July Author of the Month

Hello readers! I am opening up my blog again to bookish content. I am still continuously posting and sharing stories about the Black Live Matter movement over on my Twitter. I am no just intermixing some of my own bookish content. 

I am starting the month off with an Author of the Month post for Tanaz Bhathena, a YA Canadian author who's release her third book. 

So yes my July "Author of the Month" is Tanaz Bhathena, author of A Girl Like That, The Beauty of the Moment and the book that helped me chose her for this feature, Hunted By the Sky.  Her new release, Hunted By the Sky, hit the shelves on June 23rd, 2020.

Tanaz Bhathena writes books for young adults. Her sophomore novel, The Beauty of the Moment, won the Nautilus Gold Award for Young Adult Fiction and has also been nominated for the Ontario Library Association’s White Pine Award. Her acclaimed debut, A Girl Like That, was named a Best Book of the Year by numerous outlets including The Globe and Mail, Seventeen, and The Times of India. Her latest book, Hunted by the Sky, is the first of a YA fantasy duology set in a world inspired by medieval India. Her short stories have appeared in various publications including The Hindu, Blackbird, Witness, and Room. 

 Born in India and raised in Saudi Arabia and Canada, Tanaz lives in Mississauga, Ontario, with her family.

    

Sabrina: Hello Tanaz, and welcome to my blog. I just want to start off by saying thank you so much for joining me, and being my June Author of the Month.

Tanaz: Thanks so much for inviting me, Sabrina!

Sabrina: While touring for Beauty of the Moment, did you have a favourite event or one that stuck out for you?

Tanaz: I think one of my favourite and most memorable events was the Room of Your Own Book Club in Toronto. Teen girls read the book and asked me questions. One reader said that Susan’s interactions with her mom allowed her to understand her own mother better—which I thought was amazing!

Sabrina: Between fantasy and contemporary, which genre is easier to write? OR does it depend on the type of story you are telling?

Tanaz: It really depends on the story I have to tell. I really enjoy both genres and the challenges they bring. I usually need to feel challenged on some level to get interested in writing a book.

Sabrina: A Girl Like That and Beauty of the Moment are both contemporary stories, did you find one easier to write than the other? Or did the both prove to have their challenges?

Tanaz: I found it harder to write The Beauty of the Moment after finishing A Girl Like That. I’d spent the past twelve years writing gritty short stories and later a whole novel exploring dark issues, so writing a happy contemporary romance was tricky!

Sabrina: If you could have lunch with any 2 fictional characters, who would they be?

Tanaz: Hermione Granger and Peeta Mellark! We’d talk about books and baking cheese buns.

Sabrina: What is the last book you read and loved, and why?

Tanaz:The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee. It’s a historical novel set in Atlanta and the protagonist is a Chinese American girl who poses as an anonymous advice columnist named “Miss Sweetie.” The writing and research is impeccable and I love the novel’s wit and humor.

 

Sabrina: Hunted by the Sky releasing on June 23rd is going to be your latest release, can you describe it in five words or less?

Tanaz: Magic + romance + fierce women warriors.

Sabrina: Did you have a favourite chapter while writing Hunted by the Sky?

Tanaz: Chapter 1. It begins with…a bang. :)

Sabrina: Thank you so much for joining me today on my blog, and for being my Author of the Month for June. I look forward to reading Hunted by the Sky when it releases!

Tanaz: Thanks, Sabrina! I hope you enjoy the book! :)

Title: Hunted by the Sky

Author: Tanaz Bhathena 

Publication Date: June 23rd, 2020 

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, Giroux 

Pages: 384 

Format: Hardcover

Description: Gul has spent her life running. She has a star-shaped birthmark on her arm, and in the kingdom of Ambar,girls with such birthmarks have been disappearing for years. Gul's mark is what caused her parents' murder at the hand of King Lohar's ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding to protect her own life. So when a group of rebel women called the Sisters of the Golden Lotus rescue her, take her in, and train her in warrior magic, Gul wants only one thing: revenge.

Cavas lives in the tenements, and he's just about ready to sign his life over to the king's army. His father is terminally ill, and Cavas will do anything to save him. But sparks fly when he meets a mysterious girl--Gul--in the capital's bazaar, and as the chemistry between them undeniably grows, he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance--and discovers a magic he never expected to find.

