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A couple of weeks ago I noticed lots of girls-in-grass covers (my own included) and I mentioned fellow Contemps author Lisa Schroeder's latest, The Day Before, of which Booklist says: "Readers will find plenty of appeal factors in this outing... delivers a punch at the novel's end." (I love an end punch.)

Now she's here to share her Cover Story! Take it away, Lisa:

"I don't think about covers much, mostly because I've learned that it's not good to get attached to anything since who knows what you'll end up with. However, I really thought the cover would be a beach scene of some kind.

"I was surprised, because there wasn't a grain of sand to be found. I thought it was pretty, but I wasn't sure that it conveyed what the book is about. Although, more and more, I'm not sure that's a cover's purpose, necessarily..."

Read the rest of Lisa's Cover Story at melissacwalker.com.

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Lisa Schroeder is a native Oregonian which means her childhood summers were spent camping, fishing, reading books (of course!) and playing in the sun, when it finally came out. These days, Lisa spends her summers, and every other part of the year, sharing all of the wonderful things Oregon has to offer with her husband and two sons. She is the author of numerous books for kids and teens, including CHASING BROOKLYN (Simon Pulse, 2010) and IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES (Aladdin, 2010).

Which character came to you first – Amber or Cade? What sparked their story in your mind?

Amber came first, though I didn’t know much about her when I started writing. I’m very much a discovery writer, so I take a couple of seeds of ideas, and start in and see where they take me. As Amber began packing that morning for the day, I thought, hmmm, what’s she going to take with her? It was then that I discovered her love of jelly beans and that she was a drummer.

When I started writing, I wasn’t quite sure what was going on in her life that would cause her to want to get away for the day. All I knew was I wanted to write a book that took place over 24 hours, the day before a girl’s life was about to change forever.

How do you think you’d react if you found yourself in Amber’s position?

I think I’d be really pissed off and scared to death. And I honestly can’t imagine doing It – getting on that plane and going to a place unknown.

Amber has fantastic taste in music. Do her preferences reflect your own? If you had to pick a theme song for The Day Before, what would it be? Why?

She’s a big fan of Pink, and I love her too. She also loves White Stripes, which is probably an obvious choice because of the female drummer, and while I enjoy a couple of their songs, I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan or anything. The other reference in the book that comes from my own tastes is Matt Nathanson. I LOVE him. They’re in Cade’s car at that point, and I could totally see Cade being a Matt Nathanson fan, because Cade is a singer/songwriter I think Matt is one of the best singer/songwriters out there today.

Both Cade and Amber are talented musicians. Do you play any instruments? Are there any you wish you could play?

I wish I could play the guitar. I recently took some lessons, but my hands are just too small and it’s really hard for me. I’ve been toying with the idea of taking piano lessons – we have this beautiful piano in our house that my in-laws gave us, and no one plays it. I can dink around on it, and play melodies by ear, but I am seriously considering taking up lessons in the fall.

What’s your favorite jelly bean flavor? Do you have any calming quirks like Amber’s jelly bean habit?

Oh, hard question. Favorite flav

23 Comments on Author Interview: Lisa Schroeder (The Day Before) & Giveaway, last added: 8/1/2011

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Misha said, on 7/28/2011 11:35:00 PM

Great interview! This book has been on my TBR for quite a while.

I love Matt Nathanson! And Say Anything too! I wanted to learn to play the guitar, but somehow that never happened. I wish I could play some musical instrument, but I don't have the patience to learn. haha

(Not an entry)

Andra said, on 7/29/2011 6:09:00 AM

I really liked this interview :) Though I am kind of upset that you don't like mac and cheese...I pretty much eat mac and cheese everyother day :D Thanks for the chance to win! I've been wanting to read this for ever!

andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com

Zombie Girrrl said, on 7/29/2011 10:55:00 AM

I love being near water, too, but I can't read there because I'm too distracted by the urge to jump in.

I tweeted a link to your review and mentioned the giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/Zombie_Girrrl/status/96998764774035458

+1: I commented on your review

+1: I follow Lisa on Twitter: Zombie_Girrrl

[email protected]
Thanks for the giveaway! I really hope I win; I love verse novels (and that cute necklace).

Jenna said, on 7/29/2011 11:47:00 AM

I had no idea that Lisa was from Oregon. That being said, our perfect days are pretty much the same. I had never really thought of water having a common effect, but now that I think of it, water definitely makes me feel at home. Especially because of all the rain.

I can't wait to check out her newest book!

