How To Get Ainsley Bishop To Fall In Love With You Blog Tour, Contest & Review

Today, we're excited to be part of the blog tour for T.M. Franklin's fun, new YA release How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love With You.  She shares a little with us about what inspired the book, her own high school crush, and there's also a giveaway for a signed copy of Ainsley and some other fun prizes!

1.     How did you get the idea for this novel?

The original inspiration came from my son, actually. He’s one of those kids who’s incredibly smart, with very particular interests, and he’s fine with having a few close friends, or even being alone. He doesn’t worry too much about what others think of him – or if they make fun of him. I wanted to write a story about a hero like that – someone a little different, quirky maybe, but okay with that. I wanted that hero to realize that he didn’t have to change who he is to reach his goals, or to get the girl.

2.       Oliver is quirky and has that typical teenage social awkwardness.  On the flip side, he’s also very confident. How did his character evolve as you wrote him? 

Oliver’s personality is key to the plot. He’s not popular. He’s a little awkward and different, and others sometimes make fun of him – but he’s also comfortable in his  own skin. One of the core elements of Oliver’s character is that he feels good about who he is, and he doesn’t really put a lot of value in the opinions of those who might be critical of him.

I knew that confidence had to come from somewhere, and to me, it was logical that it grew from his strong support system – his loving family, his older friend and mentor, Hank at the Senior Center, and his best friend, Viney. It became imperative that these characters really provide Oliver with the kind of guidance and support that would help him to become the strong person I think he is.

3.       What was the best part of writing this book? 

This book was so much fun to write. I’ve been deep in writing and editing the MORE Trilogy for more than three years now, and although I love it, it is pretty complex. There are a lot of characters and plot points to keep track of. The three-book arc is very detailed and demanding. When I decided to write Ainsley I knew I would just be writing the one book – one story from beginning to end – so that was a lot less pressure. And there’s quite a bit of humor in the book, which I really enjoy writing.

4.       Can you describe your first high school crush?

Well, I wouldn’t say it was my first, but it was definitely the most memorable. I had a crush on a boy a year older than me for most of junior high and high school. I wouldn’t say he didn’t know that I was alive, because that would have been impossible – I was constantly staring at him, saying hello in the halls. I even sent him a dozen flowers from a “secret admirer” on Valentine’s Day. It’s pretty pathetic, looking back. Lots of swooning. Lots of tears when he got a girlfriend. He was SO nice, though. Although it never went anywhere, he was always kind to me. Eventually, he graduated and I moved on. Cest la vie. J

5.       The BiblioJunkies motto is “books, boys and pie”. Imagine this scenario:  someone shows up at your door with your favourite book and dessert.  So which crush (fictional or celebrity) would that be and what book and dessert would they bring?

Hmmm… I’m a huge Beatles fan, so I’d have to say it’s Paul McCartney. I’d LOVE to meet him! And if he’s going to read to me, I’d want to take advantage of that accent, so something historical - maybe some Jane Austen or Bronte? That would be lovely… with a nice crème brulee. Mmmm… yes, please!

Seventeen-year-old Oliver Wendell Holmes (Yes, his parents are just that peculiar, but his brother's name is Sherlock, so it could have been worse) knows that he's different. He's quirky, awkward, and he's okay with that. Oliver also likes making lists-meticulous procedures for achieving his goals, step-by-step. Whether it's "How to Get an A in Chemistry" or "How to Get Accepted to MIT," he has a process, and it's worked for him so far. He doesn't even care that the popular kids mock him. Oliver's got his eye on the prize.

So when he decides it's time to declare his feelings for Ainsley Bishop, the girl of his dreams, it's only natural for him to make a list-a point-by-point strategy to win her heart. He knows it will take a grand gesture for her to see all he has to offer, and her approaching birthday provides the ideal opportunity for Oliver to put his plan into action.

Finding the perfect gift is a challenge Oliver meets with his usual dogged determination. He'll need to watch her carefully for clues to pinpoint exactly what he should give her. And along the way, he might just learn that what Ainsley really needs is not quite what he expected.

Ainsley is available now!

Amazon |Barnes & Noble |iTunes |Kobo | TWCS

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T.M. Franklin started out her career writing non-fiction in a television newsroom. Graduating with a B.A. in Communications specializing in broadcast journalism and production, she worked for nine years as a major market television news producer, and garnered two regional Emmy Awards, before she resigned to be a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days. MORE was well-received, being selected as a finalist in the 2013 Kindle Book Review Best Indie Book Awards, as well as winning the Suspense/Thriller division of the Blogger Book Fair Reader’s Choice Awards.

In addition to MORE and its sequel, The Guardians, Franklin penned the Amazon best-selling short stories A Piece of Cake andWindow, which also won a Blogger Book Fair Reader’s Choice Award for Short Story/Fantasy. Her new YA romance, How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You, is Franklin’s first love story without a paranormal or fantasy element, although she believes love is the best kind of magic.

TWELVE, the final installment in the MORE Trilogy will be released in the fall of 2014.

Connect with T.M. Franklin

Website | E-mail | Facebook | Twitter

Review:

* * * *

If you’re in the mood for something quirky then pick this! Ainsley Bishop is a witty, funny, engaging and cleverly written story about a very geeky and slightly awkward guy who’s in love with a girl who he doesn’t think notices him. He devises a plan to get closer to her and ropes in his best friend Viney to assist him. And as these things go, some things go according to plan while a few surprises lay ahead.

Oliver is one of my favourite protagonists. He has a clear head on his shoulders and is incredibly self-assured for his age. He has no qualms about who he is and couldn’t care less what other people think of him. His habit of making lists to direct every aspect of his life may seem obsessive but I choose to see him as focused. He joins the drama club with Ainsley and soon learns that there’s more to her than this idea of her that he has built in his head.  She may seem all cozy and content with her boyfriend to everyone else but Oliver reads her differently.  

When he offers to help her fix her play, he discovers a different Ainsley, one who’s not quite as put together as she appears to be and someone who’s bogged down by other people’s expectations of her. Oliver knows that her loyalty to her boyfriend and father are holding her back from discovering her own potential. He takes it upon himself to oh so delicately encourage her to take care of herself and remind her that her dreams should be equally as important.

Here's what makes Ainsley Bishop spectacular. We have this kid who’s put his dream girl up on a pedestal, and rather than being disappointed by her, he sees all that she can be and stands by her side. He doesn’t tell her what to do but works diligently at bolstering her confidence in herself. In the process, Oliver also begins to stand up for what he wants.

This book is just pure brilliance. I was at the beach when I read this and many times I was laughing out loud! Thankfully not too many people were around me to see me during my laughing fits. But there were lots of them especially during Oliver and Viney’s banter. They have such typical teenage boy moments then  they also show remarkable maturity in parts. Viney is a treat and a true friend. Not to be outdone is Oliver's brother, Sherlock. The kid is hysterical!

How To Get Ainsley Bishop To Fall In Love With You is more than just about high school crushes and school plays. This time the guy loves everything about the girl and wants her to see just how freaking amazing she already is!

Can I just say that I love T.M. Franklin even more now, you know, fellow Beatles fan and all. Thank you everyone for stopping by the blog tour. Don't forget to enter the giveaway if you haven't already. A special thanks to T.M. Franklin for her time and The Writer's Coffee Shop for arranging the tour and giveaway. Now go read this book!

~ Bel