Hey, everyone! I'm so excited to have the opportunity to kick-off the PUSHING THE LIMITS blog tour! Both Noah and Echo are easily two of my favorite contemporary characters out there. They captured my heart and will just as easily capture yours. It takes a brilliant writer to write a book as powerful as this one, so I was so excited to learn that we were able to ask Katie McGarry a few questions about her debut novel, the moral of her story, and her journey to getting published.
So, without further ado, I'd love for you all to Meet Katie McGarry!
Pushing the Limitsdeals with themes of traumatic experiences, falling in love and self-discovery. What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
That we are more than just the sum of our past and that, no matter the situation, there is hope.
My characters, Echo and Noah, are two teenagers dealing with very traumatic pasts. Each day, they wake up facing the dilemma of whether they’re going to let what has happened to them destroy their future, or whether they’ll permit love to heal their old wounds and scars. You’ll need to read the book to discover which path they choose.
Of all the characters in Pushing the Limits, who do you relate to the most and why?
Overall, I’m a strange combination of all of them. If you take Isaiah’s loyalty, Beth’s insecurities, Lila’s devotion to friendship, Echo’s memory loss, and Noah’s unwavering love for the people around him, then you create me.
In your bio you describe your teenage years as the “best and worst” years of your life. Did any of the “bests” and “worsts” inspire scenes and/or situations in Pushing the Limits?
Yes! One of the best moments of my life was when a guy I was totally into refused to take me to a Homecoming Dance. “Devastated” just doesn’t do justice to what I felt.
I ended up going to the dance with a group of friends and right when another guy asked me to slow dance, the guy I was infatuated with showed up and told me he was a “jerk” for not taking me. I spent the rest of the dance with him. The roller coaster of emotions I rode that night made its way into the dance scene in Pushing the Limits.
As for the worst moments…I drew upon heart-wrenching events I experienced as a teenager to write some of the more emotional scenes in the book. Specifically, I called upon the grief of losing my best friend whenever Echo and Noah talked about their personal losses.
Pushing the Limitsis told in alternating chapters from both Echo and Noah; why did you decide to tell the story from two different points of view?
Because I wanted to write a love story and there are always at least two sides to a love story. In that moment when our eyes meet that gorgeous guy’s across the room, we wonder if he’s looking at us. I love having the opportunity to answer whether or not he really was.
As a debut novelist, what has been the one thing that has surprised you the most about the journey of having your story published/becoming a published author?
When I began my journey to become published, I was absolutely terrified of everyone: agents, editors, anyone who worked for a publishing house. The first time I ever pitched my book at a conference, I shook like a leaf in a hurricane. I have been happily surprised at how nice and amazing everyone has been. I’ve also been shocked by the amount of people who work on my book: editorial, marketing, PR, sales…the list is endless.
The second most surprising part of the journey is how large and how supportive the writing community is. I had no idea the number of book bloggers there are in the blogosphere and I have been blown away by how friendly and helpful they are.
What was the last great book you read?
Between Shades of Grayby Ruta Sepetys. This is a definite must-read! I cried several times during the book. Sometimes so much that I had to put the book down so I could properly sob. Ruta does an amazing job of combining grief and fear along with mingling just the right amount of hope.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the revisions for the companion novel to
Pushing the Limits. The book is called
Dare You To, and it tells the story of Beth, a secondary character in
Pushing the Limits.
Dare You To will be released in 2013.
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Before we keep sharing our amazing surprises, check out what PUSHING THE LIMITS is really about.
"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.
So wrong for each other...and yet so right.
No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.
"An edgy romance that pulls you in and never lets go. I was hooked!"-Gena Showalter, New York Times bestselling author of the Intertwined series.
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Echo and Noah both attend the same high school, but that's where their similarities seem to end. Their paths cross however, when, on the first day of school after winter break they both meet their newly appointed school social worker. Katie McGarry wrote Pushing he Limits in alternating points of view, one chapter by Echo, the next by Noah. Check out the excerpts below, taken from the first chapters of Katie's debut novel. Every stop on the blog tour features new excerpts - the completely tour schedule can be found here.
