Mundie Moms

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Tracked by Jenny Martin; Blog Tour: Author Interview & Enter To WIN!


Hello and welcome to today's TRACKED blog tour stop. I am so thrilled to have debut author, a fellow Texan, and a friend of mine, Jenny Martin on the blog today! She's stopped by to chat with me about her book, TRACKED. After you read through our interview together, be sure to enter to win! 



Hi Jenny! Welcome to Mundie Moms. I love having friends stop by. I'm going to take a moment and say CONGRATULATIONS on your debut! I am so excited for you and your book. I love the title of it, TRACKED. How did you come up with the title? Was it something you came up with before writing the story, or during your writing process?

Hmm…good question, and honestly, I can’t remember exactly when I first picked Tracked as the title. But I can tell you that by the time I finished the first draft, I’d chosen it, and interestingly enough, it never changed, from first page to final copyedit! It’s a bit of a play on the racing theme (Phee’s forced onto the circuit track)…and if you read the whole book, it may even ring with deeper meaning. It’ll be fun to watch as readers catch on. ;)

I know your husband has done some amazing things with your book trailer. Did you have an input in your cover design as well?

Thanks! My husband is so creative and talented. You should see the steel emblems he’s working on. I can’t wait to show them off!

To answer your question…actually, I had minimal input. Originally, my editor asked me to put together some thoughts and I created a Pinterest inspiration board, but ultimately, the final design was up to the designers. I will say that I love the logo on the cover, and had always hoped Phee’s racing symbol would make it onto the jacket, so seeing it there is a dream come true. We’ve had a lot of fun using it on bookmarks, bags and t-shirts. I think the logo’s really sharp. 

What was one of your favorite scenes to write? You can totally keep this spoiler free, and just tell us your favorite chapter if you'd like.

I’ve mentioned how much I loved drafting the races, and also, a really tender, heartbreaking scene in chapter twenty-seven, but another favorite is a scorching hot scene between Phee and Cash. Two words: Emerald Suite. Two more words: Ohhhhh Cash.

Do you have a favorite line from your book?

I sure do. This line, delivered by Cash, is my favorite, and I think it speaks to the heart and soul of the book—which to me, is about never giving up hope, even in the darkest hour:
He lets go. “I guess that’s the difference between you and me. I don’t want to live without that ache. I have to believe in impossible things.”

I also love asking this question, if you could write one of your favorite literary characters into you book, who would you write and why? This can also be tv or movie character too.
Oooh, great question! And while there are a lot of literary characters I’d love to put in Phee’s path, I think I’m going to have to go with Matt Murdoch/Daredevil, from Netflix’s new series. I love how this run has characterized this classic superhero. Here is a man who’s flawed and vulnerable, headstrong and human. I think he has a lot of fight, and I think there’s a lot he could teach my spitfire girl. I’d love to see Matt Murdoch partner up with Phee. Together, they’d be pretty awesome at taking down power-hunger villains like Wilson Fisk and Charles Benroyal. 

Looking back from when you first started writing Tracked, to now, what is something you feel your writing this book has taught you?

Oh my, this book has taught me so, so much. I’ve learned how to dig deeper into characters, and how to handle pacing. It’s taught me the difference between tinkering and truly revising, and that it takes courage to do the latter! But most all, writing Tracked has taught me to have confidence in myself and push past a lifetime of fear and self-doubt. As Phee evolved, from smart-mouth to hero, I evolved from timidity to self-acceptance. I still wrestle with fears and worries, but now I face them. It probably sounds ridiculous, but in a way, Phee’s the one who taught me how to do that. Writing her was good for my spirit. 

If you were a character in your book, which character would you be friends with? Why?

I think I’d be friends with Bear. I love this guy so much. I’ve talked a lot about how fierce Phee is, but there’s another kind of fearlessness…a quiet, unassuming courage that never fails. For me, that’s Bear. He will never stop caring for his family, never stop protecting those who need him, and never stop fighting for those he loves. He’s my very own Captain America, and while I adore Cash just as much, I hope Bear gets his due. I hope readers come to love him, too. 

Thank you Jenny for stopping by today!Thank you so much for the interview, and for having me on Mundie Moms!! xoxo

ABOUT THE BOOK 



Published by: Dial
To Be Released on: 5/5/15
Pre-Order from: Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads

The Fast and the Furious gets a sci-fi twist in this action-packed debut.

On corporately controlled Castra, rally racing is a high stakes game that seventeen-year-old Phoebe Van Zant knows all too well. Phee’s legendary racer father disappeared mysteriously, but that hasn't stopped her from speeding headlong into trouble. When she and her best friend, Bear, attract the attention of Charles Benroyal, they are blackmailed into racing for Benroyal Corp, a company that represents everything Phee detests. Worse, Phee risks losing Bear as she falls for Cash, her daring new teammate. But when she discovers that Benroyal is controlling more than a corporation, Phee realizes she has a much bigger role in Castra’s future than she could ever have imagined. It's up to Phee to take Benroyal down. But even with the help of her team, can a street-rat destroy an empire?

About The Author
Jenny Martin is an author and librarian. Her first novel, Tracked, will be released on May 5th, 2015 by Dial, an imprint of Penguin Random-House. Jenny is also an experienced speaker, panelist and presenter who’s appeared at many state and regional conferences, events and festivals. She lives in Dallas, with her husband and son, where she hoards books and writes fiction. And yes, she’s still on a quest for the perfect pancake.

