I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the PEI’S PINEAPPLE CAKES by Crystal Z. Lee Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post & enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: PEI’S PINEAPPLE CAKES

Author: Crystal Z. Lee

Pub. Date: May 10, 2025

Publisher: Balestier Press

Formats: Hardcover & Paperback

Pages: 40

Find it: Goodreads,  Amazon, B&N, BAM, Bookshop, Blackwells 

While visiting her grandmother in
central Taiwan, Pei finds herself in the middle of a mystery. The pineapple
cakes from her grandmother’s bakery have disappeared! Soon Pei is collecting
clues as she embarks on a quest to find the missing pineapple cakes.

From the traditional Taiwanese
artisans’ craftsmanship to the picturesque villages of central Taiwan, Pei
discovers the beauty of her grandmother’s home. This is a story of courage,
adventure, and the love between grandchildren and grandparents.

Pei’s Pineapple Cakes is an
elaborately illustrated picture book that makes an ideal gift:

• Real locations from central Taiwan make for an
  inspiring geographical, historical and cultural reading experience
• Storyline sparks dialogue around kindness,
  empathy, courage, and resilience
• Exquisite illustrations of Taiwanese artisans’
  craftsmanship foster appreciation for heritage and traditions
• Bilingual text in English and Mandarin
  encourages learning in both languages

 

 

Author interview with Crystal Z. Lee

 

–How can your children’s books be utilized in a classroom or educational setting?

In Pei’s Pineapple Cakes, readers are introduced to some Taiwanese folk arts, so
this book can be utilized for Asian cultural studies. Kai the Dancing
Butterfly is about the Taiwanese butterfly migration, so it may be useful
for a science and geography curriculum. Ocean conservation and animal habitat
protection is a primary theme in Mei’s Mermaid Mission, so this book is
great for marine science and ecological studies. A Unicorn Named Rin
takes place in the Tang dynasty so this story can be utilized in history class!

–What was the writing process for Pei’s Pineapple Cakes like?

I wrote most of this story during an extended trip in Taiwan. I visited an aunt in Taichung
which is in central Taiwan. I learned alot about Indigenous Taiwanese
craftsmanship, traditional Hakka art, and I had the chance to see many
relatives. I bring my laptop wherever I go so I can write whenever I feel
inspired. After the manuscript was completed, Allie Su, who was also in Taiwan
at the time, really brought the story to life with her illustrations. 

–Pei’s Pineapple Cakes is your fifth book! Looking back, is there a book which you
enjoyed writing more than others?

Creating Pei’s Pineapple Cakes really brought back memories because I wrote about many
elements of my childhood, such as calligraphy, aiyu jelly, glove puppetry,
the monkey king, and of course, pineapple cakes!

Writing Mei’s Mermaid Mission was also great fun because this is a book that spans
mythology, ecology, culture and geography. I really immersed myself in the
research process and found it fascinating that cultures all over the globe have
mermaid mythologies. 

–Pei’s Pineapple Cakes features a myriad of traditional folk arts. What was your
thinking behind that?

My children are currently elementary school aged. Their generation is bombarded with
devices and the pursuit of the latest technological applications and it
sometimes seems like they’ve forgotten the beauty of traditional, slower-paced
endeavors. It takes patience to bake, to make a specialized tea, to learn
craftsmanship such as weaving. It’s my hope that through this book, young
readers can develop an appreciation for traditional artistry and handmade
goods, versus things that are on the screen or machine made. 

–Your first book was published five years ago. How did you first get into writing?

My previous career was in public relations where I had to write many press releases and
corporate materials. It was during this time I yearned for a creative outlet so
I would write fiction on the side. Later, I took writing and publishing courses
at Stanford University and attended literary events whenever I could. Nowadays
I’m perpetually working on some manuscript or another.

-What are some of the major changes in your life from the past five years? 

