Walk With Me by Kaitlyn Stone - Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway

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Title: Walk with Me (The Thin Blue Thread)
Author: Kaitlyn Stone
Genre: Contemporary New Adult
Publish Date: July 22nd, 2014
Publisher: BookStrand Romance
Word Count: Approximately - 80,000 (240 pages)
Oraganized by Literati Author Services
Purchase Via: Amazon | KoboBookStrand

What dictates the path in life we take and who we choose to walk with?

After escaping her abusive parents, nineteen-year-old Kenna Sloane is determined to create an independent life, free of emotional distraction. The last thing this focused college student wants is a relationship, especially with a hot rookie cop popular with the badge bunnies.

When Kenna reluctantly agrees to a double date with Santa Monica cop Donovan Alexander, she’s launched on an exciting and dangerous journey. With time, she discovers some souls are instinctively drawn together to quiet the pain of their traumatic pasts. But even after the revelation of Donovan’s own secret burden, Kenna continues to battle the fear she may be too broken for her modern day knight in blue.

Can Kenna open her heart to the healing light of true love before peril strikes?


   

He clutches my hand and pulls me into the dining room and onto the dance floor. A slow song is now playing and couples are clinging to one another. My heart flutters with nerves. The first dance between a couple can be as intimate as the first kiss. 

With confidence driving his actions, Donovan takes me in his arms and pulls me by the waist close to his body. The instant closeness changes my heart from a flutter to a steady drumming. Like I’m wrapped in a cocoon of Donovan, the rest of the dancers fade away and the loud music is subdued to my ears. My hands rest on his chest as we sway to the music in our secluded world. I’m reminded of our first meeting at the coffeehouse and how he made me feel the same way, like I was the only one in the room. 

Donovan reaches up and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear before grazing his finger around my bare earlobe and down my neck. The touch sends electricity right to the ends of my fingertips. He lowers his lips to my ear. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” 

I blush at his words. The other guys I go out with never compliment me, at least like Donovan. I never expect the compliments and they never offer. I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend and they weren’t looking for a girlfriend, so there was no need to court me or try to win me over. 

“I think you may have said something like that earlier.” I focus on his lapel, stroking the smooth material between my fingers with a smile blooming on my lips like a flower that’s been deprived of the sun for years. 

Donovan lifts my chin with his index finger to meet his eyes. “A girl as beautiful as you deserves to hear it again.” I drink in his words, trying to quench my thirst, and lay my head against his strong chest. I exhale with pure contentment as Donovan enfolds me once again in a protective embrace and we sway rhythmically to the music.

Character Casting

Robbie Amell – Donovan Alexander

Michelle Williams – Danielle

Lucy Hale – Kenna Sloane

Josh Hartnett – Tyler


6 FUN FACTS ABOUT THE CHARACTERS 

1. The name Donovan Alexander means dark haired chieftain, whose role is to protect his clan 
2. Donovan hates to have his feet touched 
3. The name Kenna Sloane means fiery warrior. She rises to represent her name. 
4. Kenna loves to have her feet rubbed 
5. Danielle sings in the shower 
6. Tyler writes poetry


Inspiration for book 

Well, I love New Adult romances. I go for the popular book with the highest rating and coolest cover. I figure if everyone else thinks it’s worth 4 or 5 stars, then it must be good. One day I was reading one, and thought, my romance story is better than this. Not my writing, but my story. So I sat down to write it, never thinking I’d actually publish it. 

My book is inspired by true events in my own life. But once I started to write my story, it didn’t seem quite as interesting on paper, so I fictionalized my characters, created backstories, and developed a more intriguing plot. Once my characters came to life, they had a mind and mouth of their own and started saying and doing things true to their character. But the simple storyline and about half the scenes in the novel were inspired by true events. Let me tell you this: motorcycle muffler burns on your inner calf are really painful and slow to heal. 

Why—out of all the ideas swimming around in your brain were you compelled to work on this? 

I’ve always thought my husband and I had a fairytale romance, an amazing connection. True soul mates. I wanted to put our story into writing to inspire others to believe in “true love”, and to believe that unconditional love has the power to heal. That was the underlying message in this first book. 

I wrote WALK WITH ME as a dedication to my husband for our milestone anniversary coming up this year. 

Name of one or two people who helped you and why? 

There have been so many wonderful people I’ve met along the way, and I have found my sister writers to be nothing but encouraging and supportive. But I have to give a lot of credit to someone who doesn’t even know the impact they made on me. In my day job I’m a counselor of sorts. I meet and speak at length with the most amazing people. One day I was counseling a famous 85 year-old woman who was working on a screen play with her even more famous celebrity granddaughter. During this time, I was about half way through my book. Without her knowing she inspired me to pursue my crazy idea of finishing this book and trying to get it published. She told me she didn’t begin writing until middle age and went on to turn some of her books into screenplays, one of which won her an Emmy. Now, I don’t think I’m going to win an Emmy, but I thought, if this 85-year-old woman can start writing in her forties and get published, so can I. You never know who is going to impact your life at just the right time. 

If you could give fellow artists/fans/followers key advice from your experience working on this project—what would it be? 

This isn’t really advice, but more of a certain mindset which has helped me through my journey. I know it’s difficult, but try not to take rejection, critiques, or criticisms personally. If you look at everything as an opportunity to improve your craft, you won’t let your emotions get in the way of your goals. It has nothing to do with you as a person. I never had dreams to be a famous writer, so my ego or feelings aren’t hurt if I fail or get knocked down. I just get up and use the problem as a lesson and foundation for a stepping stone to reach my next goal. 

Your hopes/plans for the future and/or next project? 

Like I said above. I plan to continue on this path until it ends or it is no longer fun. Donovan and Kenna’s story isn’t over. I still have more to tell. I will take the criticism from my reviews and use that to improve my writing and my next project. The next book in my series deals with other typical growing pains that arise in new adults when they’re trying to find themselves and their own identity, plus, consequences of actions that took place at the end of book one. 

Hit us with your BRAGGING RIGHTS! (Awards/Attention – that kind of stuff!) 

Okay, Bragging Rights. How about this: I like to set goals, work toward those goals, complete them, and then make new goals. It keeps me focused and on task. I knew I needed to start practicing my pitching for agents and publishers, so started pitching everywhere I could – agents, contests, etc. On a fluke I pitched to a small publishing house looking for steamy novels of all genre, including New Adult. This was my first pitch to a publishing house and a week later I was offered a contract. I think that’s something to brag about.

Since childhood, Kaitlyn Stone has gravitated toward fairy tales and happily- ever-after's, forever chasing the first love dragon. She is a self-professed adventure junkie, constantly talking her husband and family into some new life adventure, where they’ve learned to just buckle up for the exciting ride. When they do stay home, it’s in sunny Southern California located along the Pacific Ocean.  

Connect with the Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter| Goodreads


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