Author Taylor Brown’s new novel, PRIDE OF EDEN, is indie bookseller Two Sisters Bookery’s April book club pick. Join Taylor and Christine Greer of Two Sisters via FB live at 6 PM on April 16th for a fabulous discussion about all things PRIDE!
ROBIN KIRK: THE BOND
When I read the short story that Robin Kirk submitted to Wicked South: Secrets and Lies, the anthology I co-edited with Katie Rose Guest Pryal, I knew I’d be excited to read Robin’s soon-to-be-released first novel, The Bond. The Faculty Co-Chair of the Duke Human Rights Center at the Franklin Humanities Institute and a long-time human rights advocate, Robin was uniquely positioned to write this book. I was thrilled to have her on the blog to chat.
KIT FRICK: SEE ALL THE STARS
Kit Frick’s debut novel, SEE ALL THE STARS, came out a couple of days ago—to rave reviews. It’s a Bustle Best YA Book for August 2018, an Amazon Best Books of August 2018 Editor’s Pick, and a Publisher’s Marketplace Spring/Summer 2018 YA Buzz Book. I can’t wait to read it—and I was thrilled to have the chance to interview Kit about writing novels, her career as a poet, why mentoring matters—and the reason she considers herself a Slytherin.
ANDREA THOME: HOUSE OF BELONGING
People come to writing through many different paths. For Andrea Thome, one of the most challenging times in her life gave rise to her literary career. She says, “Writing is something I’ve always loved to do, but I didn’t feel a sense of urgency about it until my mom died. While she was in Hospice care, she gave me the greatest advice.
AVERY LAVAL: A TYCOON’S SECRET
For me, there are few feelings more exciting than finding a new book I love at the library—and then discovering that the author has a massive backlist. This happened to me just recently with Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series. I read my way through every book in the series that the library had, feeling much the way I do when I eat my way to the bottom of a pint of Double Dark Chocolate Talenti gelato (shhhh…don’t tell anyone).
KELLY DEVOS: FAT GIRL ON A PLANE
Like many authors, Kelly deVos found her way to writing on the heels of another career—in her case, as a graphic designer. She queried her first novel for several years without finding a home for it, but never gave up on her dream. Kelly says, “I’ve been very fortunate to make a lot of great writer friends who inspired me. It can be a lot easier to keep going when you’re not going it alone.”
LAURA SHOVAN: TAKEDOWN
Laura Shovan is a poet, a teacher, and a novelist. She says, “I spend about a month ‘in residence’ at each school I visit, doing poetry workshops with an entire grade. It’s the perfect job for me.” I was fascinated to learn about how she intermingles poetry in her book-length works—her first book, THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY, is a novel in verse, and in her newest one, TAKEDOWN, one of the main characters uses writing poetry to cope with anxiety
SAMANTHA HEUWAGEN: DAWN AMONG THE STARS
Being a person who juggles several lives at once—and often struggles to balance them—I’m always intrigued when I discover someone else who does the same. Samantha Heuwagen is a debut novelist, but she is also a bilingual therapist and an activist. She says, “I’m very, very lucky to be able to mix all that I do together in such a way that is meaningful and creates the change I wish to see in the world.”
COURTNEY BRANDT: THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND—GRAND TOUR
Courtney Brandt is a woman of many talents. She writes YA, including the steampunk series THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND; she also writes adult books, under the pseudonym Anne Benjamin; she’s a fanfic author; and she has a popular food blog, A to Za’atar.
K.T. HANNA: SOMNIA ONLINE—INITIALIZING
Before I had the opportunity to interview K.T. Hanna about her newest book, SOMNIA ONLINE—INITIALIZING, I had no idea that LitRPG existed. So of course, I was excited to have the chance to ask her lots of questions about it … and I’ve learned a ton. Welcome to the blog, K.T. … and congrats on bringing your newest book into the world!
Peculiarity #1
Though I am from Brooklyn, NY, I finished high school in New Zealand. This peculiarity is due to the fact that I am very easily bored, and would take the bus up to the United Nations during my school lunch …
Peculiarity #2
I hate bridges. And the ocean. And bridges across any part of the ocean. Really. Count me out.
Peculiarity #3
In a similar vein—please don’t ask me to swim in a lake, pond, river, or other body of water where I can’t see the bottom, unless you are secreting large amounts of Xanax upon your person. I won’t do it. …
Peculiarity #4
Despite the above, I live at the beach. I know, it puzzles me too.
Peculiarity #5
I have an obsession with YA literature. Don’t know where it came from, but it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Check out my favorite YA Picks.
Peculiarity #6
In 2004, I co-edited a book for the NC Bar Association called The Changing Face of Justice: A Look at the First 100 Women Attorneys in North Carolina. #1 was appointed in the 1600s. #100 was in attendance at the book launch …
Peculiarity #7
One of my favorite projects ever was a writing workshop series that my coworker and I organized for teens that participated in Planned Parenthood’s Adolescent Parenting Program (APP). We arranged for childcare, had the workshop series catered, and hired a …
Peculiarity #8
I love all chocolate. Except that of the dark variety. I know I should like it. I know it’s good for you, anti-inflammatory microbes and all. But I hate it, anyhow. It tastes as bitter as the deepest recesses of …
Peculiarity #9
I am sorry to report that I also dislike beans, nuts, and quinoa. On the plus side, I don’t eat fast food, and I detest soda. So, there’s that.
Peculiarity #10
I love to read. Obsessively. To the exclusion of almost everything else. Except for chocolate.
