Info

YABooksPodcast's podcast

I interview Young Adult, YA, authors about their books. YA novels may be Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Adventure, Action, Horror, or General Fiction. We talk about the author's lives, locations, work, careers, training, education, inspiration, writing methods and routines.
RSS Feed
2020
September
August


2018
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March


2016
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2015
December
November
October
September


Categories

All Episodes
Archives
Categories
Now displaying: 2015

.

Dec 29, 2015

In this episode I talk with E.B. Wheeler about historical landscaping and restoration in national parks and historic sites. We talk about her book she has out, others she is preparing, and working with Cedar Fort Press.

E.B. Wheeler grew up in Georgia and California. She has graduate degrees in history and landscape architecture, and wrote about history and historic preservation before focusing on fiction. She is the author of THE HAUNTING OF SPRINGETT HALL and BORN TO TREASON (forthcoming May 2016). She lives in the mountains of Utah with her husband, daughters, various pets, and as many antique roses as she can cram into her yard. You can find more about her at ebwheeler.com

Dec 22, 2015

In this episode I interview YA Author Robison Wells.
We talk about Marketing
Understanding your readers, characters, and their motivations.
A squishy MBA
Diesel Punk
Mental Illness- Obsession and compulsion and writing.

Contact
@RobisonWells
robisonwells@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/robisonwells


Bio:
Robison Wells is also the author of Blackout, Variant, and Feedback. Variant was a Publishers Weekly Best Book and a YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. Robison lives in the Rocky Mountains in a house not too far from elk pastures. His wife, Erin, is a better person than he will ever be, and their three kids cause mischief and/or joy.

Robison suffers from five mental illnesses (panic disorder, OCD, agoraphobia, depression and dermatillomania) and is an outspoken advocate for those with mental illnesses.

His books have been published in nine different languages, and he is the winner of many awards both in and out of the United States.

Dec 17, 2015

Bryan Cohen and I talk about

Selling for Authors.com
bestpagefoward.net copy editing better blurbs get better sales.
Sell more books show podcast...Jazzy Jim Cucral
Marshmallow elect

For the purposes of this podcast...

Co host on The Split YA Book review podcast ..... currently 50+ reviews/discussion
Author of the series Ted Saves the world.

Instructor of Selling for authors closed on Thursday

Tell us about Ted saves the world
How many books.
Has he finished saving the world?
Book 0 came out this last summer. Do you have other YA fiction coming in the future?

YA books, boys and romance. Romantic tension...
"Red Rising" by Pierce Brown
"Grasshopper Jungle" by Andrew Smith

Dec 10, 2015

In this episode I interview Robert Rayner
We talk about performing and teaching music, school presentations, being a journalist, and his many books, among which as stories written in a publisher's imprint, Lorimer Sports, Lorimer Side Streets, and Lorimer Street Lights.
And his newest release through the publisher Speaking Volumnes, Colorland.
https://www.raggedbeliever.wordpress.com
The intro and outro music for this episode was written and performed by Robert and is the theme for his book, Colorland. The entire piece is available on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJuLBRX8rxw

Author Bio:
I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.

In addition to a few go-nowhere jobs, I've been a journalist (in Cambridge, England), a teacher (in Colchester, England; Glovertown, Newfoundland; and Charlotte County, New Brunswick), and an elementary school principal (in St. George, New Brunswick).

I've been writing for as long as I can remember - news and feature articles as a journalist, tracts and diatribes on education as a teacher, stories to read in assembly as a principal, and, all the time, stories for their own sake. I now have nine young adult novels, two teen novels, and three adult novels in print. My stories have been shortlisted for the Ann Connor Brimer Children's Literature Prize and (three times) for the Hackmatack Children's Choice Award, and five of them have been included in the Canadian Children's Book Centre annual 'Best Books' list.

Although I forsook being a school principal in order to teach music at home, and to have more time for writing, I still love the world of school, and often talk to students about writing, and read to them from my books, and present writing workshops. Many of my books have grown out of, and continue to grow out of, my experiences working with children of all ages.

