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Don’t Get in a Rut with Your Writing Process

Happy New Year!

Remember how I said last month that I always have to know where the story is going to get to the end?

I mean, that’s probably still true. But this past month has also reminded me that I should never say I’m always going to do something a certain way, because then I’ll realize I need to try something entirely different.

When I wrote about brainstorming last month, I had in mind the project I’d been brainstorming for a few months (note that for me outlining also partially falls into the category of brainstorming). All those steps I mentioned were the areas I’d been brainstorming as I prepared to start writing the book. But a few days after I sent out that newsletter, I decided now isn’t the time to write that project–one of those reasons being that I kept brainstorming the project and wasn’t getting any closer to actually writing it.

Now, I can’t really give you a timeline on how long it usually takes me to outline a book. I’ve never actually made note of it. But when it’s really working, I feel like I have the plot in my head pretty quickly and am able to lay out where I want to go with it. (That’s definitely how I felt with both Your Life Has Been Delayed and My Second Impression of You, as well as with a couple of my other shelved manuscripts that I still love.) I was struggling with some pieces of this one. Perhaps it will come together at a later date. We’ll see.

Since it wasn’t moving forward, I went back to my idea file, made a spreadsheet (I love spreadsheets!), asked my teenager what he thought I should write next, and he pulled together three of the things on my list. And you know what? I loved it! I started brainstorming the next day, and the ideas were just flowing. I started outlining as usual–and then I got stuck.

But it wasn’t the same kind of stuck as when I’d been brainstorming the previous book. I was still excited by the overall premise and had a ton of plot ideas. I was stuck on a character. And then I thought back to that panel I was sitting on at the St. Louis Teen Book Festival, where all the other authors said they just started writing to see where the character took them. It’s not usually my style, but one thing I do know about myself is that I like my processes sometimes too much. So I started writing with the plot ideas I’d already laid out, just to see where the character would take me, and I’m now 10,000 words into this story.

Like anything else I write, I have no idea if it will turn into a book you can read someday, but I’m having fun with it right now. And as a writer, it’s important to just enjoy it sometimes–and to remember that sometimes you need to switch things up to get your creative juices flowing.

Wait, did I just say I was enjoying drafting?? Okay, I’d better get back to it before I lose that…

Have you ever had to try something completely different in order to get a story going? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

My January newsletter is also out today! Like last month, there’s an exclusive giveaway for subscribers, so I encourage you to subscribe if that interests you.

On another note, if you’re a teacher or librarian, I still have spots open for World Read Aloud Day on Feb. 1. Please get in touch via my contact page if you’d like to schedule a free virtual school visit.

The post Don’t Get in a Rut with Your Writing Process appeared first on Michelle I Mason.

What I Read in 2022

Happy New Year’s Eve!

Per tradition, I’m wrapping up the year by sharing my 2022 reading list and statistics.

My reading was a bit down this year, from 88 books in 2021 to 80 in 2022. Those 80 books broke down to:

12 middle grade54 young adult14 adult

Most of those adult books were re-reads of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series. And actually, because I’d read them before, I flew through them. I really enjoy re-reading books, and those usually are faster reads, so I may try to mix in more in 2023.

I tried something new in 2022, sharing a monthly reading wrap-up graphic on Instagram. I’m not sure I’ll do that in 2023, but I will definitely continue my sporadic mini-reviews here. As with last year, I find myself unable to choose favorite reads, so instead I’m going to just drop some notes behind a few of these. Also, as usual, if I reviewed the book in one of my roundups during the year, it’s linked.

Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance by Nisha SharmaWhen You Get the Chance by Emma Lord – Added to my permanent collection Love Your Life by Sophie KinsellaSunkissed by Kasie WestDrawn That Way by Elissa SussmanSunny Song Will Never Be Famous by Suzanne ParkMad, Bad & Dangerous to Know by Samira AhmedThe Lucky Ones by Linda Williams Jackson – A very powerful book I recommend for all MG readers! In Every Generation by Kendare Blake – For the Buffy fans (like me ) The Love Hypothesis by Ali HazelwoodJust Right Jillian by Nicole D. CollierSway with Me by Syed M. MasoodTahira in Bloom by Farah HeronThe Last Confession of Autumn Casterly by Meredith Tate – Added to my permanent collection Devil in Disguise by Lisa KleypasOnce More with Chutzpah by Haley NeilWe Can Be Heroes by Kyrie McCauleyThe Duke and I by Julia QuinnThe Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia QuinnAn Offer From A Gentleman by Julia QuinnRomancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia QuinnTo Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia QuinnWhen He Was Wicked by Julia QuinnIt’s In His Kiss by Julia QuinnOn the Way to the Wedding by Julia QuinnDaughters of a Dead Empire by Carolyn Tara O’NeilBeing Mary Bennet by JC PetersonLove, Decoded by Jennifer YenThe Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin by Kip Wilson – With every new book, Kip manages to both break my heart but also leave me hopeful. I read this historical verse novel in a single day! Winterborne Home for Mayhem and Mystery by Ally CarterWhere the Crawdads Sing by Delia OwensMr. Wrong Number by Lynn PainterOnly A Monster by Vanessa LenSense and Second-Degree Murder by Tirzah Price – Added to my permanent collection This Might Get Awkward by Kara McDowell – Added to my permanent collection A Dragonbird in the Fern by Laura RueckertThis May End Badly by Samantha MarkumRivals by Katharine McGeeWe Are the Song by Catherine Bakewell –  Added to my permanent collection Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin DwyerThis Is Not the Jess Show by Anna CareyThelma Bee in Toil and Trouble by Erin PettiThe Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz LawsonGirl On the Run by Abigail JohnsonAmerican Royals: Inheritance by Katharine McGeeAmari and the Night Brothers by B.B. AlstonMy Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol FollmuthUnbreakable by Kristin Smith – Added to my permanent collection Forging Silver Into Stars by Brigid KemmererLove & Other Great Expectations by Becky DeanThis Vicious Grace by Emily ThiedeRed, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRoccaLark and the Wild Hunt by Jennifer Adam – Added to my permanent collection No One Is Alone by Rachel VincentThe Charmed List by Julie AbeThe Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – Added to my permanent collection A Girl’s Guide to Love & Magic by Debbie RigaudEtta Invincible by Reese EschmannHot Dutch Daydream by Kristy Boyce – Will be adding to my permanent collection when it releases in 2023! Amari and the Great Game by BB AlstonThe Edge of Summer by Erica GeorgeMy Imaginary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows – Added to my permanent collection Friends Like These by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez – Couldn’t put this one down! A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy by Jeff BishopLia and Beckett’s Abracadabra by Amy Noelle ParksPlaces We’ve Never Been by Kasie WestCards on the Table by Agatha ChristieBetter Together by Christine RiccioTokyo Dreaming by Emiko JeanFlirting with Fate by J.C. Cervantes – Added to my permanent collection Lord of the Fly Fest by Goldy MoldavskySpells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans WelchEight Nights of Flirting by Hannah ReynoldsAfter Dark with Roxie Clark by Brooke Lauren DavisStellarlune by Shannon Messenger – Auto-buy! And I loved this installment so much. Can’t wait for the last book in the series. Cruel Illusions by Margie FustonShad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije – Added to my permanent collection The Do-Over by Lynn PainterDefend the Dawn by Brigid KemmererThe Betrothed by Kiera Cass

As you can see, I read some fantastic books this year. I may yet write some more mini-reviews for a few of these in January. We’ll see if I get myself together to do so.

