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Today we are excited to share a guest post from author Adi Denner,

The Kiss of the Nightingale!

Read on for more about the author and The Kiss of the Nightingale!

Meet Adi Denner!

Adi Denner was only 13 years old when the enchanted notes of the opera La Traviata by Verdi stole her heart. She is now a professionally trained opera singer with a specialization in contemporary operas. But having too much creative energy to be contained to a single discipline, Adi also discovered painting, sculpting, wood carving, knitting, theatre, 3D art, and her burning love for writing. Her books are heavily inspired by her constant aspiration to intertwine her passions and her firm belief that art is magic.

Website * Twitter * Instagram * Facebook

About the Book: The Kiss of the Nightingale

1890, Lutèce: In this city, Talents are everything: precious gems that gift unrivalled skills to their owners. The most coveted, Elite Talents, are claimed by the aristocracy, passed through generations by blood magic.

Cleodora dreamed of inheriting her father’s Tailoring Talent, but when he died, the magic died with him. Now she’s left with empty promises, a dress shop she can’t keep afloat, and her bed-ridden younger sister.

But everything changes when she meets the dark-eyed Lady Dahlia Sibille. Dahlia offers Cleodora a Singing Talent — a chance to save her beloved sister and rewrite her own fate. From the first instant, Cleodora is bewitched. . . there’s just one catch: she needs to steal an Elite Talent from the prestigious Lenoir family.

As Lutèce’s nightingale, Cleodora is the star of the opera’s galas and balls, worlds away from the darkness and dust of home. But the handsome yet infuriating Vicomte Lenoir is nothing like she expected.

Soon, the Vicomte’s teasing smiles win her over, even as Dahlia’s seductive whispers linger in her ears. Torn between Dahlia, who gave her everything, and the Vicomte, who holds the price of her freedom, is Cleodora in danger of losing it all? Or can she prove that magic isn’t the only gift that counts?

Amazon * B&N

~ Guest Post ~

Embracing Your Inner Diva– by Adi Denner

When you hear the word “diva,” what comes to mind? If you’re thinking of some celebrity demanding a diamond-studded water bottle or throwing a tantrum, you’re not alone. But here’s the thing: that’s not what a diva is supposed to be. And it’s definitely not what being a diva should mean.

Believe it or not, the word diva comes from the Latin word for “goddess.” It first emerged in the early 19th century when leading sopranos in the opera world were so widely celebrated that audiences viewed them as goddess-like. These women were fierce, confident, and owned their talent. It wasn’t about being difficult—it was about knowing your worth and not letting anyone tell you otherwise.

A diva was, and still should be, someone to admire—a woman who commands the room, not through arrogance but through talent, determination, and self-respect.

So where did it all go wrong? Over time the word diva got distorted into something it was never meant to be, turning a term of power into a stereotype of indulgence or selfishness. And, let’s be real—most of the time it’s used against women. If you’re too confident or speak your mind, suddenly you’re labeled a diva in the worst possible way. The world doesn’t always know how to handle a woman who owns her power—so they slap a label on her to make her feel small.

Well, I say it’s time we changed that, because, honestly, being called a diva should be the biggest compliment ever.

If you think about your day-to-day life, how often are you told to tone it down? To not be too confident? But here’s a secret: the people who make the biggest impact are the ones who are unapologetically themselves. They’re the ones who go for what they want, even if it means standing out. The ones who dare saying:  “Yes, I am talented. Yes, I am capable. And no, I’m not going to shrink myself to make anyone else comfortable.”

Being a diva is about walking into a room with your head held high, knowing you deserve to be there, even when you’re shaking inside. It’s about owning your talents, whether it’s being the fastest on your track team, killing it in theater, or starting a side hustle after school. Divas don’t wait for permission to shine—they just do.

In my novel, The Kiss of the Nightingale, the protagonist Cleodora embodies this journey. . Although she becomes an opera star almost overnight, she doesn’t embrace the meaning of being a diva right away. Her transformation isn’t about instant success or perfection. Instead, it’s about her struggle, growth, and discovery of inner strength. She faces setbacks, but through each challenge, Cleodora uncovers more of her true potential, revealing the qualities that make her a diva—not just her magical singing Talent, but her resilience, intelligence, and finally her belief in herself. Through Cleodora’s journey, I wanted to show that being a diva is about embracing your power, even when the world tries to tell you that you’re not enough.

It’s not always easy to be confident. We live in a world that constantly tells us we’re not good enough, smart enough, or cool enough. Social media alone can make you feel like you’re always falling short. You scroll through TikTok or Instagram, and it feels like everyone else has it all figured out—while you’re stuck comparing yourself.

But being a diva means breaking out of that cycle. It’s about knowing that none of those external things define you. It’s tied to how you see yourself. And when you start believing in your own power, people around you will start to see it too.

And this isn’t just a message for women—it’s a message for everyone. Anyone can benefit from the mindset of a diva: the confidence to take up space, the resilience to keep going when things get tough.

So, here’s my challenge to you: next time someone uses the word “diva” in a negative way, flip the script. Take it as a compliment. The world could always use more divas—people who aren’t afraid to stand out, speak up, and shine bright. So why not be one of them?

Title: The Kiss of the Nightingale

Author: Adi Denner

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Publisher: Tundra Books

Genre: YA Romantasy

Age Range: 14+

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Abdi Nazemian!

Read on to learn more about the author, the book, and a giveaway!

Meet the Author: Abdi Nazemian

Abdi Nazemian is the author of Like a Love Story, a Stonewall Honor Book, Only This Beautiful Moment, The Chandler Legacies, and The Authentics. His novel The Walk-In Closet won the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Debut Fiction. His screenwriting credits include the films The Artist’s Wife, The Quiet, and Menendez: Blood Brothers and the television series Ordinary Joe and The Village. He has been an executive producer and associate producer on numerous films, including Call Me by Your Name, Little Woods, and The House of Tomorrow. He lives in Los Angeles with his husband, their two children, and their dog, Disco.

