Ask the Author: Charlotte Huang (For the Record)

   Hey guys!
   This week for Ask The Author I'm bringing you the amazing Charlotte Huang, author of For the Record which is supposed to hit the shelves November 10th. I've read For the Record back in March and immediately knew I wanted to ask her a couple of questions about it. You should definitely mark the release date of For the Record in your calendars because it's a fabulous book worth reading and owning.
   Here is For the Record and my interview with Charlotte:

For the Record by Charlotte Huang
Published: November 10th 2015 by Delacorte Press
Number of Pages: 320 Pages (Hardcover)
Series: No
My Review!

   Chelsea thought she knew what being a rock star was like . . . until she became one. After losing a TV talent show, she slid back into small-town anonymity. But one phone call changed everything.
   Now she’s the lead singer of the band Melbourne, performing in sold-out clubs every night and living on a bus with three gorgeous and talented guys. The bummer is that the band barely tolerates her. And when teen hearthrob Lucas Rivers take an interest in her, Chelsea is suddenly famous, bringing Melbourne to the next level—not that they’re happy about that. Her feelings for Beckett, Melbourne’s bassist, are making life even more complicated.
   Chelsea only has the summer tour to make the band—and their fans—love her. If she doesn’t, she’ll be back in Michigan for senior year, dying a slow death. The paparazzi, the haters, the grueling schedule . . . Chelsea believed she could handle it. But what if she can’t? (goodreads.com)

Interview with Charlotte Huang

   1 – Describe For the Record in a haiku (or twitter pitch)

   Being a rockstar
   Isn’t all glamorous fun
   Just ask Chelsea Ford

   2 – What lead to the idea of For the Record? Was it the fact that most of us dream of being the singer of some awesome rock band or something completely different than that?
   Yes, it was definitely inspired by that universal dream! But I also wanted to show the reality of sacrifice, hard work, grueling schedules, and just overall stress that comes with that level of success. Because my husband’s an agent, I’ve spent a lot of time at concerts, being around bands, listening to the planning, strategizing and anguish that goes on. So my goal in writing this book was to give an authentic, and hopefully entertaining glimpse into the world of a successful touring rock band.

   3 – Was there a scene in the book you specifically remember writing because it stuck out to you, either in a positive or negative way?
   Probably the scene where the band sees their DJ friend’s set in Detroit. That scene actually came during the editing process and I wrote it after I saw Zedd perform at Coachella. Originally, I’d written the scene in a diner but my editor pointed out that I had too many eating scenes so I had to brainstorm other settings. The EDM show atmosphere appealed to me because I feel like that type of music shifts everyone’s perspective a little bit and allows people to let their guard down.

   4 – While writing about the life on tour and the music business itself, how helpful was having a music agent husband? Did it help you give For the Record that very real touch?

   Haha, see #2. But it’s not just my husband—a lot of our friends work in the music business. Many of the details in For the Record come from years of listening to funny stories and talking about work drama.

   5 – Of all the possible names for a rock band, why did you decide on Melbourne?
   I’d written a scene where the original band members talk about a spring break trip they took to Melbourne which is when they formed the band. It got edited out somewhere along the way but I stuck with the name.

   6 - 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 this book in the summer of 2013 and my agent sold it in February 2014. But that’s fairly misleading because this story has been percolating in my brain for years.
   Do you mean queries to agents? My guess is I sent out about 25 before entering a pitch contest and connecting with my wonderful agent. That was with a different book though.

   7 – How do you feel about the fact that in a couple of months, thousands upon thousands of people will be able to read your book?
   I feel excited! Also nervous. But mostly excited.

   8 – Did you listen to specific bands or albums while writing For the Record or do you rather prefer writing silence?
   For the most part, I actually prefer to write in silence. Sometimes when I try to write to music, I get really frazzled and can’t figure out what’s bothering me until I realize that I have to turn the music off. That said, when writing this book, I listened to Panic! At the Disco’s Too Rare to Live, Too Weird to Die! album on repeat, for hours at a time. I have no idea why this was an exception. If I had to guess I’d say that in addition to being a great album, the mood fits perfectly with what I was trying to write. I was never tempted to skip any track. That’s not a common occurrence.

