The Sea of Tranquility, by Katja Millay

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I loved this beautiful and emotional contemporary romantic drama. I felt caught up in, and utterly swept away by its power, like a small boat being slowly but inexorably driven by the wind into a storm, an emotional storm that left me washed up and wrung out, but somehow richer as a person for having experienced it. It's beautifully and poetically crafted - every element, every character, all combine and contribute to the artful and emotionally intense world author Millay creates.

So what's up with that "Sea of Tranquility," referenced in the title? "It sounded like this beautiful, peaceful place," MC Nastya (it's a Russian name, "NAH-stee-ya") reflects. "Like where you'd want to go when you die. Quiet and water everywhere. A place that would swallow you up and accept you no matter what." But like so many things in this book, the Sea of Tranquility isn't what it seems. It's only an illusion, concealing the truth that "[i]t's not a sea at all. It's just a big dark shadow on the moon. The whole name is a lie." Sadly, Nastya is as bitter, sullen and sometimes snarky as her analysis of the lunar landscape might suggest. Her caked on makeup, her four-and-a-half-inches-of-insanity stilettos, her so smexy its barely there black attire? Maybe all that is an illusion too, concealing that Nastya's got more issues than the National Geographic, as she so succintly summarizes it. When we meet her, it's just three days before she's to start her senior year at a new school, and her Aunt Margot, with whom she's now living, is explaining Nastya's "unique circumstances" to the principal. It's not clear what those "circumstances" are at this point (read the blurb for clues), and since figuring them out is an enormous part of the emotionally satisfying process of reading The Sea of Tranquility, I won't take that away from you. But what is clear is that Nastya's painstakingly contructed facade of unsubtle "stay away" intimidation is covering a fractured and fragile host of emotional detritus, fear foremost, with deep, deep anger running a close second. Maybe that's why she's willing to let Drew Leighton, a Ken doll clone who's "the kind of good-looking that transforms once self-respecting females into puddles of dumbass," attach himself to her, for social cover. And it's definitely why, she tells herself, she's drawn to Josh Bennett, a boy who is so alone on his regular lunch-time courtyard bench that she wonders if he's a ghost, and that no one goes near him because the bench is haunted. She'd love to be rocking a bubble like he's got, to keep everyone away from her, too. (Kinda weird though that she keep ending up in his space, if she's so damn intent on being alone?)

And so our dramatis personae take the stage. It is hard to share too much of their story, of what happened to Nastya to make her who she has been or will become, because that is the story, and in some ways it is a mystery story, even a crime story, so "le spoilerisme," as we french people call it, would be even worse than usual. But I can share that Nastya is an amazing, complex and real feeling character, with a unique voice of broken bravado. Yes, maybe her persona and her carefully constructed facade are illusions. But unlike the titular celestial sea, she is possessed of depths where silent storms continually rage beneath the surface.

And I can also share that the world Nastya inhabits is a vividly imagined and poetically described one. Yes, it's familiar high school terrain to we YA-ficianados, but it's more nuanced, more chiaroscuro than is typically the case. Those mean girls? Maybe they were nice once, and maybe they can be again, if somebody calls them on it. Those douchey bros? Maybe one will have the grace to regret some of the crap he's pulled. Those throbbing crazy alcohol fueled parties where bad things can happen fast? Uh oh, yep, bad things can still happen fast.

I also loved how this book has major themes, one of which is the power and fragility of the creative impulse and process - how vital and irrepressible it is, and how devastating its loss can be. It's expressed in many contexts, images and examples, and it makes Nastya's loss and devastation all the more poignant for being so continually up in her face. Another major theme is the idea of salvation, of rescue - but it's subtle, never cheesy or obvious, and it's never really clear who is being saved and who is doing the saving. I also want to mention that for me one hallmark of a good book is that you fall in love with at least one of the characters. Here, you can't help but fall in love with so many of them that you feel like Jude Law at a nanny convention. Each of them, obviously Nastya and Josh (I'm gonna be disappointed if I don't see some swoonworthy casting boards about this guy), but also Drew and Tierney, various parents, grandparents, aunts, brothers, sisters, holy crap there are a lot of them! And they are all richly dimensional and again, real feeling.

