Author Interview with K.J. Klimasz

  Happy Monday! I'd like to introduce to you a brand new author, K.J. Klimasz. Mr. Klimasz is here to day to talk about his current release, Murders, Bikers, and a Meteor, which an eclectic collection of short stories.


Hi, K.J.! Thanks for stopping by the blog today. Can you please tell us about your current release?


   My new release is called Murders, Bikers, and a Meteor. The book is a collection of short stories that I’ve written over the past couple of years. The stories range in genre from crime drama to science fiction, with story settings in the 1950s, ’60s, ’90s, and today. The stories are dark in nature, and it seems that my best work tends to run a little on the dark side.



Can you tell us about the journey that led you to write your book?


    I started writing fiction in high school, but back in the ’80s personal computers were not very common and to be honest my typing was horrific. I walked away from writing altogether thinking that writing wasn’t my niche. I didn't get my first computer until the late ’90s. By then I figured my imagination had went unused for so long that it was gone, a use it or lose it kind of thing. A few years after that I met a gal, fell in love, and we got married. Shortly after we were married my new mother-in-law passed away, and my wife took her loss really hard. My wife began having panic attacks at night. I would ask her if there was anything I could do for her, and she replied, “Just talk to me.” I couldn't think of anything to say, so I closed my eyes and just started randomly making up stories for her, and she would eventually fall asleep with me telling her stories. After a while I had gotten the bug to write again, and I had came up with quite a few good ideas for novels, but I knew that I wasn't ready to tackle a project of that size, so I started writing short stories. Stories that I’m happy to say don’t put my wife to sleep. Over this last summer I decided to go through all of my short stories and publish a collection of my best ones.




Can you tell us the story behind your book cover?


My book cover and book title are tied together with one another. After I submitted my manuscript, I still didn’t have a title for my book and the publisher
told me I needed to have a cover designed. The publisher then gave me the name of a graphics design company that they refer their authors to. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted for a cover, and I was having trouble picturing what it should look like. If I can’t picture it, how am I supposed to describe to somebody what it is I want?
I went for a walk, hoping I would come up with some rough idea for a cover design and then I remembered that I had an old friend from high school that used to work in video game graphics, so I gave him a call. He asked me what I thought of the old pulp fiction book cover designs from the ’50s and ’60s. I looked up pulp fiction book cover designs on the internet; saw some examples and I liked the idea. After seeing the old book covers and titles it didn’t take me long to come up with my own book title. I sent my title and some excerpts from my book over to my friend, and a day later he sent me my cover design and asked me if I would like to make any changes with it. I told him it’s perfect, don’t change anything.


What approaches have you taken to marketing your book?


In addition to this blog tour, I also have an author’s website at http://www.kjklimasz.com, and my wife would like to create an author’s facebook page for me.


What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?


I get almost all of my story ideas, characters, and even dialogue pushing my lawnmower around my yard. Every story in my new release started with an old Honda lawn mower with a squeaky wheel making laps back and forth across my yard.
   Every writer dreams about being able to earn a living and support themselves off of crafting their stories. I once heard someone say, “If you’re going to dream, dream in Technicolor.” and if my Technicolor dream was to come true, I’d be able to say, “I earn a living mowing my own lawn.”


Do you plan any subsequent books?


  I am currently working on my first novel. The book is a mystery that starts out with two boys finding a body floating in a river. Once the victim’s identity is revealed the list of suspects grows with each new twist.
I think organization is the key to successfully writing a mystery, so I’ve spent a lot of extra time laying this story out, working in subtle foreshadowing and plot twists. I’m hoping to have the book completed next summer.


Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it.


  I’m currently reading Duma Key by Stephen King. I admire writers who can write in the first person. I say this because I’ve done a little first-person writing. At first I thought, “Oh, writing in the first person would be easy. I only need one point of view for my story.” What I didn’t realize is that as a writer you have to go into character when you write, and you have to use your character’s speech pattern to tell your story. You need to give the reader the impression that your character is sitting right beside them next to a dying campfire, and your character is stirring the glowing embers with a stick and telling the reader his or her story in their own words. Stephen King has done this very well with his character Edgar Freemantle. Like all of King’s books he has great character development and an imaginative story line. If you like Stephen King’s work, you’ll probably like Duma Key.

Thanks for stopping by, K.J.! Good luck on your first novel. Readers, if you would like to know more about Mr. Klimasz and read an excerpt from Murders, Bikers, and a Meteor, please check out his website.

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Author Interview: E.K. Henry

  Happy Friday, Everyone! Today I'm pleased to have author E.K. Henry here to give us a little sneak peek to her book Freak. Before we get to the interview, here is a little info about E.K.: E.K. Henry has always had a passion for books ever since she can remember. She has grown up spending countless nights being swept away by her favorite books into the wee hours of the night. She lives with her son and husband in Tennessee. Freak is her debut novel.

Welcome to Books in the Spotlight, E.K.! Freak is a paranormal story with dystopian elements. What made you decide to blend these two genres in your story?  

