Author Interview: M.K. England and Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth Giveaway

 Happy Monday, Everyone! Today, I’m excited to have M.K. England back at Literary Rambles to share about their new MG mystery, Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth. I interviewed M.K. in 2018 when they were a debut author. I’m super excited to read their newest middle grade because it’s a mystery, and it’s witchy! 

Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:

 

Queen of Mysteries Riley Dare has her first real-life case to solve!

Riley Dare is a master of solving puzzles. After all, she helps run her aunt’s beloved escape room, Level Up, and makes it extra special thanks to the flicker of magic she’s gifted with. Need some extra shadows? Some spooky lighting? She’s got it covered.

But when a celebrated author of children’s mysteries vanishes during the latest, greatest escape room she’s designed with her aunt, one themed after the biggest unsolved heist in her small town’s history, things get complicated fast.

Not only is the author missing—and oh, maybe there’s a ghost inside the escape room—but with reservations being canceled left and right alongside the police investigation, there’s a chance Level Up might not survive. Riley will have to team up with her closest friends to figure out what’s going on, and how all this might be tied to that same unsolved heist from twelve years ago. A heist that happened on the day she was born . . .

It’s her greatest puzzle yet, and Riley Dare is on the case. 

Hi M.K.! Thanks so much for joining us. 

1. Tell us about yourself and your life as an author. 

I’m your run of the mill nerd, filling my time with board games and Dungeons & Dragons and video games and fandom, with a little twist of country. I live out on 2.5 acres with huge gardens, and I’m always covered in dirt. 

I’ve been at this author thing for a little while now, and I’m lucky enough to do it full time these days. My debut came out in 2018, and now Riley Dare is my twelfth book, and my fourth in middle grade. I’m a notorious genre and age category hopper, writing in fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and mystery for kids, teens, and adults alike. Maybe it would be smarter to stay in one lane and have a brand, but I don’t think I’m actually capable of doing that! 

2. It’s great you are now a full-time author. Where did you get the idea for Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth? 

I originally developed this concept years ago when a publisher put out a call for a “modern Nancy Drew,” but Riley quickly grew beyond that original prompt quickly. I wanted to write a kid detective who was a little gender-bendy and who could use gamer skills in solving mysteries. Riley Dare was born! 

3. I loved Nancy Drew as a kid and am excited to see more middle grade mysteries these days. How did you plot out Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth? Was the process any different than your other novels, especially ones that weren’t mysteries? 

The process was definitely different from my other novels, mostly because I am not a natural mystery writer! The beats of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance are pretty ingrained in me, but for whatever reason I just have not internalized mysteries and thrillers to the same degree. I’ve really had to sit down and study a variety of sources on plotting a satisfying mystery. (Also, book 3 is currently kicking my butt—when I overcome that problem, I’ll let you know!) But my overall process was still very much the same: I outline ahead of time and figure out solutions to all my plot problems before I ever write a single word. 

4. What made you decide to add the magical elements to your story? How did you balance that out with the main mysteries to be solved? 

I actually wrote Riley Dare as a straight-up non-magical mystery at first! It always felt like it was lacking a little something, though. Once I added Riley’s little flicker of magic to the story, it blew the whole thing wide open, and it quickly became essential to the trilogy’s overall plot and enriched the world so much. I think the fact that the core mystery was developed without magic in mind makes it stronger, though; it’s robust enough to stand on its own, and the magic only enhanced it. 

5. Share a bit about Riley, your main character, and what makes her unique. Did you draw on anyone you know or yourself in developing her as a character? 

Riley is my favorite sort of spunky kid protagonist. She’s smart and quirky and so much her own person, with her own sense of style (bow ties!). She’s very secure in who she is and what she likes, which is both really tough and really brave at that age. Having nerdy community that embraces and celebrates you as you are makes such a difference. I definitely drew from my own experiences with her, both with her gender-bendy-ness and her nerdy community, though I wish I had been as confident and secure as her. 

