Forbidden Territory
by Melissa Pearl and Brenda Howson
Genre: YA Thriller/Survival/Romance
Word count: 62,000
Mica and Lexy have been best friends and next-door neighbours since they were eight years old. They share everything and have no secrets from each other until… Tom arrives on Mica’s doorstep – a gorgeous exchange student from England. And Lexy is smitten.
Suddenly both girls are keeping secrets. Mica is hiding news about Tom’s English girlfriend and Lexy hasn’t got the heart to tell her best friend that her brother Eli, the guy Mica is mad on, thinks of her as only a friend.
After a massive fight, the girls decide the best way to mend their friendship is to spend some quality time together. And what better way than to go camping away from their parents and why not invite along the guys they are crushing on.
So the four teenagers embark on a geo-caching expedition into New Zealand’s native bush expecting a long weekend filled with flirtatious fun; instead secrets are exposed as they stumble across a hidden marijuana crop and its gun-wielding watchmen. Forced apart they spend the next forty-eight hours racing blindly in opposite directions as they fight to find each other before the hunters do.
This book is available from Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble.
How did you come up with the title for your book? Does it have any special meaning?
We knew we wanted something to do with forbidden or unchartered as the characters in the story stumble across something they are not supposed to find. We also toyed with treasure hunt type titles for a while, but then settled on Forbidden Territory. It was the perfect fit in the end.
Who was your favorite character and why?
I love Mica. She is the character I write and I find her hilarious. I’m so not like her in real life and it’s fun to see the crazy stuff she comes out with. I’m also totally in love with Eli, so having Mica head over heels for him, is super fun. The scenes I write between those two are my favourites. I also love Mica and Lexy scenes. Their friendship is so solid and the way they talk to each other is great.
Does your book have any underlying theme, message, or moral?
Brenda and I started this project as just a bit of fun. We kind of wrote it on a whim and ended up creating something publishable… much to our surprise. We weren’t aiming for any particular theme or message, but looking back, I guess it’s about the strength of friendships and how when it comes to soul mates, you’d give your life to protect them. It’s also about honesty and how it plays a vital role in a solid friendship.
What would/could a reader or reviewer say about this book that shows they “get” you as an author?
Quite a few of the reviews mention that it is a fast paced, action packed book that is hard to put down. When I hear readers have read my books in one sitting, I think – “Yep. That’s what I’m aiming for.” I like it when people struggle to put my books down, because those are the types of books I love to read.
Give us an excerpted quote from your favorite review of this book:
“If you are looking for a sweet tale of friendship, romance and more than a little action and adventure, I would recommend checking out Forbidden Territory. It really was a fun read!”
Where can people learn more about your writing?
www.melissapearlauthor.com
Wohoo!! Thanks for highlighting the book IU 🙂