This is a compelling and satisfying read that will draw you into its world fast, and make you want to stay there for a long time (and fortunately it's substantial enough that you can!) I not only couldn't put it down, towards the end something happened that was so intense that it made me stand up, and I realized when I finished, as the tears began to flow, that I was still on my feet, in a kind of weird unconcious standing ovation for this superb bravura performance by an author so polished and artistically skillful that I really can't believe this is her first book. Thankfully I also really can't believe it will be her last, so there's that to look forward to. Speaking of which, yes, this is a standalone, and I appreciate that. But like I said, there are some awesome side characters (and couples) whose stories are worth imagining. Just in case you don't have anything else to think about, dear Katja!



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"Intense and warm and depressing all at the same time."

The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I was scared to read this book, honestly, after various reactions I'd read. And so I kept putting off picking it up, even as its hauntingly seductive cover peered up at me enticingly from the table where I'd proudly, if skittishly, placed my copy. Sheesh, the way people talked about the ending, I was afraid that it would put a permanent crack in my soul or something. For the life of me, I don't know why I was so focused on that, rather than everyone pointing out what an awesome read it is. Because this is, truly, madly, deeply, a rich, immersive, unputdownable and wonderful book, one to be savored, not endured, as I had somehow come to fear. This will henceforth be my go-to example of how having preconceptions can hold you back from experiencing something wonderful, because I really expected Olivia, and her story, to be unloveable and reprehensible to the core, beyond the pale of understanding, let alone empathy. And, yeah, not gonna sugarcoat it (sort of silly at this point, right?), she does some kind of stomach-turningly unpalatable, cruel and self-destructive things (not really persuading you to read it yet, am I, sorry! keep reading, please!) But Tarryn's gift is to make these things, and Olivia, emotionally accessible even as they, and she, remain essentially unforgiveable. So, kindof a crap job on the summary and all that, but since there are over 3,000 community reviews, and 59 (!) Friend Reviews, that would be a little redundant anyway. I guess you've gotten the idea, or at least I hope so, that I find the character of Olivia the central and fascinating facet of this story. I love her voice, it's so honest, ironically, as she embarks on her amazing career of lies. I also love how she seems propelled to almost always do the wrong thing, even as she realizes the folly and the awfulness, but is unable to help herself. It's like she almost astonishes herself with how low she is willing to stoop. Side note - wouldn't it be kind of awesome to be loved the way she loves Caleb? Probably creepy irl, but to have someone so obsessed with you? And how about that Caleb? He's got a few tricks up his sleeve, too. I would say this story has more twists than a corkscrew, but that seriously understates the twisty-ness (and twistedness)of the plot. It would have to be a corkscrew for one of those Jereboam sized bottles to do it justice.

In addition to the intensity of the story and characters, The Opportunist is beautifully and poetically written. The image of the tree where Olivia and Caleb meet is hauntingly pervasive. I like the way Tarryn uses names, too. In the Biblical story, Noah sent out a dove (ava), who returned ultimately, after the floods of tears and tumults, with an Olive branch. Yes, everything had been destroyed, but hope remains, and those images resonate with the story for me. I also thought it was cool the way Tarryn referenced Caleb's habit of backwards names - it emphasized that almost everyone in the book (except Cammie, a great side character, btw!), seems to have both a public and a hidden identity or agenda. Which I guess is a nice way of saying they are all two-faced liars with something to hide. And Leah, namesake of one of the greatest deceptions in the Bible, fits right in.

And as for the ending? Ok, yes I cried, it was one of those chest clenchy cries that sneaks up on you, and wrings the tears out, even as you feel relief and sadness intermingled. But no, my soul isn't cracked. In fact it feels fuller, richer, more humane, somehow, for having shared Olivia's journey. Do yourself the favor of experiencing it yourself, don't be scared!

BTW, the title of this review is from Olivia's description of the coffee shop where she and Caleb go to reconnect. I thought it was a good description of the book, too, although honestly, I didn't find it depressing, just sad.



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Don't Panic, by Lindsay Paige

Lindsay Paige is the popular author of the "Bold as Love," series of contemporary young adult novels that I, for one, am extremely enthusiastic about. They combine sweet lyricism with gritty family and romantic drama. Now, in her most personal book yet, Lindsay is taking it to the next level with "Don't Panic," her new contemporary novel. "Don't Panic" is slated to appear on October 8, 2012 (my birthday, btw - coincidence? I think not!), and here's Lindsay's new blurb, to put you in the scene:

Samantha Branson is having severe anxiety attacks. Her heart beats unusually fast, her breath quickens and her hands sweat. Every detail screams in her head that she is the center of unwanted attention. Everyone can hear her thoughts, her heart and her breathing. The silence of the classroom is so loud that focus is impossible.
After an attack lands her in the wrong bathroom, Sam meets Eli who offers to provide help. Faced with the return of her possessive ex-boyfriend and the blossoming of a new romance, Sam must find the strength inside herself to face her anxieties head on.

