Elle Blair Reads

WHALE IN A FISHBOWL: Picture Book Giveaway!

5/8/2018

From Beta Draft to Book Birthday...

It's been more than two years since Wednesday the whale first visited my inbox. I had recently joined a writing critique group that included a few rock-star kidlit authors, and was eager to read their submissions. One project begged to be read first—because the title evoked such an intriguingly impossible image!

The story was captivating. I could visualize each scene—imagine myself reading it to my (future) grandchildren. I was absolutely enthralled! It was hard to imagine then that the draft could possibly get any better. But of course it did.

It’s a long road from beta draft to book birthday, and when one of your critique partners embarks on that journey, you ride the highs and lows right along with them. I was ecstatic when I heard the news that Schwartz and Wade would be publishing WHALE (it’s a lot like finding out one of your best friends is expecting a child). And after a bit of a wait, tremendously relieved to learn that Wednesday’s lovely tale would be illustrated by the talented Richard Jones. It was an honor to be privy to those early sample sketches—and then later, to flip through the finished F&G.

Now the wait is almost over—this exquisite book will be available for purchase beginning May 22nd! But my dear friend, Troy, is offering a signed and personalized advanced copy here for one lucky winner!

About the book...

WHALE IN A FISHBOWL
story by Troy Howell, pictures by Richard Jones

Click on cover to pre-order

In stores May 22, 2018

A moving, poetic story about a whale in captivity who longs for the ocean . . . because whales don’t belong in fishbowls, do they?

Wednesday is a whale who lives in a fishbowl smack dab in the middle of a city–it’s the only home she’s ever known. Cars whizz around her and people hurry past; even the sun and moon circle above. But if she leaps high enough out of her bowl, Wednesday can see it: a calm bit of blue off in the distance. When a girl in a paisley dress tells Wednesday “You belong in the sea,” the whale starts to wonder, what is the sea? Readers will cheer–and get all choked up– when, one day, Wednesday leaps higher than ever before and sets in motion a breathtaking chain of events that will carry her to her rightful home. Touching, and ultimately uplifting, here is a story about a lonely creature longing to be free–and longing to find someone just like her.

About the Author...

Troy Howell is an author and illustrator of children’s books. His middle grade novel, The Dragon of Cripple Creek (Abrams/Amulet), featuring the last dragon on earth whose life is endangered by a twenty-first century gold rush that's triggered by a 12-year-old girl, is an American Bookseller’s New Voices pick, an Accelerated Reader book, and was shortlisted for the Reading the West award. Lizbeth Lou Got a Rock in Her Shoe (Ripple Grove Press) and Whale in a Fishbowl (Schwartz & Wade), which has garnered four starred reviews, are two recent picture books he has authored. Among the many notable books and book jackets he’s illustrated is the bestselling Brian Jacques Redwall series.

Troy's books have won awards, starred reviews, and the like. But what matters most to him is work that touches the reader or viewer in some way, whether it’s wonder, a laugh, a new thought, a tear. Those are the best rewards. Visit him on the web at: troyhowelletc.com

About the Illustrator...

Richard Jones has over 20 years experience in creative arts, and has recently begun illustrating children's books. He is also the illustrator of Town Mouse, Country Mouse by Libby Walden, a reimagining of Aesop's fable. Visit him on the web at: paintedmouse.com

About the Giveaway...

Troy is offering one signed and personalized copy of WHALE IN A FISHBOWL! And because cupcakes are difficult to mail, I'm tossing in a festive pair of women's blue whale socks from my local indie, The Little Bookshop. The giveaway ends May 17 at 11:59 PM EST and is open to residents of the US and the UK. See details below to enter.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reading YA with Anna-Marie McLemore

1/18/2018

Anna-Marie McLemore is the author of THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS (Thomas Dunne, 2015), WHEN THE MOON WAS OURS (Thomas Dunne, 2016) and WILD BEAUTY (Feiwel Friends, 2017). Her fourth novel, BLANCA & ROJA, a magical realism reimagining of Snow-White & Rose-Red meets Swan Lake, is forthcoming from Feiwel Friends in the fall of 2018.