Well, I did not really plan for it to be that way; it kind of just happened.  I came up with the idea for Freak while reading a story about a Mormon family that was getting their own reality television show.  Most of the family seemed thrilled about the idea, but one child in particular wasn't.  They didn't want the world to see how different their family was from mainstream society.  This story got me thinking about what it would be like to be forced to participate in a show that was meant to spotlight how different you are than everybody else.  I tried to imagine the worst scenario that I would hate to be put in myself, and that is how Freak was born. 

Books featuring vampires are pretty abundant. How did you make your book different? What draws you to these creatures of the night?  

Yes, vampire books are abundant, but that is actually what inspired me to write one.  I wanted to challenge myself to write a new twist.  That twist included having humans be the minority, vampires that could go out in the sun, and a reality television show.  I haven’t seen anything else out there that had all of those elements.

What are some of your favorite scenes or lines from the book?

 My favorite scene is actually a spoiler so I can’t go into too much detail, but the scene is where Juniper reveals to her friend, Abi, her thoughts on what the medicine has done to her friend.  When I was writing it, it took a twist that even I didn’t see coming.

Do you have a favorite vampire from books or movies? If so, who and why?  

I love the main character [Selene] in Underworld.  She is strong woman who stays true to herself.

If you could live in any paranormal world, either in books or movies, TV, where would you live and why?

I would live in any of Stephen King's books because I love the world he creates. I still blame him for my irrational fear of clowns.

Did anything surprise you while writing Freak?  

Yes, these characters took on  life of their own and quite frankly my nice outline that I created went out the window because the characters didn't want to behave and started doing what they wanted.

In less than 10 words, how would you describe Juniper? 

Determined and spirited

October is the month we gear up for Halloween. What is your most memorable Halloween?  

The Halloween where I dressed up like a killer clown.  I hate clowns and to be dressed like a psycho one freaked me the hell out, but I did it.  It made me feel empowered because I fought through a fear.

What can readers expect from Freak? 

A quick fun read that is full of action.

What's next for you? 

I am planning on at least a sequel.  There are also some novellas in the works that go deeper into some of the other character’s stories.

Readers, if you would like to know more about and contact E.K. Henry, please check out her website, Twitter, and email. You can also find her at Goodreads too. 

Be sure to check out the awesome giveaway that I'm currently running for Freak. Just click on the cover below to enter the giveaway. There is still plenty of time to enter!

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Author Interview with Elisabeth Doyle + Giveaway!

 As part of the promotional blog tour for War Stories, I am delighted to have author Elizabeth Doyle on the blog today to talk to you all today about her book. Ms. Doyle is Doyle is a writer and attorney living in Washington, D.C. She studied fiction writing at Sarah Lawrence College and the University at Albany, and is completing a Masters of Laws Degree at Georgetown University Law Center. Ms. Doyle’s short fiction was published in the literary journal Nadir and was awarded the University at Albany’s Lovenheim Prize for best short fiction. Her first short film, Hard Hearted One, was admitted into the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema and the Street Films Film Festival, and was shown on Public Television and Manhattan Cable. War Stories is her first collection of short fiction.

Before we get to the interview, here is the cover and description of War Stories:

We all carry our own battle scars.

This is the premise of War Stories, a rich collection of short fiction that draws upon both the literal and figurative meaning of its title. Through a diverse array of characters, settings, and circumstances, War Stories delivers a series of powerful tales from the home front of war: the stories of parents, siblings, and spouses of those who have fought, as well as those who have returned from battle.

Set against the backdrop of contemporary conflicts, War Stories’ compelling nine narratives tell of a wounded veteran who seeks renewal through an imagined relationship with a neighborhood girl, a grieving father who finds peace and reconciliation at the site of a disastrous bus crash, a young woman who searches for identity and meaning in the wake of her husband’s injury, and an urban teenager engaged in a fateful standoff with local recruiters. Interspersed with these tales are powerful, non-traditional “war stories” – of youth, unexpected loss, and heartbreaking love.

War Stories’ thoughtful and beautifully crafted tales, which range in style from deceptively simple to rich and complex, tell of people young and old, male and female, who share two things: humanity and resilience. These diverse and deftly written stories are joined through Elisabeth Doyle’s remarkable style and ease in creating a universe full of despair, hope, and dreams. At turns tender and harsh, tragic and yearning, these stories will leave you wanting more.

Please welcome Ms. Doyle to the blog and if you're interested in War Stories, be sure to scroll down for the giveaway information!

Please tell us about your current release.

War Stories is a lean collection of short fiction – nine stories – many of which are set against the backdrop of contemporary conflicts, including the war in Vietnam and current wars.

Can you tell us about the journey that led you to write your book?

