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On The Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves Publish Date: September 3, 2011 My Source: review copy from the author |
T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He’s almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn’t bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family – and a stack of overdue assignments – instead of his friends.
Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.’s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter. Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.’s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man. -(summary from Goodreads.com)
Hi Tracey! |
Top 10 Guest Post!
1. Favorite movie and actor/actress?
TGG: It’s a tie between Pretty Woman and Sweet Home Alabama. I’m a sucker for a good romantic comedy and a swoon-worthy happily-ever-after. Other favorites include Thelma and Louise, Steel Magnolias, and last but not least, Jaws (I do love a good shark film).
I love Julia Roberts and Reese Witherspoon (see above!). I’ve been a Julia Roberts fan since her Satisfaction, Mystic Pizza, and Steel Magnolia days, and I fell in love with Reese Witherspoon because of her hilarious portrayal of overachiever Tracy Flick in Election. I will see any movie either of them is starring in.
As for my favorite actor, it’s a three-way tie between George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ryan Gosling.
2. Favorite song and singer?
TGG: I’m mostly a 70’s girl. My favorite singers/bands are Elton John, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, James Taylor, Jim Croce, Van Morrison, Chicago, Rod Stewart, etc… (the list could go on and on). As for more recent artists, I like Sheryl Crow, Adele, and Pink. I don’t know that I could pick a favorite song because I have way too many to choose from. I do love “Tiny Dancer,” “Life in the Fast Lane,” and “Fire and Rain.”
3. Favorite place you would love to visit?
The Maldives. I’d love to visit where ON THE ISLAND took place to see if the actual location matches the images I had in my head while I was writing the book.
I would also love to go to Greece someday. My grandfather emigrated from Greece at 17 and I’d love to visit his homeland. I’ve heard it’s a beautiful place.
4. One item you cannot live without?
TGG: My Kindle!
5. Who would you like to meet? (dead or alive)
Stephen King. I find him absolutely fascinating. I really enjoyed his memoir ON WRITING, and I’d love to sit down with him for an afternoon and pick his brain. I would also like to meet Jennifer Weiner; she’s one of my favorite women’s fiction authors.
6. Favorite hobby?
TGG: Reading and writing.
7. Guilty pleasure?
TGG: Home alone in a quiet house with the fireplace going, a glass of wine, and my Kindle. It doesn’t get much better than that (but it doesn’t happen very often!).
8. Favorite author and book?
TGG: For non-fiction, definitely Jon Krakauer. I am obsessed with mountain climbing (I have no idea why) and his book INTO THIN AIR, about the tragedy on Mt. Everest, is a compelling story. I also loved INTO THE WILD, which was later made into a movie. I don’t have a single favorite author for fiction, but Stephen King is definitely at the top of the list. THE STAND is my all-time favorite book and the one I remember as being the most influential to me as a writer. It’s an epic book. My favorite fiction categories are women’s fiction, contemporary romance (both adult and YA), and most commercial fiction. I am drawn to books with a fast pace and the story is more important to me than the writing (although that is important, too). If a book doesn’t grab me and make me want to turn pages, I may not pick it back up again. My Kindle and low ebook prices make it way too easy to move on to the next book.
9. Do you collect anything?
TGG: I used to collect hardback books and I’d display them on the built-in bookcases on either side of our fireplace. Now that I have a Kindle, I don’t buy as many paper books. I’ve only had my Kindle for a little over a year, but it’s so easy to hit that 1-click button. I remember my years as a stay-at-home-mom when I’d have to load an infant and a toddler into the car in the dead of winter so we could go to Target for diapers and a new trade paperback. How I wish I’d had a Kindle back then!
10. Favorite color?
TGG: Red! The walls of my family room and kitchen are red, my bridesmaid’s dresses for my wedding were red, and my first brand-new car was, of course, red.
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one eBook copy of ON THE ISLAND
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I, too, need to have a book draw me in quickly. There are so many books out there and, as they say, so little time to read them, that I don't squander that time. It was also interesting that Tracey likes both romantic comedies and Stephen King!
On The Island drew me in RIGHT AWAY. It's so good!
I'll be back to read this on my lunch!
Thanks for your help this morning! 😉
I think the Maldives and Greece are both bucket list locations for me too!
It sounds really good…
I definitely can't live without my kindle either and I agree completely with your guilty pleasure!
"Home alone in a quiet house with the fireplace going, a glass of wine, and my Kindle. It doesn’t get much better than that"
Can't wait to read the book. Thanks for the interview and giveaway!
It does sound like a perfect night…
Ok, I had to check a globe to be sure of where the Maldives are again, ahem…but I would also love to visit there! And Greece. Gosh, that would be like a dream. To visit the Acropolis and see the birthplace of greek mythology…that would be heaven. Great interview and I love her awesome cowboy hat:)
One of my guilty pleasure is staying home where it's nice, quiet and warm along with a great book. There's no distraction and I can just sink into a book. There's something to be said about a story that can take me away, all while I'm in comfy clothes.
Oh this looks and sounds really good. I love the summer feel of the cover. I would love to sit with Mr. King and pick his brain too, when you go can I come with you?? 😀
Kindles are great and an even greater temptation with the easy access one click. Book budgets are hard to stick too.
It was fun getting to know the author. Thanks for sharing and thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
Sounds awsome put it on my tbr 🙂
This looks and sounds really good.thanks sharing…