BLOG TOUR: The King Is Dead by Benjamin Dean

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets The Inheritance Games in this Black LGBTQ+ royal romp full of heart-swooning romance, scandalous secrets and one hell of a mystery.

James has been a prince all of his life, and since he was born, he’s been thrust into the spotlight as the first Black heir to the throne. But when his father unexpectedly dies, James is crowned king at seventeen. Now, the secrets he could keep as a prince with no real responsibility – namely, his sexuality and hidden relationship – are rocked as his life irrevocably changes.

When his boyfriend suddenly goes missing, the royal secrets and scandals that only he knows start to leak online. And when it becomes clear that whoever is behind the messages isn’t going to stop anytime soon, James begins to question everyone around him .

BUY HERE

REVIEW

I would like to thank Simon and Schuster for a copy of the book in an exchange for an honest review.

Let me just start by saying The King Is Dead is a book you must pick up this year.

For my first ever Benjamin Dean book, this was the perfect one. If you’re a lover of books like Gossip Girl and the elite just being awful, then definitely give this a go.

It’s about a gay Black teenager who’s the heir to the British throne and is about to step up when his boyfriend goes missing. But that’s not all. Then he starts to get letters threatening to spill all the royal secrets.

This book really reminded me of Ace of Spades, which I loved. The mystery and thrilling elements when you don’t know who to trust are what make The King is Dead so good. Its focus on the mystery plot while also exploring how James is suffering from grief and being heir to the throne is just so incredibly done.

If you love books about royalty and don’t shy away from the racism that is inexplicably tied to it, then pick this up. If you love addictive books, then pick this up. If you want to read the book of the year that is filled with secrecy and gossip, then pick this book up!

This is an excellent YA debut from Benjamin Dean, and I can’t wait to see what he does next.

Interview with Emma Kress

Hi Emma, thank you for being on my blog today to discuss your debut novel Dangerous Play. 

How excited are you for people to read your book?

So excited! And scared. And pleased. And shocked that I’m here after so long. And nervous. And thrilled. I am feeling ALL the feels. 

Can you tell us a little bit about Dangerous Play?

Dangerous Play is a contemporary young adult novel about Zoe, a field-hockey team captain, who desperately wants to win the NY State field hockey championship and earn a scholarship to her dream college. But when she’s sexually assaulted, she and her ride-or-die team become vigilantes to fight rape culture in their town. It’s got feminism, friendship, and field hockey. 

What inspired you to write the book?

This team of fierce, hyper-athletic, determined girls showed up when I was in the middle of writing something else. I told them to go away, but they didn’t listen. Even though they showed up sudden and loud, I had been thinking about some of book’s components for some time. For instance, I’d long noticed a gap in YA literature; while there were powerful books that followed a survivor’s journey, I didn’t see any books about overall rape culture. I’d also never seen a book about girls’ sports and the kinds of friendships that can happen on an intense, competitive girls’ team. I started writing Dangerous Play back in 2014. Thankfully, now there are books like Moxie, which address rape culture. And while there are more books featuring athletic girls (like 2021 debuts In the Same Boat, by Holly Green, and The Knockout, by Sajni Patel) there are few that feature full teams. As a result, I was thrilled when the girls of Dangerous Play showed up, filling a need I’d had for a long time. In many ways, this was the book I needed both when I was a teen and as an adult.

What advice would you give to Zoe?

Zoe begins as a girl who is fierce on the field but timid in the rest of her life. It was such a privilege to watch her grow into being her authentic self everywhere. I’m not sure that I have advice for Zoe. She’s a force. She grows so much over the course of the book, so I have no doubt that whatever comes her way in the future, she’ll find her way.

What was the hardest thing about writing Dangerous Play?

Dangerous Play has a gigantic cast. While I felt I knew all of the characters inside and out because I’d spent so long getting to know them, communicating that on the page in as few words as possible was deeply challenging. It was particularly important to me to get the intersectional feminism right, as I want to be as inclusive as possible. I was so thrilled to see the Publisher’s Weekly review because they praised that in particular. (PW review: https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781250750488)

When coming up with new book ideas, what comes to you first plot or the characters?

