Paxton and Larson (#10InfiniteWeeks)

This will be my final post for the 10 Infinite Weeks blog tour! It's finally week 10, which means Infinite Limits comes out NEXT WEEK! I am on the edge of my seat waiting for you all to be able to read it!

Since I didn't have time to post about Paxton last week, I've decided to post about Paxton and Larson together. More or less, I'll be discussing their friendship.

We know that Paxton met Larson in elementary school. Their connection locked over a blue crayon and a sweater vest. What more can I say, right? Well, most of you that have read the series might think that Larson and Pax's friendship is a bit odd. They are very different. But for some reason it works. Really, it was Larson's extension to offer family that Paxton was so open to. Before, we know that Paxton didn't have the best home life. He didn't have a mother. His father was never around. And he had an arm's length relationship with his grandmother that did most of the providing. When Larson becomes his friend, he's brought into the Ashby home. He sees what a real family could be. Even if it's slightly screwed up in its own ways. I mentioned in previous posts that Paxton's connection with Jade is a healthy one, because she pushes him to face his problems instead of avoid them. That's sort of what Larson does as well. But instead of the girlfriend, his role is the best friend.

We first see the nature of their interactions at the beginning of Small Circles. Paxton is smoking a cigarette, and Larson plucks it from his fingers to remind him that he doesn't need to get another detention. It's those sort of moments that show Larson is there to guide Paxton. We all know he doesn't make the best choices. Let's be real. Paxton chooses (whether subconsciously or not) to surround himself with people that will push him in the right direction. Owen, too. He's a great influence on Paxton. It's the relationship that starts with Audrina that really throws him off. Derails him in a way from the path his should have been on.

It's sort of ironic that when 3 people in Paxton's life die, he assumes the worst. He thinks that the people still there are going to leave too. He pushes Jade away, thinking that eventually she'll just abandon him eventually. He distances himself from Larson because he thinks Silas will take his place. It's almost like he forgets that Larson is there. He complains about being alone and depressed and whatever, but he can't see that Larson has always been there. He's always been a friend, first and foremost. Eventually, this is something that Paxton will have to come to terms with. He will have to understand, first hand, that some people are never going to leave him.

As for Larson, he may act confident and tough all the time, but deep down he really cherishes the camaraderie he's found in his life. His friends are extremely important. That was one of the things that made Larson and Owen so similar. They were both very loyal to their friends. Owen was a bit more open about his willingness to listen and be the guy to lean on. Larson had those qualities too, it was just harder to expose. We see it mostly with Paxton - the person he's known the longest. Between the two of them, the reader can really see a true friendship that's grown solid and strong over time.


Welp. I think that's going to be it for me.  Follow the rest of this week with Ana over at analoves.com
On the Thursday, she will be revealing the final trailer for Infinite Limits, so be sure and check out her blog for the link! I'm also planning to do a live stream with her at some point this week, so stay tuned!

-Megan.

(Josh Brown as Larson Ashby / Drew Taylor as Paxton Graham)

Owen's iPod (#10InfiniteWeeks)

I present to you... 

a handful of songs that inspired Owen's character and struggles.

I'm just going to let you all sit on these. Take some time to read over the lyrics and tell me what you think. (All Lyrics from AZlyrics.com)

1) "Keep Your Head Up"

Keep your mind set, keep your hair long.

Oh my my darlin' keep your head up, keep your heart strong.

No no no no, keep your mind set in your ways, keep your heart strong.

I saw a friend of mine the other day,

And he told me that my eyes were gleamin'.

Oh I said I had been away, and he knew,

Oh he knew the depths I was meanin'.

And it felt so good to see his face,

Or the comfort invested in my soul.

Oh to feel the warmth of a smile,

When he said "I'm happy to have you home.

Ooh I'm happy to have you home."

Yeah, keep your head up, keep your heart strong.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

Keep your mind set, keep you hair long.

Oh my my darlin', keep your head up, keep you heart strong.

No no no no, keep your mind set in your ways,

Keep your heart strong.

'Cause I'll always remember you the same.

