Katie McGarry: Interview

Ahhhhh! Looooooooooook! 

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to interview the wonderful Young Adult author Katie McGarry. Who I’ve been a fan of ever since my friend and co-owner of Drool Worthy Books blog, introduced me to her.

Katie has just recently published ‘Take Me On’, her fourth installment to the ‘Pushing the Limits’ Series and so I got around to asking her some questions about the book, to which you can find my review on our blog.

• Why did you decide to pair West with a girl fighter?

When I first met West as a secondary character in CRASH INTO YOU, I knew that he had a short temper and got into fights easily.

In TAKE ME ON, I wanted West to fall in love with a girl who could mentally challenge him. By being an actual fighter, Haley was in a position to tell West that his temper hurts him, not helps him, and that sometimes walking away is fighting.

• You did a lot of research for ‘Crash Into You’ and ‘Take Me On’ which lead you to learn and do interesting things. Was it stuff that you thought you'd ever get the chance to experience?

For CRASH INTO YOU, I spent a lot of time at a local dragway and I even got the opportunity to go down the dragway. It was an exhilarating experience!

For TAKE ME ON, I found a local Muay Thai gym and they were fabulous enough to let me watch some of their training sessions. I eventually became bold enough to join their morning kickboxing for fitness class. It’s a bag class, but I learned how tough and fun kickboxing is.

I don’t believe I would have ever experienced either of these things if it wasn’t for the research I needed for the books.

With ‘Breaking the Rules’ coming out in Decemeber, I didn’t forget to ask some important questions there.

• Did you always plan on continuing Echo and Noah’s story?

I have always known what happened to Echo and Noah after I finished writing PUSHING THE LIMITS. I wrote PUSHING THE LIMITS as a stand-alone so I didn’t think I would get an opportunity to continue their story. When I was asked if I would consider continuing their story, I jumped at the opportunity. BREAKING THE RULES will be released on December 30, 2013. 

• What has been the most emotional book for you to write so far in the Pushing the Limits Series?

It’s a tie between DARE YOU TO and TAKE ME ON. In DARE YOU TO, I understood a lot of Beth’s hurts and there are a lot of themes in TAKE ME ON that are personal to me. Both stories required me to dig deep into places that are difficult for me to visit. 

But don’t worry guys I asked Katie the one question that’s been on all our minds ever since we met the girl in Crash Into you.

• Will we ever get the chance to read Abby’s story?

I’m not sure yet what the future is for the PUSHING THE LIMITS series. I’m crossing fingers and toes I’ll be able to write Abby’s story. 

Oh and so are we Katie, so are we! A big thank you to Katie for taking her time to answer our questions. It meant the world.

Goodread's link

Katie's Site 

Liebster Award

I was sat in my aunts spare room, taking advantage of her Netflix when I was looking through my email to find I had a comment on our 'Take Me On' post. Of course the first thing to come to my head was "Oh my god we're getting comments ahhh," but then I see something so much better than that. We got nominated for the Liebster Award. To be honest I don't think either of us had any clue what this award was but after reading the post on YaBookaholic123 (who was also the one to nominate us, which I have to say a massive thank you to!) I realized what the award is all about. This award is to help make a name for a blog that may have just started up. Anyways enough with the rambling lets get down to business! 

Rules:

• List 11 facts about yourself.
• Answer the 11 questions asked by whoever nominated you.
• Nominate 9 bloggers with less than 300 followers and leave them a comment saying they've been nominated.
• Ask 11 new questions for your chosen nominees.
• You cannot re-nominate the blog that nominated you.

