C – College and College Football

C

My story takes place at the University of Texas at Austin, the Longhorns. Most of my close high school friends went to UT, so I was familiar enough with the campus to write about it.

Every teenager who grows up in Texas, at some point has to make the decision whether they are a UT or A&M fan. My brother went to Texas A&M, the home of the Aggies and I spent a lot of time in College Station. Enough time that I knew I didn’t want to go to school there.

When it was time for me to pick a school, of course, begin the wander that I am, I picked a place out of state, but if I did stay, I would be a Longhorn.

UT Austin had this laid back, artistic, cool vibe. That’s so me.

I wasn’t really into college football until I went to college at Florida State University. If you’ve ever been to a college football game and seen 70,000 people: alumni and students, 100% caught up in the emotion of everything happening on the field, then you know what I’m talking about.

UT Austin Facts:

Number of Students: 51,000

Mascot: Bevo, the Longhorns

Colors: Burnt orange and white

Established: 1883

Rally Cry: Hook’em Horns

Famous UT Alumni: Laura Bush, Janis Joplin, Matthew McConaughey, John Hamm, Marcia Gay Harden, Owen Wilson, Renee Zellweger, Tom Landry

Over the course of the book, my main character learns what college football is all about in the south. How a city lives and dies by their team.  The players are treated like super stars and the results of a game can determine how the rest of the week will go. You can run through the gambit of emotions while watching a college football game.

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Do you follow college football? Who is your favorite college football team? 

Please add Another New Life to your Goodreads list.

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Indie Block Party – Post 3 – Interview one of my Characters

Writing doesn’t have to be a lonely endeavor. Join us for the Indie Block Party to meet your writing “neighbors.”

Participants will have the opportunity to share a little about themselves and their writing, while getting to know the other like-minded crazies that make up the Indie Writing World. Indie block party

Week 1
Day 1: Introduce Yourself
Day 2: Introduce your WIP
Day 3: Interview one of your Characters
Day 4: Interview one of your Neighbors (not your real neighbor…the one who signed up on the linkey after you 😉 )

Week 2
Day 5: What are you reading?
Day 6: Top 5 books
Day 7: Share your most helpful writing tips
Day 8: Share your most helpful social media & networking tips

Full instructions are available at The Peasants Revolt or Dawna Raver’s blog.

I described my WIP in a post last month, please read it and then come back. Although my WIP is written from the main character, Miranda Preston’s POV, I adore her love interest, Troy Anderson. They meet when they were four years old and lost touch when Miranda’s parents moved away when she was ten.  Eight years later, Miranda is sitting in her first college class and in walks her first best friend, Troy.

Hi Troy, I’m excited to interview you. Plus, with your future, you might as well get used to being interview.

Haha, Yeah, I guess so.  What do you want to know?

You grew up in Denver, right? What was your life like growing up?

I was born in Denver and lived there until I was 12, then I moved to San Antonio, so I’m half Texan. Denver was great.  Nice summers, cold winters. My girlfriend Miranda, she grew up in the house behind mine and are parents were best friends.  We spent a lot of time together playing outside. 

You and Miranda grew up together?

Yeah, but she moved away when she was 10. I was 11.

What was that like?

Not great, but you know, we ended up together anyway, so it’s all good. 

How would you describe your personality?

I’m pretty laid back. I like to have fun. I can be pretty intense on the football field, but I understand it’s a game.  I’m loyal to my friends and a situation has to be pretty bad for me to get down.   

How would you describe your looks?

Haha, I never thought about it. I guess, my hair is kind of brown, kind of blond. It’s always messy. My green eyes don’t fit my face, I think. At 6’4, 195, coaches and scouts say I am textbook size for a quarterback, which is a surprise because as a kid, Miranda was always taller them me.  

Who are your closest friends?

Well, there El (Eldrick), my running back. We’ve played together since we started football in the 6th grade.  He’s one of my roommates. My other roommates, Todd (TD) and David, we call him legs. He’s like 6’5 and all legs. They are also my teammates.  

And, Miranda?

Yeah, Miranda, my best friend, my oldest friend. My first love.  Miranda’s my heart.

Where do you see yourself in 4 years?

I just realized how much I hate talking about myself.  

(El interjects) Starting for an NFL team. Engaged to Miranda.

Dreading the first game we have to play against each other. 

Oh, yeah, well, whose going to win.

I’ll win. I’ll feel bad, but I’ll win. 

What else?

Honestly, I hope I still realize how blessed I am to get to do what I do and how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to share it with the people I love the most. 

When you were a child, what was the worst thing that happened to you and what did you learn from it?

Before this year, I would have said it was when Miranda moved away, but I realize now, it  had to happen that way.  If it didn’t we might not be together today. 

You have Miranda’s name tattooed on your hand. Don’t you know that’s a sure sign the relationship won’t last?

This isn’t my girlfriend name, it’s my best friend name. She’s been my best friend my entire life, I don’t see that ever changing.  

Thanks so much for the interview Troy.

Glad to do it.

Do you have any questions for Troy Anderson? 

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