Playing Hurt Blog Tour

YA Book Nuts is proud to be a part of Holly Schindler's Playing Hurt Blog Tour.  Holly is the author of both Playing Hurt and A Blue So Dark.  We really appreciated being able to interview Holly and ask her questions about her books and what she has planned.  We had a lot of fun thinking about what we wanted to ask her and she has been incredibly kind, compassionate, and helpful.  Thanks Holly for writing such amazing books and just being YOU!

Holly Schindler Interview


1.  What inspired you to write a story about two damaged people finding each other?


Actually, my initial inspiration was to write a story about learning the difference between loving someone (how Chelsea feels for Gabe) and truly being IN love with someone (how she feels for Clint).  The sports subplot came about roughly five years later, during the final rewrite—when I realized what was missing for both Chelsea AND Clint: backstory!


2.  The basketball scenes were amazing and we were surprised to learn (from the back of the book) that you were not a basketball player... so how did you write such realistic scenes?


What an incredible compliment!  Of all the team sports, I’d say I probably know the most about basketball…I played some driveway basketball (pitifully), and remember fondly when the Lady Bears went to the Final Four when I was in college…


3.  What did you think about how Chelsea treated Gabe?  Were there ever times when you felt a little bad for Gabe?


I really do believe that if the tables were turned, and Clint had come to Chelsea’s neck of the woods—say, decided to go to college inMissouri—Chelsea would have broken things off with Gabe before getting involved with Clint.  But she’s on vacation—she’s never going to break up with someone long distance in order to explore a relationship with Clint.  That’s just not realistic.  And I think she truly had to explore the relationship with Clint, rather than ignore her feelings.  In many ways, that relationship is the most meaningful of her life: she learns what passion is, finds new direction, rediscovers the light in her life.  But I do believe we all get our own Clint—what I mean, is I think Gabe will also have a woman in his life who affects him the way Clint affects Chelsea.


4.  For someone's first time, Chelsea seemed to handle it a lot better than some girls might.  Is there a reason that you write it this way?


If it’s right, it’s right—and that takes the fear, worry, etc. out of the situation.  She doesn’t handle the Carlyle quite as well.  She’s reduced to tears during that scene, actually.  Because being with Gabe isn’t right—and she knows it.


5.  Is the boot camp from your story based on an actual place?


It’s not, actually—completely made up.


6.  Your first book, A BLUE SO DARK,  was significantly different from this book, and we were wondering which book was harder for you to write?


BLUE just poured out—I drafted, edited and began to submit it in just two months!  PLAYING HURT took longer to draft (in all honestly, I drafted it before BLUE), but I don’t really look back on one as being easier than the other.  Both required several rounds of global rewrites before they sold.


7.  What are you currently working on and do you have something coming out soon?


My debut MG will be released by Dial in 2012.  And as for new material, I’m working on an adult novel…I have three more books outlined (and new ideas pop all the time)…


8.  Is the town you live in similar to the towns in the story?


I live in Springfield, the setting for A BLUE SO DARK.  I did take plenty of liberties with that setting—Crestview High and Zellers Photography are figments of my imagination, for example.  Fair Grove (Chelsea’s hometown in PLAYING HURT) is a short drive from Springfield—similar liberties were taken with that setting…

I did film a short virtual tour, though, of the places that show up in my books:

[Here’s the link to the YouTube page: http://youtu.be/KVrpSJr9T_M

9.  With all of the paranormal stories out there, have you ever considered writing in that genre or do you prefer the genre of realistic fiction?

I’ve already genre-hopped a tad in my books: BLUE is a literary novel, PLAYING HURT is a romance.  I’d never count out any genre, where I’m concerned!

10.  What authors and/or books do you recommend to teenagers?

There are SOOO many great authors out there…Bloggers are fantastic about always trying to seek out new authors…And that’s really the best thing I can recommend: The next time you hit a bookstore or library, you should intentionally pick up a book by an author you’ve NEVER read before, to discover a brand new voice!

11.  Will we see more in the Chelsea and Clint story?

I’d love to hang out with Chelsea and Clint again!  Right now, there’s nothing on the table, in terms of a deal for a sequel.

12.  How do you figure out what your characters are going to be named?

The names have all come to me in different ways.  After a while, you find yourself going out to pick up a burger and think, while you’re standing in line, “That guy looks like a Matt.”  It’s funny how name-picking just becomes an innate part of a writer…

13.  Which character from the book do you most identify with and why?

It’s funny—when you write in first person, you wind up identifying, to some extent, with all of your protagonists.  I think every time you use the word “I,” bits of yourself—your observations, your humor—just naturally leak through.

