Blog Tour: SUPERFICIAL

SUPERFICIAL

Diane Billas

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GENRE:  Young Adult Superhero

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BLURB:

Embark on a thrilling adventure with Lea and Jake as they navigate the unexpected twists and turns at the biggest superhero fan convention of the year. When Lea finds herself trapped in an elevator during the event with superstar Jake, also known as The Amazing Boy, they realize something sinister is afoot. With everyone at the convention frozen, including Lea’s friends, Lea and Jake must team up to unravel the mystery behind the villainous acts plaguing Philadelphia. As they race against time, Lea grapples with whom to trust, while Jake uncovers startling truths about his own identity. A pulse-pounding journey filled with friendship, betrayal, and the ultimate quest for justice, will Lea and Jake save the day, or will supervillains prevail? Dive into this gripping tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

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Excerpt One:

LEA

A lone figure lingers in the back corner of the elevator wearing a navy-blue Yankees baseball hat, their face cast downwards. I push for level two when there is a large bang. The lights flicker and go out. Deathly silence follows but is broken by a curse word behind me. I whip around, trying to make out the figure’s face.

“Watch that cape, you almost gave me cape burn,” the voice grumbles.

“Sorry. I never knew how annoying wearing a cosplay costume would be,” I reply, biting my lip.

When the silence continues, I nervously keep up my word vomit. “This is my first time coming to one of these things. I should’ve taken a page out of your book and worn the incognito star look. I would’ve been more comfortable on the plane flight earlier this morning and gotten less strange looks.”

Backup lights flicker on. I can barely see the figure lift his head and look at me directly in the eyes. My heart drops.

“About the incognito star look,” he says, his dark eyes full of hesitation.

No way.

No freaking way.

He isn’t playing an incognito star.

He is the star of today’s show. The last-minute addition that made the entire WizCon event sell out as soon as his name was announced.

A gasp escapes my mouth. I can’t physically stop it if I tried. I’m from the middle of nowhere Ohio. You don’t see a movie star on an elevator or anywhere in your vicinity. Keep calm, Lea, don’t scare him off. He’s incognito for a reason.

“Oh.”

That’s what I come up with to say. I mean, what else am I going to utter aloud?

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Interview:

Where are you from? Tell us a little about yourself!

I’m originally from York, Pennsylvania but now live in Philly. I majored in music management in college with a minor in French horn performance, but I’ve always wanted to be a creative writer. For my day job I work at a university/healthcare system writing proposals and reports to donors. I’m a mom to an almost two-year-old and have been married to my husband for over eight years. I love all things Marvel and am always reading two or more books at once. I love to travel and am always dreaming of the next country I’m going to visit.


Tell us about your book? How did it get started?

SUPERFICIAL is a superhero/adventure book—I say it’s Marvel meets National Treasure. Both Lea Anderson and Jake Johnson would rather be any place else but WizCon, the biggest superhero fan convention of the year. While Lea is dreading being the third wheel to her BFF/ex and her other friend, Jake is tired of yet another appearance as the famous superhero, The Amazing Boy. When a convention wide power failure unexpectedly throws Lea and Jake together, they must team up to try and figure out why all of the occupants of the convention have disappeared without a trace, including Lea’s friends. Things get even stranger when Philadelphia’s iconic treasures go missing one by one at the hands of a pirate determined to become the most powerful villain in the world. Lea, Jake, and a few new friends they meet along the way must defeat the sinister One-Eyed Barnacle to save the city of Philadelphia and the world.

I was participating in a Twitter pitch party with my first book DOES LOVE ALWAYS WIN? and noticed a lot of stories set around an event, like a reality show competition, and that got me thinking about what event would I like to base a story around. Then I remembered how much fun I had at a Comic-Con convention in Philadelphia, one that was based mainly around superheroes. Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and Tom Hiddleston were even there! So I came up with the idea of writing a book set at a Comic-Con like convention, but one where there is some madness that starts to ensue and an actor at the convention is actually a superhero in real life.

How do you create your characters?

After I have written a couple of chapters, I take time to do some character work. I have a list of questions that I received from a creative writing class that I fill out about each of my characters. Some of these questions are very in-depth but it helps me get into the mind of my characters and think about what they would say or how they would act in certain situations.

What inspires you and what got you started in writing?

When I was six-years-old I was obsessed with reading (still am) and decided that I wanted to try my hand at writing my own book. I gave it a go and wrote and illustrated my first story and haven’t looked back. I remember looking at myself in the mirror in 6th grade, making a promise to myself that someday I’ll publish a book and that dream came true, twice!

I’m inspired by many different things, but my main inspiration is music. If I’m stuck on something, I’ll play the piano or listen to one of my favorite symphonies to see if I can get a spark to light. I also get inspired by stories that I read. For example, I’ve been wanting to write a winter themed sapphic romance but just hadn’t pulled the plug on it, but as I was reading a fall sapphic romance, I was so inspired that I put down that book and started on my winter romance and I’m super excited about this story!

Where do you write? Is there something you need in order to write (music, drinks?)

I mainly write in my home office but on the weekend, if the weather allows, I’ll sit outside on our deck and write. I usually have both water and coffee while I’m writing but it isn’t necessary. As long as I have my laptop or iPad, I’m good to go. I also don’t listen to any music when I’m writing unless I’m commuting into the city, then I listen to classical music.



What do you like to read?

I read all genres, but I mainly love reading all things young adult. I never read many young adult books growing up—I found most of the ones available to me dull, so I read murder mysteries instead. Now, young adult books are so captivating that I devour them. I must be making up for all of the young adult books I hadn’t read in high school. 

I’ve also mainly been reading books by indie authors. I’ve found that indie books offer topics that are less likely to be explored in traditional publishing with more diverse characters.


What would your advice to be for authors or aspiring in regards to writing?

Make friends with other writers/authors. They will be there to support you through the ups and downs of the publishing process and after it’s published. A day doesn’t go by that I don’t talk to one of my writer friends. They also will be there to help you improve your writing and someone to bounce ideas past. Once you are published you will need author blurbs and it’s nice already having connections.

Anything else you’d like to share? Growing up I never had access to queer books, so now I say I write the books I wished I could have read in high school. I make sure all of the books I write have some type of queer representation.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Diane Billas currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband and son. When she’s not writing she can be found reading multiple books at once, performing the French horn or piano, or dreaming of the next country she’s going to visit.

Does Love Always Win? is her debut novel, which released June 2023 from Creative James Media. This book was drawn from Diane’s personal experiences as a queer individual who has struggled throughout life being comfortable identifying and expressing herself. Diane wrote the book she wished was available to her when she was in high school. 

Website:  https://dianebillas.com

 Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dianebillaswrites

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dianebillas

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dianebillas

TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/dianebillas.

Photographer credit

Sam Rodriguez 

S.R.WeddingStory

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
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The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.