Celebrating Debutantes: Author Rachel Harris (Interview + Giveaway)

Author Rachel Harris

"To everyone who has read My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, who supported me during my debut year, who joined the Flirt Squad, chatted with me on Twitter or Facebook, and stopped by any of the blogs I participate in, thank you. That sounds way too simple for what I want to say, but my brain is overwhelmed any time I think about how blessed I’ve been this year and that’s all I can come up with—which is really bad since I’m a writer (grin). And to everyone who may’ve thought about reading it or any of my future books, thank you, too. There are so many wonderful choices out there! I hope all of you will come find me on Facebook or Twitter (where I practically live), and chat with me about books, swoony book boyfriends, and bad reality television. And I wish you all a very Happy Holidays."
- RACHEL HARRIS, debut author of 2012



 How was the feeling of being a published author, at last?

It still is surreal. Like, I still go total fangirl over my favorite authors. And when people come up to me, recognizing me, or telling me that they loved my book, my mind boggles. I love having a creative outlet, and showing my children that they can reach for their dreams, and on the day my book went into stores and my girls danced around Barnes and Noble with a copy in their hands, I knew they were seeing just that. It made my giddy Mama heart happy.

Are you interested in writing with different genre or audience?

Actually I have my hands in a few different genres….My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century and the upcoming companion novel, A Tale of Two Centuries, are YA fantasies mixed with historical. And in 2014 Rearview Mirror, my YA contemporary thriller with paranormal elements will come out with Entangled Teen. I also have three YA contemporary romances coming out in 2013-2015 with Spencer Hill Press Contemporary. Oh, and I have an adult romance trilogy I’ve been working on that I hope to have exciting news to share soon!

Who is the character on your book who has the most response from your readers?

Lorenzo definitely has his fans. I have trading cards I had out at events and it always makes me laugh how popular my Lorenzo cards are in comparison to my heroine, Cat. I get it, though—Lorenzo is a hottie! But besides the yummy boy, I’m so happy to see how many people love Alessandra. She is so sweet and innocent and the natural humor she brought was so much fun….especially in the sequel, since she is the main character! I loved living through her eyes and I hope everyone else will, too.


Fave character from a book (not yours)?

So many to choose from! It’s kinda impossible, and so many are added every day, so I’ll just list the ones that have stayed with me the longest—Amy from the How to Ruin series by Simone Elkeles, Lucas from Tammara Webber’s Easy, and both Mia and Adam from the If I Stay series by Gayle Forman.

Did you read your book (like, from first page to last)? If you did, what did you felt?

I read it that way when writing and revising. Since then, I’ve actually picked it up and read parts, certain chapters over and over, but I don’t know if I’ve actually read the whole book from start to finish again. But I read it so many times during the actual writing that I had it almost memorized anyway he he

What's your next project? 

First up is A Tale of Two Centuries, which is the companion novel told from Alessandra’s point of view. This is Cat’s sixteenth century cousin, and we get to experience the twenty-first century through her eyes. It was a BLAST to write! Oh and it has a scrumptious bad boy in it. Then I think the next one after that will be my YA Contemporary Romance with Spencer Hill Contemporary. I love this book! It’s a dual character romance about learning to love who you are and the skin you’re in….and it has two of my favorite book boyfriends in it! :) 

Share us one embarrassing moment you've had.

I threw up on my first date. Yes, yes I did. #Win

What's the recent thing that made you cry?

I cry at everything—when I’m happy or when I’m sad, when I see something sweet, or sometimes I just laugh so hard I cry. But the last one, I think I teared up at an episode of How I Met Your Mother lol.

When's your birthday?

May 2nd. Taurus baby

Do you read/believe in horoscopes?

Read them, yes. Believe them? Only when they are good!

Fave movie?

Impossible to choose! I will say that Pride and Prejudice, both the BBC and Kyra Knightley versions, have been watched a million times.

How did you celebrate the publishing of your book? :)

We homeschool, so my girls were home already, and my husband took off work. We had a yummy breakfast, then went to Barnes and Noble where we all squealed over my book, signed some stock, and then bought an official copy. Then we spent the day having a delicious lunch, painting pottery, riding carousels, and just being together. It was awesome.

*****


As a teen, Rachel Harris threw raging parties that shook her parents’ walls and created embarrassing fodder for future YA novels.

As an adult, she reads and writes obsessively, rehashes said embarrassing fodder, and dreams up characters who become her own grown up version of imaginary friends.

When she's not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, you can find her homeschooling her two beautiful princesses, hanging out with her amazing husband, or taking a hot bubble bath…next to a pile of chocolate.

MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY is her debut novel.  She did have her own fantabulous Sweet Sixteen in high school. Sadly, it wasn't televised.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century
by Rachel Harris
(My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century #1)

Published: September 11th 2012 by Entangled Publishing

Summary (Goodreads):


On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother-to-be and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?




Praises for My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century


"Harris' debut is a knockout. Her characters are charming and wonderfully entertaining, and they're set in a unique and well-defined world that will capture your imagination from the very first page."  -- RT Book Reviews

"Rachel Harris has skillfully crafted her debut novel. My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century covers a breadth of issues, all in a fun-filled, thoroughly enjoyable package." -- NY Journal of Books

“Fresh and funny, Harris’s detail-rich writing makes for a truly charming debut novel.”
—Holly Schindler, author of Playing Hurt 

"It was fresh, and heartfelt, and beautifully written. The characters were deep and real, and I felt what they felt. The happiness and heartache both." -- Chloe Jacobs, author of GRETA AND THE GOBLIN KING

"It's filled with plenty of laugh-out loud moments--her inner thoughts and Rachel's voice are extremely amusing--and it will have you cheering for Cat all the way through to the end. And it will have you begging for more." -- Diane Alberts, author of TRY ME

Buy My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century now!

GIVEAWAY!

(Please READ these important details before jumping to the Rafflecopter! :)
- win an ebook copy of My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century
- open INTERNATIONALLY!
- one winner will be picked via Rafflecopter entries.
- the winning entry will be CHECKED. So please be honest in entering each one of them--you never know, it might be the winning entry.
- if the winner has not responded within 48 hours, another winner will be picked.
- all personal details will be kept privately and deleted after.
- ends January 12th

* Thank you so much, Rachel Harris!!


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