I'd like to welcome Tonya Fitzharris to 'The Story Factory Reading Zone'.
Tonya has been kind enough to answer some of my questions about herself and her book, '6 Seconds of Life'.
You can also scroll down for my review of her book.
Author Bio
Tonya Fitzharris is a writer, reader, blogger, mediocre
cook, photographer, runner, Florida native, and cat lover. She used to be a
Middle School English Teacher, but now she's trying out the whole novel writing
thing. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and her Belgian cat named
Waffles.
CONTACT
WEBSITE
TWITTER @tonyafitzharris
FACEBOOK
The Interview
CONTACT
WEBSITE
TWITTER @tonyafitzharris
The Interview
Describe yourself in 5 words
Shy, Contemplative, Loved, Adventurous, Nervous
Tell us why we should read '6 Seconds of Life'
I think that it's a story that anyone can identify with, no
matter what your age or situation. For someone who has suffered through
depression in the past or may be in the midst of it right now, I hope it
can give them solace in discovering that they are not alone. For those
who may know someone with depression (or maybe you've never met one), I
hope that it can help build a bridge of understanding and compassion for
those who struggle.
What points of your life do you think you'd remember if you only had 6 seconds?
The night my husband (then just a guy I was seeing) asked me to
be his boyfriend while we both extremely feverish and delirious with
the flu (I gave it to him, and he still stuck around), When my husband
whispered "you look beautiful" on our wedding day, the last day of my
very first year as a teacher when my students surprised me with a cake
and a wonderful card that they all signed...I'm hoping that there will
be many more moments that will become important to me over the next few
years.
Are you a story planner, or a wing-it-as-you-go writer?
I'm a little of both. I sit down and write a very clear outline
before I go, but I often find myself changing some of it as I go along.
But as far as being a complete pants-er, I can't. I need to have some
sort of idea about where I'm going and whether or not my story is
working.
Where do you do your writing?
Usually at my desk or on my couch. I've tried to do things like go
out to a coffee shop or other public area, but I just get way too
distracted. I have a really bad problem with a wandering mind, so when I
need to get serious, I stay home.
Which authors or books have inspired you?
Laurie Halse Anderson and her book "Speak" made me fall in love
with YA literature all over again as an adult. "Thirteen Reasons Why" by
Jay Asher helped show me that suicide was a very real subject that
should and could be addressed tastefully with a teen audience. Finally,
"Easy" by Tammara Webber showed me that New Adult can indeed succeed and
became my beacon for what I would like my own successful career to look
like.
If someone was coming to stay with you, what would you show them in your local area?
I actually JUST moved to my new town a few days ago, so I have
nothing! (It's Metuchen, NJ for anyone who knows anything about it! I'm
taking suggestions!) But I do know that it is only half an hour from New
York, so I plan to take full advantage of that and recommend it to
anyone who happens to stop by!
About the Book
Title: 6 Seconds of Life
Author: Tonya Fitzharris
Date Published: 1st September 2012
Maura has just jumped.
Now she has precisely six seconds until she
hits the water below her—just six more seconds until she is finally freed from
her mundane and aimless existence. Freed
of all of the regrets and disappointments that have haunted her throughout her
nineteen years.
She just needs to be free.
But as she falls, the most pivotal points of
her life start to replay like a movie in her head: her family falling apart,
her first love, her first heartbreak, her first true friends, and her first
betrayal. As she remembers
these moments that brought her to this point, will she feel a sense of
peace? Or will her death be
her greatest regret?
Purchase Links
Purchase Links
My review
A basic premise, writing about in a truly emotionally fashion. The more I read, the more I felt as if I was gaining a sneak-peak into the real (and unfortunate) life of a teenager in turmoil. Starting in the midst of the action, flashbacks explain how Maura came to this tragic point.
The characters were believable and, at times, I almost felt as if I was reading a memoir rather than a work of fiction. The tale is no doubt one which is very real for many, and a story which we can often forget.
A good read for anyone who likes their fiction to be hard-hitting.
I reviewed this book as part of RABT Tours. I agreed to provide an honest review in exchange for a copy of this book.
Action Reader's Action: Think (or write) about some of the most important events of your life.
What points of your life do you think you'd remember if you only had 6 seconds?
