(Website, , , )Published by Evernight Teen on June 5, 2015
Pages: 282
Format: eARC
• Barnes and Noble •
Caught between the sweltering fall landscape of Wilmington, NC beaches and southern illusions and expectations, all sixteen year-old Cameron Shade thinks about is art. That, and for Farrah Spangled to view him as more than just a friend. Cameron longs to win her heart through art. After several warm interactions with Farrah, including painting together at the beach, Cameron discovers just how complex Farrah’s life is with her boyfriend and her family. Following a tense run-in with Farrah’s father, she forbids Cameron to ever speak to her again, but Cameron’s convinced there’s more behind the request. To impress Farrah with a last-ditch effort, Cameron sketches her portrait. But the sketchbook he uses hides a dark secret. Farrah’s now in grave danger because the sketch he drew of her siphons her real-life’s soul into the sketchbook. Cameron now has twenty days to extract Farrah. To save her, he must draw himself into the book. If he fails… they both die.
I saw the cover and synopsis of Chris Ledbetter’s debut novel Drawn and it immediately caught my attention. Several months later we are having a casual conversation about writing, the inspiration of, soccer, yes soccer, more writing and the list goes on. We’ve even put a twist on this Casual Conversation because we want to hear from you, the reader and listener and get your input. Be sure to visit the giveaway post for the prompt and join in the discussion. Enjoy!
I’m pretty sure that when you begin reading Drawn, you are immediately taken back to your high school years. The years of competition, class schedules, sports and first loves. Or the possibility of just wanting to know how to get to know someone a little bit more and see where it goes from there. Such is the case for Cameron. He finds that Farrah has caught his eye and truly hopes that just maybe she will be interested as well. Sharing the same Journalism/Newspaper course provides Cameron with the opportunity to showcase his artistic abilities and empress Farrah, the head of the newspaper.
Just when Cameron believes that things may be going his way for the better, there is a huge turn of events in the novel. No longer is Cameron looking at Farrah as just a friend, but now a friend that is in danger and only he has the power to save her from that great danger she is now in. A power that is lead by the stroke of Cameron’s pen on paper.
Originality, is the first word that comes to mind with this debut young adult novel. I never saw what was coming, until it hit me and there was no question that I had to continue on to see where Mr. Ledbetter was taking his readers. The major change of events and twists throughout the novel create a powerhouse atmosphere of adventure. Great character development and descriptions, along with the vibrant description of the over setting throughout the novel brings the storyline to life through a full circle of excitement. Readers are in for a treat with the mixture of realistic fiction and fantasy all twisted into one. It will surely be hard to put it down once you get started. Drawn. Be careful that you aren’t drawn in too deeply with no way of getting out.
Feel free to listen via YouTube below, the podcast link at the end of the post or through ITunes.
About Chris Ledbetter
Chris Ledbetter grew up in Durham, NC before moving to Charlottesville, VA in 11th grade. After high school, he attended Hampton University where he promptly “walked-on” to the best drum line in the CIAA. And, without any prior percussion experience. He carried the bass drum for four years, something his back is not very happy about now.
After a change of heart and major, he enrolled in Old Dominion University and earned his degree in Business Administration. He’s worked in various managerial and marketing capacities throughout his life. While teaching high school for six years in Culpeper, VA, he taught business management, business law, marketing, and sports marketing, and also coached football.
He has walked the streets of Los Angeles and New York City, waded in the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and climbed Diamond Head crater on Hawaii and rang in the New Year in Tokyo, Japan. But he dreams of one day visiting Greece and Italy.
He’s a proud member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and a strong supporter of the Need for Diverse Books. As a self-described, young reluctant reader, he writes young adult stories specifically to reach other reluctant readers. As a participant in the prestigious Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program, he was blessed to be mentored by Suzanne Morgan Williams, 2012 SCBWI member of the year.
He now lives in Wilmington, NC with his family, including three cats.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:30 — 21.6MB)
Newsletter
Patricia Walker
I think both stand alone’s and series have a place in life for me. I love knowing the whole story as it were but I also like the thrill of wondering what is going to happen next… hopefully the gap between series sequels isn’t too long though as curiosity burns lol
Chris Ledbetter
Great comment. Thanks for listening.
