Guest Blog: Beth Steury and before I knew you *Prize of Free Book to Chosen Commenter

Dear Readers, I'm just getting this done the day before! The last couple of weeks at work have been stressful--believe it or not, even college students can give us professors a hard time. Prayers would be appreciated. I hope all of you are well--please email me at ChristinaSinisi@gmail.com if I can pray for you.

Introduce yourself—name, where you’re from, and something people notice when they meet

you.

            Hi, I’m Beth Steury coming to you from a small town in northeast Indiana where I spend my time creating relevant, realistic YA story worlds and delving deep into family mysteries via genetic genealogy. Most of this writing and detective work takes place in a cozy booth at my local McDonald’s restaurant where the Diet Coke is never-ending and the background buzz of customers’ conversations and coming and going inspire productivity.

Tell us about your book—title and back cover blurb.

The Choices Matter series includes: before I knew you, because I know you, and the series conclusion, between you and me.

Junior year finds seventeen-year-old Preston—the hot, popular, very experienced ladies’ man—distancing himself from the dating scene and avoiding his party-loving friends. He’s determined to chart a new course as far from the bad choices of his past as he can get.

Enter Maggie, the new girl in town. She’s innocent and beautiful on the inside and out. She wants a boyfriend, sure, but he’d have to be nothing like the jerk who forced her first kiss. Someone  more like Preston . . . Can she afford to let her guard down around the charming Preston? Can she trust him with her “white wedding dress” future?

Preston can’t get Maggie out of his mind. She knows nothing about his questionable past which is great. But can he keep that past from jeopardizing his chances with the one girl who could anchor his future?

Join them and a cast of their friends and family for a candid journey navigating the realities of high school.

Excerpt from before I knew you  

Maggie

    By the end of the week, Preston had basically taken over opening my locker, and I was perfectly content to let him work his magic. But today he was late. I sorted through random papers in my binder as another minute ticked by with no sign of him. So, I reached for the stubborn lock, determined to finally get it on the first try.

 “Hey, I thought that was my job.” He appeared beside me, like really close, and his hand brushed across my fingers as I pulled back.

 I caught the scent of his masculine soap or shampoo, maybe cologne, and breathed it in.

“Sorry I'm late. I had to ask Benton something about the history assignment.” My locker door swung open, and he stepped back. “I’ll do my best to be more punctual in the future.” That dazzling smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

He shuffled to his own locker, which swung open with ease. His glance flitted my way as he shoved in books. In no time, he was back at my side. “Say, about that Psychology project. Have you picked a partner?”

“I haven’t. What about you?”

He shook his head and motioned for me to go ahead of him as we squeezed into the flow of students heading toward the exit. “We could be partners, if you want.” His mouth eased into a gorgeous whole-face smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.

Wow. My heartbeat stuttered. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

                                                                          ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Preston

   The old me would have tried to kiss Maggie last night. No question. The chemistry was so intense. But the new me didn’t want to mess up the chance for a relationship. Talk about a change in M.O. When had I ever worried about the relationship part? Never.

As I trudged to U.S. History, mind racing with the possibilities of there being an “us”, Caroline Branson slithered to my side.

“Hey, you. You been hidin’ or what?” She slipped her arm through mine, brushing her hip against me. “I looked for you all last week.” 

I edged away from her and shrugged. “I was here.” 

“Obviously we don’t have any classes together.” She pushed her shiny lips into a pout.

“Guess not.” I shifted farther from her and stared straight ahead, hoping my expression clearly showed indifference.

She snuggled closer and stroked my arm. “I was hoping we could hang out sometime.”

I dared myself to look at her. Her huge, blue-green eyes that had always been almost impossible to resist pleaded with me. I unwound her arm from mine. “I’m not interested in getting back together.”  

Her pout hardened. “We were a great couple, Preston. Don’t you remember?”

Oh, I remembered all right. But now it didn’t seem all that great. I sucked in a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Caroline.” For so many things.

Her expression softened. “You’ll come around. I just hope it won’t be too late.” She surveyed the length of my body.

I focused on the floor.

Her fingertips traced a slow pattern down my arm, then she gripped my index finger. With a final tug, she released my hand and strutted away.

I raked a hand through my hair. Wow.

I glanced back toward the clock over the office doorway, and there was Maggie.

Our eyes connected for just a second before she lunged into the crowd, going the opposite direction.

Ask the blog reader a quirky question or two?

Maggie will never forget her first date. (Psst… it was not with Preston.) What do you remember about your first date?

Not all of Preston’s friends support his efforts to chart a new course. Were you the friend who encouraged or discouraged friends who were trying to make better choices?

Share your social media and buy links!

I love to hear from readers @ bethsteury@gmail.com 

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram:  https://www.facebook.com/author.BethSteury

https://www.instagram.com/bethsteuryauthor/

Find all my passions housed in one convenient place on my website.

The 3-book Choices Matter series is available in print, ebook, and on Kindle Unlimited. Check out my Amazon author page to also get a peek at my Waiting Matters booklet series.

Thank you, Beth, for being a guest! I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have guests--I could never write enough blog posts to keep up. Have a blessed day, all!