This past week I had the opportunity to read an ARC of Gutter Girl by Kelly Anne Blount and Lynn Rush and it did not disappoint! I was introduced to these lovely authors earlier this year when I read In The Penalty Box and I instantly fell in love with their writing styles. They are a fantastic duo and the characters they create feel incredibly real. I asked each of them to share what it’s like to write with a partner like this for a book and below you’ll get to read their responses in their own words!
Jacquie! Thank you so much for having us today! You and your blog are
amazing! We are so excited to be here, celebrating the release of GUTTER GIRL!
We’re also looking forward to our IG live with you on Thursday, June 3 rd at 8PM
(ET)!
From Kelly Anne: What is it like working with a co-author? AH-MAZING! Seriously,
though, co-writing has been a great experience! I love working with Lynn. We definitely
have a really weird connection, as in, we often say and think the same thing at the same
time! Ha ha! It’s like we’re long lost identical twins. But, seriously, co-writing is great. It’s
so much fun to have someone who literally knows as much about a project as you do.
Brainstorming together, editing each other’s chapters, it is all really helpful in the writing
process and it’s something that doesn’t automatically happen when you write a novel
solo. We also balance each other out well in many ways. If I’m struggling with
something, chances are, Lynn is able to help talk or text me through it and vice versa.
Also, I’m a word hoarder. As in, I hate cutting scenes and big chunks of text. Lynn is a
word slasher. As in, she’s amazing at getting out the red pen and getting rid of text that
doesn’t move our plot forward. Our strengths definitely compliment and balance out one
another’s writing, editing, marketing, etc. style. Co-writing isn’t for everyone, but for me,
there’s no one else I’d rather write with then Lynn Rush! 🙂
From Lynn:
It’s been a fun experience. And ever-changing as we face different obstacles that come
up. We’ve had some not so fun things happen with deadlines and life, throwing some
tension on the situation, which isn’t uncommon in the writing world. But the key is
communication, communication, communication, and there isn’t anything we can’t work
through. I love having someone to chat with each and every day who gets me and my
demented writer mind. LOL I swear we share a brain sometimes, and it makes me
smile. I love laughing out loud with Kelly Anne. She’s a talented author and I’m so glad
to be on this journey with her!
These amazing authors have two more books coming out in this series that are on my Kindle as I type this and I will soon have reviews up for as well! Before I get to those though, I would love to go through Gutter Girl and my thoughts on this lovely book.
Here is a quick summary for you of Gutter Girl before I jump into my own thoughts on the book:
Star football player Jace Rovers has a secret. And not just any secret—a shocking secret… He writes romance. The kind with swords. And dresses. And kissing.
Nobody knows. Not the other kids at Twin River High. Not his overbearing parents. And certainly not the millions of fans who’ve read his book on the writing platform Scribbles. And that’s the way he plans to keep it.
Except suddenly one of the other football players grabs his notebook in jest and starts reading a kissing scene out loud…and Jace knows he’s busted.
But then McKenna Storm, resident goth girl who avoids the spotlight like a virus, snatches up the notebook and tells everyone she’s the author. And lucky for Jace, she later agrees to continue the ruse…for a price.
Heck, he’d give her anything not to reveal his secret. But when they start to fall for each other, he knows he’ll have to keep the biggest secret of all—his darkest character is based on her…
Okay, this book was adorable and heartfelt and funny in all the best ways. Jace and McKenna felt so real to me which is something I really appreciated in their book In The Penalty Box as well. That’s the first thing I want to touch on, the fact that Lynn and Kelly Anne do not shy away from real problems that teenagers might be facing. Sometimes when reading YA authors skirt those real world problems but that is something this duo takes head on and it’s something that I have really grown to appreciate in their writing!
Second thing I really loved and appreciated in this book was really just these two main characters and their very different personalities. They are so incredibly different and yet they fit so well together and I was there for it completely! McKenna has such a hard exterior but loves so much and has so many amazing qualities that her relationship with Jace highlights. On the opposite end of the spectrum, McKenna does the same for Jace. She helps bring out this absolutely amazing, loving and caring guy through the pages of this book and I loved it so much! Not to say either of them wouldn’t be what they are without the other, but the authors do such an amazing job of showing what these two mean to each other and what they do for each other and it’s beautiful.
Finally, the fantasy romance novel part of this book was TO DIE FOR. Seriously one of my favorite parts of this book is the fact that Jace is a secret fantasy romance author. These incredible authors thought up this unique and fun idea and brought it to life in these pages and I am 100% there for it. I loved seeing Jace as a ‘jock’ come to life through his writing. It did hurt my heart to see him hiding this passion because he was scared of the acceptance of others or living up to his parents expectations. I loved seeing he get to that point of accepting himself though! It was beautiful and made me want to go out and write a book!
There are so many other things I could go into more detail on and I WILL go into more detail on during out live on my instagram (@alifetimeofpages) on June 3rd, so stay tuned for that! If you are interested in checking out Gutter Girl for yourself here is the release and buy information:
- Universal Buy Link: http://bit.ly/ReadGutterGirl
- Release Day: May 10, 2021
Also, If you want to check out these amazing authors, here are their bios as well as their links:
KELLY ANNE BLOUNT is a USA Today bestselling author of young adult novels. She loves to alternate writing sweet romances, gritty thrillers, and fantasy books. She’s a firm believer in balancing light with dark.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably lost in a book, watching Coronation Street, or having an adventure with her sweet family, which includes her handsome husband, their darling daughter, and their five furry loving rescues.
After living in a palace in Scotland, across from the Caribbean Sea, and in the snowy land of Wisconsin, Kelly and her family reside in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. She draws inspiration from the places she’s lived while world building in her books.
Kelly loves connecting with readers on social media! Stop by and say, “Hi!” or ask a question. You can find her everywhere @KellyAnneBlount.
Kelly Anne’s Links:
Website: https://www.kellyanneblount.com
Blog: https://www.kellyanneblount.com/blog
Twitter: www.twitter.com/kellyanneblount
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kellyanneblount
Street Team/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3356981867699541
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kellyanneblount
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6692732.Kelly_Anne_Blount
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/KellyAnneBlountNewsletter
Wattpad: www.wattpad.com/kellyanneblount
*TikTok: @KellyAnneBlount
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author, LYNN RUSH, is a full-time writer, wife, and trail runner, living in the Sonoran Desert, despite her fear of rattlesnakes. Known as #TheRunningWriter, she can’t resist posting epic sunrise pictures while running in the desert with her trail sisters, even if she has to occasionally hop over a scorpion. When she’s not running, writing, or reading, she and her Ironman husband are watching movies that fuel her undying love of superheroes, vampires, and all things Supernatural. Find her on social media: @LynnRushWrites
Lynn’s Links
Website: www.LynnRush.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LynnRushWrites
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LynnRushWrites
Street Team/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LynnsLegion
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnrushwrites/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lynnrushwrites/
Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/lynnrushwrites
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4992618.Lynn_Rush
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/LRNewsletterBookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lynn-rush
Joyfully Jacquie 
Thank you so much for all your support!!!
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