What did you read in 2022? Anything that was on my list?

I don’t have any particular reading goals for 2023, but I’m always looking for recommendations, so please drop any in the comments. I wish you all happy reading in 2023!

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All About Brainstorming

What’s the first thing you do when you start working on a new project? Do you dive right into writing, do you let the idea simmer, or do you start somewhere else?

For me, the starting point is brainstorming, then outlining, with research sort of wrapped into both of those steps. For the writers following along, that means I am most definitely not a pantser. I could never just start writing a book by the seat of my pants, with no idea where it was going.

But to my surprise, I sat on a panel at the St. Louis Teen Book Festival earlier this month at which I was the only plotter. I couldn’t believe that out of five writers, I was the only one who plans out my books.

I am not, however, a “psychopathic” plotter, as asked by the moderator. I make an outline because I need to know where the story’s going, but I do leave room if the story leads me in a different direction. My outlines are also more like general scene guidelines.

But first comes the brainstorming, and that’s what I want to talk about today. Before I can decide a beginning, middle and end for a story, there are several areas I need to brainstorm. Here are a few I usually tackle.

The Love Story

What’s the setup? Did they just meet? Or do they have a past? Is it enemies to lovers? Have they been friends forever? Is there family history? What internal and external obstacles will prevent them from getting together? Are there other boyfriends/girlfriends involved? Are there parental obstacles? Friend or family complications? Something from their individual or joint past that would stop them from being together?

On the other side of things, what attracts them to each other? Do they share a similar interest or goal? Or are they total opposites? Is it an aspect of their personality that just appeals or fills some gap for them?

For one potential book, because I had a story premise but not a romantic plot line, I spent hours skimming through rom-com movie plot lines, trying to decide what might fit with the premise idea.

Characters

For each character, I start asking: Who are they? What is their role in the story? What do they look like, including ethnicity? What’s their sense of style? What’s their general personality? Like, do they have a generally positive or negative outlook on life? Does everyone gravitate to them or steer clear or somewhere in between? What are they into (hobbies/interests/extracurricular activities)? Do they have a job? Do they have any habits? What’s their backstory? What do they want most in life? What internal and external conflicts will prevent them from achieving that goal? How will they change during the story? (Change may not be relevant for minor characters.) How will they react to the scenario I’m creating?

I don’t go answer all of these questions for every character in a book before I start writing, but I try to answer a lot of them for the main characters so I have a base. I also like to search for pictures to use as inspiration.

Setting

Where and when does the story take place? If it’s a real place, what research do I need to do? For various stories, I’ve talked with experts (a pilot for the opening chapter of Your Life Has Been Delayed), watched documentaries and videos (for various other projects), and actually visited all of those doctors’ offices you see in My Second Impression of You.

If you’re writing fantasy or sci-fi and creating a world, I’m not the best person for advice. But here’s an article I found with questions to ask: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/worldbuilding-questions-to-help-authors-create-believable-worlds 

Story Premise

I think brainstorming details related to the story premise is one of the most fun elements of the process. It’s often where I start. For Your Life Has Been Delayed, this took on two different aspects. First, I brainstormed all of the ways I could think of that the world had changed in 25 years–then I went out and backed that up with research. This brainstorming/research formed the backbone of Jenny’s worldview within the story, but it also ended up providing her goal of becoming a newspaper journalist, as that’s one of the jobs that had changed the most. After I addressed the changes in the world, I started brainstorming what would have changed within Jenny’s world, which was much more personal. She’s dealing with this big shock–that she’s traveled through time–and now she needs to face what she’s lost more directly. The decline in newspaper journalism gave me one opportunity, but then I started looking at the relationships in her life–her parents, brother, grandparents, best friend, and boyfriend. I took it another step further and examined how her privacy would be affected in the twenty-first century. So many opportunities for conflict in this premise!

For My Second Impression of You, I started with the question of what if you could relive your best day but it wasn’t how you remembered it? So then I brainstormed all the ways everything Maggie believed was great about the day were actually not so great once she learned a new perspective. Basically, it was an exercise in turning Maggie’s best day into her worst day. Was it fun brainstorming ways to torture my character? Well, yes. But only because I knew the ending!

Research Rabbit Holes

This is sort of connected to the story premise, but I’m still throwing it out here as a category because it’s something I do as part of the brainstorming process. If I have an idea for a scene that might be in the book, and I’m in the brainstorming stage, I will spend hours going down a rabbit hole just to see if it will be viable for the future book. Like, for example, reading through the entire box of Apples to Apples (some of you might have seen my TikTok post about that). Will I end up using it? I don’t know. But what I did discover was that sorting Apples to Apples cards was kind of an interesting character exercise too…

What are some of your brainstorming tips?

My December newsletter is out today, and it includes a recap of the St. Louis Teen Book Festival, instructions for how to make a book tree, an exclusive giveaway for newsletter subscribers, info on World Read Aloud Day, and some other news. Be sure to subscribe if you don’t want to miss anything!

On another note, if you’d like to get a signed copy of either of my books for someone on your list, they’re available at:

The Novel NeighborMain Street BooksLeft Bank BooksParnassus Books

Make sure you request a signed copy in the comments, as a couple of these stores may have unsigned copies as well. And if you want the book before Christmas, check the store’s guidelines for shipping deadlines. Happy shopping! I know I have a lot of books on my list .

The post All About Brainstorming appeared first on Michelle I Mason.

FLIRTING WITH FATE Plus a Few Other YA Books You Should Read

Happy Cyber Monday! Looking for some books to order? I have some suggestions!

Of course, if you’d like to order mine, that would be awesome too, and signed copies make extra-awesome gifts! You can get signed copies of MY SECOND IMPRESSION OF YOU at The Novel Neighbor, Main Street Books, Left Bank Books or Parnassus Books. You can also get signed copies of YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED at The Novel Neighbor or Main Street Books.

