3 Year Blogversary Celebration feat. Karen Fortunati (The Weight of Zero)

   Today I am joined for another day of celebrations by the amazing Karen Fortunati. As you guys know I am a huge sucker for hard topic books, so when I stumbled across The Weight Of Zero I simply knew it was perfect for me. I got an ARC sent all the way over to me and I LOVED it. Of course I invited Karen for an interview, that you can check out here, and wrote a raving review for her book right here. Also, over these past months I've had the chance of working with Karen a bit on my WIP, which was an amazing experience, and I'm truly happy to call her my friend now.

   But now, enough of my blabbing and telling you how much I loved Karen's book and everything, let's get right on to her A's to my Q's:

   1) What does YA mean to you?

   I love writing in this genre because it's a period of tremendous awakening. There's so much going on and such huge changes in a few short years. Ask anyone and they'll remember their high school years with both good and bad memories. Seeing my kids go through school, I'm intrigued and also worried by challenges that I never had to face - specificially social media and the intense pressure to have your career planned by age sixteen. I really enjoy exploring these challenges through writing.

   2) Since this is a blogversary, is there anything you'd like to say to the blogging community and are there any blogs you like/follow?

   I'm relatively new to the writing and blogging communities and am pretty stunned and grateful at how supportive they are. A few bloggers in particular have made my debut year really special: Jess at the Reading Nook Reviews who educated me on how blog tours work and made me the best gift ever. (See photo of pendants with The Weight of Zero cover.) Kirtida Guatam, a writer and psychologist, has been a huge suporter of The Weight of Zero and I'm so grateful to have met her. Rachel at A Perfection Called Books is just a powerhouse and will rule the world someday after taking control of Schreyer and of course, Alice Reeds. She was the very first blogger to contact me about The Weight of Zero so she has a special place in my heart!

   3) Could you tell us something about yourself and your book?

   Me: I'm a former attorney turned writer with a passion for history and mental health advocacy. In between writing and family and dogs, I'm finishing up a degree in American Studies and hope to get a job in a museum when I grow up!

   Book: The Weight of Zero: Contemporary Young Adult, Delacorte Press

   Release Date: October 11, 2016

   Seventeen-year-old Catherine Pulaski knows Zero is coming for her. Zero, the devastating depression born of Catherine’s bipolar disease, has almost triumphed once, propelling Catherine to her first suicide attempt. With Zero only temporarily restrained by the latest med du jour, time is running out. In an old ballet shoebox, Catherine stockpiles medications, preparing to take her own life before Zero can inflict its own living death on her again.

   But Zero’s return is delayed due to unexpected and meaningful relationships that lessen Catherine’s sense of isolation. These relationships along with the care of a gifted psychiatrist alter Catherine’s perception of her diagnosis as a death sentence. This is a story of loss and grief and hope and how some of the many shapes of love – maternal, romantic and platonic – impact a young woman’s struggle with mental illness.

   Thank you so, so much to Karen for stopping by, answering my questions, and for helping me make my WIP a better version of itself with her comments and critiques, I seriously appreciate it a lot. I highly recommend you guys checking out Karen's book once it'll be out because it was a brilliant, honest and entertaining read all in one with amazing characters.

   What do you guys think so far? Tell me below!

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3 Year Blogversary!

   It's been exactly three years today since I sat down and set up this blog, posted my first post having no idea what the hell I was actually doing. Now, three years later, I still have no clue but I try to wing it anyways. Looking at all the things that happened across those years, I think I've done a good job, somehow. I still have no idea how I got here and how already three years have passed, but I think it's a great opportunity to look back at a brief history of this blog:

   Back in July 2013 I had the idea of setting up a blog for my reviews. On July 31st I posted my first introductory post and so the journey began, but this blog hasn't always been the way it was now. Back in 2013 I originally planned on only posting in German because I wanted this to be like a exercise for me to not forget how to properly use German. But, very quickly, I realized that most of the books I've read were not even out in Germany, and would probably not be for a while, so I switched to english, adding the occasional movie review to my repertoire.

