Debutante of the Month: Victoria Schwab

de·but
-noun
A person's first appearance or performance in a particular capacity or role.

Welcome to author Victoria Schwab's debutante ball...

Victoria enters the ballroom wearing a vintage black and white halter dress. Escorting her is none other than Alexander Skarsgard of True Blood.

And now (mostly) ladies and (a few) gentlemen, I introduce to you...Victoria Schwab! *cue applause* This new author in the literature realm is debuting in August with her book The Near Witch.

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true. The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him. As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

As guests begin entering for the party, the DJ gets to work!

The setting of your party: If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I'd have it in a forest, fey-style, right at dusk when the whole world smears at the edges. Lights in the trees, a thousand small ones like stars or fireflies, or magic.

The guest list: Who are the top three authors (dead or alive) that you would like to meet?

Neil Gaiman, J.K. Rowling, Laini Taylor.

The menu: What do you consider your "brain food", the snacks that kept you going while you wrote your novel?

Chocolate, most definitely. I'd want chocolate in a dozen forms, and if people didn't like chocolate, well, then, they probably wouldn't be at my party.

The deb's high heels: If you could step into someone else's shoes for a day, who would it be and why?

It's less someone else's shoes I'd want, and more their eyes. I so often wonder how different my view is of the world than another's, so I think I'd like Neil Gaiman's eyes, just for a day.

The table centerpiece: What's the #1 thing that you can't go anywhere without?

Pens. I have to have pens on me at all times. I write on everything, receipts, notepads, my arm, etc. I'd love a bouquet of pens on every table.

Now it's time for the debutante and her date to share their first dance! What song has stuck with you through life?

Queen's "We Will Rock You" :)

We have a special guest tonight at the ball...Lexi from The Near Witch! Lexi, what was your favorite scene from the novel you starred in?

The first time Cole led me out onto the hills. When he showed me what he was. Or maybe the moment before we left, when he kissed me, just in case.

The heartfelt speech: How has the publishing process changed you? What have you learned from your experiences?

Publishing continues to change me. To shape me.

The future: Now that you are officially introduced to society, what's next? Do you plan to write another book?

My next book is called THE ARCHIVED. I'm positively shaking with excitement for this project. I am not really supposed to talk about it right now, but I'll say it's kind of like Buffy meets If I Stay. That mash-up seems to change daily.

To finish up this debutante ball, Victoria is giving out a party favor to one of her lucky guests! One blog follower will win a swag pack that includes a signed bookplate, bookmarks, and buttons. Just leave your email in a comment if you'd like to be entered.

Rules:
Must be a blog follower. Ends on August 30.

FIND VICTORIA ONLINE: Website | Blog | Goodreads