Five years and five books ago I was a younger mom who was juggling mothering, writing and
pitching while dreaming and praying for a career in writing. All I wanted to do
was to write good stories with the hope that someone out there, some reader
would be moved. But I’m the one that’s been moved by many! I’ve received
letters and messages from children, parents, educators all over the globe about
how my books have inspired or affected them. I’ve been asked to read at
schools, festivals and birthday parties. Truly I feel blessed all the time
to be able to connect with people through the love of literature.

-All of your children’s books have names in the titles, such as Pei, Mei, Rin and Kai.
How do you come up with the character names in your books?

I try to be
culturally authentic when choosing names for the characters. For example, in
the story of Mei’s Mermaid Mission there are characters from Cambodia,
Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, etc., so their names are authentic to their cultural
heritage. I remember receiving some criticism that some of these names were
hard to pronounce. While that may be the case for some, I still think it’s a
teachable moment. When we teach our children to learn names authentic to a
certain culture, we are imparting virtues of empathy and respect. In this way,
we also help our kids to cultivate an international worldview. 

 

 

About Crystal Z. Lee:

 

Crystal Z. Lee is a Taiwanese American bilingual writer. She has called
many places home, including Taipei, New York, Shanghai, and the San Francisco
Bay Area. She was formerly a public relations executive in the fashion, beauty,
and technology industries. She now resides in Silicon Valley with her husband
and children. She is the author of the novel Love and Other Moods, and
the children’s books Mei’s Mermaid Mission, A Unicorn Named Rin, and
Kai the Dancing Butterfly. Her poetry was included in the 2023 UK
anthology, Tabula Rasa.

Website | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

About Allie Su:

Allie Su grew up in Yunlin county, Taiwan. She often finds her illustration
inspiration from the great outdoors. One of her favorite places to hike in
Taiwan is Sun-Link-Sea Forest in Nantou. She adores Taiwanese cuisine and night
market foods, such as stinky tofu, vegetarian noodles and taro pastries from
Taichung. Allie also illustrated Mei’s Mermaid Mission and Kai
the Dancing Butterfly.

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive an autographed copy of Pei’s Pineapple
Cakes and Mei’s Mermaid Mission, US Only.

Giveaway ends September 6^th, midnight EST.

 

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the LOSING AUSTIN by Michael J. Bowler Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: LOSING AUSTIN

Author: Michael J. Bowler

Pub. Date: June 10, 2025

Publisher: Michael J. Bowler Publishing

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 213

Find it:  Goodreads, https://books2read.com/LOSING-AUSTIN

 

Fifteen-year-old
Austin Bowman vanishes off the face of the earth. Was he kidnapped, abducted by
aliens, or murdered by his hotheaded brother, Colton? Despite the rumors and
his troubled kid reputation, only Colton knows he didn’t kill Austin. He also
knows what drove his brother from the house that rainy day. Or does he?

Riddled with guilt, Colton spends every waking moment trying to find Austin.
Searching online for similar missing kids, he meets Keilani, a girl from Hawaii
whose younger brother vanished the same day as Austin. Internet explorations
reveal other kids who also disappeared, always on rainy days. Since none of
these kids have been heard from since, alien abduction seems the most likely
answer.

Colton endures years of frustrating dead ends and high school graduation
beckons. Then something so shocking occurs that the world descends on the
Bowman home in the form of media, law enforcement, even Homeland Security, and
Colton’s life will never be the same.

 

 

YABC Q&A

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

I was a high school teacher for many years and so often I’d hear one kid say something nasty or hateful to someone I knew to be his/her friend. I also recall many times kids would shout or scream at their parents. If they were students I knew well, I’d suggest they make it right with their friend or parent because we never know if we’ll have the opportunity. The unexpected always intervenes in life. This thinking was the seed which begat Losing Austin, and it’s the essential premise of the book.

2. Who is your favorite character in the book?

I love Colton and so enjoyed writing his “voice.” He’s smart and talented, but, like me as a youngster, he’s possessed of a terrible temper that will land him in serious trouble one day. I also love how, despite having been embarrassed by his brother all his life, he’s focused like a laser on finding Austin at all costs. I like loyalty and devotion in people.

