GCC Welcomes Jessi Kirby!

I’m excited that there are some new GCC YA books coming out! Today Jessi stopped by to tell us about her book, IN HONOR.

About the book:

Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn’s celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.
Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn’s last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn. . . and ruggedly good looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn–but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

Jessi answers some questions:
1) Tell us something fun about your new book, it can be a character detail, something that
inspired the story, or a behind the scenes story from the writing process.
Much of the research for this trip was done on a trip to Sedona with my mom and sister, who I dragged around to a list of places and things I wanted to write about in the story. That list consisted of a sunrise jeep tour, a swimming spot called Crescent Moon Ranch, and a country bar called The Museum Club.

2) What do you like to do when you aren’t writing? I love to read, run, and do any beach activity you can think of with my family.

3) If you weren’t an author- what job would you choose? Since I’m also an English teacher, I have to go with that!

4) Rapid fire round!
Currently Reading: The Disenchantments by Nina LaCoeur
Sweet or Salty: Salty
Morning or Night person: Morning
Coffee or Tea: Coffee
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Favorite TV Show: Friday Night Lights—Texas Forever!
Favorite Indulgence: Just one? Um, a twice monthly massage. Though I consider it more of a necessity…

“A beautiful, engaging journey with heart, humor, and just a pinch of Texas sass. Hands down my favorite contemporary of the year.”
–Sarah Ockler, bestselling author of Twenty Boy Summer, Fixing Delilah, and Bittersweet

“An amazing novel about first kisses, last goodbyes, and what it means to finally let go. I absolutely loved it.”
–Lauren Barnholdt, author of Two Way Street

May 9th, 2012