Cover Reveal: Summer Of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider

Hi everyone! Today is a very special day here on Pop! Goes The Reader as I have the immense pleasure of hosting the exclusive cover reveal for my friend Erin L. Schneider’s forthcoming 2016 young adult debut, Summer Of Sloane! Scheduled to be published by Disney ● Hyperion on May 3rd, 2016, Summer Of Sloane is set against the exotic and beautiful landscape of Honolulu, Hawaii and documents one unforgettable summer in the life of seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre after an unimaginable betrayal leaves her questioning everything she once thought she knew. Summer Of Sloane promises to explore important issues including love, friendship, forgiveness, and sense of self and should be at the very top of to-be-read lists for readers of contemporary and realistic fiction.

Please read on to find an exclusive interview with the author, a giveaway for a Summer Of Sloane prize package and a signed ARC as well as the stunning cover reveal for this fun, exciting and thought-provoking 2016 debut.

About Erin L. Schneider

Erin L. Schneider is native to the Pacific Northwest, attended college in Honolulu – and although Hawaiian – should never be allowed on a surfboard. With more than twenty years in corporate merchandising, she’s now a full-time writer living in Seattle with her husband, Neal, a rowdy German Shepard named Ronin, two crazy cats, Ono and Poke, and a baby boy on the way! She’s a member of both the Pacific Northwest Writers Association and SCBWI, and is also co-founder of the YA Buccaneers. Summer of Sloane is her debut novel and will be published by Disney-Hyperion on May 3, 2016.

Author Links: Website ● Twitter ● Facebook ● Instagram ● Pinterest ● Goodreads

01. First, please tell us a little more about yourself. If you could 
describe yourself in only five words, what would they be?
Humorous, sarcastic, sincere, loyal, dependable.




02. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer? If not, what did you
 dream of becoming?
I’ve always loved to read and write, but when I was a kid, I thought I’d end up being something more like an Olympic gymnast. Or a chef. But life had other plans and for more than 11 years, I shopped for a living as a fashion apparel buyer. My days merchandising and marketing clothes soon led into the wireless communication arena…and eventually into the technology sector. When I started to realize how much I missed the creativity of writing, I knew something needed to change. So almost 8 years ago, I decided to seriously give writing a chance…and now here I am!




03. When you’re not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?


Of course I love to read, that’s a given. And I’ll always love to shop (denim, handbags, shoes, and books will forever have my heart!). Travel is also a huge passion of mine and I’ve been very fortunate to have visited exotic locations from Machu Picchu, Peru to all over Italy. I also really enjoy photography, great food, and spending time with my family – especially the 4-legged members.




04. What was your favourite book as a child?


Absolutely anything from Roald Dahl. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, The Witches…I still love reading them over and over, even today!



05. What book(s) can currently be found on your bedside table?


Right now I’m very fortunate to be reading an ARC of After The Woods by Kim Savage (I cannot wait for this to come out next year!). I’ve also got a copy of The Summer Of Chasing Mermaids by one of my absolute favorite authors, Sarah Ockler, just waiting for me to get to it! And right under that is Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. Hundreds more are on my bookshelves, but those are the few I’ve pulled out to read next!



06. Let’s talk about your novel! If you could describe Summer Of Sloane in
 only five words, what would they be?


Heart-break, possibilities, self-discovery, friendship, forgiveness.



07. Summer of Sloane follows the life of seventeen-year-old Sloane
 McIntyre, who travels to Honolulu, Hawaii for the summer. If you could
 spend the summer in any one exotic locale, which would you choose and why?


Hmmm, I think I’d have to pick Greece. I’ve always wanted to go there and can’t even imagine the great food and photo opportunities!



08. Your novel also explores how one moment, or more specifically one 
summer, can change the course of one’s life forever. Can you think of any
 one moment in particular that shaped your life and the person you are 
today?