   In January 2002, I traveled for the first time to the country of Vietnam. I went there on a bit of a lark – a childhood friend of my mother’s was working there and had extended a kind of “open invitation” to visit. For some reason, I decided to go. Maybe I shouldn’t say “for some reason” – I was born during the war in Vietnam, and the conflict endured throughout my early childhood. I had vague memories of the images of war that flickered on our small television screen each evening. Usually, these images were mere background to our lives – they played out as my mother cooked dinner. No one seemed to pay great attention. I also had vague recollections of the scenery of Vietnam – some mountains and a village. I’m not sure where or when I saw those early childhood images – perhaps on a news program, or in a later documentary.
   In any event, I traveled to Vietnam in 2002, and it’s safe to say that the experience changed my life, and opened for me new doors of interest, of passion, and of compassion. I returned with a deep and abiding interest in the war in Vietnam, its history, and its effect on American soldiers and Vietnamese citizens. I read – and continue to read – anything that I can get my hands on regarding the war. I focused primarily on first-hand autobiographical accounts by soldiers.
I had a background in fiction writing, but hadn’t written a short story in years. When I relocated to Washington in late 2006, I resolved to return to writing, mostly at the urging of my mother and grandparents. Away from the distractions of family and familiarity, in a new city, I was able to find the peace in which to write. It should be noted that I did not set out to write a collection of short stories on the topic of war. In fact, I did not set out to write a collection, at all. I just wrote – one story after another. And what I found, as I wrote, was that the theme of war continued to assert itself in each of these stories, in one way or another. After years of reading and learning, war had apparently become the foremost, organizing principle in my mind; the circumstance around which all other things revolved. It emerged as a theme that linked all of the new stories that I wrote, without conscious or deliberate effort or planning on my part.
   It should be noted that these are not combat stories, nor do they attempt or purport to be historically accurate or to give voice to the actual experience of those who have fought. Only those who have had to fight, or who have lived in a war zone, can truly understand that experience. These stories are just that – stories – written with the deepest respect and empathy for those who have found themselves in such extreme circumstances, and who have faced the kind of difficult, unforgiving choices that most of us can only imagine.

Can you tell us about the story behind your book cover?

   Sure. Well, suffice it to say that the book cover underwent a lot of changes, much to the annoyance of the cover designer, who (nonetheless) was a wonderfully good sport about it. It was important to me to create a cover that was NOT obviously rooted in or reflective of the topic of war. This was so because, first, the title “War Stories” is used both literally and figuratively. That is, while the majority of stories in the collection are set against the backdrop of war, other stories are not. These additional tales reflect “war stories” of another kind – the kind that we might all experience. So I wanted the cover to encompass all the themes in the book.
  I chose to use a triptych of photos - a series of photos that could each be traced, if a reader so desired, to one or more of the stories in the collection. The characters in the photos are loosely representative of several of the characters in the book.

What book on the market does yours compare to? How is your book different?

I don’t really think that I can make comparisons – each book, each author, are entirely unique.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I tend to write in a “spare” style, and make a deliberate, conscious effort to avoid sentimentality or over-statement of any kind. That’s just me. I don’t know that I succeed, but I try to convey the characters’ circumstances and states of mind without excess or manipulation of the reader. I also deliberately write without any “message” or agenda in mind. None of these stories, even those that are set against the backdrop of war, are intended to convey any kind of political message, and none of them were written with any kind of agenda or judgment. I wouldn’t even begin to know how to write a story with an agenda or message in mind. In general, I write short stories as a series of vignettes – as moments in time, things that happened - from which the reader can draw his or her own conclusions, messages, etc. I prefer to leave the interpretation of the “meaning” of my stories in the hands of the reader.

Do you plan any subsequent books?

I hope so. I’ve begun a growing list of new short story ideas, and I hope to begin working on them in the very near future. I’m looking forward to that. I also hope to segue back into filmmaking at some point, to work on one or more of the documentary projects that I’d like to explore.

Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it.

I’m a bit of a history buff, and (in particular) have a longstanding interest in the civil war and the civil rights movement. I’m currently (slowly) reading through the Taylor Branch trilogy about the civil rights movement – I’m working on Part 1 of the series, which is called “Parting the Waters.” I’m so deeply moved by the courage of those individuals – known and unknown – who put their lives and safety on the line for the higher purpose of justice and freedom. I can only hope to develop some small fragment of that kind of courage. I also just purchased several new books – “The Fiery Trial – Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery” by Eric Foner, and a history of the civil war by Shelby Foote. I think the civil war and the civil rights movement are pinnacles in the evolution of our nation, and moments in which we can observe what is highest, best, and most divine in humanity.

GIVEAWAY     

 

 Thanks to the generosity of Ms. Doyle and Tribute Books, I have one (1) paperback copy of War Stories to giveaway to one (1) lucky winner! To enter, simply leave a comment with your name and email address so I can contact if you win the giveaway. The giveaway will run until SATURDAY, November 10th. The winner will be randomly picked by Random.org and announced on my blog on SUNDAY, November 11th. Good to luck!

