"Competing With the Star" by Krysten Lindsay Hager

EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY

Competing With the Star
(The Star Series Book 2)

by Krysten Lindsay Hager

Competing With the Star is the second book in The Star Series by Krysten Lindsay Hager. Also available: Next Door to a Star (read my blog post).

Competing With the Star is currently on tour with YA Bound Book Tours. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.

For another book by this author, please check out my blog post on True Colors.

Description

The perfect guy, the perfect location. What could go wrong?

Hadley Daniels’s life seems perfect …

Before the beginning of sophomore year of high school, Hadley and her family move to a beautiful beach town, where she makes amazing new friends and lands the boyfriend of her dreams - Nick Jenkins. He’s the kind of guy every girl swoons over, and it isn’t long until Hadley discovers some are still swooning.

A famous ex-girlfriend makes matters more complicated…

After some time dating, Hadley and Nick form a deep bond. But insecurity sets in when Hadley discovers her boyfriend once had a huge crush on her friend - who just happens to be the beautiful former teen TV star, Simone Hendrickson.

The past is the past - or so they say …

Hadley confronts Nick, who confesses about his history with Simone. Though he claims to only have eyes for Hadley now, it’s hard to believe - especially when she’s blindsided with the news that Nick and Simone kissed after school.

Now Hadley must determine who is telling the truth. Love, betrayal, friendship … who needs soap opera drama when you’re busy competing with a star?

Video for Book 1

Excerpt

“So you don’t miss your old school? Or anyone back home?”

“Who? Lexi’s in Dallas now.”

He shifted. “I dunno, some guy or somebody you used to date.”

I shook my head.

“You know, I heard you guys ran into Jack Brogger a couple weeks ago. How can I compare to that?”

I tried to hide my embarrassed smile. Everyone teased me about my insane crush on Jack who was my favorite pop star and I had no idea Nick knew about all of that.

“Jack’s cute, but…”

“Don’t even tell me he’s not your type. I heard all about your love for him from Asia and Simone.”

My face was getting so warm now. “I admit I do like him a lot, but you know…”

 “What? He’s not here, so you’re stuck with me until he comes back to town?”

“My type is someone who is sweet and someone I can talk to about anything. I think Jack’s more into the club scene. From what I’ve read anyway,” I said, not sharing that I had Jack’s name on a Google Alert so any mention of his name came across my radar—or my phone to be more accurate.

“Sweet? Usually that’s what girls say before they tell you there will be no second date and then you enter the friend zone,” Nick said.

“Nope, I’m a girl who appreciates the sweet guys. I’d much rather go out with a guy who’d spend his sixteenth birthday with his grandpa than a guy who would take me to a big concert or a club,” I said. “I’d pick the thoughtful guy every time.”

Nick stopped walking and looked at me. “You know, I don’t tell a lot of people about everything that’s going on with my grandpa. It’s been so hard to watch his decline—his life changed overnight with that stupid surgery. I run into Pilar at the home a lot and she’s never once asked what’s going on. Maybe she doesn’t want to be nosy—I dunno. But you’re the first person I’ve shared all that stuff with.”

I smiled. “I’m glad you did.”

“Me too,” he said, and kissed me. Okay, this was officially the perfect first date.

We walked to the end of the pier and he put his arm around me. “You know, forget what I said about the fancy dinner thing. I think this was seriously the best first date ever,” he said.

“That’s what I was thinking.”

 “You didn’t even ask me to take a selfie with you,” he said. “Simone and Morgan and those girls are always taking so many selfies here on the pier, I’m not even sure they notice the water around them.”

“I got caught up in the moment and forgot all about taking pictures,” I said. “But would it be lame if we took one? I feel if we don’t, this moment didn’t happen.”

He started to laugh. “Okay, sure. That’s what I like about you. You were in the moment and not just posting crap online so all your friends could see it.”

“Yeah, but that’s what everyone does.”

“Exactly, and I like that you’re not just like everybody else.”

[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]

Praise for the Book

"Competing With The Star is the continuation of Krysten Lindsay Hager's epic YA drama series, The Star Series. Through a captivating plot, amazing character development, and Krysten's flawless writing, the story captures the true essence of the drama, confusion, and emotional high that is teenage romance. It brings to life the beauty of YA romance with all its uncertainties and possibilities. In the midst of all the drama, confusion, and romance, the story also gives off a beautiful and serene sense of family. I especially loved how the book dived into the story right away, and captured the genuine feeling of the story down to details, language, and interaction between the characters. Lovers of YA romance will definitely love The Star Series." ~ Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite

"Hadley our teenage heroine has many of the insecurities, which inflict most of us at this young age … A lovely story, with some good lessons about friendship, self-esteem and relationships, perfectly pitched for teen/young adult readers." ~ Jane Hunt, author