I may have questions or scenarios that simmer, but I can’t write anything until the characters show up. For example, as I said earlier, I had long wanted to write something about rape culture and something about the friendship on girls’ sports teams. But I didn’t know those would go together until this fierce group of girls showed up, demanding to be heard. 

Was this the first book you ever wrote?

No. This was the third book I took to completion. But Dangerous Play is the book that got me my wonderful agent and my book deal.

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was ten. Truthfully, I was doing more dreaming than writing for most of those years. I was scared. But when my second child was born, I just thought, if not now, when? Which is pretty silly since I was working full time and had two young children. But hey. It’s never too late to go for that lifelong dream, right? At one point in Dangerous Play, the coach tells the girls to “play as big as you dream.” I think that’s something us writers need to do too. It’s easy to get lost in the dreaming. But we have to play as big as we dream.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

These days the biggest thing I do is mom. Mom-ing during pandemic times is like an Olympic sport. Also, I was a teacher for many years and I still love to offer workshops and presentations as well. 

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Keep going. Celebrate every little success. Train your family to clap and cheer when you finish a draft—or even if you finish a hard sentence. Find the signs to keep going even in the rejections. Lean into the joy. And then, keep going. 

Finally, if anything, what do you want readers to take away from your book?

I hope that Dangerous Play finds the readers who need it. I hope this book helps them feel seen, heard, and empowered. My grand hope is that in ten years, rape culture and misogyny are gone and this reads like historical rather than contemporary fiction. But I also think power and powerlessness are enduring issues. I think even if we were to solve societal inequities (and wow there’s a lot to do there), there will likely always be individual feelings of powerlessness. In many ways, Dangerous Play is a blueprint of hope for those moments of powerlessness. 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND EMMA KRESS:

Please join Emma Kress for my August 3^rd 6pm (eastern) launch through Northshire Bookstore with Nova Ren Suma! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/northshire-live-emma-kress-dangerous-play-tickets-162585961989

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emma_kress

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emma_kress?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kress.emma/

Facebook (professional): https://www.facebook.com/Emma-Kress-104816784920770

Free audiobook link: https://soundcloud.com/orangeskyaudio/dangerous-play-by-emma-kress

Interview with Laura Rueckert

Hi Laura, thank you for being on my blog today to discuss your debut  novel A Dragonbird in the Fern. How excited are you for people to read your book?
Thank you so much for having me! I’m very excited! My book was originally scheduled for a 2020 release and was pushed out due to the pandemic, so it’s been a long wait. But I’m honestly also pretty nervous.

Can you tell us a little bit about A Dragonbird in the Fern?
Sure! The short version is that it’s a YA fantasy/murder mystery starring a dyslexic princess.

As for the longer version…
When an assassin kills Princess Jiara’s older sister Scilla, her vengeful ghost torments their loved ones, and the violence won’t stop until the killer is brought to justice. For political reasons, a young, foreign king requests that Jiara take her sister’s place as his betrothed. Jiara’s terrified: due to dyslexia and years of scholarly struggles, she believes her chances of learning a new language are slim. 

But then she discovers evidence that her sister’s assassin came from the king’s country. Marrying him would allow Jiara to hunt the murderer and save her family from Scilla’s bloodthirsty spirit. But it will also make Jiara the killer’s next target.

What inspired you to write the book?
The original inspiration came years ago, when I was touring a castle somewhere in the German countryside (can you believe I don’t remember where?). The tour guide told us that the original lady of the house had been a highly educated French woman who spoke multiple languages, but not German, and was absolutely not happy to be stuck where she was due to an arranged marriage. So it made me wonder what it would be like to marry and move to a area where no one speaks the same language as you. 
Language learning and dyslexia are a big part of the book, why did you decide to make them play such a key role in Jiara’s personal journey?
Language learning is especially important to me because it’s something I still do on a daily basis. I’m American but moved to Germany many years ago. While I consider myself fluent in German, there are still dialects or words I don’t understand sometimes. I also work in international business, so I’m often exposed to additional languages.

I had just started drafting A Dragonbird in the Fern when my kids were diagnosed with dyslexia, and several older family members in three generations suspect they have it to but were never diagnosed. Some well meaning non-experts suggested I stop speaking my native language English with my kids, in the hopes that it would be easier for them if they only had one language to deal with. I did research and found that plenty of dyslexic people are multilingual.

