him next?

Oh, man, you’re throwing out the tough questions today! You know, their dares are such a part of them that at this point it would have to be something huge. And, it couldn’t be “Run a tough mudder,” because, you know, these guys are tough. I’d like to think Sam would make Amos be in a play or something—something that would totally put him outside his comfort zone and annoy the heck out of their dad at the same time!

The cruelty Sam endures at the hands of her superiors and her classmates is the type that had me wanting to punch the cover of the book in the hopes that a certain character or two might feel my knuckles where it would hurt them most. What was the last book that had you so emotionally involved you were ready to battle an inanimate object on a character’s behalf?

Wow! That’s awesome. I mean, I hope you don’t hurt yourselves punching things because of my book, but it would be kind of an awesome story to tell. As far as your question goes, I’ve got two—I hope that’s okay. I read a ton of YA, too, so these are both YA books, however, they are definitely adult books, too. No one I’ve recommended these books to has said they are anything other than life-changing, kids and adults alike.

First, there’s STOLEN, by Lucy Christopher. It’s written in letter form from a girl who was kidnapped to the guy who kidnapped her. She’s taken to the Australian Outback and held captive. It is so haunting and beautiful and OMG THE END I WANTED TO KILL EVERYONE AND THROW THE BOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND QUESTION MY WHOLE LIFE PURPOSE. I actually did have a student who threw the book across the room so hard that she broke a window and was grounded for it.

Second, WINGER, by Andrew Smith, without a doubt. That book…I just can’t even explain it. I’m a teacher (or was, this will be my first year out of the classroom in nine years) and I finished WINGER in the morning right before class. I was so upset I started crying. The bell rang, the students came in, and I was SOBBING at my desk because I so wanted to “fix” the book. The students just stared at me—they’d never seen anyone cry over a book before. While sniffling, I picked up the book and put it on one of my students’ desks. I said, “READ THIS. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!” Then I cried for ten more minutes while the kids just stared at me. I was one weird teacher, let me tell you!

Sam is unbelievably strong mentally and emotionally, determined to make it through the entire year at the DMA. What’s one quality of her character you too possess or one quality you wish you possessed?

Man, I wish I had Sam’s strength. I think part of the fun I had writing her was that I made her how I wish I had been at military school. I was more like her roommate (which is really embarrassing to say). I can look back now and tell you the million things I wish I’d done differently or tried harder at during my year in the Corps. Sam gave me the chance to do it over and kick ass!

Rites of Passage is written from Sam’s point of view, so we don’t get to spend any time in her drill sergeant’s head. If Drill were asked to describe the Sam of day one at DMA in three words, what words would he use? The Sam at the end of the book?

Man, these are hard questions. I’ve been away from Drill so long, I’m going to have to try and channel him. Let’s see….He’d probably say the Sam of day one is eager to prove herself. He sees a glimpse of his sister in her and he’s intrigued. The Sam at the end of the book? Faithful and without a doubt one of the strongest females he knows. He knows she’s destined for great things at the DMA and beyond.

Just for fun, let’s say Rites of Passage is now a paranormal novel. What supernatural gift or ability might Sam choose to help her get through the hazing?

Ha! Um, she’s pretty strong, so she wouldn’t need strength or speed or anything like that. It would have made it easier if she could have some sort of supernatural ability that helped her be likeable to anyone. Kind of like a chameleon—she would appear like the perfect person to anyone and everyone, no matter that she’s a girl there.

We’re left with things wrapped up pretty nicely, but there’s definitely room for more (please let there be more!). Looking forward to her second year, what would Sam say are her top three goals?

I would love for there to be more! Right now there aren’t any more DMA books in the works, but I certainly wouldn’t rule them out. Sam’s top three goals for next year?

1. Be the type of drill sergeant her recruits can trust and count on.
2. Be a model female and continue to show the boys that girls are just as good as them!
3. As always, make her dad proud.

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions Joy!

• • • • • • • • • • •

RITES OF PASSAGE


Sam McKenna’s never turned down a dare. And she's not going to start with the last one her brother gave her before he died.

So Sam joins the first-ever class of girls at the prestigious Denmark Military Academy. She’s expecting push-ups and long runs, rope climbing and mud-crawling. As a military brat, she can handle an obstacle course just as well as the boys. She's even expecting the hostility she gets from some of the cadets who don’t think girls belong there. What she’s not expecting is her fiery attraction to her drill sergeant. But dating is strictly forbidden and Sam won't risk her future, or the dare, on something so petty...no matter how much she wants him.

As Sam struggles to prove herself, she discovers that some of the boys don’t just want her gone—they will stop at nothing to drive her out. When their petty threats turn to brutal hazing, bleeding into every corner of her life, she realizes they are not acting alone. A decades-old secret society is alive and active… and determined to force her out.
At any cost.


Now time's running short. Sam must decide who she can trust...and choosing the wrong person could have deadly consequences.



• • • • • • • • • • •

JOY N. HENSLEY


Born and raised in Virginia, I've come back to my roots after five years of wandering up and down the East Coast. From being a barista to editing, writing commercials for television to being a middle school/high school English teacher, there's nothing I'm not willing to try. That includes going to military school (on a dare), hiking 600 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and playing in the mud with my students!

A graduate of Greensboro College, I received the Excellence in English award for my fiction and poetry contributions. In 2007 I graduated from Long Ridge Writers Group's Breaking Into Print class, and in 2009 I finished their Shape, Write, and Sell Your Novel classes.
 

Now, between hiking, doing obstacle course runs, and having fun with my husband and two sons, I continue to write. I am repped by Mandy Hubbard at D4EO Literary Agency.


