Photo Content from Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels
Rebecca and Courtney are downhome country girls powered by chocolate and other random late night cravings. Coined in southern twang they bring new meaning to the word y'all. BFI's since the 6th grade, with a knack for getting into sticky situations, has resulted in countless ideas to write about for years to come.
When Rebecca is not working or writing, you can find her spending time with her family and her not so little puppy Neo.
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Was there a defining moment during your youth when you realized you wanted to be a writer?
Millions have already died, and thousands more are perishing daily. As a last ditch effort to preserve the human race, the government implements Project ELE. With the earth heating at rapid speeds, all remaining survivors are forced to turn to F.E.M.A. shelters to wait out ELE's wrath.
Fifteen-year-old Willow Mosby's life, as she knows it, ends the moment she walks through the shelter's door. Willow has to quickly adapt to the new challenges that shelter life demands, the least of which includes making new friends and working a full time job.
Soon after making an interesting discovery, Willow and her friends start exhibiting strange abilities. Seeking answers, they embark on a mission to find out what these new abilities mean and whether they are a gift or a curse.
This new adventure can send her world crashing down around her. The question is: Can Willow survive the fall?
jbnpastinterviews
Rebecca: There wasn't a defining moment when I was younger that lead me to become a writer. Actually I had not considered writing until Courtney bugged me long enough to try and get me to write a book with her. That was only two years ago. I am so happy that I finally relented to her consistent nagging (JK, it wasn't nagging, just persistence) because I can't ever imagine not writing now. I've always enjoyed creative outlets and this particular one has been one of the most fulfilling for me.
Why is storytelling so important for all of us?
Courtney: There are so many stories waiting to be told. We hear stories told through music, television, movies, art, and my favorite: books. For me, reading stories allows my imagination to open up and it takes me to a whole new world. Whether this world is an escape from the day to day life or even a world that helps me connect with some inner emotions I didn't realize I had bottled up, a story makes you feel something. I think we all need to feel something and have an outlet to escape to every once in a while. That's why storytelling is important for all of us because we all need this. Can you imagine a world where there were no stories told in any form? I can't either.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?
Rebecca: To keep on keeping on. Originally Courtney and I submitted numerous queries to agents to publish our books. (Well, actually we only sent 10 queries out but those 10 seemed like a million when it came to the rejection letters.) We looked up some of our favorite Indie authors when we started looking into self publishing. Nearly all of them had the same sort of advice: don't give up. Keep doing what you love. If we had given up when sending out query letters and had never decided to try publishing ourselves, we wouldn't have four books and two successful series under our belt. I'm so glad that we listened to their advice and kept on writing.
In your newest book; Project ELE, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it and why they should read your novel?
Courtney: Willow Mosby is 15 years old when her family has to turn to a FEMA shelter after Project ELE is implemented by the government in hopes of killing off a super virus that has killed more than half of the world's population. This government ran project includes heating the Earth to unlivable conditions for a period of three years in hopes of killing off the virus. Only the most healthy citizens are permitted entry into the shelter.
This first book in The ELE Series is all about Willow coming to her own. She has a lot of hardships and losses and she has to learn how to deal with these within the confines of an underground shelter. She finds friendship, enemies and best of all: Love. In addition, to everything that is happening around her, Willow and her friends begin exhibiting strange new abilities that they hadn't had before. When they start looking into what caused these changes within them, they ruffle some feathers and soon find that an unlikely suspect wants to silence them forever.
Because it's totally awesome sauce! Just kidding. :0) You should read our novel because it's fresh, new and it has a little something for everyone. This definitely is not just a teen book. Adults have raved about how much they love the story line and the world around ELE. Plus, the biggest selling point to Project ELE is: It's FREE!!! What do you have to lose?
Can you tell us when you started Project ELE, how that came about?
Rebecca: We began writing Project ELE back in March. This story came about in a number of ways. Courtney had some ideas about immunizations gone wrong and I had written a short story for an anthology about a world in the future where everyone has a special power. After many Skype dates, we melded our ideas into what has now become Project ELE.
Why is storytelling so important for all of us?
Courtney: There are so many stories waiting to be told. We hear stories told through music, television, movies, art, and my favorite: books. For me, reading stories allows my imagination to open up and it takes me to a whole new world. Whether this world is an escape from the day to day life or even a world that helps me connect with some inner emotions I didn't realize I had bottled up, a story makes you feel something. I think we all need to feel something and have an outlet to escape to every once in a while. That's why storytelling is important for all of us because we all need this. Can you imagine a world where there were no stories told in any form? I can't either.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?
Rebecca: To keep on keeping on. Originally Courtney and I submitted numerous queries to agents to publish our books. (Well, actually we only sent 10 queries out but those 10 seemed like a million when it came to the rejection letters.) We looked up some of our favorite Indie authors when we started looking into self publishing. Nearly all of them had the same sort of advice: don't give up. Keep doing what you love. If we had given up when sending out query letters and had never decided to try publishing ourselves, we wouldn't have four books and two successful series under our belt. I'm so glad that we listened to their advice and kept on writing.
