The wonderful Marie Landry, author of Blue Sky Days stops by today
with a Guest Post – A tour of Riverview as well as an excerpt – Moonlight Kiss
{swoon}
Enjoy!!
Author: Marie Landry
Pages: 207
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Self
Synopsis. (Goodreads)
A year after
graduating from high school, nineteen-year-old Emma Ward feels lost. She has
spent most of her life trying to please her frigid, miserable mother - studying
hard, getting good grades, avoiding the whole teenage rebellion thing - and now
she feels she has no identity beyond that. Because she spent so many years
working hard and planning every moment of her life, she doesn't have any
friends, has never had a boyfriend, and basically doesn't know who she is or
what she really wants from life. Working two part-time jobs to save money for
college hasn't helped her make decisions about her future, so she decides it's
time for a change. She leaves home to live with her free-spirited, slightly
eccentric Aunt Daisy in a small town that makes Emma feel like she's stepped
back in time.
When Emma meets Nicholas Shaw, everything changes - he's unlike anyone she's ever met before, the kind of man she didn't even know existed in the 21st century. Carefree and spirited like Daisy, Nicholas teaches Emma to appreciate life, the beauty around her, and to just let go and live. Between Daisy and Nicholas, Emma feels like she belongs somewhere for the first time in her life, and realizes that you don't always need a plan - sometimes life steers you where you're meant to be.
Life is wonderful, an endless string of blue sky days, until Nicholas is diagnosed with cancer, and life changes once again for Emma in ways she never thought possible. Now it's time for her to help Nicholas the way he's helped her. Emma will have to use her new-found strength, and discover along the way if love really is enough to get you through.
When Emma meets Nicholas Shaw, everything changes - he's unlike anyone she's ever met before, the kind of man she didn't even know existed in the 21st century. Carefree and spirited like Daisy, Nicholas teaches Emma to appreciate life, the beauty around her, and to just let go and live. Between Daisy and Nicholas, Emma feels like she belongs somewhere for the first time in her life, and realizes that you don't always need a plan - sometimes life steers you where you're meant to be.
Life is wonderful, an endless string of blue sky days, until Nicholas is diagnosed with cancer, and life changes once again for Emma in ways she never thought possible. Now it's time for her to help Nicholas the way he's helped her. Emma will have to use her new-found strength, and discover along the way if love really is enough to get you through.
Guest Post
A
Tour of Riverview
The setting for Blue Sky Days is a small town called Riverview in Ontario, Canada. Where is Riverview? In theory, it’s about three hours north of Toronto, but in truth, it’s a fictional place.
I decided on a fictional town because then I could have carte blanche—the chance to create a place from my own imagination. I do this in almost all my novels and stories because I find it easier, and there’s far less research involved. Emma, the main character in Blue Sky Days, is from Toronto (a real place, for those of you who aren’t familiar with Canadian geography), a bustling city with a population of over 2.5 million people. Since Toronto is only two hours away from where I live, and I’ve been there countless times, I thought it was a good base to start with.
The setting for Blue Sky Days is a small town called Riverview in Ontario, Canada. Where is Riverview? In theory, it’s about three hours north of Toronto, but in truth, it’s a fictional place.
I decided on a fictional town because then I could have carte blanche—the chance to create a place from my own imagination. I do this in almost all my novels and stories because I find it easier, and there’s far less research involved. Emma, the main character in Blue Sky Days, is from Toronto (a real place, for those of you who aren’t familiar with Canadian geography), a bustling city with a population of over 2.5 million people. Since Toronto is only two hours away from where I live, and I’ve been there countless times, I thought it was a good base to start with.
As
for Riverview, it’s basically my idea of the ideal town. Small—a population of
only 2,000, friendly people who are familiar with each other, and family-owned businesses.
I’ve
always wanted to live in a small town, and my city is surrounded by
them—tourist towns with quaint little shops and boutiques, old-fashioned
buildings, and locally owned businesses. I also had the vision of Stars
Hollow from the Gilmore Girls in mind—a place with a real community feeling.
So, I thought I would take you on a tour of Riverview, and hit the highlights.
them—tourist towns with quaint little shops and boutiques, old-fashioned
buildings, and locally owned businesses. I also had the vision of Stars
Hollow from the Gilmore Girls in mind—a place with a real community feeling.
