Cover Reveal: The Sophisticates by Christine Manzari

Blog Tour: Ghost in the Machine by Richard Farr @XpressoReads

Ghosts in the Machine
Richard Farr
(The Babel Trilogy #2)
Published by: Skyscape
Publication date: September 20th 2016
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Young genius Morag Chen doesn’t believe in the supernatural. Or not until a thousand gods show up in front of her, appearing from a clear-blue sky. The Architects are terrifying, they’re hypnotically attractive, and they’re real—but what are they, and what do they want, and why have they stolen the mind of Daniel Calder, the person she is closest to?
Ancient gods? Invading aliens? Everyone has a theory, but no one has guessed the truth. In this dark, suspenseful, mind-bending sequel to The Fire Seekers, Morag picks up the narration from Daniel as she works to accept that there’s more than one way to think about the nature of humanity. And she will find that the only way forward is through secrets that Daniel himself seems desperate but unable to convey.
A mysterious lab. The house of a dying billionaire. The hidden home of a strange and forgotten people. In each of these places, Morag and Daniel will come a step closer to answers, hope, and a way of fighting back.

Goodreads / Amazon

You're on vacation, you have an adventure, what is it, can you write about it?

We were in Guilin, China, and we were supposed to get a day trip to beautiful Yangshou. 

“Liuzhou?” We’d never heard of Liuzhou—it was a mystery. 

"Is on itinerary," said our guide. She spoke loudly, as if she sensed that we were embarrassed to be making difficulties.

"Yes, but why did Hong Kong Travel put it on the itinerary?"

"For visit," she said. "Four days Guilin, one day Liuzhou." She waved the paper at us triumphantly.

"Yes, but what's there?"

She shrugged. She was dressed up. She had a woolen coat in bright red with a bit of fur around the collar, and smart shoes with heels. We never did discover her name: from then on we referred to her as "Redcoat." She was beaming: a day out.

"Why are we going to Liuzhou?"

"I not know. I not seeing with you. Local guide show. Liuzhou not tourist city. Industrial city." 

Finally I understood - we were travelling to Liuzhou because Redcoat had some other reason for going there. Relatives? A boyfriend? We were free travel. 

When we arrived, Local Guide was waiting at the station. She was about fourteen, and smiled too much, like a rookie stewardess on a failing airline. She admitted that she knew nothing about Liuzhou and had only been given the job because she was studying English. In the morning we would visit Liuzhou Park. In the afternoon, we would “see caves.” 

Liuzhou Park was the size of two tennis courts, but dirtier. You had to pay twenty Fen to a woman sitting at the gate with a beaker of tea. 

At the park’s center was a statue of Liu Tsung-yüan, a T'ang dynasty poet and statesman who was exiled to Liuzhou. We stood in front of the statue trying to think of questions, but the guide did not know the answers and became ever more uncomfortable. So we wandered, with deliberate slowness, around the perimeter of the park, and I thought: this bit has to last two or three hours! A man in a torn vest was doing Tai Chi exercises under a tree: we grasped at the unexpected excitement and spent ten minutes watching him and commenting. I had never been to China before: how could I be bored? 

After an uncomfortably long silence, the guide tried to cheer us up, or cheer herself up, by saying: “This afternoon you visit caves!” I wondered whether the caves were still being built. Suddenly I had an inspiration. Or a madness.

"Unfortunately, visiting the caves won’t be possible,” I said. “We have to get back to Guilin. Earlier. Another train."

"Ah, no."

"Why not?"

"One train only every day."

There was a note of finality and triumph in her voice, which would have been intimidating if I had not been certain she was wrong. I tried Plan B.

"If we can't go back to Guilin, we would at least like to spend some time exploring Liuzhou by ourselves."

"Not possible."

"Why?"

"You get lost."

"We won't get lost if you find us a map."

"No."

"Yes."

Suddenly we were enjoying ourselves. We had lost our sense of obedience. Being difficult was more fun. She must have sensed that something in our attitude had changed. She hesitated.

"OK maybe."

After a brief consultation with the woman at the gate, she produced a map. Now she needed to restore her dignity and authority, so she put on the schoolroom face again: 

"You must very careful not get lost, and you must meet with me back here, one hour.”

