Ask the Author: Michelle Falkoff (Playlist for the Dead)

   Hey guys!
   This week for Ask the Author I'm bringing you the author of Playlist for the Dead, a YA Contemporary, Michelle Falkoff. I'm super excited to read her book hopefully very soon, and I'm even more excited that she took her time to answer a couple of questions.
   Here is her book and the interview:

Playlist for the Dead by Michelle Falkoff
Published: January 27th 2015 by HarperTeen
Number of Pages: 288 Pages (Hardcover)
Series: No

   A teenage boy tries to understand his best friend's suicide by listening to the playlist of songs he left behind in this smart, voice-driven debut novel.
   Here's what Sam knows: There was a party. There was a fight. The next morning, his best friend, Hayden, was dead. And all he left Sam was a playlist of songs, and a suicide note: For Sam—listen and you'll understand.
   As he listens to song after song, Sam tries to face up to what happened the night Hayden killed himself. But it's only by taking out his earbuds and opening his eyes to the people around him that he will finally be able to piece together his best friend’s story. And maybe have a chance to change his own. (goodreads.com)

Interview with Michelle Falkoff

   1 – Describe Playlist for the Dead like a twitter pitch – 140 characters.
   Teenaged boy's best friend commits suicide and leaves behind a playlist of songs to help him understand what happened.

   2 – What sparked the idea of writing a YA novel which deals with teen suicide and its effect on those who were close to the one who committed suicide?
   I'd read some books I really loved in which boys lost girls they'd been interested in, and I wanted to explore how it would be different to lose someone who was a friend.

   3 – How did you prepare yourself to write a story like this? Did you simply try to imagine how it must feel like when something like this happens or did you talk to people who had to deal with someone close to them committing suicide?
   For me, it's usually a process of researching the surrounding circumstances and then imagining the specifics with respect to the characters. This means I did a lot of research on suicide generally, but I didn't read a lot of personal narrative because I wanted to be true to Sam's experience, as someone who'd lost someone.

   4 – What was the process of deciding on the playlist which Hayden left for Sam? How hard was it?
   It was so hard, but so much fun! I started out looking for songs that dealt with suicide and death, but they weren't really working for me--they were too dark or too on-the-nose; they didn't really hint at anything specific to Hayden. I ended up looking for songs that fit the theme of whatever I was trying to explore in each chapter, themes that would have meant something to Hayden. Sometimes they were supposed to trigger memories for Sam; sometimes they were signals from Hayden that there were things going on in his life that Sam didn't know about.

   5- How long did it take you from first idea until publishing deal? And how many queries did it take until you found 'the one'?
   I worked with a production company, so thankfully I didn't have to deal with the business side of things very much. From our first conversation about the book until it came out was about two-and-a-half years, though I didn't spend all of that time writing.

   6 – What do you think about the final cover? While writing, did you ever imagine how a cover might possibly look like?
   I had not imagined the cover at all--for some reason I had no idea what I thought it should look like, except that I was hoping it would be somewhat abstract, just because I like abstract things. When I got the first version of it I absolutely loved it, and though it went through some edits, it only got better.

   7 – What do you like most about YA?
   I love that it tends to be honest and raw and unfiltered. And I love that the category is broad enough to encompass so many genres--there's really something for every kind of reader.

   8 – Which do you prefer: trilogy or standalone?
   Standalone, but that's because most of what I read is realistic (or semi-realistic) and doesn't lend itself to serialization as well.

   9 – If you were forced to participate in The Hunger Games, as female from District 12, what would be your strategy? Fight or flight?
   I suspect I'd hide until someone came and killed me. Though I like to think I'd set up some traps, just in case. Does that mean flight?

About the Author

   Michelle Falkoff's fiction and reviews have been published in ZYZZYVA, DoubleTake and the Harvard Review, among other places. She is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and currently serves as Director of Communication and Legal Reasoning at Northwestern University School of Law. 

