17 Mar 2014

Debut Delirium: Brandy Colbert, author of Pointe (& giveaway!)

I haven't been around much lately, but I'm back today and not with any ordinary post, but a Debut Delirium spotlight! Presenting one of my most anticipated debuts of the year (and hopefully yours!), Brandy Colbert, author of Pointe.
Theo is better now.

She's eating again, dating guys who are almost appropriate, and well on her way to becoming an elite ballet dancer. But when her oldest friend, Donovan, returns home after spending four long years with his kidnapper, Theo starts reliving memories about his abduction—and his abductor.

Donovan isn't talking about what happened, and even though Theo knows she didn't do anything wrong, telling the truth would put everything she's been living for at risk. But keeping quiet might be worse.

Facts about me and my debut novel, POINTE:

1. The book was originally titled A POINT SO DELICATE, which served as a placeholder until final edits were complete. I spent about a week brainstorming with my editor and agent for new titles (admittedly, not my strong suit), but my brilliant editor is the one who came up with POINTE. I love it, and can't imagine the book with any other title now.

2. The characters of Donovan and Sara-Kate had appeared in several versions of books I never completed, completely unrelated to POINTE. Surprisingly, they didn't change much at the core, but it was fun to watch them take shape and become complete characters during edits.

3. Tap dancing is my true love when it comes to dance. I took lessons for many years when I was growing up, and still try to go to classes when I can. I've taken plenty of ballet lessons, but mostly as an adult. And though ballet has never come as naturally to me as tap, I truly loved writing about it.

4. I wrote the first draft of POINTE while I was still living in Chicago, which is the version that got me an agent and sold to Penguin. I was in the process of moving back to L.A. as the deal was being finalized (I was driving cross-country and would stop for food or to fill up my gas tank and check my phone to see if there were new emails from my agent), but was surprised at how well the city stuck with me after I'd moved away. I wasn't very good at living in Chicago—which I realized only after I'd spent four years there—but I find it very much inspires me as a setting.

5. I use names of people I know in real life quite freely for minor supporting characters in my work, but I can't use them for anyone who's mentioned more than once or twice. It's too difficult for me to separate the real-life person from the fictional, in most cases! (Also: I spend a very, very long time deciding on character names in any project I'm working on. Like, an embarrassingly long time.)
Brandy Colbert was born and raised in the Missouri Ozarks, has a bachelor's degree in Journalism, and has worked as an editor for several national magazines. She lives and writes in Los Angeles. Her first novel, POINTE, will be published by Penguin on April 10, 2014.


I love the finished title and I love dance, dancing, dance shows, books, the works, but I've never taken ballet. As for naming characters, I feel Brandy's pain. It takes me forever to come up with names and even longer trying to decide on one. Do you ever experience this?

Also: You're going to want to click below. Trust me!

Now that your reading buds have been tantalized and because Brandy is that cool, a giveaway - and yes, you can start happy dancing because it's open internationally!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

14 comments:

  1. Dude, this sounds AWESOME. I hardly ever read books about dance, or gymnastics for that matter. I was really into dance when I was younger and I've loved the few books that I've read about it. Beautiful cover :)

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  2. So looking forward to Brandy's book! Tap dancing. That seriously brings me back.

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  3. I remember when POINTE had that different title - A POINTE SO DELICATE. It was back when we still thought POINTE would be a 2013 debut novel - on Friday the Thirteeners! I have been a huge fan of Brandy since she joined that group of 13 debut authors, and I feel like I have waiting for an eternity and then some, to read this book! Thank you so much for the giveaway! <3

    Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

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  4. I danced as an elite dancer for 13 years and had to stop because of a major injury. I try to read as much YA about ballet as I can, and this one sounds so different. I love the sound of it; the juxtaposition between something so light hearted as ballet as an art, and something so heavy such as abduction and PTSD it sounds like. I am so excited for all aspects of this book. Can't wait to read it! <3

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  5. I love the premise of the story and the cover is just so freaking gorgeous. I love contemporary books.

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  6. My brother danced and taught ballet for years. He got all the talent! I do have a love for dance despite being terrible at it, and I read and watch all I can on the subject.

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  7. I've had Pointe on my 2014 TBR list since November, because I love a good ballet book! Plus, if Carrie Mesrobian is on Tumblr saying Brandy is "the shit," that's even more reason to check out this book!

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  8. Sounds interesting, would read! :) (i like the draft title just as much as the current title — poetic.)

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  9. Congratulations on your debut. I wish I could dance, so you got my attention right there. It is a very interesting story line. I love the old & new titles.

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  10. If this was just a dancing book, I wouldn't want to read it. But the kidnapping aspect, that intrigues me. Also, I really liked the original title.

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  11. The blurb for this sounds impressive, I am adding this to my tbr list right now!

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  12. This book sound fantastic. I like everything about it. And since I was a teenager, I've read every book I can that involved ballet in some form. Plus I know I have some students of mine that would love to read it.

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  13. I rarely have a chance to read a book where dancing is involved, actually I think I've read only one so far. This book sounds so amazing! Judging by a blurb I've read, it's dealing with dark and gritty themes like kidnapping, eating disorder and just basic surviving and overcoming those obstacles. Love the cover and can't wait to read it! Thanks for a chance to win it! :)

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  14. I have been looking forward for this book since last winter! Great giveaway! :)

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