The time it was about This is Our Story

I’ve loved Ashley Elston and her words since her very first book, The Rules for Disappearing and it’s safe to say that I will read anything she puts out.  When I got my greedy hands on This is Our Story, I devoured it and couldn’t wait to talk about it with other readers. Oh and Rachel and I are officially unofficially co-captains for Ashley’s fan club.

So when it came time for the blog tour, I couldn’t sign up fast enough. Before we get to Ashley’s interview, let’s check out the book.

Title: This is Our Story
Author: Ashley Elston
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 320
Pub date: 11/15/16
Find it: IndieBound | B&N | Amazon | Goodreads

No one knows what happened that morning at River Point. Five boys went hunting. Four came back. The boys won’t say who fired the shot that killed their friend; the evidence shows it could have been any one of them.

Kate Marino’s senior year internship at the District Attorney’s Office isn’t exactly glamorous—more like an excuse to leave school early that looks good on college applications. Then the DA hands her boss, Mr. Stone, the biggest case her small town of Belle Terre has ever seen. The River Point Boys are all anyone can talk about. Despite their damning toxicology reports the morning of the accident, the DA wants the boys’ case swept under the rug. He owes his political office to their powerful families.

Kate won’t let that happen. Digging up secrets without revealing her own is a dangerous line to walk; Kate has her own reasons for seeking justice for Grant. As she and Stone investigate—the ageing prosecutor relying on Kate to see and hear what he cannot—she realizes that nothing about the case—or the boys—is what it seems. Grant wasn’t who she thought he was, and neither is Stone’s prime suspect. As Kate gets dangerously close to the truth, it becomes clear that the early morning accident might not have been an accident at all—and if Kate doesn’t uncover the true killer, more than one life could be on the line…including her own.

Sounds good, right? {Hint it’s amaaaaaazing!}

1. Please give the elevator pitch for This is Our Story.

After a late night of partying and drinking, five boys decide to go on an early morning hunt but only four come out alive.

2. Where did the idea come from?

Probably from a combination of places. My critique partner, Elle Cosimano, was visiting and my mom called to complain about being selected for jury duty. She waited around for days only to get kicked off because the prosecutor didn’t want her since my dad (her ex-husband) was a local attorney. Elle and I started talking about how crazy it was that a case really comes down to who is presenting it and who is on the jury judging it. Then I mentioned that I worked for my dad in high school. I had a work pass so my senior year I got out of school every day at noon and went to his office. It was really cool getting a “behind the scenes” look at the what goes on with a case. Elle said, “That’s your next story.”

3. Why do you love Kate and why should we root for her?

I love Kate because she’s smart and she sees the world a little differently than most. She’s also loyal and a good friend. Kate starts out seeing things very black and white but as the story progresses, she realizes that things are really more gray. She makes some choices that aren’t right but they are for the right reasons.

4. Throughout the book, there is an anonymous and deliciously creepy POV from one of the boys.  What made you include his POV and was he easy or hard to work with?

The opening with his POV was the first thing I wrote. I knew I wanted to open the book with the morning of the hunt, right after one member of the hunting party is shot. And I knew I didn’t want the reader to know who he was. Even though I didn’t know where this book was going right away, I had his voice. He was so fun to write! What’s crazy is I didn’t decide which one of the River Point boys he was until I’d written about 75% of the book.

5. Without spoilers, were there any scenes you had to cut that you wish could have stayed?

Hmm… that’s hard to say without spoiling. I did have a couple of kissing scenes that I sort of combined into one. I do like the kissing scenes.

Speed [ish] round:

1. What book do you wish you could read again for the first time?

Finnikin of the Rock. I adore that entire series.

2. What book character would you want to date and who would you want to be your BFF?

Date: Jon Snow. No question.

BFF: Inigo Montoya. I mean, the best BFF is the one who has your back like that.

3. What is the one thing about publishing you wish someone would have told you?

“It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” Someone did tell me this, I just wish I would have listened.

4. You wake up and discover you are Bella in Twilight. You know how it plays out. What do you do differently? {Huge thanks to Bookish Broads for letting me use this question}

I don’t think I would change a single thing.

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Ashley Elston lives is North Louisiana with her husband, three sons and two cats. She worked as a wedding and portrait photographer for ten years until she decided to pursue writing full time.  Ashley is also a certified landscape horticulturist and loves digging in the dirt.

Her books THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING, THE RULES FOR BREAKING and the upcoming THIS IS OUR STORY have all been published by Disney Hyperion.

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Huge thanks to Irish Banana Tours for the invite and to Ashley for taking the time. Make sure you’re checking out her website, following her on Twitter and Instagram, and adding all of her books to your Goodreads TBR.

If you’ve already pre-ordered the book {or you plan on it}, go here for an awesome pre-order giveaway that Ashley has put together. It includes a swag pack and giveaways for US and INT readers.

Definitely check out the rest of the tour for extra goodies and keep scrolling for a giveaway!!

Tour Schedule:
Week 1:
11/7: Bookiemoji – Review
11/8: The Book Addict’s Guide – Book Scents
11/9: Fiction Fare – Review
11/10: Adventures of a Book Junkie – Q&A
11/11: Caught Read Handed – Review

Week 2:
11/14: The Irish Banana Review – Fast 5
11/15: Addicted 2 Novels – Review
11/16: In Wonderland – Guest Post
b>11/17: Ex Libris – Review
11/18: The Fake Steph – Top 10

**Good Luck!!**

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