Excerpt #1
Echo:
“My father is a control freak, I hate my stepmother, my brother is dead and my mother has...well...issues. How do you think I’m doing?”
That’s how I would have loved to respond to Mrs. Collins’s question, but my father placed too much importance on appearance for me to answer honestly. Instead, I blinked three times and said, “Fine.”
Noah:
Fresh paint and the scent of drywall dust made me think of my father, not school. Yet that smell slapped me in the face when I walked into the newly remodeled front office. With books in hand, I sauntered toward the counter. “’Sup, Mrs. Marcos.”
“Noah, why you late again, muchacho?” she said while stapling papers together. The clock on the wall flipped to nine in the morning. “Hell, this is early.” Mrs. Marcos stepped around her new cherry desk to meet me at the counter. She gave me crap when I came in late, but I still liked her. With her long brown hair, she reminded me of a Hispanic version of my mother.
“You missed your appointment with Mrs. Collins this morning. Not a good way to start the second term,” she whispered as she wrote my tardy slip. She tilted her head toward the three adults huddled together in the far corner of the room. I assumed he middle-aged blond woman whispering to the rich couple was the new guidance counselor.
I shrugged and let the right side of my mouth twitch up. “Oops.”
Please visit Kristen Simmons Blog for the next excerpt from Echo and Noah. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
You can find the rest of the blog tour here to check out the other amazing excerpts!
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Harlequin is graciously giving away one (1) copy of PUSHING THE LIMITS and a special blue ribbon to one winner in the US or Canada. This ribbon is extremely significant to the story! To enter, simply fill out the rafflecopter below!
Ends August 10th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway Also, check out the amazing grand prize giveaway on Katie McGarry's blog here for the chance of winning a Kindle Fire in celebration of this wonderful blog tour!
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I'm a 18 year old from a small town in New Jersey that's a newcomer to the book blogging world. Because I am an incoming senior in high school the closest thing that I have to a job is being a volunteer at the town library, so I spend most of my time reading and persuading my parents to let me buy more books!
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I want to know how she got the scars on her arms!
ReplyDeleteI read it on my kindle but would like a physical copy.
DeleteThe entire book is sort of discovering how she got the scars on her arms! The story slowly came together and it totally wasn't what I was expecting!
DeleteThat excerpt sounded so good! I've seen so much around about this book -- I can't wait to get my own copy! :) Thanks for the awesome interview and giveaway. :)
ReplyDelete-Amelia
The Authoress
I would love to read this book because I have heard nothing but good things about it and would love the chance to own a copy and read it.
ReplyDeleteI want to read this because I have heard so many bloggers raving about it.
ReplyDeleteI've heard rave reviews about this from everywhere! Can't wait to get my hands on it!
ReplyDeleteSeeing great things everywhere about this book. I want to read this because the characters sound like my husband and I.
ReplyDeleteI want to read more contemp novels! I've never been a huge fan of contemp, but then I read Beautiful Disaster and Easy. And soon, Slammed and Point of Retreat. I've heard so many great things about this book, and read so many good reviews. Why wouldn't I be excited! lol :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating in the tour and hosting a giveaway!
Alyssa Susanna
I LOVED Easy! I'm getting back into contemporary novels because of both that book and Pushing The Limits.
DeleteMany bloggers have been raving about this book! Naturally, I'm curious and would love to give it a go.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned above, I keep seeing great reviews and would like to check it out. Thank you.
ReplyDeletevsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com
I have heard nothing but rave reviews, and would LOVE to see what it is all about!!! hollyewarner (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteBecause the reviews were great, but most of all, its a story of mystery, hidden truths, and love.
ReplyDeleteThis summer I promised myself I would try new authors and since Katie McGarry is an author I haven't read before, I would like to read her.
