Handpicked by Dani Oden
Publication date: August 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
Synopsis:
College freshman Jill Holloway takes one look at the stuck-up girls going through sorority rush and nearly returns her borrowed dress and heels. Against her best judgment, she ends up falling for the prestige and parties, and snagging a bid from a top house. After moving in, she quickly grows skeptical of her too-perfect sorority sisters. She tries to ask questions, though no one will take time from their busy social calendar to give her any real answers.
Jill wastes no time digging for everything she’s not supposed to find, and soon comes face-to-face with a big and bloody secret hidden in her sorority’s basement. She knows she’s in over her head, but taking off so soon would raise the perfectly-plucked eyebrows of her suspicious new sisters. She’s stuck until she can make a smooth exit.
But the closer she gets to leaving, the more it becomes clear that it won’t be as simple as she hoped. A tempting fraternity guy, a best friend who needs her, and new details about what has really been happening in the basement have her questioning what her next move should be, and whether or not it’ll be worth the risks.
HANDPICKED is a New Adult coming of age, with elements of suspense and romance.
Purchase:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/
BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.
BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.
Excerpt
“We shouldn’t be talking out here,” Sister
President said, and the three of them swiftly set their glasses down and
disappeared through a doorway on the other side of the room.
Once
the door had closed behind them, Hannah predicted, "Something's about to
go down.”
"Where'd
the pourers go?" Lindy asked, glancing around.
"You
guys are weirding me out." I interjected. "Can't we just enjoy this?
There's food and good drinks and we won't have hangovers. Maybe we should try
to meet some of the other-"
I
didn't get a chance to finish. All the lights in the room went out at once, and
the tall curtains lining the wall of windows fell dramatically in front of the
glass, blocking out the sunlight. Someone shrieked, and a frantic hush fell
over our group.
A
strong female voice grabbed our attention. "Get ready, bitches."
A
candle flickered, illuminating a face I didn't recognize. "Your new life
starts now."
Interview - Getting to Know
Dani Oden
Tell us three interesting facts
about yourself
My dream vacation is an RV
roadtrip across the USA, my favorite food is macaroni and cheese, and I’m a
boyband enthusiast.
What made you decide to sit down
and write an NA novel?
It happened the other way around,
actually. It was a couple years ago, when I was about mid-way through the first
draft of HANDPICKED that I first heard of New Adult as its own category. The
more I researched, the more I realized how much of a fit it was. I can still remember
telling my husband that I’d heard of a new genre that I just happened to be
writing already. It was good timing!
What do you like to do when
you’re not writing?
I had a baby this year, so
snuggling him is pretty high on my list. I also love thrift shopping, reading,
and anything involving coffee and/or wine. I’m a semi-ambitious DIY-er, I make
a lot of my own jewelry. I also have a real-world career in educational
outreach, so that takes up a lot of my time as well.
Who are your favorite writers?
All time favorites? Curtis
Sittenfeld, Judy Blume, Rebecca Wells. I’m also getting into Jennifer Weiner
lately, and I’m having a lot of fun discovering other NA authors, too. My to-read
list is almost all NA since so much has come out since I’ve been in my writing
bubble!
Where can you see yourself in 5
years time?
Probably still living with my
family somewhere on the West Coast (where I’ve spent most of my life already),
with more books out. Hopefully I’ll have traveled a bit more by then, too – I
really want to see the southern states and the UK.
What is your favorite movie and
why?
So many! I have the entertainment
tastes of a teenager. My husband teaches film and just rolls his eye at the
movies I love…Mean Girls, Pitch Perfect, all the Harry Potter Films, Wedding
Crashers, Wet Hot American Summer. Though, if you twist my arm, I think I’d say
Dirty Dancing. It’s such a classic New Adult story, and I love the soundtrack.
What advice would you give to
your younger self?
Keep reading and don’t worry so
much :)
Author links:
Twitter: @MsDaniOden
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/
Blog: www.trapperkept.com (blog on pop culture & nostalgia)
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/
Blog: www.trapperkept.com (blog on pop culture & nostalgia)
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