   Along the way I had the opportunity to go to a movie premiere with my best friend where we got to see City Of Bones, which arguably was quite a shit movie, but that didn't matter to use much then. What mattered was being there, experiencing a movie premier and being in the same room was the actors we were about to see on screen. Amazing!

   Thanks to this blog I've got to chance to do many other amazing things, but above all, I've discovered some of my favorite books that I would've probably never found otherwise. I mean, this blog gave me my now two favorite books in this world, and I totally know you know which ones I'm about to name: The Mara Dyer trilogy by Michelle Hodkin and The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay. These books are amazing and I cannot get enough of them.

   But, I've also gotten the chance to receive a bunch of ARCs across the years, which truth be told is something I wasn't even aware was thing before getting into the book world and having this blog. Sure, I don't get like twenty physical ARCs sent to me by the big five publishers like some other bloggers do, but then again, this blog has never been about getting the most ARCs and bragging about them. I'm beyond thankful for all the eARCs I've gotten to read, the awesome books I enjoyed before they even came out.

   In 2015 I came across Francesca Zappia and her phenomenal novel, Made You Up. The idea popped into my mind that I wanted to interview her and talk about her book. With that idea, the Ask the Author segment was born and is still running to this day, even though it's been kind of on and off across the past two months. Ever since that post I had the pleasure of interviewing and interacting with an abundance of amazing authors, an experience I am beyond thankful for.

   Amongst my favorite people to interact with across the years were, in no particular order: Francesca Zappia (because of the above mentioned reason and because I loved her book), Andy Weir (because The Martian was literally everything and interviewing him was amazing and surreal // interview), Pintip Dunn (her books are phenomenal and she's such a nice person!), Amy McNamara (because her book was beautiful and showed a raw and stunning side of grief and just showcased impossibly beautiful writing // interview), Karen Fortunati (thanks to this blog I dare calling her my friend, her book is brilliant (review) and am beyond thankful for the time she took to have a look through some of my WIP) and Mia Siegert (whom I can now also call my friend, who is amazing and lovely, and let me read the first draft of her current WIP while she also read some of my WIP giving me amazing tips and critiques // review). Without this blog I would've never gotten the chance to talk to any of these people so this seriously all blows my mind.

   So, to celebrate, I've prepared a whole months of celebrations with a bunch of authors and people from the book community. I hope you're just as excited as I am, because I am busting with excitement tbh. Everyone who's part of this has answered a set of three simple questions (though they vary slightly between authors and book community people). I've enjoyed reading their answers so I hope you guys will too!

   Thank you so much for coming along this journey, thank you to regular readers and those who might be visiting this blog for the first time right now. The past three years were amazing and I cannot wait to see what the next years will bring, hoping you'll come along to see it with me.

   Cheers to three years and many more to come!

Pokemon Go Book TAG

Disclaimer: Pokemon Go belongs to Niantic and Nintendo, please don’t sue me. 

Also, all credits for the graphics go to the original creator.

   To be honst with you guys, I've never been into Pokemon, never watched the show nor played any of the games until Pokemon GO came around. I was extremely hyped as I waited for it to be out in my country and, if you've checked my twitter, you know I'm OBSESSeD with the game, as is almost anyone right now. if you've somehow not heard of it yet, it's basically an augmented reality Pokemon game where you actually leave the house and walk around to catch Pokemon. Amazing, right? in the first 3 days after downloading it onto my phone I walked like +30km so there's that.

   Anyway, when I saw that Aentee aka Reading at Midnight created a book tag for Pokemon Go, I immediately knew I had to check it out and do it, though I've not bee tagged by anyone. So, thank you to Aentee for creating the tag and let's dive right in, shall we?

   I chose Bulbasaur just so you know. No idea why it just kind of happened. It wasn't until two days later that I found out there is a way to get Pikachu as starter but it was too late already. I seen a Squirtle on my nearby list but not actually seen it, and Charmander, no sign of him.

   I'm probably the odd one out by saying The Legend of the Ice People by Margit Sandemo because no one ever knows what I'm on about when I mention it. I found it at my grandma's house and randomly read the first 12 tomes across two weeks because I just got so into it. Maybe I should read it again some time, see what it was that made me so addicted to it.

