Interview + Giveaway: Reckless by Danielle Weiler

Today I have YA/NA author Danielle Weiler answering questions about her new adult book Reckless! I've already read and really enjoyed Reckless. You can read my review HERE. And at the end of this interview, there's a chance to win one of two ebooks copies of Reckless!

Thanks for having me Alexa!

Thank you being here, Danielle! What was your inspiration for Reckless?

Milly came to me as a broken girl. The first line kept playing over and over in my head:

‘I am reckless. I understand this in its entirety as I’m desperately fumbling at the top button of my jeans…’

But she also assured me, ‘I can explain!’ She wrote her own story/first draft in a matter of weeks. At the time, I was thinking about how strong the connection of twins must be. I have four-year-old twin nieces and they are inseparable. I thought about the concept of long-term grief, not just directly after the event; how families can still be hurting years later and dragging themselves through every day without making much progress; how they can let walls creep up and blame creep in. I also wanted to tell a different kind of story to Friendship on Fire, which was probably more cupcake literature. Milly is edgy and dark, the girl you want to slap some sense into but also feel for tremendously.

What did you enjoy the most about writing this book?

The flashbacks between Milly and Christian (twin brother) were the most interesting in terms of process and creativity. I have five older brothers so I thought back to some of the things we did as kids and altered them to suit the story. Yes, brother number 5 used to make potato gems and eat them in front of me without sharing. Brother 4 ran over our cat. Brother 2 tried to teach me how to surf. I drew on those connections to show how close Milly and Christian were.

Do you have a favorite scene or moment?

Not in particular, but I did love writing from Jerome’s POV and I loved writing the ending.

Where do you think Milly would be if her brother hadn't died? Would Milly and Jerome still have gotten close?

Milly didn’t get a chance to really think about what she would’ve liked to pursue after school and because of the timing of Christian’s death, it knocked her off course to the point where she didn’t want to do anything.

Mmm it’s hard to say if she and Jerome would have connected, but probably not. Christian liked to keep his sister at arms length from any guy who could take advantage of her, even his best friend. Not in a controlling way, just a protective, older brother way. Unless Milly and Jerome were in the same course or job, it probably wouldn’t have happened.

Why did you decide to include some chapters from Jerome's POV?

It was a bit of gratuitous writing for me, but also to surprise the reader and perhaps to get the reader to sympathise with Jerome a little bit. I always love to read those little extra things in novels too. It makes them special, like you’re reading someone’s diary or a love note, like it was written just for you.

Did you already know how Reckless was going to end before you started writing it? Is it a definite stand-alone?

Yes I did know how it was going to end. I wrote the ending quite early on just to see if I liked it, as well as the major plot twist. I actually haven’t thought of a sequel. It’ll probably just be a stand-alone but I don’t want to rule anything out!

Are you planning to write other new adult novels?

YES! I love them. I remember an agent saying to me once, Reckless is a great concept, but make the character a few years younger because publishers prefer them younger. But how could I? Two years out of school, Milly should have had something going for her life, but she didn’t. How many young adults have that prolonged adolescence issue in their lives? They still live with Mum and Dad but technically they’re adults so don’t want to be treated like kids still.

I think there’s more freedom in new adult than YA (and I don’t mean in a Fifty Shades of Reckless kind of way). I still love YA, but I don’t feel such pressure to restrain my language and themes. I’ve started working on Friendship on Fire – the sequel and that’ll have to be NA because Daisy will be 19 and it’s not about school anymore. I like to think that I can help the genre’s popularity and for it not just to have the stigma of upper-YA-steaminess.

Bonus: Jerome or Roman? (Note: Roman is from Danielle's YA novel Friendship on Fire!)

