TBR welcomes Nora Olsen

TBR: Welcome to TBR, Nora. Will you share a little bit about yourself?
Nora:  Hi, and thanks for having me! I grew up in New York City and now I live a little farther north in New York’s Hudson Valley, with my girlfriend and two cute cats. I love writing novels, which is a childhood dream come true.

TBR: Tell us about SWANS & KLONS and where it's available.
Nora:  SWANS & KLONS is a dystopian Young Adult (YA) novel that tells the story of two sixteen-year old girls in an all-female world who fall in love as they struggle to free enslaved clones.

Swans & Klons is published by Bold Strokes Books (http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/products.php?product=Swans-%26-Klons-%252d-by-Nora-Olsen), a premier publisher of LGBTQ fiction, and is also available from Barnes & Noble (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/swans-and-clons-nora-olsen/1112580963?ean=9781602828742) and wherever you usually buy books! The official publication date of Swans & Klons is May 14, but is already available as an e-book and for pre-order in print.

TBR: Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt.
Nora:  

What does it take to survive in a world built on lies?

Sixteen-year-old Rubric loves her pampered life in the Academy dormitory. She’s dating Salmon Jo, a brilliant and unpredictable girl. In their all-female world, non-human slaves called Klons do all the work. But when Rubric and Salmon Jo break into the laboratory where human and Klon babies are grown in vats, they uncover a terrifying secret that tears their idyllic world apart.
Their friends won’t believe them, and their teachers won’t help them. The Doctors who rule Society want to silence Rubric and Salmon Jo. The two girls must flee for their lives. As they face the unthinkable, the only thing they have left to believe in is their love for each other.

TBR: Did any music inspire your book? Do you have a playlist?
Nora:  I am very inspired by music! In general, my favorite writing songs are “Every Day I Write The Book” by Elvis Costello and “Shadow Stabbing” by Cake. But for Swans & Klons I have two special songs. One is “The Clone” by Project Pitchfork. That one is obvious, since in Swans & Klons male humans have died out, and humanity persists thanks to cloning. The other is “The Crystal Ship” by The Doors. That’s because the main characters Rubric and Salmon Jo dream of escaping in an airship. The song is really appropriate, because it’s romantic but with a hint of menace and the threat of separation, and it’s also about freedom. Just like Swans & Klons! Thanks, Jim Morrison, for writing the perfect song for my book.

TBR: Any other published works?
Nora:  My first novel was The End: Five Queer Kids Save The World, published in 2010 by Prizm Books. That one was about five friends who must travel through time to avert a nuclear war, and also features LGBTQ characters and themes. You can find it on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/End-Nora-Olsen/dp/1610401166/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1296571251&sr=1-1)

TBR: Are you a plotter or pantser?
Nora:  I am a reformed pantser! I used to make up the story as I went along, but now I carefully plan it all out on a chapter-by-chapter level before I begin writing. I think the results are about the same, but I have to do less work editing! In writing there are always surprises, though.

TBR: Do you have a favorite quote you’d like to share?
Nora:  “If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” - Toni Morrison

There are surprisingly few YA novels that feature lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other queer characters. YA Novelist Malinda Lo has done some research on this and found the percentage to be less than 1%. Especially given the difficult circumstances that some LGBTQ teens grow up in, I want to do my part to offer these young people stories that are empowering and reflect characters like themselves. That’s how I try to put Toni Morrison’s quotation into practice.

TBR: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding?
Nora:  The most challenging part is after the thrill of writing the first draft has worn off, and it’s time to edit the manuscript and make it as perfect as I know how so that I can send it to my editor. But the most rewarding part, getting feedback from readers telling me how much they enjoyed the story, makes it all worthwhile.

TBR: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now?
Nora:  Like so many writers, I also love to read. Some of my favorite writers are John Christopher, Nicola Griffith, and Jane Fletcher. If you like speculative fiction, I bet you might like them too! I’m also a Jane Austen fan.  Right now I am just finishing up The Culling by Steven Dos Santos, and wow, that is quite a book! I think readers who enjoy Swans & Klons would like The Culling, and vice versa.

