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Book Giveaway: Try Not to Breathe

December 12, 2011 by Nathan Bransford 120 Comments

I’m really enjoying my new work life as a social media manager, but one of the things I miss most about being an agent is working with insanely talented writers as they go through the process of writing a great novel.

Try Not to Breathe, a YA novel by my former client Jennifer R. Hubbard, is one of the last books I worked on before leaving agenting for the fair pastures of the tech world, and I feel utterly privileged to have had a front row seat.

Just as in her debut The Secret Year, which starts just after the protagonist’s secret love dies, Try Not to Breathe picks up in the aftermath of a catastrophic event: the main character attempted suicide before the novel begins. TNTB is about his attempt to navigate a murky new world of watchful stares, fraught relationships, and the first stirrings of not just a new normal but reasons for hope.

One of those relationships involves a girl who is dealing with darkness in her own past, and the way they come together is poignant and incredibly real.

I can’t speak for Jenn, but I feel like as agent/author we were really synced up in a great way as we worked together on some of the early revisions, right down to brainstorming about to the title: I had suggested an REM lyric, “The Night is Yours Alone,” (from “Everybody Hurts“) and she countered with another REM song from the same album: “Try Not to Breathe,” which is the absolute perfect title for this book.

Try Not to Breathe will be published by Viking one month from today – January 12th.

And today I am thrilled to offer a signed ARC to a lucky commenter! If you’d like to enter, leave a comment on this post between now and Tuesday evening at 9pm PT. This giveaway is limited to those in the US and Canada, and you must be over 13. And please only enter once.

Good luck!

Update: Publishers Weekly has given Try Not To Breathe an amazing starred review!! An excerpt: “Hubbard is outstandingly successful at capturing the frustration of not having the words, especially in a culture that does not encourage boys to express what Ryan is feeling.”

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: book recommendations, literary agents

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nadria Tucker says

    December 12, 2011 at 10:46 pm

    Count me in! Can't wait to read.

    Reply
  2. Natalie Whipple says

    December 12, 2011 at 10:58 pm

    I adored The Secret Year, and I've been waiting for this one! Jenn is so talented it's not even funny.

    Reply
  3. dawnall says

    December 12, 2011 at 11:28 pm

    I loved The Secret Year. I recommended it to all of my freshmen. I had three copies on my bookshelves and still couldn't keep it in my classroom. Can't wait to read this one.

    Reply
  4. Jessi says

    December 12, 2011 at 11:37 pm

    Try Not to Breathe is my MOST favorite R.E.M. song, I loved THE SECRET YEAR, and this one sounds fantastic!

    Reply
  5. Unknown says

    December 12, 2011 at 11:42 pm

    I hardly ever win anything, but I'd love to win Try Not To Breathe. Loved The SEcret Year.

    Reply
  6. Becca Puglisi says

    December 12, 2011 at 11:58 pm

    Sounds good. Adding it to my TBR pile if I don't win it here!

    Becca @ the Bookshelf Muse

    Reply
  7. Natalie Aguirre says

    December 13, 2011 at 12:05 am

    I'd love to win. I loved The Secret Year.

    Reply
  8. Natalie Aguirre says

    December 13, 2011 at 12:06 am

    I'd love to win. I loved The Secret Year.

    Reply
  9. Lori Sinclair says

    December 13, 2011 at 12:11 am

    Sounds like a great read. I love to find new favorite authors that come highly recommended. Thanks for sharing. If I don't will, think I will buy. Lori

    Reply
  10. Ms. Tyranny says

    December 13, 2011 at 12:12 am

    Keep coming back to your blog for much needing writing advice. Please consider me for this very awesome giveaway!

    Reply
  11. Kara Hartz says

    December 13, 2011 at 12:19 am

    Sounds wonderful. Sign me up as well please.

    Reply
  12. Natalie Hartford says

    December 13, 2011 at 12:19 am

    Sounds absolutely amazing and intense. Wishing Jennifer all the success in the world!

    Reply
  13. wendy says

    December 13, 2011 at 12:35 am

    Congrats, Jennifer, on your upcoming publishing with Viking. I live in Australia so, unfortunately, I won't be elligible for a copy, but I'll keep an eye out for it over here.

    Reply
  14. Sharon K Owen says

    December 13, 2011 at 12:39 am

    congratulations to Jennifer on her new book and her great reviews. Nathan, I'm sure you were a great advocate for her in her publishing journey. I would love to receive the ARD

    Reply
  15. Laura Leigh says

    December 13, 2011 at 12:43 am

    yes please – count me in 🙂

    Reply
  16. Catherine Lavoie says

    December 13, 2011 at 12:53 am

    Congrats Jennifer! I loved The Secret Year. Count me in, please! 🙂

    Reply
  17. Joe Iriarte says

    December 13, 2011 at 1:01 am

    Sounds cool . . . sign me up!

    Reply
  18. Katie says

    December 13, 2011 at 1:06 am

    Oooh, I'd love to win it! I loved The Secret Year.

    Reply
  19. Chrissy says

    December 13, 2011 at 1:08 am

    OMG! I'd love to win this book. I signed up for an ARC Tour, but they needed to cut the tour short, so I got left out. 🙁 Can't wait to read it.

    Reply
  20. Sigal says

    December 13, 2011 at 1:38 am

    Sounds like a great novel! Sounds like fun to see it before it is out 🙂

    Reply
  21. Sandra Stiles says

    December 13, 2011 at 1:52 am

    This looks really good. I was very interested in how she came up with the title. That is the one area I have difficulty with. Thank you for the idea.

