Jeri Smith-Ready

Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit Tour - Wendy Tolliver

This week's Girlfriends Cyber Circuit tour guest is none other than Wendy Toliver! Her new book, Lifted, came out from Simon Pulse on June 8, and it sounds right up my alley. (I admit, I have a weakness for characters who have a weakness.)

To celebrate the release of Lifted, Wendy is holding a contest at her website. More details on that at the end of this post.

But first! Here's a bit about the book:


Poppy Browne had never stolen anything in her life before moving to Pleasant Acres, Texas and meeting Mary Jane and Whitney. But when Poppy walks out of the mall with her two new friends and her first pair of stolen jeans, she’s hooked.

Before long, Poppy is lifting whenever she gets the urge—it’s never about the merchandise, it’s always about the thrill. But when her secret gets out, the girls in Poppy’s clique turn on one another. As she watches her life collapse around her, Poppy must decide where her loyalties lie … and how far she’ll go to protect herself.



Many people think Lifted rocks:

Smart, deftly written, and extremely well-observed, Wendy Toliver’s Lifted is so realistic and moving I felt like I was transported right inside Poppy’s world, watching as she struggled to navigate her way through a school where appearances are deceiving and no one is quite what they seem. A hard to put down, compelling read!
--Alyson Noël, #1 New York Times Best Selling author of The Immortals series

Lifted is the story of an imperfect heroine seeking her place not only in school, but in life. Its exploration of the amount of truth behind social and religious stereotypes escalates into a double-dog dare to believe them. A haunting morality tale that will leave you questioning just what it means to be "good." --Aprilynne Pike, author of the #1 New York Times Best-Selling novel Wings

Lifted by Wendy Toliver is an amazing, compelling read, filled with all the realness of being in high school, from humor to love to angst. I haven't met a character so well developed as Poppy since reading Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. At times heartbreaking, at others uplifting, Lifted is a book that I absolutely loved. --James Dashner, author of The Maze Runner and the13th Reality series

Especially well drawn is Poppy’s crush, a quirky, sincere minister’s son, who—as Poppy’s world spins out of control—comforts her with unconditional support: “We all make mistakes. It says so in the Bible, so it’s gotta be true.” Will appeal to all teens interested in wayward behavior. --Booklist


And now, my interview with Wendy!

1. What's the weirdest tidbit of research you've ever incorporated into a book?

I went onto the internet and found a discussion where teenagers were giving shoplifting advice. I changed up the details but used some of their experiences as a basis for my story.

2. Let's say there's a TV show, movie, or recording artist that has a cult of you. Which is it? (i.e., what do you like that no one else you know likes)?

I like horror movies. Like The Ring, The Grudge, Drag Me to Hell, Saw. Those kinds. It’s not my favorite kind of movie, but I like being scared and sometimes even grossed out when I’m watching a movie.

3. What's your earliest memory?

One of my earliest memories is walking a few blocks with my little sister and our piggy banks to buy a kitten. She was an adorable half-Siamese, half-Himalayan ball of fur that we named Lucy Bell.

4. Do you have any phobias?

I’m afraid of being entirely alone. On a lighter side, I’m afraid of getting too far behind on laundry.

5. Which author, living or dead, would you most love to collaborate with?

I think it would be a hoot to collaborate with Oscar Wilde.

----

Great answer! *makes mental note for next time someone asks me which dead person I'd love to have dinner with*

Wendy is running a contest on her website, www.wendytoliver.com, the entire month of June. Simply click on the “contact” button and send her a message including the word “contest,” your name, and your U.S. mailing address. (If you’re under the age of 14, please get permission from your parents/guardians first.) She will be giving away gift cards to Border’s, signed copies of Lifted, as well as other fun prizes. One entry per person, please.

Wendy can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and Simon & Schuster.com. She blogs regularly at Teen Fiction Cafe, Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies, and Books, Boys, Buzz. And does it well! Seriously, I don't know how she does it all. I'm in awe.

The next GCC tour will be in two weeks, when we'll welcome Jennifer O'Connell to the blog. See you tomorrow for my first installment of Fact Check Friday, when I post about some of the odd tidbits I come across during my book research.

Labels: GCC

• posted by Jeri @ 10:45 AM
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