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Author Interview with Sylvia Gunnery

 Today I'm pleased to introduce you to Sylvia Gunnery, the author of Emily for Real. The book is currently out in Ms. Gunnery's native Canada and soon to be released in the U.S. Before we get to the interview, here's some information about Ms. Gunnery (as found on the publisher's website): She is the author of many novels for teens and children. Often, the themes and characters in her books have developed from her classroom experiences with junior high and high school students. A recipient of a Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence, Sylvia has written a teachers' resource, Just Write! (Pembroke, 1998) as well as guided reading books for Curriculum Plus. She has presented at conferences, libraries, and schools across Canada and works on curriculum development and assessment initiatives with the Nova Scotia Department of Education. Ms. Gunnery is here to talk about her writing style and her latest release, Emily for Real. I hope you enjoy the interview!

Welcome to Books in the Spotlight, Ms. Gunnery.  How do you incorporate important issues in your book without making it too serious yet realistic?


I’m really happy that you see the issues in Emily For Real as realistic and yet not overly serious. That is always one of my goals while writing. It can be so easy to moralize or try to “teach a lesson.” Of course, all our lives involve issues, but I try my best to keep myself in a kind of teen mindset without all the layers of adult judgement or expectations. For teens, a lot is being experienced or observed or considered for the first time. They can sometimes be more objective, even neutral, so issues don’t have the same weight they do for adults. This story was written from Emily’s point of view and she sees things differently from me. I really enjoyed looking at what was happening in her life through her eyes and watching her responses.


Out of all of your characters, which one could you relate to the most? Which was the hardest to write?


The character I relate to the most is Emily, perhaps because I was inside her world, listening to her thoughts and observations for so long. I also gave her a lot of experiences straight out of my own life—that first walk around the block wearing her new raincoat and rubber boots (even with her Mom phoning “Mrs. Day over on Robie Street”), shovelling snow with her Dad, hitchhiking with a guy, visits in a nursing home, taking the bus downtown, seeing people feed ducks in the Halifax Public Gardens right next to a sign that says “Please do not feed the ducks.”

   The character I found hardest to write is Leo. As I mention in the acknowledgements for the novel, Leo is based on a former student of mine named Theo. Theo’s the type of person who doesn’t say much but is always so observant, very bright, and basically a good person though his anger issues could blur that. It wasn’t easy to show readers, through Emily’s eyes, all those same qualities in Leo. I might have come closest to portraying him in the cafeteria scene where he convinces Emily to casually say hi to Brian and then nonchalantly walk on by. Leo really did understand why she felt so insecure, and he wanted her to get past that. A real good friend.


Strong friendship between boys and girls are rare to find in literature. What makes Emily’s and Leo’s relationship so special?
 
I agree that these relationships are rare in literature, but in real life I don’t think they are. I had lots of guy friends when I was a teenager (and now, too). As a teacher, I saw strong friendships between guys and girls in my classrooms—admittedly, a few of them did turn into romantic relationships and even marriages. Friendship is a great basis to build a romance on, for sure. I see Emily and Leo’s friendship lasting a very long time and not changing into a romance.
   The timing was really right for both Leo and Emily to become friends. He’d just switched to a new school where he knew only a few people, and he also had heavy responsibilities at home with not much room for friends. Emily was changing—the break-up with Brian and the shift in her friendship with Jennifer were, for me, symbolic of her moving from one place in her life to another. Both Leo and Emily were open to a friendship that would give them lots of room to be independent and yet be supportive when support was most needed. I’ve had those kinds of friendships and they’re really great.


 I really liked your top 10 tips for writing YA. How did you come up with your list and which would you say is the one that is often neglected by writers?

Glad you liked those tips. Thanks! Coming up with the list was easy…limiting it to only 10 wasn’t. J Basically, I thought about what I try to do to make my novels authentic. Writing YA is a complex process, just as all writing is, and respecting my teen audience is a very important part of writing for them.
It’s hard for me to say what other writers might neglect. Sometimes, though, I have wondered whether some authors put aside their adult perspectives and really do get inside the teen world—“Be a teenager thinking.”


What message would you like your readers to take away from your book? 


I do shy away from the idea of a “message.” Each person comes into a book with unique experiences and expectations, so in some ways, everyone is reading a different book. But I hope people who read Emily For Real have a chance to think about how family secrets may not need to be secrets at all and take away a strong sense of caring for family and friends.


Besides writing, what do you like to do? What are your hobbies and interests? 


I do a lot of reading. When I was studying writing at the Banff Centre in Alberta, one of my instructors was Alice Munro and she said to me, “When you’re not writing, read.” I came to
recognize that both writing and reading engage your mind in much the same way—like musicians going to concerts or basketball players watching NBA games on television.

My partner Jim and I have flower gardens that give me a break away from my desk during the spring and summer. Though I do own gardening gloves, I love digging in the dirt with my bare hands. Also, I enjoy long walks, sometimes alone and sometimes with my neighbours’ dog Willie. I live very close to two beaches and a provincial park, so there are lots of choices for where I can wander. There’s lots of time to daydream about my characters and what they’re up to when I’m gardening and walking.


I'm always curious to see what other people are reading. What is on your to be read pile? 

