Interview with Danielle L. Jensen for Dark Skies

Dark Skies (Dark Shores #2)

by Danielle L. Jensen

Publisher: Tor Teen

Release Date: May 5th 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

A RUNAWAY WITH A HIDDEN PAST

Lydia is a scholar, but books are her downfall when she meddles in the plots of the most powerful man in the Celendor Empire. Her life in danger, she flees west to the far side of the Endless Seas and finds herself entangled in a foreign war where her burgeoning powers are sought by both sides.

A COMMANDER IN DISGRACE

Killian is Marked by the God of War, but his gifts fail him when the realm under the dominion of the Corrupter invades Mudamora. Disgraced, he swears his sword to the kingdom’s only hope: the crown princess. But the choice sees him caught up in a web of political intrigue that will put his oath – and his heart – to the test.

A KINGDOM UNDER SIEGE

With Mudamora falling beneath the armies of the Corrupter, Lydia and Killian strike a bargain to save those they love most—but it is a bargain with unintended and disastrous consequences. Truths are revealed, birthrights claimed, and loyalties questioned—all while a menace deadlier and more far-reaching than they realize sweeps across the world.

Can you briefly describe the DARK SHORES series, its characters and what’s going to happen in DARK SKIES? 

The series takes place in a world divided by fantastical seas, each half of the world unaware of the other’s existence. When that secret is revealed, the Dark Shores of the West comes under siege from both supernatural and human forces that each seek to conquer for their own gain. In DARK SHORES, Teriana and Marcus are forced to lead the Empire’s armies across the seas in search of conquest neither of them wants, but in DARK SKIES, Lydia and Killian join together to fight back against the incursion of a dark god’s armies into their homeland. I make all four characters face impossible choices as they fight to protect those they love most, each novel raising the stakes and bringing readers closer to an epic collision of good and evil. Expect a huge world with a large cast, plus lots of action, political intrigue, and romance! 

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

As a writer, Marcus is my favorite, because he has a deep backstory that impacts the plot of the book in so many different ways. I also love his moral ambiguity, as it makes his actions less predictable. But teen me would’ve had a huge crush on Killian, would’ve been friends with Lydia (we are both bookish), and would’ve envied Teriana’s adaptability and ability to make friends with new people. All four protagonists are very different from one another, and I love seeing who readers connect with most! 

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

I’ve been working on this series since 2007, and it has been through so many rewrites and plot changes that very little of my original inspiration remains! I take a lot of inspiration from historical time periods that interest me, like Ancient Rome, but I also take a lot from television and movies. I really like cinematic action, so I try to replicate that feel when I’m writing. 

If you could choose one song to describe your books in the series, which ones would it be? 

I’m the rare author who doesn’t listen to music when she writes! But I DO listen to music, primarily soundtrack music, when I’m brainstorming. For this series, I listen to Pirates of the Caribbean, ROME (HBO), Spartacus, and the Tudors soundtracks. But the one song that really ties to DARK SKIES for me is Requiem for Tower, especially for the battle scenes toward the end of the novel. 

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

Young, attractive, interesting people who aren’t yet famous! I think new talent is the best for YA adaptations. 

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

I think the best place to read my books is on a beach or next to a pool with a yummy frozen drink in hand! 

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish DARK SKIES? 

I’d recommend THE WINNER’S KISS (Marie Rutkoski), DAUGHTER OF THE PIRATE KING (Tricia Levenseller), AN EMBER IN THE ASHES (Sabaa Tahir), TO KILL A KINGDOM (Alexandra Christo), SEAFIRE (Natalie C. Parker), or TRUTHWITCH (Susan Dennard). 

What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book? 

For me, it’s not allowing my frustration and self-doubt to get in the way. I often have a really strong idea in my head for how I want a scene to go or how I want the reader to feel, and when I can’t translate the mental image to words on the page, I feel like a failure. And when I’m in that sort of negative headspace, I have a hard time writing anything at all. 

What’s next for you? 

I am currently working on the third book in the Dark Shores series, which is titled GILDED SERPENT! The first draft is already written and I’m working through the editorial comments. It has all four point of characters in it and more plot lines than I care to count, so it’s been a huge project for me! But I love it! I’m also working on the third book in my Bridge Kingdom series, so my head is full of the voices of many characters right now.