TBR: Where can readers find you on the web?
Nora:  Come visit me at http://noraolsen.com/

TBR: Readers, Nora Olsen will give away a paperback copy of Swans & Klons and a special Swans & Klons magnet to one lucky commenter. She'll pick a winner on Tuesday, May 14 and announce the winner here. Be sure to leave your email address so Nora can contact you.

Thanks for visiting TBR, Nora. All the best to you.

TBR welcomes Sydney Scrogham

TBR: Welcome to TBR, Sydney. Will you share a little bit about yourself?
Sydney: I am currently a student at Bridgewater College studying psychology and neuroscience.  I don’t know what I want to do with that yet, but I am passionate about those topics.  I also love to travel.  I have been to Uganda and Romania on mission trips and I hope to return to Africa someday in the future.  However, when I am away overseas I miss my incredible horse, Blue, almost so much it hurts.  Blue inspired all of the horses mentioned in my first novel, Chase.  Finally, my relationship with Jesus Christ is truly my defining factor.  Without that and my God-given ability to write, Chase would not exist.  I’m grateful for this opportunity and thrilled beyond words.

TBR: Tell us about CHASE and where it's available.
Sydney: Chase is something I wrote when I was thirteen.  I felt God laying out a romantic story between Him and me that I wanted to express as a novel.  Long story short, the rough version of Chase was completed eighteen days later. I held on to the manuscript until my sophomore year of high school when I had a creative writing teacher that worked for The Wild Rose Press.  I gave my manuscript to her to have it submitted.  The Wild Rose Press went through some changes and I got shuffled around into the hands of LeapBooks.  Little did I know, about a year and a half later I signed my first publishing contract for Chase on my eighteenth birthday.  Chase has not yet been released to the public, but it is available for pre-order on LeapBooks’ website:

http://leapbks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=11

TBR: Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt.
Sydney: Chase tells the story of Lauren, a high school graduate struggling to deal with her past and discover her future. Lauren stumbles into the world of Agalrae and finds herself in the midst of a battle between Chase (the hero and namesake of the book) and the Snix.  Lauren begins to fall for Chase, who has been raised by horses.  But the Snix fights to tear Lauren and Chase apart until Chase is willing to sacrifice everything he has to save Lauren and his home.  I’d reveal more, but I don’t want to give any of the good stuff away.

TBR: Are you a plotter or pantser?
Sydney: I am pure pantser.  Few things frustrate me more than having to take the time to lay out scenes before writing them.  I would rather do it all at once and have my characters be able to make some of their own decisions.  I have a clear beginning and end in mind, but getting from A to B is where all the fun is.  No one knows what’s going to happen until we get there.

TBR: How do you develop your characters?
Sydney: My characters come from a bunch of different things.  They usually pick up an attribute of myself, someone I’m close to, and a movie character.  For example, Lauren came from my own desire to be loved and a friend’s difficulty with low self-esteem.  Instead of a movie, the rest of Lauren came from a Biblical view of the church—a beautiful, alluring bride of Christ.  From those core characteristics I came to know Lauren with her own unique set of strengths and weaknesses.  Each of my characters has to contain something that really moves me or I will either grow bored with them or they won’t make it through my story.

TBR: Did any music inspire your book? Do you have a playlist?
Sydney: I cannot write without music.  Ergo, I have a playlist.  Lots of music spoke to me as I wrote (and edited) Chase, especially music by Jeremy Camp.  There’s a little bit of everything in here, from classical to soundtrack to hard rock.

