Megan Duke's Blog, page 7

Audrina Ashby: Promo Video (#10InfiniteWeeks)

Who is Audi? (#10InfiniteWeeks)

When Audrina Ashby is first introduced into the world of Small Circles, the audience labels her automatically as "Larson Ashby's younger sister". This was done purposefully, because at this point in the story that's what she has become. I imagined her to be exactly like Larson. His cockiness comes off as quirk and sass. But in Audrina, it comes off as bitchiness. I knew she was smart, but very misunderstood. She acts like an easy blonde with the perfect body and enough money to buy the pretentious school she attends, but in reality, she knows exactly what she's doing. Every boy she flirts with has something she wants. She knows she can gain something from them, and she knows what to trade to get it. In comparison to Jade, Audrina doesn't care that she has to use her body to get her way. She's willing to do whatever it takes to make herself happy, even though she's still not sure what happiness is.

The Ashby parents are not present as much as they should be in Audrina and Larson's life. Their father is a lawyer that represents a lot of big name athletes in the city. His business travels keep him away from home a lot, and this takes a toll on their mother. I imagined Abigail Ashby as a rich housewife whose marriage is falling apart. She doesn't understand what's going on in her children's lives because she's too drunk to pay attention most of the time. Audrina has never gone to her mother for advice about boys or anything else troubling her at school. She's pretty much had to fend for herself, and this is a major reason for her strong personality and boldness. She's independent in the ways that matter, but she still craves attention because she never got it at home. She tries to capture it from boys. One specifically. Her brother's best friend.

As the book progresses, the reader learns more about her on and off relationship with Paxton. As the attraction between Paxton and Jade grows stronger, it makes sense that the reader leans further away from Audrina. By this point, she feels like the other girl. The one that could stand in the way of making Paxton happy. By the end of the book, Jade and Paxton finally collide into a storybook relationship, but where does this leave Audrina?

After finishing Small Circles, I thought that was it. I didn't plan on writing a complete series. I'd originally thought that Small Circles could stand alone and be enough, but one day it hit me: Audrina's story hadn't fully been told. So, I set on writing Three Sixty.

Audrina's character had already been set up for me, so all I had to do was come up with her full history. I needed to understand why she felt the way she did and why she was so set on claiming Paxton for herself. It wasn't just about first love. Yes, she lost her virginity to him, and that is special to any girl that age. She was only 15, so it would make sense for her to form an attachment to the first boy that cared for her in that way. But I've been there, and I know how that feels. For Audrina, there was something much stronger holding her in Paxton's orbit. The most important thing was his need for her. She the one that had been there when his father died. She was the first person he'd called. When he needed to forget, she was the one there to provide the distraction. Audrina felt needed. She felt important.

This last for a while, but eventually Paxton turns to a greater form of distraction. Physical attention from Audrina isn't enough to numb the pain, but he starts buying various drugs from a boy named Josh at Foster & Allan in order to completely slip away. He drinks and pops pills and goes about his life not caring about anyone but himself. Audrina becomes incredibly jealous, because at this point Paxton also has his eye on Jade. In Audrina's eyes, it seems like Paxton will never choose to be with her for real. First he chooses drugs. Then he chooses Jade. Despite everything they've been through together, Audrina and Paxton's connection isn't strong enough to support him. He needs something more. Something real.

When Jade comes into the picture, she provides something he's never had before. Love.

At first, Audrina can't see this. She's jealous of both the pills that are clouding Paxton's mind and of Jade who's keeping his attention. In Three Sixty, she lashes out by hooking up with Carter Walbridge. This stirs up feeling in Paxton he didn't know he had. It's not jealousy. But it's still something to give Audrina hope. Paxton feels protective over her, so when he attacks Carter to avenge her, it doesn't look too good. Jade sees that he chose to stick up for Audrina and not her. He fought for someone else, and this stirs Jade's doubts further and further down the road.

I discussed in one of my previous posts that Audrina chooses to step away after learning that Jade is pregnant, but she doesn't do this because she's being the bigger person. Audrina only understands that she's lost the game. Jade had the upper hand, and there's nothing Audrina can do to level the field. This confirms that her character still hasn't grown. Her development doesn't hit its peak until Infinite Limits. Audrina Ashby, along with all the other characters, are finally able to grow into their true self.