The 11 Facts about us: 

• Not sure if any of you knew this but there is two writers on this blog! Myself, Gráinne (Grawn-ya) and one of my closest friends and fellow bookworm Méabh (May-v). 
• We Both live in the western part of Ireland and attend an Irish (Ireland's national language but not widely spoken here) speaking school. 
• Méabh does Thai Boxing, a mixed martial art and I play Rugby, like American Football but better! 
• We're both massive Jennifer L. Armentrout and Katie McGarry fans. Well Méabh introduced me to the wonderful world of their writing. 
• Méabh likes the Twilight movies, but doesn't like the books as she thinks vampires are so over-rated. As for me I'm a massive fan of the Twilight books and The Saga of Darren Shan, so basically I do love a good vampire tale. 
• If you ever need someone to clear your house out of food, just call me and Méabh. It is our one true love, apart from hot drool worthy characters of course! 
• We're getting stuck for facts now so here is a random one! We both have dogs. Mine is called Tigger and Méabh's is called Gypsy. 
• I went to see One Direction play live in Croker on the 24th of May. It was a night i'll never forget! Méabh went to see Lawson back in October. At the Olympia Theatre, up in Dublin. We both love our music, I'm a big reggae and rock fan. While Méabh loves a bit the old country and alternative music. 
• My favourite animal is a cheetah, always has and always will be. Not even sure why, there is just something about them. Méabh's favourite animal is a Giraffe. "Childhood memories of going to the zoo and I would always want to go and see the giraffes first! Giraffes being so tall I always thought that they were the strongest most elegant of the animals because if how they carry themselves and baby giraffes are so cute!"
• I'm a very opinonated girl and could debate with someone all day if necessary. Méabh is a total Adrenaline junkie and shows us all up when it comes to anything remotely scary. 
• Méabh hates books where the main character has a terminal illness yet she once wrote a short story about a girl's terminally ill sister. As for me, I don't mind them. I loved My Sister's keeper but hated The fault in our stars, due to John Green's style of writing.

The Answers to your hard Questions: 

If you could choose one book world to live in, which one would it be? 

Gráinne: Jennifer L. Armentrout in my mind right now. The Lux and The Covenant Series Worlds, but then I also am here like if I was to truly want to be in a certain world I think it would be Harry Potter's. The whole Witches and Wizards thing just clicks with me.
Méabh: Ya I'm thinking Luxen and Covenent Worlds as well but I think I'd like to be apart of the Shadowhunter World!

What's next on your to read list?

Gráinne: I have about 100 books on my to read list on goodreads but in my head there is about a thousand more. I can be a fast reader when I want but sometimes I just can't get into books at all. So I can't tell you what's next 'cause it could be the most random book ever. 

Méabh: I haven't read Take Me On by Katie McGarry yet so that would be the next book to read! I'm a really fast reader so I'm always thinking about 5 books ahead of my next one!

If you were stranded on a desert island and you could wish for one character to appear to give you company, who would it be?

Gráinne: This is so hard but I'm going to pick a girl and boy character for this. I don't even know if that is against the rules but hey! I'd pick Alex from The Covenant Series as the girl I'd want but to be honest the boy I'd pick would be Isaiah from Crash Into You, The Pushing the limits series! So damn hot! 

Méabh: Hhhhmmm I'd have to say Roth from White Hot Kiss because I mean who wouldn't want to stranded on a desert island with him!

What is your favourite supernatural/fantasy creature, vampire, werewolf, dragons etc?

Gráinne: Ohhh, Blame Méábh for my never-ending talk about Katie McGarry and Jennifer L.Armentrout's. My favourite supernatural/fantasy creature type thing is the greek gods. Do they count? Or like Half-bloods?hmm... Basically Aiden St. Delphi the things I'd do to him! 

Méabh: Fallen Angels! Love them all!

What is your most favourite item that you have?

Gráinne: I should say my books, and I can't even think of any items anyways.. so ya my books! 

Méabh: I'd have to say my Kindle. I bring it everywhere with me!

What is the last book to movie you have watched? Was it good?

Gráinne: Ehm, god my mind has gone pure blank! Right now Marley and Me is coming to my mind. The Boy in the striped pyjamas is in there. oh I know it was Divergent and I watched that with the wonderful Méabh! Oh god that movie was beautiful! Man, it was god damn - awh, Theo James! 

Méabh: The last book to movie I watched was Divergent and like Grainne said I watched it with her! It was amazing! One of the best book adaptions I've seen so far! And the chemistry between the characters was so good!!

Have you ever met any authors?

Gráinne: I live in the one of the most known yet most unvisited Islands in the world, Ireland. So no authors tend to come here, unless it's Dublin and well that's too far away for me! 

