Interview With Mary E. Lambert!

Today I'm happy to present an interview with Mary E. Lambert! Ms. Lambert is the author of the MG book, Family Game Night And Other Catastrophes, which releases February 28th! :)

Here's the interview!

The bold font are the questions I asked, the regular font are her answers, and the bold italic font are my comments about her answers.

Would you please describe your book, Family Game Night and Other Catastrophes, in seven words?

Here are my seven words…in the form of a haiku:

Balog family

Has catastrophic problems,

Also hopefulness

I like the haiku!

Because of the title of your book, I have to ask this question! What's your favorite game?

I love board games! I grew up playing Monopoly, Scrabble, Taboo, Life, Balderdash, and Clue (to name a few) with my family. Right now, I’d probably choose Settlers of Catan as my favorite game, though Scattergories and Ticket to Ride both come to mind, too. 

Random question! Do you listen to music while you write?

Sometimes. If I do listen to music, I tend to choose instrumental pieces—I really enjoy classical guitar and piano. I also find myself listening to Vitamin String Quartet quite a bit.

What's one piece of advice you would give to aspiring authors?

Finish a draft. When I first began writing seriously, I had a bad habit of starting manuscripts and ditching them when the story inevitably became complicated. But I cannot tell you how much I learned about my writing process (and plot development and characterization etc…) from actually completing a first draft of a novel. 

Good advice!

What are some MG and YA books you're looking forward to in 2017? And if you've already read some '17 books, which books have you loved?

There are so many great debuts coming out in 2017! I’ve had the pleasure of reading Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres and Cilla Lee-Jenkins Future Author Extraordinaire by Susan Tan—both of which are lovely middle grade books. Braced by Alyson Gerber is another wonderful MG novel coming out in 2017. I also have to give a shout out to my fellow AZ debut authors all of whom have YA novels being published this year—I am really looking forward to Sad Perfect by Stephanie Elliot, Fat Girl on a Plane by Kelly deVos, and Seeking Mansfield by Kate Watson. There are many more 2017 books that I am excited about, but for the sake of brevity, I’ll stop there.

These all look great!

Thank you so much to Ms. Lambert for participating in this event! :)

Author bio: Mary E. Lambert lives in Arizona where she teaches middle school English. She has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Family Game Night and Other Catastrophes is her debut novel. Mary spends a vast deal of time grading essays, deleting words from whatever story she is in the process of writing, and reading about all the places in the world she plans to visit someday. Mary is extremely proud of the last game night she had with her family when she beat all of her siblings at Settlers of Catan. You can learn more about her new novel at maryelambert.com or follow her on Twitter at @MaryUncontrary.

Here are a few links:

Her Twitter

Interview With Heather Fawcett!

Today I'm pleased to present an interview with Heather Fawcett! Ms. Fawcett is the author of the YA book Even the Darkest Stars, which releases September 5th! :)

Here's the interview!

The bold font are the questions I asked, the regular font are her answers, and the bold italic font are my comments about her answers.

Would you please describe your book, Even the Darkest Stars, in seven words?

Oooh. I like a challenge. Here's five: Magic, monsters, and girl mountaineers.

What was the inspiration for the book?

Lots of things--my love for hiking and climbing; my fascination with exploration in general. I started thinking seriously about writing a book like this after watching a documentary about the Himalayas, one of the most beautiful regions on the planet. They're very much the inspiration for the backdrop of EVEN THE DARKEST STARS.

Random question! If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you most like to visit right now?

Does the International Space Station count as "the world"? In addition to my love for fantasy, I'm a sci-fi geek and obsessed with all things space travel-related (Firefly and Battlestar Galactica=best TV ever). It would be amazing to see the Earth from space.

Love this answer! And I totally agree, it would be amazing!

What's one piece of advice you would give to aspiring authors?

Be passionate about writing, but also be passionate about something that isn't writing. The publishing industry is unpredictable. It can take years and/or multiple novels for someone to find an agent/publisher who loves their writing. During the ups and downs, it's helpful (and sanity-inducing) to be able to put the book aside for a few hours and focus on something else you love--whether that's knitting, or rock climbing, or designing cat hats. No judgment :)

Great advice!

What are some MG and YA books you're looking forward to in 2017? And if you've already read some '17 books, which books have you loved?

I highly recommend EMPRESS OF A THOUSAND SKIES by Rhoda Belleza for anyone who loves epic sci-fi. THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE by Katherine Arden is a magical, beautiful book inspired by Russian fairytales. Both are out early '17 so you don't have too long to wait. I'm looking forward to reading so many others--to name just a few: AN ENCHANTMENT OF RAVENS by Margaret Rogerson; SHIMMER AND BURN by Mary Taranta; MAYBE IN PARIS by Rebecca Christiansen; GAME OF SECRETS by Kim Foster; THE SKELETON TREE by Kim Ventrella; WEAVING A NET IS BETTER THAN PRAYING FOR FISH by Ki-Wing Merlin; THE HIDDEN MEMORY OF OBJECTS by Danielle Mages Amato. I could go on...