Usually I write in the morning, starting early, and save afternoons for playing and teaching music. If I'm under pressure to finish something, or I'm obsessed with a story (which I regard as a good sign), I resume writing in the evening, or go over what I wrote earlier.

When I'm not writing, or playing and teaching music, I'm usually walking, reading, skiing, feeding and watching the birds, taking photographs, or listening to music. I play keyboard, saxophone and clarinet with Stepping Out, a band that performs standards, blues, and old rock and roll for dances and other social events, and use the guitar to accompany songs I've written to introduce some of the characters in the stories.

I live in St. George, New Brunswick, on the Magaguadavic River (the one that flooded so disastrously just before Christmas 2011), where I like to drive Nancy, my wife, to distraction by watching soccer on TV and playing loud music.

And while I write, and teach, and play music, I'm still wondering what I want to be when I grow up.

Colorland

He said slowly, “You know how sometimes something happens, and afterwards you think what you could have – should have – done, if only you had the nerve and the confidence to do it, but of course by the time you think that, it’s too late.”

Isolde nodded.

Wenden mumbled, “Only, like, all the time.”

“Well – it’s like having the nerve and the confidence to do it straight off, at the moment you need to do it,” said Ridge.

Life changes quickly from carefree, innocent fun to desperate survival when teen friends Ridge, Isolde and Wenden inadvertently transgress their city state’s strict rules of conduct and morality. They are sent to a remote institution for ‘retraining’, from which they escape, only to find themselves wandering an empty wilderness as they are hunted by the ruthless guards of the state. In order to survive, they draw on abilities they didn’t know they possessed. They call it Going to Colorland. They’re happy to go there. But afraid of not coming back.

Dec 8, 2015

In this episode I interview L.G. Rollilns and we talk about the editing process when working with a publisher, home schooling, American Sign Language, her debut novel Shadows of Angels, and Cedar Fort Publishing.


L. G. Rollins grew up in a far off land fighting dragons, stealing talismans, and traveling with dwarfs and elves. She is especially skilled at bribing giants with sweets. Currently, her husband and four kids live in Utah so that is where she spends most of her time. She may, or may not, have a Zaad Stone. To learn more about L. G. Rollins and her books visit LGRollins.com.
Shadows of Angels comes out December 8th and is the beginning of the Zaad Stone trilogy.

http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Angels-L-G-Rollins/dp/1462117465/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447356362&sr=8-1&keywords=shadows+of+angels+L+G+Rollins

http://www.lgrollins.com

http://blog.cedarfort.com/

Dec 3, 2015

In this episode I interveiw Ana Del C.
We talk about writing books in English and translating to Spanish. We talk about the many books she has written, where she gets her inspiration, and what her practices are for writing them.

 

Anna was born in the extreme South along some famous beaches. She is the third child and twins with her sister Elena. She grew up with four other siblings being placed in the middle. Her mother died when she was six years old and her father never married again.
The green eyed, brown haired author found a mother in her husband's mother and loves her dearly. She accredits her mother-in-law with teaching her many things in life.

The author loves reading, but had few opportunities to do so while growing up. Once married she was introduced to the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books that she admits to having collected, which collections she still retains. They were the ones who wet her appetite. A few years ago she was introduced to Tolkien's Lord of the Ring's and to J. K. Rowling's writings, which she loves. She also loves romantic music that she listens to every day, plays that she attends at least six times a year, and cats (when they are not shedding.) She likes her clothes to be very feminine, with lace being one of her favorites. "I am afraid that I do not follow fashions," she was heard to say. "I wear what I like."

Early on in her life she showed an affinity for sewing and took classes that rewarded her with the opportunities of taking care of the costumes for the cast of four different plays, which she enjoyed immensely. She is fluent in both English and Spanish and understands Portuguese.

At twenty-one she moved north to marry Rodney and has resided in Utah since then. Her husband, a native of Idaho, met her in her hometown. They fell in love and she came to Utah on Christmas Eve to be married two weeks later. They are the parents of three princes and a princess.

With her husband and his family she has have the opportunity of traveling to many of the states in USA, most of them camping, and to three other countries, something she enjoys very much. Soon, she would like to visit the castles in Germany and other European countries.

