Upcoming Agent Spotlight Interviews & Guest Posts

  • Stuti Telidevara Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 3/20/2024
  • Agent Rachel Orr and Author Cathy Carr Guest Post and Lost Kites and Other Treasures Giveaway on 3/25/2024
  • Paula Weiman Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 4/8/2024
  • Hillary Fazzari Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 4/22/2024
  • Miriam Cortinovis Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 5/6/2024
  • Jenniea Carter Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 5/8/2024
  • Caroline Trussell Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 5/20/2024
  • Jenna Satterthwaite Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 6/10/2024
  • Bethany Weaver Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 6/24/2024

Agent Spotlight & Agent Spotlight Updates

  • Agent Spotlights & Interviews have been updated through the letter "H" as of 5/11/2023 and many have been reviewed by the agents. Look for more information as I find the time to update more agent spotlights.

Debut Author Interview: Anne Rellihan Interview and Not the Worst Friend in the World Giveaway

Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m excited to have debut author Anne Rellihan here to share about her debut MG contemporary mystery Not the Worst Friend in the World. I’m excited to read it after reading the blurb that describes the main character as a modern-day Harriet the Spy.

Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:

 

Can Lou Bennett keep a secret? She’ll do just about anything to prove herself to her new friend—and the best friend she betrayed—in this debut novel that is a modern-day Harriet the Spy with high emotional stakes.

It’s the thirty-fourth day of sixth grade at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in Missouri, and eleven-year-old Lou wishes she could rewind time.

Lou wants to go back to the ninth day of sixth grade—the day before she fought with her best friend Francie and said the terrible, horrible things she can’t unsay. Or better yet, she would go back to fifth grade when Francie was still the Old Francie.

Then the new girl, Cece Clark-Duncan, passes Lou a mysterious note. It says she was kidnapped. (!) If Lou can help Cece, maybe she can prove she’s not the world’s worst friend.

But as observant Lou uncovers the complicated truth about Cece’s family, she starts to panic. Can she help Cece without hurting her? Or will Lou end up losing another friend instead?

Anchored by an outstanding voice and a page-turning mystery, this remarkable debut novel honors the powerful middle school friendships that can both break and heal a tender eleven-year-old heart. Perfect for fans of Fish in a Tree and My Jasper June.

Follower News

Before I get to Anne’s interview, I have Follower News to share. Shannon Lawrence has a new release, Myth Stalker: Wendigo Nights. Here’s a blurb: When Selina gets a shocking call from her mentor she must set aside everything she knows about Wendigo and find a solution that will save a loved one's soul. Here are a few links: 

Website: www.thewarriormuse.com Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/4AaOJd

Interview With Anne Rellihan

Hi Anne! Thanks so much for joining us.

1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.

I grew up wanting to be an author. I was constantly reading and writing, and I would write books and gift them to my friends, family, and teachers. As I got older, I thought the way to have a career in writing was to be a journalist, so I majored in Journalism, but English, too, because I still loved literature and creative writing. I quickly figured out that I didn’t love reporting the news, so I joined Teach For America after college and spent ten years teaching 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. After my second son was born in 2017, I left the classroom and got serious about writing. Not the Worst Friend in the World was the first book I wrote—although it’s changed a lot from the initial draft to the book it is now.

2. Where did you get the idea for Not the Worst Friend in the World?

I drew inspiration from the books I loved to read as a kid, my own experiences growing up, and my students over the years. I went to Catholic school from kindergarten through high school, so I included that experience in the book. I also have such strong memories of my friendships at that age, and how important they were to me, so that was a big part of the inspiration.

Your Writing Process

3. That’s great that you drew on your own experiences for the idea for this book. How did you plot out the mystery of Cece’s kidnapping and Lou’s attempts to find her? Do you have any tips and resources for MG and YA writers who want to write a mystery, including me?

A lot of the specific scenes where Cece and Lou find clues and are actively trying to track down Cece’s mom were added on revision. The general plot remained the same, but I added a lot to make the story more mysterious and tie all the clues together. So my best piece of advice is to not be afraid to revise. Drafting is the hardest part of the process for me, so I would say the most important thing is to get a story down because once it’s there you can add, change, and cut as much as you need to make it work together the way you want it to.

4. Drafting is hardest for me too. One of the appeals of your story is that Lou is such a compelling character, and it sounds like your story tugs at readers’ hearts. How did you develop Lou as a character?