   I want a Pikachu but wow they are so hard to come by. Props to those who caught one, so jealous really.

   Of course I'll be totally original here and say Harry Potter, because Harry Potter.

   So far I've caught and seen so many Zubats in my area it's crazy. Anyone else? Then again, the most common ones around me are Pidgeys and Rattatas, but Zubats are closely behind those two. Though I've not come across the evolved version just yet.

   When it comes to a book I lost interest in because it's everywhere I actually have two answers, both probably equally unpopular. Number 1 is Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. This book is really hyped, as are the sequels, but I've just really lost any interest I had at first to read it. I've heard a lot of mixed things about it, my bestie told me I probably won't like it, so this one is very high on my 'probs not gonna read it' list.

   A close second is the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. I've read Throne of Glass and I fairly enjoyed it, but then I started the sequel and lost my interest. Also, let's face it, this series is also everywhere and everyone talk about it and either really loves it or is indifferent toward it. From what I heard where the series is going (Yes, I've actually watched Polandbananasbooks' reviews for all the books...) I'm even less interested in it. I guess high fantasy is just really not my cup of tea.

   To be honest, I've pondered bout this question for three days now and the only book that came to my mind was Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED Anna but let's face it, it had a lot of tropes and things we've already seen done numerous times in YA, but, still a cute read tho.

   I've not seen a Snorlax yet either, though that's not quite true since I saw someone have it at a Gym, but I've never seen it in my surroundings being actually catchable.

   I'm probably the last person in the book community to read this one even though I even got it as audiobook, but yes, I've still not read Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare. I've loved The Infernal Devices, I enjoyed The Mortal Instruments, so I have no idea why I've not made my way through Lady Midnight just yet. I mean, I've started it but only got about 10% in before I stopped to read a book I had for review so...But I hope I'll get around to reading this very soon. But like that size tho, holy.

   For some reason Gengars remind me of danisnotonfire and AmazingPhil solely because they have plushy version of it and it was in one of their videos, I think. I don't even know. But I'd really like to catch one.

   The last book that has kept me up at night because I simply had to know how the story continues and how it'll end was Life After Juliet by Shannon Lee Alexander. This was an amazing read and worth all the sleeping hours I've sacrificed to read it deep into the night. You should check it out.

   So far I've only encountered and captured their smaller versions (bravo me for not remembering what they are called and being too lazy to look it up...fake fan) in both the male and female version.

   I have so many OTPs BUT I have three main ones belonging to my favorite standalone, trilogy and series. I can't decide on one single favorite so each of these three has their own one.

   Starting with my fave standalone, The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay, which has my OTP Nastya and Josh. That book is amazing and these two are perfect and I just love them so much.

   Next up my favorite trilogy is the one I can all of you can name because let's face it I've talked about it at least a thousand times on this blog already - The Mara Dyer Trilogy by Michelle Hodkin. Mara Dyer and Noah Shaw are perfection, fight me. I love Noah so much I even named my laptop after him. That's dedication right here.

   And my favorite series (I see people coming after me already for not saying Harry Potter) is Vampire Academy because it's awesome and it has Rose and Dimitri. Dimitri is literally goals right there, just saying.

   BONUS: Alec and Magnus from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. They are my favorite pairing from all her books, because like how could they not be?! Malec are a-maze-ing!

 First of all, I love Ponyta and Rapidash, they are legit my fave Pokemon of them all, just saying.

   I'm gonna go with Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman. This is an outstanding read with a fast pace, thrills and scary moments, and a incredibly unique way of telling the story in terms of formatting. So impossibly cool! You should read it if you haven't yet.

   Eevee is so cute and her evolved versions are really cool and I'd totally love to get all of them, but until now I've only seen a total of three Eevees so I guess I'll have to wrap myself in patience.

   I'm no not going to surprise anyone with my answer because of course I could never get enough of the Mara Dyer trilogy by Michelle Hodkin, so the fact that there will be a spin-off series makes my heart perform the biggest happy dance ever. Can't wait to read it all!

   When I first heard about Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead thanks to th movie trailer I was underwhelmed BUT then I actually watched the movie (and was one of the very few people who actually really like it) and simply had to read it. To my surprise the series quickly became my favorite series of all so theres that.

