Indie Read-a-thon Feature - Shannon McCrimmon

by 12:30 AM 8 comments


Welcome to Day Two of the Indie Read-a-thon!


How is everyone today? Are we flying through books like they're going out of fashion? Or are we slowly working through one or two?

Today I have more special stuff for you.


See, I knew you would want to come back!

Today, I have not only an excerpt from Shannon McCrimmon's novel, but I also have a character interview!

*Take deep breaths*

What shall I give you first? Character Interview I hear you scream. Well, if we must...

One on One with Jesse Quinn by Meg Bennett.
Meg Bennett is a fashionista, cosmetology student, waitress at Lilly's Diner, and best friend to Finn Hemmings.

Meg:  Hi Jesse!!
Jesse:Hey Meg.
Meg:So, I'm going to ask you a few questions, so people can get to know you better. Okay?
Jesse:This should be good.
Meg:I'll ignore the sarcasmFirst question, what's your favorite type of music?
Jesse:You know the answer to that, Meg. It's jazz.
Meg:Fine. Tell us your favorite song then.
Jesse:“I want a little sugar in my bowl” by Nina Simone.
Meg: Coke or Pepsi?
Jesse:Neither. It's water or chocolate milk for me. Finn is addicted to Coke. If you could hook an IV into her and fill it with Coke, she'd be set.
Meg: Speaking of Finn....
Jesse: Yes?
Meg: What do you like most about her?
Jesse: Her ability to see the good in everyone.
Meg: That's so sweet. Favorite movie?
Jesse:Backdraft. You know, the whole firefighting thing.
Meg:Speaking of firefighting, when did you know you wanted to be a firefighter?
Jesse: When I was five. I saw a firefighter save a little girl in a horrible house fire and thought that I wanted to do something like that. I wanted to save lives, too.
Meg: Don't you have to be able to lift a lot to be a firefighter?
Jesse: At least a 250 pound body.
Meg: Which means you need to work out every day?
Jesse: Yeah. Where are you going with this?
Meg: I'm just giving everyone that's reading this a mental picture.
Jesse: Okay. I think we're done.


So, do you want to know what Jesse looks like?

Okay okay, no need to scream at me!

Jeremy Sumpter

*Faints*

Okay, I'm back. How about the excerpt now?


Excerpt from The Summer I Learned to Dive  
Chapter 4

He stood on the ladder chipping paint off of the wooden beams. He was shirtless, wearing only a pair of shorts and shoes. His legs were tan and his calves were muscular. Beads of sweat ran down his back.
"Jesse!" Nana shouted from the bottom of the ladder looking up at him.
He immediately stopped scraping and walked down the ladder, jumping off the last step, standing within a few feet of me. He towered over me, standing at least a foot above me. His wavy brown hair was wet from perspiration.
"This is my granddaughter Finley, I mean Finn," she said smiling at me. "She's going to stay with us for a while." She put her arm around me.
"Hi," he said and extended his hand. His handshake was firm, not weak. The sun shined in his light blue eyes as he squinted at me. His eyes were beautiful and clear, like the Gulf of Mexico.
"Hi," I said nonchalantly, shaking his hand delicately.
"Well, I've got a phone call to make. You two get acquainted," she said and started walking away.
I froze in fear, looking at her in disbelief. I couldn't believe she was just going to leave me there to talk with him when I didn't even know him. She ignored me and kept walking inside the house.
"I didn't know Charlie and Lilly had a granddaughter,” he said. He smoothed his wet hair out of his face. He looked like a Roman soldier, with his long nose and strong jaw line. His lips were full and a beautiful shade of mauve.
“Yeah. We're just getting acquainted,” I said. My heart beat rapidly. I wondered if he noticed how nervous I was.
“Where are you visiting from?" he asked smiling. His teeth were white and perfectly straight. I could feel him looking at me, but I was too nervous to look at him.
Sweat fell down his chest. I didn't want to look directly at him, especially at his beautifully sculpted muscles. His accent wasn't as strong as my grandparents, it was barely noticeable. There was a slight twang, sounding pleasant to my ears. My nerves were shot and I could not think, let alone utter any intelligible words.
"Tampa, Florida," I said quickly, still moving my head in every direction but his, which I am sure made me appear disinterested.
"Florida. I've never been there." He paused. "I hear it's nice though." He smiled again. He was trying and I was failing, miserably. This was no surprise to me.
"It is," I said wondering what else to say. I had never lived anywhere else and didn't have anything to compare it to. Talking to boys is difficult for me. Conversing with a gorgeous boy is impossible. I wanted to think of something to say to him, but couldn't.
Silence. Awkward silence. He looked around, about to say something but stopped himself.
"Well, I'm going to get back to work. It was nice meeting you, Finn," he said and walked back up the ladder, leaving me alone on the grass, pondering how stupid I must have seemed to him.



The Summer I Learned to Dive - 
Shannon McCrimmon
Released: May 7, 2012


Synopsis: "Since the time she was a little girl, eighteen-year-old Finley “Finn” Hemmings has always lived her life according to a plan, focused and driven with no time for the average young adult’s carefree experiences. On the night of her high school graduation, things take a dramatic turn when she discovers that her mother has been keeping a secret from her—a secret that causes Finn to do something she had never done before—veer off her plan. In the middle of the night, Finn packs her bags and travels by bus to Graceville, SC seeking the truth. In Graceville, Finn has experiences that change her life forever; a summer of love, forgiveness and revelations. She learns to take chances, to take the plunge and to dive right in to what life has to offer.

buy links:

- e-book - paperback -

Now I just know you want to fan-girl all over Shannon McCrimmon (Don't worry, I don't blame you either) and you can do so here:

Author Links:

Website - Blog - Facebook - Goodreads -

Since I love to give stuff away, how about a copy of The Summer I learned to Drive?

If the winner is in the US, they get a paperback copy. If the winner is international, it will have to be an e-copy. (Amazon charges way to much to ship elsewhere). Enter in the Rafflecopter below, Ends 15th September.
I also have another paperback copy to give away, separately. That one is US only.

Unknown

Reader, Blogger

Twenty-something | book-blogger | tea-drinker | procrastinator | wannabe-writer | student

8 comments:

  1. I like the mental picture that Meg has given me :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm never really sure what to think of character interviews when I haven't read the book. Jesse sounds like he works out a lot and doesn't take any crap from anyone!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Awesome feature :) I LOVE character interviews, they are one of my favorite things to read - aside from the book of course! lol

    ReplyDelete
  4. LOVE Jesse!! He's so cool! Love his attitude and the excerpt is awesome:)

    Thank you very much:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I LOOOOVVVE Jesse.....he's a "man's man"....considerate, careing and ever so patient. Thanks "Meg" and Claire for letting us see yet another side of Jesse. (Looking forward to a sequel?)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ohhhh mental picture. :D

    Totally enjoyed the excerpt. Just added the book to my growing TBR pile.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm little on the fence about character interviews. Maybe it's the writer in me, but I know that it's just the author so...

    ReplyDelete

Ooh yes, comments puh-leaaase :D