Interview + Giveaway with Dandi Daley Mackall

I was so lucky to get the chance to interview author, Dandi Daley Mackall!

A little bit about the author: I think I’ve always wanted to be a writer, even before I could hold a pencil. My parents were great storytellers, so bringing characters to life seemed as natural as riding horses bareback, which I also grew up doing. I won my first writing contest as a 10-year-old tomboy. My 50 words on “Why I Want to Be Batboy for the Kansas City A’s” won first place, but the team wouldn’t let a girl be batboy. It was my first taste of rejection. Since then, I’ve had over 400 of my titles published for children and about 25 for grown-ups, with millions of copies in over a dozen countries.

The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall
Published October 11, 2011

Seventeen-year-old Hope Long's life revolves around her brother Jeremy. So when Jeremy is accused of killing the town's beloved baseball coach, Hope's world begins to unravel. Everyone is convinced Jeremy did it, and since he hasn't spoken a word in 9 years, he's unable to defend himself. Their lawyer instructs Hope to convince the jury that Jeremy is insane, but all her life Hope has known that Jeremy's just different than other people—better, even. As she works to prove his innocence—joined by her best friend T.J. and the sheriff's son, Chase—Hope uncovers secrets about the murder, the townspeople, her family, and herself. She knows her brother isn't the murderer. But as she comes closer to the truth, she's terrified to find out who is.

Which of your books are your personal favorites and why?

THE SILENCE OF MURDER will always be one of my favorites because I love mysteries and finally get to have one of my own—a real mystery whodunit. But it’s more than that. My dad and I had the rocky times most kids have with their parents, but we could always connect over mysteries. We watched them on TV, read books each other recommended, and made up plots together. Dad died a few years ago, but I know he would have loved this mystery.

MY BOYFRIENDS’ DOGS is another favorite, proving that if guys were more like dogs, we’d all be happier. Dogs are loyal, loving, always glad to see you. I loved being able to bring a heroine through three boyfriends and watch her learn from each love—way too much of me in that book...

LARGER-THAN-LIFE LARA was my magical book, the one that “wrote itself.” I remember waking up every day, eager to see what would happen next. I was one-third of the way through the story before I realized that the book, besides being a story, was teaching the reader how to write a story. Chapter titles then became parts of the writing process: Character, Point of View, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action. And now a number of schools use that book to teach writing.

LISTEN TO THE SILENT NIGHT is a picture book coming out this month. I love the sound of the words in this one and the amazing illustrations by Fancher and Johnson.

All of my horse books and series, especially WINNIE THE HORSE GENTLER, who has put food on my family’s table for several years. Readers have made it a best-seller in several languages, and I get the best fan mail from horse-loving readers.

Do you have any Halloween traditions?

My husband still makes our kids spend the night before Halloween carving pumpkins. We are all (including hubby Joe) horrible at this, and our pumpkins suffer mightily. But we play loud music (I dance) and we eat pizza. On Halloween we pass out enough candy to keep Hersheys in business.

If you had to spend the night in a haunted house, who and what would you bring with you?

Well, I would definitely spend the night with my hubby because he’s my hero. We’d bring loud music so we wouldn’t hear anything spooky (and so I could dance). Hmmm…sounds like a new Halloween tradition. Thanks!

What's your favorite horror movie and why?

I love scary movies like Psycho (original version only). But I’ll be honest with you—I don’t like horror because it never feels like the writer played fair. You know what I mean—the solution turns out to be something supernatural, like someone who died centuries ago, or a monster that comes from the grave, etc. Feels like cheating! IN a mystery, you have to make things believable—and still fool your reader. If a mystery writer could invent an easy answer, like “None of these characters did it after all. It was a ghost from someone who died in the 18th century,” what fun would that be?

You write books for all ages, but do you have a favorite age group to write for?

The answer is...whichever age I’m writing for today! That’s the truth. When I write for young adults, I’m thinking that this is the age group for me. Why would I write for any other? Then I’ll get an idea perfect for middle grade, and off I go…until I get that super idea for young kids and picture book that will be such fun to write! I guess I get to be the ADD of writers.

What can fans be expecting from you next?

Thanks for asking this! I have middle-grade novel coming out next month from Bloomsbury: DREAMS OF A DANCING HORSE; and a picture book from Marshall Cavendish: THERE’S A BABY IN THERE! (very funny—a little boy who points to his pregnant mom’s belly and tells the reader: “There’s a baby in there. At least, that’s what they’re trying to tell me. I don’t believe it. I was in there once, about five years ago, and I didn’t see anybody. I think I would have seen somebody if there’d been a baby in there.”) I have a new horse series: BACKYARD HORSES. Plus, I’m working on a WWII novel for grown-ups, another mystery for YA (IF I SHOULD DIE...), a funny YA: B.Y.O.B.—BUILD YOUR OWN BOYFRIEND; a funny middle-grade: TATTOOS WHILE YOU WAIT. And more...

