Blogtoberfest Day 10 - Shana Norris

Today's Blogtoberguest is Shana Norris, who is giving away a signed copy of her latest release, Troy High.
I can't wait to read this, because it's a modern retelling of the Trojan War, from the point of view of Cassie (i.e., the seer Cassandra, who was my favorite person from Greek mythology--I always thought she deserved way more lines).
For more about Troy High, including its backstory and playlist, visit its page on Shana's website, and check out this book trailer:
Before I started high school, I had all these fantasies of going to homecoming in this beautiful princess gown that would make everyone stop and stare at me—like that scene in NEVER BEEN KISSED when Drew Barrymore arrives at the school dance and all eyes are on her. (Or even like the very similar scene in EVER AFTER. Drew really knows how to make an entrance, doesn't she?) I was BEYOND excited about my very first homecoming dance when I began ninth grade. What would I wear? Who would I go with? Could the stars align just right so that, miracles of all miracles, I would be named ninth grade homecoming princess??
Things seemed to get off to a good start when a guy that I'd been friends with for a long time asked me to go to the dance with him. I had a date? I had a date! This had to be a good sign. Homecoming would be my night to shine.
Sadly, my big homecoming fantasy never became a reality. I soon learned that the homecoming dance at my school was never the Really Big Thing that it is in my book TROY HIGH. Yeah, the homecoming game was kind of a big deal and we had a homecoming queen and court, but the dance was just another school dance. Then two days before homecoming, I suddenly realized that I didn't like my guy friend the same way he liked me. I should have figured it out a week earlier when I started taking different routes between classes and hiding in the library during lunch so that I could avoid seeing him. I had to give him the “I just like you as a friend” speech with “but we can still go to homecoming—as friends” added on. He agreed to go as friends, but he didn't exactly seem thrilled about it. I don't think it was just my imagination that he seemed to spend the next two days avoiding me.
Yet I still had hope. Maybe I could salvage my homecoming fantasies and make homecoming a great night.

But the thing about being a writer is that you can change things. You can have the big, fancy homecoming of your dreams if you want in your books. So in TROY HIGH, I gave my characters the homecoming my school didn't have—which turns out to be a night that my characters will NEVER forget, even without the Drew Barrymore moment.
* * * *
To enter to win Troy High, leave a comment below. For complete rules, read the introductory post.
Deadline for entry: Tuesday, October 20, 11:59pm Eastern. NOTE: THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. The winner is...cait045! Congrats!
Other open Blogtoberfest giveaways:
Sarah Beth Durst and Ice
Megan Crewe and Give Up the Ghost
Nancy Holder and her 5-pack of novels
Kelly Parra and Invisible Touch
Lauren Baratz-Logsted and Crazy Beautiful
Amanda Ashby and Zombie Queen of Newbury High
Thanks again to Shana for sharing her Homecoming memories!
Labels: Blogtoberfest, Contests, guests


28 Comments:
Shana -- how sad about the jeans and t-shirt combo! I was a band kid, also (my freshman year we had bright orange wool jackets, probably from the early seventies, that after they were forcibly retired, ended up being used in a "Star Trek" sketch on a school follies). But at least I got to wear fun, retro dresses and hang out with the girls. :)
Posted by:
alanajoli at 10/13/2009 9:28 AM
Froggy
froggarita@gmail.com
http://froggaritavillesbookcase.blogspot.com
A Blog with Bite!
http://blogwithbitereviews.blogspot.com
Posted by:
Froggy at 10/13/2009 10:43 AM
Posted by:
Brittany Littlepage at 10/13/2009 11:05 AM
But I love Shana's attitude on writing. I'm a wannabe author, but that's exactly how I feel with my characters/story.
But enter me, please! This book sounds fantastic! :)
Posted by:
Katie at 10/13/2009 11:16 AM
Posted by:
Sara C at 10/13/2009 11:24 AM
I think your highschool history gave you a wealth of material for writing.
Thanks again,
RKCharron
xoxo
PS - Shana Norris is on Twitter: @shananorris
:)
Posted by:
Unknown at 10/13/2009 12:27 PM
Posted by:
Brooke Reviews at 10/13/2009 12:38 PM
Lexie
Lexie.Cenni(@)gmail.com
Posted by:
Lexie at 10/13/2009 12:44 PM
Posted by:
tetewa at 10/13/2009 1:06 PM
Posted by:
Unknown at 10/13/2009 3:22 PM
And what an interesting idea for a novel. I'll definitely have to check it out... (And I suspect it's one my dh will also want to read...well, we can fight over who gets to read it first!)
Cara
Posted by:
Cara King at 10/13/2009 5:26 PM
Posted by:
Ken at 10/13/2009 7:29 PM
Like you, I was a band kid, but a clarinetist, not a flautist. Our uniforms were fortunately just the boring old marching band uniforms, with the plastic hats with plumes, not the big q-tip thingies. Mine didn't want to stay on, though, not with all my hair shoved up inside it. I even lost it on the football field once!
Posted by:
Kimberly B. at 10/13/2009 8:53 PM
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
Posted by:
throuthehaze at 10/13/2009 10:51 PM
But the book sounds good and I'm always up for a retelling.
Posted by:
Anonymous at 10/13/2009 11:02 PM
Troy High sounds really good and I am looking forward to reading it.
I went to a couple of my Homecoming dances and I did not find those magical Drew Barrymore (and yes, she definitely can make an enterance) moments. I pretty much remember just wearing jeans and nothing too exciting.
Posted by:
Lori T at 10/14/2009 1:03 AM
While I sadly never really paid much attention to homecoming and football games and the like, your book does sound interesting! Thanks so much for sharing!
Debbie In NY
Posted by:
WriterWannaB_NY at 10/14/2009 1:16 AM
Posted by:
Erica at 10/14/2009 8:57 PM
belle2211(at)yahoo(dot)com
Posted by:
Andrea at 10/14/2009 9:06 PM
-Lucile
book.splotATgmailDOTcom
Posted by:
Book Sp(l)ot at 10/15/2009 3:13 PM
Homecoming and those types of dances rarely live up to one's expectations. :(
Posted by:
Sara at 10/15/2009 3:28 PM
Book sounds good.
Posted by:
Karen at 10/16/2009 2:16 PM
cindyc725 at gmail dot com
Posted by:
I ♥ Book Gossip at 10/16/2009 9:58 PM
Deidre
Posted by:
Asylumgirl at 10/17/2009 1:29 AM
-amy
addictedtobooks1993@yahoo.com
Posted by:
Amy at 10/17/2009 3:42 PM
Anyways, homecoming was always a pain to me. I was the anti-school spirit girl who sat in the back bleachers snarking everything and everybody. I was so angsty. lol Can't wait to read this book.
Posted by:
Casse AKA Catholic Kittie at 10/19/2009 5:36 AM
usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom
Posted by:
cait045 at 10/19/2009 12:13 PM
Thanks to everyone for all your enthusiastic comments, and don't forget to come back every day for more chances to win great books!
Posted by:
Jeri at 10/21/2009 12:18 AM