Annette Mackey is an independent author based out of the Midwest. Her debut novel, Class Collision chronicles the life of two complete opposites during the Great Depression. David was born of privilege, but lost it all when he was kidnapped and left for dead. Linda is stubborn and beautiful, and has no idea David is wealthier than anyone she's ever met. The coming-of-age tale resonates with more genres than one, and Annette is already hard at work on the sequel in this new FALL FROM GRACE series, Phoenix Rising. 

1. Your book is set during the Great Depression. What made you choose that particular time period?

The premise for “Class Collision” relies upon financial change, so setting the story during the Great Depression worked nicely. At the beginning of the book, David is spoiled rotten, oozing with perfection, and a complete snob. He’s the epitome of everything fabulous and it makes most people hate him. In writing this book, I wanted to get people thinking. Society focuses so much on physical and monetary superiority, but deep down inside, most people don’t really believe that’s what matters most. David represents all of this, and it’s not until he faces challenges that he realizes the value in other people. That’s when he becomes a truly loveable character.

2. Who is your favorite character in the book, and why?

There’s no surprise here. David is my favorite character. I love creating flawed, complex, and unpredictable individuals. However, a surprise to readers might be that I love Elizabeth’s character. Originally, “Class Collision: Fall From Grace” was written with 150,000 words, which I stripped down to 116,000 for publication. In the original version, I was able to spend more time on all the characters, especially Elizabeth. I was disappointed that I couldn’t keep all of that information when I went to press. If I had, the book would have cost $25. Obviously, that wasn’t realistic, so – drat – a lot of details had to go. Since there was some confusion between my publisher, and me, I didn’t realize the book was over priced until after the final edit. Meaning, that I was cutting after the editing process was over, hence the occasional typo.

3. What inspires you to sit down and write a story?

I write constantly, whether it’s brainstorming or at my computer. I can’t seem to stop, though I’ve never considered publication until recently. My family has been bugging me for years to publish my stories, but it wasn’t until after my daughter’s high school AP English class read “Class Collision,” that I decided to move forward with it. The student’s response was overwhelming. I was deeply touched. Sometimes when I get discouraged, I try to remember what readers have said, and it helps me to keep going. But, I’ll never stop writing, even if it’s just for myself. I love it.

4. You have the choice to be ridiculously wealthy and miserable, or penniless and happy...which do you choose, and why?

I would definitely choose happiness. That’s basically what “Class Collision” is about; going from miserable to happy without a cent to your name. In the book, Linda becomes David’s whole heart and soul. Without her, life would be meaningless. And yet, he would never have given her a second thought had he not lost his family and home. They are from completely different worlds. After fighting his feelings for a year, his love for Linda becomes so consuming that he is willing to do practically anything. And that’s exactly what it comes down to.

5. Describe Class Collision in 6 words or less, please!

“What’s the value of a person?” Not that I have the answer. I’m just posing the question.

6. You can only write in one genre for the rest of your life. What would it be, and why?

Love stories! Life revolves around love, and so do my books. Everything I write has a love story in it. To me, that’s the very best part!

7. Is there anything else you would like to share with your readers and fans?

The sequel, “Class Collision: Phoenix Rising,” is in the editing phase right now, and, yes, I’ve double-checked the word count. I’m hoping to make it available by spring 2011. Since World War II follows the Great Depression, you can expect David’s life to get even messier. On a side note, my small group of test readers has unanimously agreed that “Phoenix Rising” is even better than “Fall From Grace.” That made me pretty happy since I’m really proud of “Fall From Grace.” Needless to say, the conclusion is pretty intense. All lingering questions are answered when David’s past meets up with his present in a colossal boom. Poor Linda is caught in the middle and David has to finally verbalize what he’s known all along.

Annette, thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions! To those who would like to read my review of Class Collision, click here. If you would like to be included in the US tour of Class Collision, please leave me your email in your comment, and I will contact you with details!

Title: Class Collision

Author: Annette Mackey

Publisher: Outskirts Press

Published: Aug. 13, 2010
Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 283

Source: Author

What if you didn't know your boyfriend was worth millions?

Born into wealth and privilege, David spends his days rattling the servants and torturing the maid until he is kidnapped for ransom and left for dead. Grueling years follow until he meets Linda. She's sassy, pigheaded, beautiful and way more than he can possibly handle. Hate, love and passion combine as he tries to win her heart. She sees him as a drifter. Little does she know he's a prince in disguise.

