Meet the Author: Caleb Roehrig

Caleb Roehrig is a former actor and television producer originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Having also lived in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Helsinki, Finland, he has a chronic case of wanderlust, and can recommend the best sights to see on a shoestring budget in over thirty countries. From B Horror films to the salt mines of reality TV, he knows how your sausage gets made.

Caleb’s debut novel, LAST SEEN LEAVING (Fiewel & Friends/Macmillan, October 4, 2016), is a Young Adult contemporary thriller. THIRTEEN REASONS WHY meets GONE GIRL in this YA thriller about fifteen-year-old Flynn Doherty. His girlfriend, January, is missing, the cops are asking questions he can’t answer, and her friends are telling stories that don’t add up. All eyes are on Flynn – he must know something…right? But Flynn has a secret of his own. And as he struggles to uncover the truth about January’s disappearance, he must also face the truth about himself.

Fun facts:

• Favorite book growing up: ALICE IN WONDERLAND by Lewis Carroll
• Childhood aspiration: Actor, Author, or Artist (later he added Musician and Spy to the list, then redacted Spy when he realized how dangerous and murdery espionage was)
• Favorite time of day/place to write: Typically in the evening, or after a really good run
• Book Currently Reading: NYCKELN (THE KEY) by Mats Strandberg and Sara Bergmark Elfgren
• Favorite things to do: Caleb loves to travel, spend time with his amazing nieces and nephews, and perform humiliating stunts that later on become great ice-breaker stories (such as, “Ever hear about the time I went to a karaoke bar and my fake mustache fell off while I was in the middle of belting out Thelma Houston’s “Don’t Leave Me This Way”?)
• Surprising personal fact: Has a black belt in Taekwondo
• Greatest thing about being a 2016 debut author: A lifelong dream finally coming true!

Where to find him:

Twitter | Goodreads | Add Book

Meet the Author: Laura Tims

Laura Tims is a mental health advocate, a fan of humans, and a reasonably cute organism.

Laura’s debut novel, PLEASE DON’T TELL (HarperCollins/HarperTeen May 24, 2016), is a Young Adult contemporary thriller. Joy always said she’d kill for her twin sister, but she can’t remember what happened the night that the boy they hated was murdered.  But someone else does – and unless Joy uncovers the blackmailer’s identity in time, she’ll be forced to make a terrible choice.

Fun facts:

• Favorite book growing up: A GREAT AND TERRIBLY BEAUTY by Libba Bray. She’s read it at least sixteen times.
• Childhood aspiration: Writer! The first thing she wrote was some Neopets fanfiction and it was all downhill from there.
• Favorite time of day/place to write: She’s an early afternoon girl. She writes best in brightly lit places!
• Book currently reading/most recently read: JUST VISITING by Dahlia Adler – so far it’s knocking her socks off, or it would if she wasn’t wearing flip-flops. (Thank you, San Diego.)
• Favorite things to do (other than reading): Tumblr-ing, watching cartoons, eating, contemplating becoming a person who puts running on this list.
• Favorite sports teams: Is mayonnaise a sport?
• Surprising personal fact: She genuinely likes pretty much everyone.
• Greatest thing about being a 2016 debut author: Getting to be part of the debut group with the cutest color scheme!

Where to find her:

Website | Twitter | Tumblr  | Instagram | Facebook  | Goodreads | Add Book

 

Meet the Author: Margot Harrison

When Margot Harrison isn’t writing fiction, she edits the alt-weekly newspaper SEVEN DAYS, for which she also writes book and movie reviews. She’s a member of the Online Film Critics Society and lives in the wilds of Vermont.