1.           Starlit Stallion—Robert Vavra

2.           Magnificent Obsession—Steven Curtis Chapman

3.           Lullaby—Nickelback

4.           This Man—Jeremy Camp

5.           Never Alone—Barlow Girl

6.           Here I Am—Bryan Adams (from Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron)

7.           Set Me Free—Casting Crowns

8.           The Vigil—David Nevue

9.           No Longer—Decyfer Down

10.        After The World—Disciple

11.        Just a Kiss—Lady Antebellum

12.        There’s a Reason—Mercy Me

13.        When I Look at You—Miley Cirus (from The Last Song)

14.        Tremble—Nichole Nordeman

15.        Far Away—Nickelback

16.        Cry On My Shoulder—Nickelback

17.        To Bring You Back—Paul Alan

18.        Summer Piano—Relaxing Piano Music Consort

19.        Savin’ Me—Nickelback

20.        I Know—Seventh Day Slumber

21.        The Last Night—Skillet

22.        Dare You to Move—Switchfoot

23.        Even If--ZOEGirl

TBR: Which of your characters would you most/least like to invite to dinner, and why?
Sydney: I’m going to change this question around a little bit, and make it if I could ride one of the horses from my story, which one would it be and why?  I absolutely love the horse Cali, the stallion that raised Chase.  He is the protective, fatherly figure.  And I have to admit I would love to ride a talking navy blue horse.  I can only imagine the types of conversation we would have.

TBR: Tease us with one little thing about your fictional world that makes it different from others.
Sydney: My villain—the Snix.  It’s like a snake and human hybrid with a nasty attitude.  I’ve included a picture that I sketched for my editor and me to use while we edited Chase.

TBR: What's next for you?
Sydney: Whenever I make plans, they seem to change the next day.  I plan, and God laughs.  First, I am definitely going to finish college and hop along to grad school.  I will continue writing my whole life because it is something I enjoy, and I will keep Blue with me as long as possible.  I will travel back to Africa someday and enjoy eating bananas and pineapple fresh off the tree.  I plan on having my home in the States stay in Virginia.  I love it here in the Shenandoah Valley.  As for the rest of my life, I have no idea what’s coming.  I think that’s why I am such a pantser—I know where I want to end up in life, but getting there is half the fun.  Each day is a new adventure.

TBR: Any other published works?
Sydney: Not YET (emphasis on the “yet”).  I have tons of ideas and lots of other completed manuscripts from my early teenage years.  However, Chase’s sequel is first on my agenda to complete.

TBR: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now?
Sydney: Hands down, my all-time favorite author would probably be Ted Dekker.  I have been a loyal fan since I read his novel Heaven’s Wager.  I know I’ve read a good book when I continue to think about it long after I finished it, and that’s what Dekker does for me.  I hope that my readers will feel the same way about Chase.  I also enjoy the works of Frank Peretti (The Oath), Emma Donoghue (Room), Kathryn Mackel (The Outriders), Dee Henderson (The Negotiator), and Robert Liparulo (Germ).  Currently, I am reading The Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner.

TBR: Where can readers find you on the web?
Sydney:  I am an avid Facebook user, and I also have a page with LeapBooks.

And I found this olderYoutube video that I made with the help of a friend to help Blue get into college with me.  The horse and rider connection I have with Blue really plays a part in Chase.

TBR: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Sydney: As an author, I want to know what moves my readers out there.  What is something that you believe in strongly enough to die for it?

TBR: Readers, Sydney has a treat in store for you! She's designed a Breyer model horse that looks like Cali, as shown. One lucky commenter will win it. Sydney will pick a winner on September 8 and announce the winner here. Be sure to leave your email address so she can contact you.

Here is a link to more pictures of the COMPLETED model:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.376692469050605.90002.359928024060383&type=1

Sydney's also the August Featured Author at TBR, so be sure to visit her here too. 

Thanks for visiting TBR, Sydney! All the best to you.

TBR welcomes Bonnie J. Doerr

TBR: Welcome to TBR, Bonnie. Will you share a little bit about yourself?
Bonnie: I’m happy to be with you. It’s always a pleasure to connect with new readers. If you allow the following words to create mental images, you’ll have a good idea of who I am: green, nature, wildlife, environmentalist, gardener, reader, traveler, educator. I’ve lived in eight states in the USA and have finally landed in a log cabin in western North Carolina, though I spend weeks each year in the Florida Keys researching and writing.

TBR: Tell us about StakeOut and where it's available.
Bonnie: The second book in my eco-mystery/adventure series is StakeOut, finalist for the 2012 Green Earth Award. It’s available from the publisher http://leapbks.com/bonniedoerr.htm and on Amazon.

