Today I welcome Katherine Longshore to World Reads, a blog that features interviews with authors who’ve written a story set outside of the United States for children or young adults.
What is the title of your book? The pub date and publisher? Genre? Targeted age group?
*TARNISH, June 2013, Viking/Penguin, historical fiction, ages 12+
Where is it set?
*Tudor England
In 70 words or less, provide a succinct plot description of your story.
* Anne Boleyn is the odd girl out. Newly arrived to the court of King Henry VIII, everything about her seems wrong. So when the dashing poet Thomas Wyatt offers to coach her on how to shine—and convince everyone they’re lovers—she accepts. What began as a game becomes high stakes as Anne is forced to make an impossible choice between her heart’s desire and the chance to make history.
How are you connected to the setting of your story?
*I lived in England for five years—it’s where I fell in love with history!
What inspired you to write this story?
*I wanted to write a story about a girl who felt like a fish out of water could become the Anne Boleyn we know from history. And I wanted to challenge the idea that everything that was written about her is somehow true, because we all know that gossip about us isn’t necessarily how we truly are.
What was the biggest challenge you had writing your story? How did you overcome it?
*Preconceptions. Like many people, my vision of Anne Boleyn is skewed by years of fictional (and non-fictional) retellings of her life—from Shakespeare to Donizetti to Philippa Gregory. I had to set everything I thought I knew aside, and find a character who could eventually be perceived as all those things.
What kind of story can we expect next from you? Is it set outside of the United States? If so, where? And what is it about?
*My historical loves are almost entirely English—though they cover a broad expanse of time.
Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? And why?
*The Cat in the Hat. At five years old, I decided that I was never going to learn to read, because it had made my sister boring—she never played with me. But I got The Cat in the Hat out of the library, and sat down with it and got sucked in. So much so, that I decided to read it again, even after my best friend arrived for a playdate. So I guess reading made me boring, too!
Today I welcome Katherine Longshore to World Reads, a blog that features interviews with authors who’ve written a story set outside of the United States for children or young adults.
What is the title of your book? The pub date and publisher? Genre? Targeted age group?
*BRAZEN, June 12 2014, Viking/Penguin, historical fiction, ages 12+
Where is it set?
*Tudor England
In 70 words or less, provide a succinct plot description of your story.
* When Mary Howard is married off to Henry Fitzroy, King Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, she rockets into the Tudor court’s inner circle, joining a tight clique of rebels who test the boundaries of court’s strict rules with their games, dares, and flirtations. Mary falls hard for Fitz, but is forbidden from seeing him alone. The rules of court were made to be pushed…but pushing them too far means certain death.
How are you connected to the setting of your story?
*I lived in England for five years—it’s where I fell in love with history!
What inspired you to write this story?
*The true life story of Mary Howard, who became one of the few women in Tudor England with the means and inclination to live independently.
What was the biggest challenge you had writing your story? How did you overcome it?
*The history itself. I overcame the challenge by ultimately accepting that the events can be woven into a compelling story despite the fact that I’d want it to end differently.
What kind of story can we expect next from you? Is it set outside of the United States? If so, where? And what is it about?
*My historical loves are almost entirely English—though they cover a broad expanse of time.
Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? And why?
*The Cat in the Hat. At five years old, I decided that I was never going to learn to read, because it had made my sister boring—she never played with me. But I got The Cat in the Hat out of the library, and sat down with it and got sucked in. So much so, that I decided to read it again, even after my best friend arrived for a playdate. So I guess reading made me boring, too!
Today I welcome Helen Azar to World Reads, a blog that features interviews with authors who’ve written a story set outside of the United States for children or young adults.
What is the title of your book? The pub date and publisher? Genre? Targeted age group?
The Diary of Olga Romanov: Royal Witness to the Russian Revolution.
Westholme Publishing, 2013.
Russian history/Biography/Memoir – Young Adult to Adult.
Where is it set?
Russia during WWI and revolution/civil war years
In 70 words or less, provide a succinct plot description of your story.