ReplyDeletediane.sadler at gmail dot com
I've heard great things about it, I'm dying to read it. The story sounds awesome and heart breaking.
ReplyDeleteHer life sounds like it has seen a complete change. It would be interesting to see how she deals.
ReplyDeletePushing the Limits sounds a bit like a YA version of Bared to You by Sylvia Day because the hero and heroine both have traumatic pasts. I was also reminded of Bared to You because the companion novel to Pushing the Limits is called Dare You To. Yeah, the words in the titles got jumbled in my brain.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the book launch, Katie!
ReplyDeleteI've read some really high reviews on this book. I can't pass up this one, thank you for a chance to win a copy.
ReplyDeleteI'm not entering but I encourage everyone else to do so. This was an amazing book. I loved it!
ReplyDeleteI have this one on my wish list. Can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteTammy @ http://bosbooknook.blogspot.com/
I want to read this one because I have heard such good things about it.
ReplyDeleteI want to read this one because it sounds really good and I have heard great things about it. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteGreat reviews, interesting relationship, and I really want to know how she got those scars on her arms. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI want to read it because I heard so many great things about it! Thank you for the great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI want to read this books because it sounds like a fantastic YA contemporary read, plus all of the reviews make the book sound even better. Thanks for the giveaway! :D
ReplyDeleteThis book looks fantastic. I'm seeing it everywhere right now! Thanks for the opportunity to win! :D
ReplyDeleteI love edgy romance with teens who have difficult pasts.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much:)
everything I've heard about this book has been amazing! I can't wait to read it for myself : ) Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a really great book and i heard from people that have read it already that it's the best of 2012 so far
ReplyDeleteI read this as an ARC & LOVED it!!!! COuldn't put it down!!
ReplyDeleteI would love to have this book for our high school
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ReplyDeleteI want to read this because once I got beyond the cover and read the description it sounds super interesting and I like the mystery kinda part to it!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds very interesting so I would like to see what happens in it. I also love the cover!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like my type of book, and I've heard a lot of good things about it, which makes me want it even more!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway! :)
This book is one of the most anticipated YA book to come out this year! Can't resist a love story about two people from opposite sides of the track. Can't wait to get my hands on a copy! :)
ReplyDeleteSeveral blogger friends have reviewed this and it looks great! All their gushing makes me want to get my hands on it!
ReplyDeleteI have been hearing only AMAZING things about this book. I cannot wait to get a copy!!
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing such good things about this book. It's already on my TBR list, so I'd love to win this. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteWell, as a book blogger myself, there's nothing like adding another book to my TBR pile (not to mention a fun romance for the summer!). Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteIt's only been the last few weeks that I've actually gotten in to YA contemporary books (I usually read mysteries or YA and adult paranormals), and I've really enjoyed the ones I've read so far, so I'm looking for more to read.
ReplyDeleteI have seen a lot fo 5 star reviews for this book.
ReplyDeleteNow this sparks my curiousity..why does she have scars on her arms? Adelle lizbthk@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteBecause I want to get into the action!! I have not read one bad review on this and I want to read it too!! Besides, my husband had memory issues from an accident and I love reading those kind of stories.
ReplyDeleteI love broken girl stories and this is a broken boy and girl story! I can't wait to read it! Plus, everyone keeps telling me it would perfect for me! :)
ReplyDeleteI want to read Pushing the Limits because I have heard so many good things about it. It has peaked my interests and I have added it to my wish list. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI want to read Pushing the Limits because it looks like a great book and I've seen many reviewers rave about it :D Thanks for this giveaway :D
ReplyDeleteI'd love to read this novel because I'm excited to read something about a forbidden solace. Especially if it's receiving great reviews, as Pushing the Limits has. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletebecause the book attracted me since I look it on Goodreads. I'd like it and purchased, but for us it is difficult to get books from other countries
ReplyDeleteI have read a few excerpts and interviews and I like what I've read so far. Plus, I have only seen positive reviews about it. Honestly it's not normally my type of read, but I am so excited to read it.
ReplyDelete