Q&A With 'Mayfly' Author Jeff Sweat

1. Which scene in your book was your favorite to write? I loved any scene that let me looked at my favorite place, Los Angeles, from the lens of a far-off future. But my favorite scene, my most wrenching scene, was the scene with Apple and the Betterment. There was so much love and joy and loss in one place that it almost physically hurt to write.
2. What is your favorite character in your book? In all books? My characters tend to be kids that, however flawed, I would have liked to have known when I was a teen, that I’d be proud to have as a kid of my own. But I think I like Pico the best—he doesn’t fit into this world of his, he knows it, and he simply doesn’t care. My favorite character in all books is Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice.
3. What does your office look like? My office looks like my wife’s and my worlds thrown together, in a shade of pink that neither of us like. My half has an unplayed guitar, several yo-yos, and a rack of my black-framed glasses, which I buy in bulk from China. My wife’s half is full of knitting projects and design books, and her half always overtakes the other.
4. What were your favorite books to read as a child and teenager? I read anything I could get my hands on, from comic books to junk novels to slightly less junky novels. The ones that had an impact on me were the Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander, S is for Space by Ray Bradbury, and The Daybreakers by Louis L’Amour.
5. If you could spend one day inside any literary world/with any literary character, where and who would it be? The Golden Compass, with the armored polar bear, Iorek Byrnison. He doesn’t believe he has a soul, but somehow his Otherness tells us more about what it means to be human than any other character in the book.  
6. What’s next for you? There’s a whole world left in Mayfly, so I’ll be going there first. After that, I have a contemporary YA book based on my experience moving to New York for college, a couple of screenplays, and a sci-fi series that asks, “What if Europeans never came to America?”
7. What is your favorite literary quote? A line from The Last Tycoon by F. Scott Fitzgerald: “His dark eyes looked back so kind and nothing.” It’s evocative of a look and a feeling without ever really describing either. I liked it so much that a modified version made it into Mayfly.
8. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? Write every day—not just because of creating good habits, but because when you write every day, the story never leaves you. Then new characters and plots emerge when you walk the dog, when you take a shower, when you’re thinking of nothing. Creativity tends to live along the margins, and you have to give it an opportunity to emerge.

Jeff’s life has been centered around the story—first as a journalist, then as a social media pioneer, and then as a public relations expert working with some of the top advertising agencies in the country. He uses his reporter’s training in every page of Mayfly, always coming back to the question: “What if…?” He grew up in Idaho as the middle of eight children—seven boys and one girl—and attended Columbia University in New York. 

Jeff lives in a big blue house beneath the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles with his wife Sunny and their three kids, two cats, a racing greyhound and a blue-tongued skink. He likes karaoke, motorcycles and carpentry. He was once shot in the head with a nail gun, which was not a big of a deal as it sounds. But it still hurt like crazy.

Q&A with 'Freefall Summer' Author Tracy Barrett

Q: What inspired you to write a YA novel about skydiving? I’ve always wanted to write a skydiving novel, but I wanted skydiving to be an important part of the story, not just something added on for thrills. For a long time I couldn’t come up with anything.

I also like to write retelling of fairy tales and Greek myths, and it occurred to me that a modern-day retelling of the myth of Icarus (the teenager who flew too close to the sun and died) could work as the basis for a novel. I started off playing with that idea, and without a clear idea of where the story would go. Pretty soon it veered off from the myth, and I let it veer! You can still see echoes of the myth here and there, though, especially in the names of the characters and the locations.

Q: Have you ever been skydiving? What was your experience like? I’ve made eighteen jumps, seventeen of them when I was in my 20s, and one while I was writing Freefall Summer. I’m glad I did it, but I don’t think I’ll ever jump again! I never stopped being scared, and I figured that if the fear didn’t start going down after seventeen jumps, it wasn’t worth it. But I met my husband at the drop zone when he offered to help me pack my parachute! I never had any accidents and never saw a serious one, just some sprained ankles and things like that. Skydiving is actually a very safe sport, and it gets safer all the time as equipment and training improve. The fear comes not from a rational place, but from that instinct that has been telling you DON’T FALL ever since you were a toddler.

Q: I love your epigrams from The Whuffo’s Guide to Skydiving in the book. What made you decide to add those? I knew that for the narrative to be authentic I’d have to use a lot of skydiving jargon, and I didn’t want the action to grind to a halt while I defined what a character was saying. I played with a few different ways to explain the terms I needed to use, but I’ve always disliked glossaries in novels (nonfiction is a different matter, of course), and Clancy struck me as the kind of nerd (takes one to know one!) who would keep a notebook like The Whuffo’s Guide to Skydiving. It was fun matching definitions and fun facts with the story action of each chapter.

Q: Clancy and her dad have a really complicated relationship dynamic. How did this develop over the course of your writing process? When I began to build that relationship, I was still basing the story on the myth of Icarus, where the father, Daedalus, both makes the wings for Icarus and cautions him about them. I really related to that, having raised teenagers myself. I know how much you want your young-adult child to be bold and independent, while simultaneously wanting them to be careful. It’s a hard balance, and Clancy’s father, while he goes overboard in his hovering, certainly has reason to be overprotective, as the reader finds out.