Jenna
jennapomme[at]yahoo[dot]com

Krystal said, on 7/29/2011 1:05:00 PM

I love being near water, always makes me feel more peaceful. I saw this book on Good Reads and have been dying to read and review it!!! Thank you for this chance. edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom facebooked http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=100000547840483
liked author on fb as Lindsay Ann
follow her on twitter as Icecream1891
tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/Icecream1891/status/97034122077286400
left a comment on your review as Krystal Larson

GFC follower of author's blog as Krystal Larson

+6 I think Thank you so much!

kimyunalesca said, on 7/29/2011 1:12:00 PM

Awesome Interview and Giveaway! I'm a new follower and just recently posted my First Book Interview check it out ^_^

http://kimyunalesca.blogspot.com/2011/07/author-interview-esther-jno-charles.html

[email protected]

Savanna said, on 7/29/2011 2:00:00 PM

Awesome giveaway & interview!

+1 I follow you on twitter (VampireXlover78)

+1 like author on facebook (savanna ucinski)

[email protected]

Sarah said, on 7/29/2011 5:13:00 PM

I absolutely loved her idea of what to do with herself on a day off. The idea was so calming and peaceful. Serenity comes to mind.

http://twitter.com/#!/clearxxeyes/status/97095150634934272 <Mentioned on Twitter<3

Review: I'm also hesitant about novels in verse! Your positive comment about that makes me more excited to read it. +1

I follow Lisa =D clearxxeyes +1

Thanks for this!

Linda @ Most Important Letter said, on 7/29/2011 8:06:00 PM

Tutti-frutti jelly bean flavor. Hmm. And not like macaroni and cheese? Pssh. XD

I mentioned your review and giveaway, Casey, on my blog: http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/contest-roundup-14/ (I apologize if you have to scroll down a while.)

+2 I also shared on Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/MostImportantL/status/97138231996448769) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=264163146930512&id=137325809663643).
+1 My review comment is under the name Linda @ Most Important Letter, of course.
+3 I follow Lisa under Linda (website), Most Important Letter (Facebook), and MostImportantL (Twitter).

Thanks for the giveaway, Lisa and Casey!

Linda @ Most Important Letter
[email protected]
http://mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/

Marty said, on 7/30/2011 12:13:00 AM

I would love to read this book. It sounds really interesting. I just moved to the Oregon coast so it was interesting to see that the author is from there :)

I posted this giveaway on my facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001871018660

[email protected]
smallhousebythesea.blogspot.com

Marty said, on 7/30/2011 12:16:00 AM

I tweeted about this giveaway here:

https://twitter.com/#!/chippybreath/status/97203630515552256

[email protected]

Marty said, on 7/30/2011 12:20:00 AM

I blogged about this giveaway here:

http://chippybreath.blogspot.com/2011/07/awesome-giveaway-at-bookish-type.html

[email protected]

Marty said, on 7/30/2011 12:23:00 AM

I follow Lisa Schroeder's blog.

[email protected]

Marty said, on 7/30/2011 12:24:00 AM

I liked Lisa Schroeder's FB page via Marty Woodruff.

[email protected]

Marty said, on 7/30/2011 12:25:00 AM

I follow Lisa Schroeder on twitter via chippybreath.

[email protected]

MarthaE said, on 7/30/2011 11:37:00 AM

Thanks for the interesting interview and the giveaway. I wish I had been allowed to get piano lessons when I was young. After my older siblings gave my parents such a hard time at practicing they didn't even try with me. :-(

I tweeted on the review here:
http://twitter.com/#!/MSEREADS/status/97372507048394753

+1 I left a comment on your review.
+1 I follow GFC MarthaE
+1 I follow on Twitter MSEREADS
+1 I follow on facebook Martha Eskuchen

Yolande said, on 7/30/2011 5:03:00 PM

This is an awesome giveaway and interview! I don't like mac & cheese either.

I tweeted: http://twitter.com/YolandePLL/status/97455659792080896

and I follow Lisa on Twitter under the username: YolandePLL

Thanks again!

Contact me here: candycane16 @ roadrunner . com

~Yolande :)

Sierra Cullen.♥ said, on 7/30/2011 11:56:00 PM

I love the interview! I want to visit Oregon. :) Lisa has a good idea of what to do on a day to herself. The water is peaceful; and an ocean in the background must be a beautiful sight.

