The Casting Wishlist (#10InfiniteWeeks)

Today is the last day I'll be hosting the 10 Infinite Weeks tour on this blog...
Sad faces all around, I know.
That does NOT mean I won't be posting at all. Every so often, I'll still be throwing in my two cents about the character being recognized each week. After all, I did create them.

As for today, I'm not going to talk about Carter exclusively. There isn't that much more to say about him, so I'm going to use this final platform to fangirl with you all over my top picks for fan-casting ALL of my characters. I posted a list a while back, but it wasn't complete. To this day I'm still a bit iffy on certain choices, but I'm going to share them all regardless. Please feel free to share your own spare change on the issue.


First is LARSON ASHBY. Originally, I was dead set on Callan McAuliffe, but recently I was captivated by not only the look but the acting skill of one Mr. Dane Dehaan. Man! That kid is good! Of course I loved him in The Amazing Spiderman 2, but it was Kill Your Darlings with costar Daniel Radcliffe that really hooked me. If you haven't seen this film, it's definitely a must.

PAXTON GRAHAM was a complete mystery to me until Jaclyn from Living in a World of Book Quotes posted an edit on her Instagram featuring Tom Sturridge! Holy bajesus, this boy is my everything when it comes to Paxton! He may be a bit too old to play a high schooler, but let's be real. They cast 30 year olds to play 16 year olds all the time. Shall we talk about Theo James as Four? No? Okay.

OWEN SPENCER was not hard for me to picture in my mind. From the beginning, I'd imagined Logan Lerman while writing. There's really not much for me to say, because even if you don't agree with my choice, I respectively decline your opinion. Sorry. Logan is bae.

JADE WALBRIDGE was also not a hard choice. I'd thought about Shay Mitchell as a good match for looks, but I wasn't sure about personality. The only thing I've ever seen Shay in is Pretty Little Liars, so I don't have much to judge her on. I have no doubt she'd do well, but if you all know of any other actresses that fit the physical criteria, let me know!

There were two choices for CHARLEIGH MCAFEE. I like both Chloe Moretz and Abigail Breslin for looks, but I have to lean more towards Chloe because she is amazeballs. I can't even express how much I love her.

SILAS MCFULLER is a toughie, but Jaclyn came to my rescue again, steering me towards Joe Dinicol. I've never seen any of his movies before, but just by looks I'm 90% sold. I'd previously considered Ben Levin from As the World Turns, but thought better of it.

LOGAN BROWN could possibly go many different ways. He's a very normal looking boy. Brown hair. Blue eyes. Medium build. Pretty much 50 million dudes look like this in the U.S. alone. But I have to say, I've come to love Dylan O'Brien. You're all going to hate me, but the first time I saw Dylan on screen was when I saw The Maze Runner in theaters. Yeah... I've never watched Teen Wolf. But before you start throwing popcorn, note this: I rarely watch TV at all. I typically watch Netflix and binge on whatever show I desire. The only show I keep up with regularly is Bates Motel, which isn't even on right now. For the longest time Teen Wolf was on Netflix, and I wanted to watch it but never got around to it. Then, when I finally thought about it, they took it away. So, don't blame me, people!

TUCKER WATSON was, and still is, probably the hardest character to imagine in my head. I think it's because I based a lot of his traits on Trent - my future significant other - and picturing him with Charleigh didn't add up in my mind. Instead, while I was writing, I kept him as a figment with blond hair and freckles more than an actual boy. If I were to get specific, I'd say the actor I've considered the most would be Lucas Till. If you've seen the Hannah Montana movie, then you can imagine him as being the perfect farm boy Tucker represents.

AUDRINA ASHBY is definitely Nicola Peltz in my head. Now more so than when I was writing it. While writing Three Sixty, I actually imagined her being similar to my friend Morgan LaFave, which is why I use her for photos! But on the celebrity casting side of things, Nicola is incredible. Most of you might recognize her from Transformers: Age of Extinction. If you know me well, however, you probably have guessed that I snatched this lady up from Bates Motel. It's definitely one of my favorite shows on television right now, and I'm eagerly waiting for season 3!

CARTER ASHBY is Taylor Lautner. K bye.


Alright people of the internet. Thanks for following me on the first 3 weeks of this tour! I hope you learned something. If not, I hope you were at least a little entertained!

Starting tomorrow, Lauren from The Bookworm Corner is going to be hosting, and her character is Charleigh McAfee from Ninety Degrees!



-Megan.

