Blog Tour and Giveaway: Breaking Glass by Lisa Amowitz @SpencerHillP #BreakingGlass2013

Today I am super excited to be leading off Lisa Amowitz's blog tour for her soon to be released book

Breaking Glass. I'm also pleased to release, for the first time anywhere, the illustrated Breaking Glass sneak preview, SHARDS, now available for free download (click below)

BREAKING GLASS from Spencer Hill Press, July 2013

by Lisa Amowitz

On the night seventeen-year-old Jeremy Glass winds up in the hospital with a broken leg and a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit, his secret crush, Susannah, disappears. When he begins receiving messages from her from beyond the grave, he’s not sure whether they’re real or if he’s losing his grip on reality. Clue by clue, he gets closer to unraveling the mystery, and soon realizes he must discover the truth or become the next victim himself.

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I have had the pleasure of not only meeting Lisa in person (it was so much fun and we couldn't stop talking!) but she's also agreed to do an interview for me today! YAY! So let's hear what she had to say about writing, her main character, Jeremy, and life as an author!

Welcome to The Cover Contessa, Lisa! So great to have you here!

 Tell us a little about how you came to be an author.

Before I was a writer I was an artist. As a kid, writing was something that I did fairly well, but never took seriously. I was all about art.

When I first graduated college, I had actually penned a “children’s’’’ book so I could have something to illustrate. I had no idea what genre it was, or what I was doing at all for that matter. So into the drawer it went. Years later, when my youngest child was obsessed with Harry Potter like every other kid at the time, I read the first three books out loud to her. Yes. Out loud. With a really bad British accent.

 By the time I finished reading the third book, I had a full-blown Harry Potter obsession and grabbed the next four books out of my kids’ hands as soon as they were released. Even before the series was finished, I had picked up a pen and started drafting the first book I’d actually ever finished. It is currently residing comfortably at the bottom of my closet next to the book I wrote in my early twenties, though my cousin Mark still insists he loved it.

 And now, five books later, here I am.

 What inspires you to write? Where do you get ideas?

I don’t think my ideas come from any one place, but I can tell you that the process in which I formulate a premise is kind of the same way I do anything creative—I basically start with an “itch” —either a person, place or conflict. Then I have to flesh it out and create a viable plot. You know, the old adage—character + conflict = plot. It’s kind of like making a sculpture from clay then breathing life into it. It’s really the most exciting thing in the world and not all that different from the elaborate make believe games I used to play as a kid.

 You signed your book with Spencer Hill Press. What made you go with this particular publisher?

Their enthusiasm, personal touch and boutique approach to publishing. And the fact they promised I could design my own covers if I had the appropriate skills. They’ve since hired me to do a number of their covers (which I will elaborate upon later in this interview). Also, I was really impressed with their author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and her books. Her high praise was largely the reason I went with them and I have not regretted it for a split second.

Your first book, Breaking Glass, is due out July 2013. Are you nervous about the world reading Jeremy’s story?

Oddly, I’m not all nervous about people reading Jeremy’s story. I’m nervous about people NOT reading it. I love Jeremy—in a strange way I think of him as if he is a real person, happily living his life somewhere beyond the book. I feel that he needs people to read about him to truly live. I know it sounds strange, but it’s as though the book exists in realm of its own and I want to share it. If people don’t like it, I’ll deal with that. But I hope they do!

Tell us a little about the psychological background that came along with writing this book and about anyone that might have inspired Jeremy’s character. 

First of all, major disclaimer: Jeremy is a closet drinker with a very deep psychological issue caused by an early childhood trauma. Jeremy bears ZERO relationship to myself, anyone in my family, or anyone I know for that matter. I am fortunate to have had no alcohol abuse in my family history. 

That being said, there is a history to Jeremy’s development. In order to bring the story to life, I wanted to create an unreliable narrator who was very likable and plausible, but avoided his pain by dwelling on his obsession with the girl he’d placed on a pedestal. That aspect of the story may be the only reality-based character trait, though even that is not based on any one individual. Rather, it’s just a tendency I’ve noted in teen boys—both in my own life and in my teen daughter’s (If it existed in my son’s teenaged head, I’m pretty sure he would never admit it—that trait of Jeremy’s to use humor to hide EVERYTHING is definitely inspired by him).

