2017 Debut Authors Bash: Sea Witch by Sarah Henning (Interview + Giveaway)

Dec5

Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the 2017 Debut Authors Bash! I’m BEYOND excited to be hosting Sarah Henning, author of Sea Witch (July 31st 2018, Katherine Tegen Books). This book is my #1 most anticipated read of 2018, and has been for awhile. In fact, Facebook Memories even reminded me that I first put Sea Witch on my TBR on November 16, 2015 – back when it was still called Heartless. The Little Mermaid has always been my favorite Disney movie, and I’m a HUGE fan of retellings. So the fact that we’re FINALLY getting a Sea Witch origin story?? I’m just like

So anyway… I’m REALLY excited to share with you an interview with Sarah! First, here’s the awesome cover and synopsis:

Ever since her best friend, Anna, drowned, Evie has been an outcast in her small fishing town. A freak. A curse. A witch.

A girl with an uncanny resemblance to Anna appears offshore and, though the girl denies it, Evie is convinced that her best friend actually survived. That her own magic wasn’t so powerless after all. And, as the two girls catch the eyes—and hearts—of two charming princes, Evie believes that she might finally have a chance at her own happily ever after.

But her new friend has secrets of her own. She can’t stay in Havnestad, or on two legs, unless Evie finds a way to help her. Now Evie will do anything to save her friend’s humanity, along with her prince’s heart—harnessing the power of her magic, her ocean, and her love until she discovers, too late, the truth of her bargain.

The rise of Hans Christian Andersen’s iconic villainess is a heart-wrenching story of friendship, betrayal, and a girl pushed beyond her limits—to become a monster.

Goodreads | Amazon | Kobo
The Book Depository | IndieBound

~*~*~*~

And now for the interview! Enjoy!

Describe your book in ten words or less. Go!
The sea witch’s shot at telling her tale.

What inspired you to write the Sea Witch’s origin story? How much did you pull from Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” and how much (if any) was inspired by the Disney movie (or other sources)?
We all love a good villain, don’t we? But here’s the thing: In Hans Christian Andersen’s original tale, the sea witch isn’t a villain. She isn’t Ursula. She’s more of a neutral character—someone who really just wants to warn the little mermaid of all she’s giving up for a boy she’s never really met. Her family, her friends, her life under the sea. I wanted to explore how exactly Andersen’s sea witch came to be.

Please note: this next question was asked in September. Obviously we now have the cover and synopsis!)
Sea Witch was originally slated for Fall 2017 (and was originally titled Heartless), and will now be coming out in July of 2018. What has this meant for your writing/editing schedule? Do you know when we’ll get to see the cover and official synopsis? Can we have ANY hints??? *Makes giant puppy dog eyes*
Oh, it’s meant a lot of my own giant puppy dog eyes at the stupid calendar. We sold Sea Witch on proposal in 2015 and therefore a little padding was added into our schedule. Then other projects on my editor’s docket shifted, which meant shifting me around because all of these things are planned years and years in advance. As a writer, I literally have no control other than to turn my book in on time. In the end, the decision was that if we had to bump me back, we’d do it to the summer because mermaids are summery, even if they’re grim (insert devil-face emoji).

My official teaser for Sea Witch:

Everyone knows what happens in the end.
A mermaid, a prince, a true love’s kiss.
But before that young siren’s tale, there were three friends.
One feared, one royal, and one already dead.

After the Sea Witch, who’s your favorite villain? Would you want to write their origin story?
Oh, man. Well, honestly, I sort of want to know what the heck made the Big Bad Wolf so grumpy in the Three Little Pigs. I’m not looking to write a wolf but I do think he was more than hungry.

Have you read any retellings lately that you’ve loved? Any with mermaids/sirens/etc?
I haven’t read any retellings with mermaids and sirens, mostly because I’ve intentionally stayed away from them while working on Sea Witch. That said, I absolutely love Renée Ahdieh’s retelling of 1001 Nights (The Wrath & The Dawn and The Rose & The Dagger) and there’s a 2018 book I’m looking forward to reading called The Bird and the Blade by Megan Bannen that is inspired by an ancient Persian poem that became an opera called Turnadot.

Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?
Hmmm, well, I’ve looked up enough ways to kill people that I’m probably flagged by the NSA. It’s for art, PROMISE!

Biggest writing quirk?
I actually do the majority of my first drafts in the Notes app on my phone at the gym. I have small children and it’s the easiest way to take care of myself and get time to myself. I just get on an elliptical or exercise bike, read what I wrote the day before and go! I have several writer friends who’ve tried it and failed (they think I’m nuts) but it’s really worked for me. So much so that I feel weird writing fresh words on my laptop.

What are three must-have items when you sit down to write?
At the gym: Water bottle, towel and phone.

At my laptop: La Croix (Pamplemousse FTW!), notebook (I have one per WIP) and either chocolate pretzels or green juice, depending on how hard the scene is torturing me.

Most important lesson you’ve learned so far?
I’m extremely good at plowing through and getting stuff done, but when I’m fatigued on a story and my brain is telling me to read or to play around with another project, I’m learning to listen. Usually, this means I’ve neglected my creative well and need to fill it up again. I find that if I listen to myself when I need to spend time away, that when I come back to my project, I’m more creative and at peace with what I write.

I know Sea Witch is still 8 months away from publication, but I have to ask… Are you working on anything new?!?
I DO have a couple of things in the pipeline. I can’t really talk about them but two are historical—one is a historical fantasy in the vein of Sea Witch, and the other revolves around a real historical event. I also have a fun contemporary that I’m playing with as well. I hope to be able to share all of them with you soon!

~*~*~*~

And now for the giveaway! One lucky winner will receive sea witch-y swag! US only. To enter, fill out the rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~*~*~*~

Sarah Henning is an author with HarperCollins’ Katherine Tegen imprint. In addition, she has worked for The Palm Beach Post, The Kansas City Star and The Associated Press, among others. When she’s not hunkered down over her computer, she’s probably running ultramarathons, chasing her two adorable rugrats or pestering her husband to give beets a chance. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @shhenning and/or contact Rachel Ekstrom of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency to know all about her writing.

Website | Twitter

Blog Tour: To Catch a Killer by Sheryl Scarborough (Author Interview)

Feb23

Hey guys! I’m so, so excited to be on the blog tour for To Catch a Killer by Sheryl Scarborough (Tor Teen, February 7, 2017)! You can find my review here – I absolutely loved this book! First, here’s the cover and synopsis:

Erin Blake has one of those names. A name that, like Natalee Holloway or Elizabeth Smart, is inextricably linked to a grisly crime. As a toddler, Erin survived for three days alongside the corpse of her murdered mother, and the case—which remains unsolved—fascinated a nation. Her father’s identity unknown, Erin was taken in by her mother’s best friend and has become a relatively normal teen in spite of the looming questions about her past.

Fourteen years later, Erin is once again at the center of a brutal homicide when she finds the body of her biology teacher. When questioned by the police, Erin tells almost the whole truth, but never voices her suspicions that her mother’s killer has struck again in order to protect the casework she’s secretly doing on her own.

Inspired by her uncle, an FBI agent, Erin has ramped up her forensic hobby into a full-blown cold-case investigation. This new murder makes her certain she’s close to the truth, but when all the evidence starts to point the authorities straight to Erin, she turns to her longtime crush (and fellow suspect) Journey Michaels to help her crack the case before it’s too late.

