Category:

Rockstar Tours: THE MIND GAME by M.G. Harris, Interview and Giveaway! ~US ONLY

October 16th, 2024 by

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE MIND GAME by M.G. Harris Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: THE MIND GAME

Author: M.G. Harris

Pub. Date: April 4, 2024

Publisher: Darkwater Books

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 298

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/THE-MIND-GAME

Read for
FREE with a
Kindle
Unlimited membership
. 

Years have passed since her childhood
friend disappeared, but Roni remains consumed by the mystery. Can she uncover
what happened to Maxim Santiago?

Podcast fame thrusts 17-year-old Roni into a perilous quest to find her missing
friend, who disappeared from Dulles Airport, Washington D.C. She teams up with
tech-savvy Kenzie to crack cryptic messages and unearth a dark secret about
trafficked kids. Dodging shadowy agents of the ruthless Russian dictator waging
a global ‘Mind Game’ on his enemies, they end up in a sweltering Mexican town,
a nexus for refugees.

They shared childhood memories, but Maxim has changed. He’s older, wiser,
perhaps even dangerous. Now he seeks their help to rescue enslaved children
guarding a world-shaking secret, but time’s running out. Roni and Kenzie dive
into Maxim’s risky mission, testing their friendship amid a struggle for
control of a key project that could win the ‘Mind Game.’

It’s a journey that brings Roni an astonishing self-discovery. Can she trust
in herself to help the rescue succeed?

From “sci-fi author M.G. Harris, creator of the best-selling Joshua Files” (Radio
Times Magazine, 5th September 2013
) comes an espionage mystery thriller for
teens and young adults, set in a world of geopolitical conflicts that sits
rather closely to our own post-pandemic world.

Praise for M. G. Harris:

  • “MG
    Harris proves she has a deft touch and a real skill for writing
    heart-stopping adventure” Vanessa Curtis, 16 February 2008,
    The Glasgow Herald
  • “M.G.
    Harris is a very skilled storyteller” Ed Fortune, Starburst
    Magazine, 2014
  • “Harris
    keeps the tension high throughout the action sequences” Paul
    Simpson, Sci-Fi Bulletin, 2015
  • “Harris’s
    prose is nice and breezy” Michael Cook, Geek Vibes Nation, 2023

 

Book Trailer:

An Excerpt from ‘The Mind Game’

Running the hot water, I washed my
hands with mandarin-scented liquid soap. As steam rose, it misted over the
mirror. I examined the duct work, admiring the aesthetic. This was my kind of
place, I decided. Urban chic. I patted my hands on a towel and squirted some of
the chamomile-scented lotion provided over my fingers, rubbing it in gently. My
skin was so dry.

Perhaps I daydreamed for a moment,
maybe realized I was hungry and thought about where we might go for snack
nearby. Anyhow, for whatever reason I lost track of time. It couldn’t have been
for more than a minute or two. Next thing I knew, someone was hammering on the
restroom door.

I walked over and unlocked the
door. Kenzie was there along with Boujee. Both wore troubled expressions.

She said, “You all right?”

I shrugged. “Yeah, why?”

Boujee flashed me a supercilious
smile and stretched out her palm. “Key.” But she didn’t need to use the room.
She just stomped away, back to the front desk.

“Sure you’re okay?” asked Kenzie.
“You can tell me, she’s gone.”

“I’m fine.”

He shook his head. “If you say
so.” He seemed reluctant to say more. He paced over to the sink and wet his
fingers, wiping his face. “Let’s go. Wait.” He pointed to the mirror-stone.
“What’s this?”

“Yeah, not much of a mirror, is
it?”

“I meant the writing.”

At first I thought I’d misheard
him. “Did you say ‘writing?’”

He gave me this quirky smile, like
he thought we were playing. “Yeah. ‘Find unicorns.’ Why’d you write that?”

“Me? I didn’t write anything.”

He continued to point directly at
the stone slab. “And yet.”

Completely baffled, I closed in
for a better look. Then I saw it. The words took a few seconds to register a
meaning. An inscription in the fine condensation was fading rapidly but still
legible. Traced, very obviously, by finger.

FIND UNICORNS.

My fingertips and nose felt
suddenly cold, as if they’d caught a sharp breeze. I swallowed, grasping for a
memory that wasn’t there.

I repeated, “I didn’t write
anything.”

Kenzie’s eyes twinkled. “Then who?
Casper the ghost?”

I grabbed his arm, not gently.
“I’m being serious, Kenzie. I did not write those words.”

He flinched, as if I’d flicked his
face. Anger flashed across his face for just a second.

He thinks I’m lying, playing a
dumb game
.

 

YABC Q&A

1.   What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

Other than my teenage desire to be a spy, until I discovered what that entails?

For many years I’ve had in my drawer a manuscript for a Cold War era novel about teenage spies. It was under contract to my first publisher, but in the end I delivered a fifth ‘Joshua Files’ book. After that, various publishers felt the Cold War was too distant, that readers would no longer buy the idea of a Russian dictator as the Big Bad. So I shelved it, waiting until I came up with a new way into that fictional universe.

My son once told me of a nightmare he had, where he’s ripped away from his parents at Border Control. Writers hear stuff like that and our ears prick up. So with his permission, I’ve incorporated a story like that into ‘The Mind Game,’ because I’m attracted to stories that start with a search for a missing person, then lead the main character down a rabbit hole and into a hidden world of crazy.

The final component was the discovery of Roni Padilla, my protagonist. I wanted to write a curious, driven and intelligent character like Josh Garcia, the hero of ‘The Joshua Files,’ but a girl, so also quite different than him. Josh was a UFO blogger but as a teenager, my son was obsessed with cold case mystery podcasts. So I updated that and Roni became a podcaster that investigates unsolved mysteries.

2.   Who is your favorite character in the book?

Apart from the main character, who is always my favorite?

Probably Maxim Santiago. He’s pretty complicated. Is he a hero or a villain? Even I don’t know, yet.

3.   Which came first, the title or the novel?

The novel. It’s taken me a long time to find the title. Until very recently it was ‘The Mind War.’ Then we learned that Amazon’s search algorithm suppresses book titles for kids and young adults that include words associated with violence. Hence ‘The Mind Game.’ Espionage has been known for a century as ‘The Great Game’ so perhaps it’s even more appropriate.

4.   What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

Probably a chapter titled ‘Blindfold Driving.’ I’m often proud of action sequences because they’re difficult to write. Time slows down for the writer, it can take a day to write five minutes of action. You don’t know if it’ll work until you edit.

Other than that, there’s a scene in the rest room of an art museum that I really like. It’s a pivotal scene for the first two books, with the pay off in the second. When a payoff comes later in the series, I enjoy dropping tiny clues for readers who are really paying attention.

5.   Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

How to edit. I’ve worked with some terrific editors over the years, Elv Moody at Scholastic Children’s Books UK, Elizabeth Law and Maria Barbo when I was with Harper Teen. It becomes like a sixth sense. Unfortunately it works a lot better when reading other people’s work than your own! That’s why I leave a manuscript for at least six months without looking at it again and write something else before I go back to edit – fresh eyes are essential.

6.   What do you like most about the cover of the book?

The ‘Mind Game’ symbol. We were going for a fascistic, totalitarian version of the ‘evil eye’ and I love what designer Gareth Stranks came up with.

7.   What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2024?

Apart from the English translation of Haruki Murakami’s latest, ‘The City And The Its Uncertain Walls’?

I’ve been waiting for the audiobook of ‘The Peacock And The Sparrow’ by I.S. Berry. The author is a former CIA case officer, and this is her debut. It won the Edgar Award, and two other former intelligence officers who have also written acclaimed espionage thrillers, recommended it to me.

8.   What was your favorite book in 2023?

That would be ‘Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow’ by Gabrielle Zevin. Just blew me away, what a great novel. (It was published in 2022 but I read it in 2023 so I’m counting it!)

As a former small business owner, I’m a real sucker for dramas set in growing businesses, startups etc. ‘Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow’ blends a tech startup story with a wonderful friendship story and an exploration of fictional video games, all of which I want to play!

9.   What’s up next for you?

Well, I recently finished the draft of a third book of ‘The Mind Game’ series, so now I’m starting on the fourth. It’ll be a prequel, a revision of the manuscript I’ve had in the drawer for all these years. Set two years before ‘The Mind Game,’ ‘Jaguar’s Realm’ tells the story of how Maxim Santiago, his brother and Atlanta escaped from a sinister camp in Cuba.

10.                     Is there anything that you would like to add?

After having 12 books published by traditional publishers, I’ve decided to go indie, like a few author friends. While it’s fun to be across the entire process of cover design editing, type setting etc, one disadvantage is the high cost of getting a human narrator for an audiobook.

I really love audio books, love the fact that you can listen while doing housework or gardening or just walking and staying fit. And I often use speech-to-text narration so that I can also listen to articles while moving around. So I really wanted to provide audio as an option for readers who prefer that.

However, good quality human narration represents a significant investment, especially across a new series. We weren’t planning to produce audiobooks, but when I read that traditional publishers are signing up to Elevenlabs, a new platform for AI voices, I decided to take a look at the service.

Long story short, we plan to release ‘The Mind Game’ in audiobooks too, using one of the cloned voices from the Elevenlabs library. If the series sells well, further down the line we’ll look at replacing the original audio editions with new ones voiced by a professional narrator.

11.                     Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

My main character, Roni Padilla, is pretty conflicted about her feelings for her long lost childhood friend, Maxim Santiago. She recognizes that it’s dangerous to allow herself to fall under his spell. Meantime she’s aware that her best friend / adoptive brother Kenzie maybe feels for her the way she feels for Maxim. It’s not a love triangle, more of an emotional Mexican standoff. Getting the balance in any scene that touches on those relationships is tricky, because I am slowly ratcheting up the emotional tension over the series. That means leaving myself somewhere higher to go, rather than dialing it up to eleven, every time.

12.                     Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

It’d be spoilerish if I answered that, because something happens in ‘False Flag’ (book two of ‘The Mind Game’ series), which causes this particular character to become difficult to write. Let’s just say that in book one, I found Atlanta relatively difficult to write, because I am intentionally keeping them quite vague for now. They deserve more time and attention than they have had thus far. Our protagonist, Roni, doesn’t know yet whether to trust Atlanta, who like Maxim, has lived much of their life in a mysterious camp in Cuba. So it’s another tension to balance. And when you are withholding important information from the reader about a character, it’s always a bit trickier to write.

13.                     Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?

Drafting. It’s always most fun to see the story emerge from almost nothing, for the first time. I also plot pretty carefully before I write, so I don’t need to revise as much as writers who fly by the seat of their pants.

14.                     What would you say is your superpower?

Currently it is getting my granddaughter to sleep! I’ve been singing to her since she was a few days old. She’s 5 months old now and all I have to do is get her into my arms with her little pacifier, then she looks into my eyes and waits for me to start singing. I have a karaoke playlist on YouTube, but she’s usually asleep by the third track.

15.                     Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

UNITED24, the Ukrainian government’s official fund for helping Ukraine survive the invasion by Russia and to rebuild their country. Celebrities like Mark Hamill have promoted UNITED24, but what persuaded me to become a regular donor was its support from Professor Timothy Snyder, an American historian of the Soviet Union and the Holocaust who has also written about the defense of democracy in the USA.

Like most people in Europe and the USA, I believe that the defense of Ukraine is critical to the future stability of the democratic world.

About M.G. Harris:

 

M.G. Harris was born in Mexico City and raised in Manchester,
England. She studied Biochemistry at St Catherine’s College Oxford and stuck
around for even more at St Cross College.

To this day she lives in Oxford. It’s not an easy place to leave.

The first job M.G. Harris was ever aware of wanting to do, aged six, was to
write children’s books. Then, aged eight and inspired by Doctor Who, she tried
to make Wirrn slime with a friend’s Chemistry Set 4, discovered chemistry, and
writing went out of the window.

But in 2004, a skiing accident changed everything…

You can find out more about how MG became an author at her website.