   9 – What was the first band you ever saw live and what’s your favorite band?
   The first band I ever saw live was Echo and the Bunnymen in Boston. Sadly, I don’t remember anything about the show. And I really don’t have a favorite band! I like so many. People ask what I like to see outside of my husband’s work and most recently I’ve gone to The Foo Fighters, The Pixies and My Morning Jacket.

   10 – Music genre: Grunge or Punk?
   Do I have to choose? If so, grunge was probably a more legitimate part of my experience growing up. I feel like I witnessed the beginning and end of that era.

   11 – If you were forced to participate in The Hunger Games, as female from District 12, what would be your strategy? Fight or flight?
   From District 12, definitely fight. I don’t think I’d know any other way.

About the Author

   Charlotte Huang is a graduate of Smith College and received an MBA from Columbia Business School, which is clearly something every aspiring writer should do. When not glued to her computer, she cheers her two sons on at sporting events and sometimes manages to stay up late enough to check out bands with her music agent husband. Charlotte lives in Los Angeles and is the author of For the Record (Delacorte, 2015)

Review: Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher
Published: January 7th 2015 by Hoover Ink
Number of Pages: 159 Pages (Kindle)
Series: Yes, #1

"How odd to be made of flesh, balanced on bone, and filled with a soul you've never met."
Charlize Wynwood and Silas Nash have been best friends since they could walk. They've been in love since the age of fourteen.
But as of this morning...they are complete strangers.
Their first kiss, their first fight, the moment they fell in love...every memory has vanished.
"I don't care what our real first kiss was," he says. "That's the one I want to remember."
Charlize and Silas must work together to uncover the truth about what happened to them and why. But the more they learn about the couple they used to be...the more they question why they were ever together to begin with.
"I want to remember what it feels like to love someone like that. And not just anyone. I want to know what it feels like to love Charlie."

   I'm not sure if I have the words I need to describe what I feel about this book. The first that comes to my mind is wow, followed by holy hell. The premise might seem simple, two teens who lost their memory and have to try and figure out who they are and why it happened, but this book is so much more. Never Never is brilliant, captivating and has a cliffhanger straight from hell.
   Never Never was exactly what I hoped it would be: mysterious, smart and brilliantly written. The atmosphere is spot on, the plot realistic and the characters interesting. Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher managed to write a story which feels real, as if it has been written by Silas and Charlie themselves, as if this really happened to two real teens who now want to share their story.
   It was fascinating to read and follow them while they tried to wrap their heads around the idea that they have no clue who they are, where they are and, once they started to piece together who they are, how they doubted if this was really them.

“My drawers are neat. I must have OCD. I toss around the socks and 

underwear to see if I can piss myself off.” (Charlie)

   I really like Silas and Charlie. I love how in love Silas seemed to be with Charlie and how what was going on between their families affected both them, their families and their relationship. It was interesting to see them interact with their siblings and friends while they tried to play along so they wouldn't figure out they have no clue.

“Lucky for you, I’m not Monopoly Silas anymore. I’m Tetris Silas. 

All my pieces and parts are going to fit into all of your pieces and parts." (Silas)

   All in all Never Never was fascinating and amazingly written, Colleen and Tarryn have done an amazing job, which definitely makes me want to pick up something written by Tarryn. I cannot wait to read Never Never Part Two because, as mentioned before, this part had the worst cliffhanger you can only imagine.

I give Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher 5 out of 5 Stars.

