Debut Author Interview: Alby C. Williams Interview and Where There Be Monsters Giveaway

 Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m excited to have debut author Alby C. Williams here to celebrate the release of their MG Where There Be Monsters. The description says it’s for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers, so I’m really looking forward to reading it.

Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:

For fans of AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS and THE MARVELLERS, Alby C. Williams' debut middle grade fantasy is a sweeping adventure filled with monsters, mysteries, and mischief.

Eleven-year-old Glory Brown is desperate for adventure far from her family’s quaint, quiet life at The Light Inn. Generations of Browns have been stewards of this humble hotel, which acts as a sanctuary in the stretch of monster-filled land called the Seam. But Glory wants nothing more than to learn how to use her Moxie, a special magic only kids have, and to train to become a Spherinaut like her mother, exploring and documenting the perilous depths of the Outersphere.

When a mysterious boy named Marcus appears one day on a top-secret mission for the Parliamentarium – the school for aspiring Spherinauts – Glory packs up her beloved books and sets off on a once-in-a-lifetime journey that will shuttle her across time and space…and reveal new dangers lurking in the worlds beyond the Seam.

For there’s mischief afoot that’s threatening the balance between the worlds, its magic, and its monsters. And it’s up to Glory to find a solution before it’s too late.

Hi Alby! Thanks so much for joining us.

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

I’m an artist, poet, and former engineer! I started writing my first (never finished) novel when I was 14, and was immediately hooked. Though I started early in life, my journey didn’t truly begin until I became disabled and could no longer work. Going from primary breadwinner to being trapped at home took a serious toll on my mental health, and I decided that I should treat writing as a full-time job to have a creative outlet and something to fill my time. I had no way to know how completely this decision would change my life, but here I am!

2. I’m sorry you became disabled but I’m glad you could start writing full-time. What did you enjoy most about writing Where There Be Monsters?

The metaphor! Glory is neurodivergent just like me, and I had to come up with an in-world term for that. I ended up calling her “mazyheaded,” because I felt it matched my experience with AuDHD. I’m often so deep in my own head that it feels like a labyrinth! That let me use all kinds of wonderful natural imagery of mist and sun and rain filling the hedge maze inside Glory’s head.

Your Writing Process

3. Did you plot out Where There Be Monsters, or were you a pantser?

I’m usually somewhere in between, plotting part of the book before taking a break. I then write a few chapters to find my character’s voice before I go back to the outline. This time was different, because WTBM was submitted on proposal! I had to have the entire outline clean and ready to go, which was actually a really great learning experience for me. I had to get out of my comfort zone and learn how to put together a really great outline, which is a skill I continue to use.

4. I’d have to learn how to put together a good outline before writing a story too. I’m glad you could master it.  Share about your world-building process. What tips do you have for other writers wanting to create a fantasy world?

Worldbuilding is my favorite part! I have always loved science and learning, so I do a lot of research to

ground my world in reality. Though not all of the research I do makes it into the book, I like that it gives my worlds depth and a feeling of interconnectedness.

My advice for worldbuilding writers is to follow what excites you. If you love animals as much as I do, write about them! If you’re interested in geology, run with that. A lot of people write their interests off as boring, but it’s not the interest that matters. It’s the passion! My favorite books are ones where you can see the author’s passion coming through in every page.

5. Is Glory or Marcus your favorite character? Why?

My favorite character is a secret third thing, a side character that was equal parts fun and difficult to write! I would say that, though I love both Glory and Marcus equally, Glory can be a bit too real. Writing a kid dealing with some of the same things I did as at age, while at the same time coming to terms with the fact that I’m autistic, was really a lot to handle! It was very healing, but also very difficult at times. Marcus, on the other hand, is all healing and joy. He’s such a kind, supportive friend, with an interesting backstory and inner life of his own, and he’s someone I wish every neurodivergent kid could have in their life.

