Author Kirsten Hubbard Gives Us Wanderlove Word Associations

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Wanderlove author Kirsten Hubbard to my blog! Wanderlove is the story of a girl who wishes she could become someone else. To do so, she travels to Central America for a guided tour and a chance to leave herself behind and recreate herself. Unfortunately, traveling with a bunch of middle-aged tourists isn't very conductive to her goals. When she meets Rowan, she knows she has to leave the tour behind and follow her own path to rediscovery. Wanderlove is a novel of travel and self discovery that you won't want to miss!

Welcome Kirsten!

Author Word Associations

What is the first thing that comes to mind for each word/phrase?

(I am going to answer all these in the context of Wanderlove.)

1. Fresh
Seafood, at Laughingbird Caye's Lobsterfest: "the biggest party of the year!"

2. Tasty
The first couple pina coladas at Lobsterfest. The third, less tasty. The fifth, problematic.

3. Dark
Rowan's past – or at least, he makes it seem that way, because he's being so darn secretive with Bria. Although she's being pretty secretive herself.

4. Crisp
The edges of fry jack, a Belizean breakfast (basically, fried dough).

5. Empty
The way Bria feels after not drawing for months and months.

6. Stars
On Laughingbird Caye, when Bria lies beside Rowan on the hammock, there are more stars than she's ever seen: "They coat the sky like smeared wet sugar, so many the whole night seems to glow."

7. Mud
MUD WRESTLING!!
That's right. There is mud wrestling in Wanderlove. You heard it here first.

8. Shipwreck
Something Bria's pretty sure will occur on the thunderstormy motorboat ride they take from Guatemala to Belize.

9. Soft
Sand in Belize.

10. Honey
Bria's mom, when she cuts her hair to her chin: "“Honey, you’re not suicidal, are you?

11. Ink
Rowan's dragon tattoo (yes, he is the boy with the dragon tattoo), which Bria thinks is really cliché at first, but later learns there's a really good story behind it.

12. Hard
Actual sand in Belize.

13. Furry
The Guatemalan dogs that keep brushing against Bria's legs.

14. Slimy
Belizean seaweed! Not the plant, but the drink – which does include actual seaweed. Rowan insist Bria tries it: "It's not vile or anything—mostly, it tastes like milk and spices—but it slimes down my throat."

15. Enticing
Bria and Rowan's story, I hope :)

Thank you Kirsten! That was great.

If those teasers don't convince you to pick up Wanderlove I don't know what will. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard comes out March 13th. Don't miss it!