2017 Debut Authors Bash!!

Welcome Readers to 2017's Debut Authors Bash! 

I hope you have had a great month of reading so far! I am so excited to be part of this again this year! 

Please make sure you go and check out everyone else's post and if you are doing any social medias include  the hashtag #17DABash!

I am so pleased to announce that I did an interview with Karen McManus - the author of "One of us is lying"! I have included some information about her, the interview and a giveaway! Make sure you get to all of it and if you have read the book I would love to hear your thoughts! 

  

Author's Bio:

"As a kid I used to write books when I was supposed to be playing outside, and not much has changed. I'm a marketing and communications professional who also writes Young Adult contemporary and fantasy fiction in Cambridge, MA.

 When not writing or working I love to travel, and along with my nine-year old son I've ridden horses in Colombia and bicycles through Paris. A member of SCBWI, I hold a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of the Holy Cross and a master’s degree in Journalism from Northeastern University. Which I have never, ever used professionally.

​One of Us Is Lying is my debut novel, and I'm currently working on a second book with Delacorte Press that's scheduled to be published in 2018."

(from karenmcmanus.com)

Author's Interview: 

1) First of all thank you so much for the interview! So, How long did it take you to write this book?

It took two months to write and two months to revise, so four months total.

2) Who are your favorite authors? Did they influence your writing style? What about your favorite book? What is it and did it influence this book?

Two of my favorite classic authors are Agatha Christie and Charles Dickens, and they definitely influence my style—Christie for her red herring-laden mysteries, and Dickens for the sprawling cast of characters he always creates. When it comes to contemporary young adult, I love Becky Albertalli’s witty, authentic dialogue, and Mindy McGinness’ unflinching take on dark themes. I could never pick a favorite book, but also I’m a big Suzanne Collins fan, and the Hunger Games series is what inspired me to start writing YA in the first place.

3) I saw you got your Bachelors in English, is writing books what you always wanted to do?

Yes, but it took me a long time to get here! I started writing stories in second grade, but by the time I was in college I’d given it up, because I found it too hard to finish a book. I thought I’d do something else with writing, like marketing or journalism. And in fact I’ve done business-related writing for a long time, but the urge to create stories never really went away.

4) When and how did you get your idea for this book?

I was driving to work one day and the song “Don’t You Forget About Me” came on the radio. It’s the theme to The Breakfast Club, and I started thinking about that movie and how it might be fun to write a modern, twisted take on it. The phrase “The Breakfast Club, with murder” popped into my head and stayed there. I started thinking how you could kill somebody in a classroom without anyone realizing you’d done it, and thought of a way. Then I wondered WHY you would do that, and the story started to take shape.

5) I think what pulled me in right at the beginning was how similar it was to Gossip Girl (which is my favorite tv show) - Did this show have anything to do with some of the ideas in the book?

It was an influence, along with The Breakfast Club and Pretty Little Liars. I’ve seen the book described as a mashup of all three, which I take as a compliment :)

6) Do you have a favorite character? Personality wise or favorite to write?

I love them all equally, but Nate was the most fun to write. His voice was clear as a bell from the beginning and his scenes always flowed. Addy’s character arc was my favorite and her storyline is close to my heart.

7) Was it hard going from character to character between chapters? Like having to go from one head space to the next?

It was! I made it easier on myself by creating a separate musical playlist for each character. I’d listen to that while writing their scenes, which helped me get into their heads.

8) Did you know how it was going to end when you started writing or did it come later?

I didn’t know at the very beginning. I had a few different ideas, and decided to get started by writing sample chapters and getting to know the characters. By the end of the second chapter I knew who these kids were, and who had done it.

9) What is something you edited out of the book? Or what is something extra about the book the readers do not know?

While I was drafting I asked my son Jack, who was nine at the time, if he wanted to name a police officer. He immediately said, “Officer Hank Budapest.” So I put that in. Once the book sold and started going through the editing process, I thought somebody might suggest I change it, because it’s a highly unusual name. But nobody ever did, and Officer Hank Budapest is now canon, which makes Jack extremely proud.

Thank you all for joining me for the 2017 Debut Author Bash!! I hope you all are inspired to pick up this book because it is simply amazing! 

Make sure you enter into the raffle below for your chances to win a hardcover copy of "One of us is lying" - Open to anywhere bookdepository.com can ship to. 

See you all next year!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2015 Debut Author Bash - Day 2

Welcome back Everyone!!

Hope you all are enjoying your posts for the Author Bash!
Find some new authors or books and get to reading! 

Lauren Gibaldi Mathur

Hello, I’m Lauren. I’m an author of young adult novels and public librarian. I’ve been, among other things, a magazine editor, high school English teacher, bookseller, and circus aerialist (seriously). I have a BA in Literature and Master’s in Library and Information Studies, both from Florida State University. I currently live in Orlando, Florida with my husband, daughter, and ever-expanding collection of books. (I mean, it comes with the professions, right?)

