To the average onlooker, the city of Los Angeles represents glitz, glamour, and the celebrity lifestyle. But to seventeen-year-old Julie Jones, the city is a vast host of problems she’s longing to get away from. The latest? An unfortunate disagreement with her ex-boyfriend Mark—one that could land her in some serious hot water.
So rather than face the troubles that torment her, Julie decides to run away from her old life and start fresh somewhere new. But her parents aren’t on board with the plan, and she soon finds her bank accounts frozen and her wallet empty.
With just seventy-five dollars and a full tank of gas, the troubled teen is far too stubborn to turn around and head home. So what’s a girl to do?
What Julie doesn’t know is that her travels are about to take her somewhere unexpected—a place where she’ll be forced to come face to face with the ghosts of her past in order to secure her future.
A tale of redemption, hope, and freedom lost and found, 32 Seconds is a thought-provoking exploration into the human spirit and the nature of forgiveness.
Available on Amazon
About the Author
Johanna K. Pitcairn has dreamed of becoming a writer since childhood--authoring her first novel at the age of nine, and countless poems, stories, and screenplays by the age of seventeen. Later, rather than pursuing a career as a director and screenwriter, she decided to go to law school, driven by her father's opinion that "writing does not pay the bills."
Ten years later, she moved to New York City, which inspired her to go back to the excitement, wonder, and constant change of being a writer. Pitcairn is a huge fan of psychological-thriller novels and movies, and delves into her hopes, fears, friends, enemies, and everything in between in her own writing.
Contact the Author:
Book title: 32 Seconds
Excerpt:
A sudden shower pelted my windshield, reducing the visibility to
almost nothing, but I maintained my speed. The black asphalt licked the bottom
of my tires, striking every inch of the rubber, hungry to swallow me whole and
transport me to my next destination. And at this point, I could go anywhere.
Eager to get out, I didn’t even care whether I died in a car-crash. After what
had happened between Mark and me earlier today, it truly was my way or the
highway.
Planning my escape wisely hadn’t crossed my mind when I ignited
the V8 turbo engine and dashed out of the school parking lot like a hoodlum in
panic of being chased and caught by a platoon of law enforcement officials,
after an unsuccessful bank heist. Like I said, I wanted out. And whatever I
wanted, I achieved by any means necessary.
Running away brought me closer to freedom. No consequences for
my actions. No guilt. No pain.
As my foot pressed harder on the gas pedal, I listened to the
roar of the engine, which threatened to remind me of the overbearing loneliness
I continued to ignore. My hand reached for the radio and I turned the volume to
high. My head needed that noise to overwrite any internal monologues.
Relentless, like waves on the shore, my thoughts wouldn’t stop crashing inside
my brain, giving rise to a series of hot and cold sweats, while my inner self
kept screaming the same question.
Why did I always have to run?
Interview:
Interview:
Current book or
project you’re working on:
What moment or
event sparked the inspiration for your novel?
The journey of Julie Jones is my journey. I sprinkle a part of me in
every story I write, and use writing to facilitate my own catharsis, and
introspection. Writing this story made me connect with my past and present, and
helped me understand a lot of things I had heard, and seen, but hadn’t fully
processed. I won’t spoil the ending, but the title 32 Seconds is as meaningful
to me as it is to the main character.
If you could pick
any famous author to review your book who would you pick and why?
I’d pick J.K. Rowling. Just because she sold so many books, and she’s
great with world building, and YA.
Genre/Author/Reader:
What genre and
age group does your book fall into? 15+
Which three
authors have inspired you the most, and why?
1) Any Rand, for her philosophy (her stories
speak to me at the core)
2) Arthur Conan-Doyle for making me fall in
love with Sherlock Holmes
3) Edgar Allan Poe for his impeccable prose and
his mastery of the horror genre
The process:
How many books
have you written?
Two.
Which book is
your favourite and why?
I love them all equally. I wrote them at different times in my life.
They represent my growth as an individual and an author.
Is there anything
that helps get you in the mood to write?
No. I want to write all the time.
Name three things
that you believe are important to character development?
1) Internal struggle
2) External struggle
3) The interaction between the internal and
external struggles
Do you ever
experience writer’s block? If so what helps you to ‘overcome’?
No, I don’t anymore. I don’t write if my mind isn’t ready. If I don’t
feel inspired, I watch TV or go for a walk.
What is the most
important thing you’ve learned, either in the self-publishing or traditional
publisher, route?
Listen to your editor.
What part of the
writing process do you enjoy the most?
Brainstorming. Researching. Letting the knowledge sink in, and having
the characters lead the dance. Especially dialogs. I love to write dialogs.
How long does it
usually take for you to complete a book?
One year.
Which book to
movie conversion is your favourite?
The Shining.
Do you know the
ending of your books before you finish writing them?
Yes, always.
How do you think reading
has benefited your writing?
It inspired me. Made me think outside the box.
Do you study
science, the planets, history, or anything special to help you with your
writing?
I study everything I need to study in order to write a realistic
story.
What, who, and
when, first inspired you to write?
I started writing at nine years old. I don’t really know why. I just
did. Writing was my calling.
Personal info:
Favourite:
Drink – Iced Tea
Food – Greek
salad
Vacation –
Corsica
TV show – South
Park
Movie – Inception
Animal – Cat
Sport – Hockey
Song – Hospital
for Souls by Bring me the Horizon
Comedy – Van
Wilder
Struggle –
Growing up, getting divorced
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