Subscribe to
MG’s newsletter!

Website | Twitter (X) | YouTube | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

5 winners will receive a finished copy of the second edition paperback of THE MIND GAME, US Only.

Ends October 29th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/14/2024

Daily
Waffle

Guest Post

10/14/2024

Sudeshna Loves Reading

Interview

10/15/2024

Fire
and Ice Reads

Guest Post/IG Post

10/15/2024

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Post

10/16/2024

YA
Books Central

Interview/IG Post

10/16/2024

TX Girl Reads

Guest Post/IG Post

10/17/2024

The Momma Spot

Guest Post

10/17/2024

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

10/18/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Post

10/18/2024

@alexandriavwilliams_

IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Two:

10/21/2024

Readingonthebrink

IG Review

10/21/2024

The Real World According to Sam

Review/IG Post

10/22/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

10/22/2024

Deal sharing aunt

Review/IG Post

10/23/2024

Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s

Review/IG Post

10/23/2024

@thepagelady

IG Review

10/24/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

10/24/2024

Bookgirlbrown_reviews

Review/IG Post

10/25/2024

@pagesforpaige

IG Review

10/25/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

 

Rockstar Tours: THE GIFTED SOCIETY (Tatiana White), Q&A plus giveaway! ~ US ONLY

October 11th, 2024 by

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE GIFTED SOCIETY by Tatiana White Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: THE GIFTED SOCIETY

Author: Tatiana White

Pub. Date: February 13, 2024

Publisher: The Muse Papers

Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBook

Pages: 529

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/THE-GIFTED-SOCIETY

Buy a
signed copy from Tatiana!

Read for
FREE with a
Kindle
Unlimited membership
!

 

Sixteen-year-old Alexia has a secret; she’s a Varien—burdened with the
gift of shooting stars through her skin. And after watching her best friend
Sarai get falsely accused of murder upon changing into a Varien, Alexia wants
no one to know. She keeps her secret tight and close until an accident with her
strange abilities critically injures her father—threatening her identity to be
revealed. Alexia flees and goes on the run to avoid death row.
While in transit, she meets Greta, a quirky antique shop owner who promises her
safety with other Variens in a realm called The Grove.

Alexia is skeptical, but once she learns Sarai has been kidnapped from prison
and taken to The Grove to be sacrificed by Revenirs, a secret society of
hitmen, she becomes intent on finding and saving her from another dire fate.

Greta introduces Alexia to The Grove and her new home at Malveaux Prep Academy
and Sanctuary—a premier school for Varien teens to study and hone their
knowledge and skill. There, Alexia rooms with a pyrokinetic hot head who can’t
stop kissing her boyfriend and takes tours with her assigned campus mentor—a
wise-cracking morphing teleporter named Kyle.

With the help of her newfound friendships, Alexia delves deeper into The
Grove’s hidden history for clues on the present. All she wants is to find Sarai
and save her. But the closer she gets to the Revenirs, the more danger she and
her friends are in. Alexia must decide if friendship is worth the wrath of war,
suffering, and even worse … betrayal.

For fans of Legendborn and Gen VThe
Gifted Society
 adds to the mosaic narrative discussion of who is
allowed to harness power, adventure, and admiration. With its dark and light
academia themes of fantasy and found family, it creates a world which provides
a whimsical and sweet escape.

 

 

Review:

The Gifted Society is
a thrilling and action-packed tale that delves into the world of Variens,
exploring the struggles of their lives. Tatiana White creates characters that
fans of coming-of-age and YA fantasy will adore. The character arc for Alexia
is impeccable. She is a young girl with powerful gifts, and the author’s
ability to create natural reactions to her discovery of what she is capable of
is ingenious. The characters are multifaceted and endearing, especially Alexia.
The plot is engaging and suspenseful, with unexpected twists and turns that
keep the reader on edge. The themes of identity, friendship, and sacrifice are
skillfully developed throughout the story. Overall, this novel is a captivating
read that will appeal to fans of young adult fantasy and adventure..”- Reader’s
Favorite
,
★★★★★

 

 

YABC Q&A

  1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

Hindsight is always 20/20. This was not an easy question to answer years ago. If I was asked this then, I think I would’ve simplified it by saying I was tired of the lack of Black girls in fiction and fantasy. Growing up in the 90s/2000s, there was no magic gold mine for BIPOC led books. We were always after thoughts in the books I read. Side characters like Jessie Ramsey (who I love) in The Baby-Sitters Club—who had a few of her own books in the series, but it almost felt as if she got all the scrapped plots.

I was a very expressive and artistic child who made things and consumed a lot of media—books, film, comics, music, and magazines. I remember always making my own worlds up and coloring Disney Princesses brown in my coloring books, making storyboards with Black princesses and sending them to Disney (because I owned Disney stock—I swore I was important), creating magazine layouts, writing articles on made up celebrities and printing them, then I moved on to making fan fiction because I was a huge fan of X-Men via my relationship with my father, yet I wanted to see other Black characters attending Xavier’s Institute. So, it’s no surprise my journey brought me to publishing a book with a Black heroine and taking matters into my own hands.

The deeper context on why I wrote a book with tropes like a hero stepping into their power, found family, and self-discovery is because I was craving those things during my adolescence and a large chunk of my twenties.

At age 10, I moved from the city of Long Beach—which had a lot of community and culture—to a small and newly formed homogenous suburban town wedged in the middle of cattle farms. I was one of very few Black children in my school, and that was always brought to my attention because my presence came with questions/comments about my hair and other things significant to my culture—like food, my physical features, and speech. It came with racial jokes. I felt very isolated and insignificant in my classes. It’s no wonder X-Men resonated with me. It gave me a place to relate. A place where I could celebrate every piece of me. For that, I will always love X-Men so much.

As I grew up, the journey of finding myself and my tribe had many turns and dips, so what was fanfiction turned into something all its own. The Gifted Society is very reflective of my journey as a young Black girl navigating my place in the world despite what it imposes or sells you. And at its core, my protagonist, Alexia shared a desperation for community and found family with me. We all want a place or people to belong to. We want a home that makes so much sense without explanation. Something to always come back to.

I connected to my found family decades ago and have never looked back. They’ve made all the difference in my life, especially through hard times. I wanted to convey the fullness and warmth of finding your village vs. living without them and wondering if anyone will ever understand you and love you as you are. It is such a universal struggle.

 

  1. Who is your favorite character in the book?

This is such a hard question for me to answer. I feel so connected to every character I write no matter how different from me they may be. I, of course love Alexia, but I have spent so much time in her head, I truly get excited from supporting characters. Alani has always been this empowering figure whose energy I wanted to harness as a girl. In a way, she’s Alexia’s other half because she says and does what Alexia could never. She has so much agency and grit for a young girl. Recently, I realized I modeled her after Shannen Doherty—who was dubbed and blacklisted as a bad girl in Hollywood. It’s been a fun realization to see where they overlap.

Kyle is another character I genuinely enjoy because he’s so complex in bringing comedy and drama. His dialogue has always been so clear in my head, even his inflections and expressions. And there’s a sweetness in him that is protective and endearing. I love that he provides Alexia security and trust.

As of right now, Andre is my absolute favorite. I love every scene he’s in. His dialogue with the kids is so organic and witty. Unlike the others, he was not an original character. In fact, I added him in the last round of re-writes. He must’ve been the missing piece because he really enriched the story and adventure. Andre has so many layers and qualities. I hope to enjoy writing him for a long time.

  1. Which came first, the title or the novel?

The novel, of course! Additionally, The Gifted Society had a different name once upon a time. It didn’t fit well, but it was mysterious and fit the YA book titles on the market. It wasn’t exactly my style, nor did it capture the aesthetic of the book. I really wanted a simple and classic title. After months of mulling over it. I came up with the title in 2020 as I had decided to independently publish upon my father’s passing.

  1. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

One scene doesn’t come to mind at this moment. I am definitely most proud of the first 100 pages of the book. Those were the most critical and tasking pages to create. They have to be strong. They have to pull the reader in and read neatly in plot and pacing. You need just enough. Not too little and not too much. It can be hard to find the correct starting point and build from there. I can’t tell you how many versions of the first few chapters I have written. I poured myself into playing out those 100 pages and depicting the estranged relationship between Alexia and her father and their family. I worked with two different developmental editors on building its foundation. It was also something I had partially put together before my father passed and afterward, so there is a lot of angst and grief residing in that section for the reader to cling on to. And I believe it does so in a very relatable way that builds complex connections with a morally grey character like Alexia’s father.

  1. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

This is probably cliché, but do not compare yourself to anyone else. Your journey is your own. You can be inspired by your peers and public figures, but you cannot possibly mimic their path. Success comes to us differently and appears differently. The times when I struggle most are when I am not nice to myself. Placing expectations on myself based on what other people have achieved is a poison. I’ve drank it a few times, but it did nothing but steal my time. It made me want to give up. To achieve any dream, you must see things through. So that’s what I’ve been doing. Staying in my lane and looking ahead, never quitting, and staying open to learning more. The best part of any dream is the journey. Even with adversity, mine has been sweet.

 

  1. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

Everything! I love my illustrator’s style. It is so elegant and edgy all at once. I love that this cover makes a statement within dark academia and fantasy genres. It says that faces like Alexia’s haven’t been the standard, but she’s here and her story is worth hearing and investing in.

 

  1. What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2024?

Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

 

  1. What was your favorite book in 2023?

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Washington

  1. What’s up next for you?

Writing Book 2 & 3 of The Gifted Society Trilogy first and foremost. I also have two standalone novels I hope to work on after I wrap it up.

 

10.Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

Raquel Ravenwood. She had more scenes in earlier drafts, which gave her more context, but slowed the book down. I kept resisting removing them, but it was really the right choice.

11. Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?

Revising is where the gold can be found and where the magic happens. I love revising so much. Perhaps because it is really an effort toward perfection and watching an idea become a masterpiece. I like seeing my characters work with me in revising. Drafting is getting all those ideas down on paper and you have to put your ego and perfectionist away. It’s a challenge. A very humbling challenge. You have to trust you’ll learn the lessons you need to learn to make it toward your goal.

12. What would you say is your superpower?

My persistence is one! Also, my passion for capturing and understanding moments in literature, history, pop culture or film. I love that I am unafraid to explore the piece of myself that always wants to know how things are made and come to happen. I am a student first. Always learning. I used to think I was so weird for having such an interest in these things, but this piece of me is why I was able to write my novel. It’s why I know how I want a scene to read and feel or how I want a character and their voice to come across. I’ve developed my own voice this way and have witnessed there is a story in everything, even when words are absent.

13. Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

Covenant House California—a non-profit for youth experiencing homelessness during ages 18-24.

And also, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society—as my father passed away from Leukemia in 2019.

 

 

About Tatiana White:

 

Tatiana
White grew up on a creative diet of comics, poetry, film, essays, and books.

An advocate
for diversity, Tatiana studied the mechanics of film, creative writing, and
journalism with the overall goal of altering narratives and imagery imposed on
black youths and adults. She achieved a bachelor’s degree in Mass Media
Communications and went on to work for various Bay Area media staples before
returning to her first love: storytelling.

When
Tatiana’s not toiling over her computer, she’s occupied with her life as wife
to her college sweetheart and full-time role as mother of two girls (or
mutants, as she likes to call them) and a cantankerous schnauzer.

Sign up for Tatiana’s
newsletter!

Website | Twitter (X) | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE GIFTED SOCIETY & swag, US Only.

