READ ALL ABOUT IT: Awesome by Abigail Arrington

Hi there!

Welcome back to the site that aims to please your bookish side every day of the week....Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we are joined by a special guest as we help her celebrate the release of her latest bookish endeavor.  She's a chatty tweep with lawyerly roots (no, really...she's an author AND lawyer!) and can be counted on for not only a quick chat but her honest opinion every time.  She's also one of the very first authors I made contact with on Twitter once upon a time...so needless to say when the opportunity arose to participate in her latest promotion, I jumped at the chance to throw a party like it was 1999 (hopefully all of you reading this are either old enough to GET that joke or are musically informed enough to....^_^).  Yes, it's the one and only...Abigail Arrington! *crowd applauds madly*

Now, this is no ordinary post but rather a 3-n-1 sorta deal.  Spotlight, interview...and CONTEST!  First things first though, let's read a bit about her latest penned work....

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Awesome

by

Abigail Arrington

Strippers suing for sexual harassment. A not-so-civil dispute between a playboy attorney and an ex-exotic dancer. A new client who accidently witnesses a murder. A killer's crosshairs and a Cat 4 hurricane. Attorney Riley Morgan's week is going to hell in her Louis Vuitton handbag.

For Sam Stone, however, everything is going according to plan. He's got a well-heeled client willing to pay any price to win. He's got his trifling co-counsel on the ropes, and Riley Morgan waiting in the wings to join him on the dark side of the law. All that, and a Super Tuesday? Stone couldn't ask for more.

But when a storm stirs the tides, no man, not even one as masterful as Sam Stone, can chart a sure course. The best he can hope for is to save Riley from the grave danger he's managed to put her in while still maintaining his carefully concealed identity. Faced with no small feat, Stone will need help from a few friends and perhaps an enemy as well.

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Grave danger?

Concealed identities?

Helpful enemies?

Boy....sure sounds like a wild ride.

For all of you out there that enjoy a good lawyer-ly book, the Riley Morgan series may be just what the doctor ordered.

Now, we've learned about the book...but what about the mind behind the work?  Yes, my friends...it's time to dive into part two of our three part post; the interview.  Please give a warm welcome to author Abigail Arrington!

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INTERVIEW:  Abigail Arrington

...author of Precession and Awesome

So, Abby....first things first.  You wear many hats as it is being a lawyer, shoe lover and maker of trouble (^_^)....what made you decide to put pen to paper? 

Author Abigail Arrington

 It wasn’t so much a decision as an unavoidable conclusion. I have opinions on just about everything. I’ve always written in different formats.  In college I wrote for the college newspaper and ultimately became an editor.  Writing in that style suited me quite well.  As young attorney, I cut my teeth in the field as a judicial law clerk, writing numerous opinions for federal judges every week for about two years.  Following that, my practice was largely in federal court, where most everything is done by written motion.  Needless to say, I had quite a lot of technical and legal writing under my belt after a few years of that, but I’d never really done creative writing (although some who’ve read my pleadings might say otherwise).  Several years before I actually put pen to paper for my first book, PRECESSION, I had the story outlined in my head and even went over pieces of it with friends from time to time, possibly hoping they would tell me it was nonsense so I could abandon the notion.  Sadly, none did.  When my schedule finally let up long enough for me to have energy to direct toward a creative pursuit, I just sat down and starting writing it – pretty much from beginning to end.  I don’t consider myself as a skilled writer by any stretch of the imagination. I’m much more about the creative elements of the story and telling it in a way readers can follow.

They always say an author writes what they know in some way or another....would that be why your novels feature lawyers as the main characters or was there something else behind their use?  

No, that is the reason.  The law is what I know, and to be honest, what I love.  I was that dorky student in law school who always had her hand up.  On the bright side of that, none of my classmates ever had to do the reading.

Your first book, PRECESSION, introduced us to Attorney Riley Morgan and your latest release, AWESOME, continues her story.  I've gotta ask, where did the titles come from?  Is there a third adventure on the horizon for this character?  

The title PRECESSION and the underlying theme from that premise woven into the story just popped into my head for no apparent reason.  The referenced concept is the precession of the equinoxes, which essentially indicates that the universe is always changing, albeit slowly.  I chose the title before I even started writing. To this day, I still don’t know why or how it came to me.  AWESOME came from exactly where the book indicates, an attorney who used to reference herself as being just that.  I do have several continuing arcs in the story, and hopefully will be able to bring them to readers.

