November SST: Timekeeper (Review + Giveaway!)

Timekeeper by Tara Sim
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Steampunk/LGBTQIA+
Page Length: 368 pages
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Publication Date: November 8, 2016

About Timekeeper (via Goodreads):

In an alternate Victorian world controlled by clock towers, a damaged clock can fracture time—and a destroyed one can stop it completely.

It’s a truth that seventeen-year-old clock mechanic Danny Hart knows all too well; his father has been trapped in a Stopped town east of London for three years. Though Danny is a prodigy who can repair not only clockwork, but the very fabric of time, his fixation with staging a rescue is quickly becoming a concern to his superiors.

And so they assign him to Enfield, a town where the tower seems to be forever plagued with problems. Danny’s new apprentice both annoys and intrigues him, and though the boy is eager to work, he maintains a secretive distance. Danny soon discovers why: he is the tower’s clock spirit, a mythical being that oversees Enfield’s time. Though the boys are drawn together by their loneliness, Danny knows falling in love with a clock spirit is forbidden, and means risking everything he’s fought to achieve.

But when a series of bombings at nearby towers threaten to Stop more cities, Danny must race to prevent Enfield from becoming the next target or he’ll not only lose his father, but the boy he loves, forever.

The stunning first novel in a new trilogy by debut author Tara Sim, Timekeeper is perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Victoria Schwab.

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REVIEW

Timekeeper by Tara Sim was an extremely delightful and imaginative book. Sim's writing style was particularly beautiful—it was so rich and vibrant that I was captivated from page one to the very end.

The world and world-building was probably the strongest aspect of  the book. Timekeeper was absolutely brilliant and definitely had one of the most unique worlds/concepts I've ever read about. From tracing back to the mythology of time every few chapters to the detailed descriptions of how time functions, how timekeepers' powers work, and the lives of the clock spirits, I felt truly transported into the world.

Danny may not have stood out to me as a protagonist overall, but he was an admirable and lovable character that I just wanted to give a hug constantly throughout the book. What struck me the most about him was how real and relatable he was. And yes, this did stand out to me more than other protagonists of other books. He was flawed, but he was a good person. A lot of characters seem to always know what to do in any situation, but he didn't and he realized it. And I kind of loved him for that. Were there times when I wanted to hiss at him to stay focused? A few. But did I still love him anyway? Absolutely.

I felt like a lot of the characters were pretty much secondary. Although some played more pivotal roles than others, the focus was mainly on Danny. Which I'm fine with, but I would have enjoyed diving deeper into some of the other characters' personalities and histories. Sim did briefly touch on a lot of their backstories, but I would have liked to see more interactions between them.

Speaking of interactions, I'd like to talk about the romance. I thought Danny and Colton were ADORABLE together, and I wanted them to be happy and unhurt and never live in fear and have a happily ever after, but at the same time, it didn't quite work for me. I loved Colton, and I know as a clock spirit he didn't have many opportunities to explore and grow since he was stuck in his tower for who knows how long, but I disliked his lack of a history. A lot of the faith that I put into my OTPs has to do with the couple's individual personalities, pasts, and growth, and that was hard to see in Colton (and thus their relationship).

Overall, I really enjoyed Timekeeper. While some minor characters fell flat for me, I believe there are so many opportunities for them to become stronger as the series progresses and Tara Sim already has a great foundation for that development. In addition, there were so many other amazing details throughout the book. Sim's writing was absolutely exquisite and her world-building was equally as extraordinary, and I cannot wait to see what she will explore in the rest of the series.

My Rating: 3.75 stars

About the Author:

Tara Sim can typically be found wandering the wilds of the Bay Area, California. When she’s not chasing cats or lurking in bookstores, she writes books about magic, clocks, and explosives. TIMEKEEPER is her debut novel. Follow her on Twitter at @EachStarAWorld, or check out her website tarasim.com for fun extras.

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October SST: Interview with Bound by Blood and Sand Author Becky Allen (+ Giveaway!)

Bound by Blood and Sand by Becky Allen
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Release Date: October 11, 2016

About Bound by Blood and Sand (via Goodreads):

Jae is a slave in a dying desert world.

Once verdant with water from a magical Well, the land is drying up, and no one remembers the magic needed to keep the water flowing. If a new source isn’t found soon, the people will perish. Jae doesn’t mind, in a way. By law, she is bound by a curse to obey every order given her, no matter how vile. At least in death, she’ll be free.

