Something Like Normal: Interview + GIVEAWAY!

Trish Doller, author of the upcoming YA contemporary Something Like Normal, has dropped by the blog today to share with us her inspirational photos for writing this incredible story.  I started following Trish's tumblr a few months back and fell in love with these images even before I read the book.  I'm a visual person to begin with, so naturally they grabbed my attention.  From what little I did know about her story at the time, these photos set me over the edge and I was dying to know the rest.  This emotional, yet unforgettable story about the beautifully broken Travis captured my heart.  Now let her photo inspirations capture yours.

Be sure to fill out the GIVEAWAY form at the bottom of this post for a chance to win a pre-order of Something Like Normal (to be published June 19, 2012) as well as a copy of Trish's playlist for the book!

Inspiration No. 01

I was browsing military pictures on flickr one day when I came across a series that a photographer had done of what I think was a whole company of Marines. They were all posed like this, looking so serious and tough, and it reminded me of those old daguerreotypes of Wild West outlaws or Civil War soldiers and I just loved it. This guy in particular reminded me of Travis, even though he doesn't really look like the guy in my head.

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Inspiration No. 02

Throughout the book, Travis shares memories of his experiences in Afghanistan. When he goes to a party, one of his stoner friends from high school asks him about the poppies--from which heroin is made--and he jokes away the memory of taking fire from the Taliban in a poppy field. I didn't make that up. I pored over hundreds of photos of real Marines--many of which were taken by Marines in Afghanistan--including this one.

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Inspiration No. 03

Field crosses are often set up in-country as memorials to fallen Marines or soldiers. Since their bodies are sent home, the Marines left behind usually do something to remember them. They'll erect a field cross, have a service, and sometimes they'll name a forward operating base or outpost for one of their fallen. This is what they would have done for Travis' best friend Charlie in Afghanistan before the book even began.

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Inspiration No. 04

There's a beach just south of Fort Myers where sea turtles nest each year and volunteers actually monitor the hatching to help the turtles have a fighting chance at getting into the Gulf of Mexico. This photo is specific to a scene that involves lots of baby turtles. While it's a cute scene, it's really more about two people taking a big step forward in trusting each other.

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Inspiration No. 05

Travis meets Charlie's mother while he's home on leave. I don't want to give away too many of the details on that, but I will say she's a colorful character who owns a tattoo parlor and takes a salad bar view of spirituality, picking and choosing the part she likes best. I envision her as a tattooed lady with a huge capacity for love.

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Inspiration No. 06

This is another scene that would be spoiled by too much information, but I see Travis and Harper in this one--and the girl's posture says it all, really.

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Inspiration No. 07

I'm not sure this one needs any explanation. It's absolutely perfect.

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Thank you so much Trish for sharing your inspirational photos with us!  I adore this story, SO MUCH.  You can read more about my adoration for it here.  Having read this book, I can totally see all of these photos fitting exactly in to the story.  My favorite has to be the last one though.  This scene in particular was very emotional to read.  By this point in the book, I felt so invested in Travis' character... and well, I won't say more to give anything away, but it's SO GOOD.  If you'd like to experience this scene yourself, then enter my giveaway for a pre-order of Trish's book!  Also, be sure to check out Trish's playlist which contributed to her inspiration for the story as well. Below you can sample each song. I am happy to say that I contributed one song to this playlist. You may see a familiar band on there ;)

Something Like Normal Official Playlist

1. "Bad Company" - Five Finger Death Punch

2. "Brothers" - Jimmy Stare

3. "Final Transmission" - Street Dogs

4. "Life in the Pain" - SafetySuit

5. "Santa Monica" - Jimmy Malinowski

6. "4th of July" - Chris Murray

7. "Lay Me Down" - Dirty Heads

8. "Savior" - Rise Against

9. "Bullet" - Mat Kearney

10. "Like a Soldier" - Johnny Cash

11. "This is Letting Go" - Rise Against

12."If I Ever Leave This World Alive" - Flogging Molly

Bonus track: "Smile" - Uncle Kracker

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THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! Thanks to everyone who entered.

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
Published: June 19, 2012 by Bloomsbury
Received: egalley for review

A powerful debut novel about a young Marine's return home from Afghanistan and the new life and love he finds while fending off the ghosts of war.

