Brenda Maxfield just released her novel, The Lance Temptation, with Astraea Press and was sweet enough to come hang out at my blog and tell us about it. Check it out!
Blurb for The
Lance Temptation by Brenda Maxfield:
Sophomore Emili Jones has had it with being a boring,
straight-A student. Itching for excitement, she sees plenty of it in classmate
Farah Menin’s life of frequent dates and edgy adventure. Hoping the popularity
will rub off, Emili latches onto Farah and manipulates herself into best friend
status. The connection helps her land the hot new guy, Lance Jankins, but
there’s a catch. Now a pawn in Farah’s dating games, Emili is on a crash course
to betrayal. Will she realize it in time to save herself?
Interview with Emili Jones, the main character of The Lance Temptation:
Give us a few brief
facts about yourself.
My name is Emili Jones. I’m sixteen years old and a
sophomore at Bates Academy.
Is Bates a private
school?
Yes. I’ve gone there forever. All my friends are there.
Who’s your best
friend?
Right now, my best friend is Farah Menins. She’s gorgeous
and all the guys like her.
And how about you?
Are you popular with the guys?
Not so much. I figured if I hung out with Farah, it might
help me get more popular.
Did it work?
I managed to snag one guy all on my own. His name is Marc
and he’s really nice. You know, a sweet guy. But there’s this new guy at school
named Lance, and I start sweating the minute I look at him. He’s fine. But I
don’t think he’d ever look twice at me.
What’s your favorite
thing to do?
I make perfume. It can get kind of spendy though.
What’s the stupidest
thing you’ve ever done?
Is it okay if I don’t really answer that? It’s embarrassing
and I’m still mad at myself. I will say this—it had to do with Marc.
What do you wish you
could do over?
Wow. There are a couple major things. I dumped my friend
Jeannie, and sometimes I regret it. Especially because of the reason why I dumped
her. The other thing is the same as the last question you asked. It’s about
Marc.
What’s hardest about
being a teen in today’s world?
The pressure on you to be hot and smart and beautiful and
popular. It’s impossible. Who could live up to that? Well, maybe Farah. But the pressure makes you do stupid things.
Even when you try not to be an idiot, you end up doing things you know you
shouldn’t.
What are your future
plans?
Hmmm, I’m only a sophomore so I’m not sure. I want to
graduate from Bates and go to university. I’m worried, though, because
something’s going on with my dad. He has
some big announcement, and I can tell by the look on his face I’m not going to
like it.
I hope the
announcement isn’t too awful. It was nice talking with you today, Emili. All of
us can read about your story in The Lance
Temptation, correct.
Yep. Thanks for talking with me. It was nice to be here.
Emilis' Diary Entry
Tuesday, August 28
I
wish I could take a fat eraser to my brain. You know how some things stick to
your mind no matter how much you hate them? I guess a shrink would diagnose me
as wounded.
Maybe
that’s a bit overboard. But the thing is, I can’t forget what happened. No, it
wasn’t death or abuse or anything so awful.
Except
to me.
I
was in eighth grade. Skinny as a stick —
well, that part hasn’t changed. I was growing my hair out so it was kinda jagged
with split ends. I was at the mall minding my own sweet business when two guys
came up to me.
One
of them tapped me on the shoulder, which was weird because I didn’t know him.
But he was cute and in that quick second, I could feel my face grow hot and
hope bubble up in my heart.
He
was laughing. At first, I thought he was just a happy person, but then I
realized he was laughing at me.
“You’re
ugly,” he said.
He
turned to his just-as-cute friend, gave him a swift jab in the side with his
elbow, and they both cracked up.
My
mouth froze up in shock and I couldn’t have talked if someone paid me. The
second guy gawked at me and tried to bite back his grin. “Don’t listen to him. You’re
not ugly. He’s being stupid.”
Then
he laughed, and they both sauntered
off.
I
pivoted to the right and caught my reflection in the glass window of Gracie’s
Boutique. I had no curves, my chin was too pointy, and my clothes hung on me
like an orphan child. I was ugly.