Carter's iPod (#10InfiniteWeeks)

I've had a back story in mind for Carter for a while now - one that goes even deeper than the one mentioned in Three Sixty. Besides the topics already discussed this week, I knew there was something hidden deep in Carter's mind. Or more like his heart. There had to be a special girl. A heartbreak even. My plan was to dive into that history in a short bonus story at the end of Infinite Limits. There were three stories planned, actually, but they didn't make it to the printing process. So, instead, I'm going to be releasing them as a novella collection! Dates are not set for this, so they're basically just going to come out when I feel that they're ready.

The reason why I'm telling you this is because I not only want to stir up your feels, but I also need to set up the following playlist for Carter's character. There are certain songs that might not make sense, based on what you've read so far. So just have faith that eventually it will make sense. For the time being, just imagine what you want. You might be able to figure it out on your own!

1) Letters from the Sky by Civil Twilight 

One of these days the sky's gonna break

And everything will escape and I'll know

One of these days the mountains

Are gonna fall into the sea and they'll know

That you and I were made for this

I was made to taste your kiss

We were made to never fall away

Never fall away

One of these days letters are gonna fall

From the sky telling us all to go free

But until that day I'll find a way

To let everybody know that you're coming back

You're coming back for me

'Cause even though you left me here

I have nothing left to fear

These are only walls that hold me here

Hold me here, hold me here, hold me here

Only walls that hold me here

One day soon I'll hold you like the sun holds the moon

And we will hear those planes overhead

And we won't have to be scared

'Cause we won't have to be scared

We won't have to be, yeah, scared, no

You're coming back for me

You're coming back for me

You're coming back to me

You're coming back for me

2) Kids by Mikky Ekko

Oh, I'm going to let the future in, the future in-
Take it on; make it on my own.
Oh, into the fire we go again, we go again-
Shake it off before we get too old.
Sweet harmony, send us out with nowhere to go
Sweet harmony, secret's out but what do I know

Kids Kids
Kids are gonna do what they want
Kids Kids
Kids are gonna do what they want

Bottling sun in an hourglass
Upside down but don't look back
Over and over
Taking on the wind cause we never learn
Start a fire just to watch it burn
Over and over
Kids Kids
Kids are gonna do what they want
Kids Kids
Kids are gonna do what they want
Sweet harmony kids are gonna do what they want
Sweet harmony kids are gonna do what they want

We know the words but it's not enough, not enough
'Cause no one heard.
Remember we're just kids.

We have the fire now.
As the last light's burning out
Kids are going to do what they want
We have the fire now
As the last light's burning out
Kids are gonna to do what they want
Kids Kids
Kids are gonna do what they want
Kids Kids
Kids are gonna do what they want

3) Sex by The 1975

And this is how it starts

You take your shoes off in the back of my vanYeah my shirt looks so good, when it's just hanging off your backAnd she said 'Use your hands and my spare timeWe've got one thing in common, it's this tongue of mine'She saidShe's got a boyfriend anyway
All we seem to do is talk about sex
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
He's got a funny face
But I like that 'cause he still looks cool
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
And I'm about to fill his shoes
But you say no
You say no
Does he take care of you
Or could I easily fill his shoes?
But you say no
You say no
And you're making your way down
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
If we're gonna do anything we might as well just fuck
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
You're in your high tops any day
You're in your skinny jeans anyway
You and your fit friends anyway
I'd take them all out any day
They've all got back-homes anyway
You've all got boyfriends anyway

There's only minutes before I drop you off

I loved your friend when I saw his film

Now we're on the bed in my room

And now we're just outside of town

And I'm not trying to stop you love

You've got your tongue pierced anyway

You're in your high tops any day
You're in your skinny jeans anyway
You and your fit friends anyway
I'd take them all out any day
They've all got back-homes anyway
You've all got boyfriends anyway

Read more: The 1975 - Sex Lyrics | MetroLyrics 



-Megan.

Why you gotta be so mean? (#10InfiniteWeeks)

I didn't plan to make Carter Walbridge an important character in my books. Originally, I'd only mentioned that Jade had a younger brother - not in much detail. But when I started drafting for Three Sixty, I knew I couldn't pass up using him. He was the perfect younger sibling contrast to Audrina. Also, hooking them up was more or less a guilty pleasure for me. It was too juicy for me to resist. Because of this, once I decided to use Carter in a big way, I knew I needed to come up with a bigger back story. I needed to know more about him. So, I started brainstorming.