Q: What inspired you to write a contemporary YA novel and move away from some of your previous topics related to myths and fairytales? I’ve written lots of kinds of books: nonfiction (mostly history and biography), historical fiction, a mystery series, an anthology of little-known Greek myths, fantasy, ghost stories, time travel, myth and fairy-tale retellings—you name it! I get bored easily and always want to try something new. I hadn’t written a contemporary YA novel, and of course skydiving has to be set in at least the twentieth century, so I went for it. Writing Freefall Summer was partially a challenge to myself to see if I could make an ancient, and strange, story relevant to today. It was a challenge, but I’m happy with the result!

Q: How long did it take you to write Freefall Summer? I wrote the first draft in 30 days during National Novel Writing Month in 2012. NaNoWriMo, as it’s called, is a challenge to write a 50,000-word novel (or 50,000 words of a novel) in the month of November. Needless to say, when you write that fast, what comes out is usually pretty bad, and that was true in this case. So I took some time revising the messy manuscript I had written. I had other projects going on at the time, so whenever I had a few weeks where I didn’t have to work on one of my other books, I’d work on Freefall Summer, which at that time was called The Icarus Complex. I signed the contract with Charlesbridge Teen in the spring of 2016, and then of course I had lots more edits to do, so you could say I was still writing it for quite a while after that. Its publication date is April, 2018, so Freefall Summer took me either 30 days or six years to write, depending on how you look at it!

Blog Tour: Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh + Q&A

Welcome to our tour stop for Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh! This tour includes a giveaway courtesy of PenguinTeen.

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Reign of the Fallen
Author: Sarah Glenn Marsh
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: January 23rd 2018
Publisher: Razorbill
 

Odessa is one of Karthia's master necromancers, catering to the kingdom's ruling Dead. Whenever a noble dies, it's Odessa's job to raise them by retrieving their souls from a dreamy and dangerous shadow world called the Deadlands. But there is a cost to being raised--the Dead must remain shrouded, or risk transforming into zombie-like monsters known as Shades. If even a hint of flesh is exposed, the grotesque transformation will begin.

A dramatic uptick in Shade attacks raises suspicions and fears among Odessa's necromancer community. Soon a crushing loss of one of their own reveals a disturbing conspiracy: someone is intentionally creating Shades by tearing shrouds from the Dead--and training them to attack. Odessa is faced with a terrifying question: What if her necromancer's magic is the weapon that brings Karthia to its knees?

There are few things that I do not like, zombies is one of them. I don't like how they look, I don't like how they sound, they're just creepy. I wouldn't say I am scared of them but they're seriously something I do not like. Then why in the world did I read this book? To be honest, the description intrigued me. And I am glad I did not let my dislike of zombie stop me from reading this action-ish fantasy story.

From badass heroine, kickass scenes, and WTF is going on, Reign of the Fallen is a fast read that will have you speeding thru those pages. The story covers how a kingdom survives on necromancy, thanks to our heroine, Odessa. She sets on a journey to hunt one of the most deadliest Shades in her land. What is a shades? It's a monstrous zombie. It was quite a journey and Odessa had to learn how to cope with tough situations.

Reign of the Fallen is a unique story. Not only does it tackle necromancy, but it deals with addiction, depression, how to cope with loss and LGBT romance. It doesn't go in deep, but the story will continue and it ends with room for expansion. The story has a quick pace and the world building is rich. It's an epic journey you wouldn't want to miss on.

Q&A

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your book? 

Certainly! Hey everyone, I’m Sarah Glenn Marsh—SGM for short, or if you want to be like my nana, you can call me, “Sarah Glenn!”

In addition to being the author of YA books like Fear the Drowning Deep and the Reign of the Fallen series, I’m also the author of seven forthcoming children’s picture books. You can look for Selfie Sebastian and A Campfire Tail next year in the spring! When I’m not writing, I’m spending time with my little my family: my husband, four rescued greyhounds (who are all seniors—if you don’t adopt a senior dog, you’re truly missing out!), three birds, and tons of fish including a dinosaur bichir named Salazar Slytherin, who often goes by the nickname of Giant Murder Eel. I also love crafty things like painting, playing video and strategy games, and playing Pokémon Go with the local group I help run! (Yes, people still play it. And I’ve made some awesome friends through it- from teens to seniors!).

And now, here’s a little about Reign of the Fallen: the story follows Odessa, a talented teen necromancer who raises the dead in order to keep the current ruling family of her country in power. King Wylding has been in charge of Karthia for over 200 years, and he keeps coming back from the dead because he loves his people—however, since the Dead fear change, his rules forbidding all science and progress are hurting them more than helping. When Odessa's fellow necromancers (her only family) start being picked off one by one, she's devastated, but she'll have to work through her grief in order to find the murderer and decide whether her crumbling society is worth saving...or if it's time to help Karthia change, for better or worse. 

What makes Reign of the Fallen stand out from other books you've written or read before? 

As a teen, I loved epic fantasies like Lord of the Rings, yet I never saw myself represented in anyone going on the quests. Rarely were the heroes in those stories female, and even less often were they queer—specifically, bisexual. Or if they were, they were usually side characters who perpetuated harmful stereotypes. So when building the world of Reign, I wanted to offer all teens a safe space where they could see themselves while exploring some heavy topics like death and loss and addiction.

