Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman (Author Interview + Giveaway)

Hello guys! Today, I'm featuring a YA contemporary starring a half-Japanese, half-American heroine! It's an engrossing read that tackles various themes. Readers who like character growth and family dynamics would enjoy this. I'm interviewing Akemi Dawn, whose name is so gorgeous, all about her writing and Starfish. Stick around for a giveaway at the end!

How does your background in the social sciences and in the US Navy contribute to your writing?
I don’t feel like they play a role in the stories I write, but I do think they’ve had an effect on my work ethic. I’m really good with deadlines—they keep me focused and I tend to work faster when I’m on a time-limit. There was also a saying in the military that went, “Hurry up and wait.” And patience is one of the most important things you can learn in the publishing industry!

How would you best describe your writing style?
Lately everything I write seems to be moody and emotional, and I don’t know why that is. A few years ago, I wanted to write stories that entertained people. Now I have a bizarre need to make everyone cry!

How is your writing process? Could you share it with us?
I’ve got a three-year-old and a one-year-old, and my husband works off-shore. When he’s away, I usually only get to write in the evenings after the kids are in bed. But when he’s home, I write every free moment I can. So it’s less of a process, and more of a desperate attempt to get all the words down immediately. I also start with very minimal notes—I write down character names, and a rough idea of where the story is headed. And then I get to know my characters as I write, and let their personalities shape the scenes.

What or who inspired you to write Starfish?
My inspiration behind Starfish was basically my desire to write the book I needed most as a teen.

How did you craft Kiko's voice? What are the defining points and limitations in establishing her voice?
Kiko is more like me than any other character I’ve ever written, and probably ever will write. So a lot of her voice was remembering how I would’ve reacted at seventeen, and what I was feeling. But she’s also so much stronger than I was too. She spends so much of the book trying to navigate these feelings of being “not good enough,” while also having big hopes and dreams and wanting to heal. She goes through such a major journey, so as much as I could establish her voice at the beginning, I also had to let her grow.

Which was the hardest scene to write, if any?
The scene where Kiko is in the car on her way to California. I find travelling scenes so difficult to write. Maybe because I hate travelling in real life! I find them slow, and kind of a necessary evil. If I could, I’d just teleport all my characters from one place to the next. The driving could be all over in a sentence!

What is your favorite line from the book?
Almost every chapter ends in a line that describes what Kiko is drawing or painting. And I love so many of these, that it’s almost impossible for me to choose. But the one I think reflects the book the most reads, “I draw a very small fish swimming in the ocean and realizing it’s filled with planets and stars.” This is also in the same chapter where the reader will learn what a “starfish” is, so I think it’s really fitting for the book (and cover!).

If you could write something out of the YA contemporary genre, what genre would it be and what would it be about?
I’m actually working on a YA fantasy right now! But I don’t like to talk about projects this early in the drafting stage. I’m always a bit worried that the more I say, the more likely I am to feel burned out on a story. But I’m having a lot of fun with it, and will hopefully get to talk about it more in the future!

What's next for Akemi?
Book 2 was officially announced last week. It’s called SUMMER BIRD BLUE, and will be out in Fall 2018 with Simon Pulse. It’s about a teen songwriter who loses her sister in a tragic accident and is sent to live with her aunt in Hawaii while her mom deals with her own grief. It’s about loss, and family, and learning how to say goodbye to someone who is already gone. And one of the best parts is that I get to work with my incredible editor, Jen, for a second time. I’m thrilled, and can’t wait to share more soon!

Thank you, Akemi!

Photo by Rory Lewis Photography

About the Author:

Akemi Dawn Bowman is the author of Starfish. She’s a proud Ravenclaw and Star Wars enthusiast, who served in the US Navy for five years and has a BA in social sciences from UNLV. Originally from Las Vegas, she currently lives in England with her husband, two children, and their Pekingese mix. Starfish will be published later this year (9/26/17, Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster), with a second YA contemporary to follow in Fall 2018. She is represented by Penny Moore of Empire Literary.

Find Akemi: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

Book Description:

Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: September 26th 2017 by Simon Pulse

Kiko Himura has always had a hard time saying exactly what she’s thinking. With a mother who makes her feel unremarkable and a half-Japanese heritage she doesn’t quite understand, Kiko prefers to keep her head down, certain that once she makes it into her dream art school, Prism, her real life will begin.

But then Kiko doesn’t get into Prism, at the same time her abusive uncle moves back in with her family. So when she receives an invitation from her childhood friend to leave her small town and tour art schools on the west coast, Kiko jumps at the opportunity in spite of the anxieties and fears that attempt to hold her back. And now that she is finally free to be her own person outside the constricting walls of her home life, Kiko learns life-changing truths about herself, her past, and how to be brave.