6. This is a trilogy, which is not as common for a mystery as it is for a fantasy. What made you decide to write it as a series? 

The series part sort of naturally evolved from Riley herself, and from the fantasy elements of the work. The core mystery itself is resolved, but there are things about Riley’s backstory and about the magical parts of the mystery that I could have left alone… but it was way more fun to play them out. She’s got parents she’s never met who she’s pretty sure are secret agents or witches or secret agent witches, and that just screamed for some follow-up. The magical elements also provided great fuel for a longer arc. 

7. Eric Smith is your agent. How did he become your agent? 

Eric is actually my second agent. My first agent and I parted ways when we couldn’t connect on any other projects past my original two-book deal for The Disasters and Spellhacker. I did a short round of querying and, lucky for me, Eric had already read my existing work and was interested in the newer stuff I had to offer. He’s been a fantastic partner for the past six years and I really think I ended up exactly where I needed to be. 

8. That’s great that you were able to find an agent with whom you work better. This is your 12th book since The Disasters, your debut book, was published in 2018. How have you been able to grow your career as an author so much? What tips do you have for other writers on going forward after their debut novel is published? 

I recognize that my career is kind of unusual and what I have to say might not apply to many people, but for me the key to a sustainable career was to diversify my writing across age categories and genres. I like and prefer doing this anyway, but it also meant that low sales in any one particular area wouldn’t necessarily kill my entire career. I hopped around, I used pen names when publishers asked me to, I said yes to some IP opportunities when they were offered to me, but all along I followed where my own interests took me. I just don’t have whatever that focus and fire is that lets people settle into one genre and live there, so I’ve had to let myself pursue what I most wanted to write and let Eric worry about the selling part. Having a trusted partner in Eric makes a huge difference. 

9. That’s great advice on how to grow your career. How are you planning to promote this book? How has your approach to marketing changed since your first book was published? 

My approach to marketing has changed a ton since my debut. As a debut author, you feel such immense pressure to do All The Things and make swag and do giveaways and post on social media constantly. I learned that 1) that’s not sustainable, especially when you have multiple books out in a year, and 2) it’s not all that effective for most books, especially not in the middle grade space. No marketing will ever matter anywhere near as much as what your publisher does unless you’re able to sink a lot of money and time into it. So, I’ve largely decided to keep my head down and focus on the part of the job I have the most control over, which is writing the best book I can. Because this is my full-time job and I’m typically putting out 2-3 books per year, I am constantly on deadline and just don’t have the bandwidth for my own huge marketing campaigns or constant social media posting, which I’m not very good at anyway. For Riley, I’m sticking to a few interviews and working with a local bookstore on school visits, which is much more directly impactful. 

10. It’s great that you don’t have to do too much marketing. What are you working on now? 

I just wrapped up copyedits on the second book in the world of my adult cozy fantasy, Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous, and I’m diving into edits on my as-yet-unannounced middle grade graphic novel debut. After that, it’ll be time to write Riley 3! 

Thanks for sharing all your links, M.K.! You can find M.K. at www.mkengland.com and on Instagram at @mk_england. 

Giveaway Details

M.K. is generously offering a hardback of Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth 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 September 26th. 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 M.K. 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 US-only.

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 

Wednesday, September 16th, I’m participating in the Falling Into Leaves Giveaway Hop 

Monday, September 21st, I have an agent spotlight interview with Tali Shammas and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, September 28th, I have an interview with Isaac Fitzsimmons and a giveaway of his MG Astra Fox and the Rise of the Wonderworkers 

Thursday, October 1st, I’m participating in the Scaredy Cat Giveaway Hop 

Wednesday, October 7th, I have an interview with Ryan Douglass and a giveaway of his YA Night of Madness and my IWSG Post 

Monday, October 12th, I have a guest post by Shifa Saltagi and a giveaway of her MG Sisters Alone 

Wednesday, October 14th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Jenny Lewis and a query critique giveaway 

Friday, October 16th, I’m participating in the Silly Pumpkins Giveaway Hop 

Monday, October 19th, I have an interview with Kate O’Shaughnessy and a giveaway of her MG Brittle Magic 

I hope to see you on Wednesday!