Anna possesses a great mind and imagination, which, with the encouragement of her husband, she set to writing. The creation of her two series of books The Elf Series and her Medieval Romance series; are the result of many years of daydreaming and now, her own laptop. You can fallow Anna in her website at: http://www.annadelc.com

Nov 26, 2015

In this episode I talk with Alma Alexander

We discuss her trilogy "The Were Chronicles". "Random", "Wolf", and "Shifter" which should have gone live already, but is imminently going to drop at any moment.

She edited an anothogy "River" http://www.amazon.com/River-Joshua-Palmatier-ebook/dp/B008V5EQII/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1448483380&sr=1-1&keywords=River+Alma+Alexander

She can be contacted through her website at www.almaalexander.org

Alma Alexander, the 'Duchess of Fantasy,' was born on the banks of an ancient river in a country which no longer exists. When she was ten, her family left Europe and moved to Africa. Since then she has lived in several countries on four continents and now lives in America with a husband she met on the Internet

She has written three million words in more than 20 books and one of her novels, "The Secrets of Jin-shei," has been published around the world in 14 languages. The heroine of her popular Young Adult Worldweavers series is as American as Harry Potter is British. The first book in another young adult series about a shape-shifting Were family will be published shortly.

When asked what she would be if she weren't a writer, she quotes Ursula LeGuin's answer to that question: "Dead."

Alma is a punaholic and a chronic worrier, one of those people who proves that real pessimists are truly born and not made. She is owned by a cat. She was born on the fifth day of July (the day after America), six years before man walked on the moon, which makes her a cancer according to the Western horoscope and a water rabbit according to the Chinese one.

Nov 19, 2015

In this episode I interview Doug Fowler
We talk about:
Nanowrimo, Law School, Family Law, Challenges facing youth, youth ministry, distopian novels, and baseball.
His Bio:
Doug Fowler was born in NE Ohio with vision & hearing handicaps, plus a dash of cerebral palsy & Dandy-Walker Syndrome. He has also used the skills God gave him to accomplish a lot. He got a B.A. in Communication Studies from the College of Wooster('91), a J.D. from Case Western Reserve('94), & a Masters in Ministry from Tennessee Temple University('08) via online courses and modules. He does wills and estates part time as an attorney, serves as an online missionary with Global Media Outreach, co-hosts a radio show for a local youth ministry, Greater Canton Youthquake, and does numerous other things for the Lord toward earning rewards in Heaven.

Doug loves family friendly fun as well as baseball, which he has followed since he was little. (His first favorite team was Charlie Brown's) He loves using his brain to develop what-ifs, such as the alternate histories in this list. he creates occasional comedy tapes for his nieces and nephews, one of which helped spawn the zany goings-on in "Vikings Sack San Marino."

Doug has a free blogged book at takethespirituallead.blogspot.com for young people or anyone who wants to be a spiritual leader but worries they can't.

Nov 13, 2015


We talk about InD'Scribe conference
her two books,
http://www.beaconaudiobooks.com/home.html
http://www.pjboox.com/ November 22nd Book signing event in Ft. Meyers Florida between 1 and 4.
@bella623 on twitter
www.claudettemelanson.com
Facebook author page
Sherry Wingler, Wings of Darkness
Teema Maria Lacova, Blood Gifted
Louise White, The Calling

Nov 13, 2015

This is our first bonus episode.
We're back with Kevin L. Nielson as he prepares to launch his latest book, "Resurgent Shadows".
To learn more about this and the activities around the launch check his website at:
http://kevinlnielsen.com/
http://www.futurehousepublishing.com
Buy it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017TKDHNA?keywords=resurgent%20shadows&pebp=1447390238785&perid=V6AJNJAMNSTDTASBG923&qid=1447390234&ref_=sr_1_1&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

Nov 12, 2015

In this episode I talk with Joana Hill about Maine, Tennessee, Nanowrimo, Scrivener, and her many manuscripts.


