CarolOates: Abandoned Blog Tour - Guest Post from Elisa Dane

Today, I'm delighted to welcome Elisa Dane to my blog as part of the blog tour for the release of her latest book - Abandoned. As a writer myself, I'm always fascinated by the process of other writers and so I opted to ask Elisa a question about her writing. I will review the book at a later date, but trust me, this book is to the author's usual incredible high standard.

Summary

Abandoned by Elisa Dane

Publication Date: February 15, 2016

Publisher: Swoon Romance

My name is Tierra Owens, and I like to kiss. A lot. It numbs the hollow ache in my chest and—for a few minutes—makes me forget how truly alone I am. My mother is an alcoholic. She hates me and insists I'm the reason she's not married to my father, whom I have never met. My best friend, Kaylee, is the only person who knows the real me. Everyone else sees what I want them to: a happy, confident, popular girl who has the world at her feet.

I am a fraud.

Relationships are forbidden. I avoid them at all costs. Sex? Emotions? Those things make a person vulnerable, and vulnerability always leads to heartbreak. When my childhood crush, Mattie shows up at school my world tumbles off its axis. The shell I surround myself with feels more like a pathetic crutch than a protective barrier, and I find myself wanting things. Daydreaming about what it would be like to have a boyfriend, a relationship—love.

The sad fact is: I'll never have any of those things. I am unworthy—trash. Which is why my mom abandoned me.

Grab it now!

Amazon

My question

You don't seem at all shy about tackling difficult subject matter in your books, such as relationship abuse among teens and teen drinking. Can you explain a little about how you do your research?

Hi, Carol! So excited to be hanging out with you today! Okay, so you’re interested in knowing what type of research I do to tackle the tough subjects I write about. Two words: my hubby. I’m married to a police officer that worked in a high school for eight years. He’s also an active shooter instructor and owns his own company, which goes into schools and assess their safety, while training them how to deal with critical incidences, such as active shooters. While I’m never told specific details about any of his cases, I do glean a good deal of information from him as to what types of problems and situations are plaguing today’s teens. I’ve gone to him on a number of occasions while plotting, and asked what types of negative behavior he’s seeing at the schools. He’s dealt with all kinds of bullying, both online, and in person, as well as sexual extortion, substance abuse, physical abuse, etc. My guy is a fountain of information.

He was exceptionally helpful to me while I wrote each of my YA novels. In general, I’ll explain the situation my character’s are in, then ask him if that situation is believable, and if the police happen to be involved, how would they respond? My main character, Tierra, did her level best to keep the police out of her situation, which was not the smartest decision on her part. With my other books, In The After in particular, I pretty much ran every aspect of the book by him while I was writing. I consider myself extremely lucky to have a police officer for a hubby!

Thanks so much for having me on your blog today! I hope you and your readers enjoy Mattie and Tierra’s story!

Give Away

Ends February 26, 2016

· One (1) winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card and a digital copy of Abandoned by Elisa Dane (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Elisa Dane loves books, chocolate, reality television, her family, and All Star Cheerleading. Not necessarily in that order! She writes contemporary YA romance with cheerleaders. Yep. She writes what she knows, and it’s her hope that her stories will not only take you on a romantic journey that will warm your heart, but that you’ll find a new respect for the sport of All Star Cheerleading you may not have had before. She’s represented by Brittany Booker of the Booker/Albert Agency, and has published a NA paranormal series under her real name, Lisa Sanchez.