Cover reveal: 'Missing Dixie' by Caisey Quinn, who talks NA with Cora Carmack and Sophie Jordan
HEA is thrilled to unveil the cover of Missing Dixie, the final book in Caisey Quinn's Neon Dreams trilogy, arriving Oct. 27. (To see a larger version of the cover, click on the blue arrow in the lower right corner of the image.) And bonus: Caisey discusses the New Adult subgenre with fellow authors Cora Carmack (All Played Out) and Sophie Jordan (Unleashed).
About Missing Dixie (courtesy of William Morrow Paperbacks):
Fighting for redemption…
I've lived most of my life in darkness, beneath the shadows of secrets and addictions. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt the only girl I'd ever loved-the one who brought me into the light. In my entire life I'd made one promise-a promise I'd intended to keep. I've broken that promise and now I have to live with the fallout. Dixie Lark hates me, and I have to tell her that I love her. I also have to tell her a truth that might destroy us forever.
Can she love me even if she can't forgive me?
Learning to move on…
Gavin Garrison broke his promise to my brother and he broke my heart in the process. I may never love anyone the way I've loved him, but at least I won't spend my life wondering what if. We had our one night and he walked away. I'm finally beginning to move on when my brother's wedding and a battle of the bands brings us back together.
Our band is getting a second chance, but I don't know if I can give him one. How do you hand your heart back to the person who set it on fire once already?
CAISEY TALKS NA WITH CORA CARMACK AND SOPHIE JORDAN
As the Neon Dreams series comes to a close with the release of Missing Dixie, the third and final installment, I've been chatting with some author friends about the trend that is New Adult and why they read and write it. Recently I was able to harass interview two of my favorite authors, Cora Carmack and Sophie Jordan, about the genre and their experience with it! Here's what they had to say!
CQ: I love writing New Adult and have heard mixed opinions on its ability to hold its own as an independent genre. What do you think makes New Adult stand out from other genres?
Cora: I think what sets apart NA from other genres is how underserved the market was for so long, and how needed these books are. Moving into adulthood is straight-up terrifying. And we go into it with hopes and dreams and fears and so much conflicting advice. And most of that advice is useless because there are no easy tricks and tips that are going to get you on your feet and make you feel confident and enable you to find a successful future. All you can do is get through it, and do the best you can. And because of that, I think it's incredibly important that there are books where young adults can see themselves on the page, and see someone else slogging through all the mess of adulthood.
Sophie: What I think makes New Adult stand out from other genres is that it answers and fulfills a need in readers that no one even realized was a "thing" before 2010. It's still relatively new and unique and fresh and anything goes within the NA spectrum. Whatever flavor you're looking for ... whatever mood you're in, you can find it within NA.
CQ: This is so true! I love that this is the time when it's OK to make lots of mistakes. My characters make plenty! And I agree about the broad spectrum! I think I've read everything from sweet and innocent to full-on erotica within the NA genre! It's an interesting age for characters, that's for sure! That being said, what is your favorite thing about New Adult? The sweetness? The steam?
Cora: Can I just say ditto to my above answer? Haha. I love how many readers make an emotional connection with NA books. I think that a lot of readers find comfort and hope in them. They ease some of the panic that's ever present in those transition years.
Sophie: That the voice is so familiar and accessible ... at least to me. Everyone remembers the angst of their early 20s! On a personal level, it's when I first fell in love. Actually it's when a lot of "firsts" happened for me. I think it's the same for a lot of women and why we are so drawn to NA.
CQ: It's definitely true for me as well! Speaking of firsts, what was the first New Adult book you read and loved?
Cora: I believe it was Easy by Tammara Webber. Or possibly Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. I read them both around the same time.
Sophie: Tammara Webber's Easy! It made me fall in love with NA!
CQ: Easy is a great one! I think mine was Monica Murphy's One Week Girlfriend and then I was hooked on all the NA books! So now that we know who took your NA virginity, what was the most recent New Adult book you read and loved?
Cora: I'm going to say the Capital Confessions series by Chanel Cleeton. I think the publisher is classifying them as contemporary romance. But in book one, the heroine is an intern. And in book two, the heroine is in law school. And I think both books really capture the confusion and frustration of starting out in the real world, which IS New Adult to me.
Sophie: Um ... Chaos by Jamie Shaw and before that The Deal by Elle Kennedy. Loved them both. Hard!!
CQ: The Deal was the last one I read, too! And I am pumped about Chanel's new series as well! Jamie's books have some sexy musicians similar to mine so I know I'll love them! Speaking of musicians, if you have to pick one New Adult hero to marry, which one would it be? Athlete, billionaire, cop, military man or musician?
Cora: Musician. So he can sing me to sleep. In fact, I'll take Gavin please. :)
Sophie: Ohh ... I think it's a tie between athlete and military man.
CQ: Cora, I'll trade you Gavin for Silas … maybe. For a weekend here and there. Sophie, no cheating. Maybe he can be a former college athlete turned military man? Surely he's out there somewhere! You know my pick, musicians all the way.
Thank you so much for chatting with me about New Adult, ladies!
Find out more about the authors and their books at caiseyquinnwrites.com, www.coracarmack.com and www.sophiejordan.net.