CAPTAIN FIN

by

AMANDA M. THRASHER

based on a screenplay by Kevin James O’Neill

  Genre: Young Adult / Adventure / Family

Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press

Date of Publication: May 1, 2019

Number of Pages: 432

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Hannah Gunner, once a carefree child, is faced with secrets, lies, and betrayal. A life-changing event during her adolescent years forces her to confront a past that she no longer recognizes. Now, questioning everything she thought she knew, Hannah struggles with the person she is supposed to be! With the help of her boyfriend and her closest friend, they discover several clues that may hold the missing links to her life.

A tattered box filled with worn-out letters holds some of the answers that she needs, but not all of them. With an assist from her aunt, and a visitor from her past, Hannah manages to track down the only person in the world who can answer her questions—the Captain! But why did those closest to her lie in the first place? Will Hannah ever find the answers that she needs to bring her peace?

Suspenseful, engaging, and with twists and turns that make it impossible to put down, this is a book filled with surprises.

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How do you write? Any backstory to your choice?

I’m a Plotter now, though in the past have been a Pantser. I prefer to have the entire outline of my story mapped out in my head and on paper before I begin to write. It helps to keep me focused, keep the story, especially if it’s complex, on course, and allows me to keep track of my timeline. I have never used dictation, though to each his own, and write mostly from my laptop. However, I continually carry a notebook to add scenes, dialogue, plot, or character characteristics along the way and refer back to my outline as I work.

What was the hardest part of writing this book? 

The most difficult thing about writing this book was feeling Hannah’s pain during the most significant losses of her life. It was heartbreaking for me as the writer/author bringing it to life, and when I read it, it had the same emotional impact. There are a couple of scenes that touched me in such a way, one, in particular, was tragic, and one was so touching I couldn’t hold back my tears as I wrote the scene.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Having the liberty to allow Hannah to be whom I thought she would be; that was very generous of Kevin, and I believe demonstrated an enormous amount of trust on his behalf.

How did you decide if your main character would be male or female?

I knew immediately it was going to have be written from Hannah’s perspective as a child and then an adolescent. I believe Kevin did as well, and this is why he sought out a YA writer.

Are there under-represented groups or ideas featured if your book? 

I think so, subtly, but it could easily give away significant parts of the story if mentioned.

Do you now or have you ever considered writing under a pen-name? Why or why not?

I do not write under a pen name and don’t believe I ever would. It’s a lot of work writing these novels. I may as well get credit for my own work.

Has your formal education influenced or impacted your writing?

Neither. It has made zero difference.

What projects are you working on at the present?

I am currently writing a sequel to CAPTAIN FIN and working on the fourth Mischief book.

What do your plans for future projects include?

I think every author, or most authors, have the same goal: ensure their work has the best opportunity possible to gain exposure allowing their audience a chance to read what they’ve written, hopefully write a good review, and help spread the word. I always attend the Texas Library Association Annual Conference, it’s my favorite, and I’ve attended and signed at ALA and BEA as well. TLA is a conference I really believe as an author is worth attending and signing in the featured author area. It is important authors understand how these conference work, but TLA is definitely on my schedule.

What does your perfect writing spot look like? Is that what your ACTUAL writing spot looks like?

My perfect writing spot is outside on a spring day, birds chirping, the sound of water, and a cool breeze blowing as I type. This is my spot usually from March through May. After that, my office and silence will work. I’m one of those authors, or maybe it’s just me, I can’t work with noise, music included. I need complete silence to think.

Are there any people you credit for being your inspiration for reading and writing?

My parents. They read to us every night. Always bought us books. Taught us to read by the time we were four and bought me a new pen and journal every single birthday.

Who would you cast to play your characters in a movie version of your book?

I don’t know her age, but for adolescent Hannah (if she was still a teen), Karley Scott Collins or someone with that look. Young Hannah, Shree Crooks or Alyvia Alyn Lind.

Is this book just for teens, as in just YA, because it’s categorized that way? 

My answer? 100% no. This book can honestly appeal to any book lover. The teens will love Hannah and Cash, young romance, but general book lovers will love the unpredictability, the emotional roller-coaster, and all the plot twists.

Amanda M. Thrasher was born in England, moved to Texas, and resides there still. Amanda has authored picture books, middle-grade chapter books, early readers, young adult pieces, and a graphic novel written specifically for the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center.

Amanda is a multiple Gold Recipient of The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) for YA, General Fiction, and early reader chapter books, a Readers’ Favorite International Book Award winner for YA Social Issues, an NTBF winner for YA and General Fiction, and she was awarded a New Apple Literary Award for YA and general fiction.

As Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, she assists other authors with their work and shares her writing process and publishing experience with them. Her latest release, CAPTAIN FIN, was based on a contract to adapt a screenplay into a novel for the director, actor, and producer Kevin James O’Neill. Her works-in-progress are the sequel to CAPTAIN FIN and the fourth installment of her Mischief Series.

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TWO WINNERS: Signed Copies of Captain Fin

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THREE WINNERS: Signed Copies of Captain Fin

June 4-14, 2019

(U.S. Only)

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