What advice would you give to Jiara?
How about some advice I have trouble taking but is so important? It’s okay to need help, and it’s okay to ask for help.

What was the hardest thing about writing A Dragonbird in the Fern?
There were a lot of hard things, but the thing I wanted most to get right was the dyslexia rep. Besides doing research and helping my kids deal with dyslexia, I also worked with two amazing dyslexic authors who are also learning other languages.

When coming up with new book ideas, what comes to you first plot or the characters?
It used to be the characters, but lately, a premise comes first. Then I have to figure out the characters to go with it, and then the plot. I always panic a little when I think I’m never going to find a plot to fit a cool premise.

Was this the first book you ever wrote?
*laughs slightly hysterically* No, I’ve been writing for about a decade and have many shelved manuscripts, some of which I hope may come back in some form one day.

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?
Yes and no. I knew I wanted to be a writer, even as a child. But I’m very practical and thought writing would be a lonely and financially uncertain profession. I built up a career, married and had a family. Then the urge to write resurfaced, and I’m so glad it did.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I’m either working my day job at a large, international company as a project manager – at the moment implementing a new computer system – being a mom to two teens, reading, or walking my fluffy dog. And dreaming of the time when we can travel safely again.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Speaking as someone who quit writing for a decade, it’s never too late to start or re-start. Write what you want to write, but it might come down to having the right idea at the right time, so keep writing new books if the first ones don’t sell. Learning to give and accept critiques will make your writing stronger. Find writerly friends. And read, read, read!

Finally, if anything, what do you want readers to take away from your book?
Two things… First, I hope readers are swept away to another world. We all desperately need a little escape! Beyond that, Jiara has undiagnosed dyslexia, and she’s heard comments that made her doubt herself her whole life, even from her otherwise loving family. Whatever the reason, I think many of us know what it’s like to struggle with self-confidence, so I’d like readers to embrace the message that they are capable of more than they think. 

Laura Rueckert is a card-carrying bookworm who manages projects by day. At night, fueled by European chocolate, she transforms into a writer of young adult science fiction and fantasy novels. Laura grew up in Michigan, USA, but a whirlwind romance after college brought her to Europe. Today, she lives in Germany with her husband, two kids, and one fluffy dog.
​
Her debut novel A DRAGONBIRD IN THE FERN, a YA Fantasy, will be available August 3, 2021 from Flux.

Interview with Cyla Panin

Hi Cyla, thank you for being on my blog today to discuss your debut YA fantasy novel Stalking Shadows. How excited are you for people to read your book? Can you tell us a little bit about Stalking Shadow?  STALKING SHADOWS is a feminist, gothic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, where Marie must select her sister’s victims to protect her, but when a child turns up dead she’s forced to break the curse or face who’s really become a monster.   What inspired you to write the book? I’ve always loved the original, more gritty versions on fairytales. When I found out about the historical mystery of the Beast of Gévaudan, which was a beast of some kind that killed many people in the Gévaudan valley in France in the 18th century, I was fascinated by this really awful thing that we still didn’t have a solid explanation for. I read all the articles I could find and learned that a young girl named Marie-Jeanne Valet fought off the beast and won. I started thinking about that, and what a story like Beauty and the Beast would be like if the girls in the story held much more of the power. If it was two sisters who were the unwilling terrorizers — one as a beast and one as the person to selects people to die. I named my main character, Marie, after Mary-Jeanne Valet. When coming up with new book ideas, what comes to you first plot or the characters? I usually start with a spark of an idea — place, time, magic — and the main character. From there, I start to flesh that main character out, find her disbelief, and the true belief I want her to reach by the end of the book. The character arc informs the plot for me, and the details of the plot usually come last. I create a beat sheet as a plot outline before starting a project. What advice would you give to Marie? You are worthy. That she doesn’t need give up pieces of herself to be loved.  What was the hardest thing about writing Stalking Shadows?A lot of Marie and her sister Ama’s relationship was both difficult and cathartic for me to write. Their very bond really stems from shared trauma, and that’s a trauma I also had in my life. Writing the father character, who is an alcoholic, was very difficult for me and wrapped up in a lot of emotions.  Was this the first book you ever wrote? No, this was the second book I ever wrote. The first book I ever wrote was a Middle Grade that I hope I’ll be able to revise into something great one day. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer? I remember doing my first creative writing exercise in school (in French!) – probably in Grade 1 or 2 — and loving it. My teacher actually selected my little story, along with another in the class, to send to the Canadian government to as part of a project to demonstrate writing by kids in French Immersion. After that, I was always the kid who was so excited when we got to write creatively. By the time I was a teenager, I was writing what I thought might be picture books (spoiler alert – they were way too long and never came to anything!). I knew from then I wanted to be a writer in different forms, but ultimately my dream was to become a published author.  What do you do when you’re not writing? I read a lot! It’s my favourite way to unwind. Sometimes I draw. I also love a good thriller or period drama on Netflix.  What advice would you give to aspiring writers? There’s no time limit, and the right time to get started is when it feels right to you!  Finally, if anything, what do you want readers to take away from your book? I’d love if readers took away a sense of hope and empowerment—ownership over your own future.