Oh eyes like wild flowers within demons of change.

May you find happiness there,

May all your hopes all turn out right.

Ooh may you find happiness there,

May you find warmth in the middle of the night.

Yeah, keep your head up, keep your heart strong.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

Keep your mind set, keep you hair long.

Oh my my darlin', keep your head up, keep you heart strong.

No no no no, keep your mind set in your ways,

Keep your heart strong.

'Cause I'll always remember you the same.

Oh eyes like wild flowers within demons of change.

2) "Please Don't Say You Love Me"

Summer comes, winter fades
Here we are just the same
Don't need pressure, don't need change
Let's not give the game away
There used to be an empty space
A photograph without a face
But with your presence, and your grace
Everything falls into place
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that
There's no need to worry when you see just where we're at
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Heavy words are hard to take
Under pressure precious things can break
And how we feel is hard to fake
So let's not give the game away
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that
There's no need to worry when you see just where we're at
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
And fools rush in
And I've been the fool before
This time I'm gonna slow it down
'Cause I think this could be more
The thing I'm looking for
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that
There's no need to worry when you see just where we're at
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that
There's no need to worry when you see just where we're at
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back

3) "Sooner Or Later"

We're all standing with our backs against the wall, Sooner or later
Waiting on a phone that never calls, at all
Heartbreak comes Rollin in like a storm, Sooner or later
Trying to swim but your sinking like a stone, Alone
and I can feel fire in the night
Waiting here
Baby its like we're
Walking on a wire thru the fear
Take my hand
We'll get there
Sooner or later I swear we're gonna make it, we're gonna make it,
Sooner or later I swear we're gonna make it, we're gonna make it
Milk and honey till we get our fill
I'll keep chasing it I always will
Sooner or later I swear
We'll make it there
Sooner than later
We're all waiting on dream thats hard to own, Sooner or later
trying to feel the high without the low, you know
you can feel fire in the night
lying here
Baby its like we're
Walking on a wire thru the fear
Take my hand
We'll get there
the fear inside
the hills we've climbed
the tears this side of heaven
all these dreams inside of me
i swear were gonna get there

4) "Ordinary Love"

I don't wanna be no star
Have fame on the Boulevard
No that's not what I'm looking for
I don't need shiny things
Or love from a movie screen
But I tell you what I really want
Oh oh, oh oh gimme an ordinary love
That I touch
That I hold
Gimme an ordinary love
I don't live in the hills
And I probably never will
But that won't keep me up at night
Cause she's dancing like a fool
Across my living room
Whenever I'm with you
my heart is singing
Oh oh gimme an ordinary love
That I touch
That I hold
Gimme an ordinary love
Keep those fancy things
Keep your magazine
I don't even want what I'm chasing
because all I know isn't ordinary love is what we're made for
Oh oh, oh oh gimme an ordinary love
That I touch
That I hold
Gimme an ordinary love
Oh oh, oh oh gimme an ordinary love
That I touch
That I hold
Gimme an ordinary love
Gimme an ordinary love
Yeah gimme an ordinary love

-Megan.

Lowen (#10InfiniteWeeks)

Owen Spencer was born in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. His parents split when he was very young, but his home life was never affected by it. His mother and father remained friends, which allowed Owen to have an equally close relationship with both of them. He lived with his father and step-mother before attending Foster & Allan Academy in his seventh grade year. This is when Owen was introduced to the Ashby's for the first time.

It's a well known fact amongst Small Circles readers that this was the pivotable moment that forever connected Owen and Larson. Owen stands up for Larson against a group of guys on the lacrosse team. They had been teasing and taunting Larson for a long time, but when they finally get the balls to call him offensive names to his face, Owen steps in. It's this that seals the boys' friendship in Paxton's eyes. Owen is accepted into the group as an equal, and from then on out they are inseparable.

