Please help me give a big Hoosblog welcome to Brandy Woods Snow!
Brandy Woods Snow is an author and journalist born, raised, and currently living in beautiful Upstate South Carolina. She earned a BA in English/Writing from Clemson University and worked in corporate communications and the media for nearly two decades before pursuing her true passion of writing novels brimming with Southern culture, twisted family dynamics, young love, and deep-diving emotions.
When Brandy’s not writing, reading, spending time with her husband or driving carpool for her three kids, she enjoys kayaking, family hikes, yelling “Go Tigers!” as loud as she can, playing the piano, and taking “naked” Jeep Wrangler cruises on country roads.
Tell us about your book!
I’m just coming out of that weird place that many authors don’t enjoy talking about—last year I parted ways with my publisher, took back my rights, and self-published my books at the end of last year. If I said the past year had been easy, well that would be a lie—I mean, Covid, right?—and then the great migration to the world of indie publishing on top of that. But looking back now, I see clearly that there is indeed a silver lining in the storm, and I’m ready to forge ahead. I have (at least) two new books coming out in the new year, but I haven’t made those big announcements yet. (Stay tuned!) One is planned for May 2022 and is a YA contemporary dealing with the effects of combat PTSD on the family as seen through the eyes of a young adult and the other will be the second in my Edisto Summers series—a series that was born from my last release after I brought it into the Indie world.
And that brings me to the book I’m sharing with you today: AS MUCH AS I EVER COULD, Book One in the Edisto Summers series.
This was my last release with the traditional publisher and my first re-release under my own publishing brand Sugah Publishing. (yep, that’s the Southern slang for sugar…think: honey, give me some sugah!)
I love this book because it’s set in my favorite place in the world—Edisto Beach, South Carolina. It has moments of deep-diving emotions balanced with moments of levity, it has fast cars and slow burning love, and it has a sassy senior adult full of good advice. (To date, Memaw has been my most beloved character according to readers!)
Here’s the scoop on AS MUCH AS I EVER COULD.
Seventeen-year-old CJ Ainsworth doesn’t drive—not because she can’t, but because she won’t.
She’s been living with the guilt of being the sole survivor of the head-on collision that claimed her mother’s and sister’s lives. It’s the reason she refuses to get behind the wheel. It’s the reason her father has nearly abandoned her. It’s the reason she’s sent to piddle the summer away at her estranged Memaw’s house in Edisto Beach. All CJ wants to do is isolate herself and make it to the trial at summer’s end, where she’ll testify against the stranger who couldn’t keep his car in its own lane. She doesn’t expect to fall for a boy, especially not Jett Ramsey, a hotshot racing champion destined for greatness on the NASCAR circuit.
CJ’s resolve crumbles when she loses a bet that puts her squarely in Jett’s driver’s seat. While he patiently reintroduces her to driving, they confide in each other, and CJ learns she’s not the only one silently suffering through a loss.
As their connection deepens, Jett’s focus on the track is called into question. CJ can’t be the cause of another car crash, but her heart is broken either way. Can CJ learn to put her heart in drive? Or will she throw it in reverse?
And check out these reviews!
“Readers looking for a gentle read about recovering from grief, buoyed by a community of welcoming new friends and new love, will find Snow’s (Meant To Be Broken) latest fits the bill.” —Library Journal
“Well-drawn characters, expressive language, and a slow reveal of the details of the accident will hook readers… A swoonworthy summer read with a hopeful lesson about how to move forward without fear.” —Kirkus Reviews
Buy AS MUCH AS I EVER COULD
Now for the fun stuff!
What’s your favorite genre? Do you read what you write?
Hands-down, I’m a romance fan, and I especially have a soft spot for YA romance or YA contemporary with romantic elements. And yep, this is exactly the genre in which I write, though I am contemplating a rather big divergence here in the future and am planning a Southern gothic.
As a YA contemporary romance reader AND writer, I fully understand the urge to write in other genres. I wish you luck!
What’s your favorite part about writing?
Creating my characters is definitely my favorite part. It’s like being able to take various facets of your own personality and really dig into it to form these new personalities. It really is like getting to live life beyond your own boundaries.
That’s so true about taking facets of your personality. All my characters have SOMETHING from me—some good, some bad.
What’s the hardest part of writing for you?
OMG—staying on task! Writers who sit down and churn out a set amount of words in a certain writing time period are my heroes! I can’t do it. I have to feel that inspiration churning before I can get anything of worth on the page.
Sitting down is the hardest part for me as well.
What’s an activity unrelated to writing that you love?
Playing the piano. I’ve played since 4th grade and I find it so helpful when I need to reconnect to the muse or just “get away” for a minute.
Oh, that’s really cool! I sometimes wish I had stuck with an instrument.
Who’s your biggest cheerleader?
My husband, hands down! If you’re on my Facebook page, you’ll know. He’s ALWAYS promoting my books and posting updates. He even keeps my books on his work desk so anyone that comes in can be sure to see them and ask. He’s also the one who isn’t afraid to pick up the kids, fix supper, or do the house cleaning when I need some time to write. He listens to me read aloud and critiques, and he always encourages me to keep pursuing my dream. I got lucky, y’all!
You really are lucky!! <3
Now I’d like to play a fun little game called This or That. As a writer, I find that a lot of interviews ask the same questions, so I always appreciate sharing something new about myself. I’m super excited about these questions—and I hope you enjoy them!
Introvert or extrovert? Extroverted introvert! I’m a Southern INFJ…I talk to everyone, often in the grocery store aisles, but then I come home and need to relax in a bath with just me, myself, and I. I love chatting but it really drains me!
Morning or night person? Total night owl!
Coffee or tea? I can’t choose! I drink three cups of coffee a day and I love some good ol’ fashioned Southern sweet tea too.
Sweet or salty? Salty! Cheese over chocolate any day!
Eternal summer or four seasons? Four seasons. I love them all!
Mountains or beach? Depends on the season! And I live in South Carolina so it’s super easy to visit both, even in the same day—4 hours from the Atlantic to the Blue Ridge. Best of both worlds!
Dogs or cats? Dogs! I have a sweet boxer boy, Moonshine.
Over 5’5” or under? 5’4”—My husband is 6’4” and my kids are all taller than me.
Left or right-handed? Right-handed.
Hoodie or yoga pants? Hoodie.
You sound like my kind of person!! [heart eyes]
Brandy, thank YOU much for spending this time with me and my readers. I’ve enjoyed this so much! Readers, you can find Brandy at these links—and be sure to check out AS MUCH AS I EVER COULD!
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Bookbub | Amazon
Buy AS MUCH AS I EVER COULD
If you missed the previous interviews, you can read them here.
