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Reading YA: An Interview with Stacey Lee

11/24/2015

Stacey Lee is the author of UNDER A PAINTED SKY and OUTRUN THE MOON (May, 2016). She is a fourth generation Chinese-American whose people came to California during the heydays of the cowboys. She believes she still has a bit of cowboy dust in her soul.

Why do you read young adult fiction?

I've read that that writers write from the age they feel stuck in or that they still have unfinished business in. Which means, I probably have a lot of issues that need working out leftover from my teens! Also, I really love reading YA as it's so full of awkward and yet character-defining moments.

What YA books are you reading now?

Matt de la Peña's MEXICAN WHITEBOY. It's so full of heart and is teaching me a lot about baseball. I also loved Isabel Quintero's GABI, A GIRL IN PIECES. That one made me laugh and cry.

When and where do you read?

I do mostly audiobooks nowadays, which means I read in the car or while I take a walk.

What draws you to a book?

I'm always looking for diverse fiction. I also love a good sea-faring book, and a little bit of magic.

Do you ever reread books?

Yes! I think we reread books because of the way they make us feel. When a reader tells me they want to reread my book, I feel like I've succeeding in creating a world in which they want to be a part.

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

LA Meyer's BLOODY JACK series -- Meyer was a master of voice. I love anything by Markus Zusak.

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

I've been recommending Robin LaFevers' GRAVE MERCY a lot lately; I also loved Yangsze Choo's THE GHOST BRIDE. I love historical and historical fantasy.

Stacey Lee is a native of southern California. She graduated from UCLA then got her law degree at UC Davis King Hall. After practicing law in the Silicon Valley for several years, she finally took up the pen because she wanted the perks of being able to nap during the day, and it was easier than moving to Spain. She plays classical piano, raises children, and writes YA fiction. For more information, please visit: staceylee.com

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Currently Reading: EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING

11/17/2015

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Everything, Everything
by Nicola Yoon

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Reading YA with Ingrid Seymour

6/17/2015

Why do you read young adult fiction?
Young adult has an unbelievable sense of adventure that I have a hard time finding in books geared to an adult audience. The characters experience a lot of “firsts,” which, in turn, make those adventures or misadventures all the more significant and exciting. The stakes feel higher when a character is slated to learn so much from their mistakes and experiences. That’s why once I started reading young adult, I never looked back.

What YA book are you reading now?
I’m currently reading two YA books. They are FIRE by Kristin Cashore and UNDIVIDED by Neal Shusterman. I absolutely love these two series. Before I started on these two, I was reading HALF A KING by Joe Abercrombie.

When and where do you read?
I read in my car on my way to work! But don’t panic, I use the term “read” loosely. There are always two books on my “currently reading” list. The one I read in my car is actually an audiobook, which I normally get from my library either on CD, playaway or download. The second book is one I purchase, preferably a hardback cover so later it can look pretty on my shelves :) This book I enjoy mostly at home, during stolen moments before bed or while the family is occupied and doesn’t need me.

What draws you to a book?
The first thing is the author. If I’ve read their work before and I’ve liked it, their new books are going on my list. Other than that, I will have to confess that curiosity plays a big role in drawing me to a book. When I constantly hear people talking about a particular book, I add it to my list as well. Once a book makes it to my list, I decide what to read next based on reviews. I read good and bad reviews to determine whether I might like it or not. Interestingly enough, sometimes good reviews make me not what to read a book, while bad reviews have the opposite effect.

Do you ever reread books?
No. I have never reread a book. Not sure if that’s good or bad, but I feel there are many good books out there and I want to discover them all. I also want to find new voices, new authors from whom I can perhaps learn something as a writer. I won’t say I’ll never reread a book, there are a few that tempt me, but there are too many on my list to stop moving forward, besides I’m always looking for the book that will replace my last favorite one :)

Which YA book has had the most impact on your writing?
Though not one of my favorite YA books, I will have to say that SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi opened my eyes to certain possibilities I thought were impractical or closed off to me. I like to play with words and get a little wild with my prose. Not as much as Ms. Mafi does but, after reading her book, I realized it was okay to let my instincts take over. I saw that I didn’t have to hold back when I wanted to wonder off the straight path into zones were words can be used in interesting ways.

Which books do you find yourself recommending over and over again?
There are several, but the top one is most definitely DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor. What an amazing story and beautiful writing! I think she should give me a commission ;) Other favorites of mine are the UNWIND series by Neal Shusterman, LEVIATHAN by Scott Westerfeld, POISON PRINCESS by Kresley Cole, and THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J Maas.

Ingrid Seymour is the author of Ignite The Shadows (Harper Voyager, April 23, 2015). When she’s not writing books, she spends her time working as a software engineer, cooking exotic recipes, hanging out with her family and working out. She writes young adult and new adult fiction in a variety of genres, including Sci-Fi, urban fantasy, romance, paranormal and horror.

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Her favorite outings involve a trip to the library or bookstore where she immediately gravitates toward the YA section. She’s an avid reader and fangirl of many amazing books. She is a dreamer and a fighter who believes perseverance and hard work can make dreams come true. For more information, visit Ingrid at: i ngridseymour.com

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.

A Reading YA Book Giveaway!

4/21/2015

I'm celebrating spring (and other exciting things) with my first YA book giveaway! Last summer, I won a pile of Patrick Ness books from Candlewick. I already own a copy of MORE THAN THIS, so I'm passing this one on to one lucky winner. The giveaway ends on April 28th, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST and is open to US residents only. See details below to enter.