• • • • • • • • • • • 

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to Joy and HarperTeen I have some very cool swag, including official Rites of Passage dog tags, to give away on the blog today! And because I loved this book so much, I'm going to throw in a copy to one lucky winner, so please fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter. Giveaway is open to US addresses only. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

37 comments:

  1. brave girl. Could I do it...NO! Ha, like for 1 hour at most

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    1. I couldn't either. I think my mouth would get me in trouble, I'd have problems with the chain of command I think ;-)

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  2. Joy, I think you definitely need to collect your 25 dollars! Wow! I totally agree with you about Stolen. That ending! I wish we had a follow-up novella. Joy, I'm working up the courage to read your book. As usual your questions are awesome, Jenny! Great post, ladies!

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    1. RIGHT? She deserves that $25!!! Really hope you start this one soon Rachel:) SO GOOD!

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  3. Wow, once again what an absolutely brilliant brilliant interview, Jenny! I love how interesting and poignant your questions always are!
    Mad props for Joy for joining a military school/academy for a year, I'd die in one for sure!

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    1. Thanks so much Pili! I just loved this book more than words can say, so I had a lot of fun asking Joy questions:)

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  4. YAY!!!! I hope she loves it as much as I did:)

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  5. Oh my gosh I love that this was in short, based on a real life dare, how awesome is that?
    Wonderful interview questions Jenny, I loved this whole thing!

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    1. Right? Joy is WAY braver than I am! I wouldn't last a day in military school I don't think.

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  6. You joined military school on a dare!? I admire your moxie, but whoa! At least the experience served you well though because Rites of Passage came to be. You really showed no mercy with your interview questions today, Jenny. I love it!

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    1. I LOVED THIS BOOK CARMEL! I had to ask all the questions ;-)

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  7. Yeah Stolen definitely captivated me. I was so repulsed by it but also couldn't put it down until I finished it. It will definitely make your head spin. I have heard similar things about Winger but I haven't gotten around to it yet. Great interview!

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    1. I need to read Stolen for sure. So many books out there I still need to get to!

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  8. Great interview! And I can't believe you joined military school because of a dare – I would be way too scared.

    I'm really looking forward to reading this and the interview questions have given me a good idea of what Sam is like :) I think I'll like her!

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    1. I hope you love it Zareena! Sam just blew me away, she was amazing:)

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  9. I loved that story about Winger. I am going to look that book up right now. I have to read this. I just scheduled it on my blog and I can't wait. I like that it is based a bit on personal experience and if I were Joy I would be getting that $25 bucks with interest!

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    1. I can't wait to see what you think Heidi!!!!

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  10. This sounds like such an intense book! I love a book that makes you want to punch stuff, at the same time it makes it hard when you have kids cause I know I get a little snarly. I bet it was hard to teach after finishing Winger, I know it would be hard to switch over to teaching after an emotional trauma like that. I haven't read it yet, so I guess I need to.
    I still need to read Stolen, but I have it. I kind of want to read it right now!
    Awesome interview, as always Jenny!
    Sorry I've been absent, my parents were visiting. They just left so I'm BACK!

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    1. It WAS intense Candace. I was all tied up in knots the whole time, but I loved everything about it. You just can't not root for Sam, she's unbelievable throughout, so much stronger than I would be in her shoes!

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  11. Glad you guys enjoyed the interview! I keep bugging my friend for my $25 but she says she doesn't remember it. Likely story! I hope you enjoy Winger and Stolen--just have tissues handy! :-)

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    1. Uh huh. Sure she doesn't remember ;-) I think maybe you just need to dare her to do something now, then you'll be sort of even!

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  12. You have me drawn in. A book that elicits that strong emotions need to be on my stack of books. Great questions Jenny!

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    1. I'm giving this one to you for sure. You must read it:)

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  13. Great interview! I'm definitely looking forward to reading this. Sounds amazing! :) Thanks for sharing!

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    1. It was amazing Lisa!!! One of my favorites of the year for sure:)

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  14. $25 for military school? Not enough for me. He really needs to pay up. :) Plus, I think you added a couple of books to my wishlist... :) Brilly interview!

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  15. As always, I absolutely LOVE your questions, Jenny! :) I also agree with Joy 100% regarding STOLEN--that book completely made me question my life purpose too. I mean...iidnsgknskn THAT BOOK. ;)

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  16. It's funny because I know a woman named Sam McKenna and I just told her that her book came out. ;-) Great interview! What supernatural ability would YOU give Sam, Jenny? I think it's impressive that Joy lived the story before writing it in a better and more satisfying way. Hooray for fiction to "write" reality's wrongs!

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  17. Congrats to Joy on the new release! Wow.. this sounds very intriguing ;) Ummm... I think that I would have needed a lot more than $25 to motivate me to join a military academy so kudos to you! Thanks for sharing!

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  18. Hmm, well this is an interview I should re-read after reading the book. I think I'll make more connections then :) Sam looks, again, like a super character and those specific answers are really great, Jenny. Oh wow, if it were a paranormal novel, it would be awesome. O.o But I'm sure it's great still. Can't wait to get my hands on it!

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  19. LOL Joy! You see how super good Jenny is at asking questions. Once again Jenny you did an amazing job! :) I love that description of Stolen and OH MY IT'S SO TRUE! I wanted to scream my heart out. Cause really that book. I mean wow. Great interview, Jenny :)

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  20. Great storyline. Love the character and the unexpected conflict.

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  21. Without a doubt, I need to read this. I love her answer about what the character would dare her brother.

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  22. YAY! I loved this interview Jenny. As always you always ask such great questions. And I agree! There is always room for more. I WANT MORE!!

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  23. Ah! this interview is amazing!
    You're questions are the best! The best!

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  24. I can't wait to read this book!! :)

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