Welcome to the Official Blog Tour for Lovely, Dark, And Deep by Justina Chen! Today, on our tour stop, we have an exclusive excerpt to share. Don't miss the cool tour-wide giveaway at the end of this post! So... Check out all the tour festivities and follow the tour, HERE! Grab your copy now!!!
Genre:
Young Adult
Contemporary Romance
Publish Date:
July 31, 2018
Publisher:
Scholastic Inc.
Synopsis:
What would you do if the sun became your enemy?
That's exactly what happens to Viola Li after she returns from a trip abroad and develops a sudden and extreme case of photosensitivity -- an inexplicable allergy to sunlight. Thanks to her crisis-manager parents, she doesn't just have to wear layers of clothes and a hat the size of a spaceship. She has to stay away from all hint of light. Say goodbye to windows and running outdoors. Even her phone becomes a threat when its screen burns her.
Viola is determined to maintain a normal life, particularly after she meets Josh. He's a funny, talented Thor look-alike who carries his own mysterious grief. But the intensity of their romance makes her take more and more risks, and when a rebellion against her parents backfires dangerously, she must find her way to a life -- and love -- as deep and lovely as her dreams.
*Excerpt*
Praise for Lovely, Dark, and Deep
"A luminous read that will rekindle your faith in the indomitable human spirit and make you want to spend more time in starlight." ―Matthew Quick, author of The Silver Linings Playbook and Every Exquisite Thing
"Viola's story explores one of life's big questions: are we defined by our losses or will we allow them to lead us into an even more meaningful hero's journey? In Lovely, Dark, and Deep,Justina Chen has crafted an inspiring, romantic novel full of redemption and hope for teens and adults alike.” ―Mitali Perkins, author of You Bring the Distant Near
~~~~~
**About the Author**
Storytelling runs in Justina Chen’s blood. After all, her middle name means illuminate, which is what story does: it throws light on a message.
Justina is an award-winning author of six books for young adults. Her forthcoming novel, Lovely, Dark, and Deep, will be available in Spring, 2018. Her most recent book, A BLIND SPOT FOR BOYS, is on a Booklist Top 10 list. NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL was named one of the Best Books of the Year by Kirkus Reviews and was a finalist of 9 state book awards. And her debut novel, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (AND A FEW WHITE LIES), won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature.
In addition to being a writer, Justina is a story strategist to leaders and co-founder of Chen & Cragen, a boutique communications agency that transforms good executives into extraordinary leaders. Seen as a thought leader in communications, the Rockefeller Foundation invited Justina to be part of their twelve-person convening on storytelling for social good, along with CNN, BBC, NPR, and Google. Translation: she got to spend some quality time with amazing storytellers on the shores of Lake Bellagio.
A passionate advocate of literacy, Justina also co-founded readergirlz, a cutting-edge social media project for teens, which was awarded the National Book Foundation’s Prize for Innovations in Reading. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University where she won the Dean’s Award for Service.
Justina has lived in Sydney and Shanghai, but calls Seattle her home.
Stay connected with Justina Chen
***The Giveaway***
Giveaway Open Internationally | Must be 13+ to Enter
Note: Not Responsible for Lost & Damaged Prizes in Your Mail Box
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour Organized by
Young Adult
Contemporary Romance
Publish Date:
July 31, 2018
Publisher:
Scholastic Inc.
Synopsis:
What would you do if the sun became your enemy?
That's exactly what happens to Viola Li after she returns from a trip abroad and develops a sudden and extreme case of photosensitivity -- an inexplicable allergy to sunlight. Thanks to her crisis-manager parents, she doesn't just have to wear layers of clothes and a hat the size of a spaceship. She has to stay away from all hint of light. Say goodbye to windows and running outdoors. Even her phone becomes a threat when its screen burns her.
Viola is determined to maintain a normal life, particularly after she meets Josh. He's a funny, talented Thor look-alike who carries his own mysterious grief. But the intensity of their romance makes her take more and more risks, and when a rebellion against her parents backfires dangerously, she must find her way to a life -- and love -- as deep and lovely as her dreams.
Under the library’s overhang, safe from the sun, I am trembling with anger, indignation, shock — name an upset, I’m feeling it. Even if I could find a backup getaway ride now, even if I want to ignore the humiliating video, I have to watch every single frame again. Enough crises have been dissected at my kitchen table for me to know that the longer you ignore a problem, the more aggressively cancerous it will become. So I force myself to hold my phone, surprised that I don’t drop it, I’m shaking that badly.
“Get it together,” I mutter to myself and find the video.
While I’m expecting myself on- screen, I’m startled to see me and just me and so much of me again. Deathly comes to mind. I lift my eyes across the square to the empty running track. I’ve never wanted to be in front of the camera. My safe spot — my sweet spot — is in front of a computer. I’m the researcher, the interviewer, the reporter. I like the backstage, not the podium.