Ends October 26th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/7/2024

Fire
and Ice Reads

Book Playlist/IG Post

10/8/2024

Daily
Waffle

Top 5 Favorite Scenes

10/9/2024

Two
Chicks on Books

Dream Cast/IG Post

10/10/2024

Lady
Hawkeye

Favorite Books & Movies/IG Post

10/11/2024

YA
Books Central

Interview/IG Post

10/11/2024

bookloversbookreviews

IG Post

10/12/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Two:

10/13/2024

Shauna’s Book Journal

Review/IG Post

10/14/2024

@stargirls.magical.tale

IG Review

10/15/2024

Edith’s Little Free Library

IG Review/TikTok Post

10/15/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

10/16/2024

thefashionistfiles

Review/IG Post

10/17/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Review

10/18/2024

Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s

Review/IG Post

10/19/2024

@thepagelady

IG Review

Week Three:

10/20/2024

Lifestyle of Me

Review

10/20/2024

anitralovesbooksanddogs

IG Review

10/21/2024

Country
Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

 

Rockstar Tours: GO HOME (Terry Farish & Lochan Sharma), Guest Post & Giveaway! ~US ONLY

October 9th, 2024 by

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the GO HOME by Terry
Farish & Lochan Sharma Blog Tour hosted by 
Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: GO HOME

Author: Terry
Farish & Lochan Sharma

Pub. Date: August 6, 2024

Publisher: Groundwood
Books

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 304

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/GO-HOME-Farish-Sharma

 

In a world beset by anger and fear, what does it mean to protect one’s
home and family?

Olive and Gabe ― her older brother’s best friend ― are deeply in love.
They want nothing more than to make a home and family together, especially
after the overdose death of Olive’s brother, Chris. It won’t be easy. Gabe
works three jobs, and Olive still needs to finish high school, but their future
together feels certain and right.

But when Samir Paudel moves into the house across the street, Olive’s and
Gabe’s lives are disrupted. The Paudel house is overfull with family and
friends, and they play loud music at all hours. Yet Olive is drawn to them,
particularly to Samir’s little nephew, Bhim, and his grandfather, Hajurba.

Yet Samir’s very presence seems to awaken in Gabe an intense anger ―
toward immigrants he believes are taking resources from White Americans ―
resources that would have saved Chris and his own father, who has lost his job
and is now struggling with ill health and alcoholism.

When Olive realizes that Gabe and his family are the source of escalating
aggressions toward the Paudels, she no longer recognizes the loyal, loving boy
she fell in love with.

 

 

Guest Post:

2  Can You Swim?  Meet Samir from Nepal in the novel GO HOME

By Terry Farish

Thank you for welcoming me. You asked me to write about a character in GO HOME and include an excerpt. Please meet Samir.  This is a scene in which he does something that’s hard for him to do.  He has moved to the U.S. from Nepal, a land-locked country. He doesn’t know how to swim. No one in his family knows how to swim. And now he lives by the Atlantic Ocean.  He has seen his neighbor, Olive, swim. He feels responsible for his family’s safety in this new place. He believes he must learn to swim and then teach his mother and father and sister. But he is terrified of the water.  Here’s an excerpt in which he is has asked Olive to teach him to swim. She agrees to. The lesson is the beginning of a friendship. The friendship is very awkward because Olive is also the girlfriend of Samir’s enemy, Gabe.  From chapter 34:

 

She swam out aways into the cove, then turned toward him and swam her beautiful free style. It had a rhythm like a dance.  Where he stood, he lifted his arms and followed her movements and it was just like the memory he was already holding of her movements in his muscles. 

           “Use you back muscles,” she said.

           He felt his back lengthen and twist.

           “That’s the next lesson,” she said.

           “The arms, the breath, the kick.”

           “Yes.”

           On the shore Samir shivered. He looked out at the water, the island. For the flash of a second, fear filled him. Could he really do this? No one in his family had. He felt his skinny midsection. It was not any more muscular. But he already imagined his body swimming.

           Samir glanced at Olive. He said, “I am trying to be a friend. Am I doing it right? Are we friends now?”

           Olive leaned down to grab her jeans and pulled them up over her shorts.

Then she scrunched up her face and laughed out loud. She was a funny girl.

           “Why are you laughing?” he said.

           “You are so serious,” she said.

           “If there is a time you would like a favor, you can ask me,” he said.

           She began to cry. It was very sudden and it scared him. She was not loud like the gulls but her lips quivered and the tears filled her eyes and she hid her eyes under her elbow.  

           “Oh, no, no, no,” he said. “Friends have no strings. You don’t owe me.” 

           She ran to her bike.

           “You’re doing okay,” she called. “You’re doing superior.”

           She disappeared through the trees, like buttermilk on bread as his mother would say.

 

Here is a photo of Lochan’s mom (Ambika), me, and co-writer Lochan Sharma.  Lochan does not yet know how to swim, but when he learns he will teach his mother. 

About Terry Farish:

 

TERRY
FARISH
 is the
author of The Good Braider (YALSA and SLJ Best Book for Young
Adults), Either the Beginning or the End of the World (Maine
Literary Award) and A Feast for Joseph (with OD Bonny and
illustrated by Ken Daley). She lives in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Sign up for
Terry’s newsletter! (scroll to
the bottom of the page)

Website | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

 

 

 

About Lochan
Sharma:

LOCHAN
SHARMA
 was born
in Nepal. His family was registered at Timai refugee camp after they were
exiled from Bhutan. Lochan and his family moved to the US in 2009 and now live
in Concord, New Hampshire. He is a student at Keene State College. 

Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of GO HOME, US Only.

Ends October 22nd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/7/2024

Sudeshna
Loves Reading

Excerpt

10/8/2024

Book Review
Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

10/9/2024

Daily Waffle

Excerpt

10/9/2024

YA Books Central

Excerpt/IG Post

10/10/2024

Fire and Ice Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

10/11/2024

Edith’s
Little Free Library

IG Post/TikTok Post

Week Two:

10/14/2024

Two Chicks on
Books

Excerpt/IG Post

10/14/2024

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

10/15/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Post

10/15/2024

TX Girl Reads

Review/IG Post

10/16/2024

Rajiv’s reviews

Review/IG Post

10/16/2024

Brandi
Danielle Davis

IG Review/TikTok Post

10/17/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

10/17/2024

A
Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

10/18/2024

The Momma Spot

Review

10/18/2024

Country Mamas
With Kids

Review/IG Post

 

Rockstar Tours:

September 4th, 2024 by

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE CHRONICLES OF VIKTOR VALENTINE by Z Brewer Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: THE CHRONICLES OF VIKTOR VALENTINE

Author: Z Brewer

Pub. Date: September 3, 2024

Publisher: Quill Tree Books

Formats:  Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 272

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/THE-CHRONICLES-OF-VIKTOR-VALENTINE

 

A perfectly average boy uncovers a supernatural secret about
his family that could put his whole town in grave danger—if it doesn’t make him
die of embarrassment first—in this mysterious and funny middle grade debut
from New York Times bestselling author Z Brewer.

Viktor Valentine can’t think of a better way to end his
summer vacation than playing All the Vampires Everywhere, his
favorite video game, with his best friend, Damon. Yet his parents, who make
cringey jokes and call him dorky nicknames, seem set on ruining his plans.
Viktor knows he can’t really compete with Damon’s “cool” friends—so their epic
video game playing is the best Viktor can do to come close to being cool in
Damon’s eyes.

But then Viktor slowly starts to realize that his parents may
be hiding something from him. They’re acting very suspicious; they sneak out
after midnight and return with bloody mouths. But he’s probably just played too
many video games. After all, vampires aren’t real . . . right?

Seventh grade is tough enough without having to figure out if
your family has fangs. And to make matters worse, the new girl that moved in
across the street seems particularly interested in things that
go bump in the night. Can Viktor protect his family, or will his sleuthing come
back to bite him?

 

Interview:

  1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

Two words: unfinished business. I realized there are a lot of loose threads in THE CHRONICLES OF VLADIMIR TOD that were just never addressed and wanted to find a way to answer those questions in a fresh, new way. What better way than to introduce a new boy, with a whole new set of problems, in THE CHRONICLES OF VIKTOR VALENTINE?

 

  1. Who is your favorite character in the book?

While I adore his best friend, Damon, with cool hair color choices and a quick wit, Viktor is absolutely my favorite character in this book. He’s got anxiety. He’s not certain of himself. He’s not confident in his friendships. He just really struggles emotionally, and I can relate to that. Plus, all those things are going on in his mind before he even gets an inkling that vampires might possibly be real.

 

  1. Which came first, the title or the novel?

The novel. By a longshot! I had a title in mind, but it didn’t pass the mustard. My editor and agent and I shared idea after idea back and forth for months. The series title was set (THE CHRONICLES OF VIKTOR VALENTINE). We just needed the title of the first book. Then, after so much frustration, my editor eventually asked what I thought of calling the first book THE CHRONICLES OF VIKTOR VALENTINE. I thought long and hard about it and realized the perfect title was staring me in the face all along.

 

  1. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

I love being surprised, so my favorite things about THE CHRONICLES OF VIKTOR VALENTINE is what surprised me while writing it. One of my favorite aspects of writing THE CHRONICLES OF VLADIMIR TOD was writing from the perspective of the so-called monster. Seeing the world through the eyes of a half-human/half-vampire boy was exciting! With Viktor, I worried that I’d struggle to connect to the human point of view. But what surprised me was that discovering the vampire world through Viktor’s eyes was just as thrilling as writing from Vlad’s perspective.

 

  1. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

When I first began publishing books, I let people get into my head with that whole “don’t let them pigeonhole you” nonsense. The truth is, I fashioned THE CHRONICLES OF VLADIMIR TOD as a five-book series, but I could have gone on writing it forever. I was happy in my lil vampire world. But the pressure from the outside to write a “big” book or different genres of books was enormous. I’ve learned over the years that it is absolutely okay to love one thing and chase after it with your whole heart. I love vampires. So I’m chasing them now with unapologetic glee.

 

  1. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

I love how it reminds me so much of the style of Edward Gorey. To me, the cover evokes the feeling of having been a kid, out with friends, trick-or-treating – one of the best feelings in the world to me! There’s also an air of mystery about it that makes me want to pick up the book and hold it in my greedy lil hands.

 

  1. What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2024?

DEAD THINGS ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR by Robin Wasley looks amazing. A magical apocalypse?? Sign me up!

 

  1. What was your favorite book in 2023?

THE NIGHTHOUSE KEEPER by Lora Senf. It’s a follow-up to THE CLACKITY, and I am OBSESSED. Who knew Middle Grade could be so scary? (I did, but still)

 

  1. What’s up next for you?

I’m currently working on the second book in THE CHRONICLES OF VIKTOR VALENTINE series (title TK, coming Fall 2025) and, in a strange twist, I’m writing a very weird adult novel. No vampires in that. Weird, right?

 

  1. Is there anything that you would like to add?

It literally took one person to believe in me, to support me, to tell me it’s okay to follow my dreams. So today I wanna be that one person for anyone reading this. Whatever it is that you want to do, whatever you want to be, do it…be it. Because life is short, but dreaming makes it all worthwhile. I believe in you. Go do the thing. <3

 

  1. Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

Viktor loves his parents very much. So the scenes where he feels a huge disconnect with them—especially his dad—were challenging to write because when writing, I’m feeling what my characters are feeling, and poor Viktor was lost, angry, sad, and disappointed.

 

  1. Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

There’s this new girl named Alys who just moved in across the street from Viktor, and she gave me a heck of a time when I first started writing THE CHRONICLES OF VIKTOR VALENTINE. I had a difficult time connecting with her at first. But then I discovered her trauma and…well, now I understand.

 

  1. Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?

If you’d asked me years ago, I’d have happily answered “drafting”. Nobody’s looking over your shoulder—not even you—when drafting. It’s freeing and sometimes chaotic and wild. But time tends to change things and my answer is different now. There is a certain rush to flinging words on the page during drafting a novel and hitting “The End”, but I’ve learned that my joy in writing really comes from watching the story piece together during revisions. It’s an eye-opening part of the process. Shifting nuances change the story right before my eyes and I’m surprised and delighted all over again.

 

  1. What would you say is your superpower?

In writing, I can confidently say that dialogue is my superpower. But outside of that, my superpower is empathy. I have a way of connecting with people that I think is pretty cool. I like understanding people, getting to know them, relating to them, being able to support them in whatever way I can.