But back to the recommendations…

What a completely enchanting book! If I’d had the time to sit and read FLIRTING WITH FATE by J.C. Cervantes in a single sitting, I absolutely would have. Starting with the prologue from Fate that warns us a storm is about to claim one life, two hearts, and six destinies, I was hooked.

The story follows Ava Granados, whose grandmother is set to give each of her three granddaughters a blessing upon her death (her grandmother’s gifted blessing was song). But the aforementioned storm causes Ava to end up in a fender bender with Rion at the exact moment her grandmother sends out the blessing from her deathbed, and he ends up with it instead. So she has to befriend him in order to retrieve the blessing–and due to some baggage from her mother, Ava’s not so keen on relationships.

Throw in her ghostly grandmother, a saint guide, and Ava’s big-hearted sister, and you have a truly superb cast filling out this book. I loved every single character and how they impacted Ava. All the threads are woven together so well. It’s a lovely romance, but it’s also a fantastic family story. Go pick up this book!

Okay, so I’ve read a ton of YA romance that involves magic, but usually it’s, like, the “magic is real” kind of magic rather than the “pick a card” kind of magic. I love that LIA AND BECKETT’S ABRACADABRA by Amy Noelle Parks is set in the world of stage magic. Honestly, after reading it, I’m wondering why I haven’t read more books like this!

Anyway, the setup is that Lia’s grandmother was once part of a famous magic act with her first husband, Henry Blackwell. Things ended badly, and she never performed magic again–plus she hates all Blackwells. But she still passed on her love of magic to Lia. She sets up a magic contest that involves Henry’s grandsons–who are off-limits romantically–as well as another boy involved in the magic community. The winner gets a theater.

Complication: Lia is immediately intrigued by Henry’s grandson Beckett before she knows who he is. They go from flirty to enemies to reluctant conspirators as they uncover some shady dealings in the town full of magic. It’s a fun romance, but it also tackles misogyny in the magic community as well as being confident in yourself. A great read!

Do you have auto-buy authors? Kasie West is definitely one of those for me. Her signature blend of heart-warming romance mixed with realistic family dynamics gets me every time.

In PLACES WE’VE NEVER BEEN, Norah is excited to be going on a road trip with their old family friends, including her former best friend, Skyler. They were inseparable as kids, until he moved away at age thirteen. While she has a new best friend, it’s just not the same as the friend who knew her from early childhood. They’ve lost touch, but she’s sure their friendship will snap right back into place.

But of course it doesn’t, because then where would the story be? There were multiple questions for readers to answer. Why is Skyler so stand-offish? Why are the two families going on this road trip now, after all these years? The progression from enemies to friends to maybe something more with the backdrop of the road trip and deeper family issues is so well drawn. Another great Kasie West novel for the collection!

Like many other YA readers, I’ve been anxiously awaiting Jenna Evans Welch’s next book, and it packed the same emotional punch as her previous books but included a new twist of magic. I loved it!

The story follows Willow and Mason, who both end up in Salem, Massachusetts, for differing reasons. Willow’s aunt has died, leaving her mom a house. But the thing is, Willow didn’t even know this aunt existed. Her mom has a lot of secrets, including the fact that their family is full of witches.

Meanwhile, Mason has spent his life in the foster system, hoping his mom will recover from addiction and he can return to her. He’s just been placed with her best friend from high school. But he’s reluctant to let anyone in or try to fit in to her family.

The book is told in alternating points of view, and it’s one of those stories where the tension is outside of the romance. I actually teared up during this story, and that’s rare for me. But it was in a good way. I just wanted both of these characters to find home and each other in the end. I think this might be my favorite Jenna Evans Welch book yet!

It’s always the right time for a good twisty murder mystery, right? AFTER DARK WITH ROXIE CLARK by Brooke Lauren Davis is set around Halloween, but the focus is on solving the tragic murder of Roxie’s sister’s boyfriend a year ago.

Roxie and Skylar were never the closest of sisters, but ever since Colin’s death, Skylar’s shut down, basically locked in a room. When Roxie finds a note that spurs Skylar to emerge and start investigating the cold case, it puts Roxie’s best friend–and Colin’s half-brother–Tristan in the spotlight. She’s torn between helping her sister and trusting the boy who’s always been there for her.

This book is filled with so many twists and turns, and it’s really well done. It had me doubting my own convictions about who was guilty more than once. In addition, it packs some serious emotional punches on multiple fronts. A great addition for anyone who enjoys murder mysteries!

Next up on my TBR is STELLARLUNE by Shannon Messenger, although I need to read a recap of the previous book since it’s been two years. What are you reading?

The post FLIRTING WITH FATE Plus a Few Other YA Books You Should Read appeared first on Michelle I Mason.

Revision Tip: Why You Should Read Your Manuscript Aloud

Before I get into today’s topic, I want to mention that my November newsletter is out today, and in particular, I have several events coming up over the next month. I have two signings at St. Louis Barnes & Noble stores, a virtual panel you can tune in to from anywhere, and will be participating in the St. Louis Teen Author Fest on Dec. 3. Please check out the newsletter for these events. The newsletter also includes a recipe for homemade Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccinno, Maggie’s favorite drink .

But back to reading aloud…

If this topic seems familiar, you must have been following me for at least seven years, because the last time I posted about reading your manuscript aloud was in 2015. It’s definitely time for a refresher!

To give you a frame of reference, I just finished reading my work-in-progress aloud last week, so the benefits are very front and center. I’m currently working on a book I first wrote about ten years ago. I don’t know if it will end up being my next published book, but I hope so! While it’s the same premise I started with years ago, I completely overhauled the characters and most of the plot. As a read-aloud is a big time investment, I don’t do it with a first draft, because I know a lot’s going to change after that one. It’s more of a this-draft-is-going-places commitment. In this case, I’ve already run the manuscript through multiple readers, revised it, and am about to send it off to my agent!

It can be daunting to look at your manuscript and decide to read the whole thing out loud–especially when it’s 98,000 words. It took me about two and a half work days to get through the whole manuscript, but it was so worth it. I had a few goals for this read-through:

Check for continuity issues that may have occurred as a result of my latest revisionSee if I’d truly addressed comments from both my agent (earlier draft) and my readersCut some extra words

Mission accomplished! Definitely spotted a few more continuity issues I hadn’t yet caught, reading aloud made me slow down enough to really think about those issues I’d been addressing, and I cut about 900 words.

One of the main reasons I think it makes a difference to read aloud versus just reading it silently is that you hear the nuances not only of the word choices but the punctuation. Here are some specific examples from my recent experience.

