We have loved Katie McGarry ever since we met her the night before all three of our first times at BEA back in 2011. Her characters are so real, so heartbreaking, and so full of life that we’ve both shed quite a few tears along the way. We’re delighted to see that Katie has returned to Noah and Echo’s story, to continue from where her wonderful universe all began. And to help kick off the release of Breaking the Rules, we’re delighted to share an interview between Noah and Katie!
Noah: Won’t lie, but this is strange. You’re usually always talking at me, asking me why I’m doing what I’m doing, and telling me what to do. Now I get to ask the questions. I can get used to this.
Katie: I’m not sure how this is different since you always did whatever you wanted and never attempted to follow what I had plotted out for your stories.
Noah: I like being unpredictable. Moving on, why did you decide to write more about me and Echo after Pushing the Limits?
Katie: Because your story wasn’t done. I can tell you everything that happens to you until the day you die. With any character I create, I get to know them as if they are real, as if they are sitting right beside me, and I fall so in love with you that I can’t help looking into your future.
Even though it’s that way for everyone, you and Echo are very special. Not only did I see your future, I knew every detail of your summer road trip. You and I both know that the end of Pushing the Limits was only the beginning of your path to emotional healing. You and Echo still had a lot emotions to sort through in order to find a true happily-ever-after. In the end, that’s what I want for the two of you: a true, but realistic happily-ever-after.
Noah: You focused a lot on my relationship with my mother in Breaking the Rules. Why her? Why did you have to keep bringing up something that hurt so bad?
Katie: Without a doubt you loved both of your parents, but you had a special bond with your mother. I knew it the moment you mentioned in Pushing the Limits how she’d hate your hair and it was also evident in that you spoke Spanish—the language your mother taught in college. You loved and respected her enough that you also became fluent in it.
I focused on your mother because, emotionally, you still harbored a lot of anger and hurt regarding her and your role in the fire. In order for you to be truly happy with Echo, you needed to confront your fears and anger and that involved your mother.
Noah: Why did you put me and Isaiah in foster care?
Katie: Great question and that’s a tough one for me.
When I was younger, and I mean way younger, young enough that my feet couldn’t even hit the floor when I was sitting at an elementary school lunchroom table, there was a conversation that changed my world.
We were at lunch and I was eating my ham sandwich when a girl at our table was explaining how she might be on TV. We all listened with intent ears because this meant she was going to be famous, right?
There was a segment on our local TV news that highlighted kids who were in foster care and could be adopted. She was going to be on this segment and she went on to explain how the news people got a little angry because she wasn’t answering a question.
“What question?” I asked.
The girl said, “They wanted me to explain why I wanted a new mommy and daddy and I don’t want a new mommy or daddy.”
I remembered frowning. Why wouldn’t she want a mommy and daddy? I had parents and liked knowing they’d be there at home. “Don’t you want a mommy and daddy?
“No,” she said. “I like the mommy and daddy I have now. I’ve had a lot of mommy and daddy’s and some of them are nice and some of them aren’t nice. What happens if they give me a forever mommy and daddy and they’re one of the bad ones? I want to stay where I’m at.”
As conversation normally does with young kids, we moved on to something else, but I remember feeling like someone had kicked me in the gut. I couldn’t imagine being her. I couldn’t imagine moving around and not knowing if the people you would end up with would like you or not.
That moment changed me. Defined me in a way that very few things have.
I know I gave you a rough life, Noah, but your story needed to be told.
Noah: I agree, it did. From serious to lighter: tell the readers the scene that made you blush. I have to mention, it’s a personal favorite of mine.
Katie: The shower scene.
Noah: Do I get my happy-ever-after?
Katie: Of course, but it’s the journey in getting to that point in Breaking the Rules that is important.
Such a great interview! Thanks, Katie and Noah!
BREAKING THE RULES
A summer road trip changes everything in this unforgettable new tale from acclaimed author Katie McGarry.
For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so… different. It means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot, smart, soul-battered guy who’s never judged her. Echo and Noah share everything — except the one thing Echo’s just not ready for.
But when the source of Echo’s constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants — even as foster kid Noah’s search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves.
Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah’s more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he’d be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn… seriously epic.
Crossing the Line (e-novella): Goodreads | Amazon
Dare You To: Goodreads | Amazon
Crash Into You: Goodreads | Amazon
Red At Night (Harlequin More Than Words) eNovella – Free from Amazon
Take Me On: Goodreads | Amazon
KATIE MCGARRY
Katie was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.
Katie is the author of the full-length Young Adult novels PUSHING THE LIMITS and DARE YOU TO, and the e-novella CROSSING THE LINE. Her debut novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS, is a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and an RT Book Reviews 2012 Reviewer’s Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel.
Writing has given Katie an excuse to pursue her passions. Research for her books has provided her with the amazing opportunity to train with baseball players, ride along in a drag car at ninety-six miles per hour and experience boxing and mixed martial arts. The most memorable moments for Katie are when she speaks to groups of teenagers about her research, writing and the truth that no dream is out of reach. Katie would love to hear from her readers.
GIVEAWAY
Katie is generously offering up a number of different prizes for this tour:
- Four lucky winners will each receive ONE signed copy of Katie’s print books:Pushing the Limits, Dare You To, Crash Into You and Take Me On
- One grand prize winner will receive a $100 gift card to Amazon, B&N or iTunes as well as a zodiac necklace.
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thx u for hosting 🙂
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You’re welcome! Good luck.
Heather recently posted..Breaking the Rules Blog Tour: Noah Interviews Katie McGarry + Giveaway
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love the books
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I love all of Katie McGarry’s books too!
Heather recently posted..Breaking the Rules Blog Tour: Noah Interviews Katie McGarry + Giveaway
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Thank you for the giveaway. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
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You’re welcome, Katherine! happy holidays to you and your family too!
Heather recently posted..Breaking the Rules Blog Tour: Noah Interviews Katie McGarry + Giveaway
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Read and loved all the books like crazy! I can’t wait to have this one in my hands!
Amazing interview, so well done with Noah asking all the questions! 😛
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I started reading Breaking the Rules yesterday and it is so good! You’re going to love it, Frannie!
Heather recently posted..Breaking the Rules Blog Tour: Noah Interviews Katie McGarry + Giveaway
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How is it possible that Katie is able to make me cry with an interview? LOVE IT!!! Can’t wait to read the book, but I’m waiting till friday night, so I’ll have ALL weekend for Noah, Echo and my book hangover! <3 Thanks for this!
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This is so exciting 🙂 thanks so much
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Thanks for sharing ladies, this is on my wishlist..I mean more Noah and Echo…NEEDS
kimbacaffeinate recently posted..The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
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I love Katie McGarry, and have read all of the books in the series thus far! I can’t wait to get more Noah and Echo!!!!!
Lindy@ A Bookish Escape recently posted..Holiday Blitz: Kennedy Ryans’ My True Love Gave to Me
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This is great, I can’t wait! Thanks for the giveaway!
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