Pushing the
Boundaries (Off Limits #1)
by Stacey Trombley
Publication Date:
January 16, 2017
Publisher: Entangled Teen Crush
Myra
goes to Haiti with one goal: take the photograph that will win a scholarship
and prove to her uber-traditional family that she has what it takes to be a
photographer instead of a doctor. Her camera has always been her shield against
getting too close to anyone, but she didn’t expect the hot teen translator who
has an ability to see past her walls.
Elias
needs his job as a translator to provide for his siblings. He can’t afford to
break the rule forbidding him from socializing with a client. Except this girl
Myra insists on going outside the city to capture the perfect picture, and he
steps in as her guide in order to keep her safe.
The
deeper they travel into the country, the harder they fall for each other. Now
they’re both taking risks that could cost each other their dreams.
If
they get too close—it could ruin both their lives.
Purchase Links:
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& Noble - iBooks
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Excerpt:
Chapter Two
Elias
The roar of the planes overhead is just
another reminder of how insignificant we are in this tiny forgotten country.
Stuck. My little brother watches through the chain-link fence, eyes wide, mouth
open as they soar over us, so close the air sends ripples through our clothing.
“Kouman rich ou panse yo ye?” he asks without
taking his eyes from the huge white plane. How rich do you think they
are? I mentally translate to English. I need all the practice I can get.
My palms sweat just thinking about it, and my first test is just minutes away.
“Who?” I ask.
He turns to me and blinks his big eyes, his
eyebrows high in question. Oh, right.
“Ki moun?” I repeat in Creole so he’ll
understand me.
My stomach sinks. I can’t even get this right
with my little brother. The whole double language thing is harder than I
expected. I need it to be easy if I’m going to be any good at my job.
“Moun nan avyon yo.” The people in the
planes!
I shake my head, but he doesn’t see. I
explain that there are hundreds of people in those planes. Some are probably
rich, and some are probably poor.
“Yo ap toujou pi rich pase nou, dwa?” he
asks.
I sigh. If they can afford a plane ticket…
“Chans.” Yes, they are likely wealthier than us.
Our world is tiny, a country that is only
half an island. To people who can afford a plane, the world is limitless.
My pocket buzzes, making me jump. I fumble
with the little plastic device and flip it open. “Hello!” I say, pressing the
phone against my face.
“Elias! Pull the van around. They just
landed.”
“Yes, Mr. Rowland.”
“Remember that line we talked about? Don’t
step over it.”
My head swims. There’s so much for me to
remember, but the most important? Don’t get too close to the Americans. Mr.
Rowland made it very clear that I’m not one of them and I shouldn’t expect
anything from them. If I make any of them uncomfortable I’ll be out of a job
faster than one of their huge planes can take off.
“Yes, sir.”
There’s a click and then silence. I put the
foreign technology back in my pocket and hope he doesn’t call again.
Luke grabs at my pocket, seeking out the
phone, his eyes alight with envy. “Ki jan ou fè jwenn yon telefòn?”
I swat his hand away. The phone is not mine.
It’s Mr. Rowland’s. “E si ou kraze li?” What if you break it?
Luke rolls his eyes but then shuffles his
feet.
He may only be eight, but he knows what this
job means for us. I’m only eighteen, with a chance for the kind of job that
will keep his belly full, permanently. Not to mention our mother and sister.
I point across the parking lot and tell him
to get to the van. It’s time to work.
Luke’s eyes get big again, and I smile. He
runs to the parking lot, fast as a bullet, jumping up and down once he reaches
the van. I unlock the door, and he climbs in, looking tiny in the massive
vehicle.
We pull up to the front of the airport to
wait for the Americans, and I try not to let myself get too worked up. The more
nervous I am, the harder this will be.
“Ou jwenn yon telefon, yon ti bis, e al
rankontre tou Ameriken yo. Pi bon travay pou lavi!” You get a phone, a
van, and get to meet all the Americans. Best job ever.
I roll my eyes and tell him to keep working
on his English and maybe he can have a job like this someday, too.
I take in a deep breath. To him, this is an
adventure.
To me, it’s dangerous.
Interview with Stacey Trombley
What inspired you to write Pushing The Boundaries?
Two things combined to inspire me to write Pushing The
Boundaries.
1) I have always wanted to write a book set in Haiti.
It’s a place I’ve loved since I first visited when I was 11 years old.
2) I wanted to write a Crush book! I went to an Entangled
conference after they bought my first book NAKED and they were just rolling out
a brand new teen imprint, one based off of their adult category romance
success. I thought it was a super cool idea! I remember driving from Canton to
Columbus to meet some writer friends for the day and plot this book out as I
drove.
When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Twenty! Writing wasn’t even on my radar until I fell in
love with Harry Potter (which for *reasons*, took me quite a while. Not until I
was married did I read the series) and I decided I wanted my own story. I wrote
and finished my first book during Nanowrimo 2009 and haven’t stopped writing
and working on my craft since (Nano 2012 is when I wrote my first published
book)
What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?
Oh, hmmmm…Sometime in elementary school I remember
reading a Goosebumps book (Deep Trouble!), and a book about a girl who was
raised by Dolphins then found and had to learn to be human. Those were the only
two books I finished reading until I was in High School. No joke. I didn’t even
read the books we read in class (rebel, I know). I was 16 when I fell in love
with reading (Lord Of The Rings!)
What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
I love all genres! I love fantasy, paranormal (though not
so into ghosts) and sci-fi and contemporary and LOVE romance (duh!) But I
definitely prefer YA and MG.
What is your favorite book?
The False Prince by Jennifer Neilson (I have many others.
It tends to change often!)
You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?
It’s hard to pick just one! Other than the obvious J.K.
Rowling? Let’s go with… Kiersten White (I admire the voice in her books!)
If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?
Ancient Egypt. I decided that on a whim, but it’s a very
cool place with lots of mysteries to unravel!
When writing a book do you find that writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task?
That… generally depends on the book. But usually it comes
down to momentum. If I stop writing for a few days it’s harder to get back into
it but once I start up again it becomes easier. I know as long as I force
myself to sit down and focus I will be just fine (and usually enjoy the
process)
Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets?
Yes! A very little 120 pound Rottweiler named Hunter.
What is your "to die for", favorite food/foods to eat?
LAMB! Possibly because I rarely get to eat is but I get
super excited when I can a good lamb chop or rack of lamb.
Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author?
Just. Keep. Swimming. Or ya, know, writing. Publishing is a tough world. The process of getting through the door can be slow and agonizing and lonely (but also exiting and beautiful and fun!). Every author’s journey is different so don’t compare yourself to those around you, just keep moving forward!
Stacey Trombley lives in Ohio with her husband and
the sweetest Rottweiler you’ll ever meet. She thinks people are fascinating and
any chance she has, she’s off doing or learning something new. She went on her
first mission trip to Haiti at age twelve and is still dying to go back. Her
“places to travel” list is almost as long as her “books to read” list.
Her debut novel Naked released from Entangled Teen
in 2015. Find her online at www.StaceyTrombley.com and on twitter @trombolii.
Giveaway Information:
Pushing the Boundaries Prize Pack including:
* Signed copy of Naked by Stacey Trombley
* Signed copy of Pushing the Boundaries by Stacey Trombley
* Haitian Art as shown in the photo
* Haitian Art as shown in the photo
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