I am thrilled to be
hosting a spot on the HOW TO LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE by Sarah Lynn Scheerger Blog
Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure
to enter the giveaway!
About
the Book:
Title: HOW
TO LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE
Author: Sarah
Lynn Scheerger
Pub.
Date: August
4, 2020
Publisher: Lerner/Carolrhoda
Formats: Hardcover,
eBook
Pages: 312
Eighteen-year-old Cayenne barely
remembers her mother, who died of breast cancer when Cayenne was four. The
women in her family have a history of dying young. Cayenne figures she'll meet
the same fate, so she might as well enjoy life now, engaging in death-defying
risks like dodging trains and jumping off cliffs with her boyfriend.
When Cayenne receives a series of video
messages her mother made for her before dying, she isn't sure she wants them.
Her aunt Tee has been her true mother figure. But then Aunt Tee tests positive
for a BRCA gene mutation--the one that doomed Cayenne's mom--and decides to get
a mastectomy to reduce her chances of developing cancer. As Cayenne helps her
aunt prepare for the surgery, she finds herself drawn to her mother's messages,
with their musings on life, love, and perseverance. For the first time, Cayenne
starts to question what it truly means to live life to the fullest, even when
death might be written into her DNA.
Book Trailer:
Interview:
Hey Sarah!! First I want to say welcome to Two Chicks on
Books I’m glad you could stop by for a chat! HOW TO LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE sounds
AWESOME and I can’t wait for everyone to read it!
Thank you
for having me! I’m excited to share.
For the readers: can
you tell us a little bit about HOW TO LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE and the characters?
Sure! This
is a story about two very different sisters, who are living in the shadow of the BRCA
gene mutation. They lost their mother to breast cancer at a young age. As the
book begins, the sisters receive video messages and a journal from their
mother, sharing all the things she wished she could have told them before she
died. At the beginning of this story, their different reactions to their loss and
fear have driven them apart. However, their relationship with each other and
themselves change as the story progresses, and as they experience the journal
entries and video messages.
Cayenne
is a risk-taker. She’s hardened herself over time for self-protection. Saffron
is sweeter, more cautious, and more outwardly vulnerable. But inside, she’s
strong and wise. I decided to craft my characters as opposites in many ways.
They have a shared loss, but this loss has propelled them in entirely different
emotional directions.
This story was inspired by
a combination of questions that materialized in my mind after I discovered that
I had the BRCA gene mutation. (This mutation increases the risk of breast and
ovarian cancer.) Based on this gene and my family history, I was encouraged to
consider preventative surgeries to remove my breasts and ovaries. The following
questions spun in my mind: What if a cisgender teenager had to grapple with
these same complex choices? Would it change her view of her body? Would it
alter a young woman’s time-line related to marriage and child-bearing? Would
choices feel empowering or overwhelming? And even more so. . . What
makes us women? Is it breasts and ovaries? The ability to bear children? Or is
it something completely different? These questions begged more exploration.
Here's a link
to a recent interview on “Teaching Books” where I share more about the inspiration
for this story.
What are you working
on now?
I’m
working on both a picture book and a middle-grade novel. I write a range of
stories for kids.
Were any of the
characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?
The
characters are fictional. I’m much more similar to Saffron than I am to
Cayenne. Cayenne is a risk-taker and Saffron is much more cautious. But of
course, the “situation” of having to think about preventative mastectomy and oophorectomy
is reflective of my real life.
Who was your favorite
character to write? What about your least favorite?
I have fun
writing snarky sarcastic teens who say and do things I wouldn’t say or do
myself. I’m not sure I have a least favorite character to write, because I wind
up enjoying writing them all. But Axel is a bit of a jerk. He’s not completely
a jerk—he has lots of redeeming qualities… but it’s hard not to get irritated
at him.
What is your favorite
passages/scenes in HOW TO LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE?
Ooh! Do I have to pick one? I like
the opening paragraphs:
There’s a curse on the women in my family. We die young.
There’s a curse on the women in my family. We die young.
In the last two generations, not a single woman in
my mom’s family has lived past the age of thirty-seven. Aunt Tee is still alive
and kicking, and the doctors say she’s perfectly healthy thirty-two-year-old,
but I doubt the Silk family curse will pass her by.