“Two.”

“OK two."

We smiled and waved and broke free into the seething streets. We had a city plan in Mandarin, and not a word of the language between us. 

Everybody stared. In Guilin they didn’t give you a second look. Tourists were everywhere, like lice. But most of the people in Liuzhou had never even seen a Caucasian in the flesh before, or so it seemed, and dozens of eyes were on us everywhere. Whole crowds of people stopped what they were doing and simply gaped. Gaped: their jaws went slack at the sight of us, as if we were space aliens.

We flagged down a taxi, made anachronistic train noises. In five minutes, we were back at the station.

A train was waiting. It was obviously about to leave. We pointed at it: "Guilin?"

"Ah, Guilin." The woman in the ticket collector's uniform nodded and smiled. Had she understood us? It seemed too good to be true. We asked again; she nodded again.

"Guilin?" 

"Guilin!"

But our tickets were stamped with the time: 20:05. She would not let us through. A guard whistled. The train was about to leave. Frantically I made running motions and pointed again:

"We need to get back to Guilin, Now. This train. The other train is too late."

As if to illustrate the absurdity of talking to her in English, the ticket collector started explaining the difficulty, quite patiently I thought, in Mandarin.

"Please," I said.

She paused, looked closely at me as if for signs of trouble, and shrugged. We hurried up the iron steps and before we had even found seats the train was moving. 

As I sat down a thought turned over in my stomach: perhaps this is a train from Guilin. Oh no! We should be going north, but that meant the sun is on the wrong side of the train. Doesn't it?  Yes... no. Think! Backs to the engine, West on the left, no, right... that's it...

But perhaps this is a direct train to Nanning? 

I tried to relax. At least, yes, we were going in the right direction. The sense of accomplishment was immense. We had beaten the system, escaped the guide! We were not sheep after all!

We were relieved when our hotel swung into view, stark on the skyline and welcome as the sight of home. We rented bicycles and spent what was left of the day cycling in the countryside. Later, as we ate dinner, I thought of Redcoat, who we had left behind. At that moment, she would be standing on the platform in Liuzhou, watching, waiting, and beginning to panic. I felt a strange mixture of triumph and guilt. We didn’t see her again.

Author Bio:
I grew up in England’s West Country, one of the world’s leading producers of strange names for small villages. I now live in Seattle. When I’m not reading, writing, or staring out of the window, I enjoy running, hiking and sea kayaking.

Website / Goodreads

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Book Blast: A Shadow of a Girl by Shannon Greenland @SEGreenAuthor

Shadow of a Girl
Shannon Greenland
Published by: Entangled: Teen
Publication date: September 19th 2016
Genres: Romance, Young Adult

Use cash and keep moving.
After I ran away from home, these were the two rules that dictated my life. Scoring a job as a roadie fit perfectly for what I needed. Traveling, cash, and life out of the spotlight. But when my path collides with West, the lead singer of Bus Stop, I can’t seem to stay out of his spotlight—especially since we’ll be touring together for an entire year.
West is determined to break down my walls. He won’t give up. And little by little they come crumbling. But if he knew what lurked behind them, he wouldn’t be so eager to get rid of them.
The more time we spend together, the more the lines of our friendship become blurred. He makes me dream of things I never thought possible. But while our friendship has been evolving into a romance, my secrets have been closing in. And just when I’ve decided to reveal my past to West, I’m confronted by it. The cost of my freedom could ruin the life of the guy I love…

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iBooks

—

EXCERPT:

His hand stills. He doesn’t move. Neither do I, and neither one of us speaks. Then West shifts first, gently pushing me away, and rolls to a sitting position. He rubs his eyes and looks around and finally with a sigh, glances over his shoulder at me where I still lay on the blanket.
“It’s late,” he says, “and you’ve got to be up early for work.”
I nod, completely confused that he’s the one who pulled away.
He gets to his feet and holds out his hand. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your room.”
I let him pull me up, and together we fold the blanket. But as I come toward him with my ends of the blanket, he slides one arm around my back and holds me to him. “Hug me,” he whispers. “Please?”
His words liquefy my insides, and I don’t hesitate as I slip both arms around his waist and lay my face on his chest. With the blanket smooshed between us, I listen to his heartbeat as he pulls me in snug, resting his head on top of mine. Gently, he rocks me, humming a song I don’t recognize, but the tune buzzes through me, and I sink further into the embrace.
We stand this way, gently swaying, as he hums the whole song. I haven’t cried in many years. The last time I did I was in excruciating pain. So when the wetness pools in my eyes, I blink my lids, surprised, realizing they’re tears of happiness.
Exactly what tears should be.

