Guest post from Catherine Linka

Today we are happy to feature a guest post by Catherine Linka, author of the Young Adult books A Girl Called Fearless and AGirl Undone - which is published today.

Published: June 23rd, 2015

On the run with deadly government secrets, Avie must decide if she can live up to her name and truly become fearless for the cause or if it’s better to just give in.

The sequel and explosive conclusion to A Girl Called Fearless.

Having survived a violent confrontation with the US government, Avie is not out of danger. Both she and the young man she loves, Yates, have been declared terrorists, and Yates is hospitalized in critical condition, leaving Avie with the perilous task of carrying information that can bring down the Paternalist party, if she can get it into the right hands.

Forced on the run with handsome, enigmatic woodsman Luke, Avie struggles when every turn becomes a choice between keeping the two of them alive or completing their mission. With her face on every news channel and a quarter million dollar reward from the man who still owns her marriage Contract, Avie’s worst fears are about to come true.

Equal parts thrilling and romantic, A Girl Undone is sure to keep your heart racing right until the very end.

From Catherine:

While writing the character of Avie in A Girl Called Fearless and A Girl Undone, I’ve thought a lot about what it means to be fearless. Sometimes people say they wish they were fearless like it’s a power you’re either born with or not. And I think that’s because they believe being fearless means rushing into danger and never being afraid.

But here’s what I believe:

Being fearless means not letting fear stop you from trying.

We are all afraid at times. Yeah, maybe you can’t ace that interview or climb that rock wall, or sing in front of 200 people, but maybe you can. And if you take the first step or sing that first note, you’re not letting fear bully you around.

You aren’t born fearless, you become fearless.

I don’t believe being fearless is something you either have or don’t have; it’s more like a skill you can develop. Each time you try something new or scary or intimidating, you get a little bit more comfortable and a little bit better at dealing with your fear. And the more you try, the less your fear will control you.

You don’t have to be a superhero/ninja/assassin to be fearless.

There are a lot of brave characters in the Fearless series, and sometimes their bravery is as quiet as providing an alibi or teaching a secret code, while at other times it’s as dramatic as walking into a firing squad. Being shy, unsung heroes doesn’t make them any less remarkable than the ones who get the glory.

Be fearless!

Catherine Linka is not afraid of speaking in front of hundreds of people, but she is afraid of biking down hills. She has moved to a new city with no job and no friends (four times!), but she can’t watch horror films. Catherine pukes her guts out almost every time she gets on a small boat, but sucks it up because she loves going whale watching.

Thank you so much for joining us today Catherine, and good luck with the book.

Catherine Linka is the author of A Girl Called Fearless, which was an ABA Indie Next Pick and won the Young Adult Novel Award 2014 from the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association. A frequent speaker at writing and teen conferences, Catherine received her MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and worked as a young adult book buyer for an independent bookstore for seven years.