INTERVIEW
Praying for Daylight
(The McCree's)
(The McCree's)
by J.
C. Isabella
Praying for Daylight is currently on tour with Reading Addiction Book Tours. The tour stops here
today for my interview with the author. Be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
Kate Kelly gave up everything to be a star. Her life was on the fast
track as country music’s hot newcomer, but that meant leaving her hometown of
McCree Montana and the boy she loved behind.
Dustin O’Brian didn’t think he’d ever see Kate again. After leaving him
with a gaping hole in his heart, he figured being in the same room with her,
much less the same state, would take a miracle.
When he finds Kate hiding out in the old Kelly house, he realizes
something went wrong. Dustin wasn’t sure what those Hollywood folks had done to
send her running, but he was beyond happy she’d sought him out for company … once
he convinced her that he’d keep her being back in McCree secret.
Things were looking up, and he had high hopes that Kate would be his once
more.
That is until Death comes knocking at her door.
And Dustin realizes that the future he wants with Kate is one they will
have to fight for.
Excerpt
“And the winner
is … Kate Kelly!”
The roar in my ears
was almost too much to bear. I dropped my beaded clutch, stumbled, nearly fell
face first into the lap of a famous director sitting beside me, but I made it.
I made it all the way up the shining, gold stairs, all the way to the clear
glass podium. I barely registered the tall blonde woman handing me my first
award.
I thought about
everything that brought me to this point, and my stomach rolled in nervous
excitement.
Kaitlin Kelly, a
little nobody from a small town, McCree ,
Montana
I was being honored
as hot new artist of the year.
Good God, I really
couldn’t breathe.
I eyed the
microphone, which was just a little high for me, and stood as tall as I could
in my cowgirl boots. They were baby blue with silver stitching, and matched my
short white ruffled dress perfectly.
But I seriously had
to stop thinking about my boots and say something…
“Uh, wow,” I gasped,
squinting through the bright lights of the stage. “I can’t believe this. I feel
so happy, and blessed. And I didn’t even write a speech because I never thought
I’d win … and I know I have so many people to thank, but I just can’t remember
their names! So, thank you … uh, to my manager Jake, my sister - Cheyenne, you
don’t know how much … what you have done means to me. I love you. You’re my best
friend. Uh, and I’d like to thank my manager Jake. I couldn’t have done this
without you. And I … I just love everyone, and I think I’m starting to make a
fool out of myself …” I felt a clammy hand on my arm and glanced back at the
blonde woman. Music started to play. I had to wrap this up. “Uh, so thanks to
everyone. I love you all!”
And I was whisked
backstage. Lights flashed as cameras snapped. I posed this way, that way, stuck
out my leg like I was taught. I held up my award, bursting with pride.
I made music and
toured the country with other stars. Life was more than I could ever ask for. I
was having a blast.
Who’d have thought
that I would spend my senior year of high school on the road, getting to hang
out with some of country music’s brightest stars?
I was one of them
now. I had my award and congratulations at the after party. So many people
peppered me with questions about my second album and what I had planned for it.
To be honest, I was
so caught up in everything else, I really hadn’t put much thought to it. Once I
had some down time, I’d have to think about what I was going to do.
“Honey, you were
amazing!” my sister said, hugging me later that night at the after party. She
was older than me by about ten years, and she had a son, Ben. I didn’t think
she’d go for me having a music career, but she supported me every step of the
way.
Some people thought
my sister took advantage of me, by exploiting me when I was only sixteen. But
it was my idea. I wanted this more than anything in the world. I had to
convince her.
Not that she didn’t
benefit. My rise to fame brought attention to her talent as an interior
designer, and now she was in talks for her own TV show on the home improvement
channel.
An arm came around
me and I was swept off my feet in a crushing hug. Jake, my manager, nodded.
“You’re a star.”
I smiled. “Thanks
guys, I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“Oh, after this, we
should all go eat hamburgers in our gowns like the other famous people!” Cheyenne
“So.” I looked up at
Jake when my sister was snatched by a singer looking to revamp her kitchen.
“Any progress?”
Jake shook his big
blond head. “No, I’m being a chicken.”
I glanced at the
crowd gathered on the rooftop of a swanky hotel. It was full of the elite, and
I almost felt out of place. “You can get any one of the girls here, so why
can’t you just ask out my sister? I mean, I’m planning a wedding in my head
here. Ben loves you…it’s like, perfect.”
“I know. I don’t
want to screw this up. I mean, it’s Cheyenne
I rolled my eyes.
Never would I have thought big, tough Jake Parsons, would revert to his teenage
ego at the thought of approaching my sister for a date. “Why don’t you tell her
you love her and pop the question?”
He blanched. “I
haven’t kissed her, and I’m going to ask her to marry me?”
“You know you want
to …” I smirked.
“Yeah, but I can’t
just get down on bended knee and give her the ring.”