 

Author Interview: Dinesh Thiru and My Killer Family Reunion and IWSG Post

Happy Wednesday, Everyone! Today I’m excited to have Dinesh Thiru here to share about his YA mystery My Killer Family Reunion. It’s a mystery and funny. I love mysteries and could use some funnies in life, so I’m excited to read it. 

Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:

 

Knives Out meets Never Have I Ever in this hilarious and twisty young adult mystery-comedy about an Indian American teen whose family reunion at a lavish manor falls into chaos after her grandma is attacked.

Nothings brings family together like attempted murder.

There are three things Jayshree Devi can count on happening at her annual family 1) her cousins will forget she exists, 2) her aunts will try to set her up, and 3) her uncles will get into a fight. What she doesn’t expect? An accident that lands her grandmother in a coma, throwing the family—and their matriarch’s sizeable fortune—into chaos.

When Jay discovers Grand Mom’s “accident” might not have been so accidental after all, she’ll have to dig through decades of secrets to find the truth. With the help of her (annoyingly perky) cousins and one of their (annoyingly hot) friends, Jay finds herself knee-deep in a mystery that’s even more tangled than her family tree.

But the closer Jay gets to answers, the closer she gets to finding her place amongst the relatives who once felt so distant. With Grand Mom’s life and fortune hanging in the balance, can Jay save her family and maybe hook up with a hottie while she’s at it?

 

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:  Kate Larkinsdale, SE White, JS Pailly, Olga Godim, and me! 

Optional Question:  Do you have a favorite character archetype you tend to gravitate toward in your writing? 

First, Happy 15th Anniversary, IWSG! I'm so grateful for all the friendships I've made and support I've received over the years. Thanks to Alex for creating this group and keeping up going. And I love the idea of celebrating by purchasing five books from members of the group.

Yes. Since I’ve written middle grade and young adult, of course, my main character is a kid. I’ve only written two manuscripts. They have both been about adopted middle graders or teens. I also gravitate to writing about Chinese or Mexican-American adopted kids. I know all about Chinese adoptions, since my daughter is adopted from China. I’ve also been a part of a Mexican-American family for over forty years. 

Interview With Dinesh Thru 

Hi Dinesh! Thanks so much for joining us. 

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

 

Hi, I'm Dinesh Thiru, father of three (2 humans, 1 dog); I enjoy reading, hiking, cooking, and my karaoke song is “Teenage Dirtbag.” I stumbled into writing several years ago while I was staying at home with our 2nd baby. During nap time, I would journal about life, work, and being a dad. That turned into a gag book that I wrote to roast my cousin for his 40th birthday. My family loved it, and I was having fun, so I kept going and wrote a novel.
 
Several novels later… I finally got published! 

2. Where did you get the idea for My Killer Family Reunion?

I'd read Dial A for Aunties and My Sister, the Serial Killer and I was confident that my family was just as unhinged as those families. I'd also watched Knives Out, and that reminded me of two family legends:

 

1. My Indian grandmother — Born rich, she survived decades in poverty, only passing at 103! As her grandson, I saw her as the ultimate matriarch. Strong and stubborn, feared and revered.
2. My Indian great-grandfather — One of the wealthiest men in Bangalore in the 1930s, he cut his entire family (12 kids!) out of his will, leaving all his money to charity. Personally, I think it's amazing, but obviously the family freaked. 

So a book about a highly dysfunctional Indian-American family where everyone has a plot to kill Grand Mom and steal her inheritance… that came together quite naturally! 

3. What a cool way to come up with a book idea. Your debut YA, Into The Sunken City, is a fantasy/dystopia story? What made you decide to write a contemporary mystery for your second novel?

My Killer Family Reunion just poured out of me. I wrote the first draft in six weeks! 

