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Monday, April 24, 2017

Cold Summer Blog Tour: Interview with Gwen Cole



Cold Summer by Gwen Cole
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Pub Date:  May 2nd 2017
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Today, he’s a high school dropout with no future.
Tomorrow, he’s a soldier in World War II.

Kale Jackson has spent years trying to control his time-traveling ability but hasn’t had much luck. One day he lives in 1945, fighting in the war as a sharpshooter and helplessly watching soldiers—friends—die. Then the next day, he’s back in the present, where WWII has bled into his modern life in the form of PTSD, straining his relationship with his father and the few friends he has left. Every day it becomes harder to hide his battle wounds, both physical and mental, from the past.

When the ex-girl-next-door, Harper, moves back to town, thoughts of what could be if only he had a normal life begin to haunt him. Harper reminds him of the person he was before the PTSD, which helps anchor him to the present. With practice, maybe Kale could remain in the present permanently and never step foot on a battlefield again. Maybe he can have the normal life he craves.

But then Harper finds Kale’s name in a historical article—and he’s listed as a casualty of the war. Kale knows now that he must learn to control his time-traveling ability to save himself and his chance at a life with Harper. Otherwise, he’ll be killed in a time where he doesn’t belong by a bullet that was never meant for him.
Gwen Cole writes Young Adult books and her debut novel, COLD SUMMER, will be released in the spring of 2017 with Sky Pony Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing.

She grew up in upstate New York, moved to Virginia where she did not graduate college, and worked a various number of jobs including pharmacy technician, meat clerk, ranch hand, and a receiving specialist at Target. She may or may not have written a number of books while working at certain jobs.

At the age of eighteen, Gwen played bass in a hardcore band and later married the lead guitarist. She can also play piano, guitar, and wishes she could play the cello. Her favorite place to vacation is Wyoming, where she gets to wear a cowboy hat and pretend she actually is one.

Gwen now lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband, daughter, and very large dog, where she longs to live in the country again.
Connect with Gwen: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads



Where did you get the inspiration for COLD SUMMER?
Bing-watching the HBO show Band of Brothers. I think the idea really sparked when I watched the episode called ‘The Breaking Point’, and that’s what most of my WWII scenes were inspired by. I wanted to mix that with something more contemporary, and that’s how Cold Summer was born.

Some aspects of COLD SUMMER remind me of THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE, which is one of my favorite books! What are some of your favorite time-travel books, movies, or tv shows?
The Time Traveler’s Wife is also one of my favorites! I hate when the time-traveling aspect is more complicated than it has to be, so it’s nice when it’s not. It’s easy to understand and it doesn’t take away from the story. Other favorites include A World Without You by Beth Revis. Movie wise, I really enjoyed Looper and The Butterfly Effect.

If you could travel back in time, where would you go? If it's a dangerous time-period, imagine that you're in an invisibility bubble where you could just witness the events ;)
This might be obscure, so if you’ve never heard of it, definitely google it. But I would want to travel back to the Roanoke Colony. Or it might be known as ‘The Lost Colony’. I’ve always wanted to know what happened to all those people who disappeared.

If you could host a fantasy dinner party with some historical figures, who would you invite?
Harriet Tubman, Jesse James, and Daniel Boone.

Who would you say is your dream historical book boyfriend? (In case you're wondering, mine has been Bill Guarnere since I watched and read Band of Brothers! :D)
I’m going down the same lane and saying Eugene Roe from Band of Brothers. Also, the true inspiration behind Cold Summer.


If you got sent back to the year 1945, what are some modern-day things you'd have the most trouble living without? (Aside from friends and family, of course)
Google. Hands down. I can’t remember what life was like before not having immediate answers from the internet.

If COLD SUMMER was made into a movie or tv show, who ideally would you want to be cast as Harper and Kale?
Kale: Dylan O’Brien. Harper: Skyler Day. If this ever actually happens and I got the chance to meet Dylan O’Brien, my heart would burst. Or maybe I would faint. Either way, something dramatic.