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

The book began as a short story with a specific title, which initially carried over to the novel version. The book had four possible titles by the time I was ready to publish. Here’s how I decided: I opened Amazon to the book search and typed in each title I’d chosen. If the exact title was already in use, I discarded it. If the first word of my title was a common first word which would drop my book way down in the search engine, I discarded it. With Losing Austin, my book pops up first when searched for in Amazon, so that title won.

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

There’s a scene where Anderson Cooper of CNN interviews Colton and his parents about Austin, the brother who vanished. It’s emotional and raw and lays bare Colton’s soul to the reader in a visual, dynamic way. I love it.

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

I think I’ve gotten better at writing blurbs, and I’m definitely better at editing my own material. I always hire an editor to make sure the story and writing are polished, but I won’t hesitate to cut something on my own that slows down pacing or is just superfluous. I think that’s the most important thing I’ve learned – don’t fall in love with your words to the point that you won’t take editorial advice of any kind. I may love a certain scene, but if it doesn’t work or it brings the pacing to a standstill, it’s got to go.

 

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

I love that the cover accurately depicts a pivotal scene in chapter three of the book. The blue color and police lights really pop, and the boy is a suitable stand-in for young Colton.

7. What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2025?

I honestly don’t know what’s releasing in 2025. I don’t tend to look ahead much because I can’t get my hands on the book anyway.

8. What was your favorite book in 2024?

Not to sound self-absorbed because I’m not in the least, but I didn’t read any new releases last year, so my favorite book has to be Forever Boy since I spent most of the year polishing it and preparing it for release. It’s certainly my most read book of 2024.

9. What’s up next for you?

I’m writing the first of two sequels to Forever Boy, my well-reviewed and multi-award-winning novel from 2024 and after those two are completed, I’ll tackle a cozy mystery I have mapped out.

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

I hope readers give Losing Austin a look-see. It’s one of my most emotional books and close to my heart.

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

I’d have to say the finale was the most difficult to get right because there were so many emotions on display and so much of importance takes place.

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

Colton’s mother was challenging because I don’t want readers to see her as a villain, and yet she does treat Colton unfairly through much of the story, so it was a fine line to walk. I hope I wrote her well.

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

Revising is the best part of writing for me. The first draft can sometimes be a drudgery, but once it’s done and I dive into the revisions, that’s when the story really comes alive.

14. What would you say is your superpower?

I’d have to say empathy is my superpower because I can relate to everyone and, on some level, understand and feel where they’re coming from.

 

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

Raise A Child is an organization that helps bring together children in foster care and prospective families. I’m a HUGE advocate for adoption because there are so many kids in foster care who can never be re-united with their families and need a forever home.

 

About Michael J. Bowler:

Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author
who grew up in San Rafael, California. He majored in English and Theatre at
Santa Clara University and went on to earn a master’s in film production from
Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and
another master’s in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez
Hills.

Putting his degrees to use Michael taught high
school in Hawthorne, California for many years, both in general education and
to students with disabilities, in subjects ranging from English and Strength
Training to Algebra, Biology, and Yearbook. Using what he learned from his
master’s degree Michael wrote two screenplays. His horror screenplay, “Healer,”
was a Semi-Finalist, and his urban fantasy script, “Like A Hero,” was a
Finalist in the Shriekfest Film Festival and Screenplay Competition. He also partnered
with two friends as producer, writer, and/or director on several
ultra-low-budget horror films, including “Fatal Images,” “Club Dead,” and
“Things II.” 

Michael is a passionate advocate for the fair
treatment of children and teens and serves as a volunteer Big Brother with the
Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters program and has been a volunteer within the
juvenile justice system in Los Angeles for over thirty years. He has been
honored as Probation Volunteer of the Year, YMCA Volunteer of the Year,
California Big Brother of the Year, and 2000 National Big Brother of the Year.
The “National” honor allowed him and three of his Little Brothers to visit the
White House and meet the president in the Oval Office.

