Interview with Abigail Johnson for Every Other Weekend

Every Other Weekend

by Abigail Johnson
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release Date: January 7th 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

What if your safe place…is a person?

Adam Moynihan’s life used to be awesome. Straight As, close friends and a home life so perfect that it could have been a TV show straight out of the 50s. Then his oldest brother died. Now his fun-loving mom cries constantly, he and his remaining brother can’t talk without fighting, and the father he always admired proved himself a coward by moving out when they needed him most.

Jolene Timber’s life is nothing like the movies she loves—not the happy ones anyway. As an aspiring director, she should know, because she’s been reimagining her life as a film ever since she was a kid. With her divorced parents at each other’s throats and using her as a pawn, no amount of mental reediting will give her the love she’s starving for.

Forced to spend every other weekend in the same apartment building, the boy who thinks forgiveness makes him weak and the girl who thinks love is for fools begin an unlikely friendship. The weekends he dreaded and she endured soon become the best part of their lives. But when one’s life begins to mend while the other’s spirals out of control, they realize that falling in love while surrounded by its demise means nothing is ever guaranteed.

Can you briefly describe EVERY OTHER WEEKEND and its characters?

EVERY OTHER WEEKEND is a dual point of view story about two teens, a boy who thinks forgiveness makes him week and a girl who thinks love is for fools, who meet and spend every other weekend together the same rundown Philadelphia apartment building. It’s a messy, complicated, romantic, funny, heartbreaking and heart-healing story of first love. There are tons of movie references, deeply broken families, characters you love to hate, text messages, sneaking out, kissing, fighting, and kissing again. I hope readers laugh, they’ll probably cry, but I promise they’ll be smiling by the last page.

Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?

At different points of the story I would have given you different answers but overall I have to say Jolene. I loved how much was always go on with her and how the way she outwardly portrayed herself was almost always at odds when what she was feeling on the inside. I also loved writing her dialogue because she’s funny but the teeniest bit mean too. 

How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?

EVERY OTHER WEEKEND was inspired by an old episode of The Wonder Years where Kevin falls for a girl he meets on vacation and then has to leave her behind when he comes home. I started wondering about what it might have been like if they’d continued to see each other regularly, but briefly, and forged a relationship that was totally separate from their ‘real’ lives back home. Adam and Jolene’s story evolved radically from that inspiration—they always do—and there were other inspirations I drew from including ELEANOR AND PARK by Rainbow Rowell and my own childhood growing up in Pennsylvania.

If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?

Love Someone by Lukas Graham

If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters? 

I have a Pinterest board for EVERY OTHER WEEKEND (https://www.pinterest.com/AbigailJBooks/every-other-weekend/) that includes my casting picks for several characters including Hailee Steinfeld as Jolene and KJ Apa as Adam. 

What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?

This book takes place in Philadelphia during the winter and Adam spend a lot of time walking through the city sipping on hot cocoa. Oh, and a soft pretzel from a street vendor!

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish EVERY OTHER WEEKEND?

Absolutely! If you haven’t read my book IF I FIX YOU, it technically takes place after EVERY OTHER WEEKEND and shows you what happens to the character Daniel. Also, since I mentioned my undying love for ELEANOR AND PARK by Rainbow Rowell and it’s influence on my writing and this book in particular, I highly recommend reading it.

What’s next for you?

More contemporary YA! I’m working on loath-at-first-sight story right now that I can’t get enough of. I’m also beyond excited to be branching into a new genre with the release of my first YA thriller in October 2020!

Abigail was born in Pennsylvania. When she was twelve, her family traded in snow storms for year round summers, and moved to Arizona. Abigail chronicled the entire cross-country road trip (in a purple spiral bound notebook that she still has) and has been writing ever since. She became a tetraplegic after breaking her neck in a car accident when she was seventeen, but hasn’t let that stop her from bodysurfing in Mexico, writing and directing a high school production of Cinderella, and becoming a published author.