Review: None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio

None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio
Published: April 7th 2015 by Balzer + Bray
Number of Pages: 352 Pages (Hardcover)
Series: No

   A groundbreaking story about a teenage girl who discovers she was born intersex... and what happens when her secret is revealed to the entire school. Incredibly compelling and sensitively told, None of the Above is a thought-provoking novel that explores what it means to be a boy, a girl, or something in between.
   What if everything you knew about yourself changed in an instant?
   When Kristin Lattimer is voted homecoming queen, it seems like another piece of her ideal life has fallen into place. She's a champion hurdler with a full scholarship to college and she's madly in love with her boyfriend. In fact, she's decided that she's ready to take things to the next level with him.
   But Kristin's first time isn't the perfect moment she's planned—something is very wrong. A visit to the doctor reveals the truth: Kristin is intersex, which means that though she outwardly looks like a girl, she has male chromosomes, not to mention boy "parts."
   Dealing with her body is difficult enough, but when her diagnosis is leaked to the whole school, Kristin's entire identity is thrown into question. As her world unravels, can she come to terms with her new self?

“Love isn’t a choice. You fall for the person, not their chromosomes.”

   This book was literally none of the above. It was like no other book I have read before. It dealt with topics such as intersex (which I've heard about for the first time in this book), gender and gender identity and many other topics which are definitely on the list of topics that should be discussed more, especially in YA books. None of the Above is an important book, easy as that.

“Did anyone ever mention anything to you about something 

called androgen insensitivity syndrome or AIS?”

   None of the Above follows Kristin who has a boyfriend, a full college scholarship and two best friends. But, everything suddenly changes when she finds out she is intersex. The story sets of from there and shows us not only many different information’s about this topic of what it means to be intersex, but also uses this opportunity have a discussion about what it actually means to be a man or a woman, beyond the most obvious aspects. It also dealt with the most basic thoughts we all would have in this situation, like "will my friends support me?" or "how will my boyfriend react to this?".
   One of the aspects of this book which I enjoyed most was how true to the teenage nature her classmates and fellow students in general reacted when they found out and how being uninformed can cause a great deal of damage, which most people (especially bullies) don't take into account. I liked the way Kristin dealt with everything that was happening and how true to her character and to the way an actual girl might react in such a situation.

   Speaking of which, I liked Kristin a lot and I enjoyed reading from her perspective. Her voice seemed very raw, real and honest. I liked following her thought process of how she wanted to deal with things, or sometimes not deal with them at all. And I really liked how her father tried to dig up every information the internet would offer on the topic to inform himself, and subsequently also help Kristin deal with the situation. He reminded me a lot of my mother, who each time I'm sick finds any and all possible ways to cure it that she can get.
   I also enjoyed the romance aspect in None of the Above, which luckily wasn't the center piece of the story, but rather something that happened quietly in the background and really played a role later on in the story.

   All in all, None of the Above was a wonderful YA novel which is unique in many ways and shines light on many topics which should be discussed way more, especially in school so that cases of 'uninformed, quick to judge bullying' could be prevented or at least toned down a bit.
   Genres like fantasy or paranormal might be full of action and sizzling romances which intrigue, but, I think it's important to sometimes read a contemporary like this which deals with real life issues in all the right ways in which schools or movies are not quite able to (yet).

I give None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio 5 out of 5 stars.

Ask the Author: Sara Raasch (Snow Like Ashes)

   Hey guys!
   Today I am bringing you an interview with Sara Raasch, the amazing author of YA Fantasy novel Snow Like Ashes, and it's upcoming sequel Ice Like Fire.
   Here is her novel and her interview:

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
Published: October 14th 2014 by Balzer + Bray
Number of Pages: 416 pages (Hardcover)
Series: Yes, #1 in Snow Like Ashes series

   Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now the Winterians' only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter's magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.
    Orphaned as an infant during Winter's defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians' general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend and future king, Mather—she would do anything to help Winter rise to power again.
    So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore their magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she's scaling towers and fighting enemy soldiers just as she's always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn't go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics—and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.
    Sara Raasch's debut fantasy is a lightning-fast tale of loyalty, love, and finding one's destiny.

Interview with Sara Raasch

   1 - Describe Snow Like Ashes in a haiku.

   A warrior girl

   Fights for freedom and Winter.

   The storm starts with her.

   2 - What makes Snow Like Ashes stand out in its genre?
   I particularly love the Season Kingdoms -- it was so fun to develop their different cultures and people!

