Two Truths and a Lie Reveal

If you haven't checked out my interviews with either Gwen Cole or Mary Taranta, you really should, because their books, while they don't come out until next year, sound like they're going to be amazing!

Both lovely authors played two truths and a lie and I'm finally revealing the answers.

Gwen Cole

1. I broke my arm falling off a horse when I was a kid.

2. I still have one of those old flip phones.

3. I never went to high school.

The Lie: Number two!

Congrats to Lauren Stoolfire for guessing correctly.

Mary Taranta

1. I have nine siblings.

2. SHIMMER AND BURN was my seventh novel.

3. I live in Florida, but I don't know how to swim.

The Lie: Number three!

Again, congrats to Lauren for getting this correct!

2017 Debuts To Be Excited For: Mary Taranta Interview

My goal this year has been to spotlight 2017 Debut authors, and earlier this week I posted an interview with Gwen Cole, and now I have another interview for you all!  It's with the fantastic Mary Taranta, whose book, Shimmer and Burn (previously titled Until Our Blood Runs Clean) is a dark fantasy about a world where magic is dangerously addictive; the book is set to release next summer (is the wait really that long??!).  Thank you so much, Mary, for doing this interview!

Sam: In your own words how would you describe your novel?

Mary: Elevator pitch! After her sister is enslaved by the king, Faris Locke is coerced by an ambitious princess into smuggling stolen magic out of their hidden kingdom in order to bribe an alliance with a neighboring prince.

Sam: What does it mean that your book is dark fantasy?

Mary: I don't shy away from bloodshed or body counts, and characters often make difficult (and unpleasant) choices. No happy endings guaranteed!

Sam: According to your website you have a BA in history; how does this affect what you write about? Did you take classes in college (or outside of college) to help with your writing craft?

Mary: History is a huge source of inspiration in terms of worldbuilding and character motivation, but I tend to only use little details, or a general time period/event to set my books against. Some of my ideas borrow more heavily from specifics than others, but overall, I definitely write fantasy novels, not historical. 

I took one creative writing class in college, but it was taught by a former state Poet Laureate who heavily skewed the class towards poetry, which wasn't my area of interest. Other than that, I just wrote a lot of practice words before I felt I had something worthy of querying.

Sam: You're a mostly self-taught artist and do sketches of your characters- what comes first for you, the character sketch or their role in the book?

Mary: It's half and half! I might have an idea for a plot or a specific dynamic between two characters, and as I start drawing them, details fill in. SHIMMER AND BURN began as a concept which turned into a sketch which led to the pitch that my agent approved.  A rather important character in the novel didn't exist until I was doodling faces and he showed up and introduced himself. Now the novel can't work without him!

The sketch in question; click to be taken to her original post

Sam: Your book comes out in Summer 2017; is the wait killing you? What other projects are keeping you busy while you wait?

Mary: 

Actually... no! I'm on deadline for edits on Book 1, and the first draft of Book 2 is due soon, so having a year to go makes it a little less stressful for me - there's still plenty of time to make changes! ;) That being said, I'm dying to see my cover. The cover will feel more real than a word document I email back and forth to my editor, if that makes sense. 

Since both books are keeping me busy and I work full-time during the day, I don't have any side projects going at the moment, although ideas are simmering in my head.

Sam: What is the greatest piece of writing advice you have for aspiring authors?

Mary: Patience! When you're actively involved in the writing community, you get real time updates of other people's successes, and it makes you hungry - which is good! - but don't let it make you impatient. There's no time limit on success, nor is there only a finite amount to go around. Rushing to catch up will not get you there any faster, and it will probably even set you back - a lesson I learned the hard way.

Sam: Time for two truths and a lie! The rules of the game: give three facts about yourself, two that are true and one that is a lie. Readers will guess which is which in the comments and I'll reveal the answer in a later post!

Mary: 1. I have nine siblings.

2. SHIMMER AND BURN was my seventh novel.

3. I live in Florida, but I don't know how to swim.

Thank you so much for the interview it was a bunch of fun and you were a lovely guest!  

If you haven't already, go check out her website and follow her on social media (Twitter, Tumblr); you won't be sorry!