In August 1914, Russia entered World War I, and with it, the imperial family of Tsar Nicholas II was thrust into a conflict they would not survive. His eldest child, Olga Nikolaevna, great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, had begun a diary in 1905 when she was ten years old and kept writing her thoughts and impressions of day-to-day life as a grand duchess until abruptly ending her entries when her father abdicated his throne in March 1917. Held at the State Archives of the Russian Federation in Moscow, Olga’s diaries during the wartime period have never been translated into English until this volume. At the outset of the war, Olga and her sister Tatiana worked as nurses in a military hospital along with their mother, Tsarina Alexandra. Olga’s younger sisters, Maria and Anastasia, visited the infirmaries to help raise the morale of the wounded and sick soldiers. The strain was indeed great, as Olga records her impressions of tending to the officers who had been injured and maimed in the fighting on the Russian front. Concerns about her sickly brother, Aleksei, abound, as well those for her father, who is seen attempting to manage the ongoing war. Gregori Rasputin appears in entries, too, in an affectionate manner as one would expect of a family friend. While the diaries reflect the interests of a young woman, her tone grows increasingly serious as the Russian army suffers setbacks, Rasputin is ultimately murdered, and a popular movement against her family begins to grow. At the point Olga ends her writing in 1917, the author continues the story by translating letters and impressions from family intimates, such as Anna Vyrubova, as well as the diary kept by Nicholas II himself. Finally, once the imperial family has been put under house arrest by the revolutionaries, we follow events through observations by Alexander Kerensky, head of the initial Provisional Government, these too in English translation for the first time. Olga would offer no further personal writings, as she and the rest of her family were crowded into the basement of a house in the Urals and shot to death in July 1918.
The Diary of Olga Romanov: Royal Witness to the Russian Revolution, translated and introduced by scientist and librarian Helen Azar, and supplemented with additional primary source material, is a remarkable document of a young woman who did not choose to be part of a royal family and never exploited her own position, but lost her life simply because of what her family represented.
Today I welcome Lisa Doan to World Reads, a blog that features interviews with authors who’ve written a story set outside of the United States for children or young adults.
What is the title of your book? The pub date and publisher? Genre? Targeted age group?
The Berenson Schemes #01 – Jack the Castaway. April 1, 2014. Lerner Publishing Group. Humor/Adventure. Middle grade series 9-12 years.
Where is it set?
I did not name the island in my book, but the setting was modeled on Roatan, where I lived for eight years. Roatan is just off the coast of Honduras and is part of the Bay Islands, along with Utila and Guanaja. It has a history as a pirate island, and descendants of pirates still live there today. Now, it attracts scuba divers from all over the world because of its magnificent reef wall. As it was once a British Colony, most islanders speak English as their first language and Spanish as the second. I lived in a small village named West End. It is bigger now, but when I moved there in the late 90’s it was just a sandy lane that ran along the sea with a couple of restaurants and dive shops catering to backpackers. It was the perfect setting for Richard and Claire Berenson to launch an ill-advised get-rich-quick scheme – inventing a new sport called ‘drift-snorkeling.’ (FYI – snorkeling and strong currents are not a natural pairing.) While they may seem over-the-top to people who have not spent time in these sorts of places, I can assure you there are real Richard and Claire Berensons lurking in off-the-beaten-track locales all over the world.
In 70 words or less, provide a succinct plot description of your story.
The Berenson Schemes series is about a cautious boy named Jack who is repeatedly lost in the wilderness in foreign countries by his parents who are chasing get-rich-quick schemes. Jack is a helicopter kid with supremely anti-helicopter parents.
Links to reviews or blurbs you wish to share:
School Library Journal:
“The story is a well-written debut novel and an introduction to a fun cast of characters and a series certain to be full of adventure. Pencil illustrations bring life to Jack and all of the craziness he and his family experience. This will likely entertain even the most reluctant of readers.”
Booklist:
“In Doan’s entertaining debut, Jack’s misadventures begin once his absentee parents show up and whisk him off to the Caribbean. A sensible 11-year-old, Jack would much rather stay in Pennsylvania than risk his life on one of his parents’ dangerous get-rich-quick schemes.”
Publisher’s Weekly:
“Launching the Berenson Schemes series, Doan’s debut novel pits cautious Jack Berenson against his reckless parents with uproarious results.”
Kirkus:
“Readers will be charmed by Jack, whose flair for checklists and self-preservation is both humorous and endearing.”
How are you connected to the setting of your story?
I worked in New York City straight out of college for about thirteen years. All that time, I really wanted to go off and explore the far reaches of the planet. So, one day I quit my office job and spent a year traveling from Morocco to Kenya, backpacking overland. After a few stops in Asia, I returned to New York. But I couldn’t stay. How dull to sit in a meeting, listening to investment bankers drone on about their bone-crushingly boring deals when I had trekked through the jungles of Uganda, watched the sun rise over the Sahara, camped out in Cameroun, hitchhiked to Lake Turkana and walked the cobblestone streets of Lamu. So, I took up scuba diving, quickly became an instructor and moved to Roatan, Honduras. I taught scuba there, as well as opened a tiny restaurant, worked as an EMT and even worked as a set medic on what might be the silliest reality television show ever produced – Temptation Island. (Sorry Mark Walberg – you were the only good thing about it!)
What inspired you to write this story?