From debut author Akemi Dawn Bowman comes a luminous, heartbreaking story of identity, family, and the beauty that emerges when we embrace our true selves.

Giveaway

Thanks to Akemi for sponsoring this giveaway!
What's up for grabs: Pre-order of Starfish
Scope: International

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Celebrating Debutantes 2017: How to Break a Boy by Laurie Devore (Interview + Giveaway)

Hi guys! #CelebratingDebutantes2017 continues with an interview with Laurie Devore about her writing and How to Break a Boy, her debut. It has been a while since I read a good contemporary. I've been on a fantasy roll for months now! Laurie's debut deals with pranks, teen social hierarchy and power. Are you interested? If yes, stick around for the giveaway - a signed Hardcover. Let's start the interview!

What was it like writing a story with a generally unlikeable character? How did it affect your writing?
I think the interesting thing for me is that I never really find the character unlikeable when I’m writing. I’ve always found myself drawn to characters others find difficult, trying to take them apart, see what makes them tick. Once I’m in a character’s head, the process becomes much more of trying to figure out how a specific type of person would react in a situation versus me as an author making any kind of moral judgement on their actions. I find that’s what it takes to build empathy with characters others find unlikeable.

Which part was the hardest to write? Why did you struggle with it?
I found with both How to Break a Boy and my upcoming novel, Winner Take All, that nailing down characters’ parents and family history is so difficult. Especially as teenagers, each character’s family and upbringing affects so much of their lives and sometimes it can be difficult working backwards. Essentially, I have to look at the character I’ve created and understand what kind of familial circumstances would’ve built them into this person. It’s definitely a challenge but I also find it deeply interesting.

What is your favourite scene and why?
In How to Break a Boy, there’s a scene with Olivia and Whit – who has been posing as Olivia’s boyfriend and whose relationship with Olivia has gotten quite complicated – right after Olivia is brought to arguably her lowest point in the book by her ex-best friend Adrienne. For both Olivia and the reader, the scene is destructive and cathartic but ultimately, draining. I love Olivia’s anger in the scene because it’s as much at herself as Adrienne, and also ties into her conflicting feelings about Whit and not wanting to let him go. I love the depth of Olivia’s pain in that scene and then her desperation to hold onto one last good thing. I still remember writing that scene which might be why I love it so much!

Which element of toxic friendships did you enjoy tackling the most? Building up the symbiotic relationship between Olivia and Adrienne was probably the most interesting part of writing this book for me. I definitely wanted the book to have this pervasive idea that while their friendship was deeply problematic, they really felt like they had needed each other up to this point in their lives, which is how their relationship became so tangled and all those layers are what make untangling it so difficult for the two of them.

If you could pull a prank on someone, who would you do it to and how would you do it?
I like really elaborate (but harmless!) pranks. I think it’d be really fun to replace all the family pictures in my mom’s house with pictures of dogs or something like that, though she would probably find it less amusing.

It seems that your next book, Winner Take All, is about love and toxic competition. I can see that you like tackling relationship issues. Is there a reason behind this?
I like thinking about morally complicated people a lot. People go out into the world every day and do terrible things! Things that seem objectively terrible, but there has to be some reason why. So I think most of my interest in these relationships stems from that. How relationships can change a person, really set them on a path. Mostly I like deconstructing stereotypes we have of different people and, excuse the cover-related reference, seeing the fireworks that go off when they collide.

Thank you, Laurie!

Guys, you have to check out Laurie's upcoming book. Here's a little teaser about Winner Take All:

About the Author:

Laurie Devore was born and raised in small town South Carolina and graduated from Clemson University. She now lives and works in Chicago, where she misses the charms and contradictions of the south every day. In her spare time, she reluctantly runs marathons, watches too much TV, and works a “y’all” into every conversation. How to Break a Boy is her first novel.

Find Laurie: Website | Blog | Twitter | Instagram

Book Description:

Hardcover, 342 pages
Published January 31st 2017 by Imprint

Keep your enemies close, but your friends closer.

Olivia Clayton has mastered the art of tearing others down to stay on top. She and her best friend, Adrienne, rule their small southern town like all good mean girls do--through intimidation and manipulation.

After Olivia suffers a family tragedy and catches Adrienne sleeping with her boyfriend, Olivia is over it. She decides to make a change--but it's impossible to resist taking Adrienne down one last time. Up to her old tricks, Olivia convinces golden boy Whit DuRant to be her SAT tutor and her fake boyfriend. But when it starts to feel real, Whit gets caught up in Olivia and Adrienne's war.

Olivia may ruin everything she touches, but this time she won't go down without a fight--not if it means losing Whit.

And definitely not if it means losing what's left of herself.