Born the youngest save one in a family of ten, I grew up notoriously quiet but secretly wild, playacting my favorite stories and writing some of my own in the woods behind my family's farmhouse. Originally from a small (very small) town in Ohio, I moved to the larger (much larger) Orlando suburbs kicking and screaming at the age of fifteen. It turned out all right in the end and I'm still here, now with an adorable husband, two useless cats, and an unhealthy reliance on air conditioning. While I'm not old enough to be President, I am too old to sit on the floor without cracking joints when I stand. As a Midwestern Southerner, I've attained Level 9 Politeness and prefer my iced tea sweet.

Still notoriously quiet, though. Not nearly so wild.

*picture and description taken from Mary Taranta website

2017 Debuts to Be Excited For: Gwen Cole Interview

I've been hoping to spotlight several authors that will be debuting next year, and I'm super thankful to Gwen Cole, who so kindly agreed to do an interview!  Gwen's debut novel, Cold Summer, is about a boy suffering PTSD after he's hurtled back and forth through time.  It's set to be released in May of next year (according to Goodreads) and I already have a countdown running.  Thanks again, Gwen, for doing this interview!

Sam: In your own words, how would you describe your novel?

Gwen: COLD SUMMER is about a time-traveling boy who splits his time between the present and WWII, trying to control his ability before he dies on the battlefield.

Sam: What inspired you to write this book, and about PTSD in general?

Gwen: This book actually started out as a summer book—no WWII or time-traveling. But after about five chapters and me becoming very bored with it, I decided to stop re-think it. At the time I was binging on Band of Brothers and one day my summer book became something much different. And I couldn’t write a war book without PTSD. So many people forget the side effects of war, even after the soldiers come home and try to have normal lives. One is never without the other.

Sam: Where do you get inspirations for your characters?

Gwen: Sometimes they form themselves and sometimes I’m watching a TV show and this random side character comes in and something about them grabs me. A quirk they have or how they hold themselves—then a character is born through that. But honestly, it usually takes me a whole rough draft to really figure each of my characters out, sometimes more depending on how difficult they are.

Sam: On your website you said you can play many instruments- which are your favorite (either to play or in general) and does music inspire your writing?

Gwen: I’ve been playing music almost my whole life. I started piano young and picked up bass guitar when I was 12, and then a little later on I taught myself guitar. Bass guitar will probably always be my favorite. I’ve been playing it so long I barely have to think about it anymore. But music and writing don’t go together for me. Sometimes I’ll play a Hans Zimmer song for a certain scene if I need it, but I tend to write and edit in silence or have the TV on in the background.

Sam: How did you find your publisher?  Have you always known you wanted to be an author?

Gwen: Unlike most authors who start writing at a young age, I didn’t start writing until I was about 20. I did it for fun back then and didn’t pursue a writing career until a few years ago. But the first thing I did was find myself an agent. I knew that was the first step for me and I couldn’t have gotten where I am now without her. Their knowledge about the publishing world is invaluable.

Sam: What's the one greatest piece of writing advice you have for aspiring authors?

Gwen: Be yourself! It does no good to compare yourself to others because you’re not them. You are unique and your words are unique, so hold onto that and let yourself grow.

Sam: Time for two truths and a lie!  The rules of the game: give three facts about yourself, two that are true and one that is a lie.  Readers will guess which is which in the comments and I'll reveal the answer in a later post!

Gwen: 1. I broke my arm falling off a horse when I was a kid.

2. I still have one of those old flip phones.

3. I never went to high school.

Thanks so much for the interview, you've been an absolutely lovely guest!  Go check out her website and follow her on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) because she is awesome!

Gwen Cole writes Young Adult books and her debut novel, COLD SUMMER, will be released in the spring of 2017 with Sky Pony Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing.
She grew up in upstate New York, moved to Virginia where she did not graduate college, and worked a various number of jobs including pharmacy technician, meat clerk, ranch hand, and a receiving specialist at Target. She may or may not have written a number of books while working at certain jobs.
At the age of eighteen, Gwen played bass in a hardcore band and later married the lead guitarist. She can also play piano, guitar, and wishes she could play the cello. Her favorite place to vacation is Wyoming, where she gets to wear a cowboy hat and pretend she actually is one.
Gwen now lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband, daughter, and very large dog, where she longs to live in the country again.