What is your favorite part of the writing process....how about your least favorite?  

My favorite part is writing dialogue.  I love to put words in people’s mouths.   Least favorite, figuring out where the dang commas go.  I’m not a fan of the rules of punctuation.  I imagine myself to be more of the concept person.  That’s my excuse, anyway.

I know an author's work is like their baby so picking favorites is a no no but if pressed...what scene in AWESOME are you most looking forward to readers encountering?  

Hmmm, good question.  Perhaps the sex scene, because that was a real stretch for me.  Sex, to me, is something to be done, not explained.  So, naturally, I’ve not written anything like that before, maybe because I find those types of things revealing of one’s nature.  That’s also probably a remnant of my quaint southern bringing.  The parts I enjoyed researching and which flew out of me like bats out of hell when I sat down to write them were Wade’s hacking scenes.  Perhaps that was because those required a great deal of logical sequencing which is something I consider a strong-suit.

For those skimming this post (don't deny it, I see you!), describe AWESOME in ten words or less... 

Sexy, intelligent legal thriller with a cutting-edge plot.

Of the many roles in your life you play, which is your favorite and why?  

I enjoy writing but I have to say, I enjoy being an attorney more.  The pursuit of justice still drives me more than anything else.

If you weren't an author, what would have been your creative outlet?  

I’ve had a number of creative outlets over the years.  I started with music at the age of 8, and learned to play three instruments – one of them well.  I still enjoy playing that one (my flute).  I also design jewelry and have a small jewelry business that is still modestly active for friends and private customers. Most recently, while also working and writing AWESOME, I’ve been designing a new house, with the aid of an architect/designer, of course.  That has been a blast.  I love the tangible aspect of it.  Can’t wait to see how it turns out.

Quid pro quo...

Favorite color... Anything resembling purple.

Favorite song...   Too many to mention. 

As a child you could be found...  Reading a book, practicing my music, or on the playground playing ball with the boys.

Favorite book...  Too many to mention.  I love thrillers. Anything with a fast plot, smart dialogue and unexpected plot-twists.  Not so much into romance or gut-wrenching tales of heartbreak – nothing wrong with them, of course, just not my thing.  I love, love, love satire, though.  You could probably guess that since you follow my Twitter feed.

An author you look up to and why...  Grisham, obviously. He’s essentially the father of the legal thriller.  I also enjoy Michael Connelly’s work (for the reasons noted in answer above).  And really, again, too many others to mention.

Any parting words for your fans?  

Just that I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read my work.  I believe time is the most valuable thing we’ll ever possess.  For folks to spend a little of theirs reading about the world as I imagine it is pretty amazing.

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Okay, so definitely a book for adult readers (sex scene, got it), LOL on the comma issue (I blame...I mean thank...my 7th grade English teacher for the grammar dictator in me, though I still get it wrong sometimes!), Grisham comes as no surprise (^_^) and KUDOS on the humbleness you still maintain regarding your writing ability.

So, whatcha think readers?

Perhaps the next book (or books) on your wish list?  Well, wishing is great, but having them granted is EVEN BETTER!  Thanks to the generosity of Ms. Arrington, I've got the chance to bring this party directly to your doorstep!  That's right.  You've made it to part three of the post and your dedication to celebrating all things BOOKS has granted you access to today's CONTEST!  Ready to read all about it?  Here's the scoop!

FIRST PRIZE:

(1) Signed paperback book

(1) AWESOME imprinted mug

(1) $25 gift card to either Amazon or B&N

SECOND PRIZE:  

(1) Signed paperback

THIRD PRIZE:  

eBook versions of both Awesome AND Precession

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How to enter....

...tweet the author (@AbbyArrington) something from this post whether it be a follow-up question, comment on the book, etc...and include the hashtag #AWESOME.

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THE RULES:

Open to residents of US and Canada; no P.O. Boxes please.  No cost to enter; void where prohibited by law.  Entries will be accepted NOW through midnight CST 10/30/12.  Winners will be chosen at random based on originality by the author herself and contacted within 3-5 BUSINESS DAYS via Twitter.

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Special thanks to author Abigail Arrington for the chance to participate in this celebration and best wishes on this latest installment in the Riley Morgan series!  You can almost always catch Ms. Arrington on Twitter...but if not or you are inclined to learn more about her and her works in another online setting, be sure to add her on Google+ or stop by her official site! 

Good luck to all that enter.

Until next time...happy reading!