Your Final Chance to Enter (With Guest-Poster Andrew Auseon!)

This is it, folks, your last chance to enter for the BEST PRIZE PACK EVER! And I'm super, SUPER excited to have fellow HarperTeen author Andrew Auseon here today, talking about his new book, FREAK MAGNET! (Look, he even brought his own logo with him...is that not the cutest dang thing you've ever seen???)



So, here he is, Andrew Auseon:

First of all, I want to thank Kimberly for giving me some real estate on her blog, to pass through on my way to greener pastures. (This is very strange. I’m using present tense, even though I’m writing this post several weeks before it goes up the site. So, in a way, it’s kind of like time travel.) She is a very gracious hostess, and I only hope I can do her justice with this post.

I’m here to say a few words about my new novel, Freak Magnet, a romance about a boy and a girl who meet, say goodbye, meet again, say goodbye, meet again, and so on and so forth. (I think you get the idea. Will they end up together? I’m not at liberty to say. Maybe I don’t even know. Wouldn’t that be weird?) The main characters, Charlie and Gloria, have lost their way in life, mostly due to personal tragedies that have sucked the teens into their orbit. Only something unexpected has the potential to break them out of their downward spirals, only something a little… freaky.

When I started Freak Magnet five years ago, I set out to tell the story of two people who bump into each other by accident, and then go their separate ways, believing that’s the end of it. This happens to all of us: we have a sudden, unexpected encounter with a stranger that gives us pause. “Where did that person come from? Who are they? Where did they go after our meeting?” And most of the time, we never see them again. But what if you did? What would you do? Freak Magnet is about such strange coincidences, and about stepping outside yourself to get to know someone else, even when you’re unsure about the consequences. It’s about finding the courage to say, “What if?”

Charlie Wyatt is a talented amateur astronomer seeking a prestigious internship in Chile. Sadly, his social skills have suffered because of his dedication to his science, and because of his mother’s worsening Huntington’s disease. For several years, Charlie has worked hard to stay holed up in his family’s apartment, away from other people. You could say he’s out of practice when it comes to other human beings. Then there’s Gloria Aboud, a beautiful and creative poet who speaks her mind, even if it occasionally gets her into trouble. Unable to break free from the suffocating grief caused by the death of her older brother in Afghanistan, Gloria, too, seeks solace in her loneliness. Then a day comes when they bump into each other, by chance, by happenstance, by whatever you want to call it. And both, sensing something special, wonder, “What if?”

Despite being a realistic novel set in the very real (and very hot) Washington, D.C. area, Freak Magnet is a fantasy. Charlie and Gloria’s world is full of magic, but it’s the kind of magic we can believe in: an undiscovered comet that blazes across the summer sky, waiting to be named; a dead brother’s letters imparting wisdom long after his voice has fallen silent; or a stolen kiss on a rooftop in the eye of a thunderstorm. Life is made up of moments, and sometimes those moments suggest a greater purpose. Probably the most fun part of writing Freak Magnet was acting as the cosmos, leading two lost souls to find each other. I got to tell their amazing story.

Every day, each of us goes out into the world and brushes up against other people—strangers, mostly—and sometimes there are sparks. The story of Charlie and Gloria is about trying to catch some of those sparks to make lightning in a bottle. Magic does exist. It’s called freakiness. It’s called inspiration. It’s called love. It’s memorizing the names of all your date’s friends. It’s hearing a song you hate but singing along anyway, because it reminds you of her. It’s turning your car around and driving ten hours in the opposite direction to be with someone for just one more hour.

And the amazing thing is that I’m not an optimist, or an idealist, or even a romantic. I am a pretty sour realist, a real buzz kill; still, despite my point of view, I can’t deny that every single day I experience at least one “What if?” moment. In fact, my entire personal life is based on a series of insane “What if?” moments where I took a chance, didn’t fail too badly, and therefore decided to take another, and another, and another. Inspiration comes from the unlikeliest of places. In this case, it came from the time I drove nonstop from Columbus, Ohio to Washington, D.C. at three in the morning to tell a girl I loved her to her face for the first time. (And it’s a true story. In fact, I married the girl.) That was the book I wanted to write, but when I sat down to start my work, I instead found myself asking, “What if?” And Freak Magnet was born

I hope you enjoy the novel. Thanks again to Kimberly, for letting me post my shenanigans on her blog. It’s been a pleasure. It’s got a great view of the beach.

Andrew Auseon

YAY! I loved that, Andrew!!! My favorite part: "Magic does exist. It’s called freakiness. It’s called inspiration. It’s called love."

Oh, and that you drove all night to tell a girl you loved her (and ended up marrying her)!!!