Giveaway

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What's up for grabs: Signed Hardcover of How to Break a Boy
Scope: US

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Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Good Byline by Jill Orr (Interview + Giveaway)

Hi guys! I hope you're having a good weekend so far! For today, we are featuring an intriguing debut about a library assistant who enjoys reading obituaries. It is quirky and so fresh. I'm interviewing Jill about The Good Byline! Stick around for the special giveaway at the end. :)

For an extra point, you could answer any of these questions: Have you ever tried reading the obituary section before? Have you read anything interesting in it?

What do you feel about scoring a three-book deal?
I was thrilled of course! I had the deal for THE GOOD BYLINE first, but my agent had told my editor that the book was planned as a series. Then a couple of months before BYLINE came out, Prospect Park Books made an offer on the next two in the series! It was such a great vote of confidence!

Since you have three books, are all the stories aligned and planned at this point? How do you outline for a three-book story?
I have a general plan for each book before I start writing and an overarching series plan. So in each book there will be a "stand alone murder" but the main character, Riley, will also be working toward solving the mysterious death of her grandfather. This mystery will unfold bit by bit in each book. For better or worse, I'm not a big planner, but I do at least know a few things going into the writing process.

From your first draft, was Riley always a library assistant? Did her character change throughout various revisions and drafts?
She was always a library assistant, but she definitely changed in other ways as I got to know her better. Because my original spark for her character was someone who was obsessed with obituaries, I thought she was going to be this dark, snarky, melancholy young woman. But as I learned more about real life "obituary enthusiasts" (yes, the exist!) I realized the reading the obits is one of the most life-affirming pursuits out there. People who read obits of people they've never met do so in order to see what made a person's life worth living and what they can learn from someone else's life story. It's pretty sweet, really. So Riley ended up becoming far more optimistic, hopeful, and romantic as I wrote her - which surprised me!

While reading and researching about people enthusiastic and interested about obituaries, did you encounter something interesting?
Oh yes! The most interesting thing about this subculture of people are into obituaries, is that they have their own chat rooms and even their own conferences! There's a book I've read and re-read as research for my own writing called LIFE ON THE DEATH BEAT: LOST SOULS AND LUCKY STIFFS by Marilyn Johnson and it's filled with stories about obituaries and the people who love them. It's fantastic, quirky little book and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in this subject.

Did you encounter problems while writing the first book, The Good Byline? What are these and why?
Oh I think there are always "problems." Like every other writer on the planet, I have those days where I am certain everything I've written is complete crap and I should just give up and go live in a cave. I also wrote THE GOOD BYLINE before I had an agent or a publisher, so I had no idea if anyone would ever read it, like it, buy it, etc. But those things are all par for the course. I think it's part of the process, albeit not such a fun part, it's also what helps make it so fun when you fight through all of that and make it to the other side.

What is your favorite line from the book? Why did you choose this?
"It was the kind of night that made everything sparkle with possibility... even me." I chose this line because I think this is when we see a glimmer of Riley's emotional growth begin peek through. She's pretty hard on herself and has been in something of a slump when the book opens, so here when we get to see her open herself up to the idea that maybe, just maybe, it's all going to be okay - well, I like that!

Thank you, Jill!

Photo credit: Stephanie Atkinson Photography

About the Author:

Jill Orr lives in Columbia, Missouri, with her husband and two children. She writes humor essays about parenting on her blog, An Exercise in Narcissism. The Good Byline is her first novel in the Riley Ellison mysteries series and was released in April 2017 from Prospect Park Books. Book two (title TBD) will be out Spring 2018!

Find Jill: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Book Description:

Paperback, 280 pages
Published April 11th 2017 by Prospect Park Books

"Who knew obituaries could be this much fun?"
— Gretchen Archer, USA TODAY–bestselling author of the Davis Way Crime Capers

Meet Riley Ellison, a quirky young library assistant who has become known in her hometown of Tuttle Corner, Virginia, as Riley Bless-Her-Heart. Riley’s odd habit of living vicariously through people she reads about in the obituary pages hits a little too close to home when she is asked to write one for her childhood best friend, Jordan James. Jordan's unexpected suicide has left Riley desperate to understand why a young woman with so much to live for would suddenly opt out, so she steps out of her comfort zone and into the role of obituary writer.

Things get messy, however, when Jordan’s co-worker, a paranoid reporter with a penchant for conspiracy theories, convinces Riley that Jordan’s death was no suicide. He leads her down a dangerous path toward organized crime, secret lovers, and suspicious taco trucks. Eventually, Riley’s serpentine hunt for the truth leads to a discovery that puts everything she holds dear—her job, the people she loves, and even her life—in danger. Will writing this obituary be the death of her?

Giveaway

Thanks to Jill for sponsoring this giveaway!
Copy of The Good Byline
Scope: US and CA
*If you have a mailing address in US and CA, you may join.

