Sometimes you meet someone and two seconds later think to yourself, “She is cool. Commence friendship.”
Debut author Rajdeep Paulus is one of those people. We met last November at the MacGregor Literary client seminar…she’s a load of laughs and she totally didn’t make fun of me for ordering basically a kids meal at lunch.*
And guess what! Raj’s first book just released last week. It’s called Swimming Through Clouds and is currently on my Kindle and I just want to be reading it right now. But I’m not. I’m preparing this post. Because that’s just how faithful I am. And how excited I am to promote Raj’s book.
Now, today’s post is a little different from a usual Welcome Mat Wednesday spot because it’s actually part of a larger blog tour for Raj’s book…along with another debut author’s recent release. See, here’s the cool thing: Raj has joined up with several other YA authors to form Playlist YA Fiction. Playlist releases new novels and promos each month, representing some of the best indie voices in contemporary teen fiction.
So instead of the usual fare, in today’s post, I just want to encourage everyone to check out Raj’s book…and Playlist too.
Addendum: I totally meant to do a video intro for this post. But I got caught in the rain yesterday AND got home late AND really, I just have way too much compassion on everyone to go on camera the way I was looking by the end of the day yesterday. BUT here’s the happy news: Raj is coming back to the blog in coming months for an actual interview…at which time I will totally have a video, wet hair or not, smeary mascara or not, rain or shine!
About Swimming Through Clouds:
I live in the in between. Between what if and what is. It’s how I manage. It’s the only way I know. Everyone has their way. This is mine.
When high school, cell phone disruption forces a classroom ban, the words on a Post-it note spark a sticky romance between two unlikely friends. Transfer student Talia Vanderbilt has one goal at her new school: to blend in with the walls. Lagan Desai, basketball captain and mathlete, would do just about anything to befriend the new girl. One Post-it note at a time, Lagan persuades Talia to peel back her heart, revealing her treasure chest of pain—an absent mother, a bedridden brother, and an abusive father. In a world where hurt is inevitable, the two teens search for a safe place to weather the storms of life. Together.
About Rajdeep:
Rajdeep decided to be a writer during her junior year in high school after her English teacher gave her an “F” but told her she had potential. She studied English Literature at Northwestern University, and she writes masala-marinated, Young Adult Fiction, blogging weekly at InSearchofWaterfalls.com.
Swimming Through Clouds Fun Fact:
Melissa here: Your painted walls sound awesome, Raj. You should invite me over. I’m just saying…
The Swimming Through Clouds Playlist:
“Girls on Fire” by Alicia Keys
“Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars
“Truly Madly Deeply” by Savage Garden (Note from Melissa: AHHH, I am suddenly at a high school dance again!!)
Check out the rest of Raj’s Swimming Through Clouds playlist here.
Raj and fellow author Laura Anderson Kurk are doing a Rafflecopter giveaway as part of their virtual book tour. SOOO…be sure to enter. And don’t miss out on the rest of the blog tour stops listed below. And at the bottom, check out the puzzle pic–part of a building puzzle graphic on each stop of the blog tour.
⬅YOU ARE HERE!
Comments 26
Melissa,
Thanks for introducing us to Rajdeep! Her book sounds so interesting — and, on a personal level, it’s nice to find someone else who doesn’t enjoy gardening!
Hi Beth!! & Fellow not-so-green-thumber! 🙂
You have given me permission to buy a few roses. Plastic ones. That always stay bloomed! ha.
🙂
-raj
Yay, I’m not a gardener either. But that’s because I currently don’t really have a yard. And because I know nothing about gardening. But I do have a few plants I’ve managed to keep alive for years. Does that count?
I will have to check out Rajdeep’s book. Anyone who gets that adventurous with a paintbrush has got to put something interesting on the page, too! 😉
Hi Anne!
I like walls b/c you never have to worry ’bout coloring outside the lines. Just the floor. Ceiling. Furniture. Yeah. Still a messy job, but fun-messy! And thanks for the pre-read shoutout. 🙂
-raj
I love painting walls, Raj. Is that weird? But I do…
Enjoy Raj’s book, Anne!
Loved meeting Rajdeep! And so agree with Beth. I.DO.NOT.Like.Gardening. My one experience with it consisted of 16 rows 100 feet long. (My husband thought big)
Going now to check out Rajeep book.