You can purchase Stalking Shadows from

Amazon	Barnes and Noble
Books-a-Million	Bookshop
IndieBound	Powells
Indigo/Chapters	Apple Books
Google Play	Kobo

Cyla Panin is an MG, YA and Adult Author who prefers to look at the world through a dusting of magic. Her YA debut, STALKING SHADOWS will be out with Amulet, Abrams Fall 2021. She is represented by Chloe Seager of the Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV, and Film Agency.

Interview with Brianna Bourne

Hi Brianna, thank you for being on my blog today to discuss your debut novelYou & Me at the End of the World. How excited are you for people to read your book?

Thank you so much for having me! I’m so excited for people to read You & Me. It feels like it’s been such a long time since I announced my deal with Scholastic, and I’m so ready for Hannah and Leo’s story to be on the shelves, and in readers’ hands!

Can you tell us a little bit about You & Me at the End of the World?

Of course! 

You & Me at the End of the World follows two opposites, Hannah and Leo, after they wake up to find they’re the last girl and boy in their silent, empty city.

Stuck with only each other, they explore a world with no parents, no friends, and no school and realize that they can be themselves instead of playing the parts everyone expects of them.

Together, they search for answers amid crushing isolation, but while their empty world may appear harmless . . . it’s not. Because nothing is quite as it seems, and if Hannah and Leo don’t figure out what’s going on, they might be torn apart forever.

I feel like this book will resonate with a lot of readers because we’ve all experienced a pandemic where we haven’t been able to see our families or just do the usual stuff we normal do. When writing this book did you ever imagine for it to come out during a pandemic?

I finished writing the manuscript before the word “pandemic” hit the news, and I definitely never imagined that the empty streets in my book would end up mirroring the realities of 2020.

I hope that seeing Hannah and Leo confront their isolation in their very creepy empty city will feel cathartic for readers—but don’t worry, the juicy romantic tension will take the edge off if it gets too real! 😉

It’ll still feel like an escapist read; it just might happen to chime with some deeper, scarier feelings we’ve all been having this past year, which will (hopefully) pull you into Hannah and Leo’s situation even more.

What inspired you to write the book?

I think it began as wanting to write a love story where the two main characters get to be alone—really alone—for whole days or weeks. When you’re falling in love for the first time, it has to squash in around family and friends and school and curfews, and I wanted to give my characters the space to get to know each other without all of that business.

What advice would you give to Hannah and Leo?

JUST KISS ALREADY. (Oh, yeah, and be yourself)

What was the hardest thing about writing You & Me at the End of the World?

The hardest thing was probably finding the courage to keep querying after rejections. I’m so grateful I found an amazing editor who fell in love with the Hannah and Leo and their story in the way I’d always hoped someone would!

When coming up with new book ideas, what comes to you first plot or the characters?

Hmm… for me the concept comes first—I knew what the twist was going to be from the earliest daydreams about this book. Then the setting and overall vibe/subgenre start to become clear.

I develop my characters so that they’ll be the most effective/dramatic choice to be dropped into the concept. Mixing concept & character together magically creates plot points (just kidding, it’s not magic, it’s tons of headache-inducing brainstorming as I sift through dozens of possible scenes), and then the plot points get hammered into place until there’s a cohesive plot!

