New Year, New Books Day 23: Amy Rolland + Of Breakable Things!

Welcome to Day 22 of New Year, New Books! Today I'm featuring...

 Amy Rolland

-author of Of Breakable Things (April 2014)

Oh, here is Harry Styles in all his boyish, annoying charming British glory.

I mean, I would yell at Amy for making us wait until APRIL to read her AMAZING SOUNDING book, but she's so sweet, and if you yell at her, you are probably the equivalent of a BOOK SPOILER AND NO ONE WANTS TO BE THAT GUY/GIRL.

Title: Of Breakable Things
Author: A. Lynden Rolland
Shelves: Young Adult, Paranormal
Publication Date: April 8th, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books

Goodreads|Month9Books Blog

Summary from Goodreads: Alex Ash was born broken. Living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is like living on death row, but she is willing to fight for her fragile life as long as it includes the boy next door. Chase has always held the pieces of her together, but when he dies tragically, Alex’s unfavorable fate becomes a blessing in disguise. 
In a peculiar world where rooms can absorb emotions and secrets are buried six feet under, Alex discovers she is anything but frail. Even among limitless minds, envious spirits, and soulless banshees, the most difficult aspect of Alex’s afterlife is juggling between Chase and his reckless brother, neither of whom are willing to give up the girl they both love.

So much for resting in peace.

Watch the book trailer below!

                        

Book Playlist with 

Amy Rolland

Amy's website|Goodreads author page

I become distracted if I listen to music while I write. I have too many voices in my head already. Yes, I’m slightly insane, but I truly believe that it’s beneficial to be a bit wacky. However, if I’m trying to capture the mood of a scene or if I’m stuck with a particular character, it does help to zone out and immerse my mind in something that depicts my mindset. Usually I turn to Pinterest or my Of Breakable Things playlist (which is always evolving). I loved that Jayne gave me the opportunity to share my OBT playlist with (future) readers because as I scroll through it now, I do think it epitomizes aspects of the plot and most importantly the personality of the story and of the characters themselves. It continues to grow as I continue to develop the characters and dig deeper into the story.

Here we go…

I’ll begin with the most recent additions to the club.

1.   “Say Something”byA Great Big World

This is so completely and fittingly Chase speaking to Alex. Chase took care of Alex from the time he was old enough to hold her hand. He was foolish to think he could control the time he’d be there for her. He never thought he’d die first. In this song, I picture him next to Alex as she’s dying. Though she doesn’t know he’s there.

2. “Let Her Go” by Passenger

This is Jonas’s song because in his mind, the grass is always greener on the other side. He’s selfish, and he wants anything he can’t have. A few people have mistaken his role in the plot as a piece of a love triangle, and he is nothing of the sort. There is no triangle because he doesn’t have that chance. (Note: He was the most fun character to write because of his imperfections.)

3.    “Demons” by Imagine Dragons.

We all have our inner demons, and unfortunately when you live in a world ruled by the mind, those demons can overcome you in fabulously horrific ways. All the characters are dead, but they are still themselves within their minds. They have the same flaws, emotions, hates and loves, and this keeps them alive. But a mind can still crack and in the world of OBT, losing one’s mind turns them maniacally insane.

4.   New Age (particularly piano)

I’m going to group these together. They take up most of my playlist, and really it’s about twelve different pieces. I love all genres of music, and I find new age to be the most inspiring. I especially love The Eternal City by Michele McLaughlin and anything by Brian Crain. Particularly for this list: Song for Sienna. I was actually listening to this song when I dreamed up the book trailer for Of Breakable Things. When I hear it, I think of Alex and Chase and their childhood together. Taking care of another.Laughing with one another.Losing one another. And eventually… finding one another.

Tell me this isn’t beautiful:

                       

5.  “This Woman’s Work” by Greg Laswell.

I’m sure this song is meant to be interpreted differently, but I allow it to inspire me similarly to “Say Something”. Chase urging Alex to keep that little piece of life within her.If she gives up, they won’t see each other again. It also depicts the sorrow of emotions and thoughts forever unspoken:

          
 All the things I should have said

 That I never said

 All the things we should have done

 That we never did

6.  “A Drop in the Ocean” by Ron Pope

For Alex and Chase, this one is so fitting. Alex states more than once during the story that Chase is her heaven. Whatever choice she makes in the matter, bright shiny door after death or not, wherever he is will make it worth it.

           I was praying that you and me might end up together

           It’s like wishing for rain

           As I stand in the desert

           But I’m holding you closer than most

           ‘cause you are my heaven.

7.   “I’ll Follow You into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie.

This was suggested by my agent, Rachael Dugas, when we were searching for new titles.

Others:

8.               “Glass” by Thompson Square

9.               “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry

10.           And for the Lasalle brothers… anything by O.A.R. This is one of my favorite groups, and their songs depict the liveliness, the freedom, and the spirit of the Lasalles.

I hope this list can give readers somewhat of an impression. 

Readers can also look at pictures for Of Breakable Things at my Pinterest board:

http://www.pinterest.com/alyndenrolland/of-breakable-things/

Happy New Year, and many thanks to Jayne for having me!!

***GIVEAWAY***

Amy is giving away this GORGEOUS bracelet inspired by Of Breakable Things! AND Of Breakable Things buttons! 

Rules of entry:

1) US ONLY

2) No cheating with the entries, I always check!

3) The bracelet + swag will be sent out at the publisher's discretion.

4) Take the time to read this post with Amy, not just enter the giveaway. All the authors featured in New Year, New Books are crazy busy, and deserve as much love and attention as any giveaway you enter.

5) GOOD LUCK!

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***Grand Prize Giveaway***

2 Surprise 2014 ARCs + swag

Yep, these will be from my own shelf. Yep, this giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. Yep, it is a surprise and I am not telling you what the ARCs will be but here's an idea of what MIGHT be in it:

Any of these books are fair game! But in the end, the winner will only get 2. And I promise that the surprise ARCs will be good:)

Here are the rules of entry:

1) OPEN INTERNATIONALLY
2) The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email. If not, I will have to pick a new winner. 

3) The prize will be sent out at my discretion, so I might take me a little longer than a week to get it to you.

4) In order to earn the maximum amount of entries, you can comment on EVERY SINGLE DAY of New Year, New Books!

5) GOOD LUCK!

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