Backstage Pass Tour: Travel Talk with Jesse & Oliver (+ Giveaway)

I'm so, so thrilled today to be welcoming authors Ali Novak and Miranda Kenneally onto the blog today! Like these ladies, I have a thing for musicians. From my earliest memories of falling in love with boy bands to my current love for pop music, music and musical artists have always been sources of fascination for me. Without further ado, let me give it up for these ladies as they share where their musical heroes would go when they're off tour!

There is just something about a musician that is irresistible. The fame, the fans, the talent! So, it is no wonder that more and more teen musicians are showing up in young adult novels. Two authors with recent music-themed books are Ali Novak and Miranda Kenneally. Today, the authors visit Alexa Loves Books to give readers a ‘backstage pass’ to get to know their musical heroes. Read on to find out where Oliver, the lead singer of the Heartbreakers from Ali’s book, and Nashville heartthrob Jesse from Miranda’s newest release, travel when they are not on tour.

Ali: My latest YA novel, The Heartbreakers, begins with Stella Samuel, a girl with a passion for photography. Stella’s sister Cara has non-Hodgkin lymphoma, so in order to cheer her up, Stella goes on a road trip to get an autographed CD from Cara’s favorite band, the Heartbreakers. Before the signing session, Stella meets a cute stranger at Starbucks. Only when she is standing in line for an autograph does Stella realize the boy who paid for her coffee is actually Oliver Perry, lead singer of the band. What follows is a wild ride filled with adventure, difficult choices, and of course, heartbreak.

Being part of a band means lots of travel, and Oliver loves going to new places. Of all the countries he’s traveled too, Oliver has a soft spot for Italy. Besides music, Oliver has a talent for cooking, so he very much enjoys the passion and connection the people of Italy have with food. Although he loves traveling, when Oliver has time off, he prefers to spend his vacation time at home. As a musician, he spends a lot of time away from home and his family and friends, so when his schedule is free, spending time with them is his top priority.

As for me, I’d love to go back and visit Ireland, which was where I came up with the idea for The Heartbreakers.

Miranda: My new book Jesse’s Girl is about a girl named Maya who, for her school's career day, gets to spend a day shadowing teen country music superstar Jesse Scott. Jesse Scott is a big fan of the Caribbean. He loves being alone on the beach, just playing his guitar and drinking out of a coconut. He wouldn't mind a certain girl joining him on a secluded beach, though. ;-) 

As an author, I'm just like Jesse. I love going to the Caribbean and drinking out of coconuts. 

About Ali Novak: Ali Novak writes contemporary young adult romance and is a recent graduate of the University of Madison Wisconsin's creative writing program. She wrote her first full length novel, My Life with the Walter Boys, at the age of fifteen. Since posting the story online, it has received more than 33 million reads and is now published by Sourcebooks Fire. Readers can connect with Ali on Facebook.

About The Heartbreakers: Stella will do anything for her sick sister, Cara—even stand in line for an autographed Heartbreakers CD…for four hours. She’s totally winning best birthday gift this year. At least she met a cute boy with soft brown hair and gorgeous blue eyes while getting her caffeine fix. Too bad she’ll never see him again. Except, Stella’s life has suddenly turned into a cheesy love song. Because Starbucks Boy is Oliver Perry – lead singer for the Heartbreakers. And even after she calls his music crap, Oliver still gives Stella his phone number. And whispers quotes from her favorite Disney movie in her ear. OMG, what is her life? But how can Stella even think about being with Oliver – dating and laughing and pulling pranks with the band – when her sister could be dying of cancer? [Buy here: Amazon || Barnes and Noble || iBooks]

About Miranda Kenneally: Miranda Kenneally enjoys reading and writing young adult literature, and loves Star Trek, music, sports, Mexican food, Twitter, coffee, and her husband. She is from Tennessee but now lives and works in Washington, D.C. Visit www.mirandakenneally.com and www.dearteenme.com!

About Jesse's Girl: Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she'd get to shadow the Jesse Scott, Nashville's teen idol. But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He's as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he's accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya's lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse's pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya's playing back up to other people's dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart-and go solo? [Buy here: Amazon || Barnes and Noble || iBooks // my review]

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