Blogtour | Interview& Giveaway: It's a Wonderful Death by Sarah J. Schmitt

Publisher: Sky Pony Press

Release Date: October 6th, 2015

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural, Teen

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old RJ always gets what she wants. So when her soul is accidentally collected by a distracted Grim Reaper, somebody in the afterlife better figure out a way to send her back from the dead or heads will roll. But in her quest for mortality, she becomes a pawn in a power struggle between an overzealous archangel and Death Himself. The tribunal presents her with two options: she can remain in the lobby, where souls wait to be processed, until her original lifeline expires, or she can replay three moments in her life in an effort to make choices that will result in a future deemed worthy of being saved. It sounds like a no-brainer. She’ll take a walk down memory lane. How hard can changing her future be?

But with each changing moment, RJ’s life begins to unravel, until this self-proclaimed queen bee is a social pariah. She begins to wonder if walking among the living is worth it if she has to spend the next sixty years as an outcast. Too quickly, RJ finds herself back in limbo, her time on Earth once again up for debate.

RJ is a snarky, unapologetic, almost unredeemable, very real girl. Her story is funny and moving, and teens will easily connect with her plight. Prepare to meet the Grim Reaper, who’s cuter than you’d expect; Hawaiian shirt–wearing Death Himself; Saint Peter (who likes to play Cornhole); and Al, the handler for the three-headed hound that guards the gates of Hell. This cast of characters accompanies RJ through her time in the afterlife and will do their best to gently shove her in the right direction.

1.     What was your first thought when you met Grim Reaper?   

      You mean Gideon the Gorgeous? That he was hot in a cool, chill way. He had that chiseled cheek thing going on with some seriously black eyes that were like a moonless night. But when I realized I was about to die, it didn’t take long for me to get over that. Pretty sure my second thought was something along the lines of “Oh crap!” Although that’s the censored version. Death sucks but seeing it coming is even worse. Even if it is at the fingertips of a hottie.

2.     Name three things that you find interesting about the afterlife. 

      They have coffee, they don’t have temperature and the whole white fluffy cloud thing is a total myth. 

3.     What are the things that you miss from the living world? 

     You mean other than being alive? Hmmmm. That’s hard to explain. I think I missed normal. Like the things you take fore-granted. The smell of fresh cut grass or the way the sun feels on your skin. The silence that comes with the first major snowfall. The five sense are completely under-utilized in the Afterlife. 

4.     Tell me about the day before the Grim Reaper accidentally collected your soul. (What were you doing, how were you feeling, etc.) 

     It was the day before the Halloween party at school. Now normally I wouldn’t go to a Friday night school event that didn’t involve cheerleaders or a crown, but this year the school had gone all out, hiring a company to come in and plan this over the top homecoming event. We’re talking fire breathers, an out of this world haunted maze with chain saws and of course the stupid fortune teller who is ultimately to blame for my “accident”. So Thursday was spent getting the finishing touches for my killer costume. My boyfriend at the time was way into Marvel so I was going as the Black Widow. I still needed to find the perfect utility belt. Felicity, my best frenemy, was going as Wonder Woman and still didn’t have her lasso. I should have known what a back stabber she was. Marvel and DC just don’t mix. Anyways, we’d gotten out of school early because this girl that went to our school had died the day before and I think the administration decided no one was learning and we would be better off at home. So shopping and mocha’s it was. 

5.     What was the first thing people noticed about you? 

     Tough question. I think it’s between my hair my eyes. My hair if they see me from the back and my eyes if I’m looking at you. I have a wicked glare. 

6.     Do you have any secrets? Oh yeah. A lot of them. If you want to find them out, you’ll have to read It’s A Wonderful Death. This Sarah J. Schmitt chick spilled all the beans. Which she better hope she lives to regret.

Follow the It's A Wonderful Death by Sarah J. Schmitt Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

Sarah J. Schmitt is a K-8 school librarian and Youth Service Professional for Teens at a public library who, in addition to planning a variety of events, enjoys opening up the world of books to reluctant readers. She runs a teen writing program that combines Skype visits from well-known authors and screenwriters and critique group style feedback.

Prior to immersing herself in the world of the written word, Sarah earned her Masters of Science in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs from Indiana University where she worked with first year college students as they acclimated to college life. Sarah lives outside of Indianapolis with her husband, two kidlets and a cat who might actually be a secret agent. She is an active member of SCBWI, ALA and the Indiana Library Federation and is a regular participant at the Midwest Writer's Workshop. Her debut novel, IT'S A WONDERFUL DEATH, comes out Fall 2015 from Sky Pony Press.

One winner will win:

-A signed copy of The Heir by Kiera Cass or a signed copy of HOOK'S REVENGE by Heidi Shultz

-A Handmade bracelet in RJ's favorite color: purple

-A IT'S A WONDERFUL DEATH swag pack

-A Funko Pop! Pocket Keychain (Game of Thrones Daenerys Targaryen)

a Rafflecopter giveaway