I tried to get inside Lou’s head as much as possible by envisioning what she would do in a number of different situations. I also wrote scenes from her perspective that weren’t included in the book just to make sure I really knew her inside and out and could convey her convincingly on the page.

5. I saw that you were in the Author Match Program. Tell us about what that program is and how it helped you strengthen your writing and your manuscript.

Author Mentor Match was an invaluable experience for me. I submitted my manuscript to a number of agented and published middle grade authors, and it was selected my Megan E. Freeman and Nicole M. Hewitt. They read my full manuscript, sent me a detailed editorial letter, and we met over Zoom to discuss their proposed changes. They were both so insightful and really understood the book and the characters, and so all of their feedback was spot on and was critical in helping me tell the story I had set out to tell.

Your Road to Publication

6. That’s great that your mentors were so helpful. Your agent is Elizabeth Bennett. How did she become your agent and what was your road to getting a publishing contract like?

I finished working with Megan and Nicole in September of 2021. Elizabeth, who is not usually open to unsolicited queries, opened for a short time in December 2021. She posted that she was looking for a heartfelt middle grade or YA story, so I queried her right away. I got another offer of rep shortly after submitting to her, and then Elizabeth offered, too. I felt confident in Elizabeth’s experience and belief in the story, and I couldn’t be happier or feel luckier to have her as my agent. I signed with her in January 2022, and she took my manuscript out on submission a few weeks later. The book was out on submission for three weeks before we got an offer from Sally Morgridge at Holiday House. Sally and Holiday House have been amazing and such a wonderful fit for me and my book. I’ve felt incredibly lucky and like the stars have aligned for me more than once on this journey.

7. Wow! That’s an amazingly quick turn around time from getting an agent to getting a publishing contract. Share something you learned from working with your agent or editor about your writing craft and how this strengthened your manuscript.

Sally had some really helpful insights into some of the side characters, especially Cece’s grandmother and Francie. That helped me to grow in the ways that I develop all characters and make sure that every person who appears in the book is a full and complete character.

Promoting Your Book

8. Your book was recently released. What did you do to celebrate it, and how are you promoting your book?

I’ve been incredibly lucky to have had lots of launch celebrations with my family, my friends, and my community. Launch day was February 6th, and that afternoon I had an After School Book Party at The Learning Tree, a local toy and book store. We had a great turn out and that was my first opportunity to sign books! I also did a private launch party for family and friends, presented to the middle schoolers at my kids’ school, and had the incredible opportunity to discuss the book and lead a writing workshop for young writers at Rainy Day Books, an amazing independent bookstore here in Kansas City.

9. What advice do you have for those of us who are unpublished about developing your social media platform and getting ready for your book’s release?

Make sure you have a website so readers have an easy way to learn about the book and can also contact you. I try to keep my website and social media platforms consistent. And the most important aspect of social media for me is connecting with other writers.

10. What are you working on now?

I’m drafting a second middle grade novel now, but it’s been slow going as I’m juggling writing, this book release, and my four kiddos, who are eight, seven, four, and almost one. My goal is complete it within the year!

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Anne. You can find Anne at annerellihan.com, @anne.rellihan on Instagram, and @annerellihan on X

Giveaway Details

Anne’s publisher is generously offering a hardback of Not the Worst Friend in the World for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by March 30th. If your email is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog and/or follow me on Twitter or Anne on her social media sites, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is U.S.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Wednesday, March 20th I have an agent spotlight interview with Stuti Telidevara and a query critique giveaway

Monday, March 27th I have an agent/author guest post by agent Rachel Orr and debut author Cathy Carr and a giveaway of Cathy’s MG contemporary Lost Kites and Other Treasures

Friday, April 1st I’m participating in the Honey Bunny Giveaway Hop

Wednesday, April 3rd I have an interview with debut author Trish Lundy and a giveaway of her YA thriller The One That Got Away With Murder and my IWSG post

Monday, April 8th I have an agent spotlight interview with Paula Weiman and a query critique giveaway

Monday, April 15th I have a review and giveaway of Finally Heard by Kelly Yang

Tuesday, April 16th I’m participating in the Rain Drop on Roses Giveaway Hop

Monday, April 22nd I have an agent spotlight interview with Hillary Fazzari and a query critique giveaway

I hope to see you on Wednesday!

Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop

 


Happy Saturday Everyone! Today I'm excited to participate in the Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop hosted by MamatheFox. I hope you're enjoying a warmer and earlier start to spring. We are here in Michigan, and I'm loving being able to get outside and walk and work in my yard earlier than normal.

Book of Your Choice or Amazon Gift Card

I am offering a book of your choice that is $20 or less on Amazon. I’m looking forward to seeing what books everyone is looking forward to reading. If you don’t have a book you want, you can win a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Giveaway Details

To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by March 31st telling me whether you want a book, and if so, which one, or the Amazon gift card and your email address. Be sure to include your email address.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. The book giveaway is U.S. only and the Amazon gift card giveaway is International.

 Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Monday, March 18th I have an interview with debut author Anne Rellihan and a giveaway of her MG contemporary/mystery Not the Worst Friend in the World

Wednesday, March 20th I have an agent spotlight interview with Stuti Telidevara and a query critique giveaway

Monday, March 27th I have an agent/author guest post by agent Rachel Orr and debut author Cathy Carr and a giveaway of Cathy’s MG contemporary Lost Kites and Other Treasures

Friday, April 1st I’m participating in the Honey Bunny Giveaway Hop

Wednesday, April 3rd I have an interview with debut author Trish Lundy and a giveaway of her YA thriller The One That Got Away With Murder and my IWSG post

I hope to see you on Monday!

And here are all the other blogs participating in this blog hop:

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

Literary Agent Interview: Rebecca Lawrence Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Rebecca Lawrence here. She’s a junior literary agent at The Booker Albert Literary Agency.

Hi­ Rebecca! Thanks so much for joining us.

About Rebecca:

1. Tell us how you became an agent, how long you’ve been one, and what you’ve been doing as an agent.

While in college around two years ago, I began an internship at ArtHouse Literary Agency. That internship really opened my eyes to what kind of responsibilities an agent has, and I really enjoyed the people and my time there. Last May I moved to the Booker Albert Literary Agency where I became a Junior Agent in September, 2023. I’m actively building a list focused on YA, though I am also interested in select MG and Adult. I am currently working on securing contracts for the first few manuscripts that I have signed.

About the Agency:

2. Share a bit about your agency and what it offers to its authors.

The Booker Albert Literary Agency is based in Pennsylvania and has been around for over ten years. We offer a heavily personalized experience and work very closely with our authors. We are actively working on building up YA titles, breaking into the international market, and expanding the agency.

What She’s Looking For:

3. What age groups do you represent—picture books, MG, and/or YA? What genres do you represent and what are you looking for in submissions for these genres?

I represent MG, YA, and Adult. One day in the future, I might try and break into PB, but it’s not a genre that I’m that interested in at the moment.  

4.  Is there anything you would be especially excited to seeing in the genres you are interested in?

Books that have complete feeling endings. As an avid reader, I have made it a habit to wait for highly anticipated series (The Cruel Prince) to be completely out before I read it. Some of my favorite books (House of the Scorpion, The Scorpio Races) are standalones or read like standalones.

What She Isn’t Looking For:

5. What types of submissions are you not interested in?

Romance as a main plot. I love romance as a subplot, but I need something else in the mix to keep my attention. I’m also not a good fit for super spicy romance. PG-13 is about my comfort range when it comes to explicit sexual content (especially when it comes sexual assault or abuse).

Dark books are not my cup of tea. I’m an escapist type of reader.

I would love to work with nonfiction, but it is hard to sell without an established platform.

Agent Philosophy:

6. What is your philosophy as an agent both in terms of the authors you want to work with and the books you want to represent?

I primarily look for books that I would seek out as a reader. While I love reading things that are unique, I often tend to gravitate toward very grounded characters. The most important thing for me is that I can relate with and sympathize with the main cast. While I do like the occasional antihero, I tend to relate more to characters that have a moral compass that lands on the good side.  

My philosophy toward authors is that I look for people who have experience in publishing, a platform, or have held off on self-publishing many books on Amazon. I love debut authors though, and the story always matters more than the author’s credentials.

Editorial Agent:

7. Are you an editorial agent? If so, what is your process like when you’re working with your authors before submitting to editors?