A Heart of Shadow and Flame
The sky is the color of a fading bruise as I make my way out of the forest, which is fitting. Everything hurts: My right arm, from where the Bastarour dug in its claws; my chest, from where it pawed …
Into Fire, Into Ice
Chapter 1 In the Commonwealth, friendship was not allowed. Still, Kilían Bryndísarson had never been able to deny the pull he felt toward Kennett Gundarson. It had begun when they were twelve years old—earlier than that, if Kilían was brutally …
The Heart is a Blade
Chapter 1: Gentian I am not a violent person—not to mention, in the Commonwealth, wrath is forbidden—but when the High Priest comes into view, marching Ari Westergaard toward the whipping post in Clockverk Square, it’s all I can do not …
Braving the Revision Trenches
Follow Me Newsletter Latest Posts A Heart of Shadow and FlameFebruary 28, 2021Into Fire, Into IceJanuary 28, 2021The Heart is a BladeOctober 15, 2020 Latest Tweets Follow @emilyacolinTweets by @emilyacolin Tweet “It is no sign of weakness or defeat that …
Lisa Kline: ONE WEEK OF YOU
“When I first became a writer I thought that I’d found the perfect thing for my introverted personality. I could stay holed up in my room by myself and type to my heart’s content.” When I read this, I was pretty sure Lisa Kline was a mind-reader as well as a fabulous author…because this is exactly how I feel about writing! There are few better combinations than a couch, a laptop, a cup of coffee, and a story idea—unless you add an adorable cat who insists on traipsing across your keyboard. 🙂 Luckily for the rest of us, Lisa isn’t just a telepath . . . she’s a talented writer, a committed mentor, and—most recently—the author of the YA novel, ONE WEEK OF YOU. Welcome to the blog, Lisa!
A Bird’s-Eye View of Blue Crow Publishing
Lauren Faulkenberry and Katie Rose Guest Pryal are authors and also the founders of Blue Crow Publishing, LLC, an independent press founded in 2016 with headquarters in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Full disclosure—Katie and I were in the same writing seminar for an entire semester in college, yet somehow didn’t formally meet until many years later, at Wildacres Retreat in the North Carolina mountains.
Becca Syme: Helping Fellow Authors Write Better, Faster
I’m not calling anybody out here, but there were—ahem!—five years between the publication of my first novel, THE MEMORY THIEF, and my second one, THE DREAM KEEPER’S DAUGHTER. In between, I wrote another book. I loved the storyline and my crazy, flawed characters—but alas, the plot didn’t quite coalesce, and so after over a year of writing and revisions, I had to scrap it and start a new project.
Megan Shepherd Talks Monsters, Human Zoos and the Book That Took Her by Surprise
I first discovered NC author Megan Shepherd this past January, as part of a SCWBI Carolinas online workshop series called Polish Your Manuscript in Your PJs.
Kidlit Summer School: Writers Unite!
I never thought I’d love going to summer school, but Kami Kinard and Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen have proven me wrong.
Introducing Read Up Greenville: A Brand-New MG and YA Book Festival
In a little over a week, Greenville, South Carolina will host Read Up, a brand-new festival for middle grade and young adult lit aficionados.
KidLit Drink Night: A Podcast for Grownups About KidLit
In retrospect, I don’t remember how it happened. But a few glorious months ago, I stumbled upon KidLit Drink Night Podcast—and got hooked.
Finding Your Writing Tribe (or, What’s in the Secret Sauce?)
Michelle Leonard chats with us about The Winged Pen, the importance of finding your writing tribe, and the magic of being a good critique partner.
Authors Out of Carolina: A Creative Collaboration
This week on the blog, meet the Authors Out of Carolina—four amazing North Carolina writers who have come together to support each other and bring their new releases into the world.
The Dyslexic Superhero Speaks Out
My dyslexic superhero starts 6th grade in a few short weeks, and we’re doing everything we can to make his transition as seamless as possible
Tales of a Dyslexic Superhero
While I certainly hadn’t expected parenting to be a picnic, I had not anticipated that my child would react as if he were allergic to the world, perpetually affronted by everything it had to offer.
Lisa Kline: ONE WEEK OF YOU
“When I first became a writer I thought that I’d found the perfect thing for my introverted personality. I could stay holed up in my room by myself and type to my heart’s content.” When I read this, I was pretty sure Lisa Kline was a mind-reader as well as a fabulous author…because this is exactly how I feel about writing! There are few better combinations than a couch, a laptop, a cup of coffee, and a story idea—unless you add an adorable cat who insists on traipsing across your keyboard. 🙂 Luckily for the rest of us, Lisa isn’t just a telepath . . . she’s a talented writer, a committed mentor, and—most recently—the author of the YA novel, ONE WEEK OF YOU. Welcome to the blog, Lisa!
Book Review: All the Missing Girls
I have a confession to make. For the past six months—other than research for my upcoming novel—I’ve almost exclusively read young adult lit: Tahereh Mafi, Michelle Hodkin, Sally Green, Rick Yancey, Marie Lu, John Green, Cassandra Clare, Jandy Nelson, Julie Kagawa.
My Second Novel is Coming Out Next Summer!
I am thrilled beyond words to announce that Ballantine Books will publish my as-yet-untitled second novel in Summer 2017. Right now, the book is in the revision phase with my editor, and we’re going back and forth, tightening it down—for those of you who know me well, it will come as no surprise that I tend to overwrite—and making it as good as it can possibly be.
Dana Sachs Volunteers with Syrian Refugees
In April 2016, the writer Dana Sachs traveled to Greece with her friend Kathryn Winogura to volunteer in the refugee camps that have sprung up along the border to Macedonia.