On Writing a Series and for Different Age Groups: Interview With Author Julie Abe and Tessa Miyata Is So Unlucky Giveaway

Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m super excited to have Julie Abe here to share about her new MG fantasy Tessa Miyata Is So Unlucky. Julie has been a long-time follower, and I’ve enjoyed watching her career grow since she was a debut author in 2020. I loved Eva Evergreen Semi-Magical Witch and Eva Evergreen and the Cursed Witch. I just started the first book in the series and am really enjoying it. 

Here's a blurb of Tessa Miyata Is So Unlucky, book 2 in the series, from Goodreads:

 

In this thrilling new adventure, Tessa Miyata and her best friend Jin must battle the gods... and win. With magic abound and stakes higher than ever, this is a perfect pick for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers!  After her first adventure in Tokyo, Tessa Miyata is having the best summer of her life with her best friend, Jin. Still, she wonders if she'll ever see Kit, the mythical Unlucky God that Tessa and Jin freed, or the last magical city again. 

Then, Tessa and Jin get magical, talking invitations informing them that they've been chosen to attend the Academy of Gods– to battle immortals on behalf of the Unlucky God! Win, and they'll be given the gift of immortality. Lose, and they'll forget everything they learned about the magical city and Kit will cease to exist. Tessa and Jin may be God Blessed, but they’re mortals amongst gods... Can they defeat the other clans? or will they lose Kit forever?

Follower News

Before I get to Julie’s interview, I have Follower News to share. C. Lee McKenzie has a new YA release Because No One Noticed. Here’s a blurb: Five juniors at Las Animas High have a long history together. They love, dislike, or tolerate each other depending on the day. Occupied with class assignments, career choices, family disharmony, and the usual teen turbulence, none of them thinks seriously of the danger lurking in their near future or how fragile and temporary life is.

 

Because No One Noticed explores the complexities of teenage life, personal struggles, and the profound impact of a tragic event on the characters' lives. It also touches on themes of self-discovery and the consequences of actions.

 

Inspired by real-life tragedy, the story unfolds in alternating points of view as the characters explore the resilience of their hearts and their ability to rebuild their lives after a shattering tragedy. And here’s a few links:

Buy Links:

 https://www.amazon.com/Because-One-Noticed-Lee-McKenzie-ebook/dp/B0D8SCKTGD/ref=sr_1_1https://tinyurl.com/y3rzhffjhttps://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/because-no-one-noticedhttps://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/because-no-one-noticed-c-lee-mckenzie/1145963692

 

Interview With Julie Abe

Hi Julie! Thanks so much for joining us.

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

Thank you so much for having me back!

It’s been quite a journey! Years and years ago, I was working at my first job out of college, thinking there must be more to life than this… there is… right? As I searched for meaning in my days, I remembered how much I loved books, and how reading books were an escape… But, I began to wonder, what if I tried to write a book, too?

It took many, many, many attempts. I wrote and shelved so many books, but, at the time that I was going to give up, a character popped into my head. She was a girl with not a lot of magic, but she wanted to pass her witch’s test—because if she didn’t pass it, she’d lose her magic forever. Later, after writing her story, I realized she was quite like me—I needed an agent to pick me, and she needed her witch’s license.

That character was Eva Evergreen, and that story I wrote became my first published book in 2020: Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch (Little Brown Young Readers/Hachette).

2. Where did you get the idea for the Tessa Miyata series and Tessa Miyata Is So Unlucky?

When I was young, I went to visit my grandparents in Japan during summer break. It was, honestly, rather boring. I would wander around by myself since I had no one to hang out with, and I didn’t have a lot of money so I couldn’t do much. Well, those boring summer vacations sparked an idea. What if Tessa was stuck in Japan, just like me… but there were evil samurai gods? What if she had a really annoying neighborhood boy who had been told to hang out with her… but they set that evil samurai god loose in Tokyo… And they have to be the ones to sort things out—before Tokyo goes into flames?

All of those wishful thoughts to have a more-fun summer vacation truly came to life in the Tessa Miyata books!

Your Writing Process: Writing a Series and for Different Age Groups

3. That’s cool how your summers as a kid inspired this story. Tessa Miyata is your second series. How did you plot it out and did you know the storyline for Tessa Miyata Is So Unlucky when you wrote Tessa Miyata Is NO Hero?

I wish I could say that I knew everything from the beginning—but, no. It takes time. Kind of like an onion, but it’s like growing an onion. I start with a nub of an idea and I add layers and layers. Sometimes I have to take layers off, edit, adjust them… For Tessa Miyata, I didn’t know exactly what the second book would be like until after I polished up the draft for the first book. But, I’d have flashes of scenes or words and phrases pop up in my brain, and I’d have to scramble to scribble those down. Many of those scribbles and images—blood on snow, a fight in Tokyo Skytree, the dormitory’s restaurant that changes to a different spot in Tokyo every meal, friendship that stands the test of time and of the gods—are now part of Tessa Miyata Is So Unlucky. And, like an onion, after many layers added, removed and edited, I am so happy that both books of the series are now out.

