Sip Sip Hooray Giveaway Hop

Happy Thursday Everyone! Today I'm excited to participate in the Sip Sip Hooray Giveaway Hop hosted by MamatheFox  and MomDoesReviews. Are you having a good summer? Yesterday and today are fantastic days for me. It was my 70th birthday yesterday, and I'm finally getting my social security. I'm so excited! I honestly don't feel 70 at all. I think being an older mom kept me younger. 

And I had a really fun dinner with my daughter and son-in-law to celebrate. Today, my daughter and I are having our annual Art Fair outing in Ann Arbor. I have other fun things to look forward to, too. I hope you're having a good summer.  

Book of Your Choice or Amazon Gift Card

I am offering a book of your choice that is $20 or less on Amazon. I’m looking forward to seeing what books everyone is looking forward to reading.  

If you don’t have a book you want, you can win a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Giveaway Details

To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by July 31st telling me whether you want a book, and if so, which one, or the Amazon gift card and your email address. Be sure to include your email address. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address. 

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. The book giveaway is U.S. only and the Amazon gift card giveaway is International.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops 

Monday, July 20th, I have an interview with Emma Otherguy and a giveaway of her MG Adventure in the City of Stories 

Saturday, August 1st, I’m participating in the Apple a Day Giveaway Hop 

Wednesday, August 5th, I have an interview with Lindsey Olsson and a giveaway of her YA To Drown a Witch and my IWSG post 

Monday, August 10th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Riley Jay Davis and a query critique giveaway 

Sunday, August 16th, I’m participating in the Old School Giveaway Hop 

I hope to see you on Monday!

And here are all the other blogs participating in this blog hop:

MamatheFox, Mom Does Reviews, and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

Debut Author Interview: Amy Tern and Sneaks Giveaway

Happy Monday, Everyone! Today I’m excited to have debut author Amy Tern here to share about her MG mystery, Sneaks. It’s a mystery, which I love, and has memorable characters, so I’m looking forward to reading it. 

Here’s a blurb from Goodreads: 

A missing child and an apartment that should be empty spur two tweens to solve an increasingly tangled neighborhood mystery in this page-turning middle grade debut.

This hijinks-heavy mystery written in dual POV reads like Only Murders in the Building for tweens. Perfect for wannabe sleuths and nosy neighbors!

Valory has developed an unfortunate reputation as a thief—primarily because she steals things—though she has resolved to change her ways.

Rook is a total asparagus-eater (a.k.a. a good kid), but he likes to spy on his neighbors. Nobody’s perfect, right?

The twelve-year-olds form an unlikely alliance when they encounter suspicious behavior in an “empty” apartment across the alley from Rook’s house. While agoraphobia keeps home-schooled Rook trapped on his property, confident and street-smart Valory can roam the scene undetected. Their opposite personalities might, in fact, be key to their success.

But their amateur detective mission morphs into something more sinister when they realize the apartment next door could be connected to a recent kidnapping. When the sleuths realize they’re also being watched, the pressure is on to unmask the villain… before she snatches them, too. 

Hi Amy! Thanks so much for joining us. 

1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer. 

Hi! Thanks so much for having me! I’m a longtime fan of Literary Rambles and thrilled to do this interview. I worked for more than ten years to get published—so long I sometimes felt like it wasn’t going to happen, but my debut novel is finally out now from Holiday House. 

I was one of those kids who always wanted to write. I started stapling my own books together as soon as I was allowed to use the stapler. Then…what happened? Creative writing workshops in college were a bad fit for me and a blow to my confidence. Everyone was writing experimental short stories and metafiction, not the kidlit I loved. Then, in order to earn a living, I started working for international exchange programs and foreign policy think tanks. I found all of that very interesting, and I almost forgot about writing fiction. 

Reading to my own kids helped me reconnect with my childhood dream. The first thing I did, once my youngest started preschool, was to scribble out a 2,000-word rhyming picture book—blissfully unaware that the publishing industry is not exactly clamoring for those! Someone suggested I join the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and I started going to conferences and reading craft books. I turned to writing novels, which is more natural to me than picture books. I learned about plot (the “p-word” never mentioned in those literary workshops) and how to construct a solid character arc. It wasn’t until my third novel that I finally found an agent and publisher. It’s been hard work but lots of fun. I’ve met wonderful people along the way. 

