Nicole Quigley Makes a Stunning Debut with Her Genesis Award-Winning Coming-of-Age
Novel that Deals with Bullying, Suicide, and Faith
“This
story is not about suicide. But you should know that when I was seventeen, the
only boy who ever called me by my full name took his own life. It was the first
time I ever saw a mistake that was permanent, that couldn’t be undone with
whiteout
or atoned for with an after-school detention.” – Missy Keiser
or atoned for with an after-school detention.” – Missy Keiser
Nicole Quigley’s breakthrough novel tells the story
of Melissa Keiser and three boys, whose lives intertwine in a tragic and
hauntingly poetic coming-of-age tale that will have fans of YA fiction abuzz
long after the book’s emotional end.
Tackling the
sensitive and widespread issues of teen suicide, drug use, sex, and faith, LIKE MOONLIGHT AT LOW TIDE (Zondervan; $15.99; September 2012) does
so in a new and sophisticated way – providing a fresh alternative to the teen
pop novels and stories of love triangles rampant in the YA market.
In LIKE MOONLIGHT AT LOW TIDE, Missy returns to her hometown of Anna Maria
Island, Florida, where she was once referred to as the ugliest girl in school.
After spending three years in Pennsylvania, unbeknownst to herself, Missy has
blossomed. It takes the romantic attention of her childhood crush for her to
realize that she’s not the “Messy” Keiser who used to be greeted by barks in
her middle school hallway.
Finally
catching a glimpse into the alluring world of high school popularity and
parties she never dreamed of attending, Missy becomes entangled with three boys
who will change her life: handsome and confident jock Sam King; her elusive
neighbor, Josh, who has a quiet confidence and unwavering faith; and her
rebellious brother, Robby, who struggles between obtaining the life he wants and
settling for the life others expect him to have.
With everyone
noticing the new Missy, her skewed self-perception slowly begins to heal in a
raw and honest story about what happens after the bullying stops.
Quigley reflects, “You can’t read the
papers these days without seeing stories about school-age bullying, but not
many people talk about what happens afterward. How do you ever feel right after
being told you’re all wrong for so long?”
Set in her
hometown, Quigley captures the ethereal essence of Anna Maria Island, a barrier
island off the Gulf coast of Florida, where skim boarding and pool hopping are
the activities of choice and the temperature hovers mostly around eighty
degrees.
With magnetic
prose that reads like poetry, LIKE
MOONLIGHT AT LOW TIDE is an emotional page-turner that will be sure to hook
lovers of YA fiction from page one through to the climactic close.
“I think this
book will resonate with a wide range of readers,” Quigley adds, “because
everyone has experienced some form of bullying and reacted to it for better or
worse, whether they realized it or not.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nicole Quigley is the recipient of the American Christian Fiction
Writer’s “Genesis Award” for her debut novel, LIKE MOONLIGHT AT LOW TIDE. She majored in Communications at
Appalachian State University, and has worked in public relations in Washington,
D.C. for the past 12 years. When she’s not writing, Quigley stays active in her
weekly women’s small group Bible study and her church. Quigley is originally
from Anna Maria Island, Florida, the inspiration for the novel. www.nicolequigleybooks.com
To schedule an interview with Nicole Quigley, receive review copies or for more information
on LIKE MOONLIGHT AT LOW TIDE, please
contact Candice Frederick at DJC Communications at 212-971-9707 or candice@djccommunications.com.
****
Zondervan, a HarperCollins company, is headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, is a world leader in
Christian communications, and is the leading Christian publishing brand. For
more than 75 years, Zondervan has delivered transformational Christian
experiences through general and academic resources authored by influential
leaders and emerging voices and has been honored with more Christian Book
Awards than any other publisher.
No comments:
Post a Comment