Thursday, June 29, 2017

Welcome to the FFBC: The Bakersville Dozen by Kristina McBride

The Bakersville Dozen

by Kristina McBride
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Release Date: July 4, 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller
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Synopsis:

You have four days to locate five treasured trophies. Break the rules and you all die. Happy hunting!

Back in September, the town of Bakersville, Ohio made national news when a video went viral featuring thirteen of the high school’s elite in compromising positions. Now it’s May, and every month since the “Bakersville Dozen” made their infamous appearance on the national stage, one girl has gone missing. Officials are no closer to identifying the criminal.

Bailey “Like a Virgin” Holzman is getting really fed up with the scrutiny. She just wants to enjoy the rest of her senior year and have an epic summer before heading off to college. So when she discovers a note in her locker on the last day of school inviting her on a scavenger hunt, she thinks it’s just a sweet surprise from her boyfriend trying to cheer her up.

But following the clue leads her, instead, to the first official casualty. And another sinister envelope. The killer is close, and it could be anyone. Even the people Bailey’s always trusted most—her best friend, her perfect boyfriend, or the boy-next-door she’s always pined for.

With the clock ticking, she faces a terrifying choice: play the game by the killer’s rules—follow the clues, tell no one, and no cops—for a chance to save the rest of the missing girls, or risk becoming the next grisly victim.


I'm ridiculously excited to have one of my favorite authors talk to me about her book THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN today! Welcome to the club Kristina!!


Thank you so much for hosting me! And thank you for the praise! I’m very happy to be here. It’s so exciting to share the news about my latest release. 



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Favorite Book?

This is one of those impossible questions. I tend to love all books. I’ll go with favorite genre, because that narrows things some without narrowing to one.  I gravitate toward creepy contemporary thriller/mysteries, the scarier the better. 


Favorite TV show?

Right now? The Netflix series THIRTEEN REASONS WHY. It’s amazing. 


Favorite movie?

Reading that question brings so many movies to mind. I’m going to cheat again here and answer by naming writer/producer/director John Hughes. His movies are fabulous! Think Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Some Kind of Wonderful, Weird Science . . . 


Favorite Song?

Music is crazy important in my life. There is no way I can answer this with one song title. Instead, I’ll just say that I’m a huge fan of Dave Matthews Band. While I certainly have favorites, I can’t think of a single DMB song I don’t like. I’ve seen them in concert 30+ times! 


Favorite Food?

This is easy. Chocolate. I also have a serious thing for cookies, so if you combine the two, I’m in heaven.  


Name 3 fictional places you would move to in a heartbeat.

I’d have to check out Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, Whoville, and Halloween Town. But I think I’d land up in Narnia. Or maybe on the island from LOST. (Because sometimes LOST = FOUND.)


What were your favorite books growing up? (I was a Fear Street girl!)

I’ve always been a fan of horror. When I was younger, I loved anything by Christopher Pike. On the more emotional and dramatic side, BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA nearly ripped my young heart right out of my chest. Oh! And TIGER EYES by Judy Blume. I must have read that a thousand times. (I still have my childhood copy!) I need to check out Fear Street! Sounds creepy.


 Favorite Quote?

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory or defeat.” –Theodore Roosevelt 


What do you find yourself “Fangirling” over?

I “Fangirl” whenever I read a book that I wish I’d written. THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher, for instance. WONDER by RJ Palacio. And, without a doubt, GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn. 


 What were 3 books you read recently that you would recommend?

Remember, I like dark and edgy, so my suggestions will fall in this camp. That’s a warning, because these are some wild rides: THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES by Mindy McGinnis, ONE WAS LOST by Natalie Richards, and ALMOST MISSED YOU by Jessica Strawser.




ABOUT THE BOOK:


Could you tell our Book Addicts a little bit about THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN?

Bailey Holzman is graduating high school amidst the most terrifying situation to ever hit her small Ohio farm town of Bakersville. Months after the release of a salacious video-gone-viral, which featured Bailey and twelve other girls from her class, five of the girls have gone missing. On the last day of school, Bailey finds a clue in her locker, inviting her to take part in a scavenger hunt. She’s excited, sure that her boyfriend is trying to distract her from the reality that has crippled her town. But instead of finding a treasure, Bailey is sucked into a whirlwind of danger when she locates the body of one of the missing girls. The twisted game gives Bailey the chance to save lives . . . but as she follows the clues, she realizes that playing along means risking her own death. 