Head on over to the Goodreads page for "Don't Panic," and add it to your tbr, asap, you won't want to miss this one, I promise!

Control Freak, by Copeland, a band I loved that sadly is no longer together, always gives me that same sense of creepy, clammy, claustrophobic anxiety. Check it out and let me know what you think!

The Farewell Season, by Ann Herrick

The Farewell Season by Ann Herrick

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Eric Nielsen has been kind of a dick since his dad died unexpectedly a few months ago. He seems to have gotten stuck somewhere between the denial and anger stages of grief, and it's made him stand-offish and surly, even to his beloved cat! But his grouchiest grumblings are reserved for his Mom, and younger sister. It doesn't seem to occur to him that they might be hurting too, or that his attitude is making things even harder for them. Despite all that, it's difficult not to like Eric. He really doesn't know how to deal with his loss any other way, and he's hurting himself just as badly as he's hurting those around him. And now, with football season about to begin, the fact that everything has changed since last year at this time really can't be avoided any longer. And what's up with that new girl, Glynnie? If she's so determined to be dowdy, why can't Eric stop thinking about her, to the point of spending enough time with her to realize that he's not the only one with father problems.

This is really a lovely book, with a sweet tone and story that pulls you into its world subtly but deeply, until you begin to care deeply about the characters and the way they are all dealing with change, loss, grief, old pain and new beginnings. It's not a book about big events - it's a small scale story of one boy in a small town, but the emotional impact is still big. MC Eric, of course, is the focal point, but all of the characters are fully fleshed out, with real feeling personalities and voices. Not to slight the other side characters, but Glynnie is especially loveable. It's pretty cool for a YA family drama/romance to be written from a boy POV, but then to have the female character be the kind of quirky off-beat independent type we ususally see portrayed as a guy (like a Sarah Dessen boy, only she's a girl), is really quite amazing, and Eric is certainly lucky to have found her (and to have figured that out!) The vibe and flavor of the little town of Crystal Lake is beautifully portrayed, especially through all of the mouth-watering Scandinavian foods so lovingly and temptingly described. I'm not really a huge sports fan, and there's a lot of football in this book. But like Lance Armstrong so aptly said, it's not about the bike. It's about the emotional impact of Eric's commitment, about what football meant between him and his Dad, it's about how change comes to everything, in ways that we are going to have to deal with even if it's not fair, that make the football element relatable even for nerds.

This is a quietly emotional read that will sneak up on your heart (and tear ducts) if you let yourself sink into its world. I very much appreciate that author Ann Herrick provided me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.



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Breathe by Abbi Glines - New Cover Reveal, Playlist and Other Awesome Memorabilia

A little less than a year ago, the gorgeous and charming YA author Abbi Glines (yep, that's her to your left, see what I mean?) e-pubbed the first book in her Sea Breeze series, Breathe. It was (and remains), a sweet Cinderella story of a girl and a talented pop star (kind of a Bieber guy, but with a more down to earth, less douchey personality). Abbi's had an amazing career since then, garnering a huge following for not only her Sea Breeze series of contemporary romances, but also for her awesome PNR Existence Trilogy, which began (coincidentally enough) with Existence, and her somewhat spicier YA contemp series The Vincent Boys. Wow, quite a year, Abbi, way to go!

So, just like a lot of us like to get new clothes for our birthdays, it's time for Breathe to get a new look too. I honestly kind of liked the old cover, it was cute and conveyed the innocence and sweetness of the story, but it didn't exactly capture the story's wistfulness and dreamy feel. But the new one is even more lovely, and definitely gives a clearer image of what you are in for. And this girl looks a lot more like my image of Sadie, too. So without further ado, here it is, the new cover of Abbi's beautiful novel, Breathe:


So, is that breathtaking or what?