I'll use this last day to answer a few questions you all had about Audrina:

- Yes, she and Larson are only four months apart in age. This will be fully explained in Infinite Limits, I promise.
- Five random facts about Audrina include the following: 1) When she was younger, she was actually a bit nerdy. She read a lot and didn't play outside with her brother. 2) It was Audrina that gave Kayla the idea to dare Owen to kiss Larson during Truth or Dare. 3) Owen was the first person to call Audrina by her nickname "Audi". 4) She didn't like Paxton at first. When they were younger, she thought he was annoying. 5) I always imagined Audrina's style to be girly with a bit of an edge. She wears bright colors mixed with rugged accessories. Cute dresses and torn Chuck Taylors.

If there are any other questions, please comment them! I'm still happy to answer them throughout the entire course of 10 Infinite Weeks! Don't forget, tomorrow is day 1 of Logan Brown's week! I don't have cosplay photos just yet, because I haven't set up a time to meet with the person I'm taking pictures of. I'll let you know when I do!

It's okay to be happy!


-Megan.

Audrina's iPod (#10InfiniteWeeks)

I tend to create playlists for every book I write. The songs I list are not only inspirational to the story but to the characters themselves. There are a handful of songs that are specific to a particular scene or feeling that a character is experiencing. Here are a few for Audrina Ashby:




"The Darker Days of Me and Him" 
by PJ Harvey

This song was like a sign. There are a handful of PJ's hits that I absolutely love, but when this song came to mind, I was dead-set on using it to tell Audrina's story. A friend and I recorded the guitar parts to this song to use in the Three Sixty book trailer. The sound of it felt like a march. An anthem of sorts for what Audrina was feeling. Plus the lyrics are on point. If you've read the books, and are familiar with Audi's relationship with Paxton, it should make sense to you...


Promises, promises
I'm feeling burned
You taught me a lesson
I didn't want to learn

Why did I come here?
Please tell me again
Why did you ask me?
Don't say you forget

I long for, I long for
I long for my home
I long for a land where
No man was ever known

With no neurosis
No psychosis
No psychoanalysis
And no sadness

I'll pick up the pieces
I'll carry on somehow
Tape the broken parts together
And limp this love around




"Go Your Own Way" (Cover) by Lissie 
The lyrics in this song resonate enough on their own. Again, this perfectly describes Audrina's feelings towards Paxton...

Loving you
Isn't the right thing to do How can I ever change things that I feel?
If I couldBaby I'd give you my worldHow can IWhen you won't take it from me?
You can go your own wayGo your own wayYou can call it another lonely dayYou can go your own wayGo your own way
Tell me whyEverything turned aroundPacking upShacking up's all you wanna do
If I couldBaby I'd give you my worldOpen upEverything's waiting for you
You can go your own wayGo your own wayYou can call it another lonely dayYou can go your own wayGo your own way

"The Longer I Run" by Peter Bradley Adams
The song is what plays in the back of my mind when I think about Audrina leaving town at the end of Three Sixty. She runs from the life she's created for herself, both regretting and accepting that this is how things are going to be...
When my blood runs warm with the warm red wine
I miss the life that I left behind But when I hear the sound of the blackbirds cry I know I left in the nick of time
Well this road I'm on's gonna turn to sandAnd leave me lost in a far off landSo let me ride the wind til I don't look backForget the life that I almost had
If I wander til I dieMay I know who's hand I'm inIf my home I'll never findAnd let me live again
The longer I runThen the less that I findSellin my soul for a nickel and dimeBreakin my heart to keep singing these rhymesAnd losin again
The longer I runThen the less that I findSellin my soul for a nickel and dimeBreakin my heart to keep singing these rhymesAnd losin again
Tell my brother please not to look for meI ain't the man that I used to beBut if my savior comes could you let him knowI've gone away for to save my soul
If I wander til I dieMay I know who's hand I'm inIf my home I'll never findAnd let me live again
The longer I runThen the less that I findSellin my soul for a nickel and dimeBreakin my heart to keep singing these rhymesAnd losin again
The longer I runThen the less that I findSellin my soul for a nickel and dimeBreakin my heart to keep singing these rhymesAnd losin again
Losing again
The longer I runI'm losing againLosing again