   3 - How long did it take you from first idea until publishing deal? And how many queries did it take until you found 'the one'?
   I started writing SNOW LIKE ASHES when I was a preteen, and it came out when I was twenty five, so all in all (with a few years here and there with breaks for other projects) almost half my life. I got my current agent with a query for a different book, but adding those queries to the ones I sent to get my first agent, I sent upwards of hundreds!

   4 - Why and how did you decide that the Kingdoms in your fantasy world should be based upon seasons and why winter? Is it your favorite season of the year?
   I first got the concept when I wanted to write a book where "winter" was perceived as the good guys. The other Season Kingdoms evolved from there. Actually, winter is not my favorite season -- I'm a total autumn girl!

   5 - What was the most challenging about writing Snow Like Ashes, and the sequel Ice like Fire?
   The most challenging thing for both of them was writing the sequel! Sequels are difficult for a number of reasons, but particularly with trilogies -- it has to be a complete story while still being a bridge between stories.

   6 - What's your record of words written in one day? Do you have a writing routine?
   While writing SNOW LIKE ASHES, I managed 12k words in one day. Have yet to break that record -- and I'm not sure if I want to, heh.
I tend to write in the morning, then break for lunch, then do marketing stuff/non-bookish things in the afternoon.

   7 - What was your first thought when you first saw the final version of the cover? And, because I know you like to draw, did you ever draw your own cover ideas while writing Snow Like Ashes?
   I LOVED it! I still do! The cover designer and artist are brilliant beyond words.
I did draw my own cover ideas for SNOW LIKE ASHES, but waaaaay back when I was a preteen. So they're pretty horrible!

   8 - Cats or Dogs?
   I currently have a cat, but I love all animals!

   9 - Hogwarts house? Why?
   I . . . haven't read Harry Potter. *hides*

   10 - If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go? And what book would you take with you (only one)?
   I'd love to visit New Zealand. And I'd probably take a New Zealand guide book, hehe. Is that cheating?

   11 - If you were forced to participate in The Hunger Games, as female from District 12, what would be your strategy? Fight or flight?
   Total fight -- almost to a fault. I tend to get very overprotective-mama-bear whenever under threat.

About the Author

   Sara Raasch has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Not much has changed since then — her friends still cock concerned eyebrows when she attempts to draw things and her enthusiasm for the written word still drives her to extreme measures. Her debut YA fantasy, SNOW LIKE ASHES, came out October 14, 2014 from Balzer + Bray, and the sequel, ICE LIKE FIRE, comes out October 13, 2015. Neither features her hand-drawn pictures.

Ask the Author: Lindsay Smith (Sekret)

   Hey guys!
   For this week's Ask the Author I have a very special and awesome one for you. A few weeks ago I had the chance of asking the brilliant Lindsay Smith a couple of questions about her YA historical fiction novel set in the Soviet Union back in the 60's with a touch of paranormal powers. Now if that doesn't sound awesome, I don't know what does.
   Here is her book and her answers:

Sekret by Lindsay Smith
Published: April 1st 2014 by Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan Children's
Number of Pages: 351 Pages (Hardcover)
Series: Yes, #1

    An empty mind is a safe mind.
   Yulia knows she must hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive in Communist Russia. But if she sometimes manipulates the black market traders by reading their thoughts when she touches their skin, so what? Anything to help her survive.
   Russia's powerful spy agency, the KGB, is recruiting young people with mind-reading capabilities for their psychic espionage program. Their mission: protect the Soviet space program from American CIA spies. Why shouldn't the KGB use any means necessary to make the young psychic cooperate? Anything to beat the American capitalist scum to the moon.
   Yulia is a survivor. She won't be controlled by the KGB, who want to harness her abilities for the State with no regard for her own hopes and dreams. She won't let handsome Sergei plan her life as a member of elite Soviet society, or allow brooding Valentin to consume her with his dangerous mind and even more dangerous ideas. And she certainly won't become the next victim of the powerful American spy who can scrub a brain raw—and seems to be targeting Yulia.

Interview with Lindsay Smith

   1 - Describe Sekret in form of a Twitter pitch - 140 Characters.
   Psychic teens in the Soviet Union are forced to use their powers to spy for the KGB.

   2 - How long did it take you from first idea until publishing deal? And how many queries did it take until you found 'the one'?
   I’ve been writing in some fashion for most of my life, but I did get an agent with the first novel I ever seriously and studiously set about revising and querying (though it ultimately didn’t sell). Sekret was the book I wrote to take my mind off of being on submission with the other project!