As Owen grows up, he's faced with the idea that he might be different than his friends. He knows that Larson obviously likes boys, and it's just as obvious that Paxton likes girls. But what makes Owen so different is that he doesn't quite know what he likes. He doesn't really like girls, but there aren't any boys he finds attractive either. Except for one. After Larson's birthday party, the two share a moment that forever changes how Owen views his openly gay best friend. One of Audrina's friends dares Owen to kiss Larson during a game of Truth or Dare. He does, but instead of just shrugging it off as mission accomplished, it lingers with him. He feels something. And so does Larson.

Over time, it's the need to explore this new territory that leads Owen to believe that he might possibly be falling for his best friend. But he doesn't publicly acknowledge it. Not by any means. He eventually decided to give in to his need to be with Larson, but only in private. He hides their relationship, which in turn puts a strain on it. Larson's love for the other boy grows so deep and so strong that he suggests coming out as a couple to their friends. Owen refuses. There's a part of him that still can't believe he's gay. To him, there's no proof, other than this one connection with Larson. He's never wanted any other boys. He's never felt "feminine". But over time, he realizes that's not what love is about.

After a long time apart, Larson is the one to convince Owen that love is not about labels. Slapping a definition on who he is isn't going to make either of them feel any better. I was completely moved by Owen and Larson's relationship. It was very important to me to shed light on a character like Owen in my books. Not everyone knows exactly who they are when growing up. Sometimes it's not about gender or sexuality. Sometimes it's just about the connection. And that's what happens with Owen. He falls in love with his best friend, because there's no one else. For Owen, Larson was it. And even though his life was cut short, it was full because he was loved back.


-Megan.

Owen Spencer (#10InfiniteWeeks)

It's week 8 of the Infinite Limits blog tour! Again, I stress how crazy fast this whole thing has blown by. I was already stressing over everyone getting advanced copies, but soon the whole world will be able to read it. Man. No pressure.

This week was originally going to be hosted by Catheryn from The Book Lioness (Blogger & Youtube). Also known as DeathbyFandxms on Instagram. She was unable to take over this week, so I am hosting in her place! And, on Tuesday, Jaclyn from Living in a World of Book Quotes will be posting on her page as well!

Most of you know Owen Spencer. He's our favorite all-American boy next door that we've fallen in love with from Small Circles. If you've made it this far into the tour, there's no point in me hiding spoilers. We all know what happens. And as sad as it is to talk about, Owen's death is what really shapes the series. In Three Sixty and Infinite Limits, readers really get to experience the aftermath of this terrible tragedy. Even if you only chose to read Small Circles, you're left with a sense of hope that everything will eventually be okay. I did that on purpose, and in a very blunt way. Mostly, because Small Circles was supposed to be a stand alone novel. I've explained in previous posts why I chose to continue the story, but after I made that decision, I realized that it would be a great opportunity to explore how each other the characters are actually dealing with the fact that Owen's gone. Each of them faces their grief in different ways, but to me, it was interesting to watch it all unfold first hand.

Owen's character serves as a rock. He is the reality that slaps his friends in the face, keeping them humble and grounded. Whenever there's a problem, Owen is usually the one everyone turns to for advice and comfort. I think that's why it's so hard for them once he's gone. They don't know what to do. The one person they always confided in isn't there to help anymore. Especially with Larson. Not only did he lose a friend, but a soulmate.

Was that the case though?

Was Owen the one person Larson was meant to be with? Or was Owen meant to die, allowing Silas to be in Larson's life? Then again, could Larson have ended up with Silas no matter what the outcome? Maybe Owen was just the push Larson needed to open his heart and experience real love for the first time. Even I don't know what could have happened between them if the accident didn't stand in the way. It's something I've thought about a lot, but will never really know the answer to.

I do know this: every character in the series was touched by Owen at point or another. I think that's what makes him so special. When Paxton's father died, Owen was the one that drove two+ hours to make sure he was okay. He was the one that realized Audrina's feelings for Paxton in the beginning and told her to stay strong. He was the one that gave Jade a chance and showed her how to be beautiful, not just desirable. He was the one that captured Larson's heart. He was the one that moved us.