Into the Sunken City is the type of adventure story I've always loved—a book for teen Dinesh. My Killer Family Reunion is the book of my heart. The setting is my aunt's absurd house, complete with spa room and creepy basement. Multiple scenes are inspired directly from my childhood reunions—for example, why do we open with one of the cousins hooking up in a closet and getting busted by her aunty?? Because my cousin did that! Even the murder is inspired by… 

… just kidding, there were no murders at my family reunions. 

4. Six weeks! I wish I could write a first draft in six months. What was your plotting process for My Killer Family Reunion? Will you change the process at all from what you learned from writing this story?

 

Ah, plotting. As a thriller writer, I should probably be good at that. Truthfully, I'm between a plotter and a pantser. When I decide to write a first draft, I have a concept, a voice (b/c I've written a few pages), and I have some major scenes and (ideally) an ending in mind. But I can't plot in rich detail—at least not at first. Instead, I write a terrible first draft and revise (e.g., this book took 2 years of revision).

 

Will I change the process? Probably not. But all those revisions created more misdirection, bigger reveals, tighter pacing. I hope those learnings stay with me. 

5. I plot like that too. Your book is also described as hilarious. How did you figure out the balance between making your story funny and keeping up the tension of the mystery? What tips do you have for other writers about adding humor to their stories? 

Ooo, that's hard! Humor is so personal. For this book, a big part of why it works is that Grand Mom is such a loved character. When she has an "accident", you're immediately like, "Oh, heck no. We are NOT letting that happen." So one of my tips would be: Even in a humorous book, you need to have strong emotional hooks that get deep under a reader's skin. 

6. That’s a great tip. Share what you like about your character, Jay? Did anything about her surprise you as you wrote her story? 

Jay's a half-Indian, half-white, middle cousin like me. She's trying to understand her identity more. Why she needs her dad to say "I love you" even though she knows he loves her. Why she feels Indian, but not quite Indian enough. She's trying to find her voice in the family, which is different from me, I'm more of a loud mouth. What surprised me about Jay is how much confidence she gains when her older cousin, Prithi, starts to look out for her. No one's ever done that for Jay, and all the sudden, Jay starts finding her inner strength. Sometimes you just need one person to believe in you. 

7. Your agent is Claire Friedman. How did she become your agent? 

I cold queried Claire with Into the Sunken City! The query process is brutal at times—you get so much rejection—but it's also really cool because it's open to anyone. Claire's incredible: brilliant editorial insights, on top of a thousand details, fun and easy to work with. She also sells a lot of YA. Unagented writers, put Claire on your list! 

8. This is your sophomore book. How was getting a publishing contract and working with your editor different from your debut YA fantasy, The Sunken City? 

Much of the process was the same, but with Into the Sunken City, it was a rollercoaster as I had three different editors. My original acquiring editor was let go, and my second editor shifted publishing houses, and then my third editor took over. These things happen, but with My Killer Family Reunion, I've had a single editor the whole way, Kristie Choi, who has been amazing. 

9. You live in Barcelona. How are you planning to promote your book in the U.S.? Has your approach to marketing changed since you were a debut author?

 

I had a launch event at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina on August 11th. My parents live in Raleigh, the book's dedicated to them, and we had 20 family members come to town. It was really special.

 

As for marketing, I have a love-hate relationship with author marketing. My old career was in marketing, so I enjoy the intellectual challenge. But there's something about all the bragging and self-hype that doesn't sit well with me. Reading The Anxious Generation also made me realize how bad social media is for my health. So I do plenty (e.g., videos, influencer outreach, interviews, events), but I prefer writing. 

10. What are you working on now?

Pitch: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder meets Eurotrip in this summer-vacation romp about a group of cousins who road trip across Europe, staying with aunties and uncles, and investigating the mysterious death of their famous aunt. I hope it sells! 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Dinesh. You can find Dinesh at www.dineshthiru.com and https://www.instagram.com/dineshthiruwrites/.

