Monday, December 7, 2015

The Trouble With Destiny: Interview + Giveaway


Today I'm excited to have author Lauren Morrill stopping by the blog as part of the promotional tour for her newest release, The Trouble With Destiny. Lauren was nice enough to answer a few questions for me about music, chocolate and her protagonist Liza, so I hope you guys enjoy the interview! Be sure and check the bottom of the post too for all the details on a fantastic giveaway:)
If Liza’s band was to accompany you on a promotional tour for The Trouble with Destiny, what song would they play as your introduction at each stop?

“Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks, which has a moment in Destiny. And because it makes me think of my own high school experience growing up in east Tennessee (where Liza and her friends are from as well!).

It’s midnight chocolate buffet time on the Destiny. What are the three delicious goodies you go for first?

Brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and a chocolate croissant.

Liza is an extremely organized young woman. If she were to see the bits and pieces of your current work in progress (notes, outlines, etc.), would she nod in approval or suddenly develop a nervous tic and want to show you all the ways she could help you?

She would LOSE. HER. MIND. Right now I’m basically drafting by opening up the document and dropping in a paragraph in chapter 3 or a sentence in chapter 9. One of my chapters is just called “last few chapters,” while another is called “somewhere in the middle.” I’m not a linear writer!

If you could book a cruise tomorrow, where would that boat be headed?

I want to take one of those European river cruises, where you stop in different countries. As much as I enjoy reading a book on a beach, I’d love to do some awesome historical tours of castles and museums.

Let’s play Two Truths and a Lie, Destiny-style. Please share two crazy, fun, or embarrassing things that actually happened while on board and one tall tale. (We’ll just have to read to find out which is which ;-))
—One character kisses Liza, and immediately after, another character punches him in the face.
—Demi and the Athenas are performing a medley of boy-band hits when a pipe bursts overhead and douses the stage and the performers, who never stop singing.
—An accidental mixture of Dramamine and Benadryl has Liza passing out in her nemesis’s closet.
Thanks so much Lauren!

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THE TROUBLE WITH DESTINY


It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey...

With her trusty baton and six insanely organized clipboards, drum major Liza Sanders is about to take Destiny by storm—the boat, that is. When Liza discovered that her beloved band was losing funding, she found Destiny, a luxury cruise ship complete with pools, midnight chocolate buffets, and a $25,000 spring break talent show prize.

Liza can’t imagine senior year without the band, and nothing will distract her from achieving victory. She’s therefore not interested when her old camp crush, Lenny, shows up on board, looking shockingly hipster-hot. And she’s especially not interested in Russ, the probably-as-dumb-as-he-is-cute prankster jock whose ex, Demi, happens be Liza’s ex–best friend and leader of the Athenas, a show choir that’s the band’s greatest competition.

But it’s not going to be smooth sailing. After the Destiny breaks down, all of Liza’s best-laid plans start to go awry. Liza likes to think of herself as an expert at almost everything, but when it comes to love, she’s about to find herself lost at sea.


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LAUREN MORRILL



Lauren Elizabeth Morrill is many things, including, but not limited to, a writer, an educator, a badass roller derby skater, a former band nerd, an aggressive driver, and a die-hard Mac person. She also watches a lot of TV, eats a lot of junk food, and drinks a lot of Coke. It's a wonder her brain and teeth haven't rotted out of her head.

Lauren is the author of Meant to Be, Being Sloane Jacobs, The Trouble With Destiny, and the forthcoming My Unscripted Life (October 2016), all from Random House.

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GIVEAWAY

One winner (US or Canada Only) will receive a Lauren Morrill prize pack of signed copies of all Lauren's books and swag!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

22 comments:

  1. *waves hello*

    One of those cruises sounds lovely right now to me :)

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  2. Midnight chocolate buffets?? That sounds like a reason in itself to sign up for a cruise!
    What a fantastic interview Jenny!

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    1. I NEED A MIDNIGHT CHOCOLATE BUFFET IMMEDIATELY PILI!

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  3. Lol at the answer to how Lauren writes. Also, how dare you mention chocolate without having some on hand?! ;) Now, I'm craving two-bite brownies and a chocolate croissant!

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  4. I just started this book today....looking forward to reading it. Thanks for sharing the great interview and giveaway. Yes to those European River Cruises as well--definitely want to take one of them in the future.

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    1. I do too Christina, they look absolutely amazing. Expensive, but amazing:)

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  5. I love how author's characters can be so opposite to them! I loved this read, it truly was a fun and sweet one, in fact, all of her books are.
    Great interview Jenny and thanks to the both of you for letting us read it!

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    1. So glad you enjoyed it Ali!

      Look, I got your name right this time ;-)

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  6. Oh this does sound good, and what an adorable cover! I'm curious about which one is a lie so I may have to read the book now. ;)

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    1. I love this cover Candace! It's so different from what I've seen in contemporary YA up to this point:)

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  7. I read this one last week, and it had some cute moments. Interesting reading the interview :)

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    1. Looking forward to your thoughts on it Heidi!

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  8. Darn it! We all need a cruise! :) I also would have hated it if I didn't have band in HS.

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  9. Such a cute interview! This sounds like a fun read!

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  10. Midnight Chocolate Buffet? Is that a thing at cruises?!

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  11. Haha ... Friends in Low Places. Great interview. This sounds like a fun book for sure.

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  12. This sounds so sweet and fun - I don't think I've read anything recently with a cruise ship as the setting, and who can resist that Midnight Chocolate Buffet :)
    Thanks, Jenny!!

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  13. This sounds like a fun read. Thanks for sharing.

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  14. On our honeymoon the cruise we were on had a midnight buffet that was unbelievable.

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