I’m almost finished re-reading Leon Rooke’s short fiction collection, The Last Shot. I love his control and pace—I just counted 12 lines for a single sentence. Perfectly smooth. I’ve recently begun Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, switching from my habit of mostly reading Canadian-authored books. Last week, my sister loaned me two novels: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain and the historical novel Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin which is written in the voice of woman who inspired Charles Dodgson to write Alice in Wonderland. They’ll be next. When I’m working toward deadlines (like I am right now for a junior novel ), I get a bit distracted from reading books and I switch to magazines. September’s The Walrus and Quill & Quire just arrived, so I’ll probably be reading those until my rewrites are finished.


 What is your next project? 


My next novel started on its way in early May with a bit of daydreaming and wondering when I was in Vancouver. I’ve made some notes and even written a few pages, but everything is so tentative right now. Vague. Three sisters are involved (ages 16, 17 and 21) and they’re driving from Halifax to Vancouver, something my own sister and I did with her German Shepherd dog, Max, when we were in our twenties. I wanted to minimize the world of these three sisters basically to the size of a car and always moving forward, and then explore who they are and are becoming. The other day, I gave them a hitchhiker and his dog to add to the mix. I’m curious about how things’ll work out for all of them. That’s the fun of it!

Thank you so much for stopping by, Ms. Gunnery! I wish you the best of luck with Emily for Real. Readers, if you would like more information about Ms. Gunnery or  Emily for Real, you can visit the Pajama Press website. Emily for Real can be purchased at Chapters/Indigo, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Definitely check out the  following blogs participating in the Emily for Real Blog Tour running during August: Open Book Toronto, YA Booklover Blog, Pub(lishing) Crawl, Midnight Bloom Reads and Musings of a YA Reader

Seventeen-year-old Emily’s world crumbles when her boy friend dumps her, and when she thinks her life can’t possibly get any worse, a series of secrets are revealed that threaten to tear her beloved family apart. Emily’s heart has been broken into a hundred pieces and she feels like there is no one to turn to, until an unexpected friendship blossoms with a troubled classmate named Leo. Sometimes moody but always supportive, Leo is Emily’s rock in an ocean of confusion and disbelief.
   But Leo doesn’t have an easy life either. He struggles to be both mother and father to his little sister while his mom battles her alcohol addiction. His deadbeat dad darts in and out of the picture, and Leo would rather he stay away, permanently. The two friends lean on each other, and in the end discover the inner strength to face whatever life throws at them.
   With incredible insight into the teenage psyche and speckled with pitch-perfect humor, author Sylvia Gunnery has created a heart-warming coming-of-age story that explores the intricacies of family and friendship.

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Author Interview: Alex Flinn on Writiing Breathing Underwater and Censorship

   I'm privileged to have Alex Flinn here on the blog today. Though she's mostly known for her sweet, romantic, and popular fairy tale retellings such as Beastly, A Kiss in Time, and Bewitching. What people might not know is that Alex's first book is the gritty, realistic fiction novel, Breathing Underwater, which was challenged but ultimately retained in the Richland School in Washington this year. I actually read about the challenge off of Alex's facebook page and asked if she'd be willing to chat about her experiences of having her book challenged and the writing process of Breathing Underwater. She graciously agreed.

  Before I get to the interview, I wanted to give you a brief bio on Alex. She was born in Glen Cove, New York. Before going to law school, she received a degree in vocal performance (opera) from the University of Miami. She practiced law for ten years before becoming a full-time author. She based her first book, Breathing Underwater, on her experiences interning with the State Attorney's Office and volunteering with battered women. Breathing Underwater won the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award in 2004.

  Thank you so much for doing this interview, Alex. How did you find out that Breathing Underwater was challenged? What were your first thoughts upon hearing the news? 

  I found out from a Google alert. I've actually been surprised Breathing Underwater hasn't been challenged more, since it has a few swear words, and I know some people think that's important. I think I've had an easy time because, since Breathing Underwater is a problem novel, maybe its value is more obvious (i.e., schools can say that it teaches about dating violence) than with another type of novel. That said, I was sorry it was being challenged because I do think it has great value and the kids might not get to read it. I was also surprised there wasn't more of an uproar about it. The same district challenged Sherman Alexie's book [Rummanah's note: The book Alex is referring to is The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian which is awesome and a must read] last year, and everyone was up in arms. I don't know if my book is viewed as having less value so the censorship doesn't matter or if people are just bored, but it didn't seem like anyone really said anything in its defense.


 What does censorship mean to you as an author and as a reader? 

I think it's a shame because it keeps kids from being able to read a book they would enjoy and that might benefit them. In the case of Breathing Underwater, the challenges I have had have either been based on someone not reading the whole book (I've heard comments about not liking Nick's attitude toward women which, of course, is the whole POINT of the book, which someone would understand if they read the whole thing) or a few swear words that everyone has heard anyway. I'm a parent too, and I do pick and choose what my own kids would be exposed to, but I think it should be an individual decision. Also, it sort of amazes me that parents will let their kids see all sorts of violent PG-13 movies in grade school but will recoil at a mild swear word in a book. I guess that attests to the power people give books.

