GK and Dominique Moceanu are excited to announce The Go-for-Gold Challenge! Dominique Moceanu, 1996 Olympic Champion, mother of two, gymnastics clinician, choreographer, motivational speaker, and author has graciously supplied GK with four sets of her Go-for-Gold Gymnasts series and GK wants to give them away to four lucky fans!
Beginning on October 1, 2012, there will be four chances to win a complete set of The Go-for-Gold Gymnast book series with each book autographed by Dominique! How? GK fans will be challenged to:
- Put on your most favorite GK gymnastics leotard
- Recreate the cover of that week's featured book
- Snap a photo of your "cover" shot
- Upload your photograph to the GK Gymnastics Blog
Even if you don't win a set of autographed books - you may be featured on our blog, Facebook page, or Twitter account in your GK gymnastics leotard! Click here for the Go-for-Gold Challenge Official Rules & Regulations.
In The Go-for-Gold Gymnast series, gymnastics fans will get to know Britt, the fearless dynamo whose mouth is sometimes too fast for her brain; Noelle, the quiet daughter of Romanian immigrants who sacrifices everything for gymnastics, making her the hardest worker of all the girls; Jessie, the powerhouse who starts to question her devotion to gymnastics as other demands interfere with her training; and Christina, the graceful, but sassy gymnast who is sidelined by an injury and forced to think about the role gymnastics plays in her life. Over the course of four books, the girls commit themselves to the sport and to each other as they actively pursue their gymnastics dreams. GK had a great opportunity to speak with Dominique about the story behind her book venture.
GK: What inspired you to write this book series?
DM: It’s hard to pick one factor. The idea came to me when I was pregnant with my first child. Children were on my mind more than ever, so I was inspired to create a gymnastics book series that would be entertaining, but not be too removed from the gymnastics world. My co-author, Alicia Thompson, reached out in 2006. While she was never a gymnast, she’s been a fan of the sport since childhood. Our inspiration got a big boost when Disney Hyperion loved our synopsis and signed us on as a team! It was exciting to use some of my experiences to shape events that went into the novels. The creative process has been inspiring as well. I love using words to create images and plot structures. I also found inspiration in the many good books that I’ve read, from my fans, from my husband who encourages me, and from my children who inspire me. Just like any big dream, there have been a lot of inspirational moments along the way! After seven years of hard work, the dream of The Go-for-Gold Gymnasts series came true!
GK: What do you think your readers will like the most about the series?
DM: I believe most people will find the series interesting and inspiring because throughout the four-part series, readers will see the world through the eyes of each of the four main characters. The importance of friendship is a theme that runs through all four books, and friendship is full of hilarious moments, so readers are sure to connect with the stories. There are serious strands to the storyline like body image, fear, and disappointment. We didn’t want to create a fluffy account of the sport, so there are authentic issues addressed that are unique to the gymnastics world. We delve into realities of elite gymnastics training, cliques in the gym, overuse injuries, jealousy, and touch on the social sacrifices many elite gymnasts make to achieve their dreams.
GK: How much of Dominique Moceanu, the gymnast, in the series?
DM: In creating the characters, I asked myself a lot of questions about who the characters were. Brittany is the main character in Book #1. I relate to her on several levels. She’s a bubbly tween with a touch of sass. She’s fearless when it comes to throwing big skills, and she longs for acceptance when she leaves her gym in Ohio to train in Texas. I have a connection to all of the characters, but Noelle (Book #2), is the daughter of Romanian immigrants, so I believe I’m the closest to her.
Click here to learn more about Dominque!
Stay tuned to the GK Gymnastics Blog for your first chance to win!
GK. Choice of Champions.