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Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Beast is An Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale (Author Interview + Giveaway)

Hello everyone! Today we're featuring one of the early releases of 2017 - The Beast is an Animal. The book was released and published early on this year. Some of you might have already read it. Initially, upon seeing the word 'beast' in the title, I thought that it might be related to Beauty and the Beast. However, it is not like that. The story itself is not based on a single classic fairytale. I interviewed Peternelle to find out more info about the Beast is an Animal. Stick around for a special giveaway at the end!

In reviews that I have read, it was mentioned that your story has a fairytale vibe. By any chance, is there a fairytale that inspired you to write The Beast is an Animal?
No single fairytale inspired the novel, but I was inspired generally by all the classic fairy tales I read when I was growing up, particularly those by the Brothers Grimm. In those fairy tales the characters often behave very badly, and rarely is anyone allowed to be completely innocent. If you think of “Hansel and Gretel,” for example, Gretel is forced to kill in order to save herself and her brother. At the end, they return home to their father, which is supposed to be a happy conclusion to the story, but he’s also the one who led them out into the forest to starve in the first place. So the idea of no one being purely good was very interesting to me.

What kind of research did you delve into for this novel?
Since my novel is entirely a fantasy, including the setting, I didn’t have to do a lot of research. The landscape was roughly inspired by Wales, so I did a little research into sheep herding there and a few other practical things such as clothing, but not a lot—which is a good thing, because for me a little research goes a long way.

How different was the original version of the story from the last version? What changed?
Very different. In fact I originally wrote the prologue for a different novel—a contemporary fantasy. Then my agent asked me if I could write an entire novel in the style of the prologue, which I was delighted to do, because I realized while writing it that dark fairy tales were my first love for a reason. Still, the novel evolved and evolved over time. At one point I began the action later in my protagonist’s life, but then I went back and started the story much earlier. And there were many other changes along the way.

What is your favorite line from the book? Why?
Hm, I hadn’t thought about that. I love the nursery rhymes that I wrote for the novel. So perhaps my favorite line is from the first nursery rhyme that I wrote: The Beast is an animal, It has a pointy chin, It eats you while you sleep at night, leaves nothing but your skin...

Can you give us a background about the cover art? What is the concept behind it? Does it refer to a specific scene?
I entirely credit my publisher, Margaret K. McElderry Books, and the cover designer, Sonia Chaghatzbanian, and the photographer Sarah Ann Loreth, for that gorgeous cover. They didn’t ask me in advance what I wanted, and I’m glad they didn’t, because I never could have suggested something so perfect for the novel. I don’t want to give anything away about the novel, but the sense of “is that a tree, or a woman, or both?” is very appropriate. I love the way the two blend together and you’re not quite sure what you’re seeing.

Can you tell us something about your next book, which is a dark fairytale?
I really don’t want to give much away about it at this stage, but I will say that I love the prologue, and I think it will appeal to those who love THE BEAST IS AN ANIMAL. It also has a strong yet conflicted female protagonist, because that’s always important to me, as well as a very powerful sibling relationship, which was fun for me to write.

Thank you, Peternelle!

About the Author:

Peternelle van Arsdale is a book editor who never thought she’d write a book, until one day she had a glimmer of an idea that became The Beast Is an Animal. She lives in New York City, where she is at work on her second novel.

Find Peternelle: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Book Description:

Hardcover, 352 pages
Published February 28th 2017 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Alys was seven the first time she saw the soul eaters. Twin sisters, they radiated an energy that excited Alys. Through them she felt the wildness of the forest, and The Beast within it. Too late, she learned of their power to destroy.

By the time she is fifteen, Alys knows too much about both the lure and the danger of the soul eaters. She lives in a world of adults who are terrified of their power, and who cower behind high walls and grim rules. Fear of the soul eaters—and of The Beast—rules their lives. Even more, they fear the ways in which The Beast may lurk among them—and within a girl like Alys.

For Alys has a connection to the soul eaters, and The Beast. And she hides a truth about herself that she can reveal to no one, for fear she will be called a witch. As the threat posed by the soul eaters grows, Alys must undertake a journey through the wild danger of the fforest. But the greatest danger is not outside her. Alys’s secret about who—and what—she is terrifies her most of all. And in order to save her world, she must also risk losing herself.

Giveaway

Thanks to Peternelle and Simon & Schuster for sponsoring this giveaway!
What's up for grabs: Finished Copy of The Beast is an Animal
Scope: US

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Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Whenever I'm With You by Lydia Sharp

Hi guys! Today, we're featuring a YA romance novel on #CelebratingDebutantes2017. Whenever I'm With You is written by Lydia Sharp, who also happens to be an editor at Entangled Pub! The book is set in Alaska, so readers looking for a little bit of nature in their books would enjoy this. Aside from the fun interview, Lydia is also presenting an exclusive deleted scene from Whenever I'm With You that has never been shared before in other platforms! I hope you guys enjoy this. :)

What or who inspired you to write Whenever I'm with You?

