I’m especially excited to tour my Girlfriends’ Cyber Circuit and long-time YA author buddy, Sara Hantz in support of her new book IN THE BLOOD, which is out from Entangled Teen on Tuesday , November 5th! I had the opportunity to read an advance copy and this is what I thought of it:
“Sara Hantz doesn't pull any punches shaping this story of one of the toughest, most complicated family situations that a teen could face. Jed's emotions are raw and real. I ached and raged with him and frantically turned pages to see where he would end up.”
Want to learn more? Well, you are in luck!
For seventeen years, Jed Franklin’s life was normal. Then his father was charged with the abuse and murder of four young boys and normal became a nightmare.
His mom’s practically a walking zombie, he’s lost most of his friends, and the press camps out on his lawn. The only things that keep him sane are his little sis; his best friend and dream girl, Summer; and the alcohol he stashes in his room. But after Jed wakes up from a total blackout to discover a local kid has gone missing—a kid he was last seen talking to—he’s forced to face his greatest fear: that he could somehow be responsible.
In a life that’s spiraled out of control, Jed must decide if he chooses his own destiny with Summer by his side or if the violent urges that plagued his father are truly in the blood…
About Sara Hantz:
Sara Hantz originally comes from the UK and is one of four children, having three younger brothers. Although she was an avid reader from a very early age, she didn't get the writing bug until much later in life, though English was always one of her stronger subjects. She's an avid sun chaser and now lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Australia (via 10 years in New Zealand). Sara lectured for many years before deciding to devote more time to her writing and working in the family hospitality business. She has two grown-up children and when not writing, working, or online with her friends, she spends more time than most people she knows watching TV - in fact if TV watching was an Olympic sport she'd win gold. Sara’s books: In The Blood, The Second Virginity of Suzy Green and Will The Real Abi Saunders Please Stand Up (due out May 2014).
The Interview:
Q: What inspired you to write this book?
SARA: If ever I read or watched about some horrific crime committed I would always wonder how it affected the perpetrator’s family and what happened to them. The idea for my book just grew from that.
Q: The main character of my first book, I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE, is the kind of girl I wanted to be (a rock star!), the MC of my second book has a lot more in common with teenage me. Is your main character someone you wish you could be, someone a lot like you, or your total opposite? How so?
SARA: Although my main character is a boy there is one big likeness and that’s the way he turns in on himself when something bad happens – I’m the same, I’d rather not tell anyone and just deal with it on my own, in my own way.
The main similarity between me and the main character of my book, Jed, is that he likes to deal with things on his own. I’m like that, too. If anything bad happens I seldom tell anyone, just deal with it internally.
Q: If there was a soundtrack for your book what are five songs that would be on it and how do they relate the story?
SARA: Smile written by Charlie Chaplin, because I think that’s what Summer would advise Jed to do.
What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life written by Michel Legrand, because for me this is one of the greatest love songs of all time and illustrates Jed’s feelings for Summer.
We Are The Champions written by Freddy Mercury, because we want Jed to fight and not give in to what happens to him.
Ordinary People by John Legend, because it’s represents the life that Jed and Summer will have.
Royals written by Lorde, because I’m obsessed with it, could listen to it all day long!
Q: In addition to writing books, I also write for a website for teens called Rookie, which has a regular feature called "Literally The Best Thing Ever," wherein we write about a thing that we think is super mega awesome (even if it is the type of thing that others might call a guilty pleasure, we believe there is nothing guilty about pleasure!) and explain why we think it is literally the best thing ever. It's generally a kind of unexpected thing, for example I wrote one about the soap opera, One Life To Live. I don't expect you to write a whole essay obviously, but can you briefly tell us what either you or your character (or both!) would say is "Literally The Best Thing Ever" and why?
SARA: My best thing ever would have to be The Big Bang Theory. I love it so much. I have all shows on DVD and watch them over and over. They always make me laugh whatever mood I’m in.
Q: What are you working on for us next?
SARA: My next book is Will The Real Abi Saunders Please Stand Up and is about an introverted girl who ends up being a stunt girl for a wild teen movie star.
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