Your Road to Publication

6. What was your road to publication like? How long did you submit to publishers before getting a publishing contract?

My road was extremely long and winding! I queried many times with no success, and eventually decided to submit to Cake Creative because I really felt I needed something that would give me the last big push into traditional publishing. I had already done some write-for-hire work and really enjoyed the collaborative aspect of working with a well-run creative team. We were extremely lucky, because I believe we were only on sub for a few weeks before getting an offer!

7. How did working with your editor improve your story and your craft of writing?

I absolutely love having somebody to help me improve my work. As a neurodivergent person, it’s often hard for me to get the ideas out of my head and into the book, which is part of why I struggled so much to get an agent. During the process of editing, I came up with a metaphor to describe that feeling. Because my mind works differently, I sometimes feel as if every writer is given a connect-the-dots, but my numbers are in a different order. Instead of getting the butterfly everyone else is drawing, I keep getting a spider! It’s not wrong, but it is off. In order to make my writing understandable, I have to tack wings onto my spider. My voice remains, but it’s written in a way that readers can understand. Having this (admittedly strange) framework helps me more effectively self-edit, which is a skill every writer should have.

Promoting Your Book

8. How are you planning to celebrate the release of your book and promote it after your release? What advice do you have for debut authors?

I have yet to decide how I’ll celebrate, but I always, always do something fun for myself! It’s so important to me that I remember to take time to slow down and appreciate how far I’ve come.

It’s my hope that following release, I can shift to more in-person and virtual spaces rather than just social media promo. I really enjoy being on panels and talking about writing, and I think that when you see and hear someone talk about something they love, it’s easier to make a connection to them and their work.

My advice for debuts is twofold. First off, put the most energy into what interests you. I’ve made the mistake of over-promoting my self-published work and burning out! After all, social media is a form of socialization, and with autism, that can be really difficult to manage. I really enjoy shooting little off-the-cuff videos, so that’s my main avenue for promotion on socials rather than scripted content or graphics. Secondly, make friends! I love talking up my friends’ work and seeing them succeed, and having people to commiserate when you’re promoting can help ease some of the burden. Plus, a fun little side effect is that you get a chance to practice and try new things!

9. That’s great advice that other authors have given too. You’re a member of Middle Grade Escapades. How did you become a member of this group of middle grade debut authors? How has it helped you navigate your first book release?

I found the other members of Middle Grade Escapades through the larger 2025 debut discord server. A few folks in the middle grade channel were part of a picture book debut group and suggested we create a similar group! I can’t overstate how wonderful it’s been to have a smaller, less overwhelming group chat with people in a similar place in their career. Having people with you as you experience both positive and negative career milestones is amazing, because with so much going on, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by stress and forget to celebrate the wins.

10. What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on line edits for book two of the Outersphere series, as well as starting work on a contemporary MG.

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Alby. You can find Alby at albycwilliams.com, Instagram,
TikTok, and Bluesky

Giveaway Details

Alby’s publisher is generously offering a hardback of Where There Be Monsters 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 May 10th. 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 follow Alby on their 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 U.S. 

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, May 1st I’m participating in the Come What May Giveaway Hop

Monday, May 5th I have a guest post by author Donna Galanti and a $50 Barnes & Noble Gift Card giveaway to celebrate the release of her MG Loon Cove Summer

Wednesday, May 7th I have an interview with author Aimee Phan and a giveaway of her YA The Lost Queen and my IWSG post

Monday, May 12th I have a guest post by author Leah Stecher and a giveaway of her MG A Field Guide to Broken Promises

Wednesday, May 14th I have an agent spotlight interview with Analía Cabello and a query critique giveaway

Friday, May 16th I’m participating in the Moms Rock Giveaway Hop

Monday, May 19th I have a guest post by author Carol L. Pauer and a giveaway of her MG Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost 

Wednesday, May 21st I have an agent spotlight interview with Isabel Lineberry and a query critique giveaway

I hope to see you on Thursday!