Curling Up With A Good Book: Blog Tour: The Photo Traveler: Arthur J Gonzalez

Seventeen-year-old Gavin Hillstone is resigned to being miserable for the rest of his life. Left alone in the world after his parents died in a fire when he was four, he was placed in foster care, which for him meant ending up in an abusive home with an alcoholic adoptive father.
Gavin’s only escape is in taking and creating images. His camera is his refuge from the unending torture and isolation of daily life in his “family.”
Until he learns by accident that he isn’t alone in the world after all. His father’s parents are still alive and living in Washington DC.
When he takes the plunge and travels 3,000 miles to find his grandparents, he learns that they—and he—are part of something much bigger, and more dangerous, than he could ever have imagined. Something that has always put his family at risk and that will now threaten his own life, while forever changing it.

He learns that he is one of the last descendants of a small group of Photo Travelers—people who can travel through time and space through images. But his initial excitement turns to fear, when he soon discovers that he and his grandparents are being pursued by the fierce remnants of a radical European Photo Traveler cult, the Peace Hunters. What Gavin has, they want!
His adventure will take him to past eras, like The Great Depression and the Salem Witch Trials. Gavin will have to discover who he really is and must make choices that spell the difference between life and death for himself, for the relatives he now knows and loves, and for the girl he will come to love.
For Gavin Hillstone, life will never be the same.

The Photo Traveler
Arthur J. Gonzalez
Publication: February 20th, 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal/Time Travel

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My name is Arthur J Gonzalez. I’m 28 years old, born and raised in Miami, FL. I graduated from the University of Florida. I am currently releasing my debut novel, The Photo Traveler. The premise surrounds 17 – year old Gavin, who discovers he is part of a small group, called Photo Travelers, who can time travel through photos and images.

About The Author

Goodreads * Website * Facebook * Twitter

1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

One of the most important people in my life had recently lost their grandmother and was going through pure devastation. They held an old black and white photo of his grandmother, when she was a young girl in Havana, Cuba. He said, "I wish, more than anything, that I could jump in this picture and be with her."

Then it hit me- What if we could do that? Who wouldn't want to do that?

From there the idea for The Photo Traveler was born.

2. Who is your favorite character in the book?

Definitely, Meesha. I would kill to go out and have a drink with her. I can see us getting buckwild. Hahaha!

3. Which came first, the title or the novel?

The idea of the novel. But as I came up with the idea, the title came to me almost instantly. It was simple, to the point, and expressive of the story without giving away too much.

4. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
I think I’m most proud of the Great Depression scene. I was proud that I was able to educate myself on the era, and in turn, teach something to the reader that is masked by all the entertainment.

Also, there’s a different side of Gavin that is revealed here; one that’s very paternal and endearing. I think it’s a chapter where Gavin illustrates significant development and growth.

There’s a lot that happens here and I felt it to be very natural, which is so important to me.

5. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

Besides technique and the in-and-outs of publishing, I have learned to believe in myself. I learned to listen to my creative voice; that I had something special to offer. Realizing this is such a beautiful thing, because we all want to feel like we are meant for something- that we have a special gift to offer.

I recently read a quote that I loved. It basically says that God grants us each with a gift; it's what we do with this gift that is our gift back to God. I couldn't say it any better. (I’m crossing my fingers and hope I figured my ‘gift’ out correctly! Haha!)

6. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

I love the modern and simple edge it has. The colors appeal to both male and female, and it looks amazing. I remember when it was first created, we printed out a copy, covered another book with it and tested it out by putting it on a shelf at Barnes and Noble. It was an eye catcher. Several people stopped. I knew it was the one.

7. What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2013?

The third installment to the Divergent trilogy.

8. What was your favorite book in 2012?

A biography on Walt Disney. His life story and individual perseverance gave me this unbelievable high and sense of hope. It really boosted my motivation even more. What an inspiring human being!

9. What’s up next for you?

I’m definitely working on the sequel to The Photo Traveler, titled The Peace Hunter. I cannot express how excited I am about this book! This story takes off in directions I, myself, could not believe! ;)

My children's novel, Monty and the Monsters, will hopefully be ready by end of summer/end of year. The story is about a newborn human boy, Monty, who’s taken from his world and raised by monsters (in a hysterical monster world I created, called Gloomsbury). Monty is raised by monsters his entire life, carrying the burden of feeling different, but never knowing he is actually a human. His life is filled with isolation and loneliness, constantly being the target of heavy bullying.

On Monty's 15th birthday, he is informed of the truth of his origin and given the opportunity to venture to his human world; where there, Monty will have to decide if he will stay in the world he was stripped of, or stay with the monster parents he has grown to love, in a world that has always shunned him.

The story is about love, blended family, acceptance, bullying, and finding your way.

The second novel is part one in a still untitled YA series surrounding the end of the world. This story, though, takes place ten years after the fact, where five 5 teens wake to an earth that has evolved into a completely different planet than they remember.

They are forced to resuscitate their kind and reestablish civilization. But they soon realize why their world ended and discover that earth is still at its mercy.

And then I’m also working on an adult Fiction series surrounding Greek Mythology, The Olympian Chronicles: Hades. Think True Blood with Greek Gods, rather than vampires and werewolves. It's an edgy, sexy, and modern take on Greek Mythology, with a 21st century twist. What would our favorite tales look like if they took place in today's world.

This will be epic.

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