I also needed a reason for Jeremy’s underlying angst. I was a little hard-pressed to explain why such a smart, athletic, and fairly well-liked kid would secretly drink himself into a stupor any chance he got. I ended up discussing this with my close friend, Deborah Cohen, MSW, who in one of her usual flashes of genius said this: If Jeremy had some early childhood trauma, he might suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, especially if he tried to suppress his unresolved guilt over the event. He might have recurrent nightmares and relive the event. It would make sense that he might drink to self-medicate. “You should have his mother be dead, and her death be the cause of his terrors”, she said, and from that moment on, our dear Jeremy, with his night terrors, swoony romantic obsessions, his penchant for history trivia and his epic resolve to avoid admitting any of those feelings came fully formed into my head. Jeremy Glass was just there, whispering in my ear.

 You do a lot of cover designs and they are all so beautiful. Tell us a little about the cover of Breaking Glass and how it came about. 

As I mentioned earlier, one of the chief attractions of Spencer Hill Press was their willingness to allow me to design my own cover.  It was much, much harder than I anticipated. Right away, Kate Kaynak and I got to work and I think I sent her about THIRTY failed attempts. In the end we were in slight disagreement. I asked my daughter and her friends to weigh in. The three girls (sixteen at the time—total target audience) all chose the current cover. They told me they were sick of the “usual face on the cover”, and so did my friend who is a bookseller. After designing BREAKING GLASS, Kate asked me to design the EXTRACTED cover as a trial run. I had an unbelievable blast with that. I consulted a best-selling cover designer friend (no name dropping) who has been my little pocket guru, and he gave me some tips. Then the commissions just started to roll in—from Spencer Hill Press to a number of Indie authors.

What is your favorite thing to do when you are not writing? 

This may sound trite, but I love my job—at least the teaching part of it. I love going to the gym, sketching from nature, reading, seeing a really great film, a great dinner with friends, girl talk with my dearest oldest sister friends, and shooting the breeze with my incredibly awesome and wonderful mom. Oh—and babysitting our adorable grand-niece and nephew! Okay—gonna stop now, lest I bore you all.  And did I mention shoe-shopping? 

 Are you looking forward to BEA? What are you looking forward to most about this conference?

Hanging out with all the amazing SHP authors, and the amazing Cover Contessa herself! Also I am going to meet an author whose cover I designed, Susan Nadathur, who has become a good friend. Also, one of my former students and first BREAKING GLASS fan, Christian Santiago, is attending—so I’m going to enjoy seeing his eyes bug out when he sees all those books! Oh—and arc scavenging, of course. I’m going to plan better this time!

Do you have any projects in the works for the near future? 

In May 2014, my book VISION is going to be released by SHP. It is the first in the Finder series and is quite a departure from BREAKING GLASS. SHP is also going to be releasing my urban fantasy trilogy, LIFE AND BETH, but nothing is firm yet. I am currently working on a BREAKING GLASS style murder mystery—except in this one there are no ghosts or paranormal occurences—the creepy is all based in the possible. It’s been really fun to work on—but I am SO busy these days I haven’t been as disciplined writing it as I would like.

Tell us something quirky about you that we would never guess. 

I love the show Covert Affairs on the USA network and have a group of Twitter pals who convene when the show airs and comment throughout. I sit with my legs crossed (Indian style—I don’t know a more appropriate way to describe it) under me on almost any chair. I’d probably sit like that if I were having dinner with the Queen of England. I love a band called The Decemberists and was nuts over Broadway Musical SPRING AWAKENING.  If it reopened, I’d go see it again. I am an only child.

Thanks so much for that awesome interview, Lisa!

Now, don't you want to read her book? Well, if you click on the link below, you can see a special preview of what's to come when it's released. And believe me, this is unlike any book preview you've ever seen before! Just click on the pictures and you'll get to see something most amazing!

Lisa Amowitz was born in Queens and raised in the wilds of Long Island, New York where she climbed trees, thought small creatures lived under rocks and studied ant hills. And drew. A lot.

When she hit her teens, she realized that Long Island was too small for her and she needed to escape. So she went to college in Pittsburgh. Go figure.

