LET'S WELCOME KATHRYN R. BIEL AUTHOR OF: LIVE FOR THIS

LET’S

WELCOME

KATHRYN R. BIEL

AUTHOR OF:

Rad-Reader:  What gave you the idea for this book?

Kathryn:  Like most of my books, my inspiration came in short ideas that melded together from a bunch of different places. I had a dream one night about a man who was paralyzed, driving his van and picking up someone stranded on the side of the road. She was afraid not of him as a person, but because he had a disability. It was a few, brief scenes, and they got me thinking. I was in the process of mulling it over when I heard the song ‘Chandelier’ by Sia. It’s about a party girl just trying to stay drunk so she doesn’t have to deal with her life, and I knew I wanted to write her story. So, I put two and two together.

Rad-Reader:  Tell us the back story of Samirah (Sam) and Michael (Sally) that the blurb/synopsis doesn’t tell us.

Kathryn:  Well, and readers are consistent with this, Samirah is not a nice person. She’s had a tragic life, so you might feel a bit sorry for her, but probably not, at least not initially. She’s one of those girls who have no respect for other women, and certainly not marriage. She makes a lot of mistakes. That being said, she doesn’t deserve what happens to her either, as no one deserves to be the victim of sexual assault, no matter how you are dressed.

Michael is easy to have a crush on. The all-American boy with it all whose life is shattered in an instant when he becomes a paraplegic. He’s that inspirational type who, although he’s dealing with not only the loss of his legs but his fiancée and some friends, keeps moving forward. He’s definitely the type of guy you want to bring home to meet your parents. Funny, loyal, and loving.

Rad-Reader:  Why is Sam hanging out with Meadow when 1.) she doesn’t like her 2.) she is not a good influence on her?

Kathryn:  Because that’s all she has. Meadow has also opened doors for Sam in terms of the social scene. Sam doesn’t know how to love or give. She only knows how to use. I see Meadow and Sam’s relationship as a symbiosis rather than a friendship. Too often, especially when people have nothing else, the two are easily confused.

Rad-Reader:  Why would a so-called friend introduce you to a married man in the first place to date?

Kathryn:  Meadow did that so that Sam wouldn’t be competition for her on the dating scene. If Sam was tied up and involved with Chase, Meadow would be free to pursue and get the attention of the men who were actually available. Sam let Chase lie to her about the status of his marriage. How many women believe that the wife is the terrible one and the poor husband is just the victim? Unfortunately, it happens too often.

Rad-Reader:  How long has Sam been dating Chase her sugar daddy?  Is he just stringing her along?

Kathryn:  He is most definitely stringing her along. They’ve been together about six months.

Rad-Reader:  How old is Sam?  How old is Chase?

Kathryn:  I think Sam is about 23 or 24. I don’t know that I ever said Chase’s age, but I think early 30’s.

Rad-Reader:  Sam is just not a likable character and I am only at five percent what happened to her?  She says herself she went from looking for approval to granting it.  What is up with that?

Kathryn:  Because she lost her mother and her father left them, only to return to take away everything she had, Sam certainly and understandably has abandonment issues. After her mom died, there was never anyone to grant approval. As a defense, Sam puts herself in positions to make herself seem important and to be the one doling out approval. It gives her a sense of control when she really has none and is a survival mechanism.

Rad-Reader:  Why exactly did Sam’s father leave?Does she ever find out?

Kathryn:  Well, basically because he’s an a-hole. He has a gambling problem as well.

Rad-Reader:  Chase is a piece of work.  After his wife’s baby shower, he is feeling Sam all up.  What is he thinking the night before Sam left town?  Then he tried to contact her why?

Kathryn:  I’d never written someone this evil before. He has no conscience and no soul. He is the type who thinks he can have his cake and eat it too. As for the ‘incident,’ I’m sure in Chase’s head, he justified it as just a wild night and they were all in it for fun. He doesn’t really have a sense of right and wrong, so he didn’t see how he crossed the line. Way crossed the line. She’d always been a drinker and went along with his escalating sexual demands, so he didn’t think that this was anything different.

Rad-Reader:  Was Sally the only one in his small town that didn’t know that Phil and Laine were dating and engaged?

Kathryn:  He didn’t socialize that much and the friends who knew were sworn to secrecy.

Rad-Reader:  When she arrives in Michael’s hometown she is really ill.  But Sally knows she has gone through some trauma too.  Why doesn’t she want to talk about it with anyone?  Especially, Sally?

Kathryn:  Victims of sexual assault are often unable to talk about their experiences, especially right away. The feelings of shame and embarrassment that accompany rape and assault often preclude women from seeking the help they need. This would be especially true with a stranger. Sam’s trust, what little there was, to begin with, has been totally shattered. Being able to open up to anyone, but especially with someone she’s just met, is an insurmountable task. But, because of Michael’s paraplegia, he doesn’t represent a physical threat to Sam, which is why she accepts help from him in the first place.

Rad-Reader:  After his brother has been so hurt by Lainie not once but twice now Mitch is extra protective of Sally.  So, when he finds out that Sally is helping Sam he goes ballistic. Why does he have such a chip on his shoulder it can’t all be about her.

Kathryn:  He couldn’t protect his brother from the accident or from Laine. He’s overcompensating to make sure nothing happens to his brother again.