Find Jenny via Website  | Blog | Twitter  | Facebook | Pinterest | TumblrInstagram | Goodreads

Watch The Trailer


Enter To Win
5 winners will receive a finished copy of TRACKED and an awesome swag pack! US Only.
5 winners will receive a finished copy of TRACKED! US Only.
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HUNTED by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki; Blog Tour: Book Review & Enter To WIN!


Hello & welcome to today's HUNTED blog tour! I'm so thrilled to be apart of this tour, and share my review for the second book in Abi & Missy's Sinners Series. After you check out my review, be sure to enter to WIN!



By: Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki
Published by: Month9Books
Released on: 4/28/15
Series: Sinners series #2
Purchase from: Month9Books Store| Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Chapters Indigo
Add it to Goodreads

HUNTED is the electrifying sequel to the bestselling debut BRANDED, A Sinners Series, by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki.

It’s been three months since the revolt against the Commander’s fifty-year-old regime failed.

Under a new ruler, things were supposed to change. Get better.

But can anyone really be trusted?

Lexi and Cole soon find out, as life takes an unexpected turn for the worse.

In this ever-changing world, you must hunt or be hunted.

Lives will be lost.

Dreams will be crushed.

Fears will be realized.

Secrets will be exposed.

When Cole is once again faced with losing Lexi at the hands of a monster, one encounter will change everything.

Forever.

Connect with BRANDED fans on Instagram at:
#abiandmissy
#Sinnersfandom
#Sinnersseries
#Colexi
#Sinnersseriesbranded
#Brandedofficialfanpage
#Brandedfandom
#Lexihamilton
 
A fast paced, action packed sequel! If you thought Abi and Missy left you hanging at the end of Branded, wait till you get to the end of this book. You'll wish you already had Liberated in your hands. Just be prepared for one crazy, thrill ride of a read. Abi an Missy don't gently ease fans back into their dark and twisted world. You better buckle up and prepare for the fast paced, dangerous world of Hunted.

Abi and Missy pick up the story right where they left fans hanging in Branded. From the first page, readers are thrust right back into Lexi and Cole's troubled world. Not to be out done by their debut, this sequel is one heck of a thrill ride. With nonstop action, heart pounding moments, the right amount of sizzling chemistry, and swoon worthy scenes (yep, I said swoon worthy, because I don't know how else to describe them), fans will find it hard to look away from this book for even a moment. I imagine if this book played out on the big screen, I'd walk out of the theater with my adeline running, and my stomach hurting for sitting on the edge of my seat, and holding my breathe so much. There's so much happening in this book, that from beginning to end, this book reads quickly.

Cole and Lexi have had to deal with a lot, and things are about to get a lot crazier. Both characters have a lot to deal with, not just because of all the craziness going on around them, but because of their own demons. Even though some of the things are predictable about what's to come, I still found myself emotionally wrapped up into the things the characters, like Cole & Lexi (cough, cough) experience, and are trying to deal with. I liked that we get to see some old friends and characters we previously met in Branded, back in Hunted, and the roles they played with Cole and Lexi's return to a certain place that will not be named.  

Abi and Missy do a great job with describing the world, and events that each of the characters are going through. I wasn't excepting to be so caught up into the story like I was. Let's face it, if you're read Branded, then you know this book's setting is essentially what I imagine hell on earth would be like. Okay, sort of. Minus the brimstone and all that. Though I'm pretty sure if I asked the characters, they would all agree it's hell. As Cole and Lexi know, not all things always go as plan. That includes running away to the very thing Cole and Lexi have been running from. These two find themselves right back at the place that started it all. Only this time, things are a different. These two are driven by the very things that haunt them from the first book.

I like that Hunted has that good mix of attitude, action, humor, and romance. It's all intertwine perfectly. I like that even in the bleakest of times, there's either something humorous to laugh at or something to fan yourself over, because of the swoon factor. The thing is, these moments are moments that are very much apart of the relationships in this book, and I liked that even with all that's going on, these stolen moments were crucial for the characters. They felt realistic. With all the bad going on, these little moments between the various characters were moments of hope, or a moment to forget about the daunting tasks that lay ahead or the hurt that's driven them to this point. These moments were my favorite part of the book.

Over all, I liked Hunted. It's not often that I feel like a sequel lives up to the debut or surpasses it, but I feel like this book does. I'd recommend this book to both YA and NA readers. Hunted is one of those books that is great for readers that are looking for something that crosses over from YA to NA, and fits in perfectly with either place on the shelf. It's an edgier, darker read, with plenty of action, violence, some language and sexual references/scenes. If you like Branded, you'll like the direction that Hunted takes the story in, and you'll be wishing Liberated was already in your hands.


What Fans Are Saying

HUNTED is the electrifying sequel to the bestselling debut BRANDED, A Sinners Series, by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki.
What readers are saying about BRANDED…
"Branded was a riveting and exciting dystopian read that will have you at the edge of your seat. I could not put it down and was entranced by this dark and unique world!" -Ben Alderson, Booktuber at BenjaminofTomes
"Fast paced and fun, BRANDED has something everyone will love. Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki have created a unique dystopian romance that's sure to stand out in today's market!" -Lindsay Cummings, Author of The Murder Complex
"Branded is a fast paced, heart pounding and swoon worthy read that will make you fall in love with this dark and twisted world." -Sasha Alsberg, Booktuber at ABookUtopia

Connect with BRANDED fans on Instagram at: 
#abiandmissy 
#Sinnersfandom 
#Sinnersseries 
#Colexi 
#Sinnersseriesbranded 
#Brandedofficialfanpage 
#Brandedfandom 
#Lexihamilton

About Abi and Missy




Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.


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(1) Sinners Series T-Shirt US only.
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