Website * Instagram * X

About the Book: Desert Echoes

Fifteen-year-old Kam is head over heels for Ash, the boy who swept him off his feet. But his family and best friend, Bodie, are worried. Something seems off about Ash. He also has a habit of disappearing, at times for days. When Ash asks Kam to join him on a trip to Joshua Tree, the two of them walk off into the sunset . . . but only Kam returns.

Two years later, Kam is still left with a hole in his heart and too many unanswered questions. So it feels like fate when a school trip takes him back to Joshua Tree. On the trip, Kam wants to find closure about what happened to Ash but instead finds himself in danger of facing a similar fate. In the desert, Kam must reckon with the truth of his past relationship—and the possibility of opening himself up to love once again.

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~Author Chat~

YABC:  What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

The idea came to me the first time our kids went to sleepaway camp. I felt lonely and decided to go to Joshua Tree by myself in July on one of the hottest days of the year, so hot that it felt like I was all alone on a distant planet as I wandered. The desert is a place of mystery and contemplation, and while I was there, I pondered the death of my first boyfriend. He was a magnetic and complicated human being who, like the character of Ash in the book, was drawn to the desert. I had wanted to write about the journey of both loving and losing him for a long time. That’s what first inspired this book, though of course it evolved in the writing to be about more than that.

YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?

Lana Del Rey. Well, she’s not a character but she is a presence in the book. Also, the desert. In terms of the human characters, I can never pick a favorite.

YABC: How do you know when a book is finished?

When my editor says it is!

YABC: What research did you do to write this book?

Much of the research for the book came from my lived experience. I attend Al-Anon meetings, and the teachings of that program informed the writing. I’ve been touched by addiction throughout my life, and those experiences informed the book. The biggest area of research was on specifics of the desert itself.

YABC: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I think, in some buried part of myself, I always knew. I was so drawn to storytelling as a kid who never fit in anywhere. I would write (atrocious) poems in my tween years. I would submit stories to Archie Comics (my childhood obsession). But I never thought I could be a writer until I worked for two years as an assistant in Hollywood, where answering phones and reading scripts was the bulk of my job. After reading hundreds (maybe thousands) of scripts and realizing these writers were getting paid for doing something I felt I could do too, I took the plunge into writing as a career and never looked back.

YABC: What word do you have trouble overusing?

Recently, we were in our local bookshop with our kids and one of their best friends. Their friend picked up my novel Like a Love Story and started reading it in the shop. A few pages in, she said she knew I wrote it because the word “deranged” was in it, and I use it all the time. So, there you go. The kids also make fun of me for overusing the word “divine.” But come on, those are both such good words that demand to be (over)used.

YABC: What is your favorite writing space?

A hotel room with a coffee machine and room service. I do so much of my writing in hotel rooms. Recently, a hotel did a security check on me because they were worried that I hadn’t left the room in days. I explained to them that I was writing a book, and they seemed even more confused than they were before I explained. But really, when your home is two-kid, one-dog chaos, a quiet room is the writing dream.

YABC: What hobbies do you enjoy?

I’m one of those lifelong learner people. I’m a big advocate of older people always trying to challenge their brains by learning new things. At the moment, my obsessions are learning Portuguese and piano. Our son and I take piano lessons together, and while I’ll never be great, being able to play some of my favorite songs on an instrument that was once a mystery to me brings me immense joy.

YABC: What’s your least favorite word or expression and why?

I’ve never loved the way our culture uses the word “closure” to imply the end of an emotional journey, because in my experience of human relationships, there’s always more to learn and unravel with time. I’m all about keeping our hearts and minds open for more learning.

YABC:  What fandom would you write for if you had time?

I already write for Madonna fans, Lana fans, Judy Garland fans. I recognize this is a “deranged” answer, but it’s who I am.

YABC: What is your favorite holiday or tradition and why?

Our kids’ birthday because watching them grow into the most beautiful, curious, funny, empathetic humans is the great joy and honor of my life.

YABC: What other age group would you consider writing for?

All of them. I’ve written movies, television shows, an adult novel, a handful of young adult novels. I’ve tried my hand at podcasts and theater (so far unsuccessfully, but I’m persistent). I have no interest in creative limitations. That said, I don’t plan on leaving YA anytime soon because I love writing for this age. The emotional immediacy and wry humor of adolescence makes it such a joy to write.

Title: Desert Echoes

Author: Abdi Nazemian

Illustrator: Katherine Lam

Release Date: September 10, 2024

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: Young Adult

Age Range: 14–17-year-olds

Giveaway Details ~

One (1) winner will receive a copy of Desert Echoes (Abdi Nazemian) ~US Only!

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*

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Today we are excited to share a guest post from author Hank Quense,

Moxie’s Problem!

Read on for more about the author and Moxie’s Problem!

Meet Hank Quense!

Hank Quense has self-published his books for over 12 years.  His non-fiction books cover fiction writing (Creating Stories), self-publishing (How to Self-publish and Market a Book, Self-publish a Book in 10 Steps), marketing (Book Marketing Fundamentals) and author business (Business Basics for Authors) and Creating Your First Novel.

Hank also writes satirical fantasy and sci-fi.  Early in his writing career, he was strongly influenced by two authors: Douglas Adams and his Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and Joseph Heller’s Catch-22. Happily, Hank has never quite recovered from those experiences.

He lives in northern New Jersey, a mere 20 miles from Manhattan, the center of the galaxy (according to those who live in Manhattan). He has two daughters and five grandchildren all of whom live nearby.

For vacations, Hank and his family usually visit distant parts of the galaxy. Occasionally, they also time-travel.

Website * X * Facebook

About the Book: Moxie’s Problem

A Hilarious Medieval Romp

Meet Princess Moxie, the most obnoxiously entitled royal you’ll ever encounter. When this spoiled teenage princess is forced to experience the real world beyond the castle walls, her sheltered existence goes hilariously awry. Rejecting her betrothed and deciding to claim the throne instead, Moxie and her trio of long-suffering knight escorts embark on an outrageous quest. In Hank Quense’s delightfully satirical tale, the legends of Camelot get a brilliantly irreverent twist as Moxie slowly learns there’s more to life than privilege amid clever reinventions of medieval tropes. Prepare for a royally fun fantasy adventure that will have you roaring with laughter!