I already discussed Carter's school background. He attends public school in Boston and is one year behind Jade. I imagined Jade's freshman year acting like a snowball. It grew throughout the year, building on the rumors due to her pictures being sent around the school. By the time she decided to leave, and it was time for Carter to start his freshman year, the drama that surrounded Jade had grown so much that it trickled down to Carter. Everyone knew who he was - Walbridge is a name that no one is ignorant to - so it was likely that most kids would either make fun of him for being connected to her, or they would worship him and try to get close through proxy. It turned out to be a little of both. Carter decided to squash the nonsense right away. From the get-go, he made it clear that being connected to Jade did not give others free passes into her pants. His friends had to learn this, and eventually accepted it. In a way, he was actually protecting Jade. As the reader will find out in Infinite Limits, Carter's capability to show compassion is a constant surprise. Even to Jade.

We already know that Carter eventually becomes king of the school. He rules his high school kingdom, getting the girls and the grades he doesn't deserve. We also know about his decision to escape to Tennessee and his lapse in judgement with Audrina Ashby. So, what is it that we don't know?

In Three Sixty, I acknowledge that Carter does have friends. His best friend is Thomas, and just like Carter, he is a dick. There is a specific point at which this occurs, and it's partially Thomas' fault. When Carter was younger, he had another friend that he spent all of this time with. They got along great and shared lots in common. Except for money. When Thomas comes along and introduces himself, he's very certain to note this to Carter. He explains that his money is the same as Carter's money. Basically, their families are on the same level. Carter's other friend is not on this level. Somehow, even at such a young age, the boys are able to separate themselves based on wealth and social status. Thomas has the bigger TV. He has all the newest video games and signed sports memorabilia. This is apparently worth a friendship to Carter, so it takes Thomas up on his extended hand. Over the years, they actually do become close. And I can confidently say that you will meet Thomas in Infinite Limits...

Alright. So other than the douche-baggy friends and the technical jealousy of Jade, Carter really doesn't have an excuse to act the way he does. Maybe he's just mean for the sake of being mean.

No. I wholeheartedly disagree.
Carter is an asshole. But it's not because he's mean. It's because he's HONEST.

I was so relieved to have a character speak their mind at the drop of a hat. Larson was definitely not shy about his opinions, but he still had a conscious. Carter does not. He doesn't care if he hurts someone's feelings. All he can comprehend is that he's stating a fact. He's pointing out the ugly truth for what it is. That's why I was actually entertained by his comments at the end of Three Sixty. When he calls out Audrina and her friends, saying they're like an after school special, I actually laughed out loud. Because it's true. These people have more drama in their lives than an episode of Gossip Girl. And even though it's tough stuff - even though these things really do happen - at some point we have to be able to step back and be amused. We all have to acknowledge the ridiculous sometimes, and that's what Carter Walbridge is there for.


Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to post some songs and random facts for you all! Thanks again!
Remember: it's ok to be happy!

-Megan.

Cardrina? (#10InfiniteWeeks)

** SPOILER ALERT FOR THREE SIXTY**

Today, I am here to discuss the property which is "Cardrina". At least, that's what I've decided to call them. I honestly don't think these two characters have a ship name, because unless you are a masochist, I don't think anyone ships Carter with any human being... yeah.

So, the reason I chose to allow this insane relationship to occur is simple. At the time, Audrina felt that her only weapon to wield was jealousy. Carter, at the time, was the only boy within reach. He didn't seem like someone who would mind being used, so she allowed the inevitable to occur. They flirted - audaciously in front of Paxton - messed around, and eventually hooked up. It doesn't take long for Paxton to catch on to the game Audrina is playing. He approaches her, specifically noting that if she's trying to get his attention, it's working. But not in the way she wants. It's making him angry more than jealous. Paxton, despite his conflict of interest, still sees Audi as being a friend above anything else. First and foremost, he will protect her from anything and anyone that might be of harm. Paxton recognizes Carter's bad boy nature and warns Audrina to stop what she's doing.
"Don't fuck with him just because you can."

Meanwhile, it seems that Carter is fully aware of his being a pawn. He seems perfectly okay with being the tool that makes Paxton miserable. As I was writing, part of me considered that Carter never liked Paxton from the beginning. It sounds terrible, but he hated seeing his sister so happy. Jade's ability to move away from home and start over with her life while still managing to find love makes Carter spiteful. This is how the reader finds out what Carter's real motive is by leaving Boston to stay with Jade over the summer.

At this point, the reader is like, "They don't get along, so why is Carter willing to stay three months with her and attend the same college?"

