Name: Changes (Family Portrait #1)
Author: Gillian Felix
Genre: YA
Adriana Banovic’s 15th birthday sucked! She got fired
after eight years of playing Shayanne Montgomery on the #1 soap in the country,
found out that her family was on the verge of bankruptcy and worst of all,
forced to return to Westwood Academy. Her only saving grace was a chance glance
at dreamy mystery boy Haze Lyndon. Armed with only his picture and a
determination to find him—even if it means turning Los Angeles over on its ass.
In this new adult novel you'll meet Robin Banovic, Adriana's
father; financially challenged, dealing with the death of a family member and
his brother's disappearance. You'll meet Savannah DaCosta aka Savi,
mother/manager; Savi enjoys the life her rock star daughter Leighann has
provided. When Leighann makes a choice to end her career, Savi sees it as a
personal attack. You'll meet college boy Haze Lyndon; New to Los Angeles, Haze
soon realizes how quickly money changes hands in the City of Angels. Will he
return to questionable ways to survive or go back to the safety of his family
in Wisconsin?
This novel is NOT for
children, it contains strong language, reference to drug use and sexual
situations, this novel is meant for mature teens and adults.
Gillian Felix has been writing since she was old enough to
hold a pencil. She enjoys creating characters that could be your next-door
neighbor, but would you want them as your neighbor is another story.
Originally from the island of Trinidad and Tobago, Miss
Felix moved to the United States in 1998. Since then she has been involved in
the entertainment industry for over fifteen years. Her experience ranges from
script supervisor to production manager on many independent features. She is trained in the Meisner and Stanislavski technique
of acting, which she credits as an asset to her character development and
writing.
Miss Felix is an
entrepreneur and advocate for children’s and women’s rights.
Connect:
View book trailer: http://youtu.be/EiBdwhT74NA
Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/FamilyPortraitNovels
Website: http://www.plaintalkbm.com/family-portrait-novel/
(Read the first chapter for free)
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/gillianfx
Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EADYMCA
Fun facts about Changes Vol. 1, (Family Portrait)
Writing Adriana’s character was fun and challenging because
she is such a bitch. It’s tricky because she shares the leading role with
Leighann, who is sweet, and kind—they are polar opposites of each other. They
both grew up in the entertainment industry but that’s about all they have in
common. Adriana makes no apologies for who she is, she is reckless and wild and
I’m sure some readers will hate her. It is only later on in the series you get
to really see why she is the way she is.
Even though Leighann was a bigger star than Adriana, she was
more protected by her mother. Savi may have her ways, but she shielded Leighann
from a lot of the outside world. So when Leighann defies her and ventures out
into the ‘real world’, she begins to see how scary things can get.
Leighann’s fascination with the ‘real world’ is based on the
fact that she has never had a ‘normal’ life. She sits in the tour bus and looks
at the fans through the one way glass and thinks that their life is so easy,
and she longs for that. She wants to meet a boy, go to the movies, and do
things normal teenagers do.
Westwood Academy of Higher Learning is a super school on
steroids as one reviewer described it: “we
mustn't forget the whole larger-than-life high school scene on steroids in a
world where appearances often mean more than substance”
The school is high tech and ridiculously over the top with
chef catered lunches, marble floors, digital lockers, Jacuzzi. Seriously, I’d
want to go to that school. How does any body get any studying done?
Astrid Wilson is the Kim Kardashian of Westwood Academy. She
decks out in Prada and all the latest designs by the hottest designers. No body
can throw a hissy fit like Astrid. When Adriana returns to Westwood Academy,
Astrid’s status is threatened especially where her boyfriend Warren is
concerned.
Family Portrait is based on a television series I had written.
The script got lots of interest in Hollywood but nothing came of it, so I
decided to turn it into a book series. I have two seasons, 24 episodes of the television
series already written.
Book two combines a couple episodes from the script. Changes
Vol. 1 is equivalent to the pilot episode—it introduces the audience to
the characters. The script for television was meant for prime time so I had to
tone it down—a lot. The book is the raw version—drug use, foul language, sexual
situations. The characters can get away with a lot more in the book than they
could on screen, which is good for Adriana and Kevin’s character, because later
in the series they really get naughty.
Right now I am working on Vol. 2 called The Banovic Siblings. In this book the siblings mostly Adriana and
Kevin’s past catches up with them and their secrets are getting too close to
home. Love triangles and tangles start to form with some of the supporting
characters. Leighann’s character starts evolving, her sister L’Wren has a very
powerful and emotional storyline which took a lot out of me to write. It really
made me ‘go there’ which stretches me as a writer. Book two is a bit darker
than Changes.
