Giveaway: Radiate and interview with author Marley Gibson

Radiate by Marley Gibson

Hayley Matthews is determined to be the best cheerleader she can. She works hard and pushes herself 110% all the time.
Then Hayley finds a lump on her leg. The diagnosis is cancer. The prognosis is unclear. She could lose her leg. Or maybe her life.
At first Haley is scared, terrified. In an instant, everything she’s worked for seems out of reach. But Haley is strong. She’s going to fight this disease. She will not let it take her life or her dreams.

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Ghost Huntress Website
RADIATE book trailer
The Radiate Foundation

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--The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.

#RADIATE is fictionalized version of what I went thru as teenage cheerleader w/cancer. You can overcome anything w/a positive attitude!

--How did you get the idea for the story?

RADIATE is based on my experience the summer of 1982 when I was a cheerleader and diagnosed with bone cancer.  I never really understood at the time why *I* had to have cancer – at one of the most important times in my high school career.  The older I got, the more I knew I had to share my story of overcoming and hopefully help another teen (or anyone) who has to go through cancer, it’s treatment, and effect on your life.  I had the idea in my head for years, but it wasn’t until I met my (now) husband and told him what I went through that I knew the angle of how to tell the story.  When I explained everything to him, he said, “I love that cheerleading saved your life,” and I knew what I had to do.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?

Well, Hayley is so much me, I feel like I have dinner with her every day.  I always get asked by people if I put myself into my writing.  The answer is usually “no,” because I don’t write about myself.  However, in RADIATE, that’s not the case.  I will say that Hayley is a lot stronger in dealing with people and their reaction to her cancer than I was.  Most of the time, people didn’t know what to say to me and wanted to treat me differently.  To that, I did my best to hold my (bald) head high and not let whispers get to me.  Hayley did that as well, but she also confronted those in the book who disappointed her or treated her differently.  She’s a very strong girl.

--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?

I don’t read as much as I used to, which is sad.  I travel full-time and am always on the go.  I will say that my ereader is a God-send.  Living in an RV, I can’t really have stacks of books, but my Nook lets me have tons of them in one location.  I’m reading more and more because of that.  I love anything my critique partner, Wendy Toliver writes, and Jenn Echols, as well.  My new fave is my friend Myra McIntyre.  Of course, I’m still a sucker for a good romance with favorites like Sandra Brown, Barbara Delinsky, Roxanne St. Claire.

--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?

I have a proposal in with my editor right now that I’m waiting to hear about – fingers crossed!—that will be a very fun series if they decide to go with it.  Also, coming out soon is a YA ebook called POSER, about a teenage girl whose mother—a former super model—is pushing her toward a life on the runway when all she wants to do is go to college and become a doctor.  It’s set in Miami’s South Beach and has an awesome romance with a hot guy!  That should be coming out soon.

--If a fairy godmother told you your life could be like a favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?

Wow…awesome question!  BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY.  I adore that book, the heroine, everything about it.  To be a single gal in the 90s in hip, chic London, going out with your friends, making your way, and looking for Mr. Right…sounds like a fun time.  I think those books were amazingly entertaining and they made me want to write.

--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on your playlist- songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote?

Oh yes!  Music…loud…streaming through the headphones.  I’m really into Dance/House/Trance/Electronica, so I’ll either cue up my Pandora stations (which I’m listening to as I’m answering this interview) or RadioDanz or MusicOne.  There’s just something about the 808 beat and underlying tones that really inspire me and get my fingers dashing across the keys. 

--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

I think I’d love to be able to know what people are really thinking – sort of like Mel Gibson’s character in that movie WHAT WOMEN WANT.  So often people don’t tell the truth or leave out details or what have you.  I think it would be cool to actually know the truth that lies in people’s hearts and minds.  Of course…it could drive you crazy, too!  LOL!

--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?

Free time?  What’s that?  LOL!!  Well, I love to cook and am a total foodie.  I love new food finds, great restaurants, and making meals for my family that really have them raving.  I adore my rescue kitties, Madison and Boo, who are a year and a half.  They travel with us everywhere and are the most special little babies ever.  I know…I’m biased.  Also, I’m a certified SCUBA diver (my hubby and I got married underwater!) and so I love strapping a tank on my back and getting in the water.  Our new hobby we picked up is hunting Florida spiny lobsters ourselves.  Amazing fun…and delicious!

--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?

Just that I can’t express how much it means to an author when you get feedback or fan mail from a reader.  It’s the highlight of my day when I hear from people.  If I can reach just one person with my characters and their conflict, then I’ve done my job as an author.  So, please, if you’ve read any of my books, please drop me a like at www.marleygibson.com or www.radiatebook.com or www.ghosthuntress.com or through Facebook – marley.h.gibson or Twitter @MarleyGibson.

Lightning round: this or that?

Vanilla or chocolate? – both…swirled together.  Mmm…

Edward or Jacob?  Man, that’s not a fair question.  I loved Edward, then loved Jacob, then Edward, then Jacob.  I think Edward came to “easy” to Bella.  Jacob would have been more of a challenge.

Hockey or soccer? Hockey all the way!

Ebook or paper? Paper, but I’m learning to love ebooks.

Salty or sweet? Salty!

Beach or mountains? Beach…always and twice on Sunday.

Phone call or email? E-mail.  I can edit my thoughts.  LOL!

Early bird or night owl?  Night owl all the way.

Dog or cat?  Love both dearly, but I’m a total cat person.

Messy or neat?  I refuse to answer on the grounds that my mother might read this and it will totally incriminate me!  LOL!

Ninjas or pirates?  Neither.  Ghost hunters! = )

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Do you know any cancer survivors?

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