Oh this question is unfair! My instant reaction is Roman, but Jerome is so attractive in his persistence and vulnerability and subtle humour. Can I have both? What do you think Alexa? ☺

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Ahh! I can't choose between Jerome or Roman either! haha I want them both too. Thank you for answering all my questions, Danielle! You had some really awesome and interesting answers. I'm so excited for the Friendship on Fire sequel, and I'm glad it's going to be new adult. Great job on your first new adult Reckless! :D

So are you all even more curious about Reckless? Well, you're in luck because Danielle is offering up TWO ebook copies of Reckless! Yay! The giveaway is open internationally and will end August 22. To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. :)

Review: Reckless by Danielle Weiler

Title: Reckless
Author: Danielle Weiler
Pages: 338
Publisher: Ranga Books
Release Date: August 9, 2013

‘Are you going to ask me in?’ he replied, a cheeky smile forming on the edges of his lips. Then he leaned towards me conspiratorially. ‘We aren’t strangers, you know.’

Milly Benton wants it all to go away. Wants to flip the bird to the nightmares and her parent’s grief and the incessant questions about when she’s going to make something of herself.

But when her parents exile her to the country, Milly has to cope with her annoyingly helpful aunt and three cousins instead. Bitter at the hand she’s been dealt, Milly has stopped dreaming of a future.

In steps Jerome with his tormented blue eyes. Familiar from her childhood and as broken as she. They need each other. But how can they forget?

My Thoughts: After reading and liking Danielle Weiler's debut Friendship on Fire last year, I asked her in an interview about Reckless (which had a slightly different title back then). I remember being really intrigued by it because not only did I love reading Australian novels, I was also a fan of new adult books. My love for Australia and new adult still hasn't changed, so it's no surprise that I was very much excited to start reading Reckless.

The story revolved around Milly, a 19-year-old girl trying to move on from the nightmares and grief that have consumed her life for the past two years since the death of her twin brother Christian. The way Milly coped with the tragedy was by being rebellious. She acted out and did irresponsible and thoughtless things like shoplifting and hooking up with a strange man she just met online. Milly's choices and decisions in the beginning of the book didn't make her the most likeable person to the people around her. As a reader, I couldn't bring myself to dislike her because it was evident that deep down this was not the type of person she wanted to be. I had no idea where her life was headed, and all I could do was root for her and hope for the best.

What I appreciated about Reckless was that, while it may have contained heartbreak like death and regret, it wasn't entirely a sad or depressing book. It actually was a light and fast-paced read. It had humorous and fun moments, and I enjoyed reading the dynamics between Milly and her little sister and her three all-boy cousins. I also really liked the relationship she shared with her aunt Charmaine and her new friend Shelia. I was relieved that Milly was able to get along with them, considering her relationships with two important women in her life back home weren't the greatest. All these characters played a role in Milly's life whether it was major or minor, and these relationships proved she had the ability to grow and mature.

I can't forget to mention my favorite relationship in the book: Milly and Jerome. The interesting thing about it was that Jerome was Christian's best friend, and Milly hadn't seen him since her brother's death. Even though they weren't particularly close when Christian was alive, I loved how easy it was for them to build a friendship. They seemed content around each other. Of course, though, nothing is ever that simple. After they began to fall for each other, things became complicated, and I was sadden by how things were turning out for them. There were some surprise chapters from Jerome's perspective near the end, and I was glad to have gotten those. At the same time, it made me wish there had been more insight from him because he was such a sweet guy and I thought he deserved to be happy right along with Milly.

As I've indicated before, Reckless had some hard-hitting moments, but it was not a hard read at all and it's quick to get through. It was filled with all the lows and highs Milly was experiencing in her life, and by the end, it left me with a sense of hope for her and everyone she cared about. I definitely felt like I got the closure I needed. Reckless is the second book by Danielle Weiler that I've enjoyed, and I can't wait to read whatever she plans next.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Interview + Giveaway with author Danielle Weiler

Today I have an interview with Australian author Danielle Weiler! Her debut YA novel Friendship on Fire was released March 1, 2011 through Sid Harta Publishers. Find out more about Danielle and her novels at her website or follow her on GoodReads. Also, you can read my review for Friendship on Fire here!