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Interview with Laura Taylor Namey for The Library of Lost Things

The Library of Lost Things

by Laura Taylor Namey
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release date: October 8th 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Books about Books

Synopsis:

From the moment she first learned to read, literary genius Darcy Wells has spent most of her time living in the worlds of her books. There, she can avoid the crushing reality of her mother’s hoarding and pretend her life is simply ordinary. But when a new property manager becomes more active in the upkeep of their apartment complex, the only home Darcy has ever known outside of her books suddenly hangs in the balance.

While Darcy is struggling to survive beneath the weight of her mother’s compulsive shopping, Asher Fleet, a former teen pilot with an unexpectedly shattered future, walks into the bookstore where she works…and straight into her heart. For the first time in her life, Darcy can’t seem to find the right words. Fairy tales are one thing, but real love makes her want to hide inside her carefully constructed ink-and-paper bomb shelter.

Still, after spending her whole life keeping people out, something about Asher makes Darcy want to open up. But securing her own happily-ever-after will mean she’ll need to stop hiding and start living her own truth—even if it’s messy.

Can you briefly describe THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS and its characters? 

Thank you for having me! THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS opens with Darcy’s home life and family situation, which is difficult and often frustrating. Darcy lives with a mother who is a hoarder and compulsive shopper. She loves her mother so much, in fact she is the only person in Mom’s life who hasn’t abandoned her. Still, Darcy has felt shame since she was little. She feels it’s easier to become “invisible” than try to reconcile and show the “messy” parts of her life and family. She’s often so pressed that books become more than an escape: they turn into an emotional obsession. This results in a high school senior who has lived out many milestone moments within pages, within the happy endings of other book heroines. 

When her mother’s disorder escalates, and when a new, more involved apartment manager shows up and a lease renewal looms, Darcy’s home is in jeopardy. Her relationship with her mother is strung on a tightrope. Darcy realizes she must leave the comfort of her home library before she loses her mom forever.  

Yet, it’s not just a hoarding mother who needs new coping strategies. With the help of her best friend, Marisol, and a recent graduate who is a new fixture in her bookstore, Darcy sees all of the things she’s lost to hoarding and sacrificed to hiding. She tries to leave the pages and live her life, not Jane Eyre’s. Not Elizabeth Bennet’s. Even if it’s messy. 

Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why? 

I absolutely love Darcy’s half Mexican, half Cuban best friend, Marisol. She is a mash-up of me and my personality (I’m Cuban-American) and my Mexican best friend, Marisol is a fellow foodie, and is rarely without her signature leather jacket. She was so fun to write and I love the loyal friendship between Darcy and Marisol.  

How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere? 

I have always been a bit like Darcy, using books and their worlds to escape from stress or hard times. For my own book, I asked myself the questions, what would it look like if a teen girl took this coping mechanism to new extremes? And what is it about her life that would prompt her to do this? The Library of Lost Things came right from these thoughts. 

If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be? 

Glitter in the Air, by Pink 

If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?

Emma Stone is actually my model for Darcy, so she would be perfect! Asher has always looked like a younger Chase Crawford in my mind. And my own teen daughter could play Marisol in a couple of years. 

Fall is here, and we love to find a cosy place to read our favourite books. What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date? 

It has to be a Viennese coffee from a place that’s actually in the real North Park San Diego neighbourhood where Darcy’s indie bookstore lives: Caffe Calabria. This shop makes an appearance in my book, too. 

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS? 

Readers of THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS will really enjoy HEARTS, STRINGS, and OTHER BREAKABLE THINGS by Jacqueline Firkins. 

What’s next for you? 

I have a Cuban own voices YA coming Fall 2020 from Atheneum Simon and Schuster, and a secret untitled project coming after that, also from S&S. Find out more by visiting my Goodreads page!