Repetitive thoughts

Sometimes you’ve already made your point, and you don’t need to hammer it in anymore. For example, here my original statement was:
“Even though I already believe in myself, his affirmation fills me up like a balloon so that I feel like I’m as tall as him.”
The last part was unnecessary, so I revised to:
“Even though I already believe in myself, his affirmation fills me up like a balloon.”

Telling what I’ve already shown

With my first two books, my editor pointed out these types of things a lot, so I notice them more myself now.
Like: “–wait. I jerk forward, so the seatbelt tightens around me, but another revelation has just hit me.”
See how I don’t need that last phrase? I’ve already shown that a revelation has hit her by the way she thinks “wait” and then jerks forward.

Also, I can’t tell you how many times I deleted the phrase “I don’t know what to think” because my character had already gone through a whole spiraling series of thoughts that amounted to exactly that .

Qualifying words

These are the words that water down your statement–I think, I guess, a little, or something, etc.. They can be very useful when warranted, but if you try reading the sentence aloud without the qualifying words, that will tell you for sure whether they’re necessary in that particular sentence. Here are some I eliminated.
“I’ve still been a bit distant.” → “I’ve been distant.”
“I’m sure I can handle it.” → “I can handle it.”
“I was kind of excited to work on it.” → “I was excited to work on it.”
“At which point I may have sort of glanced over at Cole and blushed.” → “At which point I sort of glanced over at Cole and blushed.”

Word choice

Sometimes when you read a word out loud, it’s immediately clear that word doesn’t work.
Usually it’s a word I put in as a placeholder because I couldn’t quite figure out exactly what I wanted to use, but it becomes glaringly obvious it’s wrong when I start reading and am like, “Nope!” Then I have to figure out what does fit.

Vague words

You know the drill from English class: it’s so much stronger to use the word you actually mean instead of “this” or “that.”

Words repeated too close together

You can do word searches to find how frequently you use words, and I’ve done that too, but when you’re reading aloud, it really stands out if they’re, say, two lines apart. No example here since I’m sure you know what I mean.

Awkward phrasing

Often reading aloud helps you realize that things are out of order in a sentence, like this:
“I keep my knees up in front of me but straighten my back and fold my arms loosely around them.”
It mostly works, except what exactly is she folding her arms around? It’s gotten a little iffy. It’s stronger switched around to:
“I keep my knees up in front of me but fold my arms loosely around them and straighten my back.”

Punctuation issues

For some reason, my main character’s internal thoughts were filled with questions. That’s fine sometimes, but often when I read it aloud as a question, I realized it really just needed to be a statement.
Things like:
“Maybe that’s why she overreacted? Because she was so upset about missing part of her new job?”
Became:
“Maybe that’s why she overreacted, because she was so upset about missing part of her new job.”

I also was quite exclamatory at times and had to cut those back, both in dialogue and in my character’s thoughts. Those exclamation points sound so much more pointed when you’re reading aloud.

Continuity issues

You’d likely catch continuity issues with a regular read-through, but I had just read the entire book as I was revising, and I still found several glaring remnants from my earlier draft as I was reading aloud. They just stood out even more as I started to say them and was then like, “Whoa, that doesn’t belong in this story anymore!”

Voice issues

Throughout the MS I caught a variety of issues with mixing up the voices of some of my characters in dialogue/texting, but the the biggest thing I noticed once I was reading aloud was toward the end. See, I have a young British character, and there’s a point where he goes into a sort of storytelling mode, which is fine, except he sounded like a stuffy middle-aged American professor instead of a 22-year-old Brit. As that was by far the section to which I made the most changes as a result of the read-through, let me just say, I put voice last here but it’s definitely not the least of what you’ll gain from a read-aloud!

Fellow writers, do you read your manuscripts aloud? At what stage?

I’m also curious if it makes a difference what type of book you write. I posted about reading aloud on my socials last week, and it seemed like picture book and verse writers take reading aloud as a matter of course, but maybe not every other writer does.

The post Revision Tip: Why You Should Read Your Manuscript Aloud appeared first on Michelle I Mason.

MY MECHANICAL ROMANCE Plus a Few Other YA Books You Should Read

Hey everyone!

So, I was a bit shocked when I looked back at my blog and realized the last time I posted YA mini-reviews was the end of July. Three months might be my longest stretch ever! At least I did toss in some middle grade reviews in between. The fact is, while I was still reading, my book release got in the way of actually sitting down and posting anything else. But, fortunately, I have been stockpiling some reviews, so you get a whopping six reviews all at once!

Per my usual reading tendencies, there’s a lot of YA romance, but there’s also some dystopian, historical fiction, and thriller. So depending on your taste, hopefully you’ll find something that’s of interest.

I discovered MY MECHANICAL ROMANCE by Alexene Farol Follmuth through our shared cover artist, Jacqueline Li, and I’m so glad I did! This book follows Bel, who’s just moved to a private school for her senior year after her parents’ separation. No one ever expected much from her at her old school, but when a teacher sees Bel’s innate talent for engineering, she encourages her to try out for the robotics club.

Bel doesn’t mean to ace the challenge to join the club, but when the captain, Mateo, sees her design, he sees her potential too. You can tell from the cover and title that it’s obviously a romance between these too, but it’s so much more. The story is told from both points of view, and Bel and Mateo both have a lot of things to figure out during the story before they can get together. Bel doesn’t really know who or what she wants to be. And Mateo is a little too sure of himself.

I loved seeing both of them grow and develop during the story. There’s also some serious family stuff going on in the background. Plus, I learned a ton about robotics! Definitely check out this book for a unique and romantic read.

I adored LOVE & OTHER GREAT EXPECTATIONS by Becky Dean.

I was an English lit major, so I’m obviously going to be on board for a story about a group of teens sent on a scavenger hunt through the English countryside, following clues to the locations of classic novels. There’s Jane Austen, Shakespeare, Arthur Conan Doyle (okay, Sherlock Holmes), Charles Dickens, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and more. It made me want to do a few classic lit re-reads.

But also, I just really enjoyed Britt’s story. She’s lost her soccer career and doesn’t feel like she’s good at anything else. She meets Luke on her journey; he has his own issues, but together they both start to figure out who they want to be and what’s next. The romance was great, but the individual character arcs were too. Love the supporting characters as well.

If you’re looking for a dystopian series with strong female characters, a tension-filled love triangle, and non-stop action, check out the The Deception Game series by Kristin Smith. It starts with CATALYST, and the fourth book, UNBREAKABLE, released in July.

