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Monday, January 13, 2014

Interview With the Author of CHASING FOREVER DOWN, Nikki Godwin.



What made you decide to write a book based in a surf town?
I've never read any books about surfing or surf culture, and it sparked my interest. I decided I'd give it a try. I think it worked out quite well.

If you were a character in your book, would you rather live in Crescent Cove or Horn Island?
I'm gonna have to go with Crescent Cove only because Horn Island is a bit scary, although I'd probably date a Horn Island boy. ;)

Where's your favorite place in Crescent Cove?
This place isn't really explored a lot in CFD, but there's a rustic beach house a few houses down from where Reed, Alston, and A.J. live. It's where the beach party is held in chapter 8. It's where we first meet Topher, Miles, and Dominic at the pool table. This house is really special and will be in the other books in the series. It's my favorite place in the cove.

Who was the character you had the most fun writing?
A.J. Gonzalez. He really came to life on the page and was one of those "anything goes" kind of characters. There are endless possibilities with him.

What would you say is the biggest difference and similarity in CFD compared to American Girl On Saturn?
I always say that AGOS is more like cotton candy, and CFD is more like salsa. CFD is grittier, edgier, and a bit more serious. AGOS is just a lot of cute, sweet fluff. CFD goes deeper and has a real plot/journey, where AGOS is more romance and just sweetness.

If you could hang out with any character in CFD for one day, who would you choose and why?
This question really depends on the day and how I'm feeling, but for now, I'll say Topher. He's very upbeat and fun, and I need more upbeat-ness and fun in my life right now. I think he's just a genuine person who would be a great person to have in your life.

What was the most difficult scene to write in CFD?
The goodbye scene between Haley & A.J. destroyed me. I seriously cried until I was sick. It was a rough morning lol.

You've stated many times that this is your favorite book and the one closest to your heart. Would you say this book has more of yourself in it than AGoS does? If so, how?
CFD was a book that I truly believed in 100%. I was working a day job from hell at the time I was writing it, so it took A YEAR to finish the first draft. It was draining, and I nearly gave up so many times. This book was really what brought me happiness and gave me an escape from the job from hell. I queried CFD, but it wasn't "enough" for the traditional industry. I knew this book was amazing and deserved to be read, so I made the decision to self-pub because of this book. This was a story that needed to be told. Too much of my heart had gone into it for it to be trunked. AGOS was something I wrote for fun, in a month & a half, hoping it'd be commercial enough to get my name out there. The book wasn't even my idea (HI EMILY). It's never truly felt like "mine" like CFD did. I love AGOS, but I love CFD much more.

Which book do you think has the more swoon worthy characters?
For ME, CFD has more because I like edgier guys. For the majority of people, AGOS would have more swoon worthy guys. AGOS is very swoony. CFD is gritty. I like gritty boys LOL.
 
What are you most excited to write about in the sequel to CFD?
I'm super excited to write more with Colby Taylor "on screen." He was very important in CFD, but he was always an idea or a memory. He was rarely ever actually there on the page, live in the flesh... (words?) He's a huge part of CFD2 (Rough Waters), and I know his back story. I know why he's done the things he's done. I personally really love him as a character. He's one of my favorites. I understand why people hate him now, but hopefully he'll redeem himself well by the end of the series. Also, I'm just really excited to get back to my "old friends" on the west coast.



After seventeen-year-old Haley Sullivan meets a mysterious stranger who plays by his own rules, she's more than determined to learn every trick of the trade from the master himself. But her dream-chasing mentor disappears after that night, and according to the local newspapers, he's been dead for years. Knowing he's very much alive, Haley enlists best friend Linzi to join her on a scavenger-hunt-style road trip that ultimately lands them in the surf town of Crescent Cove, California. Mystery guy is no mystery here, though – he's Colby Taylor, the west coast's biggest professional surfer.


If Haley wants to talk to the wave rider again, she'll have to get past his four intimidating "bodyguards" who are highly skilled in the business of sending starstruck fangirls back to where they belong. Haley is up for the challenge if it means chasing her dreams and escaping the perfectly corporate future that's been planned for her. But dealing with these bodyguards isn't exactly what Haley imagined it'd be. Sure, being thrown off a jet ski sucks, but falling in love with one of them might just be worse.
Buy a copy of the book (links below), and keep up with my blog to find out all kinds of things you did and didn't know about Chasing Forever Down!!
 

Keep up with Nikki to find out about her 2014 book releases!

Nikki's Blog  Nikki's Twitter  Nikki's Facebook Author Page 








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