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I did, actually! My answer to the “what do you want to be when you grow up” question was always “author”—I was just too scared to do anything about it until about five years ago. I thought it was an impossible dream. But I’m here to tell you—it’s definitely not impossible.

What do you do when you are not writing?

Writing was what I did when I wasn’t at work, and I have yet to come up with a new hobby! I am however becoming quite the proficient digital marketer – sharing news about my book on socials is almost a second full-time job!

Who are some of your favourite authors? 

To name just a few: Emily Henry, Stephanie Perkins, Audrey Niffenegger, Madeline Miller, Naomi Novik, & J.D. Robb.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Read books about the craft of writing. Find honest (but not brutal!) critique partners. Revise drastically. Rewrite. Keep going.

Finally, if anything, what do you want readers to take away from your book?

You can’t grow if you never leave your comfort zone. Follow your heart, even if it leads you somewhere (or to someone) unexpected. ❤

You can preorder You & Me at the End of the World from Amazon, Barnes & Noble as well as on Goodreads

BLOG TOUR: Becoming Mila by Estelle Maskame

Set in Los Angeles and Nashville over a long, hot summer, Becoming Mila is the first book in an irresistibly addictive and exhilarating new trilogy from Estelle Maskame, shimmering with love, friendship, family frictions – and lots of romance.

Sixteen-year-old Mila lives in LA with her mom and A-list actor dad, whose fame constantly thrusts their lives into the media spotlight. But when Mila’s antics around town make waves ahead of her dad’s next big movie, something needs to be done. So Mila is dispatched 2,000 miles away to Nashville, Tennessee, where she can cool off for the summer with her aunt and grandfather. The perfect solution – right?

Mila’s not so sure. She’s dreading the idea of a summer away from her friends, not to mention being shipped to the other side of the country. Apprehensive and out-of-sorts when she arrives, it doesn’t take long for her to get off on the wrong foot with the mayor’s son, Blake. In spectacular style.

But Blake’s no stranger to Mila’s issues. He knows exactly what life’s like with a parent in the public eye – the pressures and politics, dramas and dynamics … Perhaps Mila and Blake have far more in common than either of them care to admit

Review

I would like to thank the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Estelle Maskame has done it again. Becoming Mila is incredible and the ultimate read for YA lovers.

I still remember reading Estelle’s debut series, Did I Mention I Love and how incredible the whole series turned to be so when I heard about her new Becoming Mila series I had to read it.

Becoming Mila is the perfect for fans of the YA romance genre. The characters of this book are great and characters I loved more and more as the book went on. It was also great to see the character growth throughout the novel which made for shocking turns throughout the book. I loved Mila straight away as we were quickly let in on the fact Mila’s life of privilege wasn’t all it glitz and glamour but instead a much sadder life as she barely spends any times with her parens and the fact everything resolves around her dad’s career.

I loved the setting of the novel in Nashville and how this allowed Mila to reconnect with old friends and the life she had before her dad’s fame. I was instantly invested in Mila and Blake’s relationship and it did not disappoint even if the fact it was a slow burn romance almost killed me. There romance was filled with delicious moments that every reader will love. And let’s not forget that incredible cliffhanger ending that has me dying for the next book in the series Trusting Blake which comes out later this year.

Estelle’s writing never fails to disappoint and Becoming Mila is no different her writing style is excellent to depict all the emotions Mila is going through throughout the book. It was so good that every emotion Mila was feeling so was I which made the book even more enjoyable because it allowed me to love our main character whole heartedly.

Becoming Mila is an incredible book that I would highly recommend to everyone.

You can buy Becoming Mila now from here

Interview with Joanne Fritz

Hi Joanne, thank you for being on my blog today to discuss your debut MG novel in verse, Everywhere Blue. How excited are you for people to read your book?

I’m very excited! I’ve waited a long time for this book. In fact, I’ve been writing for many years, many decades. I really hope people like it. 

Can you tell us a little bit about Everywhere Blue?

Everywhere Blue is a novel in verse for middle grade readers. I didn’t write it specifically as a mystery, but it certainly contains a mystery!