Just like I doubt it will pass me by.
Which means almost half of my life is over.
I intend to enjoy it.
**
I also enjoy the scene where Cayenne and Saffron throw their aunt a
“goodbye to boobies” party on the eve of her mastectomy. Cayenne uses humor to
cope—sometimes inappropriately, but luckily Saffron reigns her in.
Oh, and I love the scene when Cayenne and Saffron go on an impromptu
“road trip” to crash a wedding.
What kind of research
did you have to do for the story?
I did
consult with a genetic counselor to make sure my representation of the gene
mutation was accurate. Some of my research was my own experience.
Who is your ultimate
book boyfriend/girlfriend?
I
definitely like Peeta from the Hunger Games. He was selfless, supportive, and
kind.
When I
write YA, I get to know my characters so intimately, as if they were real
people. So I’ll reference the favorite book boyfriend I’ve written. I really
loved Chase in my YA “The Opposite of Love”. He had struggles, for sure, but he
was trying to be the best person he could be.
What inspired you to
write YA?
Honestly,
I like to read YA. My own teen years are close to my heart and maybe I never
really grew up. I also work with teens in my job as a school-based mental health
provider. I’m constantly inspired by the wisdom of teens in tough situations
who not only survive, but thrive.
Lightning Round Questions
What are you reading
right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?
Just
finished “Everlasting Nora” by Marie Miranda Cruz and “Stand Up Yumi Chung” by
Jessica Kim. Both are FABULOUS. I’m also a HUGE fan of “Efren Divided” by
Ernesto Cisneros. As you can probably tell, I also love middle-grade novels.
Instagram, Twitter or
Facebook?
Twitter is
my favorite for authorly stuff.
Oh,
hey—while we’re talking about it, here’s my handle so you can follow me. @sarahscheerger
Favorite Superhero?
Gwen Stacy
from “Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse”
Favorite TV show?
I mostly
watch TV with my kids—so I recently loved the new “Babysitter’s Club” series
and I also like “The Office” and “The Arrow”.
Sweet or Salty?
Am I
allowed to say “both”?
If I had
to pick, sweet. No . . . salty.
Okay,
both!
Any Phobias?
Yes.
Spiders. Closed in spaces. And driving through Los Angeles traffic
Song you can’t get
enough of right now?
Well, I
just watched Hamilton and I love every single song from it. I love “Satisfied”
and “Helpless” and “You’ll Be Back”. . . okay, I love them ALL.
My younger
kids keep playing “Dance Monkey” and when I hear it, I have to dance.
2020 Movie you’re
most looking forward to?
I loved
Hamilton so much, that I’m looking forward to “In the Heights”.
Thanks so much Sarah for answering my questions! I can’t
wait for everyone to read HOW TO LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE!
About Sarah:
Sarah Lynn (Scheerger) works as a clinical social worker with
at-risk youth, helping them figure out who they are and who they want to be.
She also provides counseling to adults and couples. She lives in southern
California with her husband and children. Sarah started out writing under her
first and middle name (Sarah Lynn) because she thought having a pen name seemed
mysterious and cool. However, over time she’s transitioned to writing under her
real name as well (both Sarah Scheerger and Sarah Lynn Scheerger). Sarah loves
reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends.
Giveaway
Details:
3
winners will receive a finished copy of HOW TO LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE, US Only.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
7/27/2020
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Review
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7/28/2020
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Review
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7/29/2020
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Review
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7/30/2020
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Review
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7/31/2020
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Interview
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Week Two:
8/3/2020
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Review
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8/4/2020
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Review
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8/5/2020
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Review
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8/6/2020
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Review
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8/7/2020
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Interview
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Week Three:
8/10/2020
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Review
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8/11/2020
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Review
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8/12/2020
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Excerpt
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8/13/2020
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Review
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8/14/2020
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Excerpt
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Week Four:
8/17/2020
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Excerpt
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8/18/2020
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Review
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8/19/2020
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Review
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8/20/2020
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Review
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8/21/2020
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Excerpt
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Week Five:
8/24/2020
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Review
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8/25/2020
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Excerpt
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8/26/2020
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Excerpt
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8/27/2020
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Review
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8/28/2020
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Review
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