Looking back, there are many moments that have shaped my life into what it is now: high school (which I loved), leaving for college, falling in love, getting married, changing careers, getting published – and in less than two weeks – having my first baby. But if I had to pick one moment that changed everything, I’d definitely say making the decision to focus on writing. It was the first time I pushed everything else aside, put myself first, and truly chased after something I’ve always wanted…and it has all been worth it.



09. Tell us a little more about your writing process. Do you have a
 particular routine? Is there a time of day or writing space in which you 
best like to work?


When I worked full-time, I had to squeeze my writing in late at night, after the house went to bed…often times writing until my alarm would go off the next morning! But now that I’m fortunate enough to write full-time, I find myself jotting down all the words throughout the day. Although I’m sure that will change when Le Bebe arrives!



10. Do you like to listen to music when you write? If so, is there a song
 or songs you feel best capture the mood and feeling of Summer of Sloane?


When I’m brainstorming or plotting, I can listen to music – and anything by One Republic or Kings of Leon can often be found blasting from my speakers (both of which were definitely playing on repeat when I was working on Summer Of Sloane). But when I’m deep into my writing, unfortunately I can’t have any music playing at all. Otherwise I end up humming the song or singing along and that always throws me off!



11. It has often been said that an author should write what they know. How
 much, or how little, of Summer of Sloane is comprised of your own personal
experience?


Summer of Sloane is my fourth novel and my first shot at writing YA contemporary fiction. For my prior books, I often found myself writing for others – always questioning what readers might want or even what they’d be allowed to read. Which made me hold back. But with SOS, I let everything go. I wrote what I felt at the time, regardless of if it could be deemed offensive or potentially land it on a banned book list. But I wanted to write something real. I wanted to deal with what life is really like – be it drinking, sex, betrayal, pregnancy, broken friendships, and how none of that goes away (no matter how badly you want it to) even if you’re given the chance to physically escape somewhere else. Most importantly, I didn’t want SOS to end with a shiny, red bow – this was super important to me, because life will hand you many things…and usually none of them are tied off with a red bow.



12. Finally, Summer Of Sloane is your debut publication. What has been
 your favourite part of the debut publishing experience thus far?
I’d have to say landing my agent is still up there at the top of my list. After 5 years of querying (even though I spent two of those years exclusively with another agent that didn’t go anywhere), Lisa gave me the chance and hasn’t looked back. My second favorite part was when SOS sold to Disney-Hyperion in May of 2014. It all happened so fast! 17 days to be exact. And I know I’m incredibly lucky for that.

Title Summer Of Sloane
Author Erin L. Schneider
Pages N/A
Genre Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction
Publisher Disney ● Hyperion
To Be Published May 3rd, 2016
Find It On Goodreads

Warm Hawaiian sun. Lazy beach days. Flirty texts with her boyfriend back in Seattle.

These are the things seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre pictured when she imagined the summer she’d be spending at her mom’s home in Hawaii with her twin brother, Penn. Instead, after learning an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend, Tyler, and best friend, Mick, all she has is a fractured hand and a completely shattered heart.

Once she arrives in Honolulu, though, Sloane hopes that Hawaii might just be the escape she needs. With beach bonfires, old friends, exotic food, and the wonders of a waterproof cast, there’s no reason Sloane shouldn’t enjoy her summer. And when she meets Finn McAllister, the handsome son of a hotel magnate who doesn’t always play by the rules, she knows he’s the perfect distraction from everything that’s so wrong back home.

But it turns out a measly ocean isn’t nearly enough to stop all the emails, texts, and voicemails from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, desperate to explain away their betrayal. And as her casual connection with Finn grows deeper, Sloane’s carefree summer might not be as easy to find as she’d hoped. Weighing years of history with Mick and Tyler against their deception, and the delicate possibility of new love, Sloane must decide when to forgive, and when to live for herself.

One lucky winner will receive:
» One signed ARC of Summer Of Sloane (Once available)
» One pair of Havaiana Women’s Floral Print Flip Flops (Size and colour based on availability on Amazon)
» One bottle of CND Vinylux Weekly Nail Polish in Desert Poppy (Erin’s favourite pedicure colour that also makes an appearance in Summer Of Sloane)

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