Twelve-year-old Maddie plays the oboe in her school orchestra. She also has an undiagnosed anxiety disorder. Maddie loves music, math, and everything in its place. Her carefully ordered world falls apart when her beloved older brother vanishes from his college campus. Meanwhile, Maddie’s sixteen-year-old sister reacts by staying out late, and their parents are always distracted by the search for Strum. Drowning in grief and confusion, the family’s musical household falls silent. Can Maddie figure out where Strum has gone? Does it have anything to do with his passion for the environment? 

What inspired you to write the book?

So many things! I started with one poem back in 2013, about playing the oboe in my school concert band. Yes, I played the oboe. But it didn’t occur to me then that one poem could lead to an entire novel! At the time, I’d gotten frustrated about trying to get an agent and a publisher, so I’d been writing poetry and submitting to literary journals. I managed to get 14 or 15 publication credits that way. I didn’t submit the oboe poem anywhere, because I was working on something else at the time. Then in 2014, my husband and I were lucky enough to go on vacation to the Caribbean, to the island of St. Martin/St. Maarten, where we visited the Butterfly Farm and saw blue morpho butterflies. I knew since then that I wanted to put those butterflies in a book! I’ve also suffered from mild anxiety most of my life (I spent years on Lexapro) and felt it was time to write about a protagonist with anxiety. In addition, I’ve always been concerned about the climate crisis, but had never found a way to put it in a book before this. 

How hard was it writing this book in verse?

Surprisingly, not as hard as I thought it would be. And at the same time, a few parts of it were harder than anything else I’ve ever done (the villanelle, for instance, called Leaving, and the poem titled Outnumbered, which was emotionally wrenching to write). This is not the first novel I’ve written. It’s actually the fifth. But it is the first novel in verse that I’ve written. Once I started writing it in verse, it seemed to flow beautifully, and I knew I’d found the proper format.

When coming up with new book ideas, what comes to you first plot or the characters?

The characters always come to me first. Or the main character, anyway. If I don’t know who the main character is, I can’t start writing the story. Plot has always been more of a struggle for me. I’m a pantser (who wishes she was a plotter). This means I have no outline when I start writing a new book, but I always have a character, a setting, and a story idea.

Was this the first book you ever wrote?

Oh, no, not at all! I wrote dozens of picture books (starting when my two sons were little — they’re now in their 30s!) and four other novels before EVERYWHERE BLUE.

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

From an early age, yes! I loved reading and losing myself in a book, and I think I knew by the time I was 8 or 9 that I wanted to be a writer. It just took me a really long time to get to where I am now!

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Never give up! If you want badly enough to get published, keep writing. Keep working on your craft. Take workshops and classes, find a critique group. And keep writing!

Add Everywhere Blue on Goodreads and buy signed copies here

Guest Post by Casie Bazay

I am delighted to have Casie Bazay author of Not Our Summer on my blog today with an awesome guest post!

Why Everyone Needs a Bucket List

My debut young adult novel, Not Our Summer, released on May 11th, and it was definitely a magical day. I was overwhelmed with social media notifications and almost in tears to see so many people who were supportive and excited about my book! My family and I visited our local Barnes & Noble to see NOS on the shelf (such a thrill!), and then we went to lunch at one of my favorite restaurants. That evening, I had a virtual launch event with my local indie, Magic City Books, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and I went to bed that night knowing that it had been a day I’ll never forget as long as I live.

But back to the book! To give a brief summary, Not Our Summer is the story of two estranged cousins, K.J. and Becka, who, after the death of their grandfather, must travel on a series of vacation trips together in order to fulfill his bucket list—if they want their inheritance, that is. Since Grandpa Eli had agoraphobia, every task on his list was something he wanted to do but simply couldn’t, and once his health had begun to rapidly decline, he arranged for his only two granddaughters to visit these places instead.

This wouldn’t be so bad if K.J. and Becka were at least friendly with one another, but due to a longstanding and rather nasty feud between their mothers, it’s actually quite the opposite. Oh, and there’s also a catch . . . Grandpa Eli has a bit of a hidden agenda which is revealed to both readers, as well as the main characters, a little over halfway through the book.