I get it. It does sound odd. But what Carter really wants is to do the exact same thing Jade did. She had a life she didn't necessarily want for herself. So, she stepped away. She moved to a different state, attended a new school, made new friends, and fell in love. As content as Carter seems with his popularity and his social status, by now he's starting to realize that he may be stuck with it forever. How cliché right? The popular boy doesn't want to be popular anymore. But it's true. If he stays in Boston, the meaningless life of parties and sex and wasting time will all be permanent. He may never actually make something of himself. He may never grow up and find real happiness. By staying with Jade over the summer, Carter is trying to copy her. He's trying to start fresh. But Audrina manages to screw with that plan.

When Carter is first introduced to Audrina, there is a natural instinct inside of him that wants to try and catch her. He wants to see how easy it would be to make her want him. Little does he know, Audrina is already trying to do the same to him. So, why would they not be perfect together? They are both using each other for the complete wrong reasons. Both of them are trying to gain something for themselves. Carter is avenging is pride while Audrina is toying with Paxton's heart. For just a split second, the reader might consider the two to be a perfect match. If, at this point, you didn't like Audrina, you probably thought this. But here's the thing: she actually steps away to be the bigger person in the end. Carter doesn't. After diving so deep in between the complication of Paxton and Audrina's relationship, Carter realizes he wants out. But he doesn't do it nicely. He becomes fed up with all of the drama surrounding him and finally sees that what he became a part of was exactly what he'd wanted to leave behind back home.

If you've read Three Sixty, you know how this ends.
Paxton and Carter's brawl was one of my favorite scenes to write. This was my way of beating the shit out of someone that deserves it - in a literary sense, of course. While it was fun for both me and the reader, the action brought about a very consequential reaction. Paxton's choice to defend Audrina brings about a new worry in Jade - one that was already starting to bloom. By the end of the book, the reader isn't quite sure where the story is going to go, but I can promise that we'll be picking up right where we left off. We don't find out the rest of Carter's fate until the very end, but Infinite Limits is sure to answer a lot of questions.

Thanks again for being so patient with me, guys!
I've had a very busy week, so it's been hard to keep up with posting every day.
I've made sure to make it up to you though by sharing part 2 of the TMI Tag video! Here it is!






-Megan.

Carter Walbridge (#10InfiniteWeeks)

I can't believe it's already week 3 of this blog tour! This will be the last week I host on my own blog, so next week I'll be handing the torch over to Lauren from The Bookworm Corner!  She'll be sharing everything about Charleigh McAfee from Ninety Degrees! I'll still be sharing a few special things on my social media accounts, so don't forget about me completely!

As for this week, we're talking about Carter. Yes, the younger brother of Jade Walbridge that we all love to hate. There had to be at least one character in the Small Circles books to raise negative emotions, right? Carter isn't necessarily the antagonist of the story, but he's most certainly annoying as hell. There are plenty of reasons why Carter sucks, and I'll have an entire week to dive into them, but for now let's start with who this Walbridge is...

When I created Carter, he was merely mentioned in Small Circles. It is narratively noted that Jade's brother is a typical teenage boy that loves video games and arguing with his sister. I also explained why they attend different schools. Both Jade and Carter were given the option to attend boarding school starting in ninth grade, and they both said no. Incidentally, Jade's decision changes a year later. This is after private pictures of Jade are leaked around their high school, creating an uncomfortable environment for her and Carter. She chooses to take the opportunity her parents gave her and leaves for Chattanooga to start her sophomore year at Foster and Allan Academy.

Carter does not want to go to boarding school. I explain in Three Sixty that he doesn't want to abandon the kingdom he's built for himself. By his senior year, Carter and his best friend have risen all the way to the top of the food chain. Teachers adore them. Students worship them. There's a bit more than popularity to it, but more of that is explained in the books.

The biggest part of Carter that I wanted to touch on today is his relationship with Jade. Unlike the Ashbys, Jade and Carter Walbridge do not have a storybook connection. They don't get along at all, and sibling rivalry is not only to blame. In Infinite Limits, the reader will find out how Jade's mishap her freshman year affected Carter. The rumors about her did more than just damage Jade's self-esteem. Carter's image was also tattered, as well as one of Jade's closest friends at the time. We'll meet her in the final book.

Back to the Ashbys.
I portrayed Larson and Audrina as being more like best friends than siblings. They share everything with one another. They confide in each other on their struggles and their fears. They know all the details about each other's love and hate. It's a closeness that Jade and Carter do not share. I really enjoyed writing those two contrasting relationships. It was enlightening to see two families that are very similar in many ways still be so incredibly different. Money is still a major factor when defining who these people are and what they can accomplish in the world, but what's interesting is seeing how it rounds them in different ways. Both the Ashbys and the Walbridges have good and bad qualities, and this makes for the perfect compare/contrast situation.