 In your opinion, what is the purpose of realistic fiction? Why is this genre so easily targeted by censors?

Realistic fiction portrays the world in a realistic way. Some readers don't care for it, but a lot of kids (including kids who don't read much at all) will read nothing but realistic fiction. I think it is easily targeted by censors because they either don't want to face that their kids are aware of certain issues or language or because they wish they weren't and want to blame a book. Also, I've seen reviews indicating that a parent was upset that a character in one of my books didn't share their values. Unfortunately, books can't all be about good kids doing wonderful things or they wouldn't have much of a story. A character needs to have flaws in order to have personal growth. For example, Kyle in Beastly is a jerk. He swears. He treats women as objects. I'm not advocating those things and I think readers know that. But that is why he needs to have a book written about him, because it is about him learning that those things are wrong. If he was a great guy, there would be no story. I think the kids get that but, again, if you skim, it's not as obvious.

  Most of the challenges arise from parents. As a parent yourself, have you previewed books for your kids? What advice would you give parents who are completely new to the YA realm? 

Frankly, I'm pickier about movies, but I do notice what my kids are reading. For the most part, my daughters haven't been all that interested in reading books above their age group (The one exception was the Twilight books, and I allowed my daughter to read the first three but not the fourth at age eleven). If I have a real question about a book, I have checked the School Library Journal reviews, which any parent can see on Amazon. Common Sense Media, though sometimes maligned by authors, is not a bad site either. I think they usually place a book as being about a year older than I would. Language, for the most part doesn't bother me, but I recommended that my daughter hold off on reading The Hunger Games until she was twelve just because it was scary. If she'd really wanted to read it, I would have let her, but I suspected she wouldn't like it. She did wait but eventually read the books.

 What is your favorite challenged/censored book you've read and why?

To Kill a Mockingbird because it's a great book.

Why did you want to write about dating violence? 

I volunteered with battered women and I thought it was an important and interesting issue.

Most of the books, at least the ones that I'm familiar with, on dating violence are told from the female point of view. What made you decide to write it from Nick's point of view? 

He was the only character that knew that side of the story. I've always liked to consider why people do what they do. When I was a young teen, I became familiar with Sondheim's musical Sweeney Todd, which was the first time I'd ever seen someone give voice to a character who was doing something really bad, yet sought to see his point-of-view. I also had the bizarre experience of being in three different English classes (in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades -- I switched schools) that read The Crucible and then being in a production of the opera in college, as one of the crying out girls. This is another play that really explores the roots of evil, what makes people do what they do, if they know it is wrong or not. I researched that era a lot and found that one of the girls (in real life) portrayed in that play (Actually, the girl I played) actually did apologize to the families of the women who were hanged on her evidence. So, did she know at the time? Did she not understand what it meant to accuse people who would then be killed? Was she too young and just following her parents? Or was she just so caught up in what was happening, as Mary says in the courtroom scene, that she didn't realize what was real and what wasn't? I am very fascinated by people's motivations. In my mind, and from the research I did, Nick (abusers in general) really did not realize he'd done anything wrong and was able to justify his actions to himself. The story, of course, is about him realizing that he can't continue to do so.

What character surprised you the most while writing Breathing Underwater? 

Nick. I started writing the book in the girl's viewpoint with just a scene or two in Nick's viewpoint, but I became completely obsessed with him.

I was surprised to read Nick's clarity in his journals, which made the book that much more powerful to me. Why did you decide to use the journal motif instead of the group therapy? 

I like split narrative books like this, such as The Prince of Tides or Rob Thomas's Rats Saw God. That was what I wanted to do, two stories that dovetailed. The journals seemed like the best way to do that.

It's been 11 yrs since Nick's story was written. Where do you imagine him to be today?

I always tell teens he's going to go to college and lead a blameless life, which is why I can't write a sequel to his story.

  Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us, Alex. I would like to think the quietness surrounding the book to mean that the book's purpose is quite obvious. 4 out of 5 board members agreed to leave the book on the 12th grade curriculum list and I've read teachers views on the book's importance and power. As a librarian I feel obligated to let parents know of any red flags that are found in the books that I feature on my blog just as if they had asked me about the book on my library shelves, which is how I came up with the "Words of Caution" part on my blog. I want to give the parent enough information so they can make the ultimate decision. Only a parent and child can know what is right for them.

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Author Interview: Jennifer Shaw Wolf

  Today I have the pleasure of having Breaking Beautiful author Jennifer Shaw Wolf on the blog today. I read and really enjoyed Jennifer's debut novel. Be sure to check back on my review of the novel next week! Breaking Beautiful will be released on April 24th, 2012.


Hi, Jennifer! Thank you for stopping by the blog today.  Can you describe your book for us in ten words or less?

A tragic accident, a terrible secret, and a second chance.


  In Breaking Beautiful, Allie was involved in an abusive relationship. I'm glad there are more books out on this important issue for teens. What made you decide to put Allie in this situation? 


