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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the ARMADAS IN THE MIST by Christian Klaver Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out
my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: ARMADAS IN THE MIST (The Empire of the
House of Thorns #3)

Author: Christian Klaver

Pub. Date: December 6, 2022

Publisher: CamCat Books

Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 332

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

The Black Shuck’s forces gather just
beyond the mist . . .

Captain Justice Kasric knows how
complicated family can be. The escalating Human-Faerie war has scattered and
wounded her siblings and transformed her parents beyond recognition. After
narrowly escaping yet another dangerous clash, fifteen-year-old Justice has had
enough. She’s determined to defeat the Black Shuck, the mysterious leader
controlling the Faerie invasion of London, but if Justice hopes to stand a
chance at victory, she’ll have to do the impossible: reunite her family and
lead them against the looming Faerie Armada.

With her mother and brother at the
helm of the enemy fleet, and the prophesized Seven Virtues slipping out of
reach, Justice more than has her work cut out for her. Even if she can save
England, the cost may be higher than she’s willing to pay.

 

 

Grab the first 2 books in the Empire of the House of
Thorns series now!

 

 

Guest Post:

Top 6 Influences that went into Shadows Over London:

 

Emma Bull – War for the Oaks – There’s a very visible through-line from Faerie trickster Phouka to Avonstoke and also from her flavor of sinister and dangerous Faerie to mine. This influence outweighs the other influences all put together. It’s a great read fun and emotional and I challenge you to come up with a better, more lovable group of misfits to root for than these folks.

 

Roger Zelazny – Chronicles of Amber – when you think about families with intricate politics, steeped in alliances and betrayals, Amber takes the cake. It is strongly enmeshed in the male POV, but it’s still one of the more compelling first-person points-of-view in fantasy for me. Pure gold.

 

Philip Pullman – Golden Compass – Confession Time: I actually listened to the audio version of this (a full cast) and the woman reading for Lyra just blew me away. So much fun and sass and compassion. Rebel on a wonderful scale and for all the right reasons. A lot of Lyra’s traits found their way into Justice.

 

1. S. Lewis – Chronicles of Narnia – Just for a sense of pure childlike wonder, these are old, but classics for a reason. The very first chapter with the crunch of snow and emerald light slanting through the woods are all facets of how it felt for me, as a child, when I first read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

 

Tanith Lee – Book of the Beast – Lee was a brilliant writer, with more poetic and lyrical imagery packed into every paragraph than most authors get in an entire book. Any time the Faerie, and their magic, turned dark and sinister, it made me think of Lee. Foreboding stained glass windows and monstrous trees that overtake London in subtle, unseen ways all harken back to the gothic feel of Lee, for me.

 

1. S. Forester – Horatio Hornblower Series – A lot of the fascinating little nautical details from Hornblower found their way into this series just as a reflection of my pure love for Hornblower. He would probably cringe at ‘Flugelstan’ as a nautical term, but I stand by it!

 

 

About Christian Klaver:

Christian
Klaver has been writing for over twenty years, with a number of magazine
publications, including Escape Pod, Dark Wisdom Anthology,
and Anti-Matter. He’s the author of The Supernatural Case Files of
Sherlock Holmes series, but has written over a dozen novels, both fantasy and
sci-fi, often with a Noir bent. He’s worked as book-seller, bartender and a
martial-arts instructor before settling into a career in internet security. He
lives just outside the sprawling decay of Detroit, Michigan, with his wife,
Kimberly, his daughter, Kathryn, and a group of animals he refers to as The
Menagerie. He’s also a part of the Untitled Writer’s Group based in Ann Arbor
for the past decade or so with a bunch of equally starry-eyed dreamers and social
misanthropes.

Website | Twitter |
Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive a finished copy of ARMADAS IN THE MIST, US Only.

Ends December 20^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the MAGES & MATES and MAGES & MAGIC by Nina R. Schluntz Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Books:

Book 1:

YA Version

Title: RISE
OF A NECROMANCER (Mages & Magic #1) & (Mages & Mates 1)

Author: Nina Schluntz

Pub. Date: August 31, 2023

Publisher: Nina Schluntz

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 285

Find it: YA Version-Goodreads &
Adult Version- Goodreads

YA Version-https://books2read.com/MAGESANDMAGIC1    

Adult Version- https://books2read.com/MAGESANDMATES1

Adult Version

 

Read both versions for FREE with a Kindle
Unlimited Membership!

 

Banished from Earth, a six-headed demon god adjusts to a
world where he is bound by no rules and where even the dead have magic he can
consume and control.

Rojo Siete Φωτιά
The red dragon full of chaos fire magic must serve the human mages for seventy
years.
Leslie Μάγος
Orphaned human child of slaves, sold to the Magesterium to train as a mage, and
paired with a fire dragon.
Ruven Σκιά
Shadow assassin elf turned tracker with a hellhound who eats the undead.
Heista Νεκρός
An undead priest risen and controlled by the most powerful necromancer

Tiamat is a demon god from Earth now banished to a world full of magic and
dragon. Lucky for him, his dragon form is a six-headed dragon. The magic here
is not like on Earth, it comes from dragons, not from souls.

To be a god on this world, he must learn how to harness the power of the
dragons. So, pretending to be less than he is, he joins the Magesterium to
train as a mage. He masters this ability easily but is paired with a dragon who
was once a human. Her dragon mate has died and if he doesn’t pair with her, the
other dragons will kill her.

Her magic is weak, but Tiamat can fix that. He can show this world that the
dragons banished from their clans can find a new purpose, just like him. Until
his past catches up and demons from Earth arrive to take a soul from Tiamat
that they feel is theirs. Turns out, necromancy is easy to do on this world and
the other demons have no qualms about using it.

To defeat the other demons, Tiamat must give up the new life he’s found, and
become the god he was destined to be.

Author’s Note:
This story is available in two adaptations. The original, Mages
& Mates, is a romance filled with encounters involving dragon
shape-shifters. This story stars a very lust-filled mage and a demon who seems
to marry one of every species on this world, collecting a harem of men and
women spouses.
The alternative adaptation, Mages & Magic, is censored and
edited to be appropriate for all ages. It has the same main story, but the mage
fights with a desire to roll dice and play dice games. The demon gets married
only once, then forms alliances with vows of loyalty, rather than marriages.
So, pick the version that fits your taste and enjoy an epic adventure with an
unlikely group of anti-heroes.

 

Book 2:

YA Version

Title: GOBLIN GOLD (Mages & Magic #2) &
(Mages & Mates 2)

Author: Nina Schluntz

Pub. Date: September 8, 2023

Publisher: Nina Schluntz

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 235

Find it: YA Version-Goodreads & Adult Version- Goodreads

YA Version- https://books2read.com/MAGESANDMAGIC2

Adult Version- https://books2read.com/MAGESANDMATES2

Adult Version

Read both versions for FREE with a
Kindle Unlimited Membership! 

Blessed by
Sun Deities and able to transform into Mechanical Dragons, the goblins and
their prized gold are the best hope against the necromancer demons invading
their world of magic.

