ARC Giveaway and Interview with Kasie West

21 September, 2012 Giveaways, Interviews 49 comments

Pivot Point by Kasie West Is about a girl, Addie, with the ability to look forward in time and see how a decision will change her future.  Steph and I had the horrifically difficult decision to either interview Kasie West or an Angry Lioness. At first we weren’t sure which one to interview.  However, after temporarily borrowing Addie’s powers, we looked into both futures and this is what we saw:

Our Interview with the angry Lioness

Kat Kennedy: This is Kat Kennedy and Stephanie Sinclair here with Angry Lioness to talk about how angry she is.  I mean, just look at her.  She’s really pissed about something.

Stephanie Sinclair: That she is, Kat.  That she is.  Angry Lionness, tell us, what got you so heinously pissed off?

Angry Lioness: *Roar* *Hiss*

Stephanie Sinclair: Okay, Kat, this was the worst idea ever.  We’re interviewing a lion.  That’s just dumb.

Kat Kennedy: I know! It seemed like a good idea in my dream.  But what can we do about it now?  Might as well keep going.

Stephanie Sinclair: I knew we should have interviewed Kasie!

Angry Lioness: *Roar* *Hiss* *Tugs on her chain*

Stephanie Sinclair: Why do I listen to you? Why?  Let’s go.

Kat Kennedy: One more question, please?

Stephanie Sinclair: Fine!

Kat Kennedy: Angry Lioness, how does it feel doing all the hunting and work while the male lion sleeps, eats your food and still gets called King of the Jungle?

Angry  Lioness: *Roars* *chain breaks*

Kat Kennedy: Oh shit!  She’s free!  Run!

Stephanie Sinclair: I’m already running!  You run!

Kat Kennedy: Oh god!  She’s got me!  Ah!  My soft and tender bits!  It hurts!  It hurts!  Ah the pain!  Ahh!

Angry Lioness: *Roar*

Our Interview with Kasie West

Kat Kennedy: We’re here chatting with Kasie West, author of a brand new novel, Pivot Point and trying not to all plot to run away together to a nonextraditable state

Stephanie Sinclair: Speak for yourself, on the running away

Kasie West: Do we get to leave our children at home?

Stephanie Sinclair: That is mandatory.

Kat Kennedy: Pretty much.

Kasie West: Then yes, we are definitely plotting.

Kat Kennedy: This is kind of a big deal

Your book Pivot Point is one of the more slavered over titles coming out soon

Kasie West: Slavered? Hmm. I hadn’t heard that description yet, but….thanks?

Kat Kennedy: You know, slavering at the bit? You don’t have that in America?

Kasie West: It sounds wet.

Kat Kennedy: Well, it’s what people do when they’re desperate – Okay, people are offering up their firstborn children for an ARC of your book.

Stephanie Sinclair: Kasie, where shall I send my kids?

Kasie West: I have enough kids. I’ll take chocolate though.

Kat Kennedy: Your book’s not wet, is what I’m saying.

Kasie West: Ha.

Kat Kennedy: all thought, I almost just spilled my tea on it – So it could be that too.

Pivot Point involves a world where there are normal people, and people with Abilities. How did you come up with this idea? Was Sliding Doors your inspiration or was it something else?

Kasie West: Yes. I LOVE Sliding Doors. If you haven’t seen it yet, people, you must.

Kat Kennedy: I know! I love that movie too!

Kasie West: There’s just something about alternate realities that intrigues me.

Stephanie Sinclair: I haven’t seen it yet.

Kat Kennedy: What?! Steph!

Kasie West: Stephanie!!! Go watch it.

Right now.

I’ll wait.

Kat Kennedy: We will. We both will.

Stephanie Sinclair: Right after Firefly, LOL.

Kat Kennedy: That moment when she finally kicks the dropkick boyfriend out?

Stellar.

Kasie West: Yes. Such a great movie. I’ll go watch it again right now too.

Are we done then?

Kat Kennedy: NO!

Stephanie Sinclair: Ha, not a chance!

Kat Kennedy: We’re holding you captive here until you answer our questions!