There are several other songs listed on the playlist involving Audrina's feelings, but I won't be able to list them all in detail. If you want to hear any of the playlists I've made, you can find them all on SoundCloud : https://soundcloud.com/megandukebooks/sets
As for the rest of the week, I have two days left for posting about Audrina Ashby. I'm going to use one of those days to answer any questions you all might have about her character, including her possible future! Let me know in the comments, or tweet me your questions! The final day I'll just be posting pictures and video. Thanks for following! Next week is all about Logan Brown!!!







-Megan.

Fangirl Terminology (#10InfiniteWeeks)

Today's post is a new video on my Youtube channel! Lauren Lyle and I got together this past weekend and decided to make some videos for you guys as part of 10 Infinite Weeks! So, here's the first. Lauren learns fangirl terminology! 

-Megan.

Bio: Audrina Ashby (#10InfiniteWeeks)

Audrina Ashby (aka "Audi")Pronunciation: Aww-dree-na (aka "aww-dee")Parents - Jonathan & Abigail Ashby
Birthday - June 2nd 1995
Body Type - Short, petite
Hair - Blond
Eyes - One green, one blue (Heterochromia)School - Foster & Allan AcademySiblings - Larson AshbyCrush - Paxton GrahamCar - Mercedes Benz




FACTS:- At the very beginning of Small Circles, Audrina Ashby is a freshman at FAA. 
- At the end of Three Sixty, Audrina graduates high school in the year 2014. 
She later starts college in May at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania.- Even thought they aren't that close, Audrina has two friends in her own grade: Taylor Mesch and Kayla Sloan.- When she's not staying on campus at Foster and Allan Academy, she lives with her parents in Dunlap, Tennessee. 

The main storyline that follows Audrina throughout the books is her love for Paxton Graham. When she was just 15 years old, she lost her virginity to her brother's best friend. It wasn't planned, but it became a pivotal point in both of their lives. They form a lasting bond, and for Audrina, it's a friendship that's hard to shake. In Small Circles, the reader doesn't quiet understand Audrina's motives. Most of us would think Audrina is just a random girl that Paxton has kept around to hold his attention, but this is most definitely not the case. The relationship between Paxton and Audrina is brought to light in Three Sixty, showing the reader that there is an actual connection still holding them together. Audrina was there for Paxton when his father died. She was the ultimate distraction that he needed to move on from the tragedy in his life. The unfortunate part of this is when Jade comes along. Paxton realizes that a distraction isn't going to cut it anymore. He needs something real, and Audrina is not it. This breaks Audrina's heart. She feels replaced, and it's not just because the boy of her dreams has dumped her...
**SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ SMALL CIRCLES**
Before Owen's death at the end of Small Circles, we learn that Audrina was a major part of the small circle that Larson created. She was always the one invited to spend time with the three boys. She was never considered Larson's little sister; she was an actual friend. Then Jade comes along and not only takes the spotlight, but she catches Paxton's eye. Audrina has had other crushes. She's hooked up with other boys. But Paxton was always the one she came back to. After Jade, however, he's no longer there, and she doesn't know how to handle that. In Three Sixty, we see her throwing herself at Carter Walbridge. Ironically, this is Jade's younger brother. Audrina thinks that by making Paxton jealous and Jade angry at the same time, she can win back what she lost. But this plan backfires. She manages to piss off everyone instead of just Jade, and Paxton ends up in a violent scuffle with Carter.
We also know that Audrina and Larson have a very close bond. Unlike the bitter sibling rivalry that Jade and Carter share, the Ashby's are most like best friends than brother and sister. They share everything, including advice. It's a relationship I was very fond of while writing the books, and a nice contrast to the terrible way the Walbridge's treat each other.


What about Audrina Ashby stood out to you while reading the books? Did your opinion of her change from Small Circles to Three Sixty? Comment and let me know!  
-Megan.


P.S. The beautiful face of Audrina Ashby was provided by Morgan LaFave! 