“Wait, you have a
ring?” I nearly dropped my drink. Holy Lord. My sister was just as crazy about
him, so I was going to have to do something to end the insanity. It’d been like
this for a year now. She was constantly wondering if he’d date her, and if ben
would like him for a stepfather. Jake was pestering me daily about her favorite
colors, flowers, and whether or not he could be a dad to ben.
I lowered my voice,
“Uh, where did you get a ring?”
He blushed. Like,
actually blushed! “It belonged to my aunt. It’s a family heirloom.”
“Oh my god! Cheyenne
“Really?” His chest
puffed up.
“You know how she is
about mass-produced stuff. She loves things with meaning.”
“Great … but it still
doesn’t help that we haven’t been on a date yet.”
“How about you come
over tomorrow?” I had it all worked out in seconds. My plan would go perfectly.
He’d come over, I’d make up a sudden excuse to leave and take Ben with me.
“Tomorrow is pancake night. Eat with us, and then you ask my sister out, or I’m
doing it for you.”
He nodded. “Right,
pancakes. Should I bring a bottle of wine?”
“I said pancakes…”
“Red or white?” He
wasn’t hearing me. “Maybe flowers?”
“Unbelievable.” I
stood on my tiptoes and locked eyes with him. “Bring chocolate milk.”
“Milk.”
“Yes, the kind with
chocolate in it.” I rolled my eyes, heading to grab sparkly water from the bar.
He’d figure it out, or I’d ambush him in the front yard tomorrow, snag his
wine, and hand him a bottle of Ben’s favorite milk.
Review
This was a great
book. I really enjoyed the story line and the characters. Along with the twist
and turns. This book had a little bit if everything in it.
Interview with the Author
Hi J.C. Isabella, thanks for joining me today to
discuss your new book, Praying for Daylight.
Which writers have influenced you the most?
I would say Janet Evanovich, with her humor, and Kresely Cole left a big impression. I love them both!
What age group do you recommend your book for?
It’s YA, for teens,
but I have people of all ages that read my books.
What sparked the idea for this book?
After I wrote Chasing McCree, I loved the idea of writing books about the other people in the
story. The person I wanted to start with was Dustin.
Which comes first? The character's story or the
idea for the novel?
I think it’s a
little bit of both. I have this character, and an idea that something’s
happening … or going to happen, and then the story snowballs from there.
What is your writing routine?
Well, I get up, take
the dog out if daddy hasn’t taken him. Maybe fix breakfast and start writing.
Or I’ll spend the day with my boys and then write in the evening. I’ve been
known to bring my laptop on car rides and write too.
What advice do you have for someone who would like
to become a published writer?
The best thing you
can do is write. I know a lot of authors tell people this, and I remember
staring at author interviews like, there has to be more to it than that! What’s
the big secret? But really, it’s all you can do. Just write, keep writing, and
when you think you’ve written enough, write some more. Most people don’t write
one perfect book and get it published. You should write a few books, allow
yourself the time to get even better, making yourself that much stronger. Once
you are confident in what you put out, then you are ready for the next step.
Also, if the book you are trying to publish doesn’t get picked up or go over
well, you have a few others to fall back on, instead of having to go back and
write more, then try to get them published.
Great advice! What do you like to do when you're
not writing?
I’ve found I like to
take long walks and hikes. I’d never been much of an outdoors girl, but I am
just wrapping up a month long trip to Germany, I know when we get back to
Florida, I’m going to miss all the mountains and trails. I also love to cook! I
want to try my hand at Indian cuisine now.
What does your family think of your writing?
I think they think
it’s pretty cool.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a
writer?
I don’t think I ever
really realized it, I just kind of stumbled into it, and decided I loved it.
But I do remember sitting with a book, and thinking to myself … I could do
this! So I tried … and here I am today. An author.
That's great! Did your childhood experiences
influence your writing?
I’d say one
influenced a whole book. One of my friends growing up played baseball. The
girls loved him. I didn’t quite get it, since he was like family to me, and
that’s how I wrote The Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of
things do they say?
I love to hear from
readers! I try to write back as soon as I can too. I get a lot of readers
asking for help with writing, or wanting to know how to become an author. I’ve
had readers who are sick, that find an escape through books.
What can we look forward to from you in the future?
You can look forward
to more cowboys, baseball players, maybe a few zombies, a princess under a
spell, and lots of romance :) All in 2014!
Sounds good! Thank you for stopping by today. Best
of luck with your future projects.
About the Author
J. C. Isabella is the author of Chasing McCree and The Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club. Ever since she discovered romance novels in
high school, she has been a self proclaimed fan. This led to penning her first
YA . When she isn't thinking up new recipes for the cookbook she hopes to one
day write, she is brainstorming a new novel and listening to country music. She
lives in the tropics of Florida with her big fat Italian family and ornery
feline companion.
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