 

  1. Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

The Trevor Project (https://www.thetrevorproject.org). They focus on suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ+ youth, which is badly needed in these trying times. The Trevor Project offers a chat line, a texting line, and a toll-free telephone number where confidential assistance is provided by trained counselors for those in need. Queer youth need our help now more than ever, so please donate to The Trevor Project if you are able.

 

About Z
Brewer:


Z Brewer
 is the New York
Times 
bestselling author of several books, including the Chronicles of
Vladimir Tod series, and more short stories than they can recall. Their
pronouns are they/them. Z is also an outspoken mental health and antibullying
advocate. Plus, they have awesome hair. Visit Z online at zbrewerbooks.com.

Website | Twitter (X) | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Discord Server | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

 

 

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE CHRONICLES OF VIKTOR VALENTINE, US only.

Ends September 17th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/2/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Guest Post/IG Post

9/2/2024

Daily
Waffle

Guest Post

9/3/2024

onemused

IG Post-Guest Post

9/3/2024

Fire
and Ice Reads

Guest Post/IG Post

9/4/2024

YA Books Central

Interview/IG Post

9/4/2024

Edith’s Little Free Library

IG Post/TikTok Post

9/5/2024

Rajiv’s
reviews

Review/IG Post

9/5/2024

Bookborne Hunter

Review/IG Post

9/6/2024

avainbookland

IG Review

9/6/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

Week Two:

9/9/2024

FUONLYKNEW

Review

9/9/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

9/10/2024

Lifestyle of Me

Review

9/10/2024

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Review/IG Post

9/11/2024

@thepagelady

IG Review

9/11/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review

9/12/2024

Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s

Review/IG Post

9/12/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review

9/13/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

9/13/2024

Nonbinary Knight Reads

Review/IG Post

 

Blog Tour: Wild About You (Kaitlyn Hill), Guest Post & Giveaway! ~US ONLY

August 5th, 2024 by

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill!

 

Kaitlyn Hill returns with another reality-TV rom-com exploring a college-aged Amazing Race outdoors adventure where the trail to true love doesn’t always come with a map.

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Kaitlyn Hill

KAITLYN HILL is a writer, reader, and sweet tea enthusiast who believes that all the world is not, in fact, a stage, but a romance novel waiting to happen. She lives with her real-life romance hero in Lexington, Kentucky. Kaitlyn is the author of Love from Scratch and Not Here to Stay Friends. Find Kaitlyn online at thekaitlynhill.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok at @thekaitlynhill.

WebsiteInstagram | ThreadsXTikTok

 

 

 

About the Book: Wild About You

Two total opposites. One race through the Great Outdoors. In this grumpy-sunshine teen romance from the author of Love from Scratch and Not Here to Stay Friends, the trail to true love doesn’t always come with a map.

Natalie Hart has always been loud, unfiltered, and unapologetically herself. But then comes her freshman year of college, when she loses her merit scholarship and gains one pesky little anxiety diagnosis.

Hesitant to take out more student loans, Natalie decides to shoot her shot and applies to Wild Adventures, a popular outdoorsy reality show. Sure, Natalie prefers her twelve-step skincare routine to roughing it on the Appalachian Trail while competing in challenges against other college kids, but that scholarship prize money is calling her name. High risk, high reward, right?

Enter Finn Markum, her randomly assigned, capital-O Outdoorsy teammate whose growl could rival a black bear. These partners have more friction than a pair of new hiking boots. Or is it flirtation? Turns out falling in love might be the wildest adventure of all…

Purchase

*Available NOW wherever books are sold.*

 

 

 

Two Truths and a Lie
with Kaitlyn Hill

Do you remember playing this ice breaker game at school? If you need a refresher, the rules are simple: You tell someone two truths and a lie about yourself and they have to guess which one is the lie. See if you can tell fact from fiction about the three subjects below!

Two Truths and a Lie

…about Kaitlyn Hill

  1. I always wanted to be a writer when I grew up
  2. I listen to audiobooks frequently, usually finishing at least 2-3 per week
  3. I have a perfect dog named Jolene

…about WILD ABOUT YOU

  1. Its working title was once HEARTS RACE
  2. It has the shortest word count of my three books so far
  3. The plot was partially inspired by The Amazing Race

…about Natalie Hart

  1. She’s best friends with Reese, main character of Love from Scratch
  2. She just finished her first year of college
  3. She signed up for Wild Adventures to kickstart her acting career

Scroll down for the answers to see how you did!

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Two Truths and a Lie

…about Kaitlyn Hill

#1 is the lie! For a lot of my childhood, I was set on becoming the first woman president! I’m glad I took a different path 🙂 I started writing fiction around the end of college, and haven’t looked back!

…about WILD ABOUT YOU

#2 is the lie! WILD ABOUT YOU is actually the longest, at nearly 95,000 words! Because of font size and other page design choices, however, Love from Scratch has the longest page count—353 to WAY’s 349.

…about Natalie Hart

#3 is the lie! While Natalie IS an actress, she goes on the reality show Wild Adventures in the hopes of winning scholarship money that she needs to pay for school!

 

 

 

WILD ABOUT YOU by Kaitlyn Hill

Delacorte Romance | On sale May 21, 2024 | Ages 12 and up

384 pages | TR: 978-0-593-65095-0 | $12.99 U.S. | $17.99 Can.

Ebook: 978-0-593-65096-7 | $8.99 U.S. | $10.99 Can.

Audio: 978-0-593-86620-7 | $27.50 U.S. | $37.50 Can.

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

5 winners will receive a paperback set of all 3 of Kaitlyn Hill’s books — Wild About You, Love from Scratch, and Not Here to Stay Friends ~US only
The giveaway starts at 12:01am ET on August 5th and ends August 18th at 11:59pm ET
Tour Schedule:
August 5th — YA Books Central
August 5th — Books I Love a Latte
August 6th — Book Briefs
August 6th — Thindbooks Blog
August 7th — Book-Keeping Blog
August 7th — Among Candles and Tea
August 8th — Book Addict Book Blog
August 9th — Ever Bookish
August 9th — Fangirling Over Frappes

Rockstar Tours: A MISFORTUNE OF LAKE MONSTERS (Nicole M. Wolverton), Interview & Giveaway! ~ US ONLY

June 27th, 2024 by

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the A MISFORTUNE OF LAKE MONSTERS by Nicole M. Wolverton Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: A
MISFORTUNE OF LAKE MONSTERS

Author: Nicole M.
Wolverton

Pub. Date: July
2, 2024

Publisher: CamCat
Books

Formats: Hardcover,
Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 304

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/A-MISFORTUNE-OF-LAKE-MONSTERS 

When legends bite back.

Lemon Ziegler wants to escape rural
Devil’s Elbow, Pennsylvania to attend college―but that’s impossible now that
she’s expected to impersonate the town’s lake monster for the rest of her life.
Her family has been secretly keeping the tradition of Old Lucy, the famed (and
very fake) monster of Lake Lokakoma, alive for generations, all to keep the
tourists coming. Without Lemon, the town dies, and she can’t disappoint her
grandparents . . . or tell her best friends about any of it. That includes Troy
Ramirez, who has been covertly in love with Lemon for years, afraid to ruin
their friendship by confessing his feelings. When a very real, and very hungry
monster is discovered in the lake, secrets must fall by the wayside. Determined
to stop the monster, Lemon and her best friends are the only thing standing
between Devil’s Elbow and the monster out for blood.

For readers who enjoy Harrow
Lake
 by Kat Ellis, House of Hollow by Krystal
Sutherland, Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain,
and The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst.

 

 

YABC Interview:

 

What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

The origin story for A Misfortune of Lake Monsters is embedded in a chore I loathed as a kid: washing the dishes. I grew up in the rural hinterlands of northeast Pennsylvania, and my childhood home is positioned on the outskirts of town. As a preteen, I’d stand at the sink in the kitchen and do dishes—and daydream about the horrifying things that might live beneath the surface of the water of the lake that was about a mile behind the house.

That might seem like a weird thing to wonder about, but when you live in an area where there’s not a lot to keep you busy…your mind wanders. The possibility of a lake monster was one of the most exciting things I could imagine—something different than the hum drum life that I had at the time, even if jumped out the water and started terrorizing me. I was always one of those kids who loved the Time-Life series on the paranormal and cryptids—and I always had an active imagination, yearning to discover or experience something that was truly outside the norm.

A lot of years passed between then and when I revisited the lake monster concept for a fiction treatment a few years ago. My fascination with cryptids only grew—to the point where I even visited Loch Ness in Scotland to do a bit of personal observation about what a lake that could potentially house a lake monster might look and sound like.

In the end, it’s gratifying that something good came out of having dishpan hands as a 12-year-old girl!

 

Who is your favorite character in the book?

I love Lemon Ziegler—she’s the main character of A Misfortune of Lake Monsters and has such a great journey in the book as she learns to stand up for what she wants in life. That said, Troy Ramirez, the second narrator and a boy who absolutely and secretly adores Lemon, holds a true soft spot in my heart.

Although I didn’t intend for it to happen, Troy is somewhat loosely based on someone I used to be close friends with, someone who passed away not all that long ago. He was someone who struggled with the best way to be a man on his own terms—and generally how to be good person. Having a front row seat to someone figuring it out is interesting. As I was developing Troy as a character, it’s just who he turned out to be. Troy and Darrin’s friendship in the book was a joy to write, and developing Troy’s story arc was like having my friend back. I could hear his voice in my head.

Interestingly, when it came time to listen to auditions for the audiobook version of A Misfortune of Lake Monsters, there was a single actor who perfectly captured that voice. The second I heard Oscar Fabela sarcastically but good-naturedly rib Darrin in his audition, I knew. I almost cried. Luckily, the good folks at CamCat recognized it, too. The audiobook version of A Misfortune of Lake Monster is so special—the actors playing Lemon and Troy just get the characters in every way.

 

Which came first, the title or the novel?

I am notoriously terrible at titling things. I put it off until the last possible moment, and a good friend who is brilliant at titling is often pressed into service to brainstorm with me. There’s something about coming up with a title that just feels so final and concrete and stressful. So obviously, the novel absolutely came first.

It was only during my very last read-through of A Misfortune of Lake Monsters before it went on submission—when I was picking out phrases from the book that could possibly be relevant for titling purposes—that I settled on the title. Darrin is joking, trying to diffuse a tense situation with humor (as usual), when he wonders what you might call a group of lake monsters. Like a murder of ravens, he proposes a misfortune of lake monsters. Title sorted!

 

What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

How and when to open A Misfortune of Lake Monsters is something that tortured me for quite a while. I considered that starting with Lemon while she’s faking an Old Lucy sighting might feel like plunking readers into the middle of the inciting incident, and I didn’t want that to be confusing—faking Old Lucy is Lemon’s normal. Opting to make it Lemon’s first Old Lucy impersonation was my solution, and I’m proud of the way it simultaneously sets up Lemon as villain, victim, and hero while also setting expectations around Devil’s Elbow and the relationship people who live there have with Old Lucy. It sets a nice foundation for what comes next in the story.

 

Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

One of my biggest strengths as a writer, craft-wise, is developing natural-sounding dialogue. There’s an art to it that I think most people do eventually learn through trial and error, but baby writers often don’t have a handle on why their dialogue doesn’t sound realistic or why it reads as stilted and awkward. I was certainly no different when I was starting to get serious about writing for publication. It doesn’t seem like it should be that difficult—I mean, we’ve all been speaking like normal people since we were little kids. You just…write people talking to each other, right?

But that’s not the way it works. Different people have different cadences to their speech. They favor different words and manner of expressing themselves. They often don’t speak in complete sentences, or they get hung up and veer off into tangents. Hardly anyone truly uses perfect formal speech—and then there’s the issue of code switching between different audiences and situations. It’s dialogue, yes, but it also hugely impacts character voice. That’s really important in A Misfortune of Lake Monsters. If you put Lemon, Troy, Darrin, and Ike and Pearl Ziegler in a room and turn off the lights, I would hope you’d be able to tell who they are based entirely on voice and dialogue.