I am an editorial agent, and my process is different for every author. I try to adapt to each author’s style and figure out what works best for them.

Query Methods and Submission Guidelines: (Always verify before submitting)

8. How should authors query you and what do you want to see with the query letter?

I accept queries through query manager. Something really important to me is a complete synopsis. While I enjoy reading sample pages, I really want to find books that have a great plot and voice, and I can’t evaluate a plot if I don’t have a synopsis. Endings are something that I put a lot of importance on, and most of the time, I need the book to have a happy ending.

9.  Do you have any specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you?

Sometimes the beginning of a story can be very confusing, especially with high concept fiction like sci-fi or epic fantasy. My advice to authors is to craft a hook/first chapter that introduces an intriguing concept or tension while introducing the characters and world in a palatable way. Too many worldbuilding or plot details in the first chapter can be disorienting or confusing.

I do not require a personalized query letter. I really appreciate people who did do the research to personalize it, and I really dislike a form query that tries to pretend to be personalized.      

Response Time:

10. What’s your response time to queries and requests for more pages of a manuscript?

For queries I try to get back within two weeks. If I have held onto a query for longer than that, it means that it has landed in the maybe pile.

For full requests, I would ask for three months before the author follows up. I often reply faster than that, but currently I am going through my fulls based on the specific genres/troupes that I want to put on my list.

Self-Published and Small Press Authors:

11.  Are you open to representing authors who have self-published or been published by smaller presses? What advice do you have for them if they want to try to find an agent to represent them?

I am open to both, but my advice for these people in particular is to self-promote. It is always really great to see an author making an effort to build a platform.  

Clients:

2. Who are some of the authors you represent?

I currently have several clients that are in the process of choosing pen names and working on starting social media accounts, but currently I have three authors that I would love to promote.

Sheri Yutzy is an Acquisitions Editor at sparkflashfiction.com and writes thoughtful and inspirational pieces for women’s magazines. Her writing has won multiple awards, appeared in Casting Call, a Havok Publishing anthology, and House Between the Branches, an anthology from Nightshade Publishing. When she’s not writing, she’s reading to her children, tending her cottage garden, or planning a family hike. 

https://www.instagram.com/sheriyutzyauthor/

Nicole Luiken is the author of fifteen traditionally-published novels. Violet Eyes and Silver Eyes were put out by Pocket Books, and her adult novel Running on Instinct was published by Tor/Forge. Her YA novels have won two Golden Eagle Children's Book Award and a Gold-Medal Moonbeam. Her most recent YA novel, Feral, received a positive review from Kirkus, calling it a “howling good time” and was a finalist for the Snow Willow Award (Saskatchewan).

https://twitter.com/NicoleLuiken

Zachary Long is currently working as a professional artist and graphic designer. He has spent many years as a freelance blog writer in the marketing world and University Writing Center Editor before taking the leap to pursue publication of a novel. Though he is currently working on building his writing social media, he is well established on Instagram as an artist.

https://www.instagram.com/zachary_writez/

Interviews and Guest Posts:

13. Please share the links to any interviews, guest posts, and podcasts you think would be helpful to writers interested in querying you.

https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/rebecca-lawrence/

https://bookish.netgalley.com/bookish-lifestyle/05/2023/how-to-start-a-booktok-tiktok/

Links and Contact Info:

14. Please share how writers should contact you to submit a query and your links on the Web.

To submit to me please fill out the form on my query manager.

https://querymanager.com/query/rebecca

You can find me on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/beccalawrence_/

Additional Advice:

15. Is there any other advice you’d like to share with aspiring authors that we haven’t covered?

Don’t take rejection personally. I have, unfortunately, had to pass on some great books because of my list. Everything comes down to timing. If you have a really solid book, perseverance is your friend.

The best thing an aspiring author can do is build a platform. Lots of authors feel lost and

overwhelmed when it comes to social media, so the best way to tackle this is to take small steps and work toward a goal. Looking at successful examples and just starting and experimenting and being consistent is enough to kickstart the process. When it comes to marketing, I would encourage authors to take classes, read blogs, and listen to podcasts.

When it comes to the actual craft of writing, I tend to think that experience is the best teacher. Keep writing. If one book isn’t getting any attention, then moving on to another book is the best thing to do. Most debut authors publish the third or fourth book that they have written. Brandon Sanderson wrote 13 books before he managed to sell one.   