About four years ago, after many years of only writing in my head, I decided I was going to take my writing seriously. The first young adult book I read at that time was Sarah Dessen’s Dreamland which is also about a girl in an abusive relationship. I loved the book, but the thought of a girl trapped in that situation horrified me, especially because I was reading it as a mother. What would it be like to have a daughter in that situation and have no idea what was going on? I had that in my head when I started writing Breaking Beautiful.

  I want the stories I write to mean something, the way Sarah Dessen and Laurie Halse Anderson, Holly Cupala and so many other contemporary teen author’s books do. (Not that I would compare myself with any of them.) I love the idea of blending real-life issues with an entertaining story. The element of teaching without preaching is one of the best things (in my humble opinion) about contemporary young adult literature.

Through Breaking Beautiful I want to make teen girls (and maybe even teen boys) more aware of the problem of dating abuse. I wanted to allow them to get inside the head of someone who feels like she’s all alone; that she can’t tell anyone what’s going on, not even the people who care the most about her. I wanted them to see things from her point of view and think about how they would handle the situation (hopefully differently). My hope is that stories like this will educate teen girls about abusive relationships and help to keep them safe.


If I went to Blake's and Allie's homes, what type of books would I see on their bookshelves? 


Blake’s books would be an eclectic mix of art books, classics like Catcher in the Rye (a story he really liked but is afraid to admit it), popular books like The Hunger Games, mixed in with some graphic novels, and a few homeopathic and nutrition books his grandma is trying to get him to read.
   Allie doesn’t read much because it’s hard for her. She has a copy of Lord of the Flies she never read, but forgot to turn back into her English teacher. All of the paperback, teen-romancy books she read in middle school were given away by her mom the last time they moved, so her bookshelf is full of books that she rescued from her grandmother’s house. Some of those include: Wuthering Heights because her mother said it was a terrible book and Allie wanted to know what was so bad about it (she couldn’t get through it), Goodnight Moon, because she remembers her dad reading it to her when she was little, and Frog and Toad Are Friends because that’s the book she and her grandma spent a whole summer on, practicing her reading. The only book that has always gone with her wherever she moved is an old Grimm’s Fairy Tale book. She keeps it under her bed and has read it over and over, even throughout high school.


What is your worst writing habit? 


My worst writing habit is the “slutty little novel” (not quite what it sounds like). It’s a term I heard from Laini Taylor when she spoke at one of the first SCBWI meetings I ever went to. I’ve now adopted it as my own. The “slutty little novel” is that idea that pops into your head while you’re in the middle of your current work in progress. It usually shows up when your work in progress gets hard to write or you feel stuck. Suddenly it seems like this grand new idea will be better and it is a distraction from your loyalties to the story you are currently writing. This distraction can lead to (in my case) about fourteen story ideas that are in various stages of development languishing on your hard drive. The way I deal with them now is I allow myself to write the outline and maybe a first chapter and then go back to what I was working on. However, it’s not always a bad thing, Breaking Beautiful started out as a slutty little novel.


The tagline of your book is "Does time heal all wounds?" Do you believe time heals all wounds? Why or why not? 


I think the idea that “time heals all wounds” is a myth. In many cases, time just buries old wounds and they never really heal, especially if they aren’t talked about or given the chance to come out in the open. In this story, Allie has to face everything that happened to her before she can move on, feel good about herself, and really heal. I think that’s an important message for teens (and really anyone); we shouldn’t expect a problem to be solved or an emotional wound to be all better just because it happened a long time ago. Emotional wounds take support and often counseling before they can truly heal.

Thank you so much for stopping by, Jennifer!

Readers if you would like more information about Jennifer, please visit her website, her blog, Twitter, and on Goodreads.

Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.
   When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.

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Author Interview: Maria V. Snyder + Giveaway!

  I'm very excited to have Maria V. Snyder on the blog today. I took a shot in the dark in contacting Maria for an author interview and was thrilled when she accepted my invitation. Maria's latest book Touch of Power was released last month and now available in your bookstores. I enjoyed the book and you can read my review here. Before we get to the interview, check out the awesome British book trailer for Touch of Power:




Welcome and thank you so much for stopping by, Maria! Your Study series was one of my favorite finds from last year and I have been recommending the series ever since.

MVS: Thank you for inviting me. I’m thrilled to be here!

I know that characters are not an autobiographical representation of their author, but they do share some similarities. Which of your characters would you say is most like you as a person?

MVS: I’d have to say Opal [from the Glass series] was the most like me at that age. Not now, but when I was in my late-teens, early 20s, I wasn’t as confident or as brave as Yelena [from the Study series], or as smart as Trella [from Inside Out].

Out of all the worlds that you have created in your books and short stories, which would you like to live in the most?

MVS: The world of Ixia and Sitia that is featured in my Study and Glass books. Inside is too crowded for me, and the Fifteen Realms (Touch of Power) is recovering from a horrible plague. Plus all my friends live in Sitia and Ixia. After writing about them for over ten years, we’ve become close. ;>

What I love about your books is that there is a balance between the presence of strong female protagonists who can take care of themselves and at the same time don't lose sight of who they are when love comes into their lives. What do you hope readers will take away from these portrayals?