If the general public knew how closely I eavesdrop on conversations, they’d probably be appalled. I’ve probably overheard secrets I wasn’t supposed to, but it wasn’t because I was planning to collect kompromat—it’s simply the best way to develop an ear for the way people speak! That, combined with reading dialogue out loud, helped me improve as a writer. And one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the years is that if your dialogue doesn’t ring true or the voice seems inauthentic, the reader is going to lose the ability to suspend disbelief—and in horror that’s particularly important.

What do you like most about the cover of the book?

The cover of A Misfortune of Lake Monsters gives a point-of-view of under the water and tangled in the weeds, looking up at the surface—firmly rooting us in what is real life (the actual lake monster) versus what we imagine is real life (Old Lucy). Metaphorically speaking, it works to mirror several plot points in the book: the relationship between Lemon and Troy, the relationship between Lemon and her grandparents, the relationship between Troy and his parents, not to mention several surprises that come later in the novel. It’s a fun concept.

 

What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2024?

Horror and thriller debut authors are absolutely killing it in 2024! I’ve had the honor of reading ARCs for a lot of the work coming out this year from new writers—it’s hard to narrow it down, so I’ll stick to young adult horror since that’s also my genre and category. Lockjaw by Matteo Cerilli is a gorgeously written book that very much speaks to current politics (plus it has a small town setting, which appeals to me very much since A Misfortune of Lake Monsters is also set in a small town).

One I haven’t read yet and which isn’t from a debut author is The Ones Who Come Back Hungry by Amelinda Bérubé—which, coincidentally enough, shares a release date with A Misfortune of Lake Monsters! Amelinda is an incredible writer who is excellent at creeping me right out. I often think about how much I’d love to get a peek at her thought process—she’s someone who really understands the psychology of horror.

 

What was your favorite book in 2023?

Hands down, my favorite book of 2023 was Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova. It is so unique, and the grief and love pour off the page. Córdova’s use of language and his storytelling is incredibly clever. You know how every once in a while you might get someone on social media asking what book you’d like to read over again for the first time if you could? For me it would be Monstrilio.

I finished the book late at night in a hotel room in Venice, Italy. I was by myself, there in town just for a few days—and that was probably a good thing: my husband might have been alarmed because I cried at the end of the book and I cried for everyone in the book.

 

 

Is there anything that you would like to add?

As the CamCat Books folks were laying out the internal pages of A Misfortune of Lake Monsters, my editor let me know that they couldn’t include a sketch that Troy made of a symbol he finds on a mystery device—and that saddened me greatly. In its place is a description of the cone. I think the passage adequately does its job, but I do miss the sketch every time I leaf through chapter 14. I’m not a great artist, so that sketch represents a lot of angst on my part to get it right!

I have the original sketch framed on the wall of my office, and I occasionally think about getting a tattoo to along with the lemons I had inked onto my forearm—a tattoo for each of my main characters seems right!

 

Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

This is in no way a spoiler, but the scene where Lemon confesses to Troy and Darren that she and her family have been impersonating Old Lucy was one of the most difficult for me to write in A Misfortune of Lake Monsters. I wanted to get a piece of the scene from both Troy’s point of view and from Lemon’s point of view, so I split the scene between chapters. It’s an emotionally charged scene for both of them to begin with—Lemon’s afraid her two best friends in the world are going to hate her for lying to them for their entire lives, and Troy’s freaked out because he’s sure something could pop up and try to kill them at any moment and because Lemon’s a giant ball of nerves. Because their voices are very dissimilar, it took a lot of tweaking to make it seem right to me. Lemon doesn’t want to dwell on certain aspects of the situation, and while she’s apprehensive about coming clean, isn’t afraid to show how much the secret and the tension of telling are affecting her—while Troy very much keeps a lid on his outward emotions for the most part.

Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

Ike Ziegler—Lemon’s grandfather—has a very, very particular way about him. The way he speaks is modeled somewhat on my maternal grandfather. My grandfather spent most of his life as a dairy farmer in the rural northeast Pennsylvania town in which I grew up. He was a very quiet and private man of strong opinions about the role and behavior of women, among other things. So for Ike, it was important to me that what his dialogue conveys is only very surface level—what he says and what he does or means are often two different things. Getting the accent and cadence of Ike’s speech right—without going overboard—was also something that took extra attention. I admit that it frequently gave me trouble!

The most important thing was to give Ike a bit of a gray morality streak—he’s someone that, in the end, thinks of himself as entirely devoted to the success of Devil’s Elbow. In his head, he’s the hero of the story, even if he is lying and circumventing the law in some cases, pushing his family away, and generally manipulating people to get what he wants. Ike does come off as a villain, and I don’t think of my grandfather that way at all—but pushed to extremes, you never know what people might be capable of! My grandfather died quite a long time ago, so writing Ike and thought-experimenting with his personality for this novel was both a challenge and a pleasure.

 

Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?

Drafting. While revising is a necessary part of the process, I’m meticulous about spending a lot of time on the outline before I start writing. I develop my characters and their voices, why they do the things they do. I develop the setting and why it is the way it is. The forward progression of the plot is thought and rethought, revised again and again, until the pacing and tension feel right. I know the story inside and out by the time I write my very first word.

Part of why I’m aggressively organized about outlining is because it wards off writer’s block—if I know exactly where I’m going, there’s no excuse to be stymied (and obviously that’s not foolproof: characters can often surprise you while you’re writing). But a bigger part of why I operate this way is because I like to work out the kinks before I write an entire novel and discover some part of it doesn’t work. I don’t get mad at myself about needing to revise or rearrange action within scenes—but the idea of taking a scalpel to the underlying story structure fills me with alarm. Architecture holds up every part of the story, and I find that messing with the underlying structure after the fact almost always fundamentally weakens the supports. I’d rather do it right the first time and avoid a disaster later.

 

What would you say is your superpower?

Because Devil’s Elbow is loosely based on my hometown, and I have…feelings about sparsely populated and rural spaces, it isn’t difficult to come up with plot ideas for novels based in the town. Maybe being an idea factory is my superpower? Certainly, I’ve got enough ideas within the world of Devil’s Elbow for more novels than I could possibly write in my lifetime.

 

Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

I worked as a nonprofit fundraiser in Philadelphia for years, so there are a lot of local-to-Philly 501c3 organizations that I love and support—Project HOME (they work to provide housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness) and the Abortion Liberation Fund of Pennsylvania (they work to protect and expand abortion access in Pennsylvania—super important since Roe was overturned and, as a result, maternal mortality rates are rising even more sharply and pregnant people are finding it increasingly difficult in some states to get emergency care).

On a national level, the American Civil Liberties Union is an incredible organization that deserves all the love. They have been particularly critical over the last decade in doing everything in their power to hold back attempts to infringe on civil liberties on many different fronts—including infringing on the civil rights of activists who fight against fracking. Inarguably, fracking is the unsung villain in A Misfortune of Lake Monsters.

 

 

About Nicole M. Wolverton:

 

Nicole M.
Wolverton
 is
the author of the adult psychological thriller The Trajectory of Dreams (2013)
and served as the editor of Bodies Full of Burning (2021), an
anthology of short horror fiction through the lens of menopause. She is a
Pushcart Prize-nominated writer of short stories and writes creative nonfiction
and essays as well. Her work has been published in over forty anthologies,
magazines, and podcasts.

Subscribe to
Nicole’s Newsletter!

Website | Instagram | Threads | TikTok | Goodreads
| Amazon | BookBub

 

 

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of A MISFORTUNE OF LAKE MONSTERS, US Only.

Ends July 23rd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/24/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Deleted Scene/IG Post

6/25/2024

MoonShineArtSpot

Book Playlist/IG Post

6/26/2024

Fire
and Ice Reads

Top 5 Books/IG Post

6/27/2024

YA Books Central

Interview/IG Post

6/28/2024

Ilovebooksandstuffblog

Review/Top 5 Movies Post/IG Post

6/29/2024

Writer of Wrongs

Dream Cast/IG Post

Week Two: 

6/30/2024

Daily
Waffle

Excerpt

7/1/2024

@dana.loves.books

IG Review/TikTok Post

7/2/2024

@stargirls.magical.tale

IG Review

7/3/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

7/4/2024

@dreaminginpages

IG Review

7/5/2024

Lifestyle of Me

Review 

7/6/2024

@thepagelady

IG Review

Week Three: 

7/7/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

7/8/2024

Edith’s Little Free Library

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

7/9/2024

@amysbookshelf82

IG Review

7/10/2024

Book-Keeping blog

Review/IG Post

7/11/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

7/12/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Review/TikTok Post

7/13/2024

@niks.bookshelf

IG Review

Week Four:

7/14/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

7/15/2024

Books and Zebras

IG Review

7/16/2024

Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s

Review/IG Post

7/17/2024

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Review/TikTok Post

7/18/2024

Bookborne Hunter

Review/IG Post

7/18/2024

@jaimes_mystical_library

IG Post

7/19/2024

@heyashleyyreads

IG Review/TikTok Post

7/19/2024

Deal sharing aunt

Review/IG Post

 

Rockstar Tours: Author Chat with Jordan Sonnenblick (STEPPING OFF) Plus Giveaway! ~ US ONLY

June 19th, 2024 by

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the STEPPING OFF by Jordan Sonnenblick Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: STEPPING
OFF

Author: Jordan Sonnenblick

Pub. Date: June 4, 2024

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 336

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/STEPPING-OFF 

 

Jesse Dienstag’s favorite sweatshirt
says, “The real world isn’t real.” That’s the slogan of the
vacation-home community in Pennsylvania where his family has always spent every
vacation and weekend for as long as he can remember. In the summer of 2019, as
Jesse is about to enter his junior year of high school in New York City, he
desperately wants to believe the slogan is true. For one thing, the two girls
he loves — equally and desperately — are in Pennsylvania, and all the
stresses and pressures of his daily life and school are in New York.

But when his parents stop talking to
each other, it gets harder and harder for Jesse to maintain his dream life in
Pennsylvania. And when Covid shuts New York City down in March 2020 just days
after Jesse’s mother leaves his father, Jesse’s worlds collide.

 

 

 

Author Chat with YABC:

  1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

 

I had several inspirations. First, I was a public-school English teacher before my writing career took off, and I went back for a semester in the fall of 2021 to teach 10th-grade English in my old district because a teacher went on leave and the school couldn’t find a certified long-term sub. That was the first semester of real, full-time, in-person school after the pandemic shutdown, so I got to see firsthand the effects the lockdown had had on kids in high schools. Second, the love-triangle part is quite autobiographical; I wanted to capture the remembered intensity of those teenage feelings.

 

  1. Who is your favorite character in the book?

 

That would have to be Annie, the little sister of the main character’s best friend. She’s based on the real-life sister of my best friend from that time, and she and I were very close, as well. I just tried to capture her unique combination of warmth, sweetness, and blunt honesty. It’s always fun to write a character based on a person I know well in real life, because it’s such a challenge to nail those nuances.

 

  1. Which came first, the title or the novel?

 

Oh, the novel – by miles and miles! I’ve written fourteen books now, and never once have I come up with a decent title until at least a month or two after the first draft is finished. It takes that long for my unconscious mind to figure out what the novel was truly about!

 

  1. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

 

There are a few. I like the July 4 fireworks scene a lot, because it’s so visual, and because of all the complicated relationship tensions that are brewing beneath the surface that night. I also like the opening scene, when the characters are building up their courage to jump off the bridge. When I was a kid in sleepaway camp, we really did jump off a high bridge into a lake in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, and I think I captured the heady mix of excitement, peer pressure, and raw panic that jump entailed.

 

  1. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

 

If we’re talking about the very beginning of my writing career, like when I was just coming up with the idea for my first novel, DRUMS, GIRLS & DANGEROUS PIE, I think the main thing I’ve learned is not to panic. The whole time I was writing that book, I lived in constant terror that I’d get writers’ block and not be able to finish it. Once I had a couple of books under my belt, I started to feel that pressure lifting. I might not always be sure that what I’m writing is any good; that insecurity is very hard to banish. However, I’m usually around 93% confident I’ll finish writing any book I start.

