I am so excited today to feature the four authors and books who are part of Bloomsbury's spring 2015 Boldly Bookish tour–Trish Doller (The Devil You Know), A.C. Gaughen (Lion Heart), Emery Lord (The Start of You and Me), and Tiffany Schmidt (Hold Me Like a Breath)! Today's post is a guest feature with Emery all about adorable nerdy boys! Keep reading after Emery's post to learn more about the authors, their books, and the stops on the tour. Oh, and there's a giveaway too, but you probably aren't interested in that, right? ;) Take it away, Emery!
Ode to the Nerdy Guy
a post by Emery Lord
So, here’s the thing. I think the Top 10 of my massive high school graduating class included at least 5 people from my friend group. We were literally all in marching band. Most of us in show choir. A few of us were on the QuizBowl team. Nerds.
We also got in trouble with the cops senior year. Pranked each other, huge-scale and creatively. Loved each other ferociously. Traveled. Went to shows. Sometimes we stayed in and played Mario Kart. We went through a phase where we were really obsessed with Risk. We took AP classes. We also skipped classes sometimes. We talked politics, theology, culture, and laughed over dumb stuff. Fun as hell nerds.
So I guess I love nerd guys (and girls) because I think “nerd” means you’re interested. And interested makes you interesting. Also, most nerds are good at things—it’s often what we’re made fun of for. But being interesting and competent? Sorry, but that’s sexy.
One thing about Max Watson, unabashed nerdboy of The Start of Me & You, is that it’s probably fair to call him a beta male. He’s not dominant, he’s not suave, he’s certainly not ripped. But he is confident. He’s also deeply kind, a good listener and loyal friend. I think the thing that is so attractive about guys like Max is that he has nothing to prove to anyone. He knows exactly who he is and doesn’t really care what you think. All I see in swagger is guys who are overcompensating. Give me a secure guy any day of the week.
I know it can be easy to gravitate toward the people who have smooth lines, who will approach you with ease, who can attract you with rugged toughness. …eh, pass. Give me a lifetime of someone who is engaged with his world, with you, who cares and doesn’t care who knows it, who is good and good at things, who likes what he likes even if you don’t really get it. Give me someone who can make me laugh with smart humor. Besides, if being a nerd basically means you’re super into something…that means someone is passionate. Draw your own conclusions! ;)
So, to the girls who have asked me where to find guys like in YA books: might I recommend your high school’s Team Physics? Marching band? QuizBowl? The Engineering college of your local university? (Speaking 100% from personal experience.)
As a nerd, writer and the wife of a hot man who has a pretty serious Star Trek obsession, all I am saying…is give nerds a chance. Live long and prosper, xo!
*****
Okay, I just have to say, I agree with Emery 100%. I also was a Mario-Kart-playing, marching-banding, AP-class-taking, Scholars-Bowling certified nerd (and proud of it!), and truthfully, the guys (and girls) I knew from those activities were hands down the best people I interacted with in high schoool AND college. Also, Max may not be an Alpha male, but I've read (and loved) The Start of Me and You, and I'm totally in love with him so I'm pretty sure Alpha males are entirely overrated. Bring on the nerds!
Pub Date: March 31, 2015
Genre: young adult contemporary romance
Status: standalone
Summary: It’s been a year since
it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident.
After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a
second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her
old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone
she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after
all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and
recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan
is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and
finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?
Book Buy Links:
About the Author:
EMERY LORD is the author of Open Road Summer. She lives in a pink row house in Cincinnati, with a husband, two rescue dogs, and a closet full of impractical shoes. Open Road Summer is her first novel. Visit her online at
www.emerylord.com and on Twitter
@emerylord.
Author Links:
Genre: young adult contemporary thriller
Status: standalone
Summary: Eighteen-year-old Arcadia wants adventure. Living in a tiny Florida town with her dad and four-year-old brother, Cadie spends most of her time working, going to school, and taking care of her family. So when she meets two handsome cousins at a campfire party, she finally has a chance for fun. They invite her and friend to join them on a road trip, and it's just the risk she's been craving-the opportunity to escape. But what starts out as a fun, sexy journey quickly becomes dangerous when she discovers that one of them is not at all who he claims to be. One of them has deadly intentions.