I love how Kristin delves into the minds of new characters with each book, starting with Sienna in the first book and adding a new point of view in each installment. This latest book adds a fourth character, Trina (pictured on the cover), and she adds a vital perspective to the story as the characters fight for their lives and freedom within a new country that may not be any better than the one they escaped.

Oh, this is hard writing a review for the fourth book! Basically, you should start at the beginning and keep going. Because I don’t want to spoil anything for you. But like I said, if you like page-turning dystopian books, this series is for you!

I’ve talked about THE INHERITANCE GAMES and THE HAWTHORNE LEGACY here before, so it should be no surprise that I was anxiously awaiting THE FINAL GAMBIT by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. What made it even more exciting is that Jennifer Lynn Barnes came to St. Louis on tour, so I got to listen to her talk about the series and then meet her. Actually, my whole family came along because we’ve all read the books. They’re that’s fantastic.

Anyway, THE FINAL GAMBIT is the conclusion to the trilogy, and it delivers on all counts. More secrets are revealed. Lives are on the line. The romance is believable and comes to an expected conclusion.

Best of all, Jennifer Lynn Barnes has announced a new series set in the same world, so it doesn’t really have to end. I’m so excited to read more stories from the Hawthorne brothers!

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I’m also a huge fan of how Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows rewrite history, first in the series of Jane books and now they’re tackling Marys. MY IMAGINARY MARY is the second of the aforementioned Marys, focusing on Mary Shelley, the author of FRANKENSTEIN.

If you haven’t read any of these books, you can start wherever you’d like. They stand alone, although there were two that sort of occurred in the same world but were still independent. Anyway, the idea is that they take a story from history and, in their words, make it better–usually with some kind of magic thrown in.

Quite honestly, aside from writing a truly classic novel that is one of the first science fiction stories and also makes you think hard about how monsters are created (if you haven’t read FRANKENSTEIN, you should!), Mary Shelley had some major struggles. The authors always take multiple points of view, and in this case they decided Mary would be friends with Ada Byron (later Lovelace), often regarded as the first computer programmer. The third POV is the boy they create–that’s where the magic comes in.

Anyway, this book is just as delightful as the others in the collection. Just don’t expect to write any history reports from it!

I read this FRIENDS LIKE THESE by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez in two sittings, but it probably would have been one if I’d had a bigger block of time.

FRIENDS LIKE THESE is a YA thriller set in a Northern California coastal town. A group of friends is about to start their senior year. Jake and Jessica have been dating for 10 months. He wants to go to an end-of-summer party at his ex-girlfriend’s house. She doesn’t enjoy parties and especially doesn’t want to go there–because it’s also her ex-best friend (although from way before she dated Jake).

Everything spirals out of control in seriously disturbing ways at the party–like the lives-are-being-destroyed publicly kind of way. It’s told in alternating viewpoints from Jake and Jessica, and I couldn’t stop turning pages to see what they were going to choose to do next. Beyond the central story of discovering who’s behind the crimes (yes, multiple), there’s a serious look at bullying and consent and what happens when rivalries are taken too far. Also, the last two lines in the book? Perfection.

FRIENDS LIKE THESE comes out a week from tomorrow on Nov. 1 and is perfect for anyone who enjoys a high-stakes thriller!

What have you been reading lately? I’m always up for adding to my TBR stack!

The post MY MECHANICAL ROMANCE Plus a Few Other YA Books You Should Read appeared first on Michelle I Mason.

Publishing Behind the Scenes: Interview with Audiobook Narrator Kimberly Wetherell

The team behind My Second Impression of You has been a true dream, especially because I’ve gotten to know many of the creators and artists working on the book in a way I didn’t with my first book. A few months ago I shared an interview with cover artist Jacqueline Li about her process, and today I’m thrilled to give you an inside look at the audiobook process with Kimberly M. Wetherell.

Before I get to the interview, let me just give you a quick intro to how things happened on the author side. About four months pre-publication, my editor sent me narrator casting options from the audiobook team. It included a file with each narrator reading the first chapter of my book. From the moment I heard Kimberly’s portrayal of Maggie, I was enthralled. She just captures Maggie’s dramatic voice so perfectly–as well as executing the voices of other characters and just all-around bringing the story to life in a way that makes me positively giddy when I listen. Fortunately she took on the book, and here we are!

You can listen to a sample of the first chapter on the Audible page (and get the audiobook there too ), BUT because Kimberly is extra awesome, I have a special treat for you here. Kimberly recorded a video of herself in her studio reading an excerpt from Chapter 10, when Maggie first enters the Best Day App.

Isn’t she so fabulous as Maggie? Also, I hope you’re now thinking about how the Best Day App would be customized to you.

But back to today’s topic, let’s get into how audiobooks are made! As always, I’ll note that not every narrator or publishing house works the same way, but Kimberly gives some excellent insight into her career and process, as well as how someone might pursue a career in narrating.

Please welcome Kimberly!

How did you get into narrating audiobooks?

I’ll spare you the LENGTHY backstory and give you the whittled down version: In 2018, after a series of Major Life Events, I found myself between careers. I was brainstorming a list of all things I wanted in a new career: creativity, flexibility, work from home or be able to bring my dog to work with me, something financially viable enough so I could live in NYC without needing a roommate (but also without working 16-18 hour days), be my own boss but not have to be the boss of anyone else—you know, really left field, ideal scenario type stuff. I was contemplating my list while knitting and listening to an audiobook (something I’ve done since the Books on Tape days) when it occurred to me that that was an actual job. Like, I could read books, out loud, for a living. The very next day, I called a studio in NYC that taught voiceover and voiceover for audiobooks specifically, and after about six months of training, I was ready to start auditioning! It’s been just over three years since I recorded my first book and I’ve not once looked back!

Oh, I love that! Because I feel like many people look around and don’t really think about how things are real jobs or that you can do them for a living if you find the right path. How does an audiobook assignment typically come about? How much information do they give you about the book? Do you audition specifically for the book or send in generic samples?

It depends. Sometimes a producer or publisher will send a narrator an audition, sometimes it’s a direct offer, sometimes a narrator will notice a certain book or series they love isn’t in audio and they will initiate the project. Most narrators have a healthy mix of each in order to keep the work flowing.

The majority of narrators have samples of their work on their own websites, and certainly one can always listen to a sample on Audible or other audiobook retailers, and you can occasionally be cast from those, but the bulk of projects I’ve gotten have been through auditioning for either the producer or author, or both!