 

  1. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

 

By far, my favorite thing about the cover of this book (and of each of my Scholastic YA hardcover editions) is that the designers always print a little Easter egg behind the dust jacket. I love peeling off the jacket and seeing the little surprise for the first time! In the case of STEPPING OFF, the Easter egg is a little exploding firework imprinted in the lower right-hand corner of the cover.

 

 

  1. What’s up next for you?

 

I honestly don’t know. I never know what idea is going to strike me. I just have to be ready to receive it when it comes along. For me, that’s the most magical part of writing. I never know what the Muses are going to throw at me next!

 

  1. Is there anything that you would like to add?

 

I think I feel a special sense of gratitude about the plot of this book, because while I thought my 17th year of life was incredibly difficult at the time, looking back on it now, I can see how much I learned and grew from it. Plus, I was delighted to find that, once I had fictionalized it quite a bit, it made a very entertaining story.

 

  1. Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate? It was really hard writing the scenes in which Jesse’s dad is suffering. In real life, my dad isn’t around anymore, so reliving how painful my parents’ breakup was for him was rough. Again, the specifics of the parents’ breakup are fictionalized, but the emotions are not.

 

  1. Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

 

Honestly, none of the characters gave me trouble. Their voices spoke to me whenever I tuned in. That was part of the joy. I was shocked by how much better I understood the struggles and motivations of all the people I had been closest with as a teenager, now that I can look back from the vantage point of having been a husband, a father, and perhaps most importantly, a teacher and mentor to lots of kids.

 

  1. Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?

 

Believe it or not, neither of these is my favorite. My absolute most beloved part of the writing process is the research I get to do. I learn so much! Through book research, I’ve studied everything from asthma to Zen Buddhism, which means I never, ever get bored, because each book opens up a whole new field of inquiry. For this one, I got to interview a bridge engineer and a paramedic – and that was just to get me through the first hundred pages.

 

  1. What would you say is your superpower?

 

This question is so eerily perfect for me, because I spent my whole childhood wishing and praying I’d get a superpower somehow. Unfortunately, I’ve never fallen into a vat of radioactive anything, so I’ve had to accept my destiny as a Muggle. If anything, my lack of special gifts might have given me a very useful non-super power: compassion.

 

  1. Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

 

Absolutely! Any organization that helps to fund cancer treatment or research is very important to me. I particularly like Alex’s Lemonade Stand, because one of their divisions, SuperSibs (https://www.alexslemonade.org/childhood-cancer/for-families/supersibs_), supports the brothers and sisters of childhood cancer patients. The sister of a cancer patient inspired my first book, so I will always support any group that helps those kids.

 

 

About Jordan Sonnenblick:

 

Jordan
Sonnenblick is the author of the acclaimed Drums, Girls & Dangerous
Pie
After Ever AfterNotes from the Midnight DriverZen
and the Art of Faking It
, Falling Over Sideways, and The Secret Sheriff of
Sixth Grade. He lives in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with his wife and two
children.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of STEPPING OFF, US Only.

Ends July 16th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/17/2024

kaylyn_s_booknook

IG Post

6/18/2024

Two Chicks on
Books

Excerpt/IG Post

6/19/2024

YA
Books Central

Interview/IG Post

6/20/2024

onemused

IG Post

6/21/2024

@dharashahauthor

Review/IG Post

6/22/2024

@thepagelady

IG Review

Week Two:

6/23/2024

@dana.loves.books

Review/IG Post/TikTok Post

6/24/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

6/25/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

6/26/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

6/27/2024

Lifestyle of
Me

Review

6/28/2024

Brandi
Danielle Davis

IG Review/TikTok Post

6/29/2024

nerdophiles

Review

Week Three:

6/30/2024

Kim’s
Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s

Review/IG Post

7/1/2024

Country Mamas
With Kids

Review/IG Post

7/2/2024

@amysbookshelf82

IG Review

7/3/2024

A
Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

7/4/2024

@stargirls.magical.tale

IG Review

7/5/2024

Michelle,
The Book Critic

Review/IG Post

7/6/2024

anitralovesbooksanddogs

IG Review

Week Four:

7/7/2024

Satisfaction
for Insatiable Readers

Review/IG Post

7/8/2024

Review Thick
And Thin

Review/IG Post

7/9/2024

pick a good book

Review/IG Post

7/10/2024

The Momma Spot

Review

7/11/2024

Fire and Ice

Review/IG Post

7/12/2024

Two Points of
Interest

Review/IG Post

 

Rockstar Tours: SPELLBINDERS: THE NOT-SO-CHOSEN ONE (Andrew Auseon), Q&A plus Giveaway! ~ US ONLY

May 22nd, 2024 by

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the SPELLBINDERS: THE NOT-SO-CHOSEN ONE by Andrew Auseon Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: SPELLBINDERS: THE NOT-SO-CHOSEN ONE

Author: Andrew Auseon

Pub. Date: May 14, 2024

Publisher: Yearling

Formats:  Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 448

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/SPELLBINDERS-THE-NOT-SO-CHOSEN-ONE

 

“Ben may only be pretending to
be the ‘Chosen One’—but I’ve definitely chosen this one as my favorite new
fantasy series.”
—Max Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the
Last Kids on Earth series

How far would you go to play the hero? One seventh grader gets way more
than he bargained for when he is swept into the fantasy quest of his gaming
dreams in this funny illustrated series full of adventure and twists.

It’s not so easy being the Chosen One (or in Ben Whitlock’s case, pretending to
be the Chosen One). Sure, when you’ve been mistaken for a long-prophesied hero
by a teenage girl/mysterious assassin and transported to a fantasy realm you’re
supposedly destined to save, you don’t have to worry about things like math
homework. But when flying narwhals are trying to blast you into oblivion (gulp)
and a bunch of old mystics in flip-flops want you to enter something called the
Gullet of Eternal Torment (double gulp), suddenly a C in algebra doesn’t seem
like such a big deal.

Back in the real world, Ben preferred to escape into fictional adventures and
role-playing games. But the more he learns about his true quest, the more he
realizes that being a hero goes way beyond rolling a few dice. . . .

 

Reviews:

Spellbinders hooked
me from the beginning
, but it became one of my favorites around the first
flying narwhals.’“—James Riley, New York Times bestselling
author of the Story Thieves series

“Here comes a new series that brilliantly embodies the power of
creativity
….The book’s immersive fantasy world of Lux is one I did not
want to leave.”—George Jreije, author of the Shad Hadid series

“To use the local parlance, a “ridonkulously” entertaining kickoff.”
Booklist

“The themes of interpersonal relationships and change give the work
emotional heft…A love letter to escapism and writing one’s own
destiny.” 
Kirkus Reviews

“Through subversions of familiar fantasy tropes and a thoroughly engaging
plot, Auseon conjures an idiosyncratic realm replete with endearing
characters, madcap humor, and hijinks-filled adventure

Publisher’s Weekly

Book Trailer:

YABC Q&A

  1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

I’ve always been fascinated by games, even before it was cool. Ha. I’m not mathematically inclined, or a particularly gifted thinker when it comes to logic, but there’s something about trying to navigate the world within a set of strict rules that I find endlessly compelling. Most games have a theme, offering players a fantasy: riding dragons, conquering Wall Street, time traveling, or even saving the world from slimy monsters with your best pals back in the 1980s. Like books, they offer escape, but games have an added layer that allows you to simulate a story or experience firsthand. Games let you take a deeper step into your favorite fantasies. What’s not awesome about that? I’m obsessed with understanding and building game systems, those unique sets of rules and mechanics that bridge the space between story and player, and every book I write expresses some of that obsession.

Spellbinders is the inevitable product of my two greatest creative pursuits: writing and game design. But there’s more to it. I’m interested in people’s fantasies, real and imagined. Kids dream about life when they get older, aspire for what they don’t have yet; and we all do that to some extent, we’re constantly on the search for a better situation. Honestly, I wish that wasn’t the case and more people found true contentment in life, but the truth is that we’re always casting a curious eye for ways to improve our lives or measure up. That’s especially true in the age of social media. Fantasies drive our perceptions of one another and the world around us. It’s very warped and confusing.

Ben, the main character in Spellbinders, uses his gaming fantasies as a way to escape the difficulties in his own life. Everything in those imaginary worlds works out just as he wants it to–he’s big, powerful, wise, celebrated, and infallible. Of course, Ben learns that fantasies can be misleading, and that it’s tough to balance daydreams and reality.

  1. Who is your favorite character in the book?

Normally, the cheating answer would be to complain that I can’t choose between them. (“It’s like choosing between my children!” cries Every Writer.) Instead, I’m going to say it’s a tie between two characters: Niara and Merv. Late in the book, Niara emerges as an important focal point for one of the story’s biggest emotional moments, and I hadn’t really expected that. She’s an incredibly rich character with a lot of personal issues at stake. It’s every writer’s dream! In many ways, Niara is the hero of the series. She’s such a driven, confident person, which isn’t something to which I can relate personally. (I’m an insecure weenie.) She’s certain of her beliefs, steadfast, and devoted, and I found that so endearing. As Niara’s point of view is challenged, she’s forced to reflect on who she is at a fundamental level, and that’s a hard thing for anyone to do. I have a lot of respect for Niara. She’s also the most unintentionally funny character.

Merv is also a huge favorite of mine, and a fan-favorite as well, which tickles me to no end. In the series, Merv is a bit of a late bloomer, playing a follower in some of the early adventures but then coming to the fore once they start to discover who they are and what they want. Most of the other characters start the story with much stronger visions of their identities and roles within in the questing party, but Merv is still trying to figure theirs out. Some of this is due to their life as a mimir, a shape-changer, but it’s mostly because they’ve moved around their whole life and never found the time or luxury to contemplate the future. Now, safe among friends, they’re experiencing that first taste of possibility. It’s been exciting to watch Merv learn about themself and start to try new things and contribute to the team. They really go play places in the later books, so readers should definitely come back to find out what happens.

  1. Which came first, the title or the novel?

Interesting. I’ve never gotten this question before. The novel, for sure. Titles are notoriously troublesome. That’s something books and games share. You stumble upon the perfect title maybe once in a lifetime. The name Spellbinders wasn’t the hardest I’ve ever had to settle on, but it certainly had its challenges, specifically because it’s my first series, so weighing title and subtitle became its own separate consideration. I liked Spellbinders because it has the element of magic with “spell,” but also the entrancing vibe you get when “spellbound” by a particularly good or immersive story. “Bind” has such a unique connotation in the context of books and bookbinding, but it also carries with it the slightly sinister “binding” meaning, which can be associated with ancient magical or spiritual rites, as well as the simple verb form to trap or hold something tightly. In all transparency, the first book was nearly done when I decided on the series title, and it was so evocative that I returned to the manuscript and made some changes to really play into the idea of power having the ability to trap someone. Sometimes the best things in the world can hold you back if you’re not careful. I thought that was interesting.

  1. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

Even with all its high fantasy trappings (and ridiculous humor), I tend to enjoy writing realistic fiction the most; and when I mean “realistic” I mean realistic for me, which always includes just a pinch of heightened reality, it’s just how I see the world. There’s a scene late in Spellbinders: The Not-So-Chosen One when we get a glimpse of Ben’s life before everything changed, before his family fell apart and he moved to a new town. I don’t know if it’s the scene of which I’m most proud, but it came very easily, which isn’t always the case when writing a book, and the emotions of longing and loss rang so true. It’s one of my favorite moments in the book because I hadn’t planned for it, and it ties so much of the story together. When I sat down to write it, the words just came splashing out.