When I heard the term “helicopter parents,” I decided to write something about risk-taking for “helicoptered kids.” These kids are experiencing life from inside bubble-wrap. All potential physical harm is removed or padded and helmeted. As for mental harm, the idea that children need to be protected from disappointment, that “everybody is a winner,” is just cruel. What a surprise they will get when they find out their future boss doesn’t think “everybody is a winner.” That is romanticizing childhood and attempting to turn it into a Disney movie, blithely ignoring personal memories of growing up – that it was a rough and tumble, dog eat dog, sometimes thrilling, often terrifying, high stakes, tumultuous ride. There ARE risks worth taking, and they might not work out. In fact, things might go very badly. It’s okay to fail. It’s okay for a kid to find out they are actually not good enough for a sports team or the choir. They might give it up, or they might practice more, but they won’t die. If you bubble-wrap their world, and convince them they are great at everything, if you don’t let them get bruised up, they just end up dysfunctional. They might turn into that adult we all know – frozen by paralyzing ennui and fundamentally dissatisfied with life, but waiting around for somebody to fix it. Or conversely, if they have an inherent risk-taking bent, as soon as they are able to escape the notice of concerned adults, they set themselves on fire for a YouTube video. Either direction is equally stupid because neither extreme is effectively managing risk. That’s who the Berensons are – Jack’s parents have no ideas on safety or planning ahead and, as Dr. Phil would say – no ability to see around corners. So, every new disaster comes as a surprise. At first glance it seems that Jack has it all figured out. He’s very, VERY careful. But that’s Jack’s problem. It is hard for him to see it is a problem at first, because it’s a “society-approved” problem. Nobody gets down on the careful kid. Nevertheless, it’s a problem. Making decisions based on potential gain and loss is a seminal part of growing up, but many parents and teachers don’t talk about it. Everybody is too terrified of being that person who encouraged risk-taking and then little Frederick decided he’d take a risk by blow-drying his hair in the bathtub and he electrocuted himself and now it’s YOUR FAULT, GET READY FOR THE LAWSUIT. (Frederick, if you’re out there, mulling over the benefits of taking your blow dryer into the bathtub – you’re on your own, dude. I did NOT tell you to do that.)
What was the biggest challenge you had writing your story? How did you overcome it?
One of the things you will notice about middle grade fiction is that the parents are often gotten rid of through some mechanism or another so the mayhem can commence without adult interference. I thought it might be a hurdle that Jack’s parents were actually causing the mayhem. I knew that there was the possibility of an editor reading it and thinking the Berensons were not good role models. Because they aren’t! But, I couldn’t see my way clear to trying to tone it down, so I decided to just go for it. I felt I could get away with it because Richard and Claire Berenson have one particularly redeeming quality – they really do want to make Jack happy. They cooperate with anything he says he wants, with real enthusiasm. Of course, the results are never what Jack anticipated and always lead to him being lost on his own in the wilderness, but this core personality trait makes them forgivable. They will never win the parent of the year award, but as Jack’s dad says about parenting in book two, “I’ll venture we can only go up from here. With determination, we can crawl our way up to the middle of the pack.” They are idiots, but their hearts are in the right place. I was very fortunate that Lerner saw what I was going for.
What kind of story can we expect next from you? Is it set outside of the United States? If so, where? And what is it about?
The second book in The Berenson Schemes series will launch in the fall. Titled “Jack and the Wildlife,” Jack has put ‘family rules’ in place and feels all is going well…until he is lost in the Masai Mara in Kenya. After that, the next book is tentatively titled “Jack at the Helm,” and of course he is lost again. This time in the far-reaches of Nepal. These are places I have spent extended periods of time living in, so it was fun to bring Nairobi and Kathmandu to life in these stories.
What else would you like us to know about you or your story?
Come visit my website. I have tons of fun links on the Jack the Castaway page, including an awesome video of a whale shark and my personal account of what happens when a snapping shrimp bites your finger underwater.
Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? And why?
The first real book I owned was The Little Princess. I read it many times, mainly because of the room makeover scene. Who wouldn’t want Ram Dass to sneak in and turn your poor and plain attic into a luxurious bedroom? It was like finding out there was another magical person around somewhere – No! It’s not just Santa Claus! There’s also Ram Dass! Two books I’ve read as an adult that always stay with me – My Side of the Mountain, which is an incredibly good tale of a boy going off on his own. (Also, his parents make the Berensons appear downright responsible!) And a hit series in Britain that never got a lot of traction here – the Adrian Mole series. The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole 13 ¾ is the most hilarious book I’ve ever read.
Today I welcome Susan Abel Sullivan to Best Dog Books, a blog that features interviews with authors who’ve written a canine story for kids or young adults.