In your newest book; Project ELE, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it and why they should read your novel?
Courtney: Willow Mosby is 15 years old when her family has to turn to a FEMA shelter after Project ELE is implemented by the government in hopes of killing off a super virus that has killed more than half of the world's population. This government ran project includes heating the Earth to unlivable conditions for a period of three years in hopes of killing off the virus. Only the most healthy citizens are permitted entry into the shelter.
This first book in The ELE Series is all about Willow coming to her own. She has a lot of hardships and losses and she has to learn how to deal with these within the confines of an underground shelter. She finds friendship, enemies and best of all: Love. In addition, to everything that is happening around her, Willow and her friends begin exhibiting strange new abilities that they hadn't had before. When they start looking into what caused these changes within them, they ruffle some feathers and soon find that an unlikely suspect wants to silence them forever.
Because it's totally awesome sauce! Just kidding. :0) You should read our novel because it's fresh, new and it has a little something for everyone. This definitely is not just a teen book. Adults have raved about how much they love the story line and the world around ELE. Plus, the biggest selling point to Project ELE is: It's FREE!!! What do you have to lose?
Can you tell us when you started Project ELE, how that came about?
Rebecca: We began writing Project ELE back in March. This story came about in a number of ways. Courtney had some ideas about immunizations gone wrong and I had written a short story for an anthology about a world in the future where everyone has a special power. After many Skype dates, we melded our ideas into what has now become Project ELE.
What part of Willow did you enjoy writing the most?
I think it was all of the firsts. There's something about writing a coming of age story. It is so fun to write about all of those firsts. The first heartbreak, first loss, first love, first kiss, etc. It was fun jumping into Willow's character and experiencing the newness of so many firsts that a teenager experiences.
If you could introduce Willow to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
Rebecca: I'd love to introduce Willow to Emma from our Night Marchers series. I think the two of them would get along and have plenty to talk about. I can just see them talking about the guys in their lives and about all of the crazy stuff that they went through at such a young age. I also think they both had to grow stronger through the situations they were put in. That's something they both have in common.
What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?
We just released Finding ELE in October. We are so excited about the feedback on this novel. We can't wait for everyone to read this sequel and continue on with Willow's journey. We also have plans to begin writing the third book in The ELE Series for Nanowrimo. (Nanowrimo is where authors take the challenge to write an entire novel in 30 days during the month of November.) Since the rules for Nanowrimo state that you can't write as partners, we are going to have to be rebels. But, they like rebels and it's not anything to be frowned upon when the competition is concerned. It just means we will be participating 'outside of the box.' So hopefully this means that we will have our third book in The ELE Series published and in your hands by mid December.
When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?
How are you? LOL, we both just turned 29... Okay, okay that's a lie. We actually just turned 30. ;0) Sometimes we like to call it: 20-10.
What’s the best advice you can give writers to help them develop their own unique voice and style?
Keep reading. If there is a particular genre that you always read then that's obviously where your passion lies. Write for that genre. Think about what you like to see in a book and implement that in your writing. Whatever you do, still make time for reading. When I read a good book it inspires me to write that much better. Like when I read Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout, it made me want to be way more witty and to coin fun new phrases. I love that about her books. They make me literally LOL. Side note: My husband is always looking at me weird when I bust out laughing late at night when I'm reading her books. Then he asks me what was so funny and wants me to read it to him but he totally doesn't get it because he hasn't developed that connection with the characters like I have. I hope that someday my books make people look crazy when they bust out laughing in front of their spouses or in the middle of the library.
Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?
We call each other. After all we are BFI's. (If you haven't read the Night Marchers Series that means: Best Friends Infinitely...never ending.) We've known one another since the sixth grade and we've learned to become great listeners. We also know how to make each other laugh with our numerous inside jokes.
Who was your first boyfriend?
Courtney- Nick, the boy who looked much sweeter than he was.
Rebecca- Ian, my teacher's son who wasn't the innocent quiet boy I thought he was.
Lesson to all you teens- There is a great love awaiting you out there. Chances are it's not your first love, I mean it could be but you will probably have to experience a few heart breaks to truly appreciate the one you will be blessed with forever. Don't let yourself get down when a relationship ends. Each heartache is helping you to grow stronger and to really understand what you want and need. That saying about there being so many other fish in the sea is true. Your fish is out there somewhere.
What are you most passionate about today?
Our faith, our family and our love for others.
What is the one, single food that you would never give up?
Chocolate!
I think it was all of the firsts. There's something about writing a coming of age story. It is so fun to write about all of those firsts. The first heartbreak, first loss, first love, first kiss, etc. It was fun jumping into Willow's character and experiencing the newness of so many firsts that a teenager experiences.
If you could introduce Willow to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
Rebecca: I'd love to introduce Willow to Emma from our Night Marchers series. I think the two of them would get along and have plenty to talk about. I can just see them talking about the guys in their lives and about all of the crazy stuff that they went through at such a young age. I also think they both had to grow stronger through the situations they were put in. That's something they both have in common.