  1. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

I have an incredible editor. Correction. I’ve had several incredible editors, but my editor on Spellbinders is Incredible +10. She gets me. Nothing is more important in a creative relationship than mutual understanding. From the very beginning, Spellbinders was meant to be a comedy. No questions asked. Everybody signed up for the trip to Silly Town. However, one of the first lessons I ever learned as a writer was that there needs to be an authentic heart at the center of every story, an honest About with which readers connect and relate. People in my life know me as an empathetic and sensitive person, and I value emotion, but when I started getting goofy, weird, or silly… Watch out! If done right, humor and emotional honesty are a very powerful combination, maybe the most powerful, but it’s a challenging needle to thread. Doing it wrong can be disastrous. My editor, along with my other amazing readers, taught me the important balancing act of staying true to both my comic self and my dramatic self, and while I don’t pull it off perfectly 100% of time time, I’d like to think the series as a whole is successful.

  1. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

What’s not to like? Lisa Weber crushed every piece of art in the Spellbinders series–and there are a lot of illustrations. The covers are no exception. If I had to pick a favorite thing it would probably be the energy and dynamism she captured with Ben and Niara bursting from the center of the image. The flying narwhal is also a favorite. It’s hard to capture such a complex tone–funny and fantasy and friendship–in a single composition, but I think Spellbinders: The Not-So-Chosen One, and the subsequent books do as good a job as anyone could have expected. They certainly far surpassed any expectations. 🙂

  1. What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2024?

I think the easy answer is The Sherlock Society by James Ponti. James’ books are always a rip-roarin’ good time, and I love a good mystery. I’m also hoping there’s a new volume in the Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series. I’m a sucker for history, especially in graphic novel form.

  1. What was your favorite book in 2023?

(Checks GoodReads.) Okay, well… while it looks like a lot of the books I read are a few years old, I do try to stay current on what’s coming out in middle grade and YA, especially since so many of my friends write for those audiences. A book that stuck with me all through this past winter was Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow. It’s a charming, surprising, funny, and deeply moving book that feels both realistic and surreal in just the right doses. I tend to gravitate towards books that manage to do something I’m trying to do in my work, but more successfully. They teach me things, so I puzzle over them for long stretches of time, hoping to understand their secrets.

  1. What’s up next for you?

There’s never enough time. I look at what some people manage to accomplish and I scratch my head. How do they squeeze it all in? It boggles my small mind. To answer the question, I’m always working on a big new video game, which is an ongoing team project. I also continue to design small tabletop games on the side, as creative exercises. When it comes to writing, I’m finishing the third adventure in the Spellbinders series, and I have an idea for a fourth novel, but I don’t know if I’ll end up writing it. We’ll see! In addition, I’m working on a few new books that a very different from what I’ve done in the past. One is an anthology of horror short stories, and the other is a graphic novel about time-traveling kids. And guess what? Neither of them are funny! As a creator, I think it’s really important to always try new things and to stretch your comfort zone, so I’m diving headfirst into some new territory. I’m excited for what comes next? Are you?

 

  1. Is there anything that you would like to add?

 

  1. Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

The most emotionally charged scene for me, as the author, is near the ending of the book, when Ben and Niara encounter each other in the sewers under Lux. Ben is heading out, hoping to escape the palace with his life. Niara is heading in, on a mission that will put her in direct confrontation with him. These two intense characters have always had very different approaches to life, very different childhood experiences, and they come from different worlds–literally. At this point in the story they’re the closest they’ve ever been as friends, but they’re the farthest apart they’ve ever been when it comes to motivations and character development. It’s truly a moment where no one–not even the reader–knows what’s going to happen next. Both Ben and Niara need to make some big decisions, and those choices will shape who they ultimately become.

  1. Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

Ben Whitlock is always the most difficult of the Spellbinders crew to write, and that’s probably because he and I are very similar. It’s like trying to have a complicated emotional discussion with yourself, only it’s a version of yourself you haven’t really spent time with in 30+ years, and he’s very chatty and opinionated, oh, and full of energy. Ben is amazing, and I understand why he’s beloved by his friends, but his motivations and his desires are very alien to me now. He’s unpredictable and bold, qualities I may have once possessed when I was younger but have weakened with age. No matter how much I write Ben, I still feel like I’m still scratching the surface of him as a character. He grows up quite a bit in the span of the Spellbinders stories.

  1. Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?

I adore revising because it means I never have to stare at a blank page. All your life, people tell you, “Starting is the hardest part!” And you know what? They’re so right! Ha! For me, the most fun is having a wild idea and playing with it for a while, scratching out scenes or character conversations and experimenting, but once I have to plot out a story and sit down to connect everything, it suddenly becomes science, engineering, all the subjects I struggled in when I was a student. Sure, I’m working with raw materials that I know well, such as sentences, scenes, mechanics, technique, but building the complex machine is so hard, so time-consuming and cumbersome. That’s why revising rules! You already have all the “lumber,” as my first editor used to say, and it’s all about following the flow, shaping the stone, and enjoying detail work that brings the whole story into clearer focus. Editing is a blast.

  1. What would you say is your superpower?

Can I say writing? Ha. Such a weak answer, I know. Some of my writing friends and I always joke that we’d be the first to go in a zombie apocalypse because we don’t possess any useful skills other than writing. We’re one-trick ponies, as it were. When you need to fix an air conditioner or forage for food, we’re the last ones on the recruitment list. Ha! But I’m mostly joking. It takes a whole toolbelt of skills to devise, write, finish, and revise a book. You have to bring plenty of talent and skill to the operation. So, who knows? We might be the most useful people in a zombie apocalypse. Let’s hope we never find out. 🙂

But to answer your question, I think my superpower is probably my writer’s voice. For whatever reason, I grew up trying to make myself laugh in nearly every situation, and I view the world in a unique and peculiar way. That perspective really shines in my style, description, and dialogue. I’d like to think my books have a singular authorial voice, regardless of the characters, and even when I’m tackling a common subject, I’m doing so in a way you’ve never seen before.

  1. Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

I’m a strong advocate for the rights and welfare of LGBTQ+ youth, as well as for the acceptance and support of autistic people. These two causes, which often overlap, are incredibly important to me.

 

 

About Andrew Auseon:


Andrew Auseon is the
author of several books for children and young adults, and he is the writer of
numerous bestselling and award-winning video games. A transplant from the
Midwest, he lives in Washington, D.C. with his family and two very naughty
cats. He loves breakfast cereal, the sound of the ocean, and the feeling of a
brand-new book in his hands.

 

Website | Book Website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Amazon

 

 

 

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive a signed finished copy of SPELLBINDERS: THE NOT-SO-CHOSEN ONE & a swag pack. US Only.

Ends June 8th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/20/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Guest Post/IG Post

5/20/2024

Wishful Endings

Guest Post/IG Post

5/21/2024

@darkfantasyreviews

Excerpt

5/22/2024

YA Books Central

Interview/IG Post

5/23/2024

A Backwards Story

Excerpt/IG Post

5/24/2024

@katherinebichler

TikTok Spotlight

5/25/2024

onemused

IG Post

Week Two:

5/26/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

5/27/2024

Review Thick And Thin

Review/IG Post

5/28/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Review/TikTok Post

5/28/2024

Fyrekatz Blog

Review/IG Post

5/29/2024

The Momma Spot

Review

5/29/2024

@thepagelady

IG Review

5/30/2024

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Review/IG Post

5/31/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

5/31/2024

Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s

Review/IG Post

6/1/2024

@dana.loves.books

Review/IG Post/TikTok Post

6/1/2024

More Books Please blog

Review/IG Post

Week Three:

6/2/2024

One More Exclamation

Review/IG Post

6/3/2024

nerdophiles

Review

6/3/2024

The Book Critic

Review/IG Post

 

Rockstar Tours: DON’T (Gabriella Batel), Author Q&A plus Giveaway!~US ONLY

May 16th, 2024 by

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the DON’T by Gabriella Batel Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: DON’T

Author: Gabriella Batel

Pub. Date: October 31, 2022

Publisher: Crown of
Thorns and Roses Press

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 326

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/DONT 

 

A heart-pounding debut ready for fans of Cory Anderson’s What
Beauty There Is 
and Marieke Nijkamp’s This Is Where It Ends.

“This ambitious debut novel…marks this young author as one to
watch.” —Corinna Turner, author of the Carnegie Nominated I Am
Margaret 
series

Don’t play. I saw you.

Paityn’s awake. Her near-terminal lupus keeps her that way. That’s how she
crosses Tony Suarez again. That’s how she becomes the only witness to something
she wasn’t supposed to see.

The first time, Tony shot Paityn’s stepfather. Now he wants Paityn. He wants to
keep her quiet about what she saw. And the best way to keep Paityn quiet is to
silence her family.

But Paityn’s not going to let Tony touch her family—not while she’s still
alive. And she’s not dead yet.

 

 

 

 

YABC Q&A

  1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

 

The running joke among my family is that every time I have an issue or question about life, I wind up writing a book. It’s true, though, and that’s how Don’t got started. Originally, it was because of a far different issue than when it started. I think it was first inspired because I felt like I didn’t fit in, but as the story developed, I realized I was more interested in the topic that Don’t tackles: why is there pain in the world? And what do we do when everything doesn’t turn out okay, when things just keep getting harder? I translated that question into a medium I would enjoy and connect with (high-stakes thriller) and just started exploring, and that’s how my book was born.

 

  1. Who is your favorite character in the book?

 

Ooh, that’s a tricky one. They’re all my babies! That said, I think my favorite character is Paityn. She’s so strong but that doesn’t make her hard. I love how she can simultaneously be so stoic and commanding but have the most intensely loving, tender heart inside, and I think that’s what I love the most about her: she feels so much so strongly, and so I get to, too.

 

  1. Which came first, the title or the novel?

 

Easily the novel. I am notorious for having the hardest time coming up with titles. I went through over one hundred options before settling on Don’t.

 

  1. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

 

I’m most proud of the scene in Chapter 63 with the snowy forest and the man from the cemetery. First, I got to pull out all the stops with creating the atmosphere and setting, and I took a risk doing something a bit genre-bending. Most of all, though, this is where the point of the whole book finally came to a peak. It was a pivotal moment that I could either do right or make way to explanatory and “in your face,” and I feel like I wrote a moment that will leave readers with a satisfied, moved exhale. (And maybe a few happy tears.)

 

  1. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

 

I’ve learned a lot, so it’s hard to pin down what’s the most important, but I’d say it’s probably this: it’s not enough to just have characters, you have to live and breathe them. You have to know and love these people like they actually exist. You have to know their favorite podcast, flavor of gum, and member of BlackPink. You have to know the first time they skinned their knee, that time they messed up a line in their high school senior play but they were so smooth no one could even tell, and that day their mom had a close call in a car accident. When they despise or fear or love someone, so do you, as deeply and immensely as them. And most of all, you have to let them lead. Let them tell you that they like Jisoo and which line they fouled up and who they’re in love with. I know that might sound abstract, but what I’m trying to say is that you can’t steamroll a personality that you decide onto them and make it work. The personality will come to you out of mulling over this person and spending time in your imagination’s scenario. Become friends with them. The plot (a much better lot) will follow.

And then when you feel them, so will the audience.

 

  1. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

 

First, that gorgeous gradient of red that my designer put on the glass. Second, the FROST! Third, that freakishly cool way that we are seeing part of the title through the glass.

 

  1. What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2024?

 

The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan just came out in January, and I haven’t gotten to it yet, but it sounds mind blowing. It’s about “a Malayan mother who becomes an unlikely spy for the invading Japanese forces during WWII”; the stakes are through the roof, and I know the emotional impact is going to gut me.

 

On a lighter note, I’m also wildly excited for Serpent Sea by Maiya Ibrahim, the sequel to Spice Road. I loved every single piece of the setting and magic system, every single character relationship, and every single artful word in the first book, so I’m thrilled that the sequel’s finally coming out!

 

 

  1. What was your favorite book in 2023?

 

The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He. And I generally don’t even like sci-fi and tropical settings, but this one—oh my goodness, the atmosphere of impending doom, the drive for survival, the betrayal, and the immense sister bond left me starstruck.