4. What are some of the challenges you found when writing your middle grades series? How did you solve the issues that came up?

One of my biggest challenges was creating the training arc of Tessa Miyata is So Unlucky. Tessa and her friends must become stronger in order to fight the gods, but I was struggling with a way to make them stronger, but also make the training interesting. I had to talk a lot with my critique partners as a sounding board, and go through all of my ideas to make it an arc that was fun for readers as well as truly made it feel like Tessa was developing over the book. When in doubt, talk it out with a trusted critique partner!

5. My critique partners have helped me out like that too. What advice do you have for other writers who want to write a series?

Plotting. 100%, plotting. As much as a pantser as I can be for a first book, a series requires strong plotting to make it really shine. Read other series books and see how the stories connect and yet grow from book to book. One of my top series recommendations is Lockwood & Co by Jonathan Stroud. The writing just pulls you in immediately, and the plot and twists keep me reading one book after another—and then when I finish all five books, it makes me want to read them all over again.

6. I’ll have to check out that series. One thing that impresses me about you is how many books you’ve sold since you debuted in 2020. Besides these two middle series, you’ve also published a MG fantasy Alliana, Girl of Dragons and two YA contemporary romances with a touch of magic, The Charmed List and Our Cursed Love. What made you decide to branch out and write a standalone fantasy and YA romance? Do you think writing in different genres and for different age groups has helped your career as an author?

Oh my gosh, it’s been so busy! So, Alliana, Girl of Dragons is a book I’d been longing to write. It’s actually a prequel, featuring the girl that becomes the queen in the Eva Evergreen series. I did envision that as a series, but my publisher acquired it as a standalone.

For my YA romance—I love, love, love romance. I am so in awe of how romance authors are able to create such chemistry between characters—not just the main couple, but side characters that burst to life. I’d always wanted to write a boy-next-door romance, and so The Charmed List was an absolute joy to write. Our Cursed Love was another book that was so much fun to write because it was about two best friends who seem cursed to fall apart—even though they love each other with all their heart. It takes place in snowy Tokyo, and was a dream to write (with a dream of a cover, too!)

I’m always very curious about learning more about writing, and writing in different genres and for different age groups has made me a stronger author.

Your Journey to Publication

7. Sarah Landis is your agent. How did she become your agent and what was your road to getting published like?

  

Sarah is absolutely wonderful. She manages the business side of things for me so well, negotiates on my behalf not just for the contract, but so much more. I queried Sarah years ago with Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch. She was the first to offer among multiple agents, and her passion for my story, as well as her editorial background and enthusiasm for my future books, swayed me to choose her. It’s been more than seven years now, and I’m very grateful for each year and every one of my seven (and counting!) books we’ve worked on together.

Promoting Your Book

8. How are you planning to promote Tessa Miyata Is So Unlucky? How has your approach to marketing changed as you’ve published more books?

Promotion is a strange thing. I lean on my publisher to help with the promotion, because there is only so much I can do out of pocket on my own. For me, my focus is on promoting through social media as much I can, going to in-person events to promote my book, but most of all—writing the next book. And, coming over here to Literary Rambles to say hi, of course! 😊

9. What are your favorite social media platforms? Has the way you’ve posted on them changed as you became a more experienced author? If so, why?

I used to love being on Twitter—it’s where I found a lot of author friends in the beginning. Over time, I’ve moved over to Instagram. It’s such a wonderful place. I’ve connected with my wonderful audio narrator of the Tessa Miyata books, Sura Siu, over Instagram. Recently, she was recording Tessa Miyata is So Unlucky, and posted about how it made her cry! I felt so awful to make someone cry from my books—I always want my readers to have happy tears! But, hearing how she was moved by my story would’ve never happened without Instagram, so I’m so very grateful for its existence. And, I’ve met so many readers on Instagram, and their comments cheering me on, their posts sharing love for my stories and characters have often picked me up after a rough day, and have kept me writing.

10. What are you working on now?

I am working on six different books over the next few years, so it’s going to be even more busy. I can’t say much yet so stay tuned to my Instagram/newsletter for updates, but I am so very, very excited for what’s to come!

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Julie. You can find Julie at www.instagram.com/julieabebooks or sign up for her newsletter at https://julieabebooks.com/newsletter.

Giveaway Details

Julie’s publisher is generously offering a hardback of Tessa Miyata Is So Unlucky 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 August 31st. 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 follow Julie 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, August 26th I have a guest post by debut author A.Y. Chan and a giveaway of her MG The Legendary Mo Seto

Wednesday, September 4th I have an interview with author Natalie Lloyd and a giveaway of her MG The Witching Wind and my IWSG post

Saturday, September 7th I’m participating in the Holiday Kick Off Giveaway Hop

Monday, September 9th I have an agent spotlight interview with Alex Brown and a query critique giveaway

Monday, September 16th I have an interview with debut author Callie Miller and a giveaway of her MG The Search for the Shadowsoul

I hope to see you on Monday!