www.Nanowrimo.org
Scrivener
www.scribophile.com
Sarah Dessen
Gayle Foreman - If I Stay
joana@wordsandteabottles.com
http://nanowrimo.org/participants/maemi

Nov 10, 2015

We talk about getting a BA in English, Freanch, Humanities, Playing the violin and piano, her book, Ella, more books, Cedar Fort Press, and the LDStorymakers conference.


www.jotsbyjess.com for more contact
jess_peaslee Instagram
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Jessilyn-Stewart-Peaslee-890103107707130/?fref=ts


JESSILYN STEWART PEASLEE was born the fourth of seven children into a family of avid readers, music lovers, movie quoters, and sports fans. Jessilyn graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in English, and also studied French and the Humanities. She loves playing catch with her boys, singing, playing the piano, making Orange Julius and popcorn, and watching movies with her husband and five boys. She is very grateful to them for being so supportive while Mommy wrote her “girl book.” Jessilyn grew up in the beautiful high desert of Southern California and now resides in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. As you read this, she is probably folding laundry . . . or should be.

About Ella
As soon as I felt the warmth from the fire, I realized I was freezing. The thought of leaving the delicious heat sent chills through me and I couldn’t bear to abandon it. I stretched out my weary body on the hearth, not caring about the cinders and soot that clung to me. I untied my shawl, placed it under my head and lay down, and watched the flames dance to a song I couldn’t hear.

Without the help of mice, magic, or fairy godmothers, the reserved yet resilient Ella Blakeley must find within herself the courage to overcome almost insurmountable obstacles, combat feelings of loneliness and worthlessness, forgive the unrepentant, and open her eyes and heart to the selfless and patient nature of true love. Through sacrifice and perseverance, Ella slowly rises from the cinders in her soul to make the transformation from mere survival to truly living and loving.
Going Live November 11th
http://www.amazon.com/Ella-Jessilyn-Stewart-Peaslee/dp/1462117457/

Nov 4, 2015

In this episode I talk with Kai Strand about Bend, Oregon, the high desert, King of Bad, fantasy vrs. speculative fiction, contemporary romance, and bed time stories
Favorite authors: Maggie Stiefvater, Jonathan Stroud,

King of Bad
Jeff Mean would rather set fires than follow rules or observe curfew. He wears his bad boy image like a favorite old hoodie; that is until he’s recruited by Super Villain Academy – where you learn to be good at being bad. In a school where one kid can evaporate all the water from your body and the girl you hang around with can perform psychic sex in your head, bad takes on a whole new meaning. Jeff wonders if he’s bad enough for SVA. He may never find out. Classmates vilify him when he develops good manners. Then he’s kidnapped by those closest to him and left to wonder who is good and who is bad. His rescue is the climactic episode that balances good and evil in the super world. The catalyst – the girl he’s crushing on. A girlfriend and balancing the supers is good, right? Or is it…bad?

Thanks for your interest in my books and me. I love talking books with readers and hope you'll share your thoughts on my books by leaving a review and/or dropping me an email. It's easiest to get a hold of me through my website: www.kaistrand.com. Perhaps you clicked on my bio to find out things about me, such as I hate to handle raw meat, I'm a wife and mother of four, a compulsive walker, and a Mozart fangirl. But since you stopped by, what I really want you to know is that I love that you read. Readers are smart, quick-witted, and usually good conversationalists--even if it's only inside their head. Introverts unite!

I write middle grade fiction because those are the most formative years of our lives. It's when we are trying to claim our freedom, while still being restricted by rules. The things we learn in books can give us the skills to navigate that maze. I write young adult fiction because there are no limits to what message I share or how I share it. Plus young adult readers are some of the most passionate readers out there. I heart YA readers.

If you'd like an image of me as a writer, go ahead and picture me with my laptop in a quaint bookshop café, fingers flying over the keys while the words pour out of my fingertips. It's much better than the real image of me in my pajamas with coffee breath, sinking into the me-sized crater in the couch, grumbling at my laptop when the words don't come.

Happy reading!

Oct 24, 2015

Woohoo!

We just got our first 100 downloads.

Eight episodes are up.

