The Hardcover Lover: Blog Tour: Underwater + GIVEAWAY

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Blog Tour: Underwater + GIVEAWAY

Title: Underwater

Author: Marisa Reichardt

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux

Publication Date: January 12th 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Psychology, Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness

Morgan didn’t mean to do anything wrong that day. Actually, she meant to do something right. But her kind act inadvertently played a role in a deadly tragedy. In order to move on, Morgan must learn to forgive—first someone who did something that might be unforgivable, and then, herself.

But Morgan can’t move on. She can’t even move beyond the front door of the apartment she shares with her mother and little brother. Morgan feels like she’s underwater, unable to surface. Unable to see her friends. Unable to go to school.

When it seems Morgan can’t hold her breath any longer, a new boy moves in next door. Evan reminds her of the salty ocean air and the rush she used to get from swimming. He might be just what she needs to help her reconnect with the world outside.

Underwater is a powerful, hopeful debut novel about redemption, recovery, and finding the strength it takes to face your past and move on.

Guest Post from Marissa Reichardt

Writing Underwater: Inspiration

The first inkling of Underwater, the very first seed of the idea, came when I was working on edits for another YA novel I had finished writing. It was November and I was on a strict self-imposed deadline to get edits done before the end of the year. And so, on the days when I did edit, I would drown out the world.

I would shutter all the blinds.

I would turn off all the noise.

I would sit with myself. In my house. All alone.

The seed started… What if a teenage girl never left her house? And then Why would a teenage girl never leave her house?

The ideas kept percolating while I continued to edit the other book that would never be.

Partly because the book that would be took over.

I began thinking more and more about anxiety and PTSD. I did some research and then some more. I met up with a friend of a friend. She was a psychologist and I asked her a million questions and took a bazillion notes.

Morgan and Morgan’s world and Morgan’s mind started taking shape. And then mom. And Ben. And Brenda. And Evan.

Unfortunately sad and tragic things were (and are) happening in our world way too often. As a parent and as a wife of a high school teacher, I was hearing regular reports of lockdown drills and credible threats. Other parts of Morgan’s story began to take shape.

And finally, I knew Morgan’s story all the way through.

Follow the Underwater by Marissa Reichardt Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

I'm a SoCal native and high school writing instructor. I currently live in Los Angeles and can usually be found huddled over my laptop in coffeehouses or swimming in the ocean.

My debut YA contemporary novel, UNDERWATER, will be out 1/12/16 from Macmillan/FSG and 4/7/16 Macmillan Children's UK.

I love all books and all genres.