Later,
I told Jeannie what the guy said. She got mad and told me guys were idiots and
not to listen.
But
how do you turn your ears off?
Anyway,
I knew he was right.
Thursday, August
30
School
starts next week. Tenth grade. I can hardly believe it. NOW FOR THE BEST NEWS EVER! I have a
boyfriend: Marc Rounder. He’s cute and tall and nice. And he likes me.
I
got him without Farah. She was my ticket to getting a guy, but I got Marc all
by myself. I wish he was more popular, but it’s okay. I’m not popular, so I
guess we’re even.
It
sounds shallow, but I want to be popular like Farah. All the guys like her. I
wonder what it’d be like to walk down the hall and know all the guys were
staring at you. Farah laughs about it.
I’m
not laughing. I just want to know what it feels like. I want to know so bad I
can taste it.
Jeannie
doesn’t like Farah. She doesn’t like me much anymore either. Which is sad.
Sometimes I miss Jeannie. But with Farah, it’s exciting. There’s always
something going on. I never had that with Jeannie.
I
wonder what my classes will be like this year. Maybe Marc will walk the hall
with me. Wow, that’d be so cool.
Sept. 1
Farah
slept over last night. She spent about
two hours griping about Marc. He’s too nice, too calm, too BORING. Why can’t she like
him? I like all her boyfriends. I defended him, but I wanted to scream.
Farah
major sucked-up to my mom. And Mom went right along with it. Made me mad
because my mom came off looking stupid.
Later
when we went to bed, Farah did her teacher impressions and we cracked up so
hard I thought we’d pee our pants. Turned into a fun night after all.
Sept. 4
Yesterday
was the first day of school. Jeannie barely said hi. I tried to talk with her
and goof around, but she wouldn’t have it. Marcella had her nose so high in the
air I’m surprised she didn’t get frostbite.
Marc
walked me to class! Score!
He’s
so nice. I wish he’d kiss me already.
I
think I saw Jeannie watching us, but I’m not sure. Maybe she likes him, too.
Hey, maybe Marc is popular.
Sept. 6
There’s
a new guy at school. Not sure what his name is because I don’t have classes
with him. I snooped, so I know he’s a sophomore like me.
He’s
drop-dead gorgeous. My hands go clammy when I look at him. This morning in the
hallway, he glanced my way and I think he winked. I hope I’m right. But then I
was walking with Farah, so maybe he was winking at her.
I
didn’t dare say a thing. First of all, I have a boyfriend. Second of all, if
Farah found out I thought he was hot she’d bug me till I’d want to strangle
her. She’s always after me to do something even when I don’t want to do it. She
usually gets her way.
I
wonder if I’m cute enough for a guy like him? I think my hair is good. But guys
don’t think I’m cute. Proof One: Those two jerks in the mall. Proof Two: Never had a boyfriend until now.
Proof Three: I have eyeballs and every time I look in the mirror I see myself
as that stick 8th grade girl.
Find out what happens when Emili gets
suckered into a new, daring relationship. Order The Lance Temptation now!
Astraea Press: http://tinyurl.com/bac9er8
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/au78k88
Barnes and Noble: http://tinyurl.com/bdoacd8
Author Bio:
Brenda Maxfield loves writing novels for young adults. She
explores teens’ heartaches and triumphs—and always with a bit of romance thrown
in to complicate matters. Brenda is a high school teacher and spends most of
her waking hours with teens. She loves hearing their views on love and life,
and is honored to be part of their lives.
Brenda has lived in Honduras, Grand Cayman, and Costa Rica.
Presently, she lives in Indiana with her husband. They have two adult children
and are grandparents to one precious little guy, special delivery from Africa.
When not writing or teaching, Brenda can be found at her
lake cabin with a book in her hand and her dog Lucy on her lap. If you’re
looking for good, clean teen reads, check out Brenda’s books! She loves getting
to know her readers better, so stop by and say hello at: www.brendamaxfield.com
Thanks, Wendy, for hosting me today! I'm glad to be here!
ReplyDeleteFun interview!
ReplyDelete