The Truth About Happily Ever After by Karole Cozzo (Blog Tour Interview & #Giveaway)


I'm welcoming Karole Cozzo to my blog today to ask some questions about her
new young adult release. Check that, the book info, and giveaway out below...

The Truth about Happily Ever After
by Karole Cozzo
Young Adult Contemporary
Hardcover & ebook, 320 Pages
May 16th 2017 by Swoon Reads

Summary

Chin up, Princess, or the crown will slip.

A theme park princess must put her life back together after her happily ever after falls apart in The Truth About Happily Ever After, a contemporary YA romance from Karole Cozzo, author of How to Keep Rolling After a Fall and How to Say I Love You Out Loud.

Everything was supposed to be perfect. Alyssa has a job she loves, working as Cinderella at her favorite theme park; a fantastic group of friends; and a boyfriend who will no longer be long distance. But as the summer progresses, her prince becomes less charming and more distant, and Alyssa’s perfect summer falls apart.

Forced to acknowledge that life is not always a fairy tale, Alyssa starts working to pull her herself back together. Fortunately, she doesn’t have to do it alone. With her friend Miller’s support, she’s determined to prove that she’s more than just a pretty princess. And with his help, maybe she’s finally ready for something better than dreams. Maybe she’s ready for something real.

(Affiliate links included, meaning I receive a small kickback when you make a purchase using my links.)

Interview

1. What inspired you to write this story about a theme-park princess?

The first time I met my fellow Swoon Reads author, Kim Karalius, we met at the Magic Kingdom. We exchanged theme-park related interview questions, and one of them started out “if you were to write a book set in a theme park…”

I got to thinking about the idea that spring, back in 2015. Theme parks are such happy, magical places, yet there’s an air of mystique that hangs over the actors that embody the beloved characters. I loved the idea of taking a behind the scenes look at theme park life. And in so many theme parks, with all those princes, princesses, and villains running around, the opportunities for romance and plot twists are plentiful!

2. Would you tell us a little about the story’s main characters?

Alyssa is a believer. She believes in fairy tales, she believes in happily ever after, and she believes that if you put good out into the world, it will come back to you. At first glance, she may seem rather shallow, but beneath her perfect exterior, she truly has a heart of gold. She’s so focused on seeing the good, she’s naïve to some of the not-so-good going on around her, and she’s crushed when her dreams don’t pan out. But it’s a wake-up call for her, and she learns to focus on substance, rather than wishes, when it comes to herself and the people she surrounds herself with.

Miller is the embodiment of the nice guy who’s used to finishing last. He’s not as perfectly polished as Alyssa, but he’s comfortable in his skin, and in that way, a role model for Alyssa as she gets to know herself all over again after heartbreak. First and foremost Miller is a great friend, and sometimes, maybe, that’s the best foundation for something more… ;)

3. What did you enjoy most about the story involving a theme park?

The story is not set in a Disney park, but the Enchanted Dominion is certainly a spin on some of those iconic parks. I enjoyed trying to capture the spirit of those parks, but beyond that, coming up with unique little spins on what already exists. One of my favorite aspects of the Enchanted Dominion is the central castle, where the dining room is divided up into different “pods” representative of each princess that lives within the kingdom. For example, the little mermaid pod has floor to ceiling aquariums and serves seafood, while the Rapunzel pod is set high up in a tower that rotates and provides three-hundred-sixty degree views of the park.

4. Do you have a favorite line from the story?

Pretty much anything Miller says could be a favorite line of mine! But if I’m being serious, I’m pretty fond of this one:

An illusion can be empowering. But sometimes an illusion can be debilitating. You stare at an illusion for too long, you stop looking for something real. Maybe you even stop remembering what it feels like.

5. Do you have a favorite theme park, and if so, why is it your favorite?

I’m a Magic Kingdom girl! I love the timelessness of that park – no matter how old you are when you walk through those gates onto Main Street, USA, the town square still looks the same, and you’re a child all over again. I truly believe it’s the happiest place on Earth, and I’m in the best mood every time I’m there. (Even at 2:00, with a child melting down on each hand… still in a good mood. Now that’s impressive!)

6. Who is your favorite princess or fairy tale character and why?

Tinkerbell – she’s feisty, stubborn, and a bit of a hot head. And she has a limitless supply of pixie dust. It’s all about the faith, trust, and pixie dust! Tink is fiercely independent and capable of anything, despite being tiny and somewhat delicate. Love that about her – she’s small but mighty.

7. If we were to get a peak at your nightstand, what books or bookish items would we find?

You’d see Big Little Lies by Liana Moriarty (for book club – Madeline makes my mom side laugh out loud, for sure) and as many Swoon Reads ARCs as I can get my hands on.

8. What are you working on next?

I can give you a hint? It’s my first dual POV project, and my main character is about as different from princess-minded Alyssa as you can imagine!

About the Author


Karole lives outside of Philadelphia, PA with her loving husband, exuberant little girl, and smiley little boy. She adores YA Romance, because it would be awesome if life in general had a requisite feel-good happy ending rule. Vices include obscene Haribo gummy consumption, addiction to Starbucks NF vanilla lattes, and tendency to hoard Bath and Body Works 3-wick candles.


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Have you read this one or will you be? What did you think of the interview?

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