Title: Between Everything And Us
Author: Rebecca Paula
Genre: New Adult
Release Date: January 20, 2015
Cover Design: Maggie Hall
Synopsis
Matisse Evans is determined to make her sophomore year of college successful after failing out of a prestigious art school and spending a horribly boring gap year at home. Despite her focus, time isn't on her side as she struggles to hold down three jobs so she can afford her first apartment while juggling course work. In the chaos of it all, Beau Grady moves in and shakes up her world. A college dropout and tattooed bad boy, the rumors about Beau mean one thing for Matisse—trouble. Paralyzed by the fear that she's missing out on life, Matisse discovers plans may unravel, but what rises in their wake can be worth the uncertainty.
After spending the summer couch surfing, Beau Grady moves into an empty room at his ex-girlfriend’s Portland bungalow, skipping his senior year of college to spend his days working at a Vietnamese food cart instead. Once a star hockey player and gifted student, he’s put his life on hold after receiving a life-altering diagnosis, complacent to live in the moment. Hiding behind false rumors and bad habits, Beau falls for Matisse, letting her believe the worst until their relationship blooms into something they both can’t ignore. Falling for her means having to face a future he’d rather forget, but loving her just might be worth it.
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Excerpt
She grabs my hands and pins them together. I don’t fight off her touch. I let Mati gather them and raise them above my head. “I think it’s so easy to fall into the world when you’re not ready,” she says seriously. Her free hand brushes over my brows, then sweeps down my nose. “It’s such a big place and we’re all very tiny in the scheme of things.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“It sucks being an outlier, Beau. I get it. But in spite of everything, we’re always going to feel a bit lost. It’s the part of growing up that no one ever tells you about.”
“You’re very wise today, Miss Mati.”
“I’m lots things, mister. I’m...” Her voice drops off and she nervously glances down at my chest. “I think I’m a little bit in love with you actually.”
At least I’m sitting. That doesn’t help the way my stomach drops though.
I snake my hands out of her grip and brace them around her face. There’s a reason why outliers exist on the outside—they can’t find their way in.
Mati is no outlier to me.
We kiss for what seems like hours. I don’t care if it’s for days. But we kiss until my mouth wipes away the nervousness in that confession of hers, while I still cowardly hide behind mine.
In the wild, in the sun, Mati and I are...well, we’re something I never thought I’d have or find. And that’s everything.
About The Author
Rebecca writes smart and gritty New Adult romances, as well as historical romances, featuring flawed characters struggling to find their place in the world. She's a lover of rainy days, an unabashed anglophile, and a devote Earl Gray tea drinker. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and their very spoiled cat, Bella. A wanderlust connoisseur, Rebecca can be caught daydreaming about her next travel adventure when not writing.
Interview
When did you first realize you wanted to be a
writer?
I had an assignment in fifth grade to write a diary entry from Brian’s POV in Hatchet. After that assignment, I knew I wanted to be a writer.
I had an assignment in fifth grade to write a diary entry from Brian’s POV in Hatchet. After that assignment, I knew I wanted to be a writer.
How long does it take you to write a book?
It depends on the book, really. I was lucky that EVERLY AFTER and BETWEEN EVERYTHING AND US came together quickly as drafts. I wrote each book in about a month. I like to draft quickly if I can so I can spend time rewriting and revising. The initial drafting is quick, but I edit for at least 3-6 months, sometimes longer.
It depends on the book, really. I was lucky that EVERLY AFTER and BETWEEN EVERYTHING AND US came together quickly as drafts. I wrote each book in about a month. I like to draft quickly if I can so I can spend time rewriting and revising. The initial drafting is quick, but I edit for at least 3-6 months, sometimes longer.
What is your work schedule like when you're
writing?
My schedule has changed recently, but I typically work 10-12 hour days when I have the chance to write. Since being published, I often handle the business side of author things when I get home from my day job, then write and revise on my days off.
My schedule has changed recently, but I typically work 10-12 hour days when I have the chance to write. Since being published, I often handle the business side of author things when I get home from my day job, then write and revise on my days off.
