Imperfections

 

IMPERFECTIONS

Ann Chiappetta

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GENRE:  YA Contemporary Fiction

 

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BLURB:

 

For Lainie, feeling unwelcome is only the beginning of her struggles. Her mom is addicted to painkillers, her stepfather is a felon, and her dad traded her in for a new family.

 

So what if she’s kicked out of high school? Determined and attractive, Lainie sets out to make her own path.

 

Shane, the young man she begins dating and believes is trustworthy, transforms into a possessive and cruel boyfriend. When Efren, Shane’s older cousin, enters her life, Lainie grasps onto a shred of hope, falling in love. Shane’s obsessive and abusive treatment of her, however, casts a deep shadow over Efren and Lainie’s chance to find  safety and a future free of the fear of Shane’s  sadistic retribution.

 

Will their love persevere, or will Shane’s pervasive and negative influence push Lainie and Efren apart, forcing them to love secretly?

 

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 Excerpt

 

I located the main office and handed the secretary the messily folded bunch of papers from Mom.

 

“Where’s your parent or guardian?” she asked, making a point of glancing around the office as if she hadn’t known I came in alone.

 

“My mom’s at work by now,” I said.

 

She tut–tutted and rose from behind the reception desk. “Well, we need her to come in and sign some papers. She must have forgotten to do that before giving them to you.”

 

Embarrassment flushed through me. I knew I’d have to make excuses for her again.

 

“Can I take them home and bring them back tomorrow?” I asked.

 

I endured her tiny eyes boring into me. She pulled a pen from the iron–gray frizz near her ear and tut–tutted again. 

 

I thought, how many times a day does she make that sound?

 

“Is your mother a single parent?” she asked, pulling a file from the cabinet beside the desk.

 

“Uh–huh.” 

 

She sounded disapproving. “I suppose you can fill out most of it. I’ll see what I can do. Have a seat. I have to print you out a class schedule.”

 

An hour later, I left with my classes and a campus map.

 

“Welcome to eleventh grade at Campbell High,” I mumbled, searching for the way to my next class.

 

By the end of the day, I had realized a few things: I had the wrong clothes, the wrong shoes, the wrong accent, and came from the wrong state. 

A Word With the Author

 

1.Did you always want to be an author?

I wanted to be a veterinarian until age five, then the reading bug bit and I wanted to tell stories. I fell in love with the UK author James Herriot, because he achieved both. Then I fell in love with poetry and rhymes, memorizing fairy tales riddles and song lyrics. In middle school I won the grammar bee contest, no surprise afterwards I began writing poems and song parodies. My family was talented in the arts, crafts, and music. Being a writer was accepted as part of who I was and now , being a professional author and poet, my family appreciates and  continues to support my work.  

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book.

My first independently published book is Upwelling: Poems in 2016. It is a small volume of 23 poems about my life, relationships, family and grief  of losing my Mom. It is dedicated to her and since then, I’ve dedicated each subsequent book to her memory. She made me promise to write the collection six months prior to dying from cancer. The last poem in the book is about  questioning and trusting she has passed onto a place where she is happy and pain-free. 

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in? 

Kristin Hannah, though her novels are more grounded historically. I love the way she drives the book along with a blend of characters and plot points.   

4.What's the best part of being an author? The best part is being able to know my words connected with a reader. If one person tells me a poem or story evoked emotions and feelings, I’ve succeeded in crafting something worthwhile. I do write for my own satisfaction but I also want my work to resonate and touch others, be meaningful to them in some way. I want folks to talk to others about my book, “Remember that story by Ann Chiappetta?”    The worst? Rejections and not taking poorly constructed  or harsh criticism personally. If I am going to take the time to comment on a piece of writing, I am going to be  clear and kind, not everyone does it and despite knowing people not always considerate, it still bothers me. 
5.What are you working on now? I am working on my third novel, a companion to the first and second novel, a nonfiction book on therapy animals assisting with healing trauma and a third poetry collection. I am retired from my career as a therapist and I’ve got plenty to write. Thanks for letting me guest on your blog and I appreciate your time.

Absolutely! lt was my pleasure to host you.

 

                                                         AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Ann Chiappetta, M.S. Poet and author 

Ann’s award-winning poems, creative nonfiction, and essays have appeared internationally in literary journals, popular online blogs, and print anthologies. Her poems have been featured in The Avocet, the Pangolin Review, Plum Tree Tavern, Magnets and Ladders, Oprelle, Western PA Poetry Review 2024and Breath and Shadow. Ann’s short story, The Misty Torrent appeared in the Artificial Divide anthology published by Renaissance Press (2021). 

 

Ann is the recipient of the 2019 GDUI Excellence in Writing award and the WDOMI 2016 Spirit of Independence award.

 

Independently published since 2016, the author’s seven volume collection includes poetry, creative nonfiction essays, short stories and contemporary fiction. 

 

Diagnosed in 1993 with a rare form of progressive retinal disease, Ann accepts vision loss as part of her life but doesn’t let it define her as a whole person.

 

The author resides in western Pennsylvania with her husband, retired guide dog pet dog and cats, striving to develop a mutually-beneficial relationship with her assistive technology.

 

Contact Ann by visiting her website: www.annchiappetta.com

Subscribe to Ann’s blog www.thought-wheel.com 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com /verona.chiappetta/ 

 

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Ann Chiappetta will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway