Guest Post and #Giveaway:Tab Bennett & The Inbetween by Jes Young

Today on the blog, I have Jes Young author of Tab Bennett and the Inbetween. Check out her Guest Post and don't forget to enter her giveaway. I will be reviewing this book in Sept. and I will be chatting up and interviewing her characters, so make sure you come back for more from Tab Bennett!

 

 

 

 

Yesterday Tab Bennett was a bank teller. Today she’s at the center of a centuries old war between Light and Dark. Tomorrow – well let’s just say she’ll be lucky if she lives to see it.

Engaged to her childhood sweetheart, employed at the local bank, and finally living on her own for the first time at twenty-four years-old, Tab Bennett has no interest in a fairy tale life. She’s perfectly happy with the normal one she already has. But when her sister is murdered on a moon-dark night, revealing a world of power and magic she never dreamed existed, a fairy tale is exactly what her life becomes. Figures it would have to be the Grimm kind.

Just like that, the life she had planned is over. Instead of cashing checks and handing out lollipops, Tab is unraveling clandestine assassination plots and learning to wield the magic that is her birthright. As if fulfilling her destiny isn’t hard enough, she’ll also have to choose between Robbin, a man who’s turned out to be a lot more complicated than the proverbial boy next door, and Alexander, the handsome prince whose smile leaves her weak-kneed and weak-willed.

Now, as Tab struggles to hold on to the human world she’s always known and understand her place in the magical one she’s just discovered, dangerous forces are gathering close to home. If she wants to make it to happily ever after, she’ll have to figure out who she can trust, who wants her dead, and why. The answers will change everything she believes about herself, the people she loves, and the place she calls home.

When I picture an urban fantasy heroine I see tight fitting clothing, long, flowing hair, and lots of sharp pointy weapons. I see a woman who can run in high heels and throw a punch, the kind who would rather fight a monster than hide from one. Essentially, I see a woman who is the exact opposite of me. Because I am afraid of monsters. I can barely walk in heels, let alone run, and I do not own a weapon – sharp, pointy, or otherwise.

Also unlike your average urban fantasy heroine, I will most likely never be the obsession of a powerful Fae prince or learn to fly by jumping off a bridge into the arms of my gorgeous, adoring vampire husband. And if I was going to, I’d probably be wearing something boring like jeans and a pair of Chuck Taylors not thigh high boots and a leather coat. You see what I mean? I have almost nothing in common with the Cats and Macs and Mercys who fill up my imaginary world. It’s the differences between my life and theirs that make these women so fun to read about. In books, I want the adventure and danger and high-heeled footwear that have no place in my real life.

When I wrote Tab Bennett and the Inbetween, I discovered that if reading about urban fantasy heroines is fun, writing about one is even better. At the beginning of the story, Tab is sheltered and spoiled and completely unaware of it. Then as the book and the series progress, circumstances force her to stop being a cream puff and start being a tough cookie. Writing her transformation from someone who hides from the proverbial monsters into someone who stands up to them, in a way that seemed believable, was a challenge in the best possible sense.

For me, the best heroines are a balance between vulnerability and toughness. With that in mind, I tried to make her a mix of the things I love about kick-ass urban fantasy heroines and the things I love about my friends. She’s brave and funny and loyal and smart and, after a while, she learns to wield a sword and rock a pair of stilettos. And even though we don’t have much in common, I like her a lot. I hope you will too.

Here’s a short excerpt from Tab’s first lesson in the art of sword fighting.

What’s the opposite of a kid in a candy store? Because I was like that as I looked at the weaponry displayed before me. I picked up daggers, throwing knives, tridents, swords, and spears but in the end nothing really jumped out and said, ‘kill with me.’

“Do you want to suggest something?” I asked.

“Considering your slight build and height, I’d suggest something like a rapier.” He looked to me for some hint of recognition. “It’s like a fencing foil.” Still nothing. “The Three Musketeers used them.” I knew that one. “Eventually, we’ll move on to something more substantial, but this is a good place to start.” He swished the sword back and forth through the air. “Do you want to hold it?”

“Not even a little bit.”

Matt laughed, handing me the sword. “Let me show you how to hold it.” He adjusted my hand on the grip. “Your thumb and index finger control the weapon. See? They go here. Your thumb rests on the flat part here, and your index finger loops around it. You control the blade with those two and the rest of your fingers provide balance. Try it out.”

I swooped the blade through the air a few times, mostly to make him happy.

“It’s a little too long for you.” He looked disappointed. “I can get something similar for you though, if you want to learn to use it.” He looked back at the arsenal of steel hanging in front of us. “Maybe the trident is your thing?”

I shrugged. “Anything’s possible.”

The trident is not my thing but it turns out I’m not bad with throwing knives.

Many thanks for having me over today, Lisa. I really appreciate the opportunity to talk to you and your readers! Now it’s their turn to talk to me. Who’s your favorite urban fantasy heroine? Who drives you crazy? Head to the comments to tell me who you love (or hate) and why.

Author Bio

Jes Young was a copywriter at Random House for eight years before leaving the job she loved to be a full time mom to two babies she loved even more. She holds a BFA in creative writing from Emerson College. Like so many first novels, Tab Bennett and the Inbetween was written between the hours of 11PM and 2AM.

Blog: http://www.jesyoung.com
fb: http://www.facebook.com/jesyoung3.tab
twitter: @JesYoungWrites
GR's: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5827855.Jes_Young
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Bennett-Inbetween-Princess-Twilight-ebook/dp/B007Z8X7Y6/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
BN link:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tab-bennett-and-the-inbetween-jes-young/1112351991?ean=2940014934367



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