Kasie West: Oh….

Kat Kennedy: That’s just how we roll at Cuddlebuggery

Stephanie Sinclair: So, choices that we make in life seem to be a running theme in Pivot Point. Were there any messages in particular that you wanted to send readers?

Kasie West: Messages……boys are hot…..two boys are even hotter??

No.

Just kidding (sort of)

Kat Kennedy: I love you already, Kasie.

Stephanie Sinclair: Ha, best message ever.

Kat Kennedy: Run away with me…

*Pouty eyes*

Kasie West: We already plotted that, Kat, no need to ask again.

Stephanie Sinclair: Uh, oh. she’s doing the eyes thing. Run Kasie!

Kasie West: No, but really, messages. I think the idea that little seemingly insignificant choices can change outcomes.

I think choices are powerful things.

Kat Kennedy: Truefax.  I wonder what your choice to run away with me will lead to…

Stephanie Sinclair: Shenanigans

Kasie West: LOL

Kat Kennedy: I’m really loving Addie at the moment. She’s smart and sassy! Do you share anything in common with her?

Kasie West: The inability to think before I speak.

Although I’m getting better.

Kat Kennedy: Was she a character that just jumped fully formed from your head like you were a titan – or did she come to you in drips and drabs?

Kasie West: Drips and drabs? Another Australia thing? Yes, to that one. Most of my characters are pretty ill formed at the beginning and are themselves by the end of my books. So then I have to go back and add them to the whole thing.

Kat Kennedy: I’m actually going off script here and asking all these questions I’m not supposed to

Kasie West: Uh oh. Should I be scared?

Stephanie Sinclair: Very.

Kat Kennedy: Because I’m really curious at how you weaved all this together and Addie is such a big part of the likability of the novel

and since I very rarely behave, I figured, why start now?

Stephanie Sinclair: As long as you’re true to yourself, Kat. LOL.

Kat Kennedy: Well, I’m supposed to be asking all these questions about the gorgeous cover – and it is gorgeous – but how did you manage to weave Addie’s two stories together so well?

I have to know!

Kasie West: I’m not gonna lie. This was the hardest book I’ve ever written.

Stephanie Sinclair: Really?

Kasie West: It’s hard to weave alternate realities together.

Kat Kennedy: This is your debut book though – according to your GR profile

Kasie West: It is. But not the first book I’ve written. Just the first book I sold.

Kat Kennedy: I see. Well, I can see why it sold!

Kasie West: Thanks. Uh, but yeah, I wrote the first half as two separate books (kind of) and then combined them and then wrote the last half alternating.

Kat Kennedy: Wow – that’s amazing!

Stephanie Sinclair: Is there one moment in your life where you wished you’d had Addie’s ability?

Kat Kennedy: That wasn’t the next question in the script, Steph… YOU’RE OUT OF LINE!

Stephanie Sinclair: Whoops, sorry. lol. Just go with it!

Kasie West: Every moment in my life?

Kat Kennedy: Same!

Kasie West: It would be so cool to see the future.

That’s probably why I don’t have the ability.

I would totally abuse it.

That’s the only reason.

Kat Kennedy: The cover really is gorgeous by the way. How did that come about?

*Gets us back on track*

Kasie West: Ha.

Kat Kennedy: Fail, Steph! Total fail!

Kasie West: Happy sigh. The cover. I love it.

Kat Kennedy: I love it too!

Kasie West: My editor (love her) actually asked me if I had any ideas. I gave a vague description of a girl looking at herself….

Okay, lie. I gave a really detailed description of exactly what I wanted.  And then they took my very detailed description and threw it out the window and made it much much better.

Kat Kennedy: You? Vague? Never!

Kasie West: I know, right?

Kat Kennedy: I never noticed it before but amidst all the shards (I assumed it was shattering glass – correct me if I’m wrong) one piece is a loveheart

Kasie West:  Honestly, I don’t know what the glass/sparkle/water is. Everyone kind of describes it as something else. But yes, there is definitely a heart shape in there. I noticed that the first time I saw it. And I love it.