I love dinosaurs, pasta, musicals, and cheesy jokes.

I’m represented by Claire Anderson-Wheeler with Regal Literary.

The Night We Said Yes

 

Before Matt, Ella had a plan. Get over a no-good ex-boyfriend. Graduate from high school without any more distractions. Move away from Orlando, Florida, where she’s lived her entire life. But Matt—the cute, shy, bespectacled bass player who just moved to town—was never part of that plan. And neither was attending a party that was crashed by the cops just minutes after they arrived. Or spending an entire night saying “yes” to every crazy, fun thing they could think of. Then Matt abruptly left town, and he broke not only Ella’s heart but those of their best friends, too. So when he shows up a year later with a plan of his own—to relive the night that brought them together—Ella isn’t sure whether Matt’s worth a second chance. Or if re-creating the past can help them create a different future.  In alternating then and now chapters, debut author Lauren Gibaldi crafts a charming, romantic story of first loves, lifelong friendships, uncovered secrets, and, ultimately, finding out how to be brave.  

1) What were you like in school? Where you good at English back then?

I was a drama girl in high school--I pretty much spent all my time in the drama room, or in the theatre. I loved it! I did like English class, too--I've always liked reading. I went on to major in English Literature.

2)  How did you come up with the idea for the book?

I love the idea that in one night, anything could happen. I kind of wanted to write about a really fun, amazing night where the characters felt unstoppable, and then revisit them a year later to see how that night changed them.

3) On your Goodreads page, many people compare your book to John Green's 'Paper Towns'; How do you feel about that?

As someone who loves "Paper Towns," I think it's a major compliment! I love John Green's books! That said, I think outside of both stories taking place in Orlando, they're quite different.

4) If 'The Night we Said Yes' is the so called "baby" of two other books, What would you say it's parents were?

I thought about this for a bit, and honestly have no idea! What do you think?

(Answer below in the comments) 

5) The friendship between Meg and Ella is so amazing and honest - Did you take that friendship from one in your real life?

Thanks! I didn't base Meg and Ella off anyone, but I think their friendship is similar to several of my friends. I love that honest friendship--the one that's so deep and loyal that you if you do fight, you know it'll end in about five seconds because it's not worth it. I wanted that for the two of them. I wanted them to be undeniably honest and open with one another, even when it was hard. I wanted their friendship to be just as important as the relationship between Ella and Matt because, to me, friendships are just as important as relationships.

6) I would have to say that Ella was my favorite character because she was so relatable and down to earth. It seemed like we grew with her as we went through the book. Who is your favorite character and why?

Thank you so much! I have a weak spot for Ella, definitely. She's the most like me. But I have to say my favorite character is probably Jake, I think mostly because I feel like I have to take care of him. He needs someone like that! I just want to pop into his life every now and then and make sure he's okay. I also adore Meg. I'm very protective of her.

7) There was a conversation towards the end of the book that really made me rethink things about my life and how I am living now; While writing the book was there any point where you did the same thing?

That's very amazing to hear! I think the whole "saying yes" message of the book made me want to "say yes" to more things. Like publishing in general! It's scary, but worth it. So, I think, like Ella, I say yes to more things now, even if they're scary.

8) What is one secret about the book? Like was there something you almost wrote differently, or a routine you have while writing?

Hmmm. Barker's first name is Jeremy. I wrote the entire book as Jeremy, and then changed it to his last name. So when referring to him, I still call him Jeremy (or Jerm, for short).

9) What is your favorite book and why?

I'm both a librarian and writer, so it's impossible to choose a favorite! I'll go with the ones I've read the most: The Great Gatsby and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. They're both amazing and beautiful.

10) What is the one thing you hope people take from your book?

I want people to not be afraid to go for what they really want, despite it being hard or scary. I had people tell me I shouldn't make a career of reading and writing because there's nothing in it, but, hey, I'm a writer librarian. I wanted it, so I went for it. So go for it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: An Ember in the ashes

Book Review:

An Ember in the Ashes

By: Sabaa Tahir

General Information

Copyright date: 2015

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Pages: 446

Price: $12.07 (at the link below)

ISBN: 9781595148032

Synopsis: Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do. But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy. There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

Cover: This cover is beautiful!! It is one of the main reasons why I picked it up in the first place. The colors and design really goes with the mood of the book. I felt like it really captured the essance of the book.

 

Theme: No theme really stood out but I can tell it's going to continue into the next book. 

 

Point of view: It was written in 3rd person but it shifted back and forth between Elias and Laia. 