A Leisure Moment
See Patricia, that is what happens to me. When the wait is long, then I get very impatient. Now I’ve found though that there are some authors that have a book in a particular series that may come out every year. And there are some other authors who are super fast writers and the wait my be 6 months or less. Now that’s what I like. Especially when the series is great!
Chris Ledbetter
Hopefully, I’ll be able to get out the sequel to Drawn very quickly so the wait time isn’t too terribly long!
A Leisure Moment
You can’t rush perfection! Readers will wait. However, I’m sure you will get brownie points for not making us wait too long.
Mai T.
I like reading physical copies. That’s why a stand-alone is a more economical choice to read. Except for Harry Potter series, I’d buy the whole Harry Potter series if it lasts for the rest of my life.
Chris Ledbetter
Wonderful comment. Thanks for listening.
A Leisure Moment
There is nothing like a physical copy! I still love holding the book and turning the pages. A lot of my most recent books that are physical copies are stand alones. One day, One day. I’ll tackle the Harry Potter series. I here I’m missing out greatly. There are 2 sets in my household. I’m sure one of the kids will allow their mama to borrow book 1 🙂
Chris Ledbetter
I much prefer physical copies as well… and a trilogy/ series would definitely run the costs upward. Hopefully, my duology won’t be shunned for cost concerns. 🙂
Crystal Cox
Ohh I totally agree ,physical copies are so much better ! I although have a family that doesn’t see things my way and held an “intervention ” but soften the blow with a kindle , so now most of my hoarding is done on the kindle 🙂
Chris Ledbetter
Crystal, HA! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Bwahahahaha!! Intervention! But… those physical copies are like our friends. We hold deep emotional bonds to them. You walk in to the room and they call to you from the shelf, especially if the covers are beautiful. They’re like art. But yes they also take up space. You just need to build/ buy more shelves.
Natalie
I guess it depends on if the series is interesting. If I am bored with the first book, I do not want to continue reading the rest.
Chris Ledbetter
For sure. If the first book doesn’t hook you, that series is in trouble. Thanks for listening.
Jo-Anne Boyko
I have always thought I liked stand-alone books so I usually look for those. But recently I have realized that I enjoy series and following the growth of the characters. Trilogies are a good length of series. If there are 8-9 books in a series, I won’t even start it.
A Leisure Moment
You know Jo-Anne, I must admit, I only love a series that is 8-9 books or more when I’ve discovered the series after about the 4th book. That way I can pace myself and read it as time allows. However, right now I’m at a point where there is a series that I like, but it’s at about the 10th book now and I’ve been a little slower to go out and grab the next book in line as the passion and depth of the characters that was there early on in the series just really isn’t there any more (in my opinion). But I’m sure I’ll catch one day.
Chris Ledbetter
That’s a very interesting perspective. I wonder if series books, especially longer ones, work better for a younger age group. Like the Magic Tree House series has like 50+ books in the series. And they churn them out. I don’t know if I’m made up of the stuff to write that kind of series. I’m more of a succinct writer. I like to tell the story and move on. But then again… those long series do help authors really build a loyal readership for the readers who enjoy them.
Sam
I like series, because I feel like I develop more a relationship with the characters. Trilogies seem to be the perfect length, but I also love those companion type series, where a secondary character is given its own story
A Leisure Moment
Great point Sam! Let’s not forget about those secondary characters. They always seem to have a story of their own to tell. Many times as the reader we are so connected to those minor characters as well, that it’s a sweet surprise to see their story told as well.
Chris Ledbetter
Great perspective, Sam. I always try to write stories as if every character is really the main character of their own narrative. And sometimes that really does allow for secondary characters to develop their own voices outside of the main story. I may end Cameron’s story with the Drawn sequel, and pick up with a new story, starring a secondary character. 🙂
Nataile Brown
I also like following the growth of the characters but also agree that a trilogy is about the most I can stay interested in one set of characters or type of story.
Chris Ledbetter
Thanks for that Natalie. Trilogies are usually my limit, too. Yet and still, it is interesting to me to find the people who love reading series that are 6, 10, 15 books long. I guess it’s really not so different from a TV show where you tune in each week . Even then, though, I think the plotting has to be super tight and they may even tend to be more formulaic. But, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Nicole K
A like a series because I spend more time with the characters and the story
Chris Ledbetter
Very interesting perspective. And I suspected as much. I think readers like yourself get really invested in the characters and genuinely don’t want to let them go.