On leaving college, Lisa became a graphic designer living in New York City. She eventually married her husband of a zillion years, had two lovely children, and was swept away to a fairy tale life in the Bronx, where, unbelievably there are more trees and wilderness than her hometown. She can see the Hudson River from her kitchen window.

Lisa has been a professor of Graphic Design at her beloved Bronx Community College where she has been tormenting and cajoling students for nearly seventeen years. She started writing eight years ago because she wanted something to illustrate, but somehow, instead ended up writing YA. Probably because her mind is too dark and twisted for small children.

BREAKING GLASS which will be released in July, 2013 from Spencer Hill Press, is her first published work. VISION, the first of the Finder series will be released in 2014, along with an unnamed sequel in the following year. LIFE AND BETH will also be released in the near future, along with graphic novel style art.

Goodreads/Website/Facebook/Twitter

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Follow the Tour!
May 29 The Cover Contessa 
http://www.thecovercontessa.com/2013/05/blog-tour-breaking-glass-by-lisa.html

Interview and SHARDS premiere 

June 1 K-books Spensations
http://k-booksxo.blogspot.com/
Interview and Spensations special feature 

June 3 Lisa Gail Green
http://paranormalpointofview.blogspot.com/
 Jeremy Glass talks about unrequited love, sort of... 

June 4 Killer Chicks
http://www.killerchicks.org/
Book teaser..

June 5 Rebekah

June 8 Taneesha Friedus
Guest Post: What inspired you to write Breaking Glass?
http://kaidansseduction.blogspot.com/ 

June 9 Margay Roberge

http://margayleahjustice.blogspot.com

 Book blast 
June 10 Laura Diamond
http://lbdiamond.wordpress.com/ 
Guest post 

June 13 Stacy/Renee
sassybooklovers.blogspot.com
Book blast 

June 15  Kimberly Ann Miller
Book blast 

June 16, Jeannette Whitus
Interview and book blast 
http://www.walkingonbookshelves.blogspot.com/ 


June 17
Mandy Silberstein
 Interview


June 18 Paulina/Rashika
http://tangledinpages.blogspot.com/ 
 Interview 

June 20  Curvy Writers
 Guest post 

June 21 Aseel Najii
 mycrazybookobsession.blogspot.com
 Interview 

June 22 Michelle Pickette
Book blast 

June 24 Cecila Roberts
Book blast 
http://cecereadandwrite.blogspot.com/ 

June 25 Kendra McCormick/ Nicole Hanson
http://www.bookscompleteme.com/ 
Interview 

June 26 Sarah Ahiers
Book blast 

June 28 cherry_chez@hotmail.com
Interview

June 29 Teresa 
Interview
http://www.readerslive1000lives.com 

June 30  Lisa Austin
Book blast


July 1  Jennifer Allis Provost
 An awesome interview :) 

July 2 Jess Danowski
Book blast 

insidethepagesofabook.blogspot.com

July 3 Susan Nadathur
Book blast 

July 4 Ednah Walters

July 5 Catherine Peace
Guest Post 

July 7 Mary Bearden

http://www.mmbearcupoftea.com

  
July 8 Marni Rost
Guest post 

July 9 Ellen Gault
http://www.alwaysyaatheart.com/
Interview 

July 10 Aubrie Dionne
Guest post 

 July 11 Michelle Mclean
 Guest Post

 July 12  Julie Belfield
Guest post - mysteries 
http://bookarooju.wordpress.com/ 


July 13 Kristin Adams
Guest post - process
http://www.bloodsweatandbooks.blogspot.com/ 

July 14 Kristin Aragon
 Review

July 15 Maghon
guest post 

July 18 Serenity Shield
Book blast 

July 19 Kelly Hashway
Guest post 

July 21 Amber M
Sapphyria's Book Reviews
Book Blast 

July 20  Brenna Wildug
http://two-tall-tales.blogspot.com/ 
Interview and book blast 

July 25  Jessica McKenna 
http://simplyinfatuated.com/  
interview 

July 29 Alana Rock
http://passionatebookdivas.com/ 
Interview and review 

July 31 Literary Rambles Feature
http://www.literaryrambles.com/

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