   For this one I'm going to go with the Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. The book world is crazy about these books and the Six of Crows duology (?) so I cannot wait to finally get to reading it and finding out what all the hype is about.

   The only one that comes to my mind is that amazing edition of Harry Potter in the four house versions because I'd totally want the Slytherin one, because I'm obviously one. Too bad that they are so crazy expensive.

   Heres a tiny rant: All the eggs I've so far hatched were all complete crap. Like how even? Each one I hatched was a Pokemon I already had before, and like there was like a Rattata in a 5km one. WHY? Still waiting for my Ponyta, seriously.

   A book y a debut author I look forward to is The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati even though I've already read it, but I can't wait for others to read it and hopefully love it just as much as I did. It's an absolutely phenomenal book that means the world to me. So much love.

   I have a few authors that I love so much that I would just buy anything they write, even like their grocery lists or something, just to have more words from them. Two that I'm going to name will be familiar since I've mentioned them before, and two are new ones so here they are: 

   Michelle Hodkin (selling my soul to her because Mara Dyer is everything), Sebastian Fitzek (he's the only German author I enjoy reading and his psychological thrillers are just absolutely chilling and goals), Karen Fortunati (a-ma-zing and just such a nice person, I like Karen a lot) and Mia Siegert (brilliant author, amazing words, such an incredibly nice person that has so many helpful things to say and like her current WIP is the best thing ever and I'm so excited that I got to read part of it).

   Even though the servers were down in my area a few times, I've actually never seen this screen--lucky me--but as fellow players I know you've most likely encountered it and you know what horrible sight it is, especially when you just REALLY want to play. Though I've spent way to much time with the loading screen, like seriously, we're like frenemies now and I am slowly getting a bit sick of seeing it so much.

   I am DYING as I'm waiting for Gemina by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman, the sequel to Illuminae. I LOVED Illuminae last year (here's my review), and I might be getting an ARC of Gemina so I'm beyond excited. I've heard really good things so far so that doesn't help. Must have it. Must read it. NOW.

* * *

   And that's it for the Pokemon GO Book Tag. If you want to do this tag, feel yourself tagged by me right now, and if not, I hope you enjoyed reading my answers. Below in the comments, tell me if you play the game and, if so, which team are you?

2016 Debut Author Bash - Guest Post: Karen Fortunati (The Weight of Zero) + Giveaway

   Welcome!

   I am incredibly excited to be part of this years Debut Author Bash hosted by YA Reads. Today I am bringing you my final post promoting an amazing debut author and her incredible book!

   For the grand finale I am bringing you a marvelous guest post written by the brilliant Karen Fortunati, author of The Weight of Zero. Check out what she wrote, along with her book and the giveaway below!

The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati

Expected Publication: October 11th 2016 by Delacorte Press

Number of Pages: 400 Pages

Series: No

   Seventeen-year-old Catherine Pulaski knows Zero is coming for her. Zero, the devastating depression born of Catherine’s bipolar disorder, almost triumphed once; that was her first suicide attempt.

   Being bipolar is forever. It never goes away. The med du jour might work right now, but Zero will be back for her. It’s only a matter of time.

   And so, in an old ballet-shoe box, Catherine stockpiles medications, preparing to take her own life before Zero can inflict its living death on her again. Before she goes, though, she starts a short bucket list.

   The bucket list, the support of her family, new friends, and a new course of treatment all begin to lessen Catherine’s sense of isolation. The problem is, her plan is already in place, and has been for so long that she might not be able to see a future beyond it.

   This is a story of loss and grief and hope, and how some of the many shapes of love—maternal, romantic, and platonic—affect a young woman’s struggle with mental illness and the stigma of treatment. (goodreads.com)

Inspirations behind The Weight of Zero 

and its characters

   When The Weight of Zero begins, seventeen-year-old Catherine Pulaski has formulated a suicide plan. That’s how she first appeared in my head – lonely, ashamed and dreading the return of her bipolar depression that she’s named “Zero.” I knew immediately that Catherine would get help from people she never expected and that help, along with her inner strength, would aid in her struggle. I also knew in that first month of writing that Catherine would be inspired by a historical figure.