Giveaway Details

Dinesh's publisher  is generously offering a hardback of My Killer Family Reunion 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 September 12th. 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 Dinesh on his 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-only.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops 

Monday, September 7th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Syrone Harvey and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, September 14th, I have an interview with M.K. England and a giveaway of her MG Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth 

Wednesday, September 16th, I’m participating in the Falling Into Leaves Giveaway Hop 

Monday, September 21st, I have an agent spotlight interview with Tali Shammas and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, September 28th, I have an interview with Isaac Fitzsimmons and a giveaway of his MG Astra Fox and the Rise of the Wonderworkers 

I hope to see you on Monday!

 

Author Interview: Máire Roche and Little Monsters Giveaway

Happy Monday, Everyone! Today, I’m excited to have Máire Roche here to share about her MG Little Monsters. It’s a supernatural retelling of Little Women, which I loved as a kid, and I’m looking forward to reading it. 

Here’s a blurb from Goodreads: 

In this modern supernatural middle grade retelling of the beloved classic Little Women, the March sisters have a monstrous secret Meg will do anything to protect—especially with another beast lurking in the woods threatening to expose them.

Meg March and her three sisters are monsters. No, really. Meg has teeth that are a little too sharp. Jo gets furry under the full moon. Beth goes night flying on wings that are impossible to hide under her sweaters. And Amy? Well, don’t let her near a body of water or she’ll start sprouting her mermaid’s tail.

Meg is sure their foster mom, Marmee, wouldn’t like any of this if she knew. And Jo’s best friend Laurie, the nice boy next door, would run screaming. To make matters worse, Meg’s small town outside of Salem is on edge. A vicious beast has been spotted in the forest, and Farmer Bhaer believes it’s responsible for his missing chickens. Meg is sure to be blamed if anyone realizes she’s a monster in disguise. And the closer it gets to Halloween, the surer the town is that something evil is hiding in the forest.

Meg doesn’t always remember what she gets up to at night, and sometimes, she wakes alone in a mossy part of the forest and has to find her way back. With John Brooke determined to find out just what Meg is hiding and locals working to uncover the monsters in their midst, Meg must find the culprit herself—or risk losing the little home she’s found with her sisters. 

Hi Máire! Thanks so much for joining us. 

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

This one is always so tricky to answer, because I’ve always just been a writer! I write books for all ages, across genres, and I’ve been doing that since I was too small to remember. My first book, written at the age of six, featured a main character named Mary, who lived on an unspecified mountain, rode horses, and occasionally lassoed bandits. While I did not grow up to lasso bandits, I did keep writing magical stories (and I even learned how to write without self-inserting as the main character). 

2. Where did you get the idea for Litter Monsters? 

Little Monsters came to me when I was craving a cozy but eerie middle grade, one autumn a few years ago. It got me thinking about how much fun scary stories were to read as a kid, and also about the stories I read as a kid (like Little Women)! Meg was always my favorite, and I wondered what it would be like to do a modern, middle grade retelling featuring Meg’s struggles as an eldest daughter. From there, Little Monsters was born. 

3. I loved Meg as a kid too. What was your plotting process for Little Monsters? How long did it take you to write and revise it before sending it to your agent? 

This is the book I wrote in four days. Yes, four. I wrote about 10-15k each day and finished over a long weekend. It’s a long story about why I decided to write it so quickly, and I did of course revise before it went out to editors, but it was an exercise in fast drafting for me. I did plot the book pretty loosely before I began, but I had overall structural ideas about what happened in the story that I leaned on. 

4. Four days! I’m so jealous. What made you decide to add a supernatural element to your retelling of Little Women? And how did you decide how each of the four sisters would transform into supernatural creatures? 