After all, when building any new world, there is absolutely nothing forcing us to apply the gender norms of our society to a fictional one; the same goes for how we treat every sexual identity other than heterosexual. Why build a new world that holds all our old prejudices? 

So that’s what stands out to me most about Reign: that it’s a book about queer people dealing with zombies and monsters, rather than queer people dealing with discrimination from others, and that it features a heroine who shares my identity as bisexual. Teen me would have loved a role model like Odessa—someone who actually makes mistakes; someone who’s drawn to whoever she’s drawn to, and unapologetically so at that; someone whose humanity endures even through great struggles and hardships.

What were your biggest challenges in writing Reign of the Fallen? 

Two challenging things come to mind, so I’ll tell you briefly about both:

First, when I wrote the original draft of Reign, I didn’t have the corpse-and-spirit-eating monsters, the Shades, described much—only vaguely. But then my editor pushed me to describe them in more detail, and uh…let’s just say I went there, and wound up giving myself nightmares as a result!

The second challenge was writing a certain spoiler-filled scene. It was so heart-wrenching that it actually made me cry, and I struggle to re-read it to this day!

What’s the most interesting/exciting thing you’ve done in the name of research? 

This wasn’t part of the research for Reign, but rather, for a just-for-fun book I’m starting to work on now that might involve an Irish princess with ownvoices rep for bisexuality and anxiety…as for what I did for this project? Well, I went to Ireland for two weeks with my husband. We drove around the countryside, visited castles and ancient monasteries, and ate amazing food. I mean, I’d always wanted to go to Ireland, and I’d always wanted to write a story set there, too—and I have to say, I’m really glad I went because photos don’t do Ireland’s beauty justice. 

Do you incorporate yourself into your characters? If so which character are you most like?

I have a feeling—just a feeling, mind, I can’t speak for every author—that most people wind up putting a little something of themselves into each character they create, if only subconsciously. There are certain things I share with several of the Reign characters, such as Simeon’s tendency toward jokes in moments of tension, Meredy’s stubbornness, Valoria’s love of learning, and Odessa’s temper…

However, I think I’m most like Evander. He’s a big dreamer, and I’m the same. He romanticizes adventure, loves getting outdoors to take in all the beauty of his surroundings, and also struggles under the weight of his mother’s expectations and dreams for him, trying to reconcile those with his own. That’s something most people can probably relate to—wanting to please your loved ones, yet also wanting to ensure your own happiness at the same time. That can be a difficult balance, and I sometimes felt that as a teen. I will say, though, I’m not half the daredevil Evander is!

There are many books out there, is there one that you said to yourself "Man I wish I had written that!"

Harry. Freaking. Potter. Need I say more? ;) Beyond the obvious reasons of why—I grew up alongside Harry, and got swept up in the magic—HP was so unique in how it went from MG to YA in later books; I don’t think there have been many other series like that (although, if I’m forgetting some, feel free to tell me in the comments!)

What are 3 things you must have while traveling?
*Water bottle –hydration is fun!
*My Kindle, full of ghost stories as usual
*Nightlight (I mean, you did see what I said above about the ghost stories, right? I know it’s my own fault, but I always have to travel with a small nightlight!)

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Sarah Glenn Marsh writes young adult novels and children’s picture books. An avid fantasy reader from the day her dad handed her a copy of The Hobbit and promised it would change her life, she’s been making up words and worlds ever since.

When she’s not writing, Sarah enjoys watercolor painting, ghost hunting, and pursuits of the nerd variety, from video games to tabletop adventures. She’s never met an animal or a doughnut she didn’t like.

Sarah lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and their tiny zoo of four rescued greyhounds, three birds, and many fish. She is the author of Fear the Drowning Deep, the Reign of the Fallen duology, and several picture books.

WEEK TWO

January 15 – Reader Rewind – Mini Review and Q&A on Instagram Page

January 16 – The Quirky Book Nerd – Review

January 17 – Once Upon a Twilight – Review + Q&A

January 18 – BookCrushin – Review

January 19 – BigScreenBooks – Review and included in your “Most Anticipated January Release” video.

Blog Tour: Because You Love to Hate Me: 13 Tales of Villainy | Interview | Giveaway

We are thrilled to be part of Because You Love to Hate Me: 13 Tales of Villainy tour! Today, we are sharing an Q&A with Author Andrew Smith, check it out below.

This tour also includes a giveaway courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s.

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Because You Love to Hate Me: 13 Tales of Villainy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: July 11th 2017
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
 

Leave it to the heroes to save the world--villains just want to rule the world.

In this unique YA anthology, thirteen acclaimed, bestselling authors team up with thirteen influential BookTubers to reimagine fairy tales from the oft-misunderstood villains' points of view.

These fractured, unconventional spins on classics like "Medusa," Sherlock Holmes, and "Jack and the Beanstalk" provide a behind-the-curtain look at villains' acts of vengeance, defiance, and rage--and the pain, heartbreak, and sorrow that spurned them on. No fairy tale will ever seem quite the same again!