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From what I've seen, young-adult contemporaries tend to be shorter than YA novels in other genres, so I'm impressed with the length of Friendship on Fire. How long did it take you to complete? And were there any scenes cut out that you really liked?

Friendship on Fire took me 3 months to finish the first draft. Then I spent a long time polishing it and getting feedback from assessors, the target audience (my students) and friends/family. I was working full time as well but I had a bee in my bonnet. Daisy had something to say! I did have to cut out quite a bit – it’s hard to make a book that covers an entire year believable if it’s too short. I wanted readers to really see and feel the changes in all the characters, even minor ones. I was pretty lucky to be able to keep most of the scenes I wanted. My editor wanted to cut out the scene near the end of the novel where Daisy goes to Roman’s house for dinner and Roman’s parents try to find out what’s happened between them. But I put my foot down – I liked that scene. Luckily I could keep it. At one point Daisy does diagnose herself with Final Year of School Syndrome in which she lists the symptoms (facetiously) and blames school for her plight. She’s a funny girl.

There's a love-triangle in Friendship on Fire between the main character Daisy, her best friend Roman, and a guy from a different school named Nate. How would you describe the love-triangle for those who haven't read the book?

Mmm well Roman has been Daisy’s best friend since they met at the start of high school. They have both wondered if there was any chemistry between them but have been hesitant to try anything serious. Daisy sees Roman as safe, and hasn’t had the opposite of safe in order to be able to appreciate Roman for who he is. Nate is a product of his family and his environment. He’s rich, spoilt, charming, gorgeous, clever and sexy. Some believe he’s misunderstood. Some hate his guts…

Daisy ate candy called Redskins throughout the novel and you seem to be a fan of them too! Unfortunately they aren't available where I live. What exactly do Redskins taste like?

Danielle eating Redskins!

I adore Redskins. They have a strawberry/raspberry flavour and are very sticky and chewy. You have to pick little bits of it out of your back teeth. They’re about 10cm long and are wrapped individually.

I really loved the ending of Friendship on Fire. Did you know you wanted that ending from the very beginning? And do you know what Daisy is up to now? (A bit spoilery, if you haven't read the book!)

Yes I did want the ending from when I started the novel. It was still hard to write certain parts though, because you have to write in the good parts about a character and be convincing, then you have to write in how they hurt others and that can be uncomfortable because you always want to hope for the best in them. But a story wouldn’t be a story without conflict and growth. Daisy is currently at university in her third year of study. She is engaged to Roman but they haven’t made any firm plans yet because his father has become ill and the family had to move away for specialist treatment. But they write and call each other a lot.

Finally, I see that you have a second YA contemporary novel titled Reckless in Abandonment. What can you tell us about that one? Are there any plans for a release?

Ahh Reckless is a title I was toying with but I have no idea whether it’ll end up being called that. It’s an upper YA story about a girl called Milly and how a family tragedy sent her spiralling down into despair and doing stupid things. I also have a third YA manuscript with a male protagonist and it has darker themes and an edge to it that my other novels don’t have. Fingers crossed they are liked by publishers and I can keep doing what I love to do.

Thanks for having me Alexa!

Review: Friendship on Fire by Danielle Weiler

Title: Friendship on Fire
Author: Danielle Weiler
Pages: 471
Publisher: Sid Harta Publishers
Release Date: March 1, 2011

The first few days of year 12 are disastrous for school captain Daisy Brooks.

But Daisy’s life takes a sudden turn when she is dared by Skye, the leader of the Blonde Brigade, to meet the mysterious, drop-dead gorgeous stranger, Nate, from rival school Addison Grammar. Daisy’s instant attraction to him disrupts her world. But what about her best friend Roman? How will he respond to this intruder?

Daisy is a vulnerable, yet fiery girl going through the chaotic phase between teenage and adulthood. She is about to discover the complexities of relationships, the etiquette of friendship and, most of all, her development as a woman.

Is it too late for Daisy to realise that the choices she makes shapes who she is and who she will become?

