Pushing the Limits at The Readiacs
Yesterday I gave you a review of PUSHING THE LIMITS and today I bring you an opportunity to win a copy – a copy that you want! Believe me YOU WANT THIS BOOK!
To win just answer one or both of the following:
Tell us your favorite and/or worst high school memory
Tell us about the one guy and/or girl you wish you went after even if your friends would not have approved
Here’s a little something to get you ready:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STLPst06GuU&feature=player_embedded#!
And now a Q & A with Katie:
A Q&A With Katie McGarry
Q: What was your inspiration for writing Pushing the Limits?
A: I had two main inspirations: One, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to write a story in which my characters felt strong enough to leave their pasts behind and create new futures for themselves. The first scene I ever saw in my mind was Echo and Noah leaving town after graduation. Two, I wanted to write two characters who were facing over- whelming issues and who, through battling these issues, found hope at the end of their journey.
Q: How did you come up with Echo’s name?
A: Echo went through several name changes as I wrote the man- uscript. For a while, she had a very normal name, but it alwaysfelt off. It wasn’t until I looked at Echo from her mother’s point of view that I found her name. Echo’s mother loved Greek my- thology so it made perfect sense that she would name her chil- dren after the myths. I read several Greek myths and the mo- ment I found Echo’s, I fell in love. Echo, to me, was the girl who lost her voice. Thankfully, she finds it by the end.
Q: Which character is the most “like” you?
A: All of them. I gave each character a piece of me (though some have larger slices of me than others). Overall, I’d say I’m a strange combination of Echo, Lila and Beth. Echo has my need to please, Lila has my unfailing loyalty to my friends and Beth encompasses my insecurities.
Q: Did you experience friendships with Grace types when you were in high school?
A: Yes. And the more people have read this story, the more this question comes up. Grace has struck a stronger nerve in people than I ever would have imagined. It seems most of us have un-fortunately experienced a relationship where a person wants to “like” you and wants “be your friend,” but only if it serves their needs. In case anyone is wondering, that isn’t friendship.
Q: Are there any parts of the story you feel particularly close to?
A: Yes. The relationship between Noah, Isaiah and Beth. Beyond my parents and sister, my nearest family members were over fourteen hours away. My friends became my family. The peopleI grew up with were more than people I watched movies with or talked to occasionally on the phone. These were people with whom I shared life’s most devastating moments, but also my hardest laughs. These were people who I would have willing- ly died for and I know they would have done the same for me. They shared my triumphs with smiles on their faces and con-gratulatory hugs. They held me when I cried and offered to beat up whoever hurt my feelings. These were also the same people who were more than happy to get in my face if they thought I was making a wrong decision.
Q: Did anything that happens to Echo happen to you?
A: Sort of. I was bitten by a dog when I was in second grade and repressed the memory. It felt very strange to have no memory of an incident that other people knew about. It was even strang- er to have injuries and not have an inkling where they came from. In college, I finally remembered the incident when a dog lunged at me. I relived the horrible event and sort of “woke up” a few minutes later to find myself surrounded by people I loved. Even though I “remember” the incident, I still don’t remember the whole thing. I only see still frames in my mind and there is no blood in any of the memories.
Well my HS memory is sorta bad, sorta good…I was a VERY innocent minded teenager, and everyone knew and took advantage of it. I became know as “Density” for 2 reasons: my real name is Destiny and it was a Back To the Future reference, AND the fact that at times I was “dense” because of my innocence. This nickname caught on so well that there were a couple teachers who referred to me as “Density.” I also would get phone calls to my house asking for me by that name and my family members never even thought twice about it.
Well my worst, happened during the years of high school. Every week I felt like I just needed a break. I was an A-B student. Never got in trouble, but just didn’t want to go. So once a week I would skip school. No big deal, I made up my work and still kept my grades up. Til the last week of school. My parents got a letter stating I had missed 40 days of school unbeknownst to them and I had to go to summer/Saturday school. I went to high school in a different county, so my dad had to take me school every Saturday for two months to make up the time. I didn’t have to do anything while I was there, I just had to be there to make up the time. I was in soooo much trouble! I will never forget taking those rides in angry silence every Saturday with my dad. He was so disappointed in me.
hschrock24112 at yahoo dot com
My friends were the best part of high school, because most of us had been together since junior high. I loved the stability and comraderie. Otherwise high school was extremely stressful for me and I couldn’t wait to be done.
My worst time came at my final month or two when my grades slipped and I was actually in danger of not being able to graduate because of one class. I spent that month of so pulling all nighters to make up that work. Never want to do that again..ever.
The worst thing that happened to me in high school was my twin sister went after my ex-boyfriend when I trying get him back.Everyone said he would not fall for her,even his best friend said he wouldn’t.But he did
. I liked a younger guy named Ben but didn’t date him because my friends disapproved.I wish I had dated him though.
My worst memory of high school was my freshmen year. During, that year my agriculture teacher would verbally bully me. I never could understand why she bullied mainly because I was a quiet student who kept to myself. I guess she just saw me as an easy target.
My favorite memory was graduation night to Disneyland.
High school is a rough time for a lot of people, as it was for me. So, it may sound a bit harsh, but my favorite high school memory was graduation day and the sense of freedom I had at leaving it all behind. As far as the guy I wish I had gone for, I would have to say I should have gone for the good guys instead of the bad boys- a lot of trouble would have been avoided!
This book sounds really great- thank you for the chance!
twistingthelens@gmail.com
When I was in high school, my gank is the upper/major gank in class, even it’s just about 1 class, it felt just like I’ve conquered everything. Of course wasn’t in the bad way
I really loved project graduation at my school. Plus I loved the day to day classes and hanging out. I enjoyed high school
Thanks for the giveaway
Worst high school memory: Not having the confidence to go after the guy I really wanted to get to know. I waited to long and then things changed. Thanks for the giveaway!
Hmm, my best/worst high school memory? I remember one, best and worst in one package LOL
Okay, I used to have a huge crush on this guy. He was tall, gorgeous, smart but a little reserved. We never share the same class and I never could find the courage to talk to him so I just keep it to myself. Girls are not supposed to chase guys, right? LOL
Anyway, having him as a schoolmate might be one of the best thing about high school for me but never really did something about my feeling probably the worst of my high school days *sigh
Well, you can’t get all your hearts desire right?
Favorite high school memory: a group of us squished into a tiny little car ready to go on some random adventure. I don’t even remember what we did. Worst would have to be the day I decided to “experiment” with fashion. That did not work out well.
So I’m thinking this giveaway may be done now, but what they heck, I’ll post anyway. My favority high school memory was scoring the winning goal for my soccer team in a play-off game. I really enjoyed my soccer team and wish I played more now. And as for the boy, well in high school I started dating one guy but was intrigued by another. I dated my high school boyfriend for several years, but later ended up marrying my other high school crush. You never know how things end up!