Ooh, these all sound awesome! 

Thank you so much to Ms. Fawcett for participating in this event! :)

Author bio: Heather Fawcett is the debut author of EVEN THE DARKEST STARS and its sequel, both forthcoming from HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray. She has worked as an archaeologist, an aerospace technical writer, and a backstage assistant for a Shakespearean theatre company. When she isn’t writing, she can be found reading, hiking, reading, eating ice cream, or reading.

Here are a few links:

Her Website

Her Twitter

Her Instagram

Her Goodreads

Interview With Rebecca Ross!

Today I'm happy to present an interview with Rebecca Ross! Ms. Ross is the author of the YA book Daughter of Passion and Stone, which releases this Fall! :)

Here's the interview!

The bold font are the questions I asked, the regular font are her answers, and the bold italic font are my comments about her answers.

Would you please describe your book, Daughter of Passion and Stone, in seven words?

Devotion. Queens. Passion. Friendship. Constellations. Blood. Legacy.

The premise of this book sounds so unique! Are you able to tell us anything about the inspiration behind it?

Thank you! My inspiration for the story sparked one cold winter night when I envisioned Brienna (my heroine) sitting at a table with Cartier (her handsome instructor) and Brienna said to me, "The summer solstice is in eight days and I have yet to master my passion." And I was like, "Who are you and what are you talking about!?" 

I began to explore this notion of passion, taking a pen and scrawling on paper what I believed it to be. The ideas that emerged eventually settled into five things: art, music, dramatics, wit and knowledge. I thought about how artists, musicians, actors and actresses, orators and scholars dedicate years of their life as well as endless energy and devotion to their crafts, and how exquisite it is to see one master such passion. From there, I began to craft a fantasy world that was inspired from the Renaissance. And so Brienna's story emerged as I began to weave together her passion and the memories she begins to inherit, which have the power to dethrone a cruel king. 

This sounds so interesting!

Random question! Besides Fantasy, what's your favorite genre?

I also love historical fiction! 

Yay for Historical fiction!

What's one piece of advice you would give to aspiring authors?

Read voraciously. Write fearlessly. Don't measure yourself or your skill against others; writing is a craft that takes time, devotion and passion (<--had to use that word here!). Write short stories, poems, essays and submit them to competitions. Don't let rejection stop you. Make friends with other writers and support one another. 

Definitely good advice to follow!

What are some MG and YA books you're looking forward to in 2017? And if you've already read some '17 books, which books have you loved?

There are so many wonderful books coming out in 2017! Here are some that I am looking forward to:

IF BIRDS FLY BACK by Carlie Sorosiak

AMERICAN STREET by Ibi Zoboi

DONE DIRT CHEAP by Sarah Nicole Lemon

BETWEEN TWO SKIES by Joanne O'Sullivan

THE GALLERY OF UNFINISHED GIRLS by Lauren Karcz

MIRAGE by Somaiya Daud

WICKED LIKE A WILDFIRE by Lana Popovic

FOREST OF A THOUSAND LANTERNS by Julie Dao

And here are some that I have read and LOVE:

CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber

DAUGHTER OF THE PIRATE KING by Tricia Levenseller

FORGET ME NOT by Ellie Terry

UNDER LOCKER AND KEY by Allison Hymas

WINTERSONG by S. Jae-Jones

WAIT FOR ME by Caroline Leech

FROSTBLOOD by Elly Blake

All of these books look amazing!

Thank you so much to Ms. Ross for participating in this event! :)

Author bio: Rebecca Ross writes young adult fantasy books about girls who wield passion, swords and magic. She grew up in Georgia, where she continues to reside with her husband, lively dog and endless piles of books. She received her bachelor's degree in English from UGA. In the past she has worked at a Colorado dude ranch, as a school librarian, and as a live-time captionist for a college. 

Here are a few links:

Her Website

Her Twitter

Her Instagram

Her Facebook

Interview with Heather Maclean!

Today I'm happy to present an interview with Heather Maclean! Ms. Maclean is the author of the YA book, Toward a Secret Sky, which releases April 4th! :)

Here's the interview!

The bold font are the questions I asked, the regular font are her answers, and the bold italic font are my comments about her answers.

1. Would you please describe your book, Toward a Secret Sky, in seven words?

Scotland, secret societies, otherworldly mercenaries, deadly romance

Ooh, sounds good!