Margot’s debut, THE KILLER IN ME (Disney-Hyperion, Summer 2016) is a Young Adult Contemporary Thriller. Seventeen-year-old Nina has a mysterious connection to a serial killer who’s flying way under the cops’ radar.  She hunts him down, only to find herself face-to-face with a charming family man who makes her doubt everything she thought she knew.
Fun facts:

• Favorite book growing up: DOGSBODY by Diana Wynne Jones
• Childhood aspiration: A writer, of course!
• Favorite time of day/place to write: Dusk, on the couch watching light fade and streetlights come on.
• Book currently reading/most recently read: Her dad’s childhood copy of APACHE GOLD AND YAQUI SILVER by L. Frank Dobie. Also WE ALL LOOKED UP by Tommy Wallach.
• Favorite things to do (other than reading): Figure skating, watching scary movies, playing improv games, baking with lots of confectioner’s sugar, exploring grand estates, pounding tea, teasing cats.
• Favorite sports teams: Um … do figure skaters count?
• Surprising personal fact: At fifteen, inspired by the movie FAME, she auditioned for New York’s High School of Performing Arts using a Eugene Ionesco monologue (but didn’t get in).
• Greatest thing about being a 2016 debut author: Getting to know other debut authors and reading their amazing books. Also, knowing they have three years to enjoy it all before the grim future of BLADE RUNNER sets in. 😉

Where to find her:

Website | Twitter

Meet the Author: Mia Siegert

Mia Siegert received her MFA from Goddard College and her BA from Montclair State University where she won Honorable Mention in the 2009 English Department Awards for fiction. Siegert has been published in Clapboard House, Word Riot, The Limn Literary & Arts Journal, as well as a few other small presses. She currently works as an adjunct professor and a costume designer.

Mia’s debut, JERKBAIT (Jolly Fish Press, Spring 2016), is a Young Adult coming-of-age thriller. Tristan isn’t close to his identical twin Robbie at all – until Robbie tries to kill himself. After being forced to share a room to prevent Robbie from future attempts, Tristan realizes that Robbie is gay and struggling with the repercussions of coming out in the professional sports world. With their shrinking world, the twins are forced to reconcile their differences and make a decision that could put their lives and innocence in jeopardy.

Fun facts:

• Favorite book growing up: THE TREE PEOPLE by Naomi M. Stokes and LIKE SISTERS ON THE HOMEFRONT by Rita Williams-Garcia
• Childhood aspiration: Olympics (Show Jumping)
• Favorite time of day/place to write: Her absolute favorite time is 2-4 a.m. but that’s not super practical. Location isn’t a biggie as long as she’s wearing blue jeans.
• Book currently reading/most recently read: FAR FROM YOU by Tess Sharpe
• Favorite things to do (other than reading): Design costumes (she’s a CATS specialist!), ride horses, go to New Jersey Devils games (STH!), eat ice cream, travel, go to Broadway shows…
• Favorite sports teams: New Jersey Devils, Anaheim Ducks, hasn’t decided who she’s rooting for in the WNHL—probably New York Riveters or the Boston Pride, and the Denver Broncos.
• Surprising personal fact: She only studied literary fiction in school (undergrad and MFA alike). YA happened on a whim!
• Greatest thing about being a 2016 debut author: Her birthday is on a 16th, so she loves the idea of her debut coming out in the year 2016.

Where to find her:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Add Book

 

The Debut Club: An interview with Valynne E. Maetani, author of INK AND ASHES

Sweet Sixteener Christian McKay Heidicker recently spoke to Fearless Fifteener Valynne E. Maetani about her YA mystery/thriller INK AND ASHES (June 1, 2015 from Tu Books/Lee and Low).

About the Author:

Valynne E. Maetani grew up in Utah and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She was once a project manager, developing educational software for children with learning disabilities, and is currently a member of the We Need Diverse Books team. Valynne is dedicated to promoting diversity in children’s literature because all children should grow up believing their stories deserve to be told. Her debut novel, Ink and Ashes, is the winner of the New Visions Award 2013, a spring 2015 Junior Library Guild selection, and Best Fiction Book in Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah Arts Award for 2015.

Find Valynne on her Website, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

 

About INK AND ASHES:

Claire Takata has never known much about her father, who passed away when she was a little girl. But on the anniversary of his death, not long before her seventeenth birthday, she finds a mysterious letter from her deceased father, addressed to her stepfather. Claire never even knew that they had met. Claire knows she should let it go, but she can’t shake the feeling that something’s been kept from her. In search of answers, Claire combs through anything that will give her information about her father . . . until she discovers he was a member of the yakuza, the Japanese mafia. The discovery opens a door that should have been left closed.

