Giveaway and Interview: Surfacing by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Surfacing by Nora Raleigh Baskin

A lyrical and deeply moving portrait of grief, blame, and forgiveness, and of finding the courage to confront your ghosts — one truth at a time.
As soon as she was under, Maggie heard the quiet, though every sound was amplified in her ears and in her brain...Sound, like shame, travels four times faster under the water.
Though only a sophomore, Maggie Paris is a star on the varsity swim team, but she also has an uncanny, almost magical ability to draw out people’s deepest truths, even when they don’t intend to share them. It’s reached a point where most of her classmates, all but her steadfast best friend, now avoid her, and she’s taken to giving herself away every chance she gets to an unavailable — and ungrateful — popular boy from the wrestling team, just to prove she still exists. Even Maggie’s parents, who are busy avoiding each other and the secret deep at the heart of their devastated family, seem wary of her. Is there such a thing as too much truth?

Publishes in US: March 12th 2013 by Candlewick
Genre: contemporary
Source: Candlewick



Buy it:  Barnes & Noble   Amazon    IndieBound    BookDepository.com

Find Nora online: site

Read my review here

--How did you get the idea for the story?  Like all my books, this is another version of my life..although with each progressive work my experience becomes more and more symbolically expressed. The actual memory of drowning however, came from a story I heard from a woman who nearly died in a pool as a child. I was so taken by her vivid, peaceful description of what it felt like I knew I wanted to use it.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with? Easy, from this novel, Surfacing I would least like to have dinner or spend any time whatsoever with Matthew. Matthew is based on a true life experience..which makes me wonder what I could possibly have been thinking at the time. I feel that way pretty much every time I look back on the choices I’ve made in my life.  I would like to see “Nathan” again, but just as in the novel he probably never wants to talk to me again.

--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates? Yes, I have a middle grade novel RUNT coming out in July 2013 and another YA title, a true magical-realism time travel love story novel that takes place on a New York City subway car, coming out in 2014.

--What book(s) is your book’s “cousin”? (Similar kind of read, set-up or style) Oh, I suppose the Lovely Bones would be a similar idea..the reader hears the voice of someone who has died, although in Surfacing it turns out only to be Maggie’s guilt that speaks to her and ultimately forgives her.

--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read? Oh, I read all the time. I have several favorite authors, Anne Tyler, Susan Miller, Barbara Kingsolver, Ann Pachett..many more. If they come out with a new book, I buy it. My younger son is an english major at UVA and he passes new work on to me, as well. If he says to read it, I read it.

--If a fairy godmother told you could be put into the world of your favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?  I tend to read only realistic fiction so that’s a hard question. I think the only book I’d like to live in for 24 hours would be Charlotte’s Web, so I could hear the animals talking. That would be amazing.

--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? I need to eat a lot, especially when I am revising. Revising is hard work and I am constantly rewarding myself with cookies. Not good. Luckily I am only revising a part of my writing time. I listen to music that reflects the mood or time period of my book. Right now I am listening to Regina Spektor.

--If you could have any superpower what would you choose? I would be invisible and then spy on everyone I know..and I would certainly regret it instantly but I wouldn’t be able to control myself. For this reason, I am very glad I have no superpowers.

--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time? Yoga, asana and mediation. Be with my friends and talk. I like to talk a lot.

--What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self? You are worth so much more than you think, but I know it will take you another 35 years to believe that and even then it will be a struggle. At the same time, this will make you empathetic and give you a lot to write about..oh, and Love and Sex are not the same thing.

--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?  Wow, well..thank you. That’s all I can say. I put my heart into all my work, sometimes it works better than other times but it is my attempt to find truth and understanding. I am enormously appreciative that any one “hears” or “feels” what I am trying to express. Thank you opening your heart to me.

Lightning round: this or that?

Vanilla or chocolate?

Chocolate, of course, except on warm apple pie.

Edward or Jacob?

Good lord, I had to look that up, so clearly I have no answer.

Hockey or soccer?

Soccer.

Ebook or paper?

paper

Salty or sweet?

Salty.

Beach or mountains?

Mountains, hands down.

Phone call or email?

depends on the person. I do love a good email exchange, though.

Early bird or night owl?

early bird, all my life.

Dog or cat?

please don’t make me choose

Messy or neat?

externally neat, internally messy

Ninjas or pirates?

ninjas, as I am now a yoga instructor

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