So, I thought I would take you on a tour of Riverview, and hit the highlights.
Main Street: The first thing Emma sees when she arrives
in Riverview. I’m sure we’ve all been to—or at least driven through—at least one
small town where you felt you’ve gone back in time. That’s how Emma felt when
she turned onto Main Street and saw all the businesses and stores housed in
old-fashioned buildings—the general store, the movie theatres (yes, there are
two, one for classics and one for new movies), the book store, the boutiques.
One highlight of Main Street,
and a place where Emma and Nicholas spend quite a bit of time is Rockin’
Ricky’s, the 1950s-style diner where Nicholas’s best friends Vince and Maggie
work.
One aspect of small-town charm that Emma loved was that people waved at her as she drove by. I got this idea from childhood visits to Amherst Island, where my Grama was born and raised. We would drive around the island and every single person we passed would stop what they were doing and wave at us. It always gave me such a great feeling, and made me feel like I’d gone back in time to a simpler era where things were less rushed.
Aunt Daisy’s house: Daisy’s home is as unique as she is. She has a huge white house with blue shutters, a blue door, and window flower boxes. Her yard is filled with flowers in riotous colours, porcelain garden faeries, trees strung with white lights, and a gazebo with a swing. The inside of the house is spacious but homey with an artist’s touch at every corner and Daisy’s own paintings adorning the walls. It’s a home full of music and laughter and love.
The park: The place where Emma and Nicholas meet. Perfect for a stroll, a picnic, or just a lazy day reading a book or watching children play. Emma and Nicholas spend a lot of time on ‘their hill’ in the park watching the world below.
What do you think? Does Riverview sound like a place you’d like to live? Or are you a big city person who prefers lots of activity and people around?
One aspect of small-town charm that Emma loved was that people waved at her as she drove by. I got this idea from childhood visits to Amherst Island, where my Grama was born and raised. We would drive around the island and every single person we passed would stop what they were doing and wave at us. It always gave me such a great feeling, and made me feel like I’d gone back in time to a simpler era where things were less rushed.
Aunt Daisy’s house: Daisy’s home is as unique as she is. She has a huge white house with blue shutters, a blue door, and window flower boxes. Her yard is filled with flowers in riotous colours, porcelain garden faeries, trees strung with white lights, and a gazebo with a swing. The inside of the house is spacious but homey with an artist’s touch at every corner and Daisy’s own paintings adorning the walls. It’s a home full of music and laughter and love.
The park: The place where Emma and Nicholas meet. Perfect for a stroll, a picnic, or just a lazy day reading a book or watching children play. Emma and Nicholas spend a lot of time on ‘their hill’ in the park watching the world below.
What do you think? Does Riverview sound like a place you’d like to live? Or are you a big city person who prefers lots of activity and people around?
Excerpt
Moonlight
Kiss
I could smell the faint scent of Nicholas’s earthy cologne and all I wanted to do was touch him. I turned my head to look at him and thought how beautiful he was with his face shining in the silver moonlight. I knew by the way the corners of his lips curved that he could sense me watching him. He looked down, his eyes full of affection as they met mine.
I was sure that if anyone could read my thoughts at that moment they would say my feelings were just a crush, or equate them with infatuation or puppy love. But I knew my own heart. Yes, I was young and inexperienced, but this joy—this full, almost bursting feeling in my chest—couldn’t possibly be anything other than love.
Again, the urge to touch him rose inside me. I knew there was no reason to hesitate or be nervous; Nicholas wasn’t afraid to show affection. He was always touching me in some way or kissing my cheek, neck, or forehead. As I reached up to trace my fingers over his cheek, he leaned down and placed his lips gently on mine.
The kiss was brief, just a bare meeting of lips. When he pulled away, his smiling eyes looked into mine and he reached for the hand that touched his face, entwining my fingers with his. He rested our joined hands on his stomach as he eased back down and turned his gaze toward the heavens once more.
I sighed contentedly, snuggling closer to his body before turning to follow his gaze.
I could smell the faint scent of Nicholas’s earthy cologne and all I wanted to do was touch him. I turned my head to look at him and thought how beautiful he was with his face shining in the silver moonlight. I knew by the way the corners of his lips curved that he could sense me watching him. He looked down, his eyes full of affection as they met mine.
