Touching
the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini
Page
Count: 352
Published
On: October, 2012
Synopsis
(Found on GoodReads):
Experience
the afterlife in this lyrical, paranormal debut novel that will send
your heart soaring.
When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn't remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right. Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she'd rather keep buried. Memories of people she's hurt, people she's betrayed and people she's killed.
As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she's hurt most, and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves, even if it means losing them both forever
When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn't remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right. Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she'd rather keep buried. Memories of people she's hurt, people she's betrayed and people she's killed.
As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she's hurt most, and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves, even if it means losing them both forever
Review:
Overall Rating 4.5/5
Cover:
5/5When I received the book
in the mail there were goodies as well. Some of those goodies were
paper origami swans. When I saw the cover I knew exactly that these
were going to play a huge part in the story line. The cover is
gorgeous just not a fan of human models in covers.Characters: 4/5Elliot: She is the main character and at first she was confusing but then she grew on me. Elliot has a lot to learn and her reactions are too quick and they bite her in the ass sometimes. Having a best fried shove her away is hard but she needed that push to see what her attitude was causing.
Oliver:
Can I just say never have I wanted to hit the nice guy in a story before. Oliver is great but to me he is just way to peppy and nice for being "dead". He helps Elliot see the light but he never pushes her enough.
Trevor:
Now he is the guy that pushes Elliot to her fullest potential.
Although the “bad-boy” of the book he has problems of his own
that he needs to solve. When he delves with Elliot he discovers their
lives are more entwined then he really thought possible. Trevor also
needs to open a T-Shirt business (Read the book to find out)
Plot: 4.5/5Touching the Surface is a unique and outstanding read based around the afterlife as people being reincarnated until they learn what they must to move on in life. There was just the right amount of funny to help with the serious scenes. Elliot is a third timer meaning she has died three times and still hasn't learned a thing. When she wakes up this time things are different, she is able to Delve without being in the swing at group sessions, she also is discovering more about her personality by watching her past life then what she was able to do before. The plot touches on some sensitive subjects seeing as it is placed in the afterlife. How each character gets there is by dying so we learn their back story as they delve.
Plot: 4.5/5Touching the Surface is a unique and outstanding read based around the afterlife as people being reincarnated until they learn what they must to move on in life. There was just the right amount of funny to help with the serious scenes. Elliot is a third timer meaning she has died three times and still hasn't learned a thing. When she wakes up this time things are different, she is able to Delve without being in the swing at group sessions, she also is discovering more about her personality by watching her past life then what she was able to do before. The plot touches on some sensitive subjects seeing as it is placed in the afterlife. How each character gets there is by dying so we learn their back story as they delve.
Extras:
I
sent Kimberly some interview questions to kind of kick-start this
idea that has been rolling around in my head. I want to get to know
the authors that I read and thought that for each review I could
maybe do a short Q&A with them. Thank you Kimberly for being my
first personal interview :)
1) How long did it take you to write your book?
It
took about five years to get from first draft to the shelves of
bookstores. Part of my process was a learning process. I’d never
written a novel before, so I was learning in a variety of ways as I
went along. I utilized my tribe of writers at the SCBWI (Society of
Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), went to conferences,
read and studied books on writing and even obtained a professional
critique with a local author. I often took five steps forward and
three steps back, but I was passionate and resilient. That will get
to where you want to go—eventually.
- What inspires you most to write?I have always loved the written word. It’s my favorite form of communication, but I lacked a lot of confidence. I didn’t believe I could be a writer. I didn’t think I was god enough—it felt like something talented people would do. But when my died died of cancer at the age of fifty-seven, my perspective on fear changed quite a bit. My dad inspires me to be brave and make the most of the life that I have. Since his passing, almost ten years ago, I’ve pushed myself outside of my comfort zone over and over again. Never have I regretted what I’ve found on the other side. My only regrets are the things that still trap me with their fear. It was a fabulous lesson to learn and it’s the kind of inspiration that only gets stronger over time.
- Growing up what were your favorite authors/books?I read like a fiend. Pretty much whatever caught my interest, that I could get my hands on. I usually left the library with a large paper grocery bag full of books. I loved so many. But my all time favorite book is and was THE GIVER by Lois Lowry. It stopped me in my tracks. I recognized myself in the kinds of questions she was asking about the world we live in. Until that moment, I’d always felt strange and protective of the thoughts in my head. Like an ugly ducking—all alone. But then a light bulb went off—SWAN! Maybe I’d been hanging out in the wrong pond. :o)
- Do you have any advice to aspiring writers?Read and write. Read in your desired genre, but read outside of it as well. It allows you to know your craft and to broaden it at the same time. Write as much as you can about whatever you can. It is your practice. No one wants to fly with a pilot that’s never been in the air before. No one wants a surgeon who has never studied and modeled the procedure. You have to train for your craft and take it seriously. And love what you do outside of the world of publishing. Publishing is a goal for a writer—not a reason to write. If you are going to make it in this business, you must always have intrinsic reasons for putting your words on paper. I call it my inner compass and I often need to use it to get back on course—to find the important stuff again.
Thank
you for taking the time to answer the questions.
Thank
you for having me—it’s been a blast!
TTFN,
Ashley
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