Danielle L. Jensen is the USA Today bestselling author of The Malediction Trilogy (Angry Robot), the Dark Shores series (Tor Teen), and The Bridge Kingdom series (Audible Originals). She lives in Calgary, Alberta with her family.

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Interview with Jamie Pacton for The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly

The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly

by Jamie Pacton
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Release Date: May 5th 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Kit Sweetly slays sexism, bad bosses, and bad luck to become a knight at a medieval-themed restaurant.

Working as a wench―i.e. waitress―at a cheesy medieval-themed restaurant in the Chicago suburbs, Kit Sweetly dreams of being a knight like her brother. She has the moves, is capable on a horse, and desperately needs the raise that comes with knighthood, so she can help her mom pay the mortgage and hold a spot at her dream college.

Company policy allows only guys to be knights. So when Kit takes her brother’s place and reveals her identity at the end of the show, she rockets into internet fame and a whole lot of trouble with the management. But the Girl Knight won’t go down without a fight. As other wenches join her quest, a protest forms. In a joust before Castle executives, they’ll prove that gender restrictions should stay medieval―if they don’t get fired first.

Can you briefly describe THE LIFE AND (MEDIEVAL) TIMES OF KIT SWEETLY and its characters?

THE LIFE AND (MEDIEVAL) TIMES OF KIT SWEETLY is about 17-year-old Kit, a serving wench at the Castle, a medieval-themed restaurant. Kit desperately wants to be a knight like her older brother Chris, but only cis dudes can be knights according to company policy. One shift, Kit rides out in Chris’ place. Her triumph—and the moment she reveals “I AM NO MAN!”— is caught on video, and Kit goes viral. She uses her newfound fame to launch a campaign to change things at the Castle. She’s joined by a group of friends—fierce folks across the gender spectrum— and they band together to over throw the medieval notion that only cis guys can be knights. There’s also a sweet friends-to-lovers story between Kit and her bff Jett; and, a whole lot of economic ups and downs as Kit navigates the financial instability her family faces. 

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

I absolutely love Kit, and I put so many of my secret thoughts, strivings, wishes, and jokes into her. I kind of think all authors do that to some degree with their characters, but seventeen-year-old Kit and seventeen-year-old Jamie are very similar. That said, I also adore Jett, her bff and love interest; and, I very much want to be friends with her other bff, Layla. And, I also really like her brother, Chris. He’s the brother I wish I had. 

Overall, my goal in KIT was to write lots of characters that readers loved as much as I did, so they could see some of their own favorite people in my characters. 

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

I wrote a whole Twitter thread on this, but the short story is that a few months after the terrible results of the 2016 election, I took my youngest son to Medieval Times in Chicago. We’d talked a lot during the election cycle about feminism and a female president; and, although I didn’t go into the night of medieval fun and pageantry thinking I’d emerge with a book, as I watched the male knights ride and the female wenches serve us food (and as I talked with them), it occurred to me that we should have knights of all genders. And thus Kit’s quest was born. 

And, for more general thoughts on inspiration (not sure if you just meant for KIT or otherwise), this is from my website.

I definitely pull deeply from my own life and past experiences, but I’m also currently writing a fantasy novel randomly inspired by a quirky boutique name in a tiny town near where I live. I’ve also pulled stories from historical tidbits I found while researching other books; from questions that pop into my mind; and, from trying to figure out what a certain type of character would do in a certain situation. I also get ideas from smashing two or more book/movie/tv comps together and challenging myself to think about what the resulting story might look like. Oh! And sometimes I scroll through MSWL threads on twitter to see what agents and editors are asking for and that can be inspiring in surprising ways. 

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

Uhm….I am really terrible with questions like this because I can never pick one song! 

I listened to a lot of Santigold while writing KIT, and Disparate Youth is the song I always hear in my head when I think of Kit and her friends out there jousting. 

That said, any of the Queen songs from A Knight’s Tale and possibly the Beatles “I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends” would also work. And I have like ten others I really want to mention here…. J 

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

Kit: Sophia Lillis

Jett: Karan Brar

Layla: Skai Jackson 

Alex: Bex Taylor Klaus

Lizzy: Danielle MacDonald

Mags: Chelsea Zhang

Penny: Jazz Jennings 

Chris: George MacKay

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

Take my book to the Ren Faire or a medieval-themed restaurant for the perfect book date! You can feast on chicken legs and drink out of fancy goblets while watching the jousts.