Review: The Prom Goer's Interstellar Excursion by Chris McCoy

The Prom Goer's Interstellar Excursion by Chris McCoy
Published: April 14th 2015 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Number of Pages: 272 Pages (Hardcover)
Series: No

It's Superbad meets Spaceballs in this hilarious extraterrestrial road trip!
Just a few days before prom, Bennett pulls off something he never imagined possible: his dream girl, Sophie, agrees to be his date. Moments afterward, however, he watches Sophie get abducted by aliens in the middle of the New Mexico desert.
Faced with a dateless prom (and likely kidnapping charges), Bennett does the only thing he can think of: he catches a ride into outer space with a band of extraterrestrial musicians to bring her back.
Can he navigate alien concert venues, an extraterrestrial reality show, and the band's outlandish egos to rescue his date in time for the big dance? Fans of King Dork and Winger won't want to miss this. (goodreads.com)

   This book was beyond hilarious and just gigantic fun adventure on a whole new level. Completely crazy but brilliant at the same time with diverse characters, a wonderful main character and a, considering the plot of this book, very realistic ending.
   Generally, if you are looking for a book with a logical and realistic plotline than you are definitely wrong here because the plot is just really crazy with occasional conveniences, which might bug some people but I think they are rather expected considering this book plays in space with an alien rock band. When I first picked up The Prom Goer's Interstellar Excursion I wasn't sure if the blurb was serious with the "ride into outer space" and I also wondered how the author would describe said interstellar travel. I'm very happy with the way it was done and that he didn't try to overly explain how it works or why, it was just a fact and that's good.

"That's how you get the truck to go? You stroke the wheel and whisper that you love it?"

"Sometimes it gets insecure and needs to know that it's appreciated."

   I love the characters. Bennett is such a lovable, sarcastic and funny protagonist and narrator. He's had a crush on Sophie for like forever and it was just really funny to see him drive around the desert wondering what he's supposed to do, after she's been abducted by aliens, and then suddenly stumbles across a rock band tour bus.
   The band members were hilarious, especially Skark with his sassy, over the top dramatic ways. He was funny and also, in his own way, broken even though he decided to ignore that. Driver was super friendly and helpful, just like X, the only human member of the band. The band had problems with themselves and also their music, which made reading their journey along with Bennett even more fun as they evolved and grew as band. And their concerts and their locations were brilliant.

"If I know a word exists, I like to know it's meaning," she

said. "How about this: foist some ointment on my moist goiter."

I almost gagged. "I feel like you could go around saying

that sentence and just make people throw up on the spot."

   Another favorite of mine in this book are the dialogues which were just perfect. Witty, sassy, sarcastic and interesting. Personally this book could have even only been dialogues and I'd love it all the same. I have no clue how Chris McCoy managed to make those dialogues so spot on but I wish he'd teach me, be my sensei.
   It was also interesting to see how aliens see us humans, which was nicely presented by the human zoo which one of the alien races has built to trap humans in. It was a hilarious, but also very truthful, representation of how many people see and imagine Americans hidden inside this crazy story. I love it when books do that, hide commentaries about today’s society in places and ways you least expect it.

"I never went to college, but I may have some advice for you," said Skark.

"When you don't get something you want, give yourself a moment to feel

terrible around yourself, and when that's over, remember that all rejection means is

that every other possible path has just opened up to you. It's freedom."

   All in all The Prom Goer's Interstellar Excursion is a hilarious, crazy, space road trip which will make you laugh until you cry. The characters are amazing, the plot totally unrealistic for the most part but so much fun. This is one of those books you'll come back to every once in a while to just relax and laugh and have fun.

I give The Prom Goer's Interstellar Excursion by Chris McCoy 5 out of 5 Stars!

