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Showing posts with label suicide YA novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label suicide YA novels. Show all posts

Monday, February 8, 2016

Romancing the Dark in the City of Light


by Ann Jacobus



This past Friday, February 5, 2016, Marcy and I posted our answers to Ann’s debut novel Romancing the Dark in the City of Light. Today, you get to read Ann’s favorite's. 

Great answers, Ann! We can’t wait for our readers to read the novel. And hopefully to give us a few of their favorites, too. 

And we are super excited!! Ann has offered to give away her book to one lucky reader! Please either leave your email address in the comments section below or tag @MarcyCollieron Twitter with #Romancing the Dark in the City of Light.

1) What is your favorite line or paragraph from the novel as it relates to the main character's development and/or growth?

“I’ve learned to expect nothing from life,” Summer says, with a toss of her head and a little more vehemence than she intended.

“Hmm,” Moony says. “But what does life expect from you?”

This is at a point in the story when depressed main character Summer is only beginning to struggle with suicidality (the term for feeling suicidal). Her friend Moony has struggled for much of his life with staying alive, recovering, and regaining as much physical and mental ability as possible after a serious accident.


2) What is your favorite chapter ending or cliffhanger?

Kurt is Summer’s hot but mysterious and creepy friend who encourages all her worst choices. After alienating her friend Moony and wandering the city alone and despondent for hours, she calls Kurt to meet her for a drink since alcohol is her go-to for coping (at 18, she’s legal in Paris).

Kurt narrows his dark eyes. “It’s esthetically pleasing as advertised, but a cold and heartless city, don’t you think?”

She runs her finger around the rim of her glass. “Now that you mention it, yeah.”

“I do have a treat for you tonight. An unusual outing. I think you’ll get a kick out of it.”

“Let’s see. How could you possibly top the sewers? The city morgue?”

“No. Much more lively.”

“Nascar racing?”

“No, more intimate than that.” He’s laughing.

“Nude mud wrestling?” She’s feeling downright loose and light. Sexy and funny. Thin and beautiful. Healthy and alluring.

“Ha. Drink up. Let’s go.”

“But you just got here.” She drains her glass.

He smiles. “Waste not, want not. It’s time.”


3) Who is your favorite secondary character and why?

No question, my character Munir Al Shukr was my favorite character to write. His nickname is Moony. His father is Kuwaiti and his mother is American, although he has grown up in Paris—a third-culture kid who is comfortable just about anywhere but isn’t quite sure where he belongs. He is also partially physically disabled from a serious childhood car accident that he wasn’t expected to survive. He is kind-hearted and befriends my difficult-to-like protagonist, then patiently if sometimes gruffly puts up with her because he sees beyond her bluster. In fact, he falls for her. He is spiritual because he fully understands the value and fragility of life. He’s stoic as he’s battling a number of physical problems related to past surgeries and the accident. Too perfect, you say? No, he harbors some secrets.


4) What is your favorite line or paragraph of description?

“Everybody’s fragile, given the wrong circumstances.”

And conversely, “Humans are capable of incredible things. Full recoveries against the odds.”

When it comes to mental health, if you pile enough difficulties on just about anyone, they will break. But thankfully our wills to survive and thrive are (usually) strong and difficult to override.


5) What is your favorite line of dialogue?

“The River Seine. Spectacular,” Kurt says, gazing down from the bridge. “Flowing like time. Cold. Patient. Romantic.” He squeezes Summer’s hand. “Easy to slip into.”
Congratulations to Ann on her debut novel, Romancing the Dark in the City of Light!

To read more about Ann Jacobus and her debut novel Romancing the Dark in the City of Light, please go to:


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Friday, February 5, 2016

First Friday - Five Favorite Things - Debut Novel Day

by Dave Amaditz & 
Marcy Collier



Welcome to February’s version of - First Friday - Five Favorite Things - Debut Novel Day. In this monthly series, we ask five simple questions about a debut novel that will hopefully entice anyone reading this post to pick up the novel and read it themselves, and/or give them at a glance some insight into the author's writing style and voice as well as how some of the characters might think or act. We do this by presenting, first, answers to our Five Favorite Things, followed by the author's answers in a follow-up post.

This month we're pleased to highlight debut novelist, Ann Jacobus and her novel, Romancing the Dark in the City of Light. Summer Barnes just moved to Paris to repeat her senior year after being kicked out of four boarding schools. Her inheritance is at stake if she doesn’t graduate from college by the age of 22. While she is convinced that meeting the right guy will solve all of her problems, it only complicates her life more.