If that’s not available, then I recommend staying in, watching A Knight’s Tale, and snacking on anything that you can use sword fight with should the need arise (carrot sticks, chicken legs, pretzel rods, etc.). 

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish THE LIFE AND (MEDIEVAL) TIMES OF KIT SWEETLY?

Absolutely! I think of Jen De Luca’s adult romance WELL MET as the older sister of KIT. It’s set in a Ren Faire, full of great Shakespeare jokes, and absolutely a delight. If you’re looking for a YA feminist rom-com with great banter, incredibly loveable characters, and a unique setting, I highly recommend Rachel Lynn Solomon’s forthcoming book TODAY, TONIGHT, TOMORROW. It’s a sheer joy of a story and I fell totally in love with her characters. 

What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book?

I love almost every part of the writing process, but slogging through a first draft is the hardest part for me. I have a surplus of ideas; I love planning out a story and having the pieces of it slot into place; and, revisions are so much fun. But, that first pass is an uphill grind because there’s a 70,000 word blank space between what I imagine the book can be and actually getting it on the page. I tend to draft very quickly and messily, just so I can get the story down and then I go back and make it better. 

What’s next for you?

My next book with Page Street is called LUCKY GIRL and it’ll come out in 2021. Like KIT, LUCKY GIRL is funny YA contemporary that also takes a look at some hard stuff. It’s about 17-year-old Fortuna Jane Belleweather, a normal girl in a small Wisconsin town who bought a lotto ticket and won 58 million dollars. The only problem is that Jane was a minor when she purchased the ticket, which means if she tries to cash it, she’ll lose the money and be guilty of a misdemeanour. Jane desperately needs to find someone to cash the ticket for her, but she can’t give it to her hoarder mother; her hippie grandmother wants nothing to do with it; and, that leaves Jane’s 18-year-old ex-boyfriend Holden, who’s she’s still not over. Schemes, heists, and betrayals occur as Jane navigates her lucky break and tries to get over her broken heart. Luckily, like Kit, she’s got a wonderful best friend by her side to help her through whatever life throws at her. 

Beyond that, I’m also drafting a YA fantasy and working on some MG projects. Because I’m always juggling a few books at once. :)

Jamie Pacton writes all sorts of books: dark, feminist YA fantasy; contemporary YA stories with a funny + geeky bent; funny MG adventure-fantasy; and, even the occasional adult rom-com. She was a Pitch Wars mentee in 2015 and she mentored YA in 2016, 2017, and 2018. She grew up minutes away from the National Storytelling Center in the mountains of East Tennessee; she’s the oldest of ten kids; and, she currently lives in rural Wisconsin with her husband, their two kids, and a dog named Lego. The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly (forthcoming May 5, 2020) is her Young Adult debut.

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Interview with Christina Uss for The Colossus of Roads

The Colossus of Roads

by Christina Uss
Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books
Release Date: May 5th 2020

Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fiction

Synopsis:

Eleven-year-old Rick Rusek is determined to improve the traffic conditions in Los Angeles-- his parent's failing delivery catering service, Smotch, depends on it.

"Traffic is a puzzle with one correct solution. And I've got to solve it!"

Rick has been studying maps and traffic patterns for years, and devises solutions to improve Los Angeles' notoriously terrible traffic that he calls his Snarl Solutions. He has big ideas, but not enough resources-- until his artistic friend, Mila brings him to a Girl Scout meeting.

Every week at Miss Diamond's art studio, the scouts paint recycled traffic signs with their own designs. The signs will be hung all over Los Angeles to beautify the city with art. But Rick, The Colossus of Roads, has ulterior motives . . . He will restore the signs to their original glory and find a way to install them strategically to rectify the traffic. Anything can be hung with duct tape!

But of course, it's not that easy. SPLAT (Stop Poor LA Traffic), BLAM (Bike-Loving Amazing Mamas), and the TCD (Traffic Calming Division) have their own methods of curing the city's dilemma and will undermine Rick's efforts however they can.

Will Rick be able to clear the notorious traffic problem on Sepulveda Pass in time for his parents to deliver Polish food to the movie studio and land the catering contract they need to keep their company afloat?

Written by Christina Uss, the acclaimed author of The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle, which was selected for the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List and was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the year.

Can you briefly describe THE COLOSSUS OF ROADS and its characters?

