I’m
delighted today to welcome author C. Lee McKenzie to my site to talk about her
latest release, NOT GUILTY, as part of her MC Book Tour Blog
adventure.
After you
find out more about this tantalizing new story, be sure to enter Lee’s giveaway
featured below.
* Not
Guilty
* by C. Lee McKenzie
* Publication Date: October 25, 2019
* Genre: Young Adult
A blood-smeared knife. One young man’s word against
another. A lifetime dream crushed.
The evidence points to Devon Carlyle. He was there
when it happened. Everyone knows he had it in for Renzo Costa. And Costa says
Devon was the one. In the judge’s rap of a gavel, Devon’s found guilty of
assault. The star of the Oceanside High’s basketball team loses his shot at the
one thing he’s worked so hard for—the championship game where college scouts
could see how good he is.
Now he makes his great shots in Juvenile Hall with
kids far different from those that have always been in his life.
Angry? Hell, yes.
He’s bent on finding who did the crime. He’s bent
on making them pay because he’s Not Guilty.
But can he prove it?
For those
who aren’t familiar with the author, here’s a bit of background on her.
C. Lee
McKenzie has a background in Linguistics and Inter-Cultural
Communication, but these days her greatest passion is writing for young
readers. She has published five young adult novels: Sliding on the
Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Double Negative, and Sudden Secrets. Not
Guilty is her most recent one.
Sometimes she likes to jump into the world of the
fantastic and when she does, she writes for the middle-grade reader. Some
Very Messy Medieval Magick is the third book in the time-travel
adventures of Pete and Weasel, with Alligators Overhead and The
Great Time Lock Disaster being the first two. Sign
of the Green Dragon, a stand-alone, takes the reader into ancient
Chinese dragon myths and a quest for treasure.
When she’s not writing she’s hiking or traveling or
practicing yoga or asking a lot of questions about things she still doesn’t
understand.
With
Halloween celebrated this week, Lee’s giving away five digital copies of NOT
GUILTY and a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate. This tour-wide giveaway will
end at midnight on Tuesday, Nov. 5th.
To enter
the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the
instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.
If the widget doesn’t show up, just click HERE and
you’ll be directed to the widget.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks
for stopping by today during Lee’s visit. Do you enjoy stories where the
underdog becomes the champion? Don’t forget to enter the giveaway.
Chapter One Excerpt
This was going to be his winning year—the championship, the scholarship, and the right girl. Devon already had one win chalked up—Kristen Wright. In a few weeks, he’d nail that championship. Then he’d reel in the basketball scholarship. School of his choice.
“Yo, Champ!” Colin’s shout came from down the hall.
Devon shut his locker and raised his arm in a salute. “Not yet.” But oh so close. He could feel it. He tipped his head toward the cafeteria. “Come on. I’m low on fuel.”
On the way down the hall, he barely felt the floor underfoot. He didn’t try to cover the grin. He’d hovered over earth ever since last Saturday’s awesome game. No, last Saturday’s more than super-awesome game. The Tsunanis had controlled the ball almost the whole time, and he’d never missed a basket. They were on their way to the varsity state basketball championships, and Oceanside High all but held that trophy by its silver-plated handles. Devon’s palms tingled, already feeling the excitement. The high point of his junior year was only a little more than four weeks ahead.
Devon pushed through the cafeteria door and stopped short when cheers downed out the buzz of the lunch crowd.
“Go Carlyle!”
“Go Tsunamis!”
Colin stood alongside him and pumped his arms.
“Knock it off, grandstander.” He soft-jabbed his friend, and to damp down the excitement inside, Devon took a plate and started with a generous plop of mashed potatoes. He’d carb out today. With trays loaded, the two of them made for their usual table.
They passed Simon, who scowled at them then turned his back. He’d been off his jump shots during most of the game. The more mistakes Simon made, the worse he played. Devon would have felt sorry for the guy if he wasn’t always such a jerk, on and off the court.
Once Coach took Simon out, the Tsunamis won in a walk.
Pinky McCloud gave them the thumbs up on their way past his table, but Devon acted as if he hadn’t seen it. Pinky was nothing but trouble.
Colin patted Devon on the back. “You couldn’t miss a shot out there last night, man.”
Nothing made Devon feel better than kudos from his best friend. But he already knew he’d been at the top of his game, exactly where he meant to stay.
“We’ve got it made this year,” Colin said, pulling out a chair and straddling it with his long legs.
Devon set down his tray. “We’ve worked our butts off for this. Here’s to the Tsunamis! Numero Uno!”
Silently, he saluted himself. College scouts would be at those playoffs, including one for every school he planned to apply to. All he had to do was play like he had Saturday night, and he’d have a scholarship in the bag. By the time he graduated next year, he’d have everything he’d always wanted: a great college, basketball, and money to help out with his room and board.
Leaning across to Devon, Colin whispered, “Susan at eleven o’clock.”
Devon choked and swiped at his mouth. There was no place to hide, and he couldn’t duck out the door because Susan stood in the way. She still stalked him even though he’d broken up with her months ago. He shielded his eyes with one hand. “Please tell me she’s not coming our way.”
“No can do.”
Devon got to his feet, but Susan blocked him.
“Hi, Dev.” She stood there with that look of How can you possibly not want me anymore? Her blouse gaped, showing off some sexy lace, and her jeans snugged against her thighs. Skin couldn’t be any closer on a body. Before he could duck, she stroked his chin. “You can’t stay mad at me forever.”
He took her wrist and was pushing her hand away when he looked up into Kristen’s dark eyes. She hurled sparks across the cafeteria. Before he could stop her, she stomped out of the room.
“Damn it, Susan. Thanks a lot.”
***
