Thursday 16 August 2012

Blog Tour and Giveaway: On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves



  Title: On the Island
  Author: Tracey Garvis Graves
  Publisher: Penguin/Michael Joseph
  Publication date: August 16th 2012



When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a summer job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's holiday home in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation: a tropical island trumps the library any day.

T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having had cancer wasn't bad enough, he now has to spend his first summer in remission with his family -- and a stack of overdue essays -- instead of his friends.

Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. There, Anna and T.J. must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter, but even once their basic needs are met, they encounter plenty of other obstacles -- including the possibility, as the days turn to weeks and then months, that T.J.'s cancer could return. And, as T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man...
 
I loved On the Island!  The story had me riveted from page one, and so I’m beyond thrilled to be part of this blog tour.  We have Tracey here with us today to answer some questions about On the Island and it's stellar rise to success:


Q: I remember reading On The Island as a self-published title. Soon after it was like a fire spread on Goodreads and everyone was reading your story and loving it. Can you tell me how that felt and what kind of impact that had on a book deal?

It was a wonderful feeling. I actually had readers e-mailing me to let me know that On the Island was being discussed in various Goodreads groups; I didn't know! It was quite surreal to discover that people were talking about my book. To this day, I still receive reader feedback that is so heartfelt and lovely it brings tears to my eyes. And the willingness of readers to share such positive word-of-mouth recommendations definitely helped me attain publisher interest.

Q: I've recommended your story all over the place and every time I do the main concern is the age difference between T.J. and Anna. What inspired you to write a love story with such a wide age gap?

It was the challenge, actually. I knew that I needed a compelling pairing to make the story unique, and I also knew that if I could get the reader to fall in love with the characters, they'd be more likely to root for them to fall in love with each other. I remember watching the movie Castaway and wishing there had been another person on that island with Tom Hanks. If they could sell the idea that a man could have a meaningful relationship with a volleyball, why couldn't I convince readers that true love conquers all and age is just a number?

Q: In this story, just surviving and obtaining every day needs was a struggle for T.J.and Anna. What kind of research did you have to do about surviving in such circumstances?

I did a lot of research on dehydration, including finding out how long a person can stay alive without fresh water. I watched YouTube videos on how to make a fire using the bow and drill method (which is what T.J. used) and I remember feeling ecstatic when I discovered that breadfruit is high in Vitamin C (otherwise, T.J. and Anna really could have died of scurvy or some other illness caused by vitamin deficiency). I also read about malnutrition and how long it would take for it to cause problems even if you did technically have enough to eat.

Q: First of I'd like to say congratulations on the film deal, I was so excited to hear of it! How do you feel about your story being turned into a movie?

Thank you! I'm extremely excited about the possibility of seeing On the Island played out on the big screen. It will definitely be another surreal moment; I'm not sure I can wrap my mind around it (but I'm willing to try!).

Q: Will you have input in the film-making decisions?

Sadly, no. But there is a clause in the contract that states I can protest if they try to introduce an element which is clearly not a fit for the story (I've interpreted that to mean the addition of aliens or something equally as silly!).

Q: Who would you pick for your dream cast?

Jamie Campbell Bower is my new favorite for T.J. I used to want Taylor Kitsch - and it pains me to say this - but I think he's just a bit too old. Minka Kelly would make a wonderful Anna; I think she's beautiful and classy. John Goodman - from the T.V. show Roseanne - would be great as seaplane pilot Mick.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your upcoming book, Covet, and any other future projects in the works?

On the Island is contemporary romance (or romantic adventure as I sometimes refer to it). Covet is women's fiction so I'm changing genre a bit, but I think there's a fair amount of reader overlap between the two. Covet is the story of a couple whose marriage is tested when the husband loses his job during the recession. I think it's an issue many female readers can relate to. Covet is a heartwrenching yet ultimately hopeful love story (if that makes sense).

Thank you, Tracey for answering our questions and giving us some background on this amazing story!  If you haven't had the chance to read this 5 star story (you can read my review here) you must pick it up!! I promise this does not disappoint.



About the author:  Tracey Garvis Graves lives in a surburb of Des Moines, Iowa with her husband and two children. On the Island was Tracey's first novel and was self-published in the US, spent eight weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, was a Wall Street Journal top ten and USA today top fifteen. 



On the Island Giveaway:

Penguin/Michael Joseph have graciously agreed to giveaway a copy of On the Island. The giveaway is limited to U.K. residents only.  The only requirement is that you follow the blog via GFC. The giveaway will run for two weeks, so make sure you get your entry in soon.  Good luck!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

16 comments:

Celine said...

