Today we’re excited to chat with Chantele
Sedgwick, author
of Love, Lucas!
Below you’ll find more about Chantele,
her book, plus a
giveaway!
YABC: What surprised you most while writing your latest book?
CHANTELE SEDGWICK: How hard it was. Hahaha. I’m writing in a new genre and while it’s fun and new, there was a LOT of research I had to do. Still doing actually.
YABC: If you could live in any fantasy world, which one would it be?
CS: Harry Potter’s world. Hands down.
YABC: Do you have a mantra that gets you through the drafting phase?
CS: I love listening to music before I write and sometimes during. It helps me get into my “zone”. When I draft a new story, most of the time it’s really easy for me. But since I usually don’t have a strict outline to follow, (I’m mostly a pantser when drafting) I can hit a wall and not know where to go with my story. When I come to a roadblock like that, I usually have to walk away for a while. Sometimes days, sometimes a month or so. It just depends on the book. Usually after I sit and stew over it for a while, listen to music, watch a few movies that have similar plot twists, characters, etc. I figure things out and finish the draft pretty quick. Editing is my favorite part of the process, which is weird, but I love seeing a book come together and shine.
YABC: What is your favorite hobby when you’re not writing?
CS: I love to read. 🙂 Give me a YA/MG book and I’m good to go.
YABC: Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?
CS: My latest book? Hmmm…. The love interest in my book INTERLUDE (Fall 2017) was kind of hard to figure out. But he ended up being one of my very favorites because he’s not perfect and has issues, but my main character sees through the issues and falls for him anyway. 🙂
YABC: Do you enjoy writing to music? If so, do you have a go-to playlist?
CS: Hans Zimmer station on Pandora is my favorite. There is something about movie scores that I just LOVE.
YABC: Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?
CS: I really love the We Need Diverse Books Organization. It’s so wonderful to see more and more books about people of all colors, disabilities, religions, etc. portrayed in childrens books that should have been portrayed a long time ago. I’m glad things are starting to change.
YABC: What’s a book that you’ve read recently that you would recommend to your readers?
CS: Oh, man. For YA, I just finished GEMINA by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. If you haven’t read the Illuminae series, go read it now. It’s AMAZING. Warning: It’s so addicting and nearly sent me into a panic attack several times because of the situations they put their characters in. Also, I loved MY LADY JANE by Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows and Cynthia Hand. Such a fun book. For MG I just finished Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. It’s a graphic novel and SO fun. And also, SIMON THORN and the WOLF’S DEN by Aimee Carter. If you like Percy Jackson, that one is right up your ally. (Can you tell I read too much?)
YABC: Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more:
CS: Drafting or Revising? I love finding the story during the drafting stage. It’s the fun part. But I LOVE revising and making it better. That’s my favorite for sure.
YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
CS: Taking care of 4 little humans every day, (plus my cute hubby) and still being able to do what I love. Write books!
Meet Love, Lucas!
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When Oakley Nelson loses her older brother, Lucas, to cancer, she thinks she’ll never recover. Between her parents’ arguing and the battle she’s fighting with depression, she feels nothing inside but a hollow emptiness. When Mom suggests they spend a few months in California with Aunt Jo, Oakley isn’t sure a change of scenery will alter anything, but she’s willing to give it a try.
In California, Oakley discovers a sort of safety and freedom in Aunt Jo’s beach house. Once they’re settled, Mom hands her a notebook full of letters addressed to her—from Lucas. As Oakley reads one each day, she realizes how much he loved her, and each letter challenges her to be better and to continue to enjoy her life. He wants her to move on.
If only it were that easy. But then a surfer named Carson comes into her life, and Oakley is blindsided. He makes her feel again. As she lets him in, she is surprised by how much she cares for him, and that’s when things get complicated. How can she fall in love and be happy when Lucas never got the chance to do those very same things?
With her brother’s dying words as guidance, Oakley knows she must learn to listen and trust again. But will she have to leave the past behind to find happiness in the future?
Meet Chantele Sedgwick!
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She loves happy endings, Kit Kats and judging by her bookshelves, buys way too many books.
Love, Lucas
By: Chantele Sedgwick
Release Date: November 15, 2016
*GIVEAWAY DETAILS*
 
 
 
The cover looks simple, but it looks nice and it gives a type of calmness, like how Oakley must feel when she looks out the sea. The synopsis is shows the story nicely and I like it. I want to read the book and find out how she moves on from the death of her older brother and find love and happiness.
I like how peaceful the cover looks! I feel like the book is anything but!
Splendid cover.! Splendid synopsis!
The cover is really calming and is unlike my other books, which makes it stand out to me. The MC has an interesting name and this seems like a nice contemporary novel. Would love the chance to read.
The emotion is deep, even in the synopsis. The cover makes me think of meditating.
The cover is very calming, oceans and her hair blowing. It’s like yoga. Idk. And the synopsis was kind of surprising because I thought it was a cheesy love story
This sounds really good and the cover is very fitting for the book.
The cover is perfect and the synopsis makes me want this book now.
I kind of like the simple beauty of the cover.
The cover is wonderful. She seems deep in thought with a gorgeous view. The book covers a dark topic, sounds really good.
The cover is perfect for the story. It sounds like a really important book.