   This idea of historical inspiration had made a huge impression on me well before I wrote Weight. What happened was this: after years of query rejection, I figured that this writing thing probably wasn’t going to pan out. So I went back to school for a graduate degree in American Studies. One of the first papers I wrote was on a work of art by Judy Chicago called The Dinner Party. I was pretty appalled by it. At first, the idea sounded intriguing: a triangular table set for thirty-nine significant women from Western history. It’s set on a white tile floor inscribed with the names of 999 women. What’s more, the place settings are made with materials and techniques used during the era when each woman lived. So it all sounded great until I read about the dishes, specifically the imagery and shape of the plates. You see, artist Judy Chicago crafted the plates using vaginal/butterfly imagery. I’m not kidding. I scoffed at this masterpiece of feminist art.

   Until I went to see it at the Brooklyn Museum. (It’s on permanent display and if you have a chance to see it, go!) It is basically majestic. And it became even more so after I had done my research. Because I learned that Chicago suffered mindboggling discrimination as a young woman artist in the 1960s and ‘70s. Prejudice was rampant in museums and galleries and in the art schools and colleges, women were instructed to avoid sexual imagery, pale and pastel colors and delicate lines as well as girlie techniques like sewing, embroidery, ceramics and china painting.

Taken from here.

   Chicago struggled. And specifically turned to women in history for consolation and inspiration. Yet her reading also infuriated her because she couldn’t comprehend how the many contributions of women had been omitted from mainstream culture. So The Dinner Party became Chicago’s personal history project as well as a defiant, in-your-face gesture to the male-dominated art world. She jubilantly employed the techniques, materials and sexual imagery that had been outlawed. And she kicked ass.

   So in 2014 when I charged into writing Weight, I searched for a historical figure to inspire Catherine. My initial research focused on the D-Day Invasion and by complete luck, I found an article about the four women buried in the Normandy

Taken from here.

American Cemetery. Three of these women were from the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the first all female, all African-American unit to serve overseas. I studied up on the Six-Triple-Eight and their courage and perseverance astounded me. They suffered horrible prejudice especially in the 1940s because they were women and black and serving in a segregated military. And like so many accounts of women in general and during World War II, they remain basically unknown.

   There was no doubt in my mind that I would create a character belonging to this unit and Private First Class Jane Talmadge is based on the real recollections of members of the Six-Triple-Eight. Through a history project much like Chicago’s, in The Weight of Zero, Catherine gains consolation and inspiration from Jane.

   Like Catherine, I was tremendously inspired by the Six-Triple-Eight. I’m hopeful that the publication of Weight will further publicize their incredible story.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

   I’m a writer of contemporary, realistic YA. The subject of my first book, The Weight of Zero, is mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder, and it explores the shame, stigma and anxiety that often complicate the management of this chronic condition. The issue is personal to me having witnessed the impact of depression and bipolar disorder in relatives and friends. My goal was to write a story of hope for teens who struggle with mental illness.

   My path to writing and publication was a long and indirect one. I graduated from the University of Scranton with an accounting degree and then got a law degree from Georgetown. After working as a lawyer for many years, I found myself growing interested and then fascinated with history, specifically the American Revolution. This fascination sparked the idea for a middle grade story so between family, dogs and a return to school (Trinity College for a master’s degree in American Studies), I threw myself into writing.

   Success for that middle grade story never arrived. (To see my interview about that, click here.) But that was okay. Because another idea was brewing, one that moved me in a way my first story never had. About a girl who had to deal not only with the standard pressures and stress of high school but also a much heavier weight – a mental illness. The story would be about her struggle to come to terms with it. It became The Weight of Zero. (Taken from Karen's website)

Review: The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati

The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati

Expected Publication: October 11th 2016 by Delacorte Press

Number of Pages: 400 Pages (Hardcover)

Series: No

   Seventeen-year-old Catherine Pulaski knows Zero is coming for her. Zero, the devastating depression born of Catherine’s bipolar disorder, almost triumphed once; that was her first suicide attempt.