 

  1. What’s up next for you?

 

A sequel! Don’t is a standalone, but I also thought a couple of these characters (and my readers!) deserved an extra chapter, so the second in the series, Done, follows Mercedes and Luiz a couple of years later, when everything is not quite as finished as they think!

And in case you thought the story would be done then, I’ve got two more in the works: one is Don’t through Tristan’s eyes, and the other is an alternate version of Don’t where a few of the characters make a single different decision, and the rest of the story turns out very different.

 

  1. Is there anything that you would like to add?

 

To all my artists and storytellers (which are basically the same thing) out there:

Have. Fun.

Don’t just stick only to what you’re good at or what you think you’re supposed to be doing. Dip into it all if you want! Write. Draw fanart. Make animations. Go for photography. Try acting. Write some music. Dance. Is it going to be any good the first time? Probably not. I wasn’t. (Have you seen my earliest fanart?) Do it anyway. Do whatever sparks joy, make what you’re passionate about real, create something you wish you could see or hear, and don’t do it for anyone’s approval. Just do it because there’s something bursting inside you and it needs every venue possible to come out.

It’s not going to be pretty the first time, and if it doesn’t do much for you, drop it and try something else. But if you love it, keep going. Learn. Practice. Keep having fun. Keep making what you love. Just do it for the sake of doing it.

Your audience will thank you for it.

 

  1. Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

 

The most emotional scenes were also the most difficult ones—Chapter 55 and Chapter 59, both between Paityn and Tristan—because there is so much raw emotion in them, and I had to work and rework them so many times so that I didn’t waste a single drop of it. Imagine an actor: a scene can inherently be so touching, but if the actor either undersells it or overdoes it to the point of melodrama, you lose the audience and any potential, and then it’s just annoying. So I had to be the actor here, writing each line so that it hit so hard but didn’t feel sappy.

 

  1. Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

 

My boy Luiz in the sequel, Done! I’m always walking a tightrope, striking some kind of tenuous balance with him. I want audiences to love him but not forget that he’s absolutely flawed and made some bad choices in Don’t.  I want him to work through guilt, but not seem self-pitying (or, worse yet, make the audience pity him!). I want him to express emotion but not to the point where it contradicts his naturally hard, stoic personality. And I find that I keep leaning toward writing him like a cinnamon roll, when that’s NOT what I’m going for. He’s got me practicing my balancing act hard!

 

  1. Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?

 

Revising. It’s easier for me, takes less time per round (even though I might go through six or seven rounds), and it’s more fun to be almost a spectator,  enjoying the completed story, and sometimes roaster. Every once in a while, get the pleasant surprise of reading a line that I love but don’t remember writing, and I’ll get to squeal over it or cheer. And, more often, I’ll read something that makes me actively cringe, and then I’ll laugh, fix it, and wind up with something much better.

 

  1. What would you say is your superpower?

 

I have this thing called hyperphantasia where, when I imagine something, I see it so clearly, a crisp, detailed picture in my mind. And then, when I’m trying to create, I am relentless until I can hammer that picture into reality. I guess those two combined are my superpower.

 

 

  1. Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

 

Pro-life activism! I love every beautiful baby, and defending the most vulnerable among us, protecting their rights and their precious lives, is SO close to my heart! And with that, empowering women as mothers for that beautiful heartbeat their amazing body made, and supporting those same women who may feel alone. There are a bunch of organizations who work for this, but a couple I know best are Students for Life and Marisol Health.

 

 

About Gabriella Batel:

 

Gabriella
Batel is a vibrant young Catholic woman with an adrenaline craving and a
passion for God, her family, movies, and all things YA fiction. Don’t is her
debut novel, and she’s already working on the next thrill ride.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Goodreads | Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a signed finished copy of DON’T, US Only.

Ends May 31st, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/13/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Playlist/IG Post

5/13/2024

@darkfantasyreviews

Top 5 Scenes

5/14/2024

Writer of Wrongs

Top 5 Books

5/14/2024

@kaylyn_s_booknook

IG Post

5/15/2024

@niks.bookshelf

IG Post

5/15/2024

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Post

5/16/2024

YA Books Central

Interview/IG Post

5/16/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Post/TikTok Post

5/17/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

5/17/2024

@amysbookshelf82

IG Review

Week Two:

5/20/2024

Review Thick And Thin

Review/Top 5 Movies/IG Post

5/20/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/Fan Cast/IG Post

5/21/2024

@thepagelady

IG Review

5/21/2024

The Book Critic

Review/IG Post

5/22/2024

anitralovesbooksanddogs

IG Review

5/22/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

5/23/2024

Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s

Review/IG Post

5/23/2024

@dreaminginpages

IG Review

5/24/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

5/24/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

 

Rockstar Tours: THE THIEF OF TIME (Vivi Barnes, Christina Farley, and Amy Christine Parker), Interview & Giveaway! ~ INT

May 9th, 2024 by

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE THIEF OF TIME by Vivi Barnes, Christina Farley, and Amy Christine Parker Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: THE
THIEF OF TIME (The Library of Alexandria Series #1)

Author: Vivi
Barnes, Christina Farley, and Amy Christine Parker

Pub. Date: May 7, 2024

Publisher: Infinity House Creative

Formats: Hardcover,
Paperback, eBook

Pages: 312

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/THE-THIEF-OF-TIME

 

The Thief of Time is a
thrilling contemporary fantasy that will steal your breath away. Chock full of
complex world building and magic that springs from the power of story, this
book will definitely keep young readers turning pages.”—Polly Holyoke,
Award-winning author

Unleash the Magic…

THE THIEF OF TIME is an exciting middle-grade contemporary fantasy adventure
that takes readers on a thrilling journey through the realms of magic,
friendship, and self-discovery.

On a visit to their local library,
Ben, Bridgette, and Maya unwittingly unleash a dragon from an ancient book and
find themselves fighting for their lives against a swarm of evil birds. They
battle to escape with the help of the dragon and are whisked through a portal
into the magical Great Library of Alexandria.

Once they pass the Trials and prove
themselves worthy, they are invited to become students at Helicon Academy.
There they train to become librarians for the Library of Alexandria, protecting
books and the magical artifacts within.

Ben, Bridgette, and Maya fall in love
with the story-themed dinners, fantastical animals, and fictional characters
roaming the halls. But when they discover a dark and sinister mystery within
the academy’s halls, the three must embark on a quest to protect the library
and preserve the fabric of time itself.
 

REVIEWS:

“Every so often, you read a book with a fictional place
that is so full of magic and so full of wonder that you want to live there
forever — the library in The Thief of Time is such a place. You’re in
for a treat!” —Sarah Beth Durst, award-winning author of Spark

What a ride! The Thief of Time whisks readers from the
immortal Library of Alexandria to adventures across the globe. Maya, Ben, and
Bridgette kept me reading to the very end! —Sarah McGuire, author of Flight
of Swans
and Valiant

We all know books are magic, but in The Thief of Time,
they are beyond our expectations! This adventure jumps right in with our
protagonists facing an adventure, both physically and mentally, unlike any
other I’ve read. Fans of Land of Stories and magical school books are going to
devour this new twist on what it means to truly get into a book. —Kellee Moye,
librarian

 

Book Trailer:

Interview:

YABC Q&A – by Amy Christine Parker, Christina Farley, and Vivi Barnes (Infinity House Creative)

For The Thief of Time

  1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

We were at a book festival years ago when we heard writers speak about a collaborative project they were promoting. That was what gave us the idea to write a book together. We were already friends but realized we’d probably be the perfect collaboration team. The idea for The Thief of Time came later (at another book festival) when we decided to combine our love for librarians, mythology, and adventure.

  1. Who is your favorite character in the book?

While we love all our characters (and have a special place in our heart for the dragon), Homer has got to be our very favorite. He was SO much fun to write—this old man from ancient times who is trying to understand the modern world. Bridgette becomes especially fond of the old man, and writing the scene where she gives him her spare eyeglasses gave us lots of laughs.

  1. Which came first, the title or the novel?

Definitely the novel. We had this idea for years, and put a placeholder title (cleverly titled “Untitled Middle Grade Project”) when writing it. It wasn’t until we finished drafting and revising the book that we came up with the title The Thief of Time.

  1. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

This one took some extra thought, as we are proud of all our scenes. They were thought out for years! We are especially proud of the battle scene that takes place toward the end – because we all had equal part in making this as strong as possible. Each of our characters play a very important role when they fight against the enemy, and it was gratifying to see them working together doing what they each do best.

  1. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

This was our first time to collaborate with each other, so we had to learn how to plot together, write chapters separately, and—most importantly—listen to each other and compromise when needed. While we may have disagreed on occasion about certain elements (I’d be worried if we didn’t!), we worked together to come up with solutions that we all got our arms around and are proud of.

  1. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

We are so proud to have the incredibly talented Brandon Dorman as our cover designer. We honestly love every single thing about our book cover, from the dragon to the library itself. But probably our favorite part is how well he illustrated our characters. We were in tears when we first saw the trio—he not only accurately depicted their look, but he captured their spirit as well!

  1. What’s up next for you?

We are in the process of writing our next book in the Library of Alexandria series – The Curse of the Scarab Scrolls. We are super excited about this one because part of it takes place in Egypt—and in a pyramid!

  1. Is there anything that you would like to add?

Advice for anyone wishing to collaborate on a novel with other writers—be sure that you are working with people who are on the same page as you about how things should be done. Not that you have to agree on everything, but you absolutely need to be able to work together to compromise when needed.

  1. Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

That would easily be chapter one. Chapter ones are HARD! It is the reader’s introduction to the characters, not to mention your world, so it has to have the perfect amount of pacing, worldbuilding, and emotional hook. I think we revised that chapter fifty times. But at the end, we can honestly say it’s one of our favorites, and we love it!

  1. Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?

When writing collaboratively, our favorite part is brainstorming the novel: plotting out the overall story, then each individual chapter. It was so much fun to devise what was going to happen with our characters and how they would each grow, not to mention discussing details that went into the worldbuilding. We bounced ideas off each other both in person as well as virtually (including the occasional late-night text). We also had to discuss how this story would connect with the goal of the overarching series, not just the one book.

  1. What would you say is your superpower?

Our superpower would absolutely be related to our collaboration – compromise! We often may have difference of opinion, but we talk through it and come up with even better ideas. Just like our characters, we are amazing friends, and that friendship is the foundation of our process.

  1. Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is one that we absolutely love. Through her organization, Dolly offers free books to children around the world regardless of income level, inspiring a love of reading in the next generation

About Vivi Barnes, Christina Farley,
and Amy Christine Parker:

Vivi Barnes, Christina Farley, and
Amy Christine Parker
are
best friends who bonded over their love of telling stories and going on
adventures. They live in sunny Central Florida with their families, where
inspiration is just a beach day away.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram

@amychristinepar

@christinaLFarley

@vivibarnes

 

 

TikTok

@AmyChristineParker

@ChristinaFarleyAuthor

@ViviBarnes82

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $25 gift card to the book vendor of their choice, International.

Ends May 21st, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/6/2024

YA Books Central

Interview/IG Post

5/6/2024

@darkfantasyreviews

Excerpt

5/7/2024

Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s

Review/IG Post

5/7/2024

onemused

IG Post

5/8/2024

@thepagelady

IG Review

5/8/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

5/9/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Review/TikTok Post

5/9/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

5/10/2024

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Review/IG Post

5/10/2024

@katherinebichler

TikTok Post

Week Two:

5/13/2024

Review Thick And Thin

Review/IG Post

5/13/2024

Wishful Endings

Excerpt/IG Post

5/14/2024

Two Points of Interest

Review

5/14/2024

Lifestyle of Me

Review

5/15/2024

blueeez_away

IG Review

5/15/2024

The Book Critic

Review/IG Post

5/16/2024

Triquetra Reviews

Review/IG Post

5/16/2024

The Momma Spot

Review

5/17/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

5/17/2024

A Backwards Story

Review/IG Post

 

You are here: Rockstar Tours: THE THIEF OF TIME (Vivi Barnes, Christina Farley, and Amy Christine Parker), Interview & Giveaway! ~ INT