I can only speak for myself, but when I am considering a project, I will do as much research about it as I can to make sure the book is the right fit for me, as much as I might be a good fit for the book. I’ll read up about the author, I’ll read “Look Inside” of other books to get a feel for the author’s writing style, I’ll do a deep dive on GoodReads and read the early reviews for character and story info, and if I don’t have access to the entire manuscript (which if I do, I’ll skim to suss out if there is anything I personally might connect with or object to) I’ll read whatever I can about it to make sure there aren’t any surprises before I accept the audition or offer. I’ve turned down auditions and offers when I’ve needed work because the material wasn’t right for me, and I’ve moved my schedule around entirely to work something in because I loved it so much. I’ve made a very conscious effort to curate my backlist from Day One, so that eventually, folks will know when it’s a “Kimberly” project from the jump.

I’m so glad My Second Impression of You is a “Kimberly” project! What is your process for getting into character? Do you read through the whole book before recording, take it by chapters, something entirely different?

I absolutely read the book before narrating it. I read it twice in fact. The first time, straight through for fun—to experience it as any other reader might. This not only feeds my book nerd soul, but it gives me the big picture scope of the book and tells me how the lay reader should feel at the end.

I then read it a second time as an actor/director, wherein I dissect the book: breakdown the chapters into dramatic beats, highlight dialogue, find/create distinct character voices, speech patterns, vocal inflections, accents, etc, and research any unfamiliar words or pronunciations I may run across. I also take lots of notes and write down any questions for the author/producer that I can’t answer from the text or my own research.

Then it’s into the booth to record it. I record it straight through from beginning to end. If I’m recording on my own and doing my own engineering, I generally average about 2 finished hours of audio per day, which takes me roughly 6 labor hours per day, not including vocal warm-ups, cool-downs, etc. If I’m working with an engineer and director, I can usually get 3 finished hours done in a day, because I only have to focus on narrating. It’s a godsend to have those additional people working with you, but it’s not the norm.

How is acting for an audiobook different from acting for the stage or screen?

Other than the fact that the entire weight of the storytelling is on your shoulders alone (or maybe a partner or two if you’re co-narrating), there’s not a lot different. You’re still trying to inhabit the life of a character and tell their story as truthfully as possible. It’s just that in narration, you’re telling anywhere from 20-200 people’s stories all by yourself!

Also, since there’s no camera, you don’t have to put on make-up and you can wear your pajamas to work!

Do you record multiple audiobooks simultaneously or focus on one at a time?

Oh gosh, only one at a time. I’m an excellent single-tasker, but downright dreadful at juggling them.

What’s the typical turnaround for an audiobook?

Again, so much depends on the publisher or producer. I recorded a book this past August that won’t be released until January 2023, and I recorded another that was on sale before I got paid! A very loosey-goosey timeframe might be anywhere from 2-4 months, depending on a narrator and engineer’s availability, length of book, publishing date, etc. It’s not overnight though. There are too many moving parts to coordinate and factors to consider.

Who is usually your main contact at the publisher when working on an audiobook?

The Big Five publishers have their own in-house audio departments, as do some smaller publishers. Otherwise, there are myriad excellent audiobook production houses for smaller and independent publishers to outsource production. This was the case with MY SECOND IMPRESSION OF YOU. The print publisher is Bloomsbury, but the audiobook was produced by Deyan Audio. So my contact is with Deyan, not Bloomsbury.

What is the process like once you’re contracted for an audiobook? Once you’ve submitted the audiobook, does the publisher provide any feedback or it is submitted and done?

This varies on a company-by-company, producer-by-producer basis. Sometimes I have to put together a performance sample for producer/author approval or to make sure everything is up to snuff with my home studio, and sometimes, I’ve worked with the producer enough that they know what they’re going to get from me and my studio and that’s not required. We rarely, if ever, get other feedback once principle recording begins. Narrators, in addition to being actors, often have to be our own audio engineers, and self-direct. Which is why it’s so important to get proper acting and technical/engineering training before beginning this career. You are more or less on your own, and there’s an enormous amount of trust and responsibility given to you once you are offered and accept a project.

I saw on your website that you produced and directed opera for years. How does that experience translate over to audiobooks?

The amount of crossover between opera singers and voice actors (and again, audiobooks, specifically) is HUGE! I was surprised to meet so many former opera colleagues at first, but then it made perfect sense. The Venn diagram of skills required to be a professional singer and an audiobook narrator are nearly a circle. Beyond the obvious things like vocal development, breath control, stamina, knowing how to live as a freelancer/independent contractor/gig worker (which is no small feat in and of itself), there is a musicality to the spoken word. Not just with non-English languages and dialect work (but that’s also a big part of narration, and folks with musical ears and language skills carried over from opera do tend to be quicker with those), but the nuance of how to tell a story. Tone, pacing, rhythm, cadence are all in the author’s writing, and having a musical background really helps you find it for a moving delivery. I did glean a lot of those things from my 15 years working in opera internationally, but I’ll be the first to remind everyone, I was specifically paid NOT to sing, so I had to play a lot of catch-up with the vocal and physical training for narration work.

You also directed and wrote short films? I so want to know more about that, but particularly how that may have led to audiobooks.

I don’t know that working in film specifically led to audiobooks, but what that experience did do, was teach me how to think about books cinematically. And since there isn’t a visual to lean on, as a narrator, you are not only the characters, you are also the cinematographer. You have to really set the scene for the listener with your voice as the camera. I’m a very visual person, so I see locations and characters very vividly in my mind’s eye when I’m reading a book, so I tend to think about each beat as a different “shot,” creating a distinct atmosphere for each moment to exist.

How is your studio set up? What sort of equipment do you use to record an audiobook?

I have a professional recording booth in my apartment, and all professional-grade audio equipment: microphone, audio interface, and recording software. (You can see it here: www.voxkimberly.com/studio)

The thing that’s most important is to have a good, quiet, well-treated environment—I started in my closet with clothes hung from the ceiling and tack-on acoustic wall tiles—and a microphone that’s well-suited to both your voice and environment. You don’t need a $1,000+ mic. There are many wonderful mics at the $200-$300 price point that are much more forgiving for a home studio (especially in a loud town like NYC), because they aren’t nearly as sensitive as those pricey mics made for fancy recording studios that can “hear a flea fart” as one engineer put it.

How do you take care of your voice? It must get scratchy at times!

One word: Hydrate! Talking, weirdly, takes an enormous amount of water for your body to do. Physically, your vocal cords need to stay well-hydrated to function well, and your mouth needs to stay nice and moist at all times. I drink at least a gallon of water every day – even days when I’m not narrating, and I usually add electrolyte/hydration tablets to my water, and by starting my day with a big glass of coconut water to help speed along morning hydration after a night’s sleep. I also keep a carafe of hot ginger tea in the booth with me and sip it throughout the day, as the heat keeps blood flowing in your mouth and throat. If there’s a cup left at the end of a session and a little bourbon happens to find its way in the cup to make an instant toddy, well… who am I to fight that?