*picture and bio taken from Gwen Cole website

12 2017 Debuts To Be Excited For (Part 2)

The year isn't even halfway over, but I'm more than excited for next year's releases!  I've cultivated the top twelve debut author's I'm excited for, and I'm trying to get you excited for them, too (because it's never too early, really).  Check out Part 1 so you don't miss any awesome authors!

Tricia Levenseller -- Daughter of the Pirate King

YA author of DAUGHTER OF THE PIRATE KING--coming Feb. 2017 from @MacKidsBooks @FeiwelFriends. Repped by @RachMBrooks.

If you want something done right . . .
When the ruthless pirate king learns of a legendary treasure map hidden on an enemy ship, his daughter, Alosa, knows there's only one pirate for the job—herself. Leaving behind her beloved ship and crew, Alosa deliberately facilitates her own kidnapping to ensure her passage on the ship, confident in her ability to overcome any obstacle. After all, who's going to suspect a seventeen-year-old girl locked in a cell? Then she meets the (surprisingly perceptive and unfairly attractive) first mate, Riden, who is charged with finding out all her secrets. Now it's down to a battle of wits and will . . . . Can Alosa find the map and escape before Riden figures out her plan?

Why You Should Be Excited

Well, I think it's pretty obvious, but, PIRATES.  Dare I say more?  Well, I'm tempted to keep repeating the word pirate in all caps but that might seem a little cultish.  So, if I have to use other words to convince you... Alosa and Riden's relationship sounds captivating and I'm curious to see whether Alosa can get out of this situation.

Andrew Shvarts -- The Bastard Table

YA Writer. Pixelberry Game Designer. Author of THE BASTARD TABLE (Disney-Hyperion, 2017). Repped by Sara Crowe.

A YA fantasy debut in which the bastard daughter of the Lord of the West and a group of fellow outcasts witness her father commit a murder, and are forced to go on the run to save a princess and prevent a war.

Why You Should Be Excited

It sounds like an original fairy tale, almost, and I absolutely love those.  Also, a game designer?  That's pretty cool!  It will be very interesting to see how this translates into a book. 

Rosalyn Eves -- The Blood Rose Rebellion

mother, writer, teacher, book lover. YA hist. fantasy, THE BLOOD ROSE REBELLION, coming 2017 from Knopf. Rep'd by Josh Adams. #PitchWars mentor

In an alternate Victorian England where social prestige stems from a trifecta of blood, money, and magic, sixteen-year old Anna Arden is barred from the society she yearns for by a defect of blood. She believes herself Barren, unable to perform the most rudimentary spells. Anna would do anything to belong, but after inadvertently breaking her sister’s debutante spells, Anna finds herself exiled with her aging grandmother to her grandmother’s native Hungary.
Her life might well be over.
But in Hungary, Anna finds that nothing about her world or her own lack of magic is quite as it seems. Fissures in the Binding that holds her world’s magic are expanding, and the ancient creatures bound by that spell beg Anna to release them. As rebellion sweeps across Hungary, Anna’s unique ability to break spells becomes the catalyst everyone is seeking. In the company of nobles, revolutionaries, and Roma, Anna must choose: deny her unique power and cling to the life she’s always wanted—or embrace her ability, destroy the Binding, spark a revolution, and change the face of magic itself.
A touch JONATHAN NORRELL AND MR. STRANGE meets LES MISERABLES, this book will appeal to fans of Leigh Bardugo's Grisha trilogy and Naomi Novik's UPROOTED.

Why You Should Be Excited

Okay, so maybe it's a bit pretentious for the publicist to say that this is Norrell and Strange, Les Miz, Grishaverse, and Uprooted (because, honestly that just sounds like they randomly drew titles from a hat), but it does have me curious.  Even without all the extra at the end this one has me anticipating it.

Heather Fawcett -- Even the Darkest Stars

YA author. EVEN THE DARKEST STARS out Fall 2017 (B+B/HarperCollins). Member @theswanky17s, @sfwa. Rep'd by @SecretAgentBri, Writers House

Set in a fictional Himalayan kingdom, this is the story of a girl enlisted by a legendary explorer to help him climb the kingdom’s deadliest mountain – only to discover that his true mission may threaten her whole world.

