Star in the Shadows
The world thinks that pop superstar Kiara Anderson has it all, but she spends her nights drinking away memories of her childhood and life as a teen runaway.
The Jacobs family are desperate to see the girl next door again and discover why she ran away, especially their son Shane, who blames himself for her disappearance.
When Kiara’s manager forces her into a reveal-all TV interview she knows the family she loved more than her own will finally discover the truth.
Can she overcome her demons or will the shadows of the past rob her of fame, fortune, and a chance to finally fall in love?
Purchase Link
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Shadows-Helen-Buckley/dp/1528932005
Author Q&A
Author Q&A
Thanks for such a great set of interesting and thoughtful questions 😊
1. What is the first book that
made you cry?
I don’t remember
crying at any books when I was younger although since having a baby I now cry
at the drop of a hat. The most recent book that made me blub was While I was
sleeping by Dani Atkins – such a lovely, emotional story.
2. How long, on average, does it
take you to write a book?
I knock out a first draft in about 5
months, then it takes a while to refine it. I usually look back on the first
draft and cringe!
3. How do you select the names of
your characters?
A mixture of ways. With my main
characters Kiara and Shane, I just knew those were the names I wanted. Other
characters were named after people I know. For example, Sarah is named after
one of my oldest friends, and Alicia is named after a girl I knew at school. The
Honduran characters were named after people I knew in Honduras when I lived
there for a few years.
The name I really struggled with in
Star in the Shadows was the name of Kiara’s mother – I wanted to call her
Kathleen but realised that it was both my nan and my aunt’s name and that
wouldn’t have worked. So I trawled through lists of popular names in the USA in
the 1970s and chose Suzanne instead.
4. What creature do you consider
your "spirit animal" to be?
Now I have a 6 month old child I have
discovered The Clangers – and found my spirit animals. I love those little
guys.
5.
What are your top 5 favorite movies?
·
Rocky 4
·
Terminator
2
·
Predator
·
Commando
·
Legally
Blonde
An odd mix I know – I’m a sucker for
a good action movie, and a big Reese Witherspoon fan.
6. If you were the last person on
Earth, what would you do?
Binge eat tinned peaches and cry.
7. What fictional character would
you want to be friends with in real life?
Willy Wonka. He
owns a chocolate factory – need I say more?
8. Do you have any advice for
aspiring writers?
Say no to fear and don’t let it stop
you from pursuing your dreams.
Yes, writing can be scary –
especially the process of submitting your work to be read by other people, and
maybe even criticised. But feel the fear and do it anyway!
9. What book do you wish you had
written?
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. It’s so
beautifully written – I loved it.
10.
Tell us 10 fun facts about yourself! :)
·
I spent
four years living in Honduras and I speak Spanish – I also learnt some Honduran
sign language
·
I took
part in a 100k walk from London to Brighton – I nearly completed it!
·
My best
friend is also named Helen
·
I have a
tattoo of the Nazca lines hummingbird on my wrist
·
I can
touch my nose with my tongue – that’s my only party trick
·
I once
did a four hour sponsored bounce on a trampoline
·
I play jazz flute but I only started learning
the flute when I was 28
·
When I
was in primary school we did Charlie and the Chocolate factory as a school
play, but they changed the title role to Charlotte so I could play the lead.
·
My son
is named Donovan – after Donovan the 60s singer
·
I’ve
only gambled once – in Las Vegas – and I won!
Author Bio –
Helen has spent over thirteen years working and volunteering for charities in the UK and abroad, including four years in Honduras. She currently works as a charity communications manager and lives in Bedfordshire with her husband and son.
Social Media Links – Twitter – HelenCBuckley/ Insta – helencatherinebuckley / website: buckleybooks.org
Giveaway to Win a signed copy of Star in the Shadows, a beautiful dreams and goal planning journal, a star print scarf, and three yummy chocolate bars from Creighton's Chocolaterie. (UK Only)
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