Olje Ιππότης
Dedicated Goblin Paladin of the Sun Deities, raised as an undead protector to
Tiamat
Gruillie Καλόγερος
Religious Goblin Monk, fierce warrior, and bound to Mage Tiamat as his dragon.
Tiamat ψόφιος
Six-headed demon god dragon sworn to protect the inhabitants of this world.
Neo Νερό
Water Dragon, bound to Mage Peter and entangled with demons.

Goblins have secrets. Their knowledge of science has created the sun deities
and given them the power to harness the holy sun power from another plane of
existence. Their methods of creating the coveted gold is unethical. Their
practices drive a wedge in their alliance to the six-headed demon god Tiamat
and soon elves, humans, dragons, and goblins are divided in who they will trust
in the coming war against the undead.

New mages and dragons become trusted allies, while others are lost. Neo, a
water dragon, despises elves and undead, yet vows to help Tiamat in order to
protect his clan. Olje, a goblin monk, once faithful to Tiamat, shifts his
priorities when an unwitting mage comes into possession of a clutch of goblin
gold. This gold must be acquired and kept safe at all costs, even if it means
asking the elves for help.

Author’s Note:
This story is available in two adaptations. The original, Mages
& Mates, is a romance filled with encounters involving dragon
shape-shifters. This story stars a very lust-filled mage and a demon who seems
to marry one of every species on this world, collecting a harem of men and
women spouses.
The alternative adaptation, Mages & Magic, is censored and
edited to be appropriate for all ages. It has the same main story, but the mage
fights with a desire to roll dice and play dice games. The demon gets married
only once, then forms alliances with vows of loyalty, rather than marriages.
So, pick the version that fits your taste and enjoy an epic adventure with an
unlikely group of anti-heroes.

 

YABC Q&A

1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

I read a romance book about dragons that shape-shift into humans. It was the typical kind where a dragon goes to a town and the villagers offer up a bride to the dragon. Then the dragon takes her and they fall in love. The book had a lot of adult content and I kept thinking that if the author had removed some of the more intimate scenes (which didn’t add much to the story anyway) the book would have been enjoyed by a much wider audience. The main story was good, and the woman got to become a dragon! It motivated me to write a book with shape shifting dragons, but do so in a way that was readable by all ages.

2. Who is your favorite character in the book?

Obviously, my carry-over character Tiamat. He was introduced in a former series “Kidnapped Killer” and his story has continued in the Mages Universe.

3. Which came first, the title or the novel?

The story, for sure. I played around with a lot of different titles. The first book was supposed to be called “Temptation of Fire” but I liked how the cover artwork turned out for Necromancer, so it got bumped to the first book. The series title was the last thing I figured out.

4. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

The introduction scenes of Ruven, Leslie, and Rojo Siete. The scene where Rojo Siete is born from his egg came out very well. Its not often you read a story from the point of view of the dragon as its being born.

5. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

Not to rush a story. This book took five or so years to finish. If I’d rushed and wrote the original idea, it would not be the strong story it is today. Its okay to set a script aside and come back to it later.

6. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

The dragon, of course! I commissioned the artwork because I wanted the dragon to look like the dragon in the book. Each of the covers in the series features a different dragon. Book two has the goblin dragon on it and the third book will have the water dragon, but the dragon is actually on the back cover, so you’ll need to get the paperback to see it. All of the books feature a wrap-around cover, so you’ll get more artwork if you collect the paperback.

7. What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2023?

I recently started following Leia Stone. She finished her four-book series Kings of Avalier this fall that I was excited to read the conclusion of.

9. What’s up next for you?

My next young adult book is about reincarnation. The main character has a crane as their god that is attached to them and a failed reincarnation puts them in a body of a teenager who was in a coma, instead of a normal restart from birth. The crane is the god of hope, and their power is focused on peace. But the girl they are put in is bullied constantly, so they have to devise a means to resolve high school problems without violence. For example, a bully on the bus always takes everyone’s lunch money. So, the main character gets on the bus earlier, so they can force the bully into a seat that prevents them from stopping the other passengers when they get on. Then she tries to get the bottom of why the person needs money. The theme is all about empathy and understanding why people behave the way they do, instead of lashing out when someone is mean to you.

10. Is there anything that you would like to add?

If people liked how I made two versions of the story, an all-ages and the original romance, I hope they voice that. It did take extra effort and I’m unlikely to do it with future stories unless I know there is a strong desire for it.

11. Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

In book two when we meet Neo the water dragon. He gets injured and I had to find a way to do it tactfully. There’s a fine line between having a reader see a character go through needed emotional trauma for the plot and unforgiveable emotional trauma that goes too far.

12. Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

The goblins. I was given a lot of grief for the accent I gave them. At first, I had them saying “Eye” for “I” and “Aye” for “yes” but one of the beta readers kept telling me I was mixing the eye, I, and aye up. So, I simplified it to always “Aye.” Turns out my beta reader just didn’t like that I was doing that, because she kept telling me I was mixing them up. I told her, “You realize they say “aye” instead of “I” in dialogue, right?” And she was very upset and said, “Why would they say yes instead of I?” She couldn’t grasp that I was trying to do an accent, not change the definition of words.

13. Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?

The original writing is my high point. Getting to brainstorm and create. I’m always in a better mood when I’m creating the first draft.

14. What would you say is your superpower?

Being able to put a book aside and pick up right where I left off. Sometimes I’ll find I stopped writing mid-sentence. I’m able to finish that sentence as if I’d just stopped writing, even if it’s been months.

15. Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

Ernesto’s Paradise for animals under war. They are a group in Syria that take in animals of all kinds that have been abandoned or affected by the war. They opted to stay behind and help the animals, rather than flee when their area was and still is attacked. They don’t just ask for money either, they do things like ask for a sponsorship for a birthday celebration so they can give the cats a meat cake as a treat, or ask for contributions to cover vaccinations. On social media they’ll post pictures of the cats, they make up most of the rescued animals.

 

About Nina Schluntz:

 

Nina
Schluntz is a native to rural Nebraska. In her youth, she often wrote short
stories to entertain her friends. Those ideas evolved into the novels she
creates today.

Her husband continues to ensure her stories maintain a touch of realism as she
delves into the science fiction and fantasy realm. Their three cats are always
willing to stay up late to provide inspiration, whether it is a howl from the
stray born in the backyard or an encouraging bite from the so called “calming
kitten.”

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

5 winners will win a set of Dragon Dice, International.

Ends December 12th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the DEJA VIEW by Michael Thomas Perone Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: DEJA VIEW

Author: Michael Thomas Perone

Pub. Date: October 6, 2023

Publisher: Wheatmark

Formats:  Paperback,
eBook

Pages: 275

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/DEJA-VIEW  

 

Twelve-year-old Bobby Dalton doesn’t
want to grow up. All his life, he has relied on the imaginary games of
childhood with his best friends Joe and Max to get him through the tough times.
But this all changes when his Seventh-Grade class buries a time capsule to
commemorate the end of the 1980s. Now Bobby is being haunted by visions:
ghostly doppelgangers of himself, his friends, and others. He calls them
“déjà view.” Are these visions real, or has his imagination finally
gotten away from him? And if they’re real, what do they want? Bobby needs to
figure this all out to survive his childhood…and his life.