Lord Elan’s family rules the fading realm. He comes to the estate where Jae works, searching for the hidden magic needed to replenish the Well, but it’s Jae who finds it, and she who must wield it. Desperate to save his realm, Elan begs her to use it to locate the Well.

But why would a slave—abused, beaten, and treated as less than human—want to save the system that shackles her? Jae would rather see the world burn.

Though revenge clouds her vision, she agrees to help if the kingdom’s slaves are freed. Then Elan’s father arrives. The ruler’s cruelty knows no limits. He is determined that the class system will not change—and that Jae will remain a slave forever.

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INTERVIEW

When did you realize you wanted to be an author?

I don't remember exactly, but it must have been somewhere around fifth grade. I was a voracious reader as a kid, and that's when I can first remember writing stories for class - my creative short story was at least three times as long as everyone else's. (Also, it was fantasy, as I recall, something about a girl who turned into a phoenix.) Over the next couple of years I wrote more and more, with stories getting longer and longer all throughout middle and high school - I wrote my first (not very good) real novel in college. (It is never going to see the light of day.)

Have you ever/do you ever plan to write novels outside of the genre of Bound by Blood and Sand (if so, what genre)?

I definitely want to write some science fiction, too - I love scifi and fantasy both.

What's your favorite thing about being a writer?

Ooooh. That's tricky - there are pieces in all parts of the process that I love, and pieces that are pretty awful. But I think there's something magical about the time an idea is just starting to take shape, when you can play with it and brainstorm and worldbuild. In that stage, the idea feels shiny and perfect, without any actual words messing things up yet.

What is your writing process like?

I usually set aside time to do three to four  writing sessions a week: at least one evening after work (I have a full time job), plus both Saturday and Sunday. On those days, I take my laptop to a cafe and work for at least an hour. Usually I start by pre-writing for about 10 minutes to figure out how the scene is going to play out, and then I write in 30 minute chunks.

How long does it typically take you to complete a draft?

Usually three to four months, working three to four days a week. By the time I hit that last month I am always so impatient to be done already!

What is the most important lesson you've learned throughout your journey to become published?

When it comes to revising, don't ever dismiss an idea for being too hard or because you know pursuing it would take too long. Often, it's those time consuming, massive plot overhauls/rewrites/etc that will make your book the strongest it can be - and at the end of the day, that's the most important thing.

Do you have any advice to young writers who want to be published one day?

Yes! There are a lot of things I could say, but to focus on one: write for fun for yourself before you worry about getting published. For one thing, because if you don't find writing in and of itself to be fun, trust me, you're not going to find writing for publication fun either (because it's more of the same, but with WAY more stress).

But more than anything else, writing just for fun takes off so much pressure. Give yourself the freedom to write without caring if it's any good, if it makes any sense, if anyone else would ever want to read it. Tell yourself stories you love. Experiment with writing anything that interests you - whether that's fantasy or romance or essays or poems. Anything! The more you write, the more you'll figure out what it is you love to write, and the more you'll find your own voice. Publication can come eventually (sooner for some of you - a bit later for me!) but giving yourself the freedom to experiment and learn in an environment that's just fun is vital.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Becky Allen grew up in a tiny town outside Ithaca, New York, and graduated from Brandeis University with a major in American studies and a minor in journalism. She is the website director of TheBody.com, an online HIV resource, and loves New York, brunch, and feminism. Becky lives in New York City.

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October SST: Excerpt from Glitter by Aprilynne Pike (+ Giveaway!)

Glitter by Aprilynne Pike
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Historical Fiction
Release Date: October 25, 2016

About Glitter (via Goodreads):

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Aprilynne Pike comes a truly original new novel—Breaking Bad meets Marie Antoinette in a near-future world where the residents of Versailles live like it’s the eighteenth century and an almost-queen turns to drug dealing to save her own life.

Outside the palace of Versailles, it’s modern day. Inside, the people dress, eat, and act like it’s the eighteenth century—with the added bonus of technology to make court life lavish, privileged, and frivolous. The palace has every indulgence, but for one pretty young thing, it’s about to become a very beautiful prison.

When Danica witnesses an act of murder by the young king, her mother makes a cruel power play . . . blackmailing the king into making Dani his queen. When she turns eighteen, Dani will marry the most ruthless and dangerous man of the court. She has six months to escape her terrifying destiny. Six months to raise enough money to disappear into the real world beyond the palace gates.