" … Hager's main character is representative of every teenage girl. The author really nailed the reality of a young girl's early high school years. I think this is a valuable read for girls ages 12-18." ~ Readers’ Favorite

" … The story gives you so much insight into the minds of teenage girls and makes you realize that deep down, everyone has the same insecurities and everyone goes through the same things in life. Despite these insecurities and fears, the main character stands up for herself. This is such an important message for teen girls!" ~ Amazon customer

About the Author

Krysten Lindsay Hager is an obsessive reader and has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and humor essayist, and writes for teens, tweens, and adults. She is also the author of the Landry’s True Colors series (True Colors, Best Friends…Forever?, and Landry in Like) and her work has been featured in USA Today and named as Amazon’s #1 Hot New Releases in Teen & Young Adult Values and Virtues Fiction and Amazon’s #1 Hot New Releases in Children’s Books on Values. She’s originally from Michigan and has lived in South Dakota, Portugal, and southwestern Ohio. She received her master’s degree from the University of Michigan-Flint.

Giveaway

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"Next Door to a Star" by Krysten Lindsay Hager

EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY

Next Door to a Star

by Krysten Lindsay Hager

This book blast and giveaway for Next Door to a Star is brought to you by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

For another book by this author, please check out my blog post on True Colors.

Description

Hadley Daniels is tired of feeling invisible.

After Hadley’s best friend moves away and she gets on the bad side of some girls at school, she goes to spend the summer with her grandparents in the Lake Michigan resort town of Grand Haven. Her next door neighbor is none other than teen TV star Simone Hendrickson, who is everything Hadley longs to be - pretty, popular, and famous - and she’s thrilled when Simone treats her like a friend.

Being popular is a lot harder than it looks.

It’s fun and flattering when Simone includes her in her circle, though Hadley is puzzled about why her new friend refuses to discuss her former Hollywood life. Caught up with Simone, Hadley finds herself ignoring her quiet, steadfast friend, Charlotte.

To make things even more complicated, along comes Nick Jenkins…

He’s sweet, good-looking, and Hadley can be herself around him without all the fake drama. However, the mean girls have other ideas and they fill Nick’s head with lies about Hadley, sending him running back to his ex-girlfriend and leaving Hadley heartbroken.

So when her parents decide to relocate to Grand Haven, Hadley hopes things will change when school starts ... only to be disappointed once again.

Cliques.
Back-stabbing.
Love gone bad.
Is this really what it’s like to live ...
Next door to a star?

Book Video

Excerpt

The school year should end right after spring break, because all anyone can focus on is summer vacation. You can’t learn anything new, because all you can think about is all the fun stuff you’re going to do once you don’t have to get up at the butt crack of dawn. Summer always seems full of possibilities.

Nothing exciting ever happens during the school year, but maybe, during summer vacation, you could run into a hot celebrity and he’d decide to put you in his next music video. Okay, it wasn’t like I knew anybody that happened to, but my grandparents did live next door to a former TV star, Simone Hendrickson, and Simone was discovered in an ice cream parlor one summer. Of course, she lived in L.A. at the time and was already doing plays and commercials, so the guy who discovered her had already seen her perform. But hey, it was summer, she got discovered, and that was all that mattered.

Amazing stuff didn’t happen to me. You know what happened to me last summer? I stepped on a bee and had to go to the emergency room. They’re not going to make an E! True Hollywood Story out of my life. I didn’t go on exotic vacations - like today, I was being dragged along with my parents to my cousin’s graduation party. Most people waited until at least the end of May before having a grad party, but Charisma was having hers early because she was leaving on a trip to Spain. I was dreading this party because I didn’t want to listen to everybody talk about how smart and talented Charisma was - making me feel like a blob in comparison - but my mom RSVP’d even though I said I’d rather die than go. My death threats meant nothing. But still, for some strange reason, I had a feeling this summer was going to be different.

Praise for the Book

"Next Door to a Star by Krysten Lindsay Hager is a heart wrenching tale of a young girl growing into her teen years ... Hager’s main character is representative of every teenage girl. The author really nailed the reality of a young girl’s early high school years. I think this is a valuable read for girls ages 12-18." ~ Readers’ Favorite

"Hager wrote from a teen’s perspective, and it gave the book a very authentic feel. She has a real gift for that, something many YA writers lack these days. She reminds me a lot of a modern Ann M. Martin or Judy Blume." ~ Kelly Smith Reviews

"If you, like me, have a soft spot for young adult novels then author Krysten Lindsay Hager should have a place on your bookshelf. Ms. Hager brings the teen years to life with absolute perfection in Next Door to a Star. Handling multiple plotlines with an expert touch, she’s crafted a young adult dramedy that on the top layer is a story about Hadley Daniels, an average teen whose only ambition is to fit in, have a few friends, and find her place in the world." ~ Author Erin Fanning