Interview

1. What makes BYLTHM stand out from other books you've written or read before?

I think BECAUSE YOU LOVE TO HATE ME is unique in its unabashed admiration for villainy and evil. Everyone loves a great bad guy, and now we finally have a chance to express that love openly. Also, we in the YA business recognize the significant contribution that has been made to the genre by bloggers and BookTubers who love our stories--so what a fantastic way to bring together some of the driving forces in the evolution of YA literature!

2. Is there something you hope your readers take away from BYLTHM?

Nothing more than an insatiable drive to buy copies for every human being they know.

3. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

There are countless authors and books that have influenced me and continue to influence me. I have read some remarkable books that are coming out in 2017, and this gives me faith that literature is continuing to evolve in remarkably impressive ways. The main authors who've influenced me as a kid and as an adult: Kurt Vonnegut, William Faulkner, Salman Rushdie, A.S. King.

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Andrew Smith is the award-winning author of several Young Adult novels, including the critically acclaimed Winger (Starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness—an Amazon “Best of the Year”) and The Marbury Lens (A YALSA BFYA, and Starred reviews and Best of the Year in both Publishers Weekly and Booklist).

He is a native-born Californian who spent most of his formative years traveling the world. His university studies focused on Political Science, Journalism, and Literature. He has published numerous short stories and articles. Grasshopper Jungle, coming February 11, 2014, is his seventh novel. He lives in Southern California.

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Follow the tour, tomorrow check out:  Bumbles and Fairy-Tales

Blog Tour: The Impossible Vastness of Us by Samantha Young

Welcome to our stop on The Impossible Vastness of Us tour for Samantha Young. This tour is hosted by InkSlingerPR.

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THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US
Author: Samantha Young
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released: June 27, 2017
Review Source: Harlequin Teen

I know how to watch my back. I’m the only one that ever has.

India Maxwell hasn’t just moved across the country—she’s plummeted to the bottom rung of the social ladder. It’s taken years to cover the mess of her home life with a veneer of popularity. Now she’s living in one of Boston’s wealthiest neighborhoods with her mom’s fiancé and his daughter, Eloise. Thanks to her soon-to-be stepsister’s clique of friends, including Eloise’s gorgeous, arrogant boyfriend Finn, India feels like the one thing she hoped never to be seen as again: trash.

But India’s not alone in struggling to control the secrets of her past. Eloise and Finn, the school’s golden couple, aren’t all they seem to be. In fact, everyone’s life is infinitely more complex than it first appears. And as India grows closer to Finn and befriends Eloise, threatening the facades that hold them together, what’s left are truths that are brutal, beautiful, and big enough to change them forever…

The Impossible Vastness of Us was an incredible story.  I tend to prefer New Adult books but this Young Adult book is so much more than I expected.  I knew before opening the cover that it was going to be amazing because, HELLO, SAMANTHA YOUNG wrong it!!!!  I didn't have any idea it was going to blow me away the way it did though.

I have to say that I love the names of the characters in this book.  I was captivated by this beautiful story the second I went in.  India gets uprooted from her life in California to go all the way to Boston where she moves in with her mom's new fiance.  She went from being popular and comfortable to a wealthy private school.  What a culture shock!!!
On top of that crazy move and life change, there are so many mysteries and secrets that you have to try and guess at throughout the book.  While I guessed some, others I had no idea about.  This was a book that kept me on my toes the entire time.  I loved the heroine!  She is so caring, smart, and fierce.  She reminds me of my BFF in a lot of ways so I loved her completely!  And then there's Finn.  Samantha Young is the absolute best at writing males.  Finn is so mysterious and handsome that you're so drawn to him.

All in all, I'm rating this story with 4.5 stars because it has been one of my favorite reads for 2017 so far and I absolutely loved it.  I am never disappointed by a Samantha Young, which is why she remains in my favorite, automatic one click author list.  GO READ THIS BOOK!

Amazon US Hardcover: http://amzn.to/2f0RQGu

Amazon US eBook: http://amzn.to/2kj5JD1

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/2s6JJNr

iBooks US: http://apple.co/2kbLRC9

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2q7Bd2S

Kobo UK: http://bit.ly/2qKZDOC

GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2qtHGR8

iBooks UK: http://apple.co/2qFNlV0

Kobo US: http://bit.ly/2rnAuey

Add to your Goodreads

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Samantha Young is the New York Times,  USA Today  and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series and Hero, as well as the New Adult duology Into the Deep and Out of the Shallows.  Every Little Thing, the second book in her new Hart’s Boardwalk series, will be published by Berkley in March 2017. Before turning to contemporary fiction, she wrote several young adult paranormal and fantasy series, including the amazon bestselling Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy. Samantha’s debut YA contemporary novel The Impossible Vastness of Us will be published by Harlequin TEEN in ebook & hardback June 2017

Samantha has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for On Dublin Street, Best Romance 2014 for Before Jamaica Lane, and Best Romance 2015 for Hero. On Dublin Street, a #1 bestseller in Germany, was the Bronze Award Winner in the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2013, Before Jamaica Lane the Gold Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2014 and Echoes of Scotland Street the Bronze Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2015.

Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads 

   

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Feature Tour Schedule

July 2nd-Nose Stuck in a Book-Character Interview with India
July 3rd-Once Upon a Twilight-Author Interview
July 4th-Good Choice Reading-Excerpt
July 5th-Natasha is a Book Junkie-Excerpt
July 6th-Readers Live a 1000 Lives-Character Interview with Eloise
July 7th-Mundie Moms-Character Interview with Finn
July 8th-Vilma's Book Blog-Author Interview

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1.       What/who made you want to start writing?

 C.S. Lewis. I was about seven years old and my mum gave me a tattered copy of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. I was so blown away by that story as a kid, and when I discovered my own wardrobe did NOT lead to Narnia, I thought the only way to recapture the magic was to start writing my own stories.

2.       What is your favorite genre to write?  What is your favorite genre to read?

 Difficult question. I love contemporary and paranormal for different reasons. With paranormal I love the freedom of the world-building.  My imagination is entirely let loose. Plus, I was a history student so I like using my research skills for my paranormal stories because I like fusing my imagination with real history. However, with contemporary I get to focus on one of my favorite aspects of writing – character development. Contemporary fiction is ALL about the characters and I love the challenge of taking a character through a journey in which they change and grow throughout the story. Moreover, I love writing romance for that exact reason because it’s about developing two characters so that they come to fit each other in a way no other two could (making their romance epic!). So no, I can’t choose LOL.

As for my favorite genre to read… hmm… it depends on my mood. It really does. I love fantasy, dystopian, sci-fi, paranormal, contemporary romance, historical romance, steampunk. My favorite reading levels are YA, NA and adult.

3.       What was the writing process like for "The Impossible Vastness of Us" compared to other books you've written?

 Although my writing process was the same in that I plotted and planned it the way I would any book, it was different in that the process was much longer. This book required patience and time because it does deal with sensitive issues. I had a number of beta readers who read the novel at different stages in the process. It was extremely important to me that I told India, Eloise and Finn’s story in realistic but sensitive way.

4.       Which character did you relate the most to from "TIVOU"?

 My upbringing was completely different to my three main characters’ upbringing, however, there were elements to each of their stories that I could relate to. Mostly, I’d say I could relate to India. Although our experiences were different I did have to grow up faster than most of my peers, and was more serious and mature than my friends as a teen. Part of it was losing someone when I was very young, and part of it was just personality. My mum tells me I was born forty, ha! So I had a bit of an armor on when I was teenager, much like India. I was also considered the ‘mama bear’ of our group of friends because I could get pretty protective when someone tried to hurt one of them.

 Even if we didn’t share the same experiences, I completely understand India. I have a lot of affection for her.

5.       Where did you draw inspiration for this novel?

 Really from coming-of-age stories I’ve enjoyed over the years, and mostly the experience of coming of age myself as a teen. I really feel like that’s the time when kids start to grow up and learn that there are people outside their own little bubble with problems and experiences, too. We tend to just see what is right in front of us when we’re young, without looking below the surface. That ability, that perceptiveness is something we develop, especially in our later teens. The first time I met someone who understood my own life experiences I was a teenager. That friendship was like a weight lifting off my shoulders. It’s an amazing feeling to bond with someone in such a way that you don’t feel so alone anymore. I wanted that feeling to drive the narrative of this book.

6.       Is it difficult switching from New Adult to Young adult?

 It’s challenging because there are restrictions in what language you can use. As an author I’m always aware of how my characters are portrayed, but with YA I was particularly concerned about why and what they represented. I deal with sensitive issues in TIVOU and I was very much aware of handling the issues sensitively too. Moreover, the voice has to be slightly different. My narrator has to sound like a teen but a teen my older readers would want to read about too. Getting that right balance of mature teen was difficult at first, but once I found India’s voice it was easy to hold on to it.

7.       How do you select the names of your characters?

 I get to know my characters first and then I look through baby-name websites and try to find a name that I like that fits them. India’s name actually came to me while I was developing her – no baby-name website needed. Moreover, I think with Finn I’d just really been waiting to use that name for a hero. Eloise was definitely a baby-name website. I was looking for something that sounded refined, traditional, but soft, too.

8.       What is your all-time favorite female and male character you've ever written?

 Ahhh, that’s so difficult. It’s like choosing a favorite child, no? Ha! My favorites are always the ones I’m currently writing. India, Eloise and Finn are definitely favorites. They are such a journey as characters. Readers will begin their story thinking they’ve got them all totally worked out – maybe even not liking them very much either – but as the story goes on the unravel as characters. I hope readers end up falling for them all as much as I have.

9.       Out of all of the books you have written, which one would you most like to see made into a movie?

 It would be great to see any of my books made into a movie but TIVOU feels the most relevant and I’d love to see it on the big screen. If not TIVOU then Smokeless Fire (Fire Spirits #1). There is so much world-building and fun characters in that series. It would probably work really well as a TV series. Ah, maybe one day!

10.   You've written many different types of books, do you have any genres you'd like to get into, that you haven't yet?

 Yes, I have an idea for an historical epic based on real history but it would take months, perhaps years, of research so I’ll leave that one to when I’m much older and have slowed down my schedule a little :p

Is there one subject/genre you would never write about as an author?