The story of Chris McCandless was a huge inspiration for this story. If you haven’t read Into the Wild by John Krakaur yet, I highly recommend it. I’ve been fascinated with Chris’s story since I first heard of it—what made him do what he did? Then I took that question and asked it of a fictional character who does something similar, takes a journey into dangerous territory on his own without telling anyone. Kai’s story and Chris’s story are NOT the same, but Chris was a big inspiration for the story idea that led to this book, and you’ll find a lot of nods to him throughout.

What was the hardest scene or part to write?

The ending chapters, hands down. Not the very last chapter, which wraps everything up, but the cluster of chapters right before it that make up the finale and climax. From first draft to finished book, I rewrote the finale at least three times. And I mean *complete* rewrites—totally different things happened in each version. I also went back and forth a few times on whether the twins would find their dad alive or dead at the end of the journey. My editor and I discussed that particular point at length before we agreed on what would work best.

I can’t go into more detail without giving away spoilers for those who haven’t read it yet, but I can say the original finale included a scene where Hunter and Gabi jump out of a helicopter in flight. I really liked that part, so I found a way to have Gabi and Kai do something similar in the final version. You’ll have to read the book to see what it is. :)

Was it easy or difficult to distinguish Kai from Hunter and vice versa? While you were writing how did you choose which twin would be the one to disappear and stay with Gabi?

The decision was made in the idea stage of the book, before the story was written. I developed the twins’ personalities *after* I knew which would leave and which would accompany Gabi on her journey to find the other.

Knowing that ahead of time helped me figure out who they were as individuals. Since Kai is the one who takes off on his own, I thought about what kind of person would do what he did, and went from there. He is energetic and impulsive, goal-driven, likes a challenge, doesn’t always make the right decision but has good intentions. He also prefers to solve things on his own, without help. And when I thought about how Hunter might react to his disappearance, I realized he was much more levelheaded than Kai. He thinks long and hard before making a decision, weighs all the options, does what’s best for everyone, not just himself. He also has a very protective spirit and often takes on the role of caregiver.

So their personalities complement each other but also cause friction between them sometimes because they have differing views. Once I figured that out, it was easy to keep them as separate people in my head. They aren’t physically identical, either, so that helped, too.

Could you share your favorite line from the book? How did you come up with this line?

My favorite line was actually *so much* my favorite—and my editor’s—that we put it at the beginning of the book, on its own page, before the story starts.

“Wherever you go, let your heart lead your feet.”

I honestly don’t remember how I came up with that! But it’s been a life motto for me ever since. :)

Did you draw from personal experiences while writing this story?

Yes, several. :) But I’ll just mention a couple. I sometimes work as an extra in movies, which Gabi also did when she lived in SoCal. There is a part in the book where she relays one of her experiences on set with her mom, and much of what she says was drawn from what I learned as an extra. Working in movies can be fun, but I don’t think most people realize that when you’re not playing a big role, the majority of your day is spent just waiting around to be called in for a scene. Always bring a book!

Another thing I drew from personal experience was Gabi’s position as a child of divorced parents. The views she has mirror how I felt when my parents divorced, and I didn’t want to hold back from showing the ugly side of that situation. Her dad falls into a terrible depression. Gabi and her mother are not on speaking terms. And Gabi doesn’t always think rationally when the topic comes up, because she’s still too emotional about what happened. If your parents were married your whole life, coming to terms with their divorce when you’re a teen is extremely difficult. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but for those who have gone through it or who are going through it now, I wanted them to know they aren’t alone and what they feel is perfectly valid—even the dark stuff.

Could you share with us a deleted scene from Whenever I'm with You?
Sure! I’ve never shared this one anywhere yet, so you’re getting an exclusive. :)

After dinner, I go to bed early. In my state of half-asleep, half-awake, I hear Kai talking to Vicki in the other room. Hunter’s voice never joins them, and I can’t understand what they’re saying. The world fades in and out a few times, then I hear Kai tending the fire in our room, and he tosses another blanket over me. Over us. He huddles up in bed next to me. The tip of his nose touches my cheek, and he whispers, “If you can hear me, Gabi, I love you.”

He loves me. He’s never said that before. Does he expect me to say it back? I feel more strongly for him than anyone else I’ve been with. I’m incredibly concerned for his welfare. I care for him, a lot. But is that love? I’m not sure. The lengths we’ve gone to for each other on this trip might qualify as some kind of love, but I don’t think that’s what he meant. I think he meant love love. The biggest kind. The kind of expression that shouldn’t be met with silence, and like a dummy that’s all I’m giving him.