Okay, guys, now it's your turn...all you have to do is comment to be entered for the prize pack. And remember all entries close tonight at midnight Pacific time, so don't miss your chance to win!!!

Comments

Misha said…
Great Post! The logo is cute!
Please enter me if the giveaway is international

Misha
mishamary@gmail.com
Kate said…
This book looks really sweet. Thanks for the guest post! :)

sithereandread (at) gmail (dot) com
Erika said…
the post reminded me a lot of serendipity and a lot like love. great guest post! :)

etrenas[at]gmail[dot]com
Amy said…
What a lovely post, and yes Freak Magnet is moving to the top of my TBR pile! The story just sounds amazing and one I would thoroughly enjoy! Thank you for sharing that little bit with us, I can't wait for more!
What an amazing guest post, thanks Andrew and Kimberley. The whole “what if” concept is so intriguing to me especially because I know in my life I’m always thinking “what if” particularly “what if I studied harder for that test would have I received a higher mark”! I’m also a sucker for a beautiful romance and “lost souls finding each other” seems pretty darn romantic to me! Jeez, I need to get my hands on a copy of Freak Magnet. I think Andrew will have the hearts of all women the world over for driving nonstop in the middle of the night to tell a girl he loved her for the first time, so romantic!

If the giveaway is international please enter me!

Romy (lost.in.stories)

lost.in.stories@gmail.com
Andrew - What a story! Driving all night to tell a girl you love her is one of the greatest inspirations for writing a novel I've ever heard. Obviously, she married you. What else could she do? :) Congrats on Freak Magnets!

Kimberly - Thank you for sharing Andrew and your other wonderful guest bloggers with us. It's been a treat.

jsfoushee [at] gmail [dot] com
Candyland said…
OMG. Freak Magnet strangely sounds like the story of my life. Great post!
Christa said…
I know this is all you're going hear (lol), but it's SO wonderful that you drove all night to tell her you loved her! : ) This made me think a little of Harry Met Sally (which I LOVE) but even more intense. I think I'll have to add it to my bookshelf when I'm off my book-buying ban (ie have made a little space on said bookshelf)!

Thanks for the post!
ambience.of.rain {at} gmail.com
Anne said…
Wow that does sound like a good book! I will have to pick it up :) Thanks for the great post!

acsimps(at)gmail(dot)com
Jamie Manning said…
Excellent post! And your book sounds great...adding to my TBR pile!
Bwyatt said…
Awww! I love that! When I was 19 I was 2 weeks away from moving to California to go to school there and ended up getting offered a job to stay in Alabama (of all places) and ended up marrying the guy I worked with. Strange things happen and it definately was magical. The book sounds wonderful; I'll have to pick it up the next time I'm in the bookstore.
britneywyatt@gmail.com
Mariah said…
This book sounds really cute!

a_readers_adventure at yahoo dot com
Liz. R said…
I can't believe someone would actually drive all night to tell a girl they loved them. I think that's the sweetest thing I've ever heard. I need to go eat some chocolate now. And add Freak Magnet to my wishlist.
Christinabean said…
Congrats on Freak Magnets! Can't wait to read it and I LOVE how you drove all night just to say that you loved someone face to face. Aren't you glad you did?

Christina
clderwee at gmail dot com
Brittany said…
Thanks for sharing. This book sounds really good, I hadn't heard a whole lot on what it was about before. I will definitely have to check this out now. :)

teensatthelibrary[at]yahoo[dot]com
Trini said…
I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THIS BOOK!! I have been checking my mailbox everyday for it because the pub is sending it to me for a book club online chat and it's never there. aahhhh!!*pulling hair*

Andrew you sound awesome! And just by you using the word Shenaigan in this post I know I'm going to love your book. I love to use that word! I usually say it will pretending to be the the little guy from the Lucky Charms commercial. But more often I use it as a replacement for a certain expletive when in front of kids. Like this "Oh SHENANIGANS! I just passed that stop sign." That actually happen a few days ago. Well anywho I enjoyed the postand I'm really looking forward to read Freak Magnet and The Body Finder soon. Thanks guy!!

Trini
Anonymous said…
Awesome guest post ! I think the book sounds really awesome, there is definitely magic in our lives !

~Alison
lostinbelieving(at)yahoo(dot)com
Ellz said…
Interesting idea for book, the characters bumping eachother. Will love prevail in the end??
Rachel said…
Fantastic words of wisdom! And I am going to put "Freak Magnet" on my reading list right now. (:

P.S. Lovely logo. (:
Anonymous said…
Ooooo this book sounds awesome! I love serendipitous stories. I have always been a sucker for tragic or starcrossed love stories. Like Romeo and Juliet!!!!!! I'll be looking for this on the shelves!