 Horror. I don’t read it. And I’d just freak myself out too much.

11.   What is your all-time favorite book?

 I have many but one of them is The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.

12.   Your last 5 star read?

 Firelight (Darkest London #1) by Kristen Callihan.

13.   If you could do anything besides write, what would you do?

I’d be an events planner for Historic Scotland. That would involve planning weddings, ceremonies, etc to take place at different Scottish Castles and other historic buildings under Historic Scotland’s ownership.

14.   What's next for you?  Next project/ signing?

 I’m working on a number of projects at the moment. Another YA with Harlequin TEEN. A few projects with Berkley romance for my adult contemporary. Moreover I’ll be self-publishing the first in an adult contemporary romance set in Scotland this year. Lots on the go!

--- and just for fun ---

15.   If you had a superpower, what would it be?

 Mind reader. I’m nosy. Plus, I like to think I’m pretty perceptive so it would be funny to find out if I’m actually really not :p

16.   Number one pet peeve, doesn’t have to be book world related?

Drivers who drive aggressively close to my car. It is SO annoying.

17.   Favorite song at the moment?

Eyes Closed by Halsey.

Blog Tour: Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh | Interview | Giveaway

I am so excited that Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh releases today and that I get this Q&A with you all. Be sure to check out tomorrow's post!

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Flame in the Mist
Flame in the Mist #1
Author: Renée Ahdieh
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: May 16th 2017
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

The daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has long known her place—she may be an accomplished alchemist, whose cunning rivals that of her brother Kenshin, but because she is not a boy, her future has always been out of her hands. At just seventeen years old, Mariko is promised to Minamoto Raiden, the son of the emperor's favorite consort—a political marriage that will elevate her family's standing. But en route to the imperial city of Inako, Mariko narrowly escapes a bloody ambush by a dangerous gang of bandits known as the Black Clan, who she learns has been hired to kill her before she reaches the palace.

Dressed as a peasant boy, Mariko sets out to infiltrate the ranks of the Black Clan, determined to track down the person responsible for the target on her back. But she's quickly captured and taken to the Black Clan’s secret hideout, where she meets their leader, the rebel ronin Takeda Ranmaru, and his second-in-command, his best friend Okami. Still believing her to be a boy, Ranmaru and Okami eventually warm to Mariko, impressed by her intellect and ingenuity. As Mariko gets closer to the Black Clan, she uncovers a dark history of secrets, of betrayal and murder, which will force her to question everything she's ever known.

Interview

I love the title Flame in the Mist! Can you describe the process of choosing the title?

Thank you so much! This title was actually very much a collaboration between me, my agent, and my editor. It was such a fun process to cull through many different ideas and phrases to come up with FLAME IN THE MIST!

What is one thing you hope readers will get out of Flame in the Mist?

I hope readers will be swept away to a new land and fall in love with these characters as I have!

Without giving out spoilers, do you have a favorite scene from Flame in the Mist? Can you give us hints so we can pay close attention?

My favorite scene to write was probably the one that took place in the tea house near the middle of the book.

What music did you listen to while writing?

Many different things! Music is one of my necessities while writing. I listened to a lot of Frank Ocean and several soundtracks I’ve always loved.

What’s the most interesting/exciting thing you’ve done in the name of research?

Probably learning to cook all the foods described in my books!

There are many books out there, is there one that you said to yourself "Man I wish I had written that!"

I am so glad to have so many other wonderful books to read, written by so many talented authors and friends. I wouldn’t want to change any of it.

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Renée Ahdieh is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling The Wrath and the Dawn and The Rose and the Dagger. In her spare time, she likes to dance salsa and collect shoes. She is passionate about all kinds of curry, rescue dogs, and college basketball. The first few years of her life were spent in a high-rise in South Korea; consequently, Renée enjoys having her head in the clouds. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and their tiny overlord of a dog.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win one (1) of five (5) copies of Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh (ARV: $17.99 each).

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on May 8, 2017 and 12:00 AM on June 5, 2017.  Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about June 10, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

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Week One:

May 8 – Two Chicks on Books – Author Q&A

May 9 – The Eater of Books! – Mood Board

May 10 – Book Hounds YA – Guest Post

May 11 – YA Book Central – Excerpt

May 12 – A Page With A View – Review + Photos

Week Two:

May 15 – The Young Folks – Guest Post

May 16 – Once Upon a Twilight – Author Q&A

May 17 – The Fandom – Guest Post

May 18 – Alexa Loves Books – Bookish Style File

May 19 – Fiction Fare – Review

Week Three:

May 22 – Brittany’s Book Rambles – Review

May 23 – ButterMyBooks – Review + Photos

May 24 – Mundie Moms – Author Q&A

May 25 – A Perfection Called Books – Review

May 26 – Novel Novice – Flame Pinsperation

Week Four:

May 29 – Twirling Pages – Review + Photos

May 30 – Tales of the Ravenous Reader – Guest Post

May 31 – Oh the Book Feels – Review

June 1 – Dark Faerie Tales – Author Q&A

June 2 – The Book’s Buzz – Japanese Lesson

An Interview With Alwyn Hamilton

We were fortunate enough to be able to interview Alwyn Hamilton on March 16 about her new book Traitor To The Throne.

