Title: The Weekend Bucket List
Author: Mia Kerick
Publisher: Duet, the YA imprint of Interlude Press
Release Date: April 19th 2018
Length: 266 pages/68,392 words
Genre: Young Adult, LGBT
BLURB
High school seniors Cady LaBrie and Cooper Murphy have yet to set one toe out of line—they’ve never stayed out all night or snuck into a movie, never gotten drunk or gone skinny-dipping. But they have each other, forty-eight hours before graduation, and a Weekend Bucket List.
There’s a lot riding on this one weekend, especially since Cady and Cooper have yet to admit, much less resolve, their confounding feelings for one another—feelings that prove even more difficult to discern when genial high school dropout Eli Stanley joins their epic adventure. But as the trio ticks through their bucket list, the questions they face shift toward something new: Must friendship play second fiddle to romance? Or can it be the ultimate prize?
PURCHASE
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Interlude Press
Find The Weekend Bucket List on Goodreads
EXCERPT
Ever since we skipped the junior prom together last spring— neither of us is the type to participate in overrated school events, especially ones that involve dancing—and came to this very spot at the end of the Wellington Town Beach, I’ve felt a flicker of “something more” for my longtime BFF. It wasn’t exactly a romantic evening—we listened to eighties music and downed a full bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken while gazing at Tamarack Lake—but for me, our relationship changed. When Cooper touched my face that night I was overwhelmed by an urge for something completely new and different and dangerous: I wanted to kiss him. The urge has been lurking since that night, but right now, it’s stronger than ever. I want so badly to drop down on top of him and plant my lips on his, just to find out how it tastes… just to find out how it feels. But I don’t because it isn’t next on the list.
And because I just don’t.
☆ AUTHOR INTERVIEW ☆
HEY, friends! It’s Mia Kerick with my new release THE WEEKEND BUCKET LIST, YA LGBTQ GENERAL FICTION!! Yeah, I’m so psyched about it—I used all CAPS!! And lots of exclamation points!!!!
And here’s my interview with Addison Albright!! (So happy to be here! Thanks for inviting me…)
What made you want to write this book?
Usually, I write romance. In fact, The Weekend Bucket List started out as a romance. The first draft illustrated a challenging beginning of a love relationship of three teenagers. But through the process of editing this book, a new purpose emerged. This purpose is, in short, is to glorify friendship.
Short plot summary: Cooper and Cady are best friends, and then some. Yes. They feel more for each other—attraction and need. They meet Eli and bond with him. Big time. Romance between different combinations of the three are considered. It is a strong possibility, but to Cady, it’s also threatening, especially the romantic combination of the two boys, that leaves her, in her perception, out in the cold. To Eli and Cooper, the prospect of romance is overwhelming. And not fully in a good way. Nonetheless, the friendship Cooper and Cady have built through the years and share with Eli, is solid. Loving. Inspired. And so I asked myself, why isn’t friendship good enough?
Many teens are desperate to fall in love. But they need to know there’s no need to rush. How can a YA novel, while entertaining, also encourage kids to relax and get to knowthemselves rather than hurry into relationships they may not be ready for? How can a mere book reinforce that they are truly fine as they are, whether they be gay, straight, bi, or questioning?
My desire to write a story where friendship is awesome, adventurous, worthwhile, and ENOUGH, is the motivation behind The Weekend Bucket List in its final form.
What word would sum up your book?
I’m making the executive decision to allow two words: platonic passion. How’s that?
What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?
Anything to do with technology kills me. Yes, it rains on my parade.
Want concrete proof? Then check out my short bio: Mia is a social liberal who cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights, especially marital and gender equality. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.
What is the easiest part of writing that you consider?
Allowing my creative right-brain to go WILD! Using humor! Ideas just keep coming and coming and some of them are really weird… Need an example?
Check out this excerpt:
“I don’t see how adults can be so naïve? I mean, they fell for my line,” she says, finally opening her gray-blue eyes.
Cady’s right. It was almost too easy. My parents had zero problems with me “spending the weekend at Cady’s house” either.
“See, it was Tuesday night, I think, and I was scraping the last of the SpaghettiOs from my bread bowl, when—”
“Your mom put SpaghettiOs in a bread bowl?” That’s just plain wrong—a crime against bread bowls.
“She’s trying to be more creative in the kitchen so she doesn’t obsess over stuff she can’t deal with, like Bradley being in rehab. See what I’m saying?”
I don’t see shit, but still yuck.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—a daughter in law school, another in dance school, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and her lone son still in high school. She writes LGBTQ romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing English papers. Her husband of twenty-four years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it is a sensitive subject.
Mia focuses her stories on emotional growth in turbulent relationships. As she has a great affinity for the tortured hero, there is, at minimum, one in each book. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of said tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press and Harmony Ink Press for providing alternate places to stash her stories.
Her books have won a Best YA Lesbian Rainbow Award, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, and a Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, among other awards.
Mia is a Progressive, a little bit too obsessed by politics, and cheers for each and every victory in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.
Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com. Visit her website for updates on what is going on in Mia’s world, rants, music, parties, and pictures, and maybe even a little bit of inspiration.
Thank you, Addison, for supporting me with yet another release!
You’re quite welcome. I’m happy to do it! Best wishes! 💕