I wanted each of the four sisters to have a magical, monstrous power that reflected a little of their original personality from the source text. Meg cares a lot about appearances in the source text (for good reason—she has to secure a marriage with someone who has some money). What if she couldn’t control an aspect of her appearance? Jo’s hair is a major plot point in Little Women; what if it sprouted uncontrollably? Beth is shy and wants to avoid attention, so what would happen if she’s literally able to fly? Amy, on the other hand, loves attention, but why not throw a wrench into that—if she’s at the beach and salt water touches her, she transforms into a monstrous, gigantic mer-creature.

 
4. Reviewers have said that you did a good job making Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy distinct characters. Share a bit of what makes each unique.

I think each sister has their own unique voice, personality, and goals, just like in the original work. I come from a family with lots of siblings, too, and it was special to write a story about multiple siblings growing up together. I think that each sister’s unique goals set them apart. They also result in some conflict between the girls, and added worries for Meg, who believes it’s her job to hold everybody together!
 
5. Your agent is Claire Friedman. How did she become your agent?
 
She represents a dear friend of mine, and when my former agent left the industry, my friend recommended that I query Claire! She read all of my work so quickly, had a great vision for multiple different projects, and was eager to work on projects in many different genres. She’s been a fantastic agent! I got really lucky.
 
6. That’s a great agent story. You’re the published author of two YA and three adult novels, with another being published in 2027. How have you been able to sell so many books across different age groups when many authors struggle to sell any books after their debut?
I had a backlist before I was agented, of many books that were fully written but that I hadn’t queried. I write fairly fast, and I had a goal of selling in multiple age categories so that I could one day write fulltime. To me, the most achievable way to do that was having multiple projects under contract and multiple income streams. As to why I’ve been able to make this work, while other authors struggle to sell books, I can’t take credit for that—luck, timing, and privilege all play just as much of a role as hard work.
 
7. I read on your website that you’re a former teacher. How did you decide to write full-time? What tips do you have for other authors thinking of quitting their day job?
 
It was my long-term goal from the beginning, so I worked until I had enough contracted projects to last me for a little while, and then set to work selling more so I could sustain it. I won’t lie; it hasn’t always been a simple or easy road. I don’t have the stability of having a safety net, or another steady source of income. But I’ve learned to balance deadlines, contracts, and various projects, and it’s been so, so worth it. For writers who want to quit their day jobs, my advice is to plan, plan, plan. Set a goal one or two or three years out, and work toward it. Make your best case scenario plans, and your worst case scenario plans, and keep writing, in as many spaces as you have ideas.
 
8. What made you decide to use the name Máire Roche for Little Monsters and your adult Bromantasy and upcoming untitled adult romantasy books when your other books are published using Mary E. Roach? Do you think you’ll have trouble reaching fans who know you as Mary Roach?
 
I use the Irish spelling of my name for fantasy, and the anglicized spelling of my name on my thrillers. Since my web presence is just one combined presence, readers generally haven’t struggled with it! It’s nice to have a little divide between the two brands, though, and I’m glad I chose to use different spellings of my name.
 
9. How are you planning to promote Little Monsters? Is your marketing plan different from that of your other books?
 
Middle grade is different than older categories in that it’s less rooted in social media (which I personally love). Since I’m a former teacher, I’m planning to throw my effort into school visits, bookstore signings, and other kid-focused events.
 
10. What are you working on now?
 
I’m working on my next adult fantasy, which will release in 2027, as well as a super secret, super fun middle grade project that I hope to talk about soon!
 
Thanks for sharing all your advice, Máire. You can find Máire at www.maryeroach.com and www.instagram.com/maryeroachauthor. 

Giveaway Details

Marie’s publisher is generously offering a hardback of Little 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 August 29th. 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 Emma 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 International.

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

 
Wednesday, August 19th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Jackie Garcia-Morales and a query critique giveaway
 
Monday, August 25th, I have a guest post by Paige Classey and a giveaway of her MG Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer
 
Monday, August 31st, I’m participating in the Glam and Glitz Giveaway Hop
 
Wednesday, September 2nd, I have an interview with Dinesh Thiru and a giveaway of his YA My Killer Family Reunion
 
Monday, September 7th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Syrone Harvey and a query critique giveaway
 
Monday, September 14th, I have an interview with M.K. England and a giveaway of her MG Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth
 
Wednesday, September 16^th, I’m participating in the Falling Into Leaves Giveaway Hop
 
I hope to see you on Wednesday!