Her ticket out? Glitter. A drug so powerful that a tiny pinch mixed into a pot of rouge or lip gloss can make the wearer hopelessly addicted. Addicted to a drug Dani can sell for more money than she ever dreamed.
But in Versailles, secrets are impossible to keep. And the most dangerous secret—falling for a drug dealer outside the palace walls—is one risk she has to take.

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EXCERPT

“You’re punctual, that’s appreciated,” I say in French. The words come out barely above a whisper. My heart is racing in my chest and I’m complimenting his punctuality?

He says nothing.

“I meant what I wrote in my note. I’m prepared to discuss an opportunity that I think will be immeasurably profitable for the both of us.”

He steeples his fingers and leans forward as though listening intently. A move calculated, I’m certain, to make me feel at ease. But it appears forced and instinct raises the hairs on the back of my neck.

I fight the urge to lean forward myself—to close the distance between us. To feel his breath on my face and—what is it that draws me to this … criminal? For of course that’s what he is—a dangerous criminal. I pause at that thought. Is it the danger? That sort of foolishness certainly occurs often enough in the romantic novels I’ve read. Is that what’s happening here? But no. If I were attracted to dangerous fellows I’d be throwing myself at the feet of the King. Is it because I have, on some level, considered becoming a criminal myself?

I study him closely and a prickling sense of wrongness wriggles through the haze of attraction. He’s young, yes, but I’m hardly one to question youth. His dress is a touch sloppy—or at the very least not personally tailored—but what I’ve seen of Paris has suggested to me that this is the norm rather than the exception. Still, there’s something …

“You’re not who I asked to see,” I say, forcing my voice to flow out utterly calm; a sea of glass.

A slight widening of the eyes is his only response.

“I must speak with the person in charge of this operation. That’s clearly not you.” I give a graceful gesture at his person with a swirl of my wrist that takes some of the sting of the insult away. I hope. Though a large part of me is simply glad he’s not who he was pretending to be: A drug lord.

“Did you expect a court dandy in fancy clothes, then?” he says. In French for certain—but not with a native accent.

I take a moment to inhale his voice, which is deeper than I’d anticipated, and with a hint of gravel. “Your clothes tell me nothing, sir; it’s in your eyes.”

That makes him angry. But it’s true. His eyes are fire and rebellion and the head of this sort of operation would have need of neither. Running a successful business, even an illicit one, fills men’s eyes with confidence, satisfaction. This person in front of me longs for more in life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Critically acclaimed, #1 New York Times best-selling author Aprilynne Pike has been spinning tales since she was a child with a hyper-active imagination. At the age of twenty she received her BA in Creative Writing from Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. When not writing, Aprilynne can usually be found out running; she also enjoys singing, acting, reading, and working with pregnant moms as a childbirth educator and doula. Aprilynne lives in Arizona with her husband and four kids; she is enjoying the sunshine.

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June SST: Interview with The Way to Game the Walk of Shame Author Jenn P. Nguyen

The Way to Game the Walk of Shame by Jenn P. Nguyen

Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary

Release Date: June 7, 2016

About The Way to Game the Walk of Shame (via Goodreads):

Taylor Simmons is screwed.

Things were hard enough when her single-minded dedication to her studies earned her the reputation of being an Ice Queen, but after getting drunk at a party and waking up next to bad boy surfer Evan McKinley, the entire school seems intent on tearing Taylor down with mockery and gossip.

Desperate to salvage her reputation, Taylor persuades Evan to pretend they’re in a serious romantic relationship. After all, it’s better to be the girl who tames the wild surfer than just another notch on his surfboard.

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INTERVIEW

Alexandra: Do you prefer to outline your characters/plots/etc. first, or do you just start writing once you get an idea?

I’m a crazy outliner. Before I start writing, I always have to have a detailed chapter outline of the entire plot as well as character profiles. The character profiles usually starts with a picture and from there I just build on the history, personality, and relationships. Searching for pictures is usually my favorite part of the outlining and what I do first. It helps me work through the story better when I can visualize the characters like in a movie.

A: What is the hardest part about being an author? The easiest?

The easiest part of being an author is knowing that your novel will be on bookshelves. Something that used to just be ideas in your head. That all your hard work and dreams are actually coming true and people will be reading your book. On the other hand, that’s also the hardest part of being an author. There are expectations now. You can’t just write when you feel like it. And there will be people reading your book. Strangers, critics, bloggers (although bloggers are awesome :) ).

A: If you were stuck on a deserted island with one of your characters, who would you want with you and why?

Would it be wrong of me to want Evan to be with me? Lol He is a surfer after all and he’s just so easy on the eyes.

