Hey, everyone! I have an extra special post for you today for a book that is very near and dear to my heart. Spencer Hill Contemporary and Kelsey Macke are celebrating the fact that Kelsey's debut novel, Damsel Distressed, has been out for six months now!
If you've been following my blog since its creation, you might remember me reviewing the beautiful book and being a part of the blog tour and release day blitz. If not, go check them out so you can familiarize yourself with this tremendous book! And while you're at it, buy a copy of it so you can see just why I am so in love with this book, and its main character, Imogen.
As you can imagine, I'm honored and thrilled to be kicking off the "Bookiversary" Bash today! I hope you enjoy the exclusive bonus content from Kelsey and Imogen!
Title: Damsel Distressed
Author: Kelsey Macke
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Publication Date: October 14, 2014
Hot girls get the fairy
tales. No one cares about the stepsisters' story. Those girls don't get
a sweet little ending; they get a lifetime of longing
Imogen Keegen has never had a happily ever after–in fact, she doesn’t think they are possible. Ever since her mother’s death seven years ago, Imogen has pulled herself in and out of therapy, struggled with an “emotionally disturbed” special ed. label, and loathed her perma-plus-sized status.
When Imogen’s new stepsister, the evil and gorgeous Ella Cinder, moves in down the hall, Imogen begins losing grip on the pieces she’s been trying to hold together. The only things that gave her solace–the theatre, cheese fries, and her best friend, Grant–aren’t enough to save her from her pain this time.
While Imogen is enjoying her moment in the spotlight after the high school musical, the journal pages containing her darkest thoughts get put on display. Now, Imogen must resign herself to be crushed under the ever-increasing weight of her pain, or finally accept the starring role in her own life story.
And maybe even find herself a happily ever after.
Enhance the experience with the companion soundtrack, Imogen Unlocked, by the author's band, Wedding Day Rain.
Imogen Keegen has never had a happily ever after–in fact, she doesn’t think they are possible. Ever since her mother’s death seven years ago, Imogen has pulled herself in and out of therapy, struggled with an “emotionally disturbed” special ed. label, and loathed her perma-plus-sized status.
When Imogen’s new stepsister, the evil and gorgeous Ella Cinder, moves in down the hall, Imogen begins losing grip on the pieces she’s been trying to hold together. The only things that gave her solace–the theatre, cheese fries, and her best friend, Grant–aren’t enough to save her from her pain this time.
While Imogen is enjoying her moment in the spotlight after the high school musical, the journal pages containing her darkest thoughts get put on display. Now, Imogen must resign herself to be crushed under the ever-increasing weight of her pain, or finally accept the starring role in her own life story.
And maybe even find herself a happily ever after.
Enhance the experience with the companion soundtrack, Imogen Unlocked, by the author's band, Wedding Day Rain.
Alternate Scene:
The following scene is one where Imogen is thinking about her mom. Many parts of this scene were edited and deleted for the book's final printing, so while this one may appear slightly similar, it's still different.
It’s 4:34
am, and I can’t sleep. I don’t even want to think about the fact that I might
have to face Carmella at school. Ugh. I can’t. All I can manage is to flop
around on my bed, sigh, play with the frayed hem of my t-shirt, sigh some more,
and stare at the ceiling. I miss her. I always miss her. But I miss her more at
night… and even more when I’m sad.
Or
anxious.
Or
angry.
Her smile
flashes at me from behind my eyes every time they close. Each blink reminds me
of her laugh and her eyes. I roll over, away from my clock and towards my
bookcase. I look at the picture frame holding the photo of us together. Her,
lovely and laughing, holding me on her lap on the morning of my first day of
kindergarten. I’m wearing a t-shirt with a giant, smiling sun on it, and I’m
looking at her with the most joyful admiration. Even as a kid, I knew she was
special. The frame is hand painted ceramic, with my name across the top in her
neat, swirling script. I can’t stand it. Thinking of her hand shaping the
letters only inches from my face. I reach over and turn the framed photo face
down, stifling her smile, and concealing the evidence of my once-present
joy.
That
grinning Imogen.
What a
fool.