Why You Should Be Excited

Non-western fantasy has been all the rage lately and it's one of my favorite trends!  This one is set in a Nepal-based world which means deadly mountains!  Also, legendary explorer?  Like Indiana Jones-ish?  I'm in! 

Stephanie Garber -- Caraval

I love books! My debut, CARAVAL (Flatiron/Macmillan—US, Hodder—UK) comes out January 2017. Tweets shouldn't be taken too seriously. Repped by @JennyBent

Before you enter the world of Caraval, you must remember that it’s all a game . . .
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their ruthless father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the legendary, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.
Then, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation to Caraval finally arrives. So, Tella enlists a mysterious sailor’s help to whisk Scarlett away to this year’s show. But as soon as the trio arrives, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend.


Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nonetheless soon becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with her sister, with Legend, and with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

Why You Should Be Excited 

This book description, for whatever reason, reminds me of Full Tilt, which was my favorite book when I was in seventh grade (if you haven't read it, I do recommend).  Besides the awesome description for this one, I love that it has a focus on sisters (I don't have a sister, but I love the growing trend of sibling relationships taking center stage in YA; or maybe it's not a growing trend and maybe I've only begun to recognize it?).  Also, Stephanie is so sweet on twitter; I recommend checking out her feed.

Gwen Cole -- Cold Summer

Former hardcore bass guitarist, current YA author of COLD SUMMER (WWII, time travel) @skyhorsepub May '17. Rep'd by the amazing @RachMBrooks@theswanky17s

Today, he’s a dropout with no future.Tomorrow, he’s a soldier in World War II.
A teen suffering from PTSD—due to repeatedly being pulled back in time to the front lines of WWII—must find a way to stop the pulls from happening with the help of the childhood friend he secretly loves before he dies on the battlefield.

Why You Should Be Excited

Well, I'm a sucker for time travel, and I like how this one (at least it sounds like) it'll be pretty straightforward and only using time travel as a devise and not the plot itself.  I mean, I'd like it either way, but it's much cooler when it's used to further the story and not to create the story.  The romance in here sounds like it will be emotional, especially since the MC is suffering from PTSD. 

Through these posts I've only managed to show off twelve debuts for next year but there are so many more who will have their first book published in 2017.  Who are you most excited for?  Have I convinced you to preorder any books?  Let me know in the comments!

*pictures and bios taken from respective twitter accounts

**book descriptions taken from goodreads

12 2017 Debuts To Be Excited For (Part 1)

We're only in the midst of April, but it's never too soon to get excited for new releases.  I recently found a list on Goodreads for the 2017 YA Debuts (link) and it got me super excited.  I picked twelve debuts that I'm very, very excited for, and I thought I'd let you know a little bit about them!

Bree Barton -- Black Rose

Mover. Shaker. Paragraph maker. Author of BLACK ROSE (KT/HarperCollins '17). Stories in The Iowa Review, Mid-American Review, PANK. Prefers pajamas to corsets.

Bree Barton's BLACK ROSE trilogy, pitched as Graceling meets Pride and Prejudice, about a girl who, on the eve of her marriage to a prince, discovers she has dark, forbidden magic, magic that her powerful family's sole purpose was to destroy.

Why You Should Be Excited

That description!  Graceling, if you haven't read it, is one awesome book and it's an even better series.  A lot of books end up getting compared to Graceling, but they always catch my attention because of it.  I'm not a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice, but I do like the aesthetic of it, so I think it'll make a nice mix for this story.  Add in handsome princes and I'm a sucker.  Doing a little more digging I discovered the main character, Mia Rose, is a feminist, which is an automatic buy for me.  Bree Barton, while being a debut author, has short stories published and has done work as a ghost writer.

Mary Taranta -- Until Our Blood Runs Clean

I write stories and also draw. YA fantasy UNTIL OUR BLOOD RUNS CLEAN coming Summer 2017 from McElderry Books/S&S. Represented by @adamsliterary

Set in a world where magic is poisoned and using it can be torturous – or dangerously addictive – Faris is tricked into a plot to overthrow a tyrannical king and must find her own power to survive.