When Travis Stephenson returns home from Afghanistan, his parents are on the brink of divorce, his brother has stolen his girlfriend and his car, and nightmares of his best friend getting killed keep him completely spooked. But when he runs into Harper Gray, a girl who despises him for trashing her reputation with a middle school lie, life actually starts looking up. As Travis and Harper see more of each other, he starts falling for her and a way through the family meltdown, the post-traumatic stress, and the possibility of an interesting future begins to emerge.

His sense of humor, sense of his own strength, and incredible sense of honor make Travis an irresistible and eminently lovable hero in this fantastic and timely debut novel. {goodreads.com}

Stop. Take a minute to breath. Process. Allow it all to sink in. Now go back & re-read it all over again.  That is my initial reaction to this book.  Contemporaries hold a special place in my heart when it comes to literature because they make you feel such strong emotions.  I know any book can have that effect on a person, but contemporary pieces like this one have the ability to grab my heart, twist it, hug it, break it in to a million pieces, and then put it all back together again swelling with pure love.  Trish Doller's debut novel Something Like Normal is far from normal.  It is contemporary fiction at it's best.

Travis has just come home on leave from spending the last year serving his country in Afghanistan.  His mother's welcome wagon, along with his judgmental father, and second-hand brother aren't exactly home for Travis.  He prefers the camaraderie of his brother-hood in the hot, sandy desert.  Travis is also dealing with the effects of losing one of his mates in battle.  The tough facade he tries to portray while on base begins to crack once he is confined back inside his childhood home.  Though he's only home for a few weeks, he tries his best to bide his time among a sea of faces that have now become strangers to him.  What he once thought was important, now holds less meaning.  Travis is a changed young man, but he doesn't quite know it yet.

Harper is the girl who tries to show him that change, but it didn't start off that easy.  Their relationship begins with a punch to the face (Travis' face that is) and the angst just keeps rising.  These two characters are probably one of the most well written love interests I have come across.  Their attitudes towards one another felt so believable to me.  Harper has her reservations about Travis in the beginning due to their past.  We also learn that Harper is a forgiving person, with a heart that goes on for miles.  I adore this girl, so much.  She was the perfect match for Travis.  She off-sets his bruiting, hostile persona so well.  The two of them together lit up every page.  Their love was a slow build, and oh man.. those slow builds are the best!  Feel the burn.  I was completely convinced by their true feelings.

The story goes beyond just love though, it digs deep in to family turmoil.  The relationship building between Travis and his mom was another favorite of mine to witness.  I love when an author gives secondary characters such strong voices.  Travis' mom did not fade in to the background, she stood strong in every scene, even during her weakest moments.  There were quite a few other secondary characters that captured my heart as well.  The involvement kept me turning the pages.  I knew I was in for some heavy heart ache, especially when it includes a story about a young man coming home from a foreign war.  There are so many challenges a person can face, and it's right to assume they will come home a changed person.

Trish Doller, I bow down to you.  Your ability to tell a story with so much depth, compassion, angst, and believability has left me breathless.  I want to re-read this book a dozen more times.  Thank you for sharing with us one of the best contemporary novels.  I can't wait for the world to read this one.  It's definitely an impressionable piece.

Waiting On: Something Like Normal

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

To be published: June 19, 2012

A powerful debut novel about a young Marine's return home from Afghanistan and the new life and love he finds while fending off the ghosts of war.

When Travis Stephenson returns home from Afghanistan, his parents are on the brink of divorce, his brother has stolen his girlfriend and his car, and nightmares of his best friend getting killed keep him completely spooked. But when he runs into Harper Gray, a girl who despises him for trashing her reputation with a middle school lie, life actually starts looking up. As Travis and Harper see more of each other, he starts falling for her and a way through the family meltdown, the post-traumatic stress, and the possibility of an interesting future begins to emerge.

His sense of humor, sense of his own strength, and incredible sense of honor make Travis an irresistible and eminently lovable hero in this fantastic and timely debut novel. {goodreads.com}

THIS book is my numero uno pick from the 2012 Debut Authors.  I got to read the first two chapters online, thanks to the ever so generous & amazing Trish Doller.  Y'all, I was left wanting SO MUCH MORE.  It was like the biggest tease of my life.  From just those 2 chapters, I was already invested in the main character Travis.  That is some powerful writing.  I have a feeling this book is going to bring GREAT THINGS.  Keep your eyes open for it come June.

** Click HERE to read the first chapter of Something Like Normal.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.