3 - Why and how did you decide that you wanted to write a YA novel set in the 1960's in the Soviet Union?
I studied Russian history, language, and culture in school, and I’d always wanted to write something set in the Soviet Union—such an important time period, but also one I haven’t seen represented much in historical fiction. I chose the 1960s specifically because I feel like it was the point when the Cold War tensions were highest, and the US and USSR were on roughly equal footing—the space race and arms race were on, the Cuban Missile Crisis had just occurred, and the cultural fascination with spy culture and international intrigue was at a peak.

   4 - Did you have a personal motivation behind writing a story set in this part of history and the Soviet Union or was it out of pure interest in the time and place itself?
   While Russia’s history has always interested me personally, in the years since I first started writing Sekret, it has become increasingly apparent to me how important it still is for people to understand the dangers of pitting two powerful nations in an uneasy truce like we saw in the Cold War. It’s important, too, to understand the ongoing issue of historical erasure that Russians face even today—Stalin’s legacy of genocide, political repression, and toxic conformity was scarcely acknowledged in public in the post-Communist years before it began to be rewritten once again. I’d like to think the average Russian’s life is much better now than it was in Yulia’s time, and in many ways, that’s true, but not in some crucial ways, I think.

   5 – How much research did you have to do in order to be able to write Sekret?
   I was able to draw quite a bit from textbooks, essay collections, and accounts I’d read in college and graduate school, but I did seek out a lot more biographies, like those of former KGB leaders and of 1960s-era cosmonauts to give me a deeper understanding of the era. Another thing I found really useful was immersing myself in the literature, music, and film of the era—old Soviet radio dramas and state-sanctioned poetry and the like. It really made the setting come to life for me, and gave me a deeper understanding of the Soviet mindset.

   6 - Would you like to have the mind reading abilities which Yulia or any of the other characters have?
   I don’t think I’d like to be a mind-reader! It would probably be unsettling to hear the thoughts of everyone around me. I especially wouldn’t want the ability to change someone’s thoughts, like the scrubbers—all sorts of squicky ethical issues with that. Remote viewing could be really cool, though. I could peek in on a concert in Paris, or “climb” Mount Everest, or experience the beauty of New Zealand’s mountains without leaving the comfort of my couch.

   7 - Do you think people with paranormal abilities, like mind reading, really exist?
   I’m highly skeptical of it, but I think anything is possible. I’ve always been interested in neuroscience, and we are rapidly approaching the point where computers can translate brainwaves into words and images that can essentially depict someone’s thoughts. (Article here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2095214/As-scientists-discover-translate-brainwaves-words--Could-machine-read-innermost-thoughts.html) While I think the applications to aid those with degenerative or speech disorders are wonderful, I do worry for the privacy implications.

   8 - What sparked your love for Russia and its culture?
   I grew up in the ‘80s, and my first real memory of world events is of the Berlin Wall coming down. I was fascinated by the idea of this whole country and culture suddenly opening up to us here in the West, especially one that my parents’ generation had always known as the “enemy,” and I thought it was so cool that we now had a chance to build these bridges. As I got older, I fell in love with the style of Russian literature and music, the grace and logical structure of the Russian language, and the fascinating shape of Russian history.

   9 - From all the places you visited in Russia, which one was your favorite and which one left the biggest impression on you?
   I loved pretty much all of Moscow—Saint Petersburg is beautiful, but in a very European way; Moscow to me carries more of the true Russian history both in what it’s kept and what it’s lost. The Great Patriotic War (World War II) Memorial Museum in Moscow still affects me to this day. Russia lost so many in the war, and the museum memorializes those losses in a very poignant way, but it’s also interesting to see the careful way the history was presented, and to view that from an outsider’s perspective. Also, the architecture in the museum is so incredible—I especially love this massive statue and atrium at the front of the museum.

   10 - Heels or flats?
   Heels—but low-ish ones J I’m also one of those people who keeps, like, three pairs of shoes on me at all times. Sneakers, ballet flats, and heels. A by-product of living in the city and using public transportation!

   11 - If you were forced to participate in The Hunger Games, as female from District 12, what would be your strategy? Fight or flight?
   Definitely start with the flight—hang back, get the lay of the land, observe the other competitors. Let the overeager ones kill each other off and even the odds for me. Then, once everyone’s good and worn out, it’s time to go on the offensive.