A: If you had to write a book in a different genre, what genre would you choose and why?

I would LOVE to write an epic fantasy someday just because I find that genre so daunting and scary. My weakness is definitely worldbuilding and anything is possible in a fantasy. The options are limitless! The air you breathe could be used for currency or poison. People can live on clouds. Flowers could someday build an army and conquer the world. Okay, well, maybe not. But I definitely write better with a bit of structure and rules.

A: Are you currently working on any writing projects?

I’m actually bouncing back and forth between two other YA contemporary romances that are in the same universe as THE WAY TO GAME THE WALK OF SHAME. They aren’t necessarily sequels, but characters from THE WAY TO GAME do pop up from time to time!

A: What are some of your favorite books?

All the Harry Potter books. They’re just so amazing and magical. I also love all the books by Stephanie Perkins. They’re just so romantic and fun. A perfect way to spend a couple of free hours that leave you with a content satisfied feeling.

About the Author:

Jenn Nguyen fell in love with books in third grade and spent the rest of her school years reading through lunchtime and giving up recess to organize the school library. She has a degree in business administration from the University of New Orleans and still lives in the city with her husband. Jenn spends her days reading, dreaming up YA romances, and binge watching Korean dramas all in the name of 'research'. The Way to Game the Walk of Shame is her debut novel.

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June SST: Excerpt of All the Feels (+ GIVEAWAY!)

All the Feels by Danika Stone
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary
Publication Date: June 7, 2016

About All the Feels (via Goodreads):

College freshman Liv is more than just a fangirl: The Starveil movies are her life… So, when her favorite character, Captain Matt Spartan, is killed off at the end of the last movie, Liv Just. Can’t. Deal.

Tired of sitting in her room sobbing, Liv decides to launch an online campaign to bring her beloved hero back to life. With the help of her best friend, Xander, actor and steampunk cosplayer extraordinaire, she creates #SpartanSurvived, a campaign to ignite the fandom. But as her online life succeeds beyond her wildest dreams, Liv is forced to balance that with the pressures of school, her mother’s disapproval, and her (mostly nonexistent and entirely traumatic) romantic life. A trip to DragonCon with Xander might be exactly what she needs to figure out what she really wants.

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EXCERPT

Xander was waiting outside Cup O' Joe when Liv arrived. Icy fingers of wind dug under her coat as she trudged up the street, whereas Xander, with his long wool cloak and knee-high riding boots, was much better dressed for the weather. 

Catching sight of her, he waved his walking stick. "Liv! Over here, dearest!" (As if she'd assume the Jonathan Harker lookalike was anyone but him.) Dracula was set nowhere near Boulder, she thought, but she'd be willing to bet she could match it for mood. 

"I thought you would've grabbed us a table," Liv said, her breath clouding the frosty air. "It's freezing out." 

Snow swirled around the streetlights, catching on Xander's hair and peppering his top hat, giving the scene a postcard appeal.

"Joe's is packed," he said. "I tried, believe me. We'll have to-" Xander's dashing grin back-flipped into a look of concern as he caught sight of her face. "Christ, Liv, you look terrible!" he said, giving her a once over. "Whatever happened?"

Liv burrowed her nose into her scarf. "Nice to see you too, Xander." 

"I'm sorry for saying so, but you really do look dreadful."

"That is not an apology." She glowered at him. "You are a terrible best friend."

Xander groaned. "Oh come now, Liv. You know what I mean."

"I don't."

He waved a hand toward her mismatched ensemble. "Your hair isn't washed, your clothes are wrinkled, your shoes-"

"Not all of us live in a state of constant cosplay," Liv interrupted. Her voice dropped. "Or perfection," she muttered, thinking of Arden's long blond hair, pert body, and designer clothes.

Xander's gloved hand brushed her elbow and he gave her a gentle smile. "But you don't look like you, dearest, and that worries me."

Liv knew it was true, because his words were growing into that strange hybrid of modern American and fake British upper-crust. The first week of classes, Xander had gotten into an argument with their professor in the middle of class, and that same BBC-approved accent had come through. He was concerned.

Liv glanced over his shoulder to the window of Cup O' Joe. Xander was right. Every seat was taken. "So where do you want to go?" she sighed. "Cause I'm turning into a popsicle out here."

"Is Mickey Dee's to your liking, m'lady?"

"Perfect." 

"Then your carriage awaits." He did a half-bow, waiting for Liv to pass in front of him. "Just give me a minute to text Arden."