Goodreads | Amazon | IndieBound
Find More Buy Links Here.

~*~*~

And now for the interview! Enjoy!

Question: To Catch a Killer sounds BEYOND amazing. What inspired you to write it?
Answer: I LOVE mysteries and I LOVE forensic shows, even before they were labeled forensic shows. Quincy ME, CSI, NCIS, Bones, even Veronica Mars—you name it, I watch it. The idea for To Catch a Killer came during a phone call to a friend of mine who moved to Denver, Colorado. I asked how his kids were doing in their new school. His son, Tyler, was in high school and I was worried about how the change in schools would affect him. He told me that Tyler was extremely happy there and it was largely due to his high school forensics class. I was like …what? Where can I sign up for that? I wrote down: three girls solve mysteries in high school forensics class. And, the idea was born. I was already writing for children’s television and had never seen a show or a book about teens using forensics techniques. I knew in that instant that this idea was MINE!

Question: Catch a Killer was described as being NCIS meets Veronica Mars. Do you think that’s an accurate description?
Answer: Yes, Catch a Killer is definitely a mash-up of Veronica Mars and NCIS because the issues and the stakes in Catch a Killer are very high and very personal to my protagonist, Erin, in the same way they were personal and very high for Veronica. Erin has a detective eye but to prove her case she uses actual forensic procedures which is a lot like Abby Sciuto in NCIS. Erin’s personal story is full of raw, untempered emotion which collides with the cold, hard facts of science.

Question: Do you feel pressure to live up to that description for the sake of fans of those shows?
Answer: I definitely feel the pressure, but also the glory. But I’m such a fan of these shows that I feel like I know what the fans want to see and I’m trying to keep my stories stocked with all of that fun stuff. When I say “the glory” I mean that I’m extremely proud to add my contribution to this genre. In the whole scheme of things I might have written and sold another type of book and that would have been fun. But this book is from my heart. To Catch a Killer is part of ME.

Question: I’m sure you had to Google some pretty interesting things while writing this book! Can you share one (or several) of the craziest things you had to look up?
Answer: Oh boy! My google history is terrifying. We have a joke in my family that if anyone disappears, I will be the prime suspect because I’ve probably googled a million ways to kill someone…dispose of the body…obliterate fingerprints…you name it. One of the craziest things I searched for, though, was googling for “how to create a stain that looks like real blood.”

Question: According to your bio, you’ve written everything from TV scripts to series concepts, comic books, children’s books, business plans and magazine articles. What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned, across the board?
Answer: Only one? What I’ve learned from what has really been a life-long writing career is that no matter how accomplished you are, there’s always more to learn. When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. And most importantly, always…ALWAYS offer a hand to the writers who are still finding their way. Other writers helped me and I do my best to pay the favor forward.

Question: In your bio, you said, “My transition from film to fiction was harder than I thought it would be.” Can you elaborate?
Answer: I wanted to be a writer when I grew up, but I always thought I’d be a journalist. I believed I didn’t know how to create made up stories, that I needed a true story to work from. While I was in college, I landed a job at an animation studio as a script typist. Truth be told I didn’t type all that well. But I was congenial and got along with the crazy writers. They are the ones who ultimately helped me transition into writing for the studio. In fact, Catch a Killer is dedicated to the man who gave me my first script assignment and who remained a friend for life.

Question: What books do you recommend for readers who love your books and want to read something similar?
Answer: I recommend anything written by April Henry… Gretchen McNeil… or Bill Cameron. They are terrific mystery authors and their books have both inspired me and kept me awake at night.

Question: Are you working on anything new?
Answer: Always! Writers are like sharks. If we stop writing…we die! I am working on a High School Zombie story…a middle grade Valkyrie adventure and a thriller road trip love story. Whew!

~*~*~

About the Author:

Sheryl Scarborough worked as a story writer and series developer in children’s television before receiving her MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College, where she studied under Rita Williams-Garcia, Tom Birdseye, and Susan Fletcher, among others. She currently lives and works in Kalama, Washington. To Catch a Killer is her debut.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr

Spotlight Post: Redshift Rendezvous by John E. Stith (Interview + Giveaway

Nov15

Hey everyone! Today, I’m excited to share with you an interview with John E. Stith, as well as a giveaway for Redshift Rendezvous. First, here’s more about the book:

WARNING: Read This Guide Before Boarding the Redshift.

The environment aboard a hyperspace craft is quite safe as long as you are careful. The management reminds you that the speed of light on board this craft is ten meters per second (or about 30 million times slower than what you are used to). This means you will frequently encounter relativistic effects and optical illusions.

Aboard the hyperspace liner Redshift is a relativistic world of slow light and treachery. The first sign of trouble is the apparent suicide of a passenger. When the first officer discovers that she was murdered – he wants answers.

Before long, a desperate group of hijackers use the hyperspace liner to plunder a fabled colony – and only one man stands in their way.

Goodreads | Amazon

~*~*~

And now for the interview! Enjoy!

Question:You’re re-releasing nine of your novels in just under a year! Can you share what inspired this decision?
Answer: Since originally published by Tor Books and Ace Books, most of these books were available in ebook form, but some haven’t been available in paper for more than a decade, so I felt it was time to correct that. ReAnimus Press specializes in bringing back SF that has been unavailable for a while (e.g. Jerry Sohl) and re-releasing works that have been in print all along (e.g. Ben Bova).

Question: You write both sci-fi and mystery – do you have a preference for one over the other?
Answer: I love both. Some of my work even blends the two. Deep Quarry features a private eye. The protagonist in Death Tolls is an investigative reporter. Naught for Hire is a futuristic private eye tale, Reckoning Infinity is a space exploration and Manhattan Transfer deals with a very unusual form of first contact– kidnapping.

Question: What are your initial thoughts when thinking about your book(s)?
Answer: I often start a book with a trio of concerns. First, is an emotional issue that’s currently important to me. Next is the kind of story I want to tell and then finally, I pick a setting that interests me and supports the first two elements.

For example, while writing Death Tolls, personal responsibility was an important issue for me. I had been on a Dick Francis kick and thought it would be fun to use a mystery plot that echoed some of his plots. And finally, a lightly terraformed Mars seemed an interesting backdrop. Redshift Rendezvous centers on a hijacking. REUNION ON NEVEREND is set at a high school reunion in a space-equivalent of a small-town environment.

Question: Any special research you had to do for these various titles?
Answer: I almost always wind up picking projects that require more knowledge than I already have, partly because I enjoy constantly expanding my horizons. Memory Blank necessitated knowing more about Gerard O’Neil-inspired L5 orbital colonies and Death Tolls required media and reporting research. Redshift Rendezvous also required research into relativity because most of the novel takes place aboard a hyperspace craft where the speed of light is ten meters per second. That means relativistic effects like redshift happen when people run. Flipping a light switch causes a room to slowly fill with light.

~*~*~

And now for the giveaway! One winner will receive a copy of Redshift Rendezvous! To enter, simply leave a comment telling me why you want to read the book. Be sure to leave your contact email in the comment so I can contact you if you win!