About the Author

   Lindsay Smith's love of Russian culture has taken her to Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and a reindeer festival in the middle of Siberia. She lives in Washington, DC, where she writes on foreign affairs. SEKRET is her first novel.

Cover Reveal: Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

   Hey guys!
   Today I have a very exciting cover reveal for you! It's the first cover reveal on this blog and it's not only going to be one cover, it will be four of them. Today I will reveal the cover of EVERY LAST BREATH which is a Young Adult Paranormal being published by Harlequin Teen, and is a part of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s The Dark Elements Trilogy. It is being released on July 28^th, 2015.
   But, with the new book and new cover the publisher also decided to give the other books in the trilogy a makeover in terms of covers. Below I will show you all four of them so get excited because I know I definitely am!

Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published: December 1st 2013 by Harlequin Teen
Number of Pages: 105 Pages (Kindle)
Series: Yes, #0.5

   In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series The Dark Elements, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.
    Dez wasn't just Jasmine's crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining the balance between good and evil. He was her everything…right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn't help that Jas's father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.
And now he's back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn't taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again…

   "With her signature flare for combining humor, romance and action, Armentrout weaves a fast-paced read that will have readers' hearts racing in more ways than one. Like Armentrout's previous heroines, Jasmine is fun and full of attitude, while Dez is as snarky as he is sexy. This is a must read for new and old fans alike!" -RT Book Reviews

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published: February 25th 2014 by Harlequin Teen
Number of Pages: 392 Pages (Paperback)
Series: Yes, #1

   One kiss could be the last.
   Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.
   Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.
   Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.
   But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published: October 21st 2014 by Harlequin Teen
Number of Pages: 446 Pages (Paperback)
Series: Yes, #2

   Every touch has its price.
   Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.
   But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

   "Constantly entertaining...the narrative sizzles with as much tension as romance." —Kirkus Reviews on White Hot Kiss

And now, onto the reveal of EVERY LAST BREATH:

Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published: July 28th 2015 by Harlequin Teen
Number of Pages: 464 Pages (Paperback)
Series: Yes, #3

   Some loves will last 'til your dying breath.
   Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.
   Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction.
   Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…

   “Armentrout is a major talent…I just can’t stop reading!” --New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter
   “Armentrout works her magic with swoon-worthy guys and a twist you never see coming.” --#1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines on White Hot Kiss

Pre-Order Every Last Breath:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iBooks
IndieBound
and many more!

And that is all for today! Any thoughs on the new covers? Excited for Every Last Breath? Tell me in the comments or on Twitter (@Alice_Reeds).

Cheerio!

Ask the Author: Amy McNamara (Lovely, Dark and Deep)

   Hey guys!
   On this weeks Ask the Author I have Amy McNamara, the author of Lovely, Dark and Deep, for you guys. Back in February I reviewed, and loved, her novel so of course I had to go and ask her if she would be willing to do a interview. She was!
   Here is her book and her answers:

Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara
Published: December 3rd 2013 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Number of Pages: 342 Pages (Paperback)
Series: No
Buy it: Book Depository
~ Free worldwide shipping ~

   Wren Wells is trying to outrun the accident that killed her boyfriend and wrecked her plants to live a normal life. Instead of going to college, she retreats to her father's isolated art studio. There, in the remote northern woods of Maine, she meets Cal Owen, a boy who wears his own hurt like a badge. But when their connection threatens Wren's hardwon isolation, she has to choose: open up her broken heart or join the ghosts who haunt her. (goodreads.com)

Interview with Amy McNamara

   1 - Lovely, Dark and Deep deals with loss and deep grief, was there ever a point during writing where you had to take a step back and let the story sit for a while just so the emotional state of Wren wouldn’t also spill onto you, or were you able to clearly separate your own emotions from those of Wren?
   To a certain extent, writing, like reading, offers you an escape. I wrote Lovely, Dark and Deep a few months after the death of a friend. The novel came pretty fast and whole. Wren’s story and my experience share no specifics, but I was mourning while I was writing. I think living in Wren’s world and writing about her loss was, at the time, easier for me than living with my own. Her grief allowed me some distance and perspective on my own and I’m sure, in some way, guiding her through it helped me navigate as well.

