Thrice Interview: TORCHED

Hi! Today we’re celebrating the release of my friend Andrea Lynn Colt’s book TORCHED.

Rose Whitfield’s senior year just went up in smoke. Instead of having a blast with her best friend, her cheerleading squad, and her boyfriend Ryan, she’s framed for arson. Popularity and criminal records don’t mix, apparently.

Luckily, Rose knows exactly who’s framing her: Paxton Callaway. Paxton and Rose have spent years locked in a war of practical jokes. This time he’s gone too far. Rose sets out to prove her innocence, win Ryan back, and take Paxton down hard. Not necessarily in that order.

Like I said yesterday – I got to read an early draft of TORCHED. I just searched my Gmail and found the email I sent to Andrea after I finished: Just a quick note to say that I read your ms tonight in a whole giant gulp over the last 3 hours and I LOVE IT. I’m not a huge straight contemporary reader but it sucked me in and I was cheering for Rose and I heart <redacted for spoilers> and I wanted to stab various people but I was so so proud of her by the end! Ha. As you can tell from my gushing, I highly recommend TORCHED. It’s got such a compelling mystery, a really likable heroine, and a romance full of banter!

Now for the interview:

1. Describe your main character in 3 adjectives + a noun.

Rose is a feisty, witty, determined cheerleader! She doesn’t take things lying down, and the boy who can keep up with her quips is the one who’ll win her heart.

2. Describe your book in 3 adjectives + a noun.

TORCHED is a feisty, witty, determined cheerleader! … of a book. It refused to be put under the mattress 🙂

3. Describe yourself in 3 adjectives + a noun.

I am a feisty, witty, determined cheerleader! 

 … or not. Although my friends laugh at my jokes (at least, they pretend to), and I refused to give up on TORCHED even after my agent lost interest, so I guess I’d like to think I’m feisty, witty and determined. 

But I was more physics-club than cheerleader in high school, so … *searches for a noun* *pulls one out* How about student? I love learning new skills, and I’ve learned so many in the run-up to TORCHED’s launch (formatting, layout, cover design, etc.) that I feel like I’m in college again. Only no grades this time 🙂

4. If you could travel to any 3 countries, what would they be?

Italy, Spain (though I’ve been there before) and France. Basically I want to go anywhere I can eat lots of cheese and drink lots of delicious wine! (Jess’s note: Me too!)

5. If you could take any 3 non-writing-related classes, what would they be?

Ooh, I’d love to learn glass-blowing. And photography, so I can take great pictures of my glass sculptures. And then probably Photoshop, so I could make my glass sculpture pictures look much more impressive than they are! (Jess’s note: Glass-blowing would be SO COOL.)

6. If you could have 3 alternate careers, what would they be?

Graphic artist, like my sister (she is who I turn to when my attempts at cover art aren’t working). Party planner! And … is there such a thing as a professional cheese taster?

7. What are 3 of your favorite flowers?

Tulips! Gerbera daisies. And red roses, which will feature prominently in my wedding next spring 🙂 

8. What are 3 of your favorite foods?

Have I mentioned yet that I like cheese? lol! Ideal cheese trio: cheddar so sharp you can cut your tongue on it, soft goat cheese mixed with honey, and smoked gouda. [Add some peppered salami, a baguette, apple slices and chocolate-covered raisins, and it’s my perfect meal!] (Jess: Andrea always brings the BEST CHEDDAR EVER for writing retreats!)

9. What are 3 of your favorite books?

WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS was a favorite growing up. For a slightly more adult favorite, KUSHIEL’S DART by Jacqueline Carey is a fixture on my reread shelf. And for witty sci-fi fun, the Miles Vorkosigan series (starting with THE WARRIOR’S APPRENTICE) by Lois McMaster Bujold always brightens my day!

 For YA books … am I allowed to say BORN WICKED? BORN WICKED! I loved Cate’s strength. I also loved CATCHING JORDAN by Miranda Kenneally (it’s about a girl quarterback! And cute boys! I love a book with a Happily Ever After), and THE DUFF by Kody Keplinger, which stars a feisty, witty heroine … I might have a soft spot for those 😉

Thanks so much for stopping by, Andrea, and happy book birthday! And remember, readers, TORCHED is only $3.99 on Kindle or Nook!

I’ll say my thanks in threes:

Thanks for having me here, thanks for loving TORCHED, and for anyone who checks out TORCHED, thanks for reading!