~ Guest Post ~

From Concept to a Series of Three Novels

I had this idea about a character I wanted to write about. The idea was that this character would undergo radical changes over the course of the story. After a lot of thinking and jotting down notes, I finally found the right story for this character. The initial story idea (a short story) evolved into a pair of novels that led to a third novel.

Princess Moxie is an unusual protagonist. She’s an  obnoxious, self-centered teenager and often in a snit because someone didn’t do what she wanted them to do. Moxie’s favorite pose is hands on hips, scowling and tapping her toes. Readers don’t like her.

So why did I create such a character? Because the great thing about Moxie is her character arc. By the end of Moxie’s Problem, readers opinion of her has changed from annoyance to sympathy. By the end of the second novel, Moxie’s Decision, readers are hoping she will be successful in her quest to become the queen. That’s a heckuva change.

Character arcs aren’t an on/off switch. The character can’t be one way at the beginning and then a different way at the end with nothing in between. The story has to show the character slowly changing, in incremental steps. And some of the steps have to be negative ones, in which Moxie reverts back to her bad old ways. In effect, the character arc forms a story within the story.

Besides Moxie’s story, the novels have a number of characters stolen from the Camelot legends. For instance, I have several battles between Camelot’s Knights of the Round Table and the Saxon warriors led by the Hengist (an actual historical figure). However, instead of bloody shield walls, the battles take place on a football pitch using primitive rules and referees.

There are a number of other changes in my Camelot. Stonehenge for instance is a theater-in-the-round available for hire. Merlin investigates the magic of the mind using primitive Rorschach inkblot diagrams.

This strange Camelot and a few of Moxie’s adventures bothered me for quite a while: How could I get readers to accept a Camelot that was so different from the beloved legends? One day the answer hit me: my Camelot was in a parallel universe!

The perfect solution! And the Princess Moxie novels were launched!

Title: Moxie’s Problem

Author: Hank Quense

Illustrator/Cover Art: Gary Tenuta

Release Date: Aug 8, 2014

Publisher: Strange Worlds Publishing

Genre: Fantasy humor

Age Range: 12+

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Today we are excited to share a guest post from author M.R. Fournet,

Darkness & Demon Song (Marius Grey book 2)!

Read on for more about the author and Darkness & Demon Song!

Meet MR. Fournet!

M.R. Fournet’s ties to New Orleans are part of her own origin story. As as kid, she would go fishing in South Louisiana and eat crawfish with her family in Houma. She has always been fascinated by the myths and legends of New Orleans. When not writing, she is a professional artist, belly dancer, and autism mom. She now lives in Texas with her husband, son, and ungrateful cats. Brick Dust and Bones is her middle grade debut.

Website * Twitter * Instagram * Facebook

About the Book: Darkness & Demon Song

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

~ Guest Post ~

Why Scary Stories Are Good for Kids

written by M.R. Fournet

“Are you worried your books will give kids nightmares?”

As a horror writer, I get this question often when speaking with parents. In fact, I don’t recall doing an event where this doesn’t come up. My stock answer is, “Have you ever asked a ten-year-old to tell you a scary story? It’s way worse than anything I come up with.” This never fails to get a laugh.

The statement is true, but it’s not the whole truth.

Scary books are important because in a terrifying world, kids need a safe place to explore their own fear. They test their bravery in a controlled environment. A haven where the things that go bump in the night have rules.

Books have rules.

The heroes have a fighting chance because they know this trick or that spell or where to hide. The trolls turn to stone when the sun comes up, and the demons run screaming from holy water. And if all else fails, you can always just close the book, and the monsters go away.

The real world has no rules.

Most adults forget what how vulnerable teens feel. In that place between childhood and adulthood where you don’t know where you fit. You still need your parents but want your autonomy. You’re learning about reality, and it can feel so isolating.

Even though I was raised by an absolute rock star of a single mom, I remember feeling lonely and vulnerable and afraid. When I felt that way, I’d curl into myself and create stories. There were heroes and villains. Grand adventures and narrow escapes. But most of all, there were monsters. My monsters.

They helped me process my own fear. They protected me in the dark. They held my hand when I was lonely. Since I made them, they did what I said. I had the power. Thankfully, my mother never sent me to a doctor about my strange imagination. She’d just shrug and say, “Well, she’s creative, and that’s a good thing.” She is and will always be my hero for that.

Today, kids have a different experience. I grew up in a time before social media or the internet. We knew about injustice and starving people in far away countries, but it was an abstract idea. Something I never actually witnessed. I can’t imagine what it’s like to wake up with all that visual information at your fingertips. Videos, images, inundating news, commenters, and talking heads. Everyone discussing the latest doom and gloom. How vulnerable that must make them feel. How frightened.

When someone asks me that question about giving kids nightmares, I want to say something else. Something deeper. Something absolutely true.

“No, I’m not worried my books will give them nightmares. A scary world without rules is far worse than anything in my book. My stories are secure. They can escape into the pages knowing it will be alright. They can process fear safely. The pages of a book provide an oasis of certainty in a world gone mad.”

But I never have time for all that. I stick to my stock answer. It’s a good, short sound byte. Besides, how do you explain it to adults who don’t remember how this feels? As for the truly important people—the kids—I want to say this.

“Don’t worry. You are okay in my book. It’s safe here. These are my monsters. I made them, and I would never ever let them hurt you.”

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Today we are excited to share a guest post from author S.E. Reed (Old Palmetto Drive)!

Read on for more about the author, the book, and a giveaway!

About the Author: S.E. Reed

S.E. Reed lives in the south and writes strange, haunting, real stories of people and places along old highways.

Winner of the 2024 Florida Book Awards and the 2024 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People.

Additionally, she’s been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and won honorable mention twice in L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest.

Her stories have been featured by The Writer’s Workout, SEMO Press, Parhelion Lit, The Writers’ Co-op, Wild Ink Publishing, Hey Hey Books, and Tempered Rune’s Press

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About the Book: Old Palmetto Drive

Teen socialite Rian Callusa’s privileged NY life is over! Following her parent’s nasty divorce, and the death of her aunt & uncle, Rian’s mom drags her kicking and screaming all the way to Everglades City. Who cares if her new home is a mansion when it’s in the middle of nowhere without a nail salon or shopping mall in sight? And friends? Hell might as well freeze over before Rian would hang out with her hillbilly cousins.