Liv headed down the street, snow crunching beneath her boots. She was annoyed again, and she couldn't explain why. She waited next to his car - a rusting orange Mazda - until Xander caught up. 

"So what's going on?" he asked. "You've been radio silent for days. I thought you'd joined a nunnery or something."

"I'm actually doing a little better. That's why I'm here."

"Oh?"

"I have an idea, but I'm going to need your help."

Xander unlocked the car door, and pulled it open with a flourish, his cape swinging wide. "You know I could never deny a damsel in distress."

Liv bit the inside of her lip to keep from grinning. "Am that what I am to you?"

"Not saying I mind. It lets me play hero." He winked. "So what's this idea of yours?"

Liv settled inside the car and smiled up at him.

"I'm bringing Spartan back from the dead."

About the Author:

Danika Stone is an author, artist, and educator who discovered a passion for writing fiction while in the throes of her Masters thesis. A self-declared bibliophile, Danika now writes novels for both adults (The Intaglio Series and Ctrl Z) and teens (All the Feels). When not writing, Danika can be found hiking in the Rockies, planning grand adventures, and spending far too much time online. She lives with her husband, three sons, and a houseful of imaginary characters in a windy corner of Alberta, Canada.

Ms. Stone is represented by Morty Mint of Mint Literary Agency.

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April SST: 4 Reasons Why You Should Read The Island by S. Usher Evans

The Island by S. Usher Evans
Series: The Madion War Trilogy #1
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Page Length: 260 pages
Publication Date: April 26, 2016

About The Island (via Goodreads):

Prince Galian is third in line to the throne, but prefers his place as a resident at the Royal Kylaen Hospital. When his father urges him to join the military to help reclaim their colony, Galian is forced to put aside his oath to Do No Harm and fight a war he does not believe in.

Across the great Madion Sea, Captain Theo Kallistrate dreams of a day when she is no longer bound by conscription to fight for her country's independence. But when the Kylaens threaten, honor and duty call her to the front lines to fight off the oppressors.

When an air skirmish goes wrong, both Theo and Galian crash on a remote island hundreds of miles from either nation. Grievously injured, Theo must rely on Galian's medical expertise, and Galian must rely on Theo's survival skills, to live another day in a harsh and unforgiving terrain.

Can they put aside their differences long enough to survive? Or will the war that brought them to the island tear them apart?

The Island is the first in a new romance trilogy by S. Usher Evans, author of the Razia series and Empath.

1. THE CHARACTERS. I loved Theo and Galian as protagonists! They were very flawed and opinionated at the beginning, but went through a huge transformation throughout the book. While being opinionated obviously isn't a bad thing (it's a great thing!), they started out unable to compromise their ideas of what the enemy is supposed to be like. They were able to overcome so many obstacles, both physical and mental, and I was rooting for them the whole time. It was great seeing them transform as people and become more aware of the world around them.

2. CONNECT-ABILITY/LIFE LESSONS. It's important that what we read teaches us to be good people. Although this trilogy takes place in a fantasy world, we can definitely learn things from The Island. It teaches a lot about the issues that arise from discrimination and ignorance. Although it does not go into a lot of depth about specific customs or cultural differences between the Kylaen and the Raven peoples, the relationship between Theo and Galian and the development of said relationship shows the importance of making a better effort to be more accepting of other cultures and other people. Obviously we shouldn't have to be stuck on a deserted island in order to make such progress in our world today, but a lot of conflicts probably would not occur if we were willing to learn and listen, instead of making false assumptions about people we might not know as well as we think. I guess this lesson is one we should already know, but it seems like a lot of people still discriminate against people simply out of ignorance or past grudges we barely understand. And sometimes we miss out on meeting the most incredible people because we are too afraid to give them a chance.

3. THE ROMANCE. I can guarantee that this one is a slowwww burn. Although they could be awkward at times, Theo and Galian complemented each other really well. At the beginning, they never failed to throw some snarky comments at each other, which I loved. And then when they get together... it actually gets pretty steamy ;) Overall, their relationship was just so wonderful *spins around happily* They started off as enemies, but they gradually warmed up to each other and once they finally realized they love loved each other... *flails spastically* IT WAS TOO CUTE.