Abbi's also given us a few more things to think about vis-a-vis Breathe. One of them is a cool playlist of songs. Honestly, I'm not sure if these are songs Abbi listened to while writing it, or that just kind of create the proper vibe for us to listen while reading, which they definitely do. One of the themes of the book is that Sadie is Jax's "air," that he needs her to live (hey, now I get the title!), and the songs all definitely relate to that idea. Here's a list of them, and a link to Playlist, where you can create free account and listen to them (honestly Abs, you had me at tswift, but that's prob just me):

Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Muse
Don’t Ever Let it End by Nickelback
Breathe by Taylor Swift
Holding on to Heaven by Nickelback
No Air by Jordan Sparks and Chris Brown
Here Without You by Three Doors Down
Lullaby by The Spill Canvas
Take My Breath Away by Jessica Simpson

Did I mention that Jax himself is a singer-songwriter? He's inspired (totally getting with the breathing theme, here!) to write a song for Sadie, which honestly is about all she has left of him at one point, and I'm not sure if that was good or bad. Since it's Fathers Day as I'm writing this, I'd be happy to volunteer some advice to Jax on a more effective strategy for not making a girl cry, but hopefully by the end of the book he's learned his lesson. Nonetheless, here is an awesome recording of that song "Don't Cry," the lyrics to which appear in the book, and will hit you hard when you get to that part:

So, there's this thing now where people put up dreams casts of who they'd like to see playing people from books they love. I personally pictured Jax kind of like this: Ok, haha, that's my son, who will prob kill me when/if he sees this (as no doubt will Abbi, sorry girl!). Here's a more realistic bunch of eye candy to populate your pictorial portrayal of the Breathe bunch.



As the lovely Sadie White - Sasha Pieterse. She def captures Sadie's sweetness and beauty, imho.

Jax Stone?

How 'bout this guy? Max Irons? Jeez, good looks run in that family or what? Ok, he's no Jack LeBaron, but he's handsome, I'll give him that. Hope he's worthy of my sweet Sadie, or there will be some Fathers Day ass-kicking going on, just sayin'!


Finally, to round out our little crew, how about a young Chris Hemsworth to portray the beloved by some, mistrusted by me Mr. Marcus Hardy? He's got the look, but Chris, haven't you been in enough movies lately? It kinda gripes my cheese that he's kissing K-Stew, Natalie Portman, and most of my other fantasy flings. But fine, go ahead and be Marcus, too, you've got the look, just use your acting skilz more than your lips, that's all I ask!


Ok, y'all, that is the skinny on the new updated cover of Breathe and associated goings on. If you're interested, my review of Breathe is here, on Goodreads. This book really grew on me over the course of the past year, and I'm happy to help get the word out on an awesome author and her cute, dreamy sweet first book! Thanks Abbi, for including me in this blog-burst! I look forward to a long and happy careet for one of indie YA's most talented and nicest authors!

Printers Row Lit Fest 2012 and "I Hunt Killers" Giveaway

I must say I had an awesome time at Printers Row Lit Fest 2012, in downtown Chicago, just south of the Loop. Here's a bit of an impressionistic recollection of the event, from my admittedly skewed POV (especially off-kilter for a few minutes after that yummy frozen margarita from Flaco's Tacos!)

We set out, an intrepid four, from Downers Grove, some 25 miles or so west of Chicago, around 10 am. We might have gone earlier, but my son Jack qualified for the national speech tournament, being held in Indianapolis this year. We neeeded to get him packed, organized and out the door before we could leave. We hit the road with Mrs. Fred at the wheel, and my charming youngest daughter Eve riding shotgun. Here's a photo of her, I'm not quite sure why she was wearing a bowler hat and a Slytherin t-shirt, but to this old dad she looked pretty darn cute.

We arrived downtown and hit the Grant Park South parking garage around 10:45 or so. My "fire up your enthusiasm" pre-gaming involved the consumption of multiple cups of coffee, so finding a bathroom was a priority. We hit a Dunkin' Donuts on Michigan Avenue in hopes of scoring some quick relief, but no luck. So of course, I had to have more coffee, and in a tribute to the awesome Jessica Park and Flat-Out Love, I got a large Coolatta. Here I am, looking cheerful despite the desperation now seizing my bladder ever more intensely. .


Anyhoo, we made it to the fair, and the blessed precints of St. Pipi rather quickly. We browsed around for a bit at North End of the fair, where there were several event stages. I was not honestly that intent on purchasing additional books for the Bibliotheque LeBaron. That is Liz's obsessive quest. Instead, I was quite intent on seeing three authors: Barry Lyga, author of the amazeballs Boy Toy, which I have reviewed over at Goodreads; Lisa Wooten, author of Unforgivable (rats, we never did make a connection, I found out too late where she was :/; and Michelle Warren, author of Wanderdust, with whom I also failed to connect (hey, it was a big event with lots of authors, vendors and what-not).