The news that her Dad won’t be returning to New York after his job abroad crushes any hope Rian had of moving back to the Big Apple. So without a plan B, Rian explores the swamp and learns her cousins aren’t as backward as they first appeared. She even falls head over heels for a cute vintage-loving local girl. Now that she thinks about it, this might turn out to be the best summer of Rian’s life! Until her cousin Travis gets drunk at a party and confesses the dark truth about what really happened on Old Palmetto Drive, sending Rian into a tailspin of fear and self-doubt.

Goodreads

~Guest Post by S.E. Reed~

A Reflection of Me(?)

When you read a non-fiction book or watch a movie based on a true story, you know right away the characters and experiences you’ll engage with are real. And afterwards you can play internet sleuth and Google the author to learn more about their life or the people they’ve written about. It is immensely satisfying, for those of us with curious minds, and a propensity for diving deeper into the behind-the-scenes of any good story.

However, when you read a work of fiction, even if it has a satisfying ending, you might be left wondering and wanting more… Are the viewpoints and characters in this book a reflection of the author  themself? Are any of the things that happened in the story based on factual events? After a quick trip to the internet, you may learn that some authors come right out to say, Yes, I modeled this character on myself, or this experience was something I went through. They might even have a website with blogs, podcasts, and interviews explaining how they used those personal experiences as the foundation for their fictional tale.

But on the other end of that, you have the authors who keep their cards close to their chest and never divulge their inspiration or on-page similarities to their characters. Some even mask their identity entirely with the use of a pen name. Because for an author, there is privilege in writing fiction, especially from a masked identity. Anonymity for an author gives them the ability to be as personally entwined with their art or as absent from it as they choose. Sometimes that choice is dependent on the material itself or the intended audience.

Obviously, I cannot speak for all authors, I can only speak for myself. But when I write, I never intend to insert myself into my stories, yet, when I look at my body of work and reflect upon all the stories and books I’ve written over the years, there are common themes that appear. And while not all of these themes are a direct reflection of myself, some of them are unconsciously so. I catch phrases I say in real life coming out of the mouths of my fictional characters. I see them going to places I’ve been, eating food I enjoy, and other things that only I myself have done. Yet, they also experience wildly different things than I have; they go on adventures, solve mysteries, even commit crimes and interact with the other characters in ways I would never dream of doing if it was the real life me in that same situation.

So the next time you read one of my books or short stories it will be up to you to decide what is real and what is not. But I will give you a little hint… In my latest YA novel OLD PALMETTO DRIVE, the main character Rian tries a new food for the first time after throwing a fit. A few bites in she decides it isn’t that bad afterall. That ‘new food’ she tries is one of my all time favorites in real life.

Happy reading (and tasting–I promise, it’s really good)!

S.E. Reed

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the SYLVIA LOCKE AND THE THREE BEARS by David Horn Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: SYLVIA LOCKE AND THE THREE BEARS

Author: David Horn (Author), Judit Tondora
(Illustrator)

Pub. Date: April 30, 2024

Publisher: David Horn

Formats: eBook

Pages: 83

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon

“A whimsical twist on a classic
fairy tale with plenty of twists, turns, and sass for early chapter readers.”
– Kirkus Reviews

RED ALERT FOR FAIRY TALE LAND: Sylvia Locke is out and ready to cause
mischief.

Once upon a time in Fairy Tale Land, there lived a very bad girl indeed. Sylvia
Locke may have been abandoned by her adventuring parents but that’s no excuse
for being mean to her loving grandparents, rude to everyone at school, and even
bullying rare magical creatures. Right?

One day, when out on a break-and-enter job at the Bear family’s house, Sylvia
happens upon a magical mirror that turns out to be more than she bargained for.
Could even a kid like Sylvia find a friend? Could some warm and fuzzies change
her heart?

The first book in Tairy Fails, a modern fractured fairy tale humor series
that will have elementary school kids and early chapter book readers screaming
with laughter.

Reviews:

“Will wow middle grade
readers—and transform them into instant devotees of the next in the
series.'” – BookLife Reviews

“Original action and humor at their best . . . highly recommended for
elementary chapter book readers seeking a fresh, original voice and novel
atmosphere in their fantasy reading.” – Midwest Book Review

“Will have readers doubled over with laughter as they follow one very
bad girl, Sylvia Locke . . . This is a gem of a magical story that will enchant
young readers.” – ReadersFavorite (5 Star Review)

“Families will love the comedic spin the chapter book takes on a
classic fairytale. It deserves more than five stars! I’ll be on the lookout for
book two in the Tairy Fails series, and I know once your family and class read
this story, they will be, too.” – Superkambrook (Kam’s Place)

“The perfect story of the pains of a growing teen, with characters
based on those we all know and love.” – ReadersFavorite (5 Star
Review)

“David’s wonderful modern fairy tale will engage young readers and make
their parents smile.” – ReadersFavorite (5 Star Review)

YABC interview with the Author: David Horn

What was your inspiration for writing your book?

My children are always my inspiration. Like a lot of my books, Sylvia started as a story I told my kids (usually during dinner or during a dog walk). They asked for a fairy tale, so I had to come up with something. As they were already familiar with my Eudora Space Kid stories, I needed a new character too. So, Sylvia Locke was born – a play on Goldilocks, but a girl who was even worse. Breaking into a house is something a good kid would never do, right? I mean, she just had to be bad. But the bears had already been through Goldilocks, so they had to be a bit wiser too. Hilarity ensued! I hope you agree!

List your favorite books from when you were a child and talk about how you see them as an adult.

My favorite books as a child were the Mr. Men books, and I still love them, have them, and my kids have read them, though we added in the Little Miss books too. All of them are hilarious, even the new ones. A lot of quirky, simple characters and it really is a fantasy world in a way. Just love them!

List your favorite books this year and why you like them.