About the Author

Krysten Lindsay Hager is an obsessive reader and has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and humor essayist, and writes for teens, tweens, and adults. She is also the author of the Landry’s True Colors series (True Colors, Best Friends…Forever?, and the soon to be released Landry in Like) and her work has been featured in USA Today and named as Amazon’s #1 Hot New Releases in Teen & Young Adult Values and Virtues Fiction and Amazon’s #1 Hot New Releases in Children’s Books on Values. She’s originally from Michigan and has lived in South Dakota, Portugal, and southwestern Ohio. She received her master’s degree from the University of Michigan-Flint.

Giveaway

Enter the blast-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash.

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"True Colors" by Krysten Lindsay Hager

INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY

True Colors

by Krysten Lindsay Hager

Krysten Lindsay Hager joins me today for an interview to discuss her new middle grade/young adult book, True Colors. This book blast and giveaway is brought to you by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

Description

Landry Albright enters a modeling competition with her two best friends, but runs into jealousy when she advances to the next level without them. Enter the gorgeous Devon, who also makes the first cut of the modeling contest. Devon seems like the perfect new best friend, but can their friendship survive the competition? Throw in a new boy, jealousy and loyalty issues, and insults from hair stylists. How’s a girl to deal?

Book Trailer

Excerpt

The competition was for girls between the ages of thirteen and seventeen, but it felt like Ericka, Tori, and I were the youngest ones there. I only saw a couple of girls from school, and the lineup looked more like something you’d see on a music video set. All the girls were gorgeous, and they had these curvy womanly bodies. I looked like a skinny little kid next to them. The first girl walked out, and I heard the judges say she “owned the runway,” and, “walked like a gazelle.” I was starting to feel ill. I wasn’t sure which way it was going to come, but I knew I had to find a bathroom — fast. I started to get out of line when Ericka grabbed my wrist.

“It’s almost time,” she said. A tiny bit of spit flew out of her mouth and hit my cheek.

I wasn’t sure why she was so intent on me going through with it, but she had a death grip on my arm, so I didn’t have much of a choice. Her number was called and she walked out to the stage. One of the other girls said she walked like a kid with sand bucket stilts on her feet, but she came back with a smirk on her face like she knew she’d get chosen.

“They said they had never seen such long legs,” she said.

Tori was next.

“She walks like a gorilla at feeding time,” said the girl behind me. I went next, and I tried to focus on not tripping over my feet. My mom’s pumps had a rubber sole on the bottom, which probably wasn’t the brightest idea seeing as my shoes were making squeaking noises as I walked. I was so nervous I couldn’t stop smiling as I walked. I looked like the plastic clown who blows up balloons with its mouth at the Pizza Palace. When I got to the end of the runway, I tried to cross my feet to turn like the other girls had, but I over rotated and ended up doing a full spin which made my kilt fan out and gave the mall walkers a view of my blue underpants. I tried to act like it was intentional and did an extra turn. One of the judges put her hand up to stop me, and I held my breath as she started to speak.

Featured Review

By Holly L. Dennler

My high school and middle school daughters read this and so did it. We loved it. I enjoyed the positive messages while the girls could relate to some of the situations the main character ends up in. Well done.

Interview with the Author

Hi Krysten, thanks for joining me today to discuss your new book, True Colors.

For what age group do you recommend your book?

It’s from a "clean reads" publisher (Astraea Press), so suitable for ages 9 and up.

What sparked the idea for this book?

I saw an album cover years ago when I was in the sixth grade of four women in a band and wondering what they would have been like at my age (at the time). Years later, I had just finished a independent study where I worked on a novel and I was thinking about writing a YA/MG book and that idea came back to me.

So, which comes first? The character's story or the idea for the novel?

For me it’s usually the character. I do a lot of character studies and from there I come up with a setting and story idea.

What was the hardest part to write in this book?

Going back to some of the painful memories of middle school! The scene where Landry feels excluded from Ericka and Tori in class and goes over nervously to join India and Peyton - that scene really hit me. It’s technically been years since I was in that very position and yet it felt like yesterday. All those sick feelings came rushing back to me. I still feel all that anxiety when I re-read those scenes. I relive it each time.

I've got some back middle school memories, too, so you're not alone there! How do you hope this book affects its readers?

I hope the readers realize that everyone goes through these sorts of things - rejection, being left out, excluded, and feeling insecure. I want them to realize they are not alone and it sounds hokey, but that, "this too shall pass."

Great message, Krysten. How long did it take you to write this book?