Laura is a Cuban-American Californian who can be found haunting her favorite coffee shops, drooling over leather jackets, and wishing she was in London or Paris. She lives in San Diego with her husband and two superstar children.

This former teacher writes young adult novels about quirky teens learning to navigate life and love. Her debut, THE LIBRARY OF LOST THINGS will be published 10/08/19 from Inkyard Press/HarperCollins. Her #ownvoices sophomore project, A CUBAN GIRL'S GUIDE TO SWEATERS AND STARS is coming fall 2020 from Atheneum Simon and Schuster.

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Interview with Nancy Richardson Fischer for The Speed of Falling Objects

The Speed of Falling Objects

by Nancy Richardson Fischer
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release Date: October 1st 2019
Genre: Young Adult

Synopsis:

From the author of When Elephants Fly comes an exceptional new novel about falling down, risking everything and embracing what makes us unique. Don't miss this compulsively readable novel about the most unlikely of heroes.

Danger "Danny" Danielle Warren is no stranger to falling. After losing an eye in a childhood accident, she had to relearn her perception of movement and space. Now Danny keeps her head down, studies hard, and works to fulfill everyone else's needs. She's certain that her mom's bitterness and her TV star father's absence are her fault. If only she were more-more athletic, charismatic, attractive-life would be perfect.

When her dad calls with an offer to join him to film the next episode of his popular survivalist show, Danny jumps at the chance to prove she's not the disappointment he left behind. Being on set with the hottest teen movie idol of the moment, Gus Price, should be the cherry on top. But when their small plane crashes in the Amazon, and a terrible secret is revealed, Danny must face the truth about the parent she worships and falling for Gus, and find her own inner strength and worth to light the way home.

Can you briefly describe THE SPEED OF FALLING OBJECTS and its characters? 

Danger “Danny” Danielle Warren is no stranger to falling. After losing an eye in a childhood accident, she had to relearn her perception of movement and space. Now Danny keeps her head down, studies hard, and works to fulfill everyone else’s needs. She's certain that her mom’s bitterness and her TV star father’s absence are her fault. If only she were more—more athletic, charismatic, attractive—life would be perfect. 

When her dad calls with an offer to join him to film the next episode of his popular survivalist show, Danny jumps at the chance to prove she’s not the disappointment he left behind. Being on set with the hottest teen movie idol of the moment, Gus Price, should be the cherry on top. But when their small plane crashes in the Amazon, and a terrible secret is revealed, Danny must face the truth about the parent she worships and falling for Gus, and find her own inner strength and worth to light the way home. 

Danger Danielle Warren, nicknamed Danny, is a timid young woman who sees herself as defective, inferior and an embarrassment based on an accident that caused her to lose one eye, childhood teasing, and her father’s abandonment. Her journey through THE SPEED OF FALLING OBJECTS forces her to question the past, discover her unique abilities and redefine herself in order to love herself, allow others to love her, and become the hero of her own life’s story. 

Cougar Warren is a charming, handsome, TV survivalist. His past has created his needs and persona and the plane crash in the Amazon will uncover many of his amazing abilities and terrible flaws. Whether he will recognize the latter and reconnect with the daughter he abandoned is uncertain. 

Gus Price has been a famous actor since childhood. He supports his mother and three brothers, is on autopilot in terms of work, and allows others to shape his image. The plane crash, loss, and tragedies in the rainforest will set him on a journey to question who he wants to be in the future and whether that future will include Danny. 

Jupiter Jones is the sound tech for Cougar’s TV show. He’s the product of a tough single mother’s love, knows who he is and what’s most important to him. He overflows with kindness, especially toward Danny. 

Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why? 

My favourite character is definitely Danny. She has an incredible journey from a scared young woman to a fierce, one-eyed warrior, who faces hard truths and buried secrets yet still finds empathy and compassion for those who have hurt her, and maintains the ability to be kind while struggling to survive in the Amazon rainforest. 

How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere? 

