Hey everyone! I know I promised you photos of Joseph this week, but I didn't realize that today I was scheduled for a blog tour celebrating the release of Sixteen by Emily Rachelle. She has written a wonderful blog post for today's stop. So I'll let her tell you all about "Finding Me in Sixteen" and in me, I mean her. ;) Check at the bottom of the page for more stops on the tour, more about the author, and where you can find Sixteen. Emily is giving away a copy on her blog!
Finding Me in Sixteen by Emily Rachelle
Whether or not they admit it, every writer imbues their story with bits of themselves. Their personality, opinions, upbringing, race, religion, hobbies, family, friends, memories -- it all seeps in at some point, consciously or subconsciously. I’m no exception.
I’m a Christian, and Sixteen is most certainly a Christian story. The main character isn’t quite a Christian, but her best friend is. Biblical principles do have a place in my work. The climax hinges on them But I want to dig deeper than that; there’s more than my beliefs tucked into my book.
Nikki loves dance, and she volunteers as an assistant teacher for the kids’ ballet class at her community center. I took ballet in second, third, fifth, and sixth through eighth grade. When I lived on the Air Force base in Okinawa, an island south of Japan, I took lessons at the recreation center. I loved it, but eventually I was ready to move up to a pointe class. There was no beginners’ pointe class, so long story short, I helped with the younger class instead. I spent a year as a teacher’s assistant in the kindergarten class, before officially quitting all dance after the center-wide recital. Both Nikki’s class and the community center are based off that year in my life.
My best friend is Mikaela; she and I met when we both moved to Okinawa at the same time. Christy and Nikki are based off of us, but I can’t really point to either girl and say “that one’s me, that one’s Mikaela.” Nikki shares Mikaela’s birthday and spunk, but her physical appearance and love for dance are mine. (Her lack of klutziness is all Nikki; both Mikaela and I fall a bit short there.) Christy has a younger brother shaped after both my youngest brother Nick and Mikaela’s brothers Kyle and Josh. Plus, she’s a Christian - both Mikaela and I, although different denominations, profess Christianity. Her softer nature, in contrast to Nikki’s get-it-done and let’s-be-crazy attitudes, is probably mostly mine, although Mikaela and I have been known to switch roles in this area more than once.
I’ve never had a sister, and honestly, Matt’s sister Abigail is nothing like Mikaela’s sister. However, growing up, I always wanted a sister. I also wished I was named “Abigail May Miller,” for some reason I can’t remember. If I did have a little sister, I imagine her a lot like Abby.
There’s a bit of a subplot surrounding Nikki, her mom, and the color red in the book. That could be traced in my life to my and my mom’s colors. I’m a sort-of-redhead, and for the longest time, I firmly believed anything resembling red was hideous on me. (It’s my college’s main color… I’m coming around. Actually, I’m wearing my Union University red t-shirt as I write this.) However, Mom’s blonde, and red was always her best color. Plus Mom’s favorite color is pink, while I can’t stand it. I think I probably overdosed on the stuff as a kid. While we never had issues to the extent Mrs. and Nikki Johnson do, I imagine the “red dress debacle” they find themselves in could definitely be an exaggerated version of something in my mom’s and my history.
While I’d love to say Matt is totally in my life, he’s probably the most original creation to grace Sixteen’s pages. Besides, blonde isn’t really my type. ;)
Links:
Emily Rachelle Writes http://emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com/
Facebook http://facebook.com/emilyrachellewrites
Twitter http://twitter.com/emilyrachelle15
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/emilyrachelle15
GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8818047-emily-rachelle
LibraryThing http://www.librarything.com/profile/writergirl15
Blurb: Nicole "Nikki" Johnson has never gotten along with her mother, so when
she meets a great new guy, it's no surprise that Matt's age is all her
mom sees. Just because he's twenty-four and she's sixteen doesn't mean
he's a creeper! Thankfully, Nikki's dad allows Nikki and Matt to be
together and see how things work out. Their relationship is fantastic
and Nikki is on cloud nine...
Until the Fourth of July picnic, when things go too far. Now a very changed Nikki has to make choices that will affect her every relationship - with Matt, her parents, her best friend, and most importantly, God.
Find the book here:
GoodReads: (I can't add a cover yet) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20565633-sixteen
LibraryThing: http://www.librarything.com/work/14643326
Other stops on the tour
Zara Hoffman - Why I Chose Self-Publishing - January 19
Covers and Ink - The Story Behind Sixteen - January 20
Literary and Lace - Interview - January 21
Iola's Christian Reads - Sixteen Facts About Sixteen - January 22
Writings of Rosie- The Theme of Sixteen - January 23
Tales of Goldstone Wood - Interview - January 24
Blooming With Books - Name Meanings - January 25
Na's Not So Newsworthy Thoughts - Excerpt - January 26
Musings of a Creative Mind - It Takes a Village - January 27
The Ramblings of a Young Author - Finding Me in Sixteen - January 28
United in His Love - Interview - January 29
Author Mariella Hunt - Mother-daughter quotes - January 30
Realm of Hearts - Interview - January 31
Zerina Blossom - Dream Casting - February 1
Appasionata - Playlist - February 2
Summer Snowflakes - Interview - February 3
- See more at: http://emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com/#sthash.IBZO39kJ.dpuf
Zara Hoffman - Why I Chose Self-Publishing - January 19
Covers and Ink - The Story Behind Sixteen - January 20
Literary and Lace - Interview - January 21
Iola's Christian Reads - Sixteen Facts About Sixteen - January 22
Writings of Rosie- The Theme of Sixteen - January 23
Tales of Goldstone Wood - Interview - January 24
Blooming With Books - Name Meanings - January 25
Na's Not So Newsworthy Thoughts - Excerpt - January 26
Musings of a Creative Mind - It Takes a Village - January 27
The Ramblings of a Young Author - Finding Me in Sixteen - January 28
United in His Love - Interview - January 29
Author Mariella Hunt - Mother-daughter quotes - January 30
Realm of Hearts - Interview - January 31
Zerina Blossom - Dream Casting - February 1
Appasionata - Playlist - February 2
Summer Snowflakes - Interview - February 3
- See more at: http://emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com/#sthash.IBZO39kJ.dpuf
Zara Hoffman - Why I Chose Self-Publishing - January 19
Covers and Ink - The Story Behind Sixteen - January 20
Literary and Lace - Interview - January 21
Iola's Christian Reads - Sixteen Facts About Sixteen - January 22
Writings of Rosie- The Theme of Sixteen - January 23
Tales of Goldstone Wood - Interview - January 24
Blooming With Books - Name Meanings - January 25
Na's Not So Newsworthy Thoughts - Excerpt - January 26
Musings of a Creative Mind - It Takes a Village - January 27
The Ramblings of a Young Author - Finding Me in Sixteen - January 28
United in His Love - Interview - January 29
Author Mariella Hunt - Mother-daughter quotes - January 30
Realm of Hearts - Interview - January 31
Zerina Blossom - Dream Casting - February 1
Appasionata - Playlist - February 2
Summer Snowflakes - Interview - February 3
- See more at: http://emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com/#sthash.IBZO39kJ.dpuf
1 comment:
I have Sixteen but I haven't read it yet. I'm waiting for a quite Saturday afternoon to read it all in one sitting!
~Sarah Faulkner
inklinedwriters.blogspot.com
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