What would you say is your interesting writing
quirk?
I make playlists for each writing project and listen to it on repeat until the book is published. I listen to it while drafting, revising, while I’m driving to work, while I’m in the shower, when I’m working on edits from my editors, when I’m proofing. I even listen to it while I’m answering emails so I’m always connected to the project. It helps keep my focused and ideas on solving tough plot points often pop up when I least expect them.
I make playlists for each writing project and listen to it on repeat until the book is published. I listen to it while drafting, revising, while I’m driving to work, while I’m in the shower, when I’m working on edits from my editors, when I’m proofing. I even listen to it while I’m answering emails so I’m always connected to the project. It helps keep my focused and ideas on solving tough plot points often pop up when I least expect them.
How do books get published?
This is a great question because there are options now on how to get a book published. Writers can go the traditional publishing path: querying their book to agents, landing an agent and then going on submission to publishing houses. Or writers can go the independent path and write a book, hire an editor, and self-publish. And they can chose to do both and be what’s considered a hybrid author. It’s great to have so many options available to get published right now.
This is a great question because there are options now on how to get a book published. Writers can go the traditional publishing path: querying their book to agents, landing an agent and then going on submission to publishing houses. Or writers can go the independent path and write a book, hire an editor, and self-publish. And they can chose to do both and be what’s considered a hybrid author. It’s great to have so many options available to get published right now.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your
books?
A lot of my ideas come through traveling. I have a serious case of wanderlust and love going on adventures.
A lot of my ideas come through traveling. I have a serious case of wanderlust and love going on adventures.
When did you write your first book and how old were
you?
EVELRY AFTER was actually my first book. I wrote the original draft when I was 16. It went through many, many drafts until I rewrote the entire book last year.
EVELRY AFTER was actually my first book. I wrote the original draft when I was 16. It went through many, many drafts until I rewrote the entire book last year.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I love to travel with my husband. We’ve been travel buds since we went met in college and studied abroad. I love to cook. And whenever I have the chance, I have my nose in a book.
I love to travel with my husband. We’ve been travel buds since we went met in college and studied abroad. I love to cook. And whenever I have the chance, I have my nose in a book.
What does your family think of your writing?
My parents always knew that I wrote fiction, but I sort of hide that away. I had stashes of notebooks in my room growing up and then my uncle gave me an old laptop for my writing. But when I completed NaNo in 2012, that was really the first time I admitted to everyone that I wrote fiction. I was in journalism for a long time before then, so everyone knew I wrote, I just hide the fact I wrote books as well. They’re very proud of me and are my best cheerleaders. My husband is so incredibly supportive and isn’t afraid to ever say I write romance. That always makes my heart melt.
My parents always knew that I wrote fiction, but I sort of hide that away. I had stashes of notebooks in my room growing up and then my uncle gave me an old laptop for my writing. But when I completed NaNo in 2012, that was really the first time I admitted to everyone that I wrote fiction. I was in journalism for a long time before then, so everyone knew I wrote, I just hide the fact I wrote books as well. They’re very proud of me and are my best cheerleaders. My husband is so incredibly supportive and isn’t afraid to ever say I write romance. That always makes my heart melt.
What was one of the most surprising things you
learned in creating your books?
That I could write one, more than once – haha. Seriously though, no matter how many drafts you write, it’s scary being faced with a blank page again. With each book I finish, I always think that it could be my last, then am surprised when I’m wrapping up another draft.
That I could write one, more than once – haha. Seriously though, no matter how many drafts you write, it’s scary being faced with a blank page again. With each book I finish, I always think that it could be my last, then am surprised when I’m wrapping up another draft.
How many books have you written? Which is your
favorite?
Oh, this is tough because I’ve written some that I want published and some that will never see the light of day. I’d say I have about 8 books written that might be published at some point or have been. Picking a favorite though – that’s tough! Each book has meant something different to me. I have a book that will be released eventually that has secretly been my favorite, but I think BETWEEN EVERYTHING AND US is a very close second. It’s the first book I really wrote that wasn’t a result of me trying to chase something. I loved writing Beau and Mati so much that I plan on writing at them at least one more book, maybe two.