   Being bipolar is forever. It never goes away. The med du jour might work right now, but Zero will be back for her. It’s only a matter of time.

   And so, in an old ballet-shoe box, Catherine stockpiles medications, preparing to take her own life before Zero can inflict its living death on her again. Before she goes, though, she starts a short bucket list.

   The bucket list, the support of her family, new friends, and a new course of treatment all begin to lessen Catherine’s sense of isolation. The problem is, her plan is already in place, and has been for so long that she might not be able to see a future beyond it.

   This is a story of loss and grief and hope, and how some of the many shapes of love—maternal, romantic, and platonic—affect a young woman’s struggle with mental illness and the stigma of treatment. (goodreads.com)

* Thank you, Karen, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review *

   There are books you know you will like, and there are books that manage to exceed all your hopes and expectations. The Weight of Zero was high on my list of anticipated reads of 2016 and it didn't fail to deliver, beat all my expectations by a tenfold and easily stands a giant chance at being my book of the year 2016, even though it's only April.

   The Weight of Zero belongs to my favorite kind of books, those contemporaries that deal with hard topics such as depression and bipolar, as in the case of this one. Knowing that, I was painfully aware, and afraid, of all the tropes that could possibly litter this one, but, thankfully, I found none of them. The Weight of Zero shows a very truthful and realistic, raw and honest portrayal of those two mental illnesses, of life, friendships, and love with them, and it does it brilliantly.

   Our protagonist in The Weight of Zero is Catherine who, as mentioned before, is suffering of bipolar and depression which drives her to the decision that, at some point in the foreseeable future, she wants to commit suicide. That sounds really sad, might be discouraging to some, but her tale isn't sad. It's very honest, intriguing and funny at times, offering insights into both the social and psychological aspect of living with a mental illness, or multiple ones. 

   I absolutely loved Catherine. Her voice felt like that of a young adult with quirks and thoughts that felt like ones something someone of her age would actually have. I loved how passionate she was about their history project, loved her relationship with her new friends and the way she started to change over time. Her character arc was amazing and I loved every second of it. She wasn't one of those perfect Mary Sue type girls who only realized their true worth and everything because of a boy, no, she does it all on her own and it's beautiful to watch. Something else that stood out to me was how she learned to differentiate between her self and her illness, understanding that they are two different things, not a single one.

   Speaking of her friends, I loved Kristal. She was an amazing character, a wonderful friend, and just generally someone I would love to be friends with in real life. I loved every scene in which we saw the two of them interact, even the sadder ones, because it really felt like reading about two young girls and not forty year old philosophers.

   And Michael was just perfect in every way. He wasn't your typical swoon worthy "Mr. Six pack I could have every girl I want and I'm a bad boy" type love interest, but rather an ordinary boy with a wonderfully crazy family. He was amazing, toward Catherine and his friend. He also seemed like someone I would have loved to be friends with during my school times.

   Another thing I loved about The Weight of Zero was the fact that it showed that the right medication and psychiatrist can really have very positive effects on you and your journey with mental illnesses. Usually, we only see medication shown in a either neutral or negative way, but here we see the positive one, which is definitely something I wish we could see more often. The same goes for Catherine's psychiatrist who is great at his job and shows that they are really there to help you and not make you feel worse or force you into talking and doing things you don't want to my manipulating you.

   When it comes to Karen Fortunati's writing style, I can only say that I think it's amazing and her voice for Catherine was intriguing, realistic and great. Her trains of thoughts made sense, the way she described certain scenes and moments was captivating, and it really made you feel whatever it was that was happening to Catherine. I cannot wait to see what Karen will write next because I will definitely read it.

   All in all, I think The Weight of Zero is one of those wonderful examples of a hard topic book done very much very right. It shows a really realistic view at mental illnesses and living with them, it gives you hope and shows that you can still have a normal and happy life despite them, that even during dark moments, there are still good ones. So I can only dearly recommend this book on so many levels, no matter if you're looking for a book with wonderful friendships, a cute romance or a hard topic book in general, this one is a very good choice fitting all three of them.

I give The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati 5 out of 5 Stars.