Ascendance of a Bookworm light novels! I love them. It’s clear, fun writing and the main character is a good person who loves reading.  What’s not to love? And the books have a huge, colorful cast of characters. I’m in awe of the author.

Describe your ideal writing space.

I like to write on a little portable laptop, small and light. I can take it anywhere – at a desk, on a couch, outside with the dog. I like to write from anywhere.  Oh, and the right music playlist that matches the story – that’s important!

Describe your ideal home library.

My ideal home library has a ton of classic sci-fi books and classic children’s books. All inside a sun-filled turret with a lazy dog on a big comfy dog bed. Or the dog took the comfy recliner and I’m stuck on the dog bed? To be clear, though, I don’t have anything like that – the books just sit sadly under the bed  waiting for the day …

About David Horn:

David Horn
lives in New Jersey with his wife, two daughters, and a funny dog named Trixie.
He is the author of the popular Eudora Space Kid early reader humorous sci-fi
chapter book series, along with Tairy Fails, a modern, humorous fractured fairy
tale chapter book series. He enjoys making kids laugh. Author photo drawn by David’s child.

Subscribe to David’s newsletter!

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card, International.

3 winners will receive an eBook of SYLVIA LOCKE AND THE THREE BEARS, International.

Ends May 14th, midnight EST.

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Last month, beloved and award-winning author James Ponti embarked on a week-long tour to promote his latest novel, City Spies #5: Mission Manhattan (on sale Feb 6, 2024). The cross-country tour consisted of five in-person stops with independent bookstores featuring James in conversation with other middle-grade authors such as Jeff Kinney, Stuart Gibbs, Hena Khan, Jake Burt, Gordon Korman and Adam Gidwitz. James also conducted multiple days of school visits along the tour route, resulting in a lot of smiles from students and wonderful feedback from the schools. In total, his tour consisted of 5 public events, 3 literary festivals, 16 in-person school visits, and 2 virtual school visits.

Now that the tour has come to an end, James worked with YABC to share an exclusive rundown of his tour week in the humorous fashion his fans know best.

Meet James Ponti!

AMES PONTI (he/him/his) is the New York Times bestselling author of four middle grade book series: The Sherlock Society following a group of young detectives; City Spies, about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 Spy Team; the Edgar Award– winning Framed! series, about a pair of tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, DC; and the Dead City trilogy, about a secret society that polices the undead living beneath Manhattan. His books have appeared on more than fifteen different state award lists, and he is the founder of a writers group known as the Renegades of Middle Grade. James is also an Emmy–nominated television writer and producer who has worked for many networks including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, History, and Spike TV, as well as NBC Sports. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida. Find out more at JamesPonti.com

Website

About the Book: City Spies: Mission Manhattan

The City Spies head to the Big Apple when a credible threat is made to a young climate activist who is scheduled to speak in front of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. With Rio acting as alpha and a new member in their ranks, the team’s mission to protect a fellow teen takes them on an exciting adventure in, around, and even under the greatest city
in the world as they follow leads to the outer boroughs, the UN Headquarters, and even the usually off-limits stacks that extend deep under the main branch of the New York Public Library.

Great multicultural cast of characters! Nicknamed for the various cities they hail from around the globe, Brooklyn, Kat, Sydney, Paris, and Rio–represent an impressive range of ethnicities, personal backgrounds, and unique skill-sets–making them a spectacular team of spies that truly offer something for every reader. And as readers learned in book 4, there’s been a recent addition to the team as well.

City Spies has it all! Action and adventure, intelligence and intrigue, humor and heart—plus lots of fun contemporary references and believable interpersonal dynamics to keep things moving on multiple levels. Every book in the series so far has been a New York Times bestseller, with appearances on the hardcover, paperback, and series lists. Even though he writes fiction, Ponti is very conscientious about
how he portrays the various locations and cultures in each story.

Amazon MGM Studios is currently developing a global film franchise based on the City Spies series!

James Ponti City Spies: Mission Manhattan Tour recap written by James himself!

Book Tour Confidential

I never feel more borderline cool, than when I tell someone that I’m about to go on a book tour. It just sounds glamorous and conjures up images of cozy bookstores, adoring fans, and witty banter. And I never feel more deceitful than when I allow that conversation to end without correcting some misconceptions.

First of all, I am not remotely cool. Secondly, glamorous it ain’t.

Don’t get me wrong, the bookstores are awesome, the readers (fans is still a hard word for me to use) are incredible, and there are countless laughs along the way. But there’s nothing glamorous about three a.m. wakeup calls, dragging your suitcase up and down Connecticut Avenue, or standing in front of large groups of middle schoolers, because, you know, middle school was such a positive experience the first time.

So here are some snapshots – both literal and figurative – of my recent tour to promote the release of City Spies: Mission Manhattan. From a numbers-standpoint, it was made up of five days, five states and the District of Columbia, nine schools, six independent bookstores, the New York Public Library, eight author friends, one presidential motorcade, and zero healthy meals.

DAY 0 – Orlando, Florida (where I live)

Mission Manhattan was a lay-down title, which means copies couldn’t be sold before its release date on Tuesday, February 6^th, so I couldn’t do any official events on Monday. Still, just like a pitcher likes to warm up in the bullpen before heading to the mound, I like to get loose before I hit the road.

So, on Monday, I stopped by my good luck school St. Mary Magdalen in Altamonte Springs, Florida to do a presentation. It’s close to my house, has an amazing librarian, and has been part of virtually every tour I’ve ever done. I followed this up with a couple of virtual visits, one in Massachusetts and one in Seattle, and felt ready to go. That night I flew to Washington D.C., arrived at my hotel late at night, and was turned away at check in. (I refused to take this as an omen, but it wasn’t ideal.) Eventually, my reservation was located and I was able to get some sleep before the frenzy.

DAY 1 – Washington, D.C. (where the President lives, although he’s not going to come into story until we reach New York.)

Two schools and two bookstores – the original Politics & Prose, where I spoke to a bunch of students and their new store on the DC Wharf, where I had a public event with my good friend Hena Khan, who’s book Drawing Deena came out the same day. (Get it, it’s so good.)

