Category: Books

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!

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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WHAT REMAINS Release Day Giveaway!

5/8/2015

Happy book birthday to WHAT REMAINS and Helene Dunbar!!

I'm so excited to be a part of this launch day celebration! I read (and loved) THESE GENTLE WOUNDS last year, and I've been waiting (and waiting) for Helene's next release—and here it is! And you can enter to win one of two autographed copies of WHAT REMAINS right here. Right now!

About the book...

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In less than a second...
... two of the things Cal Ryan cares most about--a promising baseball career and Lizzie, one of his best friends--are gone forever.

In the hours that follow...
...Cal's damaged heart is replaced. But his life will never be the same.

Everyone expects him to pick up the pieces and move on.

But Lizzie is gone, and all that remains for Cal is an overwhelming sense that her death was his fault. And a voice in his head that just...won't...stop.

Cal thought he and his friends could overcome any obstacle. But grief might be the one exception.

And that might take a lifetime to accept...

About the author...

Helene Dunbar is the author of THESE GENTLE WOUNDS (Flux, 2014) and WHAT REMAINS (Flux, 2015). Over the years, she’s worked as a theatre critic, journalist, and marketing manager, and has written on topics as diverse as Irish music, court cases, theater, and Native American Indian tribes. She lives in Nashville with her husband and daughter and exists on a steady diet of readers’ tears.

To learn more visit: helenedunbar.com

About the giveaway...

Helene is offering two signed copies of WHAT REMAINS! The giveaway ends May 22nd at 11:59 PM EST and is open internationally. See details below to enter.

Good luck!

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Reading YA With Helene Dunbar

4/30/2015

Why do you read young adult fiction?
In a way, YA “saved me” as a reader. I grew up reading everything I could get my hands on, but at the time there was little that would classify as “YA”. Then I hit college and as an English/Theater major, all of my reading was for class and I just couldn’t get invested in any fiction.

Fast forward many years and, after reading Harry Potter (mostly while sitting in Irish pubs) too many times, I tripped across Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series and it blew my mind that young adult books were pushing the envelope of sexuality and gender roles and sheer depth of character. I was absolutely hooked and never looked back.

What YA book are you reading now?
I’m currently reading a non-YA autobiography (Stephen Fry), but here are the books I have lined up waiting for me:
·      Simon and the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
·      The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
·      A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab

When and where do you read?
I work two part time jobs and have a husband and a daughter so what little free time I have, I try to use for writing. That being said, I always read before bed. It both quiets my brain and helps me to brainstorm my own work. Other than that, it’s really stolen moments. I always have my kindle with me just in case.

What draws you to a book?
If I’m in a bookstore, I definitely am drawn in by covers and then give the blurb a try. If that works, I’ll read the first couple of pages. Otherwise, I’m forever downloading free samples onto my kindle and sorting them into “buy/borrow” categories. I have a lot of books that I’ve been carting around through two international moves, so I’m very selective about what I acquire as a physical book as opposed to electronic.

Do you ever reread books?
All the time! When I truly love a book, I find that on my first read I’m racing through it find out what happens. Then, I read again to study the actual words. Sometimes, I also reread a book immediately because I don’t want to leave the world and can’t imagine reading anything else.

Which YA books has had the most impact on your writing?
This is such a difficult question for me. Obviously, as I mentioned, Melissa Marr’s Ink Exchange really opened my eyes to what was possible. Maggie Steifvater’s Shiver really nailed home that it was possible to be poetic while telling a good story. There are many books that I’ve actually studied just to see how authors I love handled certain conflicts or emotion or scenes. I don’t have a very visual view of the world overall, so that’s something I’ve really had to try to learn (and continue to try to learn).

Which books do you find yourself recommending over and over again?
Favorite lists are so difficult. But books that I fell in love with immediately and still bash people over the head with, include: TEETH by Hannah Moskowitz, BOY TOY by Barry Lyga, THE DREAM THEIVES by Maggie Steifvater, DON’T LET ME GO by J.H. Trumble, THE MARBURY LENS by Andrew Smith, and EVERY YOU, EVERY ME by David Levithan, which I think is the most underrated of his books.