Author Bio:
Shannon Greenland is the award winning author of several novels including the teen spy series, THE SPECIALISTS, and the YA romance, THE SUMMER MY LIFE BEGAN. Her latest teen novel, SHADOW OF A GIRL, is due out 9.19.16. She also writes thrillers under S. E. Green and lives off the coast of Florida with her very grouchy dog. Find her at www.shannongreenland.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Blog Tour: Quanta Reset by Lola Dodge @Lola_Dodge

 

Quanta Reset (The Shadow Ravens #3)

by Lola Dodge
Genre: YA 
Release Date: September 27th 2016
Ink Monster

Summary from Goodreads:

Quanta has escaped her laboratory prison, but that’s where the good news ends.

Life at the Shadow Ravens’ compound is a disaster. She’s drowning in visions of the dark pasts and darker futures of her fellow Ravens and is plagued by her own panic-inducing memories, but Lady Eva still expects her to “train” and “participate in missions.” Plus, the food tastes like burnt plastic.

The only bright spot is her genetic pairing to the brilliant Altair Orpheus. As their relationship grows, she’s positive that chemicals aren’t the only things drawing them together—although chemistry is definitely involved.

While they test the limits of her game-changing new ability to reset time, word arrives from Eva’s agents: Doctor Nagi is still experimenting with her DNA. If he succeeds in duplicating her power…

Forget the Shadow Ravens. The whole world is toast. 

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Buy Links:

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Cipher (The Shadow Ravens #1) on Goodreads

Quanta (The Shadow Ravens #2) on Goodreads

Quanta Reset Excerpt- Tair’s POV

The results couldn’t be right. It wasn’t possible.

I ran them again. And again. Each time, the data told the same story.

Quanta was destabilizing.

A ragged breath escaped me as I collapsed onto a stool. I slipped off my glasses to rub my forehead. A notification popped up on the closest screen, but I likely already knew the contents, and I tuned out the pinging sound.

The Red Helix marked unstable DNA, and more power meant greater instability. Less control. And more chance of losing that control permanently.

Genetics had grown exponentially since the Seligo were created, but the science had never been exact. There were too many factors in the equation. Eye color could be programmed, intelligence could be raised, but every tweak changed something else downstream. Reds had superhuman abilities, but the smallest change knocked them out of balance. A change in environment. Exposure to new stressors.

History was peppered with examples of Reds who’d lost the battle against their own powers. They caused large-scale death and destruction. It had been decades since the last incident, but only because the Seligo killed most of the girls at birth.

Now Quanta… After all she’d survived…

Despair clenched my chest. Air hardly flowed into my lungs.

Her slipping control was just a symptom of the changes happening in her body. Gradual deterioration that would end in…

Another notification pinged on-screen. I ignored it, slumping until my elbows rested on my knees. We could develop serums to help stabilize her. All I had to do was keep her safe and secure until we figured out what was pushing her toward the edge.

Her condition wasn’t a death sentence. Not yet.

The notification pinged again, and I finally swiped at the screen. “What?”

“Um.” A girl’s face popped up. “Altair?”

“What do you need, Sam?” I’d expected Eva directly—not her com commander.

“Just wondering why Quanta and Cipher broke into the barracks.”

“They—” I snapped. “What?”

“You didn’t know?” Sam peered at me through the screen.

“Have you told Eva?” I jammed on my glasses as I headed for the door.

“Not yet, but…”

I turned back to the screen. Sam clutched her hands to her chin, transmitting guilt like a beacon. “What did you do?”

“I already messaged Knight.”

