Just Another Girl and her Books: #IABBAddict: 180 Days by T.E. Ridener

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Author: T. E. Ridener

Title: 180 Days

Pages: 268

Genre: Transgender Contemporary Romance

Date published: September 30, 2015

Synopsis:
Lydia McIntosh left her old life behind when she said goodbye to Prairie Town, North Carolina and started over halfway across the country with her beloved Gran; away from her family, away from everyone who knew the person she once was, and from the identity she never quite wanted in the first place. When her grandmother passes away, she returns home and while she only intends to stay for the funeral, her grandmother has other plans, from the grave. Her will states that Lydia must remain in Prairie Town for six months in order to give her family and her old town a chance to get to know the new her, the real her.

Lydia has had years to adjust to long hair, summer dresses, and nail polish, but she understands her family will need time to get reacquainted with a daughter they’ve never known and a sister they’ve missed terribly. Anticipating the worst, as she always has, Lydia’s feelings about her old town begin to change when she meets her brother’s best friend, Callum. Callum is kind and more accepting than she could have ever imagined and she’s falling for him.

When her 180 days are over, will she be able to say goodbye to the family she’s missed so much? Will she survive her mother’s endless intolerance? Can she really leave the man who acknowledges her past and still wants her?

AMAZON // GOODREADS

EXCERPT

Her laughter died down as she stared at him. “I want to, you know—to trust you. I really do.” “Then take a chance.” He whispered, gripping her chin lightly and tilting her head back. Inching forward, he waited for a sign, to continue, to back off. “I wish I could.” Moisture glistened in her eyes. “But it isn’t that easy and you know it. I fought really hard to get to this point in my life, Callum.” God, hearing his name fall from her lips was nothing short of heavenly. “You don’t have to fight alone anymore, Lydia. When I said I liked you, I meant it. I mean it. You’ve been so brave and courageous this whole time. What’s keeping you from taking another risk?” She sucked in a breath and released it in a shaky sigh. The distance between them was minimal and all it would take was one small movement to bring their lips together. His heart was thundering in his ears as he cradled her face between both hands and lowered his mouth to brush lightly against hers. She gasped, but didn’t pull away. However, feeling her lips tremble against his, Callum did. “You’ve never been kissed before, have you?” He asked, his voice husky from desire. He’d be lying if he said his jeans weren’t extremely tight at the moment. Lydia was gorgeous and his body had taken a quick liking to hers, but his parents had raised him to be a gentleman. “No,” she whispered. “Is that bad?” “No.” He replied, grinning. “It’s not bad, Lydia. I just want your first kiss to be one you’ll never forget.” She smiled the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen and her cheeks warmed beneath his touch. “I don’t really imagine it getting any better than that.” “You can’t be serious.” He blinked. “You think that was a real kiss?” “Well, no, but…” She lowered her head and her hair fell down, covering her face from his view. “I don’t really believe that Hollywood’s depictions of romance are accurate.” “Hollywood?” He laughed. Loud. “Sugar, this is the south. We don’t pull none of that Hollywood stuff around here.” Lifting her head until their gazes met, Callum leaned in and laid one on her she wouldn’t soon forget. Their lips molded together and if it was sloppy, he didn’t notice. The only thing he could focus on was how sweet and perfect her mouth felt against his. Absolute perfection.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

T.E. Ridener resides in the small community of Gray, Kentucky with her equally eccentric yet amazingly interesting family. Miss Ridener has written a handful of novels as well as various short stories during her career as a writer. When she is not writing, she enjoys listening to nearly every genre of music, watching movies, and spending time with her niece and nephew. Her greatest accomplishment to date has been The Blood Betrayal Series, with characters she dreamed up while she was still a teenager. She believes that the Blood Betrayal Series will go far one day, despite the overrating of vampires in the past few years. According to her, vampires will never go out of style even if their fashion choices do!

GIVEAWAY

Tell me if you've ever wanted to read a novel featuring a transgender character and why. I may just choose you to...
Posted by T. E. Ridener-Author on Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Interview

What inspired you to become an author?