**SPOILER ALERT FOR THREE SIXTY**

When Carter and Audrina have their run-in in Three Sixty, it's almost as if these two worlds collide. Carter's life back home - one we find out he actually wants to escape from - is suddenly right in front of him. Audrina reminds Carter of exactly the thing he's trying to rid himself of. What is that exactly? I'll share more in tomorrow's post!

I won't be online until tomorrow evening, so don't be alarmed if the post doesn't show up until then. Throughout this week, I'll share everything I know about Carter and Audrina, Carter's toxic personality, and what the future holds for him.

Thanks for reading!

-Megan.

Audrina Ashby: Promo Video (#10InfiniteWeeks)

Who is Audi? (#10InfiniteWeeks)

When Audrina Ashby is first introduced into the world of Small Circles, the audience labels her automatically as "Larson Ashby's younger sister". This was done purposefully, because at this point in the story that's what she has become. I imagined her to be exactly like Larson. His cockiness comes off as quirk and sass. But in Audrina, it comes off as bitchiness. I knew she was smart, but very misunderstood. She acts like an easy blonde with the perfect body and enough money to buy the pretentious school she attends, but in reality, she knows exactly what she's doing. Every boy she flirts with has something she wants. She knows she can gain something from them, and she knows what to trade to get it. In comparison to Jade, Audrina doesn't care that she has to use her body to get her way. She's willing to do whatever it takes to make herself happy, even though she's still not sure what happiness is.

The Ashby parents are not present as much as they should be in Audrina and Larson's life. Their father is a lawyer that represents a lot of big name athletes in the city. His business travels keep him away from home a lot, and this takes a toll on their mother. I imagined Abigail Ashby as a rich housewife whose marriage is falling apart. She doesn't understand what's going on in her children's lives because she's too drunk to pay attention most of the time. Audrina has never gone to her mother for advice about boys or anything else troubling her at school. She's pretty much had to fend for herself, and this is a major reason for her strong personality and boldness. She's independent in the ways that matter, but she still craves attention because she never got it at home. She tries to capture it from boys. One specifically. Her brother's best friend.

As the book progresses, the reader learns more about her on and off relationship with Paxton. As the attraction between Paxton and Jade grows stronger, it makes sense that the reader leans further away from Audrina. By this point, she feels like the other girl. The one that could stand in the way of making Paxton happy. By the end of the book, Jade and Paxton finally collide into a storybook relationship, but where does this leave Audrina?

After finishing Small Circles, I thought that was it. I didn't plan on writing a complete series. I'd originally thought that Small Circles could stand alone and be enough, but one day it hit me: Audrina's story hadn't fully been told. So, I set on writing Three Sixty.

Audrina's character had already been set up for me, so all I had to do was come up with her full history. I needed to understand why she felt the way she did and why she was so set on claiming Paxton for herself. It wasn't just about first love. Yes, she lost her virginity to him, and that is special to any girl that age. She was only 15, so it would make sense for her to form an attachment to the first boy that cared for her in that way. But I've been there, and I know how that feels. For Audrina, there was something much stronger holding her in Paxton's orbit. The most important thing was his need for her. She the one that had been there when his father died. She was the first person he'd called. When he needed to forget, she was the one there to provide the distraction. Audrina felt needed. She felt important.

This last for a while, but eventually Paxton turns to a greater form of distraction. Physical attention from Audrina isn't enough to numb the pain, but he starts buying various drugs from a boy named Josh at Foster & Allan in order to completely slip away. He drinks and pops pills and goes about his life not caring about anyone but himself. Audrina becomes incredibly jealous, because at this point Paxton also has his eye on Jade. In Audrina's eyes, it seems like Paxton will never choose to be with her for real. First he chooses drugs. Then he chooses Jade. Despite everything they've been through together, Audrina and Paxton's connection isn't strong enough to support him. He needs something more. Something real.

When Jade comes into the picture, she provides something he's never had before. Love.

At first, Audrina can't see this. She's jealous of both the pills that are clouding Paxton's mind and of Jade who's keeping his attention. In Three Sixty, she lashes out by hooking up with Carter Walbridge. This stirs up feeling in Paxton he didn't know he had. It's not jealousy. But it's still something to give Audrina hope. Paxton feels protective over her, so when he attacks Carter to avenge her, it doesn't look too good. Jade sees that he chose to stick up for Audrina and not her. He fought for someone else, and this stirs Jade's doubts further and further down the road.