If he found Cipher and Quanta together, he’d ask questions second.

I sprinted out of the lab.

I had to get to them first.

Lola is a compulsive traveler, baker, and procrastinator. She earned her BA in English from Stonehill College and MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University—and hasn’t stopped moving since. When she’s not on the road, Lola spends her time indoors where the sunlight can’t melt her, writing or bingeing on anime and cherry soda. She can be summoned in a ritual involving curry, Hello Kitty idols, and a solid chocolate pentagram.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

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Book Blast: The Surrendered by Case Maynard @Case_Maynard

The Surrendered
Case Maynard
Published by: Blaze Publishing
Publication date: September 20th 2016
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult

After a financial collapse devastates the United States, the new government imposes a tax on the nation’s most valuable resource—the children.
Surrendered at age ten—after her parents could no longer afford her exorbitant fees—Vee Delancourt has spent six hard years at the Mills, alongside her twin, Oliver. With just a year to freedom, they do what they can to stay off the Master’s radar. But when Vee discovers unspeakable things happening to the younger girls in service, she has no choice but to take a stand—a decision that lands her on the run and outside the fence for the first time since the System robbed her of her liberty.
Vee knows the Master will stop at nothing to prove he holds ultimate authority over the Surrendered. But when he makes a threat that goes beyond what even she considers possible, she accepts the aid of an unlikely group of allies. Problem is, with opposing factions gunning for the one thing that might save them all, Vee must find a way to turn oppression and desperation into hope and determination—or risk failing all the children and the brother she left behind.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

A sinking feeling washes over me. “We’re going to Meadowood.”

He responds without opening his eyes, “I want answers.”
I start to argue that this will be a fool’s errand, but in truth, I want the same answers he does. “Do you think the man who rescued Oliver was with the Southies?”
“I don’t know who else it could’ve been.” He sits up and stretches. “It must’ve been them, and I want to know why they changed the plan without informing us. The Master and his Regulators got to the rooftop very quickly after I fired that shot. I have to wonder if someone told them we were there.”
“You think the Southies took Oliver to get the combination and then set the Regulators on us? Why would they do that?”
He rubs his face. “It doesn’t make any sense. But something’s not adding up.”
I ponder this, thinking about my brother’s strange plea. “I know you think I’m insane, but I can’t help but feel like Oliver knew someone was going to take him; I swear it felt like he was speaking to me when he said not to interfere. But that doesn’t make any sense, either. He’s been behind the fence for years.”
Cason yawns and tries to shake off the effects of the Papaver. “I don’t think you’re crazy; his message did seem odd for someone who was about to hang for a crime he didn’t commit. I don’t know, but hopefully he’ll be at Meadowood and you can ask him yourself.”
My mood elevates as I realize I may only be hours away from a reunion with my brother. The pain in my arm forgotten, I try to concentrate only on this knowledge, confident we’ll have our answers soon enough. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you for earlier. You could’ve just turned me over to the Master and walked away, but you didn’t. I’m grateful for that.”
I feel a little embarrassed as soon as the words leave my mouth. Normally I’m not one to share my feelings, but the Papaver Flower makes me breathless and lightheaded and loosens my tongue.
He reaches for me, careful not to jostle my splinted wrist, and pulls my face to his. “I’m probably going to ruin that sentiment by telling you the Master would never have let me go anyway, but know this—” he runs the pad of his thumb along my lower lip and meets my eyes “—if everyone else in the entire world leaves you to fend for yourself, if your father, your mother, your brother disappoint you, if God himself decides you aren’t worthy . . . you’ll still be able to count on me. I’ve got your back, Vera.”

Author Bio:
With over 20 years’ experience in the legal and medical fields, Case Maynard decided to trade in her briefs and reports to write the stories that have been floating around in her head since childhood. She lives with her two teenagers and husband in South Georgia, while maintaining a long-distance liaison with her oldest daughter and partner in crime in Alaska. When not writing, she enjoys reading as often as possible, binge watching anything good on Netflix, and all things NCAA football (Go Noles!). You can learn more about Case and her stories on her website.