Taken from Goodreads.

Class Collision follows the story of David, born into a life of privilege, wealth, and notoriety – that is, until it’s all whisked away in an instant. David is kidnapped, held captive, then left for dead…but he doesn’t die. He survives and learns to live in his new life. It’s tedious, but it works. Then he meets Linda. Linda is gorgeous and precocious, thinks David is penniless, and for some reason, David is completely taken with her. Can the two find love in the uncertain times of the Great Depression, or will their collective secrets tear them apart before they truly connect?

I have a fascination with the time period of the Great Depression, so when I heard the setting of Class Collision, I was extremely excited to give it a go. Author, Annette Mackey has created a rich coming-of-age story that asks the age-old question – can money buy you happiness? Alive with detail and flowing prose, the story is filled to the brim with morals and values without ever feeling preachy or tedious. Rather, Class Collision lets love drive the plot of the story.

I’ll admit I didn’t know a thing about Class Collision when I first picked it up, but that didn’t hinder the story a single bit. David plays the likeable protagonist well, and we watch his transformation from a spoiled and arrogant child into a young man of integrity and grace. Linda’s transformation is slower and more defined, but every bit as poignant as David’s. Their journey to ultimate self-discovery of one another fuels the plot and value of Class Collision, breathing life into the story. There were a few spots that were a bit too descriptive for my taste, but overall, the balance between characters and plot was flawless. I also have to be nit-picky and say that I really dislike the cover...that said, the story far exceeds the cover.

I was definitely pleasantly surprised by just how beautiful Class Collision was. I give it a very strong 4.5 out of 5, and I am definitely going to read the sequel in the Fall From Grace series, called Phoenix Rising. I would recommend this to both a YA and adult audience, especially for those who enjoy coming-of-age stories, contemporary fiction, and historical fiction.

I received this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here are the rules: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page, and BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

It was the facial hair that really gave it away. At sixteen, he hoped that his dirty face would add a couple of years since his scruffy chin was sure to speak the truth.
Class Collision by Annette Mackey

And now, for my Tuesday Teaser...For those of you who don't know, I do my Tuesday Teasers differently (and yes, I add this disclaimer every time). Each week, I feature two sentences (or more) of something I've written, leave it up all day, then remove it around 11 PM. You're welcome to comment on it, love it, hate it, or simply read it at your leisure...if you'd like, of course. This week's teaser is from my current WIP, RACE.

The Tuesday Teaser is down! Check back next week for more :)

In My Mailbox is an amazing weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren that features the books we have received during the week. It's so much fun because we get to see what our fellow bloggers stumbled upon this week and add even more to our piles of books! Without further ado, this week I received the following books:

Class Collision - (For Review - Thank you, Annette Mackey) - Born into wealth and privilege, David spends his days rattling the servants and torturing the maid until he is kidnapped for ransom and left for dead. Grueling years follow until he meets Linda. She’s sassy, pigheaded, beautiful and way more than he can possibly handle. Hate, love and passion combine as he tries to win her heart. She sees him as a drifter. Little does she know he’s a prince in disguise. Set during the Great Depression, Class Collision will transport you to a simpler time filled with heartache and unexpected love.

Wonderland - (ARC For Review - Thank you, Candlewick Press) - Sixteen-year-old Jude has to get out of tiny Churchtown. She has to escape her outcast status and her pathetic dad, who hasn’t gotten past her mother’s death. The one bright light is drama, her way out, if only she can get into the Lab, a prestigious program in London. Then Stella, Jude’s childhood best friend, swaggers in after years away. With bold and magnetic Stella by her side, Jude knows she’s capable of anything. But Stella’s influence extends well beyond the theater. Soon Stella’s wild and dangerous streak begins to cause trouble for Jude -- yet Jude can’t bring herself to abandon Stella and the attention she’s always craved.

Trapped - (ARC For Review - Thank you, Scholastic) - The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive....Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision....

What did you get in your mailbox this week? Leave me a link, and I'll be sure to check it out! Also, sorry for the hideous screencap at the start of my vid...I swear youtube is out to get me!

Click HERE to enter my international blogoversary giveaway - ends Dec. 17th!