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Dandi is generously letting one lucky blog reader win a copy of The Silence of Murder! Just fill out the form linked below if you'd like to be entered.

Rules:
Must be a new or old blog follower.
Ends on November 8. Open to USA only.
Two extra entries to those of you that spread
the word about this interview & contest!

Click here to fill out the entry form!

CONTEST CLOSED

For 3 extra entries, leave a comment answering this question:
What are you doing/what did you do for Halloween?

FIND DANDI ONLINE: Website | Goodreads | Book's Website

Interview with Sarah Beth Durst

I was lucky enough to interview YA author, Sarah Beth Durst, about her newest novel and Halloween!

A little bit about the author: Sarah Beth Durst has been writing fantasy stories since she was ten years old and holds an English degree from Princeton University, where she spent four years studying English, writing about dragons, and wondering what the campus gargoyles would say if they could talk. Sarah lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband and children.

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst
Published September 13, 2011

Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire... fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil... until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops. Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist), and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl's family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King's feast -- as the entrees. The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends—especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache—to be slaughtered? Then again, she's definitely dead if she lets down her family. What's a sunlight-loving vamp to do?

What part of Drink, Slay, Love did you enjoy writing the most?

I loved writing Pearl. She's a 16-year-old vampire without a heart of gold. Or any heart at all. She was immensely fun to write. Basically, for any scene, I'd simply think, "What would I NEVER do or say in this situation?" And that's what she'd do and say.

Three words or phrases to describe Pearl?

Funny, fearless, and (mostly) evil.

What is the most memorable Halloween you've ever had?

I will never forget the year that I had the not-so-brilliant idea to dress up as a robot. I found an enormous box and decorated it with buttons and so forth. It looked great, but when I tried to follow the big kids through the woods between houses... I got stuck between two trees.

Why do you prefer writing young adult books?

I write what I read. I firmly believe that the sage old writing advice "write what you know" should really be "write what you love." You should write the kind of book that you would delight you. And personally, I love YA books. Especially fantasy. I am a sucker for any girl-with-sword, girl-with-dragon, girl-with-wolf, girl-with-talking-cat kind of book.

What's the funniest costume you've ever seen or worn during Halloween?

Last Halloween, I saw a woman dressed as a spiderweb. She had her baby strapped to her stomach in a spider costume. Adorable.

Most haunting nightmare you have ever had?

This is somewhat embarrassingly odd, but I used to have a recurring nightmare that a robotic Gonzo would come from outer space and shoot M&M-size beetles out of his nose that would burrow into people's foreheads. I couldn't watch the Muppets for years.

If you had to spend the night in a haunted house, who and what would you bring with you?

I'd bring the Ghostbusters and their ghostbusting supplies. If they were unavailable, I'd bring my husband (to comfort me) and my laptop (to write down everything that happened).

Are you superstitious?

I'd like to say no, but I do knock on wood when the occasion warrants it... I have no issue with black cats, though. And not walking under a ladder is just common sense. I've seen enough cartoons to know that's how you get a bucket of paint on your head.

What can fans be expecting from you next?

I am currently working on revisions for Vessel, a standalone YA fantasy that will be out from Simon & Schuster in fall 2012. I'm really, really excited about it!

Thank you for answering my questions, Sarah!

Thanks so much for interviewing me!

FIND SARAH ONLINE: Website | Goodreads | Blog

Interview + Giveaway with Dan Poblocki

I interviewed Dan Poblocki, who writes creepy YA novels perfect for reading during the Halloween season!

A little bit about the author: On any given day, you might find me strolling through the Brooklyn Museum or Botanic Garden, reading books at the library, window-shopping in Park Slope, people-watching in Prospect Park, snapping photos of strange stuff I find on the street, gossiping with friends, sneaking off to matinee movies, swooning over puppy dogs, day-dreaming way too much... oh yeah, and writing.

The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki
Published August 24, 2010

Timothy July has been having nightmares. About his brother, who is in a coma after being wounded in Iraq; about his best friend, Stuart, who is behaving like a jerk; about the old biology specimens in jars lining the walls of his classroom; and about Abigail, the new girl who seems to be a magnet for trouble. Or perhaps she is the cause. Suddenly Timothy’s nightmares are coming true. His brother, his face decaying, approaches Timothy on the street. Stuart ends up in the hospital, terrified that monsters are stalking him. And the specimen jars are tormenting not only Timothy but his teacher as well. What is the secret in Abigail’s past that is the key to these horrors? And can Timothy figure it out before his nightmares become a deadly reality?