Michael’s goal as an author is for teens to
experience empowerment and hope; to see themselves in his diverse characters;
to read about kids who face real-life challenges; and to see how kids like them
can remain decent people in an indecent world. The most prevalent theme in his
writing and his work with youth is this: as both a society, and as individuals,
we’re better off when we do what’s right, rather than what’s easy.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Threads | Tumblr | Pinterest | YouTube | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

 

Giveaway
Details:

1 winner will win a finished copy of LOSING AUSTIN, US Only.

Ends June 24th, midnight EST.

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the STEVEN F SEAGULL & THE MISSING CHIPS by Kitty May Gruchelska Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: STEVEN F SEAGULL & THE MISSING CHIPS

Author: Kitty May Gruchelska

Pub. Date: June 13, 2024

Publisher: Magnetic Lion Productions

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 240

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon

Get the eBook for .99! 

 

In Chips We Trust

The chipocalypse is the greatest mystery to hit the seaside town of Fry Cove.
Join Steven F Seagull on the adventure of a lifetime in this Pencraft Best Book
engaging read about courage, friendship and teamwork, which reviewers hail as
‘an unexpected delight.’

Who stole the chips? Was it the Deny the Fry colony, who want all seagulls to
quit eating chips? Or was it the seagull mafia boss, Stefano Giacomo, who has
concocted a dastardly plot to convert all seagulls to pizza and pasta? As part
of the newly formed CIA (Chips Investigation Agency), our reluctant hero, along
with Charlie, Steven Colton, the karate chopping Bart, and Steven Rhys pit
their wits to solve the mystery.

Whether you’re a fan of whimsical tales or simply in need of a feel-good read,
this Readers’ Favourite 5 Star ‘war of the best carbohydrates’ book is sure to
leave you smiling.

Reviews:

Five stars!
‘…a war of the best carbohydrates!’
‘…a wonderful, family-friendly story that was an absolute delight to read.’–
Jamie Michele, Readers’ Favourite

‘…a delightful and whimsical adventure…’
‘Throughout this fast-paced tale, readers will meet gannets, pasta-loving
Italians, and even robots… Ultimately, “The Great Chip Hunt” is a
fun tale of adventure and a heartwarming reminder of the importance of
friendship…’ –Authors Reading

Five stars!
‘Gruchelska’s storytelling is engaging, reminiscent of an animated movie…
(her) ability to craft a charming world filled with memorable characters makes
the book a joy for readers of all ages.’ –Literary Titan

Book Trailer:

It
was time to show Fry Cove my capabilities, but could I live up to my dad’s
expectations?

 

Author Chat With YABC:

 

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

The original spark ignited way back during the COVID pandemic, a time most of us would rather forget! I was walking on a beach in Wales, UK, with my husband and we joked about seagulls. We laughed about how they were wondering where all the chips had gone due to the lack of people. The original plot focused on the pandemic, although I knew it would date the story too quickly, so I turned it into a tale of mystery and adventure, using a different culprit.

2. Who is your favorite character in the book?

I always find these questions difficult to answer because I love them all equally. Although I root for Fitzy in the adventure because he has to build up his self-esteem (and I wasn’t particularly confident as a child), Charlie emerges as a strong yet supportive sidekick. I also find the annoying characters endearing in their own way, such as the vain but cowardly Artful Dodger, who’ll have his own story later this year. 

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

Definitely the concept, but the title came with ease. All male seagulls are called Steven, while the females are Stephanie, although they each have a unique middle name to give them individuality. Fitzy’s name was part of the title from the beginning.

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

I think the climax of the book, which drew together all the different elements of the story. It was reasonably easy to write because it was just bang, bang, bang… A close second would be the finale in Stefano Giacomo’s factory. It had the right balance of tension and action, along with fun elements and some teamwork from the characters.

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

I’m divided between mastering social media and time management. The first one is a work in progress, and I’m still building my Instagram profile with engaging content. Time management is probably the toughest to handle because there are always things happening that are outside of your control. I have a new full-time job as the coordinator of a writing centre at university, so I have to maximise my free time and priortise effectively.

