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Archives - August 2018

Interview: Adib Khorram, author of Darius the Great is Not Okay

Aug 27, 2018

Adib Khorram's heartfelt and hilarious debut, DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY, releases on August 28, 2018, but it has already been earning rave reviews and praise. As one of the 2018 BookExpo Young Adult Buzz picks, DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY offers a meaningful exploration of heritage, identity and self-worth. Already struggling with depression and the stress of finding somewhere to fit in, he expects his first trip to Iran will only add to his sense of loneliness. So it comes as a surprise when he meets Sohrab, the Iranian teen living next door who opens his arms to Darius. But Darius' time in Iran is only temporary, and eventually he'll have to figure out how to be the person Sohrab discovered in him. In celebration of the release of the book, we spoke with Adib Khorram about Iranian culture, nerdiness and relationships. Check out our interview for the full scoop!

Interview: Hamish Steele, author of DeadEndia: The Watcher's Test (Book 1)

Aug 22, 2018

This August, animation director and comic book artist and writer Hamish Steele released his second book, DEADENDIA. The first book in a series, DEADENDIA follows best friends Barney and Norma, who are employees at a strange theme park (which doubles as a portal to hell) as they struggle to battle demonic forces and get by in their personal lives. In celebration of the release, we had the opportunity to ask Steele about his inspiration for the plot, his wonderfully diverse characters and his artistic influences. Read our interview to learn more about how close DEADENDIA is to its author, and what we can expect from future installments.

Interview: Maggie Ann Martin, author of To Be Honest

Aug 21, 2018

Last year, author Maggie Ann Martin made her debut with THE BIG F, about a young woman who must retake her senior English class to get into her dream school. This year, Maggie is back and tackling some important social issues in TO BE HONEST. Her sophomore contemporary novel is about high school senior, Savannah, or Savvy, as she navigates this pivotal time in her life and deals with issues such as body image, parental pressure, first love, feeling lonely and finding your path.

Interview: Jennifer Gilmore, author of If Only

Aug 15, 2018

This July marked the release of Jennifer Gilmore's second young adult book, IF ONLY. The narrative follows Bridget, a 16-year-old, who finds herself pregnant and alone with only her best friend Dahlia to support her. Bridget's story alternates with her daughter Ivy's story 16 years later. Despite the safety and comfort Ivy has enjoyed surrounded by her two loving moms, she feels that it's time she finally learned about her past. Ivy will emabark on a journey where she might not only learn more about her mother but also more about herself. In this interview, Jennifer Gilmore reveals her motives behind the adoption theme, her writing process for IF ONLY, and tells us a bit about her future projects. Keep on reading to learn more about IF ONLY and its acclaimed author!