+1 - Thoughntful comment on review
+1 - Website Follower {GFC: Sierra Cullen.♥}
+1 - Facebook "Like" - Sierra S.

ittssierraily[at]yahoo[dot]com

Chey said, on 7/31/2011 2:37:00 AM

Ooooh, The White Stripes! :)

I tweeted linking to your review and mentioning the giveaway- http://twitter.com/#!/ohaiitschey/status/97601176677265409

+1 Facebook- Cheyenne Teska
+1 Twitter- @ohaiitschey

Thank you so much, I've been wanting to read this book for a while!

mcrs_venin(at)hotmail(dot)com

LoriStrongin said, on 7/31/2011 2:45:00 PM

I've actually been wanting to read this one. Other than the Iliad and Odyssey, I've never read a book in prose but am certainly willing to try. I like the premise and definitely think I'll be adding this one to my TBR pile. Thanks for the fun interview!


And yes, Pink is awesome!


Smiles!
Lori

LisaILJ said, on 7/31/2011 5:32:00 PM

I am really excited to read this. Chasing Brooklyn was fantastic, and has stuck with me years later. I tweeted about the contest and review here:
http://twitter.com/#!/LisaLLibrarian/status/97824762562232320

thanks! leyser73 at yahoo dot com

+1 I follow Lisa's blog using the GFC name LisaILJ
+1 like her on FB using the Name Lisa Jay
+1 follow her on Twitter LisaLLibrarian
+1 put it on my FB wall, screen name Lisa Jay

Amy said, on 8/1/2011 2:15:00 PM

I love Lisa's poetry novels! She is very talented in verse or in prose!

I would love, love, love a copy of this book, Lisa and my girls would love it too.

Love Between Pages said, on 8/1/2011 7:48:00 PM

Thanks for the interview and giveaway!

I love reading verse or prose novels. And I also don't like macaroni and cheese.

Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/alemalvis/status/98222531235938305
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=156187027791826&id=601587860

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The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

In Stores Now!

Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.

If you've read my review, you know I loved this book. This trailer really captures its essence -- the value of simple moments, the way some days stand out in our minds like a black and white photograph. It perfectly reflects the book's beauty and romance, as well as its sadness, and the simplicity befits Lisa Schroeder's sparse, elegant verse.

Does this trailer make you want to read The Day Before? Have you already read it? Do you think the trailer does it justice?

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Sometimes life is divided into the Before, and the After. Amber knows that today is her last day Before. Before it all changes. Before nothing's the same. And she wants to spend this final day alone, at the beach with the music loud and no regrets. Her plans change, however, when she meets Cade. He seems to be there for the same reason -- living this last day before...what? Amber doesn't know his secret, and they agree not to ask. They just want to live life their way, one more time -- together. But Cade's secret might be more dangerous than Amber imagines, and she may be the only person left to stand between him and what comes After.

I honestly didn't think I could read an entire novel written in verse, but by the second or third page I'd completely forgotten about the style and was engrossed in Lisa Schroeder's tale. It's amazing how much detail and emotion can be conveyed in such few words, but Schroeder's careful word choice makes her sparse verse as vivid as the wordiest prose. The writing is innovative and fast, and piques readers' curiosity about what terrible thing is going to happen to this girl we feel like we've known our whole lives.

Amber finds herself in an impossible situation. At first, the desperation is felt even if the cause is unclear, but Schroeder doesn't make the reader wait too long to understand the circumstances -- revealed through flashbacks in the form of letters sprinkled throughout the text. Amber is utterly sympathetic -- finally a heroine who isn't the beautiful but unnoticed underdog. She is a short and stocky rocker chick with killer taste in music. She has her quirks (like a jelly bean obsession), and a great best friend and loving little sister, who make their presence felt even if they aren't all that present in the narrative action.

Cade's pain is even more of a mystery than Amber's, but he combines it with a wry wit that it utterly beguiling. Their determination to have one last day free of sorrow and full of the little things in life -- chosen by fate and the toss of a coin -- is romantic, if bittersweet. Though their relationship is built over the course of a single day, in this story it works. They are both living the same day -- the day before everything changes -- in the same way, and it binds them in a way they can't even fully express.

This tale has an almost haunted air, the lightness tainted by their somber secrets. As readers get to know these two beautiful people, marred by circumstances beyond their control, through the lyrical lens of Schroeder's verse, their hearts will soar and break and hope and despair right alongside the two teens who just want to live life on their own terms, free from responsibility and obligation -- for just one more day.


Disclosure: I received an advance galley from the publisher for an honest review.

This novel hits shelves today! Click here to purchase The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder.