GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY: Anne O’Gleadra (Orbiting Jupiter)
Anne O’Gleadra (formerly known as free fiction writer Orbiting Jupiter) is the author of, among other works, “It’s Like This”, “A Stage And A Bus” and “Blood Oranges”.
Honestly, I think I have Boys in our Books to thank for this novel: after the interview I did with them in November, It’s Like This seemed to get a little more traffic on Goodreads than usual—and then one day I found a note in my inbox—something along the lines of: if you’re serious about wanting some editing, I am interested in publishing your book.
I didn’t really process it at first—I was like, “oh, that’s nice, someone wants to do some proofreading for me! How thoughtful!”, but then I realized she had attached a link to Beaten Track Publishing, which I clicked, and I realized she wanted to, like, make my book into a book. For realsies. I figured there must be a catch—I thought maybe it was a self-publishing kind of thing where I would put down a few hundred bucks and she would print me a few copies and I was secretly thinking, “thanks, but no thanks”, but I said I was maybe interested and Deb sent me a copy of the contract and I realized it was legit.
So then, for the first time ever, I started telling people in my real life about my writing. This was really scary—and I definitely got teased—but I am also blessed with really supportive friends and family who are mostly just excited and proud (sort of—my mom: “Oh Anne, you’re so weird.” But she said it lovingly so it was okay!).
Anyway, I had actually wanted to go over my books and do some edits for some time, but I didn’t really have the motivation—now suddenly I did. I’m not going to say it wasn’t hard—reading old work is kind of looking at old photos of yourself: three parts cringing and one part nostalgia. It was a long slog but nevertheless it felt good to revamp the weaker parts of the book. I’d heard from critiques that the story got pretty laggy in the middle—and I tried to address that issue. I also tried to make the younger sister character, Kya, less precocious and clichéd and more real. I fleshed out Niles’ mom a little bit and tried to give Rylan some flaws—he became a bit more human and a bit less godlike. I wanted to illustrate that neither Niles nor Rylan really know what they are doing—that their relationship is something that they both want, but something that neither of them really know how to talk about, and as a result they both get stuff wrong sometimes, and do the wrong thing sometimes—as with any relationship.
My hope is that new readers will enjoy the story and old readers will appreciate the changes and find the story a little more consistent.
About Anne O’Gleadra
You can read Boys in our Books interview with Anne here. Anne can be contacted via Goodreads or email (orbitandahalf@gmail.com)
Giveaway
For a chance to win a copy of It’s Like This, just leave a message on this post, including an e-mail address where you can be contacted. One winner will be picked at random on 28 July 2014.
About:
It’s like this: Ian and Brice and Parker and Dylan get off the bus. They’ve pretended this whole time—just as they’ve pretended for the last three years—not to notice that Rylan has his arm draped casually over the blue plastic bar at the back of my seat. They pretend not to know that the second we get off the bus (scratch that, he’s not even going to wait for that second; it happens before the bus has even come to a complete stop), he’ll lower that arm over my shoulders, or drop his hand forward to fuck with my hair and knuckle my neck a little.
He’s like that: likes touching me in public, holding hands, kissing, and he does it in that easy way of his—with a Rylan-specific brand of confidence that almost makes people around us forget to look twice. Like he knows, as far as I can tell, what the fuck is going on. That is the difference between us. He knows. I don’t.
A brave and funny love story about the anxieties, insecurities, and heartaches that drive people apart and bring them back together, It’s Like This is the journey of Niles and Rylan, as they learn to communicate in the shadow of a life-changing illness.
Niles and Rylan have been together a long time. They have great sex, they are deeply intimate, and Rylan never holds back on displaying his affection. As far as their family and friends are concerned, they’re an established couple, and yet, after three years of being “together”, Niles is still unsure if they’re actually in a relationship.
As their sexual intensity reaches a dangerous tipping point, Niles must find the courage to articulate how he feels in order to try and keep the only thing he has ever wanted. Emotional and compelling, It’s Like This is a must-read for true romantics.
Read Katinka’s review here.
BOOK INFO:
Title: It’s Like This
Author: Anne O’Gleadra
Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing
Release Date: July 7th 2014
Purchase Links: Beaten Track Publishing , Amazon
Congratulations! Thanks for the giveaway.
kimandpete(at)me(dot)com
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Congratulations on getting published please count me in for the Giveaway.
ShirleyAnn(at)speakman40(dot)freeserve(dot)co(dot)uk
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This probably won’t come as a surprise after the crush alert and review, but Anne AKA Orbiting Jupiter’s works — and It’s Like This in particular — are among my all time favorites. So this development excites me to no end!
Anne, congrats again with the official publication of your book. I can’t wait to read the revamped version.:)
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I look forward to reading your book. Congrats on getting it published. Thanks for the giveaway.
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Wow! I looove her work so this is great for her. It’s wonderful the interview helped :-)
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Nice story about getting published. I’d love to win the book.
alliea33(at)aol(dot)com
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Anne is a new author to me, but the book is intriguing. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
jczlapin(at)gmail(dot)com
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Very nice post, Congrats Anne!!.
She’s a new author for me too. I have just read Katinka’s reviews here and there and this book sound promising.
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Sorry, I forgot: marloborambles@gmail.com
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I’d love for you to read it!:)
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Congratulations on getting published! :)
Thanks for the giveaway
Marwa.a.394@hotmail.com
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Now, that I know about the changes Anne made, too bad nobody complained about the lack of sex in the book. Might have gotten us some delicious bonus scenes that way! ;)
PS: I ordered the book already, not that I ever win anything, but just in case…
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Damn it, indeed we should have. I wouldn’t have minded a few explicit bonus scenes. Maybe you can try to bribe her?
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I WANT THIS ONE!
rebecka (dot) lindberg (at) gmail (dot) com
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congratulations! and thnaks for the giveaway!
spicyhotlife@yahoo.com.ph
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Congrats! Thank you so much for the giveaway!
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
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Thank you for a chance to win this book, as I will be a new reader to these characters and I am keen to find out more (so added to my vast wish list :). Thanks again. Congrats on getting your work published.
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I look forward to reading this one!
philomena404(at)gmail(dot)com
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Congrats :-)
Gotta say, I kinda like the name Orbiting Jupiter better than Anne, but I guess publishing houses want something less fancy
(It could just be the sci-fi fan in me poking it’s head out)
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Congratulations. I have this in my queue to read on goodreads.
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Hm. . . I entered my email in the form but it doesn’t seem to be a link anywhere. Email is rainy_dogpark AT myway.com
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The book would love win this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
agalegogen AT gmail DOT com
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I meant I would like to win the book :)
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Sounds great. Would love to win. Great cover!
debby236 at hotmail dot com
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I would be interested. thanks for the giveaway.
rojoroaors@yahoo.com
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OH! This is great news!! I read this a couple years ago, but I’m looking forward to the newer version. :) Congrats.
jentay82@gmail.com
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I read It’s Like This last year and LOVED it! I can’t wait to read the updated version. Congrats on being published!!
mel11481@yahoo.com
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Congratulations! On getting published!
Thank for a shot at a giveaway.
melissaferrell1979@gmail.com
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congrats thanks for the giveaway
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CONGRATS Ran (@SCARLETFLAME05)! You’re the winner of the e-book giveaway! The file will be sent to the email provided with your comment!
YAY! ENJOY!
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HOLY SHIT! I just found out about this today.. but thank you so much! :D
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