Title: The Road to You by Marilyn Brant
Publication date: October 3rd 2013
Genres: Mystery, New Adult, Romance
Genres: Mystery, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:
Sometimes
the only road to the truth...is one you’ve never taken.
Until I found Gideon’s journal in the tool
shed—locked in the cedar box where I’d once hidden my old diary—I’d been led to
believe my brother was dead. But the contents of his journal changed all that.
The
Road to Discovery...
Two
years ago, Aurora Gray’s world turned upside down when her big brother Gideon
and his best friend Jeremy disappeared. Now, during the summer of her 18th
birthday, she unexpectedly finds her brother’s journal and sees that it’s been
written in again. Recently. By him.
The Road to Danger...
There
are secret messages coded within the journal’s pages. Aurora, who’s unusually
perceptive and a natural puzzle solver, is hell bent on following where they
lead, no matter what the cost. She confides in the only person she feels can
help her interpret the clues: Donovan McCafferty, Jeremy’s older brother and a
guy she’s always been drawn to—even against her better judgment.
The Road to You...
Reluctantly, Donovan
agrees to go with her and, together, they set out on a road trip of discovery
and danger, hoping to find their lost brothers and the answers to questions
they’ve never dared to ask aloud.
In that expectant space between silence and
melody, our trip began...
Excerpt
We emerged into the dazzling
sunlight of a hot summer Sunday and got settled in Donovan’s car. He pulled out
his road atlas and plopped it into my lap. “You get to
navigate on this one.”
I
flipped it open in surprise. Considering his ingrained aversion to asking
anyone for directions, this was a sign of great progress.
He
started the engine. “If we get lost, it’s on your head, Nancy Drew.”
I
glared at him. “Stop calling me that.”
“Nancy,
Nancy, Nancy,” he mocked.
Oh,
you’re real mature,” I said, but he continued with his mockery. I knew he
needed an outlet, a little levity, something—especially after all the grave,
life-changing information we’d just gotten. I was beginning to learn his
patterns. He would need to munch on something, and he
wouldn’t be able to discuss anything seriously for a
couple of hours at least. Good thing we had snacks in the car and a five-hour
drive ahead of us.
“Fine.
Be that way.” I told him the first few turns, taking us past the big Sears on
Irving Park Road and following the signs so we could merge onto Interstate
90/94. Eventually, since I wasn’t afraid to read a map—unlike some people—I
knew we’d meet up with 55 South, which would take us all the way to Missouri.
But,
as soon as Donovan looked comfortable with the roads, I dug through my purse
for the cassette I’d been saving for just such an occasion, and I popped it in.
As the opening strains of the Bee Gees’s hit “Stayin’ Alive” came on, I had the
satisfaction of seeing Donovan make a disgusted face and reach to turn it off.
I
batted his hand away from the cassette deck. “Do you really think disco is a fad?”
I said, mimicking Vicky from St. Cloud. Then I started singing along with the
song’s chorus. I’d heard the lyrics about, oh, sixty thousand times since
the movie came out. I knew every word.
“Uh!
God, stop that!” he said, half laughing.
“What’s
my name?” I asked him sweetly during an instrumental moment.
He
shot me a dirty look. “Just cut it out.”
I
sang along with the entire second verse. Loudly.
“Hell,
Aurora. Stop.”
“What
did you just say my name was?” I asked. Then, more threateningly, “You do
realize that ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ is coming up next, right?”
He
made a gagging sound that I took as a precursor to his inevitable surrender. I
was right.
“Your
name is Aurora, but I will strangle you with the long threads of tape
that I’m going to yank out of my deck in about ten seconds if you don’t do it
first.”
I
snapped the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack out of the player.
“If
you call me Nancy Drew again, you can expect a full hour of disco hits,” I
threatened. “I can sing ‘If I Can’t Have You’ and ‘You Should Be Dancing’ and
more. All of them a cappella. And, yeah, that’s a warning. Be scared.”
The
look he gave me was nothing short of scathing but, a few minutes later, when I
was studying the Illinois map in the middle of the atlas, I caught him glancing
at me and smothering a laugh.
“What?” I said
He grinned. “Who
knew you’d grow up to be such a weirdo…Aurora.”
~*~*~*~
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*Q&A with USA Today Bestselling Author Marilyn Brant*
A: At the start of the novel, Aurora Gray has just graduated from high school and is one month from turning 18. This isn’t a paranormal story—she’s not psychic or telepathic—but she is unusually perceptive, particularly for her age. She’s kind of a natural “mentalist,” who’s used to reading people’s reactions and has a history of being pretty accurate. So when she finds the journal of her missing brother, she’s able to make some connections that those around her would never think to make. It gives her both a determined and a stubborn streak when it comes to thinking she might actually figure out what happened that summer two years ago. Donovan McCafferty, on the other hand, is extremely practical, realistic and not especially bookish. He’s 23, has an Army background and is brilliant with mechanical things. He’s also very loyal, very protective of those he cares about and not remotely inclined to take flying leaps of intuition like Aurora. To use a character parallel from “The X-Files,” Aurora would be a bit like Mulder (“I Want to Believe/The Truth is Out There”), but without that whole alien thing, LOL, and Donovan would be the more skeptical Scully type.