What was your inspiration for The Nightmarys?

I had a dream in which I was in a garden surrounded by a group of girls wearing white Victorian dresses. For some reason, I couldn't see their faces. Of course, they gave me a very creepy feeling, and when I woke up, I knew they were called the Nightmarys. That was the image that I started with. In my first book, The Stone Child, the main character is a boy named Eddie. One of his favorite books is called The Revenge of the Nightmarys. I imagined that the Nightmarys from my dream were a group of ghostly girls who have the power to make all your worst nightmares come true. I decided to play with that idea and that theme for my second book, which eventually became The Nightmarys.

What's the most memorable Halloween you've ever had?

Unfortunately, the Halloween I remember the most was the one time I wasn't able to out trick-or-treating. I was about 10 years old and came down with a HORRID case of poison ivy. It was such a bad allergic reaction that my eyes nearly crusted over and swelled shut. I had it in my nose and my mouth and all over my body. I was so uncomfortable that I could barely move. I thought it was strange how when all of my friends were dressing up in costumes, I'd pretty much turned into a monster all by myself. But my friends and family were kind. While I sat at home, watching scary movies on cable, they all went out trick-or-treating for me and brought back a huge bag of candy. It didn't quite make up for missing the holiday, but I'm pretty sure that was the night I learned to love horror films.

Who are your favorite villains from literature and movies?

I adore the Grand High Witch from Roald Dahl's The Witches. She's so scary and silly and purely evil. In a similar way, I also think the Other Mother from Neil Gaiman's Coraline is super creepy. And who can forget Tim Curry playing Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the tv miniseries of Stephen King's IT? I think that one gave me nightmares for years. More recently, I think the ghost of the haunted suit in Joe Hill's book Heart Shaped Box is a pretty unique and terrifying villain. I love a good ghost story. Finally, the best baddie ever, the one that can still make me scream out loud, I believe, is the shark from JAWS. That beast is just an unrelenting eating machine, and I can't imagine anything scarier.

What is the strangest or funniest Halloween costume that you've ever seen or worn?

Living in New York City, I've seen some pretty tasteless Halloween costumes over the years (Superman in a wheelchair...? Wince!), but the strangest one would have to be the fuzzy red, full-body suit my friend Nico wore to the Greenwich Village parade a few years ago. I believe it had a feathered pink mohawk. And all we could think to call him was "The Disco Chicken."

What can fans be expecting from you next?

My next book is coming out in fall of 2012 and another is coming in 2013. The first one's a ghost story about an abandoned psychiatric hospital in upstate New York. I've just started the one after that, but it's sure to be spooky too! I'm having fun writing it so far.

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Three lucky blog readers will win copies of The Nightmarys! Just fill out the form linked below if you'd like to be entered.

Rules:
Must be a new or old blog follower.
Ends on November 8. Open to USA only.
Two extra entries to those of you that spread
the word about this interview/contest!

Click here to fill out the entry form!

CONTEST CLOSED

For 3 extra entries, leave a comment answering this question:
What was the scariest nightmare that you've ever had?

FIND DAN ONLINE: Website | Goodreads | Blog

Interview + Giveaway with Marianna Baer

I got the chance to interview debut author, Marianna Baer!

A little bit about the author: Marianna Baer received an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and a BA in art from Oberlin College. She also attended boarding school, where she lived in a tiny dorm called Frost House, the inspiration for her first novel, Frost. She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Frost by Marianna Baer
Published September 13, 2011

Leena Thomas’s senior year at boarding school begins with a shock: Frost House, her cozy dorm of close friends, has been assigned an unexpected roommate: confrontational, eccentric Celeste Lazar. But while Leena’s anxiety about a threat to her sanctuary proves valid, it becomes less and less clear whether the threat lies with her new roommate, within Leena’s own mind, or within the very nature of Frost House itself. Mysterious happenings in the dorm, an intense triangle between Leena, Celeste, and Celeste’s brother, and the reawakening of childhood fears, all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. Frost is the story of a haunting. As to whether the demons are supernatural or psychological...well, which answer would let you sleep at night?

What's the inspiration behind Frost?

My senior year at boarding school, I lived in a tiny dorm called Frost House with a few of my closest friends. It was SO much fun, but also an intense social situation -- no going home at night to escape any drama. When I started writing YA, I knew that it would be a great setting for a novel. The ghost story/psychological suspense aspect of FROST came from my love of that genre, and from the fact that the real Frost House, a dilapidated old Victorian, always seemed like it held secrets in its walls...

Describe Leena's character?

Haunted.

What is the scariest thing that ever happened to you?