Thanks to Holly Schindler for allowing us to be a part of her book tour.  You can follow Holly on Twitter: @holly_schindler.  Holly also blogs with other fellow YA authors at YA Outside the Lines:  http://yaoutsidethelines.blogspot.com/ and has just started a group blog for middle grade authors at Smack Dab in the Middle:  http://smack-dab-in-the-middle.blogspot.com/.

She will also be doing a USTREAM chat with ReachOut on May 18th, 5 pm PST.  Here's the link if you would like to check it out:  http://us.reachout.com/reachoutreads.

Review: Playing Hurt

Title:  Playing Hurt
Author:  Holly Schindler

     From GoodReads, "Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college-and everyone's admiration in her hometown. But everything changed senior year, when she took a horrible fall during a game. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.

As a graduation present, Chelsea's dad springs for a three-week summer "boot camp" program at a northern Minnesota lake resort. There, she's immediately drawn to her trainer, Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player who's haunted by his own traumatic past. As they grow close, Chelsea is torn between her feelings for Clint and her loyalty to her devoted boyfriend back home. Will an unexpected romance just end up causing Chelsea and Clint more pain-or finally heal their heartbreak?"

     Chelsea, one of the main characters of this story, is not your typical high school female character.  She is not a cheerleader or boy-crazy. She isn't student council president or a slacker.  She is flawed.  She was once the star player of her high school basketball team when an unfortunate accident changed her basketball career and her life.  There are a lot of things that I like about this book including the way that Holly Schindler writes so realistically that you actually believe that she probably did most of the things that she is describing, later to find out that she didn't.  But my favorite thing about this book is that the two main characters, Chelsea and Clint are written as flawed characters.  There lives are far from perfect and I believe because of this many readers will be able to identify with them in some way.

     I also really like that Holly Schindler explores the difference between having love for a person and being in love.  The differences between the relationships that Chelsea has with Gabe, her boyfriend back home and Clint, her trainer at summer camp are significant and remarkable.  It was easy to see how Chelsea could be drawn to both boys in very different ways.  I found myself really feeling bad for Gabe because he is such a nice guy, but being drawn to Clint's ruggedness and sensitivity... much the same as Chelsea.  The chemistry between Clint and Chelsea was undeniable and many of the scenes between them were hot, hot, hot!

     

Review: Six Rules of Maybe

Title:  The Six Rules of Maybe
Author:  Deb Caletti


     From GoodReads, "Scarlet spends most of her time worrying about other people. Some are her friends, others are practically strangers, and then there are the ones no else even notices. Trying to fix their lives comes naturally to her. And pushing her own needs to the side is part of the deal. So when her older sister comes home unexpectedly married and pregnant, Scarlet has a new person to worry about. But all of her good intentions are shattered when the unthinkable happens: she falls for her sister’s husband. For the first time in a long time, Scarlet’s not fixing a problem, she’s at the center of one. And ignoring her feelings doesn’t seem to be an option..."


     I found myself loving this book and especially the little pearls of wisdom from the author Deb Caletti mixed into main character Scarlet's observations.  There were many times that I would pause my reading to write down some of the author's words because it connected with me so.  The writing is so beautiful.  I have recommended this book to many students, unfortunately not too many have finished the book saying that it had too much detail.  
     I liked the relationship between Scarlet and Hayden, even though I knew that it probably wouldn't go anywhere.  I also liked the interconnectedness between Scarlet, her sister, and her mother.  They were such different characters, but it all came down to a love of each other.  I would recommend this book to deep thinkers.

Review: Trapped

Title:  Trapped
Author:  Michael Northrop


     From GoodReads, "The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive....


Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision..."


     As I sit underneath my comforter in my relatively warm house and watch the snow fly all I can think of is this terrific book! I can honestly say that I have never read anything like it.
     Three friends are inside school and notice that it is beginning to snow... a little at first and then in great gobs.  School is let out early (I can hear students' cheering), but instead of going home on the buses, the boys decide to stay and work on a shop project.  As they work it continues to snow, unfortunately it doesn't stop for a long while, but by the time they realize it, they are trapped.
     The student that are trapped along with the three friends are as different as night and day.  It was interesting to see whether the dynamics and stereotypes that they have within school would carry over to the story.  The wonderful writing by Michael Northrop made me so engaged in the story that at times I felt as if I was right in there only to realize that I was safe in my own house.
     The story starts with what most of the students think is a mild snow and transitions into a life-threatening dilemma.  Being from the midwest, it was easy to see how this could happen.   I also liked that Northrop didn't hold back from the scarier parts of what might (and in this case did) happen.  Several of the things that I am absolutely afraid of were in this book and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.  Some might think that this book is written for a mainly male audience due to a few of the inside jokes of the boys in the story, but I found it to be refreshingly unique and I think it will appeal to a female audience as well.  There were a few loose ends in the book that I didn't care for, but I predict a snowfall of fans. (Pun intended!)

