First up today, I'm turning things over to the wonderfully
effervescent
Jamie Ayres and her
Here's the blurb:
Can eighteen things save a life?
Olga Gay Worontzoff thinks her biggest problems are an awful name (after her
grandmothers of course) and not attending prom with Conner, her best friend and
secret crush since kindergarten.
Then, Conner is killed in a freak boating accident and Olga feels responsible
for his death.
When she downs an entire bottle of pills to deal with the emotional pain, her
parents force her into counseling. There, her therapist writes a prescription
in the form of a life list titled "18 Things": eighteen quests to
complete the year of her eighteenth birthday.
All she has to do is fire-walk, try out for the cheerleading squad, break a
world record, and err . . . go on her first date. Good thing Nate, a new hottie
in town, enters her life with perfect timing. He brings the fun factor to her
list and helps her discover the beauty and strength inside herself, then complicates things by falling in love with her.
But there's more to Olga's quests than meets the eye and when her therapist
reveals a terrifying secret, her world is shaken.
There's only one thing she knows for certain: her choices won't just affect her
future, but all eternity.
and check out her buy links below.
All righty then, take it away, Jamie...
Thanks for hosting us, Nancy!!!
I decided to spend this fine Monday morning at
Jumpin'
Java Coffee House, one of Olga's favorite hot spots off
Washington Street in
her small hometown of Grand Haven,
Michigan.
I'm sitting at a table by the front window to keep an eye out for her. Ah, here
she is, sporting
Capri jeans and a
red Wonder Woman t-shirt, her red curly hair done in french braid pigtails.
Me: Hey, girl. How are you today?
Olga: I'm happy! Is that for me?
*points to a coffee mug in front of the empty seat*
Me: Of course! I know better than to approach you with
a bunch of deep questions in the morning without giving you coffee first.
*takes a seat and groans after her first sip*
Olga: Hmm, Chocolate-drizzled Snickers flavored whipped
mocha. So . . . deep questions? How deep are we talking about here?
*Me grinning as I refrain from a That's What She Said joke.
Afterall, Olga is only eighteen years old*
Me: Umm, nothing too heavy. Lots of questions about
Nate. Speaking of Nate, will he be joining us today?
Olga: He's supposed to stop by after he finishes band
practice with the Cantankerous Monkey Squad
Me: Awesome! Oh, I hope he brings his guitar and sings
a song for us because that's, you know, kinda sexy
*fans self*
Olga: Hey, watch it! That's my man you're talking about.
Me: Right, sorry. So tell us a little bit about your
story.
Olga: Well, it's very emotional. Growing up, I was
always a bit of an outsider but I always had my best friend, Conner, to keep me
company. We've known each other since kindergarten. Then, last April, he died
in a freak accident and I was there to see it all go down and wasn't able to
save him. I was really torn up about it, even downed an entire bottle of pain
pills. That's when my parents forced me to see a counselor and that's where I
met Nate. Ultimately our story is about love, grief, longing, self-doubt,
growth, and the bonds of friendship. It has lots of fun stuff but it's also
poignant.
Me: Well, sounds like a beautiful story *toot,
toot;~)* Now in the novel, 18 Things, your counselor tells you
to write a life list of 18 things to do the year you turn 18. Is there anything
on the list you wish you could take back?
Olga: Yessss! The roller coaster. Ugh . . . I can't
believe that . . . well, I guess I should let the readers find out what happens.
Me: For
sure. *Get ready for shameless plug* After all, it was released on
Amazon last
month to best-seller status the first week* Anyway, what was your favorite
thing from the list?
Olga: Going
on my first date, of course! And speaking of the devil, here he is.
*At 5-foot-10, Nate enters wearing a blue t-shirt and baggy
khaki corduroys, unfortunately covering up most of his lean and muscular body.
He has a boyish face dominated by large, ocean blue expressive eyes, and his
hair is crammed under a wool cap, a few coffee-colored strands peeking out onto
his forehead*
Nate: Hello,
ladies. *slides into chair next to Olga and sees her empty cup* Uh-oh,
someone needs more coffee. *pulls out wallet*
Olga: It's
okay. I'll get it. I know Jamie is dying to ask you some questions.
*winks at me and walks over to the counter, the rich
stimulating smell of brewing coffee drawing her closer . . .oh, sorry, POV
problem for a second--hate those!*
Me: So Nate,
when did you know you wanted to be more than just friends with Olga?
Nate: From
the first moment I saw her.
Me: You're
just trying to score brownie points for when Olga reads this!
Nate: *holds
up hands and laughs* I'm totally not! It's the truth.
Me: Okay,
then. Boxers or briefs?
Nate: Boxers
for sure.
*adds suggestive eyebrow-wiggle as Olga walks over with 3
cups of coffee, one for each of us*
Olga: Everything
okay here?
Me: Yes, of
course. Totally behaving myself. So Nate, what's the best thing about Olga?
Nate: She's
hot. *Olga slaps his shoulder* Kidding, well not really but I'd have to say
everything. She gets emotional over things but not in a drama queen kind of
way. She's super smart and kind of dorky--loves to write poetry and watch Star
Wars and she's never without a book. When I first met her last year she was all
hunched over, like she was trying to disappear, so beautiful in her
vulnerability. I knew right away I wanted to do something to make her feel
better.
Me: Aww!
That is so sweet. What would be your idea of a perfect date with Olga?
Nate: That's
easy. Of course it's anywhere she is, anywhere she'd want to go.
Me: I like a
boy who gives a girl what she wants! Olga--what's your idea of a perfect date
with Nate?
Olga: Hmm,
probably grabbing a cup of coffee right here in the morning, then heading down
the street to the beach and reading a good book while we're stretched out on a
towel next to each other, Nate strumming his guitar and serenading me. Then
catching a movie at the theatre with the
Jedi Order later.
Me: Oh,
right. The Jedi Order is the reference you guys use for your group of friends
in the book. Tell us a little bit about them too because they play a really
important part.
Olga: Well,
there's Nicole. She's the self-sacrificing best friend. Tammy is really strong.
She puts up a front but she cares fiercely for her friends. Sean is a big
goofball. Kyle is incredibly loyal. Conner is . . . was . . . bigger than life.
He's the one who started calling us the Jedi Order so we continued the
tradition in his memory. Nate joined as an honorary member this year. He's
really honest and and definitely brings out the hidden risk taker in me.
Me: I'm sure
Conner would've loved your list and the way it brought you together this past
year as a catharsis to heal and move on while honoring his memory. Will there
be a sequel to your story?
Olga: We're
just some of the many voices in your head. You tell me.
Me: Oh,
right. Yes, yes of course there will be :-) There’s even a sneak preview of the
next book, 18 Truths, at the end of 18 Things. Guess I
should be putting some words on paper then. I'll leave you two love birds to
yourselves. Don't do anything I wouldn't do *wink, wink* And guys, just
remember that love brought you together. There’s gonna be lots of things, and
people, who try to keep you apart in the near future. It’s up to you to decide
if you’re gonna let them. *I get up, coffee in hand, and shuffle toward the
door*
Nate: Whoa,
whoa . . . you can’t just leave after a comment like that! What’s going on?
*I pause, looking over my shoulder at their expectant faces*
Me: Sorry, I
have to go. Just remember that the best time of all is now. Enjoy your journey
together. You never know when it will all change, but you’re only 18
Truths away to another life changed.