TBR: Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt.
Bonnie: StakeOut’s back story begins in NYC before young teen Kenzie Ryan moves to the Florida Keys. Here’s a blurb to provide the big picture.

[On a field trip to the NY aquarium]

 A surreal encounter with an ancient sea turtle propels Kenzie into peril in the Florida Keys....

A haunting promise compels Kenzie to save sea turtles by ending a rash of nest robberies. Fearless, wheelchair-bound Ana and savvy, troubled Angelo assist Kenzie in an undercover operation that grows increasingly complicated and treacherous. Problems compound as Kenzie fears losing her first romance, her mother's trust, and her own life.

Stakeout includes notes on the endangered hawksbill and loggerhead turtles as well as information about the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida.

TBR: What inspired you to write about the theme?
Bonnie:  My dad, a life-long scout leader and recipient of many distinguished service awards, was the biggest inspiration for the books I write. He shaped my values, interests, and passion for the outdoors while leading our family around the country on countless camping adventures. We had a blast exploring mountains, deserts, plains, lakes and oceans. I was fascinated by every creature I encountered: wild buffalo, moose, bears, prairie dogs, eagles, and even snakes. The endless variety of trees, plants, and flowers I encountered on our travels amazed me. The lists could go on and on.

Every facet of family life reflected scouting’s values—worship, patriotism, friendship, outdoor exploration, community involvement, and environmental stewardship. Dad especially understood the value of connecting with nature. My writing is a way of passing on these values, especially respect for the environment.

I’m astounded by how many people are missing the gene that connects them to nature. In recent years my astonishment has turned into alarm. This dissociation from nature, I believe, is in many ways at the core of our environmental crisis. If we have no knowledge of the outdoors or experience with nature, how can we learn to care about it?

Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods (Algonquin, 2005), defines this as “Nature Deficit Disorder”. As a result of a lifetime indoors, children have limited respect for their immediate natural surroundings. According to Louv, “An increasing pace in the last three decades, approximately, of a rapid disengagement between children and direct experiences in nature… has profound implications, not only for the health of future generations but for the health of the Earth itself.” 

Not every child can visit a wilderness, or explore a National Refuge, but every child can feel like they have when immersed in my novels. Teens can learn how much fun it is to be outdoors, how sensitive the environment is, and how they can set a good example for the adults in their world. They can virtually join other teens as they work to improve the Earth and save its creatures. It’s one small thing I can do to inspire environmental stewardship.

TBR: Are you a plotter or pantser?

Bonnie: Both! I begin with a rough plot in my head. Then I try very hard to outline this plot in greater detail before I start tapping on the keys. But I can’t seem to make that work. In the end, I find I’m doing both at once. A bit of plot comes to flesh out the outline, then several scenes, then a bit more on the outline, and additional scenes for who knows how long before I add more plot points to the outline. I always keep an outline going while I work. So I’ve begun to define myself as a plotser.

TBR: How do you develop your characters?
Bonnie: Before I develop characters, I choose a contemporary environmental issue that focuses on wildlife—an issue that is being addressed by an actual organization like the Sea Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Fl which is featured in StakeOut.  I take a small piece of that problem and form a plot. Only then do I decide what characters are needed to shape the story.

What qualities does the protagonist need in order to solve the mystery or take on the challenge? What passions does the protagonist need to have in order to even care about the problem? Is intelligence or curiosity more important? Wit or stealth? Courage or leadership? What physical prowess? That sort of thing. And then comes the back story: how is it my characters have developed these traits? Even though I’ve kept the same major characters for three books, they develop and change as a result of new experiences as does the relationship between them.

The antagonists must have qualities that stump the good guys. So I create villains who, because of their personalities; positions; skills; and/or interests, can foil and fool my heroes. And of course, I develop red herring characters that have similar characteristics to the bad guys, just not the same motives. I always enjoy creating quirky characters who could easily be construed as good or bad. And I love creating friends who serve as sounding boards and mirrors for my protagonists.

TBR: Which of your characters would you most/least like to invite to dinner, and why?
Bonnie: I’d love to invite two supporting characters, Mike Kaczynski, the Florida Wildlife Officer and Fisher (no one seems to know his last name), the old sponge fisherman.

