Today’s post is the next stop in the Biggie Book Tour presented by Xpresso Book Tours
Biggie
Henry “Biggie” Abbott is the son of one of Finch, Iowa ‘s most famous athletes. His father was a baseball legend and his step-dad is a close second. At an obese 300+ pounds though, Biggie himself prefers classroom success to sports. As a perfectionist, he doesn’t understand why someone would be happy getting two hits in five trips to the plate. “Forty percent, that’s an F in any class,” he would say. As Biggie’s junior year begins, the girl of his dreams, Annabelle Rivers, starts to flirt with him. Hundreds of people have told him to follow in his dad’s footsteps and play ball, but Annabelle might be the one to actually convince him to try. What happens when a boy who has spent his life since fourth grade trying to remain invisible is suddenly thrust into the harsh glare of the high school spotlight?
Purchase at Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Interview with Author
* How do you name your characters? As you are writing or after it’s finished?
I really just run a million names through my head and picked out the coolest sounding one. I name the characters before I start writing. It really is a fun part of the writing process.
* What advice would you give to someone who is starting to write a book?
Write the first draft from beginning to end. So much happens over the course of a first draft that editing the beginning could end up being a waste of time.
* Where is your favorite place to write?
I know it’s cliché but I love to write at coffee shops. My favorite has to be Caribou Coffee in Owatonna, Minnesota.
* What is your writing environment like? IE: Quiet, Loud
I love to listen to music when I write, but mostly, I just love to be left alone, so I can get lost in my story.
* Where did the idea of Biggie come from?
My little league coach told me a story about a struggling baseball player, whose first hit was a home run. After that long ball, he became a good hitter. I’ve always loved that story. I love the idea that one small, random, lucky event can change person’s life. In my story, Biggie throws a perfect game of Wiffle ball in gym class and it changes his life.
* Best piece of advice you ever receive?
One former classmate of mine after reading some of my writing told me I needed to slow down. Too often, I can’t wait to get to the big ending that I skip over cool details. Now, I slow down and enjoy the process of telling a complete story.
My Thoughts:
– Biggie is a different character. He would rather spend his time talking with people online instead of his classmates.
– I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book. By the end it was better than could be expected.
– It really did teach me that one event can change the course of your life. Look at Biggie and his perfect game in Wiffle Ball.
Author Info:
Derek E. Sullivan is an award-winning reporter and columnist at the Rochester Post-Bulletin in Minnesota. As a reporter, he has written more than 1,000 stories about the lives of teenagers, which he attributes to helping him find his YA voice. He has an MFA from Hamline University and lives in Minnesota with his wife and three sons.
He can be found on Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, and his website
Giveaway
2x 50$ B&N Gift Cards
3x Signed copies of BIGGIE hardcover
Book Information:
Title: Biggie
Author: Derek E Sullivan
Publication date: March 1st 2015
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Sports
Innerworkings of the Female Mind 
Thanks for hosting today! 🙂
Sounds like an interesting book. I’m gonna have to check it out.
How cool that you were able to interview the author! Sounds like an interesting book!
It was such a great read!