From the author of the
award-winning Danger Peak, Déjà View is a darkly
funny coming-of-age dramedy with a sci-fi twist, cranked up to eleven. But even
more, it’s at once a pulse-pounding thrill ride and a haunting portrait of
paranoia, mental illness, and the unbearable sadness of growing up.

 

 

 

YABC Q&A for Michael Thomas Perone, Author of Déjà View: A Kid Nightmare

 

 

 

1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

Similar to my debut novel, Danger Peak, Déjà View is based on a short story I wrote when I was a kid. The idea came from something my friends and I actually did. We buried a time capsule in my backyard, and then the next day I was on the swings at my best friend’s house around the corner. Our houses shared a fence, so as I was swinging, I looked past the fence to see where we buried the time capsule the night before and thought, “Wouldn’t it be funny if we were still doing that? Sorta stuck in time, burying the capsule over and over again?” That was the genesis of the idea, but in the original short story, it had much more of a horror vibe. It was like a slasher flick, and there was a lot more death. I toned that part down…a lot!

 

2. Who is your favorite character in the book?

Probably Dr. Pann, Bobby’s therapist. Without giving too much away, the character has a lot of shades to him, and it was fun playing with his different sides.

 

3. Which came first, the title or the novel?

If by “novel,” you mean the story idea, that came first. The original title was Déjà Vu, but there are only about five-hundred books with that title already, so I went with Déjà View since Bobby is actually seeing these repeated visions of his. There are still a few other books with that title but nowhere near as many as Déjà Vu. I guess that’s why I also added a subtitle to differentiate my book: A Kid Nightmare. Also, my debut novel, Danger Peak, has a subtitle as well (A Kid Adventure), and I wanted to link the two books, though Déjà View isn’t a sequel.

 

4. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

Probably the Chuck E. Cheese chapter. Not only was it fun to revisit those birthday parties I used to have in the ‘80s, I thought it was a pretty funny scene, and it sets the tone for the novel. It’s a little silly, slightly spooky, and somewhat surreal, and it foreshadows the strangeness to come. It also reinforces the major theme of the book, which is the death of childhood.

 

5. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

I learned the importance of outlining. I used to hate writing outlines in school, and when I wrote for fun on my own, I would write off-the-cuff and see where the story took me. There are merits to that too, but I’ve found it much easier if you have a general idea of where you’re going. You don’t have to have every scene plotted out or every line of dialogue memorized obviously, but if you know how to get from point A to point B and then C and so on, the writing flows much easier, at least for me.

 

6. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

The colors. I came up with the design of the book (three kids burying something mysterious under the light of the full moon), and the artists at my publishing house created it, but I didn’t have any particular colors in mind. I was really pleased though when the cover came back to me. The deep blues and purples of the night sky really set the tone for the spooky story, and it’s also just pretty to look at. I might actually like the cover better than the one for my last novel, Danger Peak, and I really liked that one!

 

7. What’s up next for you?

After two novels back to back, I’m taking a break from the longform story, so my next book will be a collection of my favorite short stories I’ve written over the years. There’s one I wrote in the mid-‘90s that actually predicted the future. It’s about a small town that becomes obsessed with television to the point of madness, and it features telecommuting and remote learning via T.V. screen and cars with built-in screens in the front dashboard. I remember thinking it was ridiculous at the time, and now it’s commonplace.

 

8. What would you say is your superpower?

Probably juggling (the figurative, not literal, kind, as I can’t even juggle two balls). I have a full-time job, two small kids to take care of, a wife to make happy, a dog that requires constant attention, parents around the corner who need help, a house to fix up, and yet somehow, I found time to write two novels in the past two years. I know one day years from now—maybe when I’m retired—I’m going to look back and think, “How did I do it all?” I’m actually thinking of that now!

 

9. Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

I like the Make-A-Wish Foundation. When I was a kid, one of my good friends had a bad liver and needed to move to Florida because supposedly, they had a better hospital for him down there for that sort of thing. He was granted a wish from this organization, and he asked for a roundtrip plane ticket to come home to visit the family he left behind and his old friends, including me. That was the last time I saw him, as a few months later, his liver gave out, and he died. If it wasn’t for Make-A-Wish, I wouldn’t have had that final day with him, so you know they’re actually doing the job they claim to do. I ended up naming Chris, one of the characters in my debut novel, Danger Peak, after him.

 

 

About Michael Thomas Perone:

 

Michael Thomas Perone is an award-winning author who has written for The Baltimore Sun,
Baltimore City Paper, Long Island Voice (a spinoff of The Village Voice), and
The Island Ear (now titled Long Island Press), among others. Online, he has
written for Fatherly, Yahoo!, WhatCulture!, and other websites that don’t end
with an exclamation mark. His articles for WhatCulture! covering the world of
entertainment alone have been viewed over 374,000 times, and his expertise on
critical writing in the music industry has been cited on Wikipedia and featured
in national press kits. He currently works as a Senior Editor in Manhattan and
lives on Long Island with his wife and two daughters. For more information,
please visit www.michaelthomasperone.com.

Sign up for Michael’s newsletter!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of DEJA VIEW, US Only.

Ends December 12th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 comment

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the A PART OF MY FAMILY FOREVER by Emily Belknap Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: A PART OF MY FAMILY FOREVER

Author: Emily Belknap

Pub. Date: November 2, 2023

Publisher: Ambassador International

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 44

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/A-PART-OF-MY-FAMILY-FOREVER

 

“I recommend all adoptive families
add A Part of My Family Forever to their library to read and
re-read for years to come.” Ryan Hanlon President and CEO of National Council
for Adoption (NCFA)

Isabel has a loving family—a mother, a father, and two brothers. And when she
was younger, Isabel was adopted. One day, she starts noticing little things
that make her feel different—her dad makes her sit in the middle seat; her
brothers play soccer better than she does; her mom doesn’t buy her favorite
peanut butter. As Isabel focuses more and more on her differences, her emotions
become too big for her to handle. Will Isabel ever feel like she belongs?

This book is the perfect book for foster and adoptive families to discuss the
big emotions that come along with adoption and the differences that make each
family unique. Written by an adoption counselor, this book will help children
learn how to handle their big emotions and to see that they are loved for just
who they are.

 

 

 

About Emily Belknap:

 

Emily Belknap is an Adoption Competent Therapist who provides individual and family
therapy to adoptive and foster families at her private practice, Bridgepointe
Therapy in Charleston, SC. Throughout her career, she has worked with hundreds
of families formed through international, infant, and foster care adoption.
While working at the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), she
completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program. Prior to this,
she conducted home studies, facilitated foster parent support groups, and
served as a foster care and adoption case worker. She began her career working
at the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) where she advocated
for improvement to federal adoption policy, assisted in organizing public
awareness campaigns including National Adoption Day and traveled
internationally to Guatemala on a Congressional delegation to visit an
orphanage and foster care program. Emily has a Master of Social Work (MSW) from
the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from
James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She holds an LISW-CP
license in South Carolina and an LCSW in Virginia which allow her to serve
families throughout South Carolina and Virginia via telehealth. Outside of her
work, Emily enjoys exploring the outdoors on her bike and kayak along with her
husband, Alex, and their daughter, Everly.

