It’s been a
while since I featured a book, but now I’m here with a good one.
I participate
in Masquerade Blog Tours and we all are happy to present you … Running Against
Traffic by Gaelen VanDenbergh.
I love this
title. It makes my mind wander. We all are running against traffic in one way
or another, right? But let’s see what she has in mind.
Synopsis:
Paige Scott
spent her childhood shuffled between relatives who ignored her, and her adult
life hiding in her crumbling marriage to wealthy David Davenport. When David
suddenly thrusts her into a remote, impoverished world, Paige is forced to face
the betrayals of her past - not to mention the colorful townies of her present.
Unexpected friendships and her discovery of running propel her on a jagged and
comical journey toward learning how to truly live.
Running
Against Time published on February 15, 2013 and it is a Contemporary Women's
Fiction.
Here are some helpful links:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
But this is
not the end. Gaelen VanDenbergh has some interesting thoughts about Writing Realistically.
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Writing “Realistically”
When someone
says that a scenario, or a feeling, or a response, or something that happens to
a character I have created is “unrealistic”, I find myself itching to ask this:
Based on
what criteria – your own experience? Just because it hasn’t happened to you, or
to anyone you know, does that make it unrealistic? This story is fiction –
therefore, it is not real. However, I never write about something that I know nothing about. And more importantly,
just because this person has not personally experienced anything like this does
not mean that therefore it cannot be, or is even unlikely. That’s ridiculous.
They have lived one life.
I admit, I
understand the skepticism. I can’t tell you how many instances in my life have
happened where I have been thinking “wow. I don’t believe it!” But, these were
responses to things going on around me, in real life. So, in the end, I had to
believe it.
The adage is
true – truth is stranger than fiction.
I was
recently invited to attend a book group, featuring my novel Running Against Traffic. Everyone in the
group enjoyed the novel very much, but a few of them spoke up and declared what
I have heard from a couple of reviewers as well. They didn’t buy that Paige
would “take” what happened to her lying down. They wanted her to fight, to
march right back to Philadelphia and resume her life. I asked them to what
life? I have also been challenged about not providing enough information about
Paige’s relationship with Al. To that I say I’m sorry, I’m just the kind of
writer that prefers to leave a few details open to interpretation.
Relationships are often strange, confused, unsure, passionate, disappointing,
uplifting, co-dependent. Sounds like most of my past relationships, anyway!
Write to me and let me know what you thought was going on with them, and I’ll
write back and share what I thought was going on, what I think Al thought was
going on, and what Paige thought was going on. And remember, there is more to
come in the sequel. Just remember, you can think and decide for yourself.
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Time to meet
the author. Who is Gaelen VanDenbergh?
Gaelen
VanDenbergh is a writer, runner, and compulsive list-maker who lives in
Philadelphia with her family, a fat cat, and several fish. Her debut novel
Running Against Traffic, was a Global Ebook Award nominee, a semifinalist in
the The Kindle Book Review’s 2013 Best Indie Book Awards, a semifinalist in the
Readers' Favorite 2013 International Book Award Contest, Indie Book of the Day,
June 30, 2013, a 2013 Beach Book Festival Award nominee, and has received a
four star review in InD’tale Magazine.
When not
writing, Gaelen enjoys reading, running races for charities, and spending as
much time in Key West and the Adirondacks as she can.
Well that’s
it. Do you want to connect with the author? Here are some important links:
What are
your thoughts?
I can see why you jumped back into featuring a book with this one. It sounds great. I remember this short story I read over a decade ago where the woman's life was a mess but she ran like the wind. Now I have no idea what happened in the story anymore, but the woman has stayed with me, running hills and neighborhood streets while everything else crumbled around her. Weird alter ego since I am not a runner at all. In fact when I tried running a stranger at the track told me I'd be faster if I walked. I just added Running Against Traffic to my shelf (along with the thriller you recommended-thanks).
ReplyDeleteHow's the sequel going, Athina? That's your NaNo project, right? I hope your flying more than grounded.
Yes, the title draw a very vivid picture. I can almost hear the sound of the heels while a woman runs against traffic.
DeleteOh, yeah, the thriller I recommended you was amazing. You should read it. :)
The sequel is going a bit slow, but I enjoy writing. How about you? What are you writing?
The writing is going good. I forgot I could do it, though it's very rough. I have had deleting fantasies where I'll select all and hit a button. Yikes! And sometimes I want to go back to the beginning and read through what I've written, but that's code for spending days on editing before I should then realizing the work is shit. The story is a bit out there. It's paranormal, but nothing fangy for the first time. I'm still working through it, but there's magic and people who make sure that magic doesn't end up with a high death toll. Man, I just realized I haven't killed anyone! It's fun to be at this point where I'm swimming around the story like I don't need to breathe ever. You fly, I swim. Ha!
DeleteI get bothered, too, sometimes when someone says something is unrealistic simply because they haven't experienced it themselves. There's a big difference between a character being realistic and a character being relatable. It's entirely possible for one to be unrelatable yet realistic at the same time...
ReplyDeleteOh, I love it. It reminds me of possibility and probability. It's funny how we can get lost between reality and realistic, right? Maybe I'll write a post. :)
DeleteFirst off Athina, thank you for being part of the tour. I know the struggles that can come with a sequel, I am at the same point with the sequel to Running Against Traffic. (Running in Circles) Robyn, thank you for the kind words, I hope you enjoy it. Running has been always been a way for me to keep my sanity. But cooking on the other hand, is something I continually try to be successful at all the time. I watch the cooking shows and think I can do that... you can read about it on my blog.
ReplyDeleteHeather...I read your comment and thought...wow...someone actually gets me.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
DeleteI was very happy to be a part of the tour. I wish the best for you and your books. :)