2. Thanks so much for being a fan. Where did you get the idea for Sneaks? 

I rewatched the classic movie Rear Window with my kids and thought it would be fun to try a middle grade version. Of course, I changed a lot in adapting it to a kid audience. In Hitchcock’s movie, the characters are investigating a murder, but in my book it’s a kidnapping. And instead of being ignored by the police, my young sleuths are dismissed by their parents, who accuse them of having overactive imaginations. In fact, they’re able to notice all kinds of clues the adults overlook. 

On a deeper level, the book is rooted in my own childhood experience. I loved Harriet the Spy, and my brothers and I took sneaking around very seriously. We were just insatiably curious. In those days, we were allowed a lot of freedom to explore. When I was eight, my family moved to Belgium for several months and lived in a five-story apartment building. It was very different from our life in Colorado, and my brothers and I had a lot of adventures in that place. There was an old rickety elevator and lots of people to spy on. We weren’t as purposeful or principled as the characters of Sneaks (who are trying to rescue someone), but I remember how big and interesting that world was to me, and I tried to capture that sense of excitement in my writing. 

3. How did you teach yourself how to write a mystery? What tips do you have on writing a mystery? 

Sneaks is more of a slow-burn thriller than a mystery, just like Rear Window—although in middle grade, the two categories are often lumped together. There’s a puzzle to solve, yes, but the narrative is forward-looking and the emphasis is on suspense. The characters aren’t trying to unravel “Who did the terrible thing?” so much as figure out “How can we keep the terrible thing from happening? And is it even happening at all?” For tips on writing mysteries and thrillers and combining them effectively, I recommend How to Write Killer Fiction by Carolyn Wheat. 

In almost any good story, suspense is key. Hitchcock famously distinguished between suspense and surprise: the audience has to know the bomb is under the table, even if the characters don’t. Sneaks is a dual narrative, which allowed me to make use of cliff-hangers and the old “Meanwhile back at the ranch…” technique. That is, I would leave one character hanging in a precarious situation (hanging literally, in one instance) before switching to the other’s perspective. This sort of trick can be annoying if used too much, but fun if used sparingly. It’s crucial to keep both stories lively and interesting. 

4. Thanks for the great tips. There’s a trend in middle grade to make stories shorter. You were able to tell your story in Sneaks in 240 pages. Did you make the word count shorter on purpose? Did you have any challenges in telling this story in fewer words? 

Back in the 20th century, novels for kids tended to be shorter than today. Many of the great classics were fewer than 200 pages. Examples include The Westing Game, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Hatchet, and most of Judy Blume’s novels. Those books prove that you don’t need physical heft to make an impact. 

Some people blame J.K. Rowling for making longer books popular. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with that—there are plenty of children who love long books, of course. Others, though, are intimidated or bored by them. Shorter books can entice less proficient readers. Unfortunately, the share of nine-year-olds in America who say they read for pleasure has fallen from nearly 60 percent in the 1990s to 37 percent now. We have to reach these kids. So I set out to keep Sneaks to an approachable length. Actually, I think that helped discipline my writing and ensure the story was tight and engaging. 

5. I agree we need to reach all those kids who don’t like to read. Your story is also about Valory and Rook, two very different characters. Share a bit about how you developed them as characters and how you made them so memorable. 

Readers may come for the premise, but they stay for the characters. Sneaks is ultimately a friendship story between two very different individuals—Rook is quiet and introspective while Valory is bold and adventurous. They come from different economic backgrounds and see the world in different ways. As a musician, Rook takes in the world through his ears, while Valory is more visual. They combine their various strengths to solve the mystery. 

I found it more comfortable to write from Rook’s perspective because, as a writer, I tend to be an observer myself. To write Valory was more challenging, but also exhilarating. She has all the confidence I wanted to have, but mostly lacked, at age twelve. She can be judgmental (she teases Rook for his good-kid ways), but she’s never afraid to take action and do what must be done. 

Of course, characters must grow and change to be truly compelling. In my writing, I am drawn again and again to that pivotal moment when children realize adults are fallible and start to make their own independent decisions. They must learn to challenge the authorities in their lives and say, “That’s not right,” or “That’s not right for me.” As a parent, I want to continue to guide my kids—it’s alarming how quickly they outgrow us!—but I recognize that a certain amount of rebelliousness is healthy. I guess that’s what middle grade is all about. 

6. What was your road to getting your publishing contract for Sneaks like? 

I wrote two books before Sneaks, but failed to find an agent for them. I had become convinced that a compelling premise is necessary to stand out in a crowded marketplace, yet I was struggling to come up with a winning idea. 

Everyone in my critique group was between projects, and one member suggested we use the month of December (when busy moms find it hard to find time to write) to do a “Premise Palooza.” Every day for fifteen minutes, we brainstormed ideas. At the end of the month, we chose our 10 favorites and wrote a pitch paragraph for each. You can read more about our Premise Palooza here. 

Now, I’m not very good at coming up with premises for novels, but to my amazement, I had hundreds to choose from by the end of the month! Most of them were terrible, of course. A kids’ version of Rear Window was one of my favorites. It’s just such a great story—if you’re going to steal, do it from the best, right? 

I had already racked up more than 200 rejections for various projects. This time I got 21 rejections from agents before one offer of representation. The offer from Holiday House came after six months on submission. My editor is Sally Morgridge, who is wonderful. Unfortunately, the agent who sold my book has left the business, so I’m back in the querying trenches. The challenges never end! 

7. Your Premise Palooza sounds so cool. I’m sorry that your agent left agenting. How did working with your editor make your story stronger? 

Sally made some great suggestions. She urged me to expand a minor character and give him a greater role in the story. She also came up with some funny ideas for making my villain, already pretty wacky, even wackier. 

I was amazed by how much Sally was able to condense the manuscript. I tend to revise a lot—unlike many authors, I actually enjoy revising—and I think of myself as a pretty tight writer. My kids, who are tired of my constant harping on the evils of “unnecessary words,” were delighted to see me get a dose of my own medicine.  

8. I like revising too. This is your debut book. How has it been being a debut author? What tips do you have for other writers who have a debut book coming out? 

My main advice is to not let your agent leave the business! (Just kidding, obviously.) It can be challenging to navigate the debut waters. There’s so much to learn, and it can be confusing. Luckily, Holiday House has been great, and writer friends have been generous with their advice. In addition to my online critique group, I started a coffee club for women writers, and we meet once a month to trade advice and offer support. It’s important to me that we meet in person—sometimes I get tired of online interaction. Writing can be lonely, and it’s wonderful to find people who are dealing with the same struggles. 

The other tip I would offer is: It’s important to get out there and promote your work, but you also have to keep focused on your main job, which is writing. I find that social media, especially, sucks up a lot of time that would better be spent on my next project. In a way, it’s easier (if less sustaining) to chase “likes” on Instagram. Writing is slow. It requires quiet and patience, which is at odds with the noisy, competitive world of book promotion. 

9. I’m glad Holiday House has been helpful. I’ve always really liked them. How are you planning to promote Sneaks? 

As I mentioned, I’m somewhat fatigued with social media, but I’m looking forward to school visits and interacting with middle grade book clubs. Where were all these middle grade book clubs when I was a kid? I would have loved belonging to one of those! 

It’s meant a lot to me that indie booksellers have embraced Sneaks, which was chosen for the Indies Introduce program (for debut authors) and the Kids' Indie Next List. I was able to attend the Children’s Institute conference in Chicago in June and talk directly to booksellers from all over the country. They were incredibly warm and welcoming. I hope to find a way to connect to school librarians, perhaps through the Virginia Association of School Librarians and similar organizations. 

10. What are you working on now? 

I still believe in my first two novels—the ones that never got picked up. I have thoroughly revised the second one, which is about a rescue swimmer’s daughter who has her own heroic aspirations. Of course, the story involves a mystery and plenty of action and danger. I’m also working on a new project, which I don’t want to talk about too much because it’s still in the delicate, fragile stage. I’ll just mention it involves a spooky mansion, secret passageways, snow, and ravens. 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Amy. You can find Amy at amytern.com and amyternbooks on Instagram. 

Giveaway Details

Amy is generously offering a hardback of Sneaks for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by July 25th. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or follow Amy on her social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is US.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog. 

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

 
Thursday, July 16th, I’m participating in the Sip Sip Hooray Giveaway Hop
 
Monday, July 20th, I have an interview with Emma Otherguy and a giveaway of her MG Adventure in the City of Stories
 
Wednesday, July 22nd, I have an agent spotlight interview with Sam Farkas and a query critique giveaway
 
Saturday, August 1st, I’m participating in the Apple a Day Giveaway Hop
 
Wednesday, August 5th, I have an interview with Lindsey Olsson and a giveaway of her YA To Drown a Witch and my IWSG post
 
Monday, August 10th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Riley Jay Davis and a query critique giveaway
 
Sunday, August 16th, I’m participating in the Old School Giveaway Hop
 
I hope to see you on Thursday!
 

Literary Agent Interview: Justina Ireland and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Justina Ireland here. She’s a junior literary agent at Handspun Literary Agency. 

Hi Justina! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About Justina: 

1. Tell us how you became an agent, how long you’ve been one, and what you’ve been doing as an agent. 

I started agenting beginning of 2026, but I’ve been a published author since 2013 when my first book came out. I’ve worked in a number of different parts of publishing as an author and have had a number of agents that were less than stellar, especially as a queer Black woman. I wanted to give authors the kind of honest, dedicated representation they deserve. Luckily, the fine folks at Handspun gave me a chance. 

About the Agency: 

2. Share a bit about your agency and what it offers to its authors. 

Handspun Literary Agency is a boutique agency led by Courtney Miller-Callihan who has been in the business for two decades (!) a feat for anyone familiar with publishing. There are only five of us and we meet twice weekly, which means authors represented by anyone there don’t just get the benefit of one person’s experience they get everyone’s, with Courtney of course being the most knowledgeable. 

The best thing about being repped by Handspun is our commitment to diversity and inclusion, especially at a time when more and more people are content to let equity fall by the wayside. And I think a look at our author list bears out Handspun’s commitment to doing better. I’m proud to be an agent there! 

What She’s Looking For: 

3. What age groups do you represent—picture books, MG, and/or YA? What genres do you represent, and what are you looking for in submissions for these genres? 

I represent MG and YA and adult speculative fiction, which means science fiction, fantasy, and horror and any intersections thereof. 

4.  Is there anything you would be especially excited to seeing in the genres you are interested in? 

Anything that feels fresh and fun. I’m especially looking for horror across the board and I love when it crosses with other genres like science fiction or fantasy. 

I also love fantasy that revolves around common people living their lives. It’s 2026. Give me your messy, Democratic worlds and revolutions. If your main character is secretly royalty, that’s probably not for me. 

For science fiction I love a smart premise that’s based on real science but feels magical. I also love space fantasy, especially if it’s doing things that are different from what we’ve seen in the past. Cozy SFF is always welcome, just remember it still needs stakes and a plot. 

For horror I’m really enjoying the spate of femme focused horror. Queer horror is always something I’m interested in, along with horror that focuses on marginalized groups. Haunted house? Meh. Haunted house owned by A Black family in a narrative that unpacks generational trauma? Tell me more. 

Folk horror is also great and I love when writers build off of their experiences. 

I’m also looking for work that’s well executed. I want writers to take their time and send me their best work. There’s no expiration date on a dream, so take your time! I know I rushed into querying when I was starting out and it was a very frustrating experience. Save yourself some grief. Only query when the manuscript is the absolute best you can make it. 

What She Isn’t Looking For: 

5. What types of submissions are you not interested in? 

I do not represent straight contemporary anything or romance focused SFF/H. A romantic subplot is fine, as long as it doesn’t hijack the narrative. Any project with a central romance as the driving force will not be for me, but you can look at the other agents at Handspun. 

I also do not like portal fantasy (this includes isekai, sorry) or anthropomorphic animals as the main character. Talking animals as a whole are a bit of a hard sell for me, but I can overlook them as secondary characters if the storytelling is good enough. 

Anything that feels like DnD based storytelling is going to be a hard no from me. I’m also not a fan of fantasy that relies on upholding a monarchy. 

For sci-fi, I’m not a fan of human colonization, even if overturning it is the crux of the plot. There are a million more interesting things that can happen in space other than oppressing aliens. Let’s explore that. Also not a fan of alien invasions. 

I’m a hard sell on time travel and the multiverse, so query with caution. 

Also a big nope on any horror that focuses on serial killers. I vastly prefer otherworldly monsters. 

And watch those word counts. A bloated word count is usually a good sign that a book needs a good edit or isn’t focused. 

Agent Philosophy: 

6. What is your philosophy as an agent both in terms of the authors you want to work with and the books you want to represent? 

I want to represent writers for their career, not just a single project. And I just want to represent people who love stories as much as I do. 

Editorial Agent: 

7. Are you an editorial agent? If so, what is your process like when you’re working with your authors before submitting to editors? 

I think I am, but it honestly depends on the writer and what they need. I’m here to guide and assist, not foist my vision upon a work. So my notes are always “take what works, leave what doesn’t” in philosophy. That being said, I probably would not sign or stick with a writer who feels their words cannot be edited or revised. I’m not sure what service I can provide to someone who believes they know it all. 

Before submitting to editors I do think a round of revisions is a good thing, just pointing out the things I’m seeing and where the manuscript could be stronger. And ultimately I’m only going to take on/submit projects that I think can sell. 

Query Methods and Submission Guidelines: (Always verify before submitting) 

8. How should authors query you and what do you want to see with the query letter? 

https://handspunlit.com/about-submit/ 

For queries I like the general three paragraph query format (easily searchable). The query should tell me: who, what, when, where, why, and the stakes. It should also tell me category and genre, or at least a writer’s best guess. A read alike is also nice just to give me the idea of what the writer is aiming for, and to demonstrate they’ve done at least a little reading in the space they want to create in. 

Example: In a small, war torn country Little Red Riding Hood must take a basket of goodies to her poor, sick grandmother. But Red has never left the safety of her town and there is a wolf in the woods devouring young girls. If Red doesn’t make the trip her favorite grandmother will die and Red’s mother will fall into a deep depression. Does she have what it takes to get through the woods, or will she become just another tasty snack? 

Red’s Journey is a 35,000 word MG Horror perfect for fans of Kathern Arden’s Small Spaces 

I always read the sample pages but I’ve learned that queries that are too long or never really describe the manuscript are usually rejections for me. The same problem usually exists in the pages. 

9.  Do you have any specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you? 

Tell me about the story. The actual story, not broad themes and your inspiration. Writers also shouldn’t feel the need to write paragraphs of praise of my past work.  I don’t need flattery. I need a story I can’t put down. 

Oh, and getting my name correct is always a plus. It’s J-U-S-T-I-N-A. Being called Christina/Christine/Justine/Justin makes it clear you probably didn’t read my guidelines. This is your career. I want people who are going to treat it as seriously as I will. 

Response Time: 

10. What’s your response time to queries and requests for more pages of a manuscript? 

It varies. Queries always take a back seat to actual client work. Six to eight weeks seems to be where I’m currently landing. 

Self-Published and Small Press Authors: 

11.  Are you open to representing authors who have self-published or been published by smaller presses? What advice do you have for them if they want to try to find an agent to represent them? 

Yes, but only for new projects. My advice is always and forever the same for most questions: 

1. Write something new.
2. Research the agents you think might be a good fit.
3. Follow general query guidance.
4. Realize that rejections happen for lots of reasons. Be flexible. 

Rinse. Repeat. 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Justina! 

Giveaway Details 

Justina is generously offering a query critique to one lucky winner. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment through July 18th. If you do not want to enter the contest, that’s okay. Just let me know in the comments. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. This is an international giveaway. 

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or email me at natalieiaguirre7@gmail.com 

Note: These agent profiles and interviews presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found here is subject to change.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops 

Monday, July 13th, I have an interview with Amy Tern and a giveaway of her MG Sneaks 

Thursday, July 16th, I’m participating in the Sip Sip Hooray Giveaway Hop 

Monday, July 20th, I have an interview with Emma Otherguy and a giveaway of her MG Adventure in the City of Stories 

Wednesday, July 22nd, I have an agent spotlight interview with Sam Farkas and a query critique giveaway 

Saturday, August 1st, I’m participating in the Apple a Day Giveaway Hop 

Wednesday, August 5th, I have an interview with Lindsey Olsson and a giveaway of her YA To Drown a Witch and my IWSG post 

Monday, August 10th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Riley Jay Davis and a query critique giveaway 

Sunday, August 16th, I’m participating in the Old School Giveaway Hop 

I hope to see you on Monday!

 

Debut Author Interview: Amanda Connolly and The Lure of Wolves and Whispers Giveaway and IWSG Post

Happy Wednesday, Everyone! Today I’m excited to have debut author Amanda Connolly here to share about her YA fantasy, The Lure of Wolves and Whispers. It sounds like it’s got fantastic worldbuilding and political intrigue. I’m looking forward to reading it. 

Here’s a blurb from Goodreads: 

A darkly addictive romantasy debut about a girl who sacrifices everything to buy the dangerous magic that could save her sister—the first in a trilogy perfect for fans of Powerless and Throne of Glass.

On the mist-shrouded Isle of Eireann, buying magic comes with a price.

But when her beloved older sister is gravely injured, Maeve risks everything to buy the forbidden magic that might save her. In exchange, Maeve trades her life to a ruthless and dangerously alluring rebel leader. Bound to do his bidding, Maeve finds herself thrown into a deadly competition to become the next queen and stand beside a prince rumored to be more brutal than his tyrannical father.

With the isle on the brink of war, trust and survival come at a terrible cost—one that will tear Maeve’s world, and her heart, in two.

What would you sacrifice to survive? 

Before I get to my interview with Dana, I have my post for the Insecure Writers Support Group.

 

Posting: The first Wednesday is officially Insecure Writer's Support Group Day. 

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!  

The awesome co-hosts this month are: Rebecca Douglass, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Cathrina Constantine, and Jacqui Murray!

Optional Question:  Is there anything you'd like to see changed, added, and/or rearranged about the book publishing industry? 

I’m sure we all have tons of things we’d like to have changed. Here are some top ones for me: 

·       Pay everyone a decent wage. Authors, editors, and agents need to be paid a fair wage for their work. Everyone is underpaid in this industry, and even literary agents can’t quit their day jobs until they become established.

·       Create a better system to evaluate an author’s option books. Some authors will have the option of a second book when they sell a manuscript. However, many write an entire manuscript, only to have the publisher reject it for various reasons. It seems like they could create a better system so that an author doesn’t have to write an entire book before the decision is made.

·       Provide more publicity support. All authors should have a publicist who helps them promote their book—not just popular authors—and for longer after its release.

·       Support self-published and hybrid authors. Self-published and hybrid authors should have access to affordable editorial, cover design, and publicity resources to help them pursue these options. 

Protect against Al. This is an obvious concern that has to be addressed to protect authors.

 Interview With Amanda Connolly

Hi Amanda! Thanks so much for joining us. 

1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer. 

Hello! Thanks for having me, I’m so excited to chat about The Lure of Wolves and Whispers J This is my debut novel, but I’ve been writing with the dream of publication for 13 years before now and had five manuscripts go nowhere before now. I’ve always been a writer and a storyteller – it’s what drew me into journalism, and I’ve been a bookworm since even before I could hold a book myself. My parents are both huge readers, and I grew up surrounded by books … writing is always what I’ve wanted to do with my life, and I feel incredibly lucky to be getting to share this story that feels so close to my heart with readers around the world. 

2. Where did you get the idea for The Lure of Wolves and Whispers? 

So, like I mentioned, I had written five manuscripts before The Lure of Wolves and Whispers. None of them went anywhere and in 2023 I went almost a full year without writing anything at all while I grappled with intense professional burnout, freak injuries that made all of my usual forms of stress relief impossible without excruciating pain, and back-to-back bereavements all within the span of six months. I didn’t know if I had it in me to keep trying for this dream that seemed so far out of reach – but I decided to give it one more try and if it still didn’t work, then it was a sign from the universe that this dream just wasn’t for me. I poured everything I love most about fantasy (including all of my favourite tropes) and romance and politics into that story, and it poured out of me in two and a half months – and then sold around the world roughly eight months later! 

3. I’ve interviewed other authors who said they decided to give writing one more shot when they got their publishing contract. Reviewers mention how much they enjoy the world-building and political intrigue in your story. What was your world-building process like? Did your job as an award-winning journalist focusing on international politics help shape how you created the Isle of Eireann? 

Thank you! I love fantasy worlds that feel really textured and deep and gritty, and I knew that was something I wanted to infuse throughout this world while I was writing it. So much of it just came naturally – I’ve found I gravitate towards the darker elements of fantasy and the darker facets of what drives people to do the things they do, especially in brutal circumstances, both in writing and in journalism. I see stories visually like a movie while I write, and as soon as I saw the opening scene in my head of the Black Quay and heard the opening lines, I knew that this world was inherently brutal and from there, it was a matter of figuring out who Maeve is and how she fits into that reality. The political webs of this world were so much fun for me as well – I drew a lot from my own experience as a political journalist covering international affairs and national security to imagine how these conflicting and competing interests would weave together, and also from histories of sectarian strife including from Ireland as well as the annexation threats that were being made in 2025 (during post-sale edits of the book) against my own home of Canada by the United States. Pouring that anger and fury into the story was deeply cathartic, and a lens to explore my own rage as well as my struggle to find hope out of everything I was grappling with when I first wrote the draft of this story. 

4. Share about your main character, Maeve. Do you and she share any characteristics? 

Maeve is our point of view character into this dark and gritty world. She is a survivor, but when we first meet her she is also someone who believes, through brutal past experience, that making herself small can help keep the people she loves safe. She’s fiercely loyal to the people she loves most, especially her sister Finn, and that’s a trait I definitely share with her. My circle of friends is small but we are true ride-or-dies – I will have those girls’ backs no matter what, and I know they would say the same about me. Maeve quickly learns that safety is an illusion in this world, and that the only way to protect herself and those she loves is to find the courage to stand up and fight for what is right, even if it could cost her everything. She’s deeply driven by what is right morally, not what is right under the laws of a tyrant. And I wanted this to be a story that challenges readers to think about what they are willing to stand up and fight to defend. 

5. The Lure of Wolves and Whispers is book one in a trilogy. How much of books 2 and 3 did you plot out before or while writing this story? What advice do you have for other writers writing a series? 

I knew when I queried my literary agent that this was a series. Originally, I had envisioned it as four books, but Maddy (wisely) advised that four books are very unusual for a debut author and so I sat down and condensed everything I envisioned happening into three books. We sold the series as a trilogy complete with outlines for each book (about five pages total, though my deeper notes on dialogue, scenes, plot points for the series to come are about 80 pages long), and I started writing Book 2 as soon as we had the deal finalized. I’m in developmental edits on that now, and I cannot wait to be able to share more with readers soon. I would definitely encourage writers to know where your story is going and WHY it needs to be a series if that’s what you are thinking about. This was always an expansive and enormously deep world in my head, and the scope of the story demands Book 2 and Book 3 to ultimately (I hope) bring it to a satisfying and meaningful conclusion.  

6. It’s awesome that you sold your book as a trilogy. How do you fit in time to write with your demanding job as a journalist? 

I won’t lie – it’s really freaking hard! I’m the managing editor of one of the biggest news websites in Canada, and that means I am very often jumping onto work in the evenings and on weekends, which are usually my writing time. It means that when I do get time to write, I have to seize it and shut off everything else. Balancing both demands discipline and a certain ruthlessness about protecting writing time – I say no to trips, parties, hangouts when I have to in order to get the words down. But at the same time, being a journalist has shaped me as a writer so fundamentally, and I love that influence and how it plays out stylistically in my writing. I’ve met people I never would have outside of this job, I’ve had a front row seat to history in the making, and I’ve changed government policy in a way that betters the lives of real people – I always follow the ethos that we do journalism because relationships based on understanding are always more productive than those based on prejudice, and that is a worldview that infuses my writing and my characters are well. They have to find a way to work together and overcome their differences, just like we do in our world if we want any hope of saving it from fascism and tyranny. 

7. Your agent is Maddie Belton. How did she become your agent, and what was your road to getting your publishing contract like? 

Maddy was my absolute dream agent. Being in Canada, I knew I wanted an agent who had global vision and global reach, and who also shares my deep and enduring love of fantasy, speculative and romantic fiction. I had been agented previously and while she was so lovely, our tastes in what we were drawn to work on just weren’t a match and it was critical to me that when I found my next agent, it was someone I could picture working with to build a career, not just a couple of books. Maddy is a true fantasy genius and it is still deeply surreal to me that she picked my dark, gritty, twisty little story out of her slush pile and proceeded to change my life. It happened so quickly – I queried her and because she is in the UK, the agency asks to be notified if you get other full manuscript requests. I had several come in and let her know, and Maddy speed-read the book and emailed me at like 11PM her time on a Friday night literally right before she was about to leave for the Bologna Book Fair. We squeezed in a Zoom call and she offered representation right afterwards, which I was over the moon to accept. She immediately understood and shared my vision for who these characters are and how to make this story sing. I queried her at the end of March and by mid-April, if I recall, she had brought me on. We did about five rounds of edits and then went on submission in September – our first offer came within 24 hours, and we went on to sell in multiple lifechanging pre-empts and an auction. It has truly been a dream come true.  

8. What a wonderful submission experience! How are you planning to promote The Lure of Wolves and Whispers? How do you plan to reach out to readers in the United States when you live in Canada? 

Social media has been a huge part of promotion – seeing the reaction and excitement for this story has been incredible, and it means the world to see the deeply kind and wonderful things readers are saying about Maeve and Wolf and Cash, our core trio here. I would love to do virtual book clubs and as many podcasts and other virtual events as I can, and I’ve been incredibly lucky that my publisher Sarah Barley Books and Simon & Schuster have been so wonderful at reaching out to readers on the ground across the U.S. J 

9. What are you working on now? 

Right now, I am deep in developmental edits on Book 2. It has a title, it’s drafted, and now we are making it the best it can possibly be! I have an outline for Book 3 that’s about six pages long right now, and I actually just found the perfect song that I can’t wait to write the opening scene in Book 3 to – I’m hugely influenced by music. I wrote The Lure of Wolves and Whispers with Taylor Swift’s Willow and Don’t Blame Me on repeat. Book 2 has been heavy on Ruelle’s The Other Side, Charlie Puth’s Dangerously and Imagine Dragons’ Warriors. Beyond this series, I also drafted a separate book while on submission with The Lure of Wolves and Whispers that I am hesitant to say too much about just yet, but it has utterly bewitched me and reflects my love of the Rocky Mountains, Taylor Swift’s song Ivy and Olivia Rodrigo’s You Can’t Catch Me Now, and shows like The 100. 

Thanks for all your advice, Amanda. You can find Amanda at @amandaconn on Instagram and Spotify, as well as Amandaconnolly.substack.com.

https://www.instagram.com/amandacconn/

https://open.spotify.com/user/amandacconn

https://amandaconnolly.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips 

Giveaway Details

Amanda’s publisher is generously offering a paperback of The Lure of Wolves and Whispers for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by July 11th. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or follow Amanda on her social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is US.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops 

Monday, July 9th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Justina Ireland Handspun and query critique giveaway 

Monday, July 13th, I have an interview with Amy Tern and a giveaway of her MG Sneaks 

Thursday, July 16th, I’m participating in the Sip Sip Hooray Giveaway Hop 

Monday, July 20th, I have an interview with Emma Otherguy and a giveaway of her MG Adventure in the City of Stories 

Wednesday, July 22nd, I have an agent spotlight interview with Sam Farkas and a query critique giveaway 

Saturday, August 1st, I’m participating in the Apple a Day Giveaway Hop 

Wednesday, August 5th, I have an interview with Lindsey Olsson and a giveaway of her YA To Drown a Witch and my IWSG post 

Monday, August 10th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Riley Jay Davis and a query critique giveaway 

Sunday, August 16th, I’m participating in the Old School Giveaway Hop 

I hope to see you on Monday!