The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

I done been tagged!

Author Michelle Hansen (whose debut young adult novel Painted Blind is out now, just sayin') tagged me in the Next Big Thing Blog Hop.

What's that, you ask? Well it's a blog hop in which authors answer juicy questions about what they're working on RIGHT NOW.

Juicy questions like these:

What is the working title of your book?

The Kiss Off 2

It is going to have a subheading, like, an actual INTERESTING name, but for the moment it is merely numero 2.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I wanted to do something more with Poppy, her relationships with friends and foes, and the band Academy of Lies. But it couldn't really be done if I kept the crew at home in the suburbs, because chart-topping bands don't tend to hang out in the suburbs. So it made sense for me to send Poppy and (some of the) gang to a beachside music festival that Academy of Lies headline. Shenanigans ensue.

What genre does your book fall under?

Young adult chick lit. Fo' sho'.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I've been thinking about this. I don't have a super clear image of Poppy, to be honest. I do kinda envision her being like Alexs Johnson (Jude from Instant Star) though.

And Ty's always had a bit of Nick Roux going on. That's how I see them. How about you guys?

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

I haven't actually thought about this yet.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

All by myself. :)

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

It's not finished as yet, but WILL be by Christmas. It just WILL. I took myself off to a house by the beach for a week and wrote the first 25,000 words in a week which was BRILLIANT but since I came home progress has been very slow as I prioritised my business over my writing. I'm back into it now though and really enjoying myself. 

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I'd say Audrey Wait! by Robin Benway, crossed with Diary of a Crush 2 by Sarra Manning. But the second half where they go to a music festival and it's all kinds of hell.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

My characters did. The Kiss Off was designed as a stand alone, but I wasn't done with them. I really like the world and feel there's more to them than was in The Kiss Off. I wasn't just going to write any old thing, though, I didn't have a sequel planned but when THIS idea came to me it felt right and fun and it's certainly turning out to be!

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

The Kiss Off 2 is chock-full of stuff! There will be:

A road trip with an unexpected passenger.
Camping.

The realisation too late that they don't actually like camping.A super hot frat boy.

Sunburns.
Accidental topless swimming.
Paparazzi punch ups.
A news-worthy (yet totally false) love triangle.
Obsessed fan girls.
A stalker.
And an overwhelming request from someone super-famous.

It's definitely not smooth sailing.

These were most excellent questions and I'm glad I was tagged. 

Now my turn to do the tagging! I HEREBY TAG:

CJ Duggan

Heather Adkins

Julia Crane!

Looking forward to your posts, ladies!

Summer Splash Blog Hop - PRIZES! PRIZES! PRIZES!

Welcome to the Summer Splash Blog Hop!

What is the blog hop? It is where 70+ authors all have GIVEAWAYS on their blogs, and you hop from one to the next to the next entering to win prize after prize after prize! Not to mention the SUPER GRAND PRIZES.

Oh, you want to know more about the Grand Prizes? There are six.  What are they? 

GRAND PRIZES

***
NOT ONE, BUT TWO KINDLE FIRES
$75 AMAZON GIFT CARD
$50 AMAZON GIFT CARD
KINDLE BOOK COVER
SIGNED BOOKS FROM SEVERAL AUTHORS


Visit the GRAND PRIZES page for more details...

HOW TO ENTER: GRAND PRIZES

***
TWEET USING THE HASHTAG #SUMMERHOP


It's that simple.  We'll keep track of all the tweets and then draw for the grand-prize winners at the end of the hop.  Winners will be announced on August 1st.


RULES:
Tweets MUST include the hashtag #summerhop (This is how we track them)
Tweets MUST include a link to the blog hop.


You are free to tweet as much as you want throughout the hop.
More Tweets = More Chances to WIN!!!


***As a side note, our authors will be tweeting about the hop as well, but they are not eligible for any of the grand prizes.***


Here are some sample tweets you can cut/paste:


WIN Kindle Fires, Amazon gift cards and more at the #summerhop http://ow.ly/cpfDv  #freekindle #free #giveaway #win


WIN FREE SWAG at the author #summerhop http://ow.ly/cpfDv prizes include two kindle fires! #freekindle #free #giveaway #win


WIN more than 75 prizes at the author #summerhop http://ow.ly/cpfDvprizes include two kindle fires! #freekindle #free #giveaway #bloghop


WIN BIG at the author blog hop. More than 75 prizes including 2 kindle fires!http://ow.ly/cpfPN  #summerhop #bloghop @freekindlefire


***NOW GET HOPPING
AMAZING AUTHOR GIVEAWAYS AWAIT YOU!!!***

So what are YOU offering me, Sarah?

I'm so glad you asked!


I have a paperback of The Kiss Off up for grabs on Goodreads...

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Kiss Off

by Sarah Billington

Giveaway ends July 31, 2012.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

AND...

NEW BOOK ALERT!

Ba(n)d Romance

A new 5,000 word short story coming August 13, 2012!


Jordan thought she and Paul were forever. Then she found out about Missy: Paul’s other forever.


Now it’s the night of the sophomore dance. Jordan’s on stage with her band, Paul’s text bombing her and Missy’s in the audience with murder on her mind. Unfortunately, it’s not Paul in Missy’s sights.


Another short and sassy story from Sarah Billington

Win it here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What are you waiting for? Get hopping! Win prizes!

Much love,

The Summer Splash Blog Hop!

I hope you peeps up in the Northern Hemisphere are enjoying your Summer, spending it in the water or at least in front of the air conditioning.

BE WARNED:

Down here in the Southern Hemisphere, our cats don't have to worry about melting right now. I am sitting under the ducted heating in my dressing gown and Ugg boots and I think most cats are too.

But that doesn't stop me from participating in Summery stuff!

Yep - between July 23 and 31 there are something like 70 authors offering PRIZES!

You hear that? There will be tons and tons of STUFF TO WIN!

It's a free for all, I assure you. And authors of every genre available will have prizes on offer, from Amazon gift cards to custom jewellery and SO MANY BOOKS. so stay tuned for that.

Including TWO Grand Prize Winners of a KINDLE FIRE!

Yep.

Excited yet? Me too.

Stay tuned.