Dangerous circumstances have brought Gul and Cavas together at the king's domain in Ambar Fort . . . a world with secrets deadlier than their own. Exploring identity, class struggles, and high-stakes romance, Hunted by the Sky is a gripping adventure set in a world inspired by medieval India.

Author of the Month~April

Hello everyone! It's another new month and with that comes a new Author of the Month. This will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month.  New feature I started on my blog in September (Refer HERE if you would like to see the original post & if you would like to be apart of this as an author).

April's Author is: Tricia Levenseller

Tricia Levenseller is from a small town in Oregon, but she now lives in Utah with her bossy dog, Rosy. She received her degree in English Language and editing, and she is thrilled that she never has to read another textbook again. When she's not writing or reading, Tricia enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles, playing volleyball, and watching her favorite TV shows while eating extra-buttered popcorn.

Connect with Tricia here:

~Interview Time~

Sabrina: Welcome aboard Tricia! I am so glad to have you here on my blog today.

Tricia: Thanks so much for having me! I’m excited to be here.

Sabrina: Who are 2 authors you look up too?

Tricia: Leigh Bardugo and Rae Carson

Sabrina: How did you know you wanted to be a writer and when did you start writing?

Tricia: Originally, I thought I was going to be an editor. I actually discovered I enjoyed writing on accident. All the seniors in my high school were required to do a 20-hour senior project in which we performed the duties of a job we were considering when we grew up. I couldn’t find text that wasn’t edited to use for my project, so I had to write my own words to edit. I didn’t expect it to be so fun.

Sabrina: Did you spend a lot of time mapping out Daughter of the Pirate King or did it all just come to you?

Tricia: I do a chapter by chapter outline before I start writing any of my books. Before that though, I spend a lot of time just thinking about the project. I let the plot and characters simmer until I feel that I have a good handle on them. DOTPK was the fastest and easiest project I’ve ever written. A lot of it just came to me while I was writing it. I very loosely followed the outline for that book.

Sabrina: Between Alosa and Riden who was the harder one to write?

Tricia: I would have to say Riden. His attachment to his brother annoyed me as much as it did Alosa.

Sabrina: Where did you come up with your character’s names? Did they just come to you, or did you have to think of a way to create them?

Tricia: Alosa is actually a play on my sister’s name: Alisa. I use this technique a lot when coming up with names: I’ll take a conventional name and try switching out or adding letters to make it sound more fantastical. The pirate king’s name is Byronnic, which is a play on Byron. Other times, a name just comes to me, like Niridia’s (Alosa’s first mate). Sometimes I use fantasy name generators and tweak the results with my “swapping letters” trick to get what I want.

Sabrina: What was your favourite element about writing a book about pirates?

Tricia: The aesthetics. There’s just something about sails flapping in the breeze and the spray of the sea misting in your face. The boots and leggings and corsets! Cutlasses and compasses and telescopes. I just think it’s all cool, and I love that I could put all of it in one story.

Sabrina: Which two quotes from Daughter of the Pirate King, are you proud to say that you wrote and came up with?

Tricia: “Some people say you have to find yourself. Not I. I believe we create ourselves to be what we want. Any aspect of ourselves that we do not like can be altered if we make an effort.”

“Do you have any idea how hard it was to find a girl my size to steal those from?”

Sabrina: While writing do you require anything to keep you focused?

Tricia: I prefer absolute quiet. Or white noise.

Sabrina: Who are two YA authors you would want to collab with?

Tricia: Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo

Sabrina: Can you say anything about book 2 yet? I am dying to know how Riden and Alosa’s story continues.

Tricia: You will get to meet Alosa’s nearly-all female pirate crew!

Sabrina: Thank you so much, Tricia, for allowing me to interview you today. I am by far absolutely in love with Daughter of the Pirate King. This story was absolutely beautiful and filled my soul with happiness for a good pirate read. I can’t wait to talk to you in the future!!

Tricia: Thank you so much for saying so! Thank you again for having me!

Author of the Month~ March

Hello everyone! It's another new month and with that comes a new Author of the Month. This will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month.  New feature I started on my blog in September (Refer HERE if you would like to see the original post & if you would like to be apart of this as an author).

March's author is E.J. Mellow

E.J. Mellow is the Award Winning author behind the NA Contemporary Fantasy trilogy The Dreamland Series. With a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, E.J. Mellow splits her time between her two loves – visual design and writing. Residing in NYC, E.J. is a member of Romance Writers of America and their Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Chapter. She has no animals but loves those who do.