Helene Dunbar is the author of THESE GENTLE WOUNDS (Flux, 2014) and WHAT REMAINS (Flux, 2015). Over the years, she's worked as a drama critic, journalist, and marketing manager, and has written on topics as diverse as Irish music, court cases, theater, and Native American Indian tribes. She lives in Nashville with her husband and daughter, and exists on a steady diet of readers' tears.

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For more information, visit Helene at: helendunbar.com

Enter HERE for a chance to win one of two signed copies of WHAT REMAINS! The giveaway is open internationally thru May 22, 2015.

Reading YA with Kirstin Cronn-Mills

3/17/2015

Why do you read young adult fiction?
Why not? : ) Young adults are interesting, funny, funky people, and I like learning what makes them tick. They're some of my favorite people to talk to. I love learning about their identity negotiations.

What YA book are you reading now?
I don't get to read much during the school year, because I'm a college teacher--I read what I'm going to teach, and not much else for pleasure. The last YA I read was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, because I'm teaching a Harry Potter class this semester (how lucky am I, to read Harry Potter for my homework??!!). I always have lots of contemporary YA on my TBR pile, most specifically GLORY O'BRIEN'S HISTORY OF THE FUTURE (A.S. King--though she's contemporary YA with a twist) and GUY IN REAL LIFE (S. Brezenoff), as well as I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN (J. Nelson).

When and where do you read?
I read whenever and wherever I can. Any time, any place! I prefer a paper book to a Kindle, but Kindles are great for traveling. I also love audiobooks, so that can up my reading quotient.

What draws you to a book?
I tend to listen to recommendations from friends--then I move to blurbs and reviews. Covers are always important, but I'm not turned off if the cover isn't shrieking "Read me!"

Do you ever reread books?
I do! It's a comfort thing (confession: they're not YA books). I've reread (or re-listened) to lots of books. Sometimes, if I'm trying to figure out how a book makes its magic, I'll reread very slowly and take notes. Or listen over and over again.

Which YA books has had the most impact on your writing?
Hard to say. I didn't start writing YA because I loved reading YA--I started writing YA because the characters/story that came to me were in the YA world. I'm always drawn to contemporary YA that yanks me into a characters mind and holds me there. Some examples might be STUPID FAST, Geoff Herbach, BROOKLYN BURNING, Steve Brezenoff, and PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ, A.S. King--also books by Courtney Summers.

Which books do you find yourself recommending over and over again?
Oh gosh--see above, I guess!

Kirstin Cronn-Mills is a self-proclaimed word nerd. According to her mother, she learned to read when she was three–and she hasn’t stopped since. In 1992 Kirstin moved from Nebraska to southern Minnesota, where she lives now. She writes a lot, reads as much as she can, teaches at a two-year college (she won the Minnesota State College Student Association 2009 Instructor of the Year award), and goofs around with her son, Shae, and her husband, Dan. Her first young adult novel, The Sky Always Hears Me and the Hills Don’t Mind (Flux, 2009), was a 2010 finalist for the Minnesota Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Her second novel, Beautiful Music For Ugly Children (Flux/Llewellyn, 2012), won ALA’s Stonewall Award in 2014 as well as an IPPY silver medal for Gay/Lesbian/Bi/Trans Fiction.

Kirstin has also published nonfiction books for middle and high school libraries: Collapse! The Science of Structural Engineering Failures (Compass Point Books, 2009) and Transgender Lives: Complex Stories, Complex Voices (Twenty-First Century Books/Lerner, 2014). For more information, please visit: kirstincronn-mills.com

Reading YA with Lamar Giles

In stores March, 28, 2017!

Reading YA: An Interview with Emily Martin

WHAT REMAINS Release Day Giveaway!

About the book...

About the author...

About the giveaway...

Reading YA With Helene Dunbar

Reading YA with Kirstin Cronn-Mills

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