19 August 2013

Blog Tour: Character Interview - Brand from, If You Leave By: Courtney Cole

Title: If You Leave (Beautifully Broken #2)
Author: Courtney Cole
Publisher: Forever, 336 Pages (August 6th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: 26-year old Gabriel Vincent is a badass hero. Or he used to be, anyway. As an ex-Army Ranger, Gabe never thought he needed anyone. But after one horrible night in Afghanistan scars him in a way that he can't get past, he needs someone who can help him heal...even if he doesn't realize it.

25-year old Madison Hill doesn't need anybody...or so she thinks. She grew up watching her parents' messed-up abusive relationship and she knows there's no way in hell that she's ever letting that happen to her.

They don't know it in the beginning, but Gabriel and Madison will soon develop a weakness: Each other.

But Gabriel's got a secret, a hidden monster that he's afraid Maddy could never overcome... And Maddy's got issues that she's afraid Gabe will never understand. They quickly realize that they need each other to be whole, but at the same time they know that they've got demons to fight.

And the problem with demons is that they never die quietly.

Character Interview - Brand:

Hey Brand, *trying not to swoon* thanks for taking the time to chat with me today.

Anytime. It’s fun to be here.

First, I know I’d love to hear how you and Gabe first met?

Ha—here I was all nervous about this interview. But that’s an easy one. We’ve known each other since we were kids—we lived in the same neighborhood.

Can you tell us something about Gabe that not many people know about?

He’s scared of the dark. Kidding. He’s not the biggest fan of spiders. He’ll try to act all badass, but spiders freak him the hell out. When we were overseas, there were some big ass spiders in the desert and we’d have to shake our boots out before we put them on. I heard him scream like a girl once when one jumped out at him.

What’s one of the stupidest things you and Gabe have done during your friendship?

I’ve lost track. We’ve done some stupid shit. I guess one of the stupidest things was when we would go pier jumping in Lake Michigan in high school. It’s a dumbass thing to do—people drown doing that shit. But teenage boys have no concept of their own mortality.

If there was something you could tell Gabe, if you could tell him anything, what words of advice would you give him?

It’s something I tell him all the time. He can’t control everything—and if he tries, the things that he can’t control will just end up controlling him instead.

Now that Gabe’s story is out there for the world to read, what are some of the things that are important to you now that might not have been in the past?

Hmm. This is a hard one. I think my legacy is important—the things that I might leave behind once I’m gone. I never thought of it before I went overseas, but now that I have, I know how fast things can change. Nothing is promised to you. Tomorrow should always be treated as a gift. I know that sounds corny, but it’s true.

Looking back is there anything you’d do differently to help Gabe with his PTSD? Or was this something you knew he wouldn’t have listened to if you tried?

I know him well enough to know that there’s nothing I could have done. It had to be something that he chose to get help for. He watched me get help—but deep down, he thought he didn’t deserve it. Thank god, his mind set has changed.

And lastly, How about you Brand, Is there any special girl out there?

Hmm. I definitely plead the fifth on this one. Can I do that? Lol.

Thanks for the time Brand; it was a pleasure visiting with you today!

Thank you for having me. It’s been fun!

About the author:

Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could. She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds. She loves chocolate and roller coasters and hates waiting and rude people.

Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.