So begins the race to outrun his legacy as the secrets of her father’s past threaten Claire’s friends and family, newfound love, and ultimately her life.

INK AND ASHES is available for purchase from Amazon, Powell’s, Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, and Indiebound.

The Debut Club: An interview with Dawn Kurtagich, author of THE DEAD HOUSE

Sweet Sixteener Ruth Lehrer recently spoke to Fearless Fifteener Dawn Kurtagich about her debut YA novel, THE DEAD HOUSE (Orion Publishing, August 6, 2015 (UK) and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, September 15, 2015 (US).

About the Author: 

Dawn Kurtagich is a writer of creepy, spooky and psychologically sinister YA fiction, where girls may descend into madness, boys may see monsters in men, and grown-ups may have something to hide. By the time she was eighteen, she had been to fifteen schools across two continents. The daughter of a British globe-trotter and single mother, she grew up all over the place, but her formative years were spent in Africa—on a mission, in the bush, in the city and in the desert. She writes over at the YA Scream Queens, a young adult blog for all things horror and thriller, and she is a member of the YA League. Her life reads like a YA novel.

Find Dawn on her Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, YouTube, and The Dead House website.

About THE DEAD HOUSE:

Twenty-five years ago, Elmbridge High burned down. Three people were killed and one pupil, Carly Johnson, disappeared. Now a diary has been found in the ruins of the school. The diary belongs to Kaitlyn Johnson, Carly’s identical twin sister. But Carly didn’t have a twin . . . Who was Kaitlyn and why did she only appear at night? Did she really exist or was she a figment of a disturbed mind? What were the illicit rituals taking place at the school? And just what did happen at Elmbridge in the events leading up to ‘the Johnson Incident’?

THE DEAD HOUSE is available for purchase at: Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Powells, BAM, B&N, and IndieBound.

The Debut Club: An interview with Alexandra Sirowy, author of THE CREEPING

Sweet Sixteener Kali Wallace recently spoke to Fearless Fifteener Alexandra Sirowy about her debut YA thriller, THE CREEPING (August 18, 2015 from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers).

About the Author: 

THE CREEPING is Alexandra Sirowy’s first novel. She was born in Northern California and grew up in Providence, Rhode Island and the San Francisco Bay Area. She attended a women’s college as an undergraduate and has a graduate degree in International Studies. She lives in Northern California with her husband.

Find Alexandra on her Website, Facebook, and Twitter.

 

 

 

 

About THE CREEPING:

Stella Cambren is the lucky one. When she was a kid, Stella and her friend Jeanie vanished while picking strawberries. Stella came back. Jeanie never did.

Eleven years later, Stella is over it—mostly. She can’t remember a time when people didn’t look at her with a question in their eyes. All Stella wants is to have the best summer of her life. Jeanie’s fate is lost in the black hole of her mind. It’s nothing but the past.

That is, until the fresh corpse of a little girl is found, one with eerie similarities to Jeanie, and Stella’s memories start coming back. As Stella uncovers the truth about the day Jeanie vanished, she discovers a trail of disappearances going back generations. Stella thinks remembering what happened to Jeanie will save her. It won’t. And before the summer is over, Stella will learn that if you hunt for monsters, you’ll find them.

THE CREEPING is available for pre-order at: Amazon, Powells, Books A Million, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound. 

The Debut Club: An interview with Shannon Grogan, author of FROM WHERE I WATCH YOU

Sweet Sixteener Julie Eshbaugh recently spoke to Fearless Fifteener Shannon Grogan about her debut YA thriller, FROM WHERE I WATCH YOU (August 4, 2015 from Soho Teen).

About the Author: 

Shannon Grogan is a second grade teacher who writes at night (and while her kids are at ballet and baseball) in a small logging town east of Seattle. She holds degrees in education, and graphic design/Illustration. When she isn’t writing, she’s baking, reading, watching scary movies, and wishing she were at the beach. You can find out more about her online at www.shannongrogan.com.

