This is my stop during the blog tour for The Girl on Camera by Morgan Dun-Campbell. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 6 till 26 August. See the tour schedule here.
The Girl on CameraBy Morgan Dun-Campbell
Genre: Thriller
Age category: New adult, Adult
Release Date: March 14, 2018
Blurb:
Reality TV is about to get real...
"Are you ready to win the heart of the nation? Compete with seven other contestants for the cash prize? Change your life forever?"
Twenty-six-year old Rory Stevens is thrilled to be selected as one of eight contestants for new reality show: The Retreat.
However, on the second day of filming - during a televised broadcast from the show's host - all power shuts off with no explanation: leaving the contestants, quite literally, in the dark.
Completely stranded, it is now up to Rory and her seven companions to figure out what is happening.
And then one of them disappears...
For fans of Naomi Alderman, Dave Eggers and John Marrs.
Excerpt
He leans forward again, and shakes his head. ‘I
knew this would happen.’
‘Knew
what?’
‘That you
couldn’t go through with this. And you see, this is your problem. You’re acting
as though you need to make some grand gesture, because this,’ he jabs his finger down on the tablecloth, ‘this is the risk. You and me, moving in
together. And you can’t handle it. Because you never take risks. You just keep
your head down, hope for the best. You’re scared of getting out of the comfort
zone, and you always have been. All this talk of doing something spontaneous,
seizing the moment – you know what? It’s all bullshit. I know you. You’ll
attempt to try something new, maybe go to a cookery class on your own where you
have to share a mixing bowl with the person next to you, and in a couple of
weeks or so, when you’ve gotten bored of trying to find a new hobby, you’ll
call me. And we’ll have wasted a perfectly good evening right here, right now.
This is a Michelin restaurant, you know.’ He opens the menu again, scanning his
finger down the options. ‘The mushroom risotto is supposed to be delicious.’
I can’t
take this.
‘David.
Please. You aren’t listening. Nobody is, that’s the point.’ I draw my chair out
noisily, people from other tables glance over momentarily, before resuming
their conversations. ‘I feel like I’m being suffocated. And if you can’t take
me seriously, then we shouldn’t be together at all.’
I am
gathering my handbag, when to my alarm, he reaches over and seizes my arm.
‘Rory. If
you really are being serious, then I hope you remember this moment, over the
coming weeks and months. We have a good thing, here. I can’t guarantee I’ll be
there for you if you end up sorry for what you’ve wished for.’
‘I’ll be
fine. Please let go of me.’ I steel my voice, waiting for him to let go.
His eyes
darken, and he presses his lips into a thin white line.
‘Fine.’
He promptly lets go. I gather my handbag, brush strands of hair away from my
face.
‘I’m
sorry, David. I know you think this is just some momentary freak out, but it
isn’t,’ I tell him. ‘But I’m sure you’ll make someone else very happy.’ He
slowly shakes his head, then points at me, a strange smirk on his face.
‘Remember
this moment. You’re always running, dear. Too scared to take a risk.’
*
By the time I get back to my flat after hailing a
taxi, the emotions of the night have caught up to me. I pace the room, David’s
words fresh in my mind. Never before has it felt so like a cell.
Too
scared to take a risk? It wasn’t the reaction I’d
expected from him at all.
I make myself a mug of Earl Grey,
then sit at my laptop. Has it always been so quiet? The ticking of the wall
clock is my only company.
I check my emails.
And there it is again. That one,
tantalising message, staring at me from my inbox.
Bored of
everyday life? Dream of being rich? Famous?
My mouse hovers over it. Of
course, it could easily be a Trojan virus. But so what if it is? Isn’t that a risk that I am taking, David?
I click on the email.
THE
RETREAT: A REALITY SHOW WITH A TWIST
Big Brother? Too tame. I’m A Celebrity? Outdated.
What do we want? A cutting-edge new show to push the boundaries!
In five weeks, Channel 10 will be broadcasting our
brand new show The Retreat live to the nation – will you be the one to seize
the opportunity of a lifetime?
Eight contestants, four male, four female, will be
carefully handpicked and taken to our secret location. The experience will
include group tasks for the contestants – which may result in punishments or
rewards – and a cash prize of £50,000 up for grabs – as well as earning the
heart of the nation.
Do you dare to audition? Can you entertain an
audience? Have you got a game-plan for the cash prize?
Auditions are being held in London on the 25th of
September, as well as the 1st of October in Manchester the following
week: click below for post code and directions.
DISCLAIMER: Boring people need not apply
There’s a video link, too. Caught up in the moment,
I go ahead and click on it.
At first the screen is black.
Then there is the scratching noise of a match being struck across the sandpaper
edge of a matchbox, and an orange flame flickers on screen. Two slender fingers
with purple nail polish are illuminated by the glow. The hand moves forward and
a stunning woman’s face comes into view, with high cheekbones, light blue eyes
and white blonde hair. She wears dark purple lipstick to match the nails.
‘Guys, I’ve got a secret,’ she
whispers, and the flame flickers some more. Her eyebrows are raised high, and
her breaths are short and fast. I assume frightened excitement is what she is
going for. ‘But I haven’t got much time,’ she carries on, and she looks to the
match for a moment. ‘This is the hottest
show around and word about it is catching on fast. We are ready to make
television history. We just need you.’
She is so mesmerising, I get that impression radio DJs are always trying to
perfect, that she really is speaking just to me.
The flame is getting ever closer
to her hand.
‘Are you ready to win the heart
of the nation? Compete with seven other contestants for the cash prize? Change
your life forever? This is a once in a lifetime chance. But you need to be in
it to win it. Ever felt like spicing up life?’ I think of the spiced candles
rack. ‘Are you ready to take a risk?’ Now I’m getting goose bumps. ‘Great, cause we’re waiting for you,’ I
almost expect her to finish the sentence with my name. ‘So hurry up, before
it’s too –’ just when the flame is almost touching the skin of her thumb and
index finger, she blows out the match. A second later THE RETREAT appears on screen in white, and flickers, lines and
blotches covering the screen, like an old-fashioned film reel.
So here I am. Filling out an application.
As I say, and as David agreed, I
don’t take risks.
But there’s a first time for
everything. After all, what have I got to lose?
You can find The Girl on Camera on Goodreads
You can buy The Girl on Camera on Amazon
About the Author:Morgan Dun-Campbell lives in London. She has an MA (Distinction) in Creative Writing and Publishing, has participated in two Arvon literary writing courses, and has worked as an intern for numerous publishing houses, including Penguin Random House and Bloomsbury. The Girl on Camera is her first novel.
You can find and contact Morgan Dun-Campbell here:
- Blog
- Goodreads
- Amazon
Giveaway
There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of The Girl on Camera. Five winners will each win a prize bundle including a signed copy of the book The Girl on Camera, a bookmark, and a small box of Celebrations. Giveaway is UK and US only.
For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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