The first challenge on a book tour involves luggage. You change cities every day and check out of your hotel room early each morning. That means you have to carry your bags and whatever you need for you presentation with you everywhere you go – schools, stores, restaurants, etc… You’re trying to stay presentable, but you’re rushing up and down Connecticut Avenue with your bags trying to get to the next stop in time. (Luckily, a college friend picked me up and gave me a ride at point.)

I was anxious/excited about the public event. It’s a new space and on a school night there’s always the fear that no one will show up. Hena and I had special cookies made with our covers on them. The plan was to give them out to the guests, and if no one came we’d just eat them ourselves. Luckily there’s a Ben & Jerry’s nearby, if we needed more sugar therapy.

Luckily, the turnout was good and included some surprises. Friends from high school and college showed up unannounced as did one of my favorite school librarians. Her husband was once the deputy-director of the CIA and their three sons all work in the intelligence business. They are literally the people I call when I need help figuring out what the spies should do in my spy books.

After the event, I managed to squeeze in a quick lobster roll with my nephew, who lives in DC, before racing off to the airport to fly to New York where I made it to my hotel around midnight. Door to door: 17 hours. Actual meals: 0

Day 2 – New York City

Despite the lack of sleep, I was pumped and up early. This was a bucket list day because I did a presentation for kids at the New York Public Library. It was doubly sweet, because the library is a major setting in the book. It was triply sweet because a group of people from my published, Simon & Schuster, came. So did two awesome author buddies – Karina Yan Glaser and Emma Otheguy. The support among middle grade authors is wonderful.

My publicist Alex, who no doubt felt bad about the luggage, carried my suitcase throughout the library and even loaded it in the cab for me, as I headed to PS 158 on the Upper East Side. Unfortunately, President Biden was also visiting the Upper East Side and his motorcade shut down the road. I had to jump out of the taxi and was once again “Sidewalk Suitcase Guy.” (Not exactly Naked Cowboy Guy from Times Square.)

That evening, I had my first real meal of the tour – with a team of people from Simon & Schuster who worked on the book. It was delicious and the company was wonderful. Bonus, for the first time ever, some random kid walked up to me because she recognized me from my books. (Don’t tell the S&S team it was a first time, I acted like it was a daily occurrence.)

Next, was a public event at the legendary Books of Wonder, where the staff made a window display that took my breath away. That night Gordon Korman, Adam Gidwitz, and I had a panel during which I laughed excessively and the audience seemed entertained. (Whew, you do not want to bomb in New York in front of your publisher and editor.)

Day 3 – Madison, Connecticut

There is a great irony in being a middle grade fiction author. First of all, most writers pick the occupation in part because it’s somewhat solitary and introverted. Secondly, most of us pick middle grade as a way to deal with the lingering scars and traumas of our own middle school awkwardness. So, what do we have to do? Talk in front of huge groups of kids in middle schools. I refer to it as returning to the belly of the beast. To prepare, I even bought special cool shoes (Nike dunks!) to wear at the visits because I never had such things when I was an actual middle schooler.

I did this dance at three different Connecticut middle schools and luckily all of them were filled with eager and receptive kids. By this point, however, I was getting a little punchy. Luckily, I managed to keep it together without incident. My evening event that night was at RJ Julia, a bookstore that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, with author/friend Jake Burt, who devised all sorts of games to keep the crowd entertained. Bonus: my copy editor Rebecca (I call her Gator) showed up and we went out for ice cream! (Lobster roll, cookies, ice cream, hmmm, why am I not healthier?)

Day 4 – Plainville, Massachusetts (where Jeff Kinney lives)

Jeff Kinney and his team have built an incredible oasis of books at An Unlikely Story. It has an incredible event space. (And good pizza across the street.) I did a couple school visits and made it to the store with plenty of time to panic. Unlike the other stops, there was no fellow author to help lure in an audience. I kept worrying that they were setting up too many chairs, but it all worked out and great fun was had.

Day 5 – Orlando, Florida

To make it home in time, I had a 3:00a.m. wakeup call and a flight from Boston to Orlando. I went to the house long enough to drop off my suitcase – finally – and then headed over to Rollins College to meet up with one of my dearest author friends – Stuart Gibbs. Stu and I had a public event hosted by Writer’s Block Bookstore. People came from as far away as North Carolina and it was the perfect way to close out the tour.

I drove Stu to the airport, went home and took a nap.

I love writing middle grade books. I love meeting young readers. And I love hanging out with author friends. It’s not glamorous, but it sure is fun. This fall, my new series, The Sherlock Society, debuts and I’m planning to do a two-week tour that goes coast to coast. I can’t wait. But until then, I’m going to try to get some rest and maybe look into a more durable suitcase.

Tour Video

Title: City Spies: Mission Manhattan

Author: James Ponti

Release Date: 02/06/2024

Publisher: Aladdin

ISBN-13:9781665932479

Genre: Middle Grade Mystery

Age Range: 8-12 years

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Alex London (The Princess Protection Program)!

Meet the Author: Alex London

Alex London is the acclaimed author of more than thirty books for children and teens. His middle grade novels include The Princess Protection Program, Search & Rescue, Dog Tags, and two titles in the 39 Clues series. For young adults, he’s the author of the cyberpunk duology Proxy and the epic fantasy series Black Wings Beating, which were both named to numerous best-of-the-year lists. He has been a journalist and human-rights researcher reporting from conflict zones and refugee camps, a young adult librarian with the New York Public Library, and a snorkel salesman. He lives with his husband, daughter, and hound dog in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Website * Instagram

About the Book: The Princess Protection Program

Where can a princess hide if her Ever After isn’t all that Happy? Bestselling author Alex London turns classic fairy tales on their heads in this fast-paced, funny fantasy about embracing change and taking control of your own story. For fans of The School for Good and Evil and the Never Afters series.

Every fairy tale ends with its characters living happily ever after, right? A valiant prince quests long and hard to reach the castle where the sleeping princess lies. And with a kiss, he will awaken her.

But what if the princess does NOT think a kiss from a stranger is a very pleasant way to wake up? Yuck!