Giveaway is US only, ends 11/21/16 at 11pm EST

PLEASE NOTE (11/15/16): FORMAT OF GIVEAWAY COPY OF BOOK (PAPERBACK VERSUS EBOOK) SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
***UPDATE (11/16/16): I’ve now confirmed the giveaway will be for an eBook version***

~*~*~

Author Biography of John E. Stith:

John E. Stith is the author eight novels, including REDSHIFT RENDEZVOUS, a Nebula Award nominee, and MANHATTAN TRANSFER, a Hugo Award Honorable Mention. Several of his works with Ace Books and Tor Books have been bought by the Science Fiction Book Club and optioned for film. He has optioned several feature-film screenplays, and has sold to television (Star Trek). Complete information on his works may be found at www.neverend.com. A photo is available here. During 2016 and 2017 his backlist is going to be re-released in trade paperback and all major ebook formats from ReAnimus Press. His “Naught for Hire” from ANALOG is the basis for the upcoming webisode series starring Ben Browder.

Website | Newsletter

Author Spotlight: Disruption by Jessica Shirvington (Interview)

Oct12

Hey everyone! I’m really excited to have Jessica Shirvington, author of Disruption (October 4, 2016 – HarperCollins), here for an interview. First, here’s more about the book:

The heart-stopping first chapter in bestselling author Jessica Shirvington’s Disruption series.

What if a microchip could identify your perfect match?

What if it could be used against you and the ones you love?

Eight years ago, Mercer Corporation’s M-Bands became mandatory. An evolution of the smartphone, the bracelets promised an easier life. Instead, they have come to control it.

Two years ago, Maggie Stevens watched helplessly as one of the people she loved most was taken from her, shattering her world as she knew it. Now, Maggie is ready. And Quentin Mercer – heir to the M-Corp empire – has become key to Maggie’s plan.

But as the pieces of her dangerous design fall into place, could Quentin’s involvement destroy everything she’s fought for?

In a world full of broken promises, the ones Maggie must keep could be the most heartbreaking.

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Kobo

And now here’s the interview! Enjoy!

Question: Describe your book in ten words or less. Go!
Answer: Scary world! People are rated before we even say hello.

Question: Congrats on the release of Disruption! Any funs plans to celebrate?
Answer: Thank you! Sadly, I’m incredibly boring. I had a couple of small celebrations when some of my other books were released but I haven’t planned anything this time. Maybe my husband will take me out to a nice romantic dinner (without the kids!).

Question: Your books release internationally first, then follow-up with US releases 1-2 years later. How does it feel celebrating a book birthday twice? Have you noticed any similarities or differences in the way international readers celebrate versus US readers?
Answer: I’m an Aussie and live in Sydney so I have generally published first in Australia and then around the world from there. It’s fun seeing the books come out at different times, sometimes with different covers, different languages, and sometimes even with a slightly different edit. In the end, books are all about the readers and I find you get a range of responses in every country, so it is pretty even.

Question: In general, people are very dependent on technology. Disruption shows the way technology can take over – and control – our lives. What inspired this story? In what ways is it relevant to today’s audience?
Answer: The idea for Disruption began when I was walking through a busy city square with a friend. She was telling me tales of her internet dating disasters and making me laugh. We were surrounded by all of these people walking through the city square and of course, they all had their heads down looking at their smartphones. I remember saying to my friend: ‘Imagine if you could just walk past someone and get a rating and know if they were compatible with you. You could just get a text message or something. It could say: STOP WALKING! True match to your left!’

Naturally, this only made us laugh more. But that night, I couldn’t stop thinking about the idea of technology advancing in that direction. I was fascinated by the idea that the next step could be acutely personal. Currently we are obsessed with the internet and apps for anything and everything external. But imagine if we had apps for everything internal – medical issues, DNA, location, identification, wealth, and … the ability to rate anyone we crossed paths with.

That was where it began.

I think the story draws on many concerns for the direction technology is taking us. To start with, I wrote the draft before the Apple Watch was even released, so that felt pretty eerie. Often I worry what is ahead when I can stand in a room and not one person is truly interacting, because everyone is on their phones. If we put all our faith in technology, it is giving an awful lot away.

Question: Have you done a Dream Cast for any of your books? Pick one and tell us who you’d love to see portraying your characters on the big screen!
Answer: Honestly, I have no idea. I’m going to be terrible and skip this one. I have tried so many times to work out who would be good matches but the truth is the characters are almost too ingrained in my mind. I see them so clearly – as I imagine them. Putting an actor’s face on them is really strange!

Question: Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?
Answer: There have been so many, it is ridiculous. I’m fairly certain I’m on some kind of ‘watch’ list just because of my search engine history. I’ve looked up everything from how to blow up planes, how to overdose and then create and antidote, how to break into government facilities, how to evade metal detectors, conspiracy theories, what to do in the event of volcanic eruptions, black wedding dresses and … how to glue up bullet wounds. Some of these you will recognize in disruption. I love my job!!

Question: What’s your biggest writing quirk? Three must-have items when you sit down to write?
Answer: I set my stories in new locations every time and I visit every location I write about first. So I have been to London, New York, Rome, Florence, Paris, Boston, Washington DC, Arlington, New Orleans, Turin & Milan all for the purposes of research! I’ve also tracked down a CIA agent in the middle of nowhere and spent time with a fairly intense cult in Italy. Have I mentioned I love my job!

Three must-haves:
1. My notebook with my chapter breakdown and research.
2. Coffee.
3. Socks! I love to wear socks when I write (weird, I know).

Question: What books would you recommend to a reader who loved yours, and wants to read something similar?
Answer: I wouldn’t presume to compare my books to anyone else. But I can say I always enjoy books by Richelle Mead, Melissa Marr, Maria V. Snyder & Victoria Aveyard (to name a few).

Question: What book are you currently reading?
Answer: I just read Glittering Court by Richelle Mead. It was great.

Question: Are you working on anything new?
Answer: I sure am. It is about a girl called Abigail who has always lived in self sustainable communities (or cults) until her entire community is murdered and she is left on the run with eight year-old Luca and two strangers from the mainstream world. Now she has no idea who to trust or how to function in the outside world but she’ll have to work it out fast because soldiers are hunting her and Luca and she is going to have to figure out why.

I’ll leave it there for now ;-)

~*~*~*~

About the Author:

Jessica Shirvington lives in Sydney with her husband of ten years, FOXTEL presenter and former Olympic sprinter Matt Shirvington, and their two daughters. She has previously founded and run a coffee distribution company, Stella Imports, in London, and been involved in managing the restaurants Fuel Bistro, Tow Bar and MG Garage in Sydney.

She is currently a full-time mum, author and co-director in the company MPS Investments Pty Ltd.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Author Interview: More Than Magic by Kathryn Lasky (Giveaway)

Sep30

Hey everyone! I’m excited to have Kathryn Lasky here for an interview as part of the More Than Magic (September 27, 2016 – Wendy Lamb Books) blog tour! First, here’s more about the book:

Join Rory and Ryder in their adventures in our world—and the world beyond the TV.

Ryder Holmsby is the same age as Rory, the popular TV cartoon character her animator parents created. Ryder and Rory are alike—bold and brave! But Ryder is a bit lonely: Mom passed away a couple of years ago, and Dad is dating a woman with snooty teenage daughters. Ryder doesn’t fit in with them at all.