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Blog Tour: The Woman in the Walls by Amy Lukavics @amylukavics

Title: THE WOMEN IN THE WALLS

Author: Amy Lukavics

Pub. Date: September 27, 2016

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 496

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads

Lucy Acosta's mother died when she was three. Growing up in a Victorian mansion in the middle of the woods with her cold, distant father, she explored the dark hallways of the estate with her cousin, Margaret. They're inseparable—a family.

When her aunt Penelope, the only mother she's ever known, tragically disappears while walking in the woods surrounding their estate, Lucy finds herself devastated and alone. Margaret has been spending a lot of time in the attic. She claims she can hear her dead mother's voice whispering from the walls. Emotionally shut out by her father, Lucy watches helplessly as her cousin's sanity slowly unravels. But when she begins hearing voices herself, Lucy finds herself confronting an ancient and deadly legacy that has marked the women in her family for generations. 

Today we welcome Amy for an interview!

1.    Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else?

It's weird—I always adored reading and had a blast doing creative writing assignments in school, but I never really dared to dream about actually growing up to become an author. At one point I wanted to write for girls magazines, but that dream pretty much died when I tried to figure out the financial logistics of going to New York City to attend college, LOL!

2.   How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?

It depends. Usually by the time I actually start putting words on paper for a new project, it's been stewing in my brain for months or even years. Once I'm actually writing it, the first draft can take anywhere from three to six months.

3.   How do you come up with themes for your stories?

I don't really come up with themes on purpose, they seem to kind of just sneak in there when I'm not looking, which so far has worked okay for me.

4.   Do you have a schedule of when you write?

            When I'm drafting, I like to write first thing in the morning or late at night. I usually aim to get two thousand words per day, which sometimes happens and sometimes does not.

5.   How are you able to balance other aspects of your life with your writing?.

It's definitely been a challenge, especially since having two kids, but I find that if I'm organized with my time, there's almost always time for everything and everybody.

6. What elements do you think make a great story line?

Isolation, fear of the unknown, exploration of family and friend relationships.

7.   What was the hardest thing about writing a book?

Making yourself write on a deadline, even if you don't particularly feel up to it.

8.   How many books have you written so far? Do you have a favorite?

So far I've written six books, only two of which have been published, and started a few others that are still waiting for me to come back to them. I'm about to finish my seventh book, which releases next year. Whichever one I'm currently working on is usually my favorite! 

9.   Do you have a favorite character?

I have to say, I had a blast writing the characters Nancy Shaw and Clara Owens, of The Women in the Walls. They're not main characters, but whenever I got to write them I always had a ball.

I also loved writing the devil from the woods, from Daughters unto Devils. Talk about creepy fun!

10.                 Where do you write?

I used to write at my kitchen table, but I finally scored an old used desk from the Goodwill that now serves as my writing place. I love it.

11.When deciding on how to publish, what directed you to the route you took?

After finishing my first book, I was constantly Googling stuff about what the first step would be, and before long I realized that all of the most informative answers came from the same website, a forum at AbsoluteWrite.com. It was there that I learned how to properly query agents and pursue traditional publication.

12.                  Have you gotten feedback from family about your book(s)? What do they think?

My side of the family is actually very small (there are five people total, including me,) but my mom was very enthusiastic about Daughters unto Devils, which was nice. I don't think anyone in my family is too surprised that I ended up writing horror—I've always loved scary, weird stuff. They've all been very supportive.

13.                  What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing?

I love cooking, doing crafts, playing video games, relaxing with my family, and hanging out with friends.

14.                 What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing?

Don't be too hard on yourself. Think of it more like you're figuring out a puzzle as opposed to running a marathon. Also, come to realize that writing a bunch of words only to delete them is actually very productive and will help you become a better writer.

15.                  What is your favorite book? favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write?

I have too many favorite books to name! I will say that I adore Stephen King, Joe Hill, Stephanie Kuehn, Jennifer McMahon, and Paul Tremblay though. The author that inspires me to write the most is probably Shirley Jackson—she is just the master of atmosphere.

16.                  Do you have any go to people when writing a book that help you with your story lines as well as editing, beta reading and such?

