I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on blog tour for MAGNETIC SHIFT by
Lucy D. Briand! I freaking LOVED this book! I have an interview with Lucy to
share with you today! And make sure to enter the awesome giveaway for a finished
copy of the book and an awesome swag pack!
Haven't heard of MAGNETIC SHIFT? Check it out!
Title: MAGNETIC SHIFT
Author: Lucy D. Briand
Pub. Date: April 12, 2016
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Format: Paperback, eBook
Find it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
The ability to magnetize and manipulate metal with the flick of her wrist makes seventeen-year-old Lexi Adams a crack mechanic, but it’s a disaster in the making when her stepdad trades her skills to NASCAR team owner Dean Grant for an entire season’s worth of sponsorship ads.
Now Lexi has no other choice but to suck it up and hope she can keep her magnetic impulses under control—that is, until she runs into NASCAR’s hot new rookie, Colton Tayler.
When Carl Stacy, the ruthless team owner of the defending Cup Champion, discovers Lexi’s secret and plots to use it to ruin Dean’s race team for good, Lexi must either expose her ability to save Colton, risking Dean’s career and her own freedom in the process, or watch the only guy she’s ever fallen for race to his death.
Now on to the interview!
Hi Lucy! First I want to say welcome to Two Chicks on Books!
I freaking LOVED MAGNETIC SHIFT and I can’t wait for the world to read it! And
am so happy that you could stop by for a visit!
For the readers: can
you tell us a little bit about MAGNETIC SHIFT and the characters?
The story is about Lexi, a crack mechanic teen with magnetic abilities
whose emotions and magnetic control goes berserk when she meets Colton, the new
rookie driver on the NASCAR team she is forced to work with. Things get even
worse when she accidently causes a near fatal crash and the witness is the
team’s biggest rival who is already under investigation for sabotaging the
team.
I love stories with subtle paranormal twists, a kind of magical realism.
Add my love of the X-MEN and NASCAR and this became a story I just had to
write.
Is this a standalone
or a series? And if it’s a series do you have a title for book 2 yet? And if
it’s a standalone what are
you working on next?
Not a big fan of series’. I find I lose interest in reading
a sequel when there is too large of a time gap between releases. What I am a
big fan of are spin-offs.
I have a few ideas for MAGNETIC SHIFT spin-offs but haven’t
worked out all the creative kinks yet.
Currently I’m revising an untitled “Fast and the Furious” style
paranormal romance about a girl who is unbeatable on the quarter mile, but when
an apparition starts appearing to her at the finish line all wheels brake
loose.
Why NASCAR? I am a
huge racing fan and I honestly can’t believe this hasn’t been done before in YA
(that I know of).
Why the heck not?
NASCAR is a sport that I naturally gravitated to when I was
a teen. I’m also Canadian so it’s not an interest I developed over time through
family or friends since my surroundings growing up where all about hockey,
baseball or soccer. No, I’ve had a love for cars and racing since I was really
young. I played with my Barbie cars more then I played with the dolls. But it
was when I was about 15 that I watched a full televised race from start to
finish for the first time and I got hooked. How could I not? One team
challenging 40-some odd teams every week, the skill, the talent, the thrill, I
love it all.
Were any of the
characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?
Subconsciously I’m sure I did, little quirks and mannerisms
maybe, but nothing intentional though.
I did however name one of my characters after someone very
special in my life. My goddaughter Annabelle. In the book she is Dean’s cute
little toddler. In real life my Goddaughter is an identical twin; they just
turned 5 this year :)
Who was your
favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?
My favorite would have to be Colton. He’s everything I’ve
ever liked in a guy. Quirky, fun, caring, sensitive which can sometimes make
him moody, but he’s also just a simple guy living his dream. Loved writing him.
If I have to pick one I guess I could say my least favorite
was Gwen. I loved writing her snippy princess like attitude, and her entitled
bratty ways, but she does remind me of all the people who ever made me feel
left out, unwanted, or were just plain rude to me throughout my life. Not
things I like to dwell on.