BLOG TOUR Review: Bone Deep by Kim O'Brien

   Hey guys!
   I'm excited to be part of the Book Tour for Bone Deep by Kim O'Brien. I want to thank Spencer Hill Press for providing me a ARC of Bone Deep for review. You'll find said review below, and all the way at the end of this post you'll even find a link to a giveaway for a paperback copy of Bone Deep!
   Here's what the book is about and my review:

Bone Deep by Kim O'Brien
Published: May 19th 2015 by Spencer Hill Press
Number of Pages: 242 Pages (Paperback)
Series: No

   Spending the summer on an archeological dig sounds like fun, and it would be, if Paige Patterson didn t have to work for her dad--the man who walked out on their family. Luckily, her best friend Emily Linton is also interning for her dad. The summer takes on a romantic possibility when she meets Jalen Yazzi--the super attractive son of her father s project manager. But then Emily vanishes. As the police struggle for answers, Paige sets out to find the truth. What was Emily doing alone in the ruins the night she disappeared? Did she see something she shouldn t have? The search for Emily brings Paige and Jalen closer together, but it also unlocks long hidden crimes and dangerous mysteries. As Paige digs deeper into Emily s disappearance, she realizes that uncovering the truth may cost her everything--even her life. (goodreads.com)


   Bone Deep is a very unique and interesting take on the YA murder-mystery genre. It features a unique setting, diverse characters with interesting backgrounds and stories to tell. And there is also some archeology thrown into the mix, too, which was very interest and something I've not encountered in YA before.
   I'm a big fan of mysteries, especially murder ones, so I knew Bone Deep would be something for me the moment I read the blurb. Luckily, the book did not disappoint me in any way. I enjoyed seeing this setting with ruins and pieces of information’s and stories about Native Americans. I think we hear about them way too little in school during history, and so it was refreshing to read about. The way Kim O'Brien described it I could easily imagine the characters and places.

“You will fall in love, but you won’t help her and she’s going to die.”

   Speaking of which, I liked the characters a lot. I identified a lot with Paige, probably because we are both divorce kids, but also because she was a different character with flaws, one that could also admit and own up to her own mistakes, even if it wasn't easy it do. I liked her relationship with Emily and how it slowly warmed up in the beginning of the story, how we slowly got more information on their past and explored what made their friendship definitely stand out. I felt sorry for her due to the fact how hard she took her parents’ divorce and how she slowly started to figure out that maybe the reasoning behind it wasn't quite the way she thought it was. And also that it wasn't just something mentioned two or three times, but something that really bothered her a lot, which made her even more of a believable character.
   I also really liked Jalen with his stoic and sometimes weird behavior, which was understandable yet slightly infuriating at times, though not in any really negative way. It was rather amusing. I really liked seeing him warm up to Paige and their relationship form and evolve in a believable pace. Seeing his background with his memories of his grandparents living in the Navajo Nation and how he wishes to live there one day too was great and new. I've never read a story which featured a character with a Native American background before, which made Jalen quite intriguing.

“I think the sneakers and the corn are symbolic. A lot of ancient tribal burial ceremonies involved placing moccasins and food along with the body of the loved one. The moccasinssymbolised a swift journey to the next world, and the food was to provide nourishment along the way.”

   Kim O'Brien very cleverly lead us through the search of who is responsible for Emily's disappearance, made us think that 'I am pretty sure I've figured out who it is' just so she can prove us wrong in every way. The ending and conclusion to who is responsible was believable and surprising, not obvious at all, which I feared might happen but didn't.

   All in all I enjoyed Bone Deep very much. I practically read it in two sittings, both way too late at night which meant that the morning after I looked like a sleep deprived zombie but it was worth it. If you're into murder-mysteries and unique characters, this might be the book for you.

I give Bone Deep by Kim O'Brien 5 out of 5 Stars.

About the Author:

   Kim O’Brien grew up in an old Victorian house in Bronxville, NY. Her mother loved telling her bedtime stories, especially ones about the ghost in their attic. Kim not only believed the house was haunted but also fell in love with books and the art of storytelling. At Emory University in Atlanta, Kim earned a B.A. in psychology. She then attained a M.F.A in writing from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY. She worked for many years as a writer, editor, and speechwriter for IBM before becoming a full time fiction writer. She lives in Texas with her husband, daughters, and four-legged friend Daisy. Kim is the author of eight inspirational romances and seven non-fiction children’s books. She loves to hear from her readers and can be found at www.kimobrienbooks.com/, Facebook, and Twitter (kimobri).

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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.