Kat Kennedy: Yeah! It’s little details like that which I love to find in covers

It’s getting a lot of rave reviews right now – how are you handling the prepublication stress?

Kasie West: It’s funny because I’m working on another project, which is stressing me out. So it’s keeping my mind off Pivot Point. Because the waiting is killer.

Kat Kennedy: I can only imagine.  I would think waiting on reviews would be the hardest for me

Kasie West: lol That’s hard too, in case you couldn’t tell from the wacky emails I sent you before this interview.

Kat Kennedy: Wacky? No way! Love your emails.  I have a few printed out and hanging on my wall right now

Stephanie Sinclair: Nope, that’s not creepy at all.

Kat Kennedy: Ha! Not really – that’s creepy.

But the decor matched my Kasie West shrine.

Kasie West: Kasie shrine? *Rethinks running away together*.  [The letters] went something like this: Kat, if you hate my book, is the interview still on? Because I don’t want to be sitting here if you hate my book.

Ha!

Kat Kennedy: I actually get that all the time I prefer it to the, “Kat, if you hate my book I’LL CUT YOU!”

Kasie West: Oh, I hadn’t thought of that…..

Kat Kennedy: It WAS an option if you wanted it

Stephanie Sinclair: It’s very effective.

Kasie West: Next time.

Kat Kennedy: Definitely next time.

Are you very organized? Steph and I kind of fainted when we were told you have four children. HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO DO ALL THIS?!

TEACH US YOUR SECRETS AND WE SHALL OBEY!

Kasie West: So I won’t tell you about the two foster kids I’ve had for the last five months then…

So six.

Stephanie Sinclair: O.O

Kat Kennedy: *Faints*

No…. no! NO!

Realy?!

Stephanie Sinclair: How in the world???  How did you find time to balance your writing with the demands of a family?

Kat Kennedy: Woman, how you do this?!

Kasie West: It’s just a temporary thing. But yes, hard. And NO I’m not organized. I think that’s how I survive. I’m pretty laid back.

My oldest is in high school. So she helps a lot.

Kat Kennedy: I’ve been trying the laid back approach for the last 26 years but it’s not working for me with my manuscript.

Kasie West: And my husband is amazing.

Kat Kennedy: Ah! Indentured labor… I didn’t think of that.

Kasie West: Yeah, but it keeps you sane, I’m sure.

Kat Kennedy: True! So very true!

Kasie West: I don’t know. I guess we make time for what we love. And that’s why my house is a filthy pig sty.

Because I hate to clean.

Kat Kennedy: We have SO much in common Kasie!

Kasie West: Running away together back on

Kat Kennedy: I say we wrap this up, inform our families via note and book it to the nearest airport.

I’m thinking somewhere warm.

With lots of beaches.

Kasie West: Sounds great!

Kat Kennedy: Okay, thank you SO much for talking with us, Kasie! Even though this is the second scheduled time… and I was late…

You’ve been BRILLIANT!

Kasie West: Thanks for having me! I love your site. It makes me laugh all the time.

Stephanie Sinclair: Yes, thank you!

Kat Kennedy: Aw! Definitely running away together!

*Kasie Leaves*

Kat Kennedy: We still have some time, want to interview that Angry Lioness?

Stephanie Sinclair: Yeah, I guess. What’s the worst that could happen?

Visit Kasie West’s website for her grand ARC giveaway!  Win an ARC of Pivot Point here on Cuddlebuggery!

 [author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://cuddlebuggery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/KasieWest-small.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Kasie West lives with her family in central California, where the heat tries to kill her with its 115-degree stretches. She graduated from Fresno State University with a BA degree that has nothing to do with writing.

Visit her: Blog | Twitter | GoodReads[/author_info] [/author]

Don’t forget to check out Pivot Point available February 12th 2013!

 

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with–her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school–but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through…and who she can’t live without.

Giveaway

We are giving away one ARC of Pivot Point!