Hi Patricia!
Yeah! Love meeting all these NO-GROW but can STILL-go with the-FLOW peeps on your blog, Melissa! Holy Carrot-oli! That’s a massive first endeavor. And… I’m guessing the garden is now the home of a very pretty red barn. 🙂
-Thanks for checking out Swimming Through Clouds. -raj
Oh my goodness…well if you’re going to garden, I guess why not go big, right?
Raj, Holy Carrot-oli is going to be my new catch phrase from this point on…
Hi, Raj! Hi, Mel! *waves* Congrats on the book release, girl! Sounds like you’re having fun doing your marketing thang. 😉 Hope to see you at ACFW again.
Hi Lindsay!! *me waving*
Thanks!! Marketing. Fun? For the most part, just wish I didn’t need to sleep, feed kids, listen to the hubby and write more books. Then, marketing would be a blast, cuz that’s all I’d do.
ACFW. Still on the fence.
Always nice to see your smiling face!
-raj
Waving back, Linz.
And Raj…you should totally come to ACFW. Because…it’s fun! And I’ll be there!
Tagg, are we at the same high school dance? I think we are!
Since I am a huge fan of YA…huge, huge, huge, I am going straight to my Kindle. Looks awesome! Nice to meet you, Raj!
We are at the same dance. And we’re dancing awkwardly with high school boys with an arm’s length between us. Or maybe that was more middle school dance experience.
TRUE STORY: In sixth grade on Valentine’s Day my school actually had a dance at the end of the day and they used a computer program to couple us up. I’m not even joking. And you had to go to the dance because it was actually part of the school day. WHO DOES THAT? What school personnel actually thought forced pairings of sixth graders was a good idea?!
NOOO! You’re school is the proto-type for all things ON-Line Dating. I knew it!
Melissa, on a serious note (is that possible? Ok. I’ll try!)
Thanks so much for carving out a little space for me and my writing dream come true! Been swimming all week. In tears from all the sweet shoutouts to my book and my first dive into the publishing world.
Excited about your soon to be first Dive. Hey! We can say 2013 was the year we took the Plunge! Togetha! Made to Last is on my list for September!
And looking forward to coming back and hanging out with you here… and yes, maybe even at ACFW! 🙂
*HUGS*
raj
Yeah, my school was ahead of its time, apparently. The internet was barely a thing back then! We had to fill out these forms about favorite colors and food and stuff like that for it to determine our date. I actually remember getting my form back, seeing the guy’s name there and thinking, ‘Well, it could be worse, I guess.” HA! I hope I didn’t say it out loud though…wouldn’t have been nice to Cory So-and-So.
And of COURSE I would carve out time for you to be on the blog. So happy to have you here. And yes, 2013 is our year. YAY! Hugs!
Hi Jessica!!
YaY for YA fans!! Great to meet you too, Cyberly speaking! 🙂
Enjoy Swimming!
-raj
What a terrific title and gorgeous cover! The book sounds incredible, too! Thanks, Melissa, for hosting (although I’m missing that smeary mascara and drippy hair video…)!
Hi Jill!
Thanks so much for the cover shoutout! Can’t lie. I’m sorta kinda reeeeeeally in love with it!! 🙂
And yes, Melissa is da bomb! Smears and all! 🙂
-raj
Ha, Jill, well…maybe I wil get caught in the rain the night before Raj’s next appearance on the blog and will be able to accommodate with smeary mascara and drippy hair…you never know…
I’m “off” the blogosphere this week, but had to stop in and say hi to Raj! I love the premise of your book. Can’t wait to read it and spread the word!! 🙂
Hello, Melissa!! I love your Welcome Mat Wednesdays–video or not!
Thanks!!
That was awfully nice of you to step back in just to say hi and leave that sweet comment!
Made my day! 🙂
-raj
Yay, thanks for popping in, Gabe!
Hey, Melissa! Thanks for the perfect shout out about Raj’s awesome debut! Can’t wait for everyone to read it!
Laura, you’re so welcome and hey, congrats to you on your recent book release too. I’ve heard Raj rave about it, so it’s going in the must-read pile. 🙂
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