Tomorrow I'll be posting a little more about Owen's history and family life. Tuesday, you can find Jaclyn's post on her blog. I will not be posting on Thanksgiving, because I will be stuffing my face and taking a nap. As the rest of you should also be doing. I'll also have more pictures and some special video to share with you all for the rest of Owen's week.

It's okay to be happy!

-Megan.


P.S. Owen Spencer portrayed by Austin Blythe.

Jade Walbridge (#10InfiniteWeeks)

We are now on week 7 of the Limits Limits blog tour! It's crazy how fast it's blown by! Before we know it, it'll be December 16th and Infinite Limits will be available for the world! Yay!

Until then, we still have four more characters to discuss. The four most important ones, in my opinion, because they are the ones that started it all. Jade, Owen, Paxton, and Larson. This week is dedicated to Jade Walbridge, and the lovely Jennifer from The Book Fighters is represented with full reviews of all the books, an interview, and lots more! But if you're interested in a little more, stick around to hear what I have to say on this blog. I did create the characters after all...

When I first started drafting ideas for a coming of age novel, I thought Jade was going to be my main character. I had already come up with her entire physical description, as well as her personality and hobbies. I knew who she was, but not what her story would be. Then, several months later, the idea for Small Circles struck me. Along with the character Larson Ashby. When I thought about Larson, I knew his two closest friends would be boys. However, he needed a girl in his life. Without meaning to, Larson sought Jade out on her first day of class. He recruited her, in all honesty, because he wanted someone like her on his side.

Jade Walbridge is originally from Boston. It's mentioned in the books that her freshman year of high school was not one for the record books. She makes some poor decisions and gets involved with the wrong type of boys, thinking their attention is what really matters. After naked pictures of Jade are leaked throughout the school, Jade takes her parents up on a previous offer to attend Foster and Allan Academy. Leaving for boarding school is the traditional way most teens in novels escape their problems. Or, in some cases, it's where their problems begin. Jade intended to start over. And she did. For the most part. But when she's first introduced to Paxton, she fears her reputation might precede her. He's the perfect bad boy that she loves. And the best part? He's screwed up. Jade is good at fixing other people's problems. So, when she realizes that Paxton's issues are deeper than angst and irritability, she jumps in.

Throughout Small Circles, Jade sees just how troubled Paxton is. She also sees that someone else is competing for his affection. From the get-go, Audrina views Jade as a threat. Jade doesn't quite understand why this blonde hates her so much, but she eventually recognizes it to be jealousy. The scuffles between the two girls doesn't hit it's peak until Three Sixty. This is when a direct threat is brought against Audrina's place in Paxton's life. ***SPOILER ALERT*** Jade's pregnancy does a number on everyone, not just Audrina. Even Larson is affected by the news, sensing the separation the aftermath causes. But what most readers aren't expecting is how much this affects Jade. She is the one that has to actually BE PREGNANT. In the beginning of Infinite Limits, we'll see exactly what's going through her mind, and telling Paxton is a huge start...

I've already discussed Jade's relationship with her brother, Carter. And we know about the dynamic between Jade and Larson. The only other person that's majorly important is Owen. Most of you might not think they were close, but if you recall, they dated. For like... a year. Or more. I don't remember. BUT, Jade was the first person Owen came out to, besides Larson. She saw the loves between the boys with her own eyes, and that moment was a critical point in their friendship. Even after, Jade feels a special connection to Owen. That's why when Larson introduces Silas to everyone in Three Sixty, Jade is the one to take it the worst. She almost feels protective over Owen, even after he's gone. And it's because he confided in her at such a vulnerable time in his life.

I haven't posted on my blog about Silas McFuller, but that's because Lainey from The Belle Beauty Blog did such a fabulous job during her week of the tour, and I didn't feel the need to add anything. Not that everyone else's posts were terrible. I've just been feeling chatty. If there's anything specific you guys want to know about ANY of the characters, never shy away from messaging or commenting your questions!

I hope everyone is having a lovely week! And don't forget, you can pre-order Infinite Limits on Kindle now! Paperbacks will be available December 16th!

It's okay to be happy!

-Megan.

P.S. Jade Walbridge was portrayed by Priya Pappu.

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.

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