Website | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of A PART OF MY FAMILY FOREVER, US Only.

Ends December 12th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 comment

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the BLADESTAY by Jackie Johnson Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: BLADESTAY

Author: Jackie Johnson

Pub. Date: November 28, 2023

Publisher: CamCat Books

Formats:  Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 304

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/BLADESTAY 

 

Be Careful Who You Root For

When a violent, decades-long feud
between two powerful men comes to a head in the small settlement of Bladestay,
Colorado, cunning resident Theo Creed must use her wits to stay alive.
Disguising herself as a young boy, seventeen-year-old Theo bluffs her way into
the inner circle of August Gaines, the magnetic leader of the ruthless gang
that has descended on her town. But the deeper Theo gets into the con, the more
she starts to question her loyalties. Complicating her subterfuge is a
mysterious outlaw whose small moments of kindness contradict the blood he has
on his hands, making Theo wonder who, exactly, is conning who. To save her
town, Theo must parse façade from reality and choose between the barefaced
malevolence she’s infiltrated and an evil she didn’t know lurked at home.

 

 

 

YABC Q&A

1.    What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

This book is a drastic shift from anything I’ve written before. My typical genre is sci-fi and fantasy, and although I read a lot of the Western classics growing up, it wasn’t until I discovered Cormac McCarthy and Quentin Tarantino that I started to pay attention to the genre in a way that I might want to contribute to it. In a lot of ways, however, I feel like my life has been one giant preparation for writing in this sphere. I have a degree in history, I’ve been riding horses for about 25 years, and a typical routine in my upbringing included firearm safety and shootout simulations. I’ve also spent several years of my life living off the grid. I did this briefly in my childhood, and again more recently when my family and I bought a raw piece of property where we lived in a travel trailer during the construction of our house. We had no running water, no electricity—we lived like that for about 3 years with two small children. It was really tough, and it was actually during this time that I wrote Bladestay. It was an escape for me, this world I was creating, a place for me to channel these difficulties onto the page, and that’s where Theo and Brody came from. My life isn’t nearly as harrowing as those in my novel, but I was able to translate a lot of my experiences onto the page.

 

2. Who is your favorite character in the book?

August Gaines, the main antagonist. What can I say? I have a thing for the bad guys. One of my favorite aspects of this story is, if was written from his perspective, he would be the hero. This story belongs to August as much as Theo (the protagonist), which, I believe, is the magic of this narrative and the chemistry of its cast. August is the ultimate Wild West bandit—he’s complex, sympathetic, ruthless, and magnetic and it was really fun to watch Theo go up against him, especially because she shares a lot of his egocentric, cunning ways.

3. Which came first, the title or the novel?

I don’t think I’ve ever known the title of my books before I start writing them, and for Bladestay, I found the title about three chapters in.

4. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

The scene where the truth of Theo’s identity is exposed. For a large part of the book, Theo is disguised as a boy, so from the very first page I was composing the reveal scene in my head. By the time I got to that chapter, it had become perfectly clear in my head. It’s a scene steeped in emotion and betrayal, and because I’d been working the hell out of it mentally, it was really satisfying to stick the landing in the first draft. There are very few scenes that make it through the editing process unmarked, and this was one of them. I love that scene!

5. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

It takes a long time to hone this craft. The most important thing I learned is that it’s okay to spend an entire year on a project, pouring your heart and soul into it, only to learn that you’re not ready to be on the shelves. Writing entire books for practice isn’t a waste of time—no writing is. It took me seven books and ten years to gather the magic ingredients that would be Bladestay, and I’m so proud to call this book my debut. I couldn’t have written this book without the many that came before it. Every writer will tell you that this industry is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s so true. Keep writing, keep learning, never lose faith.

6. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

There are so many things to love about this cover, but I’m obsessed with the way the silhouette of Theo’s face looks like a pawn. That upside-down town is pretty awesome too.

7. What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2023?

I’m a huge Stephen King fan, so Holly is one I can’t wait to read this year.

8. What was your favorite book in 2022?

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo or These Impossible Things. Both are incredibly beautiful books.

9. What’s up next for you?

I’m currently working on a fantasy about a young woman who embarks on a dangerous voyage across the ocean in search of a rumored utopia. It’s all written out, but I’m currently working on revisions.

10. Is there anything that you would like to add?

This book tends to be fairly dark and addresses a lot of painful topics, but it’s ultimately very hopeful and optimistic. I hope that if readers take anything away from this book, especially young people, is that there are always more options than those in power give you.

11. Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

There are a handful of emotional moments, but the most difficult to narrate was a scene toward the end of the book where Theo discloses something terrible, and it was the most raw and messy part of the book because I didn’t want to touch it after I’d gotten it out of me. I ended up working with a saint of an editor at CamCat, and during a call with her, I blurted out, “Maybe we should just delete this scene.” My chest was tight every time I had to work on it, and the last thing I wanted was more notes on how it still needed more work. But my editor was very patient, respectful, and pushed me to get it right. She understood its importance, knew the power of this scene was how Theo took her pain and leveraged it to be a source of strength. Editors are angels and we don’t deserve them.

12. Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

Lucas Haas, the man August is after, was the hardest character to write. He’s on the page the least, but he’s the entire reason everyone’s in this mess. Knowing how much to insert him into scenes was tough, and one of the main goals of this book is to make everyone at least a little bit sympathetic, which was a damn near impossible task for Lucas because he’s a sociopath.

13. Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?

I’m one of those insane writers who loves every part of the process, but my favorite part is in the drafting. At the beginning, it’s pure creation, and it’s where I most frequently slip into ‘the zone.’ Writers are addicts, and we’re all chasing that feeling, that high of the zone where time is nonexistent, and the only things that matters is the story flying out of you as fast as you can type.

14. What would you say is your superpower?

Patience! Being a mother and a writer both require a tremendous amount.

15. Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

In 2020, my three-year-old was hospitalized at Rady’s Children’s Hospital. The doctors and nurses not only saved my son’s life, but the not-for-profit organization fed us, housed us, and took care of us so we could focus on our little one. I’m forever grateful for Rady’s.

https://www.rchsd.org/

He Intends Victory is an incredible organization that has worked tirelessly to help those affected by HIV/AIDS.

https://heintendsvictory.org/about/

 

 

About Jackie Johnson:

 

Jackie
Johnson is a San Diego born poet and novelist. Her background as a journalist,
BA in history, and education in armed defense gives her a uniquely authentic
voice within the historical genre. She’s been riding horses for over twenty
years and had her own real-life cowboy love story when she fell in love with
and married a horse trainer. Together, they established a ranch in Southern
California where she spends her days writing, riding, and chasing after their
dreams, their two children, four horses, six cats, and two dogs. Bladestay is
her first novel.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon
| BookBub

 

 

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of BLADESTAY, US Only.

