Author Of The Week: Chat with Claire LeGrand (Sawkill Girls), Plus Giveaway!!
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 Claire LeGrand , YABC's Author of the Week!!
Claire Legrand is the New York Times bestselling author of Fu
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Meet Sawkill Girls!
From the New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn comes a breathtaking and spine-tingling novel about three teenage girls who face off against an insidious monster that preys upon young women. Perfect for fans of Victoria Schwab and Stranger Things.
Who are the Sawkill Girls?
Marion: The newbie. Awkward and plain, steady and dependable. Weighed down by tragedy and hungry for love she’s sure she’ll never find.
Zoey: The pariah. Luckless and lonely, hurting but hiding it. Aching with grief and dreaming of vanished girls. Maybe she’s broken—or maybe everyone else is.
Val: The queen bee. Gorgeous and privileged, ruthless and regal. Words like silk and eyes like knives; a heart made of secrets and a mouth full of lies.
Their stories come together on the island of Sawkill Rock, where gleaming horses graze in rolling pastures and cold waves crash against black cliffs. Where kids whisper the legend of an insidious monster at parties and around campfires. Where girls have been disappearing for decades, stolen away by a ravenous evil no one has dared to fight…until now.
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~ Author Chat ~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
I'd always wanted to write a book set on an island, as the idea of living on an island--being so isolated, and being totally surrounded by water--both fascinates and terrifies me. Similar, I was fascinated and horrified by the tragic story of the Slender Man stabbing. I started thinking about how monsters gain power, how they can become real if enough people believe in them, and how and why a monster might prey upon girls, who are often kept vulnerable and unprotected by the influence of a patriarchal society. Also intriguing to me is the connection between girls and nature throughout various mythologies. I put all those sparks of ideas into a blender, and out came Sawkill Girls.
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
I love all three narrators of Sawkill Girls--Marion, Zoey, and Val--but I think Zoey is my favorite. She's funny and smart and creative; she's nerdy and has a passion for writing. She's unstoppably determined and fiercely loyal and loving. Plus, she injects a lot of humor into very tense scenes, which I think readers will appreciate!
YABC: Which came first, the title or the novel?
The idea for the book came first, and then, a couple of years ago, I was on a writing retreat in the Catskills and saw a sign for Sawkill Road. Those two words painted such a vivid picture in my mind, and lingered there long after I had traveled home. I think that word, "Sawkill," was the final puzzle piece I needed to finish crafting the atmosphere and setting of this book.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
I really, really love the last chapter. It's weird and beautiful, and touches on a universe and mythology much more expansive than what I was able to explore in the book. It was also very emotional for me to write, for reasons I can't get into right now, because spoilers!
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you've learned as a writer from then to now?
I'm constantly learning new things about how to be a better writer, but the one I keep coming back to, and using to re-center myself, is that it's ok to take your time. It's even, I would argue, crucial to take your time. At least, it is for me. Obviously that's not always possible when deadlines and, you know, life come into play, but I've learned that my brain needs lots of recovery time, and lots of space in which ideas can simmer unhurried. I draft and revise pretty quickly, but between those frantic rounds of work, I need lots of slow time to think and dream and recharge my creativity, and I've learned that that's ok. It's ok to work at your own pace.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
Oh goodness. I love absolutely everything about this cover. I think what struck me most when I first saw it was the stark simplicity of it. It's clean and fresh and modern, sophisticated in a way that I think appeals to both teen and adult readers. (Also, the moths! I adore them!)
YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2019?
Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan! It's the first in a Gothic fantasy series inspired by Slavic folklore. I have an ARC at home and am itching to read it. I love following Emily on social media; she loves her book so much, and her joy and delight in it is contagious.
YABC: What was your favorite book in 2018?
Damsel by Elana K. Arnold! I read an ARC earlier this year and was completely blown away. Gorgeous writing, moments of stark, startling beauty, and an ending that literally made my mouth fall open. The ferocious feminist fairy tale of my dreams.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
Kingsbane, the sequel to Furyborn, releases May 21, 2019!
Sawkill Girls
By: Claire LeGrand
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: October 2nd, 2018
*GIVEAWAY DETAILS*
One winner will receive a signed copy of Sawkill Girls (Claire LeGrand) ~ (US Only)
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*
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Comments 15
The cover is very intriguing and will attract YA readers. The storyline sounds suspenseful and witty and I look forward to reading it.
The cover is beautiful and mysterious. The synopsis sounds so amazing! Can't wait to read it!
The cover is striking and the synopsis is quite exciting!
The cover is stunning and dark and the synopsis sounds intriguing.
I like the cover a lot (simple and perfect) and I love the fact that this is such a female centric book. Thanks for the chance to win!!!
Very interesting cover, simple yet alluring. The story sounds like it will be a page turner!
Such a gorgeous cover, and a chilling summary that is oh so intriguing!
The cover has a dark and creepy feeling with fits with story. The synopsis is very intriguing. Sounds like a thrilling read.
This cover is so creepy, yet beautiful. I've been wanting to read this book since it came out. I just know this is going to be a great read.
I love this cover! Can't wait to read this book!