When Rosamund flees her prince, a Door of Opportunity opens, and she steps through to the Home Educational Academy (the HEA for short). Rosamund has found the Princess Protection Program, where fugitive fairy tale princesses escape unwanted affections, untimely ends, and all the other perils of their stories.

But as Rosamund adjusts to life in the real world and makes her first real friends (Rana, who left her story after an incident with a frog; Sirena, a former mermaid; Cindy and Charlie, who didn’t want to get married after just one dance; and others), she has more and more questions. Does anyone ever graduate from the HEA? Why doesn’t anyone seem to remember former students? Is the kindly fairy headmistress all she appears to be? Is anyone? And the most important question of all: Can Rosamund change her story?

Acclaimed and bestselling author Alex London weaves together several beloved fairy tales in this fast-paced, funny, and slyly subversive adventure about finding your place in the world and taking control of your own story. The daring escapes, sinister monsters, familiar friends, and surprise twists will keep even reluctant readers glued to the pages. The Princess Protection Program is for fans of the Never Afters and the Descendants series, The School for Good and Evil, and the Fairly True Tales series.

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~Author Chat~

YABC:  What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

My sister! She used to have a very interesting job at Disney World, where she was…ahem…very close with various Princesses in the park. She told me about a support group she was in for—let’s call them associates—of former princesses called The Princess Protection Program. I loved the name so much and the concept for this book spun out from thinking about that name.

YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?

Without a doubt, the Einhorn brothers. They’re basically frat boy dirtbags with hearts of gold, who are…spoiler alert…unicorns in disguise. What better disguise for unicorns in the real world than a bunch of total bros? No one would ever expect they’re wondrous creatures of magic and starlight. They’re gross and awful and funny and kind and I love them.

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

Each fairy tale princess (and prince) had their own challenges. These are such iconic characters, finding something both fresh and familiar to do with each of them was extremely fun, but also difficult. How do you make someone like Sleeping Beauty or Cinderella feel like their own full person, while also being recognizable to readers outside of the fairy tale they’ve escaped? The challenging parts of writing this are the things that fueled the writing of it to begin with.

YABC: Which came first, the title or the novel?

In this case, the title! It has led to some confusion, as there is, apparently, a 2009 movie of the same name, but the concept is completely different, so that’s helpful…because I was not about to change the title that inspired the book!

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

Is “everything” a reasonable answer? Because I loved everything about it. James Firnhaber, the artist, did an amazing job. I’ve loved his work on other covers and am honored to have had him bring his talent to bear on this story. The details and the vibe perfectly make the promise of what the book is, which is the most you can ask for on a cover. It’s beautiful, it’s inviting, and it feels like the book. I’m just thrilled with it.

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

I’m very excited to read Adam Gidwitz’s Max in the House of Spies. I love an espionage thriller, and I love Adam’s middle grade writing, so the two combined seem just tailor-made for my tastes!

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

I have a lot of projects in the works! There is a sequel to the Princess Protection Program I’m at work on, and I have a picture book out next fall called Still Life illustrated by the amazing Paul O. Zelinsky about a still life painting that simply won’t hold still. After that, there’s a graphic memoir in the works for young adults, and another secret project or two…maybe even something for adults!

 
YABC:      What would you say is your superpower?

Productive procrastination. I procrastinate a lot, about everything, but I’ve found ways to turn that into something useful, putting off one task that needs to get done with another. For example, I wrote the first draft of The Princess Protection Program to avoid revising a different project I had to turn in. I was putting off doing that by writing this, and ended up getting both done, while simultaneously leaving my laundry, washed but rumpled, in the basket for weeks. It’s a gift and a curse.

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

Right now, with the eruption of book bans and censorship happening around the country, I’m grateful for the work of Pen America and their Freedom to Read Project.

Title: THE PRINCESS PROTECTION PROGRAM

Author: Alex London

Release Date: 2/13/24

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

ISBN-10: 0063303876

ISBN-13: 9780063303874

Genre: middle grade fiction/fantasy

Age Range: Ages 8-12

*Giveaway Details*

Three (3) winners will receive a hardcover copy of The Princess Protection Program (Alex London) ~ US Only!

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Today we are excited to share a guest post from author Ellen Ramsey,

A Book For Bear!

Read on for more about Ellen and A Book for Bear!

Meet Ellen Ramsey!

Ellen Ramsey’s love of reading and writing led her to careers as a teacher, a technical editor, and an author of stories for children. Her work has appeared in Highlights, Spider, Ladybug, Muse, and Fun for Kidz. One of her poems, published in Highlights High Five, won an SCBWI Magazine Merit Award for Poetry. Like Bear in her picture book A BOOK FOR BEAR, she loves visiting schools, libraries, and bookstores, but unlike Bear, she typically does not need a disguise. She and her husband live in a house filled with thousands of books, many teddy bears, and lots of laughter! You can visit Ellen L. Ramsey online at EllenLRamsey.com or follow her on Instagram @EllenLRamseyBooks and on Twitter @EllenLRamsey1.

Website * Instagram * Twitter

About the Book: A Book for Bear

Bear loves books. When Bear decides he wants a book of his very own, he and his best friend Ellen hatch a plan. But sneaking a bear into a school, a library, and a bookstore proves to be harder than they thought. Will Bear ever find a book of his very own? With charming and timeless words from debut author Ellen Ramsey and brought to life by MacKenzie Haley, this is an endearing story of a determined young bear and his journey to find the perfect book.

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~ Guest Post ~

Reading Stories: A Springboard to Writing Stories

People love stories. Listening to them, reading them, and telling them.

A colleague of mine has a sign in his office that says: “Humans: The Storytelling Animal.”

The love of stories starts early. Among our daughter’s first words (coming relatively soon after “ma-ma” and “da-da”) were “Read me!” She accompanied this request by plopping a favorite book in my lap. Living in an apartment filled with books, she found that “read me,” especially when coupled with “please” and a pleading look, would typically get a story—and sometimes two.

Say the words “Once upon a time” or “Let me tell you a story,” and an audience will gather—in the living room, at the dining room table, or around a campfire.

