Blog Tour: When Everything Is Blue by Laura Lascarso (Guest Post + Giveaway)

Blurb

Sometimes the people we need most aren’t bonded by blood but by something deeper.

When they were kids, golden boy Chris Mitcham rescued dweeby Theo Wooten from the neighborhood bullies and taught him how to “be cool.” Now, years later, Theo’s developed feelings for his best friend that “arise” at the most inopportune times. Theo hates lying to Chris, but in coming out, he might lose the one person who understands him best, a risk he’s not willing to take.

When a relationship with another young man goes south, Theo is forced to confront his own sexuality along with his growing attraction to Chris and the stunted, tenuous relationship Theo has with his father. Will Chris abandon Theo when he learns the truth, or will he stand by him in this tumultuous season of self-discovery? In this quirky coming-of-age romance, Theo’s path to manhood is fraught with several awkward firsts, a few haters, but also the tender comfort of an unexpected lover.

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Post about actors to play Chris and Theo

Before drafting When Everything Is Blue, I actually came across a picture of model Laurence Coke with a backdrop of what looked to me like Florida palm trees and thought, I want to write that character. At the time I didn't know Laurence's ethnic background or his name or that he was a model, but to me, he represented the character of Theo who was Puerto Rican, from South Florida and a skateboarder. And he was in love with his best friend.

If you want to see my curated collection of Laurence Coke photos, you can at my Pinterest page for When Everything Is Blue: https://www.pinterest.com/lauralascarso/when-everything-is-blue/ I assure you, you will not regret it.

It was funny to me, that after drafting WEIB, I went onto Pinterest to find pictures of the characters and lo and behold, the first model that struck me as being Theo was yet another picture of Laurence Coke. Because he is so striking and unique (and beautiful), my cover designer AngstyG had a really hard time finding a stock photo, and because I had such a concrete vision of Theo, I was unable to go with any of her covers where the face of Theo was featured prominently, because in my mind that was simply not what he looked like. Who knew I could be so stubborn?

Similarly to Theo, the image of Chris struck me almost immediately as well--Australian professional surfer Julian Wilson, who has that sun-kissed, boy-next-door charm and infectious smile. (He also looks a lot like a high school crush of mine whom the character of Chris is modeled after ;)

I created this aesthetic to give you a feel for the mood and tone of When Everything Is Blue. After writing The Bravest Thing, which deals with a lot of tough topics, I wanted to write a story that was more playful and uplifting. A story where the intimacy and bonds of friendship were portrayed fully and for Theo, a kind of Odyssey of self-discovery with a wide range of characters to act as guides along with way. My hope is that When Everything Is Blue feels like a comforting hug to the reader.

You can read the fist chapter here on Dreamspinner's website. If you like it, I encourage you to read more!

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Author bio

Laura Lascarso wants you to stay up way past your bedtime reading her stories. She aims to inspire more questions than answers in her fiction and believes in the power of storytelling to heal and transform a society. When not writing, Laura can be found screaming “finish” on the soccer fields, rewatching Veronica Mars, and trying to convince politicians that climate change is real. She lives in North Florida with her darling husband and two kids. She loves hearing from readers, and she’d be delighted to hear from you.

Website: lauralascarso.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lascarso

Twitter: @lauralascarso

Author of
The Bravest Thing (Dreamspinner Press 2017)
Andre in Flight (Dreamspinner Press 2016)
Racing Hearts (Leap Books 2015)

Counting Backwards (Atheneum 2012)
Follow me @lauralascarso