Blog Tour- MAGNETIC SHIFT by Lucy D. Briand An Interview & Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on blog tour for MAGNETIC SHIFT by Lucy D. Briand! I freaking LOVED this book! I have an interview with Lucy to share with you today! And make sure to enter the awesome giveaway for a finished copy of the book and an awesome swag pack! 

Haven't heard of MAGNETIC SHIFT? Check it out!

Title: MAGNETIC SHIFT

Author: Lucy D. Briand

Pub. Date: April 12, 2016

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Format: Paperback, eBook

Find it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble  | Goodreads

The ability to magnetize and manipulate metal with the flick of her wrist makes seventeen-year-old Lexi Adams a crack mechanic, but it’s a disaster in the making when her stepdad trades her skills to NASCAR team owner Dean Grant for an entire season’s worth of sponsorship ads.

Now Lexi has no other choice but to suck it up and hope she can keep her magnetic impulses under control—that is, until she runs into NASCAR’s hot new rookie, Colton Tayler.

When Carl Stacy, the ruthless team owner of the defending Cup Champion, discovers Lexi’s secret and plots to use it to ruin Dean’s race team for good, Lexi must either expose her ability to save Colton, risking Dean’s career and her own freedom in the process, or watch the only guy she’s ever fallen for race to his death. 

Now on to the interview!

Hi Lucy! First I want to say welcome to Two Chicks on Books! I freaking LOVED MAGNETIC SHIFT and I can’t wait for the world to read it! And am so happy that you could stop by for a visit!

For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about MAGNETIC SHIFT and the characters?

The story is about Lexi, a crack mechanic teen with magnetic abilities whose emotions and magnetic control goes berserk when she meets Colton, the new rookie driver on the NASCAR team she is forced to work with. Things get even worse when she accidently causes a near fatal crash and the witness is the team’s biggest rival who is already under investigation for sabotaging the team.

I love stories with subtle paranormal twists, a kind of magical realism. Add my love of the X-MEN and NASCAR and this became a story I just had to write.

Is this a standalone or a series? And if it’s a series do you have a title for book 2 yet? And if it’s a standalone what are you working on next?

Not a big fan of series’. I find I lose interest in reading a sequel when there is too large of a time gap between releases. What I am a big fan of are spin-offs.

I have a few ideas for MAGNETIC SHIFT spin-offs but haven’t worked out all the creative kinks yet.

Currently I’m revising an untitled “Fast and the Furious” style paranormal romance about a girl who is unbeatable on the quarter mile, but when an apparition starts appearing to her at the finish line all wheels brake loose.

Why NASCAR? I am a huge racing fan and I honestly can’t believe this hasn’t been done before in YA (that I know of).

Why the heck not?

NASCAR is a sport that I naturally gravitated to when I was a teen. I’m also Canadian so it’s not an interest I developed over time through family or friends since my surroundings growing up where all about hockey, baseball or soccer. No, I’ve had a love for cars and racing since I was really young. I played with my Barbie cars more then I played with the dolls. But it was when I was about 15 that I watched a full televised race from start to finish for the first time and I got hooked. How could I not? One team challenging 40-some odd teams every week, the skill, the talent, the thrill, I love it all.

Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?

Subconsciously I’m sure I did, little quirks and mannerisms maybe, but nothing intentional though.

I did however name one of my characters after someone very special in my life. My goddaughter Annabelle. In the book she is Dean’s cute little toddler. In real life my Goddaughter is an identical twin; they just turned 5 this year :)

Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?

My favorite would have to be Colton. He’s everything I’ve ever liked in a guy. Quirky, fun, caring, sensitive which can sometimes make him moody, but he’s also just a simple guy living his dream. Loved writing him.

If I have to pick one I guess I could say my least favorite was Gwen. I loved writing her snippy princess like attitude, and her entitled bratty ways, but she does remind me of all the people who ever made me feel left out, unwanted, or were just plain rude to me throughout my life. Not things I like to dwell on.

What is your favorite passage/scene in MAGNETIC SHIFT?

My favorite scene is close to the end after Lexi sacrifices everything to save Colton. I can’t say too much about it here without giving out spoilers but I loved writing the emotion behind her decision and her realizations during the moments following that. A lot of those feelings are some I have felt and still feel toward situations in my own life that I channeled into to write that scene. It’s also a kissing scene :p

What kind of research did you have to do for the story?

The fun kind…lol I had to really brush up on my knowledge of NASCAR rules and regulations which of course have almost all changed since I wrote the story…grr

I listened more closely to in car chatter and live feeds during televised races.

I also visited many race tracks to get some more accurate visuals and talk to those who work there during these events. I took a tour of the Hendricks Motorsports garages and facilities, home of my favorite driver, to get a feel for the work they do there in between races.

I bought tons of NASCAR merchandise at every track I visited… but yeah, I guess that wasn’t really research huh…lol *big grin*

Who is your ultimate book boyfriend?

I can’t decide between Daniel from the Fallen Series or Jace from the Mortal Instruments’ Series. Both guys are sexy and awesome in their own way.

What inspired you to write YA?

I may be in my thirties but I am no adult. I am a comic book loving, board game playing, dresses up for comic con kind of geek who still feels like she’s never left high school or college. And when I go to Disney well then never mind being a teen, I am a six year old again. It’s just who I’ve always been. I can’t imagine reading or writing for any other audience.

Lightening Round Questions

What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

I’m currently reading The Beast Within: A Tale of Beauty's Prince by Serena Valentino. I found this book and another in the series on my recent trip to Walt Disney World. It’s the story of how the Beast became the Beast. The next one will be Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen.

What Hogwarts House would the Sorting Hat place you in?

Gryffindor

Twitter or Facebook?

Facebook

Favorite Superhero?

Gambit

Favorite TV show?

Castle

Sweet or Salty?

Salty

Any Phobias?

I have Emetophobia. (Intense anxiety pertaining to throwing up. A fear of doing it, seeing it, watching the action of it or being nauseated.)

Yeah…not fun.

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

Pocket full of Dreams by Hedley is one of my favorites right now.

Spring Movie you’re most looking forward to?

X-MEN Apocalypse, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Captain America: Civil War

Thanks so much Lucy for answering my questions! I can’t wait for everyone to read whatever you write next!

About Lucy:

Lucy D. Briand lives in Ottawa, Canada with her comic book fanatic husband and her nonchalant Siamese cat.

By day she works full time as a public servant for the Government of Canada, but by night her creative mind takes over and conjures up young adult gear-head romance stories with supernatural twists.

When not working, reading, writing, or watching way too much TV, Lucy likes to cosplay, attend ComicCons, go on road trips to Walt Disney World, and play ridiculous amounts of board games. She’s a geek to the core but is also a huge NASCAR Cup fan.

Lucy is represented by Brittany Booker Carter of The Booker Albert Literary Agency.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of MAGNETIC SHIFT, US Only.

1 winner will receive a swag prize pack and 25$ Amazon Gift Card, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

4/4/2016- Curling Up With A Good Book- Interview

4/5/2016- Take Me Away To A Great Read- Review

4/6/2016- Moonlight Gleam Reviews- Guest Post

4/7/2016- A Dream Within A Dream- Review

4/8/2016- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

Week Two:

4/11/2016- Eli to the nth- Review

4/12/2016- Lost in Ever After- Guest Post

4/13/2016- A Backwards Story- Review

4/14/2016- The Cover Contessa- Interview

4/15/2016- With Love for Books - Review