Why do you read young adult fiction?

I made so many of the decisions that defined my life when I was a teen. Personally, I think everyone should read YA, because YA truly has something for everyone, but for me, at least part of it is that a part of me will always be seventeen.

What YA books are you reading now?

I’m currently on a Lily Anderson streak. I’m reading her latest NOT NOW, NOT EVER, and I’m lucky enough to have an advanced copy of UNDEAD GIRL GANG. I adore the wit that shines through her writing and how she depicts friendship.

When and where do you read?

Any chance I get to sneak a chapter in! I always have a book in my purse.

What draws you to a book?

Most often, friends’ recommendations. I’m lucky to have writer friends, librarian friends, and non-book-industry friends who are avid readers.

Do you ever reread books?

Oh yes. I have ones I reread every year, but I also have moments where I think, “Yes, that book, I have to reread that book right now!” It’s almost like a food craving.

Which YA book has had the most impact on your writing?

Nova Ren Suma’s gorgeous sense of literary surrealism, Guadalupe Garcia McCall’s vivid and resonating depictions of Latina girls, and Cindy Pon’s beautiful books, which were among the first to show me that maybe one day I could write a book from my heritage.

Which books do you find yourself recommending over and over again?

Aisha Saeed’s WRITTEN IN THE STARS, I.W. Gregorio’s NONE OF THE ABOVE, Kelly Loy Gilbert’s PICTURE US IN THE LIGHT.

Anna-Marie McLemore was born in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and taught by her family to hear la llorona in the Santa Ana winds. For more information, please visit her website: author.annamariemclemore.com

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Currently Reading: THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE

6/30/2017

The Girl From Everywhere
by Heidi Heilig

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Nix has spent her entire life aboard her father’s ship, sailing across the centuries, across the world, across myth and imagination.

As long as her father has a map for it, he can sail to any time, any place, real or imagined: nineteenth-century China, the land from One Thousand and One Nights, a mythic version of Africa. Along the way they have found crewmates and friends, and even a disarming thief who could come to mean much more to Nix. But the end to it all looms closer every day.

Her father is obsessed with obtaining the one map, 1868 Honolulu, that could take him back to his lost love, Nix’s mother. Even though getting it—and going there—could erase Nix’s very existence. For the first time, Nix is entering unknown waters. She could find herself, find her family, find her own fantastical ability, her own epic love. Or she could disappear.

Reading YA with Kathryn Ormsbee

6/15/2017

Kathryn Ormsbee is the author of LUCKY FEW, a quirky contemporary from Simon & Schuster, and the highly anticipated TASH HEARTS TOLSTORY (June 6, 2017). Kathryn also writes Middle Grade fantasy novels as K.E. Ormsbee. She is the author of THE WATER AND THE WILD series and the upcoming standalone THE HOUSE IN POPLAR WOOD (Chronicle Books, 2018).

Why do you read young adult fiction?

I loved children’s literature growing up—Roald Dahl and Louis Sachar were two of my favorites—but can I share a secret? I didn’t read that much YA when I was a teenager! I was an eensy bit ambitious and determined to read all the “Great Classics” before I graduated, so my bookshelf was filled with Dickens and Austen, Dostoevsky and Steinbeck.

Then one fateful day I discovered The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, and my reading world was forever changed. That book blew my young mind. I hadn’t realized until then that there were books out there about actual problems and emotions that normal teens felt on an everyday basis. (Keep in mind, I grew up in the time of The O.C. and Gossip Girl; plenty of fun in their own way, but not reflective of my own life.) My experience with Perks sparked a desire to read more and more YA contemporary novels, and that’s just what I did. That late teenage exploration turned into an abiding love for YA.