It seems
that as each day passes, I become more and more separated from the girl I was
seven years ago. She was this bright, optimistic girl who loved to wear pink,
play dress up, and smile. She had long chestnut brown hair and cheeks peppered
with freckles. Her innocent eyes sparkled blue and grey, and always saw the
best in everyone. She ran through the neighborhood on legs that were sun kissed
and lean, in the way that exuberant and active children’s often are. She spent
hours in her room, singing into her hairbrush, staring at herself as she
performed to the (obviously impressed) crowd of teddy bears and porcelain
dolls. She had a mother who loved to brush her hair, and read her stories of
lovely girls, and dashing boys, and who kissed her goodnight and told her that
she was beautiful.
She had a mother.
Enhance Your Damsel Distressed Reading Experience with the Book's Soundtrack, Imogen Unlocked by Wedding Day Rain
 |
| Click the Album Art to Purchase Imogen Unlocked from iTunes |
- Heavy
- No Goodbye
- Something About
- Sinking
- Don't Wake Me Up
- Let Me Go
- My Strength
- Unseen
- Always Speak Too Late
- The End is Just the Beginning
- Breath Easy
- Edge of the Fall
Damsel Distressed is the story of
Imogen, a girl who's survived the years after her mother's death by focusing
squarely on her best friend, Grant, musical theatre, and lots of cheese. The
book is full of humor and heart, and also contains a few surprises. Full page
sketches are scattered throughout the novel, and each one contains a QR code
that corresponds to a song from the book's soundtrack. Imogen Unlocked is a
12-song album of original music written by the author and her husband Daron as
their indie-pop band, Wedding Day Rain. Together, the book Damsel Distressed
and the soundtrack Imogen Unlocked work together to tell the story of a girl
who might just make her own Happily Ever After, if she can just hold herself
together.
About Kelsey Macke
Kelsey Macke has been creative for as
long as she can remember. From an early age she was on stage singing,
penning poetry, and writing notebooks full of songs. When the idea for
her debut novel, DAMSEL DISTRESSED, popped into her head, she was
undeterred by the fact that she had no idea how to actually write a
novel. Her bff, the internet, was her guide, and after much trial,
error, and candy, she finished it, and set out to get it published… a
process far more difficult than, the internet (now her mortal enemy),
had lead her to believe.
Her whirlwind adventure was made even more unbelievable when she signed with fabulous agent, Jessica Sinsheimer of the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency and, shortly after, Danielle Ellison of Spencer Hill Contemporary bought her debut.
This innovative, mixed-media art project has given Kelsey an incredibly unique opportunity to join two of her passions: writing and making music with her husband as half of the folky, indie-pop band Wedding Day Rain.
DAMSEL DISTRESSED, and the companion album of original songs, Imogen Unlocked, are scheduled for release in October 2014.
Her whirlwind adventure was made even more unbelievable when she signed with fabulous agent, Jessica Sinsheimer of the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency and, shortly after, Danielle Ellison of Spencer Hill Contemporary bought her debut.
This innovative, mixed-media art project has given Kelsey an incredibly unique opportunity to join two of her passions: writing and making music with her husband as half of the folky, indie-pop band Wedding Day Rain.
DAMSEL DISTRESSED, and the companion album of original songs, Imogen Unlocked, are scheduled for release in October 2014.
Omg the FEEELSSSSS~ Yep, I remember your review! :) I really love this book to pieces. Now I have the sudden urge to listen to the whole soundtrack again while reading it. I miss Imogen and Grant. They're like my otp babies. :D Great post Erin!!
ReplyDeleteI love it too! I told my best friend about it because she's a stage manor and works at a prestigious summer camp, and I hope that she tells some of the kids about it.
ReplyDeleteI miss them too! I'm definitely going to reread this one this summer because I just need it again!
Thanks for stopping by, Paula! :)
Oh my - The beautiful cover! Haven't heard of this but will be checking it out !
ReplyDeleteI love the cover, and it's so much better when you actually get the chance to look at it in person!
ReplyDeleteI hope you read it! It really is such an amazing and emotional book, and I could probably rave about it all day, but I'll spare you my fangirling. :)
This book sounds like so much fun!! I can't wait to read it :D
ReplyDeleteRachel @ A Perfection Called Books
I think you'd like it, Rachel! It's one of those books that keeps you on your toes.
ReplyDeleteAw, I remember being so excited about this book before it was published. I still haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I love that Imogen is interested in theatre and deals with therapy.
ReplyDeleteAmber, I highly recommend it! It's definitely a book that could have been sold to a huge publishing agency because it's just that good, but I'm glad that Kelsey went with a smaller publisher. It's kind of like a family.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever get around to reading it, you must let me know how you like it! :)