Interview with Laura Taylor Namey for The Library of Lost Things

The Library of Lost Things

by Laura Taylor Namey
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release date: October 8th 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Books about Books

Synopsis:

From the moment she first learned to read, literary genius Darcy Wells has spent most of her time living in the worlds of her books. There, she can avoid the crushing reality of her mother’s hoarding and pretend her life is simply ordinary. But when a new property manager becomes more active in the upkeep of their apartment complex, the only home Darcy has ever known outside of her books suddenly hangs in the balance.

While Darcy is struggling to survive beneath the weight of her mother’s compulsive shopping, Asher Fleet, a former teen pilot with an unexpectedly shattered future, walks into the bookstore where she works…and straight into her heart. For the first time in her life, Darcy can’t seem to find the right words. Fairy tales are one thing, but real love makes her want to hide inside her carefully constructed ink-and-paper bomb shelter.

Still, after spending her whole life keeping people out, something about Asher makes Darcy want to open up. But securing her own happily-ever-after will mean she’ll need to stop hiding and start living her own truth—even if it’s messy.

Can you briefly describe THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS and its characters? 

Thank you for having me! THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS opens with Darcy’s home life and family situation, which is difficult and often frustrating. Darcy lives with a mother who is a hoarder and compulsive shopper. She loves her mother so much, in fact she is the only person in Mom’s life who hasn’t abandoned her. Still, Darcy has felt shame since she was little. She feels it’s easier to become “invisible” than try to reconcile and show the “messy” parts of her life and family. She’s often so pressed that books become more than an escape: they turn into an emotional obsession. This results in a high school senior who has lived out many milestone moments within pages, within the happy endings of other book heroines. 

When her mother’s disorder escalates, and when a new, more involved apartment manager shows up and a lease renewal looms, Darcy’s home is in jeopardy. Her relationship with her mother is strung on a tightrope. Darcy realizes she must leave the comfort of her home library before she loses her mom forever.  

Yet, it’s not just a hoarding mother who needs new coping strategies. With the help of her best friend, Marisol, and a recent graduate who is a new fixture in her bookstore, Darcy sees all of the things she’s lost to hoarding and sacrificed to hiding. She tries to leave the pages and live her life, not Jane Eyre’s. Not Elizabeth Bennet’s. Even if it’s messy. 

Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why? 

I absolutely love Darcy’s half Mexican, half Cuban best friend, Marisol. She is a mash-up of me and my personality (I’m Cuban-American) and my Mexican best friend, Marisol is a fellow foodie, and is rarely without her signature leather jacket. She was so fun to write and I love the loyal friendship between Darcy and Marisol.  

How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere? 

I have always been a bit like Darcy, using books and their worlds to escape from stress or hard times. For my own book, I asked myself the questions, what would it look like if a teen girl took this coping mechanism to new extremes? And what is it about her life that would prompt her to do this? The Library of Lost Things came right from these thoughts. 

If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be? 

Glitter in the Air, by Pink 

If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?

Emma Stone is actually my model for Darcy, so she would be perfect! Asher has always looked like a younger Chase Crawford in my mind. And my own teen daughter could play Marisol in a couple of years. 

Fall is here, and we love to find a cosy place to read our favourite books. What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date? 

It has to be a Viennese coffee from a place that’s actually in the real North Park San Diego neighbourhood where Darcy’s indie bookstore lives: Caffe Calabria. This shop makes an appearance in my book, too. 

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS? 

Readers of THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS will really enjoy HEARTS, STRINGS, and OTHER BREAKABLE THINGS by Jacqueline Firkins. 

What’s next for you? 

I have a Cuban own voices YA coming Fall 2020 from Atheneum Simon and Schuster, and a secret untitled project coming after that, also from S&S. Find out more by visiting my Goodreads page!

Laura is a Cuban-American Californian who can be found haunting her favorite coffee shops, drooling over leather jackets, and wishing she was in London or Paris. She lives in San Diego with her husband and two superstar children.

This former teacher writes young adult novels about quirky teens learning to navigate life and love. Her debut, THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS will be published 10/08/19 from Inkyard Press/HarperCollins. Her #ownvoices sophomore project, A CUBAN GIRL'S GUIDE TO SWEATERS AND STARS is coming fall 2020 from Atheneum Simon and Schuster.

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Book Blitz + Giveaway: Caught in Us (Lost #3) by Layla Hagen

Caught in Us (Lost #3)
by Layla Hagen
Release Date: August 3rd 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance


Synopsis:

Dani Cohen knows Damon is trouble the second he walks in during senior year. He has bad boy written all over him. . .from his arrogant smirk to his perfectly toned abs. He is arrogant, intense, rebellious.

Dani has her future all planned out. She’s not the type to fall for a bad boy, no matter how panty-melting his grin is or how shamelessly he flirts. But something about Damon draws her in, awakening a desire she’s never felt. Slowly, she uncovers the secrets Damon hides: underneath his arrogance lies a tortured soul, his flirting smile masks despair.

Damon arrives in Dani’s life against his will. Carrying the scars of a dark past and facing an uncertain future, he knows he should stay away from her, but can’t. Her innocence consumes him, as does the desire to indulge in the passion igniting deep inside her.

An all-consuming bond blooms into a reckless love. But when mistakes from the past threaten their already fragile future, can their love survive?

A steamy and emotional full-length, standalone love story from the USA Today Bestselling author of Withering Hope.