Nicole… what do you think about series in which each successive book is a spinoff of the first… in that side characters of the first book become main characters in subsequent books… furthering the storyline of the first characters, except they become, side characters?
Crystal Cox
That is usually the best thing about series ! I love when authors let you revisit characters from a previous book 🙂
Chris Ledbetter
Good to know. It’s even better when an author has crafted the side characters with enough depth that you want to revisit them… and that they have enough of a story on their own to be lead characters of their own story. Hopefully, I’ve done that. 🙂
A Leisure Moment
I’m pretty sure you have Chris. 🙂
Chris Ledbetter
Deitre,
Thank you so much for hosting and interviewing me. It was fun and enjoyable despite my nerves. You have a great program going here!
Cheers!
Chris
Sam
I consider myself a wildcard reader – series or stand alone
Mary Preston
I like both, but if it is part of a series I like to have all of the books to hand.
Chris Ledbetter
Interesting, Mary. I have certainly found those who enjoy reading series *only* after they’re all published. Waiting is difficult. 🙂
Julie Bickham
I like to read a series. I like to follow characters and see what becomes of them.
Chris Ledbetter
Julie, I understand wanting to read a series. If the characters are well drawn and you care about them, you don’t want to let them go. They become like friends. But let me ask you…
1) do you ever get frustrated while waiting for the next book in the series?
2) do you read them as they come out… or do you wait until the series is over to begin reading?
Crystal Cox
I love series for that reason as well! I think there are different types of series and that can determine how long I can go in between the next book being released. The first type is where there is a conclusion for the main characters and the next book will be about secondary characters – I can wait longer for the next book because I won’t feel like I have been left hanging in the middle of a story ( I can even handle a little tease about the next story) . The second type of series is where you have a continuing story of the main characters- There are very few that I was willing to wait a long time to go back and I only continued because the writing and story grabbed me so much the others waited to long and I no longer care .
Chris Ledbetter
Great perspective, especially about the two type of stories/ series. I’ll keep that in mind. Crystal, how do you feel about those .5 books? Where let’s say someone might write a Book 1.5 and it’ll be a novella and tell a short snippit of Book 1’s story but from a different Point of view/ character?
Crystal Cox
Ohhh those are always lots of fun! I have sometimes even noticed something I missed 🙂
Sandra Watts
It depends. I guess it is just a matter of what I am reading.
Chris Ledbetter
Sandra, that’s interesting. Do you have series that you have read that may have been better as a one-off stand-alone or duology?
And the follow up to that is… have you ever read a stand-alone that you wish would turn into a series?
Thanks for stopping by!
Crystal Cox
I really enjoy both stand alone and series but if the series ends with no conclusion I really don’t care to wait a long time . I have to add here because there sometimes seems to be confusion but I hate serials ! I will always wait for the whole serial to be complete if I really think it sounds good, reading a few chapters at a time would drive me insane.
Chris Ledbetter
HAHAHAHA! Okay… great to know. Awesome perspective on that. It’s funny, I did write a story that I considered dribbling out as a serial on like Wattpad… one chapter per week. We shall see. I’m not quite sure what I want to do with it yet. 🙂
A Leisure Moment
It’s been a long time, but I do like to read stories where the chapters are released weekly. It provides an element of anticipation that look forward to.
Chris Ledbetter
Deitre, It’s really no different from television shows with a new episode every week. Although, we now live in the era of waiting until a season is over and binge watching on Netflix instead of watching week to week.. So, there’s that. HA!
Crystal Cox
Hmmm maybe that is why I also love Netflix so much hehehe I can watch the whole season at once ! Even with The Lord of the Rings movies , I waited till they were all out and binge watched 🙂 . But I was fine with movies like Harry Potter were this is a type of a conclusion.
Nataile Brown
I like reading both really. In order for me to read a series, it has to have quite likeable characters and a story that lends itself to more than one book. 🙂
Chris Ledbetter
Natalie, if you do read a series or trilogy, do you read them as they come out? Or do you wait until they’re all out and then buy/ read them?
Thanks again for stopping by.