Do you have a favorite scene or quote from your book? Do tell!
All the WWII scenes are my favorites, but there’s one in particular when he’s being a sharpshooter. It’s one of those really short chapters but it’s one of my favorites.


And finally, can you tell us a bit about what you're working on now?

I don’t like to reveal too much about my WIPs but it’s YA sci-fi set in a different galaxy.

Week One:
4/24/2017 - Brittany's Book Rambles - Interview
4/25/2017 - Just Commonly - Review
4/26/2017 - Literary Meanderings - Guest Post
4/27/2017 - Stories & Sweeties - Review
4/28/2017 - Adventures of a Book Junkie - Interview

Week Two:
5/1/2017 - Novel Novice - Review
5/2/2017 - Fiction Fare - Guest Post
5/3/2017 - Pretty Deadly Reviews - Review
5/4/2017 - YA Books Central - Interview
5/5/2017 - Owl Always Be Reading - Review


18 comments:

  1. Yay! I've been waiting for this blog tour for the chance to learn more about this book and the chance to win it! I'm all about WWII History and Historical Fiction and Time Travel so both combined is amazing! After reading the interview I'm dying to read Band of Brothers as well. I watched some of it with my brother so I'll have to borrow the dvds after I've read it. I can't wait to read Cold Summer! Thanks so much for the chance! :)

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    1. I'm also really interested in history and historical fiction around WWII, I will say that I recommend that you watch the show for Band of Brothers over the book because the book has a lot of spelling and grammar errors in it, and it feels more detached.

      Thanks for stopping by, good luck for the giveaway!

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  2. This has been the book I've been most excited about this year, especially with the time travel aspects and WWII. I also love Time Travelers Wife! Amazing Q&A :)

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    1. I hope that it surpasses all of your expectations! Thanks for stopping by ^_^

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  3. I cannot wait to read this book! It sounds incredible good, though I now have to see this Band of Brothers??? ;)) Great interview ❤

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  4. I love time travel stories and this one sounds so much fun to read with so much at stake for the characters. Love the cover too!

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  5. I'm actually trying to write my own WWII historical fiction book, so I'd love to read this and be inspired! So exciting!

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  6. Oh time traveling. I'm usually not sure I'll like it but also usually end up enjoying it. :) Sounds interesting. Great interview!

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  7. I find time-travelling such a fascinatig concept, and this book certainly sounds like a very interesting read! Also, that interview might have piqued my curiosity even more, thank you!! :)

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  8. Hi Gwen! Cold Summer sounds great, looking forward to reading your book. Thank you

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  9. Cold Summer is one of my most highly anticipated reads of this year! I loved the interview; it was so fun and made me even more excited. Also, I'm a sucker for YA sci fi that is set in another galaxy! Count me in. :) Congratulations on your debut Gwen! Great post Brittany!

    Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

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  10. I have never seen Band of Brothers, but I am intrigued to read this book now! The cover gives me a completely different vibe and I didn't realize how in-depth this one is. The combination of time travel and PTSD is an interesting concept. Thanks for sharing this! :)

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  11. I loveeee the cover of this book! Also, the synopsis is so tempting! I haven't watched Band of Brothers, nor do I watch/read much about time travel, but I totally would check this one out. And a scifi novel next? Sounds amazing :D

    - Aila @ One Way Or An Author

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  12. I just started reading this one earlier this morning! I love the cover, and so far I'm really enjoying the story.

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  13. I think I'd have an almost impossible time living without Google, too! This was such an interesting interview - thanks so much for sharing!

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  14. I'm not usually a fan of time traveling books, but this one seems really interesting! The cover is gorgeous as well!

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  15. This book looks so interesting — I'm definitely adding to my TBR. Dylan O'Brien is also totally dreamy :)

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  16. I like this cover a lot. So pretty :D As always, stunning interview post Brittany. <3 Thank you for sharing about this one :) Don't think the book would be for me, but a bit curious even so.

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