I discussed in one of my previous posts that Audrina chooses to step away after learning that Jade is pregnant, but she doesn't do this because she's being the bigger person. Audrina only understands that she's lost the game. Jade had the upper hand, and there's nothing Audrina can do to level the field. This confirms that her character still hasn't grown. Her development doesn't hit its peak until Infinite Limits. Audrina Ashby, along with all the other characters, are finally able to grow into their true self.


I'll use this last day to answer a few questions you all had about Audrina:

- Yes, she and Larson are only four months apart in age. This will be fully explained in Infinite Limits, I promise.
- Five random facts about Audrina include the following: 1) When she was younger, she was actually a bit nerdy. She read a lot and didn't play outside with her brother. 2) It was Audrina that gave Kayla the idea to dare Owen to kiss Larson during Truth or Dare. 3) Owen was the first person to call Audrina by her nickname "Audi". 4) She didn't like Paxton at first. When they were younger, she thought he was annoying. 5) I always imagined Audrina's style to be girly with a bit of an edge. She wears bright colors mixed with rugged accessories. Cute dresses and torn Chuck Taylors.

If there are any other questions, please comment them! I'm still happy to answer them throughout the entire course of 10 Infinite Weeks! Don't forget, tomorrow is day 1 of Logan Brown's week! I don't have cosplay photos just yet, because I haven't set up a time to meet with the person I'm taking pictures of. I'll let you know when I do!

It's okay to be happy!


-Megan.

Audrina's iPod (#10InfiniteWeeks)

I tend to create playlists for every book I write. The songs I list are not only inspirational to the story but to the characters themselves. There are a handful of songs that are specific to a particular scene or feeling that a character is experiencing. Here are a few for Audrina Ashby:




"The Darker Days of Me and Him" 
by PJ Harvey

This song was like a sign. There are a handful of PJ's hits that I absolutely love, but when this song came to mind, I was dead-set on using it to tell Audrina's story. A friend and I recorded the guitar parts to this song to use in the Three Sixty book trailer. The sound of it felt like a march. An anthem of sorts for what Audrina was feeling. Plus the lyrics are on point. If you've read the books, and are familiar with Audi's relationship with Paxton, it should make sense to you...


Promises, promises
I'm feeling burned
You taught me a lesson
I didn't want to learn

Why did I come here?
Please tell me again
Why did you ask me?
Don't say you forget

I long for, I long for
I long for my home
I long for a land where
No man was ever known

With no neurosis
No psychosis
No psychoanalysis
And no sadness

I'll pick up the pieces
I'll carry on somehow
Tape the broken parts together
And limp this love around

"Go Your Own Way" (Cover) by Lissie 

The lyrics in this song resonate enough on their own. Again, this perfectly describes Audrina's feelings towards Paxton...

Loving you

Isn't the right thing to do

How can I ever change things that I feel?

If I could

Baby I'd give you my world

How can I

When you won't take it from me?

You can go your own way

Go your own way

You can call it another lonely day

You can go your own way

Go your own way

Tell me why

Everything turned around

Packing up

Shacking up's all you wanna do

If I could

Baby I'd give you my world

Open up

Everything's waiting for you

You can go your own way

Go your own way

You can call it another lonely day

You can go your own way

Go your own way

"The Longer I Run" by Peter Bradley Adams

The song is what plays in the back of my mind when I think about Audrina leaving town at the end of Three Sixty. She runs from the life she's created for herself, both regretting and accepting that this is how things are going to be...

When my blood runs warm with the warm red wine

I miss the life that I left behind

But when I hear the sound of the blackbirds cry

I know I left in the nick of time

Well this road I'm on's gonna turn to sand

And leave me lost in a far off land

So let me ride the wind til I don't look back

Forget the life that I almost had

If I wander til I die

May I know who's hand I'm in

If my home I'll never find

And let me live again

The longer I run

Then the less that I find

Sellin my soul for a nickel and dime

Breakin my heart to keep singing these rhymes

And losin again

The longer I run

Then the less that I find

Sellin my soul for a nickel and dime

Breakin my heart to keep singing these rhymes

And losin again

Tell my brother please not to look for me

I ain't the man that I used to be

But if my savior comes could you let him know

I've gone away for to save my soul

If I wander til I die

May I know who's hand I'm in

If my home I'll never find

And let me live again

The longer I run

Then the less that I find

Sellin my soul for a nickel and dime

Breakin my heart to keep singing these rhymes

And losin again

The longer I run

Then the less that I find

Sellin my soul for a nickel and dime

Breakin my heart to keep singing these rhymes

And losin again

Losing again

The longer I run

I'm losing again

Losing again

There are several other songs listed on the playlist involving Audrina's feelings, but I won't be able to list them all in detail. If you want to hear any of the playlists I've made, you can find them all on SoundCloud : https://soundcloud.com/megandukebooks/sets

