Hello everyone and welcome to my last post before the Ontario Teen Book Fest! I am so excited to share today’s spotlight. I first met Mary last year and she is SO awesome and I’m so glad to see her again this year!
As always, information pills here are those details for the event once more!
When:
Saturday, seek March 25th, price 2016
9:30 am to 5 pm
Where:
Colony High School Branch Library
3850 E. Riverside Drive
Ontario, CA 91761
This event is a completely free and un-ticketed event! Priority seating WILL be given to teens, but come one, come all! There will also be giveaways and raffles at the Fest, also free! Also, keep scrolling to find a giveaway held by us bloggers!
You can visit the website, to see the full schedule of the day by visiting the official Ontario Teen Book Fest website.
Books WILL be available for purchase at the event, available from Once Upon a Time Bookstore :) They are an amazing company so definitely bring your books from home, but try and support Once Upon a Time by purchasing a book!
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About Mary Weber
Mary Weber is a ridiculously uncoordinated girl plotting to take over make-believe worlds through books, handstands, and imaginary throwing knives. In her spare time, she feeds unicorns, sings 80’s hairband songs to her three muggle children, and ogles her husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. They live in California, which is perfect for stalking L.A. bands, Joss Whedon, and the ocean. Her debut YA fantasy novel, STORM SIREN and SIREN’S FURY are available now in bookstores and online, and SIREN’S SONG will be out March 2016 from TN HarperCollins.
Her Website / Her Facebook / Her GoodReads / Her Twitter / Her Instagram
About Her Book
Releasing June 6th 2017
Ever since the Delonese ice-planet arrived eleven years ago, Sofi’s dreams have been vivid. Alien. In a system where Earth’s corporations rule in place of governments and the humanoid race orbiting the moon are allies, her only constant has been her younger brother, Shilo. As an online gamer, Sofi battles behind the scenes of Earth’s Fantasy Fighting arena where Shilo is forced to compete in a mix of real and virtual blood sport. But when a bomb takes out a quarter of the arena, Sofi’s the only one who believes Shilo survived. She has dreams of him. And she’s convinced he’s been taken to the ice-planet.
Except no one but ambassadors are allowed there.
For Miguel, Earth’s charming young playboy, the games are of a different sort. As Ambassador to the Delonese, his career has been built on trading secrets and seduction. Until the Fantasy Fight’s bomb goes off. Now the tables have turned and he’s a target for blackmail. The game is simple: Help the blackmailers, or lose more than anyone can fathom, or Earth can afford.
Preorder Her Book at Your Local Bookstore or At the Following Links:
Amazon / Barnes and Noble / iBooks / Book Depository
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The Interview
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Nerd Girl: Describe your most recent book in five words.
Mary: Aliens-come-to-Earth. Gamer-girl-takes-on-aliens. Playboy-ambassador-takes-on-gamer-girl. Ender’s-Game-meets-Hunger-Games-meets-Taken. All-heck-breaks-loose.
Nerd Girl: Which book is harder to write: the first or the second? Why?
Mary: Lol, oh man. Honestly? All of them. I’m currently wrapping up (what will be) my fifth published novel with Harper and, without fail, I get to this halfway moment in EVERY one where the plot’s not quite working and what on earth was I thinking trying to pretend I’m a writer? Then I sit down. Rewrite the plot. And finish said book. ;)
Nerd Girl: What is the key to world building for a brand new book/world?
Mary: For me it’s ensuring the world is (1) grounded enough to be relatable. Kind of like visiting a friend’s home, you know? No matter how different it is, there’s still that sense of familiarity. And (2) reading a ton. I love seeing how other authors tackle their worlds and rules, what they bend and flat-out break.
Nerd Girl: Do you listen to music when you’re writing? Does it vary based on what you’re working on?
Mary: With the STORM SIREN TRILOGY I tried to listen to music but just couldn’t engage the story that way. However, with my upcoming THE EVAPORATION OF SOFI SNOW series – I wrote with my headphones on, music blaring, through the whole process. :)
Nerd Girl: What are some of your favorite memories from when you were a teen?
Mary: Driving to the beach in the car with my friends, windows down, stereo blasting. <3
Nerd Girl: Do you have a memorable moment involving a reader, whether it’s an email or letter you received or an in person encounter?
Mary: Every moment involving a reader is memorable to me. The fact that each reader is busy living their own life story, and has taken time to simply connect with mine, is the biggest honor. I’m humbled every time.
Nerd Girl: Writing for teens, do you find yourself being aware of the kind of material you are writing, knowing the age groups that are going to read it? Do you consider language, sexual material, things like that? Why or why not?
Mary: I actually work with teens and preteens in my day job and have three of my own – so this is something I’m always considering. I think teen life is harder and way more involved than many adults can even imagine – and as such I’d say my goal, both in work and writing, isn’t whether I can “push the envelope” on certain things, but rather to create a safe place where people can be authentic regarding everything.
But at the heart of it, authenticity isn’t really about words or actions so much as it is the emotions and struggles behind them. Thus, in real life, while teens and I talk about sex and life and bullying and dark issues – and do so very frankly – it’s in relation to the underlying self. However, in my books, I’m acutely aware each reader is at a different age and stage in their personal journey. So, I’m much less frank, but no less authentic (if that makes sense) – preferring to create a story that allows the reader to explore their own view of life, rather than making sure I incorporate specific words, or graphic info, or scenes that make it more “real.” To me, real is being open enough to say, “Life’s weird. Sometimes it’s downright horrific. But at the heart of it, you’re not alone. You are valued. And we’re here to listen and laugh and ache and scream with you. Come sit with us.”
Nerd Girl: Who is your fictional crush?
Mary: Howl from “Howl’s Moving Castle.” Always. <3
Check out all the amazing blog tour spotlights and interviews below! So many amazing authors this year!
Blog Tour Schedule
March 15th:
Spotlight on Romina Russell – The Consummate Reader
Spotlight on E. Katherine Kottaras – Book You Very Much
March 16th:
Spotlight on Catherine Linka – What A Nerd Girl Says
Spotlight on BT Gottfred – My Fangirl Chronicles
March 17th:
Spotlight on Elana K Arnold – Read Now Sleep Later
Spotlight on Sara Elizabeth Santana – Starkiller Readers
March 18th:
Spotlight on Gretchen McNeil – Adventures of a Book Junkie
Spotlight on Charlotte Huang – A Traveling Book
March 19th:
Spotlight on KM Walton – Recently Acquired Obsessions
Spotlight on Jeff Garvin – Reading Over Sleeping
March 20th:
Spotlight on Jessica Brody – A Reader’s Antidote
Spotlight on Aditi Khorana – Read Now Sleep Later
March 21st:
Spotlight on Ann Stampler – Movies, Shows and Books
Spotlight on Nicole Maggi – My Fangirl Chronicles
March 22nd:
Spotlight on Julie Buxbaum – A Traveling Book
Spotlight on Cindy Pon – Book You Very Much
March 23rd:
Spotlight on Martina Boone – Movies, Shows and Books
Spotlight on Mary Weber – What A Nerd Girl Says
March 24th:
Spotlight on Jessica Love – Nite Lite Books
Spotlight on Lilliam Rivera – Starkiller Reads
Spotlight on Robin Reul – I Read What I Want 2