Méabh: Unfortunately no I haven't but it would be a dream come true to meet some!

Best book you've read so far in 2014?

Gráinne: Take Me On! Even though I have also read the Covenant Series this year and the Lux Series and god they were just as good but as just one book it has to be Take Me On! 

Méabh: Oh My God that's really hard but I'd have to say the best book I've read so far in 2014 would have to be TMI City of Heavenly Fire!

What is the book you can't wait to read the most?

Gráinne: Opposition ahhhh! I'm so excited and then Breaking the Rules - the continuation of Echo and Noah's story. 

Méabh: I absolutely can not wait for Penryn ad the End of Days #3 by Susan Ee. It doesn't have a title yet but if the book is anything like the first two it's going to be amazing!

What is your favourite quote?

Gráinne: It's a new found quote but it is the most beautiful quote I have ever come around. "We were nothing more than actions to reactions - helpless against our own fate." - From Take Me On, Pushing the Limits Series. 

Méabh: There are so many great quotes to choose from but I love this one "The bottom line is,what defines you isn't how many times you crash, but the number of times you get back on the bike. As long as it's one more, you're all good." - Sarah Dessen

What is the first book that comes to your mind?

Gráinne: Damaged, okay I lie! But it's the book I'm reading at the moment. Not YA though! It's fact based! Very sad! 

Méabh: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry. That book kinda started my obsession with anything book related. Don't know why but I got really into books after that one!

Check Out these wonderful Blogs we nominated:
1. A Perfection called Books
2. Turning Pages and Tea
3. Carpe Librum Girl
4. Hayley Marie Reads
5. Booksnmore
6. Ready? Set? Read!
7. Books Not Lovers
8. Reading is dreaming with your eyes open
9. Books with Pizza
Our 11 Questions for you beautiful bloggers: 

1. Best book title you've ever come across? (Read or not) 
2. Honestly, do covers effect your opinion on choosing a book to read? 
3. Does the writing of a book mean more to you than the actual story? 
4. If there was one book you could get the world to read, what book would it be? 
5. Have you a favourite author/s?
6. If you could be any character you want, who would you be? 
7. Is there any book in particular that had a personal effect on your life?
8. Would you consider reviewing books as a career? 
9. If you could have one superpower what would it be?
10. What is your favourite book series? 
11. Which would you prefer Kindle, Hardback or Paperback?

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

“Temper us in fire, and we grow stronger. When we suffer, we survive.”

 So here it is, the highly anticipated conclusion to the out-standing Mortal Instruments Series. City of Heavenly Fire was one hell of a roller coaster. When I finished it, it took me a while for everything to sink in. It's a big book with over seven hundred pages but after about a hundred pages I was becoming an emotional wreck!

This story takes place a couple of weeks after the events of City of Lost Souls and the Shadowhunters are anxiously waiting for Sebastian to make his next move. With nothing to do but wait the gang try to help Jace control the Heavenly Fire that is still coursing through his veins from Glorious. 

“And like lambs to a slaughter we shall follow...”

When Sebastian does make his move, he along with his army of Endarkened (Shadowhunters who drank from the Infernal Cup) start to attack Institutes around the world. This is where we are introduced to Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn, the main characters of Cassie's upcoming trilogy 'The Dark Artifices' which is set in the Los Angeles Institute. They along with the rest of the Blackthorn family barely escape the attack on the Los Angeles Institute. 

Because of these attacks Shadowhunters everywhere are forced to abandon their homes and return to Idris. There Sebastian makes it known what he wants and states what will happen if those demands are not met. Because of this and more Jace, Clary and the rest of the gang head to a place where no one has ever returned in an attempt to stop Sebastian and to rescue certain people. Everyone is tested to their limits and it is sure to leave all its readers breathless and craving more.  Don't want to give too much away!

“Okayyyyy,” Isabelle said in a low voice, “When did Brother Zachariah get hot?”

We also get a little insight into what happened after the events of the Infernal Devices but I won't go into that right now!

The plot in this story was well written and compelling but will keep you guessing until the end. All the characters retained their main personality traits like someones sarcasm, someones nerdiness and of course someones glitteriness!