As for the rest of the week, I have two days left for posting about Audrina Ashby. I'm going to use one of those days to answer any questions you all might have about her character, including her possible future! Let me know in the comments, or tweet me your questions! 

The final day I'll just be posting pictures and video. Thanks for following! Next week is all about Logan Brown!!!

-Megan.

Bio: Audrina Ashby (#10InfiniteWeeks)

Audrina Ashby (aka "Audi")

Pronunciation: Aww-dree-na (aka "aww-dee")

Parents - Jonathan & Abigail Ashby
Birthday - June 2nd 1995
Body Type - Short, petite
Hair - Blond

Eyes - One green, one blue (Heterochromia)

School - Foster & Allan Academy

Siblings - Larson Ashby

Crush - Paxton Graham

Car - Mercedes Benz

FACTS:

- At the very beginning of Small Circles, Audrina Ashby is a freshman at FAA. 
- At the end of Three Sixty, Audrina graduates high school in the year 2014. 
She later starts college in May at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania.

- Even thought they aren't that close, Audrina has two friends in her own grade: Taylor Mesch and Kayla Sloan.

- When she's not staying on campus at Foster and Allan Academy, she lives with her parents in Dunlap, Tennessee. 

The main storyline that follows Audrina throughout the books is her love for Paxton Graham. When she was just 15 years old, she lost her virginity to her brother's best friend. It wasn't planned, but it became a pivotal point in both of their lives. They form a lasting bond, and for Audrina, it's a friendship that's hard to shake. In Small Circles, the reader doesn't quiet understand Audrina's motives. Most of us would think Audrina is just a random girl that Paxton has kept around to hold his attention, but this is most definitely not the case. The relationship between Paxton and Audrina is brought to light in Three Sixty, showing the reader that there is an actual connection still holding them together. Audrina was there for Paxton when his father died. She was the ultimate distraction that he needed to move on from the tragedy in his life. The unfortunate part of this is when Jade comes along. Paxton realizes that a distraction isn't going to cut it anymore. He needs something real, and Audrina is not it. This breaks Audrina's heart. She feels replaced, and it's not just because the boy of her dreams has dumped her...

**SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ SMALL CIRCLES**

Before Owen's death at the end of Small Circles, we learn that Audrina was a major part of the small circle that Larson created. She was always the one invited to spend time with the three boys. She was never considered Larson's little sister; she was an actual friend. Then Jade comes along and not only takes the spotlight, but she catches Paxton's eye. Audrina has had other crushes. She's hooked up with other boys. But Paxton was always the one she came back to. After Jade, however, he's no longer there, and she doesn't know how to handle that. In Three Sixty, we see her throwing herself at Carter Walbridge. Ironically, this is Jade's younger brother. Audrina thinks that by making Paxton jealous and Jade angry at the same time, she can win back what she lost. But this plan backfires. She manages to piss off everyone instead of just Jade, and Paxton ends up in a violent scuffle with Carter.

We also know that Audrina and Larson have a very close bond. Unlike the bitter sibling rivalry that Jade and Carter share, the Ashby's are most like best friends than brother and sister. They share everything, including advice. It's a relationship I was very fond of while writing the books, and a nice contrast to the terrible way the Walbridge's treat each other.

What about Audrina Ashby stood out to you while reading the books? Did your opinion of her change from Small Circles to Three Sixty? Comment and let me know!  

-Megan.


P.S. The beautiful face of Audrina Ashby was provided by Morgan LaFave! 

The Other Ashby (#10InfiniteWeeks)

Welcome to 10 Infinite Weeks!

Today marks the first day of the first week, and we are celebrating Audrina Ashby, the slightly younger sibling of Larson Ashby. 

If you've read all three books leading up to Infinite Limits, then you know the complete story behind this particular blonde. If not, let me give you a recap.

The Ashby siblings have always been close. Doing the math, you'll come to realize that Larson and Audrina are only four months apart in age - Larson being born in February, and Audrina being born in June of that same year. I know what you're thinking: how can they have the same mother? Well, they do, and it's explained completely in Infinite Limits. 