MVS: I hope my reader sees that you can be independent and be in a relationship. That a relationship isn’t someone taking care of another, it is a partnership. Both partners are equals. They complement each other.

You have generously offered your readers short stories featuring our favorite characters from the Study series through your newsletter and now on your website. And I know you get asked this a million times so please forgive me but I have to ask: do you have any plans to write a book from that world in the near future?

MVS: Yes, I do plan to write another Study book with Valek and Yelena. However, it will probably be more from Valek’s point of view than Yelena’s and it will include some flashbacks about Valek’s early years. Don’t get too excited. There are no definite plans as to when this will be published – I haven’t discussed this with my editor yet. :)

YAY! Just knowing makes me happy. :) I'm super excited to read your new series. What can you tell us about Avry, your new heroine? What do find most interesting about her?

MVS: Avry has healing powers, but she’s been on the run from bounty hunters and mercenaries for three years. Her world blames healers for starting the plague that killed two thirds of the population. At the start of the book, she’s tired and lonely and decides doing something is far better than doing nothing. She heals a child, is caught and slated for execution. Avry is like my
other heroines—smart and stubborn, but she also has a more defined nurturing instinct than the others.  
    What is the most interesting is Avry’s healing powers. She has to take on the injury or illness and then heal herself. Yelena has this power as well, but it was a side effect to her other magic. I really wanted to explore that aspect of healing. The ability to heal with magic is very appealing to me. As a mother, I hate to see my children sick or injured and always wish I could make it all go away. I also have to give credit to an old Star Trek episode titled The Empath about a race of healers/empaths who would can take on the injury or illness of another. I watched all the Star Trek episodes, but this one always stayed with me.

From reading your blog, I know that you take researching very seriously when it comes to writing your books. What did learn while creating Touch of Power?

MVS: I learned about the Black Death in Europe and what happened after. I also read books on medieval medicines and found a few interesting nuggets. Right now, I’m researching traditional warfare versus guerrilla warfare for the second book, Scent of Magic.

What made you decide to write Touch of Power? Was it a story that you had been working on for a long time or was a struck of brilliance that made you go "I really have to write this story!"?

MVS: I had this vague idea about a healer or an apprentice healer during an epidemic. She was either going to be sought after for her powers – like everyone wanting her, or be hunted. I wasn’t sure. Then one night my daughter couldn’t sleep and she wanted me to tell her a story. She knew all my other books, so I started telling her about this healer. And every night, she’d ask, “What’s next?” That’s why Touch of Power is dedicated to my daughter.

If I visited your house, what books would I find on your bookshelves?

MVS: You’d find a lot! To save time, I’ll break them down by section. I’ve a mystery/suspense section with books by Dick Francis, Harlan Coben, Barbara Vine, Tess Gerritsen, and Laura Griffin. Then there’s the SF/F section that has Barbara Hambly, Kate Elliott, Mindy Klasky, Jeri Smith-Ready, Lynn Flewelling, David Eddings, Anne McCaffery, and Sheri S. Tepper. And then there’s the Young Adult books I love, including Rachel Caine, Julie Kagawa, Melissa Marr, Susanne Collins, Scott Westerfeld, and Rick Riordan.

You got some of my favorite authors listed. :) As a reader, I can't help but develop literary crushes. The love interests in your books are very swoon worthy. Do you have any literary crushes of your own?

MVS: Ilya Bahktiian from Jaran, by Kate Elliot, and Prince Ash from Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey series.

I know there are many who would agree with you about Prince Ash. I've yet to met him! Which book characters do you love to hate?

MVS: Finding complex villains is very hard, and I can’t think of any right now. I really liked Hans Gruber from Die Hard, but that’s a movie. In my Glass books, Devlen was one of those characters – I hated him, but he just wouldn’t go away.

What books have you read recently that you think everyone should read but haven't discovered yet?

MVS: For the ultimate book about girl power, I’d suggest the ladies read, The Gate to Women’s Country by Sheri S. Tepper. It might be a little too much girl power for the guys ;) I also really enjoyed Shadow’s Son, by Jon Sprunk. The main protagonist is an assassin, and the book is well written and impressive for a debut novel.

Maria, thank you so much for stopping by! I know you're insanely busy these days so I really appreciate you taking the time to be here today.

MVS: Thanks for a great interview! If your readers would like more info about me and my books, I have the first chapter of all my books on my website as well as a number of free short stories they can read. 

Readers, be sure to stop by Maria's blog too to learn more about her upcoming works, author interviews from upcoming writers, writing advice, and giveaways. You can also find Maria on Facebook, and on Goodreads.

GIVEAWAY

 Maria and her publishers have generously offered to giveaway ONE (1) signed copy of Touch of Power.  This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only. To enter, simply leave your name/alias and an email address so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway will end 11 PM EST on Friday, February 17. The winner will be selected by Random.org and announced on my blog on Saturday, February 18. Good Luck!

Giveaway is now closed

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