Visit Shannon at Goodreads.

 

 

 

About FROM WHERE I WATCH YOU:

Reeling from the aftermath of her sister’s drowning and the collapse of her family, 16-year-old Kara focuses on what she knows best: baking cookies. Winning a prestigious baking contest could take her away from a miserable home life. But someone is watching and leaving threatening notes: Kara has a stalker. If she doesn’t figure out who it is, she could lose everything. Her chance of escape. The boy she’s beginning to love and trust. Even her life.

FROM WHERE I WATCH YOU is available for purchase at: Amazon, Powell’s, Books A Million, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound. 

The Debut Club: An interview with Amanda Panitch, author of DAMAGE DONE

Sweet Sixteener Elizabeth Briggs recently spoke to Fearless Fifteener Amanda Panitch about her YA thriller, DAMAGE DONE (July 21, 2015, Random House).

About the Author: 

Amanda Panitch grew up next to an amusement park in New Jersey, went to college next to the White House in Washington, D.C., and now resides in New York City, where she works in book publishing by day, writes by night, and lives under constant threat of being crushed beneath giant stacks of books.

Find Amanda on her website and Twitter.

 

About DAMAGE DONE:

“In her incredible debut novel, Amanda Panitch leaves you on the edge of your seat. Prepare to be stunned. Prepare to be torn apart.” –Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author of Bad Feminist

“Exceedingly clever and surprisingly unsettling, Damage Done is an unforgettable read.” –Melissa Marr, New York Times bestselling author of Made for You

“A brilliant thriller. Gillian Flynn for the YA set.” –Amy Christine Parker, author of Gated

22 minutes separate Julia Vann’s before and after.

Before: Julia had a twin brother, a boyfriend, and a best friend.

After: She has a new identity, a new hometown, and memories of those twenty-two minutes that refuse to come into focus. At least, that’s what she tells the police.

Now that she’s Lucy Black, her fresh start has attracted the attention of one of the hottest guys in school. And someone much more dangerous. She thought her brother’s crimes were behind her. But now she’s being forced to confront the dark secrets she thought were safely left behind. How far will Julia go to keep her slate clean?

One thing is clear: The damage done can never be erased. It’s only just beginning. . . .

DAMAGE DONE is available for preorder at Amazon, Books A Million, Powells, Barnes & Noble, and Indiebound. Signed copies are available at Word Bookstores and McNally Jackson.

The Debut Club: An interview with Chandler Baker, author of ALIVE

Sweet Sixteener Kali Wallace recently spoke to Fearless Fifteener Chandler Baker about her YA horror novel, ALIVE (June 9, 2015, Disney-Hyperion).

About the Author: 

Chandler Baker got her start ghost-writing novels for teens and ‘tweens before turning to her own stories. She grew up in Florida, went to college in Pennsylvania, and studied law in Texas where she now lives with her husband. Although she loves spinning tales with a touch of horror, she is a much bigger scaredy-cat than her stories would lead you to believe.

Find Chandler on her website, Instagram, Goodreads, or Twitter.

 

 

About ALIVE:

Stella Cross’s heart is poisoned. After years on the transplant waiting list, she’s running out of hope that she’ll ever see her eighteenth birthday. Then, miraculously, Stella receives the transplant she needs to survive.

Determined to embrace everything she came so close to losing, Stella throws herself into her new life. But her recovery is marred by strange side effects: Nightmares. Hallucinations. A recurring pain that flares every day at the exact same moment. Then Stella meets Levi Zin, the new boy on everyone’s radar at her Seattle prep school. Stella has never felt more drawn to anyone in her life, and soon she and Levi are inseparable.

Stella is convinced that Levi is her soul mate. Why else would she literally ache for him when they are apart? After all, the heart never lies…does it?

ALIVE is available for purchase at Amazon, Powell’s, Books A Million, Barnes & Noble, and Indiebound.