Synopsis: Personal trainer Cassidy Novak has gained fame for
starring on a hit reality show. Not only does she lose and have to walk the
plank, but upon returning home, Cassidy discovers she is being stalked. As her
former competitors get killed off, Cassidy refuses to play by the stalker’s
bizarre rules. She’s also being shadowed by photographer Zach Gallagher, who
has been assigned to capture her personal moments for the local newspaper. She
wants to trust Zach, but fears he may not be as nice as he seems. When the
stalker forces a showdown, Cassidy must walk the plank again – this time for
her life.
From the author: Many people are surprised to find out that
I don’t watch many reality shows, considering I wrote a reality-TV themed book.
Actually, I prefer fictional shows, mostly sitcoms that make me laugh and a few
dramas that reel me in such as Once Upon a Time. I’ve seen bits and pieces of
many reality shows, however, and that awakened my muse.
With sitcoms and dramas, fans get to watch their favorite
actors every week. If a show is cancelled, the actors will eventually turn up
on another series. But what about reality shows? Once the season ends, most of
the cast members return to their normal lives out of the limelight. The mystery
writer in me wanted to explore what might happen if one crazed fan didn’t want
the season to end. The journalist in me wanted to examine what might motivate an
ordinary person to appear on a reality show and how that experience affects her
as she returns to her normal life. I put those ideas together and the end
result was Sink or Swim. Who is stalking Cassidy and killing off the former
cast members? Why did she go on the reality show in the first place and what is
it like to be famous when you’re not rich? Sink or Swim is a blend of cozy
mystery, romantic suspense and contemporary fiction. Whether they love reality
TV or hate it, I hope readers will enjoy discovering the answers to those
questions.
Readers' Reactions:
“If you need help getting through a murderous workout (pun
intended) this book is a wonderful, clever and entertaining distraction. The
identity of the stalker left me guessing until the end, and believe me that is
a refreshing and pleasant surprise.” Coffee Time Romance and More
“Ms. Juba has penned a novel that will keep readers glued to
the pages, unable to put it down until they reach the satisfying conclusion.”
Romance Junkies
“I could not put this book down and was sad that I finished
it so quickly. Cassidy was a great character; so down-to-earth that I felt like
I was reading a biography. There was action, mystery and romance all tied into
one very well-written story.” Book-Club-Queen
“Being on a hit reality show not once, but three times, made
Sink or Swim really hit home for me… It was an easy read and extremely
well written… I would love to see it come out as a movie one day!” Stephenie
LaGrossa, owner of GiGi Restaurant & Lounge, Philadelphia PA, Television
personality and fan favorite Survivor: Palau, Guatemala, Heroes vs.
Villains
Behind
the scenes: I sought endorsements from reality TV show contestants before the
book came out, providing them with advance reading copies. I received wonderful
endorsements from Stephanie LaGrossa of Survivor, Michelle Costa of Big Brother
10, and Shawne Morgan of The Amazing Race. I also held Reality Show Rundown
Month on my blog after the book was published and did in-depth interviews with
contestants from reality shows such as Shark Tank, Survivor, Beauty and the
Geek, Bachelor Pad, and more. They talked candidly about winning, losing, and
being the topic of water cooler gossip.
Links
to all the posts are located here: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/2011/05/26/meet-your-favorite-tv-personalities-during-reality-show-rundown-month/
Retail
links:
Author
Bio: Stacy Juba has made numerous bestseller lists including
GalleyCat’s Barnes & Noble Bestsellers, GalleyCat’s Mystery and Thriller
Bestsellers, and multiple Amazon Top 100 lists, and she has also been ranked as
one of the Most Popular Authors in Mysteries on Amazon. She has had a book
ranked as #5 in the Nook Store and #30 on the Amazon Kindle Paid List. Stacy
has written about reality TV contestants targeted by a killer, an obit writer
investigating a cold case, teen psychics who control minds, twin high school
hockey stars battling on the ice, and teddy bears learning to raise the U.S.
flag: she pursues whatever story ideas won’t leave her alone. Her titles
include the adult mystery novels Sink or Swim and Twenty-Five
Years Ago Today, the children’s picture books The Flag Keeper and
the Teddy Bear Town Children’s Bundle (Three Complete Picture Books),
and the young adult novels Face-Off and Dark Before Dawn.
Website: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stacyjuba
Thanks so much for featuring Sink or Swim, Rachelle!
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