4. QUOTABILITY (AKA SNARK AND SWEET NOTHINGS). From hilariously snarky sayings that I can't repeat because of somewhat inappropriate language to sweet nothings, The Island had a variety of quotes I just couldn't help but laugh or smile at. I'm going to share a few quotes I like, just so you can get a taste. Some of them are neither snarky remarks nor sweet nothings, but I adore them all the same:

“She stared back at me with those beautiful dark eyes. In them, I could see the years of abuse, of fear, of living every day as if it were her last. She was Raven by birth, but they'd never loved her the way a country should love its child. They'd put her to work, enslaved her to a fighting force caught in a losing battle."

 This quote ^ is probably one of my favorite quotes from the book. There's just something so emotionally raw and powerful about it.

"'So, Princeling...' 'I'm sorry, what?' He blinked at me. 'Princeling.' The horrified look on his face tugged a smile onto my lips. 'It's what we call you in Rave.'" 

 "'Oh, go to hell,' she hissed at me. 'I'd rather drink my own piss than accept anything from you.'"

And these last two quotes are just a bit of a peek at how sassy Theo is to Galian. And these aren't even the best ones. Some of her comments are absolutely hilarious, but also outlandishly inappropriate, so I didn't want to share them. If you're curious though, I really suggest reading it and finding out for yourself!

March SST: Excerpt of Where You'll Find Me

Where You'll Find Me by Natasha Friend
Genre: Young Adult
Publication Date: March 8, 2016

About Where You'll Find Me:

In this powerful and buoyant YA novel, a thirteen-year-old girl learns to navigate the shifting loyalities of friendships in middle school and deals with challenges at home.

The beginning of the eighth grade is not what Anna thought it would be. Her lifelong best friend has ditched her for the cool kids, and her mom is in the hospital after a suicide attempt. Anna finds herself where she least expects to: living with her dad, his young new wife, and their baby, and starting a new year at school without a best friend. With help from some unlikely sources, including a crazy girl-band talent show act, Anna learns that sometimes you find what you need to pull you through in the most unlikely places.

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EXCERPT

THE NEXT MORNING, Sarabeth Mueller flags me down. All week she has been doing this, saving a seat for me on the bus. It is worse than sitting alone, but I don’t want to hurt her feelings. I take off my backpack, rest it in my lap.

“Hi, Anna.”

“Hi,” I say.

Sarabeth Mueller is so pale you can see her veins. Practically everything about her is see-through. Skin, hair, fingernails, eyebrows. There is a pink ribbon of scalp where she parts her hair. Once, when we were on a class trip to the beach, I saw her squirt sunscreen on it.

“Want to know what I’m doing this weekend?”

“Okay.”

I do not want to know what Sarabeth Mueller is doing this weekend. I am sure it has something to do with dolls. In sixth grade, she had a birthday party and we spent the entire time in her bedroom drinking tea and looking at her dolls. She had about a million of them, all dressed up and staring down at us from shelves.

Sarabeth adjusts the hem of her skirt. "Ever hear of Irish step dancing?”

"Um. I don't think so."

“Well, it’s a traditional performance dance that originated in Ireland. I’ve been doing it since I was four. Saturday I have a competition.”

“Cool.”

I am lying so bad. I know exactly what Sarabeth is talking about because in seventh grade there was this talent show and she got up onstage and danced for the whole school. It was the craziest thing. Little Sarabeth Mueller, all alone with her white toothpick legs and her big black clogs, going like sixty. The ninth-grade boys had a field day. Dani and I sat in the back of the auditorium, the only ones not laughing.

Of course, that was last year. Now if there were a talent show, Dani would be front and center. She would be up onstage with Jessa Bell and Whitney Anderson and all those girls, shimmying around in her tube top and platform heels, making the ninth- grade boys whistle. And you’d still find me in the back of the auditorium, not laughing.

“So,” Sarabeth says now, “how long will your mom be out of town?”

This is what I told her my first day on the bus, and it’s not exactly a lie. My mother is out of town. “Not long,” I say.

“Do you like staying at your dad’s?”

I shrug. “It’s okay.”

“When did they get divorced?”

“A year ago.” I am chewing on my thumbnail. I am squinting out the win dow, hoping we’re close to school, but we’re not.

“That’s tough,” Sarabeth says. “My grandparents are divorced. Both sets. If you ever need someone to talk to . . .”

“Okay.”

I don’t know why I’m saying okay. I don’t even know if Sarabeth means I can talk to her or to her divorced grandparents. All I know is I need one of those school bus emergency drills. The driver presses a button and an escape hatch opens. He doesn’t even have to slow down. I’ll just jump.

* * *

“The sum of the angles is . . . uh . . . ninety degrees,” I tell Ms. Baer- Leighton.