What 3 hashtags would you most associate with your book? (Could be a word or phrase or anything that would instantly make you think of THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN.) 

#scavengerhunttodiefor 
#happyhunting
#thisisnotagame


How did you come up with the story? Did you find inspiration in any other story/movie/show and how has this affected your writing?

I wanted to write something fast-paced that kept the reader wondering that all important “who dun it?” question. As for inspiration, I have spent a lifetime reading books that fall in the mystery/thriller vein, which has definitely had an influence on my writing. With THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN, I wanted to combine fun with creepy. The night the idea for this book hit me, I just had this moment where I asked myself, “What if I put my main character on a scavenger hunt  (fun!) where the first clue leads to a dead body (creepy!)?” 


Tell us your favorite quote from THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN.

This line from one of the scavenger hunt clues says it all: YOU HAVE FOUR DAYS TO LOCATE FIVE TREASURED TROPHIES. BREAK THE RULES AND YOU ALL DIE. HAPPY HUNTING!


Is there a specific scene that you had the most fun to write?  Or which part was the most difficult to get through?

Most Fun: The opening scenes as Bailey finds the first clue and arrives at the initial location in the hunt. Most Difficult: the clues themselves. I wanted them to have a sing-song vibe, but without going full-on rhyme scheme. 


If you had to pick one song to be the Theme Song for THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN– Which one would you pick?

The song “Rumor Has It” by Adele is featured throughout the book, so this is a hands-down easy pick. As depicted in this book, rumors have a nasty way of taking over reality, creeping in and blurring what you know to be true about a person or event.


Are there any recommendations you could give your readers to be in the “perfect mood” to read THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN (specific music, snacks…)?

I think all readers need to arm themselves with some chocolate. Any chocolate. And maybe some cookies. Because chocolate and cookies? They just take everything to the next level. 


What’s next for you?

My life is in major flux right now. We are moving soon, so I plan to take the summer to settle in to my new home. While I unpack, I’ll be brainstorming the next book, which I plan to start writing in the fall. I’m ridiculously excited for my new office!


Thanks Kristina!!  ONE MOMENT was a favorite for me, so I was CRAZY excited to read THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN.  I'm also a big fan of teen horror and this book had that I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER feel.  I really liked it and it took me back to my 90's thriller books that I LIVED for.

I recommend THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES all the time as well-- with the warning that it's super dark and read at your own risk!!  Mindy McGinnis is becoming a new favorite of mine for sure.

Also, I loved 13 Reasons Why (both the show and the book-- Jay Asher is AMAZING), and I totally wish I wrote GONE GIRL too.  How does one come up with something so chilling?





Kristina McBride has published three novels for young adults - THE TENSION OF OPPOSITES, ONE MOMENT, and A MILLION TIMES GOODNIGHT. Her fourth novel, THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN, will be released July 2017.

Kristina is a former high school English teacher and yearbook advisor, as well as an adjunct professor at Antioch University Midwest and Wright State University. Kristina has a thing for music, trees, purses, and chocolate. You might be surprised to learn that Kristina was almost kidnapped when she was a child. She also bookstalks people on a regular basis. Kristina lives in Ohio with her husband and two young children. You can learn more at www.kristinamcbride.com.



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7 comments:

  1. I will definitely be adding this one to my TBR list! I love a great suspense/thriller. Love the author interview too! Those are so much fun

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    1. It felt like one of those throwback thrillers I loved so much as a pre-teen. It was nice to read something like that again. Hope you like this one!

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  2. Definitely on my TBR! I love mysteries and thrillers, especially ones with clues to solve like stated in the synopsis.

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    1. It was very fun following all the clues around-- although, I kinda was like CALL THE COPS in my head the whole time!

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  3. Great interview. I share so many likes with McBride. I loved this book. Lots of twists and turns during this demented scavenger hunt. Definitely reminded me of this horror movies I watched as a kid.

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    1. Right?? This would make an awesome movie. I miss the Scream/I Know What You Did Last Summer/Urban Legends-type movies!

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  4. I already have this on my wishlist -- it sounds amazing! Love the red envelope over the sticks, very artistic.

    My favorite genre right now is paranormal, or psychological thriller.

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