Interview with Katie McGarry & GIVEAWAY!

Today I'm thrilled to be interviewing author of Pushing the Limits and Dare You To Katie McGarry! I also have two copies of Katie's latest release, Dare You To to give away to two lucky Australian followers thanks to Morey Media and HarlequinTeen :)

Don't forget to check out my review of Dare You To, but let's jump straight into the interview! Enjoy!

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Hi Katie!

Thank you so much for agreeing to take the time out of your busy writing schedule to chat with me. I'm really excited to ask you a few questions about your latest release, Dare You To, which hit stores in the US on May 28th and then here in Australia in early June.

Now, I don't want to take up too much of your time, so let's begin shall we?

1. First off, I have to say congratulations on Dare You To's recent release! Personally, I know how excited I was to finally read the book, so I know it must be a really exciting time for you. Are you as nervous to hear what people think of the book as I imagine you were with the first in the series?
I think I’ll always be nervous. I put a bit of my soul into my stories so it’s hard to wait to hear what people think of them. So far, I’ve been thrilled with the reviews for both PUSHING THE LIMITS and DARE YOU TO.

2. Considering that readers all over the world fell in love with your writing and storytelling in the first book, Pushing the Limits, how was it for you as an author to tell Beth's tale this time around? Was there any added pressure?
I actually wrote DARE YOU TO before PUSHING THE LIMITS was released so I was able to write it in a vacuum. There’s always a pressure when I write—I want to do my characters justice. I want to tell their story correctly.

Beth and Ryan gave me some problems at times. They were determined to change the story I had plotted. Sometimes I fought them, but they always won!

3. To someone who hasn't yet read Dare You To, how would you describe it in five words?
Intense, romantic, gritty, hot, swoon-worthy!

4. I'm a massive fan of the characters in this series. Not only Beth and Ryan from this book, but also the others we fell in love with in book one, Noah, Echo and Isaiah. How do you manage to write such really, deep characters? Obviously, they're very flawed, but really , that's what makes them so real.
I try to know everything about my characters when I write them. I want to know their favorite color, movie, first kiss, first date. What they like and don’t like. I think knowing all the little things about them help create deep characters.

5. Speaking of characters...Beth! My goodness! I don't think I've ever felt for a girl while reading a book more! Maybe it's just me, but I can honestly say I've known girls like Beth; hardened, lonely....just wanting someone to love them. I have to know, did you take inspiration for Beth's character from anywhere in particular?
While I’m not Beth, not at all, I do understand her. At one point in my life, I traveled a difficult path and I lost the ability to trust. I gave Beth this part of my life and it wasn’t easy to revisit those dark places.

6. There's so much emotion in your books. You really know how to explore deep issues like cutting and teen depression. Why is that so important for you to explore?
Because I want people to know that no matter what problem they are facing that there is always hope.

7. And in ending, I have to ask....You allowed us a glimpse into the opening chapters of Crash into You, Isaiah's story at the end of Dare You To, and considering his leading lady not only has an awesome name (I'm not bias, I swear!) and an intriguing life, are there any little hints you can give us about what we're in for in book three? Anything at all? Please, please throw us a bone!
There are going to be some seriously fast cars and some hot kissing!

But before you go.....
6 Quick Questions:

Favorite color? Purple
Favorite movie? Casablanca
Day or Night? Day
Books or Movies? Books
Favorite ice-cream flavor? Chocolate Chip
Lucky number? 3

Thanks again Katie for allowing me to ask you a few questions! Personally, I LOVED Dare You To and I'm looking forward to many, many more terrific books from you in the future :)

Visit Katie:
Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

Add Dare You To on Goodreads!

Thanks to the fantastic folks over at Morey Media and HarlequinTEEN Australia I have two (2) paperback copies of Dare You To to give away!

-To enter simply comment on this post with a way to contact you
-Giveaway will run from June 30th (today) until July 14th (two weeks time)
-You MUST be a follower to enter--that is my only condition :)
-AU residents only--sorry international peeps!

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I'd like to thank Katie once more for her time and good-luck to everyone who enters--this is a fantastic book and if you haven't read it yet, then I recommend picking up a copy!