Oh, this is tough because I’ve written some that I want published and some that will never see the light of day. I’d say I have about 8 books written that might be published at some point or have been. Picking a favorite though – that’s tough! Each book has meant something different to me. I have a book that will be released eventually that has secretly been my favorite, but I think BETWEEN EVERYTHING AND US is a very close second. It’s the first book I really wrote that wasn’t a result of me trying to chase something. I loved writing Beau and Mati so much that I plan on writing at them at least one more book, maybe two.
Do you have any suggestions to help me become a
better writer? If so, what are they?
I have a few:
1) Write, write, and then write some more. It doesn’t matter if it’s good, it doesn’t matter the genre or length, just write.
2) Read everything under the sun and if you’re watching TV or a movie, pick apart what you liked about the plot and didn’t. Understanding what makes a plot work or fail is important in making you a better writer.
3) Don’t listen to the noise. People have opinions about everything and if you censor yourself to write to what will sell, or pick one way to publish because of their opinions, you’re losing an amazing opportunity to find yourself as a writer. Listen to your voice, trust your gut, and make decisions based off what you want as a writer – whether it’s a career or just a hobby.
I have a few:
1) Write, write, and then write some more. It doesn’t matter if it’s good, it doesn’t matter the genre or length, just write.
2) Read everything under the sun and if you’re watching TV or a movie, pick apart what you liked about the plot and didn’t. Understanding what makes a plot work or fail is important in making you a better writer.
3) Don’t listen to the noise. People have opinions about everything and if you censor yourself to write to what will sell, or pick one way to publish because of their opinions, you’re losing an amazing opportunity to find yourself as a writer. Listen to your voice, trust your gut, and make decisions based off what you want as a writer – whether it’s a career or just a hobby.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of
things do they say?
I do hear from readers and I love it! My books can be pretty emotional, so I hear when readers are worried about certain plot points or if I made them cry. I also hear when the book has meant a lot to them and those notes make all the crazy long hours I spending on writing worth it. I hear from readers asking about future projects well and that’s incredible motivation for me.
I do hear from readers and I love it! My books can be pretty emotional, so I hear when readers are worried about certain plot points or if I made them cry. I also hear when the book has meant a lot to them and those notes make all the crazy long hours I spending on writing worth it. I hear from readers asking about future projects well and that’s incredible motivation for me.
Do you like to create books for adults?
I do! I’m not sure I’d be able to write a book for a younger audience. I have a few YA projects that are on the shelf, but writing for adults has been fun.
I do! I’m not sure I’d be able to write a book for a younger audience. I have a few YA projects that are on the shelf, but writing for adults has been fun.
What do you think makes a good story?
I think a good story is one that makes you feel — good or bad. I like books that make you think. I want to be transported and immersed when I read and write a story. I want to feel what the characters are feeling. I want to read their story, even if I can’t relate directly to what they’re going to, I want to be able to empathize with their decisions and actions, even if I don’t necessarily agree.
I think a good story is one that makes you feel — good or bad. I like books that make you think. I want to be transported and immersed when I read and write a story. I want to feel what the characters are feeling. I want to read their story, even if I can’t relate directly to what they’re going to, I want to be able to empathize with their decisions and actions, even if I don’t necessarily agree.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew
up?
I wanted to be a writer, though there was a brief period of time where I wanted to be a “stage” actress. I’m really glad that phase didn’t last long.
I wanted to be a writer, though there was a brief period of time where I wanted to be a “stage” actress. I’m really glad that phase didn’t last long.
What would you like my readers to know?
I love hearing from readers! They can follow me on Twitter, my Amazon author page, or my Reader group where I share exclusive content, host giveaways, and share sneak peeks and announcements first.
I love hearing from readers! They can follow me on Twitter, my Amazon author page, or my Reader group where I share exclusive content, host giveaways, and share sneak peeks and announcements first.
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