And then: Shazam! Rory jumps out of the TV into Ryder’s bedroom to tell her that the TV studio behind her parents’ show is trying to turn Rory into a dopey princess—no more adventures. She needs Ryder’s help! The two girls team up with a crew of animated and real-life friends to save the day in both worlds.

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Kobo

~*~*~*~

And now for the interview. Enjoy!

Question: Congrats on the release of More Than Magic! What are your plans for release week?
Answer: Personally, I tend to celebrate a new book when I send the last draft to my editor—in this case the wonderful Wendy Lamb. Books aren’t like movies. There aren’t premiers and red carpets. I don’t have to pick out an outfit, get my hair and makeup done. So the book comes out September 27 and I’ll be back in my study working on my next book, in sweatpants if I plan to go to the gym after a few hours of writing. No bright lights or the flash of photographers’ cameras. Nothing ‘magical’. All the magic, if any, happens in my study.

Question: Describe your book in ten words or less. Go!
Answer: Two worlds overlap. One real one virtual.

Question: What scene do you most regret having to cut?
Answer: It must not have been too important because I can hardly remember it now. But it was something about a Count Von Tharne who was a bad guy cartoon character but in fact we cut the whole character and that ultimately was a good idea.

Question: On the flip side, what was your favorite scene that got added during edits?
Answer: I love the scene when Ryder begins to draw for the first time after her mom has died and she begins to conceptualize the character of the Barn Owl based on Constance. To me that is a very moving scene and it was really exciting to write.

Question: If one character (from a TV show/movie/book/etc) could jump off the screen/out of the pages and into your bedroom, who would you want it to be and why?
Answer: Well I have to break this down. From a non-animated live action movie –Hugh Jackman. He was originally going to be the voice of one of the characters in my movie Legend of the Guardians. What a disappointment that he wasn’t. Nevertheless I would prefer him in his human and non-owl form. From a TV show Lisa Simpson from the Simpsons. Love her!!!

Question: Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?
Answer: I wrote a series called Daughters of the Sea. Actually those four books were among the most favorite books I ever wrote. At least my favorites. They were about girls who discover when they get to be say fourteen years old that they are not quite human but mermaids! I discovered through google searches that there are actually people who believe in mermaids and there was a science television program where they faked the evidence to try and prove that such creatures exist. I don’t think the program is any longer on the air.

Question: What books would you recommend to a reader who loved yours, and wants to read something similar?
Answer: I have to say that one of my all time favorite books is Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass. It’s not exactly magic like in my book but it is definitely fantasy. And then from when I was a child I adored the book Half Magic by Edward Eager. But neither one of these books is really similar to mine.

Question: What are three must-have items when you sit down to write?
Answer: A glass of water. A bunch of post its. And my muse—A Miss Piggy puppet that hangs off a lamp across from my desk.

~*~*~*~

And now for the giveaway! One US winner will receive a hardcover of More Than Magic! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~*~*~*~

About the Author:

Kathryn Lasky is the American author of many critically acclaimed books, including several Dear America books, several Royal Diaries books, 1984 Newbery Honor winning Sugaring Time, The Night Journey, and the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her latest book, Guardians of Ga’Hoole Book 15: The War of the Ember, was released on November 1, 2008. Guardians of Gahoole: A guide to the Great Tree was released on September 1st, almost a month before projected selling time. She was born June 24, 1944, and grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is married to Christopher Knight, with whom she lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

Visit her website or find her on Twitter and Facebook!

2016 Debut Authors Bash: The Last Cherry Blossom by Kathleen Burkinshaw (Interview + Giveaway)

Jun30

Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the 2016 Debut Authors Bash! I’m excited to be hosting Kathleen Burkinshaw, author of The Last Cherry Blossom (August 2, 2016 – Sky Pony Press). This book takes place during an incredibly painful and heartbreaking event in history: the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. It’s SO important that we learn from our past, so I’m REALLY excited to share with you this enlightening interview with Kathleen. First, here’s the chilling cover and synopsis:

Following the seventieth anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, this is a new, very personal story to join Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.

Yuriko was happy growing up in Hiroshima when it was just her and Papa. But her aunt Kimiko and her cousin Genji are living with them now, and the family is only getting bigger with talk of a double marriage! And while things are changing at home, the world beyond their doors is even more unpredictable. World War II is coming to an end, and Japan’s fate is not entirely clear, with any battle losses being hidden fom its people. Yuriko is used to the sirens and the air-raid drills, but things start to feel more real when the neighbors who have left to fight stop coming home. When the bomb hits Hiroshima, it’s through Yuriko’s twelve-year-old eyes that we witness the devastation and horror.

This is a story that offers young readers insight into how children lived during the war, while also introducing them to Japanese culture. Based loosely on author Kathleen Burkinshaw’s mother’s firsthand experience surviving the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, The Last Cherry Blossom hopes to warn readers of the immense damage nuclear war can bring, while reminding them that the “enemy” in any war is often not so different from ourselves.

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

And now here’s the interview!

Question: The Last Cherry Blossom covers a very dark period in history – the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. In your own words, why is it important for young readers to learn about this period in history? Was it difficult to balance being truthful without being too brutal?
Answer: As the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are dwindling, it is important for the younger generation- our future voters to be aware of the danger in using nuclear weapons.

Yes, I definitely wanted to honor the memories of my mother as well as portraying the horrific reality of that day. However, in order to do that, I did work with my editors on various ways to write the descriptions of what my mother witnessed. I’m very pleased with the final outcome.

Question: Can you discuss the parallels/similarities and differences between the changes happening in Yuriko’s home life and the changes happening in her world/Japan?
Answer: Yuriko, like many of us do not like change. There will be new family members in her family soon. Other families are experiencing change when they are losing loved ones to the war effort. When secrets are revealed in Yuriko’s family her sense of stability is lost. Meanwhile, Japan’s fate is not entirely clear. As the war drags on, Yuriko along with other families begin to think about the unsettling possibility that Japan may lose.

Question: What’s the significance of the title and how does it relate to the story?
Answer: One of my mother’s favorite celebrations was Sakura hanami (the cherry blossom festival). I believe it stood out also because it was the last ‘normal’ celebration with family and friends before the atomic bomb dropped. She loved the fragrance of the cherry blossom. After the bomb dropped and the smoke scent invaded her senses,she couldn’t help thinking that she would never enjoy the fragrance of or that happiness in celebrating cherry blossoms..

Question: The cover is haunting yet gorgeous. Where did the concept for the design come from? Did you have any say in it? Do you feel it accurately represents your story?
Answer: I had submitted a mood board to my editor with various covers of other books that I liked. I had hoped it would be mostly in black and white and a pop of color. But all the credit goes to the cover artist Katy Betz. She created the design and when I first saw it the one word was stunning! I would never have envisioned it, but she completely and skillfully captured the emotion of beauty coming from the ashes.

Question: What’s the most important lesson you hope your readers take away with them after reading The Last Cherry Blossom?
Answer: That nuclear weapons should not be used on any country for any reason because each person that was under those famous mushroom clouds on August 6th and 9th were someone’s mother, father, brother, sister, or child.

