Blog Tour interview and Giveaway: Silenced- RaeBeth McGee- Buda

Hello and welcome to the fifth stop on the Silenced Blog Tour. I am lucky enough to be doing an author interview with the  enchanting author RaeBath McGee- Buda. 

Amber Brown spent her entire existence believing Dave was her father. When her mother reveals this is untrue, she goes through an emotional spiral with depression. It's hard for her to believe her mother had lied to her all this time.

A move to a new home and town causes Amber to be consumed by her "darkness" and reverts to cutting to free herself from her pain.

When Casey, her new friend enters her life, she introduces Amber to parties, drugs, and Amber's new boyfriend Landon. The secret of cutting begins to take affect on Amber as she tries to hide it from her friends and family. In the mist of everything, Amber has the desire to find out who her biological father is.

Follow Amber through her trials of depression and cutting, along with the discovery of love.

 Excerpts :

The following excerpt is taken from Chapter 1.

I grab the razor blade I took from my dad’s garage. It’s tiny, but sharp. I turn it over in my hands, nicking my palm. The blood trickles down my wrist and I smile with grim satisfaction. Yes, this will do the job. I catch one last look in the mirror; the pain makes me want to explode. I can’t take it anymore. I press it lightly against my wrist, tracing a blue vein under my skin. The razor is cold, smooth, and comforting. I press harder, dragging it across my wrist over and over like I’m going to saw it off. Pain comes rushing out. Free at last.

The intensity is too much and I sink to the floor, leaning against the bathroom door while trying to catch my breath. I stay like this for a while, dripping blood onto the tile. Unexpectedly, the front door slams closed. I jump. I scramble for some toilet paper and press it to the wound.

“Amber?” my mother yells up the stairs, “We’re home.”

Yet I can’t move. I'm numb. I can’t even answer her back to tell her something, anything, to make sure she doesn’t come up here and see me like this.

“Do you hear me?” she yells again.

I gather up the energy to fight through the lack of feeling. “I hear you. Sorry. I’ll be down in a minute,” I reply hastily, hoping deep down inside she can’t hear my shaking voice. I hear her shoes tapping on the hardwood floors in the kitchen and I know I'm safe for a short time.

I need to get off the floor, even though the numbness is still lingers throughout my body. I search deep inside for whatever strength I have left and push myself up. My arms are shaking but they’re able to hold me for a brief moment. Standing is a bit harder. I use the bathroom counter for support as I reach for the medicine cabinet to get the first aid kit.

I find the gauze and tape on the top shelf. Then sit back down. Resting on the toilet, I gently wrap my arm where my mom won’t notice, and tape it down. After the tape, I slide the sports band on. Another job well done.

Author Interview

1). Can you explain what your book is about and what inspired you to write it?

Sure. Silenced is based around depression and the coping way of cutting. Amber Brown (the main character) finds out a series of depressing information which leads to her dependency on cutting. The story takes the reader into her mind which allows them to feel what she feels. The inspiration came from real life events and the fact that self harm is a hushed subject. Most don’t want to hear about it. I decided it was time for people to stop pushing it to the back burner and creating awareness for it. It’s my goal to help a person who is depressed see there is hope and to help a person who doesn’t understand- to understand.

2). How long did it take you to get your book written and published?

Silenced is my first novella which it took about four years to completely write, edit, and publish. I 
believe I could have had Silenced out sooner but life got in the way and needed attended to. Now that I’m fully dedicated to my writing my books will be out a lot sooner than that.

3). What is your favourite part of the book and why?

My favorite part of Silenced was writing it. I loved the journey. I laughed. I cried. But most of all I met some amazing people while writing it.

4). What was the hardest part in the book to write and why?

The hardest part in the book to write was some of the cutting scenes. I personally experienced depression and feeling like I was alone. While writing these scenes it brought those feelings back so I could write the scene with as much feeling as possible. It was a tough road.

5). Who is your favourite character from Silenced and why?

Amber Brown is my favorite character. I based her off of a few people I know and she’s all of them mixed into one. She’s the outcast in school and finds her one true friend in Casey. This was me in 
high school. It was hard to find where I fit in. Her outlook comes from a mixture of people I met and based her off of.

6). Do you have a writing routine that you follow?

Unfortunately being a full time mother and writer has its downfalls. I write when I can. Although I make sure I’m writing something everyday. I mainly write during the day hours when my daughter is in school but in the summer I do most of my writing when she’s in bed.

7).  What other authors and/ or books inspired you to become a writer?

This is a bit hard for me because this list goes on. I’ve met so many writers online through critique groups and promotional groups for Indie authors. Each one left their print on my heart which inspired me. So I must say thank you to all the indie authors out there. I don’t think I could have done this without you.

8). How do you come up with all your ideas?

My ideas come to me in an instant. I could be thinking about one thing and it can lead into another book. I have even had dreams inspire me too. So they come from every where at any given point of 
time.

9). What are you working on now, and can you give us any details?

Oh I have so many different works in progress that I’m working on. I’m writing a paranormal that has witches, wizards, and demons. I’m writing a crime book which is based off of a true event. I’m writing the second part of Silenced. The list actually goes on but the others are top secret for now.

10). What advice would you give others who are pursuing writing?

Two big things to be a writer would be to write everyday and read. The main bit of advice that I would give would be to NEVER GIVE UP. Don’t let that little voice in your head win. Believe me.. I’m still hearing it but I shove a cookie in her mouth and write.

RaeBeth McGee-Buda:

RaeBeth McGee-Buda was born in southwestern Pennsylvania in 1987, the second daughter of Rachel Yost and Arthur Curtis McGee. RaeBeth grew up loving to read and write poetry, as well as short stories. Her childhood dream was to become a teacher. Rae Beth's dream of writing was created in her eleventh grade literature class where writing became her passion.

RaeBeth married in August 2012 to her husband, Gregory Stephen Buda Jr. and resides in a small Pennsylvania town of Fairchance. RaeBeth is a full time mother of one and is expecting her second.

She graduated from American Intercontinental University with her associates in business administration. She enjoys spending her time writing and feels that connecting with readers is her main goal.

RaeBeth published Silenced under her maiden name but plans to continue writing under her married name with any other works.

Genre: Young Adult/Suspense

Release date: December 13, 2012
Email – raebeth.buda@gmail.com Website - http://raebethmcgee.weebly.com/index.html

Link to Tour on Main Site -  http://raebethmcgeeswriting.blogspot.com/

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Silenced-Series-ebook/dp/B00ANRBNDS/ref=la_B00ANXH6PG_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355486287&sr=1-1

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Please check out the rest of the Blog Tour stops.