Today I am so pleased to welcome Teodora Kostova to Joyfully Jay. Teodora has come to talk to us about her upcoming release, Ten Mile Bottom. She has also brought along an excerpt and a book giveaway. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!

Ten Mile Bottom

 

I believe every author puts a piece of themselves in anything they write. Whether it’s a sci-fi novel about new worlds, or a fantasy story about ware-sharks, or a short story about an old man living in the 1950s. We all filter the world through the prism of our own experiences, our hopes, dreams and failures. We can’t help it.

In every book I’ve written there’s at least one scene where I’ve given something that has actually happened to me to the characters. A real story hidden between all the fictional ones. But in Ten Mile Bottom, the story Finn has to tell is nearly entirely a true one. My story.

I’ve exaggerated some things, and artistically altered others in favour of a better literary experience, but in its core Finn’s story is my story in all angles that matter. Especially his relationship with his mother, his best friend and the new people he meets along the way, and even more so with his love interest, Ben.

It’s scary writing something so personal, and even scarier letting editors and beta readers meddle with it. But it’s absolutely terrifying publishing it, and letting all kinds of people into your head and your personal journey. I considered not publishing this book, I considered revising it to a point where it wasn’t my story anymore, and maybe more people would relate to it. But in the end, as scary as it might be, I decided to go ahead and let it out into the world, insecurities be damned.

The thing is, I haven’t published anything in over a year, and I barely even wrote anything during that year. Honestly, I was ready to give up fighting and never write anything ever again. For a while, that decision seemed like the right one, and I made peace with it. But as time went by, even as writing terrified me, I also craved it like chocolate during that time of the month. I just had to do it, regardless of how good or bad, or even comprehensible it was.

It made sense that I renewed my passion for writing with something so very personal, something that helped me work through my mental block, and my outlook of the world. So, before I’ve changed my mind again, here’s the official announcement: come hell or high water, Ten Mile Bottom will be released on 22nd March on Amazon, and KU. Hope you guys enjoy Finn’s story!

For a chance to win any ebook from my backlist, comment below and give Joyfully Jay some love! I adore this blog <3


Excerpt

We brought the food to the table and sat down to eat, Ben streaming quiet music on his phone. It took me a few minutes to fully relax again, though. There was something in Ben’s presence that calmed the voices in my head and made everything around me quiet. I couldn’t resist the pull of that serene silence even if I wanted to.

“You know what will feel so good right now?” Ben asked, after we finished out meal and tidied up the kitchen together. I had a dozen answers to that question that involved both of us naked and sweaty, but I knew it wasn’t what Ben was implying. “Ice-cream,” he said when I shook my head.

He pulled out four tubs of different flavoured ice-cream from the freezer, as well as strawberry sauce, marshmallows, chocolate buttons and biscuits, and displayed them on the counter with flourish. Grabbing two bowls from the overhead cupboard, and a couple of spoons, he announced with a boyish grin,

“Dig in.”

God, but I wanted him.

“Um, okay?” I said, holding awkwardly the spoon and bowl he’d handed me.

Ben started scooping ice-cream in his bowl, then pouring sauce over it with childish glee. I followed his example which made me feel like a kid again, but I refused to give in to the urge to look over my shoulder, fearing my mother would scold me for the mess or for eating too much sugar that late in the evening. Instead, I inched closer to Ben, letting my guard down, just for a little while. He didn’t move away, but met my eyes and winked, licking his spoon clean before sticking it in the huge pile of the ice-cream concoction he’d made.

“You need more marshmallows,” he told me, scooping some from the bag and dumping them in my bowl.

“I’d really like to leave here tonight diabetes-free, if you don’t mind,” I said, but didn’t pick the marshmallows off my ice-cream.

Ban laughed, then started putting everything away before the ice-cream had melted. He gestured for me to follow him as he headed out of the kitchen and into the living room. Much like the kitchen, Ben’s living room was small, but cosy. Pastel colours dominated the decor, with a few intense accents like the dark red rug in front of the sofa, and the navy curtains. Pictures of his family hung on the walls, as well as a few beautiful abstract paintings. One in particular caught my eye and I walked closer to take a better look. The striking black lines on a silver background didn’t resemble anything I could put a name on, but they made me feel melancholic for some reason.

Ben’d walked over to me, standing right behind me. I could feel his body heat through my thin t-shirt, his scent surrounding me, not letting me forget how attracted I was to him.

“Josh made that,” Ben said, his breath brushing the skin on my neck.


Blurb

Ten Mile BottomHitting rock bottom is just the beginning…

I’m a son, a brother, a friend.

A writer.

An addict.

Dead.

Cardiac arrest isn’t enough to keep me dead, though. The doctors brought me back, but for what?

At twenty four I’ve already achieved what most people do in a life time. I’m a successful author, own a flat in the heart of London and drive my dream sports car.

Or at least that’s what people see.

Once the spotlight fades, I’m left alone with my overactive mind, alcohol and drugs the only way to quiet down the noise.

Until an overdose nearly kills me and drags everyone I love down with me.

With the help of my best friend, I leave London and its toxic influence behind, moving to a small town in the outskirts of Cambridge to try and put my life back together again.

If only it were that easy.


Bio

Hi, my name is Teodora and I live in London with my husband and my son. I’ve been writing ever since I can remember, but it became my full time job a few years ago when I decided that everything else I’ve tried bores me to death and I have to do what I’ve always wanted to do, but never had the guts to fully embrace. I’ve been a journalist, an editor, a personal assistant and an interior designer among other things, but as soon as the novelty of the new, exciting job wears off, I always go back to writing. Being twitchy, impatient, loud and hasty are not qualities that help a writer, because I have to sit alone, preferably still, and write for most of the day, but I absolutely love it. It’s the only time that I’m truly at peace and the only thing I can do for more than ten minutes at a time – my son has a bigger attention span than me.

When I’m procrastinating, I like to go to the gym, cook Italian meals (and eat them), read, listen to rock music, watch indie movies and True Blood re-runs. Or, in the worst case scenario, get beaten at every Nintendo Wii game by a very inventive kid.


Giveaway

Teodora has brought a winner’s choice of backlist book to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Friday, March 9th at 11:59 pm ET.

  • By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win.  The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
  • If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
  • Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
  • Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
  • All book prizes are in electronic format unless otherwise specified.
  • By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
  • Readers may only enter once for each contest.  Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
  • Void where prohibited by law.