On Halloween several years ago, I was watching a horribly scary movie -- Dementia 13 -- with my boyfriend and his friend. They went into the kitchen, leaving me alone in the front room. The movie was still playing, and I began getting progressively more freaked out, even though I could hear the guys talking in the kitchen. All of a sudden, a loud CRASH came from right next to me. I turned and there was a huge man outside, slammed up against our window. He was staring at me, his hands and face pressed against the glass. He looked absolutely insane. I didn't even think, just let out a true bloodcurdling scream and RAN back into the kitchen (with my hands in the air, according to a witness). I was sure that we were about to be attacked by an enormous lunatic.

When I got to the kitchen, my boyfriend was there alone. It turned out that his friend had snuck outside -- wearing a massive coat -- and was the one who had scared me. The whole time, my boyfriend had been in the kitchen talking to himself, to make me think they were back there together! They still laugh about it now, years later, remembering the sight of me tearing through the house with my hands in the air. I don't remember it quite so fondly! I experienced real terror for those few moments.

Who are your favorite villains from literature and movies?

Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs (and other Thomas Harris books) is a classic. He changed the way I think of Chianti forever.

What is the strangest, funniest, or most unique Halloween costume that you've ever seen or worn?

Okay, this is R-rated, so fragile souls should avert their eyes. A woman I knew through a friend came to a Halloween party dressed as a pirate. She was carrying a beautiful wooden box in front of her chest. I asked if there was anything inside. She lifted the lid and the inside of the box lit up with a few twinkling lights. First, I just saw some large, fake jewels; but after a quick moment I saw the real booty -- her bare breasts (with jeweled pasties)! The box was built without a back, and she was holding it right against herself. It was her "Treasure Chest." Very memorable! (Don't try this at home, kids. She's a fabulous artist and it only worked because the box was so well made. It was really remarkable -- all lit up with Christmas lights -- even aside from the boobs!)

Do you have a favorite Halloween or autumn recipe?

I do! 1. Go to store. 2. Buy bag of mini-Snickers bars. 3. Open bag, remove a Snickers. 4. Tear open wrapper. 5. Eat!

Can you share an excerpt from Frost, or if not what was your favorite scene to write?

Page 152 (slightly edited to make sense):
"Leena?" Celeste's voice called out from the bathroom. "Can you... can you come in here?"
Figuring she had forgotten something -- she had a hard time getting out of the tub with her cast, and was always needing me to bring her a razor or towel or something else -- I tossed my laundry bag in our bedroom and went in. Celeste sat in the bath, a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface of the water. Her cast was propped up on her special stool, in its plastic bag. Her other leg was bent, her arms wrapped around it. There was something not quite right about her face. Her jaw muscles were tense, her skin paler than usual. She looked like she might be trembling.
"Are you okay?" I said.
She shifted positions slightly to show me: a bright red mark seared the back of her left upper arm. I knelt quickly by the tub. It was a burn. The size of a baby's fist. Not blistered, but still obviously painful.
"What happened?" I asked.
"I...I was sitting here while the water was running," she said. "And I guess I bumped against the faucet. I don't remember. It happened so quickly and then it hurt so much."
"That's from the faucet?" I said. "The water must have been so hot."
She shook her head. "I was trying to cool the bath down. Only the cold water was turned on."
"You must have turned the wrong handle."
"I didn't." Then she said it again, louder. "I didn't. I know which handle I turned. This wasn't my fault."
The faucet couldn't have burned her if it was running cold water, obviously, but there was no point in me fighting with her. What mattered was her burn.
"Let's drain the bath," I sad. "And then you need to hold your arm under a stream of cool water. I'll cover the faucet with a facecloth." As I did, I found that the metal wasn't hot at all. The bathwater wasn't especially hot either. How long had she been sitting here? I didn't ask, just handed her towels to wrap over her legs and her shoulders, so she'd warm up. Her whole body was shaking.
What had gone on here while I was with David?

What can fans be expecting from you next?

I'm writing a second standalone YA titled IMMACULATE. It's about a 15-year-old girl in Brooklyn who is pregnant, but says she has never had sex. It's a complicated story to write, but I'm incredibly excited about it.

Thank you for the interview!

Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Ashley!

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Marianna is generously letting one lucky blog reader win a signed copy of Frost! Just fill out the form linked below if you'd like to be entered.

Rules:
Must be a new or old blog follower.
Ends on November 8. Open to USA only.
Two extra entries to those of you that spread
the word about this interview & contest!

Click here to fill out the entry form!

CONTEST CLOSED

For 3 extra entries, leave a comment answering this question:
Would you be able to spend the night in a haunted house?

FIND MARIANNA ONLINE: Website | Goodreads