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Bri: I love Traitor to the Throne. Huge fan of the series.

Alwyn: Thank you so much!

So. I first have a bone to pick with you. Jin is my favorite character.

Oh thank you!

Of course...where was he?!

Being bad at long term relationships basically, was where he was. I feel like they're this couple that's sort of good at getting together but not that great at sort of staying together, you know?

I realize because they...they don't clash but they do at the same time.

Yea exactly. And you know how you have those friends who are always breaking up and then getting back together again, I feel like they'd be like that. Except their drama is kind of real because they are fighting a war. So they're choosing each other over death or the cause, can be quite difficult. But also, there was no way he would have let her stay in the palace that long without burning the palace down around her. Everyone else, it was deliberate that she ended up being "rescued" or "found" by Shazad, another female rather than by the boy.

And he still came, I was like awwwhhhh.

Exactly. There was no way he was going to tolerate that, "oh yea, we're going to let her spy and put herself in danger"...

"Have fun, good luck!"

I feel like Jin would've messed that up. So it seemed, in a weird way, natural. I didn't want to put in false conflict in the relationship; like adding a love triangle or anything. But it seemed natural that they would be good at getting together quickly and not that good at staying together and being stable...because neither of them are stable people...

This is very true.

And hopefully it made the scenes when they are together that much more...

Honestly, it made me love those scenes even more because I was like "Awh Jin! You're finally here! And then he would leave again...

Or she'd leave...get kidnapped!

Exactly! Do you think that you would write a spinoff book for Jin? To like, tell his side of the story for Traitor to the Throne?

I don't know if what he's doing in this book is necessarily separate enough from what Amani is doing for it to be it's own story. But I would love to write something about him one day that was about him before the rebellion or before he met Amani. Like, this would be sort of a lot of running around looking for her, and it's so tied in with her that I think  it's sort of a part of her story. But Jin did have a life before her, you know - being on a ship with his brother. That would be where I would go.

Ugh. Ahmed.

Yes.

I love him! Which is funny because....I also have kind of a love hate relationship with him. Especially - I felt conflicted because you introduced the Sultan and he's a huge character and you actually think "But, wow! He can rule" and you see the differences between him and Ahmed. So you're conflicted. How were you able to portray that? Was that difficult; making a reader think maybe Ahmed doesn't have what it takes?

I think it's because it's all from Amani's point of view. It works in my favor for that. While she is not stupid she is the least educated of them. And she's thrown herself into the rebellion head first like she has everything else in her life. So it sort of made sense that she would question that, "did I really think this through before joining [the rebellion]. Also because she is craving a parent figure whom she can trust in this book, with her aunt.

And then her dad!

Exactly. And then he lets her down. And so she has this need to impress [the sultan]. And a lot of dictators over time have been known to be very charming. To go to the most extreme example Hitler was an incredibly charming man. And everyone says that about him personally. But there's no way of detaching that from the horrible things that he did. And that is what Amani is dealing with in Traitor. The Sultan is very charming and he's feeding her enough praise that it makes him feel like a father figure. There's a few of my friends who are my age or a little bit older who have said "Is it okay that I find the Sultan really hot?!" And I've pointed out to them that he had his kids when he was 18 or 19, and his kids are now 18/19. This makes him in his mid-30's which puts us closer to his age rather than to the hot young princes' age. So I just tell them he's more age appropriate for you than the 18 year old boy!

It's not as gross.

And they're like "Oh my god, you're right. I'm closer to the age of the villain than I am of the YA Hero!"

That's hilarious!

And he has two very attractive sons which you meet in book one so it made sense that...you know...he got it from somewhere! Genetics are a thing.

Plus it was fun to meet all of the half-brothers of Jin and Ahmed. It was fun to see all of the new characters as well, not just the half siblings. I enjoyed it, I loved all of the new characters.

At one point I was like "Is this too many princes'?"

How many princes' should there be? 

How many princes is too many princes?

How do you go into a sequel? Especially one like this. You can tell that you wanted it to be more mature, and it definitely was. It's a lot more focused on the war and it's a lot more focused on how they're fighting the war. Whereas book one was more focused on Jin and Amani running to get to the rebel prince and then being with him. So how do you go into the sequel and thinking "okay, I want it to still sound the same but I want it to be more mature as well.

The sequel was interesting for the progression of the series. I do this thing before I start writing. I kind of plot it out in my mind. I know all of the big pillars up until the end of the rebellion. And in my head that was going to be one book. When I got to the part where they were crossing the dessert in book one it was about 50,000 words and I knew that this was not even close to halfway through the idea. I wasn't going to write a Dance with Dragons style, huge tome.

Good luck reading this.

Exactly. So I figured out where to split it, and the arch with Noorsham came later. But I still then knew what was going to happen beyond that point. Because I had planned it out. So I knew a lot of it going into Traitor, but I also have this theory about YA trilogies. A lot of them are, or can, be read as - or should be - able to be retitled with the titles of the original Star Wars trilogy and be accurate. The prime example is The Hunger Games. "A New Hope", "The Capitol Strikes Back", and "Return of the Mockingjay".

