Hot guy, Shrimp Chips, the Forbidden City, Oh My!

It is, indeed, BlogTour time again!!

Tonight we have the author of a book in a series that I think is quite an interesting concept. Have you guys heard of the S.A.S.S. novels?? The acronym stands for Students Across the Seven Seas. and every book is about a young girl studying abroad. Not only that, but they have cool titles like Irish Guys Are Smiling and The Finnish Line. (I'm totally into puns!) Well, author Cynthea Lui has penned the newest one, her debut novel, The Great Call of China!

A bit about The Great Call . . . .

Chinese-born Cece was adopted when she was two years old by her American parents. Living in Texas, she's bored of her ho-hum high school and dull job. So when she learns about the S.A.S.S. program to Xi'an, China, she jumps at the chance. She'll be able to learn about her passion—anthropology—and it will give her the opportunity to explore her roots. But when she arrives, she receives quite a culture shock. And the closer she comes to finding out about her birth parents, the more apprehensive she gets. Enter Will, the cute guy she first meets on the plane. He and Cece really connect during the program. But can he help her get accustomed to a culture she should already know about, or will she leave China without the answers she's been looking for?

I love that you can sense the voice even in the synopsis! (Can you tell I'm totally intrigued by this series! It sounds like just the thing I would have picked up in middle school!)

And now a bit about Cynthea (besides the fact that she's seriously gorgeous! We have a good-looking group of authors over at the Debs, I kid you not!)


Cynthea Liu spent most of her formative years in Oklahoma and Texas where she was a member of the Whiz Quiz team, an academic decathlon-er, and a spelling bee champion. Yes, she was very popular.

After attending college on the East Coast, she landed a job as a management consultant. When she had enough of PowerPoint and frequent flyer miles, she traded in her suit for sweats to focus on the fun stuff–writing for children.

And, no blog tour stop would be complete without the Feasty Five! So away we go!

AP: What kind of soda does your MC drink?

CL: She's a Dr. Pepper kind of girl. Go, Texas, baby!

AP: What is your MC's favorite kind of flower? How about yours?

CL: She would be a big fan of star-gazer lilies. (I love them too!)

AP: Even the name sounds gorgeous! (For those of you unfamiliar, I had to include a picture because they are so pretty!



AP: Does your MC believe in magic? Do you?

CL: Sure. Maybe not the kind of magic where you pull Snoop out of a hat, but definitely the kind that makes wishes come true.

Though her faith is sometimes easily shaken.

AP: Man, I SO believe in that kind of magic too! Superman or Batman?

CL: Huh? What? Batman. (Do I win something?)

AP: Heheh, yes! The confusion spreads!! And now, I move on without answering your question, *evil laugh* Okay, give us one line from your book. You don't even have to give it context.

CL: Ta changchang gei wo xie xing.

Have fun figuring that one out! :)

AP: *blinkblink* Well, I guess turn-about is fair play.;)

Thank you Cynthea for joining us!!

Okay, I am apparently calendar illiterate, because contrary to what my last blog tour post said, my next giveaway is on Friday, and I am giving away a SIGNED copy of Sarah MacLean's The Season and then on the TENTH (not the twelfth) is when I am giving away Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth. So lots of free books in the future, very possibly YOUR future, so stay tuned!

Ciao!