I click play.
It’s as if the cinematographer has choreographed the entire production: the swell of the Firefly theme song, the slowing of the Browncoats as they gather around me, fallen on the ground. Enter Thor, dropping to one knee, ready to hoist me over his shoulder and fly me to safety. I wish he had. Firefighters storm- troop toward us and transfer me to a stretcher. The camera zooms onto my face, an ugly red. My mouth gapes open, and then the thin, unmistakable streak of drool.
Really, whoever posted this couldn’t have cut that millisecond?
“Get it together,” I mutter to myself and find the video.
While I’m expecting myself on- screen, I’m startled to see me and just me and so much of me again. Deathly comes to mind. I lift my eyes across the square to the empty running track. I’ve never wanted to be in front of the camera. My safe spot — my sweet spot — is in front of a computer. I’m the researcher, the interviewer, the reporter. I like the backstage, not the podium.
I click play.
It’s as if the cinematographer has choreographed the entire production: the swell of the Firefly theme song, the slowing of the Browncoats as they gather around me, fallen on the ground. Enter Thor, dropping to one knee, ready to hoist me over his shoulder and fly me to safety. I wish he had. Firefighters storm- troop toward us and transfer me to a stretcher. The camera zooms onto my face, an ugly red. My mouth gapes open, and then the thin, unmistakable streak of drool.
Really, whoever posted this couldn’t have cut that millisecond?
Cue: the repeat loop of my painfully red, unconscious face.
Cue: the stretcher.
Cue: the drool.
Cue: the drool.
This is all my fault: These twenty thousand views driven by my fellow obsessed fans, the Browncoats of Firefly.
If only I hadn’t insisted on hosting the bake sale on the opening day of the Firefly exhibit.
If only I hadn’t gone to Africa. If only Josh would answer an SOS for a girl he just met.
It’s been a full ten minutes since I texted him. In crisis time, that’s an eternity. I shiver, unsure if I’m distraught or cold or remembering how Lee & Li never dwell in If. Instead, we sequester the If with concrete contingencies and clear options. And always, always, always, we have a solid Option B backup plan.
I have nothing.
Then a text pings.
If only I hadn’t insisted on hosting the bake sale on the opening day of the Firefly exhibit.
If only I hadn’t gone to Africa. If only Josh would answer an SOS for a girl he just met.
It’s been a full ten minutes since I texted him. In crisis time, that’s an eternity. I shiver, unsure if I’m distraught or cold or remembering how Lee & Li never dwell in If. Instead, we sequester the If with concrete contingencies and clear options. And always, always, always, we have a solid Option B backup plan.
I have nothing.
Then a text pings.
Josh: Almost there.
Two minutes later, a red pickup truck rumbles into the school’s long driveway, then curves around the circle. I step into the sun. My heart lifts at the driver wearing an unfortunate safari hat that matches mine. I have never been so happy to run to If.
Copyright © 2018 by Justina Chen
Praise for Lovely, Dark, and Deep
"A luminous read that will rekindle your faith in the indomitable human spirit and make you want to spend more time in starlight." ―Matthew Quick, author of The Silver Linings Playbook and Every Exquisite Thing
"Viola's story explores one of life's big questions: are we defined by our losses or will we allow them to lead us into an even more meaningful hero's journey? In Lovely, Dark, and Deep,Justina Chen has crafted an inspiring, romantic novel full of redemption and hope for teens and adults alike.” ―Mitali Perkins, author of You Bring the Distant Near
~~~~~
**About the Author**
 |
| Photo Content from Justina Chen |
Justina is an award-winning author of six books for young adults. Her forthcoming novel, Lovely, Dark, and Deep, will be available in Spring, 2018. Her most recent book, A BLIND SPOT FOR BOYS, is on a Booklist Top 10 list. NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL was named one of the Best Books of the Year by Kirkus Reviews and was a finalist of 9 state book awards. And her debut novel, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (AND A FEW WHITE LIES), won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature.
In addition to being a writer, Justina is a story strategist to leaders and co-founder of Chen & Cragen, a boutique communications agency that transforms good executives into extraordinary leaders. Seen as a thought leader in communications, the Rockefeller Foundation invited Justina to be part of their twelve-person convening on storytelling for social good, along with CNN, BBC, NPR, and Google. Translation: she got to spend some quality time with amazing storytellers on the shores of Lake Bellagio.
A passionate advocate of literacy, Justina also co-founded readergirlz, a cutting-edge social media project for teens, which was awarded the National Book Foundation’s Prize for Innovations in Reading. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University where she won the Dean’s Award for Service.
Justina has lived in Sydney and Shanghai, but calls Seattle her home.
Stay connected with Justina Chen
~~~~~
***The Giveaway***
Note: Not Responsible for Lost & Damaged Prizes in Your Mail Box
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour Organized by