Some of the most honest, well-written, laugh-out-loud/sob-out-loud fiction I have read is Young Adult. (And remember, I made a survey of those “Great Classics”!) So, as a book-lover, how could I deny myself the joys of such a rich body of literature?

What YA books are you reading now?

I recently finished The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcok, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, and If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo, and I highly recommend ALL of them. There have been so many fantastic releases in the past year! I’ve just begun Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali, and I already love it to pieces.

When and where do you read?

Lately, I’ve been on the road for long stretches of time, so audiobooks have been my best friends. I also listen to books as I cook dinner, go on walks, and work out—basically every multitasking opportunity I get! But nothing beats snuggling up with a good old paper book either in the corner of my bed or in the armchair by my current apartment’s bay window. One of my favorite post-writing treats is disappearing into a story at the end of the day; if it’s storming outside, even better.

What draws you to a book?

I absolutely judge books by their covers. Whoops. But gorgeous or intriguing cover art jumps off the shelf at me. For example, have you seen Sarah Combs’ The Light Fantastic? I am so in love with that design (and the story inside).

Generally, though I pick up books that have been personally recommended to me. One of the great perks of writing YA is the amount of talented writing friends I’ve met along the way. So if it’s a book a friend has written or recommends, it automatically goes to the top of my list.

I highly value voice in novels, so I’m especially eager to read books described as “voice-y” and that are more character- than plot-driven.

Do you ever reread books?

Oh, absolutely! I don’t reread too often, simply because there are too many NEW books on my TBR list that I’m eager to get to. But I do have some perennial favorites (all of which are listed in the following question!) that I pick up again every year or two. Some stories never get old.

Which YA books has had the most impact on your writing?

As I mentioned earlier, The Perks of Being a Wallflower had a huge effect on my decision to write YA. Other YA books that have inspired me, or that I consult when I need to be reminded of what compelling storytelling looks like include I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, and the Raven Cycle books by Maggie Stiefvater.

Which books do you find yourself recommending over and over again?

Universal recommendations that are always at the tip of my tongue are Matilda by Roald Dahl, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt, and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.

Lately, I’ve been recommending Angie Thomas’ brilliant The Hate U Give right and left. For friends interested in getting into YA contemporary, I recommend Perks and Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. And for friends interested in YA fantasy, I recommend the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo.

In her wild, early years, Kathryn Omsbee taught English as a Foreign Language, interned with a film society, and did a lot of irresponsible road tripping. Nowadays, she teaches piano lessons, records a weekly true crime podcast with her sister, and runs races she never wins. She likes clothes from the 60s, music from the 70s, and movies from the 80s. She is from the 90s. You can visit her online at: keormsbee.com

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Currently Reading: THE SECRET OF A HEART NOTE

4/1/2017

The Secret of Heart Note
by Stacey Lee

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Sometimes love is right under your nose. As one of only two aromateurs left on the planet, sixteen-year-old Mimosa knows what her future holds: a lifetime of weeding, mixing love elixirs, and matchmaking—all while remaining incurably alone. For Mim, the rules are clear: falling in love would render her nose useless, taking away her one great talent. Still, Mimosa doesn’t want to spend her life elbow-deep in soil and begonias. She dreams of a normal high school experience with friends, sports practices, debate club, and even a boyfriend. But when she accidentally gives an elixir to the wrong woman and has to rely on the lovesick woman’s son, the school soccer star, to help fix the situation, Mim quickly begins to realize that falling in love isn’t always a choice you can make.

Reading YA with Lamar Giles

3/8/2017

Lamar Giles writes novels and short stories for teens and adults. He is the author of the 2015 Edgar® Award Nominee FAKE ID, a second YA thriller ENDANGERED and the forthcoming YA novel OVERTURNED (March 28, 2017). Lamar is a founding member of We Need Diverse Books (weneeddiversebooks.org), a non-profit dedicated to changing the face of publishing.

Why do you read young adult fiction?