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Rebecca.

Giveaway Details

­Rebecca is generously offering a query critique to one lucky winner. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment through March 23rd. If your email is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. If you do not want to enter the contest, that’s okay. Just let me know in the comments.

If you follow me on Twitter or mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. This is an international giveaway.

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or email me at natalieiaguirre7@gmail.com

Note: These agent profiles and interviews presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found here is subject to change.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Saturday, March 16th I’m participating in the Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop

Monday, March 18th I have an interview with debut author Anne Rellihan and a giveaway of her MG contemporary/mystery Not the Worst Friend in the World

Wednesday, March 20th I have an agent spotlight interview with Stuti Telidevara and a query critique giveaway

Monday, March 27th I have an agent/author guest post by agent Rachel Orr and debut author Cathy Carr and a giveaway of Cathy’s MG contemporary Lost Kites and Other Treasures

Friday, April 1st I’m participating in the Honey Bunny Giveaway Hop

Wednesday, April 3rd I have an interview with debut author Trish Lundy and a giveaway of her YA thriller The One That Got Away With Murder and my IWSG post

I hope to see you on Saturday!

 

 

 

How to Grow Your Career as an Author: Interview with Rajani LaRocca and Sona and the Golden Beasts Giveaway

Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m beyond thrilled to have Rajani LaRocca here to share about her new MG fantasy Sona and the Golden Beasts giveaway. I’m super excited to read it because it’s a fantasy that deals with a lot of contemporary issues. And I’m a huge fan of Rajani’s, so I already know it’ll be good. You can learn more about Rajani by reading her guest post with her agent Brent Taylor when she was a debut author in 2019.

Here’s a blurb of Sona and the Golden Beasts from Goodreads:

Sona hears music everywhere, even though it has been outlawed in the land of Devia. Sona is a descendant of the Malechs—foreigners who took over the governing of Devia hundreds of years ago. Malechs put Devans to work mining gems and forbade music so Devans couldn’t cast their magic.

But Sona’s world shifts after discovering an orphaned wolf pup. She believes the pup, with its golden ears, might be related to one of the five sacred beasts of Devia which a Malechian Hunter has been killing, one by one. And when someone Sona loves falls ill, she is drawn into a quest with a Devan boy to retrieve the nectar of life.

On the perilous journey, Sona must try to avoid the deadly Hunter while keeping her companions safe. As she uncovers secrets about the Malechian empire and her own identity, Sona realizes that the fate of the sacred beasts and the future of Devia, just might come down to her.

Before I get to Rajani’s interview post, I have my IWSG post.

Posting: The first Wednesday is officially Insecure Writer's Support Group Day.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts this month are: Kristina Kelly, Miffie Seideman, Jean Davis, and Liza @ Middle Passages!

Optional Question: Have you “played” with Al to write those nasty synopsis, or do you refuse to go that route? How do you feel about Al’s impact on creative writing?

I haven't used Al to write a synopsis because I haven’t had to write one since I started using Al. But I see Al as a tool to use to write synopsis, blurbs, outlines, and other things related to writing that don’t involve writing a manuscript. As I’ve discussed in other posts, I already use Al to write articles for attorney websites for my job, and then add to them and edit the articles heavily.

I don’t think Al has a place in writing stories. In my opinion, those should all be written by an author. As a reader, I’m not interested in reading Al-generated books.

Interview With Rajani LaRocca on How to Grow Your Career as an Author

Hi Rajani! Thanks so much for joining us.

Hi Natalie! I’m excited to be doing this interview with you.

1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.

I have loved books for my entire life and did a lot of creative writing in elementary through high school. I also loved math and science and decided at a young age that I wanted to go into medicine someday.

In my high school creative writing class, I told my teacher, “I love writing, but I know this isn’t going to be my career. One day, I hope I can become a doctor.”

He said, “Who says you have to choose?” And the next day, he brought in a bunch of books by authors who happened to be doctors.

That moment planted a seed in my head—one that didn’t sprout until decades later, when I’d finished college, medical school, and residency, was established in my medical practice, and my own children were in school.