Unfazed by my lack of response, he fingers my hair, brushes a thumb over my cheek. He kisses me lightly on the lips and curls an arm around me, pulling me close. “We’ll be all right now. All of us. Everything’s going to be okay.”

“Promise?” I whisper.

“That and more,” he says. “I’d promise you the sun, moon, and stars if I could, make them shine just for you.”

“I don’t want all that, Kai. I just want you.” Even so, I still can’t get myself to say those three little words that flowed so easily from his lips a moment ago. He doesn’t seem to care, though, as he uses those same lips to show me how much he meant every syllable, over and over and over again.

—end of excerpt—

Thank you so much for having me here!

Thank you, Lydia!

About the Author:

Lydia Sharp worked a number of different jobs, everything from retail management to veterinary medicine, before turning their passion for stories into a career. They are now an editor for Entangled Publishing and write young adult novels with lots of kissing and adventures. Lydia lives in Ohio with their husband, son, and an ever-growing collection of owls. When not completely immersed in a book, Lydia binges on Netflix, pines for Fall, and hosts mad tea parties in Wonderland. Follow on Twitter @lydia_sharp for writing updates and other shenanigans. Life is an adventure—turn the page.

Find Lydia: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Book Description:

Hardcover, 304 pages
January 3, 2017, Scholastic Press

A missing boy.

A road trip into the Alaskan wilderness.

A week that will change everything…

After Gabi’s parents’ divorce, she moves to Alaska with her dad. At first, it feels like banishment—until she meets Kai. He welcomes her into his life, sharing his family, his friends, and his warmth. Until suddenly, Kai pulls away for seemingly no reason at all. He’s quiet, withdrawn. Then one day, he disappears.

Kai’s twin, Hunter, believes Kai’s retracing their missing father’s steps in the wilderness north of Anchorage. When they learn there’s a blizzard on the way, Gabi’s hurt at Kai’s coldness swiftly turns to serious concern. He’s alone out there. This is the boy who saved her from the dark. She can’t lose him to it.

So Gabi convinces Hunter to join her on a wild journey north—a trip that will challenge them physically and emotionally, as they try to convince the boy they love to return home.

Giveaway

Thanks to Lydia for sponsoring this giveaway!

What's up for grabs:

For US residents: A signed hardcover of Whenever I'm With You
For International readers: A hardcover of Whenever I'm With You shipped from the Book Depository

Scope: International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get your daily dose of YA and MG debut goodness in #CelebratingDebutantes2017! 

Click the button above to be redirected to the main page where you can browse the list of novels and authors that we are featuring.

Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Sand Runner by Vera Brook (Author Interview + Giveaway)

Hi guys! For our third feature, we have Sand Runner by Vera Brook. If you are a fan of Maze Runner and Hunger Games, you would enjoy Sand Runner. I know that a lot of you guys are looking for an adrenaline-charged tale that is seeped in danger at every turn. This might be your next read. Today, I'm interviewing neuroscientist turned writer, Vera. :)

How does your being a neuroscientist contribute to your writing?

I love that question! I think my neuroscience training influences my writing in a lot of ways. I write science fiction, so there is usually some science and technology as the background for the story.

In SAND RUNNER, one such technology is bionic prosthetics, or the new generation of prosthetic limbs that are directly linked to and controlled by the person’s nervous system. Such prosthetic limbs already exist and people use them every day, and they will get better and better, and make a huge difference to thousands of people. But it’s amazing to think about how much knowledge about the human nervous system went into designing such prostheses. So both the science and the applications are fascinating and a great source of story ideas.

But there is more. There are similarities between science and writing. In both cases, you start with curiosity, you start with a question. Maybe it was something you noticed, something that stuck with you, and you want to know more, you want to figure it out. So you investigate. In science, we design experiments and then collect and analyze the data and that’s how we get our answer. In writing, we create characters and outline stories, and then the process of writing is the process of discovery. In science, the results can often surprise you. But you have to listen to your data. And when you’re writing, you have to listen to your characters and try to be true to them, so the final story is almost never what you set out to write.

One last similarity is the importance of resilience. In science and in writing, there are times when things don’t work out. Your experiment fails and you have to repeat it, your story goes nowhere and you move on to something else. But you can’t quit, you can’t get discouraged. You pick yourself up and try again. So if any of you are thinking of a science career, I’d say: Go for it! Even if you don’t work in your field, you’ll have a ton of skills that will help you in whatever career you choose.

Okay. This was a very long answer. But it was a great question!

What or who inspired you to change your career and start writing?

I never really switched. I do both: I have my “day job” and I have my writing. One thing about science training is that you can apply these skills in a lot of different fields, so I am still exploring. I enjoyed doing research in a laboratory, but I think I like working with data in higher education even more. And maybe one day I can be a full-time author, and only read about neuroscience research and big data for fun and for inspiration. Everything is possible.