The Other Ashby (#10InfiniteWeeks)

Welcome to 10 Infinite Weeks!
Today marks the first day of the first week, and we are celebrating Audrina Ashby, the slightly younger sibling of Larson Ashby. 
If you've read all three books leading up to Infinite Limits, then you know the complete story behind this particular blonde. If not, let me give you a recap.
The Ashby siblings have always been close. Doing the math, you'll come to realize that Larson and Audrina are only four months apart in age - Larson being born in February, and Audrina being born in June of that same year. I know what you're thinking: how can they have the same mother? Well, they do, and it's explained completely in Infinite Limits. 
At the beginning of Small Circles, we learn that Audrina and Larson's best friend, Paxton Graham, have been involved since the summer before. When the two characters are 15 years old, they lose their virginities to each other. The news of this breaks at dinner with all of Larson's friends at the table. Owen Spencer and Jade Walbridge take it as a shock, and as Audrina's older brother, Larson is upset. But eventually, he accepts their relationship and moves on. 
The on and off hook ups last another year or so, then Paxton sets his eyes on Jade Walbridge. She's the new girl at Foster and Allan Academy, and everyone agrees that she's beautiful mystery. Audrina begins to feel jealous and replaced. Before Jade stepped into the group, she was always the fourth wheel in her brother's small circle of friends. Now, however, Jade is the one that's invited out. Jade is the one captivating Paxton's attention. Jade is the one dating Owen, and Audrina is pushed out of the group. 
From Audrina's point of view, we begin to understand why she feels such a strong connection to Paxton and the rest of Larson's friends. In Three Sixty, her motives are revealed for what they are: she wants to belong again. 
Personally, I have always felt bad for Audrina. Most of you wouldn't after only reading the first book, but that's why I chose to write Three Sixty. I needed everyone to understand what Audrina was going through. After losing her virginity to a boy she thought was her entire world, she learns that she's not the only girl in his. It's devastating, and on top of this, she's losing her real friends. It's mentioned that Audrina has two classmates that follow her every move, Taylor and Kayla. These are not her true friends. Over the years, she grew closer with Paxton and Owen. The small gap in age difference was always the glue that held them all together. She never felt like the little sister, despite being in a different grade level. Now, they've found a girl in their own grade. She's beautiful and funny and fresh. Something completely different than what they're used to. That leaves Audrina as only one thing: the other Ashby.

At the end of Three Sixty, Audrina has a choice. She can either fight for Paxton's love, or escape his hold on her heart forever. Up until the end, she thinks she can fight, but then a major secret is revealed. Jade is pregnant, and Audrina no longer has a choice. It's been made for her. She leaves for college in another state thinking that the greater the distance between them, the easier it will be to move on. But will it?

In Infinite Limits, that's exactly what we find out.
Has Audrina successfully grown into a different person? Has she completed her 360? Will everyone find out what Jade is hiding? And what will Paxton do when he finds out?

Join me in counting down the next 10 weeks leading up to the release of the final installment to the Small Circles story!

Happy blogging!

-Megan.

Blog Tour Update

In less than one week, I'll be kicking off the 10 Infinite Weeks blog tour right here on my personal blog! The first three weeks will be hosted by myself, but after that there are seven dedicated bloggers taking the torch and leading the way with exclusive cosplay photos, video releases, interviews, and reviews! I look forward to celebrating the characters from all my books with those that follow along on the tour, and I CAN NOT WAIT to release Infinite Limits!

Week 1 of the tour starts October 5th, and our first character dedication is for Audrina Ashby!



BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE :



Week 1, 2, & 3 (10/5 – 10/25) – Hosted by Megan at meganduke.blogspot.com 
Characters – Audrina Ashby, Logan Brown, & Carter Walbridge 


Week 4 (10/26 - 11/1) – Hosted by Lauren at thebookwormcornerr.blogspot.com 
Character – Charleigh McAfee from Ninety Degrees & Infinite Limits

Week 5 (11/2 - 11/8) – Hosted by Lainey at thebellebeautyblog.blogspot.com 
Character – Silas McFuller from Ninety Degrees & Infinite Limits

