New Adult / Upper YA
Title: Life on the Edge
Author: Jennifer Comeaux
Date Published: 1/3/12
Emily and Chris are on track to be top contenders at the 2002 Winter Games. But when forbidden feelings spark between Emily and Sergei, broken trust and an unexpected enemy threaten to derail Emily’s dreams of gold.
Author Bio
Jennifer Comeaux earned a Master of Accounting from Tulane University and is a Certified Public Accountant in south Louisiana. While working for a Fortune 1000 company, she sought a creative outlet and decided to put on paper a story that had played in her head for years. That story became Life on the Edge, her first published novel.
When not working or writing, she is an avid follower of the sport of figure skating, travelling to competitions around the country. Those experiences allow her to see another side of the sport and serve as an inspiration for her writing. Jennifer is blessed with a wonderful family and many friends who have encouraged her to pursue her dream of being a published author.
Guest Post:
My Figure Skating Addiction
Many
people ask me how I became such a big fan of figure skating. There aren’t any
ice rinks near my city, and I’ve only stepped on the ice once in my life! I
grew up watching every skating event on TV, but it wasn’t until I attended my
first competition that my fandom turned into an addiction.
My
addiction started innocently enough. A friend from college, who is also a
die-hard fan of the sport, happened to be in Cleveland during the 2000 U.S.
National Championships, and she called me from Gund Arena, so excited about
everything she saw. She said we absolutely had to go to Boston for the 2001
Championships. I'd always loved watching Nationals on TV, but I was thinking, who
really goes to those events?
My
friend brought me the ticket order form, and before I knew it, we'd plunked
down a few hundred dollars for All-Event tickets. I flew into snow-covered
Boston in January 2001 and had no idea what I was getting into, how many
different places I'd travel to during the next eleven years for competitions.
The
first thing that jumped out at me in Boston was how the skaters I'd watched for
years on TV were now walking all around me at the hotel and sitting next to me
on the bus to the arena. I was completely star struck! I didn't know where to
look first.
The
next thing that blew me away was how bright and sparkly the costumes were in
person. Remember, this was before HDTV became popular. When the first group of
skaters came out on the ice, I felt like I was in that scene in The Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy
steps out of the black and white wrecked house and into colorful Munchkin Land.
I couldn't believe how every sequin glinted under the bright lights of the
Fleet Center.
Watching
the competition live as opposed to at home, I could really feel the emotion of
the skaters, and the energy of the crowd heightened the excitement even more. I
enjoyed seeing skaters that never made the TV broadcast, especially the young
up-and-comers. But the highlight was seeing my favorite skater of all-time,
Michelle Kwan, compete. She owned the building. Nothing could compare to the
frenzy she created when she stepped on the ice. Watching her skate was such a
privilege.
After
I returned home and told my sister all about my experience, I didn't have to do
much convincing to get her on board for 2002 Nationals in Los Angeles. And from
there, I couldn't stop – 2003 Dallas, 2004 Atlanta, 2005 Portland, the list
goes on. Twelve straight Nationals and tickets purchased for 2013 in Omaha.
Along the way, I also added in Skate America as an annual trip and threw in
Worlds '09 and the 2010 Olympics (which was a dream come true!).
Attending
skating events has allowed me to visit cities I never would've visited, and
I've met some amazing skaters, skater families, and fans over the years. Being
at competitions is so inspiring – it’s not only made me a bigger fan but it’s
also given me lots of story ideas. So, I think my addiction is a healthy one!
Do you have any healthy addictions?
Book Excerpt:
The
wind picked up, rustling the trees and sending my empty cup skittering over the
table. Sergei snatched it and noticed the time on his watch.
“Oh, wow, it’s two thirty. I’m sorry, I
didn’t mean to stay this late.”
“No worries. I can sleep till noon
tomorrow.”
He rose from his chair, stretching his
arms. “Do you think they all killed each other downstairs?”
“My guess is they played so hard they
passed out at some point. That’s been known to happen.”
I got up and smoothed my skirt. I’d
kicked off my sandals hours ago, and the weathered wood of the patio was cool
under my bare feet.
Sergei took a step toward me. “Thanks
again for the great meal. And the even better company.”
“You’re very welcome. I’m so glad you
came.”
I stood on tippy-toes to give him a quick
hug, but Sergei’s strong arms held me against him, enveloping my small frame.
His body exuded warmth. I closed my eyes and breathed in the woody scent of his
cologne. We’d shared plenty of hugs at competitions, but this felt so
different, like we belonged nowhere else but in this embrace.
After what seemed like both an eternity
and a split second, Sergei pulled away, his hands brushing down my back. He glanced
downward and gestured to the door.
“I can let myself out.”
My head bobbed weakly. “Okay. I’ll see
you Monday.”
“See you.” He held my gaze a moment
longer than necessary. Then he was gone.
I stood paralyzed, listening to the blood
pulse in my ears. My heart beat so fast I thought it might pound out of my
chest. I couldn’t have imagined the electricity I’d felt in Sergei’s arms. It
was too real. And I had no idea how I could ever forget it.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
3 comments:
I took figure skating lessons for a year, but I wasn't any good. But my mom says when I was little I would sit and watch figure skating for hours.
Thanks so much for hosting me, Becky!
Megan - it's one of the only sports I will watch. I've been ice skating once (this year so I'm 24) but it was great, I didn't fall over at all and even managed a one foot glide and a tiny jump. Want to go again. It's something I wish my parents had signed me up to as a kid.
At least you gave it a go! :D
Jennifer - you're very welcome. :)
Post a Comment