I started taking writing classes to reignite my creativity. At first, I didn’t intend to try to be published. But I quickly realized I wanted to write for kids, because the books I read as a child had the biggest influence on me. And so if I wanted anyone other than my own children to read my stories, I needed to try to get published. I made wonderful writing friends and critique partners who were all on the same path. I rolled up my sleeves and worked hard to make my writing as good as it could possibly be.

After several years and many rejections, I signed with my wonderful agent. And six years later, I have published fifteen books for young readers, with three more coming this year, and even more on the way. It’s truly been an incredible journey, and I’m very grateful.

2. Where did you get the idea for Sona and the Golden Beasts?

I’ve always been a huge fan of fantasy. I grew up reading The Chronicles of Narnia, The Book of Three, On a Pale Horse, and The Lord of the Rings. I absolutely loved those books and read them over and over.

But as I got older, I reflected on the fact that despite my love for these stories, they tended to portray characters from other (non-European, darker-skinned) cultures as “bad.”

I’m a big fan of British literature and have visited Britain many times and enjoyed myself every time. But thinking with the British colonization of India and its aftermath has been difficult for me. I recognize that my parents speaking English and immigrating to the U.S. is a result of that colonial history, and I wouldn’t be the person I am without it. But that doesn’t make the centuries-long British exploitation of India—and other places all over the world—okay.

So that’s how I came up with the idea for Sona and the Golden Beasts. I wanted to write a fantasy adventure like the ones I’ve always loved, but to center a society that’s more like my own, and to tackle the issues of colonialism and who gets to tell history.

Your Writing Process and Growing Your Career as an Author

3. I’ve loved those books since I was a kid too. And there weren’t any books with Chinese-American girls for my daughter, who was adopted from China when she was a kid either. Your story deals with a lot of contemporary issues in a fantasy setting. Share a bit about why you decided to include these themes in Sona and the Golden Beasts and how this affected your world-building.

I knew I wanted to write about two different sets of people—the Devans, the native residents of Devia, and the Malech—the colonizing people, some of whom have lived in Devia for several generations. I knew that the Devans were pacifists and would not kill, not even to rid themselves of the colonizing force, and the Malechs felt their own willingness to use force made them superior. I created myths and legends for both the Devans and the Malechs. The main distinguishing physical characteristic between the two peoples is that Devans have golden ears, and the Malechs do not. So the unfair laws that the Malechs have imposed upon the Devans include forcing them to keep their ears visible at all times, and outlawing music, which is how Devans cast magic.

It's clear that the situation in Devia is unjust. But in terms of the characters, I wanted to make it much less clear who is “good” and who is “bad.” Early on, someone Sona loves tells Sona that “people are not good or bad. It is our actions that are good or bad.” Sona is a Malech, but because she loves a Devan woman who helped raise her, she goes on a quest to find the Nectar of Life to help save that person’s life. And Sona hears music everywhere and has a special affinity for animals—both of which are Devan characteristics. When she finds an orphaned wolf pup with golden ears, Sona thinks the pup must be related to one of the five Golden Beasts of Devia, which legends say are vital to the country. Traveling across the country with the wolf pup, a broken-down pony, and a Devan boy named Raag, Sona discovers secrets about the Malechian Empire and her own background and ends up on a mission to save all of Devia . . . all while trying to evade a vicious Malechian hunter.

4. This is your sixth published novel, and Rohan Murthy Has a Plan will be released in in May 2024. You’ve also had nine picture books published with another being published in 2024—all since you debuted in 2019. Plus, you’re a doctor, wife, and mother. How do you squeeze in the time to write and stay so productive?

When you love something, you make time for it. Writing started off as something I did only for myself, and so I found time to do it. And like most working moms, I wasn’t precious about when or when I wrote. I would write early in the morning, or late at night. I would write while parked waiting for my kids to get out of school, or in the lobby while they were at their piano lessons. I wrote in planes and trains and cars (although not while driving!)

We can’t control many things in publishing or in life, but we can control our own actions. So I try to be smart about planning on my time and try to always meet my deadlines.

When I first came back to writing, I was afraid I’d run out of ideas. Now I know that I have too many ideas, and I have to choose carefully what I work on next!

5. That’s great advice to squeeze in the time to write when you can. How did you plot out Sona and the Golden Beasts? How has the process of plotting out your novels changed since you wrote Midsummer’s Mayhem, your debut novel?