This is the story of a boy and his talking stomach who decide to fix all the worst traffic problems in Los Angeles in order to save the family business.

The main character, Rick Rusek, has an unusual talent: he can see how to make traffic move smoothly and perfectly. (He also has an unusual habit of talking to his carsick stomach and vividly imagining his stomach talks back.) Too bad no one else seems to find Rick’s traffic talent interesting or worthwhile, because constant traffic jams look like they might ruin his family’s food catering business.

Luckily, his quiet and artistic neighbour Mila Herrera belongs to a Girl Scout Troop who is doing a city-wide street art project using old road signs, and Rick devises a plan to use the road signs to move 300,000 cars out of the way of his family’s future. He’ll need Mila’s help, plus that of her grandmother Abuelita, the best driver in L.A.

If Rick can succeed, maybe everyone will see that he’s not some strange carsick kid. He’s one of the seven wonders of Los Angeles. He’s the Colossus of Roads.

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

I love Rick to pieces because he believes in himself. Despite hitting huge setbacks, he keeps finding ways to move forward with his peculiar plans. I equally love his wobbly but brave stomach, who is always there with words of encouragement and impulsive advice, especially about cheeseburgers and doughnuts.

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

The first nugget of an idea came from living with my husband in Los Angeles, where he was born and raised. Whenever we drove together and encountered traffic snarls, he’d read the traffic like an animal tracker, explaining what caused the slow-down, why, and when it would clear up. It was creepy how he was always right! When I asked how he did it, he said, “When you’ve been in traffic your whole life, you just get a sense for these things.” I thought: what if there were a kid born with a talent for reading traffic? How would that play out for him? Would anyone care? And what if that kid got a chance to actually use his talent to fix a major traffic jam, secretly and spectacularly?

Another inspiration for writing COLOSSUS came from my son. I told him I was proud of him for accomplishing a task he found difficult and didn’t enjoy, and he said, “I wish you were proud of me for the things I actually like doing.” That really struck me. I’m sure kids everywhere wish their families appreciated when they used their innate talents to do things they find fun. That helped me envision Rick’s family dynamic, because at the beginning of the book, his parents don’t see the value in his traffic talent.

I do hope the COLOSSUS story gives readers faith that they’ll find places to use their talents, whatever they are, to make a positive difference in the world.

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

I’ve got to break the rules and pick two: First, “This Is Me” from the movie soundtrack to The Greatest Showman for all the characters in my book who want to stand up and be recognized for the things they can do well. Second, “Take It to the Limit” by the Eagles for the line “Put me on a highway, and show me a sign, and take it to the limit one more time,” to represent Rick not giving up on his idea of using road signs to protect the good things in his life.

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

We’d have to do a casting call for Rick and find a nice Polish boy who looks like my dad did when he was young, and for Mila we’d need to find a girl so shy she hardly want to get in front of the cameras. I want Jack Black to play Rick’s stomach’s voice. I’d like Rita Moreno to play Abuelita, but she’d have to eat a TON of cake to get ready for the role.

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

The perfect place to go read my book would be at In-N-Out Burger, especially in southern California. You can order any flavour milkshake you want, but you have to order a cheeseburger to go with it.

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

Another book about a California character who takes on a task most kids wouldn’t dream of is THE HOUSE THAT LOU BUILT by Mae Respicio. And the funny ALL FOUR STARS series by Tara Dairman has a main character with a passion and special talent that her family doesn’t understand one bit.

What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book?

For me, the hardest part of writing is when I have to show my work to other people and find ways to use their constructive criticism to make my story better. I’m super-sensitive, and it can feel like any criticism of a story I love is like someone telling me my beautiful new baby isn’t good enough.

What’s next for you?

I have another book coming out next year, ERIK VS. EVERYTHING, about a boy whose motto is “Avoid Stuff” while his family wants him to bring out his inner Viking. I’m also hard at work on some more tremendously odd middle-grade stories with happy endings–stay tuned!

Christina Uss has ridden her bicycle across the United States both lengthwise and widthwise, and has worked as an adventure tour guide in fifteen states, leading cyclists of all ages through various mountains’ majesty and all kinds of fruited plains.

Even more than pedaling across state lines, Christina loves books, especially ones that remind us all that the world is wonderful, weird place. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her family and will always wave hello if she sees you out riding.

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