Well, one out of three ain't bad, especially since Barry Lyga was so awesome! Here's a picture of the two of us, I felt totally cool hanging with Barry, he had a vibe sort of like Mark Ruffalo in The Kids Are Alright, bohemian but down to earth, funny and warm. Barry was also one of the authors on a panel that Eve and I attended. He had some interesting insights into writing, the editing process and the future of YA and reading. I didn't really try to take notes (it was super hot in there!) but he mentioned a few memorable things. First, before the event I went up and swimfanned him about Boy Toy, which he called "the book that almost killed my career," telling me that sales back when it came out weren't that great, and that it wasn't considered a success by any measure. He said he's mildly puzzled by why it's taking off in popularity now. Since I was tongue-tied, as I usually am when speaking with an author I greatly admire, I didn't observe that it's a great book, word of mouth sometimes takes awhile (it was recommended to me by the awesome Jolene B. Perry, btw, thanks Jolene!), and that I Hunt Killers, his current book, is getting a lot of attention. He talked about the writing process, and mentioned that when he started Boy Toy (can you tell I liked this book!), he had a specific idea of where he wanted the story to go, but as he got into it, it veered in a different direction. He pondered whether to force it back to the original or go with the way it was developing and opted for the latter, which turned out vastly superior, in his view. He likened writing to riding a horse - you can guide it, but if it decides to go somewhere else, it doggone well will! Here's Barry making his points on the panel.

I had Barry sign a copy of I Hunt Killers, and he was also kind enough to give us t-shirts promoting it. I'm not gonna lie, I'm queasy about reading I Hunt Killers. I don't like Dexter, it's too gory. C.S.I. makes me I.L.L. and Bones makes mine ache. So I have a deal for y'all and an awesome giveaway via Rafflecopter, below. I'm giving away the autographed copy of I Hunt Killers, and the I Had a Killer Time with Barry Lyga t-shirt. There's an extended preview of IHK if you want to do a gut-check before entering, also over at Goodreads, so take a look, and only enter if you can hack it. I do have some contest limitations, so see the note by the entry form.


By now it was getting to be lunch time, and there was some drama. My beloved oldest daughter Ann insisted that we go inside to eat (did I mention it was hot?), and suggested Connie's Pizza. With all due respect to Connie's, that idea kinda turned my stomach, and we ended up at Flaco's Tacos, a fun Mexican place with several Chicago locations in hipster spots. Because it is a hipster spot - I even saw a guy sporting a hipster handlebar and matching muttonchops! We had an awesome lunch with the aforementioned Margarita, and fought our way to a table. After enjoying our lunch and time together we headed out. The girls were intent on making purchases, but me, I just wanted to soak up the vibe. As luck would have it, there was a vibe-storm heading my way. On exiting the restaurant, as the girls headed South, I heard a haunting, beautiful voice, singing in French. It sounded like "Les Feuilles Mortes," but was too far to tell, exactly. I made my way through the crowd to the source of the sounds, only to see this amazing gentleman, Michelet Innocent.

Now, I've mentioned before that I am a bit of a Francophile, but I don't think I've dwelt on the music that drew me into my love of the French language, especially the songs of Jacques Brel and Serge Reggiani. Ok, ok, I'll save that for another post then, I can see your eyes glazing over. But in any event, Michelet's voice and guitar playing transported me to the time in spent in Paris in the 70's and to my days in the French House at the University of Michigan, where we spent so many nights drinking red wine, and listening to these enormously poetic songs. When he sang "Ne Me Quitte Pas," I was gone, and I ain't back yet. Here's a video of Michelet singing at another street fair, in Florida, that gives an idea of his soulful and tender renditions of these classic songs.

But then it was getting to be time to head home, graduation parties to go to, anniversary dinners to enjoy (congratulations Ann and Harold!), and an overheated hamster to attend to (hope Nuchacho is ok, Eve!). As we made our way back to the car, we passed beneath the el tracks, where I couldn't help but remember the words of Howl, by Allen Ginsberg: "I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness ...who bared their brains to Heaven under the El," Whew, I thought to myself, lighten up Allen. Things are cool here now, under the El. Teenage poets at Polyphony H.S., hundreds of awesome authors and zillions of books, all being appreciated by those who love them!

OK, As promised, awesome "I Hunt Killers," by Barry Lyga giveaway here!I'm sorry, but in light of postal costs, entries are limited to the U.S. only, and the only t-shirt I have to give away is a men's large. Please enter below, and I'll notify you if you've won when the contest is over! Thanks for playing!