Ends December 19th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the TAGGING FREEDOM by Rhonda Roumani Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: TAGGING FREEDOM

Author: Rhonda
Roumani

Pub. Date: November 7, 2023

Publisher: Union
Square Kids

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback,
eBook

Pages: 288

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/TAGGING-FREEDOM 

 

Out of the revolutions across
the Arab world, comes this inspirational story of with
hope, freedom, and belonging, perfect for fans of Other Words for
Home and A Good Kind of Trouble.

Kareem Haddad of Damascus, Syria, never dreamed of becoming a graffiti artist.
But when a group of boys from another town tag subversive slogans outside their
school, and another boy is killed while in custody, Kareem and his friends are
inspired to start secretly tagmessages of freedom around their city.

Meanwhile, in the United States, his cousin, Samira, has been trying to make
her own mark. Anxious to fit in at school, she joins the Spirit Squad where her
natural artistic ability attracts the attention of the popular leader. Then
Kareem is sent to live with Sam’s family, and their worlds collide. As
graffitied messages appear around town and all eyes turn to Kareem, Sam must
make a choice: does she shy away to protect her new social status, or does she
stand with her cousin?

Informed by her time as a journalist, author Rhonda Roumani’s Tagging
Freedom is a thoughtful look at the intersection between art and
activism, infused with rich details and a realistic portrayal of how war
affects and inspires children, similar to middle grade books for middle
schoolers by Aisha Saeed, The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandi,
or Refugee by Alan Gratz.

 

Guest Post:

If I had to come up with a playlist for my book, it would be a combination of songs from the past and today. It would definitely include protest songs, and I would probably include some of the protest songs from the Syrian revolution (though I have not included it on this list.) I hope you check some of these out. I imagined many of them could work as a soundtrack to the movie of TAGGING FREEDOM.

Book Playlist

Fight the Power by Public Enemy (Graffiti)

Get Up, Stand Up Bob Marley (The Protest)

Stand Up by Cynthia Erivo (Realizing Hassan almost got caught)

Parents Just Don’t Understand by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (Since Kareem’s parents don’t agree with him)

This City by Sam Fischer (When Kareem Leaves Syria)

Best Friend Breakup by Lauren Spencer Smith (When Sam and Ellie stop speaking)

Out for Fame by KRS ONE (When Kareem and Ellie decide to graffiti)

Speechless by Naomi Scott (When Sam realizes she can’t stay silent)

Brave by Sara Bareilles (When Sam decides to lead)

Enemy by imagine dragons (Let’s just say Kareem is a little angry at the end..)

Firework by Katy Perry (When Sam tells Cat off at the end)

Fight Song by Rachel Platten (The Friends protesting together at the end)

Count on Me by Bruno Mars (All The Kids Graffiti Together)

Ya Mal Asham by Sabah Fakhri (Because it’s in the book, an Ode to Damascus. It has to be on the list. 😊

 

 

About Rhonda Roumani:

 

Rhonda
Roumani is a Syrian American journalist who lived in Syria as a reporter for
U.S. newspapers. She has written about Islam, the Arab world, and
Muslim-American issues for more than two decades. Currently, she is a
contributing fellow at the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at USC. Rhonda
lives in Connecticut with her family.

Sign up for Rhonda’s newsletter! (scroll to the
bottom of the page)
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of TAGGING FREEDOM, US Only.

Ends November 14th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE ROUND THE WORLD WANDERER by Sandra Marichal Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: THE ROUND THE WORLD WANDERER

Author: Sandra Marichal & Fanny Ozda (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: July 14, 2020

Publisher: Marichal-Ragot Publishing

Formats: Hardcover

Pages: 34

Find it: Goodreads, The Round The World Wanderer Shop, Amazon, B&N, Bookshop, Blackwells

 

“You
can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the
shore.”

When Sandra
decided to run away to sea to explore what’s behind the horizon, she wasn’t
expecting to sail past blue whales, chase a hurricane, slide down waves the
size of a house, live inside a leaking cabin, or shower from a bucket.

The Round
the World Wanderer is a tale about finding the courage to chase your dreams,
wherever they take you – inspired by the true story of the author as Round the
Worlder on the Unicef boat in the Clipper 2019-20 Round the World Yacht Race.

Come on
board an ocean racing yacht and experience sailing around the world, browsing
through 32 pages of full-colour traditional illustrations, hand painted with
watercolour pencils, gouache and Indian black ink on a 300g/m2 watercolour
paper by Fanny Ozda.

“This
book is a wonderful way to encourage the spirit of adventure in our young
people.”

– Sir Robin
Knox-Johnston, First person to ever sail solo, non-stop around the world and
win the 1969 Golden Globe Race.

This picture
book is perfect for 3 to 5-year-old explorers, girls and boys.

YABC interview:

What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

My life! This is inspired by the real story of my adventure as an Ocean Racer, sailing around the world, participating in the Clipper Race Around the World, which leaves from London and takes 11 months to circumnavigate the world. I sailed from London, UK to Uruguay to South Africa, to Australia and then over to the Philippines, clocking 25,000 nautical miles. Unfortunately, my edition of the race got stopped due to Covid and we were forced to go home – except my home at the time was Singapore, and it had already shut its borders – so I headed back to London with the rest of my crew mates. I landed with my sailing bag, a pair of boots, crocs and flip flop and nowhere to live. I had a lot of time and not much to do, which is when I decided to publish The Round the World Wanderer. As I had no previous experience as an author or publisher, it took me a while to understand how to go about it – and because I wanted to give all profits to UNICEF, I went for the self-publishing route, in order to maximize donations. It took me 3 months and managed to sell nearly a thousand copies!

2. Who is your favorite character in the book?

A fun fact is that all the characters in the book are real people! They’re all my crew mates during this Clipper Round The World Race! And one character became my husband in real life too! If we have to select my favorite character in the book, it’d be Holly. In real life, she’s a renowned pediatric surgeon at the John Hopkins Hospital who has spent her life caring for and saving children’s lives. When I broke my hand badly in the middle of the Southern Ocean, she’s the one who stitched it for me – in the cockpit, without any anesthetics or pain killer. She’s a real badass at sea too and was responsible for our sail wardrobe…which involved a lot of stitching too!

3. Which came first, the title or the novel?

The novel! I actually wrote it while at sea, crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Punta del Este, Uruguay to Cape Town, South Africa. As we had no internet onboard in the middle of the ocean, I was writing short blogs to my friends and family via satellite communications – for which each character costs 10p, including the blanks! One day, my best friend Saira replied that she was reading my stories to her very young daughter Naima who kept asking for updates. So came the idea to write to all the kids of my friends instead. I am also a godmother to Nova and thought it’d be really cool for her to share that at school with her mates. So that’s when the draft of that story was written! It is only when we got to shore, months later, halted due to Covid-19, that I decided to transform this into a book for more children to enjoy. Hopefully it’ll inspire them to seek adventure themselves when they grow up!

4. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

It is a difficult question as all the scenes refer to key moments in the life of an Ocean Racer and sailor. The storm is a classic one as it both frightens us and makes us better, stronger and prouder sailors. It is a passage rite. I equally like the scene with the gigantic whales as every time we encountered them, the racing stopped, we slowed down to ensure we would avoid them, to not hurt them with our keel or rudder and also, to simply witness the magnificence of these creatures. I’d love for children to continue caring for animals the way they do, as they row into adulthood.

5. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

I have written a lot of blogs and journals but I have never published anything. To make your writing available to the world is like walking out of your house naked. It puts you in a very vulnerable place where people will suddenly have opinions about you, your creative work, and in the case of this book, your life story. My initial reactions would be to not publish again, but I am equally in awe of the enthusiasm parents and children have shown for the book so perhaps I’ll continue writing!

6. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

It is an illustration of a real picture of me sitting at the bow (the front) of the yacht during my last training in the UK before setting off around the world. It was taken at a time when I was still very oblivious to the adventure that I was embarking on. I loved that moment – I was excited and realized how much I loved ocean racing. The illustration was hand drawn by Fanny Ozda, an illustrator I had found on Instagram during the pandemic. She’s a fellow French woman, ex-corporate lawyer who decided to drop everything to follow her passion. This book was her debut project. It felt very fitting as we both had no idea what we were getting ourselves into and both loved working on it. The creative process was definitely different – I was stuck in London and she was in Singapore. We would share videos and photos, drafts, little drawings via whatsapp and would have a chat once a week to discuss progress and make creative decisions. We decided she would continue to work on paper with watercolors and we would photograph them professionally once she was done. That was us hoping the pandemic would end soon…it didn’t. So she took pictures of them with her ipad and my brother helped with the color adjustments and depth. Which explains the grain you can see on the illustrations in the book. I could retake the scans now, but I love that the illustration style tells the story of that logistically difficult creative process.

15. Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

UNICEF is the charity organization I was racing for during my Round the World Race and it is an organization which is close to my heart – and for which I wanted to continue to raise funds during the pandemic. You’ll see my dedication at the beginning of the book is UNICEF’s motto “For Every Child”. All profits from the book sales are going to UNICEF.

 

 

About the Author

 

Sandra spent the last 10 years working in Finance, Consulting and Tech across Europe and Asia Pacific before deciding to quit it all and start sailing around the world. She’s a Round-The-Worlder and Assistant Watch Leader in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2019/20 onboard UNICEF. She is also the Team Coordinator – the crew manager:, setting up the boat systems, job rotas, crew schedules and managing the boat relationship with the Race Office and outside world – all with the objective to improve the overall racing performance. Born French, she’s visited over 65 countries and has thousands of travel anecdotes to tell. She’s been to Antarctica – twice – once with Robert Swan OBE and then as a UN Women Ambassador. Sandra is also an engaged activist in Singapore, raising awareness about the environmental impact of aircon systems. She founded the #up2degrees movement and successfully lobbied the government to change public spaces regulations. She’s a founding partner of Her Planet Earth – focusing on empowering women to fight climate change and if she had one wish it would be to see more women going on adventures and protect the environment we thrive in.

 

To follow Sandra’s adventures, visit:

/sandramarichalofficial

@sandramarichalofficial

 

About the Illustrator

 

Fanny Ozda is a French illustrator based in Singapore. Ex-lawyer turned artist, she is the cartoonist for Le Petit Journal Singapore Edition and the co-founder of « Sketching Sundays Singapore », a community of artists meeting weekly to share ideas and advice on their latest art projects. Fanny is a travel aficionada, she gets inspired by the beautiful countries of South-East Asia. She loves crochet, origami and all of DIY arts & crafts. She even hand-stitches her own sketchbooks. She is a big fan of graphic novels which she collects despite her otherwise very minimalistic lifestyle. She is an introvert, deeply connected to her inner-child, who sees magic in the everyday life.

 

@fanny.ozda

 

 

About Sandra Marichal:

 

Sandra spent
the last 10 years working in Tech, Media, Marketing, Consulting and Finance
across Europe and Asia Pacific before deciding to quit it all and start sailing
around the world.

She’s a
Round-The-World sailor in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2019/20
onboard UNICEF.

Born French,
she’s visited over 65 countries and has thousands of travel anecdotes to tell.
She’s been to Antarctica – twice – once with Robert Swan OBE and then as a UN
Women Ambassador.

Sandra is
also an engaged activist in Singapore, raising awareness about the
environmental impact of aircon systems. She founded the #up2degrees movement
and successfully lobbied the government to change public spaces regulations.
She’s a founding partner of Her Planet Earth – focusing on empowering women to
fight climate change and if she had one wish it would be to see more women
going on adventures and protect the environment we thrive in.

The Round The World Wanderer Site
| Website | Facebook | Instagram | Sandra Instagram |
Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a THE ROUND THE WORLD WANDERER, US Only.

Ends November 7th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the GIRL ON TRIAL by Kathleen Fine Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: GIRL
ON TRIAL

Author: Kathleen
Fine

Pub. Date: October
24, 2023

Publisher: CamCat
Books

Formats:  Hardcover,
Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 304

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/GIRL-ON-TRIAL

 

Does doing one bad thing make you a
bad person?

Sixteen-year-old Emily Keller, known
by the media as Keller the Killer, is accused of causing the deaths of four
family members, including young children. Emily is one of the youngest females
to be accused of a crime so heinous, making this the nation’s biggest trial of
the year. But what really happened that fateful night―and who’s responsible―is
anything but straightforward.

Living in a trailer park in Baltimore
with her twin brother and alcoholic mother, Emily’s life hasn’t been easy.
She’s had to grow up fast, and like any teen, has made questionable decisions
in a desperate attempt to fit in with her peers. Will her mistakes amount to a
guilty verdict and a life in prison? It’s up to the jury to decide.

For readers who enjoy Luckiest
Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll, 13 Reasons Why by Jay
Asher, and One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus.

 

 

Interview:

YABC Q&A

1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

I started to experiment at a very early age with alcohol. I understand firsthand the effects that peer pressure can have on a teenage girl. When I think back to my teenage years, I sometimes think what if? What if I had made this choice or that decision? There were so many terrible outcomes that could have occurred in my life.

I wanted to write this novel to show readers a “what if.” What if you caved into peer pressure and made the one bad decision that could alter your future forever?

As social media is a huge aspect of teenager’s self-esteem and decision making today, this novel will help demonstrate the harm in following the crowd.

I want my readers to come out of this story with the lingering big question: Does doing one bad thing make you a bad person? Some choices we make can never be taken back.

I hope that teens who read this think twice before following a crowd and stand firmly with what they know is right in their heart.

 

2. Who is your favorite character in the book?

Emily, the protagonist, is my favorite character. She is like a lot of teen girls—insecure and wanting to fit in with the crowd. She wants to be liked and is willing to lose her own morals to gain acceptance from her peers.

