Yay For Middle Grade Books! Interview With Leah Cypess!

Hi, everyone! Today I'm happy to present an interview with Leah Cypess, the author of Glass Slippers, which is out now! She has also written multiple YA novels, and the MG book, Thornwood, which is the first is the Sisters Ever After series.

Would you please tell us a little about your book, Glass Slippers?

Glass Slippers is the story of Cinderella’s forgotten third stepsister, Tirza, who was only a baby at the time of the Cinderella story. When the book starts, Tirza is being raised in Queen Ella’s palace, where most people are sure she’s just as wicked as the rest of her family.

Then Queen Ella’s famous glass slippers are stolen, two days before the annual anniversary ball. Everyone is sure that Tirza is the one who stole them.  Now she has two days to discover the real culprit and prove her innocence. But her investigation might uncover some secrets about Cinderella’s story… and about the fate of Tirza’s other two sisters.

What’s your favorite fairytale that you haven’t (at least not yet) written a retelling for?

Oh, that’s a tough one! I think I’m going to say The Snow Queen. It’s not my favorite, exactly, but I’ve always found it fascinating (Hans Christian Andersen had such a uniquely dark mind). It’s a challenge to write a retelling of it because the existing story is already so complex. Someday, though….

Random Question! What’s your favorite word?

Every author’s favorite word: OFFER!

If you're able to talk about it, what are you currently working on?

I’m under contract for six books in the SISTERS EVER AFTER series (!!!!!!), so I’m almost always working on one of them. In fact, I’m usually working on two at once – editing one and first-drafting another.  I just recently finished proofs for the third book, THE PIPER’S PROMISE (about the Pied Piper’s little sister), which will be published in April 2023, and I'm working on a second draft of the fourth book while also doing research for the fifth book.

What are some of your favorite MG books you've read recently? And what are some that you're looking forward to reading?

Another tough one! I was under deadline until literally yesterday, so unfortunately I haven’t read a ton recently. The last middle grade I finished was Aviva vs. the Dybbuk by Mari Lowe, which I absolutely loved. I’m currently in middle of The Mirrorwood by Deva Fagan, which so far is great. After that, I’m looking forward to The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat and A Comb of Wishes by Lisa Stringfellow.

Thank you to Leah Cypess for participating in this event! :)

Here are a few links:

Her Website

Her Twitter