AOB: What is the title of your book? Pub date and publisher? Genre? Targeted age group? Illustrator?
The Weredog Whisperer
December 31,2013, World Weaver Press
Paranormal Mystery
Target age: adult, although middle grade and teens may enjoy the three teenaged characters in the book
AOB: Who is your key dog character(s) and what kind of dog is he/she? Feel free to list as many different breeds or mixes as necessary. Tell us a little more about him/her.
Luna is a white American pit bull terrier. Bertram and Cleo Tidwell adopt her from the animal shelter as a trail run for having a baby. She’s about a year old. Everyone loves Luna. She’s an easy going, fun loving dog and is based on my real-life pit bull, Moxie.
AOB: In 70 words or less, provide a succinct plot description of your story.
The Tidwells might have adopted a pit bull as a test-run for having a baby, but had no idea that they’d wind up with an instant were-daughter when their dog is bitten by a weredog while on a spring break vacation to the Florida Gulf Coast. The Tidwells’ trip has gone to the dogs as they jump through hoops to protect their unexpected new daughter from a dog-eat-dog world.
Praise for The Weredog Whisperer
“Fun, quirky, suspenseful, and outrageous — this paranormal adventure will have you laughing, gasping, and turning the pages.”
—Jeanne Cavelos, best-selling author of The Passing of the Techno-Mages
“If The Weredog Whisperer doesn’t have you busting a gut then your sense of humor has definitely gone… well, you know the rest.”
—Scott Barnes, NewMyths.com
“The Weredog Whisperer is LOL funny… Whether readers are from the southside of Dee-troit or south of the Mississippi, Sullivan’s true Southern humor and charm are sure to appeal to them all.”
—Michelle Lowery Combs, award-winning author of Heir to the Lamp and the forthcomingSolomon’s Bell
“Cleo Tidwell’s wacky adventures rank right up there with Stephanie Plum’s and Sookie Stackhouse’s; what fun to enter the world of author Susan Abel Sullivan’s novels!”
—Barbara Rowell, Director Jacksonville (AL) Public Library
“Even better than the first! The Weredog Whisperer puts Cleo Tidwell firmly on my must-read-her-next-adventure list.”
—Jeep Diva Reviews
“The Weredog Whisperer is a delightful, fun-filled fantasy! Engaging, humorous, and full of surprises.”
—Beth Duke, Author of Delaney’s People and Don’t Shoot Your Mule
I wanted to try a fun and funny twist on the werewolf story and wound up with silly weredogs like a Chinese crested, Jack Russell terrier, and a basenji, as well as weresharks, a weregator, and a were-killer-whale. And since my dogs are like my children, I wondered what it would be like if my dog turned into a teenager during the three nights of the full moon.
AOB: What was the biggest challenge you had writing your story? How did you overcome it?
I don’t outline my discovery drafts. I hit a snag in Act III when the plot delved into dog fighting. There’s really nothing funny about dog fighting. After a few false starts, I came up with a new direction that was both suspenseful and funny involving a couple of crazy weresharks.
AOB: What other YA/MG books have you written? Do any of them feature a key dog character? If so, which ones?
What are these stories about?
I have a couple of short story collections that are for YA/MG. Cursed: Wickedly Fun Stories and Fried Zombie Dee-light! Ghoulish, Ghostly Tales. The latter has a story, “Finding the Way Home” about a ghost dog.
AOB: What kind of story can we expect next from you? Is it about a dog? If so, what is it about?
Luna the pit bull turned were-daughter will show up in my next Cleo Tidwell paranormal mystery, working title: Top Vampire Chef. I’m also working on a YA series—The Simon Sylvestri School for the Supernaturally Challenged—that has a weredog character named Louie.
AOB: What else would you like us to know about you or your story?
The Weredog Whisperer takes place on the Florida Gulf Coast and my family moved to Pensacola, FL when I was eleven, so I’m very familiar with the area and had a great time setting a novel there. There’s even a flying saucer house in the book that was inspired by a very real flying saucer house on Pensacola Beach.
AOB: Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? And why?
The Annotated Dracula by Bram Stoker. Not only did I fall in love with Stoker’s novel, but Leonard Wolfe did an exceptional job with the fascinating annotations about Transylvania and Victorian England.
AOB: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Learn how to write well before worrying about getting published. Join a writers’ group and attend well-reviewed writing workshops. I’m a graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop for speculative fiction and it was the best thing I ever did for myself. http://www.sff.net/odyssey/
Today I welcome Katherine Longshore to World Reads, a blog that features interviews with authors who’ve written a story set outside of the United States for children or young adults.
What kind of story can we expect next from you? Is it set outside of the United States? If so, where? And what is it about?