In terms of inspiration, there was one book that really blew me away and made me want to write professionally. And that was THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins. I know it’s not very original of me to cite that book as my main inspiration. But it was. I love and admire everything about it: the concept, the characters, the world-building, the impossible moral choices that Katniss and the other characters have to make, and, of course, the writing. I have two copies of the whole series and go back to them often.

I've noticed a trend in YA dystopian novels, in which survival games are the platform of the stories. What is your take on this? What makes it interesting to write about?

That’s a really interesting thought, and I think there is something special about survival games serving as a kind of scaffolding for dystopian novels. First of all, such games already come with high stakes, often literally life-and-death. High stakes produce drama, and drama is what moves the story forward. Survival games also work really well if you want to challenge your characters and force them to make difficult choices, so we can find out who they really are and what they are made of. It’s like a trial by fire. All lies and pretenses fall away. So I absolutely agree that, as a structure in a dystopian novel, a survival game can be very powerful.

Your question also made me think about THE LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it. It’s about a group of boys who get stranded on an island after a plane crash, and in their struggle for survival, they basically recreate a society and all its conflicts, with tragic consequences. It’s a great book, mostly because it’s brutally honest. It forces us to think carefully about what choices we would make if put in the same place. The writing is also amazing. I am not usually a fan of long descriptions, but in that book, they make you feel like you’re actually there, on the island, running through the burning jungle. Another great book that I keep returning to again and again!

Could you share with us a quote from Sand Runner that is close to your heart?

Here is an excerpt from early in the novel. Without giving too much away, it’s the scene where Emily recruits Kai for the Race.

The girl’s—Emily’s—gaze was so direct, so intense, that Kai found it difficult to focus. Who did she say she worked for? And then the name caught up with him, and a jolt went through him.
Optimex!
Was she kidding? Of course he’d heard of them. Everyone on the planet had heard of them. They were one of the highest profile athletic management firms in the world. Another jolt, as the meaning of this exchange hit him.
“You recruit runners for the No Limits Race.”
Sounds of excitement from his friends cut through Kai’s tunnel-like concentration—shuffling feet, slapped thighs, a sharp whistle.
A hint of a smile crossed Emily’s face. “That’s right. But we do more than recruit them. We manage their training and their… careers.” Was there a hesitation there? Kai couldn’t be sure. He was suddenly fascinated with every nuance of her expression and tone of voice. “Think about it this way—we find the best runners, and we make them even better. We make them into legends.”
“I’m in.”

What is the hardest part/scene to write in Sand Runner?

All of it! I went through several drafts, and worked with a professional editor to polish the final version. I wanted the story to move quickly, and to keep that momentum all the way until the climax at the end. So it was challenging to balance that fast pace with slower, more emotional scenes where we get to know and care about the characters. The training sessions and the actual Race sequences were also a challenge because I didn’t want to repeat any ideas.

For all the budding writers out there, I can also share a strategy that saves me each time: I write out of order. I jump all over the place. If I get stuck in one part of the story, I move to another and add to that. I also add layers. Details, foreshadowing, cause-and-effect links. They only come to me after I’ve been working on the story for a while.

But the writing out of order really helps. In fact, when I start a new book, I just take copious notes, until I have a complete draft that spans from the beginning to the end of the story. I call it draft 0 and no one ever sees it but me. But it makes it possible for me to finish a draft and then go back and revise it.

What is next for Vera Brook?

I am writing book 2 and outlining the final book 3 in the SAND RUNNER series. I am also working on two other YA dystopian series, and on a middle-grade series in the vein of magical realism. And I keep notes with ideas for projects after that. I can come up with a lot of idea. The challenge is to stick to a project and finish it.

Also, now that I network with readers and writers a lot, my to-read pile is just exploding. I was a reader before I was a writer, and that’s something I will always struggle with: having to choose between reading and writing each day when I love both. There are just so many good books to read, and never enough time. But I’m not complaining. I love books. That’s why I’m a writer.

Thank you, Vera!

About the Author:

Vera Brook is a neuroscientist turned fiction writer.

She writes fantasy and science fiction. Or speculative fiction, as it’s sometimes called. In other words, the type of stories where she can change something about the world and get away with it.

After studying several fields – including literature, philosophy, genetics, and neuroscience – She has decided that SHE IS INTERESTED IN EVERYTHING.

Which sounds great. But it’s actually a bit of a problem if you’re trying to be a serious, focused, responsible adult with serious, focused responsibilities.

She is with it, though. In fact, her list of interests keeps growing. (Physics. Cover design. 3D printing. GOOD BOOKS OLD AND NEW!)