Contest Rules:

  • To enter, please fill out the Raffelcopter form below.
  • We ask that all entrants be at least 13 years or older to enter.
  • The giveaway is open to anyone (US and International).
  • When the winners are chosen, it will be announced here and the winners will be emailed. Please check your email because we are only giving the winner 48 hours to respond! Otherwise another winner will have to be selected.
  • Please enter your email address in the Rafflecopter form and not the comments!
  • Also, please understand that we reserve the right to disqualify any entries we find gaming the system. Cheaters never prosper!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

49 Responses to “ARC Giveaway and Interview with Kasie West”

  1. MiltiadouK

    hahahaha 😀 I always laugh reading your interviews! They are so hilarious 🙂
    And you are right the cover is pretty amazing. Thank you for the international giveaway.

  2. heykelley

    DUDE, I hadn’t heard of Pivot Point, but it sounds awesome. I wonder if it will be at all similar to The Man Who Turned Into Himself (another alternate reality crossover book. So good.). I guess I’ve now joined the ranks of those… slavering… for this book. o_O

  4. jenaye

    Oh yes! I’d take Kasie over the Angry Lioness any day of the week. That alternate interview sounded…painful. And Pivot Point is amazing! Inside and out! 🙂

  5. bamayankee

    Love the interviews.. Had to have been scary talking with the angry lioness : ) I cannot wait to read Pivot Point!! I’ve been hearing good things about it for a while now!! 

  8. Cayce_23

    Lol – the angry Lioness!!
    Thanks for the laughs! 😀
     
    Btw, Pivot Point sounds absolutely a-mazing!!!

  9. Kasie West

    Wow, that is a really big picture……of my face. Seriously? You had to go with the ‘large’ option? 😉 I had fun, girls, thanks for the interview. Good luck, everyone.

  13. desiree1612

    Oooh, pick me, pick me, pick me! I have had my eye on Pivot Point for a while now!

  15. Cyn123

    Sounds interesting. As a person who always second guesses herself, that power would be awesome.

  16. Cyn123

    Sounds interesting. As a person who always second guesses herself, that power would be awesome. Thanks for the giveaway!

  18. Georgiabb6

    As always, I love your interview! And I can’t wait to read Pivot Point, it looks amazing! Thanks for the giveaway, and for having it international!

  20. Callamae

    Kasie West sounds awesome and I need her book to feel complete!!!! xxxx
    Great interview guys. I completely understand why the lioness was so peed off 😉

  27. Jessy

    fingers crossed! i really, really want the  ARC! Hilarious interview by the way 😀

  28. yashuu96

    With my luck i never win these things but i really like the sound of alternate realities

  32. readingwishes

    Ha, this interview is hilarious! Sometimes I’m surprised that the authors your interviewing don’t run away in the opposite direction.  Do you make them sign a contract beforehand so they can’t back down? Is that it? 😉
     
    Interesting interview, great book (I can’t wait to read Pivot Point!), ARC giveaway, the crazniness that is Cuddlebuggery – what’s not to love!

  34. emeraldisrising

    Thanks so much for the giveaway! I’ve had this one on my to-read list for a while and the premise seems so fascinating. I can’t wait. 🙂 

  35. Istalkbooks

    Hilarious Interview! Loved it! 😀 I really want to win this book! Thanks for the Giveaway! 

  39. Natalia_Belikov

    Marvelous interview Kat!! Im SO looking forward to Pivot Point! it sounds amazing! =DDD thanks for the wonderful post and awesome giveaway ^_^

  40. aprilmom00

    Great interview and she is local author to me 🙂 I hate to clean too 

  42. Petra

    LOL, an interview with a lioness. I have Sliding Doors in my DVD collection. Looking forward to Pivot Point even more because of the mention 🙂

  43. theladyreads

    Thanks for the giveaway! I absolutely love this cover and it sounds like an awesome book!

  44. Ava

    I’ve been hearing great things about this book – I really want to read it!
     
    Thank you so much for the opportunity to win!
    <3,
    – Ava

  45. CAnneFrye

    *flails* This book looks so good! What an awesome interview AND giveaway. *squee* I love the premise and the cover.