What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?
We just released Finding ELE in October. We are so excited about the feedback on this novel. We can't wait for everyone to read this sequel and continue on with Willow's journey. We also have plans to begin writing the third book in The ELE Series for Nanowrimo. (Nanowrimo is where authors take the challenge to write an entire novel in 30 days during the month of November.) Since the rules for Nanowrimo state that you can't write as partners, we are going to have to be rebels. But, they like rebels and it's not anything to be frowned upon when the competition is concerned. It just means we will be participating 'outside of the box.' So hopefully this means that we will have our third book in The ELE Series published and in your hands by mid December.
When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?
How are you? LOL, we both just turned 29... Okay, okay that's a lie. We actually just turned 30. ;0) Sometimes we like to call it: 20-10.
What’s the best advice you can give writers to help them develop their own unique voice and style?
Keep reading. If there is a particular genre that you always read then that's obviously where your passion lies. Write for that genre. Think about what you like to see in a book and implement that in your writing. Whatever you do, still make time for reading. When I read a good book it inspires me to write that much better. Like when I read Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout, it made me want to be way more witty and to coin fun new phrases. I love that about her books. They make me literally LOL. Side note: My husband is always looking at me weird when I bust out laughing late at night when I'm reading her books. Then he asks me what was so funny and wants me to read it to him but he totally doesn't get it because he hasn't developed that connection with the characters like I have. I hope that someday my books make people look crazy when they bust out laughing in front of their spouses or in the middle of the library.
Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?
We call each other. After all we are BFI's. (If you haven't read the Night Marchers Series that means: Best Friends Infinitely...never ending.) We've known one another since the sixth grade and we've learned to become great listeners. We also know how to make each other laugh with our numerous inside jokes.
Who was your first boyfriend?
Courtney- Nick, the boy who looked much sweeter than he was.
Rebecca- Ian, my teacher's son who wasn't the innocent quiet boy I thought he was.
Lesson to all you teens- There is a great love awaiting you out there. Chances are it's not your first love, I mean it could be but you will probably have to experience a few heart breaks to truly appreciate the one you will be blessed with forever. Don't let yourself get down when a relationship ends. Each heartache is helping you to grow stronger and to really understand what you want and need. That saying about there being so many other fish in the sea is true. Your fish is out there somewhere.
What are you most passionate about today?
Our faith, our family and our love for others.
What is the one, single food that you would never give up?
Chocolate!
Fifteen-year-old Willow Mosby's life, as she knows it, ends the moment she walks through the shelter's door. Willow has to quickly adapt to the new challenges that shelter life demands, the least of which includes making new friends and working a full time job.
Soon after making an interesting discovery, Willow and her friends start exhibiting strange abilities. Seeking answers, they embark on a mission to find out what these new abilities mean and whether they are a gift or a curse.
This new adventure can send her world crashing down around her. The question is: Can Willow survive the fall?
You can purchase Project Elle at the following Retailer:
And now, The Giveaways.
Thank you REBECCA AND COURTNEY for making this giveaway possible.
5 Winners will receive an E-Copy of Project Elle by Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels.
1 Winner will receive a Project Ele Tote Bag and 3 Bookmarks by Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels.
I always sing in the shower! And in the car, and when out walking my dog..... =D
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I do sing in the shower. I'll sing along in the car, too! LOL!!! Thank you for an awesome giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the great review and for hosting this giveaway for us! LOL, I always sing in the shower. :) I even make up my own songs about what happened that day or what I have to do that week. I'm goofy that way. Hehe!
ReplyDeleteI love singing in the shower! My kids think I'm crazy, however sometimes they join in. Lol! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI only sing in the shower whem I'm in a good mood
ReplyDeleteI have never been one to sing in the shower
ReplyDeleteI do! It's so much fun! :D
ReplyDeleteNo, because i can`t get into the tune when concentrating on washing my hair or somthing :D
ReplyDeleteyeah I love you good time
ReplyDeleteyes, I totally "sing" in the shower, or at least some sort of warbling jibberish
ReplyDeleteI bring my iPhone and my Speakers Blast the Music and sing in the shower
ReplyDeleteI do not always sing but yeah I like it!
ReplyDeleteI used to sing in the shower when I was a lot younger. But I don't now. Maybe I should start doing it again! lol
ReplyDeleteOnly in my mind, otherwise I would scare everyone with my voice, lol
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, all the Linkin Park songs!! :P
ReplyDeleteSuper! I often sing Flyleaf songs.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do. I sing anywhere I can. :)
ReplyDeleteLori
I never sing in the shower! :D
ReplyDeleteYes, to the dismay of my mother and my sisters who claim I am tone-deaf.
ReplyDeleteYea i love to sing in the shower!!!
ReplyDeletenot really XD
ReplyDeleteYes, I love singing in the shower. Best acoustics :P
ReplyDeleteYes, I love singing in the shower, it relaxes me :D
ReplyDeleteNo!!! I'm a terrible singer lol
ReplyDeletei do like it :)
ReplyDeletethx u so much..