Honestly? Reading. I read quite a lot as a child (to the point my father grounded me from reading at the dinner table. Worst. Punishment. Ever.) I had lots of stories swirling around in my mind and I began dabbling with short stories in my notebook when I was about 7. I’ve got stacks of them now, somewhere, haha. When I read up on Amazon’s KDP program back in 2011, I seized the opportunity. Nothing has ever made me happier. I love sharing my worlds and characters with people. It’s the best feeling.

I assume all authors also love to read, so what book inspired your love of reading?

Bunnicula! It’s the first book I remember really loving and from there I moved on to R.L. Stine. I loved both his Fear Street and Goosebumps Series. After that I began devouring Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Dean Koontz novels. Oh, and I also read a lof of the romance novels my grandma would pick up from yard sales. They were totally inappropriate for a girl my age, but I couldn’t get enough. I read every book I could get my hands on.

How old were you when you wrote your first story?

7-ish. I couldn’t tell you what it was about though. I do remember writing some Backstreet Boys and Hanson fanfiction when I was a little older. It’s totally laughable now.

Who are some of your favorite authors now?

Some of my favorite authors now include Josie Wright, Jaclyn Osborne, Colleen Hoover, Nancy Straight, Katie Kenyhercz, Nicki Charles, Marie Hall, and loads more.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

100% representing my pantser folks. I don’t know how else to operate.

Are your characters based on people you know?

Some of them definitely are, but the majority are conjured up in my mind. A lot of my characters just have chunks of my soul in them, and anyone who knows me can easily identify them. Well, most of those chunks are easily identifiable. In my next release I’ve bared more of my soul than I’m comfortable with, but I feel it’s necessary.

What are some of your writing rituals?

Coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. I usually try to start writing in the morning after the kids are off to school because they are a huge distraction in the evening time. But there are rare all-nighters in which I have…you guessed it, more coffee!

How do other books influence your writing?

They most certainly help. Sometimes if I’m struggling with a fight scene or a love scene I’ll pick up the nearest book to see how the author did it. It really does unclog my brain and help things move along. I’d like to think it’s made me a better writer.

How do you get motivated to sit down and write with all the real world interruptions?

Sometimes it’s hard, I’m not going to lie. There are days and even weeks when I don’t want to open anything. But I’m one of those weird people who gets really grumpy when I can’t write when I want to. I mean…I get moody as heck about it. Writing is like an addiction for me and I have to have a fix. The best motivation, for me, is knowing my fans are dying to know what’s going to happen next. That keeps me going.

Which one of your books is your favorite?

One of my all time favorite books that I’ve written is definitely Kadenburg Revealed, book 4 in the Kadenburg Shifters Series. There’s just so much happening in it and so many truths are told. I love when the pieces finally fit together and that book gave me a lot of satisfaction. If I could have high-fived my brain, I would have. (Sounds a little painful though, now that I think about it…)

If you could have a writing retreat anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be and why?

Ireland. I love Ireland. I have wanted to visit since I was a little girl. I probably wouldn’t get much achieved during the first few days there, but I’d eventually cozy up with a cup of coffee and get back to business. Maybe. I mean, come on. IRELAND.

If your main character were an alcoholic beverage, which beverage would they be and why?

If we’re talking about Lydia from 180 DAYS, I’d say she’s tequila. You don’t quite feel the effects until you’re standing up and it’s too late. I think that’s how she snags Callum.

If you could live in a fictional world, which world would you choose and why?

Kadenburg, hands down. I would LOVE to live in Kadenburg. It’s a nice little Tennessee Town with lots of friendly folks. Everybody knows your name there, you know? There isn’t enough of that today. Plus, hot bear-shifters. Yes, please!

What’s the best way to hide a body?

Fried Green Tomatoes had the right idea. The secret’s in the sauce!

This or That

Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi

Paperback or e-reader? Paperback

Facebook or Twitter? Facebook

Peeta or Gale? Gale

Edward or Jacob? Jacob

Money or love? Love

Tattoos or bare? Tattoos

Hairy or smooth? A little furriness, please!

Call or text? Call