Question: According to the synopsis and your bio, The Last Cherry Blossom is based partly on your mother’s first hand experience surviving the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. How much of the story is based on her story? What other research did you do while writing this story?
Answer: About 80% of the events in the novel are based on her life. But the description of the day of and days immediately following the atomic bomb are 100% from her own horrific experience in August 1945.

I researched many books on survivor accounts as well as the history of the war in Japan and how it affected the people in their daily lives.

Question: Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?
Answer: Where would a bride of a samurai store her weapon on her wedding day? And Were there movies about mummies in Japan before or during WWII?

Question: Are you working on anything new?
Answer: Yes, I’m at the very early stage of writing another historical fiction story.

~*~*~*~

And now for the giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a few bookmarks and a signed ARC. Giveaway is US only. To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~*~*~*~

About the Author:

I am a writer, a wife, and a mom of an 19-year- old daughter. I have a dog who is a kitchen ninja. I also live with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), a neurological chronic pain disease. Nurturing my creative side does not take away my pain, but it helps me to push through it and live my life in spite of it.

I have visited middle schools to present my mother’s experience for the past 5 years as I worked on this manuscript. In July 2013, I won 1st place in the Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators of the Carolinas’ Writing Contest in the Novel category! in September 2013 Anna Olswanger, of Olswanger Literary LLC, offered me representation.

I am thrilled to announce that on AUGUST 2, 2016, THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM will be published by Skyhorse Publishing, New York City, and coming to a book store near you!!!!!!!.

Website | Twitter

2016 Debut Authors Bash: Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst (Interview + Giveaway)

Jun28

Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the 2016 Debut Authors Bash! I’m so excited to be hosting Audrey Coulthurst, author of Of Fire and Stars (November 22, 2016 – Balzer + Bray). This book looks AMAZING and I’m REALLY excited to share with you an interview with Audrey. First, here’s the awesome cover and synopsis:

Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.

Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses before her coronation—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine (called Mare), sister of her betrothed.

When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two work together, each discovers there’s more to the other than she thought. Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. Soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.

But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.

Goodreads | Amazon | Kobo | Book Depository | IndieBound

And now here’s the interview!

Question: Congratulations! Of Fire and Stars will be out in roughly six months. What’s on your to-do list between now and then?
Answer: There are so many things on my to-do list! I still have a few ARCs of Of Fire and Stars that I’m planning to give away over the next few months on Goodreads and Twitter. In September I’m hoping to visit Chicago to celebrate the launch of my dear friend Paula Garner’s debut novel, Phantom Limbs, which is one of the most incredibly real and heartbreaking YA contemporaries I’ve ever read. Irish Banana will be hosting a blog tour for Of Fire and Stars in late November, and I’m also traveling to Atlanta, Georgia for a conference just before the book releases. Then I have a launch party to plan for early December, which I will be doing in Austin, Texas with Amy Tintera, the lovely author of Ruined. So, just a few things to do and places to be!

Question: Everything about Of Fire and Stars—from that epic title and gorgeous cover to the intriguing synopsis—sounds amazing! And readers are especially excited for a Sci-Fi/Fantasy YA book with LGBT+ characters. Can you discuss, in your own words, the significance of this story and why it needed to be told?
Answer: Fortunately we have begun to see some YA SF/F with LGBT+ characters in recent years. My inspiration for Of Fire and Stars came from writing the book I had always wanted to read. I was a big fantasy reader as a teen, but never came across a fantasy book with a female protagonist who fell in love with another girl. After reading Ash by Malinda Lo, it occurred to me that not only could I write a YA fantasy in which two girls fall in love, but I also had the opportunity to create a world without homophobia. Part of the beauty of writing secondary world fantasy is that writers are not obligated to create worlds that have the same social structures or prejudices that are present in ours. When I was a teen it would have made a big difference to me to spend some time in the pages of a fantasy book that felt familiar in the ways I loved—the medievalesque setting, magic, and political intrigue—but also showed me that it was possible for a girl to fall for another girl in that imaginary world.

Question: The main characters in Of Fire and Stars are Princess Dennaleia (Denna) and Princess Amaranthine (Mare). Neither girl strictly identifies with one LGBT+ identity. Did you want this to be ambiguous for a reason? Do you have an idea in your head regarding how Denna and Mare identify? If so, will you reveal this your readers at some point?
Answer: I am so glad that someone asked this question. The topic of labels seems to be rather divisive—they are very important to some people, and sometimes seeing identities explicitly addressed on the page can be very helpful to individuals who are still grappling with theirs. The main reason I chose not to have either girl identify with a particular LGBT+ label on the page was because first and foremost, I deliberately created a fantasy world in which homophobia does not exist, which means that the characters’ understanding of their sexuality does not directly correspond to what it might in the real world. Also, the relationship between the two leading characters grows from the ways they challenge and bring out the best in each other, and the attraction follows from that. It’s less about gender or sexual orientation than just meeting the right person. All that said, if Denna were a modern teen she would likely identify as lesbian—part of her journey through Of Fire and Stars is the slow realization that she is not attracted to men. On the other hand, Mare would probably identify as bisexual. She had a previous relationship with a boy, but there is no doubt that she also grows very attracted to Denna over the course of the book.

Question: How much of yourself and your experiences went into Of Fire and Stars?
Answer: A lot of my own experience went into Of Fire and Stars. Like Denna, I didn’t have much context in which to think about my sexuality when I was younger. Denna has known since childhood that she was to marry a prince, so why would she ever think about who she might be attracted to? There is no point. It takes meeting Mare for her to start to question what she wants, which is very similar to the way that my relationship with my first girlfriend unfolded. I did not choose a label for myself until long after that relationship ended—I did not know how I wanted to define my sexuality, but I knew without question that I loved my girlfriend at the time. I wanted to write a book that reflected that experience.

Question: In early May, you posted on Twitter, saying that your “queer princesses in Of Fire and Stars would be big fans of” the ‘Give Elsa A Girlfriend’ campaign. So, which of your princesses do you think would win Elsa’s heart, Denna or Mare?
Answer: If Mare wasn’t in the picture, I love the idea of Denna and Elsa together. Both have been raised to be queens, and with their opposing gifts of fire and ice they would be an unstoppable power couple.

Question: Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?
Answer: There are SO many bizarre google searches I’ve had to do. I did a lot of reading on weapon forging techniques for Of Fire and Stars. I also spent a lot of time learning about burns and stab wounds in far more detail than I ever wanted to! For another work in progress I actually interviewed a leading expert on obsessive-compulsive disorder. She was fascinating to talk to and incredibly helpful with my book research.

Question: What books would you recommend to a reader who loved yours, and wants to read something similar?
Answer: For fantasy involving girls who like girls, Ash and Huntress by Malinda Lo shouldn’t be missed. More recent SF/F releases I loved that included queer female protagonists are The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie and Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace. For readers interested in stories featuring other GLBTQIA+ identities, I highly recommend checking out the website lbgtqreads.com. It’s a great resource to find books with protagonists that represent all the colors of the GLBTQIA+ rainbow across lots of genres.

Question: What are three must-have items when you sit down to write?
Answer: I do most of my writing at home on the couch, so I always need my lap desk, a glass of water, and my Siamese cat Tazo curled up next to me.