In A BOOK FOR BEAR, Bear learns to love stories by listening to his friend Ellen read scary books, exciting books, funny books.

Soon Bear embarks on a search for a book of his very own. Assisted by Ellen, Bear devises imaginative disguises to wear as he sneaks into places with lots of books—schools, libraries, and bookstores. When perceptive librarians and others see the bear behind the disguises, Bear and Ellen must find another way for Bear to have a book of his very own.

Reading stories like A BOOK FOR BEAR and other books about books encourages kids to learn to read and inspires them to create their own stories.

Kids can tell a story with words, drawings, or both. A few pieces of folded paper glued together or stapled or sewn by an older kid or helpful adult is a good start. Provided with colored pencils, markers, crayons, or paints, kids will be well on their way to creating books of their very own. Kids can keep bookmaking supplies—and their completed books—in a special “Book Box.”

Reading books is a springboard for talking about ideas for stories. Bear wants a book the color of ripe red raspberries and delicious to read. Kids could imagine the types of books other animals might want—a dog? a cat? a parrot? a hippo? a dragon? Bear needs disguises to help him sneak into places with books. Kids could challenge themselves to think of what disguises their favorite animals might wear for going on adventures. These are ways to inspire new story ideas.

Reading books is not only a way to grow readers and storytellers, but also a way to grow friendships. Bear and Ellen become friends because of their shared love of books. The popularity of book clubs shows how much people love to share ideas and opinions about what they are reading.

Creating a space with books and bookmaking supplies will grow readers, writers, and friendships. My “read me” daughter has become an English professor who reads and writes as an integral part of her career and has many friends who share her passion for reading and writing. When your kids say, “read me,” be sure you have a good supply of books—scary books, exciting books, and funny books.

Title: A BOOK FOR BEAR

Author: Ellen Ramsey

Illustrator: MacKenzie Haley

Release Date: 07/18/2023

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers

ISBN-10: 0593527240

ISBN-13: 9780593527245

Genre: Picture Book

Age Range: 4-8 years

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Today we are excited to share a guest post from author Nic Yulo,

Out of the Blue!

Read on for more about Nic and Out of the Blue!

Meet Nic Yulo!

Nic Yulo is the author-illustrator of Patch of Sky, as well as a video game writer and film writer-director. She lives in New York City with her pup.

Website * Instagram * Twitter

About the Book: Out of the Blue

Coral has big dreams about grand adventures—but it’s hard to go after these big dreams when you’re the smallest in the class and feel completely invisible. During a school trip to the aquarium, Coral finds a kindred spirit in Kraken, a small octopus who knows that being invisible isn’t always a bad thing.

When Coral finds herself in the aquarium after everyone else goes home, she learns that being seen isn’t always about how big you are.

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~ Guest Post ~

It’s tough being a kid.

Everyone else seems bigger, older, and smarter. No one takes you seriously. It’s almost as if you don’t take up any space at all. You feel powerless to change the world around you despite the very big dreams that seem to be beating in your chest. The world is so big, but you are small, and when you are faced with all that ‘bigness’, it becomes very easy to forget just how special you are.

I might not be so small anymore, but there are still many reasons to feel small when you live in a big city. Life here is one of visceral and overwhelming proportions. Weaving through narrow streets that break into sprawling avenues or venturing from tightly packed apartments to rows of cloud-piercing skyscrapers, getting lost amidst the fishbowl of sounds, smells, cars, and crowds, can be exhausting. There are moments when you feel invisible, especially when those same big dreams still beat in your chest.

The inspiration for Out of the Blue came from a very enlightening, no pun intended, conversation with my wonderful agent Alexandra Levick. I was working on another narrative project involving oceans and had been compiling research and interesting tidbits I encountered along the way. When the conversation naturally turned to the fascinating world of octopuses, we both agreed that there might be a story to be told. I knew pretty immediately which octopus I wanted to feature—the diminutive Dumbo or Flapjack octopus. What excited me about this tiny octopus, other than its adorable appearance, was the opportunity to play with proportion and scale, ‘smallness’ and ‘bigness’.

Kraken is a deep-sea octopus whose coloring renders him invisible to predators. For Kraken, invisibility is a very necessary survival mechanism—a superpower. Enter Coral, a little girl who has felt invisible her entire life. Coral has always had big dreams, but she is used to being overlooked by her classmates. To her, invisibility is a weakness she can’t seem to shake off. So, she hides, very much like Kraken the octopus does, but much to her detriment.

Both Kraken and Coral are small, particularly when set against the backdrop of the expansive aquarium around them. They find each other on happenstance, and it takes Kraken showing Coral the benefits of his invisibility for her to be able to come out of her shell and recognize the same resilience within herself and what special qualities she has to offer, allowing her to take control of the narrative and finally be seen by her classmates.

Figuring out just how to distill a difficult, almost abstract concept like ‘invisibility’ was tough, but experimenting with inverted color palettes, the use of negative space, and centering bioluminescence as a representation for literal and metaphorical illumination, proved to be a very fun and rewarding process.

I feel like Out of the Blue is a natural companion to my debut picture book, Patch of Sky. Both books feature little girls as they discover a new level of awareness and change their perspective on a pressing issue. Both stories, by the end, have the girls overcoming their limitations and making a positive difference on the world around them, with the help of their precocious animal besties.

It has been an absolute dream come true to work on these stories and be able to imbue STEM concepts in a manner that is digestible for early readers. After reading, I hope everyone leaves these little bits of sky and sea feeling uplifted and ready to take on any challenge that might come their way.

Coral has big dreams. So do I. So do you. And I hope you never forget that regardless of how overwhelming the world might feel or insurmountable the path may seem, you don’t have to feel big to make your dreams a reality. That’s the thing with ‘bigness’. When everything feels so much bigger than you, that only means there’s much to be discovered and so much more to be excited about.

Title: OUT OF THE BLUE

Author/Illustrator: Nic Yulo

Release Date: 07/25/2023

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers; Penguin Young Readers

ISBN-10: 0593353870

ISBN-13: 9780593353875

Genre: Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Animals, Imagination & Play

Age Range: 4-8

*GIVEAWAY DETAILS* 

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*

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