Intended Audience: This is written for young adults but more towards the older side. A lot of YA books are written for the younger side and makes the reader feel kind of stupid but this was totally the opposite than that. 

Author Style: Sabaa Tahir is such an amazing writer and so easy to follow! She likes to write with some big words and makes you think. I loved the way her writing just flowed from one paragraph to another.

Characters: Elias- He always felt trapped...I liked him but he never really changed. But I do have to say that he was very selfless when it came to others asking him to be something hes not. She wrote him very well.

Laia- Yet again she was also written well but she seemed a little whiny and didn't really stand out. It did seem like shes changed a little throughout the book. 

Plot: When I first started the book it seemed kind of confusing because there were two different story lines but of course it came together at the end. I am excited to see where it goes into the next book. There were no holes that I could see because it was so very well thought out. I read this book so quickly because it flowed so well and was such an amazing book.

Setting: It was set in Black Cliff and Scholars quarter. Of course not in the USA and since it is fantasy it is in its own world. 

My Opinion: Ohh My God this book was amazing!! I loved this book and cannot wait to get my hands on the next one. When I was reading I really got to escape reality because the world was written up so much that I just got sucked in. There was so much hype for this book that I was hesitant to start reading it but it seriously lived up to the hype and more.

Book #2 A Torch Against the Night comes out August 30, 2016! 

Score:

Would you recommend it? YES

 If you liked this book- check out these ones:

        

Book Review: No Parking at the end times

Book Review:  By Sarah Ice

 No Parking at the end times

By: Bryan Bliss

General Information: 

Title: No Parking at the End Times

 Author: Bryan Bliss

Copyright Date: 2015

Genre: YA contemperary

Pages: 272

Price: $14.02

ISBN: 9780062275417

Synopsis: "Abigail’s parents have made mistake after mistake, and now they've lost everything. She’s left to decide: Does she still believe in them? Or is it time to believe in herself? Fans of Sara Zarr, David Levithan, and Rainbow Rowell will connect with this moving debut.

Abigail doesn't know how her dad found Brother John. Maybe it was the billboards. Or the radio. What she does know is that he never should have made that first donation. Or the next, or the next. Her parents shouldn't have sold their house. Or packed Abigail and her twin brother, Aaron, into their old van to drive across the country to San Francisco, to be there with Brother John for the "end of the world." Because of course the end didn't come. And now they're living in their van. And Aaron’s disappearing to who-knows-where every night. Their family is falling apart. All Abigail wants is to hold them together, to get them back to the place where things were right. But maybe it’s too big a task for one teenage girl. Bryan Bliss’s thoughtful, literary debut novel is about losing everything—and about what you will do for the people you love."

Cover: The cover was really pretty because of all the fog. The colors really goes well together. It does go along with the book; even though they didn't say what color the van was. 

Theme: Throughout the book the theme was really clear because the whole book seemed to revolve around it. The theme was that family is the most important thing in someones life! No matter what happens family will always be there for you whatever hardship you are going through.

Point of View: It was in first person; spoken from Abigail. She was the main character. 

Intended Audience: This book was written for young adults. It seemed like it was a reality show you were reading. That it could be happening right now. It was just right now teens, not written below them but not above them either.

Author Style: Bryan Bliss didn't have any distinctive writing styles but he was not descriptive at all. Writing like this can be a pro or a con. Yes it was easier to read because only the details that were needed were written but sometimes there were not enough details. 

Characters: The main characters were Abigail, her parents and her brother. Abigail was written really well and I enjoyed reading her. One of her biggest qualities was that she was very optimistic but that lead her to be borderline annoying. Something that I couldn't stand with her is that she could never make a decision. By the end of the book she grew up and became a better woman though.

Her parents were written well but not the best characters. Abigail's mother didn't really play a part in the book so there is not much I can say about her. The father was sort of the 'villian' of the book. I didn't like him at all and thought he was an idiot. The last character is her brother - at the beginning of the book I didn't like him at all but then by the end of it he had some qualities that I could like.

 Plot: There were a lot of things that happened within this book but none of them were 'WOW' moments. If your looking for action or some huge remarkable book then skip this one. 

This book did flow very well and a worthwhile read but once I finished it, it didn't leave me with anything. The only thing I can really say is that it was kind of dull compared to other books I normally read. 

My Opinion: I liked this book but not one of the best. My first statement after finishing the book was that I liked it but that's it. It didn't leave me with any message or any feelings. I feel like there was enough stuff happening but there should have been some great moments that make me not want to put it down. I read it all in one day because it was so short as well. Like I have said before - if you are looking for action or mind changing books then this is not for you. 

 

Score:

Would you recommend this book?  Yes

Want to buy this book?  http://www.bookdepository.com/No-Parking-at-End-Times-Bryan-Bliss/9780062275417

If you enjoyed this book: Try these ones: