Young Adult Debut Promotions: Parallel by Lauren Miller

Young Adult Debut Promotions (YADP) is a post I do to help out debut authors, and to get them noticed.  My posts will definitely include a feature of the book, a feature of the author, and a giveaway, with an interview, guest post, or excerpt optional.  If you would like more information about YADP click here and scroll down until you come to the section talking about it.

Today I am featuring...

Lauren Miller
And she will be doing an interview, excerpt, and giveaway!

Parallel
by Lauren Miller
Pages: 432
Release Date: May 14, 2013
by HarperTeen

Goodreads / Purchase

Abby Barnes had a plan. The Plan. She'd go to Northwestern, major in journalism, and land a job at a national newspaper, all before she turned twenty-two. But one tiny choice—taking a drama class her senior year of high school—changed all that. Now, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Abby is stuck on a Hollywood movie set, miles from where she wants to be, wishing she could rewind her life. The next morning, she's in a dorm room at Yale, with no memory of how she got there. Overnight, it's as if her past has been rewritten. With the help of Caitlin, her science-savvy BFF, Abby discovers that this new reality is the result of a cosmic collision of parallel universes that has Abby living an alternate version of her life. And not only that: Abby's life changes every time her parallel self makes a new choice. Meanwhile, her parallel is living out Abby's senior year of high school and falling for someone Abby's never even met. As she struggles to navigate her ever-shifting existence, forced to live out the consequences of a path she didn't choose, Abby must let go of the Plan and learn to focus on the present, without losing sight of who she is, the boy who might just be her soul mate, and the destiny that's finally within reach.

Author Interview:

1. Why did you decide to become a writer?

I'm not sure it was ever a decision.  Writing has always just been my thing.  In elementary school, I'd start a new "novel" every other week.  Decorate the cover of a spiral bound notebook, spend hours coming up with the perfect title, then start writing.  I'd get about four chapters in and discover that I had no idea where my story was going and abandon it.  I did this over and over again, for years.  Afraid that I'd never finish anything, I decided to give up my writing dreams and do something practical, so I went to law school.  The only problem was, I didn't like practicing law.  So a few years into my career, I started writing again.  This time it was TV scripts!  Amazingly, I had no trouble finishing these.  Parallel was actually the first script I ever wrote.  When it didn't become a television show, I decided to turn it into a novel.

2. Who were your biggest influences?

My dad.  My love of storytelling came from him.  Instead of reading stories to me when I was a kid, he'd make stories up.  My favorites involved a character named "Debbie Dixon" who solved crimes like Nancy Drew.

3. Where do you like to write?

Either in my office at home or at the coffee shop up the street from me.  It really depends on what stage I'm in with a story. In the early stages, I like to be out in the world. When I'm rewriting, I like to be at home where I have two gigantic monitors so I can put the old draft on one screen and the new draft on another.

4. Do you have a special routine you like to do before you write?

Nope. I wrote Parallel (the novel version, not the TV script) while I was home on maternity leave with my daughter. Because she kept me so busy, I had to learn to write in every spare minute I had, so I couldn't waste time preparing to write -- I just had to get right to it.  These days, I still treat writing this way, as something I have to just dive into whenever a free moment arises.

5. When and how did you get the idea for Parallel?

PARALLEL was the answer the the questions I was asking myself the year I got married.  What if my husband and I had never met?  Would our paths have crossed some other way?  Parallel was the story that came out of those questions.  When I first began, it wasn't a sci fi story at all.  It was more like the movie Sliding Doors, where you don't really know why Helen's life splits into two versions.  But the further I got into it, the more I felt like I owed my readers an explanation.  So I started reading about parallel universe theory, and the more I learned, the more excited I got about the idea of grounding my book in real science.

6. Is there another book in the works? If so, what can we expect?

Yes!  It'll be out next year. Like Parallel, this book has a slight sci fi aspect, but its tone is a little darker.  It's more of a thriller.  I'm really excited about it!

THIS OR THAT

1. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

Dark, definitely.

2. Cats or dogs?

Dogs.  Sorry kitties, I'm allergic.

3. Hardcover, paperback or ebook?

Paperback.  I like my books dogeared and water stained!  Used books are my favorite.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE?

1. Movie?

Beaches.

2. Ice cream flavor?

Mint

3. Animal?

When I was little, I was obsessed with the yak at the Turtleback Zoo in New Jersey where we lived.  He had this enormous red tongue and reminded me of a creature from Where the Wild Things Are.

4. Book?

Hardest question ever.  There are too many!  And my favorites span the genres.  The ones that top the list are A Wrinkle in Time, Madame Bovary, The Turn of the Screw, Frankenstein, and The Prince of Tides.  Oh, and anything by John Irving.

5. Actor and actress?

Brit Marling.  She's the star of Another Earth and its co-writer, and she's amazing.

6. Fictional character?

She's not very likable, but I have a soft spot in my heart for Emma Bovary of Madame Bovary.

Excerpt:

“Abby? Abby, honey, wake up.”
My eyes fly open. My mom, still in her pajamas, is sitting on the edge of my bed, her face the picture of calm. I appreciate her effort, but I know instantly that something is wrong. There is much too much sunlight in my room.
“What time is it?”
“Five till eight.”
I blink. For a moment I am still, calculating the exact number of minutes between now and the time the late bell rings.
Thirteen.
“Abby?” My mom is clearly confused by my stillness. We both know there’s no way I’m making it to school on time, which means I’ll miss the beginning of the senior parking lottery. They start at the parking spot closest to the building and work their way toward the street, drawing names from a box at lightning speed. In order to claim your space, you have to be present at the drawing when they call your name.  If you’re not, game over.  You’re automatically relegated to the annex lot across the street.
I spring out of bed.
“Why didn’t my alarm go off? And why is my alarm clock on the floor?” I point an accusing finger at the base of my nightstand, where my clock radio is lying facedown on the carpet.
My mom bends to pick it up.
“There was an earthquake last night,” she replies, setting the clock back on my nightstand. It’s blinking 12:00. “At least, they think it was an earthquake.”
“There was an earthquake? In Atlanta?” I stare at her.
“How is that possible?”
“Apparently, it’s not the first time it’s happened. And it wasn’t just here, either.” She presses the radio button on my clock. The familiar sound of my favorite morning news program fills the room.
“No significant damage or injuries have been reported, but people are reporting power outages in various parts of the city. This is the third earthquake to hit the Atlanta area since 1878. Seismologists are baffled by the quake, which, despite its relatively small size—only five point nine on the Richter scale—appears to have triggered seismic activity all over the globe.”
I wonder briefly if I’m still asleep. An earthquake felt all over the world?

Giveaway:

THE RULES:

~There will be 1 winner

~Giveaway ends on May 23, 2013 @ 12:00 A.M.

~This giveaway is US/CAN


THE PRIZE:
A signed finished copy to one lucky winner!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get to know Lauren Miller:

Bio:

I couldn't find her bio, but I really recommend you check out her website and also her other one that, Embrace the Detour.  I just read through it (gosh I sound like such a stalker.  But I'm not!) and I really have a new respect for her.  I found it very interesting, and I really think you guys should make sure you follow her on Twitter, Facebook, ect because I certainly am.

Connect:

Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO MUCH LAUREN FOR STOPPING BY! I'M GONNA GO STALK YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR A WHILE NOW ;p