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Haley Despard's Diary of a Rocker's Kid + Interview/Excerpt



DIARY OF A ROCKER'S KID
by Haley Despard
Series: DORK #1
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
- SYNOPSIS -
Madison Daley’s father has concealed the truth from her for seventeen years…

Raised on a Kentucky farm, Madison is stunned when a conversational slip reveals her father Michael is a famous ’90s rock star known as the Grim Weeper. Michael left the spotlight and his mansion behind when Madison was dropped off on his doorstep by a woman in a black mask. A dark past is revealed, and the only thing Madison isn’t allowed to know is her mother’s name. 

The answers Madison needs can only be found in Beverly Hills… 

Though she does hope to persuade her dad to return to the stage, Madison’s real mission is to discover the identity of her mother. 

But she is slightly distracted—literally—by the boy next door. Giovanni Abate’s father is an action film star, his stepdad is a major designer, and Gio has his own claim to fame. Madison catches the handsome, young Italian actor’s eye, and their mutual attraction makes for a hotter summer than she ever could have imagined. 

Madison hasn’t set foot in California since infancy, but a lot of people are certain she has… 

After Madison has a makeover, people are sure they’ve seen her somewhere before, and she is extremely curious about the identity of her supposed doppelganger. As she looks into this strange situation, she’s unaware that Gio is hiding a potentially devastating secret. 

Could finding the answers she seeks change Madison’s life forever? 
Or will it just lead to more questions to fill the…
Diary of a Rocker’s Kid.

- PURCHASE -





- EXCERPT -
June 2, 2015
Mission L.A. Complete

We’re here…and it’s the best feeling in the world.
As soon as I walked in those double doors, I immediately felt at home. That has never happened to me before. The farmhouse felt like home because it was all I had, but this place has Dad, Cass, and me written all over it. It’s a rocker’s mansion for sure, and Dad already told me some stories about the wild parties they used to have in here. I enjoyed hearing about how completely off the walls Cass and he were. It makes me think maybe he’ll forgive me for the shit I plan to do once I’m legal…or not so legal.
He’s loosening up a lot now that we’re in L.A. He’s even treating me like an equal in a lot of ways. I guess he’s finally realizing I’m close to becoming an adult. Also, he said he plans to go out with Cass a lot while we’re here. Score for me! The less parental supervision, the better.
I’m not sure how to feel about meeting Stephan Lowe’s family tomorrow. According to Ana, Steph’s partner is Alfonzo Abate, a major action film star. He’s easily an A-list actor, and I’ve watched and obsessed over all his movies. His teenage son Giovanni is an actor, too. He was a supporting actor on one of my favorite tween-teen shows, Jackson and Julia, until it got cancelled last year. He is constantly in the news, and girls everywhere obsess over him. My palms sweat and my throat dries up just thinking about him. I mean, this guy is swoon-worthy, and I’m about to meet him tomorrow. That has me terrified. What am I going to say to two actors I’ve worshipped for the past few years of my life? Especially one my age?
I can see it now—
“Hi, I’m Mads. You’re gorgeous. I want to marry you. I know I’m the Basket Baby, but maybe we can look past that. I’m even willing to start over on a deserted island together and forget either of us has a name. We can just sit on the beach day and night in nothing but our birthday suits and let the world fade away for the rest of our lives. Sound good? Great. I’m on my way to the courthouse to get emancipated right now.”
I’m dying laughing over here. That’s so unrealistic it’s almost not funny.
Almost.
Anyway, now that I know who I’m meeting, I’m considering letting Ana give me a full-scale makeover tomorrow. She’s been wanting to do that for years, and now we’ve finally got the perfect opportunity. Plus, it’s kind of necessary. I’m looking at the ends of my hair, and…yep, I’ve got split ends. They’re all over the place. Definitely getting a haircut, and I might color it, too, even though that’s wayyy outside my comfort zone.
Here goes nothing. Hopefully I won’t come back bald. That’s my secret fear when entering a salon.
Ttyl,
Mads


Diary of a Rocker’s Kid #1 Playlist

Diary of Jane – Breaking Benjamin
American Idiot – Green Day
Whisper – Evanescence
Fire and Ice – Within Temptation
Victim – Avenged Sevenfold
Unholy Confessions – Avenged Sevenfold
Meant to Live – Switchfoot
Extraordinary Girl – Green Day
Let’s Get Rocked – Def Leppard
Beverly Hills – Weezer
The Best Damn Thing – Avril Lavigne
Madness – Muse
I Love Rock N’ Roll – Joan Jett
Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses
Dani California – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Rockstar - Nickelback
Riot – Three Days Grace
Complicated – Avril Lavigne
Titanium – Madilyn Bailey
Oceans – Evanescence
You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid – The Offspring
Famous – Puddle of Mudd
Lost in Paradise – Evanescence
Afterlife – Avenged Sevenfold
Welcome to the Family – Avenged Sevenfold



- ABOUT THE AUTHOR -
Haley Despard was born and raised in small, yet ever-expanding Simpsonville, South Carolina. She discovered a love of writing at age fourteen and hasn’t been able to turn off the motor fingers since then. Today she lives just a stone’s throw over in the country side of Greer, SC with her husband, son, and Boston Terrier. Her loves include cats (even though she’s allergic because the universe hates her), reading, composing music, blogging, amateur photography, fro-yo, mall shopping trips, and anything that begins with, ends with, or includes the words “milk chocolate.” She also enjoys gaming with her husband on occasion and driving through the countryside with music on full blast.

Haley’s books will include a combination of feminism, romance, diversity, family values, complicated storylines, and maybe even a scheming heroine or two. She loves to defy conventions and standards and continually thinks outside the box. If you want to read something fresh and original, pick up a Haley Despard novel. A book should be able to make you gasp, sob, laugh hysterically, and want to hug the main character all at the same time. 
Haley is very interactive on Facebook and Twitter so don’t hesitate to contact her at one of the links below, or you can email her at hdespardauthor@outlook.com.


- GIVEAWAY -
3 ecopies of Diary Of A Rocker's Kid up for grabs!

INTERVIEW WITH HALEY


What is your process for plotting out your novel?

It’s a mess. I usually start with chicken scratch ideas which morph into an outline, then a multi-paragraph summary, then a bunch more chicken scratch notes, another (more detailed) outline, 20+ rough drafts, and finally the rough draft that sticks.

What is your greatest challenge as a writer?

My greatest challenge at the moment is finding the time and energy to write more while marketing the first book.

Do you write in one genre or multiple genres? Why?

I write in multiple genres because I have multiple ideas. Plus, it’s a great way to broaden your fan base. Some people aren’t interested in YA fiction but like my CR or Fantasy ideas (which are not yet books). But mostly it’s just because I’ve got a head full to bursting with random, crazy ideas.

What was your path to publication like?

It was complicated. I first self-published my novel (in a very amateur, no clue what I was doing way) and it sorta failed, mostly because nobody knew about it. Then I submitted it to various indie publishers and Limitless was the first one to offer me a contract. They were my first choice anyway, so I went for it!

What advice do you have for someone who dreams of writing and having a book published?

First, daydream. Then write. It really is that simple. Just write until your fingers almost fall off, even if you have to restart over and over. If you have a good idea, and you write it, you might get published.

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