“Freely we serve

Because we freely love, as in our will

To love or not; in this we stand or fall."

Cassie has outdone herself in this final conclusion to the best selling series. With just the right amount of romance and action it will keep you up wanting more!

Goodread's link

   

Take Me On by Katie McGarry

The fourth installment to the Pushing the Limits series that literally just keeps getting better and better. 

"We were nothing more than actions to reactions - helpless against our own fate."

This is West and Hayley's story. West is Rachel's, from Crash Into you, older brother and Hayley is the girl that's about to teach him how to fight with his head not just his heart.

In the words of Katie McGarry West is a hot-mess and I totally love it. He has been giving everything growing up except the one thing he needed most, belonging. Hayley at the start of this book is hard to understand, you know in the past she would of said exactly what was on her mind but everything has changed since the night she was she broke.

“I'm in love with you. I'm in love with you and I don't know how to make you feel better. I'm in love with you and I shouldn't be. I'm in love with you and once you figure out who I am, you're not going to love me. I'm in love with you and I seem to fuck up the ones who love me back.”

Katie tackles many serious dilemmas in the world at the moment in this book and she really gets across the emotions in which West and Hayley experience.

West goes from having it all to living in his car, which is still better than some but it is what it is. He's homeless and he must learn to survive without having everything handed to him on a plate. I've never seen a character grow up so much in just one book. He changed from a boy to man and it was one of the best things that could of ever happened to him. 

As for Hayley she learns the true meaning to the saying 'a problem shared, is a problem halved.' The girl has so much weight on her shoulders and all she does is keep putting more and more on top of them. She used to fight, she used to love to fight. It was what could take her away from everything, but Hayley lost that the day she stopped fighting the demons inside and let them take over. So much changes for Hayley, she comes back to reality and it's one of the sweetest moments when you realize she's about to start fighting for herself again and not just the people she cares about. 

Somewhere along the line West and Hayley stopped fighting for what they wanted, what mattered. They lost there way and with each others help they will set each other back on the right path. 

West will prove to Hayley she is worth fighting for, and Hayley will prove to West he isn't just some failure. 

“You say you don’t know who you are,” adds Rachel. “But the question should be—who do you want to be?”

There is always a heart shattering moment in Katie's stories and even though all I ever want to do is keep reading I always have to stop and tell myself, "This will work out, it has too." That moment in this book was when West's father presented him with the chance to give Hayley a future except West would have to do what he wasn't sure he could. That scene broke my heart into a million pieces and god I realized that I never truly knew how much I hated the Young's parents in Crash Into you but I surely learnt how much in Take Me on. 

But while hating on two family members I fell in love with two others, Hayley's brother Kaden and cousin Jax and god if I don't get a book about either of them I may have to come to your house Katie and force you to write me one. I think someone has stolen my heart, just like Isaiah did all those books ago and that award goes to Jax. 

Even though West stood up for Hayley from the very beginning, I love that Kaden and Jax always fought for her. Yes they made mistakes, they let her evil uncle call her all sorts, they let him look down on her and treat her like shit but they did that for the right reasons. They love Hayley and Hayley loves them much more than they'll ever know, she loves them so much she gave up them up - just so they'd never have to get hurt. 

Abby had a massive role in Take Me On and I swear Katie I need that girls story. She's broken, she's a liar but all for the right reasons and she's everything I look for in a character. She deserves her own book, a book about her. Her story, her world, her mistakes, her life. She is so much more than just the drug dealer, she's a girl that just needs to be loved and a way out of the world she has made for herself. 

“I love her, West. She loves me. When you feel like that about someone, you find ways to make it work.”

Katie always seems to get my heart racing and the adrenaline pumping, by her story-lines. When Hayley was sparring with Kayden for the first time in months and West was watching I literally could feel the fear she felt running through my veins. I could feel how West wanted nothing more than to step in and protect her but I also knew deep down she needed to do this and somewhere, somehow he understood that. 

This book gets 5 out of 5 stars from me without fail. As usual I cannot fault Katie's writing or storytelling. I loved West and Hayley from beginning to end and god I would recommend this book, this series, this writer to anyone! I'd recommend you all go check out this addictive series. 

Goodread's link