Why You Should Be Excited

So, I have this thing for interesting names, and when I saw the name Faris I just fell in love instantly.  It drew me into the story, which sounds intriguing on its own.  The idea of dangerous and addictive magic isn't new, but I also haven't read it in ages (somewhere around five or six years) and I rather miss it.   On her blog she does original art for the series, and guys I am in love!  If I wasn't sure I was interested in the book before pursuing through her artwork, I'm sure now.

Lana Popovic -- Wicked Like Wildfire (previously titled: The Hibiscus Daughter)

Literary agent & proselyte of the Order of the Flagrant Nerd. Author of HIBISCUS DAUGHTER, Katherine Tegen Books/HC Summer 2017. Repped by @tayhaggerty

All the women in the Marević family are born with a gleam—a unique way of experiencing and manipulating beauty through magic. Seventeen-year-old Iris sees flowers as fractals and turns her kaleidoscope visions into glasswork, her twin sister Malina interprets moods as music, and their cold, distant mother bakes scenery into decadent treats at her confectionery in Old Town Cattaro. But when a mysterious, white-haired woman attacks their mother and leaves her hovering between life and death, the sisters must trace their way back to the ancient curse that haunts their line. To break the curse and save each other, the sisters must untangle a thousand years of lies and come to terms with their own secrets. Pitched as the sensory magic of The Night Circus meets the storytelling tradition of The Tiger's Wife.

Why You Should Be Excited

I still haven't read The Night Circus (because no particular reason) nor The Tiger's Wife, but I knew I was interested in this one from the very beginning.  I love how stories about the relationships between sisters have really started to become popular and, even though I don't have a sister myself, they're a lot of fun to read.

Vic James -- Gilded Cage

Human avatar of Pusheen. Author of GILDED CAGE (Jan 2017 @panmacmillan@penguinrandom) Take a look! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26168646-gilded-cage …

NOT ALL ARE FREE NOT ALL ARE EQUAL
NOT ALL WILL BE SAVED
In a modern Britain, everyone must endure ten years of slavery for a magically-skilled aristocracy. Here a teenage boy dreams of rebellion. His sister thirsts for knowledge, and will find love. And a dangerous young aristocrat will remake the world with his dark gifts.

Why You Should Be Excited

The description?  I think that's my answer for all of these, but it's also true for all of these!  It reminds me, slightly, of Red Queen or Bone Season, two of my favorite books!  I'm sure I'll fall in love with this one.  And, by the way, I'm dying to see the cover!

Breeana Shields -- Poison's Kiss

YA Author of POISON'S KISS (Random House, Spring 2017) Rep'd by @KatRushall.

Caroline Abbey at Random House has preempted Breeana Shields's debut YA fantasy novel, Poison's Kiss, set in an alternate world based on the mythology of India, in which a girl has been trained since birth as a “poison maiden” in the Raja's service. When she is ordered to kill a boy she has feelings for, she begins to question not only her role but the Raja's end game.

Why You Should Be Excited

"Based on the mythology of India" and need more be said?  I'm really into non-western fantasy and whenever another one hits the market I get excited.

Rhoda Belleza -- Empress of a Thousand Skies

Author of EMPRESS OF A THOUSAND SKIES (@RazorbillBooks 2017). Editor at the imprint Imprint (@ImprintReads).

Perfect for fans of RED RISING and Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles, this epic sci-fi fantasy adventure follows two fugitives – a young princess-in-exile and her would-be assassin – across the far reaches of the galaxy as they fight to reclaim her dynasty and save the universe from a deadly threat.

Why You Should Be Excited

Red Rising meets Lunar Chronicles?  I'm a little cautious about such a perfect sounding description, but I'm optimistic about it, too, since I love both those series'.  Outside of that, the description on its own sounds really good and sort of reminds me of another series I read ages ago (though that series didn't take place in space). 

These are just six of the lovely authors who will be debuting in 2017!  I hope I've enticed you to take a peek at their books...  Part 2 will be out in two weeks, so keep an eye out for that.  Let me know in the comments whose book you're most excited for!

*pictures and bios taken from each respective twitter account

**book descriptions taken from Goodreads