My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century Blog Tour

Today I am so excited to have on my blog the lovely Rachel Harris the author of My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century as part of her blog tour hosted by Shane at Itching for Books

From Goodreads: On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze. 

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. 

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

When I found out that I could ask Rachel to write about anything I knew that I had to ask her about her own Sweet Sixteenth party, in the UK holding a Sweet Sixteenth party has only become a popular tradition in the last few years so I wanted to hear all about the time and planning that goes into this big night!

(Sixteen by donbuciak on Flickr)

Sweet Sixteen: Cajun Style

First off, I want to thank Kerrie for having me here today. You rock, girl!
 Knowing that my debut My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century is about my main character, Cat Crawford, transporting through time in a wonderful twist of fate to escape planning her upcoming Sweet Sixteen, Kerrie asked me if I had my own party growing up. 
And the answer is yes…but sadly, it wasn’t televised, and even more sadly, I didn’t have a hottie like Lorenzo with whom to celebrate my birthday.

What I did have, however, was a lot of fun, Cajun style. See I grew up in New Orleans—the West Bank to be more specific—and circa 1996, Sweet Sixteens were all the rage. 
I don’t know of any girls who hosted a huge gala by themselves, however. Normally these raging parties that rivaled school dances were held by groups of girls in various cliques, banning together to rent a fabulous space, argue incessantly about themes and colors, and dance in gorgeous, lady-like dresses to local, un-lady-like rap music. 

My own Sweet Sixteen group was totally classy though (ha ha ha! I couldn’t even type that without laughing at myself). 

Our theme: Moonlight and Roses

Our colors: Burgundy and Cream

My date: My first real boyfriend reprising his role for the swoony memories

And as for the songs: the dance with our dads was to the ever-popular-at-the-time Celine Dion’s Because You Loved Me…and if I remember correctly, the ones with our dates was to New Orleans Ladies, which is actually a song about streetwalkers. Hmm, I guess we didn’t think that one really through. 

In case you’re wondering, I do still have that burgundy dress. And no, it doesn’t still fit (I wish!). I also have a satin covered photo album filled with pictures and guests signatures from that special night, and every so often, I break it out and rehash the memories of that night and all the ones leading up to it. 
It’s shocking to realize sixteen years have passed since I turned sixteen…and that I just admitted exactly how old I am. The girls in the pictures with me are on Facebook and we occasionally catch up, and I don’t think I ever talked to my date again after that night, but the memories will always be with me. And when my own daughters turn sixteen in about ten years, I look forward to helping them celebrate in style as well. Just not on MTV.


Thank you to Rachel for telling us all about her Sweet Sixteen and sharing a photo from her party!


My Super Sweet Sixteenth is published by Entangled Publishing and will be released on the 11th September 2012. You can preorder it at Amazon now

Make sure you check out the rest of the stops on the blog tour 

Also Rachel is offering you the chance to win a finished copy of My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century and some other goodies below so make sure you enter! (US only)

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