   2 - Throughout the book we get to see a lot of descriptions of the landscape of Maine, which seems to almost reflect the way Wren is feeling and what she is going through. How important was the accuracy of the landscape for you and how did you manage to articulate it so beautifully that even someone who has never been there can really imagine it?
   Well, the life of the imagination knows no bounds, so “accuracy” is only as important as it is to be accurate about the imagined world. I have a funny relationship with Maine. It has held an almost mythic place in my imagination since I was very young. I learned about the state in grade school and I remember thinking it was a lot like my own. I grew up in Minnesota, another northern, cold, heavily wooded state, but where Minnesota is landlocked, Maine has the Atlantic. I love the water. Maine became an imagined setting for me then. I didn’t set foot in the state of Maine for the first time until about a month after I finished the first draft of my novel. I asked myself the “accuracy” question and decided it would be worth a road trip to check it out. I was happy to find it was much as I’d imagined. Of course, thanks to the internet I’d already seen Maine in images, but that little weekend road trip was a thrill. I kept expecting to see Wren or Cal going by in another car.
   I think the instinct toward pathetic fallacy (humans attributing emotional qualities to the natural world) is a strong one – it’s certainly reflected in all the arts – the desire to find our own emotional weather mirrored in the world around us helps us to locate ourselves.

   3 - Do you believe in karma or fate?
   Hmm… karma or fate? I believe that what you put out into the world comes back to you in the sense that we’re all making the world we live in. Fate’s another question – I can be superstitious but I tell myself I don’t really believe in it – that said, how much difference is there really between practice and belief? Maybe what we practice reflects our beliefs in so far as our actions are really who we are? In that case I guess I believe in fate (or maybe I’m about to drop all my weird superstitious habits).

   4 - How long did it take you from first idea until publishing deal? And how many queries did it take until you found 'the one'?
   I wrote Lovely, Dark and Deep over three fairly intense months. I was extraordinarily lucky with acceptance and publication. I found my agent, Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger, right away. She’s the best and the book sold quickly. I know this isn’t a typical experience. I’ve been writing poetry for years and haven’t found a home for my manuscript yet. I’m no stranger to rejection.

   5 - While writing, do you need silence and some separation from the outside world, in terms of silence: no phone, no music, and no internet, or do you listen to some kind of music or need background noise?
   My writing routine varies depending on what I’m writing. Silence, noise, research, any and all of that depends on the work at hand. Anytime I’m stuck, I go running. Movement helps me kick open mental doors.
   Poems require a different kind of concentration than fiction. I can listen to music when I’m writing fiction, I have to have it quiet for poetry. For both, I need to be alone. Sometimes it’s as easy as shutting myself away in a room, other times I need a longer stretch of uninterrupted time, so I go away. I’m leaving tomorrow for Paris and a month-long residency. Now that my kids are beyond their babyhoods I can leave them for little stretches of time here and there. It’s been great for my writing.

   6 - What do you like to do as a means of stress relief or relaxation?
   I run. I bake. I take care of the people I love. We’ll have friends in for dinner. Reading always works: fiction, poetry, the newspaper, art criticism, science articles, philosophy, cookbooks, the shampoo bottle, whatever I can get my hands on. I also love to watch television, movies, listen to music. I immerse myself in story.

   7 - What is your writing routine? Do you have a specific amount of words you try to write each day or is it more of a ‘writing when inspiration hits’ type situation?
   I don’t really have a writing routine. I write any and all the time I can and as much as I can. There is nothing more thrilling than a pen or pencil in hand and fresh page. I like to write first thing in the morning and just before I fall asleep at night. If I sit down to write midday, I often find my way back into whatever I’m working on by taking it out with me for a run or a walk, first. I don’t really believe in inspiration. I think writing begets writing. If you wait for inspiration, you’re only going to get good at waiting. I’d rather write and write and write until something comes together.

About the Author 

    Amy McNamara is the author Lovely, Dark, and Deep (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) and a manuscript of poems, the new head chronometrist. Her poems appear in a wide variety of literary journals and have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She is married to the artist Doug McNamara and they live in Brooklyn with their two children.