    Reply
  22. Gwendolyn Hooks says

    December 13, 2011 at 1:54 am

    Sounds amazing!

    Reply
  23. Gwendolyn Hooks says

    December 13, 2011 at 1:55 am

    Sounds amazing!

    Reply
  24. 21st Century Smurf says

    December 13, 2011 at 1:56 am

    This sounds so brill! I've been looking for something to fill the gaping hole left by THE SECRET YEAR. Rock on!

    Reply
  25. Cat the Librarian says

    December 13, 2011 at 1:58 am

    Oh I so want this book! This looks awesome!

    Reply
  26. Christi says

    December 13, 2011 at 1:59 am

    Thanks for the giveaway! I'd love to win this ARC!

    Reply
  27. A.J. says

    December 13, 2011 at 1:59 am

    This book sounds amazing! I would love a copy!

    Reply
  28. HM@hvc.rr.com says

    December 13, 2011 at 2:02 am

    Sounds like a great book and one that could help teens in similar situations. I spent a year with those kinds of looks and suspicions and I can really relate.

    Reply
  29. madelyn says

    December 13, 2011 at 2:02 am

    Enter me as well, and a huge congrats to Jenn on the book (and her star!)

    Reply
  30. Renee Sweet says

    December 13, 2011 at 2:50 am

    Sounds amazing. I'd love to win a copy. Thanks for running the giveaway!

    Reply
  31. Shannon Christine says

    December 13, 2011 at 3:04 am

    I would love to win this ARC to share with my class. I can picture several students right now who would grab this right up! Thanks…

    Reply
  32. dani_nguyen says

    December 13, 2011 at 3:09 am

    Can't wait to read this! Thanks for the giveaway!

    daniellesaunders1984(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Reply
  33. Rita Monette, Writer says

    December 13, 2011 at 3:12 am

    Nathan, Try not to Breathe sounds like a great book. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.

    Reply
  34. Kristen Schwartz says

    December 13, 2011 at 3:16 am

    I can't pass this up. Please count me in!

    Reply
  35. EmilyR says

    December 13, 2011 at 3:28 am

    Thanks for the chance to win this ARC, Nathan!

    Reply
  36. Keisha Martin says

    December 13, 2011 at 3:37 am

    I would love to win an ARC THE SECRET YEAR is an amazing book, read it an entire Friday night.=o)

    Reply
  37. Tasha Seegmiller says

    December 13, 2011 at 3:58 am

    I love the premise of this. Can't wait to get my hands on it.

    Reply
  38. Just Jan says

    December 13, 2011 at 4:14 am

    Sounds like an amazing read. Please consider me entered!

    Reply
  39. Cyndy Aleo says

    December 13, 2011 at 4:34 am

    Entering, as usual, for my daughter. Not that I won't read it, too. 🙂

    Reply
  40. Michele Shaw says

    December 13, 2011 at 5:13 am

    Congratulations to both of you! Sounds like a winner! @veertothewrite

    Reply
  41. Jill Orr says

    December 13, 2011 at 5:33 am

    I hope I win the ARC. That way I wouldn't have to Drive to the store to myself to get the book. Please don't pick someone else and send me to Ignoreland. Maybe once I Find the River to go Night Swimming, I should make a wish to The Man on The Moon? If I win, I'm sure I'll find once I read the book that Sweetness Follows, based on your recommendation. Talk About The Passion… (read that last as a Murmur.)

    Reply
  42. John says

    December 13, 2011 at 5:36 am

    Sign me up.

    Reply
  43. marion says

    December 13, 2011 at 6:05 am

    This book sounds fascinating!
    And a Pub. Weekly starred review!
    "…capturing the frustration of not having the words" in a novel with lots of words in it!–plus a teen boy protag.!
    Sounds like a home run, Jennifer!

    Only downer: The cover. I haven't read the book, so I shouldn't comment. But, based on the description, it looks like it has nothing to do with the main point of the book. Designed to push sales, maybe. But in any case, I think it's pretty unattractive.
    Word verification: scids–as in: The cover designer was fired & hit the scids.

    Reply
  44. patriciamar says

    December 13, 2011 at 8:10 am

    Please enter me as well! Thanks!

    Reply
  45. Jennifer Hillier says

    December 13, 2011 at 8:52 am

    Sounds like an amazing novel! Would love to win a copy.

    Reply
  46. Traci Kenworth says

    December 13, 2011 at 11:04 am

    Sounds fantastic!!

    Reply
  47. Barbara Forte Abate says

    December 13, 2011 at 12:11 pm

    It's a marvelous thing when a scant paragraph or two can leave a reader so instantly intrigued, and that's precisely what happened to me reading this post for Try Not to Breathe. Really, truly, I need to read this book!

    Reply
  48. Anonymous says

    December 13, 2011 at 1:13 pm

    I absolutely adored The Secret Year and I've been counting the days until TNTB releases. So excited!

    dragonfly848 [AT] hotmail [DOT] com

    Reply
  49. Reagan Philips says

    December 13, 2011 at 2:16 pm

    Sounds good actually. I'll bite.

    Reply
  50. Coleen Patrick says

    December 13, 2011 at 2:20 pm

    Sounds awesome–would love to read!

    Reply
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About Nathan

Hi, I’m Nathan. I’m the author of How to Write a Novel and the Jacob Wonderbar series, which was published by Penguin. I used to be a literary agent at Curtis Brown Ltd. and I’m dedicated to helping authors achieve their dreams. Let me help you with your book!

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