I love good stories and the quality of any story is really independent of the audience it's marketed to. With YA in particular, I find the books are often refreshers on the thoughts and emotions I had as a teen. Aside from there being a multitude of incredible YA books, so there's an endless reading supply, in some ways it's like reading journal entries from people who were very much like I was at a given age. It's exploring and reminiscing all in one.

What YA book are you reading now?

THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas (who isn't reading that book right now?) It's fantastic! The YA book before that was THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR by Nicola Yoon. Fantastic as well.

When and where do you read?

Mostly in bed. But I also listen to audiobooks in the car, or read on my phone in the grocery line, or...or...or...I read anywhere I can. Lately there have been a lot of planes and trains in the mix. But, I usually have several books available at any given time.

What draws you to a book?

Mostly word of mouth. Honestly almost everything I read is because some friend or colleague has talked it up.

Do you ever reread books?

Not often. If I do, it's probably one of my all time favorites that I've read a hundred times, or something I'm analyzing either for myself or for a class I need to teach. Otherwise, I have a To Be Read pile to get to, and it's taller than I am (Not difficult because I'm short! Lol!)

Which YA book has had the most impact on your writing?

UNWIND by Neal Shusterman. That book made me realize that there are really no topics that are off limits, even if your intended reader is young. And his world building is something to be marveled at. I've yet to attempt a speculative story on his level, but it's something I aspire to.

Which books do you find yourself recommending over and over again?

It's easier for me to recommend authors instead of individual books because all of these writers churn out engrossing reads over and over. Anything written by Nicola Yoon. Anything by Meg Medina. Jason Reynolds' books...take your pick there. Cindy Pon's novels. Ellen Oh's. Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton's bad girl ballerina novels. Daniel José Older's SHADOWSHAPER. Kwame Alexander's THE CROSSOVER. Matt de la Peña's THE LIVING. I could probably keep going...and when you want to read all of them, that can be a problem. But I think you could classify that as a good problem, and that's okay!

Lamar Giles's love of stories and storytelling began at an early age in his hometown of Hopewell, Virginia. After graduating from Hopewell High School in 1997, he attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. It was at ODU where he decided to pursue writing as a career, making his first professional short story sale at the age of 21. For more information, please visit: lrgiles.com.

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In stores March, 28, 2017!

Currently Reading: THE FRIENDSHIP EXPERIMENT

10/18/2016

THE FRIENDSHIP EXPERIMENT
by Erin Teagan

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Future scientist Madeline Little is dreading the start of middle school. Nothing has been right since her grandfather died and her best friend changed schools. Maddie would rather help her father in his research lab or write Standard Operating Procedures in her lab notebook than hang out with a bunch of kids who aren’t even her friends. Despite Maddie’s reluctance, some new friends start coming her way—until they discover what she’s written in that secret notebook. And that’s just part of the trouble. Can this future scientific genius find the formula for straightening out her life?

Reading YA: An Interview with Emily Martin

8/17/2016

Emily Martin is the author of THE YEAR WE FELL APART (January 2016). She lives and writes in the Greater Boston area, though she will always call Michigan home. She has a penchant for impromptu dance parties, vintage clothing, and traveling to new places.

Why do you read young adult fiction?

I think I fell in love with YA because there is such an immediacy to the problems characters face. They’re experiencing things for the first time and because of that, everything is deeply felt. I also think society tends to underestimate young people, and I love seeing characters with agency making their own path.

What YA book are you reading now?

I’ve recently gotten really into mysteries! I just finished FAR FROM YOU by Tess Sharpe, and am currently reading THE MYSTERY OF HOLLOW PLACES by Rebecca Podos.

When and where do you read?

I read before bed and on the weekends. My favorite places to read are on the beach or in front of a fire!

What draws you to a book?

If I’m browsing in a bookstore, I’ll admit to often picking up books based on their covers. Next step is reading the blurb and/or the first page. I also love getting recommendations from friends!

