An Adrenaline Crush Book Birthday Interview with Laurie Boyle Crompton

Today I am interviewing Laurie Boyle Crompton on the book birthday of her latest novel, Adrenaline Crush. Just look at this cover! 

What attracted you to writing a story about a risk taker?

Everyone can relate to that point in our teens when we start to experience new very-adult-like freedoms and I think we all sort of fall in love with that feeling. At least I know I did. That freedom can sometimes take on a wild impulse of it's own, whether it be driving too fast or, in my main character's case, taking physical risks while mountain climbing and biking. I wanted to write a story about a character who is forced to explore that tension between wanting to feel completely free and having the need to keep herself safe.

Your main character comes from a family of risk takers. Was this modeled after your family? If not, how did you come up with the idea?

My family isn't really known for risk-taking, they just sort of moved around a lot - ha! But my husband drove a Harley when we were first dating and we rode that thing everywhere. It was awesome! And I enjoyed creating this family that is a bit unconventional and rough around the edges yet genuinely loving and supportive in their own way. 

Your main character goes rock climbing and mountain biking along with other things. Have you tried all of these sports or do you have to find ways to research them?

I love mountain biking and did try rock climbing out for research. I always thought I lacked the upper-strength, but it turns out having strong legs can be even more important, and I've certainly got those! Dyna's brother does a lot of skydiving in the book and I considered jumping out of a plane, but quickly decided interviewing a few people and observing from the ground worked just fine. Thank goodness we don't need to personally experience everything in order to write about it truthfully. I'm especially glad I never had to go through an injury like Dyna's!

Do you have any favorite sporty girl read?

I just love Miranda Kenneally's books and am really looking forward to her latest, BREATHE, ANNIE, BREATHE.

What advice would you give to risk takers like your main character?

I don't know how qualified I am to give advice, but I would say it's important to be true to yourself. Pursue your passions and dreams to your fullest. But I'm also a mom so I'd probably add, "remember to take safety precautions!"

Thanks so much for the interview! For more about Laurie, visit her blog.

The Booklist Kerfuffle and Welcome!

Over the last 24 hours we've seen fabulous growth in views of Sporty Girl Books blog thanks to ALA Booklist's recent article Top 10 Sports Books for Youth. The list of "the year’s best sports books [sic] drawn from books reviewed in Booklist from September 15, 2013, to August 2014" didn't include a single female athlete. A quick and certain backlash from librarians, teachers, and readers throughout the blogosphere led Booklist to quickly create a new list Let's Hear It for the Girls. We've been making lists of great books about female athletes for over a year and we're so glad you've found us. Welcome!

We hope you'll explore our archives which include our own lists of great picture books, books for middle grade readers, teens, and books leveled for teachers. We have interviews with current and aspiring authors, as well as interviews with athletes. We are your source for female athletes in the news and even have tips for young athletes. At SPORTY GIRL, we want to give all girls the chance to love, watch, play, read, and write about any sport that interests them. We look forward to the day when the words, "You play like a girl," is the biggest compliment anyone can receive.

We'd love to hear from you. Please contact us if you:

• have a new Sporty Girl Book coming out in the next year and would like us to review it. (We give first priority to SCBWI PAL published books.)
• are a young female athlete who would like to be featured as an athlete of the month.
• coach young women and have some insight on training you'd like to share.
• are in the children's publishing industry (agent, editor, art director, etc.) and would like to do an interview or contribute a guest post.
• just want to say, "hello!" 

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