At the beginning of Small Circles, we learn that Audrina and Larson's best friend, Paxton Graham, have been involved since the summer before. When the two characters are 15 years old, they lose their virginities to each other. The news of this breaks at dinner with all of Larson's friends at the table. Owen Spencer and Jade Walbridge take it as a shock, and as Audrina's older brother, Larson is upset. But eventually, he accepts their relationship and moves on. 

The on and off hook ups last another year or so, then Paxton sets his eyes on Jade Walbridge. She's the new girl at Foster and Allan Academy, and everyone agrees that she's beautiful mystery. Audrina begins to feel jealous and replaced. Before Jade stepped into the group, she was always the fourth wheel in her brother's small circle of friends. Now, however, Jade is the one that's invited out. Jade is the one captivating Paxton's attention. Jade is the one dating Owen, and Audrina is pushed out of the group. 

From Audrina's point of view, we begin to understand why she feels such a strong connection to Paxton and the rest of Larson's friends. In Three Sixty, her motives are revealed for what they are: she wants to belong again. 

Personally, I have always felt bad for Audrina. Most of you wouldn't after only reading the first book, but that's why I chose to write Three Sixty. I needed everyone to understand what Audrina was going through. After losing her virginity to a boy she thought was her entire world, she learns that she's not the only girl in his. It's devastating, and on top of this, she's losing her real friends. It's mentioned that Audrina has two classmates that follow her every move, Taylor and Kayla. These are not her true friends. Over the years, she grew closer with Paxton and Owen. The small gap in age difference was always the glue that held them all together. She never felt like the little sister, despite being in a different grade level. Now, they've found a girl in their own grade. She's beautiful and funny and fresh. Something completely different than what they're used to. That leaves Audrina as only one thing: the other Ashby.

At the end of Three Sixty, Audrina has a choice. She can either fight for Paxton's love, or escape his hold on her heart forever. Up until the end, she thinks she can fight, but then a major secret is revealed. Jade is pregnant, and Audrina no longer has a choice. It's been made for her. She leaves for college in another state thinking that the greater the distance between them, the easier it will be to move on. But will it?

In Infinite Limits, that's exactly what we find out.
Has Audrina successfully grown into a different person? Has she completed her 360? Will everyone find out what Jade is hiding? And what will Paxton do when he finds out?

Join me in counting down the next 10 weeks leading up to the release of the final installment to the Small Circles story!

Happy blogging!

-Megan.

Blog Tour Update

In less than one week, I'll be kicking off the 10 Infinite Weeks blog tour right here on my personal blog! The first three weeks will be hosted by myself, but after that there are seven dedicated bloggers taking the torch and leading the way with exclusive cosplay photos, video releases, interviews, and reviews! I look forward to celebrating the characters from all my books with those that follow along on the tour, and I CAN NOT WAIT to release Infinite Limits!

Week 1 of the tour starts October 5th, and our first character dedication is for Audrina Ashby!

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE :

Week 1, 2, & 3 (10/5 – 10/25) – Hosted by Megan at meganduke.blogspot.com 
Characters – Audrina Ashby, Logan Brown, & Carter Walbridge 


Week 4 (10/26 - 11/1) – Hosted by Lauren at thebookwormcornerr.blogspot.com 
Character – Charleigh McAfee from Ninety Degrees & Infinite Limits

Week 5 (11/2 - 11/8) – Hosted by Lainey at thebellebeautyblog.blogspot.com 
Character – Silas McFuller from Ninety Degrees & Infinite Limits

Week 6 (11/9 - 11/15) – Hosted by Bryce at novelstosong.com 
Character – Tucker Watson from Ninety Degrees & Infinite Limits

Week 7 (11/16 - 11/22) – Hosted by Jennifer at thebookfighters.wordpress.com
Character – Jade Walbridge from Small Circles, Three Sixty, & Infinite Limits

Week 8 (11/23 - 11/29) – Hosted by Catheryn at thebooklioness.wordpress.com & youtube.com/catherynthefangirl
Character – Owen Spencer from Small Circles

Week 9 (11/30 - 12/6) – Hosted by Jaclyn at livinginaworldofbookquotes.wordpress.com 
Character – Paxton Graham from Small Circles, Three Sixty, & Infinite Limits

Week 10 (12/7 - 12/13) – Hosted by Ana from analoves.com
Character – Larson Ashby from Small Circles, Three Sixty, & Infinite Limits