Blog Tour: Lovely, Dark, and Deep by Justina Chen (Tens List + Giveaway)

Title: Lovely, Dark, and Deep
Author: Justina Chen
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication Date: July 31, 2018

Synopsis: What would you do if the sun became your enemy? 

That's exactly what happens to Viola Li after she returns from a trip abroad and develops a sudden and extreme case of photosensitivity -- an inexplicable allergy to sunlight. Thanks to her crisis-manager parents, she doesn't just have to wear layers of clothes and a hat the size of a spaceship. She has to stay away from all hint of light. Say goodbye to windows and running outdoors. Even her phone becomes a threat when its screen burns her.

Viola is determined to maintain a normal life, particularly after she meets Josh. He's a funny, talented Thor look-alike who carries his own mysterious grief. But the intensity of their romance makes her take more and more risks, and when a rebellion against her parents backfires dangerously, she must find her way to a life -- and love -- as deep and lovely as her dreams.

About the Author: Justina Chen is an award-winning writer. Her latest book, THE ART OF INSPIRATION: LEAD YOUR BEST STORY, is for any leader who wants to inspire employees, customers, and constituents. Her YA novel, NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL, was named to Best Books lists by Kirkus Reviews and Barnes & Noble. Her other novels include A Blind Spot for Boys, Return to Me, Girl Overboard (a Junior Library Guild premiere selections) and Nothing but the Truth (and a few white lies), which won the Asian Pacific American Award for Literature. Additionally, Justina co-founded readergirlz, a cutting-edge literacy and social media project for teens, which won the National Book Foundation's Award for Innovations in Reading. When she isn’t writing for teens, Justina is a story strategist who helps good leaders become great leaders through storytelling. Formerly, she was the speechwriter for a president of Microsoft Entertainment & Devices. She conducts popular storytelling workshops and has presented at organizations around the world.

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Top Ten Facts I Learned While Writing Lovely, Dark, and Deep:

1. Sudden and inexplicable photosensitivity is a real—if rare—condition. There are actual reported cases where screens—computer and phones—can burn your skin, if you have this condition.

2. Sudden and inexplicable urge to purge a pantry is a real—if unrare—condition when you are procrastinating on writing a tough scene. That bizarre behavior is only matched by the sudden and inexplicable urge to stuff your face with alternating bites of potato chips and dark chocolate, as you comfort eat yourself through writing an emotionally wrenching scene.

3. Periodic sanitizing of your keyboard is essential in the life of a working writer. (See: above.)

4. Temperatures can climb to 117 degrees in Abu Dhabi where Viola (the heroine) wants to go to college.

5. Temperatures can climb to ultra-hot degrees when you are writing a steamy scene (say, one set inside a pick-up truck during a meteor shower).

6. Seattle has an abundance of staircases all over the city. And someone actually mapped them all!

7. Said staircases are the setting for a scene that I hope makes you go: “aww.”

8. Joy is researching all the different desserts and soups that Viola bakes and cooks throughout the book.

9. Deep sadness is discovering all that people with severe photosensitivity must give up.

10. 2017 was named the most dangerous year to be a journalist between being jailed or killed.

Giveaway:

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-Kristen ♥