I was sure that if anyone could read my thoughts at that moment they would say my feelings were just a crush, or equate them with infatuation or puppy love. But I knew my own heart. Yes, I was young and inexperienced, but this joy—this full, almost bursting feeling in my chest—couldn’t possibly be anything other than love.
Again, the urge to touch him rose inside me. I knew there was no reason to hesitate or be nervous; Nicholas wasn’t afraid to show affection. He was always touching me in some way or kissing my cheek, neck, or forehead. As I reached up to trace my fingers over his cheek, he leaned down and placed his lips gently on mine.
The kiss was brief, just a bare meeting of lips. When he pulled away, his smiling eyes looked into mine and he reached for the hand that touched his face, entwining my fingers with his. He rested our joined hands on his stomach as he eased back down and turned his gaze toward the heavens once more.
I sighed contentedly, snuggling closer to his body before turning to follow his gaze.
Contact Links:
Marie would like to thank the people who have supported her by showing
her appreciation in some small way. So, for every person who buys a copy of Blue Sky Days during the tour and
sends Marie proof of purchase via email to irishstar_83{at}hotmail{dot}com she
will enter you into a giveaway to win a book of your choice up to $12 CAN from
The Book Depository.
Tour
Schedule:
Tuesday
January 17th: Jessica from Thoughts at One in the Morning {Review,
excerpt, and giveaway}
Wednesday
January 18th: Michelle from {Review and giveaway}
Thursday
January 19th: Molli from Once Upon a Prologue
{Review}
Friday
January 20th: Michelle from {Guest post and excerpt}
Saturday
January 21st: Tana from Tana Rae Reads {Interview and giveaway}
Sunday
January 22nd: Michelle from Book Briefs {Review}
Monday
January 23rd: Sharon
from Obsession With Books {Review}
Tuesday
January 24th: Sharon
from Obsession With Books {Guest post and excerpt}
Wednesday
January 25th: Christy from Love of Books {Review}
Thursday
January 26th: Mist from {Guest post}
Thursday
January 26th: Kimberlly from Ultimo Romance {Review and
interview}
Friday
January 27th: LizzieBeth from Lissette E. Manning {Review}
Saturday
January 28th: Michelle from Book Briefs {Guest post and
giveaway}
Sunday
January 29th: Clare from Faery Ink Press {Review}
Monday
January 30th: Christy from Love of Books {Guest post
and giveaway}
Tuesday
January 31st: Anagha from Book
Spark {Review and giveaway}
Wednesday
February 1st: Darcus and Jess from Starcrossed Reviews {Review and giveaway}
Thursday
February 2nd: Giselle from Xpresso Reads {Interview +
giveaway}
Friday
February 3rd: Asher from Paranormal Indulgence
{Review}
Saturday
February 4th: Asher from Paranormal Indulgence {Fact
Fusion and giveaway}
Sunday
February 5th: Hayley from Booking it With Hayley G {Review and
interview}
Monday
February 6th: Dani from Pen to Paper {Review}
Tuesday
February 7th: Amanda from Letters Inside Out {Excerpt}
Tuesday
February 7th: Dani from Pen to Paper {Interview and giveaway}
Wednesday
February 8th: Patricia from My Journey Through the Pages
{Guest post and giveaway}
Thursday
February 9th: Amanda from Letters Inside Out {Review and giveaway}
Friday
February 10th: Kathy from I Write, I Read, I Review {Review}
Friday
February 10th: April from Books For Juliet {Guest
post}
Saturday
February 11th: Sarita from The Fabulous Gift of Life. A Journal
for My Daughter {Guest post and interview}
Sunday
February 12th: Sarita from The Fabulous Gift of Life. A Journal
for My Daughter {Review and giveaway}
Monday
February 13th: Ecey from Ece
Red: YA Book Blog {Review}
Tuesday
February 14th: Ecey from Ece
Red: YA Book Blog {Guest post}
Great post! It's funny we have a town called Riverview only 10 mins from where I live in NB, Canada! Hi Marie! *waves*
ReplyDeleteHi Giselle! I think I remember my mum telling me there was a Riverview in NB. I'd love to set a book in NB someday; my dad was from Shediac. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks again for being part of the tour, Sharon, I appreciate it so much! <3