Review: Desires of the Dead

Title:  Desires of the Dead
Author:  Kimberly Derting


     From GoodReads, "The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger."

     As a huge fan of The Body Finder, I was very much looking forward to reading the second installment in the series.  I didn't like this book as much as the first book, but it was still an enjoyable read.
     The main character, Violet, is your typical, average, every-day student with the exception of the fact that she can sense dead bodies... they actually call out to her.  I absolutely love Violet's character and her abilities.  I think that she is so expertly written by Derting that a possibility of many books with different plots, twists, and turns would be possible.  In this book, she is being stalked by someone and Derting has added the element of reading the stalker's thoughts along with Violet's, which gave the book a new and different perspective.  I liked the fact that every time I thought I had everything figured out, I was completely wrong.
     In the first book, I liked the budding romance of Violet and her best friend Jay.  In this book, they are still a couple and there are developments to their relationship, some are a little quick for me, but would probably happen that quickly in the real world.  Violet is still unsure, at times, which makes for interesting reading because I really liked her perspective on things.  I also liked the addition of the not FBI, but something characters of Sara and Rafe and think that they will probably play a pivotal role in the next book.    This book is another good read by Kimberly Derting and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Review: Cryer's Cross

Title:  Cryer's Cross
Author:  Lisa McMann


     From GoodReads, "The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried."


     Cryer’s Cross is the fourth book I have read from Lisa McMann and once again she didn’t disappoint me.  It has been awhile since I read a book with so much suspense and mystery that was not a paranormal.  It felt really real to life and I think that is the scary part.  It had grief, mystery, suspense and surprisingly romance in the mix.  The main character Kendall is very strong, brave, and real.  It was easy to relate to her because I am from Nebraska and a small town.  So if you liked Lisa McMann’s other books, or need a break from paranormal, but like suspense, or just need a break from girl drama books this book won’t disappoint you!  I highly recommend!

Review: Vesper

Title:  Vesper
Author:  Jeff Sampson


     From GoodReads, "Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.

The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human?

As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?"

     I was really excited to read this book because it seemed that it was going to be a unique book in the science fiction/fantasy realm.  It is unique, however, I don't think that it is unique enough to stand out when there are so many awesome book offerings out there.

     The main character, Emily Webb, is the sort of girl that I normally like to read about.  She's shy, kind of geeky, and really only has one close friend.  If the whole story was just written in this perspective, I might have liked it more.  Unfortunately, there are multiple aspects/characters to Emily's personality.  There is the Nightime Emily persona, which is the daredevil, try-anything-once, kind-of girl and there is also the other side of Emily, which isn't exactly human side.  The problem with the multiple personalities thing was.. that most of her personalities really annoyed me.  

     The story itself was also confusing.  Even reading the last pages of the book, I still found myself asking, "What is going on here?" and although there will be at least another book, I am honestly not interested in reading it at all.  In fact, there were times throughout the story when I found myself wishing that the killer had better luck in offing Emily... Daytime, Nighttime, or otherwise.  

     

Review: Delirium

Title:  Delirium
Author:  Lauren Oliver


     From GoodReads, "Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. 

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love."

     I was a little hesitant to read a futuristic book, but decided to give it a shot because I absolutely loved Lauren Oliver's previous book, Before I Fall.  I found that the future aspect of this book didn't bother me at all.  Delirium has so many good things going for it.  It has suspense, mystery, but best of all, a forbidden love story.  Any book that has a love so strong and has so much potential and so many obstacles... this book really moved me!  I kept reading, thinking... "Come on, please make it work!"  

     Then there is the secondary character of Alex.  The one that main character, Lena Holloway, shouldn't be with.  The one who the society says is all-wrong for her.  Alex is thoughtful, mysterious, and romantic.  This is a book you have got to read!

     The only bad thing about the book is that the next on isn't coming out until 2012!  Will I read it?  You bet!

Review: Here Lies Bridget

Title:  Here Lies Bridget
Author: Paige Harbison


     From GoodReads, "Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don't worship as attentively, teachers don't fall for her wide-eyed "who me?" look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she's always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.
When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she's wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she's inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.


And Bridget's about to learn that, sometimes, saying you're sorry just isn't enough…."


     This is one of those books that when you finish it you say to yourself, “I didn’t see that coming!”  At first I was thinking, this is just another story about a bratty teenage girl. I was so wrong!  Trust me when I say….read to the end and you won’t be sorry!  I definitely had that smile and feel good feeling at the end.   Paige Harbison did a great job of writing the main character, Bridget Duke.  Bridget was so annoying, bratty, and a total snot!  But…..can you change a teenager like this?  I will say yes, but I will not tell you how!  All I can say is I loved the book and totally recommend to anyone, especially a bratty teenager!  HaHa   I look forward to reading Paige Harbison next book.