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Whatever It Takes, by Lindsay Paige, Pre-Release Party and Giveaway

I'm delighted to be able to continue being a part of the pre-release party for Lindsay's awesome new book, Whatever It Takes. WIT is the third volume in Lindsay's Bold As Love series that began with Sweetness and continued with I'm Yours. Today Lindsay herself will be joining us for a wide-ranging interview, covering her covers (!), some musical thoughts, and insights into Lindsay's tv, book and movie habits. We also touch a little bit on some deeper issues relating to Lindsay's life and emotions. So take a look! Lindsay is always open, direct and thoughtful, and this q and a is no exception. And at the bottom of the page, you'll find an awesome, easy to enter giveaway, too!

Can you tell us a little bit about the covers on Sweetness and I’m Yours? Is that you on the swing? And who’s that with you on I’m Yours? Who took the pictures? How does the cover of Whatever It Takes relate to the story? You have some cool photos on your fb page, did you take those for a class, or just for fun? Is photography a hobby of yours?

Sure! I love talking about covers. That is me on the covers. On I'm Yours, I'm with my brother, Ethan. On Whatever It Takes, I'm with my brother, Brian.

My mom took the pictures for the first two covers and Brian's girlfriend took the picture for the third book. Whatever It Takes cover is set on a local community college campus. The cover relates to the story because it shows that they are united. Brian's arm is securely around my waist, showing that Jake isn't letting Emily go anyway. As you can see, my arm isn't as secure around his waist, but I am turned in towards him just a bit, which shows that Emily will be leaning on Jake quite a bit.

I did take those for a class. I'm taking digital photography and those pictures are the results. :) Photography is a hobby of mine as well.


There’s a lot of music in your books, including the title of I’m Yours. Tell us about some of your favorite artists. Is the title of Whatever It Takes related to a song, or what made you think of it as the title?


I'm Yours is related to Jason Mraz's song titled the same and it has to do with Emily telling Jake that she is indeed his. Whatever It Takes is related to Lifehouse's song titled the same and with what Jake says he'll do for Emily. I really think it's cool when the title of a book is something that is said in the book and that's what I did, in addition to the songs.

I notice that you have a lot of country in the mix, but you like pop and rock, too. Up north here, kids tend to like country or rock, not both. Is it more typical to like both where you live?

I’m not sure I would classify it as "typical", but I will say that it's common.

What artists have you seen live and what did you think about that experience.

I have seen tons of artists live! I've seen Kenny Chesney, Sugarland, Nickelback (twice!), Puddle of Mudd, Rascal Flatts, Finger Eleven, Taylor Swift, and Brad Paisley to name a few.

How did you ever get to be a Penguins fan, living where you do? Is this a Crosby thing? Which came first, the Penguins or the Crosby?

I do love the Pens! I always go see them play when they play the Carolina Hurricanes. I love your last question. Penguins came first, because I'm a huge fan of the animal, and then Crosby came.

From some of your blog posts and status updates, I've noticed that you seem to be a big TVD fan, what other shows do you regularly watch? Any impact on your stories?


The Good Wife and Bones. The rest of my favorite shows, I don't watch as much as these. Not really an impact on my stories.

If you feel like talking about it, how’s your relationship with your dad now? Do you think his drinking problems contributed to your anxiety issues and panic attacks? Lots of kids with alcoholic parents (my wife’s dad was one, too), struggle a lot with issues from that. Has your therapy helped you with that? Do you think your therapy has helped with your writing? You seem very reflective and self-aware, which seems like a good therapy outcome, and also would help with writing, no?

The only relationship I have with my father is custody over my dog, Bartley. I think his drinking problems have an impact on my anxiety. My therapy has been extremely helpful with dealing with the anger and other emotions. My therapy has helped with my writing as well, especially in Don't Panic. That is true. I have to be reflective and self-aware in order to better control my anxiety.

Finally, any movies that you would consider your favorites? You mentioned Cars II in Sweetness, but how about some that have brought your dreams and fantasies to life?


A Walk to Remember for one. Fast and Furious are another favorite. I don't think I've watched any movies that have "brought my dreams and fantasies to life" as you say as much as books have.

OK, Here's that awesome giveaway I was telling you about! Enter below for lots of chances to win all three of Lindsay's awesome books, plus your choice of a B&N or Amazon $25 gift card!

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