Connect with her on:

    

Author of The Month~ January

Hello everyone! It's another new month and with that comes a new Author of the Month. This will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month.  New feature I started on my blog in September (Refer HERE if you would like to see the original post & if you would like to be apart of this as an author).

This author I have had once on my blog before back when this feature first started. Since then She has become a USA Bestselling author and has finished one complete series. She has a new book coming out Jan 10th...

January's author is Elise Kova

Author of the Month~ December

Hello everyone! It's another new month and with that comes a new Author of the Month. This will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month.  New feature I started on my blog in September (Refer HERE if you would like to see the original post & if you would like to be apart of this as an author).

November's Author: Kerri Maniscalco 

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.

Connect with Kerri on:

Author of the Month~ November

Hello everyone! It's another new month and with that comes a new Author of the Month. This will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month.  New feature I started on my blog in September (Refer HERE if you would like to see the original post & if you would like to be apart of this as an author).

November's Author: Freedom Matthews

Author of the Month~ October

Hello everyone! It's another new month and with that comes a new Author of the Month. This will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month.  New feature I started on my blog in September (Refer HERE if you would like to see the original post & if you would like to be apart of this as an author).

October's Author: Julie Eshbaugh

Julie Eshbaugh once produced an online video series for teens which received several honors from the Webby Awards. Now, she focuses her time on writing. Her debut YA novel, IVORY AND BONE, was released by HarperTeen in June 2016, and its sequel, OBSIDIAN AND STARS, will follow in June 2017.

Connect with Julie on:
 

July~ Author of the Month

Hello everyone! It's another new month and with that comes a new Author of the Month. This will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month.  New feature I started on my blog in September (Refer HERE if you would like to see the original post & if you would like to be apart of this as an author).

July's Author:  Gabriella Lepore

Author of the Month ~ May

Hello everyone! It's another new month and with that comes a new Author of the Month. This will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month.  New feature I started on my blog in September (Refer HERE if you would like to see the original post & if you would like to be apart of this as an author).

May's Author:  Esther Dalseno

April~ Author of the Month

Hello everyone! It's another new month and with that comes a new Author of the Month. This will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month.  New feature I started on my blog in September (Refer HERE if you would like to see the original post & if you would like to be apart of this as an author).

Also check out the bottom of the post to enter a giveaway for an Untamed Audio book. This giveaway is INTL. So good luck to all!

April's author is: A.G. Howard

March~Author of the Month

Hello everyone! It's another new month and with that comes a new Author of the Month. This will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month.  New feature I started on my blog in September (Refer HERE if you would like to see the original post & if you would like to be apart of this as an author).

March's author is: Brenda Drake

Feburary's Author's of the Month

Hello everyone! It's another new month and with that comes a new Author of the Month. This will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month.  New feature I started on my blog in September (Refer HERE if you would like to see the original post & if you would like to be apart of this as an author).

February's author is: Justin Holley

January Author of The Month

Hello everyone! It's another new month and with that comes a new Author of the Month. This will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month.  New feature I started on my blog in September (Refer HERE if you would like to see the original post & if you would like to be apart of this as an author).

January's author is Temple West

December Author of the Month & Spotlight

Hello everyone! It's another new month and with that comes a new Author of the Month. This will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month.  New feature I started on my blog in September (Refer HERE if you would like to see the original post & if you would like to be apart of this as an author).

December's author is Bethany Crandell

November Author of the Month & Interview

Hello everyone! It's another new month and with that comes a new Author of the Month. This will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month.  New feature I started on my blog in September (Refer HERE if you would like to see the original post & if you would like to be apart of this as an author).

November's author is Elise Kova

October's Author of the Month & Interview

Hello everyone! It's another new month and with that comes a new Author of the Month. This will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month.  New feature I started on my blog in September (Refer HERE if you would like to see the original post & if you would like to be apart of this as an author).

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October's author is Amanda Sun

September's Author of the Month & Interveiw

Hello everyone! I would like to present a new feature that I will be doing every month. Author of the Month, this will consist of a post that includes an interview with the chosen author, along with featuring them in my sidebar for that entire month. 

I already have authors lined up till January 2016. If you are an author that is interested in participating in this you can head over to my Contact page and shoot me an email. 

I hope you guys are excited, because I am very excited to be sharing this. I have already done some interviews with the authors and it's been a lot of fun getting to see their responses and opinions back. 

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September's author is Aaron Galvin.