I’d invite Mike because he could update me on the welfare of refuge wildlife. I can imagine many questions. Did anyone ever discover what caused the pelican die off?  Have there been any sea turtle eggs poached lately?  What about whale or dolphin strandings? Have the lobster trap thieves been caught?

He’d also have stories about people breaking laws that protect wildlife and the environment, firsthand accounts of people deliberately maiming or killing protected species. What was their motive, and how did you catch them? Mike’s stories would offer details to inform my work.

When I was last in Key West, I witnessed people repeatedly breaking laws that protect pelicans. Birds were dying because of this behavior. I wanted to call Mike. He’s so real to me. But—reality check—actual live officers had to be informed. I’m convinced Mike would have arrived more quickly!

I’d want Fisher at the table because I’d enjoy hearing about Fisher’s childhood. He grew up in the Florida Keys when the islands were mostly undeveloped and there was no school for him to attend. His tales of living on an isolated island, surviving hurricanes, and then adjusting to life on a boat would be fascinating. I’d love to imagine playing with little-boy Fisher in a pristine sea teaming with fish and vibrant coral reefs. I’m sure I could coax him, in his unique theatrical manner, to recite lines his actress mother practiced, or to imitate his British father’s oral reading accent. Perhaps even more fun would be listening to Fisher, now in his 70s, share present day stories. Islanders love to talk with Fisher as he bikes around the islands. He makes regular forays to hunt for “treasures,” as he calls the items he salvages from recycling bins. What he isn’t told, he sees or overhears. Trust me. His stories are more colorful than any gossip magazine.

What could make better dinner conversation than guests who both educate and entertain?

TBR: While creating your books, what was one of the most surprising things you learned?
Bonnie: Sadly, I learned that in real life there are people even more wicked than the ones I imagine. When I research atrocities inflicted on wildlife, I find accounts of events that break my heart. But I concentrate on the heroes that care for wildlife and the environment. There are far more good people in life and in my stories than wicked ones.

TBR: What's next for you?
Bonnie: I’m working on the third book in the series, tentatively titled Busted. Angelo and Kenzie have entered high school now and must travel a long way from their small islands to attend class in the city of Key West. Their personal relationship grows complicated, and the ecological challenges they take on are more intricate and dangerous.

TBR: Any other published works?
Bonnie: Island Sting (Leap Books, 2010) was the first in this series. Now also available as an eBook, it won the 2011 EPIC eBook award for Outstanding Children’s Book.

TBR: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding?
Bonnie:

For me the challenge is balancing promotion; invitations to speak, appear, or write; reading; and outdoor distractions with the actual work of putting words on the page.

The most rewarding part of being an author is meeting readers or hearing from them, especially those who have been entertained before realizing they learned something. I write for others, not myself.

TBR: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
Bonnie: Off the top of my head, this comment comes to mind. I bet Kenzie would love to know she reminds a reader of Batman!

“... Kenzie's motivation for saving animals, is what Doerr wisely focuses on. It turns out Kenzie feels responsible for the death of her dog and has vowed never to allow another animal to die on her watch. This is Batman vowing never to let what happened to his parents happen to other citizens of Gotham. This is the hero cop whose partner is gunned down in the opening scenes of the movie, and now it's personal.” Middle Grade Ninja

TBR: Where can readers find you on the web?
Bonnie: 

I love friends. Join me on Facebook!  http://www.facebook.com/bonnie.j.doerr.

I don’t tweet much, but I squeak now and again:  https://twitter.com/#!/bonniedoerr.

I occasionally post on my own blog. http://www.bonnieblogsgreen.blogspot.com/.  

Teachers, parents, and students will find way too much information on my website. http://bonniedoerrbooks.com/ . I hope to update and streamline it soon.

TBR: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Bonnie: I do have a question for your followers who own an eReader:

About what percentage of the books you read are eBooks?

TBR: Thanks for visiting TBR, Bonnie, and for being the April Featured Author, a wonderful post, and I encourageeveryone to visit it today while you still can!