 

Review: Material Girls by Elaine Dimopoulos

Material Girls by Elaine Dimopoulos
Published: May 5th 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers
Number of Pages: 336 Pages (Hardcover)
Series: No

   In Marla Klein and Ivy Wilde’s world, teens are the gatekeepers of culture. A top fashion label employs sixteen-year-old Marla to dictate hot new clothing trends, while Ivy, a teen pop star, popularizes the garments that Marla approves. Both girls are pawns in a calculated but seductive system of corporate control, and both begin to question their world’s aggressive levels of consumption. Will their new “eco-chic” trend subversively resist and overturn the industry that controls every part of their lives?
   Smart, provocative, and entertaining, this thrilling page-turner for teens questions the cult like mentality of fame and fashion. Are you in or are you out?



* I was given an eARC by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *

   Material Girls is a quite unique spin on the dystopian genre. It focuses greatly on fashion and a dystopian society in which your life is dictated by the "Tap" and what clothes you are wearing, if they are trendy (prime) or not.
   I have to admit that it took me roughly 50-60% of the book to really get into the story and start to actually care about the characters. The beginning of the book features various quite long descriptions of what everybody is wearing and if it follows the current or previous trend. Personally I don't care much about what is currently trendy nor do I really know many of the names for various clothing items which meant that I was just skipping paragraphs as I didn't really care who is wearing what.
   The basic idea behind Material Girls, that the big fashion houses, the so called Big Five, rule the market and do with their workers whatever they so want to do, without shying away from drastic measures like drugging you to get you to agree to their agenda, was quite interesting and definitely quite different from the usually governmental oppression which we can find in most dystopian novels. Also it had this very realistic feel to it due to the fact that, thanks to Marla, one of the two protagonists, we got to see "the basement", the place in the fashion house where the designs are created and drawn, which had a very sweatshop like look and feel to it.

   Another problem that I had with the story was the naive level it had due to the way it was written and the quite young age of the protagonists, which were merely 16 years old. Also, for me personally, it was quite hard to accept the very shallow way in which people looked at each other, judging each other by their clothes and position. This was very nicely shown by Marla's mother who, when Marla was moved from her position in the Supreme Court (the court that decides which clothing item will be featured in the upcoming line or not) to the basement, wanted to persuade Marla to quick her job all together and wait until she can start a family because that's her fate anyways so might as well do it now instead of working in a shameful position. Also the romance in this book didn't really have any build up, it just happened which I found a bit unnecessary. Personally I think the small romance aspect could have easily been left out.

   Marla and Ivy, the two protagonists, were interesting characters in their own way. Marla was more of a creative soul which found herself once she accepted her new path of working in the basement and being part of a group that wanted something more, while Ivy is a Pop Star who slowly starts to realize just how fake and disgusting the entertainment business is in terms of fake relationships, unneeded shopping tours for insane amounts of money and playing the role of someone you are not.
   Both of them tried to fight for a better world in which fashion would be more fair and in which the heads of the corporations wouldn't have the power anymore to treat their workers badly.

   My last issue thatI had with Material Girls was the ending which felt somewhat rushed and too light and easy for my taste. I would have wished for something more serious and less "happily ever after". Also the ending for Ivy felt very unsatisfying and almost made me feel like I just wasted my time with reading her part of the story because it didn't really lead anywhere in the end. As much as Marla has learned from what has happened over the course of the story, Ivy didn't seem like she learned anything at all. I think that was quite disappointing and sad.

   All in all, Material Girls was an entertaining read once you really get into the story and the action starts. One thing you have to be aware of, before going into it, is that fashion is very important in this world so if you are not really into it and don't have much knowledge of it like I do, you might find getting into the story a bit hard. But, if you get past the first 35% of the book you'll be rewarded with more exciting events and fun things. Material Girls is unique in its own way and presents a very "girly" version of the future which, in itself, could show a actually more possible version of our own future.

 

I give Material Girls by Elaine Dimopoulos 3 out of 5 Stars.

Ask the Author: Jennifer Niven (All the Bright Places)

   Hey guys!
   I am very exited to share this weeks Ask the Author with you guys. I had the pleasure of asking the very lovely Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places, a couple of questions, nine to be exact. It took me a while to come up with them but they are nothing compared to the beautiful and honest answers she gave me.
   Here is her book and her interview:

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Published:
Number of Pages:
Series: No
Buy it: Book Depository

~ Free worldwide shipping ~

   Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.
   Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.
   When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.
   This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.