Ms. Baer- Leighton is drinking something brown out of a Poland Spring bottle. She takes a swallow and nods. “Yes.”

I fiddle with my protractor. “So that means they’re . . . uh . . . complementary angles?”

“Is that your final answer?”

Oh, I hate math so much. No teacher but Ms. Baer-Leighton makes you stand up in the middle of class like this, stuttering like an idiot while laser-beam eyes shoot holes in your back.

“No,” I say. “Supplementary.”

Behind me, someone sniggers.

“The first rule of mathematics”— Ms. Baer-Leighton swishes her bottle around and around— “as in life, is to trust your instincts.” She takes a sip. What ever she is drinking matches her sawed-off haircut. Also her scarf, dress, and practical pumps. Brown, brown, brown.

Your clothes tell a lot about you, Dani said once. Jean-on-jean is a message you don’t want to send. Try a pop of color. Accessorize.

"Do you understand what I’m saying, Anna?” Ms. Baer- Leighton is looking at me, forehead shining in the light.

“Yes,” I say.

She raises a fist in the air. “Confidence!”

I sit down at my desk, die a little.

* * *

In English Mr. Pfaff gives everyone a sheet of lined paper and tells us to freewrite for ten minutes. It’s his favorite thing, freewriting. Every class he makes us freewrite, and every time my brain freezes and I can barely eke out two sentences. Sometimes I wonder if he is doing it just to torture me.

Today our prompt is “morning madness.” What I really want to write is I am mad this morning because I am being forced to freewrite, but I know this is not what Mr. Pfaff is looking for. So I stare at my paper and think of all the other things I could tell him.

1. I am mad this morning because I heard my father and stepmother doing it last night and was too mortified to look them in the eye at breakfast.
2. I am mad this morning because I have to ride this new bus and Dani’s not on it, not that she would be sitting with me anyway, but now I have to sit with Sarabeth Mueller.
3. I am mad this morning because my mom is in the psychiatric ward, also known as the mad house. Get it? MADhouse?

Of course, there are a lot of reasons why my mother ended up in the hospital, most of which have nothing to do with me. But I am the daughter. I was there and I should have seen it coming. Because there are always signs. The way her voice sounds, or little shifts in her behavior, like forgetting to brush her teeth. Red flags. But in a way, I ignored them. I’m not good with impending disaster. I’d be the one in the middle of the tornado saying, “Don’t worry, Dorothy and Toto. Really. It’s just a breeze.” I am the one who, instead of writing down all the bad thoughts in my head, will chew on my pencil and keep my paper clean.

Ten minutes later, Mr. Pfaff is looking over my shoulder, petting his goatee. When he talks, he lowers his voice, but it really isn’t low at all. It’s more like an announcement to the whole class.

“You can’t think of anything to write?”

I shake my head. I can feel Dani looking at me but stare straight ahead.

“Nothing at all?”

I sink down lower in my seat.

“Why don’t you stop by and see me after school and we’ll talk about it?”

I nod, as though I am agreeing.

He smiles, as though he believes me.

It’s official. I now hate English more than I hate math.

December SST: Interview with Ryan Dalton, Author of The Year of Lightning

The Year of Lightning by Ryan Dalton

Series: The Time Shift Trilogy #1

Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: December 8, 2015

About The Year of Lightning: 

When 15-year-old twins Malcolm and Valentine Gilbert moved to a new town, they never imagined that the old house across the street could bring them so much trouble. A secret machine has reawakened inside, with the power to pierce time itself.

Meanwhile, lightning storms are breaking out all over town. They’re getting worse every week, and seem to enjoy striking kids who just want to pass science class and mind their own business. When Malcolm and Valentine discover a connection between the house and the storms, their situation goes from mysterious to crazy stupid dangerous. Someone is controlling the great machine, and their purpose is nearly complete.

In a race against time, the twins must uncover the chilling plan, the mastermind behind it, and the force that’s driving the deadly storms. They’ll hunt a powerful enemy that threatens their town’s existence, and the only clues are written in the sky.

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INTERVIEW

1. What was your inspiration for The Year of Lightning?

One day, a picture popped into my head and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I saw an old, abandoned house with no doors, only windows. No way in or out. Then I envisioned walking by that creepy old house and seeing a face in the window, staring right at me.

I kept asking questions about that person, how they got in there, what they were doing, and as I answered those questions the story for The Year of Lightning was born. It's been described as "Monster House meets Back to the Future."