This might not sound like much, but most podcasts don't make it past 7 episodes. I have about 10 more interviews recorded and a half dozen lined up to record.

So...This podcast shouldn't go away for a while.

Please, take a moment, go to iTunes, subscribe, and give us a rating. This will help get the podcast out to the people who can help support these wonderful authors I have had on the show.

Thanks,

Philip Carroll

Oct 23, 2015

We talk about Education, being a reading specialist for middle school, The Outsiders, Writing through stress, a need to tell stories, two stories he is currently working on, books and movies as a reflection of society's concerns.
www.markmagroauthor.com
@magrocrag

 

Surfacing:
In a postapocalyptic world, two students discover that the worst thing about searching for the truth is actually finding it After a nuclear war has ravaged the planet, children of the few survivors are sent to renowned scientist Dr. Parkman and his underground facility, Parkman Institute of Science and Solutions, to learn, create, and test the latest technologies until they turn 18 and are sent back to the surface to help rebuild society. Balt and Zoe, 16-year-old students, have begun to realize something is amiss when Zoe is given a glimpse of an entirely different reality during a freak accident, one completely foreign to what Parkman has always described to his students. With the help of Balt and his midterm robotics project, the talkative head of an A.I. called Smith, the three devise a plan to escape the institute and travel through the ruins of the old labs to get to the surface. As they draw closer to their destination, they begin to see that their biggest threat might be each other. The old lab is full of secrets, and some answers are perhaps better left buried.

Oct 22, 2015

Among other things, we talk about his debut novel release, "That Girl, Darcy", Jane Austin and her writing, Comic Books, and working in a library.

 

Learn more about him at http://www.thejamesramos.com

Here's a link to the book, now available on Amazon:

That Girl, Darcy

 

Book Description
 
A Pride and Prejudice Story. 

IT IS A TRUTH UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED that geeky guys never get to date the pretty girls with permanent scowls. 

To Elliott Bennett, life is simple. It’s all parties, skateboarding, and arguing over who would win in a fight between Hulk and Superman with his friends. It’s his senior year, and he wants nothing more than to soak up his final year of freedom before real life begins. 

That is, until Darcy Fitzwilliam and her best friend Bridget move in to the only mansion in the neighborhood. When Elliot meets Darcy at a party, he finds out that she isn’t into skateboarding (which he lives for), she hates science-fiction (which he loves), and she thinks his friends are a pack of morons (which, honestly, might be half true)—and yet, there’s something irritatingly intriguing about her. 

When Elliot’s cousin Jake starts to date Bridget, it complicates Elliot’s plans to ignore the scowling Darcy for the rest of the year. Why is Darcy so . . . ugh? Elliott doesn’t know, but for some reason, is determined to find out—even if she doesn’t know the difference between Star Trek and Star Wars. 
 
Author Bio
 
About the Author James Ramos is a native Minnesotan who has called Phoenix, Arizona his home for the past five years. He has been writing since the age of nine. He is a professional dork and lover of all things geeky. When he isn’t writing he can be found cosplaying as Spiderman or conversing with his extraordinarily brilliant cat. The eleventh Doctor is his favorite.

James Ramos

Oct 15, 2015

On this episode we talk about her currently available novel "Ideal High". We also discuss her next novel, "Purple Heart".

We talk about, Arizona, Texas, High School, Purple Hearts, Military service, Kids, Grand Kids and other things.

Valerie talks about her favorite authors, Jeanette Rallison, and Jenifer Shaw Wolf, who wrote,  "Breaking Beautiful" and  "Dead Girls Don't lie".

You can learn more about her on her blog at valerieipson.blogspot.com, on Twitter, @valerieipson, www.facebook.com/valerieipson, or her website, www.valerieipson.com, which may still be under construction.

 

Bio:

Valerie Ipson loves her family...and reading, writing, family history, and Hershey Milk Chocolate Almond & Toffee Nuggets. She lives in Mesa, Arizona, and IDEAL HIGH is her debut novel.