I have a few writing friends who sometimes read my work when it's nearly finished, but I mostly rely on the feedback of my agent, who is very editorial and always seems to understand what I'm trying to do, every time. I'm very lucky to have her in that way—I'm able to show her my roughest first drafts and not be afraid of her reaction.

17.                  Are you working on anything now?

I'm just about to finish the first draft of my 2017 release, which is called The Ravenous. It's sort of like The Virgin Suicides meets Pet Sematary—five sisters have to turn to murder when one of them dies and is brought back to life craving human flesh.

18.                  Tell us 5 things that make you smile

the television show Rick and Morty, my editor (he is very funny,) my friends, Tumblr, and my kids/husband.

19.                  Tell us 5 things that make you sad

Humidity, the last episode of Angel, the realization that my cat Frodo is getting old, the ending of The Fireman, and the fact that I have to wait nearly a year for more Game of Thrones.

20.                 If you could travel anywhere in the world to visit a place so you could use it as a background for a book, where would it be?

I would love to visit an Irish castle and set a book there, or really any interesting haunted locations.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, Amy. It was great having you with us! I hope you get to visit that Irish castle!

Ever since she was little, Amy was especially intrigued by horror books and movies. Raised in a small mountain town in Arizona, she sustained herself on a steady diet of Goosebumps, Fear Street, and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books before discovering Stephen King in her mother's bookshelf.

Amy lives with her husband, their two precious squidlings, and an old gentleman cat by the name of Frodo. When she isn't writing, she enjoys cooking, crafting, and playing games across many platforms. 

Website | Twitter |Instagram | Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumblr | Wattpad

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/19/2016- The Cover Contessa- Interview

9/20/2016- Emily Reads Everything- Review

9/21/2016- Curling Up With A Good Book- Guest Post

9/22/2016- RhiReading- Excerpt

9/23/2016- A Gingerly Review- Excerpt

Week Two:

9/26/2016- Ohana Reads- Review

9/27/2016- Bibliobibuli YA- Guest Post

9/28/2016- Smada's Book Smack- Review

9/29/2016- A Dream Within A Dream- Interview

9/30/2016- BookCrushin- Review

Blog Tour: Frost Like Night by Sara Raasch @seesarawrite

Title: FROST LIKE NIGHT

Author: Sara Raasch

Pub. Date: September 20, 2016

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Pages: 496

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads

Angra is alive, his Decay is spreading—and no one is safe.

Meira will do anything to save her world. With Angra trying to break through her mental defenses, she desperately needs to learn to control her own magic—so when the leader of a mysterious Order from Paisly offers to teach her, she jumps at the chance. But the true solution to stopping the Decay lies in a labyrinth deep beneath the Season Kingdoms. To defeat Angra, Meira will have to enter the labyrinth, destroy the very magic she’s learning to control—and make the biggest sacrifice of all.

Mather will do anything to save his queen. He needs to rally the Children of the Thaw, find Meira—and finally tell her how he really feels. But with a plan of attack that leaves no kingdom unscathed and a major betrayal within their ranks, winning the war—and protecting Meira—slips farther and farther out of reach.

Ceridwen will do anything to save her people. Angra had her brother killed, stole her kingdom, and made her a prisoner. But when she’s freed by an unexpected ally who reveals a shocking truth behind Summer’s slave trade, Ceridwen must take action to save her true love and her kingdom, even if it costs her what little she has left.

As Angra unleashes the Decay on the world, Meira, Mather, and Ceridwen must bring the kingdoms of Primoria together…or lose everything.

Today we welcome Sara Raasch for an interview. Take it away!

1.    Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else? 

I always wanted to be a writer. One of my earliest memories is of trying to sell hand drawn picture books at a lemonade stand.

2.   How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?

It really depends—I spend a lot of time world building/plotting beforehand, which can take anywhere from a few months to a few years. Drafting is usually fast in comparison, generally six months to a year, then add in editing…it really all just depends on the book!

3.   How do you come up with themes for your stories?

Sometimes they develop organically, but with SNOW LIKE ASHES, for instance, I went in knowing what I wanted the book to leave with people. It’s a spoiler, but I will say that the main thing I hope people take away is that they are enough.