Ask the Author: Karen Fortunati (The Weight of Zero)

   For this weeks Ask the Author I'm bringing you the amazing Karen Fortunati, author of The Weight of Zero. When I first came across this book I knew that this was something I would love, I mean, it deals with hard topics - bipolar disorder and depression - which already is a big plus, but additionally this story sounds really amazing. So, of course, I e-mailed Karen to ask for an interview. She was extremely friendly and fun to talk to. She agreed to do it so, below, discover her book and her amazing A's for my Q's.

The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati

Expected Publication: October 11th 2016 by Delacorte Press

Number of Pages: 400 Pages (Hardcover)

Series: No

   Seventeen-year-old Cath knows Zero is coming for her. Zero, the devastating depression born of Catherine’s bipolar disease, has almost triumphed once, propelling Catherine to her first suicide attempt. With Zero only temporarily restrained by the latest med du jour, time is running out. In an old ballet shoebox, Catherine stockpiles meds, preparing to take her own life when Zero next arrives.

   But Zero’s return is delayed. Unexpected relationships along with the care of a new psychiatrist start to alter Catherine's perception of her diagnosis. But will this be enough? This is a story of loss and grief and hope and how the many shapes of love – maternal, romantic and platonic – impact a young woman’s struggle with mental illness. (goodreads.com)

Interview with Karen Fortunati

   1 - Describe The Weight of Zero with a twitter pitch.

   Supported by friends, doctors and family, a young girl moves beyond thoughts of suicide toward a better future.

   2 - What was the first initial thought or thing that sparked the idea of The Weight of Zero? Was it a name or the most basic idea of a story about a girl with depression caused by having bipolar disorder?

   In 2012, I was attending a writing workshop and had to come up with a first page of something brand new. Catherine, the main character of The Weight of Zero, and the general idea of her story came to me almost immediately. I knew right away that she was considering suicide because she had little hope that a life with bipolar disorder could be meaningful. And I knew it would be a story of hope. When you first meet her, Catherine is seriously struggling and her doctor has made some changes that include a new group therapy program. So the story unfolds from there and we see how these new supports impact her struggle.

   Looking back now, I think I understand why her story called to me. I’ve seen first hand the impact of suicide. I know people who suffer from depression, anxiety, addiction and bipolar disorder. And for these family members and friends who have battled these issues, I’ve also seen them get through it and emerge to a place of stability and peace. My husband’s work continues to support my own experiences. He’s been a child and adolescent psychiatrist for sixteen years and through him, I have a good understanding of the potential of mental health treatment. My unwavering belief that there is always hope is what propelled me to write Catherine’s story.

   3 - How much research did you do on bipolar and depression? And did you, at some point during research, feel discouraged or anxious in terms of writing about it, or rather incorporating it into your story?

   My first manuscript was a middle grade fantasy so when I started writing The Weight of Zero, I felt a frightening amount of responsibility in getting it as authentic as possible. I read all the time, scoured the Internet reading personal accounts, subscribed to blogs, etc. I found Kay Redfield Jamison’s An Unquiet Mind especially moving and that helped me a lot in understanding Catherine. My husband was invaluable in explaining the symptoms of bipolar disorder and the different types of treatment. I was really lucky that way to have him as a resource 24/7.

   4 - Did you have a personal motivation behind writing a story dealing with mental illness or was it out of pure interest in the illness itself?

   I definitely felt compelled to write about high school and what it’s like with the added weight of a mental illness. High school can be tough – intense pressure to have your life completely planned out by age sixteen, social media, peer pressure, bullying, the stress of friendships and romances beginning and ending or not starting at all, college applications, etc. This is what I remember and these are some of the things I’ve seen my own kids struggle with. So Catherine has to deal with all of that. And come to terms with her bipolar disorder. A struggle that’s complicated by the very real stigma having a mental illness often carries. The story follows Catherine as she learns to navigate the built-in stressors of high school along with her mental health and treatment.

   5 - How long did it take you from first thought until publishing deal? Out of curiosity, how many queries did you have to send until you found 'the one'?

