WELCOME AUTHOR OF: FIVE-STAR J. SANTIAGO

Welcome

J.Santiago

Author of:

Rad-Reader:  What was it that got this story to come to the front over any other?

J.:  National Signing Day is such a big deal for college athletics and I always wondered what would happen if the number one recruit in the country went somewhere completely unexpected.

Rad-Reader:  Who doesn’t find it odd that to this day her father didn’t openly claim that he had a daughter?  I could understand when he was a minor. But Come on when he was older?

J.:  I really don’t think Amber feels like she was slighted in anyway. 

Rad-Reader:  Couldn’t that be a lot of where her anger with her father comes from then add everything else?  Wants to be a dad when it is convenient for him.

J.:  I think her anger with him is a front.  Being angry with him means she doesn’t have to share what happened or admit she feels like she made a mistake. 
Rad-Reader: Yeah, I can see that now. Never thought of that.

Rad-Reader:  Her father to me was a total control freak.  Am I wrong in my read on that?

J.:  Franco was one of my favorite characters.  As a head coach of a collegiate football program, you have to be a bit of a control freak.  But I didn’t really see him like that.  I think the most telling part of the story for Franco and Amber was when she remembers his surprise visit to her.  He went to check on her because he was worried about her and he knew she was shutting him out.  So while I think he is a control freak in his job, I don’t necessarily think he was one as a father.  And let’s be real, Amber wouldn’t really respond to that, would she?
Rad-Reader: Yes, that was a telling memory for the both of them but I guess control freak is harsh but he does like to micromanage for sure. Hahaha ;)

Rad-Reader:  It seems like because her body was marred her father put all his energy into Tank so he didn’t have to be reminded of his lack of control. Yes, or no?

J.:  No.  I think for Franco, the scar she has reminds him that he wasn’t there for her.  It’s like a reverse Scarlet Letter.  Every time he looks at her, he sees his failure as a father.
Rad-Reader: Well put Bravo! I really wanted to see a different side to Franco and my FANGIRL kept going over these questions  as I read this book and pondering book over and over.

Rad-Reader:  Molly had it bad for Franco.  Will more come for them like maybe their own story now that one of them has moved on?

J.:  Not specifically just a story for the two of them.  But they will play a role in the next book.

Rad-Reader:  Tank wants Amber scars and all.  Franco said that there was no man that would love her scars and not see pity like he did not even Tank.  Why would he tell her that?  First a whore now this?

J.:  More than anything, I think Franco wants her to deal with the accident and the events leading up to it.  He wants her to be able to have healthy relationships and he doesn’t think that’s possible if she doesn’t own up to what happened, accept it and forgive herself.  He might not go about it in a way we can understand but all of his pushing is an attempt to help her.

Rad-Reader:  Tank keeps asking, “What is it about this girl?”  So what is it?

J.:  In the beginning, I think it is her ambivalence towards him.  No one is unimpressed with Tank Howard.  But as they get closer, I think he likes her for her toughness and her vulnerability.  She doesn’t let him get away with anything and she challenges him.

Rad-Reader:  Who was out to get Tank and posting the pictures on the internet?

J.:  We don’t know.

Rad-Reader:  Why did Chantel choose to listen to Richard Howard about the colleges when he had never been around for Tank?

J.:  Mostly because she was unsure of the process and trusted him to at least steer his son in the right direction.

Rad-Reader:  Why did Chantel snub Amber at the football game until coach introduced them?

J.:  Any girl hanging around Tank, in Chantel’s mind, is after him for who he is.  And she is always going to be concerned about women wanting him because of his star power. 

Rad-Reader:  Why did this seemingly nice kid Tank seem to have so much passive aggressive anger as well as revenge in him?

J.:  The only person Tank really hates is his father.  Any thought of revenge would be directed at Richard Howard.
Rad-Reader: But the first time he got mad at Amber and he had that girl on his lap he used her insecurities against her.  Then, with coach a few times he was disrespectful and he tried with his mother.  Although, he said he needed her to stay away there were other ways to get her to stay away. But, to go the girl route the ultimate betrayal.

Rad-Reader:  Is that what made the final decision for Amber at the end?

J.:  No.  Amber couldn’t see herself moving on from the incident.  Even if she could forgive what he did, she knows she can’t forget it.  And she doesn’t trust him to not handle tough situations in the right way.
Rad-Reader: Right, the act of the betrayal.  I get that too.

Rad-Reader:  This accident that Amber was in wasn’t the biggest scar she wore why didn’t she go to a therapist?

J.:  She did right after the accident.

Rad-Reader:  This was an interesting dynamic that went on between Tank and his coach.  Why did he give more to him than to others?

J.:  I don’t think he does necessarily.  He’s just the focus here.  If anyone were having problems, Franco would do the same for them. 

Rad-Reader:  Was coach just using Molly to get information or did he really have feelings for her?

J.:  He honestly had feelings for her.
Rad-Reader: Thank goodness.  I am glad to hear that.

Rad-Reader:  Amber went through a growing process what do you feel was her biggest accomplishment and why?

J.:  Trusting her decision to walk away from Tank and learning to open herself up to Franco again.

Rad-Reader:  Why did Tank have to use that particular act of betrayal to get his point across?  Was it to make sure she stayed away for her safety due to the crooked agent?

J.:  Good question.  It was expedient and final.  But I don’t really think he thought through his decision (obviously).  And while his methods sucked, he did it to keep her safe.

Rad-Reader:  Was he never expecting to have a chance again with her? 