Rad-Reader:  What if Mitch starts snooping around and finds the video before she talks to Sally about it or anyone else?

Kathryn:  Well, Mitch can be a jerk, but he’s not bad enough to invade his brother’s privacy like that. Mitch may question why his brother is helping Sam out, but they have a relationship based on respect and trust so Mitch wouldn’t violate it like that.

Rad-Reader:  At the jewelry store Mitch was out to get Sam.  She felt the burn hot on her heels.  He was so mean and harsh.  Why? 

Kathryn:  Because he does not trust her, and all he can see is her taking advantage of Michael.

Rad-Reader:  Sally goes to the wedding with Sam and they both get a surprise.  What gave you the idea to have this be the end all be all event of the book?

Kathryn:  Honestly? I found a dress on Pinterest and Samirah needed someplace to wear it.

Rad-Reader:  Nikki was a booster for Sam’s healing process.  Can you tell us how?

Kathryn:  She was a true friend. It was a healthy relationship for Samirah, unlike her “friendship” with Meadow.

Rad-Reader:  Will there be a book about Mitch and Nikki because at the end you kinda mentioned a little something about it?

Kathryn:  It’s a thought but I’m not back there yet.

Rad-Reader:  If there was a movie made about your book who would you want to play…

Samirah:  Amy Jackson

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/607563805954146929/

Michael:  Brandon Jenner

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291748882089538725/

Mitch:  Brody Jenner

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/552676185491312970/

Nikki:  Brooke Burns

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/363384263663383245/

Chase:  Jake Mc Dorman
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/428686458254593453/

Grace:  Isla Fisher

 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/538250592937926358/

Kathryn:  I do have a Pinterest board for this book with a lot of my research/inspiration.

https://www.pinterest.com/kathrynrbiel/live-for-this/

Samirah:  Nadia Bjorlin

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/471048442253599099/

Michael:  If I were making the movie, Michael would ABSOLUTELY have to be played by an actor who is actually disabled. That would be non-negotiable for me

Pete Mitchell

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/471048442253605997/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/471048442253605996/

Mitch:  I don’t think I actually cast him.

Nikki:  I didn’t cast her specifically, though I know she’s got great hair. She’s African-American.

Chase:  Stuart Townsend

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/471048442253925326/

Grace:  I didn’t cast her but Isla Fisher seems like a good start!

Rad-Reader:  What song or songs best describes the feel of your two characters of the book as a whole?

Black Rain – Jack Savoretti

When Michael finds out bad news from his ex.

First Heartbreak – Tori Kelly

Being with Chase is the first man she ever been with or let in her life this close.  But especially since her mom died.  Then, he hurts her too.  Beyond belief.

I Don’t Think About You – Kelly Clarkson Cover - Sarah Pacheco

Now she is seeing herself through Michael’s (Sally) eyes and the goodness he sees in her.

Made That Way – Jordan Davis

Michael knew Sam was one hot mess when he took her in.  But it was nice to be the caretaker and not the one being cared for.

Kathryn:  I had a playlist but I accidentally deleted it (bangs head). Samirah’s song is obviously:

 Chandelier by Sia.

Michael’s song is: 

St. Elmo’s Fire by John Parr.

Their song together is: I know I had more, but now I can’t remember them.

I’ll Stand by You by Rachel Platten. 

Rad-Reader:  Where is your happy place?

Kathryn:  The beach in Cape May, NJ and with my family.

Rad-Reader:  What is your favorite dessert?

Kathryn:  Chocolate brownies (nice and underbaked) with chocolate frosting

Rad-Reader:  What is the one item you cannot leave home without?

Kathryn:  My phone and chapstick

Rad-Reader:  Makeup no makeup and why?

Kathryn:  Yes make-up but not tons. I’m in my mid-forties and have a pasty Irish complexion so I need a little so people don’t continually ask me if I’m sick or tired.

Rad-Reader:  Are you a mountain, ocean, desert, or city girl?

Kathryn:  Ocean

Rad-Reader:  Your favorite genre to read?

Kathryn:  Romantic comedy

Rad-Reader:  What is your next project and when is it due out?

Kathryn:  My next project is a contemporary romance called ‘Paradise by the Dashboard Light’ and it will be out late summer/early fall 2018.

Rad-Reader:  Where can our readers buy your books?

Kathryn:  My stand-alone books are available on Amazon, Nook, iTunes, and Kobo. My chick-lit/rom-com series (A New Beginnings Series) is only available on Amazon. All of my full-length novels are available in paperback through Amazon and Barnes and Noble (they are not on the shelves in a brick and mortar store, but your favorite book retailer can order them for you if you ask). Several of my titles are also available in audiobook format. My website has links that will take you directly to your preferred retailer. 

https://www.kathrynrbiel.com/books

Rad-Reader:  Where can our readers find you on the Web?

Kathryn:   www.kathrynrbiel.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kathrynrbiel

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathryn-r-biel

E-mail: kathrynbiel@outlook.com

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kathrynrbiel/

IG and Twitter: @KRBiel

Kathryn,
    Thanks for being with us you are a fun author to have to work with.  You got things to me when needed even when my brain was not where it should be.  Thanks for that.  Remember to come back and use the Shout Out: An Author's Place when you have a new book coming out you.  Because you are now officially a 1 Rad-Reader Misfit.
Thanks again,
Char