I think Vol. 2 may be available in November or December,
2013. It still has the whole process to go through with the story editor, the
proofreader and the cover still has to be designed. I usually write like a
fiend at night—Sunday through Thursday sometimes Friday nights.
On the Facebook fan
page https://www.facebook.com/FamilyPortraitNovels
fans can rummage through the character’s closets. Right now there is an app on
there called Adriana’s closet and coming soon: Leighann’s wardrobe, Astrid’s
locker, the sound track to go with some of the scenes, Westwood Academy emblem
reveal, Westwood Academy gear, fun trivia’s, first read of the novels before
they are published. So sign up.
Thanks for having me. Purchase
a copy of Changes Vol. 1 (Family
Portrait) here. (: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EADYMCA)
The reviews on Amazon:
“Each character has a
story to tell, and I see their stories being entwined together, for better or
worse as author Gillian Felix builds a strong and intriguing foundation for a
new series with her novella, Changes, book 1 in the Family Portrait
series.”
“Part soap opera, part
teen struggle in a world where they are expected to “follow the crowd” and feed
the frenzied tabloids fodder for the prying eyes of the masses, all while
dealing with personal and family crises, I see a huge following for this new
series! I know I’m going to watch for more!”
“So many drugs, schemes, and much more.
One girl just wants to be normal. One girl just wants the limelight. Selfish
motives abound and changes are coming for everyone. It's Hollywood....”
“This book has many
interesting characters and I am looking forward to the next volume. I was sorry
to see it end.”
- What
would you say was the most fun about writing this book? The
characters! I am so in love with the characters! I love it when they get
themselves in situations and I just have to let them play it out. I love
writing the scenes where a character throws a hissy fit.
- Give
us some insight into the main character. What does he/she do that is so
special? The main character is Adriana Kelly
Banovic, she is a wild child and a risk taker, which is very empowering
because she is not afraid to go after what she wants. Granted it’s not in
the most diplomatic way and I don’t recommend it, that’s why this is
fiction. She’s a balls to the wall kind of girl. Very interesting to
write, when I’m doing the re-reads I just sit back and watch her do her
thing.
- What
are you working on right now?
Book 2, The Banovic Siblings.
- What
genre are your books?
I thought it was young adult but
some adults think that because of drug use, sexual situations and foul
language it is better suited for young adults over 18. It’s tricky since
Adriana is 15. Her siblings fall into the age group of 18+ and they have
strong storylines but that comes in later in the series. So I guess I’m
going to have to go with New Adult.
- What
draws you to this genre?
I get to live out my fantasy of
being that age again. When I was the age of the characters in that genre,
I was already working and going to school, I didn’t have the freedom these
characters have. I created these characters when I was that age, they
always stuck with me. I’ve just changed the situations with the present
time and in this location.
- What
is your favorite color?
Either blue or green.
- What
is your favorite food?
Shepard’s Pie
- Are
you a cat or dog person? Why?
It depends on the behavior of the
animal. Some cats are cool others are just stupid, same for dogs. I always
wanted a cat as a kid but we always had dogs. They were a lot of work
which I didn’t appreciate, but I loved them anyway, they were well
behaved.
- How
are you published (*i.e. indie, traditional, or both) and why? Indie,
because I love the flexibility of being able to tell the story how I want
to tell it. It’s a lot more work but you have more control. How successful
you are depends on the amount of work you put in. A traditional publisher is great but I
see now a lot of big name authors are going indie. They get to keep more
of the profits, and have more creative control. I’m also an entrepreneur
so I enjoy the business part of it and forming connections with bloggers
like you.
- Do
you have any amusing stories from your adventures in the writing world? No.
- What
is your favorite motivational phrase? When we believe the
mind finds ways to do.
- What
is your favorite book and why? Harmattan by
Gavin Weston. Harmattan is a story of an 11 year old girl
who was forced into marriage to a 60 year old man. It was heartbreaking, I
cried for days. Since then I have been involved in raising awareness of
child marriage. The scary part was that the story was based on true events
that he as an NGO witnessed.
- What
advice would you give to your younger self? Dream
big and don’t sell yourself short. Life is not just about being able to
pay your bills. It is meant to be enjoyed.
- To end: Give us three Good to Know things about you. Be creative. 1) I am still friends with my friends from elementary school even though we live in different countries. 2) I cannot sleep without my pillow which I’ve had since I was a baby. I even travel with it. When I stay in hotels I am always afraid the maids will think it’s an old sack and throw it away so I hide it away in my suitcase when I leave the room. 3) I turn into a pirate when I drink alcohol (true story).
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