Author: Susan Griscom
Genre: YA
Publisher: Amber Glow Books
Release Date: December 18 2012
Editions/Formats Available In: Print and Amazon Kindle
Source: Author for Blog Tour and Honest Reviews
Synopsis:Source: Author for Blog Tour and Honest Reviews
What happens when a major earthquake changes life as you know it and the boy you thought you hated ends up saving you? Three times!
Courtland Reese is the guy everyone hates and makes fun of because … well, he is weird. He communicates with animals. Strange or interesting, seventeen-year-old Adela Castielle can’t quite figure out, but when he saves her from being trampled by her own horse, she begins to understand him a little better and wants to learn more about him. But, Max--her best friend/dream guy/someday-to-be-her-husband-only-he-doesn’t-know-it-yet--hates Courtland with a passion. Adela wants to know why, except neither boy is talking. When Max leaves her stranded in his parents' wine cave with his worst enemy, Courtland, after what the experts are calling a “megathrust” earthquake, Adela starts to question her loyalty to Max as steamy kisses in a dark damp cellar only fuel her emotions with more conflict. But does she really have time to worry about that when fire, destruction and mayhem surround her?
Interview with Courtland
If you had
known what was going to happened with you, Max and Adela, is there anything
that you would have done differently?
Hmmm … I would have gotten up my courage and spoken to
Adela that day in the lunch line at school. But also, I most definitely would
have grabbed Adela away from Max when I first saw her standing alone among the
chaos and destruction after the earthquake at school. I also would have stayed
the hell out of the burning debris that was my house so that I would have been
the one taking care of her instead of the other way around. That was very
stupid.
When did you
first figure out that you had the ability to communicate with animals?
Um … I think it was when everyone started making fun of
me. I didn’t realize it was anything freakish until then. I remember thinking,
why are they making fun of me, can’t everybody do that? Then I just shrugged
off the teasing and figured I was special.
Do you
consider that ability a gift or a curse?
At first, I thought it was the most horrible thing
because the other kids started calling me a freak and not wanting to associate
with me, I figured I’d been cursed. Later though, it came in handy when
ranchers started hiring me to soothe their horses, so then it was a gift that put
some extra cash in my pocket.
What do you
think of Max?
Ah, Max can be a jerk, no question about it. At one
time, Max and I were best friends and I know somewhere deep down under that
thick skull of his, there lies a decent human being. I often wonder what
happened to the kid I once admired. But who knows, with a little luck, he might
be in there still.
Do you know
much about earthquakes?
Um… no really. I
do know they can change your life if they’re bad enough. Cooper did some
research and found some interesting statistic and comparisons to nuclear bombs
how much they can destroy.
Do you think
you would have ever gotten to know Adela if it hadn’t been for the earthquake?
Possibly. But I believe in fate and I think with time,
I would have gotten to know her anyway, especially as we matured and grew older.
I’ve heard things change the stupid things people do in high school don’t seem
to matter much years later.
How did you feel
about the teasing from the other kids in school about your gift?
It was hard when I was younger. I think I moped around
for several months, especially since Max wasn’t my friend anymore. That was the
hardest part. We were like brothers before the argument. But I got used to it,
used to not having any friends that is. I guess I’m pretty much a loner anyway.
What would
you say was the most awkward or embarrassing moment during that time in the
cellar?
I suppose having had to have Max help me zip my pants
up. But hey, a guy’s gotta do what a guy’s gotta do. I would have preferred to
have had Adela’s help, but I knew that was out of the question.
Can you
share a little about your future and where you see it in the next five years?
I can only dream and hope that I would be with Adela.
I’d like to finish high school. Maybe go to college if I could get a
scholarship, I was working toward that before the quake. I would like to be
veterinarian; it seems like the most logical profession for me. I’d like to
have a ranch of my own with Adela. And I suppose it would be okay if Max had a
winery somewhere within walking distance.
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I daydream often. If I didn't write, I think my mind would explode from an overload of fantasy and weirdness. To the annoyance of my friends and family, my characters sometimes become a part of my world. During my childhood, I would frequently get in trouble in school for daydreaming. Eventually, my vivid imagination paid off and I had the privilege of writing and co-directing my sixth-grade class play--a dreadful disaster; though not from my writing, of course, I must blame it on the acting.
The craft of writing, although dormant for years, never really left me. Many years later, and with the help of technology, I let my imagination run wild again.
Born in a small town in Pennsylvania, I enjoy writing about characters living in small quaint towns. I tend to lean toward the unusual and spooky. I read all genres but I love reading paranormal romance and like writing in that genre.
My paranormal playing field delves into a different milieu, abandoning vampires and werewolves, but not discounting them. Someday I might like to write a novel about vamps and those furry creatures. But for now I like the bizarre mixed with romance. A strong hero or heroine confronted with extraordinary forces of nature, powers and capabilities gets my blood running.
I live in Northern California with my very romantic husband, my small yippy dog, Riley, and my humungous black cat, Saké. My family consists of his and her children; four wonderful sons, one beautiful daughter, and seven grandchildren. My greatest love in life is my family and those large and ever growing holiday dinners.
I enjoy traveling. I hate running, but do it once in a while. Reading and writing are my favorite pastimes.
Places to find Susan
Places to find Allusive Aftershock
Hey Schadoh, baby. Hi. How's it going? Just stopping by to say thanks. It was a pleasure talking with you. Hope to meet you in person some time.
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Courtland