I've heard great things about On the Island and have also been wanting to read it for a while. I knew On the Island as a self-published book at first and was really glad that it was picked up by a publisher! And congratulations to Tracey for the film deal! Really can't wait for Tracey's newest novel too ;)

Awesome interview, Rachel! ♥ Thank you for sharing it with us!

All the Ups and Downs said...

That's easy! I'd want 5 books with me =)

x

Anonymous said...

I've seen this book around and I think after all the raving reviews, I'm willing to give the book a shot.
I'm very happy that Tracey's book has been picked up by a publisher and a movie! It's great! I've seen a lot of self-published books being re-published by huge publishers and it makes very happy! :) Some self-pubs are so much better than published ones. :)
Thanks for sharing the interview, Rachel! :)

Suzanne (Parabooklover) said...

Great interview. This sounds like a good story. Congrats on the movie deal yay!! I don't see the attraction to JCB at all though. I still can't believe he's going to be Jace, I don't think I'll be able to watch that movie.

Can I enter this giveaway, or is it strictly UK. Sometimes UK includes Ireland, you know lol

Julie S said...

I didn't realize this contest was UK only until just now. Sorry about that.

Jenny said...

"If they could sell the idea that a man could have a meaningful relationship with a volleyball, why couldn't I convince readers that true love conquers all and age is just a number?"

LOVE IT! I know I sobbed like a little girl when Wilson floated away:( I've heard nothing but good things about this book and I'm so excited to learn it's being made into a movie! YAY! A huge congratulations on that Tracey! It pains me that Taylor Kitsch is too old as well, that boy is so nice to look at:):) Thanks for the interview ladies!

Sam (Realm of Fiction) said...

I think it's fantastic that this book has been so successful after starting out as a self-published work. And wow, a movie deal too! I didn't know about that. Thanks for the lovely interview. :)

To answer the giveaway question, I would want my bookshelf (there's no size limit, right?) so I could read all my favourite books, a family member or friend for company (if a person can count as an item!), some food, some water and a means of escape! I wouldn't want to stay stranded out there for too long. ;)

-Ria xo said...

I love this interview! The premise of this novel is wonderful, and its journey is incredible. From being self published, to being made into a movie! I can't wait to see this on the big screen, I'll definitely be going to see it.(:

The research into the survival sounds like work, but by the sound of the reviews, it certainly paid off!

5 items, hmmm... A book, food, water... Omg, I have no idea!! But thanks s much for this giveaway. :D

Keertana said...

I've seen this book all over GoodReads in the advertisements and have been so curious about it and I'm amazed at its quick success! I love your questions Rachel, so this is a wonderful interview - absolutely brilliant! :)

~Keertana
Ivy Book Bindings

Eunice said...

I have yet to read this book. I was a little reluctant to pick this up before (because I'm not sure if the unique love story would work for me) but after hearing so many positive things I'm convinced now to read this book. It's great to hear too that there are movie plans for this book. That is just really awesome! Congratulations Tracey.

Lovely interview, Rachel and Tracey. :)

Aa'Ishah said...

Wow. To be honest, when I saw that the relationship here had a pretty big age gap, I was a bit hesitant, but I can't help but be intrigued to see what happens. Apparently I've been living with my head in the sand because I missed all the talk (it's not the first time and it won't be the last, I miss a lot of stuff). But anyway, this definitely sounds interesting. :)

This is the first giveaway I've seen for Brits only. *Smiles* It's nice. ;) To answer your question, the five things I'd wanted to be stranded with are: one of my favourite books; food; water (I'd rather not die); a flare; and...I was going to say my phone because that has all my music on it, but I think actually I'd rather have a writing kit (so that paper and pen count as one :D). I don't think I'd mind being by myself, as sad and weird as that sounds.

Thanks for the brilliant giveaway! :)

Vegan YA Nerds said...

The age gap doesn't bother me at all and I bought the Kindle version a while back but still haven't read it but I am still excited to hear that this will be made into a movie, how cool!

Unknown said...

My camera, bug spray, sunscreen, water supply and some snacks:) Thanks for the great giveaway! Anxious to read this!

Tasnim said...

I would take my mobile, a mirror, water, fags and a lighter :)

Thanks for the giveaway!

Kulsuma said...

Thank you for the giveaway!
The five items i'd like would be a phone, food, water, shelter/bed and the internet!:D

Gemma Etc. said...

Hmmm I would take a bottle of suncream, a solar powered kindle, a salt water purifier, a pillow and a fishing rod!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...