Interview with Jennifer Nieven

    1 – Describe All the Bright Places in form of a haiku/or six adjectives.
    Here’s my haiku attempt:

With all the colors

in one at full brightness, they

wander. Not lost. Found.

   2 – Before writing All the Bright Places you wrote novels for adults. Why did you decide to write YA and what lead you to writing a story which deals with as heavy, though still important to be talked and read about, topics such as teenage mental health?
   I love to read YA and have always wanted to write it. When I was thinking of story ideas, I kept coming back to an event in my own life and a boy I used to know. I’d always wanted to write about it and him, but was never sure I’d be able to. Back then, through that experience, I felt firsthand the stigma associated with mental disorders—both from the boy’s perspective and from mine—and I realized that we need to make people feel safe enough to come forward and say, “I have a problem. I need help.” If we don’t talk about suicide or depression or mental illness, how can we expect anyone to reach out for help when they need it most?

   3 – How much research went into All the Bright Places and how important was it for you to depict Finch’s bipolar in a truthful manner?
   While I did do some research into mental illness/depression—which included speaking with experts—in many ways, I really just wrote the story I knew. Years ago, I knew and loved a boy, and that boy was bipolar. I witnessed up-close the highs and lows, the Awake and the Asleep, and I saw his daily struggle with the world and with himself. As for Violet, she is struggling with loss, and that is something I know too well. I’ve lost both my parents, all four grandparents, and numerous other family members and friends, so loss is something I know inside and out.

   4 – When you were deciding on where All the Bright Places should play, why did you decide upon Indiana? How important was it for you to show some of the things Indiana has to offer?
   I grew up in Indiana and went to high school there. Because of that, it felt like the most natural setting for my high school story. When I was living there, I—like Violet—thought it was ugly and boring. My mom used to tell me, “Just remember, what’s ugly to you is beautiful to other people.” I couldn’t imagine Indiana could be beautiful to anyone, but she made me stop and at least try to look at it differently. All these years later, I have this newfound appreciation for growing up there, and I thought it would be great (and important) for Finch to help Violet see their state in a new light.

   5 – Writing a book as long as All the Bright Places can, depending on the author, take a year or more, how did you manage to write it in just six weeks?
   Finch’s voice came out pretty much fully formed, as if he’d been waiting for me to write him. Violet took a bit more work, but for the most part, the writing of the story just flowed. I like to say it’s the book I’ve been carrying around inside of me for some time, but didn’t put on paper until 2013.

   6 – Are you happy with the cover the book has received?
   Yes! Omg I love it! By the time Random House showed it to me, they had been working on it for months and had gone through many, many different versions. The final cover is very similar to the one they first showed me. I love how different it is from a lot of other books. I think it stands out. :)

   7 – Mild or Spicy?
   Somewhere in between.

   8 – If you were forced to participate in The Hunger Games, as female from District 12, what would be your strategy? Fight or flight?
   Hmm… I think it would really depend on the situation. I supposed I’d fight if I absolutely had to, but I’d prefer flight—not in a cowardly way but in a super-stealthy, Katniss sort of way.

   9 – In terms of YA books, what comes next? Are you working on something?
   As soon as I finish touring, I’m going to work hard on my next YA novel. It’s about a boy who can’t recognize faces and a very visible girl who feels invisible. It’s about seeing, being seen, and learning to recognize what’s important. It’s about what makes us love someone.

About the Author

   By the time I was ten, I had already written numerous songs, a poem for Parker Stevenson ("If there were a Miss America for men, You would surely win"), two autobiographies (All About Me and My Life in Indiana: I Will Never Be Happy Again), a Christmas story, several picture books (which I illustrated myself) featuring the Doodle Bugs from Outer Space, a play about Laura Ingalls Wilder's sister entitled Blindness Strikes Mary, a series of prison mysteries, a collection of short stories featuring me as the main character (an internationally famous rock star detective), and a partially finished novel about Vietnam. I was also an excellent speller from a very early age.
   In 2000, I started writing full-time, and I haven't stopped... I've written eight books (two of those are forthcoming), and when I'm not working on the ninth, I'm contributing to my web magazine, Germ (www.germmagazine.com), thinking up new books, and dabbling in TV. I am always writing.