And we are super excited!! Ann has offered to give away her book to one lucky reader! Please either leave your email address in the comments section below or tag @MarcyCollieron Twitter with #Romancing the Dark in the City of Light.

1) What is your favorite line or paragraph from the novel as it relates to the main character's development and/or growth?

Dave – I had so many interesting lines to choose from throughout this novel, but in the end I chose to take this particular section because I thought it was one of the earliest times in the book when Summer seemed genuinely happy.

What’s interesting is that when she’s with kids, she feels like things will be okay. It’s always a fair exchange, too. She teaches them how to float and then do the breaststroke; they give back in respect and real growth and laughter. Like that kid who was dying to share the Robot Hamster story with her. She smiles. When she makes an effort, they make one back. That’s more than she can say for most people.

Marcy –  This one action plays a huge part for Summer’s growth and development. The first step is realizing she has a drinking problem, then making a conscious decision to stop. Having Moony in her life makes her want to quit drinking.

Summer pulls out her water bottle as soon as the door is closed, and pours all the vodka into the toilet.


2) What is your favorite chapter ending or cliffhanger?

Dave - This particular chapter ending involves Summer’s dark romance partner, Kurt, but I could’ve chosen any of a number of endings where he happened to appear because I sensed the danger of what was to come and couldn’t wait to turn the page.

Before this particular encounter with Kurt, Summer had just spent time with a boy with whom a romance is beginning to blossom. After a taxi ride home, and acknowledgment that Kurt is a bad influence on her, this is what she sees.

As she enters their apartment building, Kurt’s leaning against the corner of the building across the street.

Marcy – This is such a sweet, touching moment in the story. I won’t give the details of “who” away. You’ll have to read the book!

He turns his head around. At the same moment she leans forward. Their helmets clunk and their noses brush. They both freeze. Then he kisses her on the lips.


3) Who is your favorite secondary character and why?

Dave – I have to choose Moony. He is so supportive of Summer despite, or should I say, because of what he has gone through. This line, I believe, gives a perfect example.

“Brave enough to die, then you’re brave enough to live.” He grips her hand. “Have the freaking courage to get help, to get better.”

Marcy –  No question, Moony. He is a three dimensional character with so many sides. He is good and caring and true. And funny. Like in this exchange between him and Summer.

“What about your dad?” she asks.

“Divorced post accident.”

“That sucks.”

“Reembraced Islam, lives in Kuwait with new wife and kid.”

She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “But he can marry a second wife and still be married to your mom, right?”

“Over Mom’s dead body.”

“Ha!”


4) What is your favorite line or paragraph of description?

Dave -  I chose this particular passage because I think it gives a pretty accurate description of Summer’s outlook on life.

Kindness is like hope. It feeds hope. Which just keeps us around to suffer more, she thinks, anger rising.

Marcy -  Summer is talking with Moony and finally confides in him about a terrible experience in her life. It’s the reason she doesn’t let anyone get close to her.

She’s glad he’s still listening. “One evening we, um, hooked up” – she glances at Moony – “then I was scared and avoided him for a couple of days. He duped me kind of…publicly.” She’s never told anyone the full story and won’t get into all the details now. It’s more complicated. The dickhead posted a horribly unflattering fat photo of her, eyes half-closed, clutching a vodka bottle, with the caption at the top, DRINKING TO FORGET… At the bottom it read, I’M A SLUT. He shared it with 743 friends. At least he got in trouble. But so did she. And at the time, it smashed her to an unprecedented low.

5) What is your favorite line of dialogue?

Dave - Two lines. Both from Kurt, and… scary.

“You know as well as I do that you are the one to be afraid of. I have the answer to all of your problems.”

And, when Summer tells him she is going to San Francisco…

“To get away from me. But you stupid, stupid girl, you know that’s not possible.”

Marcy – This line made me giggle. It’s a conversation between Summer and her mom and so very teenlike.

“I am not Sylvia the Psychic!” Summer explodes, throwing up her hands.”


Congratulations to Ann on her debut novel, Romancing the Dark in the City of Light!

To read more about Ann Jacobus and her debut novel Romancing the Dark in the City of Light, please go to:


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Friday, October 2, 2015

First Friday - Five Favorite Things - Debut Novel Day




by Dave Amaditz &

Marcy Collier


Welcome to October’s version of - First Friday - Five Favorite Things - Debut Novel Day. In this monthly series, we ask five simple questions about a debut novel that will hopefully entice anyone reading this post to pick up the novel and read it themselves, and/or give them at a glance some insight into the author's writing style and voice as well as how some of the characters might think or act. We do this by presenting, first, answers to our Five Favorite Things, followed by the author's answers in a follow-up post.