   I wrote the first page of The Weight of Zero in the fall of 2012 but didn’t really dive into writing it until a year later. It took me a year and I finished it in November of 2014. Things moved really fast from there. Sara Megibow of KT Literary, my dream agent, offered me representation in January 2015 and Delacorte Senior Editor Kate Sullivan bought it in February 2015.

   Regarding the number of queries, once The Weight of Zero was finished, I queried around fifteen agents.

   6 - How do you feel about the fact that in only a few more months thousands of readers will be able to hold and read your debut novel?

   Incredibly grateful, excited and nervous!

   7 - Why do you think the readers out there should pick up The Weight of Zero? What makes the story stand out and, in a way, important?

   The story explores the culture of high school and what it’s like for kids who have the added burden of a physical or mental disorder. The story focuses on Catherine’s journey – how she adjusts to changes in treatment: a new psychiatrist, a new group therapy program and a new medication. What’s different about The Weight of Zero is that it shows treatment making a positive change in Catherine’s life! It’s about what can happen when doctors and therapy and medication align. Catherine gets this new, expanded support network from the most unexpected people (including one tiny, Italian grandmother!) These changes and these new supports turn out to be critical.

   8 - While writing the story did you ever imagine how a cover might look like and what do you think about the absolutely gorgeous final version?

   I had a very specific image of Catherine and was really worried that the image of her on the cover wouldn’t be right. My editor Kate Sullivan shared that concern and I know she went through tons of images before coming up with the final version. I can tell you that the cover still blows me away. I love the bright yellow and how Catherine is positioned in the middle of the scribbled zeroes. It perfectly captures her and the essence of her story.

   9 - Did you listen to any particular songs or artists while writing The Weight of Zero? If so, could you give us an example?

   I didn’t listen to a specific playlist or artist while writing. In fact, most of the time I wrote without music. But there was one song I heard after I finished the story. It reminds me of Catherine especially as she is in the last three or four chapters of the book - Kelly Clarkson’s “Catch My Breath.”

   10 – What advice could you give aspiring authors?

   Don’t quit! Find critique partners that you trust and enter contests. Contests open up new ways of networking and mentor possibilities.

   11 – If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

   Flying. I have always wanted to be able to take flight like a bird – just start running and then go airborne. Probably because I’m lazy and flying looks effortless.

About the Author

   I’m a writer of contemporary, realistic YA. The subject of my first book, The Weight of Zero, is mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder, and it explores the shame, stigma and anxiety that often complicate the management of this chronic condition. The issue is personal to me having witnessed the impact of depression and bipolar disorder in relatives and friends. My goal was to write a story of hope for teens who struggle with mental illness. (karenfortunati.com)

Waiting on Wednesday: The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati

   Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine in which we discuss our most anticipated upcoming releases.

   The book:

The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati

Expected Publication: September 6th 2016 by Delacorte Press

Number of Pages: 400 Pages (Hardcover)

Series: No

   Seventeen-year-old Cath knows Zero is coming for her. Zero, the devastating depression born of Catherine’s bipolar disease, has almost triumphed once, propelling Catherine to her first suicide attempt. With Zero only temporarily restrained by the latest med du jour, time is running out. In an old ballet shoebox, Catherine stockpiles meds, preparing to take her own life when Zero next arrives.

   But Zero’s return is delayed. Unexpected relationships along with the care of a new psychiatrist start to alter Catherine's perception of her diagnosis. But will this be enough? This is a story of loss and grief and hope and how the many shapes of love – maternal, romantic and platonic – impact a young woman’s struggle with mental illness. (goodreads.com)

   My thoughts:

   When I saw a tweet about this book I immediately knew that yes, this is definitely something I'm interested in. In true Alice fashion this is a hard topic book dealing with depression and bipolar disorder, which, let's face it, screams my name. You know how dear books with hard topics are to my heart so of course I want this book asap. Because I'm me, I've already contacted the author for an interview and everything because I'm intrigued as heck by this book. Mental illnesses are definitely something we need to discuss more in our society, meaning that YA books about them are incredibly valuable, in my opinion, so September can't come quick enough for me so I can read this!

   I so wouldn't mind getting an ARC of it, just saying... ;)

   Let me know in the comments below or via twitter (@Alice_Reeds) which books you're waiting for this Wednesday!