A road trip fling turns terrifying in this contemporary story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Book Buy Links:
About the Author:
TRISH DOLLER is the author of Something Like Normal and Where the Stars Still Shine. She's a former newspaper reporter and radio personality who now works as a bookseller at the Ft Myers B&N. She lives in Fort Myers, Florida, with her two mostly grown children, two dogs, and a pirate. (For real.) Visit her online at
www.trishdoller.com and on Twitter at
@TrishDoller.
Author Links:
Genre: young adult historical fantasy, retelling
Status: book 3 of the Scarlet trilogy
Summary: Scarlet has captured
the hearts of readers as well as the heart of Robin Hood, and after
ceaseless obstacles and countless threats, readers will finally find out
the fate of the Lady Thief.
Imprisoned by Prince John for
months, Scarlet finds herself a long way from Nottinghamshire. After a
daring escape from the Prince's clutches, she learns that King Richard’s
life is in jeopardy, and Eleanor of Aquitaine demands a service Scarlet
can’t refuse: spy for her and help bring Richard home safe. But
fate—and her heart—won’t allow her to stay away from Nottinghamshire for
long, and together, Scarlet and Rob must stop Prince John from going
through with his dark plans for England. They can not rest until he’s
stopped, but will their love be enough to save them once and for all?
Book Buy Links:
About the Author:
A.C. GAUGHEN is the author of
Scarlet and
Lady Thief. She serves as the Director of Girls’ Leadership for the non-profit Boston GLOW, creating opportunities to encourage and engage teen girls in the Greater Boston area. She has a Masters in Creative Writing from St. Andrews University in Scotland and a Masters in Education from Harvard University. Visit A.C. online at
www.acgaughen.com and on Twitter at
@acgaughen.
Author Links:
Genre: young adult contemporary thriller, romance, retelling
Status: book 1 of the Once Upon a Crime Family series
Summary: Penelope Landlow has
grown up with the knowledge that almost anything can be bought or
sold—including body parts. She’s the daughter of one of the three crime
families that control the black market for organ transplants.
Penelope’s
surrounded by all the suffocating privilege and protection her family
can provide, but they can't protect her from the autoimmune disorder
that causes her to bruise so easily.
And in her family's line of work no one can be safe forever.
All
Penelope has ever wanted is freedom and independence. But when she’s
caught in the crossfire as rival families scramble for prominence, she
learns that her wishes come with casualties, that betrayal hurts worse
than bruises, that love is a risk worth taking . . . and maybe she’s not
as fragile as everyone thinks.
Book Buy Links:
About the Author:
TIFFANY SCHMIDT is the author of Send Me a Sign and Bright Before Sunrise. She lives in Pennsylvania with her saintly husband, impish twin boys, and a pair of mischievous puggles. Visit Tiffany online at
www.TiffanySchmidt.com and on Twitter
@TiffanySchmidt.
Author Links:
Blog Tour Schedule:
May 18th: Alexa Loves Books
May 19th: The Eater of Books!
May 20th: Mary Had A Little Book Blog
May 21st: Jessabella Reads
May 22nd: Blue Sky Shelf
May 25th: Ageless Pages Reviews
May 26th: Mundie Moms
May 27th: Reading Teen
May 28th: On Starships and Dragonwings
May 29th: The Quiet Concert
Book Tour Schedule:
I am SUPER excited for this tour for many reasons, one of which is that I'm actually moderating the last stop in Texas! So join me, Annie, Trish, Tiffany, and Emery for a Boldly Bookish evening at the Barnes & Noble Stonebriar in Frisco on June 12! Thank you, Bloomsbury, for this amazing opportunity!
Giveaway:
One winner will be able to choose one of the four books featured on the Boldly Bookish tour! Open to US residents age 13+.
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