Rockstar Tours: I AM NOT ALONE (Francisco X. Stork), Author Q&A plus Giveaway! ~US ONLY

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the I AM NOT ALONE by Francisco X. Stork Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: I AM NOT ALONE

Author: Francisco X. Stork

Pub. Date: July 18, 2023

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 242

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/I-AM-NOT-ALONE

Award-winning author Francisco X. Stork revisits some of the themes and ideas that made Marcelo
in the Real World such an unforgettable novel.

Alberto’s
life isn’t easy: He’s an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who lives with his
sister’s abusive boyfriend―but he’d always accepted his place in the world.
Until he starts hearing the voice of a man called Captain America, a voice that
wants him to achieve more, no matter the cost.

Grace has it
all: She has a supportive boyfriend, she’s on track to be valedictorian, and
she’s sure to go to the college of her dreams. Still, nothing feels right to
her any more after the divorce of her parents, and feels she needs something
more.

When Alberto
and Grace meet, they have an immediate and electric connection. But when
Alberto is present at the scene of a terrible crime, he becomes a suspect. And
with his developing schizophrenia, he’s not even sure he believes in his own
innocence.

Can Grace
find a way to prove Alberto’s innocence to himself and the world?

This is a
page-turning thriller and a sensitive story about mental health, love, and
community that will appeal to anyone who has struggled with their place in the
world, from award-winning author Francisco X. Stork.

Reviews:

★ “An affecting, deeply emotional story. An important book.” — Booklist, starred review

★ “Alberto’s suspected schizophrenia makes him
heartbreakingly susceptible to both the best and worst of humanity. An
illuminatingly powerful story about mental illness, young love, faith, and
hope.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“The
narrative’s high-stakes conflicts are front and center, [but] it’s the sheer
sweetness of Alberto and Grace’s love story that sets the tone of this hopeful
read.” — Publishers Weekly

Interview:

YABC Q&A with the Author

What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

The initial inspiration was my own experience with auditory hallucinations during intense episodes of the manic phase of bipolar disorder. These episodes were thankfully brief, but I began to imagine what it would be like to hear a critical voice and what that would do to a person’s sense of self. From this I began to create the character of Alberto and then a story of the week when the voices begin to appear.

Who is your favorite character in the book?

Alberto and Grace, the two main characters of the book are like my children. It’s impossible to prefer one over the other. In the book, Alberto befriends a twelve-year old boy who is very wise in spiritual matters. Benny is one of those gifts that we sometimes receive. He comes fully formed with wisdom and words that seem to come from somewhere other than me. I loved describing who he was and writing what he had to say.

Which came first, the title or the novel?

The novel came first. The wonderful title came from Emily Seife, my editor at Scholastic. I think the title of my first draft was something like Captain, my Captain. It was a reference to the voice Alberto hears, which he calls Captain America to minimize his fear of it. I Am Not Alone is much better.

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

There’s a scene toward the end of the book where Alberto and Grace are talking, and they each realize that they love each other. They are talking and at the same time their attention is directed to this new feeling that is blossoming inside of them. As an author, I had to jump from the mind back and forth from the mind of each character and at the same time present a love that was mature and realistic. I always try to challenge myself as a writer with each new book and this was s new challenge for me.

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

I Am Not Alone is my tenth novel. Writing it was both easier and harder than the first novel I wrote more than twenty years ago. A lot of the craft writing happens naturally now, but it is also more difficult to write from the heart with honesty rather than for outward recognition. I think the most important thing I’ve learned is the balance of craft and honesty – how to be true to myself and at the same write novels that can be entertaining and useful to a reader.

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

I like the combination of bright colors, the look on the faces of Alberto and Grace, the ties that bind them.

What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2023?

The Blood Years by my friend Elana K. Arnold. It’s a story of a young woman growing up during World War II in Romania.

What’s up next for you?

I am working on a novel scheduled to come out in 2024. It’s the journal of a young writer in the Bronx struggling to make his dream of come true under very difficult circumstances.

Is there anything that you would like to add?

I am very grateful to the readers who have followed my work throughout the years. One of the most beautiful things about reading is when you feel a connection through the book with the soul who wrote the book and there is a trust that is born. You know the author cares about you and wants to give you something that will help you live.

Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

The book shows the gradual onset of schizophrenia during the period of one week in the life of Alberto. Throughout the book, Alberto struggles to maintain his sense of self. The hardest scene was where we see the illness getting the upper hand. Fortunately, by the time that happens, Alberto has found people who care for him, for who he is.

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

I had to make sure that Grace’s love for Alberto was realistic. She had to grow to love him while dealing with the fact that he was so different from her socially, culturally and economically. She also had to overcome the fear of his illness and the doubts that came when he was accused of committing a crime. Grace was also in the midst of questioning a lot of the values she had grown up believing in. So there was a complexity to Grace that needed to be portrayed.

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

The first draft is the most fun. I try to just let the story flow with a sense of play and adventure even though I don’t exactly know where it is going. But I have learned to enjoy revising as well. In many ways, the revision process is where I discover what the story is about.

What would you say is your superpower?

I have a good ability to imagine what people different than me are like – to put myself in their shoes and think and feel like them. I can see through our differences and feel our common humanity.

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

There’s so many organizations that can use our help – now more than ever. One that never fails to touch my heart is Save the Children and the work they do throughout the world.

About Francisco X. Stork:

Francisco X. Stork is the author of Marcelo in the Real World,
winner of the Schneider Family Book Award for Teens and the Once Upon a World
Award; The Last Summer of the Death Warriors, which was named to
the YALSA Best Fiction for Teens list and won the Amelia Elizabeth Walden
Award; Irises; The Memory of Light, which received four
starred reviews; and Disappeared, which also received four starred
reviews and was named a Kirkus Best Book of the Year. He lives
near Boston with his wife. You can find him on the web at franciscostork.com
and @StorkFrancisco.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of I AM NOT ALONE, US Only.

Ends August 1st, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway