Upcoming Agent Spotlight Interviews & Guest Posts

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  • Caroline Trussell Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 5/20/2024
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  • Bethany Weaver Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 6/24/2024

Agent Spotlight & Agent Spotlight Updates

  • Agent Spotlights & Interviews have been updated through the letter "H" as of 5/11/2023 and many have been reviewed by the agents. Look for more information as I find the time to update more agent spotlights.

THE DREAM THIEVES AND ORLEANS GIVEAWAY AND ASK THE EXPERT INTERVIEW

Happy Monday! I'm SO excited for tomorrow. Because I get to meet Shannon Messenger, author of KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES, EXILE, and LET THE SKY FALL. I've been following her blog forever and can't believe she's coming to Ann Arbor. For anyone in the area, she'll be doing a YA panel discussion with authors Andrew Smith, Sonya Sones, Brittany Geragotelis, and Lauren Barnholdt on October 1 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. This event is sponsored by Literati Bookstore and will be at the Ann Arbor District Downtown Library in the multi-purpose room. I can't wait!

I also want to let you know that I may not be stopping by as many blogs this week. My in-laws are coming for a week visit tonight. So I need to spend my time with them (except for tomorrow night) instead of being on the computer. Hope you understand.

Next I have some winners to announce.

The winner of CASSAFIRE is WANDA!

The winner of CASSASTORM is SHERRY ELLIS!

The winner of ALL OF YOU is NATASHA D!

The winner of THE TOWN THAT DISAPPEARED is BARBARA WATSON!

And the winner of the Stuck in a Good Book Giveaway Hop is MISTI who picked THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT!

Congrats! E-mail me your address so I can send you your book. Please e-mail me by the end of Wednesday or I'll have to pick another winner.

Today I’m thrilled to have Audra here to share her advice for my ASK THE EXPERT series. She’s a 6th grader who is an avid reader and likes to write.

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your school, and what you like to read.

I live in Ferndale, Michigan and attend an elementary school that goes up to 6th grade, so I’m not in middle school yet. This year I have two teachers, Mr. Williamson and Ms. Zold. I love nature, even though I live in the city. I love catching frogs and newts and playing in the woods. My favorite animals are foxes, cats, squid and octopi. I love to read fantasy. In the month of March, reading month, I read more than 7,000 pages. I want to go to the University of Michigan after high school and study Chemistry.


2. I love to read fantasy too. And wow! That’s a lot of reading in one month. How do you find out about the books you read? What about new books coming out?

Normally I just look for books at the library and I usually find something. I like to go to the new fiction book shelf display first. The librarians sometimes put books aside for me that they think I may be interested in reading. It has been a while since there have been new books, I think they should really get more books, fantasy books.

3. Awesome your librarian sets aside books for you. Too bad they aren’t getting much new in. What are you reading now? What books are you waiting to be released?

I am reading The Candymakers right now. I just finished reading Little Women, Little Men, and Jo’s Boys. I wanted to read Little Women after seeing the play with a friend. I don’t look for books to come out unless they are part of a really interesting series.

4. I loved Little Women when I was a kid. Do you buy most of your book or get them at the library? How often do go to a bookstore?

I get most of my books at the library because it’s only two blocks from my house. I have a library card and it is more convenient to use it than to buy books. I only go to the book store about eight times a year. If there is new book that I really, really want from an interesting series that isn’t at the library yet, I will go to the bookstore.

5. I’d SO love to live two blocks from a library. You are so lucky! I know you also write and are part of a writing fiction club at school. Tell us about what you like to write and about the writing club. 

In fifth grade a parent of a boy in my grade, who is an editor and writer, volunteered to work with a group of kids interested in writing. Once a week for about half an hour we met and discussed writing the story with a focus on details and dialogue and a climax. We wrote a story that was realistic fiction, but mine was so mystical it was almost fantasy. My story is called The Summer Moon. It is about a girl name Luna and her friend, Leila, who discover a secret room and a mysterious note, and then they are off on an adventure.


6. Your story sounds good. And you did a great job summarizing it in one sentence. Many writers, including me, struggle with that. Has your writing influenced what you like to read at all and if so, how?

Actually, I think my reading has influenced my writing. I read tons of fantasy so my writing has edge of fantasy in it.

7. My reading influenced what I write too. And like you I love writing and reading fantasy. Has your teacher recommended any blogs or websites to your class or to you?

In sixth grade we are making our own BLOGS that we will update three times a week and hopefully that will be good, but no, she hasn’t recommended any websites yet (school is just getting started).


8. That’s so cool you’re starting a class blog. Are there things your favorite authors could do that would make you more likely to visit their website, their blog, or become a fan on Facebook?

I think authors should add games that are like you’re in the book so you can experience the book in a virtual way.


9. That’s a great idea. Have any authors visited your school? Who? Is there anything you’d recommend that an author do to make their presentation more interesting to you and other kids at your school?

Yes, Johnathan Rand, author of Michigan Chillers and American Chillers has visited my school. Authors could make their speeches more fun by acting out skits from the book and calling kids up to help.

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Audra. Good luck with your writing and reading.

So I’ve got two ARCs to give away today. First is THE DREAM THIEVES, the second book in The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater, one of my favorite authors.

Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:

The second installment in the all-new series from the masterful, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

I enjoyed that we got to know way more about Ronan, his mysterious dreams, and his family life. One of the things I loved about THE RAVEN BOYS was the complex characters and I felt the focus on Ronan in this story was showing us more of how Maggie Stievfater creates such amazing characters.

There is still the hunt for Glendower and problems in Cabeswater now that the ley lines have been woken. And we get to meet fascinating new characters like Mr. Grey and see more of Blue’s mom and her aunts. I really loved learning more about them, especially her mom.

There were some very sweet scenes between Blue and Gansey. My only complaint is that I want more! I loved the new twists to the story and I can’t wait to see where the next book in the series takes us.

The other ARC m giving away is ORLEANS. It’s a dystopian story that I’ve heard great things about, but just don’t have time to read right now.

Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:

First came the storms.
Then came the Fever.
And the Wall.

After a string of devastating hurricanes and a severe outbreak of Delta Fever, the Gulf Coast has been
quarantined. Years later, residents of the Outer States are under the assumption that life in the Delta is all but extinct… but in reality, a new primitive society has been born.

Fen de la Guerre is living with the O-Positive blood tribe in the Delta when they are ambushed. Left with her tribe leader’s newborn, Fen is determined to get the baby to a better life over the wall before her blood becomes tainted. Fen meets Daniel, a scientist from the Outer States who has snuck into the Delta illegally. Brought together by chance, kept together by danger, Fen and Daniel navigate the wasteland of Orleans. In the end, they are each other’s last hope for survival.

Sherri L. Smith delivers an expertly crafted story about a fierce heroine whose powerful voice and firm determination will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

So there will be two winners. Thanks to Scholastic and Penguin for providing these ARCs. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (just click the follow button if you’re not a follower) and leave a comment about Audra's interview and telling me which book you want (no guarantees) through October 12th. I’ll announce the winner on October 14th. If your e-mail is not on your Google Profile, please leave it in the comments.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. You must be 13 or older to enter. International entries are welcome. But there will be no more than one international winner due to postage costs.

Here’s what’s coming up:

On Thursday I’m interviewing Meagan Spooner as part of her SHADOWLARK blog tour. This is the second book in her Skylark dystopian series. I can’t wait to read this and have Meagan share with us all. And there will be a giveaway of both SKYLARK and SHADOW LARK. Hurry to enter because one contest ends October 6th and the other ends October 9th.

Next Monday I’m interviewing debut author Mindy McGinnis and giving away an ARC of her YA post-apocalyptic story NOT A DROP TO DRINK about a world with little water. I loved that this was a really character driven story that had a contemporary feel to it.

The Monday after that I’m interviewing Jenny Lundquist and giving away an ARC of THE PRINCESS IN THE OPAL MASK, a YA fantasy about a girl forced to always wear a mask. This was a fantastic story that kept me up into the wee hours of the night.


Tuesday that week I’m participating in the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop. There have been lots of great new releases this Fall and I’ve got lots of great book choices for you.

And Wednesday that week, I’m super excited to feature Tu Publishing books. This is a fantastic publishing house that publishes fantasy and sci-fi middle grade and picture book stories that are multicultural. I’ll be giving away THE MONSTER IN THE MUDBALL, a fun middle grade adventure, WOLF MARK, a YA paranormal story, and CAT GIRL’S DAY OFF, a YA urban fantasy.


And don't forget our Tuesday Tips and Casey's Thursday agent spotlights.

Hope to see you on Thursday!

49 comments:

Beth said...

I'd like to win the Dream Thieves. And please tell Audra that I loved reading Little Women, Little Men and Jo's Boys too, when I was young. When she's a bit older, she should read Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom - I loved them too!

Kristin Lenz said...

I know Audra and her parents, and they're all very creative. So fun to see her interview here! What a great opportunity to have a writer/editor parent lead a writing club at her school.

Barbara Watson said...

I love that Audra realizes that her reading influences her writing. And I love the library too. :-)

Kessie said...

Great interview with Audra! I recommend the Magic Thief trilogy by Sarah Prineas, if you haven't already read it. Great kids series. My kids are currently hooked on the Troubletwisters books by Garth Nix. :-)

I'd love to win Dream Thieves! I just read Raven Boys, and there's already a line of holds on Dream Thieves at the library, even though its not out yet!

Anonymous said...

I love libraries!
Thanks for the interview and the book features. :)

~Akoss

PS: please don't enter me in giveaway.

Crystal Collier said...

Oh my goodness--I totally know what you mean about the in laws visiting and having to slow down. Keep your sanity, eh? ;)

That's so cool--a class blog. If I had more ambition I'd have my homeschooling kids start one--just to get used to publishing/polishing.

Giveaway!!! Yes, please? I'd love either book. =)

Meradeth Houston said...

What a fun interview! Audra sounds quite mature for a 6th grader :)

The Dream Thieves has been on my list since I read the first one--can't wait to pick it up!

S.P. Bowers said...

Nice to meet you Audra! That would be amazing nice to live so close to the library. And I love that you're in a writing club, how cool is that!

S.P. Bowers said...

PS. I'd love Orleans.

Old Kitty said...

Lovely to meet you Audra as well as your heroines, Luna and Leila! And big hoooraaah for utilising your library too!

Good luck to all those entering the giveaways! Take care
x

Angela Brown said...

Thanks to Audra, a super-reader heroine, for sharing such wonderful information in the interview :-)

And have a wonderful time with family and friends, Natalie.

Kel said...

Wow, that is one productive 6th grader! I remember being a big fantasy fan at that age, but I'm not sure I read quite that much. Talk about industrious!

I've been interested in seeing how the search for Glendower continues since finishing The Raven Boys. The Dream Thieves looks to be just as weird. :)

kmpeterson89 (at) gmail (dot) com

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Congratulations Sherry and Wanda!
Sixth grade and she's already blogging - impressive.

Carina Olsen said...

Awesome interview :D Very interesting. <3 thank you for sharing sweetie :) I would love to win Orleans. <3 I think. Since I already have an ARC of The Dream Thieves :D Thank you for the chance :)
Love, Carina

Carrie Butler said...

Have fun with your in-laws, Natalie! :) And congratulations, winners!

Jocelyn Rish said...

I love your interviews with teens to see how they think about reading and finding books.

And have fun with your in-laws and with meeting Shannon - she was always so funny coordinating the WriteOnCon chats, so I imagine she will be equally fun in real life.

mshatch said...

What a great interview with Audra! And I have to admit I'm dying to read The Dream Thieves :)

Stina said...

Cool idea about the games on websites. Not that I would know how to create them.

Thanks for the great interview, Audra and Natalie.

Gwen Gardner said...

Wonderful interview, Audra and Natalie! I'll keep the interactive thing in mind - such a great idea.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Loved the interview. Great questions and answers. I'd love to live that close to a library as well!

Liz Blocker said...

Great interview - thanks so much!

Elaine said...

I am Audra's teacher and I can confirm that she is an expert. I look to Audra for fantasy fiction recommendations! I've just discovered this blog, and I will certainly visit again! Thanks for the shout out, Audra!

Tammy Theriault said...

congrats to the winners, and sounds like a great book. loved the interview!

Mary Holm said...

Audra, it was very nice meeting you. I love that you want to study chemistry. Your story sounds intriguing. Good luck with your writing. By the way, my family used to live in Royal Oak, right near Ferndale

Natalie, I just finished reading The Raven Boys last week and I would love to win The Dream Thieves.

worddance8(at)aol(dot)com

Danielle H. said...

Audra has a great start on her writing life--so mature and taking advantage of the resources around her--library, book store, other writers. I would love to win Maggie Stiefvater's book. I will post on Facebook. Thank you for the giveaway!

Mary Preston said...

A fabulous interview. Such a mature young voice - if that makes sense.

I'd love to read ORLEANS thank you.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Janhvi said...

I'd love to win The Dream Thieves. Thanks for the interview and giveaway!

Janhvi
justjanhvi at gmail dot com

Brenda said...

Now I'm jealous, you get to meet Shannon. Should be lots of fun. Have a wonderful time with your in laws this week. Great interview with Audra, its always nice to hear from teen readers.

MeganC said...

THE DREAM THIEVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love, love, love Maggie Stievater. She's one of my favorites, and I loved The Raven Boys. Sign me up to win that book. :-) I also enjoyed the "ask the experts" interview. What good advice to get the kids involved during school visits. Great interview as always!

Unknown said...

I'm reading The Candymakers too. Maggie Stiefvater is amazing.

Jemi Fraser said...

Great interview! I have a beautiful set of the Little Women books - I read them so many times as a kid. I love that Audra's class is blogging too - awesome!

Both books sound awesome - either would be fantastic!

Jill the OWL said...

I've got several kids reading The Candymakers right now and really liking it!

I've love The Dream Thieves!

themgowl at gmail dot com

CYP @ A Bookalicious Story said...

Great interview! It'd be quite interesting to see my favorite authors act out certain parts of their books! Haha, I'd love a copy of Orleans. :) Thanks for the giveaway!

cypsays_hi at hotmail dot com

Rosi said...

I loved Audra's interview. I can tell she is a reader! I love that she uses the library so much and that the librarians save things for her. That's great. I think I will pass on the giveaway. My TBR list...well, you know!

Anonymous said...

I'd love The Dream Thieves. sharif(at)sharifwrites(dot)com

Great interview. I'd love to be that close to the library and it's awesome she's blogging.

_Sandra_ said...

That was one super fun interview! :) Would love to live so close to the library, maybe I would spend less money on books then. (Yeah right! LOL!!!)
The Dream Thieves would be my book of choice, though Orleans sounds interesting as well.
Thanks for a giveaway! :)

* following via GFC - Sandra K
* email - sandra.zg.13 @ gmail.com
* tweet - https://twitter.com/_Sandra_R_/status/385303413837144064
* Google + - https://plus.google.com/107598100375357110332/posts/Hbe9a6975Kg

Ashfa said...

Fantastic interview! Lucky you live so close to the library.
I'd love to win win Orleans.
GFC-Ashfa Anwer
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/TopsyTurvy_Ash/status/385345711308423168
blackcapballistics AT gmail DOT com

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi, Natalie,

I just love these interviews. Kids today are just so fantastic! Visiting the library all the time to check out books is so AWESOME! If only more kids were like Audra.... And writing already. In a writing group... excellent. I was the artsy kid back then, I wish I had written more. I did a bit of poetry.

Cool books this week!

Both books sound great, but I'd love to win ORLEANS... Since I haven't read Maggie's first book yet.

I've tweeted, too!

https://twitter.com/DAK86/status/385386133149843456

PK HREZO said...

Oh man I missed Alex's interview?? Darn it. Congrats to all the winners tho!
And Little Women is one of my fave books. Love love love.
Enjoy the in-laws and meeting Shannon! :D

cleemckenzie said...

I'm back from my much needed break. Great to be here again and catch up with all that's been happening. I wish I lived within walking distance of my library. I'd probably just move in there! Hope you have a great in-law visit and say hi to Shannon for me.

Rachna Chhabria said...

Loved the interview. The Dream Thieves sounds wonderful. I just wish I could read it soon.

Rachna Chhabria
Co-host IWSG
Rachna's Scriptorium

Anonymous said...

Good for you Audra on the class blog, and for being such an avid reader! I would love to read DREAM THIEVES - in fact, I'm dying to read DT, and thank you for bringing us this great blog post and giveaway, Natalie. :)

Julie Musil said...

Oh my goodness, I want to hug Audra! She's amazing.

Tracy Campbell said...

How refreshing to read about Audra and her love of books.
A future writer emerges.
Congratulations to my friend, Sherry Ellis for winning a copy of CASSASTORM. :-)

Jessa said...

Yay! Somebody else who started on the path to writing young! :)
I am dying to read The Dream Thieves. I've heard it's amazing and I need more of my Raven Boys.
jdemigod@gmail.com

Natasha said...

I would love to win The Dream Thieves!!
Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

Gretchen said...

This is such an amazing boost for the teens and tweens being interviewed! Audra is beaming and inspired to write the sequel (her word) to The Summer Moon. Proud mother here! Thanks you all so much for your kind words.

Llehn said...

I'd love to win ORLEANS please.

lesly7ch(at)yahoo(Dot)com

Christine said...

I would LOVE to live 2 blocks away from my library! Although it might be a bit problematic since I already overload myself with books as is...but it would still be amazing! :D

I would love to win The Dream Thieves! I've been dying for this sequel since the first book was released! Maggie Stiefvater is such an outstanding author :)