This month we're pleased to highlight debut YA novelist, Adam Silvera and his novel, More Happy Than Not. After his father’s suicide, Aaron Soto tries to find happiness again with the support of his girlfriend Genevieve and his Mom. But when he meets Thomas, he feels true happiness again and reveals his romantic feelings for Thomas. Since Aaron can’t hide from his feelings or his past, he turns to the Leteo Institute to alter his memories and make him straight.


1) What is your favorite line or paragraph from the novel as it relates to the main character's development and/or growth?

Dave – in this particular scene, Aaron turns to one of his favorite activities as a stress reliever because he does not feel he can talk to anyone.

I have something I want to talk about but it’s not the kind of talk I can just have with anyone. It has to be the right someone, but that right someone is the reason I need to talk in the first place. I draw instead because putting thought to page helps, it really does.

Marcy –  This comes early on in the novel, but this insight by Aaron is compelling and thoughts like these will help him grow in to the character he becomes by the end of the story.

I have to push ahead with the people who don’t take the easy way out, who love me enough to stay alive even when life sucks. I trace the smiling scar, left to right and right to left, happy to have it as a reminder not to be such a dumbass again.


2) What is your favorite chapter ending or cliffhanger?

Dave - I chose this particular chapter ending because it’s at a particular part of the story where we the reader are finding out Aaron’s secret thoughts during a period of self reflection and discovery.

In my head, I play a round of One Truth and a Lie. I need Thomas to be happy. I need Genevieve to be happy. I can’t keep lying to myself about the truth.

Marcy – Terrific cliffhanger ending. I couldn’t turn the page fast enough.

There’s an explosion in the back of my head, a delayed reaction. Blood fills my mouth. This is what death feels like. I think. I scream like someone is turning a hundred knives inside of me, spitting up blood as I do. And I’m not crying because of the attack. I’m crying because there’s new noise in my head and it builds from a couple faded echoes into an uproar of jumbled voices – all the memories I once forgot have been unwound.


3) Who is your favorite secondary character and why?

Dave – I choose Thomas as my favorite secondary character. His self-confidence and calm nature allow Aaron to view life differently.

Marcy – There are many interesting characters, but Genevieve is probably my favorite. She is a constant in Aaron’s life and his rock. One of my favorite scenes is when they’re at a comic book store and Aaron doesn’t have enough money to pay for comic books.

She doesn’t even look at me when she reaches into her tote bag and pulls out a few bucks, which somehow makes me feel even worse. “How much is it?”

Gen, it’s fine, I don’t need these.”

She buys them anyway, hands me the bag, and starts talking to me about an idea for a painting, one where starving vultures chase shadows of the dead down this road, unaware the corpses are above their heads. I think it’s a cool enough idea. And as much as I want to thank her for the comics, her changing the subject so I didn’t have to feel shitty about myself was probably a better move.


4) What is your favorite line or paragraph of description?

Dave – I think this paints a vivid picture.

I’ve seen pictures of the Bronx district Leteo Institute before, but the unhappy rioters add an edge when seeing it up close. You’d think the Institute would look more futuristic, like the Apple store in Manhattan, but honestly, the Museum of Natural History looks more cutting-edge than Leteo does. The building is four floors high with bricks the color of ashes. Leteo is getting the bad rap of a good morgue with their body count. It’s still strange to me how hospitals never incite this sort of reaction when their guiltier of more cases of malpractice.

Marcy – There are many extraordinary lines in this novel. Here is one of my favorites.

From the shapes cast by the green paper lantern, you would never know that there were two boys sitting closely to one another trying to find themselves. You would only see shadows hugging, indiscriminate.


5) What is your favorite line of dialogue?

Dave – this line comes from the main character, Aaron.

“Maybe one day I’ll move away and send a postcard saying, ‘Hey, I like guys. Don’t worry, I never liked any of you because you all suck.’”

Marcy –  This line comes from Aaron’s friend, Thomas.

“This is what I like about you, Stretch. You care about what happens to you. Everyone else seems resigned to grow up and become nobodies who are stuck here. They don’t dream. They don’t think about the future.”


To read more about Adam Silvera and his debut novel, More Happy Than not, please go to:





ACCOLADES FOR MORE HAPPY THAN NOT:
— Kids' Indie Next List "Top Ten" Pick (Spring 2015)
— ABA Indies Introduce Debut Authors and New Voices title
— A Junior Library Guild selection
— Publishers Weekly Spring 2015 Flying Start


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