She claims two hometowns: Richland, Washington, where she was born and lived until she was 10, and Amarillo, Texas, where she lived until leaving for college at 18. She thinks Richland is the best place to grow up, but wouldn't trade her growing experiences in Amarillo for anything.

Reading has always been a huge love in her life, but she never thought she'd be on the author side of a book. Valerie hopes she can give readers the same experience she has enjoyed through the years while being curled up with a good book!

Oct 8, 2015

Among other things, we talk about the release of her YA trilogy, "Never Let Me", the first book being released for Kindle on October 13th. Check the link below.
We also talk about being a female gamer, writing game reviews and tie in fiction. Jennifer has been involved in all aspects of the writing business and was a fascinating guest for the show.

http://www.amazon.com/Never-Sleep-Melissa-Allen-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B013TR7ABW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1444221240&sr=1-1&keywords=jennifer+brozek


Jennifer reccomends Neal Shusterman, and specifically his book, "Unwind".
Other authors she reccomends are Scott Westerfeld, Claudia Gray, Richelle Mead, and Lili St. Crow.


Contact her on:
@jenniferbrozek on Twitter
www.jenniferbrozek.com

Sep 29, 2015

Jared and I talk about his recently released YA Science Fiction Novel, "Beat", working for Amazon in Seattle, writing on the train, pulse rates, and what to look forward to.

 

@jaredgarrett

Author page on Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/Jared-Nathan-Garrett/e/B00MNHF2J2/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1443568603&sr=1-2

http://www.jaredgarrett.com

If your heart rate goes over 140 beats per minute, you die.

Fifteen-year-old Nik Granjer hates the Bug. It was the Bug that destroyed the world when it wiped out over ninety percent of humanity a hundred years ago. Even now, the Bug kills anyone whose heart rate goes over 140 beats per minute. That’s why the Prime Administrator gave everyone the Papas – digital wrist monitors that put people to sleep when their heart rate gets too high. The Papas saved humankind.

But one night on the border of New Frisko, when Nik tampers with his Papa and discovers there is more to the Bug than he thought, a brutal enforcement squad from the city suddenly forces Nik into hiding.

On the run and searching for allies, Nik’s only hope is to escape with his life and discover the truth about the Prime Administrator’s regime and the origins of the Bug. But can Nik and his friends keep their heart rates under 140 when it matters most?

Beat is a post-apocalyptic dystopian science fiction thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

 

 

Sep 29, 2015

Kevin and I talk about his recent book, "Sands", about writing in a fantasy world, writing until 3 am, Lehi, Utah, and other things.

Places to look for Kevin:

@kevinlnielsen

http://www.amazon.com/Sands-Kevin-L-Nielsen/dp/0989125378/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443568042&sr=8-1&keywords=kevin+l.+nielsen

http://kevinlnielsen.com/

 

Sep 29, 2015

I talk with Heather about life in the Pacific North West and about her recent novel, "Plague Master: Sanctuary Dome"

About Heather:

H.E. Roulo is the author of the Plague Masters series. Her short stories have appeared in over a dozen magazines, anthologies, and podcasts. Recent publications include Fantasy magazine's Women Destroy Fantasy special issue, Nature Futures 2, and Blood Type: An Anthology of Vampire SF on the Cutting Edge.

The serialized podcast release of her novel Fractured Horizon was a 2009 Parsec Award Finalist for Best Speculative Fiction Story. She co-hosted the author interview podcast Podioracket.com from 2009 to 2012.

She lives in the beautiful Seattle area with her husband, two children, and a fluffy dog.

Follow Heather on twitter @hroulo or visit her website heroulo.com.

Links:

 

Twitter: @hroulo

Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/heatherroulo

Website: http://www.heroulo.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/heroulo

Sep 29, 2015

Michell Plested, author of several YA books talks about his inspiration for his novel, "Scouts of the Apocalypse".

We discuss: Canada, Scouting, Zombies, Short Story Anthologies, Five Rivers Press, Agents, and education

To find out more about him, check out these locations:

@mplested on Twitter

His website: www.michellplested.com

and his author page on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Michell-Plested/e/B009RYGC6G/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_6?qid=1443565807&sr=8-6

 

1