In the beginning of the story, Emily’s major character’s flaws are being envious and weak-willed. She’s envious of the person she thinks she thinks she’s supposed to be, the influencers, actresses, models, and popular girls at school. That envy makes her weak-willed. She’s unable to say no, even when she knows that the choices she makes are immoral.

Emily makes mistakes like every human on the planet and loses her innocence in the process. But in that process of losing her innocence, she also becomes a survivor. I love how much Emily changes through the story and she shows teens that they can grow and learn from their mistakes.

 

3. Which came first, the title or the novel?

The novel! After finishing it, I was trying to come up with a title and simply thought of the basic premise of the book, a girl is on trial!

 

4. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

Hm, that is tough! I would say I love the scene of Emily with her mother on her mother’s bed. It shows the imperfect, but powerful bond between a mother and daughter no matter what their flaws and own traumas may be.

 

5. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

I have learned that you have to love your story because you are going to be rereading it MANY times! I hadn’t realized how many edits and new drafts I would make. (Wouldn’t it be so nice if all of our first drafts came out perfectly?) 😊

 

6. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

I like the simplicity of the cover. The first two rounds of covers my publisher had sent, I had said no to because there was too much going on. I just wanted a solid-colored background with a simple clue from the book on the cover. I love how the blue and yellow colors pop!

 

7. What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2023?

Hm that’s tough, especially since 2023 is almost over! For 2024, I would say Sally Hepworth’s Darling Girls or Stacy Willingham’s Only if You’re Lucky.

 

8. What was your favorite book in 2023?

I am an avid reader, so it is so hard to just pick one. A few of my favorites were Demon Copperhead, Good Rich People, The Collected Regrets of Clover, Promise Boys, and The Soulmate.

 

 

 

 

About Kathleen Fine:

 

Kathleen
Fine received her Master’s in Reading Education from Towson University and
Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from University of Maryland, College Park.
She is a member of the Maryland Writers Association, International Thriller
Writers, and Author’s Guild. When she’s not writing and selling real estate,
she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to the Outer Banks, and of
course, reading anything she can get her hands on. She currently lives in
Baltimore, Maryland with her husband, three children, and Sussex Spaniel. Her
debut novel, Girl on Trial, will be released in the Fall of 2023. 

Sign up for Kathleen’s newsletter! (Scroll to the bottom of the page)

Website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | BookBub

 

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of GIRL ON TRIAL, US Only.

Ends November 14th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE BIGFOOT QUEEN by Jennifer Weiner Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: THE BIGFOOT QUEEN (The Littlest Bigfoot
#3)

Author: Jennifer Weiner

Pub. Date: October 24, 2023

Publisher: Aladdin

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 352

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-BIGFOOT-QUEEN 

 

From #1 New York Times bestselling
author Jennifer Weiner comes the third and final book in the “cheerful” (The
New York Times Book Review) and “charming” (People) trilogy about
friendship, adventure, and celebrating your true self.

Alice Mayfair, Millie Maximus, Jessica Jarvis, and Jeremy Bigelow face their
biggest challenge yet when exposure of the sacred, secret world is threatened
by a determined foe, someone with a very personal reason to want revenge
against the creatures who call themselves the Yare.

The fate of the tribe and its members’ right to live out peacefully in the open
is at stake. Impossible decisions are made, friendships are threatened, secrets
are revealed, and tremendous courage is required. Alice, her friends, and her
frenemies will have to work together and be stronger, smarter, and more
accepting than they’ve ever been.

But can some betrayals ever be forgiven?

Weiner will be celebrating the book’s
publication with an in-person event via Children’s
Book World on October 24, 2023 at 7:30pm ET. A hardcover boxed set collection of all three books in The Littlest
Bigfoot series will be published on November 13, 2023—just in time for the
holidays!

 

 

 

Excerpt:

CHAPTER  1

Charlotte

 

CHARLOTTE HUGHES HAD BEEN BORN IN A dying town, to parents who didn’t survive to see her second birthday. They’d perished in a car accident, after their minivan had hit a patch of black ice and skidded off the road. Charlotte’s father had been pronounced dead on the scene. Her mother had died in the hospital, later that night. Baby Charlotte, strapped into her car seat, had survived without a scratch, and had been sent to live with her father’s mother, her only surviving relative, who, clearly, had no interest in raising another child. Grandma managed Upland’s only bed-and-breakfast, and it was an exhausting, thankless job—but one Grandma always said she was lucky to have, given how many in town couldn’t find any work at all.

 

In the winter, when the skiers who couldn’t find lodging closer to the mountain resorts booked rooms, Grandma worked from sunrise to late at night, doing laundry, cleaning, and cooking, and as soon as Charlotte was tall enough to push a broom or carry a load of dirty towels to the basement, she had to help her. There were floors to be swept and mopped, beds to be stripped and made, trash cans to be emptied, carpets to be vacuumed, and toilets to be scrubbed. Even when they didn’t have guests, there was always cleaning. The big, old house seemed to generate its own dust and grow its own cob- webs. Little Charlotte would wake up at five in the morning to iron napkins and to bake scones and clear snow off the porch. She made beds and cleaned bathrooms. She learned to be invisible, to slip in and out of the rooms when the guests were gone, so quickly that they hardly noticed she was there. Her hands would chap and her skin would crack and she’d yawn her way through her school days.

 

And, all around her, Upland was dying.

 

When Grandma Hughes was a girl, Upland had been a thriving town, with a ski resort and two different fabric mills that stained the river with whatever dyes they were using that week: indigo, crimson, goldenrod yellow, or pine-tree green.

 

Then one of the mills had caught fire, and the other mill had closed, and the Great Depression and the two World Wars had come.

 

Young men had gone off to fight and hadn’t returned; families packed up and moved to more prosperous com- munities. In 1965, the interstate highway, which went nowhere near Upland, was completed. Skiers used it to travel to the mountains that were close to the highway, and Upland was not. Two years after the interstate opened, Mount Upland was closed.

 

For as long as Charlotte could remember, her home- town had been full of run-down houses and rusty trailers, roads with more potholes than asphalt, where the schools were ancient and the bridges were elderly and every third storefront had a faded “GOING OUT OF BUSINESS” or “EVERYTHING MUST GO” sign hung over its soap- covered windows. Every year, more and more people moved away, to bigger towns with better opportunities.

 

Then, when Charlotte was twelve, Christopher Jarvis had come to town.

 

Famous Scientist to Establish New Labs in Upland, read the headline in the newspaper Charlotte saw on her grandmother’s desk. Famed scientist Christopher Jarvis, owner of Jarvis Industries, which holds patents on everything from dental tools to heartburn medications, is opening a new research and development facility in Upland. A spokes- man for Dr. Jarvis said the renowned scientist and inventor has purchased the eighty acres of land that were formerly Ellenloe Farms, and plans to break ground on the labs next month, with an eye toward opening next year. “We’ll need everything from support staff, such as custodians and cooks, to researchers and security personnel,” a spokeswoman for Jarvis Industries said.