2. Do you listen to music when you write? If yes, do you have a specific playlist for The Year of Lightning?

Music is a huge part of my creative process. I make playlists for every book, and the songs help me develop scenes and find their rhythm. In fact, making a playlist of one of my earliest stages of story building. The playlists consist of all types of music, whatever is speaking to me at the moment, everything from instrumental soundtracks to rock. Even as I type this, I'm listening to music from Doctor Who.

When I do the actual writing, though, I rarely listen to music with lyrics or heavy beats because I find it distracting. So I'll usually listen to very chill relaxation music or thunderstorm sounds. I'm a huge fan of RainyMood.com, especially since we don't get much actual rain here in the desert.

3. Without spoilers, what was your favorite scene to write?

Hmm this is a tough one, but there's a scene later in the book where two unlikely side characters gain an unexpected victory. That was probably my favorite scene to write. Second favorite would be a scene at about the midpoint of the book, where two characters have a very open and honest moment with each other.

4. Which character was the most enjoyable to write?

Tough choice again, as they're all rewarding in different ways. The most fun to write, though, is a supporting character named Fred Marshall. He's mouthy and overconfident, but carries more depth than he reveals at first. He often injects much-needed levity and light into tense, emotional situations.

5. Is there a specific reason why you chose twin protagonists?

When I came up with the idea, the characters started talking to each other in my head almost immediately, and that's what sold me on it. I loved their interplay, and it was fun exploring what their similarities and differences might be. While I developed more ideas for the trilogy, they became dependent on that twin dynamic, until I could no longer envision this story through just one protagonist's point of view. Nothing else but twins felt right. As the trilogy progresses, readers will see that connection and all it involves becoming more and more important in the story.

6. Describe your book in five words or less.

Lightning is rarely cooperative.

7. When did you decide to become an author?

I remember saying at seven or eight years old that I was going to write books. I had always loved to read so much that it was never even a question. It always felt natural and inevitable—I wanted to write and knew it would happen. Of course, when eight-year-old me announced that to adults, they had a good laugh. I remember being confused and wondering why they thought it was funny. Even at that age, I was serious about it. It took some years to make it to publication, but the road has definitely been worth it, and so far it's been as awesome as I'd hoped for all those years.

8. What is your favorite part about being an author?

Hearing someone say they loved the book is pretty hard to beat. When they get excited about a plot point, or express strong feelings about a character like they're a real person, or even comment on elements of my system of time manipulations, it hits me that I'm doing what I've always wanted to do. Writing books and knowing people enjoy them is a pretty tough feeling to beat.

There's also something I've heard mathematicians talk about. They call it getting a "math high," where the calculations happen so beautifully and the work is so satisfying that it gives them a huge endorphin rush. I think writers experience a "creation high." There are times when everything sings in perfect harmony, when the music and the words and the emotions are all flowing together. It's a rush of being completely in love with and excited and satisfied by what's happening on the page. I love those moments.

9. Are you working on any new projects right now?

The Year of Lightning is the first novel in The Time Shift Trilogy. I recently finished my second draft of the sequel, called The Black Tempest, and that's currently in the hands of a few trusted beta readers. I'm also in the early stages of outlining Book 3, which is going to be super cool.

I always have some side projects happening. Right now I'm working with a playwright friend on some geeky scripts for live table reads. I have a sic-fi board game in development and will hopefully be able to launch it within the next couple years. And right now I'm working with artists and voice actors on the book trailer for The Year of Lightning.

So I've definitely got my hands full!

10. If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring authors, what would it be?

It's some of the hardest advice to hear, but also some of the most essential. Don't rush learning your craft and finding your voice. Don't be in such a hurry to get published that you cut corners. When you take enough time to learn the tools and discover who you truly are as a creator, that will come across in your work. People will see the quality and authenticity and they will want to support you.

Also, I'm going to cheat and give a second piece of advice. Find your local writing community and make yourself a part of it as early as possible. Get into a writing group. Find beta readers both in and out of the genres you're interested in (they can teach you something). Go to book and author events, comic and pop culture conventions, and offer yourself to the community. As you start contributing, others will contribute back to you. Writers tend to be a pretty close-knit culture, so develop those connections as early as possible.

About the Author:

Ryan Dalton is author of the young adult Time Shift Trilogy. His debut novel THE YEAR OF LIGHTNING will be released on December 8, 2015. Ryan splits his time between writing books during the day, fighting crime at night, and hanging out in his awesome underground lair. Please do not tell anyone he's Batman. It's a secret.

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