Hard to say because I rewrote the book at one point. The idea came to me in the sixth grade, started fleshing out the idea in college - so it took a while for Landry’s whole story to come out!

What is your writing routine?

I don’t have a specific routine, but I always begin by editing. I have often said I’m the only writer on the planet who enjoys editing, but I do! I get back into the story that way and see how I can make it better. I was very lucky on this project to work with such amazing editors. I realize how blessed I was on this book.

How did you get your book published?

I had maybe a chapter of the book done when I went to my first children’s book writing conference. I signed up for a critique and the editor was really into the first chapter. So I knew I had something to build on. I went back and wrote the first version of the book and then through the query process and rewrote sections of it. I moved away and focused mostly on newspaper writing and other freelance humor essays, but eventually heard about my publisher through a freelance writing program that I belonged to.

What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?

Learn as much as you can. Go to countless conferences, read over 100 books in whatever genre you want to write. Enroll in both creative writing and literature classes. Get professional critiques AND join critique groups. You simply cannot learn enough about this business. And what my character, Talisa Milan, says about modeling applies to publishing, too, "It is a business."

Great advice. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I like to read. My friends are all over the place now, so to keep in touch I stay on social media a lot. It’s fun; sometimes my old high school friends or my good friends from when I lived overseas will all watch a game or a show together and talk about it online as we watch. I like to shop, too. Putting together outfits and accessories relaxes me.

What does your family think of your writing?

My dad enjoys listening to my stories and my mom is a sounding board for me. She’s a reader, not a writer so she sees it from that perspective. I think my extended family think I’m a bit crazy when we go someplace and I take pictures with my phone and tell them it’s something or someplace my characters would like!

Recently my dad had an accident and was in the I.C.U. He was really out of it, and he couldn’t have a conversation with me the first day, so the second day, I brought some of the finished story to read to him and I heard laughter. I looked up and a bunch of nurses and aids were standing there listening to me read. I really didn’t think any of the story sunk in with my dad, but a few weeks later, he brought up the zoo that Landry and her dad go to - it was based on a trip to the zoo my dad took me on, and the whole snake scene? Yup, that all happened! So it was interesting to me that my dad had absorbed some of that.

That's great! Please tell us a bit about your childhood.

I grew up in a town that was obsessed with golf. I went to a private school for 9 years and I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, too. I was very lucky to have my grandparents so involved in my life. I was the first grandchild, so I was a bit spoiled with toys and attention … I can neither confirm nor deny that at one point my grandparents had an entire hallway of photos of me.

Sounds like you're confirming it ... Did you like reading when you were a child?

Loved it. My parents were both very much into education so books were a big part of my life growing up. My mom used to take me to the library all the time and once a month we made a bookstore trip to pick up all the series books I loved. My mom didn’t insist that I just read the books that were deemed, "proper literature". She would read about what was popular and get those books for me, too.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I always enjoyed making up stories with my dolls and I’d come up with whole storylines and sagas for them. Like a running soap opera!

At the time, it didn’t occur to me that I’d do anything with that as an adult. In the fifth grade, my teacher told my parents she thought I’d become an author. Writing and coming up with stories was something I had always been doing, so it always felt like it was my path.

Did your childhood experiences influence your writing (apart from the snake bit)?

I have to say watching soap operas with my mom helped a lot - believe it or not! My dad thought it was cute when I was so little, I’d be in the stroller and telling him about the soap opera storyline my mom had been watching. Little did they know that attention to detail (and plot) would come in handy later!

Which writers have influenced you the most?

Of the YA/MG writers, I’d say: Paula Danziger, Betsy Haynes, Erika Tamar, Francine Pascal (the Victoria Books), Cathy Hopkins, Cathy Cassidy, and Judy Blume.

Of the adult writers: Edith Wharton, Leo Tolstoy, F. Scott Fitzgerald, May Sarton, and Sylvia Plath.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I have heard a lot of people say it was like I somehow got into their heads and learned about their middle school experience - haha!

I guess a lot of us go through that! What can we look forward to from you in the future?

I am working on a sequel to True Colors, along with a couple other MG/YA novels and an adult book. I have a story coming out in an anthology about grandmothers later this year.

Sounds like you're very busy, Krysten. Thank you for taking the time to stop by today and best of luck with your future projects.

About the Author

Krysten Lindsay Hager is an author and book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and also writes middle grade, YA, humor essays, and adult fiction. Her debut novel, True Colors, has just been released by Astraea Press. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in South Dakota, Portugal, and currently resides in Southern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing when she’s not catching up on her favorite shows.

Giveaway

Enter the blast-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Links

Add to Goodreads

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Amazon UK

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Kobo

Smashwords

Amazon US author page

Amazon UK author page

Barnes & Noble author page

Smashwords author page

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Twitter @KrystenLindsay

Website