One of my “unofficial” goals for 2015 is to get more authors involved with my blog. I really want to take the time to get to know the authors behind some of my favourite books, and to also show other people how awesome they are. With this Author Spotlight feature I will be showing off the authors’ books, giving away some of them (depending on what my money situation is like each month!) and just generally fangirling over some of the masterminds behind my favourite stories.
The spectacular honour of kicking off this new feature of mine goes to Emery Lord, author of Open Road Summer and The Start of Me and You. I have read both books, and really enjoyed both of them. I don’t think TSOMAY beat ORS in terms of overall feels, but it was still a great contemporary read.
Open Road Summer was Ms. Lord’s debut novel that was released in 2014. It’s a story about the friendship between a country singer, and her best friend in the entire world. The duo tour the US together, and while there is a bit of boy drama, the story pretty much focusses on the two of them and the struggles they’re both going through. It attacks you with feels and Dee and Reagan have one of my favourite friendships ever.
BFFs for infinity, both with broken hearts, one a famous country star, go on a summer road trip/music tour together, with the best friendship ever written, sweet romance, summer shenanigans and beautiful writing. – Judith @ Paper Riot
Stepping away from the friendship focus slightly, Lord has also written The Start of Me and You, which is about a girl called Paige whose boyfriend has died, and she is trying to live her life as The Girl With The Dead Boyfriend. This book doesn’t focus on friendship as much as ORS but Lord still managed to include some of that awesomeness. In The Start of Me and You, Paige makes a point to try new things. This really spoke to me because I like to stay in my little comfort zone, but lately I have been trying to branch out and experience new things, which I think is important. The Start of Me and You comes out on March 31st, 2015.
Definitely a book about the wonder of friendship and how amazingly perfect imperfection can be. – Carla @loltergeist
In addition to those two books, Emery Lord is also working on two other contemporaries right now, only the first of which has a name: When We Collided. I can’t wait until that comes out in 2016!
Interview
I wanted to post this interview for the Debutathon last year, but the Christmas rush got in the way of everything so I was forced to hold off until now. Here is a totally true account of my interrogation with Ms. Emery Lord:
1. If you could go on tour, which places would you make sure were included? (Realistically or otherwise)
As a writer? I love the places I’ve gotten to tour, and I’m really hoping I can add Chicago and Philadelphia and Boston this year to meet the awesome readerships there. If I was a musician and touring like Dee, the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville would be my ultimate 🙂
2. You have a second contemporary novel out this year. Do you have any plans to branch out into other genres, or are you in love with contemporary right now?
My first four books will be contemporary standalones, but I love MG and adult, magical realism and sci-fi and fantasy. So, after the first four, you never know!
3. What is/are your favourite fictional friendship(s)?
Oh wow. SO MANY. Anne Shirley and Diana Barry. Francesca and her girl friends in Saving Francesca. Harry, Ron and Hermione.
4. Let’s say you were a country singer. Which authors, dead or alive, would you choose to be part of your band?
Oh my gosh. I was recently at a writer’s retreat in Tennessee with 35 other writers, and I want them all in my band. THIRTY-FIVE PERSON BAND.
5. What’s your favourite debut of 2014? OR Which 2014 debut are you most excited to read?
I couldn’t ever pick a favorite- I’ve loved SO many. But I just finished Rites of Passage by Joy Hensley last night, and it was TREMENDOUS. Highly recommended!
Giveaway
No author spotlight would be complete without a very generous and totally awesome (if I do say so myself) giveaway. Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below for a change to win either one paperback copy of Open Road Summer or a preorder of The Start of Me and You. Be sure to enter your details carefully!
Cynthia @ Afterwritten says
My favourite fictional friendships?? THAT’S SO HARD. Probably Beth and Pen from the Skyscraper Throne trilogy by Tom Pollock. THEY ARE SO EXCELLENT.
I have somehow failed to read Open Road Summer despite knowing so many people who love it. I definitely need to get round to reading it some time! I absolutely love great female friendships in books so I really think I would love it. Thanks for the giveaway! <3
Alex says
FICTIONAL FRIENDSHIP? CELAENA AND ROWAN *hyperventilates*
Michelle (Fluttering Butterflies) says
Gosh. I love your Author spotlight. I started one on my blog this month but yours? So much better. My favourite friendship in books is between Frodo and Sam in LOTR.
Sam @ The Little Munchkin Reader says
Totally agree with Emery about Harry, Ron & Hermione. Not to mention, so many more! Love this new feature Amber, it’s AMAHZING!
Susan Davidson says
Favorite fictional friendships? I’ll go with Cath and Reagan in Fangirl, Hannah and Aaron in Trouble, and, of course, Maddie and Julie in Code Name Verity!
Nicole @ The Quiet Concert says
Emory Lord is one of my new favorite authors! She just excels at contemporary and now my hopes are up that she’s going to come to Philly! Her books have the BEST friendships – I loved Dee and Reagan but I also loved the girls in TSoMaY!
Rachel says
I guess you have to go with the trio from Harry Potter!
Chenise J. says
Harry, Ron and Hermione are a given when it comes to best bookish friendships. I also really loved Addie and Laila in Pivot Point/Split Second. They’re there for each other no matter what!
Dianne says
In recent times, definitely Dee and Reagan in Open Road Summer. Love the book to bits! <3 Aside from that, The Raven Cycle boys! Sure, their friendship isn't perfect but it is very nuanced and I love reading it. Not sure about having it though, I might pass. Pivot Point too!
Irene says
I just read Sabriel (Abhorsen #1), and so I think that Maggot and Sabriel made a pretty good team! If that counts…
If not, hmm. Harry and Ron? 😀
Also: I’m so angry that I can’t purchase ORS for my kindle in my country! *angry face* Wanna read it so bad! 😀
Michelle Sedeño says
Your question reminds me of Cinder and Iko from the Lunar Chronicles. Iko is the best-est android friend anyone would love to have!
Sarah J. says
My favorite fictional friendships include Lissa and Rose from Vampire Academy (because I loved the bond between them and how they are still close after all they’ve been through), Dee and Katy from the Lux series (because they had such a fun friendship and while there were a lot of times when they hated each other and didn’t speak when they started talking again it was instant friendship feels), the Golden Trio from Harry Potter (because it’s Harry, Ron, and Hermoine and how could I not love them), and Karou and Zuzana from Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy (because they were BFFs forever and are definitely my favorite friendship hands down).
Marina says
hmmm that’s super tough but one of my favourites would have to be princess Mia and Lilly from the princess diaries series by meg cabot 🙂
Kat says
My favorite fictional friendships? I love Aria and Roar from UTNS, and of course Reagan and Dee.
_Sandra_ says
Tough one.. Some of my favorite fictional friendships are Aria and Roar & Peryy and Roar (Under the Never Sky), Addie and Laila (Pivot Point by Kasie West), Rose and Lissa (Vampire Academy), Anne and Diana (Anne of Green Gables).
Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