Q: When did you first begin writing?
A: I wrote songs and poems and little stories in elementary school, but sixth grade was when the notion of writing professionally first occurred to me. Aside from being on the newspaper and yearbook staff in high school, though, I didn’t take writing seriously until I was about 30. Then, I spent the next several years writing completed manuscripts and submitting them to agents and editors before my fifth one finally sold to Kensington Books. That was According to Jane—a romantic coming-of-age novel (for mature audiences, ages 17+!) about a young woman who has the ghost of Jane Austen in her head giving her dating advice. The Road to You is my eighth published novel.
A: I write in my home office—a messy, absolutely cluttered place—I won’t deny it! There are stacks of paper and towers of books everywhere, but also a very nice window overlooking our backyard. Sometimes I’ll write at a local coffee shop (either with my laptop or, most often, just with pen and notebook paper), and that location has the advantage of endless cups of hazelnut coffee and the occasional almond-flavored bear claw.
A: Easy. Gourmet European chocolate—dark or milk, with all kinds of different fillings. I’ve tried to break myself of the habit but, really, that’s just not possible. The chocolate goes well with old movies, too, like “The Philadelphia Story” and “Roman Holiday,” which I can watch over and over again… Mmm. Cary Grant, Gregory Peck and Godiva/Ghirardelli/Cadbury!
A: That I am always watching them—LOL. I just can’t turn off the writer thing and am, at all times, collecting the quirky habits and mannerisms of the people around me. (Now they know this, of course, and will be more careful... :)
A: Music, hands down. Playing and listening to music remains one of my most enjoyable and inspirational pastimes. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Music is the favorite passion of my soul,” and I agree with him.
A: I absolutely HATE celery. That’s not an official phobia, as far as I can tell, but I think it should be. The stuff is so horrible it scares me… I’m also not a big fan of rodents. Or snakes. Or driving in downtown Chicago. But I do think celery may still be the worst of them.
A: Outside of writing, my life is rather quiet. I live in the suburbs, drive my son to his various lessons, clubs or practices, meet my friends for coffee whenever we can arrange it and occasionally drag myself to the gym for a much-needed workout. (I don’t go nearly as often as I should…) When I want to relax, I read, listen to music, play the piano or watch films or TV shows with my husband and son (we all really enjoyed “Under the Dome” this summer and have just gotten hooked on “Sleepy Hollow”). And we’re all big fans of travel, so we like to go on short trips together, especially really simple daytrips or quick overnights where we just hop in the car, don’t make any reservations, drive somewhere that’s interesting to us, stay longer if we love it, press onward to somewhere else if we don’t... I never get tired of that. And I love spending time with family and close friends, just talking. And, when possible, eating brownies, too.
*Q&A with USA Today Bestselling Author Marilyn Brant*
Q: Where do you find inspiration
for your work and what, exactly, inspired you to write THE ROAD TO YOU?
A: I find inspiration everywhere, really. From conversations I overhear,
things my friends tell me, funny/sad/scary stuff that happened in my family,
incidents I’ve observed out in public, stories I’ve read in books or seen on
TV, as well as those endless “what if?” questions writers always ask themselves.
For this new novel specifically, my husband and son and I took a driving trip
down Route 66 (some of it on the actual road and most along the Interstates
that cut through the areas where it used to be), and I was really intrigued by
its history, the little towns that developed as a result and some of the
unusual attractions. I found myself thinking, “There’s a mystery somewhere in
this journey...and a love story.” Plus, I’ve kept some kind of diary or journal
since the middle of 7th grade and, when I was younger, I’d sometimes write in
code. I’ve wondered often what it might be like to have to interpret clues that
were found in someone else’s... In fact, the first thing I needed to do in
drafting this novel was to actually write out all of Gideon’s journal, which
turned out to be more complicated than I’d first imagined!
Q: Tell us about the
main characters in this story. Who are Aurora and Donovan?
A: At the start of the novel, Aurora Gray has just graduated from high school and is one month from turning 18. This isn’t a paranormal story—she’s not psychic or telepathic—but she is unusually perceptive, particularly for her age. She’s kind of a natural “mentalist,” who’s used to reading people’s reactions and has a history of being pretty accurate. So when she finds the journal of her missing brother, she’s able to make some connections that those around her would never think to make. It gives her both a determined and a stubborn streak when it comes to thinking she might actually figure out what happened that summer two years ago. Donovan McCafferty, on the other hand, is extremely practical, realistic and not especially bookish. He’s 23, has an Army background and is brilliant with mechanical things. He’s also very loyal, very protective of those he cares about and not remotely inclined to take flying leaps of intuition like Aurora. To use a character parallel from “The X-Files,” Aurora would be a bit like Mulder (“I Want to Believe/The Truth is Out There”), but without that whole alien thing, LOL, and Donovan would be the more skeptical Scully type.