4.   Do you have a schedule of when you write?

I try to write in the morning (or edit or whatever needs done) then do marketing stuff in the afternoons. 

5.   How are you able to balance other aspects of your life with your writing?

By making sure I shut down when I need to. It’s SO important to have other things that ground you in the non-writing world, because it can be all too easy to lose yourself in the insanity of publishing. Taking time to breathe makes everything better!

6.   What elements do you think make a great story line?

Unpredictability. If a book can take me by surprise, it will earn a permanent place in my heart! 

7.   What was the hardest thing about writing a book?

For me, it’s always editing, heh. All the other stuff—drafting, world building, plotting—is quite fun, but going back through and making it all make sense/fit/figure out why it doesn’t make sense/fit…ick.

8.   How many books have you written so far? Do you have a favorite? 

Oh gosh, a dozen? Maybe more? I lost count! I think my favorite though is always the one I’m working on, because I try to put a lot of who I am at the time into it.

9.   Do you have a favorite character?

Again, I think it’s always someone from my current project, for the same reason. But as for SNOW LIKE ASHES—I loved writing scenes with Shazi and Ceridwen!

10. Where do you write?  

I have an office in my house and I LOVE it—I can go there and know it’s time to get to work!

11.When deciding on how to publish, what directed you to the route you took? 

I always knew what I wanted for my books: to be on shelves in bookstores. And that, for me, seemed to come easiest through traditional publishing!

12.  Have you gotten feedback from family about your book(s)? What do they think?

I have! They’re super supportive—I’m so lucky to have such a family!

13.  What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing?

Cook! My husband and I are huge foodies!

14. What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing? 

The one piece of advice I always give is Keep Moving Forward. This industry can seem very intimidating (writing books in general is intimidating!) but perseverance is key!

15. What is your favorite book? favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write? 

One favorite book?? HA! I’ll list a few: Prince’s Gambit by CS Pacat; the Twelve Houses series by Sharon Shinn; The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson; and lots, lots more. Those authors are my favorites too!

16. Do you have any go to people when writing a book that help you with your story lines as well as editing, beta reading and such? 

I have a few author friends I bounce ideas off of, namely Kristen Simmons (METALTOWN, coming out the same day as FROST LIKE NIGHT!).

17. Are you working on anything now? 

My next series, a YA pirate fantasy!

18.   Tell us 5 things that make you smile

Ducks, babies in Halloween costumes, seeing my book on shelves, dairy-free ice cream that doesn’t taste like dairy-free ice cream, and when my friends/family get good news

19. Tell us 5 things that make you sad

That commercial about the miniature horse that gets shunned by the big horses so the woman has to buy it a tiny horse door so it can come in the house to be with her (NO ONE LOVES THE MINI HORSE EXCEPT THAT WOMAN OH GOD), dairy-free ice cream that tastes like dairy-free ice cream, when the grocery store stops selling the one brand of insert food item here that I can actually eat because allergies, food allergies in general, and Twitter trends (which are usually depressing as hell)

20.If you could travel anywhere in the world to visit a place so you could use it as a background for a book, where would it be?

At the moment, it’d be super useful to go to Barcelona, for Pirate Book.

Thanks so much for being here today, Sara. Pirate fantasy sounds fantastic! It was great having you with us!

Sara Raasch has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Not much has changed since then — her friends still cock concerned eyebrows when she attempts to draw things and her enthusiasm for the written word still drives her to extreme measures. Her debut YA fantasy, SNOW LIKE ASHES, came out October 14, 2014 from Balzer + Bray, and the sequel, ICE LIKE FIRE, comes out October 13, 2015. Neither features her hand-drawn pictures.

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/12/2016- Young Adult at Heart- Interview

9/13/2016-  Reviews from a Bookworm- Review

9/14/2016- Fiktshun- Guest Post

9/15/2016- Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews- Review

9/16/2016- The Cover Contessa- Interview

Week Two:

9/19/2016- Quartzfeather- Review

9/20/2016- Writing My Own Fairy Tale- Guest Post

9/21/2016- Bookish Lifestyle- Review

9/22/2016- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

9/23/2016- Mundie Moms- Review