Midsummer’s Mayhem was the book that taught me, through trial and error, how to write a book . . . and it took me 4+ years to write. Since then, I have streamlined my process a bit more and figure out the main plot points before I start writing. But I don’t figure everything out, and still leave a lot of the story to play out while I’m drafting.

6. It sounds like we have similar plotting systems. How long does it take for you to draft and revise a manuscript before submitting it to your publisher? Share some tips on how writers can write faster and be more productive like you.

Some books still take longer than others, but in general it takes me 9-12 months to draft and revise a novel so it’s in the right shape to send to my editor. I do a decent amount of prep work before drafting. Some things I’ve found helpful are:

1.     Character work: For my main characters, I figure out some characteristics and quirks and big personality traits (what they love, what they fear, what they want, etc).

2.     Plot: I figure out big plot points and brainstorm a list of possible scenes, then whittle those down.

3.     Using my time strategically. Drafting a novel is the hardest thing to do (for me), so I set aside time when I’m at my best—first thing in the morning, before anyone is asking me for anything.

 Your Journey to Publication and How It's Grown

 7. You’re giving me hope that I can learn to write faster like you. Brent Taylor is your agent. How did he become your agent, and what was your road to publication like?

In 2017, I was lucky enough to have Midsummer’s Mayhem selected for Pitch Wars. My mentor was amazing author Joy McCullough, and she gave me fantastic editing advice and held my hand (virtually) all the way through as I revised the novel I’d been working on for 4 years in just a few weeks! At the end of Pitch Wars, Brent was the first agent to request the manuscript, and when I sent it, he read it right away and responded the same night, asking to talk the next day. Although I received other offers of representation, I knew that Brent was the right agent for me. In 2018, we sold Midsummer’s Mayhem and four picture books, and the rest is history.

That said, I’ve had, and continue to have, plenty of rejection. It’s a part of publishing that never goes away.

8. Many authors only have a few books published. You’ve had an amazing number of picture books and middle grade books published since 2019. How have you been so successful in continuing to sell so many books? What advice do you have for the debut authors hoping to sell more books?

My biggest piece of advice is to write the best book(s) you can.

I’m interested in lots of different things, and so I write about lots of different things. And I believe that “diversifying”—writing novels and picture books, fiction and nonfiction, serious and funny, in poetry and prose—has helped me publish a lot of books.

Promoting Your Books

9. Share about how you developed your social media platform and marketed Midsummer’s Mayhem. How have you changed your marketing of your books and growing your social media platforms since you were a debut author?

For me, social media and marketing need to be rooted in fun and joy, so that’s what I focus on. When it gets too stressful, I take a step back. I’m part of a book promotion group, the Soaring 20s, and it’s always more fun to market with other people.

10. That would be really helpful to work with a group of authors on marketing each other’s books. What advice do you have for aspiring writers and debut authors about building their social media platforms and marketing their first book?

Do what you enjoy, and don’t feel obligated to do anything you don’t like. Team up with friends. Be genuine and stay positive.

11. What are you working on now?

I have my first YA novel (!) coming next year. I’m also working on some picture books and a graphic novel idea as well as my next MG novel!

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Rajani. You can find Rajani at  

Thanks so much for having me!

Website: https://www.rajanilarocca.com/

Instagram: @rajanilarocca

X: @rajanilarocca

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rajanilaroccawriter

 Giveaway Details

 Rajani’s publisher is generously offering a hardback of Sona and the Golden Beasts for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by March 16th. If your email is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog and/or follow me on Twitter or Rajani on her social media sites, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is U.S.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Monday, March 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Rebecca Lawrence and a query critique giveaway

Saturday, March 16th I’m participating in the Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop

Monday, March 18th I have an interview with debut author Anne Rellihan and a giveaway of her MG contemporary/mystery Not the Worst Friend in the World

Wednesday, March 20th I have an agent spotlight interview with Stuti Telidevara and a query critique giveaway

Monday, March 27th I have an agent/author guest post by agent Rachel Orr and debut author Cathy Carr and a giveaway of Cathy’s MG contemporary Lost Kites and Other Treasures

Friday, April 1st I’m participating in the Honey Bunny Giveaway Hop

Wednesday, April 3rd I have an interview with debut author Trish Lundy and a giveaway of her YA thriller The One That Got Away With Murder

I hope to see you on Monday!