OH MY GOD! I love that!

That is a thing.

I'll never be able to look at any YA series the same again.

Exactly. In the same way that A New Hope can be - obviously it's awesome that the Star Wars series didn't end there but it could have. If they never made another movie it would've been a satisfactory ending. Empire Strikes Back, because you know there's going to be a third one there's an epic cliffhanger, and it can stand on the shoulders of the more simple story. That's how I think of it. Traitor to the Throne is "The Sultan Strikes Back".

I love it!

That was my approach.

Speaking of cliffhangers...I don't want to...give too much away...

Just put a **SPOILER DISCLAIMER**

Sorry guys...but...how was that scene to write?

It was...I really enjoyed writing that scene. The final scene in the book. It needed to be believable that it was Ahmed. But I also didn't want to leave it for too long. It's interesting having the reaction to that. I've had people tell me they've cried so much and ask why I did that. I'm like...it's better than the alternative that you thought it was a chapter before right?

I literally....when he got up on the stage, because you had Ahmed looking down, I was like "Oh my gosh, it's Imin." I was like "Oh no...I don't know which ones worse?! Who do I have more of an attachment to?!" I mean...I understand why you killed her and not him....

It made sense. A lot of the book is about sacrifice and the things you're willing to do and give up for the war. And your life is a big one. I enjoyed writing the scene because I didn't want to describe too much but have a lot of it be sensations. It was one of the scenes that stayed roughly the same from the first draft.

Really?

I haven't done a huge amount of changes to that scene. I mean there's some, but those were for clarity and things like that.

Is it hard to have the whole Demdji's being truth teller things. Because I feel like I would get caught on that so many times.

It sometimes can be. It was a really fun challenge for book 1 because obviously it seems like she's told a lot of lies up until the point when you realize that she can't. My agent, she said "she can't tell lies....you've made a mistake" and she went back and reread through the scene where Jin and Amani are in the shop [in book one] and she's hiding under the counter. She was like "She definitely lied in that scene" and I was definitely careful that she didn't.

You're like I promise you she didn't lie in that scene.

Yea. And I think sometimes it can make the dialogue more interesting. Because if you could tell a lie then she would've just been like "Nope, he's not here" whereas the fact that she can't tell a lie so she ends up saying things like "Well, that doesn't sound like something I would do" which doesn't mean 'he's not here' but it leads you to believe he's not here. So it's a more interesting use of dialogue rather than being straightforward.

I loved it in this book because now she was aware of it. So she'd be like Oh...I can't say it so it's not true.

Yea, so that was something I was worried about with her in the Harem. She's there as an enemy, and getting caught out if someone had asked her a direct question and she'd have to answer it. So she has to tiptoe around a little bit more. There have been times where we have caught in the very last stage of page proof. That I've picked up and been like "Technically that is a lie." So you just have to then change the wording, like adding a might or an I don't think. I enjoy the challenge. Having said that I also like writing the characters who can just say bold faced lies. It's a nice break from having to think about every word.

Shira. She became a big part too. And I, in the first book hated her. Could not stand her.

Thank you.

And in this book. She actually becomes a character who you still hate, but you learn to love.

I think like any villain she is the hero of her own story. She is taking care of herself to get out [of the Harem] kind of like Amani did in the first book. She just has a different idea in her mind. If it was from her point of view it would be like "this is my cousin who's always screwing things up and all I want to do is get out of this town and get some money." So I think her motivation and personality is very different from Amani. So it was interesting to get Amani to come to terms understanding women who aren't like her and want different things; want children, want power and don't mind effacing themselves a little bit.

Just a little bit.

Only a little.

When her final scene came I was actually in tears. I was like whhhat? I hate you...but this is sad!

Thank you! That's high praise, indeed!

You kind of already touched on this, in the book Amani says that Shazad was the one who always came up with plans. While Amani is the one that kind of just goes with things. I want to know how you write books - are you like Shazad or Amani?

I think I'm more like Amani because I'm a daydreamer. I figure it all out in my mind. And I go to do those things and it goes horribly wrong so I figure it out as I go. In my mind I'm like "This will make total sense!" and then I do it and it totally doesn't. So I'm an Amani in that sense.

I love it, I totally thought you were going to say Shazad! 

Sorry!

I love it! We kind of touched on all the new characters. Was it hard to incorporate them and to make them as loved as the characters we already had attachments to?

It was hard to introduce a lot of them because a lot of them aren't saying what they are and what they want to Amani's face. The same way that they were in the first one. Everyone's pretty clear what their motivations are in the first book. They're like we're running a rebellion and we want to win it.

Join us!

Yea. Whereas Leila is much more shady. Rahim is like "Do you need to know what I want? Or can you just accept that I will help you?" So that kind of was tricky because it all is from Amani's point of view. Or Sam, that's why there's a little story about him so that you can get a little bit more of his story. It can be very tricky because it is from first person point of view and to get all of these new characters and get you to believe their motivations and know enough about it without them being like "Let me tell you my life story and all my motivations!" which is not very realistic.

Well thank you! I really enjoyed this!

Thank you! I had fun!