2015 Most Anticipated ........ Finding Paris

My next selection has a road trip, the bonds between sisters, and family secrets. I am pretty sure I am going to LOVE this one and cannot wait to get my hands on it.

Just check out this Goodreads synopsis and you'll immediately add it to your own 'to be read' list in anticipation of it's release.

A page-turning, evocative novel for fans of THIRTEEN REASONS WHY and SPEAK, about a girl who must follow a trail of mysterious clues to discover what happened to her sister.

Sisters Leo and Paris Hollings have only ever had each other to rely on. They can’t trust their mother, who hops from city to city and from guy to guy, or their gambler stepfather, who’s moved them all to Las Vegas. It’s just the two of them: Paris, who’s always been the dreamer, and Leo, who has a real future in mind—going to Stanford, becoming a doctor, falling in love.

But Leo isn’t going anywhere yet… until Paris ditches her at the Heartbreak Hotel Diner, where moments before they had been talking with physics student Max Sullivan. Outside, Leo finds a cryptic note from Paris—a clue. Is it some kind of game? Where is Paris, and why has she disappeared?

When Leo reluctantly accepts Max’s offer of help, the two find themselves following a string of clues through Vegas and beyond. But the search for the truth is a not a straight line. And neither is the path to secrets Leo and Max hold tightly.

I need to read this. Immediately. The road trip is between Las Vegas and Los Angeles which is basically the road trip I've always wanted to do. Total wish fulfillment in that department. If there is a strong romance included I am going to be completely in book love.

I got Joy to spill some details about Finding Paris and her Q and A will make you want to devour this book even more...

1 Describe Finding Paris in three words

Sisters. Secrets. Boy. 

2 If someone were to make an ice cream flavour for your book, what might be included?

Interestingly, Leonora (Leo), my MC, works in a frozen yogurt shop in the novel! So she would be the expert on such matters. And since a slice of coconut cream pie sort of brings Leo and Max together, and there are other food moments in the story, in addition to so many moments that can be reflected through flavor choices, I'd say coconut ice cream with raspberry and lemon swirl.

3 Can you share a secret about your book (either it's world, it's characters, or something that helped inspire the story)?

FINDING PARIS  was inspired by many things, but the initial seed actually came on a road trip from Houston to Dallas when we stopped for lunch at this restaurant/gift shop. I went in the bathroom and there was the usual graffiti on the stall--and for whatever reason I began thinking about what would happen if someone disappeared on a trip like this, leaving behind only a scribbled message! That idea stuck in my head and applied itself to some other ideas that had been brewing-- ideas about broken families and sisters and boys and secrets. Although at the time, I simply went back to the table and ate a piece of pie! 

4 Finding Paris features a road trip. What items would you need to have the best road trip ever?

I would need either a cherry red Camaro or any kind of convertible, a fun and funny and irreverent companion, a bag full of junk food and both water and caffeine in or or more of its tasty forms. And both a set of goals of things we'd like to see and the agreement that we will allow the trip to take us somewhere unexpected. Plus I'd need Route 66 for at least part of it. Because every good road trip needs at least some part of the Mother Road. 

5 If you could travel to anywhere, in any time period, when and where would you want travel? 

I've been reading the OUTLANDER series, that travels back to 1700s Scotland so I've actually been thinking about this question a lot!  There are actually many, many periods I'd like to visit, but for starters, I'd love to go back to New York City in the Roaring Twenties. I think it would be amazingly exciting and possibly dangerous and I'd love to experience that post WWI energy and craziness. I've been fascinated with it since I read Gatsby in high school, probably even before that. It's one of those decades where anything seemed possible and all the old rules in art and writing and life were thrown to the winds! If not the 20s, then I'd also find the specific year of 1916 very fascinating. I think everything in the world changed enormously from the many events in 1916. Look it up and you'll see what I mean!

6 What three things do you need while revising?

Many cups of coffee with milk, a relatively quiet place to work that's not too hot and not too cold, and at least a full hour at a time to work. Revising, like writing, has a rhythm to it and once I get going, I don't like to stop too soon. You know, I began my serious writing career while teaching full time (about 175 students) and still doing the mom/carpool/football games, etc. thing. So I trained myself to write anywhere at anytime, as long as I had something to write on and at least 15 minutes of time. It's actually amazing how much you can get done in those stolen bits of time. 

7 Did you drive the route the character in Finding Paris takes for research? If so what was your favourite stop along the way?

Well, not all of it. I've driven the Texas leg of the journey and good chunks of the highways between Vegas and there. And I've driven everything Leo and Max see in California. But it was actually my lovely agent, Jen Rofe, who vetted the journey between Vegas and LA! She was driving it anyway on a quick vacation and being the all-purpose agent that she is, she volunteered to take pictures and even a few videos along the way. Plus the wonderful Interwebs helped. A lot of people seem to feel an obligation to document that particular trip. All that said, I'm hoping to drive it myself soon and possibly as part of my promotion of the book! And while I love it all too much to pick one favorite, I'd have to say that the Santa Monica  Pier in LA is definitely a place I love. Beyond that general observation, I won't give anything else away because I want readers to experience the entire crazy journey with Leo and Max when FINDING PARIS arrives in April!

7 If possible, please share the first line of Finding Paris. (only answer if not too spoilery).

"My sister leans over me as I am trying to sleep." 

That ice cream sounds amazing (this entire event is making me want ice cream) and how fun is it that one of the characters works at a frozen yogurt shop?! The road trip aspect of this novel sounds amazing and I love that she did some real research for the particular route her character's journey takes them on.

Finding Paris is released April 21st but you can pre-order it now

Amazon USA/Canada // Chapters // Barnes and Noble // Bluewillow Books

Be sure to check back later on during the event for a chance to win a copy of Finding Paris (or any of my featured titles).

You can follow Joy Preble on Twitter, visit her official website, and learn more about the book from the publisher website.

What is your favourite road trip route? Or what would you bring with you on the best road trip ever? Let me know in the comments.