Week 6 (11/9 - 11/15) – Hosted by Bryce at novelstosong.com 
Character – Tucker Watson from Ninety Degrees & Infinite Limits

Week 7 (11/16 - 11/22) – Hosted by Jennifer at thebookfighters.wordpress.com
Character – Jade Walbridge from Small Circles, Three Sixty, & Infinite Limits

Week 8 (11/23 - 11/29) – Hosted by Catheryn at thebooklioness.wordpress.com & youtube.com/catherynthefangirl
Character – Owen Spencer from Small Circles

Week 9 (11/30 - 12/6) – Hosted by Jaclyn at livinginaworldofbookquotes.wordpress.com 
Character – Paxton Graham from Small Circles, Three Sixty, & Infinite Limits

Week 10 (12/7 - 12/13) – Hosted by Ana from analoves.com
Character – Larson Ashby from Small Circles, Three Sixty, & Infinite Limits 

I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN by Jandy Nelson

I couldn't write this earlier. I was too full of emotion to even fathom what I would write down. I finished reading I'll Give You the Sun at 1 o'clock this morning, and it was the most beautiful work of literature I think I've ever read.
Mind you, I've read some pretty amazing books. I've got a list of favorites, and I'm pretty this just bumped everything back down a spot, taking number one.
It's not just the fact that the characters were so well developed. It's not just the fact that the story is being told at two different times yet somehow are parallel. It makes no difference that the amount of detail that went in to the artwork and the passion blew my very mind. It's not even the idea that Jandy Nelson has created something within me that I don't think I can ever extinguish.
The pure fact of it is, I loved it.

(There's always this one Goodreads user out there (I won't name them), but she always gives the worst reviews to some of the best books. Not just random books that maybe I'm the only person out there that appreciated it for what it was. No. GOOD books, that the whole world loved. It's weird. I think she's a sociopath. But never mind that.)

I mainly wanted to stress how much this book affected me. There are some books, when I read them, that I thoroughly enjoy. I think about them right after I'm finished, thinking it'll stick with me forever, but they never do. This book. I have no doubt in my mind that it has changed me. The two main characters are artists, and as I was reading, I couldn't help but think that this book was a piece of art in itself.

I'm not going to go into the spoilery bits, because I'll Give You the Sun is one of those books you are better of knowing nothing about. I will say this: I was moved the most by the relationship Noah and Jude shared. It might be because they are twins, but I feel like Jandy Nelson represented that bond so perfectly between a brother and sister. More so. And the ending? Let's just say: everyone has secrets.

Please, please, please go read this godsend of a book! I am begging you!


Megan


Add this book to your shelf on Goodreads!

84 days until Infinite Limits!

On December 16th, I'll be releasing the final book in the Stories From Foster & Allan series. Infinite Limits is a conclusion to Small Circles. In it, all the characters from all the books will collide, creating an ending you won't want to miss. If you've fallen in love with these books along with me over the past two years, join me in celebrating ‪#‎10InfiniteWeeks‬ - the 10 weeks leading up to the release of Infinite Limits! Follow along on my blog meganduke.blogspot.com for exclusive images, never before seen video, interviews, character breakdowns, and more! Thank you to anyone that's stuck with me, and thank you to anyone that will be joining me in my next chapter!

Short Excerpt from Infinite Limits

There was no one else Audrina looked up to more. Her brother was the strongest person in the world. No matter what happened, he’d kept his head held high and pressed on. Sometimes he crashed, but he never burned. “I still can’t imagine what it must have been like,” she admitted. Larson frowned. “What what was like?”“Losing him. Permanently.”She knew he didn’t like to talk about it. He didn’t like sharing very much about Owen. It was out of respect that he kept so much of their relationship to himself. He didn’t want to taint it, or let anyone take it away.
He suddenly became very serious. He took in a deep breath and laced his hands in his lap. “Did I ever tell you the last thing he said to me?” Audrina shook her head. “He said, ‘I love you, Larson Ashby’.” Larson then smiled innocently to himself. “When it got really hard to deal with, and I just couldn’t stand the pain, I tried to remind myself that he’d said that. He was happy before he died, and it was because of me.”

INFINITE LIMITS - AVAILABLE  12/16/14
www.megandukebooks.com