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a narrator?

Hm. That’s a tough question. If I was being esoteric, I probably say my empathy. I get very emotionally involved in the story and the lives of the characters and I truly hope that comes though in my performance. On a technical level, I’ve got a very musical ear and I’m a quick study, which makes me quite good at accents/dialects.

Plus, you also direct audiobooks. How does that process work? 

That’s a whole other questionnaire! Ha! The quick-and-dirty is that I’m “in” the booth (usually via remote connection from my home studio) with the narrator or author/narrator, and I act as a guide through the recording process. I liken it to the lady at the DMV who’s conducting the driving test: The narrator’s at the wheel, driving the car, but I’ll tell you to turn right if you’re veering left, and I’ve got a foot on the emergency brake, just in case.

What advice do you have for those who might be interested in narrating audiobooks? Is there a clear path for getting into the narrator business?

I tell everyone the same three things all the time:

Take the “So You Want to Be a Narrator?” Test, found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPzPi-_0Xi8If you make it through that and still think, “Hey! This is AWESOME!”, then visit: https://www.narratorsroadmap.com/ Narrators Roadmap will tell you EVERYTHING you need to know about starting up a narration business, including links to reputable coaches who will not blow smoke up your skirt about making $1,000/day. (That simply does not happen for ANYONE—not even the most recognizable celebrities, and anyone who promises that is the only one making $1,000/day because they’re scamming you.)There are also wonderful (and downloadable!) narration courses at https://narrator.life/, including this FREE “reality check” https://narrator.life/courses/beginning-narrators-reality-check/Do you work exclusively with publishers, or are you also available for inquiries directly from authors?

I work with publishers, production houses, and indie authors alike! If you’re going the trad pub route, all you have to do is request me! (Those are basically my favorite emails to get!) If you’re an indie author looking to collaborate, I’m easily findable on pretty much all of the social media sites (search @voxkimberly), or you can take a gander at my website: www.voxkimberly.com and shoot me an email directly from there (those are my second-favorite emails to get)!

Thank you, Kimberly!

I don’t know about you, but I found all of this completely fascinating! If you happen to be looking for a narrator, I highly recommend Kimberly.

On another note, my October newsletter is out today, and in addition to an abbreviated version of this feature, it also includes a giveaway for a paperback of Your Life Has Been Delayed plus a scrunchie. If you’re interested, check out the newsletter here.

The post Publishing Behind the Scenes: Interview with Audiobook Narrator Kimberly Wetherell appeared first on Michelle I Mason.

MY SECOND IMPRESSION OF YOU Is Out Today!

Release day is finally here! I thought nothing could top sending my first book out into the world, but you know what? I really love this book. Every time I start reading it again, I don’t want to stop.

My Second Impression of You was inspired by a stupid-awful thing that happened (I broke my foot walking down some stairs I somehow didn’t see), and then I wrote a lot of it while sitting in the hospital beside my best friend after her stroke (love you, Chrissy!).  And then I revised it during the pandemic, with my kids doing school from home and my husband here as well.

So there were a lot of hard things going on while I was writing this book, but despite that–or maybe because of it?–writing Maggie brought me so much joy. Maggie is not like me AT ALL. She’s full of drama and emotion. She jumps right into things without thinking. She’s sure she knows everything. (Okay, maybe that’s me a little, but isn’t that everyone? ) I hope she’ll bring you joy too!

In case you still don’t have a clear idea what My Second Impression of You is about, I recorded a one-minute summary.

I hope you’ll pick up a book and read my Acknowledgments, because I thank a whole bunch of awesome people in there. But just to name a few: my agent, Elizabeth Bewley; my editors, Allison Moore and Camille Kellogg; cover illustrator Jacqueline Li; cover and book designer Jeanette Levy; and everyone else at Bloomsbury. Also my critique partners and beta readers for this book: Kip Wilson, Carla Cullen, Beth Ellyn Summer, and Amy Trueblood. And obviously my friends and family, especially my husband, Greg, and kids, Luke and Anna. I don’t always use their names, but this book is dedicated to them, so the secret’s out!

My Second Impression of You is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook today. The audiobook is narrated by the amazing Kimberly Wetherell, who captures Maggie so well!

I hope to see some of you at my events over the next week, starting with my launch party tonight! All books purchased at these events are eligible for my preorder campaign, which runs through Sept. 26. Remember to submit your receipts at http://bit.ly/mysecondimpression to receive a bookmark, three character stickers, and enter for the grand prize (thespian mask necklace, Best Day Ever hat, stuffed unicorn).

Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, 6:30 p.m. Central
Launch Event at The Novel Neighbor (with cake!)
7905 Big Bend Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63119
Registration is recommended but not required here

Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, 6:30 p.m. Central
In Conversation with Jennifer Lynn Alvarez at Parnassus Books
3900 Hillsboro Pike Suite 14, Nashville, TN 37215
Registration is required here

Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, 2 p.m. Central
Signing at Main Street Books
307 S. Main Street, St. Charles, MO 63301
No registration required

Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, 5 p.m. Central
In-person event at Left Bank Books
399 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63108
Registration is requested here
Attend virtually at Left Bank Books’ Facebook Live Page or YouTube Page

Thank you so much for your support! I hope you love the book as much as I do. If you do, please leave a review on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble. You can leave a review at Amazon and B&N even if you purchase the book elsewhere. Reviews make a huge difference for authors, helping more readers find the book. [image error][image error][image error]

And remember: Don’t text and walk!

(That will make more sense once you read the book…)

The post MY SECOND IMPRESSION OF YOU Is Out Today! appeared first on Michelle I Mason.

MSIOY Releases Next Week! Where I’ll Be, Where to Order, How to Request

I can hardly believe it, but we’re just one week out from the release of My Second Impression of You! Even though I’ve been counting down, it still seems like the time is passing much more quickly than I anticipated now. I’m so excited to share this book with you all. To ensure you don’t miss a thing, here’s a recap of where I’ll be, my preorder campaign, and how to request it from your local library.

1: Come to one of my events!

The Novel Neighbor – This is my official launch event, and there will be a book cake! Registration is recommended but not required here.Parnassus Books – I can’t wait to visit Nashville and hang out with Jennifer Lynn Alvarez! Registration is required here.Main Street Books – Drop in anytime after 2 p.m.! There isn’t a set program.Left Bank Books – Masks are required for in-person attendance. Please RSVP for the presentation here. You can also attend virtually via Left Bank Books’ Facebook Live or YouTube pages.I’m also participating in a YA Romance panel with Books of Wonder on Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. EST. Sign up to join the Crowdcast here.