Question: What book are you currently reading?
Answer: I picked up some exciting ARCs at BEA in May, so I’m working my way through those. Also on my to-read list is The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin, and I’m super excited to sneak preview some 2017 books authored by my 2016 debut author friends.

Question: I know Of Fire and Stars is still months away from publication, but I have to ask… Are you working on anything new?!?
Answer: I am! I just finished an early draft of a companion to Of Fire and Stars. All I can say right now is that it involves even more magic and murder. *smiles mysteriously*

~*~*~*~

And now for the giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a copy of The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie, along with some Of Fire and Stars swag. Giveaway is US only. To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~*~*~*~

About the Author:

Audrey Coulthurst writes YA books that tend to involve magic, horses, and kissing the wrong people. Her debut novel, OF FIRE AND STARS, will be published by Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins on November 22, 2016. When she’s not dreaming up new stories, she can usually be found painting, singing, or on the back of a horse. Audrey has a Master’s in Writing from Portland State University, is a member of SCBWI, and studied with Malinda Lo as a 2013 Lambda Literary Foundation Fellow. She lives in Santa Monica, California. Find out more about Audrey and her books at audreycoulthurst.com or follow her on Twitter at @audwrites.

(Author photo ©Evrim Icoz Photography)

Blog Tour: Places No One Knows by Brenna Yovanoff (Interview)

Jun13

Hey everyone! I’m really excited to have Brenna Yovanoff here for an interview as part of the Places No One Knows (May 17, 2016 – Delacorte Press) blog tour! First, here’s more about the book:

For fans of Lauren Oliver and E. Lockhart, here is a dreamy love story set in the dark halls of contemporary high school, from New York Times bestselling author Brenna Yovanoff.

Waverly Camdenmar spends her nights running until she can’t even think. Then the sun comes up, life goes on, and Waverly goes back to her perfectly hateful best friend, her perfectly dull classes, and the tiny, nagging suspicion that there’s more to life than student council and GPAs.

Marshall Holt is a loser. He drinks on school nights and gets stoned in the park. He is at risk of not graduating, he does not care, he is no one. He is not even close to being in Waverly’s world.

But then one night Waverly falls asleep and dreams herself into Marshall’s bedroom—and when the sun comes up, nothing in her life can ever be the same. In Waverly’s dreams, the rules have changed. But in her days, she’ll have to decide if it’s worth losing everything for a boy who barely exists.

Goodreads | Amazon
Book Depository | Kobo | IndieBound

And now for the interview! Enjoy!

Question: Describe your book in ten words or less. Go!
Answer: Girl who doesn’t sleep magically winds up in stoner’s bedroom!

Question: Places No One Knows sounds fascinating! How did the idea for the plot come about?
Answer: Okay, so I am a huge insomniac and for a long time I knew that I wanted to write a book about insomnia, even if it wasn’t ABOUT-about insomnia. I also knew I wanted to write the kind of love story I would have wanted to read as a teenager, back when I was cynical and over analytical and very, very picky about my love stories. I’ve always been really fascinated and kind of appalled by the way different emotions are often so heavily gendered. As a culture I think we have a tendency to deny or trivialize anger in girls and sadness in boys, and I wanted to explore the idea that even though people can get pretty good at making their “inappropriate” emotions invisible, or at least making them look like other things, that doesn’t stop people from feeling them. Waverly is a character who is very angry, very alienated, but doesn’t feel like she has any real outlet to express that. And for Marshall, in some ways he has it even harder because he’s very sensitive in ways that are really discouraged for boys, and so he’s spent a lot of middle school and high school trying to not to feel those things, and failing that, to at least not let them show. Mostly? I wanted to just get these two people in a room together and see what they could offer each other.

Question: Why do you think readers are so fascinated with dream worlds – and dreams in general?
Answer: While I can’t speak specifically for other readers, I LOVE thinking about and having and reading about dreams. I’m not only a very vivid dreamer but I actually have this thing where I’ll wake up and still be dreaming, so when I open my eyes, my room will be populated with impossible things—birds and vines and monsters and people who want to talk to me about nonsensical ideas or tell me where I left something I misplaced. This has happened to me for most of my life, so at this point it seems very normal, but also kind of magical. I think dream worlds are fascinating because they’re an example of how well our brains can make the imaginary feel completely REAL.

Question: What scene from Places No One Knows do you most regret having to cut?
Answer: Places No One Knows is a rarity among my books, in that almost every scene I included in the first draft made it into the final version intact. HOWEVER. There is one scene I really, really liked and it was completely static and advanced the plot not at all and was basically fanfiction, but written by me-the-author. And my editor, who is both astute and patient, kept gently reminding me to cut it for … pretty much every single draft. And because she is persistent and always right about these things, I eventually listened to her. Eventually. So all I’m going to say is, if anyone wants to write a fic where Waverly and Marshall snuggle in a baseball dugout and talk about their feelings? You have all my blessings. And also I may have already done it once.

Question: Places No One Knows has been on shelves for a few weeks now! What’s the post-publication process like for you? Do you take time off to regroup or dive right into your next project?
Answer: Post-publication, I tend to sort of melt into the couch, play a lot of video games, and cook all the things I like to eat, and try to remember to clean all the things I wasn’t cleaning before, and just generally be more of a human-shaped person. For awhile. Until writing swoops in and takes over my brain again.

Question: You’ve written several books for young adults. How is this one different?
Answer: So, this is my fifth YA novel, and the very first one that has no monsters! It still has a little bit of magic in it, but only a little, and only in this very amorphous, metaphorical way—so even though the whole plot basically revolves around impossible dream-travel, this is definitely the most contemporary book I’ve ever written.

Question: Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?
Answer: Okay, I have Googled a lot of terrible things, but no lie, this is probably the worst one: when I was writing The Replacement, I spent a whole afternoon trying to figure out at what stage of decomposition insect eggs laid inside a fresh corpse will hatch into larva. With pictures.

Question: What books would you recommend to a reader who loved Places No One Knows, and wants to read something similar?
Answer: Honestly, I would really love it if everyone in the world went out and read Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart. It’s a strange, magical story about a strange, analytical girl named Gretchen Yee, who is mysteriously transformed into an actual housefly and spends a week buzzing around the boys’ locker room at school. It’s very cool and funny, very smart about body image and gender roles and masculinity, and if everybody reads it, then I’ll have someone to talk about it with!

Question: What are three must-have items when you sit down to write?
Answer: Hot drinks, headphones, and preferably a big cozy chair.

Question: Are you working on anything new?
Answer: I’m currently in the middle of another book in the mostly-contemporary/slightly-magical vein of Places No One Knows. It’s about idealism, misanthropy, and the ongoing struggle to become your best self. It has no title yet because I’m terrible with titles, but I’m almost 100% positive it will have one by the time it comes out next year!

~*~*~*~

About the author:
Hi, I’m Brenna Yovanoff. I write young adult and speculative fiction. My young adult fantasy novels The Replacement, The Space Between, Paper Valentine, and Fiendish are available from Razorbill/Penguin Group. Here are some things about me (not book-related):

I’m good at soccer, violent video games, and making very flaky pie pastry.