 

“Maybe we’ll get some more guests,” Grandma had said, not looking especially hopeful. She spooned a clump of macaroni and cheese onto Charlotte’s plate, where it landed with a dispirited plop. Charlotte tried not to sigh. She couldn’t remember her parents, not even a little bit, but somehow she thought that if her mother had survived, she’d buy name-brand mac and cheese, not the generic kind, and she’d make the sauce with milk instead of water.

 

The next day, the school was buzzing with the news. Courtney Miller said her mom had already applied for a job as an administrative assistant, and Lisa Farley said her mom had gotten a call about working in the cafeteria. Ross Richardson said his dad had heard there was going to be a job fair at the community center, and Mrs. McTeague, who taught English literature, said she’d heard that the lab would bring more than five hundred new jobs to Upland.

 

Charlotte took the long way home after school, wondering whether her grandmother would ever go to work for Jarvis Industries. Maybe they could sell the inn and move to a regular house, where they didn’t have to sleep in cramped bedrooms in the attic and worry about being quiet so the sound of their feet or their voices wouldn’t disturb their guests. Charlotte would be able to get a job babysitting, or she could be a lifeguard in the summertime, instead of making beds and scrubbing toilets for no money, not even an allowance. She could get an iPhone, instead of the crummy knockoff with limited data that was all her grandmother could afford, and a pair of the clogs that all the girls were wearing that year. She could get new clothes and concert tickets and a car when she was old enough to drive. Maybe her grand- mother wouldn’t have to work so hard, and maybe she’d stop being so grumpy with Charlotte when she wasn’t so exhausted, with her back and her knees hurting her all the time. Maybe everything would change.

 

When Charlotte arrived at the inn that afternoon, she saw a shiny black car in the driveway, and a man in a suit and shoes as shiny and black as the car, standing on the front porch. “I hope you’ll give our offer some serious thought,” he said to Grandma Hughes, who didn’t answer. The man shrugged, climbing into the car and giving Charlotte a quick, two-fingered salute before driving away.

 

Charlotte could tell from her grandmother’s tight- lipped expression that asking questions would only cause trouble, but she couldn’t keep quiet. “Who was that man?” Charlotte asked, taking her place in front of the kitchen sink to start on the afternoon’s dishes. “What’d he want?”

 

“He’s from the Jarvis company. They want to buy the place,” her grandmother said. She’d pulled a bunch of celery out of the refrigerator and was going at it with a cleaver as if she was imagining it was the Jarvis representative’s head.

 

“And you won’t sell?” Charlotte asked. Her heart was sinking.

 

“This place belonged to my parents. And my father’s parents before them,” said her grandmother. “It should have gone to my son. It’ll be yours someday, I imagine.”

 

I don’t want it, thought Charlotte. “Wouldn’t it be easier, just to sell it? You could probably retire!”

 

“Easier doesn’t always mean better.” Her grandmother kept chopping, dicing the celery into tinier and tinier pieces. After a minute she muttered, “And it’s dirty money.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I’ve learned a few things about Jarvis Industries.” Chop, chop, chop, went the heavy silver blade. “All those pharmaceutical companies are bad news. Profiting off people’s illnesses. Making their pills so expensive that regular people can’t afford them. Getting rich, while sick people suffer and go without to afford their medication. Dirty money.”

 

Charlotte decided she didn’t care if Jarvis Industries’ money was dirty or clean. If they’d offered it to her, she’d have taken it, and if Charlotte inherited the inn and the Jarvis people still wanted it, she would sell it to them and never look back.

 

Her grandmother pressed her lips together, even more tightly. “I’ve heard other things too,” she said.

 

About Jennifer Weiner:

 

Jennifer Weiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling
author of twenty-one books, including The Summer Place, That Summer, Big
Summer, Mrs. Everything, In Her Shoes, Good
in Bed, and a memoir in essays, Hungry Heart. She has
appeared on many national television programs, including Today and Good
Morning America, and her work has been published in The Wall
Street Journal and The New York Times, among
other newspapers and magazines. Jennifer lives with her family in Philadelphia.
Visit her online at JenniferWeiner.com.

Subscribe to Jennifer’s newsletter!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE BIGFOOT QUEEN, US Only.

Ends October 24th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Welcome to the Footsteps on the Map Blog Tour!

Welcome to the blog tour for Footsteps on the Map!

 

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Buy

In this enchanting picture book, two children set out on separate adventures to blaze their very own trail, mapping it as they go.

Set out, pen in hand. Yours are the first footsteps on the map! You never know where the path to adventure might lead! This imaginative picture book combines brief, lyrical text with a stunning combination of photographs and artist’s illustrations as it spins a charming story that introduces the art of mapmaking from a child’s perspective.

Perfect for preschoolers and early elementary kids just learning about maps, the book also includes basic information needed to read maps, such as symbols and a map key. Filled with beautifully illustrated, child-centered maps, Footsteps on the Map will inspire budding cartographers to map their own world and tell their own stories.

 

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About the Author:

BARBARA KERLEY is the award-winning author of numerous nonfiction picture books, including The Extraordinary Mark Twain, Those Rebels, John and Tom, and A Home for Mr. Emerson. Her titles for National Geographic include The World Is Waiting For You; You and Me Together; A Little Peace; Brave Like Me; One World, One Day; With a Friend by Your Side; and A Cool Drink of Water.

About the Illustrator:

OKSANA DRACHKOVSKA is an illustrator from Ukraine. A finalist in the Bologna Book Fair illustration competition in 2021 and 2022, Oksana finds inspiration in nature, landscapes, and travels. She likes to experiment with different ways of creating books, stories, and her own invented worlds.

 

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Guest Post

 

One of the things I love most about FOOTSTEPS ON THE MAP is the wonderful illustrations by Oksana Drachkovska.

            The book is about two kids who, accompanied by a beloved pet, each go on an adventure, mapping the journey as they go.

            The cover sets up the story beautifully—the girl with her giant pencil, the boy with his giant pen, and the playful dotted lines depicting their paths. The pets even appear: the girl’s dog on the front flap and the boy’s cat on the back.

            The art is full of play and wonder, and we have the extra pleasure of seeing each kid’s map drawn in real time in a banner that runs along the bottom of the page.

            But if you look closely, you’ll see that the art has something unexpected—photographs seamlessly mixed in with the illustrations. An illustrated bird perches on a photograph of a berry bush. A stream is dotted with stones both real and imagined. In some spreads, a close-up photo of a single leaf acts like the canopy of an entire tree, with the leaf’s veins serving as the tree’s branches.

            Every page holds surprises, and each time I look at the art, I discover something new. Wonderful, indeed.

 

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Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

 

 

 

Blog Tour Schedule:

 

October 2nd: Daddy Mojo

http:// daddymojo.net

http://twitter.com/daddymojo

http://Facebook.com/Trey.burley

October 3rd: Insatiable Readers

http://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/GRgenius

Instagram:  http://www.instagram.com/GRgenius

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/GRgenius

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/insatiablereaders

October 4rd: Log Cabin Library

http://logcabinlibrary.blogspot.com/

October 5th: YA Books Central

October 6th: Mrs. Book Dragon

https://www.mrsbookdragon.com/

 

 

 

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