Spotlight & Giveaway: How to Quit Your Crush by Amy Fellner Dominy

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Amy Fellner Dominy to HJ!

Hi Amy and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, How to Quit Your Crush!

 
Thanks for hanging out with me today!
 

Please summarize the book a la Twitter style for the readers here:

Mai and Anthony agree on one thing: they’re completely wrong for each other.
So how to crush their crushes? A two-week fling. Secret dates designed to prove their differences. What can go wrong?
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

“If I start taking off my clothes, stop me.”
Josie pauses with her hand on the doorknob of Jason’s house. Through the heavy wood door, I can hear the thrum of music and the loud chatter and laughter of our graduation party in progress. A rager. I think that’s the correct terminology. I’ve never been to one myself.
“Are you planning to take off your clothes?”

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• This is my ninth published novel and the first one with the guy’s point of view.
• I’m an Ophidiophobia like Mai in the story. (Afraid of snakes.) And I live in the desert!!
• Like Mai and Anthony, I also fell for my opposite. (And I married him!)
• Mai and Anthony first appeared in ANNOUNCING TROUBLE. I wasn’t expecting to write a book about them so there were more scenes with them–and more kissing. I had to pull all that out once I decided to write HOW TO QUIT YOUR CRUSH.

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

It’s lust at first site. Anthony sees Mai sitting poolside over spring break and approaches her with an invite to play pool chicken. Once she introduces herself as Killer, he realizes there’s a whole lot more to this girl. Mai, in turn, can’t look away from the athlete in front of her. But it’s his sense of humor that draws her in.
 

Using just 5 words, how would you describe Hero and Heroine’s love affair?

Want. Shouldn’t. Want. Shouldn’t. Need.
 

The First Kiss…

Here’s how Mai remembers it:
We were sitting in his car, a half-moon shining through the windshield, the sound of my heart drowning out everything else. My first kiss. Ever. The nerves I expected. The awkwardness, definitely. Me fisting that purple tee and pulling him closer, not so much.

Without revealing too much, what is your favorite scene in the book?

“So what time tonight?” he asks.
“Six at the library. And dress up.”
“We’re dressing up?” he asks sharply.
“I’m not. But you should because it’ll make you more uncomfortable.”
He stares a second and then laughs. “Oh, Killer.”
“What?”
“If you weren’t such a pain in my ass, I’d kiss you right
now.”
“If you weren’t such a pain in my ass, I’d let you.”
I start up the path, his low laugh trailing behind me.

If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would be absolutely crucial to include?

A movie would have to include graduation night when Mai and Anthony reconnect after a flirtation in the spring. Mai bought red lipstick, very unlike her, when she was crushing on Anthony. She’s wearing it now, the night of graduation, sitting in Anthony’s car after he’s just driven her home:

In the dim light, her brown eyes are like magnets. They tug at me. “You looked beautiful tonight. Up on the stage, giving your speech.”
“I was in a plastic gown the color of dried blood.”
I lean forward, sliding my thumb over her lips, lightly. Slowly. “You were in this lipstick.”
Her breath shudders out. Her eyes widen, and then she pulls back until we’re not touching. Not in danger of touching. “This lipstick causes nothing but trouble.”
“Yeah, it does.”

Readers should read this book …

If you love stories about characters who don’t think they’re right for each other but are really not right for anyone else. And if you love quick, funny banter between two people who click. And if you love smoldering chemistry that is always boiling just under the surface. And if you love happily ever afters that are hard-fought and earned by the last page. Those are the types of books I love, and hopefully the type of book I’ve written in HOW TO QUIT YOUR CRUSH.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I’ve just started a new YA romance. This one in the world of football. Too early to say more or I’ll jinx it. 🙂

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: Winner receives an eBook of ANNOUNCING TROUBLE, the companion novel where Mai and Anthony start their fling. “A spectacular, fun, engrossing read about choices, about taking chances and the consequences of following your dreams.” –Susan’s Reviews

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Have you ever been on a bad date? Tell us what make it so awful!

 
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Excerpt from How to Quit Your Crush:

Here is Mai and Anthony, outside the Reptile House on their first awful date. Mai has just admitted to being lost in the desert as a kid and that’s why snakes scare her:

I step in again, put my arms around her and pull her against my chest. She lets out a startled breath of air. Her spine stiffens for a second…then relaxes.
“You’re breaking the no-touching rule,” she says.
“Yeah, I am.”
There’s another breath and then her voice, muffled against my chest. “Fine. For one minute.”
Smiling, I pull her closer. I slide my arms across the curve of her back, one hand lifting into the cool softness of her hair, cupping her head against my heart. The scent of flowers is strong in the air but nothing near as good as the sweet smell of her hair. “No wonder you were so scared today. How did they leave you alone all that time?”
“It wasn’t their fault.” I feel the hesitant touch of her fingers at my waist. “They warned me it could be dangerous. I should’ve listened when they said to stay on the trail.” Her throat works over a swallow. “It’s okay, Anthony. It was years ago.”
“It’s not years ago in your head though, is it?”
She sighs. Her hands slide all the way around me. “Two minutes,” she mutters.
I smile again, glad to feel her relax.
“I guess I was more tense from today than I realized.”
“You’re spending every day in a place that scares you. Why wouldn’t you be?”
“It gets easier every day. My parents are both so proud I’m doing this. But,” she finally steps back to put space between us. “They would never, ever make me face an actual snake.”
I nod with understanding. “Then it’s a good thing they’re not here.” I grab her hand.
She shrieks. “Wait—you’re not still—”
“We’re going in.”
“Let go of my hand. No touching!”
“It’s for health reasons.”
“I can’t go in there.”
“You can with me. You do all kinds of out-of-character things with me. Remember? You just said so.” Still, I let her hand go. It has to be her choice. “You want to get over this?”
“Yes.” She folds her arms over her chest like a grumpy child. “But not if it means going in.”
“You know they’re behind thick glass. They can’t get you. They can’t touch you. Even if they could, I wouldn’t let them.”
She closes her eyes on a groan. “I didn’t say it was a rational fear.”
“Well. The best way to get over irrational fears is to face them in a safe, controlled environment.”
When her eyes flash open it’s with a challenging glare. “And what are you afraid of?”
I tilt my head, thinking. “A girl I want to kiss. Constantly.”

Excerpts. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Book Info:

Mai Senn knows Anthony Adams is no good for her—no matter how hard she might crush on him. She’s valedictorian; he’s a surf bum. She’s got plans; he’s got his art. Complete opposites in every way. Vinegar and baking soda, they once joked. A chemical reaction that bubbled.

Yeah, they bubbled. Maybe still do.

Good thing Anthony’s got the perfect plan: two weeks to prove just how not good they are together. Whoever can come up with the worst date—something the other will seriously hate, proving how incompatible they truly are—wins.

Like taking a snake-phobe to the Reptile House at the zoo (his idea).

Or a cooking class where they don’t even get to eat the food (her idea).

It’s all about the competition, and it’s meant to help them finally crush their crushes. But it wasn’t supposed to be so hot. Or so fun. And when Mai’s future becomes at stake, will she be able to do the right thing and quit Anthony forever?
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Meet the Author:

Amy grew up loving to read and figured out at an early age that books were magical and necessary. She started submitting her own stories to be published when she was thirteen. Amy is now the award-winning author of nine books spanning young adult, middle grade, and picture books. Titles for Entangled include Announcing Trouble and the companion novel, Two Week Fling. Amy lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and a puppy who is training them. Visit Amy online at www.amydominy.com or follow her on Instagram at @amydominy.
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