I’m bad at dancing, making decisions, and inspiring confidence as an authority figure. I suspect this is because I am short, and also terrible at sounding as though I have any idea what I’m talking about.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Blog Tour: Beware That Girl by Teresa Toten (Interview + Book Birthday Spotlight)

May31

Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the Beware That Girl (May 31, 2016 – Delacorte Press) blog tour. This book looks AMAZING and I can’t wait to read it! So, of course, I’m beyond excited to be on this blog tour and even more excited to be celebrating Teresa’s Book Birthday with her by way of an awesome interview!

Here’s more about the book:

For fans of We Were Liars, The Girl on the Train, and Gone Girl, this powerful psychological thriller with multiple mysteries is set against the backdrop of the megawealthy elite of New York City. Toten delves into the mesmerizing yet dysfunctional world of those who manipulate but seem ever so charming. With its gripping pace and Hitchcockian twists, Beware That Girl will keep readers guessing until the very last line.

The Haves. The Have-Nots. Kate O’Brian appears to be a Have-Not. Her whole life has been a series of setbacks she’s had to snake her way out of—some more sinister than others. But she’s determined to change that. She’s book smart. She’s street-smart. Oh, and she’s also a masterful liar.

As the scholarship student at the Waverly School in NYC, Kate has her work cut out for her: her plan is to climb the social ladder and land a spot at Yale. She’s already found her “people” among the senior class “it” girls—specifically in the cosseted, mega-wealthy yet deeply damaged Olivia Sumner. As for Olivia, she considers Kate the best friend she’s always needed, the sister she never had.

When the handsome and whip-smart Mark Redkin joins the Waverly administration, he immediately charms his way into the faculty’s and students’ lives—becoming especially close to Olivia, a fact she’s intent on keeping to herself. It becomes increasingly obvious that Redkin poses a threat to Kate, too, in a way she can’t reveal—and can’t afford to ignore. How close can Kate and Olivia get to Mark without having to share their dark pasts?

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
IndieBound | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible

~*~*~*~

And now for the interview! Enjoy!

Question: Congratulations on the release of Beware That Girl! What are your plans for release day?
Answer: I suppose a day of prayer and quiet contemplation is out of the question?? I’ll actually be writing all day (deadline) and then off to a giddy dinner celebration with friends and family.

Question: Beware That Girl has been described as Gossip Girl meets Gone Girl, and the kind of book that will appeal to fans of We Were Liars and The Girl on the Train. Think about those comparisons for a minute. What are the first three words/reactions that come to mind?
Answer: Oh. My. God!

Question: What inspired the plot for Beware That Girl?
Answer: Friendship. I know . . . but there really is nothing more complex or beautiful, and in this case terrifying than the relationship of two best female friends. I don’t outline or plot any of my books but for years I had in my head that first scene of two blonde girls in the ICU, one gravely injured and one a bit of a wreck sitting beside her. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I sat down to write to find out which girl was in which position and how they got there. I didn’t know how the book was going to end until I wrote the ending!

Question: According to the synopsis, Beware That Girl is “set against the backdrop of the megawealthy elite of New York City.” Why is this setting significant? Could the story have been told in any other setting?
Answer: I wanted/needed a glittering surreal backdrop of wealth and privilege so that the reader could taste and feel Kate’s intense yearning for it all. That degree of wealth also allows those girls a world of freedom that might not be available to them in another environment. Other cities do of course have strata of tremendous wealth but it’s not as deep and wide as New York City’s. I felt I needed a playground that was that big and that outrageous. Perhaps even more importantly, I lived in New York for a few years. I know the streets, the stores, the restaurants the aromas and the rhythms of the neighborhoods. I felt that “feel” for the city might be critical to the integrity of the story.

Question: Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?
Answer: Ha! I had to Google so, so many weird things for Beware That Girl! Google is a life-saving first step, but it usually has to be followed up by steps two, three and sometimes four. I Googled whether it was possible to kill someone with a Le Crueset frying pan and if there would necessarily be blood (I didn’t want blood). Then I had to confirm that with talking to a doctor friend. And then I had to have my poor husband stand with his back to me while I sort of swung the pan at him at various angles so I could get the trajectory and his fall position right.

Question: What are three must-have items when you sit down to write
Answer: Well, to start, nobody can be in the house but my dog, Cheever. I wander around trying out dialogue and reading bits out loud in full voice to see if the rhythm is right and to catch the biggest clunkers. It’s beyond embarrassing. So, I have to start with an empty house. Then I must have espresso coffees followed quickly by huge mugs of tea. In other words, when I sit down to write I’m a lonely, highly caffeinated author who talks to herself.

Question: What book are you currently reading?
Answer: I just finished a new and terrific YA fantasy called Julia Vanishes by Catherine Egan and I’m just going to start an old (1956) novel called Peyton Place because it’s calling to me.

Question: Are you working on anything new?
Answer: Yup, I’m in the middle of that must be alone, over-caffeinated talking to myself agony stage.

~*~*~*~

About the Author:

My earliest and most fervent ambition was to grow up and take my rightful place among the other mermaids. When cruel and insensitive adults crushed that dream by insisting that mermaids did not exist, I settled on the more mature aspiration of becoming an intergalactic astronaut. Then I realized that math would likely be involved. So, in the end, I went to Trinity College at the University of Toronto where I got a BA and then an MA in Political Economy taking great care not to take a single English or Creative Writing class. The only thing I knew for sure was that I was never ever going to be a writer. That would be silly, fanciful and well, unrealistic. And then I started to write…

Website | Twitter |Facebook

Author Spotlight: The Society by Jodie Andrefski (Interview + Excerpt)

Apr19

Hey everyone! I’m really excited to have Jodie Andrefski, author of The Society (May 3, 2016 – Entangled: Teen) here for an interview! Plus, don’t forget to enter the insanely epic contest that Jodie has going on here!

Before we get into the interview, here’s more about the book:

What starts as a simple revenge plot turns deadly inside Trinity Academy’s gold-plated secret society, and seventeen-year-old Sam Evans must decide if vengeance is worth the price.

Trinity Academy’s gold-plated secret society is about to be turned upside down. Seventeen-year-old Sam Evans plots revenge on her ex-bestie, Jessica, who happens to perch at the top of the Society’s social ladder–and helped put Sam’s dad in jail. Sam may no longer be cool enough to be invited to rush the Society, but she’s tech-savvy enough to know how to use it in her plan.

Sam fake taps three “initiates” to do her dirty work, each none the wiser that they’re merely puppets in a quest to dethrone Jessica. Convinced Sam is losing it, her best friend Jeremy distances himself, which just fuels Sam’s manic personality. But after Sam meets a hot stranger in a coffee shop, she’s sure the gods might finally be taking pity on her. Everything seems to be coming together-revenge, romance, respect-until she’s confused by her growing attraction to Jeremy and her plotting starts to derail.

Get-backs can be a bitch, and things nosedive when Sam realizes her plan isn’t as flawless as she thinks-and if she’s not careful she could be joining her dad behind bars. With one girl hospitalized and another student in a coma, Sam is forced to re-examine her motives and decide who and what she’s willing to sacrifice in the name of vengeance.

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository
Kobo | IndieBound

~*~*~

And now for the interview! Enjoy!

Question: Congrats! The Society will be out in the world soon! What are you most looking forward to in the coming weeks/months?
Answer: Thank you! =) I think what I am most looking forward to is actually holding The Society in my hands after all the months and months of hard work, as well as seeing it in a bookstore. Plus, I love to hear reader reactions on the book.

