Thursday, April 4, 2013

#BookChat SINK OR SWIM by Stacy Juba #mystery



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.



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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.


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