My Thoughts (minor spoilers): Friendship on Fire is one of the longer YA contemporaries I've read. There were times in the beginning of the novel where I found myself easily putting it down. The story was a bit slow-going, and I couldn't bring myself to become totally invested, which I figured was all a result of the novel's length. Once I got to a certain point later on, though, I realized it was mostly the main character Daisy who had been holding me back. Don't get me wrong. I do think Friendship on Fire could have still achieved the same message had it been shorter, but for me, it was Daisy and her relationships with the other characters that ultimately determined how I felt as I read the book. And while it took me some time to warm up to Daisy, as I got closer and closer to the end I kept wishing more pages would magically appear in my copy. I became that attached to Daisy's story.

Like I mentioned, Daisy initially wasn't my favorite character. I can appreciate a character who is strong-willed and has a fiery personality; however, it was the choices she made that were kind of a turn off. As I got further into the novel, I realized they weren't choices that most of us probably haven't made in our lives, and I began to accept the way things were happening. So, while it can still be a bit frustrating, Daisy's experiences were a necessary part of growing up, just like with any one else. She wouldn't have learned from her naive mistakes if she didn't go through all the situations she did. And comparing the person she was before to the person she is now, it's clear that she has matured greatly. It's a pretty amazing transformation.

Other than the two boys in her life (who I'll mention in a bit), Daisy's relationships with others evolved throughout the novel as well. Certain characters really surprised me in a good way, others in a completely bad way. There was one relationship that was constant throughout, and it was Daisy's relationship with her family. I love how her parents and older brothers were there for her and looked out for her. They let her figure things out on her own, even when they worried she wasn't making the best decisions. It was just great knowing that Daisy had a close and supportive family when she going through some important changes in her life.

Friendship on Fire is a bit like stories we've seen before. There's a girl (Daisy) who falls for the hot and douche-y guy (Nate) and can't see that her best friend (Roman) is actually the perfect guy for her. We know it'll either end badly or...yeah, who are we kidding? Even before reading it, I already had an idea of where Daisy's relationship with Nate was headed. It wasn't such of a surprise. What did surprise me was that I ended up feeling a bit sorry for Nate. Maybe I wasn't suppose to, but I did. Finding out about his home life made me understand why he became the person he is today. It doesn't excuse his behavior because he can definitely decide whether or not to be influenced by the people around him. I do believe his relationship with Daisy might have made him see things differently, and although I'm not sure how much he has changed or is willing to change as result, hopefully Nate realizes that it's not to late for him to become a better person. (Or maybe I'm all wrong about him and he just managed to manipulate me like he did Daisy and deserves to be miserable! Gahh!)

Now, Roman. The best friend, the good guy, the underdog. Oh, Roman. Even though I knew he was the better choice for Daisy, I can't say that I felt much of anything for him in the beginning. Honestly, and I feel bad now for saying this, I remember thinking that he must be a pretty pathetic guy for still obviously pining over a girl who didn't seem like the greatest friend. I think the reason I didn't care about him was because I was seeing him through Daisy's eyes. Since she dismissed his feelings and her focus was always elsewhere, I didn't get to really know him. It led me not to care about him or give him a second thought. I was so wrong about him. Roman ended up being part of why I didn't want the book to end. He's definitely the perfect guy for Daisy. For many reasons, actually. I thought he was sweet and attentive. It just amazes me that, while I had zero interest in him at first, I was seriously swooning over him by the end! I love that! And I love that Daisy was able to realize that he's a very good friend and that she needed to appreciate him the way he deserves to be appreciated.

It took some time for me to get completely hooked into Friendship on Fire, but when it happened, I couldn't bring myself to put it down. Whether my initial feelings were because of the pacing and length or even the characters, I thought it was all worth it in the end. I really liked Daisy's gradual development into a mature character, and I'm happy with how things turned out for her and certain other characters. I'm usually impressed with Australian authors, and Danielle Weiler is no exception. I'm not sure if there's another novel by her in the works, but if there is, I'm looking forward it!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Danielle Weiler for the chance to read FoF!