~Icenek0
Crazy for words said…
I'd read the synopsis a few weeks ago and thought it sounded both like my kind of story (I love oddball characters) and too cheesy for me. Which made me a bit sad. But reading Andrew talk about it, I'm dying to read it. Cheese or not, it sounds too much like my kind of book. ^_^
So... you have me sold. Lol.

-Em
megan[DOT]salgado[AT]gmail[DOT]com
Tere Kirkland said…
I like your style, Andrew. ;) Freak Magnet sounds like a fun read.

Thanks for the contest, y'all. Good luck to everyone who enters.
Cara said…
This is amazing. I cannot wait to read this man's book!

carabee14@gmail.com
Jessica said…
This really sounds like an interesting story. Loved the post..and the logo! Cute! :)

totalbookaholic[at]hotmail[dot]com
Lynsey Newton said…
Great post, I'd not heard of the books before but it sounds really interesting and now I want to read it! Adding to my wishlist now!

And that line about driving to tell a girl you loved her? wonderfully romantic :)
Unknown said…
Love the logo!

Cassandra C
cassandra dot crouser at yahoo dot ca
Malbebe said…
I love this post, great job!

cupidgurl411(at)aol(dot)com
Unknown said…
Great post! Adorable logo.
Unknown said…
Great post! Adorable logo!
donnas said…
What a great post. Thanks for sharing. I am really looking forward to your book now. Cant wait to read it.

bacchus76 at myself dot com
Onge said…
Great post. I love Kimberly's favorite line too! Makes me want to read the book.
chickenherder@hotmail.com
Unknown said…
That is an amazing prize pack! Thanks for the giveaway!
kaitlynkline@gmail.com
Erika Powell said…
great post and congrats on Freak Magnets!
Sharli said…
I loved the post! I definitely have several "What if?" moments every day. I'm looking forward to reading Andrew's book. Even more so now that I know where his inspiration came from ^^

entrelibros_blog at hotmail.com
Jenny N. said…
I havent heard too much about Freak Magnet but after reading about the story its sounds pretty good.

jen4777[at]hotmail.com
Sandy said…
Aww I'm definitely going to read your story its sound so romantically sweet and so was your story of driving all that way to tell a girl you love her :). So sweet ^_^.

Great post!
Anonymous said…
I'm definitely gonna have to read this book!


Mireyahwolfe @ gmail . com
Unknown said…
WOW! This sounds like a great book! I can't wait to read it! I believe in fate and "magic". I think this book will be a very happy read for me!
Thanks for the post about it!
A Rick said…
So cute! The books sounds great, I need to pick it up!
Renee said…
Very nice post (: I like when authors and other bookish people take time to share their knowledge with the rest of us. Thanks Kimberly!!

Renee M
mcdonaldrenee1 [at] gmail [dot] com
Harmony B. said…
This book is definitely on my wishlist! :)

twisterstar(at)live(dot)com
Great post. Freak Magnet sounds great. I definitely will be checking it out.

danibookworm91[at]gmail[dot]com
Lena1xoxo said…
LOL, how many times are they going to meet and say goodbye again? Freak Magnet sounds super cute. I'm going to have to check this out. Thanks for the awesome post! :)

-Lena
addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com
Julie! said…
Love this!

julie102794@gmail.com
I am an avid reader and would love to read andrews book. Please enter me in the contest...

Lora
chaarmedone1512@aol.com
Kelley Vitollo said…
Wow. This book sounds right up my alley. I'm a sucker for romance. I can't wait to read it.

Please enter me in the contest
kdvitollo@yahoo.com
Blueicegal ♥ said…
ohh sounds great thanks for the post!

fantasy4eva@hotmail.com
S a n d r a said…
please enter me! =D

sandymanga@hotmail.es
Anonymous said…
Great post! Freak magnets is def going on my tbr list. I really liked the logo! It would make a great magnet, which I collect.

Ferretvamp14(at)live(dot)com
nymfaux said…
ooooh that book sounds really good!!! also...I'm kind of interested because of the description of the setting, the one and only day I spent in D.C. is the the hottest, most dehydratedest moment in my life...

I know someone else mentioned it, but it reminded me of Serendipity, too--would love to read it....

And, of course, that prize pack sounds pretty amazing, too!!!!!
Shell said…
ooo... The recurring meets and possible love, how sweet. Maybe I'll expand my reading horizons.
I'LL BE ANNOUNCING THE GIVEAWAY WINNER LATER TODAY... STAY TUNED!!!!!
Great Post!!!

maryflorido(at)hotmail(dot)com
Allison said…
adding the books to my wishlist! Great post :)

allison.dayle at gmail.com