2023 Debuts! Interview With Anna Sortino!

Hi, everyone! Today I'm happy to present an interview with Anna Sortino, the author of Give Me a Sign, which releases in July!

Would you please describe your book, Give Me a Sign, in seven words?

Love and identity at deaf summer camp

Have you always wanted to write YA books?

I didn’t originally set out to write YA. In the very early stages of brainstorming the idea that would become Give Me a Sign, all I knew was that I wanted to do something set at a deaf summer camp. A friend told me that would be perfect for a YA story, and they were right!

Young Adult is such a great category to explore nuanced topics. The main character, Lilah, is trying to find her place, feeling caught between hearing and deaf, unsure where she belongs. YA explores the time in our lives when we’re introduced to the world beyond our immediate family and friends, and therefore we have to figure out where we fit in and what things are most important to us. I love the complexity that can be brought to novels written with this audience in mind.

Random Question! What’s your favorite time of year?

Oooh I’ve been living somewhere that doesn’t really have seasons so I joke that the days of the year are a bit of a blur. But I do love a nice fall evening when there’s still plenty of sunlight, but it’s getting cool enough to take the dog on a good long walk.

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

Find your people! The publishing industry is a rollercoaster ride. It’s very possible to feel on top of the world one day and down in the dumps the next. You’ll need folks by your side who will cheer on the highs and commiserate the lows.

What are some books you’re looking forward to reading in 2023? And if you’ve already read some ‘23 books, would you like to mention them?

There are so many incredible books coming out in 2023! A few YAs that I’m particularly excited for:

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

Not Here to Stay Friends by Kaitlyn Hill

The Wicked Unseen by Gigi Griffis

Unseelie by Ive Housman

Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest

Author Bio: Anna Sortino is a young adult author who writes stories about disabled characters living their lives and falling in love. She's Deaf and passionate about diverse representation in media. Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, Anna has since lived coast to coast, spending her free time exploring nature with her dog or reading on the couch with her cat. Give Me a Sign is her debut novel.

Here Are A Few Links:

Her Website

Her Twitter

Her Instagram