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

I like the font, how it’s used creatively, which adds to the fun element of the cover. The vignette style works well too, and I’ll probably keep that as a running theme for my books.

7. What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2025?

I have little time for reading fiction because I read and review essays at university. When I was a child, I was a real bookaholic and devoured a lot of fiction, although at some point in the future, I hope to pick up books I can read for enjoyment.

8. What was your favorite book in 2024?

I didn’t read fiction last year, just academic articles! In my childhood, there were some classics that I loved, such as the Narnia books. Another memorable book was ‘The Phantom Tollbooth.’ I loved all the puns and how the writer crafted a whole world around words and language. Another favourite was the now discontinued Tim and Tobias series, featuring a spooky black cat and supernatural characters.

9. What’s up next for you?

My writing is split between two genres and associated pen names. As Kitty May Gruchelska, my latest work is a shorter story featuring Stefano Giacomo Seagull, although readers can expect two books about cats, plus another Fry Cove tale in 2025. This will feature the back story of a particularly annoying supporting character.

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

Some of the scenes based on the Deny the Fry colony were the most difficult, and I rewrote them so they’re more dynamic. The idea was to feature more alliance building and bring in the final character for the CIA team, while keeping the pace and showcasing some action scenes.

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

Certainly, characters in kid lit are much easier to create, although they have to be relatable too. I needed Fitzy to feel useless and lack self-esteem, although the challenge was to give him enough spark and enthusiasm to carry the burden of his mission.

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

I’d have to say the second draft because a blank page is the hardest part. Some scenes flesh out well from the beginning, while others take a lot more work to perfect. I feel the story really takes shape in the second draft, and I don’t need as much coffee to get started!

14. What would you say is your superpower?

Maybe working with big ideas, building them into a tight and well-developed plot.

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

While I don’t want to be too political at the moment, I feel passionate about looking out for street cats. In the Middle East, you find a lot of ordinary people try to feed them, and that’s the case where I live now in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Some street cats are in terrible condition, but there’s a wonderful organization based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The founder assists with health certificates and export permits so the cats can find loving homes abroad.

 

About Kitty May Gruchelska:

 

Kitty May
Gruchelska loves creating fantastical worlds for her readers, full of diverse
and quirky characters. In a past life, she was probably a cat because she likes
tuna, dislikes water, and frequently knocks things over, but luckily, she has
nine lives. Kitty May teaches in a magical desert kingdom full of sunshine,
camels, and rice dishes. She loves travelling, which also inspires her to
write.

Sign up for
Kitty’s newsletter
and get Stefano Giacomo & The Three Ghosts for FREE!

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

 

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of STEVEN F SEAGULL & THE MISSING CHIPS & A $25 Amazon Gift Card, US Only.

4 winners will receive a finished copy of STEVEN F SEAGULL & THE MISSING CHIPS, US Only.

Ends March 4th, midnight EST.

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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: Goodreads, https://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:

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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: Goodreads, https://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 V, The
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.

 

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

 

6. 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.

 

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

Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

 

8. What was your favorite book in 2023?

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Washington

9. 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

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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: Goodreads, https://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

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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: Goodreads, https://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?

 

2. 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.

 

3. 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.

 

4. 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.

 

5. 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.

 

6. 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.

 

7. 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!

 

8. 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)

 

9. 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?

 

10. 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

 

11. 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.

 

12. 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.

 

13. 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.

 

14. 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.

 

15. 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

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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.

Website | Instagram | Threads | X | TikTok

 

 

 

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

 

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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: Goodreads, https://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.

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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: Goodreads, https://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 10^th-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.

 

2. 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.

 

3. 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!

 

4. 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.

 

5. 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.

 

6. 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.

 

 

7. 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!

 

8. 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 17^th 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.

 

9. 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.

 

10. 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.

 

11. 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.

 

12. 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.

 

13. 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 After, Notes from the Midnight Driver, Zen
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

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