Question: With the release of The Girlfriend Request in January and The Society in May, you only have 4 months between the two releases. What has your schedule been like? Has it been difficult juggling two books at once?
Answer: Short answer, YES, lol. There was a point before their releases where I was working on edits for both at the same time, but I am super lucky to have a fantastic editor and team behind me at Entangled. It was kind of like, okay, here is the second round of edits due for TGR and we need the first round of edits due for The Society. Plus my publicist at Entangled, Melissa, is wonderful. She keeps me sane. I’m also lucky that my daughter is so fond of ordering pizza for dinner when things get too crazy. =)

Question: Describe The Society in ten words or less. Go!
Answer: A revenge plot against The Society goes very wrong.

Question: The Society deals with a deadly revenge plot and hacking, among other things. What inspired this story?
Answer: I’ve always loved any stories dealing with secret societies, whether in film or books. I wanted to take that interest and combine it with the very real issue of bullying going on in schools, and examine what can happen as a result. As humans, sometimes we feel we just want to get back at the person hurting us, and this desire can drive us in an unhealthy manner as it did with Sam in the book. She turned into someone she didn’t really like, and made a lot of bad choices and things really snowballed from there.

Question: If you were invited to join a secret society, would you? Would you make it through the initiation?
Answer: You know, depending on what kind of secret society it was, and how old I was when I was invited, I might be tempted. The concept is just sort of alluring to me. But no, I doubt I’d ever make it through initiation, I don’t think I’m daring enough to do most of the tasks they would probably require.

Question: In what way – if at all – has your Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling aided your writing?
Answer: I think it has helped me to add depth to some of the character’s motivations. Even when they are acting out in an unhealthy way, I hope for it to be realistic for a teenager. Sometimes as adults reading YA, we think, “Oh that’s not smart.” And the reality is…no it probably isn’t. But the teenage version of ourselves probably did a lot of not so well thought out things, at least I know I did. As teens, it is so easy for emotions to take over and rule our actions…that is a teen’s physical makeup. Their brains are literally incapable of fully processing long term consequences until the age of 19. And if a teen is dealing with something like depression, or anxiety, or in Sam’s case, bi-polar disorder—this can manifest in all kinds of ways when left untreated. Mood swings, poor decision making, etc. She had the loss of both adult figures in her life, then a best friend. She had a strong need to be accepted and was willing to do just about anything to feel accepted, to feel like she mattered. Even if that meant taking actions that if she was just able to stop, step back and think objectively…she might not have done.

Question: Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?
Answer: An all-natural drug able to knock someone out without killing them

Question: What books would you recommend to a reader who loved yours, and wants to read something similar?
Answer: Get Even (Don’t Get Mad) by Gretchen McNeil

Question: What are three must-have items when you sit down to write?
Answer: Coffee, quiet, more coffee

Question: What book are you currently reading?
Answer: Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn

Question: Are you working on anything new?
Answer: I am actually working on two. Both are YA. One is a psychological thriller(ish) and the other is a about a teenage girl who goes back in time to try to figure out who murdered a local boy in an effort to prevent his murder.

~*~*~

And now for the excerpt! Enjoy!

If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?
—William Shakespeare

I pushed through the heavy oak doors leading into Trinity Academy, ignoring the groups of students milling around the wide steps of the ornate brick building. Not like it mattered. They were all busy talking, laughing, and fist-bumping each other, mostly jocks and their adoring fans, none of whom I had the time or interest to speak with.

“Out of my way.”

Bren Fessler—bedazzled toady to my ex-best friend Jessica—shoved past, leaving me gagging from lingering fumes of eau de bitch. I rolled my eyes, hacked through the last of the stench, and headed toward my locker.

Trinity was founded like a hundred years ago, and if buildings really do have a personality, this one had the snooty air of old money. I mean, it was a beautiful campus; it just sucked that I couldn’t stand the majority of the kids who went there anymore. But since Trinity had a stellar academic program that looked great on college applications, I’d remained, even after everything that happened. Besides, my creative writing teacher, Ms. Kemper, had pretty much assured me a shining recommendation to Columbia, her alma mater. I think she felt sorry for me. So I stayed. I wasn’t about to blow my chance at getting into my dream school even if everything around me sucked.

As I neared my locker, five or six members of the golden crew sashayed in a little blond bubble across from me, confident toothy smiles all over their faces. Since it was the start of Rush week, they were probably all certain they’d find a typed note covertly slipped through one of the vents in their locker, an invitation to rush our high school’s hallowed cloak-and-dagger Musterian Society.

Even the name sounded decayed, like a musty blanket you’d find rotting in your grandmother’s attic. I’d looked it up once. Musterian. Turns out it’s Greek for “a mystery confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals.”

There would obviously be no note in my locker. I was way too ordinary, and mortal was putting it mildly. My hair wasn’t blond and shiny enough. I didn’t prance around in a cutesy little uniform with TA emblazoned across my not-quite-big-enough boobs.

The cheerleaders seemed to miss what just about everyone else recognized. The irony in the fact that our school’s initials also stood for a completely different phrase. Then again, they’d probably be just as proud to wear the label, Tits and Ass. Yet these Einsteins were usually the ones chosen to pledge, at least to meet the female initiates quota.

Just about every kid at school dreamed of being invited to rush. Invitation to the Society wasn’t only a guaranteed boost to your social standing, although that was a given. No, being in the Society offered even more tangible, life-changing perks. It pretty much guaranteed acceptance to the college of your choice—past members served on the admissions boards of some of the best schools in the country. Dream jobs tended to follow. The Society members helped their own.

We weren’t supposed to know all that, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out when you saw school acceptance letters roll in. The Society was a who’s who of the in crowd, guaranteeing a life we all fantasize about.

They didn’t ask people like me to join. I wasn’t cool enough, at least not anymore.

Steps away from my locker, the golden crew parted like the Red Sea. Whispers and giggles engulfed me—dark as smoke, and just as acrid.

“Oh my God, it’s perfect.”

“…her expression.”

I tried to ignore them, just another day in Trinity paradise.

Until I saw it. Jessica. She’d gone too far this time.

~*~*~

And now for the giveaway! One lucky winner will win a signed ARC of The Society by Jodie Andrefski!

-Giveaway is US only

-Winner has 48 hours to respond. If winner does not respond, a new winner will be selected.

-You must be 13 or older to enter OR have your parents’ permission.

-I am not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

-I reserve the right to change any rules as I see fit for each individual giveaway

With that being said, I wish you luck! May the odds be ever in your favor!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~*~*~

About the Author:

Jodie Andrefski lives in a tiny town in PA that no one has ever heard of with her teenage daughter. She received her BS in Secondary English Education from Penn State, then taught a few years before changing focus and going back to school for her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling.

Andrefski always loved both reading and writing., and wrote for several websites and magazines before deciding to write novels. She writes YA Contemporary, most of which involves at least some kissing. The Girlfriend Request is her debut novel through Entangled Crush, and The Society will be releasing through Entangled Teen in May 2016.

She is a firm believer that just about anything can be cured with chocolate or by watching an episode or two of Supernatural. (There’s a lot to be said for the pretty boys.) =)

Website | Twitter | Facebook