 

Author Interview: Emma Otheguy and Adventure in the City of Stories Giveaway

Happy Monday, Everyone! Today I’m excited to have Emma Otheguy here to share about her MG historical Adventure in the City of Stories. This is both a historical and time travel story, and I’m looking forward to reading it.
 
Here’s a blurb from Amazon:

When stolen artifacts magically appear in their aunt’s closet, cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy travel back in time to 1930 New York City to clear her name before history is irreparably altered in this companion to the “spellbinding” (School Library Journal, starred review) Cousins in the Time of Magic.

Cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy never imagined that dusty old puppets and a mysterious book would launch them into a time-traveling adventure. But when they discover their aunt has treasures belonging to Pura Belpré, the trailblazing Latina librarian and storyteller, they’re transported back to 1930s New York City. Their mission? Race against time to return Pura’s puppets and a signed first edition of her book, proving their aunt isn’t a thief.

The past is full of danger, though. A powerful woman will stop at nothing to steal the book, the cousins’ nosy neighbor is snooping around, and the hardship of the Great Depression is all around them. Luckily Jorge, Camila, and Siggy meet Antonia, a fierce Puerto Rican girl fighting injustice against her community.

The cousins will need courage, quick thinking, and a little help from history to protect Pura Belpré’s legacy, clear their aunt’s name, and make it back home. Can they pull it off before time runs out?
 
Hi Emma! Thanks so much for joining us.
 
1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.
 
I’m a reader, a native bilingual (Spanish/English), a Latina, a New Yorker, one of three kids, a mom of three kids, a historian and a knitter, to list a few things about me. I’ve been interested in children’s books since I first volunteered at my public library’s story time, but it wasn’t until I was in graduate school studying History that I got serious about writing for children. I realized then that so many of the most exciting parts of history never made it outside the academy, let alone to kids. It was a time when I felt very strongly drawn to creative work, both to counter the more serious academic research I was doing and also to give that research meaning. I haven’t stopped writing for children since my first book was published almost a decade ago.
 
2. Where did you get the idea for Adventure in the City of Stories?
 
I have always been interested in history that transcends nation. That might be because my family is from another country, but it’s also because growing up as a Latina in New York, our closest family friends were from many different parts of Latin America, not just Cuba (where my parents are from). It was an experience I consider quintessentially American, and because of that, I always take note when I hear about intersections of different Latino groups in the United States. When I found out that Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral had lived and taught in New York City in 1930, when Puerto Rican librarian Pura Belpré was putting on her famous story times and puppet shows, the idea for Adventure in the City of Stories was born! I had a blast researching all of the other connections and meetings that take place in the book.
 
3. This book is the second book in your series, with Cousins in the Time of Magic being book one. How much of the series did you know when you wrote the first book, and how have you plotted them out?
 
I had a few key historical moments that I knew I wanted to touch upon, but the details of each plot took many drafts to get right! 
 
4. Adventure in the Cities of Stories is set in New York City in 1930. Reviewers have said you included a lot of historical information that many people and kids might not know about. How did you research this time period and decide what historical facts to include in your story?

Reading about the city, where I live, and all of its interesting people was nothing short of delightful. Research for this book took me to the map room and archives of the New York Public Library, and I also read guidebooks and first-hand accounts by people who lived at the time. I especially enjoyed reading memoirs written by Puerto Ricans living in New York, which gave me what felt like a very direct and personal connection to the time period. 
 
5. Your agent is Adriana Domínguez. How did she become your agent, and what was your road to getting your first publishing contract like? 