2. Preorder the book!

Everyone who preorders the book will receive a bookmark and three character stickers, all designed by Jacqueline Li, the cover artist for My Second Impression of You. The stickers feature Theo holding the unicorn he wins for Maggie on the day they meet, Maggie about to click on the Best Day App, and Carson holding the balloons he sends to Maggie after her foot surgery.

If you preorder from The Novel Neighbor, Main Street Books, or Left Bank Books, your book will also be signed and you can request personalization.

In addition, one lucky person who preorders will win a grand prize:

A Best Day Ever hat (since Carson always wears a hat)
A theater mask necklace (which you see Maggie wearing on the cover, bookmark and character sticker)
A stuffed unicorn (authentically won at a county fair!)

To receive your bookmark and stickers and to enter the grand prize drawing, fill out the form at http://bit.ly/mysecondimpression. You’ll also find all the details/rules at this link. Please note that even if you come see me at an event, you should fill out this form to enter for the grand prize.

3. Request the book from your local library!

If your library doesn’t already have My Second Impression of You on order, please request it! I used to think if I searched the library catalogue for a book and they didn’t have it, I was out of luck, but that’s not the case at all. Libraries want to carry the books you want to read, and many of them have a “Suggest a Purchase” option on their website, often on the Contact Us page. If they don’t have an online option, you can always ask the next time you’re in the library. Here’s all the information you’ll need:

Title: My Second Impression of You
Author: Michelle I. Mason
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
ISBN: 9781547604128

Giveaway alert!

Every week leading up to the release of My Second Impression of You, I’ve been revealing one of the fantastic blurbs I received for the book–and giving away a book by that author! The final giveaway starts today and runs through Thursday, Sept. 15. You can enter on both Instagram and Twitter. One winner will be chosen from both, so good luck!

In today’s newsletter, I also shared the back cover of the book, which includes all of the blurbs, as well as a fantastic review from the School Library Journal, an interview, and information about the ParnassusNext Book Club. I try not to make my blog posts an exact copy of the newsletter, so be sure to sign up if you don’t want to miss anything: https://eepurl.com/hh3lwD.

Thank you so much for your support! And if you’re able to attend one of my events, I can’t wait to see you!

The post MSIOY Releases Next Week! Where I’ll Be, Where to Order, How to Request appeared first on Michelle I Mason.

THELMA BEE IN TOIL AND TREBLE and A Few Other MG Books You Should Read

Happy Labor Day!

It’s been a while since I participated in Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, but I finally caught up on some middle grade reading, and these books are so fantastic I just had to jump back in!

First up is THELMA BEE IN TOIL AND TREBLE by Erin Petti, which comes out tomorrow! I was privileged to read an early copy of this book. It’s the sequel to THE PECULIAR HAUNTING OF THELMA BEE, and if you haven’t read that one, you should definitely pick it up. But either way, you can totally start with this one  and enjoy it.

Eleven-year-old Thelma Bee is a supernatural investigator and has powers of her own she’s still learning about (revealed in the first book). As part of the Riverfish Valley Paranormal Society (RVPS), Thelma and her friends have to investigate a new spike in paranormal activity in their small town. A classmate brings reports that his older sister’s a cappella group–Toil and Treble–is seriously evil. Thelma and the rest of RVPS are at first skeptical, but when Thelma’s sworn enemy joins the group, starts acting nice, and then disappears, she believes it may be true.

I loved all the quirky characters in the first book, and they all return, plus some new fun characters, including the stars of a ghost-hunting reality show. I also really enjoyed how Thelma grows into her powers and also deals with some family drama while navigating her friendships as well. I highly recommend you go pick this one up tomorrow!

I’m always up for a middle grade quest, and LARK AND THE WILD HUNT by Jennifer Adam is the perfect adventure. Lark Mairen lives in the Borderlands–an area that borders the land of the fae. Twice each year elite riders from her side of the border ride in the Wild Hunt with the Fae Court to strengthen the border, maintaining a delicate balance of magic and time. But the morning after the hunt, her brother doesn’t come home with the other riders.

As her family tries to get answers about her brother’s disappearance, Lark befriends a fae boy she calls Rook. To find her brother, she must fix a special clock the Harvest King dropped during the hunt. Fixing things is a particular skill of Lark’s, so she’s up to the challenging task. But others want the clock, plus it appears the fae aren’t keeping their part of the agreement with her people. It’s getting dicey, and way too much rests on Lark’s shoulders.

I don’t read a ton of fantasy, but I found this story completely gripping. Lark’s love for her brother and determination to bring him home, no matter what, is relatable and admirable. I also enjoyed her relationship with Rook. Lark’s parents and sister are great characters too. If this book isn’t on your radar, go check it out!

So, you’ve probably all read AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS by B.B. Alston, right? I mean, both of my kids read it before me–twice. But I knew it was the beginning of a series (the second book just came out!), so I held off on reading.

Oh my gosh, I understand all the hype now! This book deserves every single accolade it’s received. From the opening pages I got total Men in Black vibes, except with so much more than aliens. Amari gets introduced to the supernatural world and then discovers she’s a magician–but that’s bad. How’s that for a twist? Usually being a secret magician is the good news.

I loved Amari and all the other characters in this book so much. Everyone is so well drawn, and I have to give B.B. Alston a slow clap for hitting me with a twist I did not see coming. It was the perfect kind of twist–the kind where as soon as it happened I could see every seed he planted that I’d ignored. That is just masterful. I haven’t had a chance to read the second book but I will definitely not have the willpower to put it off until the third book is on its way.

I loved Rajani LaRocca’s first book, MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, and have been meaning to pick up another of her books forever (she’s been on a total publishing tear, so it’s hard to keep up!). I’m so glad I picked up this one. RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is a Newberry Honor book and so deserving.

It’s the story of Reha, the only Indian American student at her school in the early 1980s. She feels torn between two worlds–her tight-knit Indian community at home and on the weekends and American middle school during the week. She isn’t sure how to fully embrace either identity or blend them.

Just when Reha feels like she fully fits in at school, she discovers her mother is very sick, and it changes her perspective all over again. Written in verse, this book is a quick read but packs a strong emotional punch. I felt Reha’s tug of war between the two worlds, her love for her family and friends, her journey as she started to discover who she would be as an Indian American. I highly recommend this gorgeous book.

I have some other middle grade books on my TBR, so hopefully it won’t be as long before my next MMGM!

I’d love to hear if you’ve read any of these and what you thought–or if any are completely new to you.

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