When I came up with the idea to write Not Our Summer, I wanted to explore this difficult family dynamic against the backdrop of a variety beautiful locations around the U.S., and since those places are stated early on in the book, I’ll go ahead and share four of them with you here: the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, the Chattooga River on the border between South Carolina and Georgia, and Key West, Florida. I’ve been to all of these places except one, so I based many of the descriptions off of my own personal experiences.

After writing Not Our Summer, however, it occurred to me just how important bucket lists are and why we all should have one. I know not everyone can afford to go on faraway trips or do expensive things, but that doesn’t mean you can’t come up with a list of things you’d like to do or achieve before you leave this world. For example, it could be something as simple as eating homemade ice cream with your best friend while watching the sun set. Or visiting a nearby place in order to relive a childhood memory.

No matter what’s on your bucket list though, I advise writing it down and keeping that list posted somewhere visible. After all, when we write our goals and dreams down, this is often the first step to manifesting them in our lives. We tend to do what we continually think about.

And since I’m suggesting you come up with your own bucket list, I thought I would share mine. Here are the top 10 things I would LOVE to do or achieve:

1.) Travel to Paris to eat gluten free pastries, speak bad French, and drink a little wine.

2.) Travel to Maine to enjoy the scenery, eat blueberries, and see exactly how different northeastern and Okie accents are.

3.) Publish another young adult novel (and then another and another . . .)

4.) Inspire a reader to get a tattoo based on one of said novels.

5.) Make the NYT bestseller list (because what author doesn’t have this dream, right?!?)

6.) Rent a convertible and drive up the coast of California to the northwestern tip of Washington state (one of my favorite places ever).

7.) Adopt a rescue horse.

8.) Relive one of my favorite teenage memories: going on a weekend trail ride at Robber’s Cave State Park in southeastern Oklahoma.

9.) Have one of my books adapted into a movie or TV series.

10.) Inspire other writers to achieve their dreams.

So there it is—my bucket list. What’s yours?

If you’d like to check out my bucket list/summer road trip book, Not Our Summer, you can find it on Bookshop, as well as nearly any other online retailer. It’s also currently available at your local Barnes & Noble.

Casie Bazay is former middle school teacher who now works as a freelance writer and editor. In her spare time, Casie enjoys exploring the great outdoors, spending time at the barn with her horses and goats, reading, and watching movies (especially young adult novel adaptations). She lives on a hay farm in northeastern Oklahoma with her husband and two children but loves traveling to new and exciting destinations whenever she can. Not Our Summer is her first published novel.

BLOG TOUR: The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall

I was hooked from the moment I heard Sophie’s job was to be a professional bridesmaid. That combined with the marketing as a funny British romcom made it sound right up my street and it did not disappoint. 

Sophie is a wedding expert whose job is to become part of the bridal party and do whatever the family needs, from small errands to full-blown wedding planning. Her most important task is to manage crises that occur during or before the wedding, such as a drunk groom or missing “luxury” port-a-potties. When she is hired to become a bridesmaid for the difficult daughter of a Marchioness, Sophie encounters her biggest challenge yet, and possibly a romance.

As you can probably tell Sophie Breeze has going on, but she always makes time for the people closest to her. Then she gets a wedding invite to her ex’s wedding and everything falls apart. Her ex whose still part of her friendship group is ignorant of Sophie’s feelings and belittles her. This causes Sophie to want to grow out of her comfort zone and become more spontaneous which she does thanks to her friend Cordelia who we love. 

Katy’s writing is intriguing and funny some of my favourite moments were Sophie’s emails with her clients they were so funny and sometimes cringy. I loved reading about all the weddings Sophie had to deal with such as the bride who was having a Star Wars themed wedding and asked if Sophie would be comfortable dressing as Chewbacca! I also loved how this book was mainly about friendship, yes it had romance, but this book had the perfect blend of it to make it great.  

The Secret Bridesmaid is perfect for fans of romantic comedies, friendships, and weddings. This book will have you laughing out loud.

I also did a podcast episode with Katy Birchall a few months ago which you can find on all good podcasting platforms.

Interview with Stephanie M. Wildman

Hi Stephanie, thank you for being on my blog today to discuss your books Privilege Revealed and Brave in the Water.  Can you tell us a little bit about them?