What is your
favorite passage/scene in MAGNETIC SHIFT?
My favorite scene is close to the end after Lexi sacrifices
everything to save Colton. I can’t say too much about it here without giving
out spoilers but I loved writing the emotion behind her decision and her
realizations during the moments following that. A lot of those feelings are
some I have felt and still feel toward situations in my own life that I
channeled into to write that scene. It’s also a kissing scene :p
What kind of
research did you have to do for the story?
The fun kind…lol I had to really brush up on
my knowledge of NASCAR rules and regulations which of course have almost all
changed since I wrote the story…grr
I listened more closely to in car chatter and live feeds
during televised races.
I also visited many race tracks to get some more accurate
visuals and talk to those who work there during these events. I took a tour of
the Hendricks Motorsports garages and facilities, home of my favorite driver,
to get a feel for the work they do there in between races.
I bought tons of NASCAR merchandise at every track I visited…
but yeah, I guess that wasn’t really research
huh…lol
*big grin*
Who is your ultimate
book boyfriend?
I can’t decide between Daniel from the Fallen Series or Jace
from the Mortal Instruments’ Series. Both guys are sexy and awesome in their
own way.
What inspired you to
write YA?
I may be in my thirties but I am no adult. I am a comic book
loving, board game playing, dresses up for comic con kind of geek who still
feels like she’s never left high school or college. And when I go to Disney
well then never mind being a teen, I am a six year old again. It’s just who
I’ve always been. I can’t imagine reading or writing for any other audience.
Lightening Round
Questions
What are you reading
right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?
I’m
currently reading The Beast Within: A Tale of Beauty's Prince by Serena
Valentino. I found this book and another in the series on my recent trip to
Walt Disney World. It’s the story of how the Beast became the Beast. The next
one will be Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen.
What Hogwarts House
would the Sorting Hat place you in?
Gryffindor
Twitter or Facebook?
Facebook
Favorite Superhero?
Gambit
Favorite TV show?
Castle
Sweet or Salty?
Salty
Any Phobias?
I have Emetophobia. (Intense anxiety pertaining to throwing up. A fear of doing
it, seeing it, watching the action of it or being nauseated.)
Yeah…not
fun.
Song you can’t get
enough of right now?
Pocket full of Dreams by Hedley is one of my favorites right
now.
Spring Movie you’re
most looking forward to?
X-MEN Apocalypse, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Captain
America: Civil War
Thanks so much Lucy for answering my questions! I can’t wait
for everyone to read whatever you write next!
About Lucy:
Lucy D. Briand lives in Ottawa, Canada with
her comic book fanatic husband and her nonchalant Siamese cat.
By day she works full time as a public servant for the Government of
Canada, but by night her creative mind takes over and conjures up young adult
gear-head romance stories with supernatural twists.
When not working, reading, writing, or watching way too much TV, Lucy
likes to cosplay, attend ComicCons, go on road trips to Walt Disney World, and
play ridiculous amounts of board games. She’s a geek to the core but is also a
huge NASCAR Cup fan.
Lucy is represented by Brittany Booker Carter of The Booker Albert
Literary Agency.
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a finished copy of MAGNETIC SHIFT, US Only.
1 winner will receive a swag prize pack and 25$ Amazon Gift Card,
International.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
4/4/2016- Curling Up With A Good Book- Interview
4/5/2016- Take Me Away To A Great Read- Review
4/6/2016- Moonlight Gleam Reviews- Guest Post
4/7/2016- A Dream Within A Dream- Review
4/8/2016- Two Chicks on Books- Interview
Week Two:
4/11/2016- Eli to the nth- Review
4/12/2016- Lost in Ever After- Guest Post
4/13/2016- A Backwards Story- Review
4/14/2016- The Cover Contessa- Interview
4/15/2016- With Love for Books - Review
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