AND...stay tuned for my next Reading YA author interview on May 8th—which will include a launch-day book giveaway. If you'd like a reminder, find the Follow By Email widget in the column on the right and sign up.

Good luck!

MORE THAN THIS
by Patrick Ness
A boy drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments. He dies.

Then he wakes, naked and bruised and thirsty, but alive.

How can this be? And what is this strange deserted place?

As he struggles to understand what is happening, the boy dares to hope. Might this not be the end? Might there be more to this life, or perhaps this afterlife?

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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

Worth Watching: 2015 Debut Author, Trinity Doyle

2/25/2015

One of the very best things about being a writer/reader of YA is that you get to meet other writer/readers of YA. If you’re lucky, those writers will share their amazing stories with you—and you’ll get to share in the privilege of watching them become real live books.

Today, I am celebrating the lovely Trinity Doyle and her stunning debut, PIECES OF SKY, which will be published by Allen and Unwin this June. Take a look at this beautiful cover, people!

PIECES OF SKY
by Trinity Doyle

Lucy's life was going as smoothly as any teenager's could. She was in the local swimming club, and loved it; she lived with her parents and her brother, Cam, in the small coastal town she'd known all her life. She had friends, she had goals - she had a life. Now Cam is dead, her parents might as well be - and Lucy can't bear to get back in the pool. All she has to look forward to now is a big pile of going-nowhere.

Drawn to Steffi, her wild ex-best-friend who reminds Lucy of her mysterious, unpredictable brother, and the quiet, music-obsessed Evan, the new boy in town, Lucy starts asking questions. Why did Cam die? Was it an accident or suicide? But as Lucy hunts for answers she discovers much more than she expects. About Cam. About her family. About herself.

I'm so completely thrilled about this book, you guys, and I think you're going to love it, too.

To find out more, visit Trinity on her fabulous blog: Trin in the Wind. If you hurry, you can enter for a chance to win a signed arc of this "luminous debut."

Happy reading!
Elle

Reading YA with Swati Avasthi

1/27/2015

Why do you read young adult fiction?

I feel like each categorization has its own strengths. YA's is character development and voice. I love vicariously living through someone else, seeing the world through another perspective, having experiences that I've never had. So when I get to hear a strong voice and live through a dynamic and changing character, I feel like I'm getting an electric charge.

What YA book are you reading now?

This One Summer by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki, which I am really enjoying.

When and where do you read?

I pleasure-read at home in big bursts. I will finish around 5 books in 5 days, all in paper -- no electronic. Then will get back to my work-reading: student work, research for my next novel, which I do electronically. So, I read for that anywhere I can bring my computer. Right now, for instance, I'm reading student work while I'm waiting for my daughter in the dentist's office.

What draws you to a book?

Recommendations are generally what draw me to a book now. I understand that covers are marketing choices, not authorial choices and so I pay little to no attention to them. Similarly, the blurbs often give away too much. But I have a group of writer friends whose recommendations I always take. HM Bouwman, for instance, has turned me on to so many good books, including one of my favorites of all time: Code Name Verity. So now, I'll read anything she hands me.

Do you ever reread books?

Oh I reread all the time. I'd say more than half my reading is re-reading because when I find a book I love, I want to study it as an author. And, before I teach anything, I re-read it. So I've re-read, say, Code Name Verity three times last year. This year, I suspect I'll be re-reading We Were Liars at least two times.

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

Probably SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson. I learned you could speak directly to kids authentically and not in a sort of Saturday Afternoon Special style. SPEAK got me reading YA as an adult and from that book, I realized I wanted to write YA.

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

So many! But I'll limit myself to 5 YA titles that I haven't mentioned already.

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick your Ass by Meg Medina
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by MT Anderson
Blankets by Craig Thompson
Bad Apple by Laura Ruby
With or Without you by Brian Farrey

Swati Avasthi has been writing fiction since she read Little House in the Big Woods at age five. Emily Bronte, Harper Lee, and others furthered her addiction. She institutionalized her habit at the University of Chicago, where she received her B.A., and at the University of Minnesota, where received her M.F.A. Her writing has received numerous honors including a Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship, the Thomas H. Shevlin Fellowship, Loft's Mentor Series Award, and a nomination for the Pushcart Prize. She is a creative writing professor at Hamline University and lives in the Twin Cities with her two large-ish dogs, two small-ish kids, and one husband (though he is worth two).

To learn more about Swati visit: swatiavasthi.com

Terrible Titles Blog Hop

1/8/2015

Happy New Year! The lovely Trinity Doyle—whose debut YA novel PIECES OF SKY is coming out this June (!!!)—has tagged me in the Terrible Titles Blog Hop. The idea is simple. Scroll through a WIP and let your cursor randomly land somewhere. That phrase or sentence becomes a terrible title. Do this about eight times and see what you come up with.

My Terrible Titles are from a work in progress, tentatively titled: HANGING ON A MOMENT.

Will She Talk To Me?
My Sister Is a Distraction
I Can't Do This Here
Postage Stamp from the Platform
Brand New Dictionary App
Already-Developed Body
Surprised by His Voice
Rubber Soles and Laces

Ha! Most of these sound like non-fiction titles to me. Not sure why but Postage Stamp from the Platform is definitely my favorite. Thanks for the tag, Trin! I'm tagging Phil Stamper, Kristin Mehigan and Cranky Rah.

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I read YA because it brings back memories. And sometimes, it helps me to understand the teenagers who live in my house. I read YA because the authors are brilliant. They tell stories that make me laugh and break my heart. They show me the world from a different perspective.

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