Do you ever reread books?

Yes! I reread a few favorites every year. Sometimes I do it to draw inspiration and refill the well. Other books I read again and again just because I like visiting old friends. :)

Which YA books have had the most impact on your writing?

One book that really inspired me to sit down and try to write my debut novel was THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson. It just made me fall in love with words all over again. But Sarah Dessen, Courtney Summers, and Megan McCafferty were all huge influences and led me to read and write YA.

Which books do you find yourself recommending over and over again?

JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta is probably my favorite book, and one I definitely recommend a ton. Another is JASPER JONES by Craig Silvey. Apparently I really like Australian authors!

When not writing, Emily Martin can be found hiking New England’s peaks, searching for the perfect cup of hot chocolate, or baking something pumpkin-flavored. Her debut young adult novel, THE YEAR WE FELL APART, is out now from S&S/Simon Pulse. For more information please visit: emilymartinwrites.com

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Currently Reading: SOME OF THE PARTS

5/27/2016

SOME OF THE PARTS
by Hannah Barnaby

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Sometimes bad things happen, and we are not the same when they are over.

For months, Tallie McGovern has been coping with the death of her older brother the only way she knows how: by smiling bravely and pretending that she's okay. She’s managed to fool her friends, her parents, and her teachers so far, yet she can’t even say his name out loud: “N—” is as far as she can go. But when Tallie comes across a letter in the mail, it only takes two words to crack the careful façade she’s built around herself:

ORGAN DONOR.

Two words that had apparently been checked off on her brother’s driver’s license; two words that her parents knew about—and never confided to her. All at once, everything Tallie thought she understood about her brother’s death feels like a lie. And although a part of her knows he’s gone forever, another part of her wonders if finding the letter might be a sign. That if she can just track down the people on the other end of those two words, it might somehow bring him back.

I Have Fan Art!

5/10/2016

I love fan art and I happen to live with a very talented young artist. So when the Polar Blair asked if there was anything special I wanted for Mother’s Day…

Dogwood and Ginna

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WHALE IN A FISHBOWL: Picture Book Giveaway!

From Beta Draft to Book Birthday...

About the book...

WHALE IN A FISHBOWL
story by Troy Howell, pictures by Richard Jones

In stores May 22, 2018

About the Author...

About the Illustrator...

About the Giveaway...

Reading YA with Anna-Marie McLemore

Currently Reading: THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE

The Girl From Everywhere
by Heidi Heilig

Reading YA with Kathryn Ormsbee

Currently Reading: THE SECRET OF A HEART NOTE

The Secret of Heart Note
by Stacey Lee

Reading YA with Lamar Giles

In stores March, 28, 2017!

Currently Reading: THE FRIENDSHIP EXPERIMENT

THE FRIENDSHIP EXPERIMENT
by Erin Teagan

Reading YA: An Interview with Emily Martin

Currently Reading: SOME OF THE PARTS

SOME OF THE PARTS
by Hannah Barnaby

I Have Fan Art!

CONNECT:

BLOG ESTEEM

Archives

Categories

From Beta Draft to Book Birthday...

About the book...

WHALE IN A FISHBOWL story by Troy Howell, pictures by Richard Jones

In stores May 22, 2018

About the Author...

About the Illustrator...

About the Giveaway...

The Girl From Everywhereby Heidi Heilig

The Secret of Heart Note by Stacey Lee

THE FRIENDSHIP EXPERIMENT by Erin Teagan

SOME OF THE PARTS by Hannah Barnaby

CONNECT:

BLOG ESTEEM

Archives

Categories

WHALE IN A FISHBOWL
story by Troy Howell, pictures by Richard Jones

The Girl From Everywhere
by Heidi Heilig

The Secret of Heart Note
by Stacey Lee

THE FRIENDSHIP EXPERIMENT
by Erin Teagan

SOME OF THE PARTS
by Hannah Barnaby