Welcome to our weekly special feature post, Author Of The Week!!
Each week we will be interviewing a different YA author and highlighting their upcoming release!
We will also be hosting a giveaway of the book we are highlighting!!
Introducing Stephanie Garber, YABC’s Author of the Week!!
My favorite place in the world is Disneyland because it’s the one place on earth where I feel as if the fantastical stories I love to write about could actually come to life.
When I’m not writing, I teach creative writing at a private college in Northern California, where I’ve been known to turn assignments into games and take students on field trips that involve book signings. I’m also a blogger on PUB(LISHING) CRAWL. But I probably spend most of my time on Twitter where I tend to overuse exclamation points and emojis.
To help pay my bills during college, grad school, and the breaks in between, I worked as a barista, a waitress, a bartender, a customer service representative for an energy consulting company, and as a sales girl at Bath and Bodyworks. I also spent years working with youth; I worked as a counselor at space themed summer camp, volunteered at a school for deaf children in Mexico, and I took multiple groups of college students overseas to spend their winter vacations serving at youth hostels in Amsterdam. But out of everything that I’ve done, writing young adult novels has been my favorite job.
My debut YA fantasy novel, Caraval will be published January 2017 (Flatiron Books/Macmillan—US and Hodder & Stoughton—UK). Caravalhas sold in twenty-five foriegn territories and the movie rights were pre-empted by Twentieth Century Fox.
Meet Caraval!!
Welcome, welcome to Caraval―Stephanie Garber’s sweeping tale of two sisters who escape their ruthless father when they enter the dangerous intrigue of a legendary game.
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.
But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.
Amazon * B & N * Indiebound
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
I think I give a different answer every time I’m asked this question, because I really love all my characters. But I today would have to say Legend is probably my favorite. I love enigmatic characters with questionable morals, which I think is the best way to describe Legend without spoiling anything.
YABC: Which came first, the title or the novel?
In a way, the title, although Caraval was not the original title for this book. When I was drafting I filed the manuscript under the title Caraval, but when I was looking for a literary agent I didn’t want to use that as a title because it was a made up word. So I called it Hearts Made of Black—from a phrase in the book. But I never really liked that title, so when my publisher suggested we call it Caraval I was thrilled.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
This is a tough one. The scene I’m most proud of is sort of a spoiler. But I am also really proud of the letters in the very beginning of the book. That chapter of the book was the only chapter that didn’t change at all after the book sold—although I can’t take all the credit, because my critique partner Stacey Lee and my agent really helped me perfect each of those notes.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
I actually love everything about the cover. I’m very thankful to Erin Fitzsimmons and Ray Shappell for designing it. I think they did a tremendous job capturing the feel of the book. But, if I had to pick a favorite part I would say it’s the star in the middle of the cover—on the final jacket it looks so sparkly and pretty, and I am a huge sucker for sparkly and pretty.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
Right now I’m working on the sequel to Caraval. I don’t think I can say anything about it at the moment, but I’m definitely having fun writing it.
YABC: Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?
Revising! I think of drafting is as giving my story bones and skin, but revising is when I get to add flesh and clothes and accessories. It’s when I really get to play with my words and get to know my characters and plot even better. I’m kind of a perfectionist, so drafting is really hard for me because it’s so very messy, whereas revising is all about cleaning things up, so I love it.
Caraval
By: Stephanie Garber
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Release Date: January 31st, 2017
*GIVEAWAY DETAILS*
One winner will receive a copy of Carval (Stephanie Garber) ~ (International).
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*
The cover alone is beautiful. So excited for this book
I am in love with the cover!
The cover is GORGEOUS and the story sounds so good! I’m hooked already!
This book has been on my TBR pile for a while now. I cannot wait to read it.
I’ve been waiting for this for so long. Love the cover, love the synopsis, I literally can’t wait till January.
The cover is absolutely gorgeous, but the synopsis sounds equally amazing! And I have heard nothing but great things about this so far, so I am really excited to read it!
This books cover is so beautiful and unique. I can’t say I’ve seen a cover like this. The synopsis makes me want to read the book!
The cover is highly graphic, the synopsis made me stop and think.
This book is already on my TBR list, and the cover is part of the reason. It’s so dark and dramatic. I love it! The synopsis reminds me a little bit of the story “Tangled.” After reading the author’s interview and seeing that she’s a Disney fan, I can see how the story is inspired by that type of fantasy.
Love the blurb, love the cover! Can’t wait to get a copy and read it!
The cover is a spectacle indeed! With all the hype this book has received over the last part of 2016, it is fitting that the cover (and I hope and believe it likely the content will meet the high standard it is setting up for itself) is a spectacle to behold that IMHO stands out among the most striking YA covers / those of the most anticipated YA books — dazzling! Thanks, Kara S
The cover is epic and I’m counting down the days until book release day!
I am obsessed with this cover and CARAVAL is my #1 TBR of 2017 because of it… (I never would have looked at the synopsis without the cover)
Consider the fact that this is a sister tale, this would be the perfect story to start off my reading challenge with. The circus aspect of it with the audience being able to participate would be amazing. I love the cover because it’s simple yet it stands out perfectly and it’s exquisite.
That cover ?
That cover is so pretty, especially the use of those colors! The synopsis sounds like it will be a magical adventure for readers so I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for the giveaway!
I heard about this book from so many booktubers and is my most anticipated book of jan 2017! Thank you so very much for this opportunity, fingers crossed that I win a copy
I’m so excited for this book! Ever since I saw it on Goodreads, I’ve wanted to read it.
I could not be more excited for this book! It’s my most anticipated of the new year! I like the cover too. Mysterious!
The cover is beautiful. The synopsis has me hooked. I keep hearing good things about Caraval.
The cover is so cool! I love the colors and the magical feel to it. I’m so excited to read this book. It sounds super awesome!
The cover is cool, love the colors and font. The synopsis draws you in and makes you want to read more. I am excited to read Caraval.
Caraval sounds Great! Love the cover, thank you.
The cover is dark and mysterious and I love it. The synopsis is exciting as well, and I would really love to get my hands on this book!
I’ve heard such good things about this book – and agree, the cover is beautiful!
I love the cover! It sounds like a great book!
the cover! the synopsis! the cover is absolutely gorgeous and the blurb sounds really interesting
I love the cover and I have heard so many great things about this book! I can’t wait to read it!
This cover is gorgeous!! I want to collect them all 😀
The colors and the title look fitting to what the book is about. I love the title and can`t wait to pick this up and share with my grandchildren.
Oh my gosh this book is beautiful and I am completely in love with the synopsis! I have to read this! I’ve heard nothing but good things so far!
Love the colours of this cover but overall it doesn’t look as rich as the plot sounds. Then again the synopsis sounds mysterious and dark and the cover suits that. Love the menacing tagline.
I love love love the color scheme of this cover!
The cover caught my attention immediately and the synopsis just pulled me in further. Can’t wait to read!
Love the cover it’s amazing plus the UK edition too and the synopsis sounds great! I have read a lot of great reviews for the book which all have said it was a crazy ride!
The cover is beautiful. Based on the synopsis, I think this will be my favorite book of 2017.
I like the cover of the book! I know that I will like this story and the characters! I have heard so many good things about the book!
the cover looks incredible! definitely eye-grabbing; excited to read it.
The cover is beautiful and this book has been on my TBR for awhile already, even though it just came out!
I think the cover is gorgeous! The book sounds very intriguing! Thanks for the chance
I absolutely love the cover! And I so want to read it. I’m a YA junkie 😉
The title and cover scream read me and the synopsis seconds that! Congrats!