I found my agent through the query process! People are always surprised to hear that, and I know it can feel like to get anywhere in publishing you must need some kind of special “in,” but the simple answer to how I found an agent is querying. That being said, I actually met Adriana at a conference critique before I queried her. I don’t think she remembers that meeting at all and it was at least a year later when I finally did query her, but talking to agents and editors at conferences definitely helped me craft a strong manuscript and a compelling query letter. 
 
My first book was published nearly ten years ago, which means the contract was signed over a decade ago. The first manuscript I worked on with Adriana—the one that I queried and got me my agent offer—was rejected at the acquisitions stage and never published. That was heartbreaking, but it meant that I got right to work on a picture book manuscript I had been playing around with for years, which became Martí’s Song for Freedom. Many, many editors sent initial feedback saying that José Martí was too unknown for an American audience, but Adriana and I both understood Martí’s central importance. The book received many starred reviews, won an award, has gone through many reprintings, and will be coming out in paperback this summer. It was not an easy publishing process, but it mattered tremendously to me, and that made sticking with it worthwhile.

 
6. You’re the author or co-author of 12 picture books and middle grade books. How have you grown your career and continued to sell so many books?
 
I have only one useful adage about writing, which is: keep coming back. I am not a writer who has particularly good tricks or rituals around productivity, and while I consider myself a fairly disciplined person, kids and illnesses, especially, are constantly interrupting my workflow. These disturbances used to make me want to tear my hair out, but with the benefit of a dozen books under my belt, I know that as long as you come back to the manuscript, you will eventually finish. 
 
7. How are you planning to promote Adventure in the City of Stories? How has your approach to marketing changed since you were a debut author? 

For Adventure in the City of Stories I’m trying something new and already really fun: I’ve created a “Pub Club” of educators who are excited about the book. In the fall I’ll be writing letters to their classrooms and hosting a webinar for their students, and in exchange they’ll help spread the word about the book by writing reviews and sharing lesson plans. I’m already enjoying connecting with the educators who have joined, and looking forward to what I hope will feel like a truer and more meaningful connection with the first few classrooms to read the book. 
 
The reason I’m trying this new approach is that when I started ten years ago, social media seemed relatively harmless. It was easy to brush aside what were then emerging concerns about the impact of social media on young people, and interactions with bots and trolls online were relatively rare, especially in the KidLit world. It is much harder to ignore concerns about social media today, and so I wanted to try something for Adventure in the City of Stories that would connect me with educators around the country without requiring me to be “very online.” These days, my newsletter is my primary way of engaging with readers. I’ve found it to be a much more direct and fruitful connection!

 
8. That’s a fantastic idea! I noticed on your website that Lisa Nadel is your publicist. What made you decide to hire her, and how has this helped you market your books?
 
Lisa is my booking agent and schedules all my author visits, as well as working with me on book promotion. Her support has been a total gamechanger for me: I have more time to focus on writing and planning great talks and assemblies when I don’t have to worry about logistics, and I feel much less alone. Even when I’m traveling far from home for an event, I know I have someone in my corner making sure everything goes smoothly. Here’s an interview with Lisa for those who want to learn more!  
 
9. What are you working on now?
 
As I get ready for the publication of Adventure in the City of Stories I’m reading and writing even more about the women in the book, from Gabriela Mistral to Anne Carroll Moore to Pura Belpré, and how to include their legacies in upcoming talks, workshops, and assemblies.  
 
Thanks for sharing all your advice, Emma! You can find Emma at https://emmaotheguy.com/.
 

Giveaway Details

Emma’s publisher is generously offering a hardback of Adventure in the City of Stories 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 August 1st. 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 Emma 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

 

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
 
Monday, August 17th, I have an interview with Máire Roche and a giveaway of her MG Little Monsters
 
Wednesday, August 19th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Jackie Garcia-Morales and a query critique giveaway
 
Monday, August 25th, I have a guest post by Paige Classey and a giveaway of her MG Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer
 
I hope to see you on Saturday, August 1st!