2. What was one of your favorite books when you were a kid?

The Princess Bride by William Goldman. It’s even funnier than the movie. I frequently quote it at inappropriate times. Like when I’m the one who has to bring in the trash cans, I’ll spout: “So bow down to her if you want, bow to her. Bow to the Queen of Slime, the Queen of Filth, the Queen of Putrescence!”

3. Random question! Who is your favorite Disney Princess?

Not so random to me! I’m a huge Disney fangirl! I met my husband at Disney (he was working at the Rose & Crown Pub in EPCOT, and I was on Spring Break… so against the rules), and I got married there… twice! The first time was for real at Disney World to my Scottish hubby, and the second was at Disneyland to a co-worker for a billboard campaign advertising Disney weddings in Japan. Weddings weren’t allowed at Disneyland yet, and you weren’t allowed into the Park in costume, so as we walked around taking pictures, all the little kids thought I was Cinderella on her wedding day. Best day ever!

My favorite princess was always Ariel though, but I’m recently obsessed with Moana. I guess I can easily relate to spunky 16-year-olds with big, crazy hair.

I love this story! And I really need to watch Moana!

4. What's one piece of advice you would give to aspiring authors?

Never give up! The market moves in cycles. One year everyone loves vampires, the next year it’s astronauts. If your manuscript is great, it willget published. You just might have to put it in a drawer and wait a few years for the market to be ready for it again. In the meantime, write something else!

Definitely good advice!

5. What are some MG and YA books you're looking forward to in 2017? And if you've already read some '17 books, which books have you loved?

I’m looking forward to so many of them! I actually just finished two ’17 books this week that were so, so good: Gilded Cage by Vic James, a dystopian thriller set in not-so-future England, and City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson, a contemporary murder mystery revolving around a Kenyan refugee. I just got Wait for Me, a WWII historical fiction about a German POW sent to live on a Scottish farm, and I can’t wait to dive in!

Awesome!

Thank you so much to Ms. Maclean for participating in this event! :)

Author bio: Heather Maclean is the author of 15 published books—4 of them New York Times bestsellers. After graduating from Princeton University, she began her career at The Walt Disney Company where she has the distinction of being the first person to ever answer Mickey Mouse's email.

Founder of children’s media sites Little Laureate and BabyGizmo.com, Heather was named one of the “16 Best Entrepreneurs in America” by Sir Richard Branson and chosen to accompany him on a 50,000-mile trip around the world, during which she became the first civilian mom to experience zero gravity aboard a “space plane,” an experience that gave her a fear of flying for life. Their journey, titled The Rebel Billionaire, was televised on Fox TV in 2004/2005 for an audience of 8 million viewers. As leader of the been-there-and-barely survived alumni group, Heather then became a ghostwriter for her reality star friends, penning all manner of things for more than 10 of them.

When not castle hunting in her husband’s native Scotland, she fills her days with her two girls, Hunter and Hadley, and son, Gavin.

Here are a few links:

Her Website

Her Twitter

Interview With Alyson Gerber!

Today I'm pleased to present an interview with Alyson Gerber! Ms. Gerber is the author of the MG book, Braced, which releases March 28th! :)

Here's the interview!

The bold font are the questions I asked, the regular font are her answers, and the bold italic font are my comments about her answers.

1. Would you please describe your book, Braced, in seven words?

Rachel plays soccer, gets brace, it's hard.

2. Would you like to talk about the inspiration behind the book?

I have scoliosis and I wore a back brace for twenty-three hours a day in middle school. It was a challenging experience--physically and emotionally. At the time, I didn't know anyone else who had a brace, and there wasn’t a book that talked honestly about what I was going through. I wanted to change that.

3. Random question! Favorite color?

I love purple, especially the shade on the cover of Braced! 

That's a very pretty shade of purple!

4. What's one piece of advice you would give to aspiring authors?

Don't be afraid of feedback or rejection or failure. Those experiences will make you a stronger person and a better writer.

Good advice!

5. What are some MG and YA books you're looking forward to in 2017? And if you've already read some '17 books, which books have you loved?

I'm so excited for Caela Carter's Forever, or a Long, Long Time, Corey Ann Haydu's The Someday Suitcase, and all of the amazing middle-grade books coming out from debut authors.

There are so many amazing looking Middle Grade books releasing this year!

Thank you so much to Ms. Gerber for participating in this event! :)

Author bio: Alyson Gerber wore a back brace for scoliosis from the age of eleven to thirteen, an experience that led directly to BRACED. She received her MFA in Writing for Children from the New School, and before that she taught elementary and middle school students in a supplementary education program. She lives with her husband in Brooklyn, New York. You can find her on twitter and instagram @AlysonGerber and online at alysongerber.com.

Here are a few links:

Her Website

Her Twitter

Her Facebook

Her Instagram

Her Goodreads