Find Vera Brook: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

Book Description:

Paperback, 316 pages
Published June 2nd 2017 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Welcome to the No Limits Race.

In the near future, 16-year-old Kaiden Reed makes a bold and dangerous decision to enter the most brutal sports competition on the planet. One in which he will undergo a radical upgrade and become a new kind of athlete and a new kind of hero.

Part human. Part machine.

All Kai wants is a shot at a better life and to impress the girl of his dreams. But the stakes in the Race are higher, and the choices tougher, than Kai ever imagined. The physical challenges are just the beginning.

Ten days. Ten contenders. One winner.

Does Kai have what it takes to compete? How far will he go to win? And should he trust the person who recruited him in the first place - or is she using him to carry out a bold and dangerous agenda of her own?

Sand Runner is available on Apple iTunes, Amazon, Kobo and Barnes & Noble. It is available in Paperback and ebook.

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Scope: US and Canada

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Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Siren Sisters by Dana Langer (Author Interview + Giveaway)

Hi guys! For the first feature of Celebrating Debutantes 2017, we have Siren Sisters by Dana Langer! I have always enjoyed reading about mermaids and sirens. It is such a delight to see this flowing into MG stories. I am a firm believer that each age group should have their own "representative" book of a specific topic.

Today I am interviewing Dana about her debut. Stick around until the end to get a chance to win a finished copy of Siren Sisters!

Could you tell us who or what inspired Siren Sisters?

Hello! Thank you so much for having me. SIREN SISTERS was inspired by a combination of things, mainly me growing up with my sister and female cousins and also teaching The Odyssey to high school students and wanting to hear more from the monsters and female characters.

Could you tell us about the Sirens in your book? Did they deviate from the typical siren mythology in any way? Did you make alterations?
My favorite aspect of siren mythology has always been that they generally appear in a group. I thought that idea lent itself nicely to a story about sisterhood and sacrifice, and I kept that consistent in my book. I added the detail about their changing hair color and scales growing in when they turn thirteen because I wanted their magical transformation to mirror some of the more mundane transformations that kids go through at that age.

Could you tell us more about Lolly's sisters Lula, Lara, and Lily?
I think of Lara as being very motherly, strong, and protective, someone who gives a lot of herself without thinking twice about it; I see Lily as being very angry, secretly quite sensitive, and a little immature; and I see Lula as being more impulsive and less of a worrier than all the others. I think they're all very loyal and loving, and I like to think they'd all grow up and do good things in the world.

In a review that I read, it was mentioned that the sea witch didn't like to be in the water. Why is this? Could you give us a bit of background on this?
I think of the sea witch as being a sea witch because her soul is hidden in the sea and because she can control storms. Historically though, one of the ways they used to test people to see if they were witches was by throwing them in the water and seeing whether or not they drowned (it was believed that witches would float). Also, she has a lot of negative associations with boats, drowning, and the shipping industry in general, so I just felt that she would not be a fan of being in the water.

What was the hardest part or scene to write?
The ending was difficult in terms of deciding how much to state explicitly versus how much to leave for the reader to infer. I've heard it described as a "cliffhanger" before, but, without giving away too much, in my mind the outcome is clear given the fact that Lolly is narrating the story.

Thank you, Dana!

About the Author:

Dana Langer is a New York based high school teacher. She holds a BA in creative writing and an MA in teaching from Brandeis University where she received the Dafna Zamarripa-Gesundheit Fiction Prize. SIREN SISTERS (Simon&Schuster/Aladdin, 2017) is her debut novel.

Find Dana: Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Website

Book Description:

"Purposeful messages for inclusion and against stereotyping are scattered throughout. Touching on family relationships, grieving, growing up, first romance, and Norse mythology, this is an exciting fantasy with a heart-stopping ending by an author to watch." -Kirkus

When they're not in school or running their small town's diner, the four Salt sisters are secretly luring ships to their doom from the cliffs of Starbridge Cove, Maine. With alluring voices that twelve-year-old Lolly has yet to grow into (not that she wants to anyway) the girls do the work mandated by the Sea Witch, a glamorous figure determined to keep them under her control. With their mother dead after a mysterious car accident, and their father, a once famous folk singer, drowning in grief, the sisters have only each other to rely on, carrying on with their lives and duties until a local sea captain gets suspicious about the shipwrecks.

On the day before her birthday, Lolly watches in helpless horror as her sisters are lured themselves by curse-reversing fishermen--and suddenly it's up to her and her best friend Jason to rescue the sirens of Starbridge Cove.

Giveaway

Thanks to Dana for sponsoring this giveaway!
What's up for grabs: Finished Copy of Siren Sisters
Scope: US

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get your daily dose of YA and MG debut goodness in #CelebratingDebutantes2017! 

Click the button above to be redirected to the main page where you can browse the list of novels and authors that we are featuring.