"Intermission" by Serena Chase ... and a GIVEAWAY!

In celebration of her latest release, Serena is hosting a giveaway. You can find the Rafflecopter link at the bottom of this post. Good luck!

Q & A with Serena...

Q: What was the inspiration for Intermission?

 A: Intermission began eight or nine(ish) years ago as a short story assignment I completed as part of the Apprentice Course with the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild. My mentor for that program, author Sandra Byrd, thought it had potential to be expanded into a novel. Many years and many drafts later … it is finally meeting the world.

Q: What would you be doing if you were not an author?

A:  I’d like to say something in the entertainment business, because that has always been my drive, my passion. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of jobs in my area (rural Iowa) in which I can utilize my formal education (my degree is in Music Business—I’d intended to stay in Nashville, where I went to college, but … love brought me back home to Iowa.) I did enjoy being a substitute teacher at some area high schools several years ago, so I might have gone back to school to get my teaching licensure.  Luckily, I’ve found my passion.

Q: What do you consider the hardest part about being a writer?

A:  Social isolation. It is very difficult to balance having a real life off the page with the time and focus necessary to create fictional lives within the pages of your stories.

Q: What can you tell me about your next project? 

A: For November’s NaNoWriMo event I’m heading back to E’veria, the world created in my Eyes of E’veria fantasy series. My original plan was to write a novella about Veetrish Storyteller Rowlen de Whittier, who is a minor character in the existing books. But the more I get into my planning, the more I realize this is a big story, and it will likely turn into a full-length novel before I’m through.  At present, I’m planning it to be a mash-up of two reimagined fairy tales, but I’m not ready to divulge, publicly, which fairy tales quite yet. You’ll have to wait and see!

My review...

Sixteen-year-old Faith Prescott cannot wait to leave her small-town Iowa community for Broadway, much to her parents’ dismay. They, particularly her mother, look down on the music profession. Therefore, they are not impressed to meet Noah Spencer, a nineteen-year-old who shares Faith’s musical theater dreams. Faith doesn’t understand where the dislike comes from, but her parents are determined to keep her away from Noah. When rumors threaten her friendships, and even freedom, Faith must decide what is most important to her: her dreams or obeying her parents.

Chases’s latest is a beautifully written, first person POV coming-of-age story. As a fan of everything musical, I loved it! The characters are likable, and the moral issues and family dynamics are realistic. First love and asserting one’s independence are key themes. I do need to note that there is some verbal and emotional abuse included, though it is handled skillfully. It is nice to read a book where the teen characters have values and a strong faith. Religious themes are woven throughout, but they are not overwhelming. While it is a bit hard to tolerate Faith’s mother at times, she does portray the belief some people have that music is not a legitimate career path. However, dreams are God-given, and the characters accurately depict the struggle of following what is in your heart versus obeying your parents.

One of my favorite takeaway quotes is: “When you’re certain that what you’re holding onto is something true, leap.”

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book. I was not required to leave a review. Opinions expressed are my own 

Amazon link for purchase...

http://amzn.to/2fhfqka

About Serena...

Serena Chase is the author of the critically-acclaimed Eyes of E'veria series and a regular contributor to USA Today's Happy Ever After blog. A lifelong performer who sometimes speaks in show tunes, Serena lives in Iowa with her husband Dave, teen daughters Delaney and Ellerie, and a 100-pound white Goldendoodle named Albus, who is the biggest star of her Instagram account.

Where you can connect with Serena:

Twitter:       https://twitter.com/Serena_Chase
Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/SerenaChaseAuthorOfficial/
Newsletter: http://serenachase.com/about-serena/newsletter-sign-up/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/serena_chase/
Website:     http://serenachase.com/
Happily Ever After blog;  http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/?s=serena+chase

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