At first blush these books seem quite different, coming from different corners of my life. Privilege Revealed: How Invisible Preference Undermines America is a non-fiction book that examines the different forms of systemic privilege that perpetuate inequality and fly under the radar of antidiscrimination law. Brave in the Water, a children’s picture book, portrays a young boy who is afraid the put his face in the water and his path to overcoming that fear. But the legacy of racial segregation, including denial of access to swimming pools, has meant that many children of color and their parents don’t know how to swim. I like to think that a thread of social justice advocacy runs through all of my writing.

How did Privilege Revealed come together?

Initially, Trina Grillo, Adrienne Davis, and Stephanie met regularly to hash out our ideas, some of which we published in essay form. Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic, the series editors for Critical America at NYU Press approached Stephanie about writing a book proposal about this work on privilege. They suggested that Margalynne Armstrong’s work on housing would be essential to the volume. Stephanie and Margalynne later became colleagues at Santa Clara Law and began writing together regularly about whiteness and the legal academy. Much of that work informs the new material in the re-release of the “Classics” edition of the book.

Collaboration across racial lines remains the exception in exploring racial dynamics. The trust that enabled this collaboration allowed a deeper examination of these issues.

If I’m correct Privilege Revealed has been re-released, what was behind this decision? 

NYU Press Classics series examines “essential issues more relevant than ever to our contemporary world.” After George Floyd’s murder I wrote a blogpost “On Learning and Relearning about white privilege.” The press approached me, then, about updating Privilege Revealed and Margalynne Armstrong agreed to work with me on it.

How was it to revise a book written 25 years ago?

As I have said elsewhere, writing with Professor Margalynne Armstrong has been one of the joys of my writing life. We were honored that NYU Press chose to reissue Privilege Revealed as part of their “classics” series, though it is a little daunting to be old enough to have one’s work regarded as classic. More somberly, we wish the issues the book addresses did not remain so relevant today. As the preface explains, “politicians attack diversity training and critical race theory with the goal of suppressing discussions of privilege and racism in order to maintain the status quo.”

What inspired you to write Brave in the Water?

I didn’t learn to swim until I was 26 years old – it was the hardest thing I have ever done (and I’ve done some things people consider hard). I hope I can spare children from having to grow up with that fear. Swimming can be so joyful. 

What advice would you give to those like Diante who are afraid of water?

Being able to talk about being afraid can be a big step in overcoming it. I do believe that the breathing exercise Diante practices – slow, steady inhales and exhales – can calm the body for trying something new. Hold someone’s hand when you take the first steps. And finding a good swim program can also help, too.

How did your job as a law professor aid your writing?

I always learn from writing about a topic. Being a law teacher gave me the gift of colleagues to write with and critique my work. I realized I missed that community when I retired from law teaching, and I was lucky to be accepted as a member of The Writers Grotto, where I have found a new writing community.

What inspires new book ideas for you?

This question kind of stumped me, because I really don’t know – inspiration is everywhere – sometimes it’s a child’s question. Tara Lazar’s blog contains lots of ideas for finding inspiration with posts from different authors during her Storystorm event every January.

What was the hardest thing about writing either of your books?

The children’s book was hardest because I had to learn the landscape of the kidlit world (and I’m still learning). I’ve been lucky to have a teacher/mentor in Maxine Rose Schur. And now I’m in an exciting debut authors group NewBooksForKids.com. I’m excited for their books coming out. Check them out!

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I think I did. When I was in 4^th grade I created a pen name for myself. But I’m content with my birthname, and that is what I use now.

What do you do when you’re not writing? 

 I am an active grandma with an active yoga practice. And I do love to read.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

I’m always telling my friends – “write it down” – when something happens to them. Because it can be hard to access the emotions later. Write it all, for yourself. Worry about what goes out in public later.

Finally, if anything, what do you want readers to take away from your writing?

I hope people feel inspired to find their own best path to “making good trouble,” in the words of John Lewis.

Stephanie M. Wildman, author of Brave in the Water, became a Professor Emerita after serving as the John A. and Elizabeth H. Sutro Chair at Santa Clara Law. She directed the school’s Center for Social Justice and Public Service. In 2007, the Society of American Law Teachers, the largest national organization of law school faculty, honored her with their Great Teacher Award.