Q: When did you first begin writing?
A: I wrote songs and poems and little stories in elementary school, but sixth grade was when the notion of writing professionally first occurred to me. Aside from being on the newspaper and yearbook staff in high school, though, I didn’t take writing seriously until I was about 30. Then, I spent the next several years writing completed manuscripts and submitting them to agents and editors before my fifth one finally sold to Kensington Books. That was According to Jane—a romantic coming-of-age novel (for mature audiences, ages 17+!) about a young woman who has the ghost of Jane Austen in her head giving her dating advice. The Road to You is my eighth published novel.
Q: Where do you write? Describe your writing space—what’s it look
like?
A: I write in my home office—a messy, absolutely cluttered place—I won’t deny it! There are stacks of paper and towers of books everywhere, but also a very nice window overlooking our backyard. Sometimes I’ll write at a local coffee shop (either with my laptop or, most often, just with pen and notebook paper), and that location has the advantage of endless cups of hazelnut coffee and the occasional almond-flavored bear claw.
Q: What's your secret indulgence?
A certain food? A particular movie? What would you buy on a day of shopping?
A: Easy. Gourmet European chocolate—dark or milk, with all kinds of different fillings. I’ve tried to break myself of the habit but, really, that’s just not possible. The chocolate goes well with old movies, too, like “The Philadelphia Story” and “Roman Holiday,” which I can watch over and over again… Mmm. Cary Grant, Gregory Peck and Godiva/Ghirardelli/Cadbury!
Q: What's one thing no one knows
about you?
A: That I am always watching them—LOL. I just can’t turn off the writer thing and am, at all times, collecting the quirky habits and mannerisms of the people around me. (Now they know this, of course, and will be more careful... :)
Q: What other art form inspires
you as much as writing?
A: Music, hands down. Playing and listening to music remains one of my most enjoyable and inspirational pastimes. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Music is the favorite passion of my soul,” and I agree with him.
Q: Do you have any phobias, like
fear of spiders or enclosed spaces?
A: I absolutely HATE celery. That’s not an official phobia, as far as I can tell, but I think it should be. The stuff is so horrible it scares me… I’m also not a big fan of rodents. Or snakes. Or driving in downtown Chicago. But I do think celery may still be the worst of them.
Q: What’s your life like outside of your
writing career?
A: Outside of writing, my life is rather quiet. I live in the suburbs, drive my son to his various lessons, clubs or practices, meet my friends for coffee whenever we can arrange it and occasionally drag myself to the gym for a much-needed workout. (I don’t go nearly as often as I should…) When I want to relax, I read, listen to music, play the piano or watch films or TV shows with my husband and son (we all really enjoyed “Under the Dome” this summer and have just gotten hooked on “Sleepy Hollow”). And we’re all big fans of travel, so we like to go on short trips together, especially really simple daytrips or quick overnights where we just hop in the car, don’t make any reservations, drive somewhere that’s interesting to us, stay longer if we love it, press onward to somewhere else if we don’t... I never get tired of that. And I love spending time with family and close friends, just talking. And, when possible, eating brownies, too.
**Grand Prize Giveaway**
Prizes (open internationally):
-One signed trade paperback copy of According to Jane
-One signed trade paperback copy of According to Jane
-One signed trade paperback copy of On Any Given Sundae
-One A Summer in Europe t-shirt
-One A Summer in Europe t-shirt
-One Marilyn Brant canvas tote bag
-And one The Road to You luggage tag
a Rafflecopter giveaway
AUTHOR BIO
Marilyn is a lifelong music lover and a travel junkie. She’s visited 46 states and over 30 countries (so far—she's not done yet!), but she now lives in the Chicago suburbs with her family. When she isn't rereading Jane Austen's books or enjoying the latest releases by her writer friends, she's working on her next novel, eating chocolate indiscriminately and hiding from the laundry.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
AUTHOR BIO
Marilyn Brant is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She wrote the new adult/humorous paranormal novel ACCORDING TO JANE (2009), the women’s fiction relationship drama FRIDAY MORNINGS AT NINE (2010), and the romantic travel adventure A SUMMER IN EUROPE (2011), all published by Kensington Books. She's also a #1 Kindle and #1 Nook bestseller and has written a series of fun and flirty romantic comedies, including ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAE (2011) and PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT MATCH (2013). Her coming-of-age romantic mystery, THE ROAD TO YOU, will be available in October 2013.
Marilyn is a lifelong music lover and a travel junkie. She’s visited 46 states and over 30 countries (so far—she's not done yet!), but she now lives in the Chicago suburbs with her family. When she isn't rereading Jane Austen's books or enjoying the latest releases by her writer friends, she's working on her next novel, eating chocolate indiscriminately and hiding from the laundry.
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