As usual, I get too engrossed in my reading and am almost late for class. Sitting next to Hazel, I take out my books when Damon appears in front of our desk.

"You dropped your phone in the hallway," he says politely.

"No, I didn't." I look in bewilderement as he drops my smartphone in my hand. Damon smiles mischievously, walking over to his desk as Ms. Evans enters the class. Wouldn't I have noticed if my phone had fallen on the corridor during our altercation? Not really...I was too preoccupied with him to notice anything else. My skin heats up at the memory of his closeness. I swivel to ask Hazel something and find her staring at me with curious eyes.

"Do you have anything to share about your morning?"

"I read a book," I mumble.

Ms. Evan starts talking about the Bronte novel we had to read when I receive a text. 

You should take better care of your things.

The sender appears only by number, not name, but I know who it is. Sure enough, one glance in Damon's direction confirms my suspicion. He's not looking at me or his phone, but lifts the corner of his lips. It dawns on me that I might not have dropped my phone at all. He must have taken it from my pocket.

And you shouldn't steal other people's things, I reply.

Hey, you were eavesdropping, so don't go all saint on me. You were the first offender.

I smile, overcome by a strange giddiness. I can't believe he stole my phone, or that he got my number, or that he's texting me right now. I'm grinning like an idiot. It's the first time a guy has written to me and not asked for my notes or something similar. Given our less than friendly interactions yesterday and this morning, this is a surprise. Sometimes it takes a healthy fight and a familiar pain to gain a friend. 

"After the battle of stares yesterday follows the battle of messages?" Hazel murmurs, smiling. "Bad boy is showing quite an interest in you."

"No, he's not." Something light settles in my stomach.

"I heard that a junior tried very hard yesterday to make him ask for her number and failed. He must be very interested in yours if he got it on his own."

"This doesn't mean anything." The lightness grows, the giddy feeling bubbling up inside me. 

"Maybe not." She leans in conspiratorially. "Maybe it does."

When Ms. Evan announces she'll question us about Wuthering Heights, I have the feeling Damon might take this opportunity to display the same unpleasantness as yesterday.

Be nice if Ms. Evans asks you something, I type quickly. Please.

 He doesn't type back, and as Ms. Evan begins to ask questions, I brace myself. She deliberately avoids asking him anything though. Then she asks Beckett what his opinion is about the motives behind Heathcliff's behavior. He stares at her with a blank face, clueless.

It's Damon who answers. "Heathcliff felt out of place. He didn't belong to their class, and everyone else never let him forget it."

Ms. Evans' eyes widen, but all she says is "Do you think that justifies him?"

"No. That's no justification for being a dick to everyone," Damon says nonchalantly.  

Ms. Evans flinches. "That language doesn't belong in the classroom, Damon." Her tone is firm. I'm proud of her. "I'll let you out of the questioning round because you're new, and I gave this assignment a week ago."

Damon's lip twitches, and I can tell he's about so say something obscene back. I sit up straighter, staring at him intently. He catches my eye and winks at me. I instantly flush, dropping my gaze to my hands. 

"I had to read the book in my junior year," Damon replies. Ms. Evans nods, and then continues questioning Anna. I think about something the principal mentioned today... Damon scored mostly A’s at his old school. My assessment was spot on yesterday. Under the mask of carelessness hides a perfectionist. Someone who is clearly smart. As Ms. Evans instructs us to look up a certain passage in the book, I shift in my chair, holding my copy in my hands and pretending to flip through its pages. In reality, I am sneaking glances at Damon. Who was he before he came here and whom did he lose?

Thank you for not being rude, I text him under the desk. I receive an answer almost immediately.

Ouch. That sound like something you'd tell a dog. I'm not a poodle; don't try to train me.

I write back quickly. You're definitely not a poodle. More like a pitbull. I hear those are hard to train. Whatever they do, it's because they want to.

There is a pause in which I wait breathlessly, and then my smartphone vibrates. They also tend to attack their owners.

 My fingers almost snap as I hurry to reply. I don't believe that. They just have a bad reputation. Don't believe everything you hear. It's all appearances.

Another short vibration. Ms. Evans looks at me, so I just chance a quick glance at my phone. So what should I make of your Linkin Park t-shirt?

Frowning, I text back as best as I can while pretending to pay attention to Ms. Evans. What's the harm in liking Kinky Fuck?

Damon's next message confuses me. Is that an invitation? I read what I wrote before, and shame washes over me.

Abandoning all pretense of paying attention to the teacher, I write It was autocorrect. I meant Linkin Park. OMG, I'm so sorry.

He doesn't write anything back, and when I look at him, he appears on the verge of bursting out laughing. 

My name is Layla Hagen and I am a New Adult Contemporary Romance author.

I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.

I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.

And I drink coffee. Lots of it, in case the photo didn’t make it obvious enough.

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Release Day Launch: Lost in Us (Lost in You #1.5) by Heidi McLaughlin

Today we are celebrating the release of LOST IN US, a New Adult contemporary romance novella by New York Times Bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin.

Lost in Us (Lost in You #1.5)
by Heidi McLaughlin
Release Date: October 13th 2014

Synopsis:

A Lost in You Novella 

Life is supposed to be about following your dreams, taking risks and getting lost in love. 

I have my dream job. 

Hadley is definitely a risk. 

Getting lost in love with her is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.

Heidi is the author of USA Today, Digital Book World, Amazon and Barnes & Noble Bestselling novel, Forever My Girl

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets.

During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she's writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting court-side during either daughter's basketball games.