J.:   I think Tank fully expected for Amber to stay away from him after what he did.  It isn’t until Franco tells Tank that Amber loves him and Franco gives him the hotel information, that Tank even considers asking for another chance.  But I think once Tank realizes that Amber loves him, he doesn’t think she will say no.

Rad-Reader:  The news article that Tank read said they were withholding the name so maybe they never printed it at all.  Did they have her birth name the one she carries today?

J.:  At the time of the article, I think they were withholding pending notification. 

Rad-Reader:  After the accident, why didn’t she just start going by her father’s last name that way she didn’t have to have everyone or anyone find out at all? 

J.:  I don’t think she’s worried about it.

Rad-Reader:  Amber ends up with a man in her life but not who I thought it was going to be.  Will we see a follow up book and could that status change if not?  PLEASE!!!

J.:  The follow up book is almost done.
Rad-Reader: Yay! Happy Dance!

Rad-Reader:  How much research went into the rules and regulations of the NCAA?   

J.:  I’ve worked in college athletics for fifteen years.  The rules and regulations should all be accurate.

Rad-Reader:  If your book was made into a movie who would you have play…

Amber:  Hannah Simone

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/562738915919452004/

Tank:  George Wilson

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/481885228858567601/sent/?sender=159807624185906442&invite_code=ba9e39098d22054260660b920c6e4d89

Chantel:  Regina King

http://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Video/151104/tdy_take_regina_151104.today-inline-vid-featured-desktop.jpg

Tilly:  Myles Jack

http://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/253/2016/03/16213433/MylesJack1.jpg

Coach:  Kliff Kingsbury  

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/45/f5/67/45f5674fad83ade1ede34f7fb65f8ebb.jpg

Molly:  Malin Ackerman

http://tvinemania.rs/wp-content/uploads/billions-malin-ackerman.jpg 

Keira:  Maia Mitchell

 https://40.media.tumblr.com/3532073d30dd26d25bb690437273b438/tumblr_ni355iyB7b1u80yfgo1_500.jpg

Iman:  Victor Cruz

 http://yourblackworld.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/17/victor-cruz.jpg

J.:

Amber:  Shailene Woodley
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/2b/8e/5d/2b8e5d2c1548763c06655b6119dd5565.jpg

Tank:   Jesse Williams
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/d9/e9/e3/d9e9e31159c4c630bc1be869646cf40a.jpg

Chantel:  Regina King (good one)
http://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Video/151104/tdy_take_regina_151104.today-inline-vid-featured-desktop.jpg

Tilly:  Donovan Carter
http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/donovan-carter-of-the-ucla-bruins-poses-for-a-portrait-in-2011-at-the-picture-id134132026

Coach:  Taylor Kinney
http://www.flickfilosopher.com/wptest/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/taylorkinney3.jpg

Molly:  Piper Perabo 

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/zp/Piper+Perabo+Covert+Affairs+Season+3+Episode+x_Gm8vCbPHEl.jpg

Keira:  Aimee Teegarden

https://tribzap2it.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/aimee-tee.jpg?w=450&h=350

Iman:  Victor Cruz 

http://www.espn.com/photo/2012/1027/nfl_g_cruz11_400.jpg

Rad-Reader: Almost put him down for Tank but wrong eye color. ;)

Rad-Reader:  What song out today reminds you of your book or the main characters in it?

"Please" – Aaron Lewis

J.:                                      

"Cold Water" - Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber

Rad-Reader:  Name your top three favorite books ever?

J.:   This is a really hard question for someone who reads as much as I do.  I’m cheating and putting my top five at this particular moment.

Easy by Tammara Webber

My first new adult romance and I loved it. Loved the vulnerability of the characters and the development of the story.

Carolina Moon by Nora Roberts

Great romantic suspense. The paranormal story line was different and loved the main characters chemistry.

Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

First M/M romance. Loved the banter between the main characters and the natural progression of their relationship.

Masquerade by Brenda Joyce

Great regency romance!

Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught

I have read thousands of romance novels. Elizabeth Cameron and Ian Thornton are still my favorite couple.

Rad-Reader:  What’s your favorite music?

J.:  I like pretty much everything but we mostly listen to top 40 stuff on the radio.

Rad-Reader:  What’s your favorite song out right now?

J.:  “Cheap Thrills” by Sia featuring Sean Paul.  And I’m still not sick of “Cake by the Ocean” by DNCE.

Rad-Reader:  What is your favorite food?

J.:  This is a timely question.  Sunday evening, I had to prepare empanadas for the Spanish Club at my son’s school.  Thirty empanadas and I was only able to keep one for each of us.  My favorite food is arroz con pollo and empanadas.  Puerto Rican soul food!

Rad-Reader:  What is your next project and when is it due out?

J.:  My next project is a sequel to Five-Star.  Lesson learned!  I swore I would never write a sequel but Amber and Tank’s story just isn’t complete.  I am looking at a summer release date.

Rad-Reader:  Where can our readers buy your books?

J.:  E-books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo and Smashwords.

Rad-Reader:  Where can our readers find you on the Web?

J.:  Website: http://www.santiagonovels.com

Twitter: @skywalkerxnl

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/J-Santiago-268396349999370/

Instagram: santiagonovels

J.,

I can’t thank you enough for being with us.  Your book has stayed with me for days.  I can’t seem to put my finger on it but something about it spoke to me.  It was filled with so many emotions and walked through so many events in both these young people’s lives.  It did make me do a lot of thinking that is for sure.  So thank you for answering so many of my questions.  As you can see I have many responses to them after the fact.  You were a trooper.  You are now a 1 Rad-Reader Misfit and we would love to have you visit anytime.

Char