Most people have a passion in their lives - something that excites them, inspires them and drives them. My sister has a passion for writing. Not just ordinary writing, but creating, molding and weaving the lives of characters and telling their story in a way that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I cannot explain how excited and proud I was when she told me that her YA fantasyThe Waiting Booth was getting published. I knew it was an awesome book...and I knew that it was just a matter of time before everyone else knew it too.
I spent my childhood as the regular guest on the "Brinda Ann" show. Never the star. Never my own show. The Ed McMahon to my sister (Johnny Carson). So, I am tickled to have my sister be MY GUEST today on her blog tour. Even more exciting, she is giving away prizes!!! Some lucky person will be the winner of an e-book of The Waiting Booth! So, I'll now hand over the blog to MY GUEST...Brinda Berry.
The Truth About Siblings
When I was a little girl, I had a constant companion. This person followed me everywhere. If I went to the neighbor's house to play, she was there. If I wanted to read a book, she was there. If I rode my bike, she was there. It was difficult to escape her. If you haven't guessed yet, I'm talking about a little sister. I only have one, and it's important for me to tell you about her. This is the real story of our relationship.
Relationships with siblings are a curious thing. I think they are usually viewed as good or bad rather than indifferent. When you spend an inordinate amount of time with someone, they know all your secrets. Actually, they really know how to push all your buttons. If you don't like smacking gum sounds, the little sister will make sure you hear hers. If you are afraid of birds, the little sister will make sure you see every dead one in a mile radius. If you want to talk to a boy on the phone, she will be there listening while she pretends to do something else.
In my YA novel, The Waiting Booth, the heroine Mia misses having her brother in her life. It was easy to write about the feelings of having a sibling since I've experienced that. As children, Mia and her brother grew up together. My sister Audrey and I are less than three years apart in age. Mia played video games with her brother. My sister and I played school, library, and barbies. We created our own magical little world for two. Our early relationship influenced us and our perceptions about each other.
Sibling relationships don't alway work out. Allow me to be blunt. Some people just don't like their siblings. As adults, they dread holidays where they are forced to sit across the dinner table and pretend they're interested. They may not keep in touch. There is no real connection in their daily lives.
I'm one of the lucky ones. My sister and I have always been close. We talk on the phone almost everyday. As children, we may have pushed each other's buttons. I can remember locking myself in a room where she couldn't beat the snot out of me. Today, we no longer fuss with each other or look for opportunities to irritate. We support each other in everything. My sister could tell me that she plans to open up a cake shop, and I'd be there supporting her ideas and efforts. I'd hold the spatula and eat the extra icing. She could say she wants to go into producing exercise videos. I'm there with the video camera. Maybe she wants to parachute out of an airplane. I'll stand on the ground and watch (and be ready to call 911).
At this particular moment, we're at a good spot in the road of life. It's easy be supportive when times are good. We've also been through the rough patches together. Those times happen to everybody. My sister will be there for me as sure as road construction will continue on the interstate.
When I told my sister that I wanted to write a young adult novel, she didn't blink an eye. She encouraged me to move forward with it while cheering all the way. First, you should know that she is a super-busy person. Between her two jobs and family, she made time for me. She listened to my plot ideas, asked questions, and shook her imaginary pom poms in the air. She read what I sent to her one chapter at a time and gave me feedback. She told me at the end that she was confused and didn't understand what happened in some of the plotlines. I revised. She said it was good and would get published. I tried to believe.
I dedicated my book, The Waiting Booth, to my sister. My one line dedication at the beginning of the book doesn't touch the level of gratitude I feel for having her support. She's not going to be thrilled with this post I've written. Audrey doesn't seek public accolades. That's too bad because I'm her sister. I can do what I want. I have that...I don't know....sister privilege. Victoria Secunda said it much more eloquently than I have. She said, "To have a loving relationship with a sister is not simply to have a buddy or a confident--it is to have a soulmate for life." Thanks, Aud.
Summer Blog Tour Contest rules: http://www.brindaberry.com/summer-2011-blog-tour.html
A missing boy, government agents, an interdimensional portal...
Mia has one goal for her senior year at Whispering Woods High—find her missing older brother. But when her science project reveals a portal into another dimension, she learns that travelers are moving in and out of her woods in the most alarming way and government agents Regulus and Arizona are policing their immigration. Mia’s drawn to the mysterious, aloof Regulus, but it’s no time for a crush. She needs to find out what they know about her brother, while the agents fight to save the world from viral contamination. But when Regulus reveals that he knows Mia’s secrets, she begins to wonder if there’s more going on than she thought...and if she was wrong to trust him...
Her debut YA novel, The Waiting Booth, released on July 15th, can be
found at various online bookstore links:
About the author: Brinda Berry has always loved reading about the
adventures of others. She also believes there's a little romance in
every story. Brinda lives in Arkansas with her family and a
couple of terribly spoiled cairn terriers.