First, I am a HUGE fan of survival stories whether they’re on the high seas, atop remote mountains, or in jungles or deserts. People under intense physical and emotional pressure truly discover who they are, at their core, and can become heroes if they have what it takes. 

Second, I wanted to dig into the idea of how we define ourselves. Many of us, myself included, use the past, which contains tragedies, stories, misperceptions, and even lies to create who we believe we are. The idea, with Danny, is to take a young woman who defined herself as defective and allow her to understand that the building blocks of the persona she created aren’t true. Once Danny realizes that, she’s free to create the person she wants to be… if she’s brave enough to try. 

If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be? 

When I wrote this novel I listened a fair bit to the A Star is Born soundtrack. Something about the lyrics from Shallow resonated with me and made me think of Danny. The plane Danny was on has crashed in the Amazon. Some are dead, others injured. Everything in the rainforest terrifies her. And yet, as the story progresses and Danny faces her many fears and comes to terms with the past, she becomes so much more than she ever dreamed, and she starts to metaphorically fly. The danger of flying is hitting the ground, but in Danny’s case, if she believes enough in herself, she’ll soar. And, perhaps, Gus will find the strength to eventually soar with her. 

Below are the verses from Shallow that I loved… 

I'm off the deep end, watch as I dive in 

I'll never meet the ground 

Crash through the surface, where they can't hurt us 

We're far from the shallow now 

If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?

Cougar: Bradley Cooper 

Danny: Elle Fanning 

Gus: Ansel Elgort 

Sam: Reese Witherspoon 

Jupiter: Daniel Kaluuya 

Fall is here, and we love to go out and find the perfect cosy spot. What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date? 

I’d say an iced tea and anywhere without bugs, snakes scorpions and tarantulas, so that you can feel peaceful while immersed in the terrifying atmosphere of the Amazon rainforest. 

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish THE SPEED OF FALLING OBJECTS? 

Day Zero by Kelly deVos for an edge-of-your-seat ride. The Guest Book by Sarah Blake for a gorgeous story about identity. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell for a thought provoking read. The Black Witch series by Laurie Forest for an epic fantasy adventure.

What’s next for you? 

My next novel is called THE STORY COLLECTOR. It’s about twins, Hugo and Kat, who live in the same house but couldn’t be more different. Kat is driven, goal oriented, and certain. Hugo is rudderless, attends tons of concerts, and does his share and more of drugs. On their 18th birthday Hugo attempts suicide and as he teeters between life and death, Kat learns that she’s his medical proxy, responsible for making the decision of whether to terminate life support. But Kat barely knows Hugo or what he’d want. The Story Collector is about her journey to truly understand her brother before she makes this decision, by attending a fire sculpture and music festival he loved. Over three days she faces the past and deeply buried secrets in order to know her brother, herself, and to embrace an uncertain future.

I'm a published author with children's, teen and adult titles including: The Golden Globe, Lyric's World and Promises (Junior Jedi Knights Trilogy) for LucasFilm (Berkeley Press), Feel No Fear, The Power, Passion and Politics of a Life in Gymnastics (Hyperion), Monica: From Fear to Victory (HarperCollins), A Journey: The Autobiography of Apolo Anton Ohno (Simon & Schuster), Nadia Comaneci: Letters to a Young Gymnast (Basic Books), and Winning Every Day with Shannon Miller (Bantam Books). 

I've written for a circus, a graduate school, tried my hand at waitressing (I was terrible!), baking carrot cakes (I was messy but good!), and been lucky enough to ultimately do what I love - write.

I live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and our mostly wonderful (but sometimes vorpal) Vizsla. When I'm not conjuring a story, I love to kite-board, bike, ski or plan adventures with my two guys, who both make me laugh for different reasons and are the best partners in fun a gal could ever imagine.

If you want to learn more about my latest novel, When Elephants Fly (publication date September 04, HarperCollins/Harlequin Teen), please visit my website: www.nancyrichardsonfischer.com

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